#ad This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Mars Fishcare and the API brand. We have received a Tropical Fish Tank and all the necessary equipment to keep tropical fish at home.
When Evie was little we went to a local fair and she won a goldfish, that pour soul was hence forth known as Tara Diva! She was a spoiled little fishy and loved so much that it broke Evies heart when she had to be ‘god rest her soul’ flushed!
She has never had fish since so when we were offered the chance by API Fishcare to set up a tropical fish tank I knew this would make her day.
Along with a few other bloggers we were invited to a zoom meeting to hear what Gary Jones, API Brand and Mars Fishcare resident fish expert.
He discussed setting up a mixed community aquarium, which is a tank filled with different types of fish who live harmoniously. A large aquarium is better for a variety of fish as there is more room for them to grow. The ideal starter tank should be around 50L and you need a heater to stabilise the water temperature between 74-78 degrees. Tropical fish require warm water so a heater is essential.
The aquarium itself should also have a light, it is important for the fish to have a day and night cycle so they can acclimate accordingly. The light helps to display the aquarium too and makes it a great focal point for children. We find that the girls love to sit and watch the fish darting around the plants and castle for hours.
A filter is an integral part of the tank set up, it collects the waste and helps keeps the tank clean.
Setting up the tank.
API have been leaders in the aquatic industry for over 60 years and provide everything you can ever need to setting up and maintaining a tropical fish tank.
Once you have the tank filled with gravel, accessories and plants it is time to make a start on prepping the water for the addition of fish.
Tap water may be fine for us to drink but it can be harmful for fish due to the chlorine etc. API Stress Coat instantly makes tap water safe for fish. This is important each time you add any additional water to the tank.
Aquarium salt is added to the water a table spoon per 5 gallons. This is evaporated sea salt, which contains electrolites and all the neutrients your fish would need. This only needs adding when there is a partial or full water change.
The next thing to kick start the beneficial bacteria in the tank, something to take the waste from toxic to non toxic is API Quick Start. It confirms amonia to nitrates which are safe for the fish.
After the addition of these items your tank is ready for the fish. There are so many to choose from tetras to angel fish.
Selecting the fish is purely down to personal choice and you should always ask at the pet store which fish get along well together and which are predatory. You don’t want to lose all your hard work due to picking the wrong ones.
When adding new fish to the tank you should add additional API stress coat. This can help reduce stress for the fish and help heal tissue which may have been caused in moving them from shop tank to your own.
Fish food should be specifically a tropical community aquarium blend. You should only feed enough that they can eat in 5 minutes and remove any extra left behind so that it doesn’t cause additional waste.
Once the tank has been up and running you should add API Stress Zyme, a beneficial bacteria which will chew up any additional waste. A weekly dose will cut down the time you need to spend maintaining the tank.
If the water appears to be murky and not as clear as you like it is best to check the filter first, but there is also an API Accu-clear agent that helps to clump smaller waste together. This makes it easier to pick up by the filter and should only be used as and when the tank gets cloudy.
Checking the water with API Test Strips means you are keeping on top of all of the results you need for your tank to run smoothly. A simply dip and check test will give you an insight into what is going on inside the tank.
We love watching the fish and can’t wait to add more fish to our tank. We thought it best to start off with just 4 but have been told we can have up to 20 in the tank. As I was by myself when shopping I picked the ones that I thought were hardy and likely to withstand a new tank and environment for the girls first foray into tropical fish keeping. The girls are so excited to go and pick their own new little pets!
