We all endeavour to enhance our skills as aquarists.

When a fish arrives in a tank, it is often in optimal condition. Maintaining health and vitality is an objective we all strive to attain. One of the crucial key points in performing it is by ensuring the water quality.

Water Quality

All tank water harbours waterborne pathogens, including bacteria, parasites, and viruses, such as white spot. Fish, akin to humans, inhabit a world teeming with microscopic organisms. Healthy fish coexist harmoniously with these. However, when a fish experiences stress from water quality, contact with tank mates, or transportation, it becomes susceptible to these factors.

The parameters for measuring water quality are divided into three basic categories:

1. Physical Parameters:

∙ Temperature: This determines the solubility of gases and metabolic rates of the aquatic organisms.

∙ Turbidity: The cloudiness of water and the presence of suspended particles.

∙ Colour: It can be natural, but it also can be due to pollutants, which affect light penetration and aquatic life.

∙ Taste and Odour: By organic material, chemicals, or algae; indirectly influences palatability of water.

∙ Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): By the concentration of dissolved substances, its measures indirectly influence conductivity in water.

2. Chemical Parameters:

∙ pH: it determines acidity or alkalinity, which consequently affects the availability of nutrients and the organisms’ survival.

∙ Acidity: measures acidic substance’s concentration and therefore influences water corrosively.

∙ Alkalinity: measures the capacity to neutralise acids, affecting pH stability.

∙ Hardness: This shows the availability of calcium and magnesium ions that increase the possibility of scale deposition in water.

∙ Dissolved Oxygen (DO): From a biological perspective, DO is crucial for the gaseous respiration of aquatic organisms.

∙ Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): Determines the oxygen utilised by microorganisms to decompose organic matter.

∙ Nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus): In high concentration, nutrients promote abnormal algal development.

∙ Chlorine: Used to disinfect. However, its excess presence can be harmful to aquatic life.

3. Biological Parameters:

∙ Bacteria: Indicate the chance of contamination and possible health hazards.

∙ Algae: It can cause depletion of dissolved oxygen and produces toxins.

∙ Viruses: It is the causative agents of several diseases in humans as well as animals.

∙ These parameters are applicable in water quality monitoring wherein water is ensured safe for drinking purposes, recreation, as well as aquatic ecosystems.

What are the indicators of a Poor Water Quality?

Fish typically exhibit behavioural indicators when they are unwell prior to being very ill.

∙ Rapid respiration

∙ Less hunger

∙ Irregular swimming

∙ Elevated position in the tank

 

What to do?

1. Consistent water changes are essential, accompanied by sufficient filtration to accommodate the fish tank’s bioload. Increased investment of time in water changes yields superior results; weekly water changes are advised.

2. Imitating the fish’s natural aquatic environment by the application of salts or alternative treatments yields vibrant, healthy fish that flourish over time. For optimal rearing, mimic, as much as possible, the fish’s natural aquatic environment by the strategic addition of salts or special treatments to create optimal water conditions. In this way, you can begin to create a thriving ecosystem where the health and clarity of your fish can shine.