==== ==== To get alot of information on how to set up a perfect aquarium and how to clean your fish tank, come and visit: http://www.bird-and-fish.com ==== ====
To keep good quality water in aquariums is the most important thing in the process of keeping water fish tanks. Although it looks like an easy job but never always think it so. Most of the hobbyists do know that maintaining good quality water for their aquariums may sometimes turn complex and become challenging. Water being a universal solvent contains a good number of toxic and non toxic chemicals especially when it is a tap water. This is thus the main problem in aquarium maintaining terms. As a tradition, most fish tank lovers use tap water for their aquariums. This in turn may be quite harmful for fish as it contains many toxic chemicals. To avoid any complexions, it thus becomes cardinal to cycle the water regularly using a biochemical filtration system. Running the water through nitrogen cycle generates bacterial colonies which in turn give a fish healthy environment to the aquarium. Although this process is a bit time consuming but it of course essential to keep the water quality up to the mark. Not only during the nitrogen cycle but for the whole tenure, keeping a check on the water quality is worth importance. A good hobbyist constantly checks the tank water for pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, hardness and carbonation of water or alkalinity. Some important points regarding each of the above are: The acid or basic nature (pH factor) As the pH level of the water measures its acidity or basicity, we may say that the pH factor measures the stress level of the fish indirectly. Fish normally feel good when the pH level (ranges from 0 to 14) of the water is in the range of 6.6 and 7.8. Any variation in the pH of water if found can be adjusted to the optimum level by using different chemicals as per requirements. Thus the foremost thing in water quality maintenance is to have a normal pH level. Check for a dangerous one, the ammonia. The wastes from fish, uneaten food, decayed plants and other stuff result into the generation of this highly toxic chemical which is sometimes even fatal to fish. The presence of ammonia in a tank is inevitable unless and until it has gone through the process of nitrogen cycling. Although a good number of chemicals is available in markets which can efficiently break down the toxic compounds into less-toxic or no toxic compounds but even then the process of ammonization may not be stopped until the said process. The bacteria generation helps in the controlled production of ammonia in per part millions. Importance of nitrites
Nitrites are ammonia compounds formed due to chemical reactions in the water fish-tank; although these chemicals are less toxic than ammonia but in case of tropical fish they can prove to be fatal. One can achieve a zero ppm (parts per million) for nitrites by regularly changing the water; ideally once a week or two. Nitrates, a general view Nitrates are formed by the degrading of nitrites by the bacteria formed by nitrogen cycle. They are harmless to fish when are in reasonably lower quantities but their accumulated quantity can also show worst results with fish. A cloudy effect to water is due to the nitrates. The quantity of nitrates is taken normal if it ranges in between 20 to 40 ppm. Regular water change prevents its accumulations. The effects of hardness of water Hardness is the dissolved concentration of calcium and magnesium minerals in the water. Water is soft when it has lower amounts of dissolved minerals in it and is taken hard if it is vice versa in case of the quantity. Hardness affects the pH of water so has an indirect concern with the quality of water. 5 to 12 degrees of hardness is generally taken normal and it suits most of the fish types. Water gets hard with the regular cycling of water.
Chintamani Abhyankar is a goldfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding goldfish for many years. He is an expert on their care and an advocate for raising healthy goldfish the natural way. His famous digital book, "Secrets on Keeping Beautiful Goldfish", offers simple, easy to follow instruction for raising healthy, long-living goldfish. Visit his website http://www.goldfishcaretips.com to learn more about expertly raising your goldfish and to receive your FREE copy of his special report, "Fish-Keeping Hobby Secrets Revealed".
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chintamani_Abhyankar
==== ==== To get alot of information on how to set up a perfect aquarium and how to clean your fish tank, come and visit:
http://www.bird-and-fish.com ==== ====