Monthly Archives: February 2012
Getting Rid Of Algae On Sponge Filters
This algae on sponge filters article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “7 Ways To Avoid Fish Ich In Your Fish Tank“.
One common question which I keep getting from my readers these days is how it is possible to have algae on sponge filters. A lot of people are surprised that a sponge filter which is supposed to filter out contaminants can have algae growing on it but this is really not a strange thing, nor is it something to be too concerned about.
Algae On Sponge Filters
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You need to know how a sponge filter functions in order to figure out how algae on sponge filters can grow. A sponge filter is a very simple filtering device with one major filtration media which is the sponge. When water is drawn into the sponge head, large debris and waste matter is trapped on the sponge surface. This waste is mostly organic matter and is fertilizer for the algae. After all, algae is plant life. This makes the sponge head now an excellent breeding ground for algae.
Cleaning Off Algae On Sponge Filters
The beauty of a sponge filter is how relatively easy it is to clean. All you need to do is take off the sponge head and give it a little wash to get rid of the algae on sponge filters.
To properly wash the sponge head, you should not use tap water. What you should do is use some of the aquarium water. The best time to do this is when you are doing your weekly water change. Instead of throwing away the water, use if first to wash the sponge head. The reason why we do not use tap water is because the sponge head is also home to colonies of beneficial bacteria that will provide biological filtration to hour aquarium. The chlorine in tap water will kill of the beneficial bacteria and cause an imbalance in your fish tank water.
But just cleaning off algae on sponge filters is just a temporary solution. You have to get to the root of e problem which is why is algae growing in your fish tank in the first place. Once you tackle this issue, you would not have to keep cleaning off algae on sponge filters ever again.
Algae On Sponge Filters Causes
Algae is a form of plant life and as long as you know this, preventing algae from breeding in your fish tank and most importantly algae on sponge filters will be extremely easy. Like all forms of plant life, algae need sunlight and nutrients. Without them, the algae would never be able to thrive.
First off, inspect the position that you have placed your fish tank. Is it in a place that gets an ample amount of sunlight each day? Is it close to a window or door, or worst yet is it outdoors? Having a lot of sunlight is the perfect condition for algae growth. If possible, move your aquarium to an area that gets less sunlight.
Next, is there too much free floating nutrients in your fish tank? These nutrients can come from excess food or fish waste. Are you overfeeding your fish and allowing the food to dissolve in the water without the fish finishing it? Also, since you are using a sponge filter, you need to ensure that you perform regular cleaning or the sponge head would be clogged and not providing sufficient filtration.
To limit the amount of plant nutrients in your fish tank you could plant decorative plants that would compete fiercely with the algae for food. Wisteria is the type of plant that I personally use in all my fish tanks that are prone to algae because they are the best competitors to algae.
Algae Control Essentials
These are some of the simplest ways to combat algae in your fish tank. While algae presence if definitely not deadly to your fish, having them especially algae on sponge filters can be unsightly and more importantly reduce the efficiency of your filter.
7 Ways To Avoid Fish Ich In Your Fish Tank
This fish ich article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “Using Rocks In An Aquarium Design“.
Imagine looking into your fish tank one day and seeing your listless fish with tiny white spots on it looking as if someone powdered it with salt. This is a clear sign of fish ich and not only do they make your beautiful fish look weird and ugly, they will also be detrimental to the health of the fish.
Fish Ich
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Fish ich can affect anyone’s aquarium anytime and it is not an unusual aquatic disease but it is one that you would need to address as fast as possible. The affected fish needs to be quarantined and treated, the entire tank needs to be clean out and sanitized and the sick fish needs to be closely monitored. But rather than have to solve the problem on hand, what you should be focusing on is to avoid introducing fish ich to your fish tank in the first place. This is because as always, preventing is always the best cure.
7 Ways To Stop Fish Ich
Here are 7 ways that you could put in place to ensure that your precious fish are never affected by fish ich:
- Perform your water changes diligently. You must do a water change at least once a week or at the worst once every two weeks. But a water change is more than just throwing out the old water and pouring in new water. You should only remove and replace about 20% of the water in your fish tank during each water change. Changing the entire tank of water will actually harm the fish and should be avoided as much as possible unless it is because of a disease. Also, the replacement water should never be taken straight from the tank. It should be allowed to sit in a bucket for at least 24 hours before introducing it into the existing aquarium water.
