Healthy tanks start here.

Quick start

1. Open the Frostwater starter tank and inspect the seven water cards.
2. Allow the biological filter to cycle. Ammonia and nitrite must be zero before adding livestock.
3. Buy only fish suitable for the tank type, current volume, temperature and pH.
4. Add suitable cover, plants and equipment before heavily stocking the aquarium.
5. Feed one measured portion and wait until it is eaten. Remove leftovers.
6. Test the water after feeding, adding livestock, illness or unusual behaviour.
7. Complete daily challenges and the starter journey to earn coins and experience.

Never respond to every warning by adding chemicals. Identify the cause first. Water changes, reduced feeding, improved filtration and lower stocking are often safer than repeated treatments.

Main aquarium screen

Water parameters

Food and feeding

The Food Shop contains 25 products across coldwater, tropical, shrimp, marine, pond, fry and recovery diets. Product descriptions state the intended use.

• Use a staple food suitable for the animal and water zone.
• Use frozen or high-protein foods as measured enrichment, not constant feeding.
• Use sinking foods for shrimp and bottom feeders.
• Feed fry only when protected and with appropriately small food.
• Wait when food remains in the tank. Finarium blocks rapid repeat feeding when overfeeding risk is high.

Food visibly enters the aquarium. Livestock move towards it. Old food settles, decays, consumes oxygen and increases ammonia, nitrite and nitrate pressure.

Fish and shrimp management

Every animal is tracked individually. Open livestock management to review health, hunger, age, sex, traits, illness, quarantine state and lineage.

Before buying

• Check the habitat type and minimum tank volume.
• Check temperature and pH needs.
• Check whether the species must live alone, in a pair or in a group.
• Check adult size and compatibility, not only its shop size.
• Make sure the filter is cycled and the water is safe.

Moving or rehoming

Fish can move only to a suitable owned tank. Rehoming permanently removes an animal and returns a fair portion of its value. Offspring and lineage records are affected.

Breeding

Breeding needs mature, healthy animals, compatible sexes, correct conditions and sufficient cover. Adults or tank mates may eat eggs and fry. Dense plants and specialist shelters improve survival.

Stores and catalogue items

Many products have career level requirements. Coins do not bypass those locks. Owned plants and decorations can be stored, returned to the aquarium and repositioned through tank layout editing.

Catalogue descriptions are gameplay guidance. For a real aquarium, always follow the product label and verify that materials are safe for the exact species and water conditions.

Equipment and five upgrade tiers

Each slot upgrades from tier 1 to tier 5. Prices and level requirements rise sharply. Tier 5 represents professional equipment and is intended as a long-term goal.

Care and testing

Choose actions based on readings and animal behaviour. The expanded care catalogue includes water changes, dechlorination, aeration, parameter tests, hardness tests, marine tests, substrate cleaning, filter servicing, chemical media, biological support, algae maintenance and complete servicing.

Safe sequence

1. Observe fish behaviour and visible waste.
2. Test the relevant parameters.
3. Identify the likely source.
4. Choose the smallest suitable corrective action.
5. Wait and retest before repeating it.

Never replace all mature biological filter media at once. Doing so can remove the bacteria responsible for processing toxic waste.

Disease, quarantine and treatment

Finarium includes visible health decline, white spot style parasite risk, fungal concerns, bacterial concerns and recovery states. Illness risk rises when water, compatibility, feeding or stress is poor.

1. Inspect the affected animal.
2. Test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, chlorine, oxygen, temperature and pH.
3. Correct urgent environmental causes.
4. Move the animal to the hospital tank when isolation is appropriate.
5. Choose only the treatment matching the diagnosis and habitat.
6. Complete the full course and monitor recovery.

Finarium is educational entertainment, not veterinary diagnosis. For real animals, consult a qualified aquatic veterinarian and follow medication labels.

Tanks, unlocking and progression

Tanks can be upgraded to larger volumes. Bigger tanks increase swimming space and biological capacity but still require suitable filtration and responsible stocking.

Progress comes from the starter journey, daily challenges, weekly goals, achievements, livestock discoveries and ongoing husbandry. Level 100 is designed to take sustained play.

Creature Journal

Use the journal to search and filter species, mark favourites, check locked species, review unlock requirements and inspect owned livestock. Reference sections explain diseases, treatments and water parameters. Family records preserve traits and lineage for bred animals.

Notification centre and alerts

The bell opens a history of aquarium events. Alerts can report unsafe water, low oxygen, illness, treatment progress, completed maintenance, breeding, purchases and rewards.

• Red or urgent wording means immediate inspection is needed.
• Read the cause and recommended response before acting.
• Positive updates confirm stable water, completed care or progress.
• Push notification permission can be controlled in settings and Android system settings.

Coins, prices and Google Play purchases

Coins are earned through normal play and can also be bought in optional consumable packs. Google Play displays and confirms the final local price before payment.

Store prices are balanced by specialist value and career progression. Advanced tanks, premium hardscape, professional servicing and tier 5 equipment take longer to afford.

Buying coins never unlocks a level-gated product, makes an uncycled tank safe or allows an unsuitable fish into the wrong habitat.

Common problems