Adding Fish

Be careful to avoid overcrowding! A good general rule of thumb for stocking the aquarium is: 1 inch for fish per gallon of fresh water. That means that in a bare 10 gal. Aquarium, 10 inches of fish can live comfortably. Remember that decorated aquariums hold less water than the stated amount. Whit the upgrading or filtration equipment, regular water changes and good knowledge of one's aquarium, this rule of thumb may easily be doubled. Determine the final size of any new fish to ensure they will be suitable for the aquarium. (Marine fish require much more room per fish. Consult your local pet dealer for specific recommendations.)

Be sure the water has been de-chlorinated before fish are added. In new aquariums, add Cycle to immediately commence biological filtration. If chloramine was present in the water, ammonia will be present. Use Amrid or Fluval Ammonia Remover in the filter to help remove it.

In a new set-up, be patient and add a limited number of fish. Start with a few hardy specimens. The biosphere initially is not able to cope with excessive wastes generated by the fish. The system cannot support a full organic load until the natural cycles have had a chance to establish. Regular addition of Cycle bacterial supplement during this initial period hastens the process and reduces the possibility that fish will be poisoned by their decaying wastes. The addition of Cycle helps alleviate one of the greatest difficulties for the new aquarist. After a suitable run-in period (about six weeks), the water will have aged and the biological filter will become established. Some new specimens can be safely added to the community.

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Feeding

Fish in their native habitat are constantly searching for food and will therefore eat just about anything at any time when available. Their diets consist of a variety of larvae, flies, insects, vegetable matter, worms and other fish. Excessive overfeeding pollutes the aquarium and is a primary cause of fish loss.

For most fish, it is advisable to feed small amounts several times daily. Feed only that quantity of food which is consumed within a two-minute period with none settling at the bottom. Feed sparingly in order to ensure that the food is eaten rather than dropping to the bottom of the aquarium and fouling the water. If any is left on the bottom after five minutes, You have overfed. Always remove uneaten food. Reduce the quantity to be fed the next time. Experiment until you find the proper amount.

It is a good idea to feed a wide variety of foods to fish. This will help maintain a balanced diet for all inhabitants. In a community aquarium, it is a very good idea to feed many different foods so that all fish get what they need. Large flakes and chunks are great for larger fish like Cichlids, while small flakes and smaller freeze-dried products should be offered to Tetras and Livebearers. Be sure proper size food is offered, or it may be left uneaten and pollute the aquarium. Remove any food that is not consumed after a feeding.

NutraFin Fish Foods, through scientific research, have been developed to provide all the nutritional requirements to the most finicky and demanding fish. NutraFin provides all necessary vitamins, amino acids, carbohydrates and trace elements for spawning. Specific diets have been developed to meet the needs of all tropical fish. Besides NutraFin Staple Diet, Color Tone, Growth and Plant Diet are available for all fish. Livebearer and Cichlid flakes have been developed for the more specific requirements of these types of fish. The convenient Multi-Pack food dispenser contains four popular foods that allow for variety in the diet.

NutraFin Pellets are used for fish that need larger morsels of completely balanced diet. Small granules for Discus are available which float for a short period and then slowly sink for the fish to eat as they travel downwards. Discus Pellets are also great for medium to larger fish as well as many marine types. Fully nutritious, complete diets are also available for Cichlids, Koi and goldfish in larger pellet sizes as well. The lower protein levels in the Goldfish and Koi Pellets include special recipes for color enhancement or added vegetable matter to accommodate the special needs of outdoor fish.

NutraFin Freeze-Dried Foods offer a complete section of high protein ingredients, which most fish are likely to encounter in their native environment. NutraFin Freeze-Dried Foods offer the additional benefit of being cleaned and totally germ free. The freeze-drying process allows for the removal of all water and humidity, retaining all of the nutritional values otherwise present. Tasty foods now available include Brine Shrimp, Daphnia, Krill, Mosquito Larvae, Red Grubs, River Shrimp, Tubifex Worms, and White Shrimp. Tropical and marine fish will eagerly accept these tempting delicacies.

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