Keep Your Aquarium Water Clean With Reverse Osmosis and Protein Skimmers

ByFerenda Quispe

One of the most important things for a well-functioning aquarium is clean water. Given that the aquarium water is standing still, waste from the fish and food accumulates easily and this provides an environment for harmful bacteria and toxic material to develop. The wastes also tamper with the PH level of the water by increasing the nitrates concentration in the water. This is why regular aquarium maintenance is necessary and crucial for the health of the fish. You can be able to detect this using the aquarium test kits but since you cannot keep on changing the water and to avoid any such incidence occurring, you will have to use reverse osmosis filters and protein skimmers.

These two are effective ways of keeping your aquarium clean and safe without you having to constantly be there checking and unsettling the fish. Starting with reverse osmosis, this is a basic filtering method that uses simple technology yet very effective. It works by having the water passed through different layers of barriers, which remove impurities and bacteria. From large particles to the smallest of impurities, this method provides clean pure water yet retains the most essential minerals. It also helps control the PH of the water in the tank. The aquarium water is thus ridden of the bacteria and viruses and the food particles and other wastes thus clearing up the water from cloudiness. The great part about the device is that it is affordable.

There are several such filtering devices in the market and you will have to select one that fits your budget, and also depending on the impurities you will be dealing with. When it comes to protein skimmers, these have the role of ridding your aquarium of organics, oils, and proteins, which facilitate the outbreak of algae and also harm the coral hindering their growth. The skimmers also have other functions in the aquarium, these include improving water clarity, improving dissolved oxygen, preventing the buildup of carbon dioxide, and lowering nutrients loads, which if unchecked could turn toxic. They thus save you much effort in aquarium maintenance, as you do not have to keep on cleaning the water. The skimmers function 24/7 and the only work you have to do is clean them at least once a week for improved performance.

The working of the skimmers depends on the bubble size and contact time. The smaller the bubble size the larger the surface area that can be cleaned meaning much of the waste is removed. On the other hand, the longer the contact time the skimmers have with incoming water, the more the waste and harmful organic matter is removed. The aquarium has to be kept clean yet too much physical maintenance unsettles the fish and also interferes with your time making the exercise tedious and unwelcome. However, with reverse osmosis, aquarium filters and protein skimmers, you can avoid this problem yet keep the aquarium clean. It is important to keep in mind that the larger part of maintenance is in getting the right quality accessories.

Ferenda Quispe is the author of this article on Aquarium Air Pumps.
Find more information, about Dosing Pumps here

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Saltwater Aquarium - How To Clean A Saltwater Aquarium

Introduction

If you have a saltwater aquarium on even a freshwater aquarium, it will need to be cleaned. The ocean, where your saltwater fish came from, is considered an open system and the tides and currents keep the water clean. But when you place your fish in an aquarium, you are putting them in a closed-system that you have to clean.

Your cleaning will remove waste from uneaten food and the waste generated by your fish. The cleaning will also remove water that you will replace with new water reducing any contaminants you have in your aquarium, such as nitrates.

Frequency Of Cleaning

Most Pros recommend cleaning at least 10% of your tank every two weeks. I perform this operation on my aquarium every week to keep my tank extra clean for my fish.

Equipment Needed

To clean your aquarium you will need several buckets. I have a 75-gallon aquarium and replace ten gallons every week. So I needed two five-gallon buckets to collect the waste water and two five-gallon buckets to allow for replacement water.

You will also need a siphon to clean the debris from the substrate and remove the water. These are relatively inexpensive and easy to operate.

First Step

The first thing you need to do is to unplug your filters and the heaters. As you remove the debris and water from the aquarium, the water level will drop and the filters will lose suction and quit operating. The drop in water level will also expose the heaters elements that could burn out.

I have mine plugged into a dual outlet plug so I de-energize both at the same time with one easy move.

Second Step

With the filters and heater unplugged, you can start siphoning the water. Place the suction end of the siphon below the substrate and the discharge end of the siphon in an empty bucket.

Start the siphon and move the siphon around beneath the substrate removing the debris and water.

Third Step

After removing 10% of the water and removing the debris put your replacement water in. Insure the replacement water has been de-chlorinated and that the specific gravity is between 1.020 and 1.025.

Also ensure the water temperature and pH are about the same if not just like what you have in your aquarium now.

Forth Step

After adding the replacement water you can re-energize the filters and the heaters.

Conclusion

Keeping your aquarium clean is a must. You should remove the debris and replace 10% of the water at least every two weeks.

