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The aquarium is an artificial condition that fish and other aquatic organisms have to live with. Unlike terrestrial pets like dogs and cats, aquatic organisms are more severely affected by water quality, such as temperature and hardness. They are more sensitive, and thus more attention and care are needed to successfully sustain them. Successful captive breeding of aquatic organisms indicates that fish aquarium tanks are maintained in the proper conditions.

One variable that affects the stability of fish aquarium tanks is the water volume. Large amounts of water correspond to a higher stability. This is due to the higher diluting properties of the water, in which instances of contamination and fish death cause a smaller toll on the equilibrium of the system. Thus, the bigger the aquarium tank, the easier that a systemic shock can be absorbed by the inhabitants living in it. For instance , if one fish dies inside a five-gallon tank, the changes in the water quality and the system as a whole are severe and profound. However, the same lone fish dying inside a tank with one hundred gallons of water will not affect the system just as severely, and will only constitute a minor change. Aquarists therefore naturally favor larger tank volumes because they need less attention.

The nutrient cycle is an important feature of the aquarium. This cycle involves the nutrients required by the aquarium inhabitants, such as dissolved oxygen, phosphates, minerals, food supply, and nitrogen. Together with the biological load of the tank, these must all be kept in equilibrium.

Dissolved oxygen need to enter the system through the air-water interface, and thus the water must be agitated. This is usually accomplished by means of air pumped into air stones. The carbon dioxide waste is similarly disposed of into the air in the same manner.

The phosphate cycle is often overlooked in aquarium maintenance. So are iron, sulfur, and other micronutrients that are cycling through the system. They are introduced as food and are excreted as waste. One of the most important and critical of all cycles is the nitrogen cycle. Attention must be adequately given to this aspect of the system in order to successfully keep fish.

It is needless to say that regular maintenance is a must in keeping healthy fish aquarium tanks. Daily inspection is necessary to check the organisms for symptoms of disease or stress. The water quality must also be kept in check. It must be clean and not cloudy, and its temperature must be just right for the particular species living in it.

Weekly maintenance will typically include replacing about ten to twenty percent of the volume of water, at the same time cleaning the substrate such as gravel and sand. An effective method of cleaning is by siphoning off the water using appropriate equipment. A siphoning tube is used much like a vacuum cleaner on the gravel, sucking out fish excrement, residues and leftover food.

When replacing the water, do not put tap water directly into the tank, because such water usually has harmful chemicals. It must first be treated with water conditioners, such as those that neutralize heavy metals, chloramines and chlorine.

These are the bare essentials to keep in mind in the maintenance of fish aquarium tanks.