Who Gives A Fish Forums

A while back, I came across a post from @coltin where he shared his freshwater fish tank routine. It was quite impressive, to be honest. Here's how he did it:

He had a whole fish room at home with 40 tanks, and every week, he'd do water changes and clean the gravel in all of them. Filters were cleaned once a month, and the same went for the tank covers and glass.

He also had these holding tanks for water, which he'd dechlorinate and adjust according to the needs of his different fish. For example, he'd add Rift Lake water conditioner to some tanks to increase the GH, KH, and pH for his Rift Lake cichlids. He'd use a lower dose of this water for his rainbowfish, while his tetras and barbs got plain water since Perth typically has soft water. And for his salamanderfish, he'd add peat to the water to lower the pH and add tannins.

Routines are essential in fishkeeping. They help you stay on top of things, like checking for dead fish, feeding them at the right time, and so on. I've started doing a routine with my dad, where we occasionally vacuum the gravel, check on the fish, and turn on the lights for a bit if we notice any signs of disease. My tetras have outlived my dwarf gourami, and I plan to care for them until the end. Routines are all about knowledge and experience, and they're really valuable in this hobby.

Establishing routines is crucial in my book. I've got a whiteboard in my fishroom to keep track of water change dates. My tanks are divided into 7 and 10-day cycles, depending on the bioload and fish requirements. Missing a water change isn't an option for me.

I'm not too fussed about filters, thanks to the wide-pored media that allows for maximum flow and colonization by archaea and bacteria. I clean the glass and filters as needed during water changes. However, I do have a unique challenge - for half the year, my tap water is freezing cold, so I need to mix it with warm water. Given my small water tank, I've divided the room into sections and tackle one at a time. I prefer doing water changes in the early morning before getting into other activities. A section a day keeps the nitrates at bay.

Consistent water changes have been a game-changer - I rarely encounter diseases, and my fish usually live out their days without any major issues.

My process is straightforward: drain, add dechlorinator, clean the glass, and fill. I've got a larger hose connected to a floor drain for easy emptying (which goes to the garden in summer) and another hose for filling. Feeding the fish is also part of the routine, especially since I have a lot of live food that needs attention.

Once the basics are covered, I can focus on the fun stuff - fishwatching, breeding, aquascaping, and special projects. As a retiree with a light work schedule, I usually wrap up my fishroom tasks by 10 AM and have the rest of the day to enjoy other activities.

I completely agree with establishing routines in fishkeeping. For me, it's all about consistency - I stick to my Sunday morning and Wednesday night water change schedule, and it seems to be working well for my fish. I've been fortunate in that I rarely encounter disease-related issues, and most of my losses are due to aggression rather than illness.