Setting up a freshwater aquarium requires only a few simple steps: - Place an under-gravel filter on the bottom of the tank.
- Attach an air hose from a tube to the air pump. The filter brings in air and draws waste under the gravel where bacteria break it down into nontoxic waste products.
- Wash the gravel and place it in the tank.
- Decorate the tank with real or plastic plants, wood or tiny figurines (be sure to use items that are safe for use in aquariums -- check with your aquarium store if you're not sure).
- Prefloat your new fish in the tank in their plastic bags for a couple of hours. If you don't prefloat them, the fish will go into shock and die when they're placed in the tank.
- Use an aquarium thermometer to test the water temperature. When it reaches the green zone, the temperature is safe for the fish.
- Place the fish in their new home. In this episode we used neon tetras, catfish and a Sicilian. Bottom feeders will help keep the bottom of the tank clean; feed them pellet food, which will sink to the bottom. Top feeders should be fed flake food, which will float on the top.
Kids' Questions about Fish Q: How can you tell whether a fish is a boy or a girl?
A: There are different ways to tell, according to the type of fish -- females tetras, for example, are plumper than males.
Q: Can you put a fish you've caught in the tank with your other fish?
A: It's not a good idea, because wild fish may carry fungi or other detrimental organisms that could make your fish sick.
Q: Do fish sleep?
A: Yes, they do -- some in the daytime and some at night. One last tip: Before you invest in aquarium equipment, it's a good idea to read some books about fish and aquariums.
RESOURCES :
Dr. Axelrod's Mini-Atlas of Freshwater Aquarium Fishes
Model: 0866223851
Author: Herbert R. Axelrod
TFH Publications
1996
Complete Aquarium
Model: 0789400138
Author: Peter W. Scott
Dk Pub Merchandise
May, 1995
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