Aquarium Maintenanceby Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger 08 Jul 2009 06:06 PM Very few pets are of the "set it and forget it" variety. They need constant care to stay happy and healthy! Keeping an aquarium clean and safe for your fish can take quite a bit of work... but it's worth it! Daily checks should include:
- Observing the fish. Watch for signs of illness, including breathing difficulty, discoloration, and weird growths. Watch how your fish interact with each other.
- Check temperature and filtration system. A thermometer stuck to the glass or hanging from the top of the tank is a quick and easy way to make sure the water is comfortable for your fish. Make sure the water is flowing at a good rate through your filter.
- Feeding. Make sure you feed your fish only enough for them to finish within five minutes. More than that, and the food will most likely go to waste.
Weekly maintenance should include:
- Check pH, ammonia, and nitrite levels in the water. You may note water problems via the behavior of your fish before you test the water, but it's a good habit to have anyway.
- Partial water changes. Change between ten and twenty percent of your tank water on a weekly basis -- replace with prepared, conditioned water.
- Clean filters. A weekly cleaning can help keep your filter from clogging. Just be sure to leave some good bacteria in the filter media to keep the nitrogen cycle going.
Monthly maintenance can include:
- Plant care. If you have live plants in your tank, they're going to grow. Yours may need trimming more than once a month -- it depends on the plants and the tank and a bunch of other stuff.
- Major filter cleaning. Take the filter apart and give it a thorough cleaning. Don't use soap, as soap can be harmful to your aquarium dwellers. Again, be sure to save some of the good bacteria to keep the nitrogen cycle going.
- Major water changes. Once a month, you can change up to fifty percent of your tank water. If you're already doing weekly water changes, you might not feel like a major water change is necessary -- but try it and see how it works for your tank.
aquariums, aquarium pets, aquarium, aquarium maintenance
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