A well maintained aquarium is not only a fantastic way to enjoy fish and other aquatic pets, but can also be a stunning feature in any home. There are really no limits to how you design your aquarium and the vivid colors of tropical fish, aquatic plants and coral can be striking. Unfortunately, when aquariums are not cleaned regularly or correctly, they can become very dirty very fast. By maintaining regular cleaning habits, as well as how often you will need to clean, the scale of the job required are both reduced. Effective aquarium maintenance is very important, but does not have to be a giant task. Even large aquariums are easier to clean than you might think, as long as you know how to do it properly. There are many tools available that will help you keep your aquarium a clean and healthy environment. 

Here are five things you need to keep your aquarium clean.

Filter

Fish, turtles and other aquatic animals produce a large amount of waste which can quickly make the water in an aquarium extremely dirty. Other than excrement, uneaten food or bits of aquatic plants can also contribute to the problem. Not only does dirty water smell bad, but it is also an unhealthy environment for your pets and plants. It is vital that water cleanliness is maintained and the best way to do that is to install a filter. We came across these choices after a quick online search, all of which are designed to remove the waste products excreted by fish, as well as uneaten bits of food and other debris. This ensures that the water stays clear and untainted. The water volume of your aquarium as well as the species and population sizes of animals and plants will dictate what size of filter is required. With thousands of different filters available it is easy to find the right one for you.

To learn more about keeping your water clear and to help avoid cloudy water, visit FishLab.com.

Nets

Another useful piece of kit for keeping your aquarium clean is a quality net which can be used for removing fish, bits of coral and larger bits of debris from the water. The mesh of the net is very important as it must be soft enough so as not to injure fish when they are being removed, but also strong enough to pick up bits of gravel or chunks of broken coral. When choosing a net, look for one that has a long telescopic handle. This will allow you to reach the bottom of the aquarium without submerging your hands or wrists, which will not only keep you clean and dry but will stop you introducing any unwanted oils or chemicals from the surface of your skin into the water. A good quality net will only cost a few dollars, but is always a solid investment. You can find nets and other cleaning supplies and tanks at the Aquarium Store Depot.

Aquatic Plants

As well as looking fantastic, Aquatic plants provide a great many benefits to the upkeep of aquarium health. They absorb nitrates, act as an organic filter by processing decaying matter and waste excreted by fish, and prevent the growth of algae. Algae is an issue for many aquarium owners as it can be a particularly relentless and resilient pest. Algae requires the same nutrients as aquatic plants so with the right plants in your aquarium it is possible to limit the algae’s intake. Make sure you do your homework and find out the best species of plants for preventing the growth of algae and they will become a useful ally in keeping your aquarium clean.

Algae scraper

It is extremely unlikely that your aquatic plants will be able to stop all algae growth so a quality algae scraper is needed to remove that which does grow. Algae scrapers, as their name suggests, allow you to scrape algae from the inside of your tank without damaging the tank as well as from your ornaments and the plants themselves. Again, try to purchase one with a telescopic handle or better still, one which comes with a variety of different attachments. There are loads of very cheap five-in-one and six-in-one tools that can be customized into algae scrapers, leaf clippers and gravel shovels.

A clean aquarium is a healthy aquarium and so if you want your pets and plants to flourish, it is so important to maintain the cleanliness of your tanks. The best method is to stay on top of it all the time and the equipment listed in this article will help you do that. A small investment in these key things will make it a really easy task to keep your tank water sparkling and your aquatic friends happy.

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