Want to start an aquarium: 5 tips for fish care for beginners

Fish make great pets. They are relatively easy to care for and don't require as much attention and time as dogs or cats, for example.

SSPDaily writes: "Aquarium fish do not need to be walked outdoors, trained, or taken to the vet for vaccinations. At the same time, their presence in the house has a positive effect on the psyche, and in general, it is an interesting and useful activity in terms of cognition."

And if you are a complete beginner in the aquarium business, here are 5 basic rules for caring for pet fish.

Create a natural environment for fish

Buy an aquarium of a suitable size and place it in a good place where it will not be exposed to direct sunlight to avoid algae growth.

For freshwater fish, add pebbles and artificial water movement to recreate the atmosphere of a river. In a saltwater aquarium, you can add sand to recreate an ocean environment.

You can also add blocks and artificial caves for fish to hide in.

Condition the water

Condition the water in your aquarium to create a healthy environment for your fish. To do this, buy a kit to measure pH, temperature, and chlorine concentration. Your fish will be able to fight off diseases naturally if the pH level of the water is within the normal range.

If you use tap water, expose it to the sun for 24 hours to reduce the amount of chlorine.

Keep your aquarium clean and organized

Remember to keep the aquarium clean and partially change the water at least once a month to avoid contamination of the water with pathogens.

How to clean an aquarium properly?

Transfer the fish to a separate container. Remove about ⅓ of the water and remove debris from the substrate with a suction pear. Condition the water again and then place the fish in it.

Plant algae and monitor the temperature

In the aquarium, you can keep live plants that increase the level of oxygen and nitrates removed from the water.

Java grass, hornwort, and water wisteria are some easy to care for plants for the beginner aquarist.

Adjust the water temperature depending on the type of fish and install an aqua heater to keep it constant.

Do not overfeed fish

To keep the aquarium clean, remove excess algae with a special brush.

Do not overfeed the fish, as food residues clog the filters, which will lead to the formation of ammonia and nitrite, and will also contribute to the overactive growth of algae.