Tip of the Day – 2/14/2012

When setting up a new aquarium, hobbyists must resist the urge to fill it with livestock at all costs. The new tank may look pristine and clean as soon as the dust from the new bag of sand clears, but in all actuality the tank is polluted with ammonia and nitrite beyond your wildest dreams. At this point in the game, the aquarium is going through a very crucial cycle, which not only establishes stability in the tank, but also provided aquarium keepers with all of the necessary bacteria to combat spikes in ammonia that are likely to happen at various points of the setup’s life. So, don’t rush things. Just take your time, perform your tests, and make sure the water is free of the harmful substances that usually result in fish losses.