Setting up a hobbyist community fish tank with Tetra species

By Shaddai Daniel

Freshwater aquaria are becoming a luxury item in many homes; it is a lovely way to enjoy a
miniature riverbed from the very comforts of your home. A beautiful aquarium with healthy,
energetic fish swimming in clear waters and surrounded by green vegetation is an amazing
sight. But, before you can consider getting one of these little havens, you need to be
prepared with all the relevant facts.
Text box 1: Common mistakes when setting up a
Setting up an aquarium is not
community aquarium
really that complicated but it
does however need to be done • Thinking that starting small is a smart idea – here
correctly, to give your fish the size matters.
best possible home. There are
many do’s and don’ts that are • Mixing incompatible fish species into one tank.
learnt over a period of time of
trial and error. Refer to text • Too many fish species in one tank – the more fish,
Keep in mind that different fish the bigger the tank.
have different demands and
information is based on the • Ignorance of the cycling process.
basic knowledge about
aquarium keeping. It is • Inappropriate testing’s.
advisable
species to start
before youout with to
advance
delicate ones. The success in keeping fish in community aquaria is a lot of research time.

Some of the questions you should be asking yourself when about to purchase an aquarium
are how much time are you willing to spend on the aquarium? What kind of aquarium do you
want to buy? What is the ideal spot for your aquarium? What kind of fish should you in your
aquarium? How do you keep your fish and their environment healthy in the easiest and
quickest way? How much time would it take to maintain? What should you feed your fish and
how much?
Text box 2: A simple
Community Aquarium Goalslist
needed for a well-stocked
basic freshwater
A community aquarium
is a collection of various fish and plant
specimens that can thrive and get along well with each
An appropriate tank, an
other, but do not necessarily share the same origins.
aquarium stand, a hood,
With this in mind the first goal of setting up a
lighting equipment, air pump,
community aquarium is to provide a healthy, stable and
heaters, thermometer, filters,
stress free home for a wide variety of fish species. The
gravel, decorations, and
second goal is to arrange this new home in such a way
maintenance items.
that is both pleasing and beautiful to you.
Tetra availability & Schooling numbers

This group of fish consists of more than 1,500 species which are located around the world,
in tropical and subtropical zones. The species of tetra are gaining increasing popularity in
home aquaria for their brilliant colours, pleasing temperament, and distinct schooling
behavioural
Keep in mindpatterns
that the (which will be discussed
Tetra species later).the
of fish includes Forfamous
these reasons
Piranha,they
thusare
thebound
tetra to
keep your aquarium tank alive and busy. Tetras are considered to be community
species of fish are subdivided into omnivorous and carnivorous fish. Special care should fish,
however if they are schooling species, they should be kept in numbers no less
be taken when deciding which to take home from the pet store. Carnivorous tetra species than 6. Their
schooling numbers will allow your tetras to explore their new environment without
consider anything smaller than them, a snack. It is also not advisable to mix carnivores feeling
shy or
that arescared, thus getting
aggressive, the best
as you will soon out ofrealising
start your fish.that your fish would be missing in
action, one by one. To restore some peace in your community aquarium, it is
recommended to have some herbivorous fish species that are larger than your tetras, and
in my experience, Corydoras and cherry barbs are appropriate.
Location is key

The first thing to think about before going out to purchase the aquarium tank, you need
to examine how much free space you have for a tank. With that, you need to examine
how much of this space receives light, and which shape is best suitable for that free
space. Never place an aquarium in direct sunlight and be sure to keep away the
aquarium from heating or cooling surfaces, as these will cause sudden and drastic
changes in the temperature within the aquarium. The sunlight will also promote the
growth of algae within the tank.

Water accessibility and easy disposal of dirty water and waste are important factors to
consider while selecting a good spot for your aquarium, it wouldn’t be ideal to be
running through the house with buckets of water. In terms of family and especially
children in the house, it would be advisable to keep the aquarium in an area with less
frequent activity. Prevention is better than cure in terms of the tank being pushed over
or the tank breaking.

An aquarium can get really heavy, so the chosen spot should also be able to support the
Decor

The primary focus when it comes to the decor of your aquarium, besides the well-being
of your fish, is to keep all unsightly equipment well hidden. It is therefore nice to have
some sort of scenery at the back of the tank. The decor should be used to hide the
equipment that you are using within the tank, so that you have a more natural looking
aquarium. This enables your fish to feel more secure, as shy fish feel ‘exposed’ from all
sides, if there is nothing covering them from the back. Another inexpensive and easy
solution is to use coloured cardboards as your backdrop. They are relatively easy to
make, and can be changed as often as you wish.

In terms of interior decoration within your fish tank, vegetable matter is important.
Although Tetra species need lots of space for swimming, they do still need vegetative
cover, especially when they feel vulnerable. Another advantage of having vegetation is
that if you have Tetras that are territorial, the vegetative matter serve as boundaries for
which spaces can be marked. These include plants in the substrate as well as floating
plants. Vegetation is also important for breeding to take place. Tetras are egg layers,
which have to take place within vegetation, thus the need of good vegetation in your
tank. It takes about six days for the eggs to hatch, but the young should be separated
immediately from the adult fish, they will be eaten!

