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Keeping the water in your fish tank clean, pristine and healthy can be one of the most difficult tasks there is. If you are not very experienced having water trouble can be very puzzling and sometimes the problem can’t even been seen. Some aquarium fish are very sensitive and the slightest change in water conditions can be fatal.

Let’s briefly look at the 3 most common water problems that almost all fish tank aquariums suffer from at one time or another. Even though they often look the worse, the fact that you can see the mistake makes it quite easy to fix as there are some more serious problems that will kill your fish before you see the problem in the water.

1. Cloudy Water
Cloudy water can spoil your whole fish tank and turn a bright and colorful delight into a dirty “pond” where no one can appreciate your beautiful fish. Not only does it distract from the beauty of your tank, but it can be very unpleasant for your fish.

Cloudy water is mostly the cause of over feeding. With too much food, it tends to dissolve into the water and cause the cloudiness. Having too much fish in your tank can also cause cloudiness and your tanks’ filtration can’t keep up with the excess waste.

2. Green Water
If your fish tank looks like some alien dumped it’s gue into it, then you need to act fast. Green water is most likely caused by algae and it can quickly take over your entire tank. One of the main causes is the sun. If your fish tank aquarium is exposed to direct sunlight, then algae will start growing at a rapid pace.

Make sure you place your tank well away from direct sunlight at all times of the day and year. A UV Clarifier can help you solve your green water problem, but a proper water change and a good scrub down can help you fix this problem.

3. Smelly Water
No one wants a beautiful fish tank on display that smell bad. Fish tanks can easily start smelling if proper care is not taken. The bad small is most likely caused by high ammonia and nitrite levels in the water.

When there is excess waste in your tank, ammonia and nitrates can build up and cause the water to become toxic. This is what causes the bad smell. The first thing you need to do is to check your filter and make sure that it’s working properly and that it’s capacity is sufficient for your tank size. To get rid of the smell, you will need to do a water change.

By designing your tank properly you can prevent a lot of these water problems. Having a big enough tank, with proper filtration and optimum location you can keep your fish tank aquarium pretty much hassle free. A clean tank is not only important because it looks good, but in the end you have to provide a clean and safe environment for your fish to flourish.

Far to many fish keepers lose their fish too soon. For many first time fish keepers putting their first fish tank aquarium together, the thrill and excitement soon turns to horror when their new collection of fish don’t make it through the first week.

Your aquarium tank needs to provide the perfect conditions for your fish to survive. The water conditions are very sensitive and these fish need optimal conditions to be healthy. There’s usually very little warning and if you get it wrong you might know too late.

There’s 3 common mistakes that I see most newbies make when setting up their fish tank aquarium.

1. Going Too Small
Most people think that they want to start small and get a small tank. The problem is that with a small volume of water there’s virtually no room for error and even experienced aquarium keepers can struggle with small tanks. It’s just too hard to maintain optimal water conditions. With bigger tanks and bigger volumes of water it’s much easier to control the conditions. To play it safe, you should try and get at least a 20 gallon tank – especially if it’s your first tank aquarium. This will also give you enough room to keep a good collection of fish.

2.Not Letting The Water Stabilize
Aquarium kits are the new thing in the world of fish tank aquariums. These tanks come shipped and packaged as complete “plug and play” aquariums. Because of this many new tank keepers make the mistake of thinking they can just plug it in, add water and add the fish straight away.

Regardless of where you live, your tap water is filled with harmful chemicals that can potentially kill your new fish within the first 24 hours. Your tank needs to stabilize first. You need to treat the water to neutralize harmful chemicals and allow harmful gasses to escape. You should let your tank run for a day or two and test the water before you add your first fish.

3. Insufficient Filtration
The filter is the heart of your fish tank aquarium. It’s continuously circulating water to remove the waste particles that can pollute the water. Because the filter collects all the dirt it needs to be cleaned and replaced frequently to ensure that your tank maintains a clean environment for your fish.

The bigger the volume of water in your tank, the bigger a filtration system you will need. As a rule of thumb your filter needs to circulate all the water at least 3 times per hour. This should give you a good indication of which size to get, but if you are unsure always go one size up.

By avoiding these three mistakes you can quite easily set up your first fish tank aquarium with success. Keeping a healthy aquarium can be a challenge, but in the end the rewards are just so worth it. Make sure you know what you are doing before you do it and investing in a good aquarium book can be well worth the money.