Fish Tank Maintenance Guide

A healthy tank is mostly about consistency — a little regular maintenance prevents almost every common fish-keeping problem.

Weekly Tasks

• Change 10–15% of the water, matched to room temperature
• Wipe algae off the glass
• Check the filter for visible clogging
• Observe fish for unusual behaviour or markings

Monthly Tasks

• Rinse filter media in removed tank water (never tap water — it kills beneficial bacteria)
• Vacuum gravel to remove waste build-up
• Test water parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH)

Water Quality Basics

Ammonia and nitrite should always read zero in an established tank — any reading above that means something is off, usually overfeeding or an overloaded filter. Nitrate should stay low through regular water changes.

Feeding

Feed only what fish can finish in 2-3 minutes, once or twice a day. Overfeeding is the single biggest cause of poor water quality and sick fish.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Changing 100% of the water at once — this shocks fish and resets the tank's beneficial bacteria
• Cleaning the filter under tap water
• Adding new fish without acclimating them to the tank's temperature first
• Overstocking the tank for its size