Fishkeeping: maintaining a fish tank

The key to successful fish keeping is routine and regular maintenance.

Once established, your aquarium will require a minimum of time and effort to keep it looking attractive.

We can put the maintenance activities into three groups – things that we need to do every day, every week, and every 2-3 weeks.

On a daily basis w need to:
- check water temperature
- check fish numbers and behavior
- remove debris such as dead leaves
- check if all the equipment (filters, heaters etc.) are working
- feed fish

On a weekly basis:
- if necessary, partial water change
- prune plants

Every 2-3 weeks:
- partial water change (approx. 20-30%)
- clean filters
- clean tank
- remove algae from front of glass
- check if plants need thinning

When doing every thing right you should never have to do a full water change in your tank. Regular partial water changes are far more beneficial in ensuring that both fish and plants remain healthy. By changing all the water you kill the good bacteria that consume ammonia and nitrites.

The water you use for refills should be treated with dechlorinator or at least left in a bucket for a day.

Always remember to turn all the electrical equipment before putting your hands into the water. You would not to want to be electro shocked incase of some equipment failure.

Also remember to clean the filter sponges in old aquarium water only, and not in tap water as chlorine would destroy the beneficial bacteria in them.


Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishkeeping
http://aquariumhobbyist.com/artoffishkeeping/
http://www.fishyou.com/
http://www.freshwatertropicalfishkeeping.com/