Introduction
So after following our guide on how to set up your aquarium (add hyperlink), you have successfully got your new aquarium up and running. Congratulations! You’re on your way to fishkeeping success. But in order to keep your aquarium on this path to success, some regular maintenance must be carried out. When starting out, this can feel rather intimidating; but don’t worry, we’re here to help you!
Regular Maintenance
This series will be going over the maintenance that will be a regular requirement for a healthy aquarium. These are smaller simpler tasks that are the reason why aquariums are considered such enjoyable options for keeping pets. We’ll be covering the following topics:
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Feeding your fish
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Water Changes
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Algae Scrubbing
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Filter Maintenance
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Plant trimming
Water Changes
Feeding your fish means waste will be entering your tank, and it is important to remove this from the system. Water changes are like the life support of your aquarium, removing harmful Nitrates from and replenishing the system with fresh nutrients and clean water. The first method of removing the waste will be regular water changes, changing approximately 25% of the water volume. The regularity depends on the size of your tank - smaller tanks need their water changed more often than larger tanks.
So why do we change the water?In your tank there is a constant process of waste being produced and broken down. This process is referred to as the Nitrogen Cycle (which we covered in our Nitrogen Cycle blog) (add hyperlink). However, this waste must go somewhere, and as the keeper of this little ecosystem, it’s our job to give it a hand in removing it.