An average of fifty to hundred millimetres is a good layer of substrate to have, however

this also depends on the size of the aquarium you have as well as taking into
consideration if real plants will be used. The choice of the substrate colour is up to you;
however, it is advised to use the more natural stone over the dyed colours as this would
Water Test Kits
depict more of a natural environment to the tetras. Care should also be taken when
selecting
If you aregravel orabout
serious pebble size.
your Sand is therefore
aquarium not a recommended
and the welfare aquarium
of your fish, this tool is a must. It
decoration,
will help you to keep your pH-value under control, as well as testing the water limestone
especially for a novice aquarist. Certain substances like seashells, for the
and marbles
levels of yourshould be avoided
ammonia, nitrites,innitrates
a tropical
andaquarium,
hardness.especially as a variations
Testing these beginner, asforthese
now
substances would slowly dissolve
is a good start for a novice aquarist. into the water thus gradually altering the pH balance.

A notetest
Most of caution, some gravel
kits are relatively easycan
to cause a raise
use. They in their
base your pH and on
results lowering
colour itchanges
is proven
in to
the
be difficult. Always test a small sample by placing some gravel in a cup and
sample of water being tested. Certain additives help to counter specific problems. covering it
Frequently, a water change is the most effective way to change the undesirable results
 Nitrogen Cycle and its
Figure 1: Representation of the crucial
importance
process of cycling, which needs to be
completed when setting up your community This is the last step before you
tank. are able to go out and get your
tetras. It might be the last but it
is definitely the most crucial
step. The water in which the fish
live in is a whole new ecosystem
in itself. Since the ecosystem in
an aquarium is an artificial one
that you have created, it
sometimes requires your
assistance. An aquarium that is
just a few weeks old is at its
most fragile. The water is new
and microorganisms present
may be beneficial or toxic. The

This where the Nitrogen cycle is introduced and becomes a major factor.

Nitrogen based substances are most frequent by-products of decomposition. This cycle
refers to the process in which this decomposition takes place. Nitrogenous waste products
in your aquarium will first break down into ammonia. This can be very toxic to your fish,
and itshopping
Tetra is here where the ammonia test kit comes in very handy.

Nitrifying bacteria are the microscopic organisms that Text aid in box
the nitrogen cycle and
3: Important points to
This is undoubtedly the most exciting part of
ultimately convert the harmful ammonia to a more harmless form called nitrate.
take note of when shopping Whenfor you
having an aquarium. The type of fish is your
set up your aquarium this type of bacteria is only present in low numbers in the water.
choice but hardy species of fish are ideal for tetras
Within the first few weeks, you would have to induce this bacterial colony to multiply and
beginners. The tetra species of fish are tropical
reach an optimum level. A good nitrifying colony goes a long way in ensuring the health
and hardy fish that are both beautiful and • Trust no one when it comes to
of your aquarium. The initial period in which the bacterial colony is being induced to
interesting. They range in a number of colours buy your fish, unless they are a
multiply is referred to as the process of cycling.
and are relatively easy to feed. These are just reputable fish shop.
some of the reasons
The nitrogen as to why
cycle starts whenthese species ofis provided with some ammonia. One way of
the aquarium
fish are so popular
achieving this is toinadd
hobbyist
natural aquariums. Try methods include
plants. Other • Ask adding a pinch oftoflake
the salesman feedfood,
the
not to buy too much fish; this will cause a
and a silver of fish or shrimp to the water. Using some gravelfish from another aquarium is
so that you have a chance
negative
also a goodimbalance
way to in theup
start aquarium.
the colony, just make sure care istotaken so that
examine theinfections
behaviourare and if
not passed on. An easier way that is also available is by means of using commercial
When shopping for tetras take note for the the fish do actually eat.
products containing nitrifying bacteria; these are in many of the pet shops and are known
different requirements that each species has.
to speed up the process. Another popular way to start up a bacterial colony is the use of
Refer to text box 3. Some of these species • Do not worry too much about
cycling fish, adding no more than two hardy and inexpensive fish. They should not be
require a bigger space for swimming purposes, the colour of the fish at the pet
over-fed as that would lead to the production of more ammonia.
whereas others require to be kept in schools of shop, they rarely show off their
atBeleast
sure6toindividuals, if not they
use your testing will
kit to display
follow the fluctuations of thetrue
nitrogen cycle, remember
colours there.
stressed
the nitritebehaviours
levels willandfirstmay
go upnotand
survive.
then fall to zero. This process takes between two to six
Different
weeks and fishthe
arespeed
also known
of this to occupyisdifferent
process dependent on the temperature of your aquarium. It
• The fins should not be clamped
areas or strata of the aquarium, thus take note of
this when buying your relevant tetra species. For down.
example, Glowlight tetras, which are also
shoaling fish, are known to occupy the lower • White fungus should not be
layer of the aquarium, whereas Congo tetras are present.
more of the mid-dwellers of the tank.
• Panting and rubbing should not
Compatibility of the species of tetra as well as take place.
with other non-tetra species of fish is very
important and for that reason research is • Fish should be alert and active –
imperative. A few precautions to look for when
Tetra specifics

