To ensure a healthy and clean environment for your aquatic life, you should generally fill your aquarium up to an inch below the trim.
Why Fill Just Below the Trim?
Following this guideline helps prevent common issues associated with an overfilled tank. Based on expert advice:
- Splashing: The natural movement of water, especially with aeration systems or filters, creates bubbles and surface disturbance. Keeping the water level slightly lower prevents these splashes from going over the edge of the tank.
- Containment: Aquarium species, including fish and invertebrates, can sometimes exhibit jumping behavior. A lower water level adds a small buffer zone, reducing the risk of them escaping the tank.
- Equipment: Internal filters, heaters, and other equipment often have minimum and maximum water level indicators. Filling to just below the trim usually aligns well with the operational requirements of most standard aquarium equipment.
Maintaining the water level about an inch from the top trim ensures that the water stays inside the tank while still providing adequate volume for your aquatic inhabitants. Regularly check the water level and top it off as needed due to evaporation.
