Freshwater

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Part III: Water, Chemicals, and Plants
If you don’t want to worry about the shelf life of your test kits, purchase individual
kits like those offered by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals (www.genkikoisupply.com/aquarium_pharmaceutical_test_kits.html).
These kits
have long shelf lives and have the advantage of allowing you to replace one
part of the kit when needed without replacing the entire thing.
Adding Water to Your Aquarium
When you’re ready to add your carefully treated water to your aquarium,
pour it slowly so that you don’t disturb the substrate or any of the decorations
already in the tank. One trick is to place a small dinner plate or saucer
on the substrate and pour the water directly onto the plate, which acts as a
barrier to keep your substrate from being spread all over the tank into tiny
anthill-like mounds. Another strategy is to slowly pour the new water down
the inside of the glass.
If you have a very large aquarium to fill, you may want to consider purchasing
a new garden hose and an adapter that will allow you to hook it up to
your kitchen or bathroom faucet. This setup will allow you to fill your aquarium
quickly. An even better solution to filling a large tank is to purchase a
Python. A Python (see Chapter 6) works on the same principle as the garden
hose, except it has all the attachments needed and allows you to easily control
and reverse the flow of water with a simple switch for water changes that
you will be doing on a weekly basis.
Home Sweet Home
Your fish’s water environment is comparable to the air in your own home.
The water is what keeps your fish alive and must be one of the most important
factors to take into consideration. Take time to make sure that the water
that you are going to use is perfect for your aquatic pets. It never pays to
rush or take huge shortcuts.
Here are a few rules to help you maximize your tropical fish’s health and
happiness:
Make sure the water you use is as free of debris, chemicals, and metals
as possible by conducting water tests on well or city supplies, or by
using bottled water.