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Thread: Basic explanations of various water parameters

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    Box Fish Timo's Avatar
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    Basic explanations of various water parameters

    By far the most important thing in a fish's life is the water in which it lives, below is some basic explanations of various water parameters which must be correct in order for your fish to thrive.

    Temperature
    Water temperature affects the amount of dissolved oxygen water can hold. Cool water holds more oxygen than warm water. Obviously, though, we can't just lower our aquarium's water temperature to increase its oxygen content. Tropical fishes require warm water. While many of them may tolerate a fairly wide range of temperatures, they thrive and reproduce in a narrower range. A little research on your part can add to your pets' health.Inexpensive aquarium heaters have worked well for me. More costly models have features and look high tech, but I'm happy with economical performance. No matter what they cost, however, heaters need to be matched to the size of the aquarium. In some cases, more than one heater may be needed. An accurate thermometer is a must. Even heaters with thermostats marked in degrees need to be monitored with a thermometer; otherwise, you risk either chilling or cooking your pets. A good temperature range for many aquarium fishes and invertebrates is 72 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It's still best to check the literature for the optimum temperatures for the species you are keeping.

    pH
    As with temperature, aquarium fishes tolerate a rather wide range of pH; however, most of them prefer a much narrower range. The pH of your aquarium measures the hydrogen ion concentration in the water. A pH of 7.0 signals a neutral concentration. A higher number signifies a basic, or alkaline, pH. A lower number indicates acidity. Under normal conditions, the pH in your aquarium will vary a little over time. Adding make-up water and performing partial water changes alter the pH to some extent. Hard water typically yields an alkaline condition due to carbon dioxide reacting with carbonates and bicarbonates in the water. Day by day, however, excrement and other sediments plus respiration by fish and plants dictate a tank's pH. Good housekeeping helps maintain a more stable pH. Your fish will appreciate that. Again, research may help you avoid tragedy. Some species require a particular range of acidity or alkalinity. They won't thrive outside that range. You may easily test the water with inexpensive litmus strips or with a pH test kit available at your pet store. Then, if needed, you can adjust the pH with chemicals also from the pet store. Just be sure to follow the instructions carefully. Often, good aeration and filtration, together with good housekeeping, will eliminate the need for any chemical adjustment of your tank's pH.

    Dissolved Oxygen
    Just like you and I, our fish need gaseous oxygen to live. They can't breathe the oxygen that's bound with hydrogen to make water. Water absorbs gaseous oxygen from the air at the water's surface and turbulence increases this absorption. Healthy plants give off oxygen during photosynthesis. However, photosynthesis occurs only when plants receive enough light. At night, or when the aquarium lights are off, plants consume oxygen during respiration. Therefore, an aquarist shouldn't depend on plants as an oxygen source. Plants, as nice as they are, won't replace an aeration/filtration system. In fact, unhealthy plants increase the oxygen demand in an aquarium. Microorganisms that decompose dead and dying plant parts consume oxygen. So do snails and every other living thing in the tank. All of these organisms compete with your fish for dissolved oxygen. If there isn't enough oxygen to go around, your fish will lose the competition. Fortunately, oxygen in an aquarium is an easy factor to control. Even the simplest aeration/filtration system, such as a corner box filter and air pump, will aerate an aquarium. In addition, good housekeeping eliminates dead plants and other decaying organisms. Vacuuming fish wastes and uneaten food from the substrate reduces bacterial growth while regular partial water changes increase your housekeeping effectiveness. Water changes help in other ways, as well. A properly maintained aquarium not overstocked with fish probably will never lack sufficient oxygen.

    Ammonia
    Ammonia (NH3) is caused by the breaking down of waste products in your tank. This waste includes uneaten food, fish waste, dying plants; and the fish themselves also excrete ammonia out their gills. Ammonia is the first step of the nitrogen cycle, fortunately in a matured aquarium the bacteria will turn this ammonia into less harmful nitrite and nitrate. Ammonia will only occur in the water if there are not enough bacteria to cope with the amount of waste. Ammonia is deadly and will kill fish very quickly.

    Nitrite
    Nitrite (NO2) is formed as part of the nitrogen cycle, when the bacteria in the tank breaks down the ammonia, nitrite are produced. While nitrite isn’t as poisonous to fish as ammonia, it is still very dangerous and can easily kill fish. In a mature aquarium the nitrite levels will always be at zero, thus not being a problem to fish.Nitrite binds to red blood cells and blocks their ability to transport oxygen, because of this affected fish frequently appear to be oxygen-deprived, even in water with high concentrations of oxygen. Affected fish may gasp at the surface or stay near airlines or water inflow. If nitrite is present at lower levels, fish may only show signs of toxicity when they are stressed further and require more oxygen. Over longer periods of exposure to nitrite, fish can become anemic (i.e., deficient in red blood cells).

    Nitrate
    High nitrate levels can kill fish. It seems that saltwater aquarists pay more attention to nitrate than do freshwater guys like me. But high nitrate levels in an aquarium can create an "unhealthiness" that is otherwise hard to diagnose. We won't keep nitrates out of our aquariums completely. Nor should we even try. Nitrates commonly result from the decomposition of ammonia, not only a disinfectant but also a natural component of waste products. And nitrate is an important nutrient. The problem is that nitrate becomes toxic at high concentrations. Thus, our task is to keep the nitrate level low. Four simple strategies help us accomplish this task. 1. Don't overstock the tank.2. Don't overfeed.3. Keep the tank clean: vacuum the bottom; remove dead plants, fish, and snails.4. Perform regular partial water changes. Careful aquarium maintenance should keep excessive nitrate levels from being a problem for you. For added peace of mind, however, you can purchase nitrate testing kits at many pet stores.

    Carbonate Hardness
    Carbonate Hardness, also referred to as kH, is the result of contact between water (H2O) containing carbon dioxide (CO2) and lime or chalk (CaCO3). Carbon dioxide reduces calcium carbonate to calcium hydrogen carbonate, which imparts carbonate hardness to nearly all fresh waters.If the pH is acidic then the water will have a low kH value. When a high kH is maintained, the pH will stay stable and will then rarely fall. As the pH of the water becomes more acid, the kH decreases making the pH unstable, also stunting the growth of plants. kH can be easily increased using kH up and Carbonate Hardness Test KitWhen breeding fish, carbonate hardness influences egg maturation, embryo hatching, and the wellbeing of the fry. As each species of fish are different and prefer different KH values, it is worth doing some research into each specific fish before trying to breed them.

    General Hardness
    General Hardness, or gH as it is also known, is primarily the measure of calcium (Ca++) and magnesium (Mg++) ions in the water. GH is commonly expressed in parts per million (ppm) of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or degrees hardness (dH). Water hardness follows these guidelines: 0 - 4 dH, 0 - 70 ppm : very soft4 - 8 dH, 70 - 140 ppm : soft8 - 12 dH, 140 - 210 ppm : medium hard 12 - 18 dH, 210 - 320 ppm : fairly hard18 - 30 dH, 320 - 530 ppm : hardOnce again each fish has a preferred gH, and if u can provide this a close as possible, then your fish will live a much happier life.

    Phosphate
    Phosphates are a nutrient source that contributes to aggressive algae blooms in your aquarium. Although phosphate has no direct effect on fish, it does feed algae, and this can starve the water of oxygen which in turn can kill your fish. Phosphate can come from certain types of food, water supply, waste and even some carbons. If levels are high, it can be removed by using a Phosphate Sponge and by reducing waste levels.

    By David Rope
    Last edited by Timo; 17-01-2008 at 11:15 AM.

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