| Any aquarium owner knows that in order to keep | | | | greater numbers of bacteria! |
| your living picture healthy and alive, you need to take | | | | Invertebrates |
| care of aquarium maintenance. If you want your fish | | | | Another popular way to keep a fish tank clean is to |
| to stay healthy, you will need to clean your aquarium | | | | use a couple of different kinds of invertebrates. |
| on some kind of regular basis. | | | | These little guys are the caretakers out in the natural |
| Although cleaning your aquarium is an inevitable task | | | | world as well; they survive on some of the smallest |
| for any aquarium owner, there are several ways to | | | | living matter there is, and thus keep algae forms |
| minimize the frequency with which the task must be | | | | from growing too large. They include snails and |
| undertaken. One of the best ways is to purchase | | | | several crustaceans, such as crabs and crayfish. Just |
| living organisms that will help you in keeping your | | | | make sure they don’t get too big, the |
| aquarium clean. Not only will they help you with the | | | | crustaceans in particular can be harmful to your fish! |
| chore, but they can add to the overall appearance of | | | | Fish |
| your aquatic display as well! Here are some of the | | | | For the breakdown of bigger particles, you can |
| most popular of the living aquarium cleaners. | | | | complement your aquarium population with cleaning |
| Single celled organisms | | | | fish. There are large ranges within this type, and the |
| While most people think “ew” when they | | | | most popular are the bottom feeders. These guys |
| think bacteria, the fact is that there are many forms | | | | will eat any food particles that settle on the bottom |
| of bacteria that are beneficial to different | | | | of the aquarium, as well as break down organic |
| environments, and the aquarium is no exception. | | | | matter. |
| Bacteria, which convert toxic chemicals into nitrates, | | | | Using living organisms to clean your aquarium is great, |
| are especially desirable in an aquarium. These will | | | | because it means less work for you and they can be |
| reproduce naturally in the aquarium, but their growth | | | | fascinating to watch all on their own. Just remember |
| can be sped up through the use of special biological | | | | to keep in mind that as with anything in your |
| filters. In fact, these organisms live on many fish and | | | | aquarium, balance is key, and you will still have to |
| just adding more fish to the aquarium will result in | | | | clean your tank out yourself once in a while! |