Keeping an aquarium can be fun but tough. It shows beautiful water creatures but needs lots of work and know-how to keep the water animals healthy.
The main tasks are handling the equipment, ensuring the water is just right, and dealing with aquarium decor.
The equipment like filters, heaters, and lights need cleaning and sometimes need to be replaced.
You must test the water often for the right pH levels, temperature, and cleanliness to keep the fish and other water animals safe.
Choosing and cleaning decor for the aquarium can also be challenging. These tasks are important to keep the aquarium vibrant and visually appealing.
Equipment Problems
You need to regularly check if your equipment is in good working condition to ensure your fish tank functions properly.
In simpler terms, your aquarium needs certain devices like filters, lights, and heaters to keep your fish healthy and happy.
If these devices are not functioning correctly, you may encounter problems such as contaminated water or incorrect temperatures, which can harm your fish. So, it’s important to regularly check and maintain these equipment.
1. Managing Uneven Stands and Tanks
If your stand or tank is not balanced, you can fix it by using thin pieces of material called shims.
Put these shims under the corners of the stand. A tool called a carpenter’s level can help you make sure it’s even when you first set up the stand.
This will prevent problems in the future.
2. Unclogging a Blocked Filter
Keeping your filter clear and clean is crucial. Here’s how you can fix a clogged filter:
- If your filter has pads, clean them by rinsing under the tank water that you’ve taken out and put in a clean bucket.
- If you have an under-gravel filter, use a vacuum to clean the gravel.
- Clean all tubes using a special brush made for filter cleaning.
- Ensure the impellers and the small rotating blades on filters are also cleaned properly.
3. Examining Issues Related to Heaters
Heaters can sometimes stop working. Here’s how to solve this issue:
- If your heater isn’t maintaining the right temperature, check if you’re using the right amount of power for your aquarium to prevent the heater from running all the time.
- A simple rule to remember is: use 5 watts per gallon.
- If your heater’s power is correct, make sure nothing like plants or decorations are blocking the heater and stopping the warm water from spreading around the tank.
- If these steps don’t work, you may need to get a new heater. You may also want to think about getting a temperature controller that has an alarm.
- This will help keep the water temperature stable and let you know if there are any issues.
4. Lightning Striking the Tank
If your aquarium light falls into the water, don’t panic; this happens frequently. Here’s what to do:
- First, put on a rubber kitchen glove. You should always keep one in your fish supplies kit. Then, unplug the light.
- Next, take out the light from the tank. Let it dry thoroughly before plugging it back in.
Remember, never take out a light from the water if it’s still plugged in! It’s not safe.
5. Light Bulbs Bursting
If a light bulb in your older hood has blown up, here’s what you need to do in simple terms:
- First, make sure to switch off and unplug the lighting system. This is to ensure your safety.
- Wait for a while till the blown bulb cools down. You don’t want to burn your hand while trying to remove it.
- Once the bulb is cooled, wrap a kitchen towel around your hand and carefully try to take out the remaining part of the bulb.
- If you’re unable to get the bulb out, try using a small potato. Just push it into the broken bulb socket (this works for screw-in bulbs) and it should help you grip and remove the light.
Remember, always be careful while handling electrical appliances and broken glass.
6. Fluctuating Lighting
If your light keeps blinking, try to change the starter unit if there’s one.
If the light still flickers, take out the light and check if the metal parts are dry, then put it back. If it’s still not working, you may need a new bulb.
For new LED lights, contact the manufacturer for assistance with repairs or for obtaining a replacement.
Addressing Issues with The Tank and Decorations
Having issues with your tank and decorations can be annoying. The worst thing is when your tank starts to leak.
But don’t worry, there are ways to fix this. The key is to take action as soon as possible. You can find help in the following sections.
7. Inspecting for Leaks in Aquarium
Check your aquarium for leaks every day. It’s a quick task to see if the tank or any equipment is leaking. You can get leak detectors from hardware stores. These devices work like smoke detectors but for water.
To be sure it’s the tank that’s leaking, do a visual check. Sometimes, it looks like the tank is leaking, but the water is spilling over the rim because of a decoration that’s being pushed by an airstone, or a power filter is leaking.
If the airstone is causing the leak, move the decoration until the water stops spilling. If a power filter is cracked and leaking, you’ll need to replace it.
8. Securing the Safety of Your Fish
If your fish’s tank leaks, you need to quickly move your fish to a safe place. You can use another fish tank if you have one.
