Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Starting with a new tank
If you're starting with an empty aquarium, the preparation of a balanced tank environment is crucial to achieve before introducing any fish. If you wish to add albino tiger barbs to a mature tank, skip to Section 2, Step 1. Rinse the aquarium glass with warm water. Rinse the gravel three to five times, or when all grit seems to be gone. Pour the gravel into the aquarium until it lies roughly an inch thick along the bottom. Place the aquatic plants along the sides and back of the aquarium.
Fill the aquarium with tap water, leaving roughly an inch between the water level and the top of the aquarium. Drop the dechlorinator into the water, using seven to eight drops of dechlorinator per one gallon of water. Add the dechlorinator in order to rid the water of all chlorine -- which boiling and "aging" the water can only reduce -- and to add fish-centric nutrients to the water. Cover the aquarium and turn on its light if you have plants in the aquarium -- keep the light on for as many hours a day as recommended for your breed of plant. Keep the aquarium uncovered if that is how you plan to maintain the aquarium once there are fish in it.
Position the heater and filter in the aquarium, and turn them on. Allow them to run for at least a day. Make sure the heater keeps the water temperature constant, between 68-79 F.
Cycle the aquarium by introducing ammonia (ammonia method), by dropping fish flakes into the water and allowing them to rot (food method), by introducing animals you don't care about harming into the aquarium (live fish method), or by introducing still-wet media (such as filter sponges, gravel, or decorations) from a mature tank that has already cycled. Do water changes as usual, depending on the size of your aquarium---at least twice a week, changing 50 percent of the water each time. Change the water by siphoning water from the aquarium into a bucket and dumping it, then pouring in dechlorinated water that has been left to "age" for at least 30 minutes and up to a week. Do more frequent changes if the water looks cloudy or you discover a bacteria bloom. Test the water every day---first, you will notice an ammonia spike, and eventually the ammonia will reduce to zero. Wait approximately four to six weeks for the aquarium to cycle for all methods except the introduction of media from a mature tank. Wait approximately one to two weeks for the aquarium to cycle if using the method of introducing a mature tank's media.
Starting with a mature tank
If your aquarium is stable and its ammonia levels remain at zero, introduce your school of albino tiger barbs (at least six to eight fish). Float the tiger barbs, still in their plastic bags from the fish store, in the tank water for at least 15 minutes to give them time to adjust to the tank's temperature. Then open the bags and let them swim in the tank itself. Withhold their food for one day.
Feed your albino tiger barbs one to two times a day, using high-quality flake food as their staple diet. Introduce live foods such as bloodworms or small shrimp, if possible, since albino tiger barbs are omnivorous.
Maintain your water change schedule. Test your water periodically (once per week to once per month) to make sure the ammonia is remaining at zero. Increase your water changes if your test shows a rising ammonia level in the water. Maintain an ammonia level of zero -- live plants help control the ammonia by acting as biological filters, but even live plants may not be able to filter the water fast enough to keep up with the amount of ammonia your fish produce.