FAQ's

The WaterZoo opened on March 11th 1986. It was then staffed by Mr. R Scott (owner) & Mr. R Clarke (manager) who had previously ran his own shop. Both Roy's retired several years ago. The WaterZoo is currently owned by Mr. J.A. Scott and has a staff of six.

Do you send products by mail order?

We are primarily a retail business, we are currently developing our online store, this will enable us to send products to customers that are unable to visit us. Visit our online shop.

Do you deliver?

We can offer a delivery on aquariums within a 40 mile radius of premises. This is not included in the cost of our products.

What are your opening hours?

Monday to Saturday 10:00-6:00. Sunday 10:00-4:00. Bank Holiday's 10:00-5:00. We are closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day & Easter Sunday.

Do you set up and maintain aquariums?

Many aquariums that we supply are literally add water & plug in so little expertise is required to install them. Although we can offer an installation service, although there is often a waiting list . We only maintain aquariums installed by ourselves. This is normally done on a contract basis.

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General

How often should I change the water?

The frequency & amount of water changed is dependent on many factors these include stocking density, amount / type of food & efficiency of the filtration unit. It is therefore very difficult to generalise. As a very rough guide change between 10 & 25% anywhere from twice a week to once a month. For a more accurate estimation you could test for Nitrate (NO3) if this is increasing then a water change is needed.

How often should I clean my filter?

The frequency a filter will require cleaning will depend on many factors, these include, size, efficiently & type of media used in the filter, as well as size, type of fish and the frequency, quantity & type of food used. Some filters have built in indicators to show when cleaning is required e.g. Fluval internal filters. When you see a significant decrease in the flow rate this would be a good time to clean the media. Keeping a note of this will enable you to anticipate when the filtration system will next require maintenance.

How many fish can I have in my aquarium / pond?

Stocking levels are based on either water volume or surface area. Like water changes there are many variables including the size of fish & filtration system.

These are generally accepted stocking levels.

Cold water 1” of fish per gallon (2.5cm per 4.5 litres)

Tropical 1” of fish per gallon (2.5cm per 4.5 litres) in the first three months, 2” of fish per gallon (5cm per 4.5 litres) after the aquarium has been established for at least six months.

Pond 10” of fish per 100 gallons (25cm per 45 litres)

Marine fish only 1” of fish per 4 gallons (2.5cm per 18 litres) in the first six months, increasing to a maximum of 1” of fish per 2 gallons (5cm per 9 litres) after six months.

Reef aquarium 1” of fish per 4 gallons (2.5cm per 18 litres)

PLEASE NOTE stocking levels are for guidance only. Larger fish produce far more waste than smaller fish. Therefore, when keeping large fish stocking densities should be far lower.

All stocking levels assume a good filtration system has been operating for at least 3 months. The stocking level in new systems is much lower. Click here for information on new tank syndrome.PDF 30kb

How often and how much food should I feed my fish?

Feed your fish twice a day. Although they can be fed more often if you wish to achieve a rapid growth rate. Ideally this should be a wide variety including dried & frozen food. All the food should be eaten within 5 minutes. Any left over should be removed ASAP.

I live XXX miles away will my livestock be OK travelling?

Provided livestock is properly packaged and does not get too hot or too cold it will be fine for at least six hours. Nearly all tropical & marine fish come from abroad and are often in transit for 24 hours with virtually a zero mortality rate. However, the less time in transit the less traumatic it is for the animal.

How long should I wait after setting up my aquarium/pond before adding fish?

Whilst some people advise waiting a week before adding livestock, we feel 48 hours is sufficient. After this period chlorine will have dissipated, and the aquarium will be up to temperature. Leaving the aquarium/pond longer will not help it establish as it will only start to mature once the filter has some waste to work on. Be sure to read about new tank syndrome PDF 30kb before adding livestock.

When is your next delivery of livestock?

Deliveries can arrive on any weekday. We have between one & three deliveries of tropical plants every week.

