Should You Change Water in Aquariums?
When you set up your aquarium for the first time, you look at the water and if it looks clean, you are comfortable with it.
But if you stir it up a bit, you will find a lot of dirt or junk inside.
You must be wondering as to where it came from.
When you feed your fish, some particles of such food will go to the bottom of the tank and they will remain there.
In addition, the food eaten by fish comes out in the form of fish waste which will add to the dirt.
In addition to this visible waste, there are a lot of invisible chemicals in the form of nitrates and phosphates which will be accumulating over a period of time.
This all adds up to make the water polluted and it makes your fish sick.
High level of nitrates in the water will prohibit the reproduction of fish.
They will also promote the growth of algae.
Similarly phosphates will be responsible for fish stress.
Frequent changing of water is the best alternative to keep away all these chemicals and food waste.
The water used in your aquarium contains minerals which are important for the growth of your fish.
Over a period of time, they are used by fish and the water is required to be changed.
It is important to give your fish water which is fresh, containing all the important minerals.
The frequency of changing water You should regularly change the water in your aquarium.
In fact it is one of the routine maintenance jobs.
How frequently you should do it would depend upon a number of factors.
If you have a heavily populated tank, it will require frequent changes of water.
It is advisable to change at least 15 to 20 per cent of the tank water every week.
If the tank is heavily populated; you should increase it to 25 per cent each week.
And remember, just adding water to your tank does not mean you have changed the water.
Because an addition of water neither removes any waste nor have any nitrite or ammonia contents from water.
Here are some tips while changing the water 1.
Keep the water outside at least twelve hours before you introduce it in your water tank.
This will allow all the gases to dissipate.
Otherwise these gases will be harmful to your fish.
It will also stabilize the pH levels.
2.
When you take off old water, clean the substrate.
In this manner you can remove the dirt which is building up there.
3.
Never try to clean the filter while changing water.
Bacterial colonies are located on the filters and if you tried to clean it, these colonies will be disturbed or removed.
You have to clean your filter sometimes but it should not be done when you change your water.
When the changed water settles down after a few days, you can go ahead for cleaning your filter.
4.
Always keep a log of the changing schedule so that you will never miss it for a long time.
But if you stir it up a bit, you will find a lot of dirt or junk inside.
You must be wondering as to where it came from.
When you feed your fish, some particles of such food will go to the bottom of the tank and they will remain there.
In addition, the food eaten by fish comes out in the form of fish waste which will add to the dirt.
In addition to this visible waste, there are a lot of invisible chemicals in the form of nitrates and phosphates which will be accumulating over a period of time.
This all adds up to make the water polluted and it makes your fish sick.
High level of nitrates in the water will prohibit the reproduction of fish.
They will also promote the growth of algae.
Similarly phosphates will be responsible for fish stress.
Frequent changing of water is the best alternative to keep away all these chemicals and food waste.
The water used in your aquarium contains minerals which are important for the growth of your fish.
Over a period of time, they are used by fish and the water is required to be changed.
It is important to give your fish water which is fresh, containing all the important minerals.
The frequency of changing water You should regularly change the water in your aquarium.
In fact it is one of the routine maintenance jobs.
How frequently you should do it would depend upon a number of factors.
If you have a heavily populated tank, it will require frequent changes of water.
It is advisable to change at least 15 to 20 per cent of the tank water every week.
If the tank is heavily populated; you should increase it to 25 per cent each week.
And remember, just adding water to your tank does not mean you have changed the water.
Because an addition of water neither removes any waste nor have any nitrite or ammonia contents from water.
Here are some tips while changing the water 1.
Keep the water outside at least twelve hours before you introduce it in your water tank.
This will allow all the gases to dissipate.
Otherwise these gases will be harmful to your fish.
It will also stabilize the pH levels.
2.
When you take off old water, clean the substrate.
In this manner you can remove the dirt which is building up there.
3.
Never try to clean the filter while changing water.
Bacterial colonies are located on the filters and if you tried to clean it, these colonies will be disturbed or removed.
You have to clean your filter sometimes but it should not be done when you change your water.
When the changed water settles down after a few days, you can go ahead for cleaning your filter.
4.
Always keep a log of the changing schedule so that you will never miss it for a long time.