Bringing home a new fish is exciting. You have a new friend. Except, here are some tips that you should know. Can I release my fish into the fish tank as soon as I get home? Read this article, and we will tell you everything that you need to know about freeing your fish into the tank.
Why Do I Have to Wait to Put a Fish in the Tank?
It’s a good idea to wait to put a fish in the tank for reasons as followed. Do not, and we repeat, do not put your fish in the tank right when you bring them home. Putting your fish in the water too early increases the risk of it getting sick. Or worse, it could die.
You shouldn’t add a fish into a tank if it’s not unprepared. Wait until your aquarium is finished with the cycling process. That usually takes up to 6 to 8 weeks. Wait at least 6 to 8 weeks before you introduce your fish to his new home.
How Long Should I Wait?
Wait 30 minutes. Let your fish float in the bag in the tank to get them used to the new environment. Wait until your fish is civilized. Sudden change in water temperature or environment could be enough to shock them.
In some cases instructed by sources as you are preparing a fish tank in the cycling process, it’s best to wait 24-48 hours to put your fish in the tank. Get your fish used to the environment. Let them adjust to the water so that the sudden transfer doesn’t shock the fish. Shock makes the fish ill.
How to Prepare a Fish Tank
A fish tank should be all set up by the time you get home with the fish. Perform tasks as followed to ensure that everything is up-to-date.
Steps for Preparing the Tank
Ask what water the fish can swim in. If a fish swims in salt water then fill it with saltwater. However, if you fill a tank with salt water for a normal fish, it’s not going to survive. Most fish take normal tap water.
Water hardness and its nitrate level lead to illness or maybe death too. Placing your fish in the water for thirty minutes gets them used to it.
Step 1: Checking pH Level
Fill a bucket with tap water. Then check it’s Ph level. Buy a testing kit from any pet store to perform this task.
Step 2: Soften the Water
Softening the water is a way for the fishes to survive. Find out how to soften water and other methods on ensuring your fish’s survival in any type of water.
Step 3: De-chlorine and Add Water
Once you are finished with softening the tap water, it’s time to de-chlorinator it. This is the most critical part. It’s essential for aquatic life. Next, just as water to the mix.
Step 4: Put Water in the Tank
Now that you have finished treating the water, it’s time to dump it into the tank. Test the water to confirm. Chlorine, nitrites, and ammonia levels should be zero or close to. The Ph level in the water should be controlled. Once you have covered that, pour the water slowly into the tank. There is no need to rush unless you want water spilling all over the floor.
Cycling the Tank
Fish tanks should not be bland. It’s okay to have decorative objects at the bottom. Objects like lava rocks, figurines, or even fake grass are wonderful additions. Search the stores for objects to get ideas.
Being aware of the size of your fish is very important in your search for the right tank. Giving your fish a tank that is too small will do little to provide them with. Make sure that the size of the tank is comfortable for any number of fish.
It’s highly important to wash your tank correctly. To clean the tank, remove all the decorations and gravels from the tank. Wash every decorative object. You shouldn’t use any toxic detergents or soaps.
After placing the objects back into the tank, it’s time to fill it up with water. And connect the filter.
Dangers of Ammonia
Fish excrement produces ammonia. If ammonia is left in the water it becomes toxic to fish. It could even kill them if it reaches high levels of concentration.
To prevent ammonia from building up in the aquarium it needs a nitrogen cycle. The cycle takes care of unhealthy bacteria such as ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Cycling is the method of the useful bacteria colonies within the tank preparing the toxic waste. It then turns into non-toxic waste. Kick-starting the nitrogen cycle takes a longer time. It could take a total of six weeks to fully complete.
To start cycling, have your aquarium set up. Make sure there is gravel in the tank. The filter switches on once water are added. Heads up, good bacteria is already present in the water. Look into specific kits that can help with the cycling process.
The kit ultimately simplifies the process and is more refined than cycling your aquarium with fish. You can combine plants to your aquarium at this stage, they are nearly unaltered by short term water parameters and can help in the cycling process.
Testing the Water
As mentioned, fish come from all over the ocean. They are used to different waters. You need to pay attention to the water. Testing kits help here, too. Take a testing strip and stick it in the water.
Your cycling process is complete once the ammonia and nitrite levels say zero so the nitrate stays below 40 ppm. Nitrate levels are inside the testing kit to help you get a better understanding of the results. Keep testing the water for a few days. If the results stay the same that means the cycle is working. After that, it’s time to add the fish to the water.
