FAQ
Whats is New Tank Syndrome and why can't I add fish into my aquarium straight away?
New tank Syndrome is the biological cycle your aquarium experiences when first being set up. Without getting too technical, there is three main water parameters that we look at for a Fresh Water Aquarium which are pH, Ammonia and Nitrite.
All three of these water parameters can be evident in the 'New Tank Syndrome' Process which essentially is the nitrogen cycle occurring. This process takes approximately 6 weeks where your aquarium tries to built beneficial good bacteria in the filter and gravel. This can be seen to us as waste within the aquarium which technically what it is.
We recommend when you set up your aquarium, you fill it up with water, install all the equipment and allow the aquarium to run with the filter and heater going for around 1 week. During Week 2, we recommend adding a single fish typically something that is not fragile. So as you feed the fish in aquarium, it will eat and produce waste which is known as Ammonia, this ammonia will build up within the aquarium and cause the Ammonia levels to rise. This will happen during Week 2-4 which is perfectly fine, Coming to the end of the 4th week, we start to see
a rise in the Nitrite levels within the Aquarium which again is normal. With each week completing 1/3 water change it will allow the Aquarium to properly cycle and establish which then means it will be ready for more livestock.
This Cycle goes very quickly but it isn't recommended to add a large amount of fish straight away as they are very vulnerable in an aquarium that has not properly established yet.
Can I add a new fish during the 'New Tank Syndrome' Cycle?
You will need to at least add one fish to start the cycle which is typically around Week 2. Without a fish in there, the Ammonia levels wont spike and evidently the beneficial bacteria that you want to establish will not establish without the presence of some livestock. I do not recommend adding large amounts of expensive fish as you may lose the fish and waste a lot of money. During this cycle, fragile fish should not be added and I wouldn't recommend adding more than a couple throughout the whole cycle. If you do decide to add fish during the cycle, do not add more than two at one time and add them throughout the weeks gradually. You do not want to shock the aquarium by adding so many fish at once which will cause Ammonia and Nitrite spikes as all of a sudden there is more fish and a load of waste. This generally is a very bad habit. As exciting as it can be its usually best to wait till the cycle is near the end to add more fish.
How much does it cost to service my aquarium?
Our Services include a Gravel or Filtration Clean. We never clean both the gravel and filter at the same time as it will technically restart the 'New Tank Syndrome" Cycle which isn't a wise move. Cleaning both of these will remove all the good bacteria in the aquarium that is beneficial to the livestock in the aquarium to thrive.
Each Clean includes
- Water parameter testing
- Removal of Algae and Slime Coat on the interior and exterior glass
- Gravel/Filtration Clean
- 1/3 water change
_Expert Advice and livestock health check
Currently our services are for Fresh Water Aquariums and the price is dependent on Aquarium size.
2ft Aquarium or less - $50
3ft- 4ft Aquariums - $100
5ft and Above - $150
Please note that prices may vary slightly depending on the location and time of travel.
Why is my Aquarium water green?
Typically Aquariums can easily be neglected. In many instances, the UV lighting is left on 24/7 which results in too much UV which will result in an algae bloom and very fast growth. Green water means the water is exposed to too much light via a UV Algae strain. Algae within the water means there is too much nitrates and phosphates int he water causing the algae growth. Too much nitrates and phosphates means too much waste is in the water, usually happens from over-feeding or too much livestock in the Aquarium. Green water typically means there is too much UV that the water is exposed to, so simply reduce the amount of lighting it receives or switch it off permanently until you see results
Do you really need chemicals for every water change ?
This is a very controversial topic. Many shops will say its a must to add Water ager in an aquarium to remove chlorine and other items in the water and sometimes recommend other products and chemicals to push their sales up. In some areas from my experience do not need water ager or conditioner. In my suburb and location the water is cleaner and actually doesn't require any chemicals. On the other hand if you have a water filtration system where it removes chlorine from the water then there isn't a need to add water ager or conditioner.
I like to think to keep the aquarium as natural as possible and as 'organic' as you can. Through my experience, the less chemicals is better but many people will stress and say otherwise. I can say though that through my many years of experience in aquariums, I rarely use chemicals anymore unless its an absolute must and a health issue that needs to be addressed. I can also confirm I have successfully bred and raised many mouthfuls of fish babies that are still alive to this day. All my livestock is completely healthy and never experienced any health problems or deaths and I have not some chemicals for a long time.
Each Aquarium is different to another so is every hobbyist. Some people add bacteria after water changes such as Prime or Stability and some do not. All this depends on the hobbyist and how they prefer running their aquarium. I although do recommend to not pour chemicals in there that are not needed or do not have a specific intended use.