A clean aquarium is the best habitat for all freshwater aquarium fish. Your fish and plants will live a longer, healthy life in a clean aquarium, providing you with years of enjoyment. The best system to keep an aquarium healthy and sparkling is a regular system. Freshwater aquarium maintenance is simply having a regular schedule of activities that you follow faithfully is the surest way to have clear water and healthy, active fish.
It is vital that you use the proper equipment to maintain your aquarium. Fish and other aquatic animals and plants are sensitive to changes in their environment, and it is important that you follow some basic principles.
Never use household cleaners to clean your fish tank. These are deadly to your fish. No matter how well you rinse, these chemicals leave a residue that is toxic to aquatic life.
One tip for keeping your aquarium clean is to keep the water supply clean. A dirty pump is not going to fill your aquarium with clean water. A good, clean filter is vital to the life of your aquarium's ecosystem. However, a clean filter does not mean a spotless filter. Your filter media contains good bacteria that help to break down toxins and waste in your aquarium. Removing all of the bacteria can allow harmful levels of things like ammonia to develop in your water. Gently rinsing your filter media on a regular basis should be all it needs. Your filter manufacturer will provide a suggested maintenance schedule for you to follow. This will prevent you from cleaning it too often and harming the bacteria balance, or too seldom, allowing to great a build up of waste in the media, which will prevent it from cycling the water as frequently as it should.
Many aquariums experts recommend cleaning the ornaments and the fish tank glass every two weeks. This will prevent algae from building up on them. If the aquarium is made from acrylic, it should be cleaned weekly.
Whenever you are cleaning your aquarium, check your mechanical items and make sure they are functioning properly. Your air pump is important to ensure the water of your aquarium is adequately oxygenated. Your filter needs to be circulating the water through it in order to keep the water clear and the toxins out.
The most important freshwater aquarium maintenance you can do to keep your tank clean and your fish healthy is to perform scheduled partial water changes. This is vital for the health of your ecosystem. An aquarium is a closed ecosystem. Whatever is put in to it stays in it until you remove it. Waste and toxins do build up and the only way to keep the environment safe and healthy is to change the water and vacuum the gravel or sand to remove excess waste.
When you replace the water in your tanks, whether during partial water changes, or just adding new water to replace what has evaporated, always use a water conditioner. Water conditioners not only remove chlorine from tap water, but they will also help remove other impurities such as excess ammonia. Remember to read the instructions on every product you use.
Make sure you keep a regular maintenance schedule, treat your aquarium with love and it will flourish.
Author: Diane Warren
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Import duty tariff
