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Introduction to Aquarium Care

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After dogs and cats, fish are the most familiar American pet. Fish are especially popular because in an aquarium, you can house an entire aquatic environment. Don’t be fooled by the calmness of the fish, though; taking care of fish can be hard work, and if you don’t properly care for your aquarium, your fish will consistently face poor health and high levels of stress.

Become familiar with your fish and with your aquarium’s operation. Your fish won’t shout at you to grab your attention, so make a habit of checking in on your fish; learn to recognize abnormal conditions in your aquarium or your fish. How do the fish look? Are they eating their food? Is the water cloudy or colored? Is the water temperature okay? It doesn’t take long to do these simple checks, and if you don’t want to look at your fish, you probably shouldn’t have purchased them in the first place?

Aquarium care varies slightly depending on whether you have a freshwater or saltwater aquarium. The aquarium itself is no different, but the water type governs the types of fish and plants that can survive in the tank. In addition, a saltwater aquarium requires extra work, such as checking the salinity in the water and occasionally adding iodine and calcium to your tank.

In general, the more fish and plants you have in your aquarium, the more aquarium maintenance you will need to do. One fish will not add much waste to your water and rarely requires water maintenance, which is why small goldfish bowls and beta fish kits are increasingly popular. On the other hand, some aquariums contain more than fifty gallons of water and require extensive daily care.

Not only are aquariums colorful and soothing, but they also are a learning experience. Aquariums do not take care of themselves; they need a caretaker to take responsibility. Thus, aquariums can be a lesson in responsibility for your children (or yourself).

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