Controlling the water temperature

Check the water temperature daily, in the winter to check that the heater is working properly, and in the summer to check the cooler.

Cooling

Because the price of coolers is not affordable for the average novice aquarist, it is very important to deal with the water temperature when the water temperature is too high in summer. Although Taiwan is not a tropical area, the room temperature in summer can be as high as 37°C, and under the influence of light and room temperature, it is quite difficult for the water temperature to fall below 32°C.

Here are the methods of two aquarium veterans for reference. First, blow with a small electric fan. The method is to face the air outlet to the water surface to create waves to achieve heat dissipation. At present, there are small electric fans for aquariums sold on the market; as for how to set up the fan, it is a matter of opinion. Second, put in ice cubes. The method is to prepare several special bottles depending on the size of the fish tank. The water ice in the bottles is stored in the refrigerator freezer. After it freezes, take it out and put the whole into the fish tank. The advantage of this method is that the cooling is fast, but it is also easy to cause the water temperature to change dramatically in a short period of time, which is easy to cause discomfort to the fish. In general, the constant water temperature in the fish tank is best maintained between 24°C and 28°C.

Heating

According to the geographical latitude, in Taiwan in winter, it is not necessary to use the heating rod. However, on the southward front of the cold high pressure, the temperature drop of each cold current is usually around 10 °C, and the minimum temperature is often lower than the basic temperature requirements of tropical fish. At this time, the resistance of the fish is the weakest, and the activity and food will become poor, and diseases will occur at this time, the most common is white spot disease.

Therefore, it is very important to maintain a constant water temperature with a heating rod. However, when using the heating rod, you should pay attention to the wattage indicated above and the amount of water that is applicable to avoid the tragedy of cooking fish soup.

Water change

In principle, the water change is 1/3 a week, and the seawater tank is 1/3 a month, unless there are special needs, such as: breeding tanks or For larval fish tanks, the frequency and ratio of water changes should be increased. Some aquarium veterans even change 200% of the water one day.

The water change is to use a siphon to gently stir the bottom sand to suck out the dirty water on the bottom layer, and then add the treated water. The so-called treated water is the tap water that has passed through the aerator. If you are more careful, the motor can send the water through the activated carbon, so that the impurities and minerals in the water are filtered out.

In the process of adding water, the water should not be added too fast, so as not to cause the fish to feel uncomfortable or even die due to the rapid environmental change. In addition, if the fish are kept too densely, or they are habitually fed too much, or the fish rot in the nursery and the ammonia concentration is above 0.05ppm or the nitrite concentration is above 0.1ppm, the water should be changed immediately by 1/1/2. 3.

Chlorine removal

The first step in water treatment is to remove chlorine, but some people argue that chlorine removal is not necessary, because chlorine gas is a good oxidant, which will remove organic and inorganic substances. Oxidized, it can be used for disinfection, but in fact, too much chlorine dissociates in the water, which will form hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ions after the dissociation of hypochlorous acid, which is harmful to fish.

Generally speaking, aeration is used to remove chlorine. The purpose of chlorine removal can be achieved by placing the water outdoors in a sunny day for two days, or indoors with an air pump for one day. If these methods are inconvenient for you, you can also add sodium sulfide sulfate to the water for neutralization. However, most of the water quality stabilizers and dechlorination agents sold on the market are sodium sulfide sulfate dissolved in water. Avoid using them. Too much, otherwise it is also a kind of damage to the fish.

If you have a water tower in your home, the tap water will be aerated on the top floor first, so you don't have to worry about chlorine, please don't add excessive water quality stabilizer. In addition, after the rainy season or typhoon, the water company will add a large amount of chlorine gas, so we need to add a little more dose to the chlorine gas, but the best way is to try to avoid changing the water at this time.