Setting up a tropical aquarium Approved by For more information: www.tetra.net For more information: www.tetra.net 2 Contents A well cared for aquarium Planning your aquarium 4-5 provides the perfect focal point Choosing to any room, as well as being your aquarium 6-7 both fascinating and relaxing. Aquarium equipment 8-11 With Tetra´s range of high quality Decorating the and simple-to-use products, it has aquarium 12-15 never been easier to create an attractive underwater Getting started 16-17 display. Stocking your new aquarium 18-19 For more than 50 years Tetra has been the global Choosing and leader for aquarium products, committed to making introducing fish 20-21 aquarium ownership easy and enjoyable through Types of fish 22-25 continual innovation and unrivalled customer support. Feeding your fish 26-27 Every Tetra product has been subject to rigorous testing by our independently accredited Research & Development laboratories - the largest of their kind in the world, to ensure they keep your fish and aquarium in top condition. 3 Planning your aquarium Before purchasing your aquarium, it is important to think about what you want from it, and where you are going to place it. Taking a few moments to do this will avoid problems later on, and make setting up your new aquarium easier. Types of aquarium Before going ahead and choosing an Size aquarium, it is a good idea to think The size of the aquarium will not about what sort of fish you want only determine how many fish to keep. There are hundreds, if not you can keep, but also how easy thousands, of tropical fish to choose the aquarium is to care for. from, many of which require special care and attention. For these more Perhaps surprisingly, larger demanding species, a particular aquariums are generally easier aquarium set-up may be required. to keep balanced and healthy. Therefore, if there are specific fish This is because their larger you want to keep, you should check volume of water is less prone their requirements with your aquatics to sudden changes in water outlet before going ahead. temperature and chemistry. Most aquarium owners will opt for a A larger aquarium also allows community aquarium. This will contain you to select a better choice a good mixture of different fish, all of fish, and to create a more of which live happily together, and impressive display. As a rough which do not require special care or guide, tropical fish require 1 litre equipment. A community aquarium of water for every 1cm of fish may contain live plants or artificial length. This refers to the final ones, and can be decorated in many adult size of the fish, and not the different ways. This flexibility, and the size they are when purchased. fact they are easier to care for, makes For example, a 60 litre aquarium a community set-up the best choice can ultimately hold 60cm of fish. for first-time aquarium owners. However, taking into account the final size of the fish, this may equate to 20-30cm when they are first added. Your aquatics outlet can advise you on the eventual size of the fish you want to keep. 4 Position As well as providing a focal point to • Easily accessible, to allow for any the room, you want your aquarium maintenance. to be in a position that is ideal for • Out of direct sunlight, to prevent healthy fish and plants, and good algae growing. water clarity. A filled aquarium is • Well supported, to take heavy, so thinking about its position the weight of the aquarium now will avoid you having to move it (a litre of water weighs in the future. An ideal position would approximately 1kg). be: • Near to an electric supply • In a reasonably quiet area, away to plug in equipment, but far from sudden bangs (e.g. not next enough away to avoid any to a door). danger of splashing. • Away from areas of very high activity. • Away from sources of heat or cold (e.g. radiators). 5 Choosing your aquarium Having planned for your aquarium, 1 The innovative Tetra EasyCrystal you can now discuss your filter is simple to use, and keeps requirements with your aquatics water healthy and crystal clear. outlet. They will be able to show you some suitable options to choose from. 2 The Tetra EasyCrystal filter is easy to clean and maintain, with An important decision is whether a 'one-touch' system for easily to buy the aquarium and equipment replacing the filter cartridge separately, or as a complete kit. without getting your hands wet. Modern aquariums usually come with the equipment included, which makes 3 Large, user-friendly openings in buying them easier. However, if you the hood for feeding and easy want a particularly large aquarium, or access to equipment. a more unusual design, you may need 4 Modern design based on to buy it separately. Your aquatics exclusive Tetra research: outlet can advise you on exactly what is required. • Innovative features • High quality materials Tetra AquaArt Aquariums • Silver colour to suit any décor Tetra AquaArt aquariums have • Awarded international been designed to make aquarium IF Design award ownership easy. As well as their modern, stylish design, every detail has been carefully considered for ease-of-use and healthy, clear water. 