Basics of Aquarium Management

by Kent Turner

An aquarium is much more than just a glass cage with water and fish. It is a fragile microhabitat where fish, plants, invertebrates, and microorganisms live together in a delicate balance. In a properly functioning aquarium, these organisms support and depend on each other to maintain a habitable environment. If this balance is disturbed, the result can be a break-down that can cause the animals to suffer or die. Such disturbances can be caused by many factors, such as:

• Too much or too little food
• Inadequate or improper maintenance
• Incorrect or fluctuating temperature
• Residual pesticides or other chemicals in or near the aquarium
• Stressful environment (lights on 24 hr., noise around tank, etc.)
• Introduction of parasites or other disease
• Incompatible tankmates

Some guidelines to help avoid these problems are:

• Follow a feeding regimen. Don’t fall for the temptation to overfeed. This is a very common mistake. Fish always look hungry, but too much food will cause water quality problems. There should be no uneaten food left in the tank after 3 or 4 minutes after feeding.
• Maintenance should be performed regularly by a knowledgeable person. It should never be procrastinated, or the fish will suffer. Most of the harmful elements of poor water are invisible, so don’t use the appearance of the tank as a guide to when maintenance is needed.
• Be sure the tank is located in an area that avoids extremes in temperature or fluctuations in temperature, such as windows, doors, heater or air conditioning vents, etc. Also, purchase a good quality heater and thermometer. Cheap heaters will eventually malfunction, either by sticking in the "ON" position, cooking all your fish to death, or in the "OFF" position, allowing them to die from chill. Many people tend to skimp on the heater, but a quality heater is worth the cost in the long run.
• When cleaning aquarium glass and equipment, use clean, warm water. Never use any detergents or spray cleaners, or any pads, rags, or sponges that have ever been used with any chemicals or soaps in the past. Even chemicals marketed as "aquarium safe" have often been mislabled by unscrupulous sales people. Avoid spraying any aerosols near a tank, and never fumigate a room with an aquarium in it. For water changes, use a bucket that is used only for that purpose; one that has never been used to hold paint, cleaners, or other chemicals. Even trace amounts of many chemicals can kill all the fish in your tank. Be certain that any decorations in the tank are of a suitable material before addition to the aquarium. Many rocks, shells, and driftwood, etc. can leach harmful chemicals into the tank or will rot there. If in doubt, leave it out!
• Most fish don’t tolerate loud noise very well, so keep the tank positioned away from loud stereo or TV speakers or other noise sources. Also, some fish are shy and should be kept away from extremely busy locations. Putting an aquarium in a brightly lit area can also cause an excessive growth of algae. Lights should be left on for ten to fourteen hours a day, and the fish should have a period of darkness to rest.
• To avoid adding parasites and diseases, always quarantine new fish in an isolation tank for two weeks before adding to the main tank. Purchase only fish that are healthy and show no signs of stress and disease. The fish should look well fed. Avoid buying fish from any store with sick fish, unless they show that they are quarantined. If they are willing to sell fish from a tank with sick fish, go elsewhere. Avoid feeding live food of questionable origin or quality. If your fish do become sick, use medication only according to the directions of a knowledgeable professional. Treating incorrectly can cause many more problems. A word of caution; while many store owners are honest and knowledgeable, others will try to sell unnecessary treatments either because they don’t know better or because they wish to make a dollar. In most cases, medication isn’t even required; the fish can often be cured by other means such as changing the water temperature, etc. Never use chemicals designed to eliminate algae, snails, etc. These products are not safe for aquariums as they advertise.
• Compatibility encompasses many different factors. Before adding any fish or invertebrate, here are a few things to check for:

• Be sure that the new addition is not predatory towards your other tank inhabitants. This sounds obvious, but it is a common mistake. Sometimes it is difficult to tell, for it may look perfectly harmless. Research is important here to be sure that not only will it not make a meal out of the current residents, but that it will not become a meal! Also, even if it is too small to devour a fish altogether, some fish are known as "fin nippers", and will tear holes in a fish’s fins and scales, killing it slowly.
• Check the size of the animal as an adult. Many fish are sold when young and colorful; before they grow into large, aggressive behemoths!
• If the tank is a community tank, check to see that the fish requires the same water conditions, such as pH, hardness and temperature.
• If you have plants, make sure it will not eat them.
• Be certain that there is enough capacity for it in your tank. Overcrowding is an easy and common mistake to make.