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All through my childhood, my father had a pretty substantial aquarium tank where he kept everything from tropical fish to the larger oscar fish. My mom often asked him why he was so drawn to these aquatic species, and his answer was always that their activity was fascinating and calming. The moment I found out we would be receiving a set of GloFish began the daily inquiry as to where our fish might be. My kids thought it was comical and slightly perplexing as to how the company would ship our fish. Every box we opened begged the question, “Are the fish here yet?”
What are GloFish?
GloFish are a species of fluorescent fish originally bred to help detect environmental pollutants. The science behind these fish is fascinating, and as we continue to explore how to best care for them, we’ll study up on their origin, where they obtain their fluorescent color from, and what other types of organisms are naturally fluorescent. What was originally intentioned to be a simple household “pet” has become an educational opportunity to teach my children about responsibility and science.
How to Set Up the GloFish Aquarium:
As a first-time fish owner, this Tetra Glofish Size 3 Aquarium Kit was the perfect starting point for our venture. Available at Walmart for just $32.88, the investment was reasonable considering all of the items that are included:
- Seamless 3 Gallon Aquarium
- Clear Cover
- Base Frame
- Aquarium Light with Blue LEDs
- Low Voltage Power Supply
- Tetra Internal Filter
- Tetra Medium Filter Cartridge
- TetraCare Registration and Usage Information
- TetraCare Complete Aquarium Set-Up Guide
In addition to the above items, you will also need the following to ensure a safe environment for your fish:
- AquaSafe Water Conditioner
- Tetra EasyBalance
- GloFish Flakes
- Tetra Submersible Heater and thermometer
- Fish Net
- Gravel Cleaner
- Tetra Medium Filter Cartridges
- Jungle 5-N-1 Test Trips
Since part of the experience involves personalizing the aquarium, you can choose from a variety of aquarium decor items such as the Tetra Color-Changing LED Mushroom, Aquarium Plants, a Tetra Silicone Anemone, and colorful Aquarium Gravel. It should also be noted that the fish are sold separately.
Set-up is actually quite straightforward and involves just a few easy steps:
1. Find a flat, level surface for your aquarium adjacent to an electrical outlet to plug in your LED light, heater, and filter. Avoid a location which receives direct sunlight to prevent excessive algae growth.
2. Rinse all gravel, plants, decor items, filter cartridges, and aquarium in plain water (fish should never be exposed to soap).
3. Install all of your equipment including the heater, filter, hood/light, and thermometer (placed on the outside of the tank).
4. Fill your aquarium with fresh water and treat with AquaSafe as directed.
5. Add SafeStart as directed.
6. Check the temperature of the water before adding fish.
7. Before adding fish, allow them to acclimate to the temperature for 15 minutes by floating the bag in the tank and adding a small amount of aquarium water to the bag in 5 minute intervals.
Maintenance:
1. Fish should be fed 1-3 times a day with small amounts of food. The general rule is to feed the fish the amount of food they can consume in 5 minutes.
2. Once a week, add EasyBalance to maintain the appropriate water chemistry
3. Inevitably, some of the water will evaporate. Be sure to compensate weekly by adding a mixture of water and AquaSafe (which dechlorinates and conditions the water).
4. Remember to clean the filter thoroughly every month and replace the filter cartridge every 2-4 weeks.
5. Use a gravel vacuum to remove 20% of the dirty water and any uneaten food/waste build-up
Troubleshooting:
Inevitably, there are several things that could go wrong. One of the things we struggled with initially was cloudy water. After decreasing the amount of food we were feeding our fish, we did a partial water change (and added the 2 required chemicals) which significantly helped clear the water. We also plan to purchase a gravel cleaner and a bottle of test strips to ensure the water our fish live in is healthy. Tetra’s website has a comprehensive Q&A section, but if you still need assistance, you can call TetraCare for free advice and support at 800.423.6458.
My kids have had such a wonderful experience caring for these fish. Each morning and evening, they “remind” me that their fish need breakfast and dinner. The glow they emit is gorgeous, particularly at night and we love to see how active they are, particularly when they know that it’s time to eat. If you’re looking to spend some more time talking about GloFish or fish in general, check out these engaging GloFish lesson plans.
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