How to add water to an aquarium. What kind of water to pour into a fish aquarium: features and recommendations
No matter what decorations you decorate the fish habitat and no matter what equipment you use, its main component always remains water. After all, it is the habitat not only for fish, but also for beneficial bacteria.
You cannot use bottled liquid to fill the aquarium, as its characteristics (mineral composition, pH level, etc.) may not be suitable for fish. The best decision- This is simple cold tap water. However, you cannot immediately pour it from the tap.
Despite the fact that water from a centralized water supply is considered safe by default, the chlorine compounds in it are toxic to the inhabitants of the aquarium. In addition, it may contain other harmful impurities. If fish are placed in rain or tap water immediately, they may die. Before you fill your aquarium with it (it doesn’t matter whether you are filling it for the first time or making a partial replacement), you need to let it settle. As a rule, 1-2 days is enough for the volatile compounds to evaporate.
To achieve the expected result, it is very important to settle the water correctly. It is not recommended to use plastic containers that are not intended for drinking. It is better if the container is made of glass (you can use regular jars). Under no circumstances should you cover it with a lid, as this will disrupt air circulation. To protect against dust and dirt, it is advisable to use a piece of gauze.
Settled water does not pose a threat to fish. You can safely add it to the aquarium when making a partial replacement. However, if you are just setting it up and filling it for the first time, under no circumstances should you put fish into the settled liquid right away. From the moment the aquarium is filled with prepared water until the fish are released, 6-7 days must pass for a living environment to develop in the aquarium.
Settling the liquid before filling the aquarium is a mandatory measure. However, there are special tools that greatly facilitate preparation for this procedure. They are called aquarium water conditioners.
Eg, popular model TetraAqua AquaSafe allows you to prepare liquid for partial filling, and the combination of TetraAqua AquaSafe and TetraAqua SafeStart creates favorable environment for starting fish when setting up an aquarium from scratch.
What is the effect of water conditioners based on?
AquaSafe binds heavy metals and neutralizes chlorine. Thanks to this preparation, you can quickly prepare water for an aquarium, because it becomes safe for fish and can be added to an already established environment. However, AquaSafe treated water cannot be used for refilling from scratch as it is not yet living environment habitat, there are no bacteria in it. When setting up a new aquarium, a second popular product is used in conjunction with this drug - TetraAqua SafeStart. It creates optimal conditions for the development of bacteria and reduces the level of toxic ammonia and nitrite. Thus, when using special means, you can immediately launch the fish into tap water without defending it first.
In addition to their main purpose, such tools may have additional functions. For example, TetraAqua AquaSafe prevents stress in the inhabitants (due to magnesium and vitamin B1 in the composition) and protects the mucous membranes of the fish’s body from infections (due to colloids in the composition).
When filling an aquarium from scratch and partially replacing the water, one should not forget about such an important parameter as temperature. From the tap we get very cold liquid which will kill the fish. They are sensitive to temperature changes, and this parameter must be controlled. There are two types of fish - cold-water and tropical. Be sure to find out what type your pets are and what exact temperature they need.
Whatever method of water preparation you choose, the main thing is to take your time and do it right. Remember that the quality of life of the inhabitants of the aquarium depends on your actions. If you have doubts, it is better to be on the safe side several times than to risk harming your pets.
But don’t worry, very soon, having gained experience, you will prepare water for the aquarium almost mechanically, and this issue will no longer seem so difficult.
Water for the aquarium is selected taking into account the inhabitants of the reservoir and is close to natural conditions. For this reason, you should not house fish with different characteristics.
Typically, tap water has neutral parameters. Depending on the needs of your pets, change the liquid parameters. Water for an aquarium with fish must be settled. You can find out the amount of impurities using tests sold in pet stores.
In spring, the liquid has unstable parameters and composition, so use conditioners. Cleaning from chlorine is mandatory at any time of the year. Monitor pH levels. and portioned addition of water to the aquarium are used to achieve optimal parameters at home.
