Keeping freshwater fish as pets is a delightful hobby for many. Freshwater fish tanks are inexpensive to install and there are so many beautiful, exotic fish available to stock your aquarium with.
It’s vital to keep the aquarium stable and balanced in order to provide a healthy habitat for the fish. A well maintained aquarium should be odourless, having clear water with very little to no algae and pest snail.
Many new fish hobbyists end up having a dirty or cloudy aquarium too soon. Here are a few things you can do to keep a healthy and great looking aquarium.
Fishless Cycling
You should run a fishless cycle for at least a week before adding the fish into the tank. It involves the growth of healthy microorganisms in the water which will later break down waste materials to keep the fish healthy.
Many aquariums come with a separate pack of materials you can use to cycle the tank. You can even use a little fish food for this.
Don’t Overstock Your Aquarium
More fish would mean more waste production which will make the aquarium environment dirty and difficult to manage. So don’t go overboard with the number of fish to keep in the tank.
Regular Testing and Monitoring of Water Parameters
Chemical compounds such as nitrates, nitrites and ammonia are produced as a result of fish life cycles. It’s important to keep a check on their levels as too much of these can disturb the pH of the water. So keep a water testing kit handy all the time.
You can also use aquarium water treatment solutions to better manage the water conditions. These also reduce the need of frequent water changes.
Don’t Overfeed the Fish
Different dish have different dietary requirements so research a bit on it. Providing your fish with a variety of nutrients as per their specific needs will help in keeping them healthy and growing.
However, never over feed your fish. Only feed them what they can finish in 2-3 minutes so that left over food does not rot in the aquarium causing water pollution.
If there’s uneaten food left in the tank, use a fish net or a vacuum gravel to remove it as soon as possible to avoid spoiling the water.
Light Management
Fish do not need a lot of light. A little daylight is enough for them. Prolonged exposure to light will, however, promote the growth of algae in the aquarium as it thrives in light.So it’s best not to keep the fish tank in a place that has good access to sunlight such as near a window.
Also, if you have lights installed above or near the aquarium, make sure not to keep them on for more than 8-10 hours during a day.
If you love fish and wish to set up a home aquarium, pay a visit to the Little Fields Farm. We have an array of products and equipment ranging from fish food to aquarium treatments and much more.
