Aquarium Maintenance For the New Aquarist
A daunting task to a neophyte fish keeper is changing the water.
Many questions and worries will cross your mind as you begin the somewhat frightening duty of maintaining the health of your aquarium: · How much water do I remove? · What do I do with my fish? · How often must I change the water? · What is the "growth" I see in my tank? ...
and more! Something that may surprise someone new to the world of fish is that over time, the frequency which you must change the water is lessened.
In a new tank a big concern is the ammonia levels.
Over time a natural defense, a biological filter, will develop.
When changing the water, if not done properly, this natural filter can become compromised.
In your first year of fish keeping, you need to keep a close eye on your ammonia levels.
This is done with simple test kits you can purchase from your local pet store or from online vendors.
When you need to change water, it is not necessary or safe for your fish to change more than a small percentage of the water; typically this means 25% or less with most choosing between 10-15% for weekly or bi-weekly changes.
The size of the tank and number of fish will determine how often water changes must occur.
For tank health, cleaning waste from gravel during water removal is a tried and true method.
The amount of waste your fish produce can be dependent on their size, number, and feeding habits.
A special gravel vacuum can be purchased.
This vacuum will use the suction from the draining water to suck the waste and debris from the gravel.
To prevent shock and illness to your pets it is wise to prepare the new water the night before.
This allows chlorine to evaporate naturally and the water to reach room temperature.
Ideally water should be within a few degrees of tank water, however adding slightly warmer water typically has little effect on the tanks inhabitants.
Another concern before pouring new water into your aquarium is the amount of dissolved oxygen it contains.
If your hand, when submerged in the water, becomes covered with tiny bubbles it is unsafe for your pets.
These bubbles may attach themselves to their bodies.
To avoid adding over oxygenated water to your tank, allow to settle overnight.
A few added tips: · Do not change your filter the same day you change your water.
This can cause additional stress on the biological filter you have created over time.
· Do not overfeed fish.
The extra food merely dirties the water and can put your pets at risk for illness.
· Leave the decorations and plants in the tank when changing the water.
If they are algae covered, use a special tool to remove some of the excess but remember that this has also become a part of the biological filter.
· Algae eating fish help reduce the amount of algae your tank will grow, however this does not mean you are free and clear from cleaning the water in your tank.
· Using a siphon to remove water will cause less disruption to gravel, decorations, and debris.
Using a siphon to replace water will have the same gentle effect on the system.
With these few tips and instructions, you should feel confident in your first water change.
Remember a clean tank is a healthy happy tank!
Many questions and worries will cross your mind as you begin the somewhat frightening duty of maintaining the health of your aquarium: · How much water do I remove? · What do I do with my fish? · How often must I change the water? · What is the "growth" I see in my tank? ...
and more! Something that may surprise someone new to the world of fish is that over time, the frequency which you must change the water is lessened.
In a new tank a big concern is the ammonia levels.
Over time a natural defense, a biological filter, will develop.
When changing the water, if not done properly, this natural filter can become compromised.
In your first year of fish keeping, you need to keep a close eye on your ammonia levels.
This is done with simple test kits you can purchase from your local pet store or from online vendors.
When you need to change water, it is not necessary or safe for your fish to change more than a small percentage of the water; typically this means 25% or less with most choosing between 10-15% for weekly or bi-weekly changes.
The size of the tank and number of fish will determine how often water changes must occur.
For tank health, cleaning waste from gravel during water removal is a tried and true method.
The amount of waste your fish produce can be dependent on their size, number, and feeding habits.
A special gravel vacuum can be purchased.
This vacuum will use the suction from the draining water to suck the waste and debris from the gravel.
To prevent shock and illness to your pets it is wise to prepare the new water the night before.
This allows chlorine to evaporate naturally and the water to reach room temperature.
Ideally water should be within a few degrees of tank water, however adding slightly warmer water typically has little effect on the tanks inhabitants.
Another concern before pouring new water into your aquarium is the amount of dissolved oxygen it contains.
If your hand, when submerged in the water, becomes covered with tiny bubbles it is unsafe for your pets.
These bubbles may attach themselves to their bodies.
To avoid adding over oxygenated water to your tank, allow to settle overnight.
A few added tips: · Do not change your filter the same day you change your water.
This can cause additional stress on the biological filter you have created over time.
· Do not overfeed fish.
The extra food merely dirties the water and can put your pets at risk for illness.
· Leave the decorations and plants in the tank when changing the water.
If they are algae covered, use a special tool to remove some of the excess but remember that this has also become a part of the biological filter.
· Algae eating fish help reduce the amount of algae your tank will grow, however this does not mean you are free and clear from cleaning the water in your tank.
· Using a siphon to remove water will cause less disruption to gravel, decorations, and debris.
Using a siphon to replace water will have the same gentle effect on the system.
With these few tips and instructions, you should feel confident in your first water change.
Remember a clean tank is a healthy happy tank!