How Many Times Should I Change My Fish Tank Water

A new fish tank is exciting stuff! In the showtime two months after setting upwards your new aquarium yous are likely to come across your tank become through a lot of changes, virtually are natural merely some changes may exist signs of trouble. It's important to know which is which. It's going to have time for your new environment to find balance, simply by knowing what to expect in the first 60 days you lot'll be able to help information technology forth.

Aqueon Frameless 21 Aquarium

Your Aquarium: The Beginning 5 Days Later Setup:

Yous're going to be excited and anxious to fill your new aquarium with fish. Be patient! Let your aquarium "settle" for at least 48 hours earlier ownership your first fish. This will give you time to brand sure the temperature is gear up and brand adjustments to decorations, etc.
Unless you've already decided on what fish you want to put in your new aquarium, check the listing of suggested beginner fish beneath or consult your local aquatic practiced.
SUGGESTED STARTER AQUARIUM FISH:
Zebra, Leopard & Pearl Danios
Serpae Tetras
Harlequin Rasboras
White Cloud Minnows
Bloodfin Tetras
Cherry Barbs
Black Skirt Tetras
Bright Rasboras
Corydoras Catfish
Australian Rainbowfish
Bettas
Kuhli Loaches
Resist the temptation to add as well many fish at once! Your filter won't be able to process a lot of waste at first and this could cause harmful ammonia and nitrite to rise to unsafe levels.
Occasionally the water in a new aquarium will plow cloudy after you introduce the starting time fish. This is acquired by a bacterial "flower" and will articulate in a few days. These blooms are usually harmless to fish. Aqueon Water Clarifier will help speed up the process. Resist the want to do a water change! H2o changes, especially large ones will only prolong the bloom and may stress your fish.

Your Aquarium: 5 – 15 Days After Setup:

Your new fish may hide at first. They are probable stressed from being moved from the store and placed in a new surround. Brand sure you have plenty of embrace and hiding places to make them feel safe and secure. For particularly shy fish, leave the aquarium light off for a few days (if y'all do not have alive plants) until they starting time to come out and savor their new home.
Feed sparingly! A practiced rule of thumb is to feed only what the fish tin swallow in ii minutes or less. Feed once daily for now, until your tank goes through its outset cycle. Indications of overfeeding include food lying on the bottom after 5 minutes, cloudy water, foaming at the surface or an odor when you open up the aquarium chapeau.
Test your aquarium water for ammonia and nitrite. Even if you do everything right, these levels may begin to rise until the nitrifying bacteria in your filter grab up. Use Aqueon Ammonia Neutralizer, water changes or chemic filtration media to prevent them from reaching dangerous levels. If in doubt, consult your local aquatic adept for assistance.
Once ammonia and nitrite levels return to zero your aquarium has completed its first cycle. You may now innovate additional fish.

Your Aquarium: 15 – xxx Days Afterwards Setup:

Every bit ammonia is converted to nitrite and so nitrate, algae may begin to grow on the glass and other objects in the aquarium. This is normal and is an indication that the Nitrogen Cycle is established. Remove algae from the glass using a scrub pad or algae scraper. Never use a scrubber that has been used with soap or chemicals!
As long as ammonia and nitrite levels are at naught, you can continue calculation fish to the aquarium during this period. If algae has started to appear, introduce algae eating fish such every bit plecostomus, otocinclus, snails and other scavengers. If you lot don't want to add more than fish to your aquarium, try adding Aqueon Algae Remover to assistance continue algal blooms nether control.
Always test water before purchasing new fish, and only buy a few fish at a time. Expect at least a week between new fish additions. Consider buying a found or decoration with each fish purchase to give newcomers to the aquarium their ain place to call home.
Occasionally, fish that have become established in the aquarium volition deed aggressively towards new fish considering they consider the newcomers intruders to their "territory". This is especially true amid cichlids. Rearranging the aquarium and adding new decorations will oft calm this behavior by eliminating territorial boundaries.
Perform a 25% water change after 15 days. Remember to treat tap water with Aqueon H2o Conditioner before adding information technology to your aquarium. At that place are different philosophies on how much and how often to alter water, but 10% to 25% every ane to 2 weeks is a expert rule of thumb. Small frequent water changes are best. Don't vacuum the gravel notwithstanding, as you may disrupt the good leaner that are just starting to colonize your aquarium.
Bank check the cartridge(due south) in hang-on filters or mechanical filter media in canister filters and rinse solid waste off as needed. If the cartridge or cobweb pads seem particularly dirty, you might be overfeeding! Do not disturb biological media at this time.

Your Aquarium: thirty – 60 Days After Set Upwards:

Begin feeding twice daily, equally long as ammonia and nitrite levels remain at zero. Feed but what your fish tin can consume in ii minutes or less. It's okay to skip a feeding every few days. In fact, this is actually benign every bit it allows fish to clear their digestive systems.
Change the cartridge(due south) on hang-on filters or mechanical and chemical media (carbon, ammo-chips, etc) in canister filters after the start xxx days and then once a month thereafter.
Observe your fish closely, especially at feeding time. Get to know their behavior as they interact with each other and swim around the aquarium. Watch for rapid breathing, gasping at the surface, clamped fins, white spots on fins or bodies, scratching against objects, unusual beliefs, or external markings that weren't there before. Consult your local aquatic expert if y'all accept questions or concerns.

Yous have now gone past the get-go 60 days of owning an aquarium, we hope you lot go along with this calming and enjoyable hobby for many years to come up. Now it'due south fourth dimension to set up your next aquarium!