If home environment permits, an aquarium exceeding three feet should preferably be used. In a roomy atmosphere where the fish can swim about freely, the fish would certainly be well developed and its natural body glamour improving considerably. Normally, the aquariums in the market are either standardized or tailor-made, according to one's requirements and should be quite acceptable. However, it must be noted that anyaquarium, after topping up water, is going to be extremely heavy and bulky. So it is better to plan before-hand which is the ideal place to install your aqurium. And of course, the nearest place from the tap is given priority.

These waste products, containing nitrogenous and qrganic matter, are eventually poisoning the aquarium, and any sheer negligence on the owner's part could result in fish poisoning. More so, the rotting of fish-feed leftover helps to speed up toxicity.

Under such circumstances, the fish's body resistance would be greatly weakened; the shortness of breath, poor appetite and the susceptibility to illness is not uncommon. In order to avoid these undesirable occurrences, a sophisticated filtering system is quite indispenable. An effective filter is not also circulating the water-flow in the aquarium, acttivating and bringing alive the aquatic -life, besides generating more oxygen in the water and expelling toxic gases.

Currently, there are varieties of filters in the market to choose from, namely, top filter(overhead filter) outside filter, external filter, internal filter,bubble filter, and the undergravel filter. However, the filtering system also includes filtering apparatus, like ceramic ring, poly filter wool, bio-ball, bio-sponge, quartz-stones, etc.

The main purpose of these apparatus lies not only circulating the entire water-flow, but also in filtering the water mechanically and creating a micro-organism bio-degradation system - biological filtration.

Being an evolved descendent from the Cichlid family which originates from the hot, tropical Centtral South America, thus it is not suprising that Luo Han could adapt to a much warmer climate, around 26-28 degrees Celsius. As a matter of fact, in the process of rearing Luo Han within the temperate and tropical zones of Asia, it is quite essential to equip with a set of safe and durable warming facilities - to be accurately programmed and closely monitoring the temperature in the aquarium. If the old-fashioned aquarium heater is used, you may possibly end up seeing a tank of hot, fish soup the following morning. In other words, the main concern is that, when the aquarium heater is heated to a high temperature, it might explode and causes electrocution. In the enterprising aquatic market of today, there are, in fact, lots of warming facilities prices atcompetitive rates for you to choose from - the slightly computerized and electronic type complete with crystal-liquid-display, the high-and-low temperature-regulating type complete with the conventional quartz aquarium heater or the submersible electronic temperature-regulating aquarium heater.

Practically, all beautiful aquarium-fish needs some appropriate lighting to enhance its distinguished features, so that the owner could clearly view and appreciate its enchanting dispositions and graceful movements in a comfortable, mesmerizing atmosphere.

Undoubtedly, normal lighting is hardly suitable in this aspect. So, the two appropriate types available in the market, being the 'solar tubular lamp' and the 'botanical tubular lamp', are in invalid to help promote growth and color enhancing of Luo Han.

Similarly to other Red species, the best recommeded lamp is the 'botanical tubular lamp' type, which can prefectly reveal the beauty of the fish.

Normally, lighting facilities can be divided into the plastic type, the aluminum-alloy type and the submersible type. The plastic lighting system is considered the older generation, while the aluminum-alloy lighting system is known to be the new product of recent years. The latter possesses favourable features like, lasting shape and size, quick to release heat, safety measures complied and highly reflective to enhance brightness.

There are considerable varieties of air-pumps in the market, such as the modernized and trendy multifunctional type, the semi-regulating type and the super air-pump which can supply oxygen to several aquariums at the same time.

Among them, there is an automatic self-charging air-pump, which works powerfully and possesses systematic regulating funtions. In case of a blackout, the reserved power would continue to supply electricity without interruptions, thus preventing the loss of oxygen in the aquarium.

Anyway, when purchasing these air-pumps, it should be taken into account that its quality matters - its pumping power, its noise when functioning and its durability - all these are deciding factors.

In other words, a powerful and distinguish model lies in the fact that it can generate sufficent oxygen in the water while expelling toxic gases so as to promote the fish's healthy growth.

Placed at the bottom portion in the aquarium and coordinating with the air-pump, this filter is called 'surge-board'. This name was originated from the previous model, which resembled the 'surge of wave'.

Surge-board can be selected according to the size of the aquariums. Initially, you need to lay 2-3cm of the fine sand on thesurge-board and it is ready to function.

