Keeping an aquarium is one of the most rewarding experiences you might ever have. While fish aren’t the kind of pet that you can snuggle up with on the sofa while you watch a scary flick, there are definite advantages to keeping a fish tank in your home.

It has been shown that keeping fish can reduce stress, help you sleep, improve your blood pressure and heart rate, and can help you be more productive. If all of these assets have peaked your interest in keeping an aquarium then keep reading. While it may seem overwhelming, starting out with a freshwater tank can be simple.

Here are the Ways Take Care Freshwater Aquatic Life

Do Your Research

By reading this article you have already begun your journey toward fish ownership. While research may seem daunting to some, what is more disheartening is to purchase the wrong supplies and having to turn around and return them.

For example, depending on the type of tank you purchase, you need to get the right filtration system. You want something where power and versatility is very high if you decide on a larger tank. So know what you want before you buy it.

This Goes For the Fish Too

There is no denying that the occupants of our fish tanks are the single most important thing in there so we want to make sure they are well taken care of. The best way to do this is to know your expertise level when it comes to keeping fish and buy them accordingly.

Some species are more delicate than others so go with something simple if you are a beginner like a couple of goldfish or angelfish, which are one of the most popular species for home aquariums. The reason for that might be that they are fairly easy to care for.

Cycle Your Tank

To “cycle a tank” means to make sure the conditions of the water are perfect so your new friends have the perfect home in which to live. Look at it from a human perspective. What if the air in your home began to fill with carbon monoxide? We would slowly die. And if the compounds in the water aren’t right, so can your fish.

Growing healthy microorganisms in the tank is how to cycle your tank and these microorganisms will help break down their waste in their little ecosystem and keep it safe for them to live. This step must be done in the preparation stage and then you move your fish in when the water is ready. DO NOT do this when fish are in the tank or you can kill them.

Test The Waters

The phrase to “test the waters” has been used for so many things. Why should it be any different for the fish who are going to live in this tank? When I get into a swimming pool I always stick my foot in to make sure the water is good, so our pets deserve the same care.

All you need to do is purchase a water testing kit and use it according to the directions. Get a kit that will check the levels of ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, and also the pH. In small amounts these compounds are fine but, after time, they can build up and threaten the life of your pets.

Change That Water

When it comes to keeping the water levels safe for your pets there are several ways to do this. There are products you can purchase that will keep the levels of chemicals in your tanks healthy for your fish, but natural is better for everyone, including your fish.

So, removing a third of your tank weekly and replacing it with fresh water will prolong the life of your friends.

Don’t Overfeed

If you have ever won a goldfish at a fair or festival in a contest then you might know what it’s like to lose them shortly after you’ve won. Some of the fish died on their own but others, unfortunately, have met their untimely ends due to eating too much.

When you put too much food in the tank there are all kinds of issues that can arise. It can cause disease, cause chemicals to spike in the tank, and can promote pest snail and algae growth.

Lighting

As we already mentioned, algae growth can be an issue in home tanks. Just like all plant sources algae needs light to live so the less light the less algae will grow in your tank. But you want to see your fish and the lighting can be the most fun. So you should find a happy medium.

It’s called “light management” and you have to adopt it if you are going to keep an aquarium otherwise you will have an overgrowth of difficult algae. The ideal time is no longer than twelve hours a day.

The twist to this if you plan on putting plants in your tank then you will definitely need no less than twelve hours of light to keep them alive. This is why they call it “managing” light, because it takes care and consistency.

Conclusion

Keeping fish isn’t easy but if you start out with these handy tips for easy care then you should become an expert in no time. You’ll get so good you might want to to start a blog about keeping freshwater fish. Either way, with all the extra work that goes into keeping a nice environment for your fish to live, it is well worth it when you consider the benefits to your life.