Temperature
Different types - different temperature regime. Water temperature affects the quality of aeration and fish spawning. By increasing the parameter to 28 degrees, the fish enter a breeding state.
The critical point is 35 degrees. With more high temperature the aquarium population dies. You should not allow the temperature to drop below 18 degrees; this is the minimum value for cold-loving fish. Use to maintain temperature.
Rigidity
Hardness - the content of calcium, magnesium and other alkaline earth metal salts.
It can be permanent (non-carbonate) and temporary (carbonate). Unit of measurement: degrees of hardness (dGH, dKH). This parameter is unstable: the population of the aquarium absorbs salts, and stones and shells increase hardness. Salinity also changes throughout the year. Hardness increases with evaporation and decreases during the rainy season.
Aquarium inhabitants of different species need different rigidity. An aquarium with snails and crayfish requires hard water to maintain the strength of the shell, while some fish are only suitable for soft water. Determine hardness using special tests.
Hardness table:
Hardness dGH | Water |
0–4 | very soft |
4–8 | soft |
8–12 | medium hard |
12–18 | moderate hardness |
18–30 | tough |
Acidity
Acidity (pH) is the pH value of an acidic environment.
Acidity is affected by:
- temperature;
- Times of Day;
- rigidity.
In the morning, acidity is higher, in the evening the indicator shifts to the side alkaline water. Aeration makes the water more acidic. In hard water, changes occur smoothly. The pH level is determined by litmus paper or tests. Chemical reaction in an acidic environment it will color the paper red, in an alkaline environment it will turn blue. You can make water alkaline using baking soda. Acidity increases with peat.
The lower the pH value, the more the liquid deviates towards alkaline, pH 7 for neutral tap water, and pH greater than 7 is characteristic of acidic water. You can clearly see it in the table:
Water for fish
There is no ideal habitat for all fish; each species has its own preferences. Some people like it sour, others like it more alkaline. Unpretentious fish adapt to different ranges of hardness, acidity and other water parameters.
Fish survive under the following parameters:
- hardness 5–25 dGh;
- temperature 23–26 degrees;
- pH 6.5–8.
Ideal water parameters for fish:
Kinds | Acidity pH | Hardness dGH | Temperature °C |
Discus and angelfish | 5,5–6,5 | 1–4 | 25–31 |
West African Cichlids | 6–7 | 5–12 | 23–28 |
Some characins and carps | 6–8 | 5–12 | 23–26 |
Labyrinthine | 6,5–7,5 | 5–10 | 23–28 |
Viviparous | 7–8,5 | 15–25 | 18–28 |
Central American Cichlids | 6,5–7,5 | 10–20 | 20–24 |
Cichlids of Lake Malawi | 7,7–8,5 | 10–15 | 23–28 |
Cichlids of Lake Tanganyika | 8–9,3 | 10–15 | 24–28 |
Some species of Killifish are adapted to survive at temperatures up to 45 degrees. Cichlids of the genus Telapia survive at 70 degrees. Fish in an aquarium need moderately hard water. Neons and some types of bettas and barbs require soft, cool water.
For pregnant females and fry
For a separate container with a pregnant female, use aquarium water that is familiar to the fish. Replenish the lack of liquid with settled liquid. When placing a fish in an aquarium, make sure that the temperature and water parameters are comfortable for the expectant mother.
Change the fluid more often and siphon the soil. At temperatures from 28 degrees viviparous fish are happening premature birth. However, this property is useful if the fish cannot give birth.
Pouring for the first time
- Rinse the aquarium without detergents, wipe the glass with a soft sponge.
- Lay down the soil.
- Fill with tap water and leave it in the aquarium. At first, the aquarium water will become cloudy due to the active proliferation of bacteria.
- When the cloudiness goes away, plant the plants and introduce the fish.
Preparation
You can prepare water for an aquarium at home. Preparation includes removing:
- chlorine and chloramine;
- heavy metals;
- nitrogen compounds;
- phosphates.
