My Favorites for Freshwater Fish

Freshwater Fish Tips

Care and Feeding

• Select a tank that is appropriate for the species you are choosing. Consider types of fish that get along well and how big they will grow. I have a 32.5-gallon for smaller community fish like Mollies, Platy's, Tetra varieties, smaller Angel Fish, and Rainbow Fish; my second tank is 100-gallons for my Discus, larger Angel Fish, Rainbow Fish and Gourami’s.

• Ensure the tank has proper heating, filtration and lighting. Consider air stones for extra oxygen circulation. Not every species likes the same water temperature - my community tank is best at 78 degrees F, my discus tank is kept at 84 degrees F.

• Feed a balanced diet, and only feed what they can eat in 2 minutes, left-over food waste will decompose releasing dangerous ammonia and overfeeding can lead to health issues. I feed my fish once per day at supper. Consider 1 fasting day per week.

• Regular water maintenance is crucial for the well-being of your fish. Invest in a good water testing kit to monitor levels of ammonia, nitrites, and pH. I do 25% water changes weekly, and a full gravel cleaning with water change monthly. Always add water conditioner to your new tap water before adding to the tank. I also add biological supplements (like Nutrafin Cycle) weekly. Prime is one of my favorite products, as it will detoxify ammonia, nitrite and nitrate if you have it in your water.

• I am not an expert on filtration systems, but I rinse my mechanical media every three months and biological media gently as it gets dirty.

• It is normal for new fish added to have a bit of stress or hide. I try to re-arrange my tank a bit before adding new fish so the surroundings are a bit unique for everyone.

• Always observe your fish regularly to ensure they are healthy and thriving. Watch out for bullying, it can happen. Look out for signs of illness or distress, and address any issues promptly.

• Even if you do everything right, sometimes fish will pass away.

  Decorating Your Tank

• When I first started out, I thought you had to have sand or gravel at the bottom of your tank, you do not. I keep gravel in my smaller tank, but it shouldn’t be too thick of a layer - remember excess food and waste gets trapped in gravel. Vacuum at least 1X per month, more if necessary. I started with gravel in my Discus tank and then removed all of it, bare bottom is much easier to keep clean.

• I have never had luck with real planted tanks but many hobbyists do.

• I have interesting, colorful and inspiring ornaments in my community tank (we love Star Wars), and use the plastic plants. There are enough to enable hiding places and interesting places for fish to swim through, but you have fish for a reason so make sure they have space for you to see them. Rinse anything new before you put it in, I rinse everything monthly as part of the water change using the water I am taking out of my tank versus tap water. If you use tap water, ensure you have added water conditioner first.

• I have had black algae grow on my decorations. For this, I soaked them in a solution of a bit of bleach and lots of hot water. Ensure you rinse thoroughly before you put back in your tank.

  What I have learned is there is a lot to learn, and there are lots of reputable blogs and forums out there to get information from. A trusted aquarium owner is another great resource. Learn from others!