So you've decided on which aquarium to buy, been and purchased it, and set it up in a prominent location in your home – what next? Before you rush out and buy your freshwater tropical fish, you need to make sure you have all the equipment necessary. At the very least you need a lid for the aquarium, lighting, heating and a filtration system. It is very important you buy the correct size for your aquarium.

For instance, the lighting needs to be sufficient to light the entire aquarium, likewise the filter must be able to cope with the amount of water you will have, or it will not work to optimum efficiency. Buying a heater which will have to work hard to keep your aquarium at the correct temperature may be cheaper, but will end up a false economy, as it will soon break. If you are in any doubt as to what to buy to go with your aquarium, check with a reputable aquatic dealer.

You will now need to decorate your aquarium. For this you need gravel, and by this I mean special gravel you buy from an aquatic dealer, the quality is important. You also need a lot of it, because you need to cover the base of the aquarium by at least 2-3 inches (5-7.5cm). This will allow the plants to root properly, and if you have an under-gravel filtration system you will need this much to cover the filter.

To complete the decoration you will need some plants, either real or artificial, and you may want to consider some bogwood, which looks attractive in an aquarium, and as it has been treated it is suitable. Do not add shells or coral, as these can hurt your fish, and can also change the balance of the water, as well as be sharp and may hurt the fish. Aquatic dealers also sell other artificial decorations that you may want to purchase. Ensure that whatever you do you give your fish some hiding places.

Next, purchase a net, a bucket, a gravel cleaner and a glass cleaner – these are essential tools of the trade, and will be used often. I would also recommend buying de-chlorinator – tap water may be great for people, but it was not made for tropical fish. All the chemicals which are put in the water are not good for freshwater tropical fish, so the water will either need to be left standing for a couple of days, and be subjected to strong aeration, or have a de-chlorinator added to it.

Finally, purchase some fish food, so that when you bring your new freshwater tropical fish home you have something to feed them.

Owning tropical fish can provide you with immense enjoyment and can become a wonderful hobby that not only you but other will benefit from also.

Although most tropical fish can be relatively easy to care for it is important to educate yourself before buying tropical fish because without proper understanding of their needs your new hobby could become extremely expensive.

You will need to know and research how to set up an aquarium, understand the size you will need for the amount of fish you are hoping to keep. Also be aware of the sizes your fish will grow to as most tropical fish are not purchased at adult size.

By reading books and looking on the internet you will be able to find out what temperature the water in your aquarium needs to be and will know how to test the ph levels, water hardness and for any toxins.

Be aware of diseases, one of the most common tropical fish diseases is white spot, this is caused by a parasite called 'ick' or 'ich' you will know if this has affected you tropical fish as you will notice white spots on the fishes scales. White spot is a very irritating disease for tropical fish, if you notice your fish rubbing themselves against objects or plants this could be a sign of infection.

It is important to treat white spot immediately. It can kill tropical fish within a few days and will be spread to others in the tank. If one of your fish has been affected you will need to treat the entire tank.

It is important to clean your fish tank and all the stones and plants that are in it, you will need to change the water checking the ph levels as you do so.

To prevent white spot from affecting your fish you should always quarantine new fish for approximately 2 days. Maintain a high water quality and always provide your fish with a balanced diet.

You should never over feed your tropical fish, this can pollute the water and also harm you fish. Provide enough food for them to survive and grow healthily. You may find that different fish will eat different food so it is worth researching this aspect. Some fish are scavengers and are happy to feed off scraps and debris from the tank others will need a specific type of food.

If you are beginner it may be tempting to rush out and buy the best tank you can see and add all the colourful fish you can find however, without being armed with the right information and the correct knowledge about owning tropical fish your efforts could result in disaster.

Your local pet shop owner or aquarium shops will be happy to talk to you about any information or concerns you have about setting up and keeping an aquarium. By knowing all the facts you will be able to purchase an aquarium and tropical fish that will be an enjoyment and pleasure to keep.

Purchasing a fish aquarium may seem like an easy task however tropical and saltwater fish need special care and attention to live a happy life. The first thing you will need to decide is whether you plan on keeping fresh water fish or saltwater fish. Generally speaking freshwater fish are a lot easier to keep so if this is your first fish aquarium I would advise a fresh water fish aquarium would be a good place to start.

You will need to make sure you do not add too much food to your fish aquarium, research the type of fish you are keeping before throwing in too much or too little food, adding too much food could be harmful to your tropical fish as they can over eat, also adding to much food could potentially pollute the tank.

Having a balanced diet is essential for aquarium fish, I would recommend that you buy any fish food in small bags or containers rather than bulk buying, this is because over time the vitamin content will gradually decline so to keep your fish food in optimum condition and as fresh as possible buy smaller bags and keep them in a cool dry place.

Anything that is introduced into your fish aquarium should be properly taken care of and monitored, it is important to keep the water in the tank clean by checking for parasites, fungi and bacteria. Although maintaining a fish aquarium is an ongoing task certain fish can lighten the load, it is well worth investing in fish that scavenge as they will clean the tank for you however it is vital to research the type of fish you buy to ascertain if they can live peacefully with the other fish residing within your tank.

It may be a good idea to create yourself a daily monthly and weekly 'to do' list so you can be sure that you have made all the necessary checks on the temperature control, lighting and feeding. Toxic and harmful products can be caused by the breakdown of protein, investing in a protein skimmer can be extremely effective.
A protein skimmer will remove impurities and residue from the aquarium and will purify the water.

