Brief instructions for the care and maintenance of aquarium fish

Aquarium fish maintenance can be intimidating at first, but with the right help, it can be a fun and fulfilling pastime. Knowing the fundamentals of fish care is crucial for maintaining the health and happiness of your aquatic pets, regardless of experience level.

We’ll guide you through a few easy steps in this article to make sure your fish are happy in their surroundings. These pointers will assist you in giving your fish the best care possible with the least amount of stress and work, from selecting the ideal tank setup to maintaining water quality.

Let’s explore the fundamentals of fish care so you can easily design a colorful, well-balanced aquarium that you and your fish will love.

How to care for fish in an aquarium

Choosing a tank is the first step in providing fish with proper care. Choose the species that will inhabit an artificial reservoir. The volume is calculated using the following formula. A fish with a length of 1 cm is equivalent to 1 liter.

When selecting an aquarium, consider the installation location, the connection methods for the filter, aerator, and lighting. There ought to be a plug in the area. Keep it out of the direct sunlight.

The artificial reservoir will require less frequent cleaning the larger it is in size. You should clean the soil and change the water frequently in a small or crowded tank. Otherwise, their waste will poison the fish.

Invest in a standard rectangular aquarium. The fish are stressed by the round shape, which also distorts the image of objects behind the glass.

Fill the pond with vegetation. Prior to installation, give decorations a thorough cleaning and disinfection.

A different article contains more information about maintaining an aquarium.

A crucial aspect of aquarium maintenance involves choosing fish that get along with one another. They can coexist peacefully or turn into one another’s food source. Select neighbors whose water’s temperature, hardness, and acidity meet your needs.

The types of residents require different kinds of care. The guidelines provided in the article are broad and apply to all fish. Look for more information separately for each species.

Here are some quick guidelines for taking care of fish in an aquarium:

• feeding – schedule and amount of food so that they do not overeat;
• observe the number of aquarium fish, their behavior;
• check the serviceability of the equipment;
• check the amount of water and temperature;
• change the water regularly;
• siphon the aquarium soil;
• care for the plants;
• remove algae;
• clean the decorative elements.

Let’s take a quick look at the primary actions for each of the instructions’ points so that a novice aquarist knows what to focus on.

Feeding

Don’t overfeed fish is the basic guideline when feeding them. If not, the animals will perish very soon. Most species only need to eat once a day.

Start by doing something to go along with your feeding, like tapping on the glass. After that, a conditioned reflex develops. Feed concurrently. Balance and variety are essential in diet.

The majority of aquarium fish can eat the following main foods:

• artificial industrial foods;
• live or frozen bloodworms;
• plant foods;
• for predators: minced meat or fish;
• finely chopped squid and shrimp;
• "live dust" for fry.

Switch up the feeds. Trial and error will be used to determine the size of a single portion. All of the food needs to be consumed. The leftover feed quickly starts to decompose and contaminate the water. Thus, after feeding, remove the leftovers. The fish benefit from fasting once every two weeks.

Plants

In order to create an environment that is as close to nature as possible, plants are chosen. Plant arrangement in the aquarium should best suit the needs of the fish. There are fish that gnaw on algae (scalaria), fish that prefer to hide, and fish that don’t care about them. The larvae of catfish adhere to the leaves.

Examine the plants for damage to the leaves and note the growth of the bushes. Certain hygrophilous plant species undergo routine pruning and thinning. When a plant is pruned in a timely manner, its long stems give it a bushy appearance.

Removing algae

Algae and bacterial plaque can still accumulate on aquarium walls and ornamental pieces even with good maintenance. Take them out. along with sanitizing the substrate.

Use funnels to clean the substrate, magnetic glass cleaners, and brushes (ideally with plastic blades to avoid scratching the glass). Clear the decorations, glass, and driftwood. Clean up.

Use a funnel to filter out excrement and other debris from the substrate every 14 to 15 days prior to the planned water change.

Water

Every week, check the aquarium’s water level to look for signs of evaporation. Use specific tests to check the quality (hardness, acidity).

Every seven days, 20–25% of the aquarium’s water should be changed in order to maintain healthy fish. The aquarium ecosystem’s nitrate level drops as a result of the water change. It has been specially settled for this purpose.

You have the option to fully or partially change the water. A weekly adjustment is only partial. Only in extreme circumstances is a full alteration made. when the aquarium is highly contaminated or when every fish is sick. But before adding water to the aquarium, you must first allow it to settle.

The aquarium’s water evaporates in the absence of a top cover. Make up for any water evaporation if the inspection reveals a shortage. The compensation liquid ought to be identical to the aquarium’s liquid. Purchase a top cover.

The walls are covered in curtains when the aquarium is placed in a sunny area. In order to stay cool during hot weather:

• hot water is pumped out from the bottom and cooled water is gradually poured in;
• put a bag with pieces of ice.

The water is cooled using the second technique, which maintains the same water balance.

Equipment

Take a look at the equipment installed to maintain aquarium fish.

Aerator

An air vibrator pump adds oxygen to the water. Water aeration is the term for the process. The fish sense a deficit if there is a malfunction. Pay close attention to the sprayer when examining. Bacterial or calcium deposits build up on it. Clear the plaque. If that doesn’t work, try a different sprayer.

