Overfeeding is one of the fastest ways to damage or kill an aquarium.
Too much food does not just “feed the fish.” It rots in the tank, pollutes the water, clogs the filter, fuels algae, and can crash the whole system fast. Underfeeding is usually easier for us to catch during service because fish may lose weight, act shy, or fail to thrive over time. Overfeeding can damage the entire tank much faster.
Feed tiny amounts 1–2 times per day.
Only add what the fish can eat immediately. Pause 2–3 minutes between small pinches if needed.
Food should find it’s way into the fish’s mouth quickly — not float everywhere, not into the gravel, filter, rocks, plants, decorations, or behind the aquascape.
If any of that happens, reduce the amount immediately.
Turn down or briefly pause strong water flow during feeding if food is blowing away. Feed shy fish directly when needed. Remove visible leftovers within 5–10 minutes.
For frozen food, thaw it first and feed in small pinches. Do not dump frozen cubes directly into the tank.
Rotate quality foods when appropriate, such as pellets, frozen food, and seaweed for fish that need it. For new or shy fish, dim the lights, feed in more than one spot, or use a feeding ring to keep food contained.
A little less food is usually safer than a little too much. Healthy feeding keeps fish active, water clear, filters cleaner, and the entire aquarium more stable.
Match temp/salinity, go slow, keep lights low.
Method A: Float & Add (standard).
Method B: Drip (option).
Corals & inverts: Prefer drip 45–60 min; keep temp stable, avoid harsh light shocks.
Fast breathing, white spots/fuzz, flashing, clamped fins, red streaks, not eating, etc.
Regular service keeps your aquarium on track, but no maintenance plan can replace basic day-to-day care between visits.
Aquariums are living systems. Conditions can change quickly due to feeding, equipment failure, power loss, temperature swings, livestock aggression, evaporation, clogged intakes, or changes in fish behavior. Because we are not present every day, the client is responsible for basic observation and care between scheduled visits.
Equipment & Water Movement
Make sure the heater, pumps, filters, air stones, and water movement are working normally. The water should be circulating, and the fish should have proper oxygen/aeration.
Temperature
Check that the aquarium temperature is in the normal range for your system. A stuck heater, failed heater, or unplugged equipment can harm livestock quickly.
Fish Behavior
Look for normal swimming, breathing, appetite, and behavior. Watch for signs of stress, injury, bullying, hiding, gasping, disease, or fish not eating.
Feeding
Feed small, observed portions only. Food should be eaten immediately. Remove visible leftovers when possible. Overfeeding can pollute the water quickly and may crash the entire aquarium.
Water Level / Top-Off
Top off freshwater as directed, especially on open-top systems or saltwater aquariums where evaporation changes salinity. Do not add saltwater for evaporation unless we specifically instruct you to.
Covers & Jumpers
Keep lids, screens, and covers secured, especially for fish known to jump.
Salt Creep, Intakes & Obstructions
Keep salt creep, debris, and obvious blockages away from filters, overflows, pumps, and intakes when safe to do so.
Please reach out as soon as possible if you notice cloudy water, unusual odor, dead or missing fish, heavy algae change, equipment not running, leaking, loud pumps, abnormal temperature, fish gasping, fish fighting, disease symptoms, or anything that seems urgent.
Waiting several days can turn a small issue into a major loss.
FishGuys is responsible for performing the agreed service during scheduled visits, using professional care, and advising you when we see problems.
The client is responsible for normal observation, proper feeding, notifying us of concerns, and following care instructions between visits.
We cannot guarantee livestock or water quality when problems occur between visits and are not reported promptly, when feeding instructions are not followed, or when equipment is turned off, unplugged, blocked, altered, or allowed to fail without notice.
Good daily husbandry plus professional service gives your aquarium the best chance to stay healthy, clean, and stable.
FishGuys guarantee coverage only applies to livestock purchased from Nature’s Kingdom LLC – DBA FishGuys
FishGuys Members
Pay-As-You-Go or One-Time Service Clients or Delivery (with testing/acclimation package included)
Delivery / Drop-Off Clients or Store Showcase Purchase
Before approving coverage, we review our service records, water test notes, tank-health observations, photos/videos, and technician notes. This usually includes pH, KH/alkalinity, salinity/specific gravity, water clarity, fish behavior, and whether equipment appeared to be running properly.
If the tank shows signs of stress, water-quality issues, equipment issues, or an unsafe environment, the guarantee may not apply. If you would like a short summary of what we reviewed, just ask and we’ll share it.
The guarantee is designed to cover livestock issues under normal, properly maintained conditions. It does not cover losses caused by outside factors, unsafe tank conditions, or issues beyond FishGuys’ control.
Coverage does not apply to:
Outside fish / non-quarantined fish:
Fish purchased from another store, website, or private seller are considered outside or non-QT fish unless FishGuys approved them in advance. Adding outside fish can introduce disease or parasites into the aquarium, so it places guarantee coverage on hold for 90 days.
This does not mean you cannot buy fish elsewhere. It simply means FishGuys cannot guarantee livestock in a system where outside, non-approved animals may have introduced risk.
Approved guarantee claims are handled as either a replacement or store credit.
Our goal is to be fair and helpful while also protecting the health of the aquarium. If something goes wrong, contact us as soon as possible with photos or video so we can review the situation quickly.
