The Best Aquarium Cleaning Supplies for Healthy Fish
Do you want to reduce your stress and anxiety? Lower your blood pressure? Or improve your sleep quality?
A great way to do that is to get a pet. But dogs and cats aren’t the only pets that offer measurable health benefits.
You can get the same benefits by keeping fish. Not to mention, they can be much easier to care for.
While having an aquarium can be low maintenance, there are still a few essential aquarium cleaning supplies you need in order to keep your fish healthy. Having a net and a filter isn’t enough, so make sure you pick up these aquarium cleaning tools for your hobby.
Microbial Products
Most people don’t consider their aquarium’s microbiome. But the bacteria in an aquarium impact everything from algae growth to breaking down plant matter and fish waste.
When setting up a new aquarium, the lack of beneficial bacteria can cause dangerous spikes in nitrate and ammonia. But in a healthy aquarium, the ammonia is released by fish as waste and broken down by the beneficial bacteria. This process is called the nitrogen cycle.
Breaking in your aquarium can take time, but there are products on the market that can help establish a healthy bacteria colony and keep your fish safe. If you want to know more about how to do that, check this out.
Algae Scraper
An algae scraper is essential for aquarium maintenance. This tool acts as an aquarium glass cleaner, removing algae growth from your tank’s walls, gravel, and decorations.
Algae is a type of plant that can grow quickly, consuming nutrients in the process. There are a few different varieties, some of which may indicate problems with your aquarium such as poor water quality.
Algae scrapers usually come in two different varieties. The first and most basic is a handheld scraper. These have a long handle with a blade at the end, allowing you to remove algae with a little elbow grease.
The second type is a magnetic scraper. One half of the scraper (the half with the blade) stays on the inside of the tank, while the other half stays on the outside, allowing you to move the scraper around and navigate corners and hard-to-reach places.
Either type of tool is designed to remove algae without scratching your aquarium, but you should always proceed with caution and be gentle when removing algae.
Gravel Cleaner
An aquarium gravel cleaner is a small gravel vacuum that allows you to clean the bottom of your tank easily. Over time, plant debris, waste, and uneaten food can accumulate on the bottom of your tank, especially between the substrate.
A gravel cleaner can either be electric powered or a simple siphon-style. The former is more expensive. It works by pumping water through it and trapping particles in a filter.
However, it may miss finer particles, which is why it’s best to use one of these with a siphon-style cleaner. These are simple and affordable and consist of a hose and a hollow tube. The downside is that they siphon existing water out of the tank, instead of simply filtering it.
Don’t Forget Your Aquarium Cleaning Supplies
The right aquarium cleaning supplies can ensure your fish are happy and healthy for a long time. Plus, the right supplies will make your fishkeeping hobby a much easier experience and minimize cleaning time, so don’t forget to pick these up.
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