1. What size of an aquarium should I purchase?
   
   Choosing size of an you aquarium depends on several factors. Your main consideration should be ; how much you want to spend; what space you have available; and number of fish you would like to keep. Calculate one litre of fish per cm of fish When buying aquarium, take into account large aquariums are much easier to maintain than smaller ones.



2. How many different shapes are available?
   
   The most popular are the rectangular shaped aquariums, but at the present time there other different shapes available eg triangular, hexagonal and octagonal aquariums. There are no limits as long as your aquarium functions biologically.



3. Where should I position my aquarium?
   
   A nice quiet corner of a room, whilst you can get easy access when maintaining aquarium. A hallway or alcove is not a good idea because of draughts caused when opening and closing of doors.



4. How do I find a reputable aquatic store?
   
   In our experience we find most aquatic or pet stores are in the business of making money rather than selling good products. A good idea is to shop at a store that concentrates only on aquariums Observe stock where you are buying, and pay particular attention as to whether any of fish look stressed or lethargic,reason being water quality unsuitable.



5. Can I buy my tank,set it up and stock all in same day?
   
   Definitely not,this would disasterous, complete set-up takes in the region of up to 4-6 weeks.



6. Why does set-up take so long?
   
   The most important point to bear in mind, you want to minimise fish stress and this envolves understanding THE NITROGEN CYCLE Fish produce ammonia that must be broken down by bacteria via biological filter. This is the reason in most cases for lack of knowledge of not understanding THE NITROGEN CYCLE.



7. What is the nitrogen cycle?
   
   It is a dynamic progress that goes on in your aquarium 365 days year. There are three stages of the nitrogen cycle First stage is when fish are introduced to aquarium and urine,faeces and any uneaten food is broken down into ammonia. If PH reads below 7, it is not toxic to fish,but if PH reads at above 7 it is highly toxic to fish. Ammonia levels usually start escalating on the third day after the introduction of fish Second Stage – By this stage the ammonia levels should have dropped dramatically, however nitrate levels can be dangerous to some fish. Nitrate on most accasions begin to rise by the end of the first week after fish are introduced Third Stage – In the last stage of the nitrogen cycle nitro bacteria converts into nitrates. Nitrates are not harmful to fish in low temperatures. Partial water changes can regulate water to a safe range.



8. How do I know if fish are stressed?
   
   The most common symptoms of stressful fish are as follows:
   (a) Gasping for breath,usually staying at surface of tank
   (b) Appetite is poor
   (c) Stays near bottom of tank
   (d) Minor cuts or bruises or disease eg parasite,fungus etc
   (e) Temperature of water needs to match each species.



9. How many fish can I put in my new aquarium?
   
   The suggested rule should be two inches of fish to every two gallons of water, on the other hand I would recommend one fish at a time. It is very sensible to add fish gradually and most importantly slowly until maximum load that your aquarium can take.



10. How do I introduce fish to my tank?
    
    When you have fish home, place the bag on surface of water, allowing fish to climatize to water temperature,let bag settle on water for 20 minutes. Open bag and add half a cup of water repeat this method every 20 minutes for ¾ hour, then gradually add fish to tank water. Observe new fish for two weeks and watch for signs of disease.



11. How much should I feed my fish?
    
    The fishkeeper will from time to time hear, feed your fish what they can consume in 3 minutes. Each time you feed your fish observe how much they eat and how much falls to bottom of tank. It is better to feed a tiny bit several times a day, but most adult fish are content being fed once a day.



12. What kind of plants should I put in my Aquarium?
    
    There are two types of Aquarium plants-real and plastic. They both provide décor and hiding places for your fish.



13. What type of filtration should I install?
    
    There are three types of filtration; biological,mechanical and chemical All fish tanks must have a biological filtration system to decompose the toxic ammonia that fish produce as waste. A biological filtration system is the most economical, efficient and stable way to breakdown toxic ammonia. A mechanical filtration unit on the other hand traps any uneaten food or leaves etc allowing them to be removed from aquarium before they decompose into ammonia. Chemical filtration is mostly used for dealing with short term problems eg removing medication or purifying water prior to going into a tank. All fish tanks must have a Biological Filtration system, although Chemical filtration can remove ammonia under limited circumstances it is not the answer.



14. How do I feed my fish when I go on vacation?
    
    When you go on vacation, you should either have someone feed your fish for you or use an automatic feeder while you’re away. If someone is going to feed your fish while you’re gone, you should stress to them the importance of not overfeeding. You can make up little packets of food in the corners of plastic sandwich bags and seal them; then hide all of your other food to help your fish sitter resist the temptation of over-feeding your aquarium.



15. How important is varying the diet of fish?
    
    EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! You should vary the diet of your fish as much as possible. Keep at least six different foods on hand and feed different dry and/or frozen foods at each feeding.



16. What are some of the things I can do to ensure a healthy environment for my fish?
    
    Find a good aquarium store and follow their advice. Make friends with them. Support the aquarium retail store whose staff spends valuable time helping you by obtaining your fish, equipment, and supplies there
    
    Buy good equipment to begin with, and set your aquarium up right the first time. Buy a good book first. Read it. Then buy your aquarium. We have seen many new aquarium owners who skimped on the initial aquarium system because they were afraid to invest too much before they were sure they would enjoy the hobby.
    
    Be patient. Take your time stocking a new aquarium. Select your specimens carefully and go slow. Allow at least two weeks between each introduction of fish for a freshwater tank aquarium. If your aquarium will be due for a water change soon, wait until after the water change to purchase new fish.
    
    Buy a test kit and use it. Testing the water quality in an aquarium on a regular basis can reveal minor problems in an aquarium before they become major disasters.