Keeping fish and having an aquarium is just like having any other pet; and it needs daily care. Regular upkeep of the aquarium however is straightforward and results will be rewarding. You will want to keep an eye on your fish, monitoring their behaviour, making sure they feed, and looking out for any signs of illness.
Keeping the water parameters within acceptable limits is important for the health of your fish, so you will want to check the levels on a regular basis. When cleaning the tank, ensure that you do not use any chemical products which could kill the fish. You may need to change the water of the aquarium on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to keep the water clean and the nitrate levels down. Maintenance products are available to break down ammonia and nitrates in the tank as well which can reduce the amount of times you need to change the water. To help these products work, you may want to swill the bottom of the tank around a little bit to release any waste products and ammonia from the gravel and help get them filtered out. Another option is to vacuum up any organic material that has sunk to the bottom, as these can be harmful if allowed to build up.
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Sat, Jan 24, 2009
Pet Care