On average two or three deliveries of coldwater & tropical fish every week. One delivery of pond fish and plants every week from April to September. New stocks of marine fish & invertebrates almost every week.

How do I control nitrate.

Click here to read our guide to nitrate.PDF 35kb

I'm going on holiday/ moving can you look after my fish?

We can offer a fish boarding service for Customers who are going away or moving, Click here for more details. If you going away for a week or two, it is unlikely you will require our boarding service. Automatic feeders and holiday blocks can feed your fish while you are away, although it is still worth getting a fishkeeping friend/relative to check everything is OK in your absence.

Do you take fish back?

We are frequently requested to re-home fish by members of the public, and it is not possible to accommodate all the numerous requests, especially as many species are undesirable. Therefore, we only take fish back from Customers who have held a WaterZoo bonus card for at least three months, this by appointment only and is subject to terms displayed in our livestock area.

Why do I need to test my water?

Many compounds that accumulate in the aquarium cannot be detected by any of our senses, but are harmful to fish and invertebrates. Testing the water enables us to detect these compounds and take remedial measures, before it causes a problem. If the water is of good quality then fish are unlikely to become ill, you cannot tell how good or bad the water quality is by looking at it, clear water does not necessarily mean the water is OK.

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Tropical

I’ve started my aquarium recently, why is the water cloudy?

The most likely reason for cloudy water is that the filter is not yet mature. It takes several weeks from when the first fish are added for your filter to be colonized by sufficient bacteria to breakdown the waste they produce. If your fish are lethargic or hanging at the water surface, chances are there is a high ammonia & or nitrite level. This is poisonous to your fish. Although the only way to be sure is checking it with a readily available test kit. The cloudiness can be reduced by adding Interpet filter aid, although this will not improve the water quality for your fish.

Read about new tank syndrome.PDF 30kb

My aquarium is suffering from an algae problem, what is the solution?

Click here for more on problem algae in freshwater aquariums.PDF 30kb

Why can’t I keep plants?

What many people do not realise is that aquatic plants need light & carbon dioxide to grow. You can buy lots fertiliser, enriched substrate, etc, etc. If you do not provide the carbon dioxide & light your plants will not grow. It easier to achieve conditions conducive to growth than you may think. Firstly, your lighting should be on 10-14 hours per day, ideally controlled by a timer. You should have at least one high spec light & reflector, ideally two or more. Some fish keepers grossly overestimate the amount of oxygen fish require. You must not have any aeration in your aquarium. This is one of the best ways of stopping your plants growing. The oxygen fish require will enter through the surface of the water. Remove any air stones or turn down to the absolute minimum, ensure all water returning to the aquarium from filters does not agitate the surface. This will increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the aquarium. The addition of carbon dioxide is highly recommended for those serious about growing plants.

Click here for more information on growing aquarium plants. PDF 31kb

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Marine

What are ideal water conditions for marine livestock?

These are generally accepted ideal conditions for most marine invertebrates & fish.

Salinity	1.020-1.025
Temperature	75-79F
Ammonia	0
Nitrite	0
Nitrate	Less than 10ppm
pH	8.2-8.3
Calcium	above 400 ppm
Phosphate	below 0.1ppm

Our marine water conditions.

Is it difficult to keep marines?

No. Provided you buy good equipment (the best you can afford), do not cut corners, do not overstock, and carry out frequent maintenance, they are actually quite easy & much longer lived than tropical fresh water fish.

Find out more about keeping marines.

How much does it cost to set up a marine aquarium?

Click here for cost of equipment required to start a basic reef or fish only aquarium.

My aquarium is suffering from a Red/Green Slime algae or Hair Algae.

Click here to go to Problem algae in marine aquarium help page.

What size aquarium do I need to keep marines?

Generally, we would suggest a minimum size of 20 gallons (90 litres), smaller than this can be difficult to maintain a stable environment. Even the highest stocking level for a marine aquarium is 1" of fish per 2 gallons, but the average marine fish around 4-6" when adult, this means a 20 gallon aquarium would only have just 2 fish!

