Aquariums
Setting up the tank, the nitrogen cycle and how to change the water without upsetting it.
Pet guide
Fish and aquariums: guides for beginners
Setting up your first tank step by step, the water and its parameters, what and how much to feed, and fish that forgive a beginner.
3topics
4-6weeks to cycle
10-20% water a week
Fish
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Aquariums How to set up your first aquarium, step by step
From choosing the tank to the first fish: substrate, filter, light, the nitrogen cycle and the waiting time nobody skips.
05/10/2026 23:04
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Aquariums Water changes and aquarium parameters
How much water to change and how often, and how to read pH, hardness, nitrite and nitrate without panicking.
28/09/2026 15:54
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Species Koi carp in a garden pond
Size and depth of the pond, filtration, feeding by season and how to keep koi healthy through winter.
27/09/2026 15:54
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Diet How and how much to feed fish
How much they eat in two minutes, how many times a day and why overfeeding is the most common mistake.
25/09/2026 23:04
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Species Fish for beginners
Hardy species for a first aquarium, which ones to keep together and the ones to avoid until you have more experience.
18/09/2026 23:04
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Fish and aquariums: guides for beginners
How long before I can put fish in a new tank?
Between four and six weeks if you cycle it properly: the filter needs that time to grow the bacteria that turn the fish waste into something harmless. Adding them earlier is the main cause of deaths.
How much should I feed the fish?
Only what they eat in about two minutes, once or twice a day. Leftover food rots and spoils the water, which is far more dangerous than a fish going a day without food.
How often should the water be changed?
Around 10-20 % of the volume every week, with water of a similar temperature and always treated to remove chlorine. The filter is rinsed in tank water, never under the tap.