A large portion of keeping fish healthy is ensuring that where they stay is kept clean and healthy. Regular maintenance is very crucial to keeping aquariums and the environment around safe. One of the major challenges for owners of aquariums is knowing what practices are involved in maintenance. When considering aquarium maintenance Cincinnati residents can benefit from certain tips. While experts might disagree on specific points of maintenance practices, there are regular aspects that are universal.
Many people that do not bother about maintenance do so thinking that they already have filters. It could also be that bottom feeding fish will be picking up stuff from there. Filters are definitely useful but they too will become clogged over time, causing more harm than good. Also, fish continue production of wastes which needs to be removed over time. This, in addition to the fact that uneaten food decays slowly, means aquariums have to be maintained.
The frequency with which there is cleaning of aquariums needs consideration. The activities involved are many and cannot be done daily or every week. Cleaning of colony-rich areas should be very restricted so that beneficial bacteria are not affected negatively. Filters and the substrate are examples of such areas. In the event that useful bacteria are disturbed too much, it will lead to disruption of nitrogen cycle. Water should be tested some days after significant cleaning is done.
As for daily maintenance practices, there should be visual check to ensure that the filter is running fine and at full strength. The lights should be functioning properly. As for temperature, it should be in the expected range. Fish will need to be counted to ensure they are all healthy and doing well. This is best done when they are being fed because they will be easy to observe. This is also the chance to check uneaten foods.
Weekly and bi-weekly practices and checks are crucial too. One of them is partial water change that is done weekly. The water which is used needs to get treated and aged is possible. Its temperature should be close to that of water in the tank. Before water change is done however, there are other weekly tasks that should be done. The water change is the last task.
Water testing needs to be done monthly. This will involve test of such aspects as nitrites, pH, ammonia and nitrates. In case there are problems with algae, you might need to also test phosphates to check if they are part of the problem. Testing of water is done before water change is done and also before other practices of maintenance.
There are also periodic activities that are carried out once in a while. They include replacement of bulbs once every year. This is done whether or not they are burned out. There should be inspection of air pump tubing and filter tubing. If there are live plants, they will need to be fertilized.
Cleaning of aquariums never requires lots of equipment. It however helps to have a few specialized tools at hand. A dedicated bucket is one of the major and most important tools. You will also need a siphon, water conditioner and algae scrubber.
Many people that do not bother about maintenance do so thinking that they already have filters. It could also be that bottom feeding fish will be picking up stuff from there. Filters are definitely useful but they too will become clogged over time, causing more harm than good. Also, fish continue production of wastes which needs to be removed over time. This, in addition to the fact that uneaten food decays slowly, means aquariums have to be maintained.
The frequency with which there is cleaning of aquariums needs consideration. The activities involved are many and cannot be done daily or every week. Cleaning of colony-rich areas should be very restricted so that beneficial bacteria are not affected negatively. Filters and the substrate are examples of such areas. In the event that useful bacteria are disturbed too much, it will lead to disruption of nitrogen cycle. Water should be tested some days after significant cleaning is done.
As for daily maintenance practices, there should be visual check to ensure that the filter is running fine and at full strength. The lights should be functioning properly. As for temperature, it should be in the expected range. Fish will need to be counted to ensure they are all healthy and doing well. This is best done when they are being fed because they will be easy to observe. This is also the chance to check uneaten foods.
Weekly and bi-weekly practices and checks are crucial too. One of them is partial water change that is done weekly. The water which is used needs to get treated and aged is possible. Its temperature should be close to that of water in the tank. Before water change is done however, there are other weekly tasks that should be done. The water change is the last task.
Water testing needs to be done monthly. This will involve test of such aspects as nitrites, pH, ammonia and nitrates. In case there are problems with algae, you might need to also test phosphates to check if they are part of the problem. Testing of water is done before water change is done and also before other practices of maintenance.
There are also periodic activities that are carried out once in a while. They include replacement of bulbs once every year. This is done whether or not they are burned out. There should be inspection of air pump tubing and filter tubing. If there are live plants, they will need to be fertilized.
Cleaning of aquariums never requires lots of equipment. It however helps to have a few specialized tools at hand. A dedicated bucket is one of the major and most important tools. You will also need a siphon, water conditioner and algae scrubber.
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