This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Mars Fish Care and the API brand.
Being stuck inside way more often than normal these days means that finding a way to keep kids entertained – besides just playing video games – can be tough! I do make it a point to sneak in learning, sibling activities, and bouts of responsibilities throughout their days, but even still, this can be easier said than done!
So, when I learned about Mars Fish Care and their Live Virtual Event to help families not only set-up but also maintain a freshwater tropical fish tank, I was immediately enthralled with the idea! I’m not going to lie, we did have a handful of fish about a year back, but let’s just say we didn’t quite know what we were doing, so it didn’t end well…
However, after this Live Virtual Event, and learning about all the easy-to-use products Mars Fish Care and the API brand has to offer, we are much more confident in our expertise and couldn’t be more excited to take on this journey once again! Plus, fish tanks are proven to help promote calmness and reduce anxiety – in both children and adults – and who doesn’t need that these days?!
I’ll be sharing some video clips on my Facebook page soon, but until then, let me quickly break down the process:
1) START WITH A FISH TANK
A good rule of thumb is to go with a 10-gallon tank and to not overload the tank with either fish or accessories. Many tanks come with a filter and water-heater as part of the package, so definitely choose this option to make life easier!
Also, keep in mind that the water should be between 72-75 degrees, and there should be about 1 to 1-1/2 inches of rocks (or ground cover) along the bottom of the tank.
2) CLARIFY YOUR FRESHWATER
One of the biggest reasons fish don’t make it when going into a new tank – or even after cleaning your tank for that matter – is that normal tap water contains chlorine and other contaminants that are inhabitable for fish. This is why using enzymes to “prepare” the water is key! Again, Mars Fish Care has made it super simple with both their API Stress Coat and API Quick Start.
- API Stress Coat is a water conditioner that makes tap water safe for fish by removing chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals, so you can add your fish to your new tank, right away. It also contains the healing power of Aloe Vera to reduce fish stress by up to 40% and to heal damaged tissue and wounds, as well as to help reduce fish susceptibility to disease and infection.
- API Quick Start allows for the instant addition of fish, as it immediately starts the natural aquarium cycle with beneficial bacteria which converts toxic ammonia into nitrite, then into harmless nitrates to help prevent fish loss in your tank. Trust me, this is HUGE and the unfortunate reason we had to start over the first time around.
3) CLEANING YOUR FRESHWATER FISH TANK
One of the biggest hassles – or at least what most people perceive as such – is cleaning a fish tank on a regular basis. Trust me, I was intimidated too! This is because fish are extremely sensitive and their environment must be the perfect temperature and the water must be completely free from contaminants in order for them to survive. Plus, who wants to look at an algae-filled fish tank all of the time, so having to constantly clean it can be annoying, to say the least. So, step in these products:
- API Stress Zyme – this is a bacterial cleaner that helps to consume sludge and reduce
aquarium maintenance by keeping your aquarium clean and improving the natural aquarium cycle.
- API Accu Clear – quickly clarifies cloudy water in your aquarium, eliminating haze to make your water crystal clear. Trust me, this will end up being your favorite!
- API Aquarium Salt – made from evaporated sea salt, this is a must-have for your aquarium as it promotes fish health by improving gill function, making it easier for fish to breathe. Since fish electrolytes can be lost each time you change their water, this product helps to replenish them, so is also a very important one to have.
Although it may seem intimidating at first, setting up a freshwater fish tank can be fun for the whole family – just make sure a parent is always there to supervise during fish tank cleanings… You {or your fish} don’t want to learn the hard way!
I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial as much as we did, and I can’t wait to hear more about your freshwater fish tank once you get it all set-up too!
Now make sure to visit Mars Fish Care, HERE, for more info on how to set-up a tank for yourself as well as to purchase an array of API’s amazing products!
