Tropical Tank Problems

A tropical fish tank can be either saltwater or fresh water. A saltwater tank is more complicated to keep than freshwater, but both experience similar problems. These extend from water chemistry to fish disease to aggressive fish. Your fish can be the first indicator that there is a problem with your tank. Observe fish closely. Note changes in appearance or behavior.

  1. Outbreak of Disease

    • When purchasing a new fish for your tank, place it in a quarantine tank before introducing it to your main tank. This allows you to observe the fish for disease without putting the rest of your fish at risk. Look for symptoms like a depressed appetite and color changes. Also ragged fins, cottony patches or open sores are signs that the fish is diseased. While there are treatments for most diseases, there may be side effects to these treatments.

    Water Chemistry

    • It is important to have a good testing kit.

      You need to have a good testing kit for aquarium water. These kits test killer chemicals like ammonia, chlorine and nitrates, as well as pH. A high level of ammonia is the result of decomposing food and fish waste and is the leading killer of tropical fish. Chlorine in tap water must be eliminated from water before adding it to your aquarium. High levels of nitrates will stress your fish and leave them vulnerable to disease. Finally, pH measures how acidic or alkaline your water is and can increase the toxicity of ammonia.

    Aggressive Fish

    • Some fish are more aggressive than others.

      Male betta fish are a popular freshwater fish because of their brilliant colors. However, these fish are very aggressive and should be kept alone in a separate bowl and not in an aquarium with other fish. You only want to keep one Kissing Grouami per tank to prevent bullying.

      In a saltwater aquarium, dwarf anglefish are aggressive with each other. The popular Coral Beauty can be aggressive with other fish in the tank and may eat the coral.

    Aquarium Size

    • Many new fish hobbyists make the mistake of not thinking about the kind of fish they want to keep before buying an aquarium. Some fish are small and don't need a large tank, while some tropical fish can reach 12 to 13 inches in length. These fish need a larger aquarium. A beginning aquarium should be 10 to 20 gallons.

      Another common problem is overcrowding. An overstocked aquarium will stretch the limits of your filtration system. It can also lead to aggressive fish.

    Algae

    • Algae grows when there is sufficent light.

      Not all algae is bad for your tank. Any tank that has sufficient light will grow some form of algae. Green algae, for instance, grows on the aquarium glass and is consumed by algae-eating fish. Scraping can also remove this algae.

      Red algae can be very difficult to remove. It is caused by a high pH. Blue-green algae is actually bacteria. It is slimy and comes in different colors. It's toxic to plants and to fish. Fish will not eat this type of algae.