Believe it or not, fish are one of the most popular pets in the United States! According to Insider, nearly 12% of households own at least one.
One of the great things about them is that they’re generally a lot easier to take care of compared to other pets. For one thing, you won’t have to play with them or take them out for walks.
Did you recently set up a fish tank? Interested in some aquarium maintenance tips? Then make sure to read the rest of the post! We’ll be going over all that you need to know below.
Freshwater Fish vs. Saltwater Fish
There are two types of fish that you can get—freshwater fish and saltwater fish. Unless you’ve been in the hobby for many years, you’ll want to go for the former.
As it is, saltwater fish tend to be a lot more expensive. Not only that, but caring for them is usually much more difficult.
4 Aquarium Maintenance Tips for Those Who Want to Keep Pet Fish
Fish might be easier to maintain than other pets, but they still require care. Keep reading for some helpful tips!
1. Set up Your Tank Properly
Make sure to set up your tank correctly. Aside from lighting, you’ll also need a filter. If anything, it’s one of the most important pieces of equipment that you can get—after all, it’s the thing that’s going to clean the water.
Assuming that you have tropical fish, you’ll also want to invest in a heater. That way, you’ll be able to provide them with stable water temperatures.
2. Maintain the Tank Regularly
Clean the fish tank once a week. Start by replacing 25-30% of the old water. Don’t forget to use a de-chlorinator before pouring the new water in!
From there, clean the substrate with a gravel vacuum; the goal is to remove all of the waste products that have sunk to the bottom.
Too much and you can easily end up with a copepod problem. Click here to learn more about these small crustaceans.
3. Avoid Overfeeding Your Fish
New owners tend to put in more food than necessary into the tank. This can cause a number of problems—for example; some fish can develop fatty liver disease.
Not only that, but overfeeding can have a negative effect on the aquatic environment as well. Put it simply; the extra debris will dirty the water, which can affect their health.
4. Test and Monitor Water Parameters
How can you tell if the water is safe for your fish? By performing a water parameter test. As it is, there are various test kits that you can buy in stores.
Generally speaking, you’ll want to test the ammonia, nitrate, and nitrate levels. Simply follow the instructions on the test kit, and you’re good to go.
Caring for Your Pet Fish
And there we have it—four aquarium maintenance tips! If anything, the most important thing is to keep the water clean.
Did you find the post helpful? For more similar articles, check out the rest of our blog!
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