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 Keeping your aquarium clean is important for the health of your aquatic life and keeping a beautiful aquarium. It's easy with the right tools! Here are some basic things to check for when preforming aquarium maintenance.
Daily
- Temperature - Check that the temperature of the water is the right range for your fish.
- Dead fish and organisms - Count your fish daily, check for dead fish and small fish and organisms that can die in decorations or rocks that can be unnoticed. A dead organism will start to decompose and create excess amounts of toxic ammonia.
- Unusual behavior - Check your fish for unusual behavior like loss of appetite, strange swimming patterns, and rubbing against things. If your fish are rubbing against things, swimming unusual, or showing signs of illness on their skin, they may have a disease that needs to be dealt with immediately.
- Protein skimmer cup - If you have a protein skimmer, the cup should be emptied out whenever it is full.
Weekly
- Water Changes - Every 1 to 2 weeks partially change your water. A partial water change is removing 15-25% of the water in your tank and replacing it with new water. Changing more than that may be stressful to your fish. Changing your water is important to remove nitrates from your water, measuring your nitrate levels will help you determine if you are changing your water often enough. If your nitrate levels are decreasing or remaining stable week to week, your cleaning enough. If your nitrate levels are climbing you need to change your water more often. After you have siphoned out your water you can do some of the following:
- Algae Scraper - Use an algae scraper or scrubber to remove dirt or algae off the walls of your tank. Make sure to use the correct kind for your glass or acrylic tank.
- Gravel Vacuum - Use a gravel vacuum to suck debris from your gravel.
- Rinse of any debris from your decorations with the water you removed from your tank, now is the time to move anything in your tank around also.
- After cleaning you can slowly siphon your new water into your tank. Do this slowly and avoid pouring as to not shock your fish and to avoid stirring things up and making your water too clouded.
- Water Testing - Check your water conditions weekly, levels can vary throughout the day so try testing them the same time of day each week.
Monthly
- Filter & Media - Filter cartridges and chemical filter media may need to be replaced.
- Check the inside of your filter components for gunk build-up, and clean with a flexible cleaning brush.
- Air Stone - Check your air stone for slowing of its bubbles, it may need to be cleaned or replaced.
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