Never keep your tank in direct sunlight, this will increase the growth of green algae making your tank unattractive and hard to see into. Having a fish tank in direct sunlight will also cause the water temperature to rise making it harder to control

The bigger the fish aquarium the easier it ill be to maintain a stable water temperature, having a larger tank will also give your fish more room to move, it is also very important to give them lots of places to hide, believe it or not the more places they have to hide the less they will hide.

If you can keep on top of the maintenance then you are sure to have a clean and happy tank.

One of the very distressing times in tropical fish keeping hobby is disease.

Here are few tropical fish diseases.

1) Appetite Loss of tropical fish

When you put new fish in the tank they stop eating because of the environment problem or new fish can be slow to feed because of stress.

For Environmental problem look for any manifestations of disease and buy a simple waster tester.
For stress keep patient with tropical fish they will get back to normal appetite soon or look for other signs of disease.

2) Small and white spots on the Body, head and fins of tropical fish.

It could be whitespot (Ichthyophthirius).

This is very common disease in new aquarium. There are few different cures for this. 1 teaspoon salt per gallon could be one of the cures.

3) Whitish Film over the eye of the tropical fish.

This could be because of poor water quality, chlorine poisoning or eye fluke.

For poor water quality you have to change the water. For chlorine poisoning you should condition tap water before using it. For eye fluke please use proper medication.

4) Effect of Cotton Wool on the tropical fish body

It could be fungus or mouth fungus (columnarius).

To cure this disease you can use anti fungus medication and a salt bath (1 teaspoon per gallon)

5) Pop Eye - cloudy eyes from infection or eye protrude from head.

Pop eye could be because of bacteria, poor water quality vitamin deficiency etc.

Treatment: this is hard to treat disease; broad spectrum antibiotic can be used to cure this.

I have written few general tropical fish care tips and secrets for beginners to help them in their tropical fish keeping hobby.

Below are 6 top tips for tropical fish care:

1) Tropical Fish Tank Tips

You should try to get the biggest tank you can afford. As a result water temperature will be stable in bigger tank and it will be easier to care for your fishes. It will also give your fishes more water thus keeping them healthier. Besides even if a fish dies it will not affect the others.

2) Tropical Fish Should Have Plenty Of Places To Hide.

Ironically you give them more room to hide and they will hide less. Resulting in lower levels of stress for your tropical fish.

3) Fish Should Be Away From Sunlight.

Your fish should not be close to direct sunlight. Direct sunlight will create major problems in the form of green algae. Direct sunlight will also increase your tanks water temperature. Thus avoid sunlight to help you care better for your Tropical fish.

4) Fish Feeding Care

A good diet is an essential part of Tropical Fish Care. Do not give your tropical fish only flakes. You will see better colors and increased vitality by giving them a variety in their diet. Flakes could be primary diet but try to supplement their diet with other types of food every few days.

To ensure better fish care do not over feed your fish. Instead of giving one big feed you can give two small feedings. When you give your fish food they should be able to finish within a minute or two else you will see flakes settling on the bottom of the tank and that means you have given too much food. Extra feeding will give poor aquarium water quality and will increase stress levels of your fish.

5) Stocking of Tropical Fish

Don't add too many fish to your tank. It's better to add fishes in your tank slowly to help your tank's biological filtration system to work properly.

6) Fish Tank Maintenance Tips and Care

You should be changing water of your tank regularly. Frequent water change is better for Tropical fish care and it will not cause stress and shouldn't interfere with the biological cycle of the tank.

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Danios fish are an excellent choice for most aquariums due to their high energy level and mild temperament and are particularly recommended for first-time aquarium owners. These hardy fish will offer hours of enjoyment and are easy to care for as well.

There are several varieties of the Danios fish, one of the most commonly known being the Zebra Danio which is easily recognized by its distinct horizontal stripes. This particular Danio will grow to be about 1.5 inches in length and is also suitable for community tanks because of its peaceful nature. The Gold, Pearl and Leopard types of Danios will also grow to a maximum size of 1.5 inches, but Giant Danios however, can grow to about five inches or so in length.

Danios will be most comfortable with at least a school of four to six of their own species. These fish have a variety of suitable tank mates to choose from such as Rainbows, Barbs and most types of Gouramis, provided they are smaller than the Danios are. Danios will also do well with a school of Clown or Yoyo Loaches and some varieties of Catfish such as the Corydoras or the Plecostomus Catfish.

Even-tempered Danios are often used in aquariums to distract other, more aggressive fish from fighting with one another. Betta fish, for example, are notorious fighters, flaring their gills and charging at each other aggressively. Until a busy school of Danios swims by and distracts the Betta, ultimately keeping the peace in the tank.

Danios fish have a lifespan of about five years under proper conditions and are quite simple to care for, making them ideal for beginners and children. Technically considered cold-water fish, Danios will adapt to most water conditions but they do prefer cooler temperatures usually between 64 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit or so.

Danios should also be provided with plenty of light and lots of room to swim about freely. These active fish should do well in a ten-gallon aquarium that is kept at a PH level between 6.5 and 7.0, about a ¼ inch of gravel and with an exterior power filter. Of course, if you have several other types of fish in your aquarium you'll want to choose a larger size and also a more powerful filter.

Floating flake-food and freeze-dried blood worms, or mosquito larvae, are the preferred diet of choice for Danios. Both of these can be found in fish or pet stores as well as live black worms and live or frozen brine shrimp, which are two of their other favorite treats.

As with any type of fish or aquarium life, you should be aware of the signs of stress or disease and know how to treat the illnesses as well. Fish should never be overfed and their tank water should be changed as needed, also making sure the filter system is working properly at all times. With just a little regular care, you'll be able to enjoy watching your Danios swim and interact with each other for years to come.