Proper Water Condition in Freshwater Tanks
In their natural environment, fish are exposed to a natural cycle where the water is naturally filtered and wastes are swept away. In contrast, fish contained in an aquarium remain in contact with these wastes until they are removed. It is the responsibility of the fish owner to remove these wastes, maintaining a clean aquarium.
Maintaining clean and healthy aquarium water involves pH, hardness, and oxygen content. A fish owner needs to address all of these in order to keep the fish living in the aquarium healthy.
pH:
The pH scale measures acidity in water, ranging from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, 1 is very acidic, and 14 is very alkaline. The beginner's aquarium should maintain a pH of 6.5 to 7. Test kits are very simple to use and are available at most pet stores. The pH level of a tank should be monitored every week or so to detect changes, as any drastic change will affect the fish.
Water Hardness:
Water hardness generally refers to the amount of mineral salts in water. Water with high concentrations of salts is referred to as "hard," and conversely, water low in salts is called "soft." The scale of hardness ranges from 0 to over 30, with 4-8 representing soft water and 18-30 referring to hard water. Most freshwater fish do well in water between 3 and 14 degrees of hardness. Kits can be used to test the hardness, though most water is usually okay unless the local tap water is excessively hard or soft.
Oxygen Content:
Although many filters provide aeration, or a new supply of oxygen, to the aquarium, it is a good idea to also have an air pump in the tank, as well. A plentiful supply of oxygen is always a good idea to have in the tank. There are two basic air pumps: diaphragm and piston. The diaphragm type is much more common and will generally provide a maintenance-free aeration for the tank owner. The piston pump is more powerful and ideal for larger aquariums. An airstone is a porous stone that allows air to pass through it and into the tank. The air hose attaches the pump to the airstone and is a simple plastic tubing. It is vital to make sure the hose is manufactured for use in an aquarium, so that it is guaranteed to be non-toxic.
These three things, pH balance, hardness, and oxygen content, are vital to creating the ideal environment for your freshwater fish. They are fairly easy to track and manipulate, and doing so frequently will ensure the health of your freshwater fish.
Related Tags: balance, fish, aquarium, freshwater, ph, hardness, oxygen
Tonia Jordan is an author on http://www.Writing.com/ which is the online community for writers.
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