Coordinating with the air-pump in rotating water-flow penetrating through the fine sand and the surge-board, harboring opportunities for the nitrous bacteria to be developed freely, thus creating a mechanical-and-biological filtering system. In addition to other filters used at the upper level of the aquarium, the stabilization of water quality in the aquarium is reliably established.

When all the adove procedures are completed, never try to rush through in selection of Luo Han. Because, the very next step to ponder about is the aquarium settings. It ought to be reminded that all the settings work should preferably be done before housing the fish and topping up water. The designs, the artificial botanical surroundings, etc. should be completed beforehand, otherwise there is bound to be a lots of inconvenience in carrying out the design works in the presence of the fish. Moreover, the fish may experience constriction as the aquatic-habitat changes dranstically. As far as setting is concerned, mopini-driftwood and the driftwood can be used to create marvelous, rugged backdrops. As the Luo Han is a rather active species, it is advisable not to install decorations that are complicating and materials that are sharp and brittle or could cause bodily injuries to the fish. Due to the restless tossing-about of the Luo Han, and the constant habit of gubbing up things at the bottom of the aquarium-base, therefore it is, too, not encouraged to plant any aquatic-plants. However, if aquatic-plants are preferred as part of the settings, then the plants have to be soft but strong nature and to be planted and mounted firmly onto aquatic apparatus in the aquarium.

The water quality control for recent acquisitions.

After the intended idealistic settinga have been accomplished and the fish's home 'luxuriously-furnished', its time for water quality-control.

"In fish-rearing, you first have to 'compose' water", so goes a popular Chinese saying. It is undeniably that, if you cannot provide a nice and appropriate home to the fish, how would it then unfolds its charm and beauty before your eyes. So, the most basic element in fish rearing is the water quality control. What actually is 'composing water' and why is it necessary? 'Composing water' is genererally called water quality control. The tap water we use daily has gone through routine procedures like sterilizing and chemical treatments and, by the time it reaches us through public water-piping systems, it is quite tainted. Therefore, to safeguard our health, we need to boil or filter the tap water thoroughtly before consuming. That's exactly what should be done to the water in the aquarium. Basically, the normal way is by filtering and expelling the toxic gases found in the aquarium-water, by air-pump facilities in a free rotaing water-flow manner to eradicate impurities and chlorine while, at the same time boosting oxygen content in the water.

This process should be maintained for 1-3 days during which, two more important factors must be promptly realized - to regulate the temperature and the pH of the water. On the whole, the Luo Han is not choosy and can adapt to environment-habitat, which in unpolluted, with a temperature between 24-30 degrees Celsius and pH between 6-8. In the inital stages, the aquarium temperature should be regulated between 26-28 degrees Celsius and pH6.5-7.2. This is because a lower temperature will definitely cause the pet-fish to lose appetite and slow down normal growth, besides easily susceptible to diseases. Consequently, a readily well-organized tank of 'composed water' with suitable settings is indispensable in acquiring the new Luo Han

In contrast with human kind, the aquarium-fiah faces two more survival adversities - the sufficiency of oxygen content in the water and the waste product (nitrogenous orginic matter) which is directly excreted in the water. Hence, no matter how efficient the filtering system is, there would still be a rapid deterioration of oxygen when the toxic nitrite increases, resulting in severe depletion of essential molecules in the water. Thus, the replacement of water in the aquarium is vital to keep the fish alive and kicking. As soon as the water in the aquarium looks milky and polluted, it should be replaced immediately. Usually, the water replacement should be done in an interval of 2 to 3 weeks, by pumping out one third of the water in the aquarium.

If 'composed water' is available then as much as half of the aquarium can be topped-up with it.

In the water replacing process, the base portion of the aquarium should be slightly stirred while using the siphon cleaner so that any impurities will sucked away and the topping up of fresh water should not exceed the original level.

In addition, if fitlers are found to be clogged, they should at once be cleansing is done lightly using water in the aquarium. But, never rub too hard and with tap water. This is ensure that nitrous bacteria containing in the water is not in any way eradicated or minimized.

When replacing the fibrous layers in the filter, the new layer should be inserted below the previous one so that nitrous bacteria will be preserved, resulting in no drastic changes in the stability and quality of the water.

Another important detail not to be overlooked is, the cleansing of the sandy-base, water replacement should never be done simultaneously, in order to prevent interfering with the stability and equilibrium of the microorganism degradation system.