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Easy Maintenance for Your Freshwater Aquarium
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Having set up your aquarium, maintaining it is far easier than cleaning your room or doing homework. But of course it does not stop there. Proper maintenance is essential so that your collection of fish and live plants remain happy and healthy for a long time to come.
On top of your list for maintaining your freshwater aquarium, you should always make sure that the water inside your tank is clean as this enhances the healthy living of your fish. Do periodic water changes but make sure that you treat the water to remove any chlorine or chloramine content. Many hobbyists do not change the entire water content but only or half of the water so as not to upset the normal living environment of the tank. This tends to reduce the impact on the fish.
Uneaten fish food and other wastes should also be removed from the tank to minimize polluted water that may harm your fish. Just like people, fish also need clean water in order to survive.
Aside from this, other areas of concern in maintaining your freshwater aquarium include:
- Do not over-clutter your fish tank. Depending on the size of your tank, your fish should be able to move freely inside the aquarium. The rule is that the smaller the tank, the fewer fish. Your fish could become stressed if there is insufficient room for them to move freely
- Feed your fish. It is important that you feed your fish every other day. However, certain species of fish require frequent feeding. Make sure to know the dietary needs of your fish to ensure that they remain in good shape
- Check your water filter. Filtering is important to ensure that your fish don't eat unnecessary leftover particles that might cause them harm. If your water is becoming smelly and/or cloudy, it is time to replace the water. Larger tanks require larger pumps, which are important in avoiding buildup of waste products inside the tank. Make sure that your filter and pump are kept clean so that the flow of water is not restricted
- Wash the plants and decorations. Wash your plants and other decorations with clean water and do not use soap or detergent when cleaning them as residue may stick onto your decorations which could harm your fish
- Scrape off excess algae. Remove excess algae from any part of your tank. While some fish species feed on algae, keeping minimal amounts of algae is essential
- Observe fish behavior. As a fish hobbyist, you should watch closely the individual behavior of your fish. This enables you to determine when fish are sick. Be prepared also to remove dead fish from your tank as this causes a buildup of chemicals that may harm your fish
- Clean outside of your tank. Cleaning the outer portion of your freshwater tank by wiping it with a clean, damp cloth is equally important. Removing dirt and residue makes for much more enjoyable viewing and enables you to identify when your fish are ill
Garry Macdonald is a freshwater aquarium enthusiast with many years real-life experience. For more information on freshwater aquarium maintenance, visit http://www.freshwateraquariumsexplained.com .
Article submitted Saturday, May 01, 2010 & read 42 times.
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