Basics In Tropical Fish Care

Giving you tips on how to take care of every single one of the 20,000 fish that are out there would be impossible. But I can give you basic tips on taking care of an aquarium. While animals are usually protected by their coat, fish don't have that option. That's why they need the temperature of the water to be just right for them. If the temperature is high, the supply of the oxygen is minimized. If it's low, then their health can be affected.

When you bought your aquarium, you probably got a brochure or a manual with instructions. Read it carefully, as you risk the health or life of your fish if you don't take care of them properly. For example, goldfish need 75F to be their water temperature. Tropical fish will need the temperature to be a bit higher.

A thermometer probably came with the aquarium you bought, and you should pay attention to it. Each type of fish needs a certain water temperature, so get this information when you buy the fish.

Measuring the water The pH is the term that shows you how sour the water is. The pH level that you need depends on the type of fish you own. A fish that needs saltwater will mean a pH between 7.8 and 8.3. A fish that needs freshwater will mean a pH between 6.8 and 7.2.

You should monitor those pH levels on a regular basis: A low water temperature means that the growth of the bacteria denitrifying can be affected, and the same goes for the fish gills. Test kits are available for purchase, if you want to measure the pH levels.

Oxygen quantities needed by fish: Humans, land animals and fish need oxygen in order to survive. If there isn't enough, the brain dies and the same thing happens to the body. The oxygen from the aquarium comes both from the water and the air. If you want an increased oxygen level, you can use pumps to do it. Another option would be to keep the water temperature lower, as the oxygen supply is augmented.

Measuring gravity: The gravity level in this case shows you how many chemicals are inside the water. If the water is unadulterated, then the gravity level in ionic is 1.0. For a saltwater fish, the level of the gravity should be 1.023 at most (1.017 would be best for their health). If you have freshwater fish in your aquarium, a small amount of salt can help them with the stress level. The gravity level can be maintained with the help of test kits and refractometers.

How to keep saltwater fish in your aquarium: This is a bit of a problem for many people. Because these fish usually leave in a marine environment, they are used with constant changes. The aquarium type you chose is also important for these fish. A bigger aquarium makes it easier for you to keep a stable environment for your saltwater fish.