This is such a pet peeve (pardon the pun) of mine, but why does Wal-Mart sell live fish? Everytime I go to any Wal-Mart with tropical fish, they look sick, many having ich (white spot disease) or even worse - dead floating in the tank.
But still, they always have rows of tanks full of dying fish. And they keep buying more from distributors since the tanks are always full of semi-alive fish covered with ich or fungus.
So, please, don't buy your fish from Wal-Mart. It's not just because of my little soap-box, but adding unhealthy fish to your community tank can effectively wipe-out all the other fish in you have. Before adding any fish to your tank, inspect it closely for torn fins, fungus, and white spots. Make sure the fish is alert, active, and swimming around while not at the surface gasping for air.
Most likely, you won't find any fish like this at Wal-Mart. And even adding one unhealthy fish to your aquarium can introduce diseases that can destroy your community.
Showing posts with label Fish Disease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fish Disease. Show all posts
Aquariums – Biological Filtration
In the aquarium fish world, there are three types of filtration for your tank -- Mechanical, chemical, and biological. A mechanical filter deals with removing particles from the water, while chemical involves exactly what you’d think, using chemicals like carbon to clean, polish, and filter the water.
The third type of filtration, biological, is a bit more complex. Biological filtration essentially makes toxic ammonia non-toxic in what is referred to as the nitrogen cycle. In your enclosed aquarium environment, waste materials, including decaying uneaten food and fish excretions, build up and turn into ammonia. This ammonia is harmful and potentially lethal to your fish.
In order for the ammonia to be removed from the aquarium, the nitrogen cycle must take place. When the ammonia levels in your aquarium reach a certain level, “good” bacteria from the air settles in the water and starts to form colonies in your filter or rocks. These bacteria convert the ammonia to nitrite. At this time the ammonia levels drop to low levels and the nitrite levels starts to increase. The nitrites in the water are also toxic to fish. When the nitrite level in the water has reached suitable levels another type of “good” bacteria starts to establish colonies in your aquarium. These bacteria convert the nitrites to nitrates, which are less harmful in small quantities and is absorbed by plants or algae.
Since the “good” bacteria occur naturally, in order for their growth to occur, all that is required is ammonia and oxygenated water. This is the beginning of the nitrogen process and the growth of bacterial colonies.
A biological filter, therefore, usually contains some type of surface area which promotes the growth of these “good” bacteria. Since you need oxygen and a lot of surface area for bacterial colonies, wet/dry filters, sponge filters, ceramic media, and loosely packed upper layers of gravel are all sources for bacterial accumulation. If there is not adequate surface area in oxygen areas of the filter media or gravel, the nitrogen cycle may not occur fast enough to convert the ammonia.
Aquarium Filtration, Fish, Tropical Fish
The third type of filtration, biological, is a bit more complex. Biological filtration essentially makes toxic ammonia non-toxic in what is referred to as the nitrogen cycle. In your enclosed aquarium environment, waste materials, including decaying uneaten food and fish excretions, build up and turn into ammonia. This ammonia is harmful and potentially lethal to your fish.
In order for the ammonia to be removed from the aquarium, the nitrogen cycle must take place. When the ammonia levels in your aquarium reach a certain level, “good” bacteria from the air settles in the water and starts to form colonies in your filter or rocks. These bacteria convert the ammonia to nitrite. At this time the ammonia levels drop to low levels and the nitrite levels starts to increase. The nitrites in the water are also toxic to fish. When the nitrite level in the water has reached suitable levels another type of “good” bacteria starts to establish colonies in your aquarium. These bacteria convert the nitrites to nitrates, which are less harmful in small quantities and is absorbed by plants or algae.
Since the “good” bacteria occur naturally, in order for their growth to occur, all that is required is ammonia and oxygenated water. This is the beginning of the nitrogen process and the growth of bacterial colonies.
A biological filter, therefore, usually contains some type of surface area which promotes the growth of these “good” bacteria. Since you need oxygen and a lot of surface area for bacterial colonies, wet/dry filters, sponge filters, ceramic media, and loosely packed upper layers of gravel are all sources for bacterial accumulation. If there is not adequate surface area in oxygen areas of the filter media or gravel, the nitrogen cycle may not occur fast enough to convert the ammonia.
Aquarium Filtration, Fish, Tropical Fish
Labels:
Aquarium Fish,
Fish Disease,
Fish Tank,
Tropical Fish
Tropical Fish Health Hints
Good little blurb in Aquarium Fish Magazine (yes, it does exist, and yes, I do read it) about signs of poor fish health.
-A cottonlike material on a fish's mouth could indicate cottonmouth disease, which is contagious.
-Unless a fish is normally pale, paleness indicates unhealthiness.
-Signs of fish parasites include rubbing against aquarium objects, erratic swimming, and white worm infestations
-Red streaks in fins followed by abnormal lightening of fin edges often indicates fin rot, a bacterial infection.
-A cottonlike material on a fish's mouth could indicate cottonmouth disease, which is contagious.
-Unless a fish is normally pale, paleness indicates unhealthiness.
-Signs of fish parasites include rubbing against aquarium objects, erratic swimming, and white worm infestations
-Red streaks in fins followed by abnormal lightening of fin edges often indicates fin rot, a bacterial infection.
Labels:
Aquarium Fish,
Fish Disease,
Tropical Fish
Treatment of Freshwater Ich
Ich, commonly referred to as white spot disease, is basically a parisitic infection that is commonly found on fresh water fish.
Although there are various forms of treatment, including anti-biotics, available, I've found that the best way is with something called Aquarium salt, made by doc wellfish.
This salt is a natural tonic to fish and helps them fight off this potentially fatal disease.
However, the best way to prevent ick in your freshwater tank is through regular maintenance and water changes. I usually change about 25% of my tank's water at least once every 2 weeks, and have not had any type of ich, or other common funguses or diseases, as long as I keep on this cleaning schedule.
Although there are various forms of treatment, including anti-biotics, available, I've found that the best way is with something called Aquarium salt, made by doc wellfish.
This salt is a natural tonic to fish and helps them fight off this potentially fatal disease.
However, the best way to prevent ick in your freshwater tank is through regular maintenance and water changes. I usually change about 25% of my tank's water at least once every 2 weeks, and have not had any type of ich, or other common funguses or diseases, as long as I keep on this cleaning schedule.
Labels:
Aquarium Fish,
Fish Disease,
Tropical Fish
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
