Fish Care Tips

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Fish is a fairly typical sort of pet. People choose aquarium inhabitants because of their beauty, calming effect and ease of maintenance. The aquarium looks amazing and wonderful. Fish don’t require unique care, but they bring great aesthetic pleasure. The aquarium requires routine care, cleaning, weeding and fertilizing. All aquarium inhabitants need to be fed regularly and monitor their condition. In the aquarium, fish release harmful substances. Some of them process plants. But the excess of bad components still accumulates in your aquarium bottom. Fish care should be done always to make your fish healthy.

The causes of stress in fish life

  • Poor water quality, irregular water replacement;
  • Inappropriate tank management;  
  • Overpopulation of the aquarium;
  • Transportation;
  • Malnutrition;
  • Temperature fluctuations;
  • Content of incompatible species;

Therefore, aquarium care should be done properly to remove the waste products from the aquarium. To keep your fish healthy you need to fulfill the following basic principles of fish care in an aquarium condition.

  • Properly aquarium setup should be done;
  • Always use clean water in the aquarium;
  • Keep aquarium clean;
  • Provide adequate nutrition;
  • Maintain optimum temperature;
  • Provide appropriate shelter;
  • Need attention and proper care;
  • Choose compatible fish species;
  • Aquarium size should be appropriate for the fish species;
  • Avoid overcrowding;
  • Avoid over feeding;
  • Maintain good water quality;
  • Over cleaning should be avoided to protect your good bacteria;
  • Partial water changes should be done regularly (in a small aquarium – once a week, in a large – once a month);
  • The inner surface of the aquarium must be cleaned with a special scraper;
  • The soil should be in good condition;

How to Take Care of your Fish

  • To keep your fish in the aquarium, the aquarium size play a very important role. Size of the aquarium should be large enough for the fish. In this case minimum size of an aquarium for one fish should be about 12 liters. 
  • You should always use clean water during replacement of water in an aquarium. The water in the aquarium must be spotless. In any case, you cannot utilize tap water quickly; it should be permitted to remain for three days.
  • If you use tap water; you must be de-chlorinated before adding to the aquarium. Fortunately, now there are a lot of de-chlorators on sale.

  • To make healthy aquarium environment, regular replacement of a part of aquarium water should be done in due time. Dirty or substandard water is one of the reasons for ailment and weakness or poor health. Water replacement for small volume tank is usually performed at a frequency of once a week up to 30% of the volume of aquarium water. In large aquariums, water replacement can be done less regularly, about twice a month, and also 25-30% of water.

  • Small frequent water changes are better than rare large ones. It should be weekly or every two weeks intervals.  Small water changes cause less stress in fish and minimally interfere with the biological cycle of the aquarium. Cleaning gravel is not recommended at all, but only half. The second half is vacuumed with the next change of water.
  • Regular maintenance of water in the aquarium ensures good and healthy environment for fish. During replacement of water, it should have the same hardness and temperature as the water in the aquarium. Water must be saturated with oxygen.

  • To guarantee clean water in your aquarium utilize aquarium filters. Depending on the volume of your aquarium, you can utilize internal and external filters.  Internal filters are best utilized for volumes up to 100 liters, for bigger volumes it is prescribed to introduce more proficient efficient external filters.

  • The mechanical filter requires regular cleaning to remove stuck particles and prevent the beginning of their decomposition into toxic substances. Filter materials can be washed in running water. Filter materials for the chemical filter require periodic renewal or replacement, for example peat or coal.

  • The biological filter and its materials wash in containers with aquarium water to minimize the colonies of beneficial bacteria. You should not use tap water to wash filter materials; it may contain chlorine, which kills beneficial bacteria. The washing procedure should be done within an hour, because long time wash for the biological filter leads to the death of the colony of bacteria due to the lack of fresh water inflow saturated with oxygen.

  • Bottom of the tank should be cleaned using a siphon. After feeding of the fish the remaining parts of foods and debris settle on the base of the aquarium which then becomes turbid, makes unhygienic condition, and even starts to smell unpleasant.

  • To clean the aquarium and its decorative items such as plants, stones and other items you should never use soap. If you use soap to clean aquariums, it can lead to the death of the aquarium inhabitants due to the harmful effects of soap.

  • Many fishes jump and can reach on the floor. Some fishes also can catch a cold, breathing cold air. To prevent jumping or cold you should always use a cover or lid above the aquarium.

  • You should not use antibiotics. Because antibiotics have harmful effects and kill beneficial bacteria. Beneficial bacteria are crucial for keeping up the bio-balance in the aquarium.  If the fish should be treated with antibiotics, then it must be done in a separate container.
  • Fish should be fed regularly. You should not overfeed; otherwise it will lead to obesity. Overfeeding also leads to a deterioration in the quality of water in the aquarium and increases the level of stress in fish. To keep your fish healthy and happy feeding the fish should be done 2-3 times a day. The amount of food should be such that the food is eaten completely in about fifteen minutes. To prevent pollution uneaten or surplus food must be cleaned immediately using a siphon.

  • You should give your fish a variety of feeds.  Before giving food, you should read information about their nutritional value. This will allow you to know what vitamins and minerals your fish eat. Vitamin and mineral based flakes can be used as the basis of a diet for most fish, as they are designed specifically for the needs of certain species of aquarium inhabitants. However, try to periodically supplement their food with other types of food.

  • The water quality parameters should be checked on a regular basis. Generally water pH, hardness, temperature should be vary for different fish species. To keep your fish happy and healthy you should measure all the water quality parameters regularly using water quality parameters testing kit. In this case you should buy a water testing kit from local pet store or online shops to check the quality of the aquarium water and control the nitrogen cycle in the aquarium. The best way to control this cycle in a freshwater or marine aquarium is to purchase a test kit that will measure the readings of ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH. This will give you more information when it’s time to change the water in the aquarium.

  • Avoid large fluctuations in water parameters such as temperature and pH. Try to replenish your aquarium with water, which has parameters as close as possible to current ones.

  • For most types of fish, a high water temperature is required which ranges from 24 to 28 ° C. For goldfish, the appropriate temperature in the aquarium is 21-22°C while for discus it should be 30-32° C. To maintain suitable water temperature for your fish, use heaters with adjustable thermometer.

  • Do not install your aquarium next to the window. The direct sunlight on your aquarium will cause serious problems, such as the appearance of blue-green algae. Sun exposure also helps increase the temperature of the water in the aquarium.

  • Do not leave the aquarium lighting on permanently. The  day light should last for 8 – 12 hours a day. To receive an 8-12 hour day, you can use a timer. 

  • Always turn off the electricity before working in or around the aquarium.

Also Read: Ich or White Spot Disease: Symptoms, Preventive Measures and Treatments

Conclusion

The aquarium looks wonderful and lovely. Aquarium fish make a little corner of natural environment in your home. Fish don’t require extraordinary care, yet they bring incredible aesthetic pleasure. Normal care should be required to make your aquarium fish healthy and sound. We also recommend you to use best fish food with proper amount to make your aquarium fish happy. 

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