Tropical fish are vibrant, easy to care for pets that will be the perfect addition to your family. Learn all about how to set up a tropical fish tank, feed and look after your new finned friends with this handy guide.
Contents:
- Tropical fish care checklist
- How to set up a tropical fish tank
- Ongoing tank maintenance
- Tropical fish health
- Tropical fish FAQs
Tropical fish checklist: everything you need to care for tropical fish
Tank and tank stand
When selecting your tropical fish aquarium, the first thing to consider is the size of your tank. The tank size that’s best for you depends on:
- The species of fish you plan to keep and their size (keep in mind they’ll likely grow)
- How many fish you’d like to keep
Many species of tropical fish are small to medium size fish, so anything from a small tank to a large tank can work to keep tropical fish. Also consider if you plan to keep live plants in your tank.
The most commonly kept tropical tank sizes range anywhere between 38L and 200L in size. Talk to your local Petbarn team members for help deciding on what size tank is appropriate for your new friends.
Whatever tank you choose, make sure you place it on a table or aquarium stand that can support its weight once it is full of water.
Fish food
Tropical fish need a variety of pelleted and frozen foods to stay healthy.
Different species of tropical fish prefer to eat in different ways: either surface, middle or bottom swimmers, and will like their food at either the bottom, middle or top of the tank, respectively. The position of their mouth is a giveaway to how they like to eat.
You’ll need to determine how your fish like to eat before you start feeding them. Talk to your local Petbarn team members about how your chosen species likes to enjoy their food.
Water treatments
It is highly likely you’ll regularly add some kind of water treatment to your fish tank.
A must for all fish owners is water conditioner, a treatment that makes tap water safe for fish. You’ll be using this from day one, adding it to any water you use to top up the tank.
Other water treatments you may use include medicines, algae treatments, and solutions to help increase the presence of beneficial bacteria in the tank (e.g. Quick Start or Stability).
Filter and filter media
A water filter is important for maintaining your tank’s water quality and fish health.
For a tropical fish aquarium, any style water filter will work great as long as it is the right size for your tank volume. You will want to make sure that you have good water turnover to provide water movement and flow to the aquarium.
Make sure you provide housing options for the beneficial bacteria that will help clean your tank and keep it free of organic waste in the form of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
Heater
Tropical fish require warm water. To keep the water in your tank at the right temperature, you’ll need a heater that is the right size for your tank volume.
An ideal temperature for tropical fish is typically between 24 and 27°C.
Thermometer
An aquarium thermometer helps you keep an eye on the water temperature and ensure your heater is keeping the tank in the preferred temperature range.
Gravel vacuum or siphon
Gravel vacuum or siphons are a useful tool for fish owners. They make water changes a breeze and also make it easy to clean the gravel or sand at the bottom of the tank.
Algae scraper and/or cleaning sponge
Algae is a natural part of a tank ecosystem. It’ll grow along the edges of the glass and on ornaments. Stop algae from getting out of hand by cleaning your tank and ornaments regularly. It can be as simple as using an algae sponge or scraper.
Lighting
Having lights on your aquarium brings out the bright colours of your fish so you can appreciate them properly. Just be careful not to leave the lights on all day! Too much light can increase algae growth.
Tank substrate and ornaments
Having a substrate like gravel or sand on the bottom of your tank helps your fish orientate themselves in the water. The best substrate colour is entirely up to personal preference. Substrate size can vary but any size from freshwater sand to large stones can be used. The most common size of substrate is the ‘pea sized’ two to three millimetre sized gravel, a good size that is easy to clean.
You can also decorate your tank with ornaments. Not only do these add to your tank’s aesthetic, but they create safe caverns and camouflage for your fish to hide in. Be sure to only use ornaments that are designed for aquariums.
Live Plants
Live plants make great additions tanks. Not only do they add to the looks of the tank, but they also provide oxygen while using some of the organic waste produced by your fish as nutrients.
You’ll find a range of live aquarium plants at your local Petbarn store.
Water test kits
At home water test kits are a great way to monitor your tank’s water quality. There are a number of different tests available, each testing different parameters.
Don’t forget you can always bring a water sample in to your local Petbarn store for a free water test!
Other aquarium supplies
- Fish nets – to catch your fish
- Buckets – for water changes
How to set up a tropical fish tank
Provide your fish with a healthy tank environment by taking the time to set it up and cycle it properly.
- Rinse your tank, gravel, and ornaments with tap water.
- Place the rinsed gravel and ornaments in your tank.
