Aquarium Basics: How to Take Care of Freshwater Fish
Having an aquarium is a great form of decoration, but many people tend to forget that it’s important to take care of the fish, too. It’s not enough to have something in your home that just looks pretty if it’s going to affect the health and freedom of the fish. Fish are used to swimming freely and require constant care to maintain their health.
In this guide, we’ll be helping you with aquarium basics and how to take care of freshwater fish:
Pick the Right Aquarium
Contrary to popular belief and the norm our eyes are used to seeing, freshwater fish should not be placed in small round bowls. The experienced aquarium experts at Aquariadise explain that a fish tank should not resemble any of the following: a vase, a bottle, a cup or a tiny tank as these are too small for any kind of fish, even if it’s a species as small as the betta fish. Unfortunately, many pet stores tend to market small bowls with freshwater fish in them just because they’re a whole lot cheaper than buying an aquarium kit making people without enough experience or knowledge assume that’s how it should be. Freshwater and saltwater However, some freshwater fish struggle in small areas and like to roam around in medium-sized tanks. Picking the right aquarium is essential to prevent restricting freshwater fish’s movement or even having them panic from large areas. Bowls, in general, are a bad idea for freshwater fish as it is almost impossible to resemble the high-water quality of a swamp or a stream.
Setting Up Optimum Aquarium Water Conditions
According to the type of fish you own, the conditions of the water will vary. That’s because each fish is used to live in certain areas with specific water qualities. However, you should do the following things for all species.
- Conditioning the Water: Because tap water is filled with countless minerals, the water needs to be balanced according to the aquatic life they’re used to. This can be done by using a dechlorinating agent as well as biological aquarium supplements.
- Maintaining the Appropriate PH levels: For freshwater fish, the PH levels should usually be between 6.8 and 7.5 depending on the species to help them feel that they’re in their natural habitat. You can check the acidity or alkalinity of your tank by using a PH testing kit.
- Monitoring the Temperature: Each fish species are used to living in a certain water temperature and it’s important to stabilize the temperature for the freshwater fish. Using an aquatic heater will help stabilize and maintain the temperature required according to the type of fish you have.
Fish Tank Maintenance Requirements
- Check the water temperature daily to make sure your heater is working properly.
- Every week, ten percent of the water in the tank should be replaced with clean, PH- balanced water.
- The water’s PH levels should also be checked on a weekly basis and any algae should be cleaned, seeing as this can greatly affect the health of your fish.
- Every month, the aquarium gravel should be vacuumed and twenty-five percent of the water should be replaced if needed.
- The filter should be inspected and cleaned on a monthly basis too, and the air stones should be replaced.
Keep your Aquarium Under Observation
Especially during the first periods of bringing in new aquatic life, it is important to keep an eye out to ensure that your fish are happy and feeling comfortable. If you see any unusual signs, make sure that the PH levels, temperature, and the aquarium size are appropriate for the fish species you have in your aquarium. Make it a habit to observe your fish on a regular basis and if you feel that there are changes in appearance, behavior or appetite, then that is an indication that something is wrong.
Provide the Right Food
Each species of fish tends to eat different kinds of food and therefore it is important to be familiar with not only the type of food they eat, but also the quantities and the frequency with which they should be eating. You don’t want to end up overfeeding your fish or starving them to death either. You can choose from dry food, frozen food, freeze-dried, live food or greens depending on what your fish like most or you can even mix it up to provide them with a full balanced diet.
Having an aquarium is a great addition to your home and also a great way to add a natural feel. However, it does require taking the necessary precautions and being familiar with the requirements that your fish need in order to maintain a healthy, stable life similar to their natural habitat.