Now that we have the aquarium set up and we have the basic understanding of how tetras
should be bought and introduced into their new home, specific requirements are needed for
these tropical species of fish. As previously mentioned, these species of fish are quite hardy
fish, they require a pH of 6 – 7 but are also known to adapt to a pH of 7.5. Although these are
tropical fish, temperature does play an important role in their well being, an average
temperature range for tetras are 24 – 27 OC. However, they can tolerate temperatures as
high as 30 OC and as low as 20 OC for some tetras. Take note that different temperatures are
sometimes needed for some tetras to aid in successful breeding. As mentioned previously,
the water quality specifics are quite important not only to tetras, but any fish species. The
levels of ammonia and nitrates should be kept constant and evaluated regularly. The specific
requirements regarding water quality are 0.005 mg/l and 5-10 mg/l respectively.

Tetras popularity

As stated before, tetras are kept for their amazing shows of colour. Tetras being tropical fish
are naturally colourful fish, ranging from the bright reds and oranges, to the blues and
purples, and the glass-like to translucent species of tetras. Some examples of brilliantly
coloured tetras are the Cochu’s Blue tetras, neon tetras, Emperor tetras, Congo tetras and
Head and Tail light tetras. These are only a few; there are many varieties of tetra species
available in the ornamental trade.

Another factor that makes tetra species popular is their behavioural patterns. These are
displayed brilliantly in community tanks, making these fish ideal for these types of aquariums.
Patterns which are exhibited are dartings, these are generally not more than two seconds
long; nipping, these are general acts that occur within this species of fish and can at times
pose a threat but it can also be kept under control; shoaling; and schooling, this particular
behaviour is spectacular as a number of fish form groups and circle your tank. See figures 2 –
4. It is also important to note that tetra species have different levels of comfort, i.e. different
 Figure 4: Schooling behaviour
Figure 2: Darting behaviour amongst the amongst Glowlight tetras
Cochu’s Blue tetra, usually being one to two
seconds long. Figure 5: Simple illustration of
where some species of tetra
prefer being in a community
tank. As you see there are
different layers/strata within a
fish tank.

Figure 3: More aggressive attacks – nipping,

Text
occurs box 4: Tank
after maintenance
a deliberate chasefor of you
more community
than aquarium
two seconds
Before you can fully sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery, take note that there are a
number of chores that should be completed for the welfare of your new aquarium. As you
gain experience
Aggression amongst and your tetratank matures, you will develop your own system of maintaining
species
your tank. But, here is a general list of chores that must be done daily, weekly and monthly.
InDaily routines
my experience, yes most tetras are shoaling fish and are community ideal fish, but there
areObserve your
a few species that fish, check for any avoid
you should signs if ofyou
sickness
are a and diseases,
novice hobbyist. as In
well as any signs
particular, of fish
the silvertip
Acclimating
being bullied. These are all possible situations and can be
tetras, Cochu’s blue tetras and Emperor tetras should be fish species that are kept by more prevented. When feeding occurs,
make
The sure everyone
process of introducing is eating. Feedingintoshould normallyshould
take placedone twicesoacarefully
day and and if a day
experienced aquarists. Theyyour are fish your aquarium
not aggressive to a point wherebe they cannot be kept; they one
is
fish missed,
at a that
time. Let is ok,
the they
plastic won’t
bag starve.
with theAlways
new check
fish floatyour
on equipment,
the tanks as well
surface foras the
about fifteen
just need moreand
temperature time the and patience.
filter flow and It is advisable that easier, Itless time-demanding youspecies of
minutes,
tetras are this
kept.is These
done to stabilize
include the the
tetras
cleanliness
temperature.
species such as
thereof.
Thereafter,
Congo
is important
remove
tetras, Headtheandthatand
bagTail
remove
open
Light it
tetras,
anyadead
into smallfish or plants
plastic bucket. as soon
Add someas you notice
tank waterit. to this bucket. Continue adding tank water
Glowlight
Weekly tetras as well as White-skirt tetras. These are generally shoaling species of tetra
routines
until the bucket is about half full with tank water and half full with the fish store water. Then
Partial
net water
out the fishchanges
and let shouldas much take place
of the here;
water about
drip 25%net
off the should be enough.
as possible. Remember
Release the fish to into
Bibliography
have the water at the same pH and temperature. The glass of the tank should be cleaned,
the aquarium. Never dump the bag into your tank! Keep a close eye on the fish until you are
bothitinside
sure
Agarwal has and out.
A, settled
2009. in. Cleaning
KeepingWait Dangerous
ten to of the
fifteentop and light
minutes
Aquarium fixtures
between
Fish should
each
– important also
fish so be
points to done.
that theyin
keep Vacuuming
have
mind. enough a
small
time portion
to acclimatize
Articlebase of
Directory.your gravel is recommended but should be done
to their new environment. Refer to text box 4, with regards to tank with care.
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