Feed: Tools For Freshwater Aquarium Maintenance - AggScore: 14.0

Tidy and clean freshwater aquarium is something a hobbyist can truly be proud of.  In order to achieve a clean sparkling water tank regular maintenance should be done.  Cleaning can be messy and tiring in the sense that you have to prepare things such as tools and cleaning agents to ensure a more appropriate fish living here are the suggested 7 tools to prepare to start your cleaning process.

Gravel Vacuums
They are specifically called aquarium gravel vacuums.  These vacuums greatly work on absorbing and sucking off excess aquarium dirt such as food and waste materials.  These waste materials if not timely collected will cause much stress and bad effects on fish and other aquatic plants.

Algae Pads/Scraper/Scrubber
These tools specifically remove algae from the aquarium's whole surrounding.  Scraper or scrubber is more commonly used on glass tanks while softer algae pads are generally used for acrylic tanks because they can be easily scratched.

Fish Nets
Fish nets serve a variety of uses to your freshwater aquarium.  These nets can be utilized to separate fish from its kinds just like a conventional fish farmer when they grow and catch fish of varying types in the sea.  Fish nets can also transport and transfer dead fish from the live ones. Accordingly fish net's holes determine their uses, most small holed fish nets are ideal for small fry and the large ones for the bigger fish. 

Forceps or Tongs
Tongs are for picking small or certain mini objects that may cause obstruction to your aquarium such as dead fish, dry plants and dirty stuffs that are not useful to your freshwater aquarium. Be careful not to put much pressure on the tongs when you dip it to the water for it might accidentally lift small fish on the side.  Look for some rust found on your tongs it might affect the water chemistry level of the water. 

Pails
Pails are the most commonly used water container for your aquarium.  They can be manually utilized for cleaning your freshwater aquarium.  You can easily replace the water inside your water tank through using the pail.

Siphon Tubes
Siphon tubes are used to drain the water inside the aquarium conveniently without having to move your aquarium or tilt it sideways.  Ideally minimum in length siphon tubes must be at least able to reach the floor from the rim of the aquarium.

Water PH Testing Kits
Testing kits for water ph levels is one of the most desired tools to have for your fresh water aquarium maintenance because of its noted importance on water chemistry change.  These are readily available in your local aquarium shops everywhere.  Ph testing kits are used to test the acidity of any substance such as water for its acidity or alkalinity.  Before supplying tap water to your freshwater aquarium, tap water must be tested first for its ph level.  If it is found to be safe to use then by all means tap water can be supplied to your home aquarium.  Litmus paper and ph solutions can be used to test ph level on water.  Very easy to use if you have ph solutions at home drop 2 to 3 times of your ph solutions to the water and you can readily assess if its acidic or not.  When the water turns yellow or orange it is then acidic if its blue or green the water is alkaline.  Ph level of less than 7.0 is acidic; more than 7.0 it is alkaline.  These are basically the most practical way of testing your water ph levels.

Keeping a freshwater aquarium can be made easy with these tools mentioned above.  As a hobbyist it is your duty to safeguard your aquarium from any disturbances and stress it may cause to your fish.  Moreover making it clean and tidy all the time is something you have to do right because a dirty aquarium is not lovely to look at and it is not suitable for your fish to live it.  Maintain its cleanliness, apply due diligence when cleaning and you are off for a great start for your fresh water aquarium.

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Wilson love to share his secret of Freshwater Aquarium keeping, Ab workout and Pet caring. Feel free to visit his articles at www.freshwateraquariumadvice.com and www.secretofabs.com

How do you make a freshwater aquarium look professional?

I am setting up a 40 gallon freshwater aquarium and I want it to look really nice. I don't want it to look like a little kid decorated it. What can I do to make it look better?

Answer
river stones