If you don’t, a big plastic bowl or a special bucket for aquariums can be used instead. You should put some small stones at the bottom of the new place.
Also, add some plants that can float on the water. You should also put in a thing called an airstone that is hooked up to a pump.
This will help make sure there’s enough air for the fish. Lastly, cover the top with a plate so the fish can’t jump out.
9. Fixing a Minor Crack in The Aquarium
If you notice a small crack in your tank, you may need to fix it instead of buying a new one. Here’s how you do it in simple terms:
- Empty the tank, making sure to remove all water, gravel, and equipment.
- Use a safety razor to scrape off the old glue from the side that has the crack.
- Dry the area with a cloth.
- Put a new sealer on the area where you removed the old one.
- Wait until the sealer fully dries before you put water back in. You can find the drying time on the sealer’s packaging.
Consider replacing the tank if the cost of a new one is more economical than repairing the current tank, taking into account both price and size.
10. When a Whole Side of Your Aquarium Shatters
If your aquarium’s side shatters, quickly move your fish to a temporary tank or bucket. If they’re out of water, gently lift them with a clean paper towel as your hands can hurt their scales and fins.
Get a professional to replace the broken side. This job is risky and could lead to more leaks.
You won’t replace a broken window at home by yourself, right? Aquarium glass is even trickier due to the constant water pressure.
So, let the experts take care of it. If your tank is small, buying a new one can be cheaper.
11. Displaced Plants and Decorations
If you have plants or decorations in your aquarium that have come loose, it’s good to have aquascaping tools. You can use these tools to carefully put the plants or decorations back where they belong.
12. Power Loss
If you lose power, here’s what to do.
Make sure you have a battery-powered pump, tubes, and an airstone. These help keep water moving until power comes back. If your fish tank gets too hot, put a bottle of ice in it to cool it down slowly.
If your tank is big, use a portable air conditioner to cool it. If the water gets too cold, use a hot water bottle.
Always have a thermometer to check the temperature during a power outage. If you can afford it, a generator is the best solution.
Addressing Water Problems
If you’re facing issues with your aquarium water, it can harm your fish and sometimes can even be fatal to them.
Some common water problems include changes in water quality, temperature, or pH level. You can often spot these problems yourself, just by looking, smelling, or touching the water.
Taking care of your aquarium is important to keep your fish happy and healthy.
13. Resolving Issues with Green Algae
Green algae is a common problem in water bodies and it’s usually caused by too much light and waste in the water. It looks like a green cloud or mess. Monitor for this issue every day.
Here’s the solution:
- Reduce the amount of light.
- Change 10% of the water every day until the green algae disappears.
- Buy fish that eat algae, like Siamese algae eaters, or use tablets made to control algae.
14. Controlling Chemical Problems
If you accidentally spill household chemicals into your fish tank, you’ll notice changes in the water’s color or smell. Here’s what you can do:
- Immediately move your fish to a backup tank.
- Empty your primary tank and clean everything inside it, including decorations and gravel, using warm water.
- When you’re setting up the tank again, put in fresh filter material and add a special chemical that helps bacteria to grow quickly.
- The tank will need time to naturally cycle again, so keep an eye on it. Start by adding a few robust fish like Guppies or Swordtails until the tank is stable.
- Keep your other fish in the backup tank until the chemical issue in the main tank is fully resolved.
15. Reducing the Temperature of An Overheated Tank
If your fish tank is too hot, here’s what you need to do:
- Unplug the tank’s heater but don’t take it out yet as it could break. Remove the tank’s cover and put a mesh top on it instead.
- This helps in cooling. Don’t take out the fish as the sudden change can harm them.
- To cool down the tank, you can put a bag of ice in the water. Do this slowly so you don’t shock the fish. Use ‘aquarium chiller’ device, if you have one.
- Add an extra airstone to the tank. This helps increase oxygen which decreases when the water gets hot.
- When the water is back to its normal temperature, reconnect the heater. Keep an eye on it to ensure it’s working properly. If it’s not, you’ll need to replace it.
16. Warming up An Overly Cold Tank
If your fish tank is too cold, here’s what you need to do:
- Fill a hot water bottle and put it in a plastic bag. Float this in the tank. This will help warm the water. Don’t take the fish out, it could harm them.
- Check if your tank heater is working. Slowly increase the temperature back to the normal level. It’s best to do this gradually, like a few degrees every hour.
- To keep the heat in, you can cover the tank with a blanket while you do this.