For settling, select a wide vessel, for example, a large bucket or basin. Do not use containers that contain traces of detergent.
Chloramine, consisting of chlorine and ammonia, is more stable and harmful than simple chlorine. Chlorine evaporates after a few hours, but simple settling may have little effect on the chloramine concentration. Find out how water is purified waterworks. Modern stations purify water using ozone and ultraviolet light, which is safe for fish. IN natural conditions Ozone is felt during a thunderstorm.
You can rid water of harmful compounds:
- Conditioners from the pet store.
- Sodium thiosulfate. The substance breaks the bond between chlorine and ammonia. Add 10 g per 100 l. First dissolve the drug in a small glass and pour into the liquid. After adding, turn on the aeration for 2-3 hours or filter the liquid with a chemical filter with zeolite.
- Sodium hypochloride. Add a teaspoon of 5% bleach solution per 20 liters. Due to excess chlorine, ammonia loses its bond and is removed by filtration and aeration within a few hours.
Remove unwanted hard metals and chemical compounds through an osmotic or deionization filter, or purchase distilled water. Monitor the hardness and acidity of clean water.
Settling time
Day. The chlorine will have time to evaporate, and the temperature will level off to required values. There is no need to settle for a week; during this time, mustiness and a dusty film appears on the surface.
How to quickly prepare
Air conditioners allow you to obtain settled liquid as quickly as possible. They add beneficial microelements during cleansing. Use conditioner to prepare the liquid and maintain its favorable properties. Aeration will speed up the dechlorination process.
Aeration
Aeration is responsible for the amount of dissolved oxygen and is controlled by:
- Plants. Plants produce oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. In the dark, plants absorb oxygen, releasing carbon dioxide.
- Temperature. At elevated temperatures, oxygen spreads less efficiently.
- The population of the aquarium. In conditions of overpopulation, inhabitants need more oxygen.
- Equipment. The aquarist is provided with additional aeration for the aquarium. Give preference to devices that are solely responsible for aeration.
If the fish do not have enough air, they breathe heavily and prefer the upper layers.
How often should you change
Weekly. Combine changing the liquid with cleaning the soil, filter, decorations and thinning the plants. It is especially important to keep small tanks clean. In large aquariums the bacterial environment is more stable. In such banks, general cleaning can be done once a month. If an outbreak occurs, transfer the surviving inhabitants to a quarantine aquarium. During treatment, change the water 3-4 times a week.
How much to fill
For a smooth change, fill in 10–15% of the volume of liquid in the aquarium. When changing once every two weeks, pour 20-25% liquid.
How to make water not hard
Stiffness is reduced:
- Filtration. If you have osmotic filters, remove all impurities from the liquid. Disadvantages of this method: it requires some knowledge and expensive equipment.
- Boiling. Boiling for half an hour reduces the hardness by half.
- Acrylic resins. Drop resin crystals into the aquarium or add them to the filter. In 1–2 days, the hardness decreases.
- Adding soft water. Dilute tap water with distilled water, melt water or rain water to the desired level.
- Freezing. Choose a shallow container for freezing. Freeze the liquid until a third remains liquid. Melt the ice by draining the unfrozen liquid: it concentrates calcium and magnesium salts, which increase hardness.
- Plants. Suitable: elodea, hornwort, cladophora, nitella (flexible glitter), trampon.
- Special substances. Buy chemicals You can go to the aquarium department.
Increased rigidity
Increase rigidity by adding:
- coral chips;
- shells;
- limestone;
- more rigid.
Other water
In addition to tap water, there are different types liquids:
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Brief instructions for preparing water
- Draw up replacement fluid.
- Add conditioner if necessary.
- Turn on the aeration for at least 15 minutes.
- When adding conditioner, equalize the temperature of fresh water with the aquarium water, after which it can be filled.
- If preparation occurs without conditioner, let the water sit for at least a day.
If you follow the instructions, there will be no problems with the water in your aquarium.
Video - pouring water from another aquarium
What should be the temperature of the water in the aquarium?
