Maintenance Tips for Small Aquariums   (2 - 7 gallons)

Daily  * Feed the fish twice a day.  Observe them to see how much they eat.  Start with a few flakes per fish.  Remove any uneaten food after 10 minutes with your net. 
(Cloudy water, or "gooey" debris on the gravel indicates overfeeding.).
* Leave the light on 6-10 hours a day.
* Briefly check operation of filter.

Partial 
Water Change

Every Two
Weeks
*  Do a partial water change by siphoning 25% of the water from the bottom.  Vacuum the gravel with the siphon to pick-up loose debris.  Use a clean bucket marked "Aquarium Use Only"  Replace water with tap water of similar temperature.  Add NovAqua water conditioner to water.  (A partial water change is also recommended if the water is cloudy or if a problem develops.
*  Scrape green algae from sides of tank.
*  Change Filter Pad (we sell replacement pads in singles or 3 packs.)  Fresh activated carbon in filter pads helps remove dissolved impurities.

Some recommended fish for your tank  from the staff of Elmer's

Hardy Tetras & Others

These colorful and hardy fish are recommended by Elmer's because they adapt well to small tanks, and do not require heaters (maintain temperature of 68-80 degrees.)
Feed Tetra Pro flake food or Tetra Color Bits 2 times a day.  Decorate with live or plastic plants.
Fish Choices- Black Tetras, Serpae Tetras, White Clouds, Harlequin Rasbora, Cherry Barb, Bloodfin Tetra, Red Eye Tetra, Tiger Barb, Corydoras Cat.

1 fish
per gallon
Neons
or White Clouds
Neons are beautifully colored schooling fish.  A 6 gallon system is suitable providing you buy a heater (temperature 78-82 degrees) and a pH kit (pH 6.5-6.9)  Get a school of 6, and decorate with live plants for a great looking set.  Feed Tetra Min flake food  1 fish per gallon
Betta Betta - Click on picture for our betta care handoutMale Bettas are beautifully colored and graceful swimmers.  In fact many people own aquariums just to keep one of them.  They do not need a lot of room, so small desktop aquariums are very good for them.  They require a temperature of 75-80 degrees so you may want to invest in a heater.  Keep just one betta with a snail or catfish.  You can decorate with live or plastic plants.  Feed Tetra Betta-Min once or twice a day. 1
Betta,
Snail

Important Stocking Tip for New Tanks-  It will take 3-4 weeks for your tank to be fully biologically  ready.  Add 1/2 of the fish the first week then wait at three weeks  before adding more fish.  (Use the biological starter "Stress-Zyme, or Fritz-Zyme" to help get your biological filter working quickly.)


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Elmer's Aquarium    4005 William Penn Hwy.  Monroeville Pa. 15146,   (Mon-Sat  10-9:30,  Sunday  12-5)   ( 412-372-6535)
Aquarium Specialist Since 1969