Quick And Easy Beginners Guide! – Common Beginner Mistakes
Good news: once your tank is running, maintenance is simple. The goal is to keep water clean and fish healthy — without making it tiring.
A new tank needs time to grow “good bacteria.” Too many fish too soon = water becomes unsafe.
Tap water can harm fish and kill good bacteria.
Every time you add tap water, add anti-chlorine.
No exceptions.
Extra food rots and creates waste fast. This is one of the fastest ways to ruin water.
Beginner rule: Slightly hungry fish are safer than overfed fish.
Your filter is the tank’s “engine” and home for good bacteria. If it’s off too long, bacteria can weaken.
Tap water can kill the good bacteria living in your filter.
Too much light often leads to algae.
Clear water can still have invisible waste building up.
Stick to the easy routine:
Big sudden changes can stress fish and make the tank unstable.
Change one thing at a time:
✅ Reduce feeding + do 20–30% water change + keep filter on
✅ Shorten light hours + avoid direct sunlight + weekly water change
✅ Test water (ammonia/nitrite) + check temperature + check flow
If you tell our That Aquarium staff what you’re unsure of, we’ll be sure to help wherever we can!
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Author: Kelvin Phua
Illustrator(s): Rong Sheng