Freshwater Aquarium - The Proper Way To Replace Your Water

Introduction

If you have a freshwater aquarium, you know that you need to replace 10% of the water every week to remove debris and keep nitrates down. You also need to remove other chemicals, such as phosphates. Without water replacement your water will become dirty, even though it looks crystal clear, and will hold less oxygen.

There is a choice you can make. You can either replace part of the water daily, so you have replaced 10% by the end of the week, or replace the total amount every seven days.

It may surprise you, but replacing 10% of the water at one time is more effective than replacing a small amount everyday. Not only is it less work to replace the water weekly, but it is more effective. You remove more of the debris and chemicals using a weekly replacement regime.

Using nitrates as an example, here is the proof.

The Equation

The equation I will use to prove my point is:

C1 V1 C2 V2C1

Maintaining a Healthy Aquarium Using Proper Fish Treatment Methods

ByHarvey J Hamilton

There are many things to consider when it comes to maintaining a healthy fish tank. Medication for fish treatment depends on whether you have a Tropical, Coldwater or a Marine aquarium. For example, some medication affects the biological system which can kill certain bacteria required for a healthy aquarium. You must read the instruction manual carefully before you start any treatment.

You have to take into account the size of the fish tank. When treating fishes some certain type requires isolation and hence having a big fish tank is advisable. If you have a small size fish tank, it is highly recommended to buy a portable one as a backup in case you have to isolate certain fishes.

All problems in a fish tank are bacterial, parasitic and environmental in nature. The bacterial infection is characterised by white patches instead of spots and this is cured by using bacterial fish medicine. The parasitic infection can be easily identified as it is characterised by individual white spots on the fish and this can be cured by treating the water. The environmental infection is caused due to improper handling and maintenance of the aquarium. It can be easily prevented by constantly checking the water quality and maintaining fresh stock for the fishes all the time.

Cotton mouth is a type of bacterial infection and takes place due to poor water quality and improper diet. It spreads very easily and in cases causes the death of all the fishes in the tank. Symptoms of this disease are white colouring and disintegration on the fins. Treatment of this infection can be done through change of water, vacuuming the gravel, use of antibiotics, adding aquarium salt and discontinuing carbon filtration throughout the treatment.

Velvet or otherwise known as rust or gold disease is a type of parasitic infection. It is caused by a parasite that penetrates into the skin and gills of a fish and feed on the nutrients. After feeding and maturing it releases itself into the water and thereby creates an unhealthy water quality for the fishes. Symptoms such as rapid breathing, discolouration of skin, and peeling of the skin will occur. To treat this infection raise the water temperature, reduce lighting of the aquarium, use aquarium salt and discontinuing carbon filtration.

Ammonia poisoning is a type of environmental infection and occurs when too many new fishes are added to the tank. Symptoms of this disease can be detected when you notice the fishes gasping for breath on the water surface, gills will appear to bleed as a result of change in colour, fish laying at the bottom of the tank and red streaks on the body will appear. You can treat this by using chemicals that neutralises the ammonia and discontinuing feeding for a certain period of time.

If you are starting up a new fish tank using Evolution Aqua Pure Aquarium Bacteria Gel Balls as a treatment is advisable. It is a bacterial treatment which provides the required ammonia and nitrite in water to provide fishes with a clear and healthy environment. Take note that treating the water is important because poor water quality leads to all sort diseases for the marine life in the tank.

Your contributor Harvey J Hamilton is highly skilled in all things aquarium and has been advising customers for many years on the best aquarium fish treatments available. For anybody who is looking for fish disease treatments then reading the useful resources drafted by this writer will certainly help you to locate the best solutions available.

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Proper Aquarium Maintenance Is Vital for Healthy Fish

ByJeff Sebern

When purchasing an aquarium one must take into consideration aquarium maintenance. It is a major part of owning fish and something that frustrates many fish owners. Aquarium maintenance is important to keeping fish healthy and free of disease. Providing a proper environment for the fish to live in is very important. Fish require care on a daily basis just like cats and dogs do.

The first step in proper aquarium maintenance is keeping the water clean. Having a proper water filtration system is vital to keeping the water clean. Changing the water on a regular basis is also important. The frequency depends on several factors such as the type of filtration system in use, the size of the aquarium, as well as the type and number of fish in the aquarium. Some fish owners mistakenly change all the water in the aquarium which is not healthy for the fish. Only about 15% of the water should be changed out because the remaining water has important bacteria that are beneficial to the fish and vital to their survival.

Removing algae from the aquarium is another important task that should be done on a regular basis. Aquariums that get direct sunlight for all or even part of the day will have a much quicker buildup of algae than aquariums that do not get direct sun light. It is best for aquariums to be kept out of direct sunlight if possible. Whenever algae is visible it should be removed with an algae magnet or scraper.

The water temperature should be checked daily. Because the water temperature fluctuates throughout the day it is best to check the temperature at the same time of day to get consistent readings. Some prefer to check the water temperature once in the morning and once in the evening. One should ensure that the water temperature is roughly the same temperature each day. The water temperature can drop in the winter so a heater may be required to keep the temperature consistent.

An equipment check should be performed on a daily basis. Check to make sure the filter, lights and heater are all working properly. Also check the water to make sure it is not cloudy. Examine the fish each day. Watch them swim for a few minutes and look at their skin for signs of disease. Performing proper aquarium maintenance on a regular basis will ensure healthy and happy fish for many years.

Jeff Sebern provides complete custom aquarium service and installation in and around the San Antonio TX area.
Aquarium Maintenance San Antonio TX

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