Tips to keep your aquarium healthy

For a beginner aquarist, it’s very challenging to keep the aquarium healthy for the fish. An aquarist must know some basic principles for better maintenance of the aquarium. Aquarists must give proper attention to these principles. Once you are ready to install your aquarium, please follow the following guidelines:

1. Making water suitable for the fish:  The very first job of an aquarist is to make aquarium water suitable for the species. Tap water contains extra minerals which need to be balanced. Extra minerals in the aquarium water will be supportive to the aquatic species. Ingredients like biological agents and de-chlorination can be useful in the process of making water conditions suitable.

2. Acclimate fish to water:  When introducing fish to tank, it’s important to give adequate time for acclimation. It is the process of adjusting the temperature of fish bag with that of aquarium water.  First of all, put the fish bag in the aquarium and keep it for 30 minutes. In this process fish bag temperature will equilibrate with tank temperature. Following this process ensures safe and healthy transfer of fish into new home.

3. Keeping adequate space for the inhabitants:  Keeping adequate space for new inhabitants of the aquarium is very much important. Enough space in the tank is necessary for the good health of the fishes. That is why the dimension of the aquarium is an important factor to keep in consideration. At the same time, it should be kept in consideration that how much your selected fish will grow while they are adults.

4. Maintaining proper pH level: Maintaining the pH level of aquarium water is crucial for the health and well-being of aquatic life. Regular testing and monitoring of pH levels are necessary to ensure they fall within the appropriate range for the specific species of fish and plants in the aquarium. Adjustments can be made using pH buffers or additives to stabilise pH levels and prevent fluctuations that can stress or harm aquatic organisms. It’s essential to understand the natural processes within the aquarium, such as the breakdown of waste and the influence of decorations and substrate, as these can impact pH levels.

5. Keeping best water temperature: Depending on the types of fish you are keeping in the tank, aquarium water temperature must be maintained properly. Some fish need cold temperature and some fish need warm temperature. It is a wise decision to keep the same categories of fish into the tank. For instance platy, pearl danio, rainbow shiner, clown killifish need cold water and discus, blue ram, tetra, zebra placo need warm water. 

6. Avoid overfeeding: Overfeeding may have serious consequences on aquatic species. Most of the aquatic fish cannot eat much and additional food into the tank will pollute the water.  To avoid overfeeding, there is a rule to follow. It is widely practised by aquarists to give food to that extent which aquatic fish can consume in two to three minutes. 

7. Cleaning tank periodically: Periodic aquarium tank cleaning is vital for maintaining a healthy aquatic environment. It involves tasks such as removing debris, vacuuming the substrate, and scrubbing algae off tank walls and decorations. Regular water changes help remove pollutants and replenish essential minerals and nutrients for fish and plants. It’s important to clean filters and other equipment regularly to ensure optimal functionality and water quality. Additionally, monitoring water parameters such as ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels is crucial during cleaning to prevent spikes that can harm aquatic life.

8. Regular water changing: Firstly, water change helps to remove accumulated waste products such as spared food, fish waste, and decaying plant substances which can release harmful elements like ammonia and nitrites into the water. Secondly, water changes replenish essential minerals and trace elements that may become depleted over time, ensuring a healthy environment for fish and plants.