Aquarium Water Basics: Caring for the Water in Your Aquarium

Fish need a proper environment to thrive, just like you. Fish living in aquariums rely on you to ensure their watery habitat is optimal and balanced. The right tools and a time commitment of about 30 to 60 minutes a week make creating and maintaining a flourishing habitat for your aquarium fish manageable and rewarding. 

Safe and healthy aquarium water is, obviously, essential for aquarium fish. You can achieve this by maintaining water chemistry, ensuring adequate filtration, and keeping the water at the right temperature.

Tap Water for Aquariums Needs Conditioning

When you set up your aquarium for the first time, it's important to ensure the water chemistry is correct before adding your fish. While tap water is usually safe for humans, it can kill aquarium fish. (Municipal tap water has chlorine or chloramines, well water may have heavy metals, and the water's pH might be too acidic or too basic for your fish). Use Aqueon Water Conditioner to neutralize water contaminants that can hurt your fish, both the first time you fill your aquarium and when you add replacement water. 

Once fish are living in your aquarium, you need to offset the effects of their food consumption and waste production in the water — also known as managing the nitrogen cycle. Use Aqueon PURE to provide the nitrifying bacteria your tank needs to support this process.

Filtration Systems Help Achieve Optimal Water Chemistry

A filtration system helps keep your aquarium water clean, healthy, and correctly balanced, which means you don't have to change the water as often. Filters help catch particles like uneaten food and fish poop, remove polluting chemicals, and help ensure you have the right amounts of beneficial bacteria and minimal levels of harmful bacteria. A filtration system that moves and aerates your aquarium water is especially useful to prevent the build-up of chemicals like ammonia and help ensure adequate oxygen levels. 

When choosing your filtration system, take into account the size of your aquarium and the type, size, and number of fish you have. Consider aquatic plants too. Aquarium plants help with water filtration while also producing oxygen, consuming carbon dioxide, preventing algae growth, and stabilizing the water's pH. Bonus: aquatic plants do all this while making your aquarium more beautiful and providing your fish with places to hang out.

Test Your Aquarium Water Frequently to Minimize Stress on Your Fish

Cloudy or algae-filled aquariums are obvious indicators of sub-optimal water chemistry. Frequent water testing helps you recognize the invisible contaminants and guides you on when to refresh your aquarium's water. The Aqueon 7-in-1 Aquarium Test Strips take just 30 seconds to identify water quality issues by testing pH, alkalinity, water hardness, and levels of nitrates, nitrites, free chlorine, and iron. If your water chemistry isn't optimal, a chart points you to any needed interventions.

Cleaning your aquarium and replenishing the water removes harmful contaminants and adds necessities to the habitat. However, any rapid change to your aquarium can stress your fish, so it's always best to introduce new elements gradually — including fresh water — and to leave time for your aquarium to settle.

Factors that affect your water replacement schedule include the size of your aquarium, the filtration devices you use, how many fish you have, and how often you feed them. Regular use of test strips to assess your water quality helps guide you to add fresh water only when needed, minimizing stress on your fish. Plan to change about 10% of the aquarium water every week. Check out the Aquarium Cleaning Checklist for more information.

Less than an Hour per Week to Care for Your Aquarium Water

Caring for your fish's aquarium water is crucial for maintaining their health, but it doesn't have to take a lot of your time. Spend less than an hour every week maintaining your aquarium's water by testing, cleaning, and replenishing the water. Interested in getting started with a new aquarium? Here's what to expect in the first 60 days.