Is the aquarium a constraint?

 

 

If you choose to acquire fish, know that you are not adopting a pet but a piece of nature. What real constraints does the maintenance of this biotope impose? Is it possible to have an aquarium with little time to devote to it? Here are the answers to your questions.

 

Of course, the advice given will be general because the requirements depend on the style of the aquarium. We will talk here about tropical freshwater aquariums, populated with fish that are easy to keep together. Besides, you should know that the bigger the aquarium, the easier it is to maintain. A large tank is less demanding than a small one, so treat yourself!

 

Daily checks

 

It only takes a few minutes a day.

 

Light your aquarium in the morning and turn it off in the evening, in order to reproduce the natural light cycle. This lighting is essential for plants. If you are afraid to forget, there are very inexpensive devices that can light and turn off your aquarium at a fixed time.

 

Feed your little inhabitants once or twice a day, but be careful not to overfeed. Overfeeding is harmful to your fish. Estimate that your little creatures should have eaten their fill within 5 minutes. The best time is in the morning and in the evening. Take advantage of this time to observe them and check their health. Here again, automatic food dispensers are available for a small financial investment.

 

Check only the proper functioning of the equipment, the filter and the heating.

 

Some weekly checks

·         Change 15% of the water with water of the same temperature (to avoid thermal shock) to maintain clear water. The water should always be treated with a water conditioner to eliminate chlorine and its derivatives. Time: 10 minutes.

·         Check the nitrite level (pollution level) every week.

·         Monitor the pH and hardness of the water. Time: 1 min.

·         Check the carbon dioxide level only if you are distributing CO2 injections to stimulate the growth of your plants.

·         Clean the detritus accumulated on the gravel with a siphon or a vacuum cleaner provided for this purpose. Time: 10 minutes for a 26-gallon aquarium.

·         Remove unsightly algae from the windows with a magnetic scraper. Time: 2 minutes.

·         Rinse the foam filter every 2 weeks, always with water taken from the tank in order to preserve the bacterial colony that allows the biological filtration of the water. Time: 3 minutes.

 

The "bottom" cleaning

Don't forget that some auxiliaries can naturally help you, think of shrimps, snails and other cleaning fish.

 

·         Clean algae from the decor when necessary. An old toothbrush will do the trick.

·         Every month, prune the plants and clean the filter. Time: 30 min.

·         The water pump of the filter should be cleaned from time to time with a toothbrush. Regular maintenance avoids the need for a major cleaning of several hours every 3 months.

·         Every 6 months or every year, change worn devices such as light tubes, filters, etc.

·         Replace the filter foam when it becomes too stiff, usually after several months. This change is done in half so that the bacteria from the old part colonize the new piece of foam. The second part will then be changed the following week.

 

The vacations

You can go on vacation, there are automatic food dispensers for fish in pet shops. You can do a little cleaning when you come back!