Empty protein skimmer (the equipment in a saltwater tank to remove waste from, and add oxygen to, the water)
Weekly:
Clean glass cover or condensation tray (on top of aquarium to stop condensation from rising off warm aquarium water, to protect lights and wires)
Add any water needed to compensate for evaporation
Remove any algae from glass
Every 2 weeks:
Change water (amount changed depends on stocking level)
Remove dead leaves from live plants and trim if needed
Use water test kit to check pH, total alkalinity (pH), ammonia levels, nitrate and nitrite levels, specific gravity (for saltwater and brackish tanks, a measurement of the amount of salt dissolved compared with pure water), and filter flow (clean if needed)
Stir top of substrate and remove debris
Every 1 to 3 months:
Replace carbon in filter
Clean protein skimmer (marine saltwater tanks), filter pipework, and quartz sleeve of ultraviolet sterilizer (a device that uses ultraviolet light to sterilize the water by damaging the DNA of harmful microorganisms)