J.W. Chase is an amateur Aquarist who has successfully been keeping both fresh and saltwater aquariums for over 35 years. He has extensive knowledge on how to manage an aquarium, keeping all his fish healthy and smiling. His web site has information on keeping salt water aquariums so if you want more tips, strategies and secrets on how to manage a saltwater aquarium go to his site http://homesaltwateraquariums.blogspot.com.

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How to Clean A Fish Tank Easily

Maintaining a fish tank should not cause you too much trouble as long as you know some of the tips for making the chore a bit easier. It's important to take on such a task in steps. So, you'll need to organize your cleaning so you first tackle the inside glass of the aquarium, followed by the plants and rocks and gravel. Once you are done cleaning the inside, you'll need to proceed with cleaning the outside glass, filter, and fixtures.

Clean the Inside Glass

So, start by scrubbing the inside glass with an algae pad or scraper. Make sure that you buy a pad at a pet store as pads used for cleaning in the kitchen can contain chemicals or soap that can hurt or kill fish. If residue has accumulated on the glass that is hard to remove, take time to scrape off the offending dirt by using a razor blade. If you have a fish tank made of acrylic, then you'll need to use a plastic blade.

Clean the Artificial Plants and Rocks

Once you've taken care of cleaning the inside glass, you'll need to remove the artificial plants and rocks that need to be cleaned. Again, use an algae scraper for the task. Avoid using detergent, which can kill aquarium fish. If you have a difficult time removing the debris, prepare a diluted solution of water and bleach (10%) for the items. Scrub off the dirt and rinse and dry naturally.

Clean Aquatic Plants

You can clean live plants with a 5% diluted solution of bleach and water, soaking the plants for a couple minutes before rinsing. In addition, make sure any bucket or container you use for cleaning has not been used previously. Again, soap is lethal to fish. So, you'll need to set aside a special bucket or container for cleaning the fish tank.

Clean the Gravel in the Tank with a Siphon and Vacuum

Clean the gravel in the tank with a vacuum and siphon, making sure that all dirt and debris are eliminated and removed.

Don't Clean the Glass with an Ammonia-based Cleaner

After the inside has been cleaned, you'll need to clean the outside of the aquarium, or the top, light and glass. Don't use a glass cleaner containing ammonia as ammonia, like soap, can kill your fish. Instead, use vinegar to clean the outside or a cleaner that has been certified as being safe for aquarium cleaning. After you use the vinegar or cleaner, rinse away the substance thoroughly.

Wait about Two Weeks before Cleaning or Replacing the Filter

Return the decorations-rocks and plants-to the fish tank after the above step. Don't clean the filter, however, until after about two weeks. That's because cleaning the fish tank can also upset the bacterial balance of the aquarium. Therefore, wait a couple weeks to clean or replace the filter. If the filter is made to absorb ammonia or if it contains carbon, then replace it if it is a month old. Mechanical filters should be carefully rinsed rather than replaced. Use a brush designed for filter cleaning to remove build-up in the tube and fish tank assembly.

Regular Maintain the Aquarium after its been Thoroughly Cleaned

After a thorough cleaning, you can keep your aquarium sparkling by scraping the glass each week, siphoning the debris from the gravel when you change the water, and making sure you clean away any algae as soon as it accumulates on the plants and rocks in the tank. Clean the filter or change it every four weeks.

Having a clean fish tank is very important for the well being of your fish. Take a look at FreshwaterAquariumFish.net for ideas on freshwater fish for your aquarium.

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Aquarium Filtration for Beginners: Keeping Your Fish Tank Clean

ByCarly K McGregor

Different filtration systems for freshwater aquariums

There are many types of filtration systems out there available to help you maintain a cleaner fish tank. They can be categorized into three main types. Bio-filters, Mechanical filters, and Chemical filters. Although there are many more out there, we will focus on some of our favorites that fall under these categories

Types of Filtration

Sponge filtration: sponge filtration uses a pump that draws air from outside the tank to push the tank water through a sponge which cleans the water of unwanted waste and debris by trapping it in the sponge. It is an excellent choice as the sponge allows for a healthy amount of bacteria growth that is essential for the break down of fish waste. It is an optimal type of filtration for tanks that are being used as quarantine for sick fish as they do not usually contain charcoal that can break down any medication that your fish may need. Sponge filters are also a great choice if you are breeding, as the sponge poses no danger of small fry being sucked into the filter. At the same time, the micro-organisms that grow on the sponge provide excellent nourishment for your fry. They are also easy to maintain and very inexpensive.

