Aquarium Care

If you want to have healthy fish, you need to have the right type of water in your fish tank. Many people who are just beginning to set up a fish tank don’t understand how important it is to test your water and treat it for any imbalances. You need to have the right water for your fish.

Different fish have different requirements when it comes to the condition of the water that they will do best in. It is always a good idea to test your water for the pH, gH, and kH levels and try to get fish that thrive in water similar to the water that you already have. This will mean less work for you when it comes to fish tank water treatment.

Tap water tends to be the best type of water for your freshwater fish tanks, but it does need some treatment before it can be used. Chlorine is not good for fish, so you need to remove the chlorine from the water before adding it to your tank. You can use a conditioner as a way to try to correct any imbalances in your water and add beneficial substances. This type of fish tank water treatment is common. It will get rid of the chlorine. You can also leave tap water sitting out for 24 hours to get rid of chlorine, though this will not correct any other imbalances.

If the pH of your water is not at the right level, or is not remaining stable, you might need to do a fish tank water treatment in order to correct this. Sometimes this can be as simple as mixing a small amount of spring water in with the tank water. Other times you will need to treat whatever is causing the pH fluctuation.

You also need to make sure that the kH, or concentration of carbonates and bicarbonates, in your water is at the proper level. These help to buffer the water so that the pH stays more constant, otherwise as time goes on it will get acidic. There are a number of different options you can use for fish tank water treatment if you have high or low kH levels, including various chemicals you can purchase at the store.

You gH is the general hardness of your water. Some fish prefer harder water and some prefer softer water. You can use peat moss to soften the water, or add rocks to help harden the water. The simplest thing to do is get fish that suit the water that you already have so you don’t need to do too much treatment of your water.

Dustin Williams is a writer and hobbyist who has kept aquarium fish for several years. He has learned much about owning a home aquarium from reading books and personal experience. To learn more about proper fish tank water treatment please visit HomeAquariumSupplies.com.

Technorati Tags: Aquarium, Aquarium Fish, aquarium water conditioner, Aquariums, Beneficial Substances, Bicarbonates, Carbonates, Chemicals, Chlorine, Concentration, Fish, Fish Tank, fish tank water conditioner, Fish Tanks, Fluctuation, Freshwater Fish, Freshwater Fish Tanks, Gh, home aquariums, Kh, pets, Spring Water, Tank Water, Tap Water, Type Of Fish, Type Of Water, Water Tank, Water Tap, Water Treatment

Just like how you need fresh, clean air to breathe, so do the fish in your aquarium. Thus, water treatment and purification is essential in keeping your aquarium safe for your fish. One of the devices that can help you do that is a protein skimmer. Through this device, you take out organic wastes from the water and keep them from becoming ammonia and nitrates that can harm your fish.

A protein skimmer is a device that initiates the process of foam fractionation or protein skimming. Basically, this involves the process of injecting air bubbles into the water supply to remove dissolved organic compounds. When the air bubbles come in contact with the water, the impurities in the water stick with the air bubbles and rise up as foam on the surface. The foam can then be collected and removed from the water supply. The sludge and the scum that results from this can be removed through a collection reservoir designed for this function. This leaves the water in the aquarium clean and sanitized.

There are several methods on how to do this, but the general considerations are that the water and air bubbles should have longer contact with each other to ensure maximum filtration. Another thing to note is the amount and size of the air bubbles produced by the protein skimmer. More bubbles and bubbles sized at 0.5 to 1 mm. are optimal.

There are three general types of protein skimmers you can choose from. These are counter current, venturi, and turbo protein skimmers.

A counter current skimmer works by blowing air bubbles against the water flowing in a different direction. For this to work, you will need a separate water and air pump. You need a long tube to ensure full contact between the water and air bubbles. Since this is usually placed inside the aquarium, the length of the tube is decided by the height of the aquarium.

Venturi protein skimmers depend on water pressure and a venturi tube for filtration. Water is pressurized and then shot into a venturi tube. The venturi tube is narrow at one point of the tube, and has an air intake tube near the constriction point. As pressurized water is forced through, this creates a difference in pressure, which sucks in air from the intake tube and creates the air bubbles. The water flows through a reservoir, which increases contact or dwell between the air bubbles and the water for better water purification. The advantage to this type is that you only need a water pump, and that it has more dwell time, which makes for more effective water treatment.

Turbo protein skimmers, also called needle wheel skimmers, work by combining air and water then forcing them through a blade to create air bubbles. The water and air mixture are forced through the blade, then through a reservoir by a water pump. As the water is forced up through a tube, it creates more contact between the water and air bubbles for better water purification.

Aside from the three qualities of a good protein skimmer, you also need to consider its installation. You should look for one that can be easily integrated with your current filtration system. You also have to look at the additional equipment that you need to get, like water pumps or air pumps. Placement is also important, such as whether it’s in-tank or hanging out from the rim.

Another consideration is price. Of course, the more expensive ones are more effective. It would depend on how much you’re willing to shell out for a protein skimmer. You do need to remember that having a good protein skimmer ensures that water purity in your aquarium, which means fewer water changes and a healthier environment for your fish.

Guss Fitzgerald is an expert author and aquarium owner. He has gained a great understanding of aquarium protein skimmers and other aquarium products from his several years of experience owning aquarium fish. To learn more about proper aquarium maintenance please visit MarineDepot.com.

Technorati Tags: Air Bubbles, Ammonia, Aquarium, Aquarium Fish, aquarium fish supplies, Aquarium Supplies, Aquariums, Bubbles And Bubbles, Filtration Water, Fish, Fish One, Fish Supplies, Foam Fractionation, Full Contact, home, Impurities, Maximum Filtration, Nitrates, Organic Compounds, Organic Wastes, pets, Protein Skimmer, Protein Skimmers, Sludge, Venturi Tube, Water Pressure, Water Supply, Water Treatment

by Ruby Bayan, OurSimpleJoys.com

Green Algae

Problems with algae are some of the most common concerns I hear about. Below are actual questions posted by our visitors, followed by my suggested solutions.

