Saltwater Aquarium Care and Maintenance

We have gone though the beginners guide to saltwater aquarium and we have learnt how to set up your saltwater aquarium, next comes the critical maintenance and care of your saltwater aquarium.

First we need to set up a strict maintenance schedule for our saltwater fish and other inhabitants to thrive in your aquarium. By applying simple maintenance techinques our inhabitants will stay healthier and your saltwater aquarium’s physical environment will look cleaner.

A Proper and routine cleaning schedule is the key to success and is long term beneficial, to avoid loss of saltwater fish and of course loss of money and time invested.

You may be asking right now, how often do i need clean my saltwater aquarium? or how often does maintenance take place?

Well it all depends on the following questions:

• What is your aquarium size?
• What kind of saltwater aquarium filters do you use?
• What types and numbers of inhabitants/fishes do you have?
• lastly, how often do you feed them?

When you can answer these questions you can decide on how often your saltwater aquarium needs cleaning.

Here is a suggestion or recommendation on how often your saltwater aquarium should be checked and what should be checked and/or be monitored.

Daily

• Make sure all equipments are running properly and smoothly.
• Salinity
• Temperature (twice a day – in the morning and at night)
• Check your fish to make sure they are actingnormally. Checking this daily will help you find out the first signs of disease and treat it early.

Weekly and/or Bi-Weekly

• Partial water change of about 15-20% of your saltwater aquarium.
• Vacuum gravel or sand.
• Check water parameters – pH, Hardness, Nitrite, Nitrate
• Rinse your filter. Tip: Rinse it out with your old aquarium water that you are changing. Using chlorinated water will cause temperature change and can kill the bacteria that accumulated.

Monthly

• Replace your saltwater aquarium filter media if necessary.
• Check expiration dated on the boxes and bottles of your aquarium supplies that you use.

When required

• Algae clean up on aquarium glass and decorations.

Good water quality ensures health for your saltwater fish and other inhabitants.

Here are some more guidelines on routine care and maintenance for your saltwater aquarium:

• Testing your saltwater aquarium water
• Changing your saltwater aquarium water
• Maintaning the amount of algae
• Feeding saltwater fish

Complete guide to maintenance and care of your saltwater aquarium

Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide