How Long Does It Take to Care for an Aquarium?

There’s no set time frame when it comes to the maintenance of a fish tank. Many factors contribute to how much time it takes to keep a tank clean. The size of the tank, items you provide for your fish, and the health and type of the fish, plants, and/or corals can contribute to varying time frames of aquarium management.

When to Care for Your Aquarium

Some individuals take care of their tank daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. It’s up to you when and how much effort you put into the aquarium, but cleaning a tank too much can result in decreasing the good bacteria and nutrients that benefit your fish, and cleaning too infrequently can also have a negative impact. There’s an old saying: “Mess with an aquarium too much and it’ll mess back with you!” But typically a freshwater or saltwater “fish only” aquarium should be maintained with a water change every two weeks. A planted freshwater tank or coral tank should have weekly water changes.

Weekly upkeep may consist of shaking debris off plants, syphoning uneaten food and particles from gravel or sand, gently cleaning the inside of the tank, emptying the skimmer cup (on a saltwater tank), and topping off evaporated water. Bi-weekly or monthly upkeep includes syphoning up a buildup of waste or gravel vacuuming, changing filter pads, and testing the water’s pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate balance. 

Other maintenance to consider includes checking light bulbs, inspecting water bubbles and air tubes, trimming live plants, and cleaning the outside of the glass.

Size of Tank and Items

Since an aquarium is a living, breathing vessel of water and animals, a small or big tank and how many fish you have can determine when it’s time to clean. If you have a small tank, it may become dirtier more quickly, while a big tank may spare you time. 

The amount of fish, water, gravel, decorations, and plants should also be factored into the equation. An abundance of items can increase cleaning time. The amount of fish will decide how often you need to accommodate them.

The Type of Fish and Water

There are various species of freshwater and saltwater fish. Saltwater fish need more attention, and you also need specific saltwater aquarium supplies. A saltwater aquarium requires additional lighting, temperature control is a must, and replacing dissolved H2O more often is a necessity. 

Some fish are messier than others, which noticeably varies cleaning. For instance, Oscars are aggressive, grow to a considerable size, and are vulnerable to hexamita, a disease in which holes form on the fish when the water quality is not attended to.

The Health of Your Fish

There’s always a slim chance your fish may become sick, which will increase the care needed. You may have to gradually replace the water in increments, add medicines, and care for them like any other animal. Remember to always remove any carbon in your filters but leave the biological pads in place. The carbon will pull the medication out before it has a chance to work if you leave it in.

Contact Aquatic Warehouse if you need help maintaining your aquarium or need supplies such as aquarium monitors, filters, lighting, protein skimmers, and much more. Reach out today at 858-467-9297.