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You can learn a lot from the internet, but there really is nothing like the real thing. You can see all the fish, Snakes and Lizards, we have over 90 Tanks with everything from Goldfish to the mighty Discus, as well as Siamese fighters and the tiny Neon. |
Watch Sylvie try to catch a Guppy with a net, or listen to Bob as he tries to educate customers on the rights and wrongs of plastic plants.
See Mark feed the snakes, or you can listen to the crickets in our reptile room, whilst avoiding the young customers with their noses pressed agains the glass so they can see the baby turtles, (another tank that needs cleaning). |
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Our Shop is located on a busy Road, with Parking right at the front, although our regular customers often park at the back to give them time for a coffee and to see all the Fish and Reptiles we stock.
We are a 10 minute walk from Bermondsey Tube Station and Buses stop right outside.
Our staff are friendly and helpful, our customers range from the specialist keeper with custom built (often by us) tanks, to the first timer, maybe as a present for the kids, to introduce them to fishkeeping.
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| Think Long and hard before deciding to have your first tank.
Please involve Finking Aquatics before you buy a tank. Our experience costs you nothing, we have a large stock of Tanks available, can order ones we do not have and many customers have us custom build their tanks specifically for the purpose.
Most people start with “community" fish, that will generally get on with each-other and that do not require any unusual care. Make sure that the fish you want to keep will be compatible with each-other, and will be happy in whatever tank you provide for them.
When selecting fish for your aquarium, it is important to note how big they grow, as this will determine the minimum tank size. It is also important to decide how many fish you wish to house. When selecting fish for your tank, always find out what sort of conditions they prefer, and if they have any particular requirements. It is always best to go for as big a tank as you can afford, not only because you can then house a better selection of fish, but also because it tends to be easier to maintain good water quality in larger tanks.
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Fish also benefit from a larger tank as they have the opportunity to behave more naturally. Tropical fish tanks usually start in size at about 60cm (24in), although there are many different shapes and sizes available
Before you go out and buy your fish tank, it is important to find a suitable position for it. Once the tank is full of water it will be very heavy, and moving it will be time-consuming and stressful for the fish.
Once you have decided upon a tank and found a suitable position for it, it is important to buy the correct equipment. Failure to buy the correct equipment will result in poor water quality and consequent fish health problems. There are three key items of equipment to buy: the filter, heater, and light system. It is also possible to purchase a tank that already contains these items.
Filter: The filter removes toxic ammonia and solid waste from the aquarium water, creating a healthy environment for your fish.
Heater: The heater controls the temperature of the tank. Tropical fish generally need a temperature of between 24-27 centigrade.
Light: To allow you to see the fish, and to promote plant growth. If you intend to keep a lot of plants then it is usually best to get a bulb specifically designed to encourage their growth.
We are stockists of Clearseal – Bio Orbs – Bio Tubes and Elite Aquarioms
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Decoration
It is important to provide your fish with a home that they feel happy in, as this will result in them behaving more naturally and giving you more pleasure. There should be plenty of hiding places where the fish can retreat to if they feel threatened, as well as either plastic or real plants for them to swim amongst. Hiding places can be constructed from bogwood, rocks, plants and so on.
By buying rocks, wood and substrate from Finking you can be sure that these are safe for use in your tank
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Filling
Once the tank is in position, equipped and decorated, it is time to fill it up. For general community tanks, tap water is usually suitable. Although tap water usually contains the correct minerals for our fish, it also contains harmful chlorine and heavy metals. These must be neutralised before the water is safe for fish. We can provide everything necessary.
When you fill the tank, you should pour the water onto a dish, or similar object, in order to prevent it disturbing the layout of the tank. Once it is filled, the heater and filter can be switched on and the water left to warm up. A thermometer should be added to the tank so as you can monitor the temperature.
Once the temperature is stable, chemicals should be added to the tank, in order to promote the development of beneficial filter bacteria. A day or two after this, the first few fish may be added!
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