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- Why is water quality such a big issue when it comes to fishkeeping?Why is water quality such a big issue when it comes to fishkeeping?
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- 10 things to avoid with your new fishBringing home a new fish is exciting, but there’s also lots to think about. To help you out, we’ve listed 10 things to avoid with your new fish.
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- 10 things to avoid with your new fishBringing home a new fish is exciting, but there’s also lots to think about. To help you out, we’ve listed 10 things to avoid with your new fish.
- How to maintain good water quality in your fish tankTop tips on maintaining good water quality in your fish tank
- Why is water quality such a big issue when it comes to fishkeeping?Why is water quality such a big issue when it comes to fishkeeping?
- All Blog Entries
- 10 things to avoid with your new fishBringing home a new fish is exciting, but there’s also lots to think about. To help you out, we’ve listed 10 things to avoid with your new fish.
- Store Finder
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Previous Questions
- Fish Care
- Aquarium - Maintenance and Care
- Set Up & Maintenance
- Does my aquarium need gravel or substrate?
- How long should I leave my aquarium lights on for?
- What maintenance should I do on my aquarium?
- What is a biological filter?
- How do I calculate the volume of water in my aquarium / pond?
- When can I add new fish to my tank?
- Can I add tap water directly to my aquarium?
- Water Quality
- How often should I change the aquarium water?
- How often should I clean my aquarium?
- How can I eradicate algae from my aquarium?
- Why are nitrite levels slowly creeping up in my new tank set up?
- Why does my aquarium water have a pale yellow tinge to it?
- What causes cloudy water in my aquarium?
- What is Water Hardness?
- How can I test the water in my aquarium?
- Set Up & Maintenance
- Fishkeeping Myth Busting
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Can I add tap water directly to my aquarium?Tap water contains chlorine and chloramines, which are added to our water supply to act as a disinfectant. They are very effective at keeping the water clean for human consumption, but unfortunately fish cannot tolerate chlorine or chloramines. You therefore need to add a de-chlorinator (try using King British De-Chlorinator) to the water before adding it to your aquarium. In all other aspects, tap water should be perfectly safe for fish. However, it is also good to know the hardness of your tap water.Read More
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When can I add new fish to my tank?Mature Tank If you are introducing new fish to a matured aquarium, then there shouldn’t be a problem. However, you should monitor the ammonia and nitrite level for the few days following introduction as a precaution. Also, you should quarantine any new fish for at least 4 days in a separate tank before adding to your main tank. This will help to prevent spreading any diseases. New Tank It is advisable to run a new tank with water only for at least 1 to 2 weeks before adding fish, to allow the filt…Read More
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How do I calculate the volume of water in my aquarium / pond?Visit our help page and fill in your tank or pond dimensions in the Water Volume sectionRead More
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What is a biological filter?The biochemical function of the aquarium filter is to remove harmful substances from the water by biochemical reaction. This means that bacteria within the filter can chemically alter a substance (for example, ammonia) to turn it into something else. Nitrifying bacteria are responsible for removing the dangerous ammonia and nitrite that are produced by fish as a waste product. They do this by changing the chemical composition of these toxic substances, resulting in the formation …Read More
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What maintenance should I do on my aquarium?The varies between all set ups, but as a rough guide you should do the following: Daily ✔ Check fish for signs of disease ✔ Check water temperature ✔ Check filter is working correctly Weekly ✔ Remove 10-15% of water and replace with de-chlorinated water - try using King British De-Chlorinator ✔ Test water conditions are suitable for the fish you keep (different species require different conditions) - Try adding King British Filter Aid +to help maintain good water quality. ✔ …Read More
Latest Questions: Set Up & Maintenance
Most Frequently Asked
How often should I change my aquarium water?
Most aquariums should be cleaned every 2 weeks on average. It is easier to combine cleaning and water changes by using a gravel siphon, as this also removes any dirt and waste from the bottom of the tank.When can I add new fish to my tank?
If you are introducing new fish to a matured aquarium, then there shouldn’t be a problem. However, you should monitor the ammonia and nitrite level for the few days following introduction as a precaution. Also, you should quarantine any new fish for at least 4 days in a separate tank before adding to your main tank. This will help to prevent spreading any diseases.
It is advisable to run a new tank with water only for at least 1 to 2 weeks before adding fish, to allow the filter to build up some beneficial bacteria. It helps to add King British Filter Aid + during this period to help the filter to mature. Fish produce ammonia through respiration, and release it into the water through their urine and across the gills. In a matured aquarium, the filter can remove the ammonia quickly before it causes any problems. However, in a new, un-matured aquarium the ammonia will linger and may build up and cause problems. If fish are added straight away to a new tank, then the ammonia they produce can poison them and they may die. Also, once you do start adding fish, they should be added slowly and gradually, not all at once. Spread it out over of a period of weeks by adding two or three fish at a time, to allow the filter to adjust to the larger load of ammonia and nitrite.
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