Care and Maintenance

CARE AND MAINTENANCE
While our EcoAquariums are low maintenance, they are not “no” maintenance.  If properly maintained, the aquarium will clean and condition itself with very little care.  We do recommend, however, that our EcoAquarium owners replenish and replace the water from time to time, and occasional cleaning may be necessary.

Replenishing
Each of the EcoAquariums comes with a lid, which not only helps to keep your little pets inside but also limits evaporation.  When water does evaporate, however, it is necessary to replenish the water.
What you need
  • Fresh, room temperature, natural spring water
Directions
  • Remove carefully the top of the aquarium.
  • Pour slowly room temperature, natural spring water until the aquarium is again full.  As long as the aquarium is not going to be moved, you can fill it up to within a 0.5 inch (1.25 cm) of the very top.
  • Replace firmly the top of your aquarium.

Replacing
Sometimes, your EcoAquarium water may become slightly cloudy due to an imbalance in the eco-system (see FAQ) or other reason.  When this happens, the remedy may simply be a fresh dose of spring water.  We recommend replacing the water prior to cleaning to determine if this solves your issue.  As well, even if your aquarium remains clean as it should, we recommend that you replace the aquarium water every four months. 
What you need
  • Fresh, room temperature, natural spring water
  • Cooking (turkey) baster or small scooping cup
Directions
  • Remove carefully the top of the aquarium.
  • Remove 3/4 of the water using a cooking baster to suck out the water and any debris floating in the water.  There is no need to remove any of the components or the aquatic wildlife from the aquarium while doing this.
  • Pour slowly room temperature, natural spring water until the aquarium water level is 0.5 inch (1.25 cm) from the top.  It is best to pour the water carefully over the bamboo stalk in order to avoid stirring the gravel on the bottom.
  • Replace firmly the top of your aquarium.

Cleaning
Debris will form in the “Living Gravel” of the EcoAquarium even while the water and top layer is completely clean.  This is natural (it is an eco-system after all) and is not bad for the system.  It is in fact the debris which is providing nutrients for the “Living Gravel”.  It is possible, however, to remove excess debris without disturbing the eco-system environment. 
As well, if components of the EcoAquarium are not working properly, the aquatic wildlife is overfed, or the EcoAquarium is kept near sunlight or bright lights, the EcoAquarium may become imbalanced (see FAQ) and dirty.  When this happens, it is necessary to clean your EcoAquarium.
What you need
  • Fresh, room temperature, natural spring water (at least one gallons)
  • Clean bowl
  • Fish net
  • Clean colander or sifter
  • Clean towel or paper towels
Directions
  • Wash your hands thoroughly using antibacterial soap.
  • Remove carefully the top of the aquarium.
  • Prepare a small clean bowl of fresh, room temperature spring water.
  • Remove with a fish net the aquatic animals and place them in the small bowl of water.
  • Remove the snails and place them in the small bowl water.
  • Remove the bamboo, wipe clean with a clean cloth or paper towel, and place in the small bowl of water. While it fine to have long leaves on your bamboo, you may trim the leaves of the bamboo by peeling off the unwanted leaves as desired.  You may also trim the roots by simply cutting them down so that short stubs remain.  Do NOT cut, trim or otherwise break the outer skin of the bamboo stalk.
  • Remove all of the components of the EcoAquarium and place them aside.
  • Pour the remaining gravel into the colander or sifter.
  • Pour very lightly natural spring water over the gravel to remove any debris in the gravel.  Shake the gravel and repeat as needed.  Do NOT wash or scrub the gravel, and do NOT use anything other than natural spring water to rinse.
  • Rinse the aquarium with natural spring water.  Use a clean towel or paper towel to wipe the inside of the aquarium to remove any algae that has not been cleaned by the snail.
  • Wipe clean decorative rocks, pebbles, and other decorations with a clean towel or paper towel.  
  • Pour gravel back into the aquarium.  It is fine that the “living” and decorative gravel is mixed.  
  • Insert the bamboo into the corner of the aquarium by firmly pressing the top of the bamboo stalk to drive it down into the gravel.  Anchor the bamboo by firmly pressing the large decorative rock into the same corner.  Replace all decorations.
  • Pour slowly room temperature, natural spring water until the aquarium water level is 0.5 inch (1.25 cm) from the top.
  • Replace the snails and aquatic animals using a fish net.
  • Replace firmly the lid on the aquarium.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly using antibacterial soap.

Important Notes   
You will notice that after replenishing, replacing or cleaning, some debris will be floating in the water.  This is natural and indeed necessary, as it provides nutrients for the “Living Gravel”.  The debris will soon settle and reconstitute in the EcoAquarium.  As long as the eco-system environment is not disrupted, all of the components will go to work to clean and condition the water! 
 
It is important to only use natural spring water when cleaning and replenishing aquarium water.  Tap and distilled water could cause a disruption to the eco-system environment, and even filtered drinking water has high levels of chlorine.  While any of these types of water can be treated and conditioned for the EcoAquarium, it is just easier and safer to use natural spring water.  And, of course, the water must be room temperature or warmer (between 70-84F/22-29C).

Still have questions?  Please contact us anytime! 

We look forward to hearing from you.

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