The temperature of the water for the aquarium plays a decisive role. The health and ability of fish to reproduce depends on it. Perfectly suitable for every type of fish different temperature water. Conventionally, all inhabitants of the aquarium can be divided into heat-loving and cold-loving.
Heat-loving fish include fish that live in water whose temperature does not drop below 18 degrees. Cold-loving fish are individuals that easily adapt to low temperatures. They can easily live in an aquarium, the temperature in which will not exceed 14 degrees. Keeping cold-loving fish is only possible in large and spacious aquariums.
It is noteworthy that if heat-loving fish are planted in cold water, then they practically stop swimming. This indicates that significant harm has been caused to their health.
When preparing water for an aquarium, it is worth using tips for beginners, which can be found in specialized literature. Yes, choose optimal temperature for water only after it becomes known what species of fish will live in it. The thing is that in the literature for each species of fish an acceptable threshold of the highest and low temperatures, in which the fish will feel comfortable. In accordance with these parameters, you can select the future inhabitants of the aquarium in such a way that they all feel comfortable in the same temperature conditions. This will avoid huge amount problems associated with keeping and caring for fish.
What does water temperature affect?
How to ensure that the water prepared for the aquarium is not too hard?
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Water is the source of life and the habitat of all marine and freshwater creatures. In natural conditions, animals feel comfortable mainly in clean water. In such water they can grow and reproduce. At home, things are different. Many people prefer to start aquarium fish, but not everyone cares about the proper quality of water for the aquarium. Usage ordinary water from the tap can be disastrous for its inhabitants. Therefore, there are several simple rules for preparing water for an aquarium.
What kind of water should I put in the aquarium?
Fish and other aquarium inhabitants should not be introduced into fresh water. This is fraught with diseases in animals. Various chemical compounds that are found in the water we are familiar with turn out to be destructive for the inhabitants of the aquarium. Chlorine is especially dangerous. The water must be settled.
How long should I leave water for an aquarium?
To finally get rid of all the harmful substances contained in the water, it must be left for 1-2 weeks. It is better to use a large bucket or basin to catch water. Also, when purchasing a new aquarium, you should let the water sit in it and drain it at least once. At the same time, this way you can check whether the aquarium is leaking. Some pet stores sell special preparations that neutralize chemical compounds in water. But experts recommend not to neglect water settling, even when using these drugs.
Aquarium water temperature
The most suitable water temperature for an aquarium is room temperature – 23-26 degrees. IN winter time The aquarium should not be placed on the balcony; it is also not recommended to place it near a radiator or heater.
Aquarium water hardness
Hardness is an important parameter of water in an aquarium. This parameter is defined total number calcium and magnesium salts that are dissolved in water. The range of water hardness is very wide. IN natural conditions this indicator depends on climate, soil and season. Fish can live in water of varying hardness, but they absolutely need magnesium and calcium salts - they play important role in the growth and reproduction of animals.
In an aquarium, the hardness of the water constantly changes, it becomes softer - the fish absorb the salts that are in the water. Therefore, the water in the aquarium should be changed periodically.
Purifying water in an aquarium
Most in a simple way cleaning is full shift water in the aquarium. But in some cases this task is difficult and unnecessary. Water is much easier to purify. For the cleaning muddy water In an aquarium, as a rule, simple filters based on activated carbon are used. You can make filters for purifying water in an aquarium yourself or purchase them at a pet store.
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This parameter is regulated by temperature, plants and the presence of living creatures in the aquarium. Aeration controls the oxygen in the aquarium. Aeration can be done using special devices - compressors, which saturate the water with oxygen. Also, there are water purification filters with built-in compressors. The water parameters in the aquarium play an important role in normal life fish It is important to change any of the parameters very smoothly, to avoid sudden temperature changes.
By following these simple rules, every aquarium owner provides the fish with conditions that are as close to natural as possible. And this, in turn, is the key to the health and long life of pets.
