A calm, stable tank keeps guppies colourful and active. Here’s a practical setup that works with typical Australian tap water.
Step 1: pick the right size
- Sweet spot: 40–60 L lets a trio thrive and gives fry hiding space.
- Lid up: guppies jump when spooked; a tight lid saves heartbreak.
Step 2: filter and flow
Sponge filters are gentle on fry. Hang-on backs work if you baffle the return to avoid tail drag. Target slow, even flow across the tank.
Step 3: cycle correctly
- Seed media with bottled bacteria or squeezings from a mature filter.
- Feed the cycle with a pinch of food or pure ammonia; test until ammonia and nitrite read 0.
- Keep pH stable (7.0–7.8 is ideal) and avoid large pH swings during cycling.
Step 4: plants and hardscape
Floating plants (Salvinia, water sprite) soak up nitrates and give fry cover. Add smooth wood or inert rock; avoid sharp edges that fray fins.
Step 5: match Australian water
- Dechlorinate: always treat tap water; chloramine is common.
- Hardness: many east coast supplies are moderate; add crushed coral if KH is under 2–3 dKH to prevent pH swings.
- Temperature: 24–26°C year-round keeps colour and fertility consistent.
Step 6: stock slowly
Add your first trio, feed lightly, and test weekly. If ammonia/nitrite spike, change 30% water and reduce feeding until the filter catches up.