- Vary the the fish food. Could you imagine eating the same food each day for the rest of your life? The different brands of food sold on the shelves of pet shops each stress a different nutritional need and content so change food types once in a while. Also if your fish feeds on live food which you could get from your pet shop, use that for main meals and keep the packaged fish food as supplements.
- Reduce the amount of stress that your fish has to endure. The more stress the fish is placed under the more the more likely it is to fall sick. Stress can come in so many factors, not just physical. Do not place the fish tank in an area that has heavy human traffic. Place rocks and plants in your fish tank, not just as decoration but as little hiding places that your fish can escape to when they feel stressed. Control the chemical and well as temperature fluctuations well and monitor them with a proper test kit.
- Do not breed too many fish in one tank. More is less. Having too many fish not only stresses the fish out but it also increases the chance of disease spreading.
- Never introduce a new fish immediately into your existing fish tank. Always quarantine new fish for no less than 4 days before allowing it to mix with your existing fish. This is to rule out the possibility of e fish having fish ich and spreading it to your existing fish. Fish ich has a life span of 4 days and if there are no signs of disease after the period is over, the fish is fine and ready to be integrated into your aquarium.
- Choose your pet shops well. There are many pet shops around today which has a tendency to have several tanks sharing one filter. These merchants do not concern themselves with fish disease too much because they buy fish in bulk and sell them for a higher price. Regardless of how great a filter may seem, there is always a chance of disease being spread through the filtration filter too. Also, when you bring your fish back home from the shop, never mix the water they came in with the water in your fish tank.
- Do not buy plants that are sold from a tank with fish in it. Always buy plants that are sold from a separate tank. If the plant that you bought did come from a tank of fish in the pet shop, then make sure that you quarantine the plants just like you would quarantine a new fish. The 4 day period would ensure that any fish ich has completed its life cycle and died before it had a chance to spread.
Prevent Fish Ich From Spreading
These are 7 simple steps that you can take to ensure that your fish live long and healthy lives. These steps will ensure that fish ich as well as many other fish disease will never hurt your fish ever.
Using Rocks In An Aquarium Design
This aquarium design article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “Using An Aquarium Sponge Filter For A Small Fish Tank“.
Using rocks in an aquarium design is a superb choice. By choosing the right kind of rocks, preparing them and then arranging them into a natural look, your aquarium will look less like a fish tank and more like the kind of environment that your fish came from. This not only makes your aquarium design look great but will also make your fish feel more relax and at home.
Your Aquarium Design Rocks
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What you need to know here is that not all rocks are created equal. You can just take any rock from beside a river or the beach and plunk it into your fish tank because it may not be suitable. You need to fish test them to ensure that they do not harm the aquatic life in your fish tank. The kind of rocks that you can safely use in your fish tank largely depends on the species of fish and plant life that you already have or are planning to breed.
If what you have is a freshwater aquarium, then the rocks you use for your aquarium design should be inert rocks. These are rocks that will not alter the chemical balance of your fish tank and is the safest choice. Some of the types of inert rocks include basalt, obsidian, coal, quartz, sandstone and shale.
If your plan is in fact to raise the pH level of your fish tank or maybe to increase the hardness of the water than you may want to select calcareous rocks for your aquarium design. These include chalk, limestone and marble. Calcareous rocks will help alter the pH level as well as water hardness without you having to resort to chemicals.
Testing Your Aquarium Design Rocks
Here is an easy way for you to test to see if the rocks that you have chosen for your aquarium design is suitable. All you need is a bucket of your fish tank water, a test kit and your rocks.
First, test and jot down the pH, hardness, nitrates and phosphates levels of your aquarium water. Next, place the rocks into the bucket of water and allow it to sit for about a week. After the week is over, test the water one more time and compare your findings. You will find a slight change in reading but if the change is not much, then the rocks should in all likelihood be safe for your fish tank and can be used in your aquarium design.