What is a protein skimmer and do I need one?

Protein skimmers come in many different forms, but they all consist of a chamber that water is pumped through that is heavily aerated, organic pollutants stick to the surface of these bubbles. The pollutants form a foam that then climbs up a neck and into the collection cup where it collapses into a dark coloured liquid. While it is possible to maintain a marine aquarium without a skimmer. When you see the smelly dark liquid they collect, you will most likely agree with us that is an important bit of equipment for marine aquarium.

Do I need to feed my corals?

Many Corals obtain much of there energy requirements from Zooxanthellae algae that live within their tissues and produce food when exposed to sufficient light. However, nearly, all corals will benefit from being fed one of the many coral foods available.

How much light do I need to keep corals?

The amount of illumination required will depend on the depth of the aquarium and the species being kept. Hardy soft corals like Toadstools will do well under two fluorescent tubes fitted with reflectors in a 24" deep aquarium. Where as more difficult species like Acropora will require at intense lighting provided by numerous T5 tubes or suspended metal halides.

Do Clownfish need Anemones?

Most of the Clownfish we have are captive bred and have never seen an Anemone, therefore unlikely to go into one even if one is present in the same aquarium. Even wild Clowns will not always go into an Anemone.

What is live rock?

Live rock is calcareous porous rock taken from tropical oceans it contains many microscopic organisms and is encrusted with algae and small sessile invertebrates. Live rock establishes new aquariums faster, and aids the filtration process as well as reducing nitrate levels. The use of a large proportion of live rock is strongly recommended for a reef aquarium.

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Coldwater

Why is the water cloudy?

The most likely reason for the water to be cloudy in a coldwater aquarium is lack of, or insufficient filtration to cope with the waste produced by the fish. Cold water fish are much larger than their tropical counterparts, so therefore need a more efficient filtration system. The most immediate way to clear the water is to carry out a partial water change of say 25% and reduce the amount of food given. The addition of Interpet filter aid will also clear the water, but only in filtered aquariums. While this will clear the water it will not offer a permanent solution. It would be wise to look into the cause. New aquariums also may suffer from cloudy water despite sufficient filtration. Read about new tank syndrome.PDF 30kb

My Orandas have a white fungus on their heads.

The White 'fungus' often seen on the heads of large Orandas is actually the natural mucous secretion fish produce to help protect their bodies. As this is natural using an anti fungus treatment will not have any effect. While it may be unsightly there is very little that can be done to prevent this mucous from collecting on the Orandas hood. However, it will have no effect on the fishes health.

My Goldfish is having problem keeping their balance.

All Goldfish have a swim bladder that helps the maintain their position in the water. Due to their shape fancy Goldfish have a compressed swim bladder this causes them to have many more problems maintaining their balance. To prevent balance problems try feeding a wide variety of food including frozen foods like Bloodworm or Daphnia. It is also worth soaking any dried food for a few minutes before feeding. This prevents the food from swelling up inside the fish and putting pressure on the swim bladder. If your fish already has a problem you can try Swim bladder treatment (No.13) from Interpet. This, when used in conjunction with salt is quite an effective remedy.

Can I keep goldfish without a filter?

Many fishkeepers started out with a Goldfish in a bowl or small aquarium without a filter. Whilst it is possible to keep fish without a filter, water quality & clarity will always be a problem. This will also means the water needs changing frequently to maintain an acceptable water quality standard for the aquariums inhabitants. The installation of a filter will reduce the frequency for water changes as well as improving the environment for the fish. Therefore, a filter is strongly recommended.

I have heard that tropical fish can be kept in coldwater, is this true?

Only a few species of fish often sold from tropical aquariums are suitable for unheated aquariums. The term coldwater is slightly misleading as what we normally referring to is unheated aquariums, temperate is a more accurate term. Provided a 'coldwater' aquarium is in a relatively warm room then they will probably have a temperature around 18C (65F). At this temperature they are several species that will be at home, these include Rosy Barbs, Golden Barbs, White Cloud Mountain Minnows, Zebra Danio, as well as Bronze & Peppered Catfish. Mixing these fish with Goldfish is not recommended as many are too active to mixed with Goldfish, especially fancy varieties. Due to the large size of Goldfish, they may eat many of the species listed above.

