Getting a new aquarium is an exciting beginning to a rewarding hobby. However, many new fish tank owners tend to get reckless and don't realize how sensitive fish are to their environments. Gerber's Tropical Fish in Dayton, OH is committed to educating aquarium hobbyists on proper fish care. Learn as much as you can before going in too deep too fast—and avoid these three common first-time tank owner mistakes:

• Don't set up a poor tank:  Many new aquarium owners simply buy a tank, fill it with fish and then wonder why they all died so fast. Really take the time to invest in a proper tank set-up before introducing live fish. If you need assistance, aquarium professionals from Gerber's Tropical Fish can come to your home and help you set up your tank supplies and aquarium plants etc., and even help with tank maintenance.

• Don't rush:  When setting up your tank for the first time, you should ideally let your tank filter and heater run for at least 24 hours before introducing any fish. This ensures adequate oxygen distribution. Do not fill your tank to its maximum capacity until your tank has achieved a full nitrogen cycle: often a month. You can bring in a sample of your tank water to Gerber's Tropical Fish, where they can test it for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels—free of charge—and tell you when you're ready for more fish. If you don't want to wait a month, ask about special products that can speed this cycle up.

• Don't over-clean:  It is important to regularly clean your filter system and to change your water 25% at a time, but don't do it all on the same day. The entire reason you waited so long before filling your tank to capacity is to build up a colony of ammonia-eating bacteria. Removing such a large amount of it at once will lead to a spike in harmful ammonia build-up (e.g. fish waste).

For information about their selection of freshwater and saltwater fish, water testing and other services, call Gerber's Tropical Fish at (937) 297-0515 .