How To Set Up A Perfect Neon Tetra Tank

Guide On Setting Up Aquarium For Tetra

I have been asked a couple of times by close friends of mine on how to set up a perfect neon tetra tank. Setting up a neon tetra tank is easy but setting up the perfect tetra tank will requires lots of care and efforts, not discounting the knowledge required. Before we rush off to set up our first tropical fish aquarium for our tetra, we must first understand the fish and its habitat before we can successfully mimic the natural environment of the fish.

The earliest neon tetra found can be traced to the waters of South America. They are found mainly in famous rivers of Amazon(Rio Solimoes), Napo and Tiger. The water of the rivers are acidic and soft with an all year round temperatures of between 68 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (20 - 26 degrees Celsius). They are found in both clear and opaque regions of the rivers. The average lifespan of the neon tetra is about five to six years, however there are cases where they are found to live up to a decade long. The natural habitat of the neon tetras is normally found where there is plentiful of vegetation like plants, roots and small branches of trees. The ph level of the water is normally in the region of 5.5 to 7.0 depending on where the fish is found on the river and the water hardness level is normally found at about 1.0 to 2.0 KH (dh).

The tetras are a shoaling family and they normally are found in large schools. One interesting fact about this fish is their love of adventure and they like exploring their natural habitat. These can be seen from the wide footprints of the fish in the Amazon rivers.

Selection of the Neon Tetra Tank

Fish tanks can be found in different shapes and sizes, people normally have a hard time in deciding the fish tank to get. I would normally tell my friends that selecting a fish tank is an art itself. Beside considering the place where you would put the fish tank, you also need to consider the types of fish you are going to rare in the tank. Maintenance of the tank is also another consideration when it come to selecting the perfect fish tank.

The location of the fish tank is important as it will determine the size and shape of the tank you are going to get. A fish tank place in the wrong place due to its shape and size will be disastrous for the fish. The location of the fish tank is always advised by expert to keep away from sources of light and heat. A special cosy and dark corner in the room away from the windows will be a nice place to locate your tank. This will ensure that there is minimal fluctuation in the conditions of the aquarium in terms of water temperature and lower the chances of green algae growth in the tank. Once you have located the place where you can put your fish tank, next is the availability of space and the shape of the tank that will fit the location. If you are not getting any stand or specially designed cabinet for the tank and have decided to put it on an existing cabinet, ensures that the cabinet is able to take the weight of a full fish tank as it can be very heavy.

For beginners setting up an aquarium for neons for the first time, I would suggest that you buy a common-sized tank that is suitable in shape for your location and in the region of about 30 to 35 gallons. Beside allowing you ease of maintenance, fish tank of this size is perfect to rear a school of neon tetras in the region of about fifty to a hundred. this will ensure that you have enough rooms for the fish and at the same time allows you to enjoy the majestic view of a whole school of neon tetras in the tank. If you are under a tight budget to set up your tank, then selecting a smaller tank will also do. However one thing to take note of is that the neon tetras is a shoaling species, therefore do not have less than six neons in the tank at any one time, as the neon tetra may feel insecure and stress. After the selection of the fish tank, next is the selection and setting up of a suitable filtration system for your tank.

Setting Up Of Filtration System For The Aquarium

When setting up a tank for neon tetras, finding a suitable filtration system for your tank would requires more knowledge on the types of filtration system and how they work. We will first discuss on the three different types of filtration in used today. They are mainly categorized under mechanical, biological and chemical. Mechanical filtration is the simplest to understand of all, its main purpose is to remove particles from the water to keep the water sparkling clear.

Biological filtration is the most difficult to set up as well as maintaining, however once you successfully allows the biological filtration to mature, it will last as long as you do nothing stupid like washing the filter elements with tap water. Biological filtration is essential in a fish tank to ensure the breakdown of harmful waste products in the aquarium by 'friendly' bacteria breed in highly porous material like sponge, ceramic tubes and sintered glass, in the filter system.

The third kinds of filtration system is the Chemical or Absorptive filtration. Special chemical absorptive materials are used selectively to remove various toxic substances from the water. One good example of material used is the activated carbon that is used to remove toxins, medications, dyes, etc. Majority of the filtration system found on the market today normally comprises of either two or all three types of filtration incorporated into one. For a neon tetra tank, I would recommend you use the following filtration system;

Box Filter

The box filter comes in a number sizes to fit most small to medium size tanks. This is an air powered filtration system that uses airflow to draw water through the chamber where the filter elements is. Depending on your preference, the chamber can be filled with your desired filter element. For neon tetra, I would recommend that you fill the chamber with activated carbon at the top as a chemical filter and filter wool at the bottom to act as a mechanical filter.

Undergravel Filter (UGF)

If budget is not a problem and you like an aquarium that is free from the unsightly filter box in the tank, then I would suggest you use the undergravel filter. The filter work by drawing water inside the tank downwards towards the floor of the tank where the gravel substrate sit. The gravel substrate will acts as a mechanical and biological filtration media that allows a large surface area for filtration to work. However, routine maintenance have to be carried out on the gravel to remove excessive debris build-up by vacuuming the gravel during routine water change.

Sponge Filter

Use this filter when your neon tetra is spawning, as this is the most basic type of filter that will not suck the fry into the filter inlet. This is also an air powered filter that simply consist of a sponge through which the water is drawn by rising air bubbles from the air pump. This type of filter work using both the mechanical and biological filtration technique.

After selecting the perfect water filter for your tank, next is the uphill task of conditioning the water to emulate the natural habitat of the neon tetras.

