Tips on Aquarium Care and Cleaning
November 5th, 2009 | 
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The proper care and cleaning of your aquarium is the most important, yet most overlooked aspect of owning an aquarium. By avoiding the care and maintenance of a fish tank, not only will it lose the visual appeal, but your fish will be unhealthy and unhappy. By following a daily, weekly and monthly care program, you will maintain a beautiful, clean and healthy aquarium.
Daily Cleaning Routine
To maintain a clean aquarium, there are some daily tasks that must be done. First and foremost, it’s important to check the temperature of the tank and make sure it stays consistent. For tropical freshwater fish, the temperature should average at around 77 degrees. Too much heat in your aquarium will promote the growth of algae. Always check for sick or dead fish daily. If you have a sick fish, it should be removed from the tank immediately or it may harm the other inhabitants of the aquarium. Lastly, check that the pump and filter are functioning properly.
Weekly Cleaning Routine
Weekly maintenance is necessary to keep the tank healthy. On a weekly basis, any waste should be removed from the surface of the gravel at the bottom of the tank. Using a siphon tube will accomplish this. If water is removed during this process, be sure to replace it and keep the water in the tank at the same level. Add chemicals and chlorine weekly so the balance within the tank remains the same. At this time, it is best to test the water for the ammonia and nitrate levels. Don’t overlook testing the pH of the water as well. If you are raising live plants, tend to them each week. Trim them back if they are getting too big, and remove any dead or sick leaves. Re-anchor and new sprouts into your gravel. Also, check your tank for snails. You can remove snails by floating a piece of lettuce leaf in the tank. The snails will be attracted to the lettuce, and you can remove them using a net.
Monthly Cleaning Routine
Finally, some monthly steps will assure that your aquarium stays clean and healthy. A partial water change should be performed each month. Using a siphon hose, remove 20 to 25 percent of the water from the tank. Always make sure that your chemical balance is correct. High levels of chlorine and ammonia will cause death. Cleaning the filter should be a monthly task as well as changing the filter cartridge. Be sure not to clean the filter too thoroughly as it contains helpful bacteria that aids in stabilizing the chemical balance in the tank. During the monthly cleaning, scrape and remove all algae from the surface of the tank. If you find you are having a significant amount of algae, consider adding an algae eater to the tank. Should you already have one, be sure to keep an eye on the temperature of the tank and you may also want to limit the time in which a light is used. Any increased heat source will speed up the production of algae inside the aquarium. If your tank is located in direct sunlight and you are having an algae problem, it is best to relocate the tank.
By following a maintenance schedule, you will be sure to keep a clean, clear and healthy tank. Aquarium care is essential and must be performed regularly to ensure the long and happy life of your fish. Provide yourself with an aquarium to be proud of by keeping up with the care and cleaning.
Li Ming Wong
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any tips for taking care of a turtle?
on friday, i am getting a pet turtle. one of those little ones that climb on the logs and stay in an aquarium. any tips for taking care of it? what do they eat? how to clean the cage? how often do i clean the cage? what all do i need besides an aquarium and foood? any other answers would be enjoyed. thnx =)
Provide your turtle with an appropriate place to live. A large aquarium that can hold at least 40 gallons of water is ideal for those who live in cooler climates. A baby wading pool can be used outside for a turtle in warmers areas.
Recreate a turtle’s natural habitat in the tank or wading pool. Use rocks or logs to make an area for the turtle to climb onto that is completely out of the water. Avoid using small wood chips, because the turtle may end up eating them.
Take care of a turtle by making sure it is warm enough in its home. Water temperatures for turtles should range between 75 and 85 degrees F. Pet stores such as PetSmart carry a variety of heaters and heated lights that you can install in the aquarium (see Resources below).
Feed your turtle a nutritious diet three times a week (babies will need to eat every day). Turtles eat raw meat, worms and sometimes bananas, but you can also buy food sticks and other prepared reptile foods at pet stores such as Petco (see Resources below). Turtles usually feed only when the food is put directly into the water.
Clean your turtle’s tank on a regular basis, putting the turtle into a smaller tank or other holding area like a bathtub while you are cleaning. Use a scrub brush with water to rid the tank of any slime and add 1/4 cup salt for every 5 gallons of water to prevent fungus growth. Remove food from the tank as soon as the turtle no longer seems interested in eating to control the growth of bacteria.
monitor your turtle to make sure he is healthy. If your turtle has white spots on his shell or limbs, he may have a fungal infection that needs treatment. Swollen eyes and a soft shell can indicate malnutrition. Remove a sick turtle from the tank if you have other healthy turtles living with him.
Locate a veterinarian who can take care of your turtle when needed. The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) has a resource guide on their website that is arranged by state . A reptilian vet can prescribe anti-fungal medications and suggest a healthy diet for your turtle.
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just make sure his tank is clean he is fed and maybe take him or her in the grass and let him run around for awhile or fill up a baby pool with water and let him swim around but keep a close eye on him
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had a turtle before
"One of those little ones?" You don’t know what species you’re getting?
Well, the most common aquatic turtles purchased as pets are Red Eared Sliders… keep in mind that these turtles grow up if taken care of correctly… males reach about nine inches and females reach about a foot long… general rule of thumb is 10 gallons of water per inch of carapace (top shell) length… I personally wouldn’t start a turtle out in anything less than a 20 gallon… the longer you can go between tank upgrades the better, so just get the biggest tank you can.
Basking area… it needs to be able to get completely out of the water…
Above the basking area, you will need a heat lamp… if they can’t reach their optimum body temperature, they won’t be able to properly digest their food…
UVB light… without exposure to UVB, they are unable to produce vitamin D3, without D3, they can’t probably metabolize calcium, which will eventually lead to a soft and/or misshappen shell and a long, painful, horrible death.
Filter… this will save you a lot of work… get a filter rated for at least twice the water volume it will be filtering… you will still need to clean the filter medium on a regular basis and do water changes as needed…
Diet: pelleted turtle food should only be about a quarter of their total diet… feeder fish (avoid goldfish if possible, high in fat and they can throw off thiamine levels), grass shrimp, blood worms, crickets, meal worms, various veggies and fruits, NO processed people foods… NO dairy…
Depending on how cool your house is, you may even need a water heater for the tank…
If you do everything right, not only will you have a 8 to 12 inch animal that is nowhere near as cute as it was when you first bought it, but you’ll have it for 25 – 30 years or more… take a look at this for more information: http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-red_ear_slider.htm and consider whether you will still want it in 10 or 15 years before you get it. They’re more work and maintenance than people like to think.
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