My Cichlid Tank ] Site Map ] Common Fish Measurements ] Tips - Introduce New Fish ] [ Aquarium Maintenance ] Tropheus Tank Crash ] Water Changes ] Aquarium Skimmer ] Food For Cichlids ] Tank set-ups ] 


 

AQUARIUM MAINTENANCE

Introduction

While setting up and aquarium and get  it going for a couple of weeks is not difficult, it is often the subsequent maintenance tasks that cause people to give up their aquatic hobby. It is obvious that there are certain maintenance required to keep an aquarium alive. Even ourselves would need maintenance in the sense of bathing, brushing teeth, defecating etc, to keep us in good health.

Maintenance for an aquarium need not be troublesome if one knows what are the requirements and do them with discipline. A 30-45 mins regime a week or even 2-weekly will normally suffice. For those with deep pockets, leverage on good planning  such as constructing intake and outlet of pipes into the tanks, easy access to filters or top of  the range filters that boast easy dismantling and washing and technology (better filtration material, bigger filter) can even reduce this to a 15-30 mins task while enjoying a coffee beside the aquarium.

Other Related Articles :

Common Measurements for Fish

Tips for introducing new fish

Aquarium Maintenance

Crash of my Tropheus Tank

Water Changes

Food for Cichlids

TetraPro Vegetable Crisps

Set-up of Cichlid Community Tank

Set-up of Central America Cichlid Tank

Set-up of Lake Tanganyika (Tropheus) Tank

Review of Aquarium Surface Skimmer 

Automatic food feeder (DAZS Aquarium System)

If something is wrong, look for uneaten food, dead fish or clogged filters.  Rectify them and change 30%-50% of water and monitor. It should get better

 

Routine Maintenance

Daily.    Observe any abnormalities such as functionality of the filters, sick/injured fishes etc. 

Weekly.    Change about 30% to 50% of water including siphoning of waste accumulated on the coral stones. Clean the glass as required. Read more on water changes.

2-Monthly.    Alternate the washing of the filter material. Clean the filter hoses and  the substrate if required.

 

Additives

During the water changes, 3-4 tablespoonfuls of marine salt can be added to the water. 

Use the BLISS to check for trouble: 

Behavior.  Observe for abnormal fish behavior, example, breathing heavily, hiding, not eating, etc.

Live Indicator.  Watch the weakest fish. They are the most likely to perish when the water condition is bad.

Smell.  The water would not smell right is something is wrong. 

Sight.  Water should be clear and not milky. 

 

Other Related Topics:

African Cichlid
Central America Cichlid
South America Cichlids
Main photo Gallery
Articles
Aquarium Books
Links

 

 

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My Cichlid Tank ] Site Map ]Common Fish Measurements ] Tips - Introduce New Fish ] [ Aquarium Maintenance ] Tropheus Tank Crash ] Water Changes ] Aquarium Skimmer ] Food For Cichlids ] Tank set-ups ] 

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Last update : 17 Oct 08

Established since June 2001 

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