Why do I need to test my water?
Many compounds that accumulate in the aquarium cannot be detected by any of our senses, but are harmful to fish and invertebrates. Testing the water enables us to detect these compounds and take remedial measures, before it causes a problem. If the water is of good quality then fish are unlikely to become ill, you cannot tell how good or bad the water quality is by looking at it, clear water does not necessarily mean the water is OK.
I’ve started my aquarium recently, why is the water cloudy?
The most likely reason for cloudy water is that the filter is not yet mature. It takes several weeks from when the first fish are added for your filter to be colonized by sufficient bacteria to breakdown the waste they produce. If your fish are lethargic or hanging at the water surface, chances are there is a high ammonia & or nitrite level. This is poisonous to your fish. Although the only way to be sure is checking it with a readily available test kit. The cloudiness can be reduced by adding Interpet filter aid, although this will not improve the water quality for your fish.
Read about new tank syndrome.PDF 30kb
My aquarium is suffering from an algae problem, what is the solution?
Click here for more on problem algae in freshwater aquariums.PDF 30kb
Why can’t I keep plants? What many people do not realise is that aquatic plants need light & carbon dioxide to grow. You can buy lots fertiliser, enriched substrate, etc, etc. If you do not provide the carbon dioxide & light your plants will not grow. It easier to achieve conditions conducive to growth than you may think. Firstly, your lighting should be on 10-14 hours per day, ideally controlled by a timer. You should have at least one high spec light & reflector, ideally two or more. Some fish keepers grossly overestimate the amount of oxygen fish require. It is not reccommended to have any aeration in your aquarium. This is one of the best ways of stopping your plants growing. The oxygen fish require will enter through the surface of the water. Remove any air stones or turn down to the absolute minimum, ensure all water returning to the aquarium from filters does not agitate the surface. This will increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the aquarium. The addition of carbon dioxide is highly recommended for those serious about growing plants.
Click here for more information on growing aquarium plants. PDF 31kb
What are ideal water conditions for marine livestock?
These are generally accepted ideal conditions for most marine invertebrates & fish.
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
pH 8.2-8.3
KH 8-12
Phosphate 0
Calcium 420 ppm
Magnesium 1300ppm
Salinity 1.022 -1.026
Is it difficult to keep marines?
No. Provided you buy good equipment (the best you can afford), do not cut corners, do not overstock, and carry out frequent maintenance, they are actually quite easy & much longer lived than tropical fresh water fish.
Find out more about keeping marines.
How much does it cost to set up a marine aquarium?
Use the link above, this also has example costings.
My aquarium is suffering from a Red/Green Slime algae or Hair Algae.
Click here to dowload our Problem algae in marine aquarium help sheet.
What size aquarium do I need to keep marines?
Generally, we would suggest a minimum size of 20 gallons (90 litres), smaller than this can be difficult to maintain a stable environment. Even the highest stocking level for a marine aquarium is 1" of fish per 2 gallons, but the average marine fish around 4-6" when adult, this means a 20 gallon aquarium would only have just 2 fish!
What is a protein skimmer and do I need one?
Protein skimmers come in many different forms, but they all consist of a chamber that water is pumped through that is heavily aerated, organic pollutants stick to the surface of these bubbles. The pollutants form a foam that then climbs up a neck and into the collection cup where it collapses into a dark coloured liquid. While it is possible to maintain a marine aquarium without a skimmer. When you see the smelly dark liquid they collect, you will most likely agree with us that is an important bit of equipment for marine aquarium.
Do I need to feed my corals?
Many Corals obtain much of there energy requirements from Zooxanthellae algae that live within their tissues and produce food when exposed to sufficient light. However, nearly, all corals will benefit from being fed one of the many coral foods available.
How much light do I need to keep corals?
The amount of illumination required will depend on the depth of the aquarium and the species being kept. Hardy soft corals like Toadstools will do well under two fluorescent tubes fitted with reflectors in a 24" deep aquarium. Where as more difficult species like Acropora will require at intense lighting provided by numerous T5 tubes or suspended metal halides.
Do Clownfish need Anemones?
Most of the Clownfish we have are captive bred and have never seen an Anemone, therefore they are unlikely to go into one even if one is present in the same aquarium. Even wild Clowns will not always go into an Anemone.
What is live rock?
Live rock is calcareous porous rock taken from tropical oceans it contains many microscopic organisms and is encrusted with algae and small sessile invertebrates. Live rock establishes new aquariums faster, and aids the filtration process as well as reducing nitrate levels. The use of a large proportion of cured live rock is strongly recommended for a reef aquarium.
Why is the water cloudy?
The most likely reason for the water to be cloudy in a coldwater aquarium is lack of, or insufficient filtration to cope with the waste produced by the fish. Cold water fish are much larger than their tropical counterparts, so therefore need a more efficient filtration system. The most immediate way to clear the water is to carry out a partial water change of say 25% and reduce the amount of food given. The addition of Interpet filter aid will also clear the water, but only in filtered aquariums. While this will clear the water it will not offer a permanent solution. It would be wise to look into the cause. New aquariums also may suffer from cloudy water despite sufficient filtration. Read about new tank syndrome.PDF 30kb
My Orandas have a white fungus on their heads.
The White 'fungus' often seen on the heads of large Orandas is actually the natural mucous secretion fish produce to help protect their bodies. As this is natural using an anti fungus treatment will not have any effect. While it may be unsightly there is very little that can be done to prevent this mucous from collecting on the Orandas hood. However, it will have no effect on the fishes health.
