Aquarium Do's and Dont's

Before You Start

  • Register for TetraCare, our free online support system
  • Purchase the largest aquarium you can.
  • Place it on a sturdy stand.
  • Locate your new aquarium away from direct sunlight to discourage algae growth in the water.

The Water
  • Seek your dealer's advice about the quality of your local tap water. Knowing parameters such as pH and hardness will help you select fish that are well suited to live in the water in your aquarium.
  • Also ask your dealer if the water in your area contains chlorine or chloramine—strong chemicals used for water treatment in many municipalities. Always add ®AquaSafe to any water before putting it in your aquarium. AquaSafe neutralizes or eliminates chlorine, chloramine and heavy metals. If you have a small aquarium, you may want to consider using spring water, which does not contain harmful chemicals.

Water Parameters

Freshwater parameters

Freshwater community

African Cichlid

Freshwater plants and discus

Brackish

Pond

Temperature

72 – 82oF

72 – 82oF

76 – 86oF

72 – 82oF

33 – 86oF

pH

6.5 – 7.5

7.8 – 8.5

6.0 – 7.5

7.5 – 8.4

6.5 – 7.5

Ammonia

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Nitrite

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Nitrate

< 50 ppm

< 50 ppm

< 30 ppm

< 50 ppm

< 50 ppm

Alkalinity (Carbonate Hardness)

4 – 8 KH

10 - 18 KH

3 – 8 KH

10 - 18 KH

4 – 8 KH

General Hardness

4 – 12 GH

12 - 20 GH

3 - 8 GH

12 - 20 GH

4 – 12 GH


Heating and Lighting
  • Maintain the right aquarium temperature with the easy-to-set Whisper® Submersible Heater.
  • To make temperature reading easy, consider purchasing an adhesive temperature strip that can be applied to the outside of your aquarium glass. They are inexpensive and available at your local fish retailer.
  • Fluorescent lighting has been the traditional light source and is readily available; however, consider LED lighting, which is more cost-effective to operate and lasts longer than traditional light sources.

Filtration and Aeration
  • With your dealer's help, choose the Tetra Whisper Power Filter that best suits the size of your aquarium.
  • Use a Tetra Whisper Air Pump, and air stone to make quiet, pleasing bubbles in your tank and provide extra aeration for a healthy environment.

Adding Fish and Plants
Register for TetraCare and learn how to add fish to your aquarium.
  • Always use Tetra AquaSafe® or Tetra SafeStart® when introducing new fish to your tank.
  • When bringing new fish home from a retailer, float the bag in the aquarium first, to equalize the temperature between the aquarium water and the plastic bag containing the fish. Use your fingers to test the water to determine when the temperatures are roughly the same.
  • Use a net to extract the fish from the bag. Never dump the water from the retailer into your aquarium.
  • Use plastic plants in your aquarium if you prefer a low-maintenance alternative to live plants. Some artificial plants are so realistic and life-like, you'll forget they aren't real plants.
  • Consider using live plants in your aquarium. They can enhance aquarium enjoyment as well as help balance or recycle certain biochemicals and nutrients. However, they require 12-14 hours of light per day, occasional pruning and replanting, and fertilization with Tetra FloraPride®.
  • For a larger plant environment with more advanced plants, you may want to consider adding a CO2 system. There are many good articles online, and systems available at fish retailers.

Feeding
Register for TetraCare® to learn how – and how often – to properly feed your fish.
TetraMin® is the world's finest fish food and is recommended for a staple diet.


Maintenance
  • Change 25% of the water every two to four weeks weeks. Siphon from the bottom and stir the gravel to help remove debris. In most freshwater aquariums, the need for frequent water changes can be reduced by using Tetra EasyBalance® as a weekly treatment to stabilize water quality.
  • Use a gravel cleaner to siphon debris without disturbing aquarium decor or needing to remove fish.
  • Change the Filter Cartridge at least every four weeks, or when you see a noticeable reduction in water flow.
  • Add Tetra AquaSafe® or Tetra SafeStart® whenever you add water or fish to your aquarium.

Troubleshooting
Monitor water conditions (pH, ammonia, nitrite) regularly with Tetra EasyStrips™ to prevent water problems before they occur.


Learning More

And Remember...
  • DON'T add too many fish to a new aquarium.
  • DON'T overfeed your fish.
  • DON'T tap on the glass or startle your fish.
  • DON'T tear down an aquarium to clean it. Keeping fish and gravel in place, use a siphon hose to change part of the water and clean gravel of debris.
  • DON'T forget to change your Whisper Filter Cartridge at least every four weeks.