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Pond

How can I stop the water going green?

Green water is caused by millions of single celled algae, these are so small they pass straight through conventional filter systems. If your pond already has a pump and filter the easiest way to get clear water is to add an ultraviolet clarifier. As the water passes over the UV light the algae is killed, once these are added to a filtration system the water normally clears within a couple of weeks and then stays clear all year round. These units start around £50.00 and cost around £10.00-£20.00 a year to run depending on the size of your pond. If your pond does not have a filter a good growth of plants especially lilies & floating plants is a good way to keep the water clear These provide shade & compete with the algae for food. As you may also be aware there a many treatments on the market for dealing with green water. In our experience the most effective ones are: Interpet Green Away if your pond is filtered. This works by clumping the algae together so it is large enough for the filter to remove. For unfiltered ponds try barley straw, although this slow to work. This is due to the fact bacteria need to grow on it that control the green water so allow a month for it to work.

My plants are being choked by a hair like algae.

I think this is a problem nearly all pond owners encounter at one time or another. This algae called Blanket Weed can quickly fill an entire pond during the summer months. We have found the best product to kill it is Pond Balance by Interpet. This product is safe with all fish and plants, and it works! One of the good things about Pond Balance is it kills the algae slowly over a period of weeks rather than all at once. If all the algae is killed at once the decaying matter can starve the fish of oxygen. You can obviously remove Blanket Weed by manual removal although this can be almost a daily task. There are also fish that eat it these are called Grass Carp although they can only eat relatively small amount and will not discriminate against algae & plants. Maintaining low levels of Nitrate & Phosphate by regular water changes also helps as does the removal of sediment from the bottom of your pond. You may have seen the electronic blanket weed controllers advertised, we have used these and have noticed little if any improvement.

Many of my Goldfish have sores on their body.

These sores are ulcers, these are caused by a type of bacteria. The ulcers should be treated as soon as possible to increase the chances of survival. We have had great success with a API Melafix. It is a totally natural product and is totally safe.

Do I need a filter?

A filter on a pond will benefit any fish, but is not a necessity providing there is a established growth of a variety of plants. It also important to bear in mind that the stocking levels & feeding must be kept to a minimum. Just compare the stocking level in a natural water (see any fish?) to that in an ornamental pond. This will give you an idea what the stocking level should be in an unfiltered pond. In any pond it is a good idea to have a small pump to run either a waterfall or fountain, this will help maintain oxygen levels on hot days.

How can I stop Herons eating my fish?

They are many ways to reduce the chances of your fish being eaten by Herons, are a just a few.

Cover your pond with a fine mesh netting, while this may detract from the ponds natural beauty it probably is the most likely method to work.
Purchase a plastic Heron. Herons are solitary birds and rarely fish close to each other, therefore a realistic Heron standing beside your pond should stop others visiting.
Lay some lengths of drain pipe in your pond. While this will not stop predators catching your fish, it does give the fish somewhere to seek shelter.

My pond has lots of accumulated sediment, what is the best way to remove it?

Probably the best way to remove the sediment from the bottom of a pond is purchase / hire a pond vacuum. This should be the type that has it's own pump, not the type that you have to pump manually, we have found these hard work & inefficient. Pond vacs do not handle leaves well these are best removed with a net before vacuuming commences.

Should I feed my pond fish during the winter?

The quantity of food required by pond fish is largely dependent on the water temperature. The lower the temperature the less they will consume, they will feed down to around 5C. However, they will require far less than they normally eat, so feed the sparingly and remove any excess. When feeding the fish in the winter and the water temperature is below 10C (50F) then the fish should be fed an easily digestible wheat germ food. If the water temperature drops below 5C then it is probably not worth feeding them at all.