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Aquarium Water |
Goldfish are freshwater, cold-water fish. As long as you have let the water stand forty-eight hours or so before putting the goldfish in the aquarium, everything should be fine. Goldfish, even the exotics, tend to be hardy where water is concerned. However, it is important to be able to control the water, because there are a number of things that influence fish where water is concerned.
There are two water-quality parameters a goldfish enthusiast should continually watch: hard as opposed to soft water and acidity versus alkalinity. Before you place your goldfish in the aquarium make sure to test the water for both.
Hardness refers to the amount of salts, namely calcium and magnesium, in the water. Water that lacks salts is referred to as soft Hardness can be dealt with in a number of ways. While goldfish can survive generally hard water, there is no need to place your fish at risk. A water-hardness test and correction kits can be purchased at your local pet store.
pH
pH refers to the amount of acidity in the water. Neutral water has a pH of 7. Acidic water has a pH less than 7 and alkaline water has a pH greater than 7: The more acidic, the lower the pH, and the more alkaline, the higher the pH. Goldfish hobbyists should maintain their aquarium's pH somewhere between 6.5 and 8.5. This can be determined by using a pH test kit, which can be purchased at all pet shops.
Nitrates another problem in goldfish tanks is that of the nitrate cycle. Fish wastes, uneaten foods and plant fragments decay and break down into ammonium compounds. Ammonia is not good for your fish. Natural bacteria that grow in the aquarium convert these ammonium compounds into nitrites. Nitrites are not good for your goldfish either, although they are less harmful than ammonia. Second types of bacteria which also grow naturally in all aquaria turn these nitrites into nitrates. Goldfish can withstand great amounts of nitrates without too many problems. Plants, however, use nitrates and give off oxygen in return.
Since all of this happens naturally, you might think that there's nothing to worry about. Wrong! In new aquariums many beginners experience "new tank syndrome." New tank syndrome is when all your new fish die from shock. Don't fall victim to this. The bacteria populations that build in your tank can take anywhere from two to four months to establish themselves, depending on certain conditions. Nitrate test kits are available and are invaluable when starting up a new aquarium.
There are two water-quality parameters a goldfish enthusiast should continually watch: hard as opposed to soft water and acidity versus alkalinity. Before you place your goldfish in the aquarium make sure to test the water for both.
Hardness refers to the amount of salts, namely calcium and magnesium, in the water. Water that lacks salts is referred to as soft Hardness can be dealt with in a number of ways. While goldfish can survive generally hard water, there is no need to place your fish at risk. A water-hardness test and correction kits can be purchased at your local pet store.
pH
pH refers to the amount of acidity in the water. Neutral water has a pH of 7. Acidic water has a pH less than 7 and alkaline water has a pH greater than 7: The more acidic, the lower the pH, and the more alkaline, the higher the pH. Goldfish hobbyists should maintain their aquarium's pH somewhere between 6.5 and 8.5. This can be determined by using a pH test kit, which can be purchased at all pet shops.
Nitrates another problem in goldfish tanks is that of the nitrate cycle. Fish wastes, uneaten foods and plant fragments decay and break down into ammonium compounds. Ammonia is not good for your fish. Natural bacteria that grow in the aquarium convert these ammonium compounds into nitrites. Nitrites are not good for your goldfish either, although they are less harmful than ammonia. Second types of bacteria which also grow naturally in all aquaria turn these nitrites into nitrates. Goldfish can withstand great amounts of nitrates without too many problems. Plants, however, use nitrates and give off oxygen in return.
Since all of this happens naturally, you might think that there's nothing to worry about. Wrong! In new aquariums many beginners experience "new tank syndrome." New tank syndrome is when all your new fish die from shock. Don't fall victim to this. The bacteria populations that build in your tank can take anywhere from two to four months to establish themselves, depending on certain conditions. Nitrate test kits are available and are invaluable when starting up a new aquarium.
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