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FRESHWATER
Maintenance
The best formula for successful fish keeping is
to keep a regular maintenance schedule. This must
be habitual, either weekly or BI-weekly. Wastes
accumulate continuously. Remove as much as
possible at every cleaning. At the same time
remove some old water and replace with
de-chlorinated tap water.
Weekly maintenance includes alga removal from
inside glass surfaces. Use an approved algae
cleaning pad so as not to scratch the glass. Clean
the gravel using properly sized Hagen Gravel
Cleaner or Multi-Vac. Drain about 10% - 20% of the
water. Unplug all electrical accessories before
placing hands in the aquarium or prior to removing
water. NEVER take out all the
water and clean the entire tank; the biological
filtration will be destroyed. Be sure to replace
any water you remove with properly conditioned and
de-chlorinated water. Replacement water should be
the same temperature as the aquarium. Drastic
temperature change causes stress and disease.
Filter media should be checked and regularly
changed as required. Leave some old media in the
filter to promote bacterial population of the new
media. Don't change both foam and charcoal insert
at the same time. It is much better to change them
on alternating weeks, rather than putting all new
media in the filter. Changing too many things at
once may result in having to biologically restart
the aquarium. After the water change and filter
media have been changed, add the weekly dosage of
Cycle to filter intake or simply add to the
aquarium.
When reconnecting electrical items, check that
the temperature is correct. It is a good idea to
check temperature regularly to be sure that the
heater has been supply consistent heat to the
aquarium.
It is wise to place your hand on the glass
every time you check the thermometer. This will
give you a "feel" for the temperature as
well. Be sure all other electrical items are
working properly.
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Keeping
your fish safe
The home aquarium is a completely contained
microcosm of the aquatic life. It is entirely
dependent on the caretaker to maintain adequate
conditions for continued life support. The
delicate balance of living organisms in the
aquarium requires certain important factors.
- Maintain adequate environmental conditions
with proper filtration - Wastes and pollutants
from all sources must be removed before they
build to lethal concentrations.
- Keep a schedule of regular aquarium
maintenance - Regular water changes keep
conditions stable. Filter media must be
renewed regularly to ensure proper filtration.
- Proper feeding techniques must ensure
adequate nutrition with no left-over waste -
Never allow food to remain on the aquarium
floor, if there is excess left over two
minutes after feeding, reduce feed amount at
the next feeding. Proper feeding means that
all the food is completely eaten two minutes
after it has been introduced. This is the most
common mistake of new Aquarist's. This can
also be lethal to fish because it promotes
unhealthy conditions and excess pollutants in
the water and the gravel substrate.
- Polluting material - must be removed before
it can decay. This includes plant leaves,
excess fish food, etc.
- Temperature - must remain constant, rapid or
large fluctuations can cause stress and
illness. Use a quality heater able to maintain
consistent temperature. Check temperature
daily with a reliable thermometer.
- Proper Light - must be available for plants,
if live ones are desired. Light is also
required for proper feeding. Light should be
left on for a half an hour after feeding so
fish can find all the food.
- Care - must be exercised to ensure a
compatible community. Seek the professional
advice of the knowledge sales force at your
local pet store.
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FILTRATION
The filter system for any aquarium performs the
largest part of the job keeping conditions
habitable for fish. Without adequate removal and
reduction of wastes, Toxins and pollutants, fish
cannot survive.
No matter the filter type chosen, filters are
required to remove particulate waste, liquefied
wastes and organic toxins produced in the
aquarium. In addition, active conditioning of the
water characteristics to desired values could also
be considered a type of filtration. Filtration has
been roughly divided into three categories,
Mechanical, Biological, and Chemical.
Mechanical - the removal of particulate waste
material from the water. Normally some form of
strainer is placed is in the path of a channeled
flow of water to trap and capture suspended
particles. Common filter materials for this job
have limited life and must be cleaned and replaced
regularly. Mechanical filtration has also been
used to describe the action of carbon as it
removes liquefied wastes from the water as well.
Mechanical filtration is the most common form
of filtration. Its best used to remove organic
material from the aquarium water before it can
decay and pollute the environment. Filter media
performing this job must be regularly maintained
so that it does not become clogged and allow waste
to re-enter the system.
Biological - refers to the removal of
organically produced nitrogenous wastes by
bacterial action. These poisons result from
standard life processes of all the inhabitants of
an aquarium. This is generally referred to as the
NITROGEN CYCLE in the Aquarist's hobby. Many
beginners are unsuccessful with a new aquarium
simply because they do not realize the importance
of a well developed biological filtration capacity
or that this ability requires time to develop.
Without strong biological breakdown of toxins, the
fish will literally poison themselves.
Chemical - the active control and change of
specific water characteristics. Some products and
filter materials actively remove chlorine from
water (activated carbon), changing the actual
characteristics of the water along the way. Other
chemical reactions remove heavy metal ions, change
pH to acid or alkaline, add hardness to the
aquarium or remove carbonates to soften the water
for specialized requirements. There are quite a
number of products available that actively change
water characteristics to desired level.
Chemical filtration is the active change of
water characteristics by the aquarists. Within the
broad definition falls the removal of carbon
dioxide produced by respiration and the
replacement of oxygen to the system at the water
surface by strong agitation.
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REQUIREMENTS
OF AQUARIUM FILTERS
Optimally an aquarium filter must keep the
aquarium environment pollutant free and within
tolerable limits for proper life processes. The
three filtration styles are important and must be
represented to some degree in any filter system.
All filters will perform mechanical particulate
removal to some degree; the integration of the
other forms will vary quite a bit depending on
design.
A prime consideration should always be how much
water the filter will pass through it per hour. A
classic rule of thumb for proper filtration is to
ensure that the aquarium contents be moved through
the filter chamber at least four times an hour.
This is a good minimum, the more water movement,
the better chance all wastes will be treated.
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