Fish ‘Tank’ You the Perfect Aquarium Water

Having the right aquarium water is the most essential element to caring for your fish tank. Fish make good pets. They are quiet and peaceful. People get a feeling of calmness by just watching them swimming about. They require very little food and are available in the most fascinating patterns and captivating colors. But keeping fish is not as easy as some people make it out to be. Fish tanks in particular require a certain amount of maintenance. It’s not just about cleaning, though that certainly is a part of the upkeep routine for aquariums. No, we’re talking about the aquarium.

You can’t just throw any old water in the fish tank and expect the fish to live in it. The sturdiest specimens might survive, but their health would never be as good as it could be. The water in the aquarium is analogous to the air that land and air creatures breathe; both have to have certain components, and not have other substances. Aquarium water is more complicated than you might think.

Let us start with the most common source of water for consumption, taps. Tap water can vary in quality depending where you are. Sometimes it looks safe enough to drink, and yet other times it looks like a health hazard. General rule: if you cannot drink it, then your fish should not have to suffer in it. If your tap water looks clean enough, clear and with no suspended rust or soil particles, it might look suitable for aquarium use. Not quite, as most countries introduce chlorine or chloramine into their distributed water. These two are added to the water to kill bacteria. Humans do not suffer any adverse effects from ingesting them, but fish do. Placing fish in chlorinated water will kill them. Dechlorination can be done in two ways: by letting the water standing or by adding additives. Chlorine will slowly separate from standing water, so leaving water to stand for one or two days will effectively dechlorinate it. Chloramine is a different matter. Chloramine is much more stable in water, and will not evaporate from standing water. The solution to this is to add some dechlorinating drops. The concentration of the dichlorinator may vary, so read the labels. After a few minutes, the water should be chlorine-free. This is cery important for your aquarium water care!

If you are taking care of marine or tropical fish, then you must know that the water must also be “salty”. Adding table salt is the common practice. Certain kinds of sensitive fish, however, will need more than that. Seawater or saltwater contains a pretty complex mix of dissolved substances, and fish that live in it rely on that water for bodily functions. Seawater concentrates are available for the enthusiast. Know the salinity level required by your fish, and adjust your aquarium’s salinity accordingly. You will need some testing equipment to read this. Hydrometers are the most commonly used, though electrical conductivity tests have also been used to gauge salinity.

Sometimes, the pH of aquarium water has to be adjusted to match the pH levels appropriate for the fish living in it. Freshwater is usually neutral or slightly acidic, while saltwater goes the other way, being slightly alkaline or basic. A pH tester will be needed to test this. Adding acids will decrease the pH and make the water acidic. The opposite is true for adding bases: water pH goes up. As with everything else, research the pH information for your fish before making any change to the water.

Knowing the requirements of your fish is critical. Always research and think it over before making any changes to your aquarium water as this effects things such as aquarium ph and concentration of salt; improper ratios and ph will harm your fish. Be a good fish ower by ensuring the aquarium water is properly balanced and your fish will “tank” you for it!