Three Super Aquarium Care Hacks

After starting the aquarium, you need to be patient, it should develop good bacteria in sufficient numbers, this will take time. Until the biological balance is established in the aquadome, there may be increased values ​​of nitrogenous compounds in it. When the water indicators become stable, this will mean that the aquarium is ready to accept its first inhabitants.

But even here the aquarist faces difficulties. Food uneaten by the fish, their metabolic products appear in the tank, the plants partially die off. The beneficial bacteria living in the aquarium cope with the task of disposing of this waste, the waste turns into nitrates and phosphates. Their concentration should remain minimal, this must be monitored, otherwise all this threatens the growth of algae and the poisoning of fish. Some organic compounds settle on the ground in the form of silt. In order not to let everything take its course, you should regularly clean the aquarium. 

Soil siphoning, glass cleaning inside and out, cutting aquarium plants, decor cleaning, water changes – all this will help keep the aquarium in excellent condition.

And with this you will be helped by a set of modern products for the care of the aquarium at home. With them, you can clean up the aquarium more efficiently and do it less often. 

• Stock up on Tetra Test 6in1 test strips for monitoring water parameters, so you can quickly find out if the situation in the aquarium is normal. 
• A Tetra AquaSafe conditioner will definitely be needed to prepare fresh water for adding to the aquarium. It’s simple: bring cold tap water with boiling water to the desired temperature and add air conditioning, calculating its amount in accordance with the instructions.
• Stock up on preparations with ready-made bacterial culture: Tetra FilterActive and Bactozym. Capsules can be added to the filter, and liquid containing bacteria can be added directly to the water. So beneficial bacteria will quickly begin to fight for bio-balance in the aquarium, deal with the silt at the bottom. 

Such a set of aquarium care products is perfect for an aquarium with a small amount of underwater flora, or even without living plants at all, as well as with a population density of fish within the normal range.

Why did we pay attention to the number of fish in the aquarium? Because an overcrowded aquarium will always suffer from an excess of waste, and the fish will be in a state of stress due to the lack of opportunity to choose their own quiet corner. So if you follow all the care recommendations, use the necessary products, and the underwater kingdom does not look well-groomed and clean, it may be time to move some fish to another aquarium. If your aquarium is not overcrowded, move on to the issue of partial water changes.

Check water quality with a test strip or use drop tests. Pay special attention to the indicators of nitrites (NO2) and nitrates (NO3). The nitrite level should be zero, and the nitrate level should remain within 50 mg per liter. The presence of nitrite means the instability of the biosystem. If you have started the aquarium for a long time, then it may be an excess of fish food, an insufficiently powerful filter, insufficient aeration.

Elevated nitrate levels indicate the need for a partial water change. Change up to a third of the water in the aquarium two to three times a week until the levels return to normal. Do not lose sight of other indicators, the main rule in keeping an aquarium is to maintain balance.

If the test showed that the water quality in the aquarium is normal, then you are taking excellent care of the aquarium and its inhabitants. Add a Tetra AquaSafe water conditioner to your aquarium to improve water quality. Such a product requires very little, about 5 ml per 20 liters of water. The drug reduces the amount of nitrates and phosphates, normalizes the acidity of water, adds vitamins and minerals necessary for plants and fish to the aquarium. During the first days after using the product, the water in the aquadome may be slightly whitish. The advantage is that with an air conditioner to improve the quality of the water in the aquarium, you can do water changes much less often.

Even if your aquarium does not need water changes, remember that no one has canceled the evaporation of water from the surface. Add water when you notice that its level has become slightly lower than usual. Be sure to prepare water using a conditioner.

About once a month, the filter sponge should be cleaned or replaced. After cleaning the filter, soil siphon, water change, add a biostarter containing a culture of nitrifier bacteria and bacilli. This will restore the number of beneficial bacteria and contribute to the decomposition of complex organic matter. You will forget about the silt at the bottom of the aquarium and the dirty filter for a long time. There are also preparations that can be called a nutrient medium to restore the number of beneficial bacteria on the filter sponge. This tool is also worth having on hand.

Doing a daily water quality test will help you not miss the moment when you really need to clean the aquarium. Trim the plants, clean the decorations with a fresh toothbrush, wipe the glass with a sponge. Clean the bottom thoroughly with a siphon. Wash the filter sponge or change the filter cartridge. Drain about a third of the aquarium water through the tube.

Add Tetra AquaSafe Conditioner to the change water. It not only neutralizes tap water impurities harmful to fish, but also saturates the water with vitamins. Add Tetra FilterActive liquid bacterial culture to the water. Prepared water can be poured into the aquarium.

Using modern tricks and the latest aquarium care products will help you make your water change and cleaning schedule more convenient for you. Serious work to maintain the beauty and healthy environment of the aquarium will need to be done about once every two months or even less often. But the water in your aquarium will remain of high quality and safe for the fish.