~ Green Water ~

Question: I have just performed a water change to my 230l tank, and the water has turned into a greenish hue. Nitrate levels are okay, I tested them. Could you tell me why this has happened? Will it harm the fish? – Therese

Answer: Hi Therese, green water doesn’t harm fish — and some people actually like the color. It’s an algae bloom. You may be exposing your tank to too much light. And there’s enough nutrients in the water to feed the algae. If you don’t like the greenish color, you can reduce the lights a bit, do another water change, or add plants to absorb the nutrients that feed the algae. You may also want to consider using a diatomaceous filter.

Follow-up Question: I still have that green water problem which started about 2 weeks ago. I have been keeping the neon light of the aquarium off, and I have performed a 50% water change, but the water is as green as ever. I can hardly see the fish. I am considering using a green water treatment. I have heard that this could be harmful to the fish. What is your opinion of this? Should I add some live plants, although my fish make a meal of these? -Therese

Follow-up Answer: Hi Therese, here’s something a bit radical — daphnia. These are minute crustaceans that are actually a favorite of fishes. If you can find a supplier of live daphnia, they will eat off your green water in no time — that is, if the fishes don’t eat the daphnia first. Yes, live plants are always a good option because they absorb the nutrients that the green algae will otherwise thrive on. And, this is just me, but I’ve never liked using “chemical treatments” for algae.

~ Brown Algae ~

Question: I have a well established 6 year old temperate goldfish tank. It is a 29 gallon acrylic with a aqua clear 300 filter. I have 4 oranda gold fish and 2 black moors. In the past i have had an algae issue that has since been taken care of but now i have a brown sludge like fungus growing constantly in my aquarium. It got my fish sick and i gave fungus medication, cleaned the tank very well and have been feeding every other day rather than every day. i do about a 30% water change every week and the fungus (?) keeps coming back. My question is how do i get rid of it and is it even fungus or am i going about taking care of it the wrong way because its not what i think it is. thanks, AP

Answer: Hi AP, I have a suspicion that you’re dealing with brown algae. Goldfishes are notorious for polluting the water. It’s possible that your filter and water changes are not able to cope with the waste products they produce. These waste products are food for algae; add to that a low-light situation, and you have the perfect habitat for brown algae (diatoms). Just vacuum them off and try raising your illumination level a bit. I know it’s tricky because too much light will encourage green algae. Have you considered adding plants? Another solution worth exploring is a water-conditioning product called EcoBio-Block, which releases beneficial bacteria that helps address water pollution and algae buildup.

~ Red Algae ~

Question: Hi, I have 55g tank and have recently introduced a few new cichlids and a couple of new plants. About two weeks later and I am seeing red algae on some of my plants and a few small spots on the glass and gravel. It is not alot, but I want to take care of it before it gets out of hand. I cannot find alot of info on red algae. Please help. – Michelle

Answer: Hi Michelle, here’s a good feature on the red algae:
Control of Red Algae in the Freshwater Aquarium. Good luck.

~ Red Algae Hybrid ~

Question: I have had my tank set up for a while. The inhabitants and such can be found under the 46 gallon section of www.geocities.com/aqua_ajb. In my tank I find these little stringy balls of grey matter. They started to appear after I upgraded my lighting from 60W to 124W. I do not know what these little grey things are, but would like to know what cause them so I can fix it. I also would like to what they are. Sometimes they are very easy to pull from the leaves of a plant, and come in a big mass. Other times they are attached to the plant leaves and don’t come of very well at all. It is my guess that these stupid things are algae, but I would like to know for sure. Thank you for your help. AJB

Answer: Hi AJB, I’ve heard about a hybrid of red algae that looks blackish and collects mostly on plant leaves. This may be your culprit. I see you already have a Siamese algae eater — want to consider adding a couple more? Or maybe a couple of Otos. If the algae (ye, I tend to imagine this is algae) doesn’t come off from the leaves easily, cut off and throw away the affected leaves. Then next time you clean out your filters, be sure to wash them thoroughly to eliminate algae spores. Let me know if any of the suggestions work. Good luck.

~ Algae Attack! — A Recap ~

Question: HELP…I have a 10 gallon tank with 3 cherry barb fish. We are having a terrible time with algae growth. We will do a complete water change that includes new rocks, filters, and decorations. The tank will be troughly scrubbed. Within 5-7 weeks, algae starts growing. I have used the algae destroyer and some type of tablet to try to control the growth. No luck. The light is only on for 4 hours a day and that time is in the evening. No direct sunlight on the tank. We do feed the fish at night. We are getting ready to get rid of the tank. Any suggestions on how to keep the algae from coming back. thanks – LLP

Answer: Hi LLP, these things can be annoying, huh? Do you have plants in the tank? One trick is to add a few plants to consume the nutrients that the algae are feasting on. If the plants use up the nutrients, the algae won’t have enough to live on. A more reliable solution is algae eaters — my recommendation is the Otocinclus. They’re small, peaceful, and should be happy to keep your tank algae-free. Also, try this new aquarium-conditioning product called EcoBio-Block to control the nutrients that promote algae. Good luck.

Tweet

Sphere: Related Content

Technorati Tags: Algae Bloom, Aquarium Care, Brown Algae, Crustaceans, Fishes, Green Algae, Green Water, Greenish Color, Greenish Hue, Harm Fish, Live Daphnia, Neon Light, Nitrate Levels, Nutrients, Ruby Bayan, Therese, Water Change, Water Problem, Water Question, Water Treatment