Many people set up fish tanks for tropical fish thinking that once the tank has been set up and the fish have been added, their work is done. This is far from the truth. A lot of care and maintenance goes into keeping the inhabitants of a fish tank. Fish may not be as needy as puppies, but they need a clean, healthy environment.

Here are some tips to help you ensure that your fish tanks for tropical fish are great environments for the inhabitants:

• Water – a water dechlorinator or other additive should be used to neutralize tap water. Do not simply add tap water to your tank – it has chlorine and ammonia which are harmful to fish. At least 1/3 of the tank water should be replaced once a month. Be sure that the treated water is at the same temperature before adding it. Different species of fish require different temperatures of water. Very likely, your fish will need to be kept in 70 to 78 degree water.
• Food – do not overfeed your fish. If you do, you are going to have a messier tank – uneaten food will turn into toxins. Any food that is not eaten within 5 or 10 minutes after feeding should be removed from the tank.
• Fish – the fish of your tank are the stars of the whole show. Make sure you choose wisely. If this is your first fish tank for tropical fish, be sure to get hardier fish, ones that are easy to keep, even when the temperature drops. Also, realize that all of your fish should require the same environmental conditions.