when setting up a tank what chemicals do you use? to make the water where it has to be for the fish?

Answer 1

All you should need to add is a conditioner to remove the chlorine/chloramine as appropriate for what your area uses to treat the water supply: http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/chlor.htm

If you didn't do a fishless cycle, but are using a few hardy fish to cycle the tank, aquarium salt at 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons is a good addition to protect your fish from high levels of nitrite. It may also reduce parasites and fungal problems. http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/salt.shtml

If you aren't familiar with the idea of cycling an aquarium, please read these:
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm
http://malawicichlids.com/mw01017.htm
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/ammoniapoison.htm
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/nitritepoison.htm

During the time your tank is cycling, it may appear cloudy. This is perfectly normal, and not the tank "getting dirty". Don't tear everything down and clean - it will only happen again and make the process take longer. The cloudiness will go away on its own.

DON'T add unnecessary medications to your tank. Many of the ich medications contain carcinogens, and can affect not only your fish's health, but yours as well. It IS a good idea to keep a few treatments on hand (for ich, and a good broad-spectrum antibiotic) in case you eventually do need them - this can save you a late-night trip to a store and possibly the live of your fish - Murphy's Law and all. But you should never add medication without positive diagnosis of a problem in your tank. In most cases, a 50% water change and the addition of some aquarium salt (or any non-iodized salt like canning, pickling, rock, kosher, or non-iodized table salt which are the same thing and usually cheaper!) is a good start to treating any "unidentified" illness.

NOTE: Some fish, such as tetras, catfish, and scaleless fish are sensitive to salt and medications - that extra time to acclimate them to a tank with medication already in it, and start with a low amount (1/4 the suggested dose) and build up to a full dose over the course of a day when adding medication or salt to a tank containing these species.

Answer 2

when i set up a tank i always us start right it helps to get everything where it should be but i would went a day then get same fish to put in it but make sure u put the start right in in after u set it up. its best to not put a bunch of different things in the water on count off them working ageist each other just get a bottle off ick away the liquid works better that way if the fish gets stressed out from the movie from the store u have it handier i keep a bottle all the time i keep start right ick away stress coat on hand because u never know i hope this helps u i have had fish now for sever years u never know whats going to happen so i keep that around because i live to far from the stores or pet shop to run out and get it must of the times u can get the start right at walmart a little cheaper if that helps out

Answer 3

You can buy a kit at the pet store and it'll tell you where the ph level needs to be for your fish. You will have to set up the tank and probley wait a couple days before you put the fish in it. If they are already in there be sure to mention that to the store and they will point you in the right direction.

Answer 4

Hello it depends what fish your keeping , cold . tropical or marine .
I only know coldwater which you need something called " tapsafe " , the measurements & drops needed are written on the packaging for the size of tank you have .

Sorry i cant help with the others x

Answer 5

All I add to the water is a water conditioner that removes chlorine and chloramines. But you should get a pH test kit, and ammonia test kit, and a nitrites test kit to start out with.