Aquarium Water Cycling
Aquarium water is very important for the fish because fish spend their entire lives in water, it is the most important thing in the aquarium. Understanding of aquarium water and its components helps to maintain a very good aquarium. Basically there are 3 important aspects of the aquarium water; water temperature, pH and the levels of constituents in water.
Most tropical fish flourish and thrive in warmer waters. Although these fish are strong enough to withstand a wide temperature range, we see that warmer temperatures are best for tropical fish. As mentioned above, equipped with heating thermostat is a must if you have tropical fish in your aquarium. Also an easy to use thermometer is quite convenient. These all will help you to maintain and control a constant aquarium water temperature. Water temperature can also affect to a wide variety of chemical and biological processes in your aquarium.
The pH is a measure of alkalinity or acidity of a solution. The pH ranges from 0-14, where 14 is the most alkaline, and 0 is the most acidic. We live in a wide pH range, but the optimal pH values for many species are popular in a neutral pH 6.5 to 7.5.
nitrogen-cycle aquarium water
The hardness of water is another important factor. Water hardness refers to the minerals dissolved in water, especially calcium and magnesium. In most cases, you should be able to move forward without touching the water hardness. Water too soft can cause problems with your tropical aquarium. The addition of crushed coral increase water hardness. But keep in mind that the pH of the water will change too.
Dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are quite important elements in your aquarium water. They are main factors for the health of aquatic organisms in your aquarium. Life in the aquarium depends on the oxygen dissolved in water. The oxygen gas is absorbed by water. Turbulence on the surface of the water increases the absorption of oxygen. Plants in the aquarium give oxygen during photosynthesis, but this oxygen is used quickly. Such as fish and other animals in aquarium, plants need oxygen for breathing and plants consume some of the oxygen they produce.
Like all organisms in the aquarium – including microorganisms, invertebrates and fish – using the dissolved oxygen rapidly, it is necessary to keep your tank well ventilated area. Plants alone will not always provide enough oxygen especially in aquariums with populations of large fish.
Diseased plants and decaying, even increase the demand for oxygen in the aquarium. A ventilation system or simple and basic filtration is usually more than enough to provide enough oxygen for your aquarium. Regular water changes, vacuuming fish waste and to remove any decomposing plant material will also help increase the oxygen content.
Ammonia is produced by fish metabolism and is excreted in feces and gills of fish. Ammonia can also be produced from the aquarium when the plant material decomposes. Ammonia is highly toxic and can kill fish if the levels get high. Nitrites are made up of the aquarium when the ammonia is broken down by bacteria. Nitrites are also dangerous and unhealthy for the fish. Exposure to excess nitrite may be, for example, anemia and possibly kill the fish.
Nitrate is another compound of nitrogen and nitrate produced when nitrite is divided by another type of bacteria. High levels of nitrates are also toxic to fish, but most species are more resistant to nitrates in the direction of the ammonia and nitrite. You should strive to maintain the levels of ammonia and nitrite are zero, but low levels of nitrate will always be present in the aquarium and your task will be to keep nitrates under control rather than remove it completely. Taking a few simple precautions can do this. Never over-stock your aquarium. Never over-feed your fish. Never reject partial water changes. Never leave fish waste and dirt to collect in your aquarium.
WATER CONDITION :
Aquarium Water Conditioner
You should never add fish immediately after filling the tank. Give the aquarium water time to stabilize. The water is between the amount of toxins from chemical treatment, etc., and this can be very toxic to fish. Thus, the water is neutralized first. All the gases dissolved in water to escape for a few days, and the pH of the water is stabilized.
Tap water is not the natural habitat of fish. Tap water often contains high amounts of chlorine and other disinfectants. These harm fish, plants and other organisms need to grow in the aquarium. There are three basic ways to remove chlorine from water. Aeration of the water is distributed chlorine in the air. This can be achieved by filtration of water for 24 hours. The use of activated charcoal is another form of get rid of chlorine. Finally, the addition of sodium thiosulfate chlorine in the water instantly inactive. Sodium thiosulfate can also get rid of all traces of ammonia. When you add chemical water preparation, it is important to follow carefully the instruction.
Adding aquarium salt or kosher salt is also recommended if you keep the salt-tolerant fish such as reducing the risk of disease in your aquarium. Some tropical fish do not tolerate salt water, and you should research whether the types of fish you intend to keep in your aquarium salt-tolerant or not. If your fish tolerate salt, 1 tablespoon of salt for every 5 gallons / 20 liters of water is generally a good rule. Some species can tolerate low concentrations of salt. The most important thing to remember when adding salt is the salt concentration in water. When evaporation takes place, salt in water remains the same. The salt does not evaporate. So while the changes of water, just the salt that was removed must be replaced.
Check the pH of water in your home and then buy the fish that suitable with the condition of your water. Neutral pH is 7.0. In general, tropical fish can survive in a wide pH range. PH 6.4 to 7.9 is acceptable for a wide range of fish. Knowing the pH of your tap water is a definite advantage. Your geographic location affect the pH of the water.
Before you try to change the pH, there are some things taken into consideration. Even if you have studied the optimal pH for your favorite fish, you will need to assess whether you really need to change the current pH for the fish to survive and prosper. In most cases, the fish you buy come from an aquarium. So, they are used to the pH level which may be different than the pH levels which are natural to them. Stable pH is more important than reach an exact value of your aquarium water.