Discovering the right type and consistency of food
The type of diet and food consistency can be determined by considering three divisions of two groups.
The first section is the type of food. Herbivores eat plant-based food only, carnivores are meat-eating fish and omnivores eat both plant and animal matter. Most fish fall into this third group.
There are also different depths at which fish feed in tank aquariums so it is important to display food in a texture suitable for fish which collect food from the top, fish that feed on food which has fallen into the water, and fish that gather food from the bottom of fish tanks.

What’s on the menu?
All fish require a balanced diet consisting of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Here are a variety of foods you may consider, depending on the nutritional requirements of the fish in your freshwater fish tanks.

Herbivore fish need food with high fibre content, for instance algae and vegetables. These fish will enjoy lettuce, zucchini, spinach, nettles, maize, carrots and peas. You need to ensure that these vegetables are boiled so they are soft, and broken down into suitably sized morsels. These foods provide various vitamins, minerals and trace elements. I also recommend using Spirulina for herbivores as it provides them with easily edible vegetable protein.

For carnivores and omnivores, a diet rich in protein will be vital. This can be supplied through live food (making sure it is nourishing), home-produced or commercial foods. Thin slices of raw red meat or cooked white meat can be used, live small fish (e.g. feeder goldfish), live or freeze-dried worms, daphnia, brine shrimp, Tubifex, and krill. Meat, brine shrimp and worms are best fed as a delicacy rather than as an everyday food. Tubifex encourages growth and may be used as a conditioning food to get your fish healthy before breeding. For myself, I suggest krill as a dietary basis for carnivorous and omnivorous fish. They are rich in protein and contain amino acids and Omega 3 fatty acids for overall health, carotenoids to bring out bright colors in fish, vitamins and minerals which improve the immune system, dietary roughage to improve digestion, and vitalizing carbohydrates. Krill also contain little fat and salt. They are ideal for helping a sick fish recuperate or to bring a healthy fish up to maximum condition for breeding or showing. For predatory carnivores who like to catch moving things, you can dangle non-live food from a fork and let it down into the aquarium in front of the fish, wiggling it around so that it seems it is alive!

Dry foods
There are several types of dry foods for instance granules, grains, flakes, pills, pellets and wafers. These can all be bought in a range of compositions considering the type of fish you wish to feed and the different parts of the water column they occupy. Most of these prepared foods are of a high-quality, calculated to give a balanced diet and are full of extra vitamins and minerals, so it is vital to include them in the diet. Different formulas can also be used from time to time such as preparation for breeding or for developing color. It is also very practical as it is easy to store and doesn’t require any preparation. The risk of disease or parasites being brought into aquariums with food is likewise completely eliminated.

Bon Appetit!
Diversity is the real key to high-quality fish nutrition. Therefore, it is vital to provide your fish with a choice of different suitable foods to make certain they receive a balanced diet for their best possible health and their interest in and enjoyment of food.

Copyright © 2009 Jill Kaestner @ Kaestner Marketing LLC

Setting up your aquarium
Before buying an aquarium you must decide on the space you have on hand and research the adult size of the fish you would like to keep, both of which will suggest the size and shape of aquarium that would be appropriate. Considering all this has been carefully designed and your model aquarium is there with all the necessary equipment ready to be set up, you can follow these steps to hassle-free successful aquarium setup.

1. Position aquarium (on a stand, if needed) in an area away from direct sunlight, heat and draughts, as these alter the light and temperature of the tank. Also ensure that the floor is able to carry the overall weight of the aquarium when filled with water (approximately 10 pounds per gallon of water).

2. Wash out the tank with water as hot as you can bear. Do not use detergents or soaps as residue will be harmful for tropical freshwater fish.

3. Place the under-gravel filter in the bottom of the tank (if your aquarium comes with one), following the instructions supplied.

4. Rinse the gravel thoroughly in hot water using a sieve to get rid of any dust or debris. Add the gravel to the tank, covering the under-gravel filter. Create a gentle slope of gravel, deepest at the back.

5. Clean all artificial plants and decorations in hot water and organize in the fish tank.

6. Fasten the aquarium heater to the inside of the tank with its suction cups but do not plug it in for at least 30 minutes until the thermostat has adjusted to the water temperature, otherwise the heater may break. Needless to say, you need to have researched the species you anticipate to keep to learn about specific temperature needs.

7. Set up the aquarium filter following the instructions given, placing the filter media inside.

8. Position a dish on the bottom of the aquarium to break the power of the water and fill the aquarium with water that is at room temperature. Add de-chlorinator to the water if you are using unfiltered tap water. Check for any rare leaks as you fill the tank. (They are easily fixed with aquarium silicone).

9. Unless the aquarium lighting is previously fitted underwater, put the light on top.

10. Plug in all the equipment and check that everything is working perfectly. Make sure there is a dip in the cord before it reaches the electrical outlet, known as a ‘drip loop’. This ensures the water drips off onto the floor and does not pass directly into the electrical socket.

Your aquarium is now functional in its self but is still not ready for sustaining tropical freshwater fish. Beneficial bacteria needs to be established first, and the aquarium atmosphere then needs to alter as new fish are gradually added.

How to proceed after initial aquarium setup
Let the tank settle and the water stabilize for some days. During this time you must keep monitoring the water parameters using aquarium test kits to make certain they are suitable for the fish you plan to have (temperature, pH, hardness, ammonia).

Nitrogen cycle
You will then need to begin the nitrogen cycle so your aquarium will be ready to sustain healthy freshwater fish (see related article ‘Setting-Up Tropical Freshwater Fish Tank Aquariums: The Nitrogen Cycle’ at ezinearticles.com).

Aquarium maintenance
When the nitrogen cycle is concluded and you start adding fish to your aquarium, you need to initiate a maintenance program. On a daily basis ensure that fish are healthy, particularly during feeding times, and make certain that the filters and heaters are operating correctly. Clean your tank every one to two weeks and perform 25% water changes once a month.

Copyright © 2009 Jill Kaestner @ Kaestner Marketing LLC