The most common water problems are cloudy water, foamy water or smelly water. All of these are caused due to availability of abandon amount of food for the bacteria to thrive on it. Under such condition the bacteria grows in high concentration resulting smelly, cloudy water. Sometime they create foams on the water surface.

Such environment can stress your aquatic pets and can cause disease or bacterial infection.

Treatment:
1. Clean the entire tank/pond once: Remember this is not a preferred option as this will kill the useful bacteria and you have to recycle the tank.

2. Continues partial water change: Change about 20% of water everyday till the water returns to clear condition. This is a simple process in which, you are basically removing some bacteria and some extra food, in absence of food, the bacteria will starve. Remember, changing more than 20% can stress your pets and unbalance your biological filter.

3. Reduce aquarium waste: Reduce amount of food so that less amount of food is actually available for your bacteria to feed. Remove any dead fish/pets/leaves/plants as and when you notice on your tank.

4. Adding Aquarium Salt: You can add 1 table spoon of aquarium salt for every 5 US gallons. Please note, some of the fish (like cory) and plants are sensitive to salt so consult expert before adding them to your tank.

5. Keeping some aquatic snail: While snails can be annoying, it really helps to control the aquarium waste. They will eat any uneaten food and will help to reduce the aquarium waste. Infect the number of snails can be an indication of water quality. If the number is increasing mean, you have a lot uneaten food on your tank. Apple snail is a good looking snail and you may look this as an option to control the food waste.

6. Adding cultured gravel to your tank: you can add some cultured gravel to your tank. The cultured gravel are nothing but the gravels with useful bacteria on it. You can ask your friend who has fully cycled aquarium. The useful bacteria will decompose the waste and clear the water in few days.

7. Adding commercial chemicals: You can use many commercial products available on the market, make sure you follow the instruction properly.

Once the water condition returns to normal condition, just maintain the water condition by partial water change (upto 10% per week).

Also read my articles on

1. Nitrogen Cycle
2. Aquarium Snails
3. Feeding your aquarium fish


Good Luck

Deepak
[We Love Our Fish Tank]

What are algae?
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms. The largest and most complex marine forms are called seaweeds. They are photosynthetic, like plants, and "simple" because they lack the many distinct organs found in land plants. For that reason they are currently excluded from being considered plants.

Algae are an important part of the ecosystems where they occur, but they can also become a nuisance for aquarists, pond keepers and swimming pool owners.

In order to control algae growth, it is important to understand the characteristic of algae, how and why they grow. Just like any other living plant, algae need light, water, nutrients, carbon dioxide and oxygen to stay alive or grow. It produces Oxygen as a bi-product during photosynthesis. So for algae to grow in your pond all it need is enough carbon dioxide, light and nutrition. So by controlling the amounts of light and nutrients, you can control algae growth.

Many different methods can be used to control algae and the bests results are normally achieved by combining several different methods. You can try the following:
--> Limit the amount of light (both artificial & Sunlight) which will reduce the photosynthesis. In most cases Sunlight is the main cause of Algae. So if your tank is exposed to a lot of direct or indirect sunlight, shade it by curtain or blinds.
--> Limit the nutrients (by frequent partial water change) which will make them hungry for food.
--> Introduce algae eating fish or organism
--> Control using commercially available chemicals. Remember one thing that, mass death of algae will drop the Oxygen level sharply and disturb or unbalance the water chemistry.

For ponds and water garden you have few more techniques:
--> Don’t over-feed your fish, which will contribute to additional nutrition.
--> If possible introduce scavenging species that will eat the left-over food
--> Keep your pond heavily planted, so that plants will over compete for nutrients with algae.
--> If you have plant eating fish or other animals in the pond, then chose though and sturdy plants that grows fast.

References:
Algae :Wikipedia
Algae-control:Aquatic Community

Good Luck
Deepak

We Love Our Fish Tank

Just like any other hobby, aquaculture has its own learning curve. Everybody learns from their mistakes; however there are a lot of simple things that can be avoided. In this article I will try to highlight the most common mistakes made by lot of beginners. Little precaution and awareness can save you from many disappointments and build a healthy environment for aquatic pets.

Aquarium size & Stand: Mostly people buy very small aquarium kits with an assumption that small aquarium is easy to maintain but the fact is exactly the opposite. It is difficult to maintain a small aquarium because in a small aquarium you have small volume of water, as a result small change in the water quality can have big impact in small environment. This frequent changes has real bad impact on you live stock. It is always easy to maintain a larger aquarium. Always buy the biggest possible tank that you can afford to maintain. 36” x 12” x 15” (Length x Width x Height) is probably the most common

A standard 36” x 12” x 15” aquarium holds approximately 80 litres (21 US Gallon) of water and weigh approximately 130 kg (270 pound), it’s important to select a strong and good looking stand that can withstand the weight of the aquarium but also goes with other furniture. There are plenty of tank designs available in the market and you can build your custom design too. From more details read my other articles on aquarium location and aquarium tank

Too many fish, too soon: As a new hobbyist, you will be tempted to add fish the day you get your new aquarium. Do not add fish on the day you setup your aquarium. New tank would not have those beneficial bacterial colonies. These bacterial colonies help stabilize aquarium environment. In a simple term keep your tanks filled with water for a few days, maximum a week and then introduce a few starter fish. This process is known as tank cycling. Once the tank is fully cycled, gradually add compatible fishes. Take care of the fish compatibility while adding new fishes in tank. For more details on cycling, read my article on Aquarium (Nitrogen) Cycling.

