| ign="center"> | | | | have places to hide). Use a cleaner/vacuum to |
| Aquarium maintenance or aquarium cleaning is vital | | | | clean the base of the tank as food and plant |
| to maintain a healthy fish aquarium. Done properly | | | | debris can lodge there. Remove the water and |
| it will create a wonderful living picture in your | | | | gauge this by the water level in the tank. Replace |
| home or business. Your tank fish live in the | | | | the water with a bucket or a pump. Ideally the |
| controlled environment of your freshwater | | | | temperature of the water you put into the tank |
| aquarium and you need to control that | | | | should be as close as possible to the water |
| environment to keep them happy and healthy. | | | | temperature in the tank to reduce stress on the |
| Tank maintenance is a process so it’s | | | | fish.if you have chlorine or chloromine in your |
| good practice every time you feed the fish, take | | | | water supply you will need to add de-chlorinator |
| a moment to check the overall appearance and | | | | before you put it in the tank. Generally it’s |
| condition of the tank and check whether any fish | | | | a good idea to test the water weekly. The key |
| are swimming oddly, not eating or have spots or | | | | parameters are pH and nitrates. pH between 6.5 |
| blotches. | | | | — 6.9 is suitable for most species as at |
| As a professional aquarium cleaner and installer I | | | | that level ammonia becomes ammonium and is no |
| know that regular changes are a critical aspect of | | | | longer toxic to the fish. Nitrates should be kept |
| maintaining good water quality and a healthy fish | | | | below 30 ppm. |
| aquarium. You should do a partial water change | | | | Finally replace the artificial plants and decorations, |
| — say 25% to 30% every four weeks. At | | | | reconnect the filters, power heads and the heater |
| the same time clean the gravel, clean the sides of | | | | and you should have a clean fish aquarium. It |
| algae, change the filter media and test for water | | | | takes some practice to do this quickly but the |
| quality. You want to keep the water chemistry as | | | | reward is a thriving fish or pet aquarium that is |
| stable as possible. Contaminants such as nitrates | | | | truly a living picture. |
| and bits of food, leaves and fish waste can stress | | | | Fish Works was founded in 1990 based on a love |
| fish and affect their health. | | | | of aquariums, fish & creating living pictures |
| To perform aquarium maintenance disconnect the | | | | for clients and specializes in aquarium maintenance, |
| electrical heaters, power heads and filters. Leave | | | | aquarium cleaning & custom aquariums. All |
| the air pump running. Replace the filter media. | | | | personnel have extensive experience in the care, |
| Remove any artificial plants but leave the live | | | | health & compatibility of tank fish & marine life in |
| ones. Take out and clean any dirty accessories or | | | | freshwater & salt water aquariums. |
| decorations in the tank (leave some so the fish | | | | Contact R. |