Five Tips to Keep Your Aquarium in Check
Owning an aquarium is not that simple, but keeping at it will soon make you an expert . But since you likely won’t wish the death of fish as you roll out, take time to learn the basics.
Here are five things you can do to boost your chances of keeping your fish happy healthy and your aquarium a beauty to behold:
1. Cycle the tank before adding the fish.
In cycling, healthy micro-organisms grow within the tank, leading to waste breakdown and a safer environment for the fish. Experts recommend you let the tank cycle for at least a week. In other words, don’t buy your fish tank and put your fish inside on the same day! In short, don’t purchase a fish tank and add fish in it on the same day.
2.Test and check the condition of the water.
Lifecycles in a fish tank naturally lead to the production of chemicals such as ammonia and nitrates/nitrites. These compounds are normally harmless, but if levels are left unmonitored, they can pose hazards to the fish. It’s wise to get one of those inexpensive water testing kits so you can keep these chemical in check, including the water’s pH.
3. Change the water on a regular basis.
Constant water changes are the secret. You have to drain out around one-third of the water from your tank each week and add fresh, clean water. This spreads the chemicals thin in the water, making it a healthier environment for your fish. The waste that has built up will contaminate the water to the point where it can threaten the life of the fish. You must learn to extract the gravel in the tank too in order to take out the debris that has collected at the bottom.
4. Don’t overfeed your fish.
Believe it or not, just one feeding every single day is already enough for fish. When there’s too much food, the fish get sick, the tank becomes, dirty and the aforementioned chemicals increase in amount. On top of that, it can cause many other issues like encouraging algae growth and a breakout of pest snails.
5. Manage internal and external lighting.
You should put lights in your tank, but mostly so you can see the fish. Keep in mind that too much light encourages algae growth. Besides, you only need to keep your tank light on for 12 hours everyday, or even quicker. Natural daylight is sufficient for fish, unless you have real plants in your tank, in which case you will need a full 12 hours of overhead lighting everyday. Don’t worry, live plants will consume most of the nutrients that algae needs to survive, so they themselves will help control algae levels.