Incompatible Fish, adult size of fish or overstocking: In many cases people add incompatible or keep very small fish with too big fish. It’s like keeping a mouse with a cat. If the tank is not big enough either the small fish become snacks for the bigger fish or dies due to extreme stress. Keeping too many fish will create water quality issue and can create ammonia spikes. Always remember that you consider the adult size of the fish and their compatibility with your tank's mates.

Beginning with too many plants: While it is important to have aquatic plants in the aquarium make sure that you select right combination plants suitable for your fish and water parameter. Remember your plant will grow and require regular trimming so don’t put too many plants in the beginning. Some plants like Cabomba release dead leaf in the beginning, remove them regularly till they get their roots.

While introducing fish to aquarium: Remember most of the disease or bacteria come to your tank while adding new fish or plants. Avoid buying fish from a store where you can see dead fish in the tank or have visible marks on them. Avoid carrying fish in a transparent bag which causes more stress to the fish, Cover the fish packet with a separate cover. Carry the fish as quickly as possible and with least vibration possible. As there will be a temperature difference, leave the fish packet (do not open yet) in the tank and allow it to float in for 30 minutes. Switch off the light and leave them alone. After 30 min open the packet and add about 50% of aquarium water in the packet and leave it for another 15 minutes. After 15 minutes add some more water to the packet and leave it for 15 more minutes. Now you can either release the fish with water to the tank or just the fish using a aquarium net. I recommend not adding the packet water as it will reduce the risk of transmission of any bacteria from the shop. After 3-4 hours you can switch on the light. After you introduce the fish, watch their behaviour with other tank mates.

Improper feeding or Overfeeding: Every fish has its own diet requirement. Though most of them are carnivorous there are few species which are herbivores. Some are bottom feeders while some of them are top feeders. Feed your fish with a mixed diet of flakes, tablets, frozen food and some time live worms or insects. Most of the case your fish will die because of overfeeding than under feeding. Most fishes can survive without any food for 3-4 days easily. Your feeding quantity should be such that your fish can consume it in less than 5 minutes. Over feeding will also create water problem and Nitrate spike. For more detail read my article on Feeding your aquarium fish.

Insufficient Filtration: If your tank is equipped with power filter run it for at least 6-8 hours in a day. The ideal option is to fit them with a timer and run for 15 minutes in every one hour. Adjust the time based on the performance.

Insufficient Aeration: If you have bottom or middle dwellers then oxygen amount in water is critical. In case of low oxygen level, your fishes will stay at the top and breathe from the surface. To avoid this you can fit an air pump (with air diffuser) which will not only aerate the tank but also enhance the look. Air pump is a must at night if you have lots of plants (with fish) in your tank. This is because plants produce oxygen only during day (via photosynthesis) but consume oxygen during night. You may use a timer to adjust the pump timing.

Aquarium lights: Proper lighting is essential and key to a successful planted aquarium. But excessive lighting can cause algae problem. So make sure your aquarium lighting is not too less nor too much. Read my article on Aquarium lighting options (DIY) for details.

Aquarium Temperature: As different fish have different natural habitats, they have temperature comfort zone and will feel stressed if the temperature is too less or too high. So it is important to consider the temperature requirement while buying fish. 24 degree Celsius (76 degree Fahrenheit) is a typical temperature suitable for most tropical species but please research for specific species. As most of the modern aquarium heater comes with thermostat, it is advisable to keep the heater on for 24 hours. Also for a very large aquarium it's advisable to have two small thermometers than a large one so that if one breaks you have the other as backup.

Regular partial water change: As explained in Nitrogen Cycle, the last stage of aquarium waste is Nitrate. Prolong exposure of fish to a high nitrate concentration will damage their gills and excessive stress can lead to disease or death. I recommend a 10% water change every week. Make sure you treat your tap water for Chlorine and Chloramines. Another simpler way is to keep the water in a separate tank/container for a week before adding them to aquarium. Never make a 100% water change in one go. (100% water change will kill/destroy the useful bacteria and you have to recycle your tank).

Ph & Water Hardness: Depending upon the natural habitats, every fish has a comfort zone for PH and hardness. You can alter these parameters using suitable chemicals but it’s not advisable for beginners. If your tap water is very hard/soft or alkaline/acidic then consult your local store or use our forum for expert advice.

