Nothing is more important in aquarium maintenance than the changing of water for optimal fish health as well as avoiding cloudy aquarium water.  By removing dirty water and replacing it with clean water, many times you are diluting excess nutrients that can negatively impact your fish tank environment.  It is critical to always replenish trace elements that contribute to a healthy and beautiful underwater ecosystem.

Infrequent water changes lead to an unsightly and odorous aquarium with unhealthy fish and other marine inhabitants.  When replacing water, you must be cognizant that it impacts your aquarium nutrient potential and its chemistry.  Basically, when you remove a portion of your tank’s water, you’re also removing a portion of the nutrients and organics that are irritating your livestock, such as phosphates and nitrates.  High readings of these can promote algae growth and affect the health and development of your aquarium inhabitants.

When performing a water change, you’re adding helpful elements to your fish tank aquarium as well.  For example, corals require calcium, magnesium and alkalinity to be within a specific range to maintain proper coloration and growth; meanwhile, corals are constantly utilizing and depleting these resources to stay alive.  Use clean seawater or a quality salt mix, to replenish the former vital components to appropriate levels.

Aquarium fish, although beautiful, are constantly producing waste which must be exported. Skipping too many water changes is not only of detriment to the health of your aquarium, but also to fish tank aesthetics.  The water could become cloudy and, if given enough time, smelly.

Regular water changes are of paramount importance in maintaining a healthy fish aquarium environment.  Freshwater fish aquariums and saltwater fish tanks are meant to be beautiful conversation pieces, so let us ensure that the conversations are filled with compliments.

With over 40 years of collective expertise as aquarium maintenance specialists, we recommend small, frequent water changes; 20% of the tank’s complete volume, once a week.  Although one might be tempted to do an enormous water change, believing it won’t be necessary to revisit it for another month or two, this is actually very stressful on your fish and coral.  Big water changes mean big swings in chemistry as well as temperature if you’re not careful.  By doing small, regular water changes, you’re keeping the chemistry of your tank as stable as possible and the stress at a minimum; stress being the biggest cause of fish loss in the aquarium maintenance world.

At the very core of aquarium maintenance is fish tank aquarium water maintenance.  Keeping your aquarium water in check is the most vital part of keeping fish, invertebrates and coral healthy along with performing regular water changes to maintain a beautiful and healthy aquatic ecosystem.  Aquarium maintenance specialists understand the science behind tried-and-true and well-tested practices of fish tank aquarium maintenance.

Author: Luis Sanchez, Assistant Aquarium Director