Choosing water for the aquarium
What you need to know about spring water
Distilled and rain water
Since springs have increased hardness, would it be better to fill the tank with soft water - rain or distilled? Again, not always - only by mixing it with tap water. There are fish loving environment with softened water, however many freshwater species Still, they prefer water with average, neutral parameters. Such water flows in domestic rivers and lakes - its purified water can be poured into an aquarium, filling not all the space with it.
Watch a video on how to change the water in an aquarium.
What habitat do aquarium fish like most?
Aquarium water for unpretentious fish
Installation
Inhabitants of the tank and the specifics of caring for them
The water into which you can put your pets should have a number of beneficial microbacteria with a “friendly” environment for them. This environment created by the inhabitants of the aquarium themselves. To begin with, it is recommended to settle a small number (2-4) of unpretentious fish species like swordtails and a couple of cockroaches, golden or speckled catfish, which will become indispensable assistants in caring for the bottom of the aquarium. It is the first residents who will begin to form the necessary conditions for the harmonious life of the entire aquarium.
When purchasing new fish, make sure that they wait in quarantine for some time, since even one sick fish can destroy the entire aquarium. Also, when purchasing new species, make sure that they are compatible with the inhabitants of the aquarium that already live in it. For example, guppies live in a tank. Neons get along well with them, but getting closer to them is more large species will require more careful consideration. The size of the purchased fish must correspond to the size of the aquatic pets you already have.
Do not forget to change the water every one and a half to two weeks, this has a beneficial effect on the aquarium environment and its inhabitants. Water for changing should be prepared just as carefully as when starting an aquarium. Leave the filter on so that remaining debris and turbidity are absorbed in a timely manner. Turn on the compressor in a timely manner, which will supply the water with oxygen.
It should be remembered that lighting plays an equally important role in the proper functioning of the aquarium. Fish also need rest from the daytime hours so that they do not become stressed. Optimal quantity daylight hours are – 10-12 hours a day. Light affects not only the fish, but also the plants in the aquarium. Keeping them in the right light helps them both in growth and in the phytochemical reactions that maintain the balance necessary for life.
Look at what types of aquarium lamps there are.
After your home pond is fully up and running, don’t forget about food. In stores they sell it in large assortment, both dry and frozen. You can catch live food in nature, but it can be dangerous. Pets should be fed depending on their number in the aquarium, no more than 2 times a day in small portions. It will also not be superfluous to arrange “fasting” days.
Tetras do not prefer to live in water that is too salty, so 1 tbsp is enough for them to feel comfortable. spoons per 50 liters of water. The main thing is not to overdo it with proportions. For all types viviparous fish The optimal proportion is 1 tbsp. spoon for 25 liters of water. If you want to keep fish that like salty water in a common tank with those that do not tolerate it, draw conclusions based on the arithmetic average. A small amount of salt will be beneficial for many fish, but if you have Corydoras catfish, salt will have a detrimental effect on their health.
The ABCs of caring for aquarium fish
Arrangement of the aquarium
To choose the right aquarium for your fish, consider the following recommendations:
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See how to lay soil in an aquarium.
Selection of fish
Proper feeding
Fish Care Basics
What kind of water should I put in the aquarium?
What kind of water should you put in your aquarium?
Purifying water in an aquarium
It’s not enough to just prepare the water and pour it into the aquarium. It requires aftercare which involves filtration and ozonation. The most common are considered following types filters:
- Domestic. The most budget-friendly, and therefore the most common option. It is a pump that displaces liquid through a filter composition made of foam rubber sponge
- External. They are often purchased for large volumes. They do not take up extra space inside the aquarium and have large volumes of filter materials. Sterilizers are also installed on the external filter.
As you can see, collecting water for an aquarium and its further control is a simple process.
