Aquarium Guides

The frequency of water changes and the amount of water to be changed in an aquarium depends on the following factors:

1. number of fish in your tank
It is better to keep the tank a little understocked since
a. there is more space for the fish to swim and grow
b. a smaller amount of pollutants are produced
c. fewer water changes are needed

2. the type of filtration used

3. The amount of fish food and debris.

For a fully stocked aquarium with adequate filtration, 25% of the water should be changed weekly. If the aquarium has only a few fish, the water may be changed every two to three weeks, as this reduces the stress on the fish. If the fish are overfed, the excess food will settle at the bottom of the fish tank and it will have to be cleaned more often.

The following equipment is needed for cleaning an aquarium

Gravel vac ( with an extension) or aquarium vacuum - it is usually available at pet shops, but can be made at home using airline tubing to suck out the debris from the gravel

Algae scraper - remove the algae from the plants

Clean bucket - should not have been used for cleaning with detergents or soap, since even small amounts of residue can harm the fish. It is used for changing the water in the aquarium