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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.

Water acidity must also be tested on a weekly basis using a potential hydrogen indicator. This procedure should be conducted when water is being replaced. As a general rule, the water acidity must be seven units as measured by a potential hydrogen indicator. Any measurement below seven units means that the water has high acidic levels. In this case, a base element like baking soda may be added to decrease the acidic levels.

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.

You can carry out maintenance on your fish tank on a weekly, monthly or daily basis using different practices. For instance, the tank can be assessed daily to determine if it is running well. The aquatic animals can also be observed daily for changes in feeding patterns. Any significant changes in fish feeding patterns are an indication that an aquatic tank is ineffective. Check the expiration dates indicated on boxes and bottles of aquatic supplies purchased from stores in Cincinnati OH monthly.

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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