Previous Questions

    Latest Questions: Disease

  • Several of my fish have died. What's killed them?
    There are many reasons why some of your fish have died. You need to review everything that may have occurred in your aquarium in the last 3 weeks or so.  There are some basic questions that you can ask yourself that will help you to understand what has happened: Check the water quality – are there any unusual results? Are the ammonia and nitrite at a safe level? You can use King British 6 in 1 Test Strips to test your water quality.  Check the dead fish and your remaining fish for any …
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  • How long do fish take to recover from Fin Rot?
    This depends on how bad the problem is to start with. By using King British Fin Rot & Fungus Control there should be an improvement in 4-5 days. Due to fish having open wounds it is very important to keep water quality pristine, to prevent secondary infection taking place.
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  • I think my fish has a problem with its swimbladder
    The swim bladder is a small organ inside the fish that can fill up with air or deflate, allowing the fish to move around in the water column more easily. The swim bladder is quite prone to infection, which can cause bloating, disorientated swimming, and involuntary floating or sinking. Alternatively, the gut of fish may have trapped air, caused by constipation or by an infection.  ✔  You should stop feeding for a day or two, and check the water quality using King British 6 in 1 Water Test Strips.&n…
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  • My fish has become swollen in the belly region. What's wrong?
    This could be caused by a number of things, such as a swim bladder problem, constipation or an internal infection.  ✔  Make sure that the water quality is pristine (test for ammonia and nitrite using King British 6 in 1 Water Test Strips), and the dissolved oxygen is high (by ensuring good aeration). ✔  Stop feeding for a day or two, to allow the gut to return to normal ✔  Adding a salt solution, such as King British Revitaliser Tonic, can help the fish to recover and regain the c…
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  • My fish has a red sore on its body. What should I do?
    External wounds and infections can be treated with a number of fish medicines, including King British Disease Clear. It is important to keep your fish tank's water quality pristine, otherwise the wound will become re-infected. It is also important to find out how your fish got the sore/wound in the first place. If it was a one-off due to handling, then just try to be more careful next time. However, if it was caused by a bullying tank mate then you need to assess whether it could happen again. Certain species of fi…
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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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