Saltwater & Freshwater Fish Tanks - Aquariums

Freshwater Fish Tank Maintenance

February 1st, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

How to maintain your freshwater fish tank

Freshwater fish tank maintenance is a necessity for any aquarium owner. If done regularly the maintenance won’t be an onerous chore or overly complicated. Regular maintenance is the key to a successful fish tank and healthy fish.

Easy steps to freshwater fish tank maintenance

The most important piece of equipment in aquarium maintenance is the filter. There are a couple of different types of filtration systems. An under-gravel filter is often used in freshwater fish tank maintenance as they are almost maintenance free for long periods. An under-gravel filter works by drawing water down into the gravel bed which filters the water while allowing bacteria build-up in the gravel. The bacteria assists in breaking down waste material and is essential to your aquarium’s health. Clean the filter regularly and replace the filter medium when necessary. If your aquarium has a separate aerator, clean the air filter.

Another type of filtration system is a biological filtration system. This can be used in conjunction with a charcoal filtration system, and also allows good bacteria to grow in the tank and which can help keep the tank clean.

You will need to do a partial water change every two or three weeks as part of your regualr freshwater aquarium maintenance. This keeps the algae level down and helps to provide a healthier environment for your fish. Siphon off about 20 per cent of the water with a wide bore tube. You can add a vacuum system to the siphon to assist in removing detritus from underneath the gravel.

Having too many fish in the tank can lead to problems with excess waste (and stressed fish). Ensure you have the right population for the size of your tank you. Do not overfeed your fish. Fish should only be fed an amount they can eat within five minutes. If you feed the fish too much, the leftovers fall to the bottom of the tank and turn into sludge which can lead to algal growth.

Keep an eye on your fish and observe their behavior. If the fish are looking unhealthy, take a proactive approach and find out what is wrong and fix it. Keeping your fish tank clean and providing ahealthy living environment are not difficult freshwater fish tank maintenance tasks, and you’ll be rewarded with healthy, happy fish.