Where the journey begins.

The freshwater rhythm.

Freshwater keeping rewards patience, not equipment. Feed lightly, change a little water often, and let the bacteria do the biology. Most problems come from doing too much, not too little.

🌡 75–80°F💧 15–25% every two weeks

Daily

A few quiet minutes

Check equipmentConfirm the filter is running and the heater light is on.
Verify temperatureTypical tropical range: 75–80°F.
Observe fish behaviourClamped fins, hiding or gasping are early warning signs.
Feed appropriatelyOnly what fish can finish in about 2–3 minutes.

Every Two Weeks

Water changes & cleaning

Replace 15–25% of the waterUse a gravel vacuum to siphon while you remove water.
Treat replacement waterAdd an appropriate dechlorinator to new tap water before it enters the tank.
Clean algaeWipe the glass and gently clear décor — leave some algae for grazing species.
Vacuum the substratePass the siphon over the substrate surface as needed to lift waste.

Monthly

Testing & deeper maintenance

Test ammonia, nitrite and nitrateTargets: ammonia 0 ppm · nitrite 0 ppm · nitrate generally below 20 ppm.
Maintain filter mediaRinse biological media in removed aquarium water — never untreated tap water, which harms nitrifying bacteria.
Trim aquatic plantsTrim overgrown stems and remove dying leaves to keep the layout healthy.

Test targets

Numbers to aim for when your test kit asks.

Ammonia

0 ppm

Any reading means the cycle is broken — act immediately

Nitrite

0 ppm

Toxic even at low levels

Nitrate

< 20 ppm

Lower is better; water changes keep it down

6.5 – 7.5

Stable matters more than exact — most community fish adapt

General guidelines — species-specific requirements override these numbers. Always research your specific livestock.

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