Fish Tank Maintenance Tips: Making Sure Your Fish Have A Good Home
Fish are no less than art made flesh.
They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and they also behave differently. But, if there’s one thing that’s common among all fish is the fact that they are particular when it comes to the water they thrive in.
The consistency and balance of the water they live in is just as important as air is important to us.
A significant change in the water’s chemical composition is likely to adversely affect how fish live and that’s even more likely when fish are taken from their natural habitat.
But, in the spirit of giving your fish the best conditions possible, it’s important to keep your tank as ideal for your fish as possible. Note that I didn’t exactly say clean, I said ideal.
So, what are some things you need to keep in mind if you want to maintain your aquarium properly?
Tank Cycling
One of the very first mistakes that beginners make is that they buy the tank and the fish on the same day.
It’s important to ensure that you’re able to reproduce the water conditions that are needed in order to support fish life.
Cycling a tank involves the growth of healthy microorganisms within the tank.
These microorganisms are necessary for tank maintenance because they help break down waste, which, in turn, keeps the water safe for the fish to live in.
So, with that said, you should never put fish in a tank that you aren’t sure is ready to support fish life.
It’s the same as putting a person in a room full of gas without first making sure that the air is breathable.
Water Testing and Monitoring
Now, once the water is in its ideal condition, it’s important to monitor the water in order to keep chemical levels within optimal range.
There are many over-the-counter water testing kits that can help you monitor the levels of ammonia, nitrates, as well as the pH levels of your water.
Light Management
One aspect of aquarium maintenance that is easily overlooked is that of light management.
While it’s true that you need aquarium lights in order to see your fish, too much light in an aquarium can cause algae to grow to harmful amounts.
This is because like most plants, algae need light in order to thrive and grow.
An excess of light also means that the algae will grow quicker.
As a general rule, it’s important to limit the number of hours that the tank light is kept on.
12 hours should be the most time you can keep your tank lights on.
You can also consider using the 7 best substrates for planted aquariums in order to help the plants that you want to thrive, thrive.
Change Water Regularly
While it’s true that there are many products that can normalize the chemical levels of your tank, nothing beats being able to put in clean water for your fish.
Changing even just a third of your tank’s water is enough to dilute the chemicals in the water and it also makes the water healthier for your fish.
Once again, fish are delicate creatures. The water they live in is the same as the air we breathe, so it's important to maintain a healthy environment for them to thrive. T
he aquarium is their home and as pet owners, it’s important to ensure that they live a life that’s just as good if not better than what they would have lived out of captivity.