The most important thing in your fish’s environment is the water. If your fish tank has water that is too hot or cold, too acidic or alkaline, or unbalanced in any other way, your fish could die. In order to properly maintain your tank and keep your fish healthy and happy, you will need to test the tank’s water on a regular basis.
You should start by checking the aquarium’s temperature with a tank thermometer. It is important to check the temperature of your tank because if the temperature is too high or too low, it can leave your fish vulnerable to disease. Since temperature fluctuations are dangerous to fish, be sure to keep your tank away from any drafty areas, such as windows, doors or heater vents.
The ideal temperature for your tank depends on the kind of fish you have in it so make sure you find out what is ideal for your fish. When you change your tank’s water or add new water to your tank when the water level is a bit low, you should make sure the temperature is about the same as the temperature of the water already in the tank. If the water is too hot or too cold, it may shock the fish or even kill them.
pH is a way to measure the acidity of the tank’s water. Since pH test kits are inexpensive and it is very important to be sure your tank’s levels are right, you should make sure you have a kit on hand for frequent testing. A pH level of 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic and above 7 is alkaline. Most fish need the pH level to be around 6 or 7. Be aware that anything you add to the tank could change the pH of the water, so always run some tests to make sure the levels are ok after you add new plants, gravel or decorations.
Ammonia test kits are readily available in your local pet store or favorite online pet supply retailer. Ammonia levels are usually measured in parts per million and should always be at zero in a healthy tank. Ammonia in the tank could be fatal for your fish. Make sure you have a biological filter, as it helps prevent ammonia. Cleaning your tank and filter regularly should also prevent ammonia levels from becoming high.
Nitrite and nitrate levels should also be at zero to prevent your fish from dying. These test kits are also readily available and are usually measured in parts per million or milligrams per liter. If you have a biological filter and have high levels, the filter may not work properly. Clean your filter immediately and retest your water.
Finally, you should get a general hardness kit and a carbonate hardness kit. These kits are inexpensive and can be purchased online or at your local store. The hardness of your water depends on the water quality where you live. Most fish like the water to be soft, which is between 50 to 200 parts per million. Hard water is not safe for most fish. Since high carbon can keep pH stable, a carbon hardness kit is important, too.
Filed under Fish and Aquarium Care by on Jul 20th, 2008. Comment. 
Finally, you have the pond of your dreams, but things aren’t quite as perfect as you wanted them to be. How do you keep your pond in good shape? Here are some common pond problems you may encounter and how you can solve them.
Leakage
If your pond seems to be losing a lot of water at a rapid rate, do not mistake this for evaporation. You actually probably have a leak. If the leak is at the bottom of the pond, you will have to drain it and use a sheep’s foot roller to insert bentonite clay into the leak. Unfortunately, bentonite can be a bit expensive, so this is not a cheap fix. However, it is the best way to repair a leak.
Bentonite is effective because it swells to 12 to 15 times larger than its original size when inserted into the leak, creating a leak proof seal. It also allows nutrients to still be exchanged between sediments in the pond.
The problem may also be from a plumbing leak. In that case, while the pump is running, check the hoses for leaks and then fix the problem by replacing the section of hose that contains the leak.
Sometimes, water loss may be caused by water seeping over the liner edge. You’ll have to find out where the spot is by moving rocks and other barriers. When you find the low spot in the liner, readjust it to stop the leak.
pH
You will need to do a check of the pH, or acidity, of the pond water with a pH test kit. A pH reading of 7 is neutral, a pH reading that is higher than 7 is alkaline and a pH reading that is lower than 7 is acidic. The pH level should be around 7 to 7.5 in the pond.
It should never be below 6.8 or above 8, as low pH levels prevent effective biological filtration and cause stress on your fish. A high pH level makes it harder for plants to grow or survive and can also be harmful for your fish. pH levels may change due to acid rain, soil runoff and fish waste. So check regularly. If the pH level of your pond isn’t at an ideal level, you should purchase products that can change the pH levels in water.
Algae
A little algae growth is actually a good sign, as this shows your pond has the right nutrients and systems to support life. However too much algae can become a problem, since it can cloud the water and steal nutrients from plants and fish. If you don’t have any plants in the pond, the chance of algae growth is much higher, so it is a good idea to add plants to your pond.
Plants and algae need the same nutrients, but plants will receive the nutrients before the algae can, which keeps algae from forming. Overfeeding fish is a common cause of excess algae growth, as well, so be sure to feed your fish the proper amount of food.
To help prevent algae growth and maintain the quality of the pond water, you should consider installing a mechanical filter and ultraviolet sterilization. Ultraviolet sterilization is very easy to install and won’t affect the water, plants and fish since it works from the outside of the pond.
You may also need to change some of the water regularly to remove some of the nutrients algae feeds on.
Filed under Fish and Aquarium Care by on Jun 19th, 2008. Comment.