Inspect the air duct hoses. Replace the broken ones. A rubber membrane that stretches is located inside the pumps. resolved by substitution. The aerator’s air valves should be cleaned once a month and replaced every six months.

Filter

Cleans the water. There are internal ones for smaller reservoirs and external ones that are placed in aquariums larger than 200 liters. Hazardous material concentration in the water rises when the aquarium filter becomes clogged. Only use aquarium water to rinse the filter. If not, the bacteria’s delicate balance is upset. Industrial detergents are not to be used because they will poison pets. When cleaning, rinse the sponge from the filter, but don’t rinse it completely to avoid eliminating good bacteria. Replace the sponge in a stylish filter pump once a month, or every two weeks if the sponge is weaker.

Lighting fixtures

For the aquarium, use energy-saving or fluorescent lights that have a maximum power of 25 watts. The luminosity decreases with continuous use; it changes every six to eight months.

Thermometer and heater

For determining and preserving the aquarium’s temperature.

If you follow these simple guidelines, taking care of aquarium fish can be easy: make sure the tank is the right size, has the right filtration and temperature, and feed the fish the correct amount of food. Your fish will flourish if you maintain a balanced ecosystem, change the water frequently, and keep an eye on their health.

Diseases and prevention

Aquarium fish are generally immune system robust. Fish illnesses in aquariums are primarily caused by:

• deterioration in water quality;
• infection;
• severe pollution and an increase in the number of pathological bacteria.

When examining fish, look for the reason if you see any that are passive, lying on the bottom, moving strangely, or having plaque or incomprehensible spots on their body or fins. If you must, make your settlement apart.

Here is a more detailed discussion of the most common diseases.

Compatibility with other fish

Take fish compatibility into consideration when choosing neighbors. They can be fully incompatible (predators and peaceful, large and small), partially compatible (goldfish and catfish get along differently), or completely incompatible (all three). There are differences between the following compatibility criteria:

• family;
• size;
• living conditions.

Choose fish that are comparable in size and that meet the same requirements in terms of water hardness, composition, acidity, temperature, and nutrition.

Other inhabitants

Aquarium fish are supplemented with snails, shrimp, crayfish, or aquarium frogs. Snails remove mucus and food waste from the habitat while cleaning along the bottom and decorating it.

Shrimp and small fish, like guppies and neons, get along well. Some try to consume them.

Crayfish get along with only small, nimble fish, like guppies, that can swim away from its claws. Large, vibrant species draw crayfish as well as those that crawl along the bottom. It pursues them.

Artificially bred dwarf Fish occasionally has frogs added to it as well. However, they have strict guidelines regarding water hardness and acidity. It is preferable for a novice to not understand them.

Observation and inspection

Feeding and inspecting the fish and equipment is the main daily maintenance for the aquarium and its inhabitants. Check while feeding, as all fish come swimming up to get food.

Verify the filter’s performance, the water’s temperature, and the presence of algae. Every seven to fourteen days, clear the ground of debris.

Life expectancy

Aquarium fish have a limited lifespan due to factors such as species characteristics, appropriate nutrition, and care conditions. They have a lifespan of 4–30 years. The average lifespan of common species is displayed in the table:

Big species and egg-laying fish have longer lifespans than small and viviparous fish.

Recommendations

The first step for a novice aquarium keeper is selecting the fish that will reside in the tank. Think about how well they mesh.

It is advised that a beginner start with the most basic and unassuming aquarium fish. As an illustration:

• guppies;
• gourami;
• swordtails;
• mollies;
• neons;
• catfish.

As your fishkeeping skills improve, you can introduce more difficult and sophisticated fish to your aquarium.

Task	Instructions
Feeding	Feed fish once or twice a day with the right amount of food that they can eat in 2-3 minutes. Avoid overfeeding to prevent water pollution.
Water Change	Replace 20-30% of the tank water weekly to keep the water clean and remove toxins. Use dechlorinated water that matches the tank"s temperature.
Tank Cleaning	Clean the tank glass and decorations regularly to remove algae. Vacuum the substrate to get rid of uneaten food and waste.
Filtration	Ensure the filter is working properly. Clean or replace the filter media as needed to maintain water quality.
Lighting	Provide 8-12 hours of light daily to support plant growth and maintain a healthy day/night cycle for fish.
Monitoring	Check water temperature, pH, and other parameters regularly. Watch for signs of illness or stress in fish.

Maintaining fish in an aquarium doesn’t have to be difficult. Your fish can flourish with consistent feeding, water changes, and environmental monitoring in the tank. Monitoring the temperature and quality of the water can help avert common problems.

Consistency is key to tank maintenance. A small daily effort can have a significant impact on your fish’s well-being and enjoyment. Recall that healthy fish thrive in clean tanks, and your efforts will be rewarded with contented fish.

Video on the topic

Keeping a Betta or Fighting Fish

Small aquarium|Basics of care and equipment selection|Caring for a small aquarium|First aquarium

Aquarium. Tips for beginners. Basics of keeping fish

Care and maintenance of Danio