The aquarium is a great addition for any home. It can bring a lot of joy and it can be very relaxing to watch the fish swim around. However, if you don’t clean the tank, you will start to notice some problems.
A dirty fish tank can cause a number of issues. One concern that can occur from a dirty fish tank is the development of algae. Algae is a type of plant that grows in the water and can be very difficult to eliminate. It can even grow on the glass walls in your aquarium, which makes it hard to see inside your tank. Algae also produces harmful toxins which are dangerous for your fish.
Another issue that could arise from a dirty fish tank is ammonia levels increasing in the water, which could kill your fish if not remedied quickly enough. Ammonia is one of the byproducts when waste breaks down in an aquarium, so it’s important to keep your water clean
A dirty fish tank can cause many issues for your fish and yourself. The first concern is that your water quality will decrease over time, which will affect the health of your fish.
What is the best way to avoid fish tank cleaning? Is it to simply ignore that it is dirty? Or is it to tape picture of a clean fish tank on the front of your dirty fish tank? Surprisingly, it’s neither.
The best way to avoid fish tank cleaning is to construct your fish tank in such an optimal way that you actually don’t need to clean it. You’re probably thinking, “yeah right,” but aquarium construction has actually become an art form in recent years, with worldwide participants numbering in the tens of millions.
But what if my fish tank is already nasty? If that is your case, you should purchase a bottle of fish tank cleaner from your local pet store. Many fish tank cleaners can now be used in live tanks and often contain special bacteria that will break down organic materials, reduce odor, and reduce sludge.
Now, how do I keep it clean? This brings us back to the art of fish tank construction. If you want to avoid fish tank cleaning, you will need to recreate your fish’s exact habitat inside the tank. If your fish would normally live in neutral pH, tropical, saltwater ecosystems, you will want to create exactly that in your tank to avoid fish tank cleaning.
Additionally, you will want to artificially recreate all the disposal mechanisms that are present in such an ecosystem. For instance, depending on your ecosystem, you might be able to purchase snails or suckerfish to reduce the sludge in your tank.
If you’re having problems with plant death in your aquarium, you may want to consider getting a carbon dioxide pump for the plants. This seems anti-intuitive, since fish tanks almost always have oxygen pumps; but if you have too many plants and they’re dying and creating sludge, you might be better off without the oxygen pump.
Dirty Fish Tank Filters Is Death For Your Fish
You may have a perpetual supply of water for your aquarium, but water by itself does not establish a healthy environment for your aquatic pets. Aquariums should mimic the natural habitat of fish, and this requires more than just a regular supply of water.
For starters, most fish require oxygen which, in a fish tank, is provided for by the inclusion of an oxygen pump. Just as important is the cleanliness of the aquarium. Water is susceptible to the accumulation of unhealthy dirt, the rise of its pH level to dangerous degrees, and the development of perilous parasites that would jeopardize the good wellbeing of your fishes.
To combat these dangers, fish tank filters are made necessary for all aquariums, regardless of their breadth and dimensions. A good filtration system is a must for a clean, healthy, and beneficial environment for aquatic creatures. Even makeshift ponds for carps, large gold fish and gator fish require filters.
Basically, there are three kinds of fish tank filters. These are mechanical, biological and chemical systems. There are distinct differences between them, and each serve a specific type of fish tank and specific species of fishes. Let’s take a closer look at them.
1. Mechanical filters. These are the fish tank filters commonly available in most pet shops. They can either be under-gravel or overhead. Under-gravel filters are those that are placed beneath the pebbles or the sand at the bottom of aquariums.
These filters siphon the dirt and other unwanted materials that have accumulated in the water system. Under-gravel filters are best suited for smaller aquariums, however, like 2.5 to 10 gallon setups. These filters may not be able to handle the load of bigger fish tanks, and they could prove quite inconvenient to clean up.
Overhead filters work the same was, but they are conveniently located on top of the aquarium. Water is sucked upwards to the filter box, and thereafter passes through porous materials (usually cotton, carbon, or rocks) to separate the unwanted particles and keep the water clean.
2. Biological filters. This is the hardest biological system to achieve. It requires a direct simulation of the natural living conditions of the fishes’ environment. The wastes (ammonia) of aquatic creatures in a natural environment are broken down by water vegetation, and are converted into beneficial bacteria that produce nitrates required for the fishes’ sustainable wellbeing.
It goes without saying that expert knowledge is needed is establishing biological filters. Additionally, this is recommended only for very big setups, like 100 gallons and above, and outdoor habitats like ponds and the likes.
3. Chemical filters. Of the three kinds of fish tank filters, chemical filtration is the easiest to set up. All you need are activated carbon particles. This may be in the form of a box that you’d simply dip into the water, or gravel made up of these specialized carbons. Carbon is natural ammonia absorbent that would help maintain the cleanliness and good conditions of your aquarium.
Regardless of what aquarium you’re keeping, a proper filtration is a necessity. It has been said that a fish tank without filters would be tantamount to a death camp for your aquatic pets. It’s a rather morose analogy, but it perfectly described the high importance of a filtration system for the setup you should aim to achieve.
Fish Tank Cleaning Feng Shui
Believe it or not, fish tanks are more than some compartmentalized environments for your aquatic pets. They are even more than just ornamental additions to your living quarters. Fish tanks, as Oriental beliefs proclaim, can help pull in some good fortunes in the form of positive chi (energy) from the outside world.
It is not an uncommon fact that many people have tried to raise some types of fishes to bring prosperity and success to their lives. Whereas a decade ago, the Arrowana (dragon fish) was considered as the watery harbinger of good luck, these days, the Flowerhorn has taken on the mantle as the Feng Shui favorite.
But auspicious chi is not merely confined to these species. In fact, aquatic pets of colorful variety have always remained popular among general fish keeping enthusiasts as well as those who are aware of good luck charms and the likes.
After all, positive chi emanates from all that is beautiful, and a well-kept, attractive, and clean aquarium filled with healthy and vibrant fishes can be a virtual factory of favorable fortunes. Best of all, such a well of good tidings can be placed at the very heart of your own home.
It goes without saying, however, that fish tank cleaning is instrumental in establishing your aquarium as a venerable reservoir of positive chi. Aquariums are susceptible to degradation without proper care.
Moss can build up on its glass windows. Water can get dirty and poisonous even with the best filtration system available. The aquatic environment can become home to many parasitic creatures that would feed on the fishes as well as the members of the household.
Fish tank cleaning is actually very easy. All you need to do is to invest some time and effort on tidying up your aquarium regularly. By regularly, we mean a process that should be carried out twice a week.
Here are the steps for proper fish tank cleaning. You won’t even have to move the fishes.
1. Prepare a fresh supply of water beforehand, at least a day prior to cleaning up your fish tank. The night would ensure that chlorine would leave the water particles. To be sure, apply a specified amount of anti-chlorine drops on the fresh water.
2. Drain 75% of the fish tank’s water.
3. Scrub the aquarium windows with clean foam. Don’t use soap!
4. If you’re using an under-gravel filter, remove the same and make sure than all the dirt that have accumulated beneath it would be taken out of the remaining water. If you’re using an overhead filter, your job would be easier.
5. Fill up the fish tank with the fresh supply of water.
Observing this fish tank cleaning process twice a week would guarantee a clean and beautiful environment for your fishes, as well as their good health. And as a result, you’d be on the good side of established Oriental beliefs, and win for yourself some good luck and great opportunities, whether it be for your personal life or for business.