Pets

Maintenance is largely a matter of continuing to apply the principles learned when setting up your aquarium, thus ensuring continued optimal living conditions for your fishes. What is needed, and how often, depends on the individual aquarium and its occupants, and must be determined by you, the aquarist; the routine suggested below is suit able for the average general community.

Daily: Check temperature, health of fishes, and that equipment is working.

Weekly: Make a 25 per cent water change, siphon ing any accumulated debris from the substrate sur face. Remove dead vegetation. Check nitrite level.

Monthly: Clean filter(s); "hoover" gravel if neces sary. Check nitrate level. Remember to adjust the chemistry and tempera ture of "new" water to match tank conditions, and to eliminate any nasties such as chlorine.

Filter and substrate maintenance disrupts bacterial popula tions, so reduce feeding for a couple of days before and after monthly maintenance sessions. For routine maintenance you will need a bucket and a piece of tubing for siphoning off water from the aquari um. Optional extras are a gravel cleaner (bottom right) and siphon starter (centre), though many aquarists start their siphon simply by sucking the tube. Siphon off the required amount of water, using the siphon to remove any "mulm" (accumulated debris) and other detritus. Take care not to siphon off fishes or plants! If the tank is sited near a window or outside door, it is quicker, with less risk of spillages, to siphon on to the garden using a long tube, instead of into a bucket. The substrate can be "hoovered" periodically with a gravel cleaner, taking care not to uproot plants.

Avoid excessive hoovering, however, especially where under gravel filtration is used, as it disrupts populations of beneficial bacteria living on and in the substrate. When refilling, pour the new water into the palm of your hand to avoid disturbing the substrate and decor. Alternatively stand the bucket on the hood and siphon the new water into the tank. Obviously, action is required if any check reveals a problem. Counter high nitrite with twice-daily 25 per cent water changes until the level returns to zero; identify and eliminate the cause(s) for example over feeding or inadequate or interrupted filtration. An increase in nitrates suggests a need' for larger (maximum 30 per cent) or more frequent water changes, or adjustments to the tank popula tion or feeding regime. The importance of regular observation of the fish es cannot be over emphasized; abnormal behaviour loss of appetite, clamped fins, increased respira tion, scratching or shimmying is usually the first warning of an environmental problem or outbreak of disease. Prompt action may make all the difference.

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