Frequent mistakes to avoid with a freshwater aquarium

Colorful fish in an aquarium
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Creating and maintaining a freshwater aquarium requires attention and expertise. Whether you're a beginner or experienced, some mistakes can compromise your ecosystem balance and the health of your fish. Here are the most common errors avoid to ensure the proper functioning of your freshwater aquarium.

1. Do not cycle the aquarium before adding fish

One of the most common mistakes among beginners is to put fish in the aquarium too soon, without giving time to nitrogen cycle to set up. This process is essential to create a healthy environment where fish waste can be degraded.

Why is it a mistake?

  • Without the nitrogen cycle, ammonia and nitrites (which are toxic to fish) can accumulate rapidly, causing disease and death.

How to avoid:

  • Wait until your aquarium is properly cycled before adding fish. This process usually takes 4 to 6 weeks.
  • Test water regularly with test kits to monitor ammonia, nitrites and nitrate levels.
Also read:  Aquarium fish: which species are the easiest to maintain?

2. Overcrow the aquarium

Adding too many fish in an aquarium too small is another common mistake. One Overcrowded aquarium causes rapid accumulation of waste, overloading filtration and stress on fish.

Why is it a mistake?

  • Water becomes more difficult to maintain clean, and fish are found in too confined a space, increasing the risk of disease and conflict between species.

How to avoid:

  • Respect the general rule ofone centimeter of adult fish per litre of water, taking into account the adult size of fish.
  • Prefer to introduce fish gradually rather than in large quantities from the beginning.

3. Failure to meet species-specific needs

All freshwater fish do not have the same needs in terms of temperature, of pH, orspace. Introduce incompatible species can cause health problems for your fish and imbalances in the aquarium.

Why is it a mistake?

  • Some fish may be stressed by inadequate temperature or pH too low or too high.
  • Some fish are territorial or aggressive and can attack other aquarium occupants.

How to avoid:

  • Learn about the specific needs of each species before entering your aquarium (water parameters, behaviour, adult size, etc.).
  • Avoid mixing species with too different needs or incompatible behaviours.

4. Avoid regular maintenance

An aquarium requires a constant maintenance to stay healthy. Some people forget to change the water or clean the filter regularly, resulting in waste accumulation and deterioration of water quality.

Why is it a mistake?

  • Poor water quality can cause disease in fish and lead to algal bloom.
  • The crushed filters become ineffective and no longer ensure proper filtration.
Also read:  Creating a balanced aquarium: the steps to follow for a healthy ecosystem

How to avoid:

  • Change about 10 to 20% of the water each week to maintain a good balance in the aquarium.
  • Clean the filter regularly, using aquarium water to avoid killing beneficial bacteria.
  • Test water frequently for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrate levels.

5. Feeding excess fish

Overeating is a common mistake, especially among new aquariophiles. Too much feeding your fish can lead to an accumulation of organic waste in the water, which destabilizes the chemical balance of the aquarium.

Why is it a mistake?

  • The excess of food not consumed breaks down and produces ammonia, a compound toxic to fish.
  • This can also lead to excessive weight gain in fish, which affects their health.

How to avoid:

  • Feed your fish in small amounts, two to three times a day, and remove the leftovers of uneatable food after a few minutes.
  • Observe the fish to adjust the amount of food according to their needs.

6. Use untreated water

Use oftap water Untreated in aquarium is another common error. Tap water often contains chlorine or chloramines, which are harmful to fish.

Why is it a mistake?

  • Chlorine and chloramines can kill fish and bacteria beneficial to the filter, which imbalance the aquarium ecosystem.

How to avoid:

  • Always use a water conditioner to neutralize chlorine and other chemicals in tap water.
  • Regularly test water quality and adjust settings if necessary.
Also read:  Everything about aquarium fish feeding: good practices

7. Ignore signs of stress or illness in fish

Fish show signs of stress or disease that some aquariophiles do not know or recognize in time. Rapid action in the event of a problem is essential to prevent the situation from getting worse.

Why is it a mistake?

  • Sick or stressed fish can contaminate all aquariums and cause disease in other occupants.
  • Some symptoms, such as white spots, rapid breathing or damaged fins, are early signs of diseases such as lichthyophthiriosis (white dot disease) or bacterial infections.

How to avoid:

  • Observe your fish daily to detect any changes in behaviour, appearance or breathing.
  • If a fish shows signs of illness, quarantine it in another reservoir and treat it quickly.

8. Underestimating the importance of oxygenation

Loxygenation water is essential for fish health. Lack of oxygen can cause stress and even death of fish. Many aquariophiles do not take this aspect into account when installing their aquarium.

Why is it a mistake?

  • Lack of oxygen in the water can lead to difficult respiration in fish, especially in aquariums that are too populated or poorly ventilated.

How to avoid:

  • Use a air pump or diffuser to increase the oxygenation of water, especially in large aquariums or very populated ones.
  • Avoid overfilling the aquarium to leave enough water for gas exchange.

9. Leave lighting on too long

Overlighting is a common mistake, especially because it is thought to be necessary for fish. However, too intense or too long lighting can cause algal bloom and disrupt the natural balance of the aquarium.

Why is it a mistake?

  • Excessive lighting promotes the growth of algae, which can unbalance the ecosystem.
  • Fish and aquatic plants also need periods of darkness to rest and regulate their life cycle.

How to avoid:

  • Limit lighting to 8-12 hours a day according to the needs of plants and fish.
  • Use a timer to automate ignition and lighting suppression.

Summary table of frequent errors in freshwater aquarium

ErrorConsequencesSolution
Do not cycle the aquarium before adding fishToxic accumulation of ammonia and nitritesWait 4 to 6 weeks before adding fish
Overcrow the aquariumStress, disease, poor water qualityRespect the rule of one centimeter of fish per litre of water
Failure to meet the needs of speciesStress, disease, aggressive behaviourCheck species compatibility before introduction
Avoid regular maintenancePoor water quality, diseases, algae accumulationChange 10-20 % water every week, clean filter regularly
Feeding in excessAccumulation of organic waste, water pollution, sick fishFeed in small quantities and remove food not consumed
Use untreated waterPoisoning of beneficial fish and bacteriaUse water conditioner to neutralize chlorine and chloramines
Ignore signs of illnessContamination of other fish, spread of diseasesObserve fish daily and isolate those showing signs of disease
Underestimating the importance of oxygenationLack of oxygen, stress and death of fishUse air pump or diffuser to oxygenate water
Leave lighting on too longAlgae proliferation, disturbance of natural cyclesLimit lighting to 8-12 hours per day with a timer

Avoiding these frequent errors allows you to maintain a healthy freshwater aquarium and provide your fish with a stable and balanced environment. Regular maintenance, careful monitoring of water parameters and special attention to species needs will ensure the longevity of your aquatic ecosystem.

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Jeando

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