Frequently Asked Questions

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Your aquarium is an ecosystem.  Many times your "simple" questions are much more complicated.  There are many factors that we must take into consideration to give an educated answer.  We cannot answer aquarium health questions over the telephone or internet.

We ask you bring in at least a ½ cup of water from your aquarium (no plants/animals/food in sample) to be tested. We also recommend that you take photos and steady-handed videos of  the entire set up and/or things or animals in question, and bring it in  for us to review. A water analysis costs $5.00. Water quality should be ruled out before trying to treat for other problems. Many issues can be treated with a correction in water quality. 

1 – Open each fish bag and stand up in a container that fits the bag. This reduces  the possibility of contamination. The point is to not mix the store water in with  yours. Do this for each bag of fish that you have purchased. Do not mix any waters. 

2 – Take a scoop (1/4 cup for a small bag, 1 cup for large) of YOUR aquarium water  and add to your new fish’s bag(s) of water. 

3 – Every 10 minutes repeat 2 at least four times until you have combined waters 

4 – Take fish out of the bag with net and put in your aquarium 

5 – DUMP STORE WATER DOWN THE DRAIN. 

6 – Watch your new fish to see how they are going to behave with your current  residents.  

CITY water – Must be treated with de-chlorinator (water conditioner). You will  treat the aquarium with de-chlorinator for the amount of new water going in, not  the entire gallons of the aquarium. Example: If you have a 10 gallon aquarium and  replace 25% of the water with treated city water, you would treat the aquarium  with de-chlorinator for 2.5 gallons of water. 

SPRING water, BOTTLED DRINKING water, DISTILLED water or RO water - Adding  de-chlorinator is not needed, but you may need to re-mineralize the water. Feel  free to bring a ½ cup sample to be tested.  

WELL water - You do not need to use a de-chlorinator. All wells are different. If  you are using well water, we recommend you bring a ½ cup water sample from your  faucet to be tested. 

DEHUMIDIFIER water – Not good. Very high in ammonia and lacking minerals.  

We ask you bring in at least a ½ cup of water from  your aquarium (no plants/animals/food in sample) to be tested. We  also recommend that you take photos and steady-handed videos of  the entire set up and/or things or animals in question, and bring it in  for us to review. A water analysis costs $5.00. Water quality should  be ruled out before trying to treat for other problems. Many issues can be treated with a correction in water quality.  

Week 1 – 25% water change (water swap only)  

Week 2 – 25% water change and vacuum gravel 

Week 3 – 25% water change (water swap only) 

Week 4 – 25% water change and clean filter media 

Repeat every four weeks.   

 Things you will need: 

- Aquarium 

- Stand 

- Water 

- Filtration - HOB, Internal, Sponge, Canister, Sump, Under Gravel 

- Heater - slightly oversized to compensate for room temp difference 

- Cover - Recommended, helps w/ evaporation & prevents fish from jumping 

- Light – needed if growing live plants

- Substrate – gravel, sand, soil 

- Good Bacteria (Most important. This starts the life of the aquarium.) 

Setting up the aquarium: 

- Put aquarium in place and level. 

- If adding substrate, wash well (if needed) & spread in tank. 

- Fill with water, treat water if needed. Check level again, drain and re-shim  if necessary. 

- Set up your filtration. 

- Add heater (80° is ideal for most tropical fish) Heater should be in water  before plugging into outlet. 

- Add good bacteria (Alive and FREE at Advanced Aquarium Systems of  Green Bay) 

- Cover tank and set up your light. 

*** It will take 2 weeks for your 80° aquarium to go through the nitrogen cycle AFTER adding your good bacteria to be safe for your aquatic pets. Your  water may get cloudy as the good bacteria populates. That is normal.  Water change 25% weekly from the day you add bacteria. Do not clean filter or gravel for 4 weeks. 

Things you can add to aquarium while waiting for tank to cycle: 

- Decorations (Wood, rocks, shells, other safe décor) 

- Plants (Live plants require light) 

After 2 weeks, bring in a ½ cup of water from your aquarium for a full water analysis to see if your aquarium has fully cycled and is ready. A water test evaluation costs $5.