Steps For Carrying Out Aquarium Maintenance

By James Sullivan


Good maintenance practices on aquariums result to sustainable and healthy aquatic surroundings. In addition, expensive and time consuming issues that normally result from faulty fish tanks can be solved by regular maintenance. Most aquarium owners underestimate the importance of aquarium maintenance on aquatic lives. On average, it will take you less than one hour to conduct this practice. Undertake the following procedures when cleaning your fish tank.

Water changes should be conducted every two weeks. This is because aquatic animals usually absorb oxygen in water for respiration. As a Cincinnati OH resident, when changing the water, you should also remove the uneaten foods in the tanks. If tap water is used during the replacement procedure, use a water conditioner. Tap water contains chlorine and this chemical can be neutralized using a water conditioner.

You can change the aquarium water gradually because replacing it at once eliminates nitrifying bacteria. The nitrifying bacteria on the other hand are used to decompose any wastes found within the container. If they are eliminated from water, ammonia levels rise. Fish are likely to suffocate when ammonia levels rise. To replace the water to a twenty percent level, use a faucet pump.

Test the water in the aquatic tank on a regular basis for acidity. You can test the acidity levels when replacing the water. The water acidity levels should be not less than or more than seven when measured using an acidity test indicator. If this level is exceeded, you can use base elements such as baking soda to lower the acidity.

A filter must be utilized when eliminating dirt and other unwanted particles like uneaten food from water. Filters have carbon inserts that facilitate the absorption of dirt from water. For the inserts to work effectively, they ought to be changed after a timeframe of three weeks. This measure also mitigates the accumulation of dirt on inserts that decomposes them.

Maintenance can be carried out daily, weekly and monthly with different procedures. When carrying it out daily, ensure that the aquatic tank is running properly. You can also observe your fish when they feed since behavior changes in their feeding patterns indicates that there is a problem. On a weekly basis, count your aquatic animals to determine if some have died. You should check the expiry dates of bottles and boxes of the aquatic supplies bought from Cincinnati OH aquatic stores. This prevents cases of food poisoning when fish are fed.

Remove the artificial plants and decorations found within the fish tank when cleaning. In addition, use algae sponges when cleaning the surfaces of the container. The artificial plants and decorations ought to be cleaned with plenty of water on a sink every week. They also ought to be replaced on a monthly basis.

The water temperature must be checked at least twice a week to avoid stressing the fish. Furthermore, this temperature determines the rate of oxygen absorption by fish. Use a thermometer to obtain the temperature readings. This is because fish are more prone to infections when water of different temperature is added in their tanks.




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