Bulletin No.1


Ask your retailer whether the new fish you are interested in are compatible with the fish you wish to keep or your existing stock in terms of behaviour and water quality requirements (pH - acidity/alkalinity, temperature ). A maximum stocking density of 2.5 cm (1 inch) of fish (from the tip of nose to fork of tail) to every 5 litres (1 gallon) of filtered aquarium water may be used. In poorly filtered/unfiltered aquarium this stocking density must be reduced. Always stock aquariums gradually over the longest possible period of time so as not to overload your filter. Check the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate (caused mainly by fish waste) and pH levels in the aquarium water before purchasing your next fish.
When you arrive home with your new fish: Turn the aquarium lights off. Float the bag with your newly purchased fish in the aquarium for 20 - 30 minutes allowing the water temperatures to equilibrate. Untie the elastic band and roll the sides of the bag down. Now exchange some of the aquarium water for the water in the bag. This should be repeated at least twice every 15 - 20 minutes. This process allows your fish to get used to any difference between the shop aquarium water and your own aquarium water. Once the newly purchased fish is swimming freely in the bag and the temperatures are equalised, tilt the bag slowly and allow the fish to swim out in its own good time. Now add MYXAZIN (broad spectrum bactericide) to the aquarium on days 1 and 2 as a stress reliever and disease preventative - see bottle for dosages. (Do not use simultaneously with any other disease treatment) Add a double dose of BACTERLIFE to boost filter bacteria levels, helping to control the additional biological loading on the aquarium. BACTERLIFE seeds new filtration with beneficial nitrifying bacteria and enhances and revitalises established filtration. Use, regularly, BACTERLIFE will dramatically improve the water quality. Uses - activating filters, oxidises ammonia and nitrite, digests sludge and increases the filtration bacteria count prior to adding new livestock - see bottle for dosages. Turn the aquarium lights back on after 2 hours.
The above regime should be repeated every time new fish are purchased and introduced to your system. Always limit feeding to a small amount of food once a day during initial filtration maturation period.

Just topping up the aquarium from evaporation losses is not adequate. Fish live in their own waste and when it is allowed to build up it becomes toxic to them and can encourage algae growth. Even with an aquarium filter, water still needs to be changed. The stocking density, the feeding regime and how efficient your filter is will determine how much and how often you will need to carry out partial water changes. As a rough guide a 70 litre aquarium with a mixture of 15 small to medium fish which are fed correctly will require a thermally/chemically balanced 20% water change every 3 - 4 weeks. Water changes in unfiltered or overstocked aquariums may need to be more frequent than this. Over a period of time fish waste will accumulate in the gravel. This can be syphoned off when it reaches high levels. Please note: The aquarium gravel should never be totally cleaned when using undergravel filtration as this is where the bacteria are which help break down fish waste products. Don't forget to use HALOEX when changing water to make the tap water safe. High levels of the poisonous gas chlorine, plus chloramine and fluorine are damaging to fish, invertebrates, plants and filtration bacteria alike. Within a few seconds of adding HALOEX to the water all toxic chemicals are safely neutralised and rendered harmless. HALOEX also contains aloe vera to give the fish increased protection to their gills and help tissue regeneration after an infection. HALOEX should be used when initially filing your aquarium and when carrying out partial water changes. Please note: this is intended as a quick guide. Please refer to your retailer for more advice.