First, you should know that, despite what most people think, fish really do need to be cared for daily. Besides feeding the fish, you should check the water temperature daily. Keep in mind that the temperature will naturally change slightly during the day, so don’t panic if it raises a few degrees. Most fish can handle slight changes in water temperature, but if the temperature drops or rises drastically, they can become sick, or even die. For this reason I recommend buying a heater for your fish tank. Also you should check all equipment daily, ensuring that everything is in proper working order. If anything is broken, replace it as soon as possible. You should also check the quality of the water daily. If the water is cloudy or dirty, replace it.

Not all fish tank maintenance has to be done daily. Some tasks can be done weekly or even monthly. If you have live plants in your fish tank, ensure that you remove all dead parts and leaves of the plant. Also, if your plants start to grow out of control, and begin affecting your fish negatively, trim the plants back. Depending on the amount and type of fish you have, water needs to be changed weekly to monthly. There are two ways to do this. The easiest, in my opinion, is removing your fish and placing them in a smaller container.

Ensure that the water you use is safe for your fish. Some fish cannot survive in tap water, and need distilled water. Once you have removed the fish, either dump out the water, or pump it out. Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to remove all the water, but rather about 20-50% of it. The next way, which may be easier if you have a water pump, is to divide your tank into two sections, using a stiff plastic divider. Put your fish on one side, and clean the other side, using the same methods mentioned previously.

The Dwarf Amazon Swordplant

This aquarium plant generally grows up to around 20 centimeters. If you buy it young, you’ll have an attractive plant, perfect for the foreground of the aquarium, and it’s a slow grower, so you won’t need to replace it soon. As with most sword plants, the Dwarf Amazon has broad leaves and is quite attractive.

The Dwarf Japanese Rush

This exotic beauty comes from Eastern Asia. It’s height reaches to about 10 centimeters which like the swordplant gives makes a great foreground plant for your aquarium. The Dwarf Japanese Rush does quite well in cold water, making it ideal for all sorts of aquariums. In terms of looks it’s something like broad blade grass, and is a perfect spot for the small fish in your aquarium to hide from the bigger guys.

Needlegrass

This is also known as hairgrass, and grows up to about 20 centimeters, and as its name implies its leaves are narrow - kind of hair like. As it matures, the needlegrass develops dark, small bud clusters which add to it’s appearance as an aquarium plant, but do keep in mind that this plant needs high lighting.

Java Moss

This is a favorite of many aquarium owners. The Java Moss has numerous branches, each with lots of small leaves on them, but what makes the Java Moss so popular is its habit of clinging to driftwood, rocks, and tank decorations. This can really give your aquarium an exotic touch, just remember that like the needlegrass it needs good lighting, and you’ll also have to take care to protect it from algae.

These four plants will make your fish feel at home, but most of all, will make your aquarium all the more attractive for fish gazers.

The easiest way to execute a proper fish tank cleaning is to purchase an algae pad or scraper. These pads are completely safe for the fish, and work very well. Simply clean as you normally would, but just don’t use any harsh chemicals or soaps.

Keep in mind that bleach is actually safer to fish than soap is, so if you have a tough section, consider using bleach on it. Other than that, there’s not much else to know but by following the tips above you should be able to keep your fish tank nice and clean.