My Goldfish is having problem keeping their balance.
All Goldfish have a swim bladder that helps the maintain their position in the water. Due to their shape fancy Goldfish have a compressed swim bladder this causes them to have many more problems maintaining their balance. To prevent balance problems try feeding a wide variety of food including frozen foods like Bloodworm or Daphnia. It is also worth soaking any dried food for a few minutes before feeding. This prevents the food from swelling up inside the fish and putting pressure on the swim bladder. If your fish already has a problem you can try Swim bladder treatment (No.13) from Interpet. This, when used in conjunction with salt is quite an effective remedy.
Can I keep goldfish without a filter?
Many fishkeepers started out with a Goldfish in a bowl or small aquarium without a filter. Whilst it is possible to keep fish without a filter, water quality & clarity will always be a problem. This will also means the water needs changing frequently to maintain an acceptable water quality standard for the aquariums inhabitants. The installation of a filter will reduce the frequency for water changes as well as improving the environment for the fish. Therefore, a filter is strongly recommended.
I have heard that tropical fish can be kept in coldwater, is this true?
Only a few species of fish often sold from tropical aquariums are suitable for unheated aquariums. The term coldwater is slightly misleading as what we normally referring to is unheated aquariums, temperate or sub tropical is a more accurate term. Provided a 'coldwater' aquarium is in a relatively warm room then they will probably have a temperature around 18C (65F). At this temperature they are several species that will be at home, these include Paradise Fish, Golden Barbs, Rosy Barbs, and Amano Shrimp. Mixing these fish with Goldfish is not recommended as many are too active to mixed with Goldfish, especially fancy varieties. Due to the large size of Goldfish, they may eat many of the species listed above.
How can I stop the water going green?
Green water is caused by millions of single celled algae, these are so small they pass straight through conventional filter systems. If your pond already has a pump and filter the easiest way to get clear water is to add an ultraviolet clarifier. As the water passes over the UV light the algae is killed, once these are added to a filtration system the water normally clears within a couple of weeks and then stays clear all year round. These units start around £50.00 and cost around £10.00-£20.00 a year to run depending on the size of your pond. If your pond does not have a filter a good growth of plants especially lilies & floating plants is a good way to keep the water clear, these provide shade & compete with the algae for food. As you may also be aware there a many treatments on the market for dealing with green water. In our experience the most effective ones are: Waterlife Algizin P if your pond is filtered. This works by clumping the algae together so it is large enough for the filter to remove. For unfiltered ponds try barley straw, although this slow to work. This is due to the fact bacteria need to grow on it that control the green water so allow a month for it to work.
My plants are being choked by a hair like algae.
I think this is a problem nearly all pond owners encounter at one time or another. This algae called Blanket Weed can quickly fill an entire pond during the summer months. We have found the best product to kill it is Pond Balance. This product is safe with all fish and plants, and it works! One of the good things about Pond Balance is it kills the algae slowly over a period of weeks rather than all at once. If all the algae is killed at once the decaying matter can starve the fish of oxygen. You can obviously remove Blanket Weed by manual removal although this can be almost a daily task. There are also fish that eat it these are called Grass Carp although they can only eat relatively small amount and will not discriminate against algae & plants. Maintaining low levels of Nitrate & Phosphate also helps as does the removal of sediment from the bottom of your pond. You may have seen the electronic blanket weed controllers advertised, we have used these and have noticed little if any improvement.
Many of my Goldfish have sores on their body.
These sores are ulcers, these are caused by a type of bacteria. The ulcers should be treated as soon as possible to increase the chances of survival. We have had great success with a API Melafix. It is a totally natural product and is totally safe.
Do I need a filter?
A filter on a pond will benefit any fish, but is not a necessity providing there is a established growth of a variety of plants. It also important to bear in mind that the stocking levels & feeding must be kept to a minimum. Just compare the stocking level in a natural water (see any fish?) to that in an ornamental pond. This will give you an idea what the stocking level should be in an unfiltered pond. In any pond it is a good idea to have a small pump to run either a waterfall or fountain, this will help maintain oxygen levels on hot days.
How can I stop Herons eating my fish?
They are many ways to reduce the chances of your fish being eaten by Herons, are a just a few.
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Cover your pond with a fine mesh netting, while this may detract from the ponds natural beauty it probably is the most likely method to work.
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Purchase a plastic Heron. Herons are solitary birds and rarely fish close to each other, therefore a realistic Heron standing beside your pond should stop others visiting.
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Lay some lengths of drain pipe in your pond. While this will not stop predators catching your fish, it does give the fish somewhere to seek shelter.
My pond has lots of accumulated sediment, what is the best way to remove it?
Probably the best way to remove the sediment from the bottom of a pond is purchase / hire a pond vacuum. This should be the type that has it's own pump, not the type that you have to pump manually, we have found these hard work & inefficient. Pond vacs do not handle leaves well these are best removed with a net before vacuuming commences.
Should I feed my pond fish during the winter?
The quantity of food required by pond fish is largely dependent on the water temperature. The lower the temperature the less they will consume, they will feed down to around 5C. However, they will require far less than they normally eat, so feed the sparingly and remove any excess. When feeding the fish in the winter and the water temperature is below 10C (50F) then the fish should be fed an easily digestible wheat germ food. If the water temperature drops below 5C then it is probably not worth feeding them at all.
Author Jason Scott
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Revised: June, 2009 .