Need A-Z guide to start an aquarium for tropical fish.?

Question

I'm trying to rear a few fish with 12 inch tank. Within a day 1 fish had died. For the sake of the remainder 5 fishes, I need some basic guidance in preparing the fish tank etc.

Answer 1

http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid=176
Your tank is cycling - building up the beneficial bacteria necessary to convert fish waste (ammonia) into nitrites. More bacteria will develop to turn the nitrites into less harmful nitrates which you keep from reaching toxic levels by changing 20% of the water every week.
For the time being there isn't much you can do except for changing 20% of the water every other day for a week. Then every third day for a week. It will help keep the water from getting too toxic. Adding freshwater aquarium salt will help (one level teaspoon/gallon). It will stop the fish from absorbing as much of the water and cause them to produce more slime to stop ammonia burns. Only feed your fish every other day for a while. The less they poop, the less your bacteria will have to work.
A

Answer 2

Below is a step-by step procedure:


The first thing you have to do is to clean up the tank by washing tank thoroughly with water and a clean rag (use no soap or detergent).


Place tank into permanent position, to avoid breakage and disorganization of the community during movement.


Place the filter plate, and any necessary tubing under the tank.


Wash sand or gravel and spread it into the tank, sloping from back to front. Level of gravel should vary from three inches to one inch.


Place under water ornamental materials like bogwood, rocks, shells etc at strategic spots inside the tank. Attach tubing to aerating ornaments.


Place a sheet of newspaper or polythene over the gravel. On the top of this, place a saucer or small pen.


Fill about a quarter or half of the tank with prepared water.


Remove the paper or nylon and dispose it.


Adjust gravel and ornaments displaced by the water.


Rinse plant materials.


Plant large vegetation in corners, and graduate in a design which follows a pleasant regular line - curve, parabola, slope etc. Larger plants should be placed toward the rear.


Trim dead or broken leaves.


Finish filling tank by pouring water gently (on palm may be held under the water to halt the pressure of falling water.


Start up the filter and ornaments and adjust.


Check the temperature, hardness, pH, and chlorine neutralizer with test kit if necessary.


Add one teaspoonful of salt for each five gallons of water if brackish water species are to be introduced.


Plug on the lights and leave on for 72 hours to provide light for the new plants.


Allow aquarium water to stand for three days before introducing fish.

To know more click on the following link.

http://www.kidsgen.com/pets/fish.htm

Answer 3

If your water is chlorinated, you need to add in few drops of anti-chlorine into it. When feeding it, you need to make sure they can finish the food. Otherwise, just fish out whatever they cannot finish. They need some time to get used to your aquarium. So, sometimes they don't eat for several days. When they are starving, you can see their bellies thining. Most fishes need oxygen. So, get a small water pump. Lastly, don't buy expensive fishes. They die easily under inexperience hands.

Answer 4

You need one gallon of water per one inch of fish, so that is the start of your problem.

There is a good site though that has a ton of information. http://www.aquariumfish.net/ I recommend reading everything there. I however can not say I recommend actually buying your fish there. I did and they send the wrong ones. They corrected it, but it was a huge let down.

Answer 5

go get a book about tropical fish and setting up new aquariums
and read them before you do anything else

Answer 6

make sure you water is right for them you, can stick fish in tap water it will kill them, dont but expensive fish, and remember fish will die just to spite you

Answer 7

Go to any pet store and they have all the books you need

Answer 8

1gallon tank = single 1"fish


http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/beginner.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/3515/started.htm