Water Conditioning When Setting Up An Aquarium For Neons

The first step of preparing the water to fill an aquarium when setting up a tetra tank is tap water conditioning. Tap water normally comes with chemical like chlorine and heavy metals such as copper, lead and zinc. I use the Tap Water Conditioner whenever I change the water, the conditioner will removes chlorine by breaking down the chloramine bond and detoxifies heavy metals found in the tap water. Next I would condition the water with Kent Black Water Expert, to recreate conditions of water similar to that found in the Amazon region of South America. They contains natural humic and tannic acids that emulates water conditions in natural tropical waters created by soil, peat and decaying vegetation.

After conditioning the water, the next thing to do is controlling the water temperature and encourage water movement within the tank to oxygenate the water. Installing an air stone in the tank will encourage water movement and oxygenation of the water through the very small bubbles produced into the water column. The temperature of the water have to be maintained in the region of 23 to 27 degree Celsius, if you are staying in a temperate environment I would suggest you install a fish tank water heater that will help to maintain the water temperature all year round. Selecting the correct light source for your tank is also very important, as the light source may increase the temperature of the water if selected wrongly. I would suggest that you install an UV light fluorescent tube instead of white fluorescent tube, as it will enhance your viewing pleasure by bringing out the colors of your neon tetras while not over heating the water.

Decorating your aquarium is the last step in setting up your tank. You can allows your imagination to drive your creativity when it come to decorating the aquarium, as you will be the one who will be enjoying it. However you have to make sure you have enough vegetation like green plants, roots and branches in the tank, as the neon tetras are known to like them a lot. Neon tetras will look extremely good when observed with green plants in the background.

Through this article, I have share with you the steps on how to set up a perfect neon tetra tank and the tips to condition a neon tetra tank conditions to emulate the natural habitat of the neons in the Amazon rivers. You should now be able to set up a perfect tank for your neon tetras. If you wanted to includes some Cardinal tetras into your tank for the neons, it should not be a problem as both neon tetra and cardinal tetra has similar natural habitat therefore you can use the above guide as your tips on setting up cardinal tetra tank.

Tropical Fish - Neon Tetra

Neon Tetra

Tropical fish are popular aquarium fish, due to their often bright coloration. Brightly coloured highly active and extremely friendly, tetras are among the most popular of all aquarium fish. Paracheirodon innesi of the characin family, also called ‘the neon tetra’ is the most known freshwater fish kept at home aquariums. They are also relatively hardy and easy to keep, provided there are no other fish in your aquarium big enough to eat them. The fish is characterized by an iridescent blue horizontal stripe along each side of the fish from its nose to the base of the adipose fin, and an iridescent red stripe that begins at the middle of the body and extends posterior to the base of the caudal fin.

Wild Neon Tetras are highly prolific and have a minimum population doubling time below 15 months. Wild Neon Tetras inhabit very soft and slightly acidic waters in tropical regions of South America where the water temperature usually stays between 20 and 26 degree C (68 and 80 degree F). They shoal naturally in the wild and are thus happier, more brightly colored, and more active when kept as a shoal as opposed to singly. The difference is that the red stripe only halfway ups the body while it runs the full length of the body on the Cardinal Tetra. Distinguishing these two species from each other is however not difficult at all if you know what to look for. Wild Congo tetra is found in the warm waters of the Zaire river basin on the African continent, and your Congo tetra will therefore appreciate a water temperature in the 23-26 degree C (73 -79 degree F) range. Soft water is best, but a healthy Congo tetra will usually adapt to harder conditions as well.

Setting up a Neon Tetra Aquarium

The Neon tetra is an extremely popular aquarium fish, especially among beginner aquarists. The following are tips in setting up an Tetra Aquarium;

• A shoal of brightly decorated Neon Tetras will add colour as well as activity to the aquarium. Therefore, it’s recommended to buy a species tank with 50-100 neons.
• Unlike peaceful neons, some larger fish may harass on small neons.
• Keep in mind that most tetra species are less robust than the Neon tetras when it comes to water conditions.
• Neon's are perfect for any community tropical fish tank.
• Include fine textured aquatic plants in the set-up
• Include fish that mix well in an aquarium are other types of tetras, such as the rummy-nose tetra, cardinal tetra, and glowlight tetra, and other community fish that live well in an ideal Tetra water condition

Breeding Neon Tetra

In captivity, Neon tetras are considered quite difficult to spawn, especially among hobby aquarists since it can be hard to achieve perfect water conditions. Due to the difficult faced during spawning, it is advisable that old or unhealthy fish should not be bred. So how do you identify the spawning couples, females are more rounded than males and are usually bigger than males. The Neon Tetra or Paracheirodon Innesi is a small slim-bodied species of tetra. However, the 'straightness' of the line and the plumpness of the female might occasionally be due to the eggs she is carrying during spawning. This makes it closely related to other popular aquarium fishes like the Cardinal tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi) and the Green Neon tetra (Paracheirodon simulans). The neon tetra eggs are sensitive to light. Neon's should therefore be housed in a semi-dark aquarium with the bottom and sides in dark colours. Be sure to remove the adults after the eggs have been laid, as the adults will eat them. Feeding should be provided at least two times a day. Fry can be fed rotifers, especially infusoria and egg yolk for 1 to 4 weeks, followed by nauplii of brine shrimp, shaved cattle liver, and formulated diets. When the fry is roughly one month old, they will start displaying their adult colouration. They tend to be timid and, because of their small size, should not be kept with large or aggressive fish who may bully or simply eat them.