How to Take Care of a Tropical Fish Aquarium

Proper maintenance of your saltwater aquarium is crucial to keeping your fish healthy and attractive. Since saltwater fish are much more sensitive than freshwater fish, they require a very specific environment in order to thrive. While natural processes work together to maintain this balance in the ocean, mimicking it without Mother Nature's help can be a bit more difficult. Consider some simple instructions to help keep your tank looking its best.

Things You'll Need

  • Gravel vacuum
  • Chemicals for regulating ammonium, nitrites, salinity and pH
  • pH test strips
  • Dechlorinated water
  • Bucket
  • Algae scraper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Develop a schedule for your saltwater tank's maintenance. Your tank's cleaning needs will vary based on the size of the tank, the number of fish living in the tank, your filtration system, and a number of other factors. As a general rule, most saltwater aquariums should be cleaned every one to two weeks.

    • 2

      Turn off and unplug all electricity sources before you clean your tank. Not only does this help keep you safe, but it helps prevent damage to your equipment.

    • 3

      Scrape algae from the sides of your tank. Don't worry if you can't make it perfect, as algae are not usually harmful to the fish in the tank. However, clean aquarium walls do give onlookers a clear view of your tropical fish.

      As an alternative to scraping algae, try using algae-eating snails to help keep your tank clean. These creatures not only reduce the work for you, but they add to the interest and appeal of your aquarium.

    • 4

      Vacuum the gravel as thoroughly as you can until about 20 percent of the water has been transferred from the tank to your siphoning bucket. (Your gravel vacuum will come with specific manufacturer's instructions, including details about how to operate it.)

    • 5

      Look at your tank's filter. If it's dirty, rinse the filter in the water you just emptied from the aquarium. It is important to rinse the filter in leftover aquarium water, because fresh water will remove important bacteria from the filter.

    • 6

      Refill your tank with dechlorinated salt water. Check the water's temperature to make sure it is within a degree or two of the old water.

    • 7

      Inspect your fish for diseases while you are cleaning the tank. Keep an eye out for a change in any fish's physical appearance, habits, and temperament. If one of your fish appears sick, move it immediately to a quarantine tank to prevent the other fish from becoming sick as well.

    • 8

      Clean out your tank's skimmer cup. Dump the cup's contents back into the tank, rinse the cup and return it to its original location. Do this twice as often as you clean your tank.

    • 9

      Replace any evaporated water whenever you notice a change in your tank's water level. Because water leaves behind salt particles when it evaporates, you should use fresh water any time you refill the tank between cleanings.

    • 10

      Test your tank's salinity, nitrites, ammonia and pH levels weekly. Add any necessary chemicals to keep your tank at the recommended levels.