You can also do a quick test by using vinegar. All you need to do is drip a few drops of vinegar on the rocks. If there is foaming, then the rocks are calcareous and should not be used in your fish tank unless you intentionally want to alter the chemical composition of your water.
Preparing Your Aquarium Design Rocks
After selecting the right type of rocks that you plan to use in your aquarium design, before adding them into your fish tank you would need to disinfect them first. Simply put, you would need to kill off any pathogens that may be breeding on the rock surface and cracks. To do this, vigorously brush the entire rock and rinse it properly to wash off any loose particles. Do not use any detergent for this, just plain water. After that, place it under direct sunlight for a couple of days to allow the sun ultra violet light to kill off any remaining pathogens.
Rocks For Aquarium Design (Click for details)
Your rocks are now ready for your aquarium design and will make a great addition to the ecosystem in your fish tank.
Using An Aquarium Sponge Filter For A Small Fish Tank
This aquarium sponge filter article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “Tips For Choosing The Right Aquarium Canister Filter For Your Saltwater Aquarium“.
If you are looking for a filter that is ideal for a small aquarium of about 3 gallons such as ones used for betta fish, then an aquarium sponge filter would be ideal. There are many reasons for why an aquarium sponge filter would be best for a small fish tank, the main reason being the fact that they do not focus the water suction into a small inlet like the other filters. An aquarium sponge filter basically is a special piece of sponge that is attached to the end of the water inlet. In doing so, the inlet that water is suck into is spread out over a wider area, making it virtually impossible for weak or small fish to get sucked in and stuck.
Aquarium Sponge Filter Benefits
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The increased surface area of an aquarium sponge filter also prevents too much water movement. This reduces the amount of stress placed on the fish especially if your fish a very small or weak.
An aquarium sponge filter provides both mechanical as well as biological filtration. Large debris and excess food is trapped on the sponge head and can easily be discarded by washing it. The sponge itself is an excellent breeding ground for colonies of beneficial bacteria which provide biological filtration.
Another benefit of using the aquarium sponge filter is the cost of it. It is one of the cheapest fish tank filters on sale today. Because it is so basic, with its main component being a simple sponge head, it is not prone to mechanical failure like many of the other types of filters and in case of wearing due to long term use, all that is required is a cheap sponge head change.
Maintaining An Aquarium Sponge Filter
Because the mechanical filter is the sponge head that is soaking in the water, you have to clean it at least once a week to ensure that it is filtering at optimum levels. Cleaning an aquarium sponge filter is extremely easy. You would first want to prepare a small container beforehand. Slowly pull out the inlet tube ensuring that you do not shake off the trapped debris into the water. Place the sponge head into the container and dislodge it from the tube. Shake the tube a little to drip off any excess water.
All you need to do now is wash it. The best way to do this is to use some of the water from the fish tank itself. Because you are supposed to be doing a partial water change each week, make good use of the water you take out of the aquarium to wash the sponge head. Do not scrub the sponge as you would be causing damage to it. What you want to do is swish it around the water to dislodge large debris and give it a couple of squeezes inside the water.
Never ever use tap water to wash the sponge head. The sponge head is home to colonies of beneficial bacteria that provide biological filtration. The chlorine in tap water will kill off most if not all of the colonies of bacteria which took so long to grow.
Once washed, just shake the sponge head a little to drip off excess waste water and replace it onto the inlet tube and place it back into the fish tank. Never dry it especially in the sun because it will not only cause your sponge head to eventually crumble but the ultra violet rays of the sun will also kill off colonies of bacteria.
An Aquarium Sponge Filter Is Efficient
Strangely enough, with all the benefits that an aquarium sponge filter provides, it is one of the most underrated fish tank filters in the marketplace today. I guess one of the reasons could be because it just looks so basic and simple that no one can believe it is capable of providing good filtration. Another possible reason is that it does require weekly cleaning unlike some of the other fish tank filters on sale.
Samples Of Aquarium Sponge Filter (Click for specs)
If you are looking for an ideal fish tank filter for your aquarium especially a small one, then you will not go wrong with an aquarium sponge filter.