- Place your heater, filter, thermometer, lighting, and other electrical elements in the tank. Do not turn them on yet.
- Fill up the tank with water that has been treated with water conditioner.
- Place your live plants in the tank.
- Turn on your electrical elements.
- Leave your tank to cycle for at least a week.
- Test your tank water to see if it’s ready for fish.
Want more detailed instructions for each of these steps? Read our Fish Tank Set Up guide.
Why do you need to cycle a fish tank before adding fish?
Cycling is the process of building up enough good bacteria in the tank to handle removing all the organic waste produced by fish when you have a fully stocked aquarium. If you don’t take the time to cycle your tank, you may end up with New Tank Syndrome.
How do you cycle a tank?
Essentially, you set it up and let it run for at least a week. It is best to use a very sturdy bacterial additive like Quick Start or Stability to support good fish health.
In addition to adding bacteria, add a small amount of fish food to the tank. This food will break down to produce ammonia for these bacteria feed on as they colonise a tank. Ammonia will typically need to peak between one to two parts per million (ppm) to facilitate the cycle.
How long does it take to cycle a fish tank?
Before welcoming your fish into their new home, you need to cycle your aquarium for at least one week. Some tanks may take longer. Regular water testing will help you keep tabs on how your tank is progressing through the cycle.
When can you add fish to your tank?
You can add fish to your tank once water testing suggests your tank has cycled (it has 0ppm of ammonia or nitrites and an appropriate level of nitrates). You’re welcome to bring a water test into your local Petbarn where the friendly team members will test your tank water for free.
When selecting which fish you want to add, don’t add too many fish at once or you may end up with New Tank Syndrome.
Caring for a tropical fish tank
Regularly test your water to assess water quality
With testing kits and tools from your local Petbarn, it’s easy to maintain a stabilised tank.
Some of the most important water parameters to monitor are:
- pH: The ideal pH level is between 5.5 and 7.5.
- Nitrite: The nitrite level should be between 0 and 0.5ppm.
- Nitrate: Maximum 5–10ppm.
- Ammonia: 0ppm
Don’t forget, you can always bring a water sample in to your local Petbarn for a free water test.
Perform regular water changes
You’ll need to regularly change the water in your aquarium in order to keep your fish healthy. The best way to do this without causing your fish any shock or stress is to remove no more than 25% of the water at a time, typically once per fortnight unless instructed otherwise. You can use a siphon to remove any unwanted matter that is floating around in the water.
Never completely clean out your tank as that may deplete the population of beneficial bacteria in your tank’s ecosystem. You need a healthy population of this bacteria to keep organic waste levels under control.
Remember to add water conditioner to any new water you are putting into the tank!
Regularly remove algae from your tank
Wipe down the interior side of your aquarium glass and ornaments regularly with an algae sponge or scraper to keep on top of algae growth.
If algae growth in your tank is getting out of control, consider adding some fish-safe algae treatments to the water.
Regularly check your filter and replace filter media as needed
Check your filter media often. If any elements need replacing in your tank, do this one by one rather than all at once, ideally not at the same time as a water change.
How to tell if your fish are sick
Tropical fish are vulnerable to various diseases. Common signs of sickness in fish include:
- Refusal of food
- Irritated scales
- Mucus
- Cloudy eyes
If you notice anything peculiar, visit your local Greencross Vets for advice.
What to do at home if one of your fish is sick
If one of your fish has contracted an infection, the whole tank is at risk. It’s recommended to have a quarantine tank, with cycled water, to house the unwell fish and reduce the spread of infection.
Frequently asked questions about tropical fish
How long do tropical fish live?
Lifespan varies with species, but some can live for 10-12 years.
How big do tropical fish grow?
Tropical fish come in a wide range of sizes, some staying as small as 5cm long.
What’s the best place in my house to place a tropical fish tank?
When choosing a position for your aquarium, avoid placing it in areas with heaters or full sun exposure.
How much food do tropical fish need?
A common cause of death in tropical fish is overeating. When determining how much food to feed your tropical fish, a good rule of thumb to follow is to give your fish no more than what they can consume in less than five minutes.
What tropical fish can live together?
Maintaining harmony in your tank is key to a successful aquarium, as incompatible fish can cause stress, disease and injury. Ask your local Petbarn team members about what tropical fish will be happy to live together in your tank.
Popular tropical community fish include:
- Tetras
- Guppies
- Platies
- Mollies
- Swordtails
You can find live fish in-store at Petbarn.