5 Bad Aquarists Habits that Could Negatively Affect Your Fish

Like just about all other activities, caring for aquarium species can be accomplished in different ways. The aquarium hobby is rewarding for various reasons, but it’s also more intricate than caring for terrestrial plants or domestic pets. Managing an ecosystem is at the heart of fish keeping, and this entails following principles of chemistry and marine biology. Balancing an adequate habitat for fish, invertebrates, and aquatic plants is more intricate than it seems. However, the various processes involved have been advanced and streamlined to the point that they appear to be pretty easy.

Very few aquarists are able to dedicate their full lives to maintaining their tanks or ponds. Most fish keepers have to fit the hobby in their lives along with work, school, or family obligations, and this can result in the development of bad habits that ultimately have a negative effect on the aquatic ecosystem and the species therein, such as not acquiring the right fish tank supplies. Here are five more habits aquarists should seek to avoid.

1. Sticking Unwashed Hands in the Tank

Get into the habit of thoroughly washing, rinsing, and drying off your hands whenever you interact with the tank, and this includes feeding. Accidental water contamination could be harmful to your aquarium.

2. Overstocking Tanks or Ponds

Imagine you stock a 10-gallon tank with a small school of neon tetras. The size of this aquarium may entice you to get more fish so the tank is teeming with aquatic life, but you should remember the golden rule of keeping no more than two fish per gallon. Overstocking not only means more frequent maintenance but also uncomfortable swimming conditions for fish.

3. Leaving the Aquarium Light On

Many aquarists who work during the day enjoy relaxing in front of their tanks with a glass of wine before going to bed. This isn’t a bad habit at all. The problem is when the fish keeper is a night owl who forgets to turn off the lamp. Most tropical fish species need a period of darkness to complete their sleep cycles. Species such as Plecostomus are nocturnal and need darkness to feed, swim, and explore.

4. Rushing to Establish Tanks

You need to take as much time as possible when establishing a new tank. Ideally, you’ll start out with plants and wait a few weeks until the bacteria you added starts to colonize before adding fish. There are ways to speed up the establishment process so you get a nitrogen cycle faster, but you’ll need to add bottled bacteria and check the water chemistry a few times before introducing no more than two hardy species. Don’t fully stock a new tank in just a few days.

5. Overfeeding

If you’re going to be away from your tank for a few days, dumping an excess of food in the water isn’t the best idea unless you’re prepared to do a massive tank overhaul as soon as you return. A better idea is to look into automatic feeding devices equipped with timers that can also be programmed to turn the lights on and off.

Choosing low-quality supplies for your aquarium is one of the top habits you should avoid. Luckily, you can purchase all of the highest-quality products from Aquatic Warehouse—whether you need an aquarium temperature controller, LED lighting, filtration, or any other supply. Check out what we have to offer on our website, stop by our store in Kearny Mesa, or give us a call today at 858-467-9297.