Neon Tetra Tank Requirements Size, Water Temp, and PH Level

Neon Tetras are freshwater fishes found in the water streams of the Amazon Basin in South America. These fishes are easy to take care of. For this reason, they are a popular choice among beginner aquarists.

Neon Tetra Tank Requirements

Neon Tetras are very sensitive creatures they need specific tank requirements like correct size, water parameters, temp (temperature), and ideal tank mates to live happily.

These neon color creatures are very beautiful to the eye like an eye candy. These are small in size so they need less tank space to live.

Neon Tetra Tank Size

As we talked earlier tetras are small in size so they can be kept in small tanks. The one thing to remember is that they live in groups. If you try to keep one tetra with other fishes in the tank the fishes would get an easy target to send out their anger and frustration.

This would not be good for a single tetra. It would lead to the death. It is not a good idea to keep a single tetra in a tank full of other big fishes. If you want tetras to be healthy any comfortable put them in a group of 6 or more. In a group, they can face the other fishes trying to suppress them.

In 1 gallon of water, 1 to 2 tetras could be kept properly without any problem. So to retain a group of 6 you should consider a 10-gallon water tank for them.

Another thing you can consider is tetras look attractive when they are in big groups and in the big tanks. Since they are mid-water swimmers consider having a tall tank to provide more space to swim freely.

1. Trigger Systems Sapphire ATO Reservoir Tank (10-gallon tank)

Buy from Marine Depot 

The tank has a lid on its top to prevent evaporation. It comes with two 0.25 OD Hose Ports for different accessories to support. Water levels are engraved with the laser so don't worry about overfilling at all.

2. Cube 20 Starphire Ultra Clear (20-gallon tank)

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This tank is made with the ultra-clear glass to showcase neon tetras colors as they are in the purest form. It has a special feature that supports a seamless filtration process without any disturbance in the environment of the tank.

The innovation doesn't end here it a self-leveling mat to maintain even water level on an uneven surface. This system comes with bio-balls, activated carbon, and sponge to keep the water clean.

Neon Tetra Tank Temp (Temperature)

They are very sensitive to the change in water temperature. Since they are cold-blooded creatures they solely rely on the water temp (temperature) for their health.

Neon Tetra prefers water temp from 20 to 28 °C (70 to 78 °F).

To maintain this temp (temperature) a good quality heater would play an essential part in your tetra's healthy immune system.

Good Heater For Neon Tetra

A good heater for tetra would have 3 watts of power for every gallon of water in the tank. It means for a 10-gallon water tank you would need a 30-watt heater to equally maintain the water temperature throughout the tank.

Heater Breakdown And What To Do?

Heaters are notorious for breaking down a lot most of the time these breakdowns occur due to bad quality of heaters. For this reason, you should invest in a good quality water heater which can do its work for a year without breaking down regularly.

So if your heater breaks down and at the time you noticed it the temperature is well below 75 °F at this time you can add some warm water in the tank until you get your heater fixed or get a new one. Don't add too hot water at one go gradually increase the more temperate until it reaches the 75 °F point.

How To Keep In Check Tank Temperature

Most of the new heaters show the temperature of the tank. Some of them show the temp (temperature) which they are trying to achieve. So the most reliable way to keep track of the temperature in check is to attach an aquarium thermometer to your tank. It works perfectly as it works separate from the heater and it does need and power to operate and it has no chance of breaking down like a cheap heater.

Eheim Jager TruTemp

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This is fully a submersible and a fully waterproof heater. It is compatible with both freshwater tanks a d saltwater tanks.

It is made with true shatterproof glass to protect it from breaking. It is loaded with precise temp (temperature) reading tech to show accurate temperature values.

The safeguard feature helps to detect the water and it automatically shuts down when no water is detected to protect from dry heating.

It comes with two powerful suction cups to maintain its position in the tank. It extra long cable helps to reach far places electric points. The cable itself is formulated out of good material to prohibit any mishap.

Neon Tetra Tank Lighting

Tetras are from the streams of amazon where rivers are covered with leaves. These leaves contain a special dye that changes the color of water in dark brown.

This dark brown color of water eliminates the entry of light for neons tetra. This neon tetras are evolved to live under dim lighting conditions.

Neon tetras don't like bright lights but with dim lighting, they cope up very well.

For fry, you should keep the tank as dark as possible. 

Fry and eggs of tetras are very prudent to the light. If you keep them in light the light could kill them. Only let fry to come under the light when they are several weeks matured.

Another thing to remember is if you're keeping tetras in the tank with plants in it on choose plans which need less light to grow.

UNS x ONF Flat Nano Dimmable LED Light 

Buy from Marine Depot 

This white matt finished light is a sleek and compact piece of modern design. It comes with different light intensity settings for different requirements.

In also have adjustable height stand and 360-degree rotation for easy tank maintenance.

It comes with colored LEDs for better and accurate colors. It is suitable for every plant type in the tank.

This light works perfectly with a 10-gallon water tank. For bigger tanks other models are available.

Neon Tetra Water Parameters

As we know these fishes are from the amazon basin so keep them comfortably we should imitate their natural habitats as much we can. In their natural habitat, they live in a slightly acidic water.

Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: <20 ppm
pH: 6-7
GH: <10 dGH (<166.7 ppm)
KH: 1-2 dKH (17.8- 35.8ppm)

How To Test Ph Level Water

There are many pH tester kits available online and offline. Among those some works very well know shows accurate results while on the other hand some show terribly wrong results.

Freshwater pH Test Kit - API

Buy from Marine Depot

This test kit comes with 250 tests and 1 test tube and a color chart to successfully perform a pH test. It can accurately tell the ph levels between 6.0 - 7.6. Which we need for out tetras.

If your water's pH level is low or high than required then you can treat your tank water with the products which help you to achieve the required pH levels.

Before using these products make sure to read instructions carefully. Something you should know before using them like don't treat water more than 1 time with pH adjusters when fishes are present in the tank.

How To Keep Water Clean

The first thing you can do to keep the tank water clean is by changing the water regularly. As we know tetras are very sensitive to changes so do not change all water at once. Only change 25% of total water in the tank.

You can change the water after every 1 week to keep things clean and fresh.

Clean water will increase the immunity and health of your tetra.

Filter is another essential product to keep the water clean. Filters circulates the water in the tank and capture anything harmful to the aquarium.

Seachem Laboratories Tidal Power Filter

This filter is suitable for 10,20, and 30-gallon tanks. It comes with a self-cleaning impeller, Self-Priming Pump, and surface skimmer. It comes in handy in many situations.

Its small footprint makes the installation process easy and fast. Its modern features like maintenance alert comes in very handy during busy days.

Neon Tetra Tank Mates

Tetras are great companions with many aquatic creatures. The one which are great mates of tetras are as follow.

1. Guppy Fish

Guppies are great colorful fishes found in tropical regions. These are also very famous among beginners as they are also very easy to take care of like tetras.

Guppies live in the same water temp (temperature) as tetras do they. Guppies are omnivores so they can eat anything from plants and animals.

Guppies are also not aggressive and don't hurt other fishes in the tank. Notice that they can fin nip the fishes with big fins.

2. Angel Fish

They are small colorful fishes with big fins. They are known for their verticle stripe. Their presence in the tank captures many eyeballs.

The difficulty level for keeping single fish is medium. They prefer slightly warmer temperature (78 °F - 84 °F).

Angle fishes don't indulge in fights but they tend to eat baby fishes. So keep them away from newborn fish babies.

Fish flakes are good for them but if you offer frozen food (bloodworms, shrimps, and beef heart) once a week they will love it.

3. Mollies

Mollies are small cute fishes loved by everyone. They are peace-loving creatures perfect mate for neon tetras.

Mollies are very adaptive to the change in temperature and water quality. So it is very easy to take care of them.

Mollies love eating food fish flakes are good options but some fresh vegetables and animal protein won't heart once a week.

They love the aquariums with some vegetation, fake plans are just fine, but nothing can match the live plants in aquariums.

Neon Tetra Tank Decor Ideas

While decorating the neon tetra tank you should remember that you're preparing a tank for fish who don't like much light, who like places to hide and is very small in size.

Floating Plants

They are very good for tetras as they block the direct light and only allows the filtered light through them. Which most liked by every neon tetra. Water lotus is a good option to go with.

Bottom Plants

While guppies are medium swimmers they like their bottom filled with vegetation. So to match the natural habitat of tetras plant some broad leave plants and some fine leave plants. It will make them comfortable in the tank.

Hiding Spaces

As we know neon tetras are not brave fishes. They need hiding space when they feel danger from other fishes in the tank and they also like to relax where no one can disturb them. It is important to create hiding spaces in the tank with rocks and other decor items to protect them in the tank.

Summary
Neon Tetras are small little peace-loving fishes. They are perfect for the beginner who is just starting. Tetras prefer to live in slightly acidic water with a ph of 6 - 7.6. Temp (temperature) of  70 to 78 °F suits their natural habitat. They don't like direct bright light on them. These small fishes are not brave and bold so they need hiding spaces in the tank.