Behavioral changes are a good indicator of a potential problem. Make sure the equipment is running properly.Recommended Aquarium Maintenance Routine A complete aquarium maintenance schedule includes daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly tasks Daily Do not use soap, bleach, or chemical cleaners, because they will kill the beneficial bacteria required for healthy aquarium life. Important: Only use clean, fresh water when rinsing the filter or any other aquarium equipment. Avoid touching the bio wheels or any other beneficial bacteria supporting media during this process. The frequency depends on individual tank conditions, but generally once every 4 weeks is adequate. Occasionally a complete rinse of the filter is also required. Change dirty filter inserts, along with any media (activated carbon, Algone, etc.) that is due to be replaced. Servicing and maintaining the filter is simple and straight forward. Once it gets “full”, you need to empty it, otherwise it will contaminate the home of your fish. The filter is nothing more than a receptacle for waste. Think of your aquarium’s filter the same way you think of your kitchen trash can. A densely stocked aquarium may require more frequent filter cleanings. The aquarium filter should be serviced monthly. Filter Maintenance Regular aquarium maintenance includes servicing the filter If hardness drops below 45 dH, the pH of the aquarium water will crash.Ī half teaspoon of baking soda per twenty-five gallons of water, raises kH by approximately 1 dH (17.8 ppm). If KH drops close to 4.5 dH (degree hardness) or 80 ppm, you should monitor it frequently. KH (carbonate hardness) is a measure of pH stability. pH in the range of 6.5 – 7.5 is suitable for most species, but they should be fine if it’s slightly out of range. If nitrite is detectable, be sure to test for ammonia as well. Nitrites should be undetectable at all times (except during cycling). Nitrates should be kept below 10 ppm in freshwater, and 5 ppm or lower in saltwater and reef aquariums. Below are our basic guidelines for testing important aquarium water parameters. We highly recommend including testing in your regular maintenance schedule. Vital parameters to test as part of routine aquarium maintenance include nitrate, nitrite, pH, carbonate hardness, and salinity (saltwater only) The results can tell us a lot about imbalances, therefore allowing us to detect and prevent looming problems. Testing your aquarium water is like checking the body’s vital signs. Testing the Aquarium Water Regular aquarium maintenance would not be complete without testing important water parametersīecause we can’t determine water quality by looking at it, it is very important to do regular testing. Replace the filter membranes according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you are using filtered water, it’s still a good habit to regularly check it for vital parameters. Generally, well water is harder than municipal water, but it should be chlorine and chloramine free. Contact your water company if you aren’t sure it’s safe for use in your aquarium. Other elements of municipal water may be phosphates, iron, and other heavy metals. The increased waste will result in difficulty maintaining a healthy fish tank. When performing aquarium maintenance, test the water parameters of both, the aquarium and replacement water.ĭo not overfeed or over stock the aquarium. This will remove uneaten fish food, fish excrement, and other harmful waste settled at the bottom of the aquarium. Maximize your efforts by using a siphon to extract aquarium water while “vacuuming” the gravel. We recommend an average water change of 10 – 15%, every two weeks. Scheduled aquarium maintenance would not be complete without the water change. Aquarium Water Changes Water changes are arguably the most important part of routine aquarium maintenance Only increases or decreases of any major water parameter will require careful but immediate attention. If everything is running properly and your fish are healthy, there is no need for any major change, even if the pH or hardness is slightly out of range. The main goal of routine maintenance is a stable and balanced aquarium. Spending about thirty minutes on aquarium maintenance every other week, helps prevent common and time consuming problems. Maintenance should include regular water changes, servicing the filter & testing the aquarium water. Learn about the essentials of aquarium maintenance.
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