Water quality, especially proper oxygenation, is the most important aspect of the aquarium when caring for tropical fish. However, there are many factors that can influence their health.
- Instructions
- Use a home water-quality test kit to measure the temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen content, ammonia levels, nitrate levels and salinity of water. Adjust these properties as needed.
- Avoid adjusting water temperature abruptly. Tropical fish have narrow optimum temperature ranges and do not usually tolerate sudden changes in environment.
- Regulate an airflow rate of 2 liters per hour, per liter of water. Control airflow with an aerator.
- Provide a proper diet that has 30 to 36 percent protein, 10 percent fat and low amounts of carbohydrates. Be sure the fish food also contains required essential amino acids.
- Feed your fish appropriate amounts based on the amount and type of fish in the aquarium. A general formula is to feed 10g flake food to 50 adult tropical or freshwater fish per month, but check with experts.
- Avoid overfeeding, which results in poor water quality because of surplus food floating around in the tank.
- Store food in moisture-resistant containers and place in a cool, dry area.
- Keep food frozen for no longer than three months.
- Equip aquariums with proper lighting to avoid heat accumulation and excess algae growth. Use a light recommended for aquarium use. Use dimmer devices to avoid startling fish when turning on lights.
- Cover the aquarium to prevent contamination of water and to minimize temperature fluctuations.
- Change 20 percent of the water every 30 days.
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