Filtration

If you consider water clarity to be any indication of water purity, you are going to be
shocked out of your complacency soon. Water will harbor millions of microorganisms
even when it looks crystal clear. Ironically, though the algae growing in you water look
ugly, they also indicate that your aquarium is healthy and has the right combination to
support life. We can definitely not see the nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and phosphate levels
in water. Nor can we see the disease causing microorganisms that settles in substrate or
on decoration and plant surfaces.
This is where effective filtration can be a lifesaver. Mechanical filtration basically aims at
removing the larger particles and debris from the aquarium. Uneaten fish food, dying
plant parts that fall off from the parent plants etc can be easily caught by the mechanical
filters. Thus, this filtration technique allows you to trap and remove debris before it
decays. For mechanical filtration to be effective, you must clean the filter material every
2-4 weeks.
If you are in an area that is prone to power outages, then you need to invest in some
additional hardware. Power outages, even for a few hours, can wreck havoc in your
aquarium. The first thing that occurs when the power goes is the shutting down of the
mechanical filtration. Within a few short hours, the nitrate and ammonia levels in your
water begin to escalate. The heating in your aquariums also becomes non-existent and the
lights turn dark.
In such a scenario, it is always better to have a lightly stocked aquarium. A fish aquarium
that is stuffed to its capacity is very delicate in its balance. A small change in a single
factor can cause disaster.
The next step would be to procure battery powered air pumps. A single air pump along
with an air stone will suffice for every two feet of aquarium length. A sponge filter that
runs off an air stone will also be a good option. Thus your water will remain oxygenated
as well as filtered.
Feeding your fish well is also a part of the maintenance process. Many beginners are
confused by how much they should feed their fish. A good thumb rule is to feed fish only
as much as they can eat in the first 5-10 minutes. Remove any left over food particles
immediately after each feeding. Do not let it accumulate in your aquarium, since it will
start decaying. A feed followed by a partial water change will minimize the collection of
food waste and associated waste problems in your aquarium. Also remember that more
food also means more fish waste. So, feed sparingly. Removing fish waste becomes a bit
of a problem if your power goes. So, in case of a power outage, do not feed your fish for
a day, and then feed them minimally.
Here are some steps to be followed if your power outage is going to last for more than a
few hours:
􀂾 Remove the top of the aquarium. This will help to introduce
more air into your aquarium. If your room is cold, you should
however keep the lid on.
􀂾 All the electrical equipments should be switched off or
unplugged. There may be fits and starts of power supply and you
need to ensure that your equipment does not bear the brunt of this.
􀂾 Get the battery-powered filtration in place and running
smoothly.
􀂾 All the canister filters should be opened up to expose them
to air. Rinse out the canister media in dechlorinated water and putthem back gently again. Rinse out the sponge filters also in
dechlorinated water. This will help to preserve the colonies of
beneficial bacteria stuck to the filters. At a time like this, you
definitely do not want to lose the beneficial bacteria.
􀂾 The last thing to do is to ensure that your water's
temperature remains as constant as possible. In case of extreme
heat, leaving the tops open will substantially reduce heat. But
during the cold months, you will need to increase your water
temperature using other methods.
As can be seen from the descriptions above, aquarium maintenance can be as easy or as
tough as you want it to be. Regular maintenance will reduce your load as well as keep the
fish happy. The most important thing to remember is that when you are trying to copy
such a complex thing as nature, things are bound to be a little complicated. But, with a
little effort and patience, you will see that your fish are thriving in their beautiful new
home.
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