Caring for Fish

There are few things as rewarding as the feeling that stems from putting forth the time and effort necessary to create a beautiful and ideal home for another living being. This is why it is so common for households to include doted-upon cats and dogs that eat nothing but the highest-quality food and sleep upon a customized fleece-lined bed or, as is the case with a dog belonging to two of our recently married team members — a Bull Mastiff comically lacking in self-awareness — sprawled out in between his pet parents on the bed they no longer feel is their own.

That same feeling can be experienced by pet parents who take the time to properly set up and continually care for an aquarium in their home or in their office. While setting up and taking care of an aquarium is a relatively simple task for beginners to take on, it is still one that is frequently misunderstood by even the most well-intentioned pet parents. Without proper care and maintenance, the fish living in the tank may struggle to survive. Fortunately, we have a few simple tips to offer aspiring aquarists that will help ensure that any fish they care for in their tank will thrive and enjoy a lengthy and enjoyable existence.

Develop a Detailed Aquarium Plan

We are certainly not suggesting that newcomers to the world of fish tank care should create a detailed architectural rendering of the tank they intend to create, but there should be a clear concept of what kind of tank they will set up and how they will go about doing so. There are a multitude of considerations to take into account, and it is simply not ideal to walk into a fish store with only a few general thoughts in mind. It is certainly advisable to take a few trips to an aquarium shop for inspiration and advice before making any purchases, but it is worth reiterating that setting up a fish tank is not something that should be improvised on the fly.

If, for example, a saltwater aquarium is the ultimate goal, a plan should be developed that includes the ideal size of the tank along with the proper filtration system and other necessary tank components. It should also include some advance thought regarding the future inhabitants of the tank, including the kinds of fish, plants, coral and any other saltwater marine life. Tank enthusiasts who consider these simple aspects in advance will ensure that each inhabitant they select for the tank is compatible with the others and will have enough space to comfortably live.

Patience Is Truly a Virtue

There is no aspect of aquarium care that should ever be rushed. Just as it would be a devastating mistake to take an impatient approach to building a house, it is equally disastrous to lack patience in setting up and caring for a fish tank. This means that the aquarium has be properly cycled and that any changes have to be made through a very methodical process. Any rapid changes can result in a fish tank that is thrown into a state of complete disarray, while a patient approach to changes will allow the tank’s inhabitants to slowly adapt so they continue to thrive.

The same is equally true of routine tank maintenance. Various parts of the system have to be cleaned or replaced on a regular basis and the environmental conditions within the tank (temperature, pH, etc.) have to be consistently monitored. If these tasks are overlooked or done hastily, the tank will certainly not operate efficiently and the environment will eventually become far from ideal for the inhabitants. It is always much easier to prevent issues from developing within the tank than it is to correct issues that have already become apparent.

Take Time to Really Enjoy the Aquarium

An aquarium is a beautiful environment that allows fish tank enthusiasts to express themselves creatively while also providing a home for all kinds of interesting marine life. In some homes and offices, however, these tanks can fade into the background until the only time spent observing the tank is the brief span of time required for daily feeding. Tanks are deserving of a great deal of attention, and there is always something new and interesting going on inside of a contained marine environment. Owners who take the time to appreciate what they have created will be more likely to be attentive to the care requirements of the tank and will derive a greater sense of daily enjoyment from their aquarium.