| Freshwater aquariums are preferred among | | | | proper pH value. But in the initial two months or |
| aquarium hobbyists for the apparent reason that | | | | so, you will need to check the water condition |
| they require very low maintenance. It is true that | | | | once every few days. This can be reduced to a |
| freshwater fish require lesser maintenance than | | | | monthly checkup after the first two months are |
| seawater fishes, but that does not mean they | | | | over. That is the time your aquarium will have |
| should be neglected. Even freshwater fish need | | | | completely set in. |
| some suitable conditions for their good health, and | | | | 3. Checking your aquarium's filtration. |
| hence it is required to maintain those needs for | | | | There are several different filtration requirements |
| your tank inhabitants. | | | | for your aquarium, and you will need mechanical, |
| The following are the important steps you will | | | | chemical as well as biological filters for your tank. |
| have to perform for the care of your freshwater | | | | The mechanical filters are made of pads and |
| inhabitants: | | | | sponges, and their work is to filter out the |
| 1. Removing the organic debris from the tank. | | | | particulate impurities from the tank, while the |
| There is a lot of pollution in aquarium tanks, | | | | chemical filters will remove all unendurable odors |
| whether they house freshwater fish or saltwater | | | | and colors. The biological filters are a complex bed |
| fish. This pollution comes from the waste | | | | of microorganisms in your tank - mostly bacteria |
| products of the fish, and from the fragments of | | | | - that provide your tank with the natural |
| the food that has been uneaten by the fish. When | | | | environment it needs. However, as time passes |
| microorganisms in your freshwater tank die, they | | | | by, mechanical filters will get choked, chemical |
| will also contribute to the pollution level of the | | | | filters will lose their adsorptive power and biological |
| tank. You must remove all these from the tank | | | | filters could simply die out. Hence, you will need to |
| on a regular basis. Vacuuming is the most suitable | | | | check out the efficiency of your aquarium filters |
| method for this purpose. You can cheaply get | | | | from time to time. Monthly cleaning is enough for |
| aquarium pumps at any reputed pet store. | | | | aquarium filter maintenance. |
| Vacuum your freshwater tank at least once | | | | 4. Changing the water in the aquarium. |
| every month. | | | | You will have to change the water in your |
| 2. Checking the conditions of water in the tank. | | | | aquarium periodically. You must replace about |
| You must understand that fish live in the water, | | | | one-tenth of the water every week, a quarter of |
| and for them the water is just as important as | | | | the water once a month and about half the water |
| air is to us. That is why you must make every | | | | once every six months. That will ensure the |
| effort to check the condition of the water. This is | | | | water in your tank remains pure. However, you |
| done by setting a proper pH value for your tank. | | | | should never replace all the water in your tank |
| You will have to ask your aquarium supplier what | | | | because then you will be losing out on the valuable |
| will be the proper pH value for your fish, as the | | | | biological ecosystems that are already set up |
| pH value differs for different fish types. Then you | | | | within your tank. |
| must get a pH filter that will help you keep the | | | | |