Fish diet
Setting up a guppy aquarium
Proper care of your fish can only be ensured if the aquarium is installed correctly. Setting up the tank correctly does not take much time. Guppies can tolerate a wide range of parameters aquatic environment: pH 5.8-8.5, although ideally the acidity pH should correspond to the standards of 7.0-7.2. Recommended water hardness is 15 dH. It is not recommended to place fish in jars or round mini-aquariums. It will be uncomfortable for the fish to live there, and caring for them will be difficult - the walls of a round jar are difficult to clean with a scraper. To install a heater, filter, compressor, lighting, decor and plants, you will need a spacious tank rectangular shape. Fish reproduction should also occur in a rectangular aquarium or spawning tank.
To prevent the water temperature from fluctuating widely, install a heater in the aquarium that will regulate it. Guppies prefer water at a temperature of 23-26°C. If you need to quickly raise fish fry or stimulate reproduction, you can increase the temperature to 27-28 degrees.
High-quality care is not possible without lighting, which can indicate many problems in the aquarium. Bright lighting will be a source of vitamin D, and the lack of light can cause curvature of the spine. Abundant, constant lighting will also harm pets. For fry, the optimal amount of daylight is 4 hours a day and 8 hours of darkness. Be sure to turn off the light at night (after 8-10 hours of light for adult fish). You can purchase a timer for lights that automatically turn on and off every day.
Filtration system – will keep aquarium water clean. When the filter media begins to darken, this is a signal that it is time to replace it. You cannot replace all filtration systems at once, otherwise the beneficial bacteria will disappear. They decompose ammonia in water, which is formed from fish waste. It is better to cut the sponge and replace the other half with a new one. If you use it as a filler Activated carbon– change it more often, and according to the instructions. Also replace 25% of the water with fresh water once a week.
Air pump – supplies oxygen to the aquarium water. It will pump out air bubbles and create a current, saturating the water with oxygen. Plant live plants in the aquarium that also produce oxygen. These can be hard-leaved species: Anubias, Cryptocoryne, Elodea, Arrowhead, Aponogeton and others.
Decorations not only decorate the aquarium, but can also serve as a shelter for fish. Line the bottom of the aquarium with sand or gravel, which makes it easier to place live plants and structures. Don’t forget to install shelters in the form of caves, grottoes, pipes, and clay pots.
Watch how baby guppies are born.
Guppy breeding rules
How do neon fish reproduce?
How does the reproduction process occur in neons?
Aquarium neons should spawn under careful supervision - due to changes in the natural rhythms of life, the laying of eggs may be endangered. All males and females must be transferred to different tanks, and before placing them in a common spawning tank, a short “acquaintance” between the fish should be carried out 5 times. The female neon can lay eggs every week, and the male releases milk 2 times less often. Sexual dimorphism is expressed during the breeding season - females are rounded in the abdomen, males are distinguished swim bladder, it moves towards the anus, which is not the case in females.
Before setting up the spawning tank, prepare the water - take water from the tap, let it steep for several days in a glass container, then heat it to the required temperature. Optimal parameters aquatic environment will ensure fertilization maximum quantity eggs, and their ripening. You can choose a medium aquarium for spawning - 30-50 liters per couple. It is not necessary to line the bottom with soil. Permissible temperature water in the tank: 25-26 degrees Celsius, hardness 2-4o, acidity 6.5-7.0 pH.
See how to prepare an aquarium for neon breeding.
Successful breeding will provide substrate in the form aquatic plants. At the bottom of the tank you can put a few sprigs of myriophyllum or Java moss. It is better to introduce fish ready for spawning into the aquarium in the evening, a few hours before turning off the lights - this way the pair will get used to each other faster, and in the morning the eggs will be spawned.
Aquarium fish, despite being kept in different conditions the aquatic environment, unlike their natural relatives, behave similarly in this process. Usually 2 males are launched at one female, and they instantly attack her, and the male who turns out to be more agile than his opponent wins, it is he who fertilizes the eggs thanks to highest degree readiness. Before the spawning process, males and females swim above the plants. Then she lays eggs on the plants in a chaotic manner.
