Aquarium Fish Wonders » air pump

Novice’s Guide To Housing Goldfish

Mermaid — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:32:44 +0000

If you’re thinking of keeping goldfish in a bowl because the cost of setup looks quaint and it takes up little space…knock that silly idea out of your head!

Confining goldfish to a small bowl or container is cruel, as these fish have a propensity to grow very large. It not only leads to premature death, but also stunts growth, deforming them internally and externally.

Bowls don’t work too partly because goldfish produce huge amounts of ammonia and waste. These toxic elements poison the water fast. Imagine the situation worsening in meager, cramped spaces.

Being coldwater fish, goldfish also need plenty of oxygen—something you won’t find in bowls with small surface areas.

If you’ve heard others boast about how their goldfish have lived up to three years in a bowl, get this: Goldfish, if taken care of properly, can live up to 25 years or more!

Suffice it to say, dunking your goldfish in a bowl won’t improve their quality of life, let alone encourage longevity.

If these still don’t convince you, you’re welcome to read my earlier post on Why Goldfish Won’t Thrive Well In a Bowl.

Housing Your Goldfish The Proper Way

Aquarium Tank: Get a tank! It’s unavoidable if you want your pet fish happy and healthy.

Buy the best you can afford, something that will last your fish a lifetime. Remember, they are going to grow a lot, both length- and body-wise.

Don’t overload the tank. Some experts recommend about 10 gallons of water per goldfish, and that’s just for fry and the young ones!

Filter: A good filter is vital in maintaining a healthy environment for your fish. Power filters are a good choice, they’re easy to clean, come in many sizes, and priced reasonably.

Which filter you buy also depends on your tank size and how many fish you have. I’ve written a number posts on filter, do a search around this site it should bring out a few of them. For a start, you might want to read this: The Various Types Of Aquarium Filter And Their Functions.

Lid: Cover the tank with a lid. It not only stops startled fish from jumping out, but also cools the water in the tank. As goldfish are coldwater fish, you need to keep the water temperature down—and this can be tricky with tropical climate areas. Buy a thermometer to monitor the temperature daily.

Air Pump: Getting an air pump to aerate the water is a wise move, though not entirely necessary if the tank’s surface area is big. Here are two articles to get you acquainted about air pump: Understand the Basic Uses of Aquarium Water Pump and Tips on Choosing an Air Pump For Your Aquarium.

Aquarium Decor: Decorating your tank? Safety first! Steer clear of sharp, dangerous ornaments that may cause injury to species like the Bubble Eye.

Gravel: Choose dark-colored gravel to set off your goldfish colors. Gravel not only holds plants downs, but also provide a home for good bacteria to grow. Goldfish, being the natural grazers they are, will love searching the substrate for good morsels. The choice is on you though—to clean the gravel consistently and thoroughly! More reading pleasure on gravel: Easy and Effective Ways to Learn About Aquarium Gravels, Are You Laying The Right Substrate For Your Aquarium?, and Aquarium Substrate: Gravel Basic.

Is It Necessary To Quarantine My Newly Bought Fish?

Mermaid — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:51:28 +0000

A quarantine is the period of time in which newly acquired fish or sick fish are kept separate from the other inhabitants in an established aquarium.

This eliminates the risk of introducing diseases that the new fish may be carrying into the aquarium. It also allows any sick fish to be treated and prevents the infection from spreading.

Most beginners do fine without a quarantine tank a.k.a. hospital tank. However, if you have invested a tidy sum in acquiring your fish, you may find it more worthwhile to set up a quarantine tank than to replace fish killed through exposure to undetected sources of diseases. Also, you certainly wouldn’t want to lose any fish you have grown attached to.

How Do I Go About Setting Up A Quarantine Tank?

Keep an extra filter (a sponge filter is ideal) or filter floss in an established tank, so you do not need to keep the quarantine tank set up at all times. If you are using the quarantine tank to treat sick fish, do not use activated carbon in the filter.

It’s best to add an air pump to provide aeration in a quarantine tank because these tanks are often smaller than usual, and certain medication may remove oxygen from the water.

If you don’t wish to keep the tank running, fill the tank with “old” tank water so you have an instant established tank when the need arises.

Alternatively, you can choose to keep the filter going with guppies (for freshwater tanks) or mollies (for saltwater tanks) in it.

If you are medicating the tank, take the necessary precautions to ensure that biological filter bacteria which are sensitive to the medication are not killed off. Sick fish are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of excessive ammonia in the water.

Make small, frequent water changes. Do this every day, if practical.

How Long Do I Have To Quarantine My New Fish?

Quarantine all your new fish for about three weeks. During this time, allow your fish to gradually become acclimatized to the water parameters—hardness, salinity, pH, and temperature. Watch closely to detect signs of disease and treat accordingly.

It is not necessary to medicate quarantined fish, unless they are evidently sick or infected. Treating all quarantined fish with medication indiscriminately will just lead to weakened fish and develop strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

Once the quarantine is over, and nasty diseases have been dealt with, disinfect the tank and re-establish the filter. Any equipment used in the quarantine tank should not be reused in the main tank unless thoroughly disinfected. Chlorine bleach, strong saltwater, and potassium permanganate are some effective disinfectants that can be used to clean the aquarium and accessories.

