Fish Health and Water Quality

New Tank Syndrome

The hardest part of starting an aquarium for many people is being patient at the beginning. It is only natural, once your new system is in place and full of water, to want to populate it with all of the different, interesting fish you come across. Unfortunately, the old saying "haste makes waste" was never more true than in aquariums.

The most important thing you can do to ensure your success as an aquarist, before you do anything else, is to understand the nitrogen cycle that is going to occur in every aquarium you ever set up. The nitrogen cycle is the ongoing way nature has of dealing with your fish's body wastes. Our article on New Tank Syndrome is an explanation of this process. Read it here before you add your first fish.

All About Ich

Ich is the most common fish disease most aquarists will ever encounter. While it can be deadly, it is easiley cured and even more easily avoided with a little preventative care and a basic understanding of its causes. Read all about this aquarium malady in our article All About Ich.