The first few hours after spawning, the eggs have a sticky texture. Once on the plant, they attach themselves to them, and then, with a slight fluctuation in the water, they fall to the bottom. Therefore, you cannot line the tank with soil - the substrate can damage their thin surface. 3-4 hours after the breeding process, the male and female are caught from the spawning tank with a net, and if this is not done immediately, the producers can eat their fruits.
How to care for a brood
Unfortunately, not all fertilized eggs will be able to survive; some may become infected with fungus, and some will die during the ripening period. After 9 hours, surviving, unspoiled fertilized eggs can be selected from the rest with a medical pipette. Transfer them to another container with similar water parameters so that they do not become infected and die.
Watch a video showing how to care for neons and how fish reproduce.
Most dangerous enemy neon eggs are harmful bacteria and fungi. Using the drugs Tripaflavin, methylene blue or General Tonic, you can stop the proliferation of microbes, thereby ensuring the life of future fish. After adding the drug, the water level can be reduced by 7-10 cm. The eggs will ripen until the larvae appear. This will happen after 24 hours if the water temperature is 24-25°C.
After a few days, the fish fry can swim in the upper layers of the water, at which time they can be given food that they themselves will eat. The starting food for the fry is Cyclops larvae (for the first 4 weeks of life, until the first colored stripes appear on the body). If you know how to get ciliates, rotifers or other types of plankton at home, you can add this food.
The fish grow quickly, later they will require other feeding, now they can be given small cyclops, chopped live food. When the brood grows up, the surviving fry can be moved to another aquarium with a temperature of 24-25 degrees, water hardness of 10-12o. This is necessary so that they are not infected with plistophora. At first they will adapt to the new conditions, but after a month they will completely get used to them. If the water is too hard (take measurements with instruments with indicators), soften it by special means which are available in stores.
In order to provide a comfortable living environment for your fish, you need to carefully approach the preparation procedure for the aquarium. It is important to know all the nuances of the procedure, because the lives of the inhabitants of the aquarium depend on it.
In the article you will learn about proper preparation water for an aquarium, what it should correspond to and why it should be prepared in advance.
Is preparation necessary?
Aquariums located in apartments are most often filled with water from the tap. Such water may have different quality and physico-chemical composition. It depends on the:
- state of the water supply system;
- the degree of its wear;
- methods of water filtration and disinfection.
Freshly drawn tap water is not suitable for home aquarium. It must be prepared in advance.
The importance of this procedure is due to the need:
What is needed for fish depends on their species. Fish are divided into heat-loving and cold-loving.
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You can choose the optimal water temperature in the aquarium only after it is clearly clear what kind of fish will live in it.
When preparing water for fish certain type, it is best to read additional literature. The fact is that Each type of fish has an acceptable threshold of high and low temperatures, under which they can live normally.
Advocacy
This is simply necessary. The fact is that it may contain impurities that harm the inhabitants of aquariums. The process may produce solid particles that precipitate. Also, an initially transparent and seemingly clean liquid may become cloudy.
Therefore, tap water must be defended in order to improve its quality and remove harmful substances.
Plastic containers should not be used for settling.
We normalize gaseous components
To get rid of chlorine, just let the water stand. The larger the container with water, the faster it will evaporate and the water will become suitable for the aquarium. Also, you should not cover the container with a lid, because the chlorine will have nowhere to evaporate and the water will remain chlorinated.
With ozone it's different. Ozone molecules are unstable and quickly turn into oxygen, which does not harm the fish.
Step-by-step instruction
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What about sea water?
It differs in that it is necessary to prepare “sea” water. To do this it is necessary to dilute sea salt in water to such a concentration that the hydrometer is in the range of 1.021 to 1.024. This water should only be prepared in plastic containers.
The health of its inhabitants directly depends on what kind of water is used for the aquarium. Water has a huge amount various properties. Therefore, before preparing water, aquarists need to learn how to identify them, as well as control and properly regulate them so that the inhabitants of their home pond feel comfortable staying in it.
Do I need to prepare water for an aquarium?
