| Your fish tank is a place where conditions are always | | | | micro-organisms before refitting the filter. |
| changing. These conditions must be routinely checked | | | | Once ever 10 - 14 days |
| or things could go horribly wrong in a short time. All | | | | Change 20-25% of the tank water to keep the |
| fish tanks set-ups are slightly different so routine | | | | water quality good using a length of siphon hose. |
| maintenance will differ from tank to tank. What is | | | | Gently disturbing the surface of the gravel with the |
| important is the need to establish a maintenance | | | | end of a working hose will remove the old water and |
| routine and stick to it. This article offers a suggested | | | | detritus at the same time. The topping-up water |
| routine which covers the important points to keep | | | | should be left in a bucket at room temperature for |
| your aquarium healthy. | | | | 24 hours to allow dissolved gases to escape and the |
| Every day | | | | temperature to stabilize. You can then go ahead and |
| Feed your fish in the morning and again in the early | | | | gently top up the tank to reach no more that 2 in. |
| evening and check the water temperature. Look at | | | | (5cm) from the top to keep any fish from jumping |
| your fish for signs of injuries or illness - a fish with | | | | out. |
| drooping fins and seems 'hollow-bellied' is most likely | | | | Once every 3 weeks |
| diseased. Some of your fish could be behaving out of | | | | Now is the time to clean out the filters in your |
| the ordinary - this may indicate courtship or | | | | tropical tank and not at the time of a partial water |
| spawning, and remember that some live bearing fish | | | | change. A partial water change disturbs colonies of |
| produce tiny fry so look carefully! You will be able to | | | | beneficial bacteria living in the gravel and cleaning the |
| check any fish which are active at night or twilight at | | | | filters affects beneficial bacteria living there. For the |
| the evening feed. | | | | sake of the bacteria, the two operations are |
| Once a week (approximately) | | | | staggered in time. Do NOT rinse the filters with hot |
| Test the acidity (pH level) of the tank water which | | | | water and preferably rinse them with old aquarium |
| for most fish should be between pH6 and pH9; the | | | | water rather than chlorinated tap water. Check your |
| idea here is to maintain a stable pH environment not | | | | water plants for growth and take cuttings, you can |
| stick exactly to one level. In tropical aquariums, check | | | | prune and thin out plants if necessary. |
| the condition of the heater/stat (heater and | | | | Of course, it may not be possible to do all of the |
| thermostat unit) as they can develop leaks and may | | | | above without interruption from time to time. Going |
| break if knocked by one of the larger fish. It's a | | | | on holiday for instance will be OK if the tank has |
| good idea to have a spare heater/stat in reserve for | | | | been well maintained before going away; just |
| replacements. In a coldwater aquarium clean out the | | | | remember to restart your tank maintenance routine |
| filters and rinse with COLD water to avoid killing any | | | | as soon as you get back. |