How to keep tropical fish in water
The first step in raising tropical fish is to raise water. The quality of the water is directly related to the health and survival of the fish. Among the hot topics in the past 10 days, there has been a very lively discussion about keeping tropical fish in water, especially novice aquarists who are full of doubts about how to keep water correctly. This article will combine the hot topics on the Internet to provide you with a detailed analysis of the key steps and precautions for raising tropical fish in water.
1. Basic principles of water maintenance

The core of water maintenance is to establish a stable nitrification system, which uses nitrifying bacteria to decompose harmful substances in the water (such as ammonia and nitrite) and convert them into nitrates that are harmless to fish. The following is the basic process of raising water:
| steps | Operation | time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inject tap water to remove chlorine | 24-48 hours |
| 2 | Add nitrifying bacteria | immediately |
| 3 | Turn on filtration system | Continuously running |
| 4 | Monitor water quality parameters | every day |
2. Key parameters of water maintenance
During the water maintenance process, you need to focus on water quality parameters. The following is the ideal water quality range:
| parameters | ideal range | Hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Ammonia (NH3) | 0mg/L | Highly toxic, causing fish death |
| Nitrite (NO2) | 0mg/L | hinder oxygen transport |
| Nitrate (NO3) | <20 mg/L | High concentrations affect fish health |
| pH value | 6.5-7.5 | Too high or too low affects fish metabolism |
3. Common misunderstandings about water maintenance
According to recent hot discussions, many aquarists tend to fall into the following misunderstandings when raising water:
1.eager to release fish: Adding fish before the water is raised can lead to ammonia and nitrite poisoning.
2.Excessive water changes: Frequent water changes will destroy the stability of the nitrification system.
3.Ignore water quality testing: Judge water quality only with the naked eye and ignore the detection of ammonia and nitrite.
4.Use untreated tap water: Chlorine in tap water will kill nitrifying bacteria.
4. Advanced techniques for maintaining water
For experienced aquarists, you can speed up the water maintenance process through the following methods:
| method | Operation | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Add old filter media | Take part of the filter material from a mature fish tank | Rapid introduction of nitrifying bacteria |
| Use water stabilizer | Follow instructions to add | Neutralize chlorine and protect nitrifying bacteria |
| Increase water temperature | Maintain 25-28℃ | Promote the growth of nitrifying bacteria |
5. Maintenance after watering
After water maintenance is completed, water quality still needs to be maintained regularly:
1.Change water 1/3 every week: Supplement fresh water source to reduce nitrate concentration.
2.Clean filter media regularly: Rinse gently with original tank water to avoid destroying nitrifying bacteria.
3.Avoid overfeeding: Remaining bait will decompose to produce ammonia, increasing the burden on water quality.
By following the above steps, you can easily create a tank with healthy water suitable for tropical fish. Water maintenance is the basis of fish farming, and patience and scientific methods are indispensable!
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