When you are a beginner, you put in a lot of efforts to set up the aquarium.
After introducing a few varieties of fish in it, you start enjoying the hobby.
However, in a few days the water in the aquarium gets polluted, and the fish will die.
Sometimes the algae will over-crowd your aquarium or the snails will multiply and eat up everything.
You are not sure what went wrong.
You made a sincere effort in setting up the whole thing and now you are expecting a clean and sparkling aquarium with lively fish gracefully swimming around.
What can be the reason? If such a thing happens, do not get excited.
There is no use running to the pet shop and getting some irrelevant solutions.
That will spoil the things further.
Sometimes people think of another option which they think is the best.
They will clean the aquarium totally and will start the whole process once again.
This is another mistake.
You need to think sensibly and get rid over the problem.
This is possible if you understand the basic concepts of fish keeping.
Here are some common causes of deaths of your fish in the aquarium and possible solutions - 1.
Considerable increase in the levels of toxic chemicals This is a routine cause of deaths.
Chemicals like nitrites and ammonia start building up in the aquarium water.
Perhaps the reason for sudden increase in the levels of toxic chemicals is introduction of too many fish in the aquarium at a time.
If you do not set up a robust maintenance cycle for cleaning the aquarium, the introduction of fish in large quantities will spoil the environment quickly and many fish species will not be able to cope with that change.
2.
Trouble amongst the fish community Some types of fish are aggressive in nature.
They will fight with other fish.
For example, tiger barbs are famous for such behavior.
That will give stress to other fish in the tank.
That can be the reason of death of some of them.
When you set up your first fish tank, have another small tank nearby as a spare one.
Observe the behavior of the fish community in the main tank.
You can shift the aggressive ones in another tank.
3.
Changing the aquarium water totally The water in the aquarium must be changed from time to time.
However you cannot change the entire stock of water at one time.
You should change the water gradually.
You should treat the water before introducing in the tank.
You can take out some water from the tank and replace it.
If you are changing the water entirely or if you introduce the fresh water without treating it, the levels of nitrites will go up and your fish will not be able to tolerate it.
4.
Adding tap water directly in the aquarium The water you get in your house usually contains chlorine or chloramines.
If you keep that water aside for one day, the chlorine dissolved in the water will be released and the water will become cleaner.
You need to buy specific chemicals for removing chloramines from the water.
If you do not take these precautions, the newly added water will harm the fish.
5.
Overfeeding the fish in enthusiasm As a beginner, you may be tempted to offer more and more food to your fish.
Most of the fish varieties will eat whatever is offered to them.
If you are not strict on the quantity of food to be offered at a time, you may go on feeding endlessly.
The fish may not eat all of that food.
Many food particles will just accumulate at the bottom of the tank and they will start decaying.
Soon they will contaminate the water.
In addition, due to overfeeding, the fish will have swollen stomach.
They do not have any mechanism in their body to realize that they are full.
So they will go on eating and will get sick and die.
These are some of the probable causes for the sudden death of fish.
There are some easy ways to prevent such deaths.
Check regularly levels of toxic chemicals in the water.
Change the water gradually but regularly.
While feeding the fish, observe the fish carefully.
Never offer them food in excess of their needs.
If you feel that you have overfed them inadvertently, then reduce the quantity of food from next time, clean up the gravel and replace some of the water.
If there is overcrowding of fish, the simple solution is to shift some of the fish to another aquarium.
Remember, regular observation and sensible maintenance effort is required on your part so that the fish can enjoy a clean and healthy environment.
After introducing a few varieties of fish in it, you start enjoying the hobby.
However, in a few days the water in the aquarium gets polluted, and the fish will die.
Sometimes the algae will over-crowd your aquarium or the snails will multiply and eat up everything.
You are not sure what went wrong.
You made a sincere effort in setting up the whole thing and now you are expecting a clean and sparkling aquarium with lively fish gracefully swimming around.
What can be the reason? If such a thing happens, do not get excited.
There is no use running to the pet shop and getting some irrelevant solutions.
That will spoil the things further.
Sometimes people think of another option which they think is the best.
They will clean the aquarium totally and will start the whole process once again.
This is another mistake.
You need to think sensibly and get rid over the problem.
This is possible if you understand the basic concepts of fish keeping.
Here are some common causes of deaths of your fish in the aquarium and possible solutions - 1.
Considerable increase in the levels of toxic chemicals This is a routine cause of deaths.
Chemicals like nitrites and ammonia start building up in the aquarium water.
Perhaps the reason for sudden increase in the levels of toxic chemicals is introduction of too many fish in the aquarium at a time.
If you do not set up a robust maintenance cycle for cleaning the aquarium, the introduction of fish in large quantities will spoil the environment quickly and many fish species will not be able to cope with that change.
2.
Trouble amongst the fish community Some types of fish are aggressive in nature.
They will fight with other fish.
For example, tiger barbs are famous for such behavior.
That will give stress to other fish in the tank.
That can be the reason of death of some of them.
When you set up your first fish tank, have another small tank nearby as a spare one.
Observe the behavior of the fish community in the main tank.
You can shift the aggressive ones in another tank.
3.
Changing the aquarium water totally The water in the aquarium must be changed from time to time.
However you cannot change the entire stock of water at one time.
You should change the water gradually.
You should treat the water before introducing in the tank.
You can take out some water from the tank and replace it.
If you are changing the water entirely or if you introduce the fresh water without treating it, the levels of nitrites will go up and your fish will not be able to tolerate it.
4.
Adding tap water directly in the aquarium The water you get in your house usually contains chlorine or chloramines.
If you keep that water aside for one day, the chlorine dissolved in the water will be released and the water will become cleaner.
You need to buy specific chemicals for removing chloramines from the water.
If you do not take these precautions, the newly added water will harm the fish.
5.
Overfeeding the fish in enthusiasm As a beginner, you may be tempted to offer more and more food to your fish.
Most of the fish varieties will eat whatever is offered to them.
If you are not strict on the quantity of food to be offered at a time, you may go on feeding endlessly.
The fish may not eat all of that food.
Many food particles will just accumulate at the bottom of the tank and they will start decaying.
Soon they will contaminate the water.
In addition, due to overfeeding, the fish will have swollen stomach.
They do not have any mechanism in their body to realize that they are full.
So they will go on eating and will get sick and die.
These are some of the probable causes for the sudden death of fish.
There are some easy ways to prevent such deaths.
Check regularly levels of toxic chemicals in the water.
Change the water gradually but regularly.
While feeding the fish, observe the fish carefully.
Never offer them food in excess of their needs.
If you feel that you have overfed them inadvertently, then reduce the quantity of food from next time, clean up the gravel and replace some of the water.
If there is overcrowding of fish, the simple solution is to shift some of the fish to another aquarium.
Remember, regular observation and sensible maintenance effort is required on your part so that the fish can enjoy a clean and healthy environment.
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