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Procedures For Conducting Aquarium Maintenance

By James Sullivan


Routine maintenance practices conducted on aquariums create a sustainable environment for fish to thrive. You are likely to save a lot of cash that could be spent in fixing unmaintained fish tanks. There are several ways of undertaking aquarium maintenance. These procedures are less time consuming and generally cheap. You will note an improvement in the health of your fish after undertaking the following practices.

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.

Tank water should not be replaced at once. You can replace twenty five percent as you gradually add more fresh water. This is because when you change the water at once, nitrifying bacteria, that decompose waste in the container, are lost. Consequently, the fish tank will have high ammonia composition. Ammonia inflames the gills of the fish hence making it hard for them to inhale oxygen from water.

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.

Use a filter when to remove dirt and other unwanted particles from the tank water. The filter should have inserts made of carbon and floss. These inserts must be replaced after every four weeks. This is because particles filtered from water tend to decompose the inserts. The filter must also be cleaned on a monthly basis.

Maintenance practices can be undertaken in different timeframes. For example, it is advisable to check whether the aquatic vessel is operating well every day. As an aquarium owner, observing the fish as they feed daily can help you to assess their health. Aquatic supplies have expiry dates that should be reviewed every month. As an inhabitant of Cincinnati OH, adopting these practices will increase the population of your fish.

Artificial plants together with other decorations of the aquarium must also be removed during cleaning. They should be cleaned every month and separately on a sink by use of algae sponges. Use more water when cleaning and rinsing them to completely eliminate any bacteria that has accumulated on their surfaces.

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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