Under Gravel Filtration: Under gravel filtration is an excellent bio-filtration system that uses two tubes on each side of the tank. These tubes are attached to power heads or something similar to suck the water the water from the bottom of the tank up and then push it back down to bottom again causing the water to circulate in the tank from top to bottom then back to the top again. At the bottom of the tank lies a plate, grate or sponge. Gravel or similar substrate is then placed over the grate or sponge. When the water is pushed through the substrate, it filters the water trapping the debris in the gravel. Then you will vacuum the gravel to get rid of the unwanted waste. These filters are highly efficient and very inexpensive. However, they are not always the best choice alone for larger tanks but can be paired up with a hang on back filter.

Canister Filtration: a canister filter is a closed filtration system that typically sits beside or beneath your fish tank. Water is pushed through the canister leaving the solid waste and debris in the canister. Canister filters are your best option if you are dealing with larger debris. However this type of filtration requires more frequent cleaning. Typically every 2-4 weeks. You can significantly improve your filtration by placing a wet dry wheel at the outflow of the canister filter.

Power Filters: These are available as internal or external filtration systems. This means that the internal is in the tank and the external hangs on the outside of the tank. Because power filters use motorized pumps, the water flows at a much faster rate. Faster flow rates will dramatically improve the filtration of your tank. Internal power filters can be unsightly and hard to clean as you have to take them out of the tank where as the external power filters are easily accessed as they hang on the outside of the tank.

Activated Carbon: Activated carbon is a type of chemical filtration that you will want to use if you use if you are looking to get rid of foul odors or unwanted color in your tank water. Activated carbon is used to combat pollutants that biological and mechanical filtering can not as the pollutants are too small and easily slip through filters. These tank pollutants often come from fish medication, pollutants in the air as well waste produced by different biological processes. Activated carbon effectively absorbs unwanted chemicals and waste as well as detoxifying harmful gases. Use caution when using this type of filtration system as it will also absorb nutrients needed to sustain plant and invertebrate life.

As there are many options for your tank filtration, it is important that you do your research and choose the system that will be best for your tanks inhabitants.

My name is Carly McGregor and my goal is to provide helpful tips and information on how to easily maintain beautiful freshwater aquariums that will bring you years of enjoyment and relaxation. If you want to learn more about setting up and maintaining a beautiful freshwater aquarium visit us at http://www.completefreshwateraquariums.com

Happy Fishin'

Carly McGregor

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How To Keep a Pond Clean

Keeping a pond clean, whether it is a garden pond or fish pond, is a problem that almost every pond owner will consider to make the pond an attractive part of the landscape. There are many reasons to keep a pond clean.

Fish need a clean place to live and the water should be clear to make it easier to see the fish. The more fish we have, the greater the need to keep the water clean. Otherwise, it is just another small body of water with stuff in it that detracts from the value of your property. So it is important to consider and determine the best and most cost effective way to keep it clean.

There are several options:

1. Leave it alone and let Mother Nature take its course. This is what most of us pond owners do. It is easiest, can be effective and the water is usually kept clean enough for fish to live in and sometimes it can be used for recreation. Not a bad choice if the pond is large enough and does not have too many fish in it.

2. If you are considering building a pond or have a small pond, the easiest way to keep it clean is to make the pond as natural as possible. That means having enough water flow so that wastes can be naturally filtered out and debris will not collect on the surface.

Most of us have smallish ponds not big enough to be "natural", and none of us are going to dredge the pond, so we need some other way to clean the pond or modify it to take care of itself. Now that is what I am talking about.

3. Add some filtration systems. There are many systems on the market that will take wastes out of the water, kill algae and add oxygen that is beneficial to your fish. I use a sand filter and have had no problems with it and I use the backwash feature to control the water level.

4. Build some water treatments such as a waterfall or fountain to circulate the water and help put oxygen in the water. This will also make the pond more attractive and inviting. This, of course, will require some planning and out of pocket money, but the end result will be well worth the effort.

Clean water is vitally important to having healthy fish and an attractive addition to your home. I prefer to have water treatments that clean the water, add oxygen and be attention getting. If you have a pond, consider adding a waterfall to your pond. You will be able to enjoy the relaxing sound of running water and have an addition that people can enjoy year round.

Learning is absolutely necessary to get the most enjoyment out of it and to preserve the value it adds to your home. People enjoy it more and your fish and plants will be healthier. CLICK HERE and get more information about how to keep your pond clean and attractive.

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