For anyone who's ever wanted a pet, keeping fish in an aquarium is probably the easiest way to start. They don't take up much space and they don't need walks every day.
It's important to understand that there are a few basic steps you should take to care for the fish once you have setup and established your tank. Some things need to be done daily and some things only need to be done weekly or once ever two weeks. If you do a little bit of maintenance of your aquarium every day, the time required is fairly minimal.
Check the fish daily - make sure they look healthy and happy. Silly as it sounds one of the main causes of sickness in fish is stress and you can tell when they're stressed because their behaviour changes. So, just like with dogs, cats and even humans, a happy fish tends to be a healthy fish. Check the filters and lights are plugged in and working correctly. You can feed the fish daily, although if you ever have to miss a day it shouldn't matter too much. And try to feed just enough to be eaten in the first minute or two - the fish won't generally hang about. Leftover food just ends up becoming debris in the tank and that can lead to illness or excessive nitrite levels, which are poisonous. Also check the water ph and temperature at least weekly. If you do need to make any adjustments do so promptly. If you're unsure, you can always check at your local livestock store when buying fish to find out the appropriate levels because they do vary amongst the different fish species.
downloadable beginner's guide to aquarium care
Of course it's important to clean your filter regularly. Your filter collects the waste products excreted by the fish in addition to uneaten food. Eventually the filters may clog with debris and at that point they just won't do their job properly until you cleam them. Always follow the instructions for cleaning your filter and be particuarly careful if your filter has a removable impeller - they can be easy to break.
As well as filtering and eliminating waste, filters also somtimes do double duty act as an aeration device cycling oxygen in the tank. So if the filters are clogged then naturally the circulation slows and that reduces the level of oxygen in the tank. If not remedied this could be deadly for your fish. Change the filter sponge or material on the aquarium every two to three weeks depending on need. It will be obvious when it needs cleaning because the water will become cloudy or smelly. Some filters need to be replaced, while other simply need to be rinsed with tank water. Always follow the instructions for your model - economy in this regard can end up with dead fish in your tank.
The proper way to change water in a tank is to do it gradually. Unplug any lights and equipment before you start to clean the aquarium. Aim for a water change between 15% and 30% change in the aquarium every one to two weeks, depending on conditions in your tank. Tap water should ideally be treated before being added to the tank, both for temperature and ph levels. Your local retailer can usually offer you advice about local water conditions and what treatments you might need. Some treatments allow the tap water to be ready in as little as an hour, while others need to sit overnight before being added to the tank.
Clean algae from the sides of the tank with a scrubber but be careful not to disturb or scare the fish. It helps to move rocks and decorations to loosen any debris, which you should try collect when removing the water, either with a bucket or a vacuum type of siphon. If you have any aquatic plants in the aquarium be sure to prune any dead leaves. The outside of the tank can be cleaed with a squeegee and clean tap water to give you the best view of your fish. Do not use normal household chemicals to clean the outside of the tank - if necessary buy a special aquarium glass detergent, for use on the outside of the tank only. Don't forget to clean the cover and lid if you have one. Finally = and it takes longer to read about it than to to do it - plug the aquarium equipment back in and enjoy the fruits of all your hard work - a freshly cleaned tank.