How to Keep a Fish Tank or Aquarium

A fish tank is not only a place to keep your fish. It can also be a place where you create an artistic environment in which your fish will live. Once you have created that environment, maintain it well to keep your fish healthy and keep the tank looking nice. You cannot simply put the fish in some water and feed them every now and then. Specific things must be done to maintain your tank.

Things You'll Need

  • Tank decor items
  • Fish filter
  • Dechlorinator
  • Aerator
  • Gravel vacuum
  • Algae pad
  • Fish food
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Clean thoroughly, with soap, all decorations you are adding to the tank, rinsing off all soap residue. This includes the gravel, plants and rocks. Chemicals from the manufacturing of these materials can damage the fish in the tank.

    • 2

      Add two or three dechlorinator drops per gallon of water in your tank. This removes chemicals in the water that can be harmful to your fish.

    • 3

      Install a filter on the tank to help filter out the fish waste and other debris that may be floating in the tank. This filter helps keep the fish healthy.

    • 4

      Attach an aerator pump to the tank and place an aerator wand beneath the gravel or an aerator decoration on the bottom of the tank. This aerates the water and helps provide the fish with oxygen.

    • 5

      Place a fish tank thermometer and tank heater into the fish tank to maintain the correct temperature. Tropical fish require water to be around 78 degrees F.

    • 6

      Feed the fish only as much food as they can eat within a couple of minutes. Experiment to determine the correct amount. Excess food causes more work for the filter and can increase algae growth.

    • 7

      Clean the tank once a week or once every other week with an algae pad and gravel vacuum. Algae pads come either on a stick or in a two-piece set that sticks together with magnets. Rub the pad on the inside of the glass to remove algae growth that is on the glass. Suck water into the gravel vacuum by sucking on the end of the tube or use a siphon tube. Be careful not to get any of the tank water into your mouth. Place the end into an empty bucket and run the vacuum through all of the gravel to remove debris and algae.

    • 8

      Replace the water you have removed with fresh water, adding a drop or two of dechlorinator for each gallon you are replacing. Use water that is close to the tank temperature to avoid shocking the fish.

    • 9

      Replace the filter cartridge whenever you notice that the filter is no longer doing a good job of keeping the water clear.