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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.
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Ask the Experts - We're here to help
Browse through our frequently asked questions to find an answer to your problem.
If you can't find an answer to your question, please fill in our Ask the Experts form and a member of our Customer Service Team
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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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Just share with us the details of your query, what type of pet you have and your pet’s name.
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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When should I feed my pond fish?You should only feed pond fish when the water temperature is above 4 degrees celcius. Below this, do not feed them at all becuase their metabolism slows down and they cannot digest food properly.Read More
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Why is using high quality fish food important?Fish have very specific nutritional demands and will suffer if these aren't met. Deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals can result in poor growth, abnormal bone development, deformities and even death. For example, fish require certain amounts of phosphorous, vitamin D and calcium in their diet to ensure that their bones develop normally. Without them, the spine becomes deformed, causing the fish to look bent and they may have trouble swimming. Higher quality foods, such as the King British Food Range, hav…Read More
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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 …Read More
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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.Read More
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Can I use more than one treatment or medicine at a time?For most treatments, the answer is definitely no. You should never use more than one fish medicine at a time because they might react with one another in the water. The exceptions are King British Filter Aid+ and King British De-Chlorinator water treatments. These can be used with any other treatments, including each other.Read More