Fish Tank Care — An Exercise in Simple Chemistry
Many people keep fish as pets. Aquariums are attention-grabbing display pieces. Fish make good pets as they are quiet, require relatively less food, and do little to harm their surroundings. Best of all is the fact that fishes are serene and have a calming effect on people. The tropical kinds come in all sorts of colours and patterns, so fish are definitely more vivid than other pets.
Keeping fish is not as easy as it sounds though. The most important aspect of aquarium care is the condition of the water. It is not “just water”. Fish require certain conditions to live, and the water must have certain qualities to support fish life. In addition to that, not all fish can live in the same kind of water. One distinction is that between freshwater and saltwater fish. Neither can fare well when put into the opposing kind of water they were meant for.
An amusing but slightly morbid story goes like this: One day, a boy looked at his aquarium, a small fish bowl, and thought that he could make it prettier. To do this, he would change the colour of the water. He took the fish out and put them into a temporary container. He then took some powdered juice mix and mixed it into the aquarium water. The water indeed took on a lovely shade and he returned the fish into it. Satisfied, he left to clean up. Upon returning to watch his fish in their new colorific world, his fish had gone belly-up. This story does not really have an ending. It doesn’t really need one as it communicates the idea across clearly: do not mess with the aquarium water without knowing what it will do to the fish.
Aquarium maintenance can be immersive. Aquariums must support life through specific conditions and these conditions are brought about by careful formulation and control on the part of the aquarium caretaker. Tropical fish care in particular can be a deep and precise science. In some ways, aquarium care is like chemistry. Salinity, pH level, dissolved minerals, temperature, nitrogen levels, oxygen saturation — these are things we normally associate with chemistry that are equally applicable to aquarium care.
A tip for saltwater fish care: check the aquarium water’s salinity regularly. To do this, a hydrometer is used. If the salinity exceeds the limit for the fish, they will suffer health problems and eventually die. The salinity dropping below acceptable levels will also cause problems for the fish. Add water or aquarium salts as needed.
Aquarium temperature must also be controlled. Thermometers are used to this end. There are also digital thermometers that can give you readings in seconds. Fish are very sensitive to temperature. Changes as small as 5 degrees Celsius can be enough to kill the fish inside. Know beforehand the temperature requirements of your fish, and be watchful.
Fish tanks also need to be cleaned. Fish tank maintenance keeps the water clean and the fish healthy. Dirty glass sides reduce visibility; clean your fish tanks regularly for maximum viewing pleasure.
Having different kinds of fish sharing the same water can complicate matters. Aside from the fact that they may prey on each other, their living conditions might not match up. It just wouldn’t do to have some fish living well while others are dying.
Take care of your fish by taking care of the fish tank. Keeping your fish tank clean and the water just right keeps your fish healthy and you happy! Maintaining the proper aquarium water chemistry is an essential part of proper aquarium care.