Quick Tips for Caring for Your Aquarium

An aquarium is perhaps the easiest type of pet. There are some basic steps to caring for fish once the tank is established. Some things must be done daily to care for fish and some things you should do every week or every two weeks. Daily maintenance of an aquarium is fairly minimal. Look at the fish every day to ensure that seem to be generally healthy and happy. This may sound silly, but the main cause of sickness in fish is stress. Therefore, a happy fish is a healthy fish. Check all lights and filters on the aquarium are plugged in and working properly. Feed the fish daily. Only foods that can be consumed within two to five minutes. Any excess food will become debris in the tank, and lead to illness or attribute levels of nitrite in excess. You should check the temperature and pH of the water every week. Any necessary adjustment should be done quickly. Check with your local pet store when purchasing fish to find out what levels are appropriate.

Vary depending on the species of fish.

The use of filters is very important. Filters collect waste excreted by fish and the tank in the form of excessive fool. The filters will eventually fill with debris and be unable to do their job if not cleaned. In addition to eliminating waste, filter sometimes act as an oxygen aerator cycling around the reservoir. If the filters are clogged, slow traffic. This limits the amount of oxygen in the tank. If left untreated, it could be deadly to fish. Change the filter in the tank every two or three weeks, as needed. You'll know when to clean because the water becomes cloudy or smelly. Some filters should be replaced, while others simply be cleaned with water.

The correct way to change the water in a reservoir is to do it gradually. First turn off the lights and equipment before cleaning the aquarium. Change approximately one third of the water in the aquarium every one to two weeks. Tap water should be treated accordingly before adding to the tank and adjusted within two degrees of the aquarium. Again, check with your local dealer to buy fish. Some treatments allow the tap water to be ready in just an hour, while others need to sit overnight before being added to the tank.

Clean the walls of the tank with a scrubber to remove algae build. Do not disturb or scare the fish. Move rocks and decorations to loosen debris. Try to collect this debris when removing the water, either with a bucket or a vacuum type of siphon. Cut the leaves of aquatic plants. Clean the outside of the tank with clean tap water and squeegee. Clean the cover and lid. Finally, plug the aquarium back and enjoy the freshly cleaned tank.