Regular tap water is not suitable for an aquarium. It needs to be prepared. So, preparation begins with a banal stand. To begin, pour liquid into any container. Tap water contains absolutely different quantity impurities. Typically it depends on the time of year, weather conditions etc. If you feel strong smell chlorine, then it is better not to use such water for an aquarium or use it after treatment with special dechlorinating agents. AQUAYER AntiToxin Vita makes water safe for fish by eliminating chlorine even in high concentrations.
The use of tap water to fill an aquarium is also due to the fact that it has the acidity necessary for the normal development of fish and plants (PH=7). This is an active reaction that characterizes alkaline and acidic environments. This reaction is determined using paper indicators, which can be purchased at any pet store.
If the PH level is low, you can use regular soda to increase it. To lower the pH, peat collected from a non-elevation area is used.
You can also use distilled water to fill the aquarium. You can buy it at a regular pharmacy. However, this filling method an aquarium will do only if the aquarium is small. Many experts still do not recommend using distilled liquid, because... it does not contain minerals useful for the aquarium inhabitants.
There is also an option to use water from another aquarium (if available), in which it has already been established biological balance for a favorable life for fish.
What should the temperature be?
The temperature of the liquid plays a decisive role. The health and ability of fish to reproduce depends on it. A completely different temperature is suitable for each type of fish. Conventionally, all inhabitants of the aquarium can be divided into heat-loving and cold-loving.
Heat-loving fish include fish that live in water whose temperature does not drop below 18 degrees. Cold-loving fish are individuals that easily adapt to low temperatures. They can easily live in an aquarium, the temperature in which will not exceed 14 degrees. Keeping cold-loving fish is only possible in large and spacious aquariums.
It is noteworthy that if heat-loving fish are placed in cold water, they practically stop swimming. This indicates that significant harm has been caused to their health.
When preparing water for an aquarium, it is worth using tips for beginners, which can be found in specialized literature. So, you can choose the optimal temperature only after you know which species of fish will live in it. The thing is that in the literature, for each type of fish, an acceptable threshold of the highest and lowest temperatures at which the fish will feel comfortable is given. In accordance with these parameters, you can select the future inhabitants of the aquarium in such a way that they all feel comfortable in the same temperature conditions. This will avoid a huge number of problems associated with keeping and caring for fish.
What does water temperature affect?
Temperature can stimulate spawning. This concerns elevated temperature water. However, this is not always beneficial for the fish. So, fish that spawn should not be constantly kept in such conditions. Otherwise, it will be simply impossible to obtain offspring from them in the future. Thus, it is better to ensure that the water is one degree less than normal.
How to ensure that the water prepared for the aquarium is not too hard?
When preparing water, you need to make sure that it is not too hard. There are various ways to reduce hardness.
So, before preparing the water, it can be filtered, and only after that it can be left to settle. Leave for about two days. You can also mix settled tap water with distilled water before adding it to the aquarium. Sometimes it is recommended to add melt or rain water to the aquarium.
Hardness can also be reduced with the help of plants. For example, hornwort and elagea have this effect.
You can reduce hardness using the freezing procedure. So, first you need to freeze the water, and then the melted and settled water can be poured into a container.
You can make water softer by simply boiling it. For an aquarium, water is boiled only in enamel containers. After boiling, you need to pour out the top layer (1/3) of the liquid.
How to make water softer? - In this case, Water can be mixed with harder water. In this case it will do plain water from the tap. You can also add a few pieces of chalk or limestone to the aquarium. If you add rapans to the aquarium, the hardness will also increase. You can also use coral chips for this purpose. However, it must first be boiled (cooking time is at least 2 hours).
After the water has gone through all stages of preparation, it can be poured into the aquarium. However, fish can only be released into it the next day. In this case, the temperature in the aquarium and the vessel in which the fish were kept should be the same.
Preparing water for an aquarium is the most important step in creating comfortable conditions for the life and reproduction of fish. Therefore, you should not neglect this stage. Otherwise, the fish simply will not take root and will die in the first few days after moving into the aquarium.