How to Keep Fish Tanks Healthy

Dechlorinate any tap water you use before introducing it to the tank. The chlorine found in all tap water is harmful to the fish. Dechlorinating solution can be purchased at the pet store and should be used each time you add water to the tank. If you can't get to the pet store, you can dechlorinate water by putting it in a large bucket and letting it sit for about 24 hour hours. The chlorine will dissipate.

Stock your tank with the appropriate number of fish. An overstocked aquarium will stress your fish and invite disease. It was also be markedly more difficult to maintain because of the amount of waste produced by the fish. The rule of thumb for the number of fish in a tank is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water. However, remember that any fish you buy will grow, so learn about the species and how big they are likely to get.

Employ a high-quality filter. The quality of the filter dictates how clean your tank is and how often you will physically need to clean the tank. An under-gravel filter hides beneath the gravel at the bottom of the tank, while other filters attach to the outside of the tank and filter from the top. Use a filter that utilizes mechanical, chemical and biological filtration methods. Mechanical filtration is the act of drawing water through a filter medium that removes debris. Chemical filtration uses activated charcoal that will neutralize undesirable micro-organisms. Biological filtration allows for the growth of "good" bacteria that will eliminate ammonia caused by decaying uneaten food and fish waste.

Cycle a new tank prior to adding fish. Tank cycling requires just two or three fish to get started. Choose fish that are hardy and can survive more easily. Operate the tank with these fish for three to four weeks. This time allows the water to become balanced chemically to be able to support more fish. Daily water changes of 10 to 15 percent of the tank capacity are necessary during cycling.

Change out 10 to 15 percent of the water once a week. After you have cycled your aquarium, change the water at least once a week to keep the water fresh. This will also prevent too much algae from building up.

Provide places for the fish to hide. Fish do not like to remain out in the open and will become stressed if there is no refuge. Place various sized rocks and plants (real or artificial) throughout the tank. Pet stores offer an array of plastic caves and cliffs you can consider as well, which will also add to the aesthetics of your tank. Some fish will dig into the gravel if they do not have a place to hide, which can stir up debris from the bottom and cloud the water.

Feed the fish the proper amount of food. This takes a little trial and error. Watch the fish the first few times you feed them and keep track of how long it takes them to eat the food you give them. Also note if they leave any flakes untouched. Adjust your feeding the next time until the fish consume all of the flakes within a few minutes. Overfeeding is the most common mistake fish owners make. It will cloud the water and threaten to unbalance the water chemicals.

Infuse the water with oxygen. Plug in an air pump outside of the tank and run an air hose into the tank. Bury the hose beneath the rocks and attack it to either an air stone available at pet stores or to a decorative sculpture that requires air to operate. For smaller tanks, the movement created by the filtration system system is often enough to aerate the water. If you find your fish are staying near the surface of the water, it may be they are oxygen-deprived.

Light your tank for 10 to 12 hours a day. Too much light encourages the growth of algae. Use a bulb that offers 3 watts per gallon. Remember to set your tank up away from windows and direct sunlight.

Clean the algae from the tank regularly. Filters will not get rid of the algae in a tank. A siphon hose cleans the gravel on the bottom of a tank. Magnetic scrubbers are best used to clean algae from the walls of the tanks. These scrubbers have two parts: one goes in the water to clean the side of the tank and the other is held on the outside to guide the inside piece. Remove any plants and wash them in the sink with warm, mildly soapy water. Rinse very well before replacing the plants.