It’s Smart To Be Proactive!

The best way to keep your aquarium clean is to maintain good water quality. This will keep your fish strong and vibrant, as well as preventing disease.

How Do I Maintain A Healthy Environment?

It is important to test your aquarium water weekly to verify good quality in addition to a bi-weekly partial water change of no more than 25% to help reduce toxic buildup, remove debris the filter missed, and replenish the oxygen available to fish.

How Do I Take Good Care Of My Aquarium?

Feed Your Fish Daily

Feed your fish twice daily only the amount of food they can eat in 2 to 3 minutes depending on the species. Some fish such as bottom feeders and algae eaters will need up to 30 minutes to 2 hours. Overfeeding & low quality nutrition cause unconsumed food and more excrement which cloud water and raise harmful ammonia levels, possibly leading to fish loss. Take time to observe fish and the water temperature to ensure they are active & healthy.

Test Water Quality Weekly

An aquarium is a closed environment and in order for fish to thrive, water must be similar to that which could be found in their natural environment. Poor water quality can cause fish stress, illness and even loss. The 5 common water quality parameters are Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, and pH - all of which may vary over time and all are invisible to the eye which is why it is important to test weekly with API MASTER TEST KITS or API 5-IN-1 TEST STRIPS. It is also a good time to add API STRESS ZYME to keep your aquarium & gravel clean.

Change 25% Water Every 2 Weeks

In a closed aquarium environment there are no natural rivers or streams to carry away debris and other waste materials. It is important to renew 25% of the aquarium water every two weeks. When you change the water, it is important to know that tap water contains chemicals that make it safe for us to drink but harmful for fish, therefore add a water conditioner such as API STRESS COAT.

Restore Your Ecosystem Monthly

It is important to change your filter media & clean gravel monthly, however in doing so it can disrupt the fragile ecosystem of your aquarium. Use API QUICK START to strengthen it with ‘beneficial’ nitrifying bacteria that will naturally consume toxic compounds and help prevent fish stress. Also recommended when starting a new aquarium or changing the water.