What Should I Do If I Don’t Want To Quarantine My New Fish?

If you choose not to quarantine your new fish, here’s what you should do:

Once you reach home, place the bag in your tank, so that the temperature of the water in the bag slowly adjusts to that of the temperature of the water in the tank.
Wait for about 15 minutes before adding a little tank water to the bad.
Repeat this a few times to allow the fish to get accustomed to the chemistry of the water in your own tank.
Then, gently use a net to place the fish in the tank.

Do not place any water from the bag into the tank, as it could contain bacteria and parasites.

Are You Pumping Enough Oxygen For Your Fish?

Mermaid — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 13:30:07 +0000

Fish breathe through their gills. The gills extract oxygen that is necessary for their bodily functions from the water. The oxygen that is absorbed into their bodies undergoes biological processing, gets converted into carbon dioxide and is then discharged back into the water.

For fish to stay healthy there must be sufficient oxygen in the water for them to breathe. This means that “gas exchange”, the process whereby carbon dioxide is replaced by oxygen, must take place.

In order for gas exchange to occur, a good aeration system is necessary in an aquarium. Aeration is the process of creating turbulence in the water to break the surface of the water, to allow oxygen to be introduced into the water.

1 – Aeration Systems

Aeration can be effected through several methods. Many aquariums are aerated through the turbulence created by the pumping action of a power filter or canister filter, and by the effect of water falling back into the aquarium.

Others use a power-head with an under-gravel filter to pump water across the surface of the aquarium. Such a system consists of plates covered with gravel, and one or more upright tubes. The filter is powered by an air pump via an air stone in the upright tube. As air bubbles move up the tube, water is drawn through the under-gravel filter bed, up the tube and towards the water surface.

2 – Air Stones

Air stones are an important part of creating a good aquarium aeration system. They can be used without an under-gravel filter to supplement the aeration provided by a canister or power filter.

This is how an air stone works: Air from the air pump passes through a submerged block of porous material. This breaks up the airflow and creates tiny bubbles which rise to the water surface and break its surface tension.

Air stones should be routinely cleaned and changed. An air stone that is clogged with debris will create back-pressure, shortening the life of the air pump.

3 – Selecting An Air Pump

When selecting an air pump, the two primary considerations are size and power.

The size required depends on how much air needs to be produced for the aquarium. For instance, if additional air outlets are required for action ornaments, bubble walls or decorative air stones, a larger air pump would be more effective.

Deeper tanks also require larger, stronger pumps. The deeper the water, the higher the pressure, and the harder the air pump has to work to force air through the air stone and into the water.

Conclusion

So before you go shopping for some filtration systems for your aquarium tank, it is wise to keep the above points in mind. Not only will you save time and money, you also enhance the life span of your fish.

Tips on Choosing an Air Pump For Your Aquarium

Mermaid — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 07:30:20 +0000

Before we go out and get a new or replace our existing air pump, we should understand the proper use of it and the safety measures. The last thing you want is spending unnecessary money getting an air pump that neither functions properly nor fit your aquarium requirement.

What Does an Air Pump Do?

Aquarium air pumps can be used in two main ways.

To power small internal filters and undergravel filter.
For aeration only, using airstones.

When used to run undergravel filters, the air pump moves air under pressure through the water, thereby drawing water through the uplift tubes. An airstone should be attached to increase bubble output, and in turn, water movement.

An air pump aerates the aquarium by producing a stream of bubbles that agitates the water. Bubbles rising to the surface create ripples which increase the water surface area and allow oxygenation (a process whereby oxygen is introduced from the air into the water) to take place.

What Are the Safely Issues You Should Be Concerned About?

An air pumps are usually kept running round the clock, they are likely to get overheated and may catch fire.

Most of the fire incidents that have been reported involved overhead pumps. Such pumps are mounted above the water level, within the hood of the aquarium or atop of the rim of the tank. As water does not pass over them, the pumps are not cooled down and are more likely to overheat if they get jammed.

Pumps that are not built with water-resistant components also pose a danger when water that is sprayed onto the pumps or seeps into the motor leads to short circuits.

Tips on Selecting and Using Filter Pumps

Do not buy a pump just because it is cheap! Some popular makes, usually imported from China and Taiwan, sell for as little as $5. Others can cost between $15 and $60.
Be discerning – buy only pumps that have been tested and certified safe by an accredited certification body. These would have been put through a series of stringent checks to see if the material and parts are flammable or if there is any electrical leakage.
Poor-quality makes of overhead air pumps that do not meet international safely requirements are potential fire hazards. They may give off a burning smell and are burning hot to the touch when left on for a long period of time. Good-quality ones might come with casings that are insulated with waterproof or fireproof materials, and should not give out excess heat.
Follow usage instructions properly.
Check your air pump regularly to ensure that it is working properly. Replace pumps once they become too noisy.
Do not place flammable material near your aquarium.