Water testing: It is advisable to test your water parameter (Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate) in a regular interval just to ensure that your water quality is suitable for your fish. Some aquarium store offers free water testing to their valued customer so check with your local store for details.

Using second hand or used aquariums: There is absolutely no reason why you can’t use an used aquarium however, be careful while setting up an used aquarium. Wash the aquarium and any accessories thoroughly with normal tap water and keep the water for a week to check for leakage or cracks. Make sure all electrical accessories are secured and insulated before powering them.

Hope you will find this article useful. If you have any question, post your queries on the Forum and I am sure someone will definitely answer your queries.

Good Luck.

Deepak

We Love Our Fish Tank

Most fishes are carnivorous and live on insects, insect larvae, worms, grubs, shrimps, small fish and similar animals. However, almost all fish also graze on live plants, algae and hence considered as herbivores. As a result in the natural environment most fish are really omnivorous and eats that contain both animal and vegetable matters.

In aquarium without any plants and algae, fish lacks vegetable. If you feed you fish with only carnivorous food, they can develop nutritional deficiency and cause many problem like constipation, dropsy etc.

Vegetable contains lot of fibres and helps in digesting food. Regular feed of vegetable can keep your fishes healthy.

You can try feeding many vegetable including green peas, beans, Zucchini, Broccoli, Romaine lettuce etc.

You can feed some vegetable directly or after washing in hot water (Example Romaine lettuce). Fishes like koi, Goldfish will love these foods.

To feed vegetable (like beans, Zucchini) cut them in to smaller pieces and then boil them in microwave till it get soft. Strain the water and cool it off. This is very good for livebearer.

To feed green peas, just boil till they get soft and feed them. This is particularly good for goldfishes.
To feed broccoli, remove the dark green portion (otherwise this can create a mess in your tank), cut and then boil the broccoli till it cools off. This is a favourite of Plecos.

Good Luck

Deepak
[We Love Our Fish Tank]

Just like others, Aquarium brings new challenges and possible hazards for both us and our aquatic pets. There are several types of aquarium hazards, some of these are dangerous for aquatic pets where as some of them are for us. Few simple safety precautions can minimise these hazards to a very large extent.

Pollutants: Water being universal solvent, any water-soluble material (example paper base articles, textile, fabric, human food etc.) should not be come in contact with aquarium tank water.

Toxic Materials: Any chemicals/metal that is not prescribed as aquatic safe (ex aquatic medicines, chemical) can be toxic to your aquatic pets. Even a very small quantity can stress the fish or even kill them.

Objects collected from wild: Hobbyist tend collect Rocks, shells corals, stones, bogwood etc from wild and introduce to the fresh water tank. This is recommended only for experienced hobbyist because many a times the above objects can cause lot of harm to your tank mates. Also there is a risk of introducing new microorganisms and parasites to your aquarium which could disturb the biological filter or introduce new disease. Sometime boiling the object in boiling water kills lot of bacteria. However it is recommended to consult an experienced hobbyist or local fish store before adding any such external objects.

Decorative Objects (Non aqua safe): As stated above, not every plastic object is aqua safe and became toxic for your fish. Before adding any such object wash the objects in clean water and soak it for 3-4 weeks (change the water every day). Dry the object in on sun or even in oven for few minutes. If you find any decay in material or change in water colour then don’t use it in the tank.

Broken Aquarium : As aquariums are usually made of glass, it is vulnerable to shock and impact. It can break or crack due to minor impact. If you have very active household or small kids, then do not place a glass aquarium in a high traffic area. Make sure the stand you use for your aquarium is sturdy and will not easily tip over. Teach children to never climb or hang on an aquarium. As an alternative, use acrylic aquarium if that suits your requirement.

Equipment Hazards: Aquarium has lot of small component that can be chocking hazard. So if you have small kids then please make sure they are stored securely. Don't leave pieces where small children might find them and put them in their mouth. Always take care when working with glass lids, heaters, or other breakable equipment. During aquarium maintenance take extra care while cleaning breakable devices such as heater, lights etc. When removing a glass lid, don't lay it on the floor where you may step on it, or rest it against a chair where it might tip over and break.

Electrical Hazards: Frayed wires, broken light fixtures, and cracked heaters can all present an electrical hazard. Make sure all cords are grounded, and use 'drip loops' to avoid letting dripping water run into an electrical outlet.

Chemical Hazards: This is one of the common when you have small children at home. Small children can open any aquarium chemicals or medicine which could be very dangerous for them. Please keep them at a secure place out of kids reach.

Diseases: Though it is rare, there are instance where Fish carry a species of mycobacterium which can cause Fish Tuberculosis (Fish TB) in human. Persons who have weakened immune systems, such as diabetics, are at highest risk. So if you have health conditions it is wise to cover your skin when working in the tank. You can use full length reusable or disposable gloves or use long handled pair of tongs.

Hope you will find this article useful.

Good Luck

Deepak

We Love our Fish Tank