2 1 3 6 5 Completely safe to set up and use thanks to excellent manufacturing 8 and high-quality equipment. 6 The filter can be positioned easily in a number of different places, thanks to customised support slots. 7 High quality glass aquarium: • Distortionless float glass with smoothed edges, for better viewing • Stable hood with durable 6 fluorescent tube, ideal for encouraging healthy plant growth 8 Complete with all equipment, set-up instructions, and Tetra food and care products. 4 7 5 7 Aquarium equipment Whether they come separately or as part of the aquarium, there are some important items of equipment that are essential for a healthy, attractive aquarium. Filter ‘biological filtration’, or ‘nitrification’, and is central to good water quality. Like all animals, fish produce a certain amount of waste. It is the filter’s job to There are two types of filter to choose process this waste, removing it from from – ‘internal’ or ‘external’. Internal the main aquarium and making it safe filters, such as the TetraTec INplus for the fish. There are two types of or TetraTec EasyCrystal fit inside the waste that are important to the health aquarium and contain media which of the aquarium: carries out combined mechanical and biological filtration. 1 Solid waste is mostly undigested or uneaten food. If allowed to External filters, such as the accumulate it will cause the water TetraTec EX, sit outside the aquarium, to become murky, and reduce the and contain different types of media, quality of the environment. including separate ones for biological and mechanical filtration. Because 2 Dissolved waste is primarily they contain a larger volume of media, excreted by fish across their gills, as well as different types, the quality and if not removed will accumulate of filtration is better with an external rapidly to dangerous levels. The filter, and they tend to need less most important dissolved waste is maintenance. ammonia. For a small to medium sized A good quality filter, such as those community aquarium, with a sensible in the TetraTec range, passes water stock of fish, an internal filter will through special media which removes provide good filtration. For aquariums both solid and dissolved wastes. They that are larger, more heavily stocked, therefore make the water safe for or if you want to reduce the amount fish, and are absolutely essential for a of maintenance required, an external healthy aquarium. filter may be a better option. Your Solid waste is removed by physical aquatics outlet can provide you with straining (‘mechanical filtration’), further guidance to help you decide. whilst the removal of dissolved waste depends on naturally occurring filter bacteria. These colonise the filter and turn ammonia into nitrite, and then into nitrate. This is known as 8 TetraTec INplus • Powerful and easy-to-use internal filters. • Two filter chambers to minimise loss of bacteria during replacement and cleaning. • Filter chamber can be removed for cleaning without taking filter out of aquarium. • Flow adjuster allows regulation of flow rate. • Venturi system increases oxygen content of water. • UV/GS tested, CE certified – safe and reliable. TetraTec EX • Powerful and quiet external filters, for the ultimate in filtration. • Easy to assemble and access for maintenance. • Supplied with all media. • Filter start button makes starting filter simple and straightforward. • Snap valve stops water flow for cleaning purposes, and prevents water leaking out. • TUV/GS tested, CE certified – safe and reliable. 9 Heater Light Most tropical fish require a A light/dark cycle is a natural part temperature of 24-27°C to remain of fishes’ lives, and live aquarium healthy. If it falls below this, they plants rely on good lighting to drive will quickly become unwell. Modern photosynthesis – the process by aquarium heaters, such as the which they convert carbon dioxide TetraTec HT, have built-thermostats, and water into simple sugars. to regulate the temperature of the Ambient light levels are not sufficient water. This means all you have to do to support these processes, and so is set the dial to the temperature you you will need a proper aquarium want, and let the heater do the rest. light unit. These are designed to Your aquatics outlet can help you emit the correct spectrum of light select the right size of heater, or you for encouraging plant growth, and to can follow the on-pack instructions.