With aquarium maintenance, you need to keep an eye on things and devise a strategy. Mainly because an aquarium’s ecology is sensitive. What you do daily might affect fish health and tank performance.
For those who want to set up an aquarium, there are several factors to consider. Such as fish compatibility, tank size, water quality, and ongoing tank upkeep.
Tanks and equipment are neither expensive nor hard to maintain. So, maintaining a fish aquarium won’t be so challenging.
To ensure that your aquatic pets are well cared for, you need to know the fundamentals of their care. Then you have to identify the best techniques to keep them happy and healthy.
Tips for Aquarium Maintenance
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Purchasing the Necessary Supplies
The purchase of fish should be considered a long-term investment since some of them may live up to 20 years. In order to keep fish and the environment they live in clean and healthy, they need regular attention.
That’s why, after getting your pet fish and the necessary fish supplies, you will have to focus on aquarium cleaning.
In the absence of an aquarium kit, you will need to purchase all of the essential equipment on your own. If you are willing to fork up a little extra money, you will be able to choose exactly what you want and need. For example-
- Water filter
- Water conditioner
- Substrate equipment
- Air pumps are the essentials
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Cycle the Tank First Before Adding Any Fish
Make sure the water is fish-friendly by taking all the required precautions. Before you install the fish tank, you need to do this. In a nutshell, don’t purchase the fish tank and fish at the same time.
A lot goes into cycling. Most crucial is the growth of beneficial tank organisms. These microscopic organisms decompose garbage in the tank.
It will result in water that is as pure as possible. Experts suggest operating the aquarium for seven days before introducing fish.
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Know the Water’s Parameters
When you change the water regularly, the fish tank will work fine. A clean and working aquarium will keep your fish healthy and alive.
What is the best way to tell whether water is safe for fish to swim in? Through low-cost water testing kits that measure nitrate, ammonia, nitrite, and ph.
A tank’s life cycle produces three basic chemical components. They are nitrates, ammonium, and nitrites. At low levels, they will be okay, but uncontrolled. They might become deadly to fish. To monitor water parameters, use an aquarium coral maintenance test kit.
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Aquarium Glass Needs to Be Cleaned Weekly
When dangerous algae grow on aquarium walls, toxins enter the water. As a result, it might be difficult to look inside the tank. Cleaning the glass once a week will help eliminate biofilm and diatom algae.
Using a glass-cleaning magnet helps clean the inside while washing the outside. Also, apply an aquarium-safe cleaner on the exterior of the tank. Using a magnetic drive water pump will be a wise decision too.
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Changing the Water Twice a Week Is Necessary
On a constant schedule, it’s necessary to replace the water, but how frequently and how much?
The best way to keep your aquarium safe and your fish healthy is to change the water often. It will help your fish when you will give them fish food as well.
Remove roughly one-third of the tank’s water every week and refill it with clean, fresh water.
If you skip this step, your water’s parameters may become unmanageable.
Your fish’s tank might become infested with disease-causing bacteria. It will happen due to the accumulation of waste and dirty water.
Siphoning tank gravel may dilute pollutants and enhance fish water quality. It is a simple procedure that will greatly improve the health of your fish pets and your aquarium as a whole.
Changing 20% to 25% of your aquarium water every two weeks or so is a good rule of thumb. The pH and KH levels in the water might be significantly harmed if you replace everything at once. You might potentially kill off the good bacteria if you don’t wash your hands.
You must maintain the timeline of water changes. It will help to keep pollutants at a minimum and to avoid a buildup of waste.
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Turn Off All Electrical Appliances
To ensure your safety, turn off any appliances around the tank. Make sure to do it before commencing repair. Any heaters, LEDs, or chargers should be unplugged. Since you will be moving water around a lot, be sure no electricity gets into the water.
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Checking Filters
Every tank needs a water filter. Make sure you turn off your filters before inspecting the inside. Consider if the filters require cleaning or if water is easily flowing through them.
Power filters are simple to use, and there are a variety of user-friendly tank filters. To get the most out of your water filtration system, you should study internet reviews.
Using filter foam with the filters will be a wise choice. You should also consider other people’s experiences before making your final decision.
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Trim Plants and Clean Up Algae
Doing this would seem like the most difficult step, but it is essential for your fish’s health. You will have to clean up spills to maintain the system correctly.
Trimming the aquarium plants regularly will spare you from having to scrub and trim too often. If you see a rapid increase in algae, it might be an indication of a variety of issues. So, it’s important to keep an eye on things every week.
If you have a lot of algae in your tank, you may need to change the food or light levels. You will also have to trim the live plants and periodically check their color.
Trim them as needed if they have gone light or grey, if they have grown, or if they have not. The same care you give your fish also has to be given to your green pals.
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Weekly Cleanings of the Aquarium Lights
Even the non-living plants in an aquarium need light to thrive. Every two weeks, lenses must be cleaned to avoid the buildup that limits light transmission. LED lights above the aquarium are the most common source of light.
What Not to Do
- Additions to your aquarium before the nitrogen cycle is over
- Buying a fish tank that doesn’t possess big enough filtration
- Overcrowding the aquarium
- Ignoring the symptoms of poisoned fish
- Failure to do water quality testing
- Keeping fish that aren’t compatible
- Failure to perform regular water changes
- Having no algae treatment
Final Words
A to-do list and calendar would make it easy to plan your cleaning routine. Maintaining and conducting routine maintenance on your aquatic pets is essential. Don’t forget it if you want them to live longer and get the greatest enjoyment from having them in your house.
To ensure that you don’t lose track of what has to be done, maintain meticulous records of everything you do. Care for your fish using fish supplements and dried fish food, and clean the fish tank.
