More than 65% of U.S. households own a pet. Out of them, 7.2 million have pet fish, according to Reportlinker.
They might not be as interactive as a dog or cat but they can still make wonderful pets. For one thing, they’re known to have a calming effect on humans.
What’s more, is that they can benefit your health. Studies have shown that they can reduce blood pressure, which will reduce your risk of heart disease.
Thinking of getting a pet fish? Want to learn more about fish tank maintenance? Then you’re on the right page—keep reading for some helpful tips!
Choosing the Right Fish for Your Aquarium
It’s crucial that you choose the right fish for your tank. Assuming that you’re a beginner, you’ll want to stick with freshwater fish. Not only are they cheaper, but they’re much easier to take care of.
Ultimately, your decision will depend on the size of your aquarium. The last thing that you want is to get something that’s going to outgrow your tank!
Plan on setting up a community tank? Then you’ll also want to make sure that whatever fish you get will get along with your other fish.
Fish Tank Maintenance: 4 Tips for Beginners
There are a number of things to keep in mind when it comes to maintaining a fish tank. Here are some tips!
- Cycle the Tank Before Adding Fish
It’s highly important that you cycle your tank before adding any fish. Put it simply, there are certain steps that you want to take to make the water conditions ideal for your pet.
Ultimately, it involves growing healthy bacteria within the tank. They’ll help break down waste, which will keep the water safe for your fish.
- Change the Water Regularly
Frequent water changes are key to happy, healthy fish. As a general rule, you want to replace about one-third of the old water every week.
If you don’t, waste products can easily accumulate, which will pollute the water. Not only that, but it can break the biological balance.
This goes for both freshwater and saltwater tanks. For example, dinoflagellates reef can easily become a problem in a reef aquarium.
- Don’t Overfeed Your Fish
Don’t feed your fish more than what it can eat in a few minutes. Not only can it lead to disease, but it’ll dirty the tank. In some cases, it can also cause excess algae growth.
As far as how often to feed them, once per day will be enough. Remember, it’s very hard to starve a fish!
- Always Use an Aquarium Conditioner
Tap water contains chlorine, which is harmful to both fish and plants. Depending on the levels, it can even cause death.
That’s why it is suggested to use a reverse osmosis filter which helps to filter out the chlorine in your water so that it becomes harmless to the inhabitants of your tank.
Maintaining Your Fish Tank
Now you know all about fish tank maintenance! As you can see, there are certain things to keep in mind when it comes to having pet fish.
Looking for more pet-related posts? Then make sure to check out the rest of our site!
