Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Steps For Carrying Out Aquarium Maintenance

By James Sullivan


Good maintenance practices on aquariums result to sustainable and healthy aquatic surroundings. In addition, expensive and time consuming issues that normally result from faulty fish tanks can be solved by regular maintenance. Most aquarium owners underestimate the importance of aquarium maintenance on aquatic lives. On average, it will take you less than one hour to conduct this practice. Undertake the following procedures when cleaning your fish tank.

The first procedure involves replacing the tank water twice a month. This procedure seeks to regulate the oxygen and nutrient content in water. As a fish tank owner living in the city of Cincinnati OH, the health of your fish depends on how frequent the water is replaced. Remove any uneaten food chunks when adding fresh water in the vessel since these particles tend to decompose and increase water acidity levels. Furthermore, when adding tap water, one of the ways of neutralizing chlorine found in it is by using water conditioners.

Replace a quarter of the fish tank water with fresh one to avoid eliminating nitrogen fixing bacteria. The nitrogen fixing bacteria facilitates the decomposition of wastes within fish tanks. When all the water is removed, these bacteria are also eliminated hence altering the decomposition of wastes. Furthermore, ammonia levels rise rapidly when water lacks nitrifying bacteria. Ammonia compound inhibits the respiration of fish since it clogs on fish gills.

Test the water in the aquatic tank on a regular basis for acidity. You can test the acidity levels when replacing the water. The water acidity levels should be not less than or more than seven when measured using an acidity test indicator. If this level is exceeded, you can use base elements such as baking soda to lower the acidity.

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.

Maintenance practices can be undertaken in different timeframes. For example, it is advisable to check whether the aquatic vessel is operating well every day. As an aquarium owner, observing the fish as they feed daily can help you to assess their health. Aquatic supplies have expiry dates that should be reviewed every month. As an inhabitant of Cincinnati OH, adopting these practices will increase the population of your fish.

Remove the artificial plants and decorations found within the fish tank when cleaning. In addition, use algae sponges when cleaning the surfaces of the container. The artificial plants and decorations ought to be cleaned with plenty of water on a sink every week. They also ought to be replaced on a monthly basis.

Take water temperature readings with a thermometer after every week. Fish require optimum temperature levels for them to thrive. High temperatures may slow their body metabolism rates. On the other hand, extremely low temperatures may denature their body cells and tissues. The rate in which oxygen is absorbed by fish in water is also determined by the water temperatures.




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