Think About Bacteria
What you should know is that not all bacteria are harmful. Bacteria is a fish’s friend. Yes, really. Helpful bacteria have many jobs in an aquarium. Bacteria fight ammonia, build-up, and recycle waste products. To speed the process of cycling along, here are a few things that you can do. Feed ammonia to bacteria as a meal. Add small chunks of fish food.
Getting the Fish Ready
Here is the most important part of bringing your fish home. Treat your fish like it is a new member of the family, which it is. In some cases, new fish have died right when being added to the fish tank. It may mean that they were unwell upon purchase, but here is what you need to do to avoid that.
Provide them with comfort, food, and don’t shake up the bag. Add it to the tank slowly. Make sure the temperature is ideal and turn the lights in your home down. When adding new fish to the tank keep them in the plastic bag. Roll the edges of the bag down. Then place the bag in the tank water to float. The bag will float steadily on top of the water. During the time, some of the water will splash over the bag.
It’s a good idea to test the ph inside the back and compare it to your tank. If they’re drastically contrasting, this will shock your fish and could even kill them. If the numbers don’t match, use a measuring cup, and add a 1/2 amount of the tank water into the bag. Wait at least 15 minutes. Test the ph a couple of times and see if the numbers are any closer.
Let the fish float by lowering the plastic bag in the aquarium. The fish gets used to the aquarium setting. Do this for 15 to 20 minutes. At this time, check the Ph level of the bag’s water and compare it to your tank water. The difference in Ph should be less than 0.1. Make this as close as possible to the temperature of the water.
Acclimating the Fish
Getting the fish ready is a long process. Gradually add cups of water from the tank to the bag over the first two hours. This helps the pH levels change so your fish is not in shock. While waiting for pH levels to equalize. Focus on the water temperature.
Tropical fish thrive better in waters between 76° and 80°F. Keep these temperatures with a precise thermometer. All species have different needs so research the specific species as to what temperature they require before you place them into the tank.
Introducing Your Fish to It’s New Home
After 30 minutes, it’s time to introduce your fish to its new home. Lift the fish carefully out of the plastic bag. Always keep a small net near in case your fish decides to escape. Nets also make it a quick and easy transfer into the tank.
Get your water and tank ready before adding a new fish. The last thing you need is for your fish to become sick. You need to prevent it. Take the exact steps to test your water. Take the time to accurately acclimate your fish to the tank. Follow these steps closely and adding a fish to the tank will be easy.
Tips for When You Take a Fish Out
For reasons of cleaning the rank, it is necessary to take the fish out of the tank so you won’t get in the way. Here’s what you need to do.
Don’t take out the fish immediately. Although they are used to it, fish become stressed. Put your pet fish in a separate bowl. Do not fill this bowl with new tap water. Take the water from the aquarium and put it in the jar.
Use the small fish net for catching the fish from the aquarium. Never use your hands to grab a fish. Grab them very gently or else they will get scared, dart away fast, and injure themselves.
Or Don’t Take the Fish Out
There is a way to work around the fish. You look calm when you work gently. It will reduce your work for a full cleaning. If you clean the gravel deeply, half of your work has already been completed.
If you remove the fish directly from the tank for cleaning, then you are risking your fish’s life for stress, anxiety, shock, and injuries as well. Only use your hands if you have a net in the other.
Cleaning the Tank
Prepare your tank for a clean by removing all the decorations. Always wear gloves in this project. Put the decorations aside and place a paper towel underneath it so you won’t get the table wet.
It’s time to clean the tank properly. Use vinegar and salt solution. Leave it for about a half-hour, and then clear it thoroughly with tap water. Rinse the fish tank thoroughly with hot water to kill off any harmful bacteria. Using conditioner removes all harmful chemical compounds from the tank.
Use a scraper on the walls of the aquarium to remove all the algae. Gravel marks should withdraw, and there should be no stain left behind. You can use any other cleaning method which you know the best. Scrub your fish tank well to remove the fishy odor.
Use a cleaning method that you know best. We all have our cleaning styles that are different from everyone else. We learn something new every day. Scrub your fish tank properly to remove the fishy odor.
After Cleaning the Tank
Of course, you are going to put the fish back in the tank once you are finished with cleaning.
After completed cleaning, your aquarium, pour new freshwater inside it. If putting tap water in your tank make sure that it does not contain heavy metals and other contaminants. Then put all the decorations back, too.