| NOTICE - PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS IN THE FORUMS TO HELP MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THESE FISH KEEPING BASICS. WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU. BEGINNERS TUTORIAL - START HERE -http://faq.thekrib.com/begin.html This is one of my favorite places to send new fish keepers as they can learn about the various aspects of fish keeping by following all of the links in this tutorial. Pay particular attention to "The Nitrogen Cycle", "Fishless Cycling" (recommended), "Cycling With Fish"(not recommended but you may already be stuck with this) and Basic Water Chemistry but please read over all of the other links as well and feel free to ask lots of questions HERE at this forum. And if you want to learn even more, here is another tutorial site - http://badmanstropicalfish.com/basics/basics_aquariums.html TOP TEN REASONS TO FISHLESS CYCLE - (A little humor [ ] to help emphasize this very serious matter) http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/board/Topic69655-5-1.aspx FISHLESS CYCLING TIP!!! - I know a common complaint is people not being able to find the 10% Ammonia Hydroxide (clear ammonia) at their local stores but I recently saw online that Ace Hardware sells their own brand for around $2.00 a quart. Here's their online link to buy it by the case... but the stores sell individual units. http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1307957&cp=&fbn=Brand%7CAce+Hardware&f=Brand%2F19262%2F&fbc=1&kw=ammonia&parentPage=search&searchId=18414252422 THE NITROGEN CYCLE EXPLAINED - (In case you did not read the beginners tutorial above) http://fish.orbust.net/cycling.html AMMONIA FURTHER EXPLAINED - (The beginning of "The Nitrogen Cycle") FAMA Article - Controlling Ammonia by Ben Helm http://www.animalnetwork.com/fama/detail.aspx?aid=26872&sts=all NITRITES FURTHER EXPLAINED - (The middle of "The Nitrogen Cycle") (Good Article Link Needed) NITRATES FURTHER EXPLAINED - (The end product of "The Nitrogen Cycle") http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/board/Topic109574-5-1.aspx MASTER TEST KITS ON SALE FOR $12.99 AND UP - (Everybody needs a decent Master Test Kit) http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/board/Topic64786-5-1.aspx HAILEY'S 10 GALLON STOCKING LIST - (Updated to include Betta's in a 10G.) http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/board/Topic113304-5-1.aspx MONGABAY - (Very accurate and detailed species profiles for most fish so you can check out the type of fish you want while you are fishless cycling your new tank) http://fish.mongabay.com/index.htm FISH PROFILES - (If you don't find your fish profile on Mongabay, try these sites) http://www.fishprofiles.com/profiles/ or http://www.fishbase.org/search.php MORE FISH COMPATIBILITY CHARTS AND PROFILE SITES - http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/board/Topic69040-5-1.aspx A BETTER SET OF GUIDELINES TO REPLACE THE FISH-KILLING 1" PER GALLON RULE THAT IS MISUSED AND MISUNDERSTOOD SO OFTEN - http://lennyvasbinder.blogspot.com/2005/06/new-rules-guidelines-to-replace-1-per.htmlWHY YOU SHOULD NOT ADD SALT TO YOUR FRESHWATER AQUARIUM except for occasional treatment of disease - (The Osmoregulatory System) http://groups.msn.com/Breedingtropicalfish/osmoregulation.msnw http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/water/osmoregulation.htm http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/salt.shtml http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article22.html http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article5.html http://www.goldfishinfo.com/salt.htm FILTER MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING - (How to keep your tank from going into constant mini-cycles) http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/board/Topic110052-5-1.aspx DISEASE & ILLNESS DIAGNOSIS SITES: http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/board/Topic117602-5-1.aspx DICTIONARY: ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND KEYWORDS COMMONLY USED IN FISHKEEPING - (To help you navigate the many acronyms and abbreviations used in these forums) http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/board/Topic112554-5-1.aspx or http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/glossary.html POLL - Did your LFS or CS give you good advice... or NOT? (Actual POLL on new forums) http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/board/Topic111975-5-1.aspx (Old 2005 thread on same topic but without an actual POLL) http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/board/Topic69094-5-1.aspx?Update=1 HOW LONG SHOULD FISH LIVE? An expected lifespan guide for fish keepers - http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/board/Topic119224-5-1.aspx *** This list was compiled with the help of Hailey (Our forums most popular advisor and one of the most knowledgable fish keepers out here on the net) and many, many others who have taught me over the years. NOTICE TO OTHER CONTRIBUTORS - This PINNED TOPIC is still being developed so please post links and threads (from this forum as often as possible) but if this site does not have an article or thread, then try to only post links to other sites that do not have competing forums. I will edit this top post to include other links that are applicable.
Lenny V. a/k/a GoldLenny
PINNED TOPIC - A to Z of Fish Keeping:"How-To", Training & Information Page For New Fish Keepers & Experts alike.
Clickmy BlogButton below for BETTER rules to replace the 1" per gallon FISH KILLING rule.
65 G Goldfish:3 - Fancy Goldfish (3-4" each - body), 1 - 10" Common Pleco (Liposarcus Pardalis)
20 G Tropical:1 - Blue/Opaline Gouramis (3"), 2- AlbinoBuenos AiresTetras (2 1/2")
10G: Plants and ramshorn snails
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