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> Photos" Taking care of fish

Ever dream of living near the ocean or a lake? It's not difficult to make that dream come true. Get a fish tank.

Setting up a tank takes time, but once it's done you'll have a tranquil retreat that'll provide hours of viewing pleasure with no commercials.

"They've done studies," said John Gerber, a longtime aquarist and owner of Gerber's Saltwater (saltwaterwarehouse.com) aquarium supply in Moraine. "Aquarium-keeping lowers your blood pressure. It's a stress reliever."

Gerber says that keeping an aquarium can be as easy or as complicated as you want to make it. Major problems arise when people buy a tank the same way they purchase furniture. The trouble, Gerber says, is that you have to remember that a tank is an environment for living things. You shouldn't spend most of your money on the tank and stand and not leave enough to buy a quality filtration system. It's like buying a pedigree dog and then not providing it adequate nutrition. Filters help keep the water in a tank clean, which is essential to maintain healthy fish.

Another no-no is thinking that smaller is better. Larger tanks are actually easier to care for than smaller ones. That's because there's more water to neutralize errors. One of the most common is overfeeding.

With a little patience and planning, a fish tank will provide years of pleasure. And, that's a real fish

story.

Salt water versus fresh water

Gerber says that many people have the misconception that freshwater tanks are easier to manage than saltwater ones. But both depend on the same principals — clean water.

Never use water directly from the faucet. Tap water has chlorine, which is toxic to fish. It can be removed with a commercially purchased chemical referred to as a dechlorinator. Tap water also contains minerals and phosphates that promote algae growth; so distilled water is preferable. Aquarium supply stores sell water that is free of chemicals and ready to add to a tank.

A device called a hydrometer makes the process of turning fresh water into salt water easy. Just add salt to a bucket of water until the hydrometer shows the water has the correct amount of salt. Again, commercially made salt water is also available for sale, if you'd prefer not to be a kitchen chemist.

Fish

Fish are like people. Some fish are survivors; others require a lot of attention. And, you can't tell by their looks how they'll get along with each other. Not all fish are compatible; some will eat the other fish in your tank.

Some hardy saltwater fish are damsels, clown fish and six-lined wrasses. Hardy freshwater species are African cichlids, guppies, mollies and swordtails.

Do

Buy large tanks. The more water, the less chance the balance in the tank will be upset.

Be patient. Setting up a tank is a process, not an event. It should take several weeks to go from start to finish.

Set up the tank with water first. Add plants, then give the tank several days or more before you add a few hardy fish. Put cheaper fish in first, that way if they die you haven't lost a big investment. Add other fish in intervals to allow the tank and the fish to adapt.

Let kids help. It teaches responsibility. It's rewarding and fun. Keeping fish is a hobby they may never outgrow.

Ask questions before you buy. Find an aquarium system and fish with which you can be successful.

Don't

Buy kits with inadequate filtration units.

Expect to establish an aquarium in one day.

Overfeed. Instead, start with a few pieces of food. Add more if the fish continue to eat. When the food starts to fall to the bottom of the tank, the fish aren't hungry anymore.

Buy fish just because they're pretty.

Start with a tank system or fish that'll be more work than you're willing or able to handle.

The complete aquarium in a box

The Nano Cube and the Aqua Pod are the latest and easiest way to buy a complete saltwater or freshwater aquarium. All the necessary equipment including a three-stage filtration system, a submersible pump, a 24-watt, 50/50 compact fluorescent lamp and a flip-top canopy are built into the unit. The lights are bright enough for coral spawning and night feeding corals and fish. Nanos and Aquas come in various sizes.

Contact this writer at ferris-olson@woh.rr.com.