Striving for the Optimum Aquarium
There exist some basic guidelines for maintaining an optimum aquarium. Follow these steps and you will provide a correctly functioning aquarium in which fish and plants are able to enjoy a healthy and vigorous life.
1. Provide Tropical Warmth in the Substrate
Heating the aquarium by means of an under gravel heating source is a very important condition for an optimum aquarium. The heating source in the gravel of the aquarium integrates the entire substrate into the chemical and physical cycle of the aquarium, by means of convection currents. If the aquarium water is heated for example, by means of an immersion heater, only the water becomes warm, while the substrate or gravel remains at room temperature. An under gravel heating system helps to simulate in the aquarium, the ground water currents that exists in natural waters.
AAS Heating System
AAS Fertilization/Dosing System
2. Provide Proper Lighting and Light Control
Light serves two purposes in an aquarium: to illuminate the underwater world for human eyes, and also to supply the necessary energy for plant growth. This second function of the lighting is a very important aspect for the complete biological and chemical process in the aquarium. Light supplies energy - and this is what plants need for optimum metabolism. Light is the aquarium's engine. It regulates the nutrient requirement, produces oxygen and also controls the discharge of by-products and metabolism products. Not just the quantity, but also the quality of the light is what counts. Therefore the lighting must be adapted to the size of the aquarium and also to the water, and living conditions in it.
3. Provide Water Stability
Some fish come from more acidic waters while others from more alkaline waters. Therefore a neutral pH value setting is recommended as a happy medium for all your fish. A neutral pH value can be set and controlled by properly delivered CO2 injection. Simultaneously, this provides an optimum carbon supply for submerged water plants.
AAS pH System
AAS CO2 Injection System
AAS Conductivity System
AAS ORP System
4. Provide Plant Nutrition
The most important pre-condition for healthy growth of aquarium plants is that at all times, all nutrients including trace elements - are available for the plants.
AAS Fertilization/Dosing System
5. Provide Biological Filtration and...
6. Strong Water Movement
Here "Biological" means filtration through a medium, where bacteria are able to colonize in order to remove harmful substances, thus cleaning the aquarium water. The industrial sewage industry also makes use of this filtration technique on a grand scale. In this way the regeneration of sewage water up to the point of drinking water quality, is possible. Good water movement is essential for the following reasons:
* to assure even temperatures in all water zones of the aquarium
* to carry away organic waste materials from the plant leaves
* to allow fresh nutrients to reach the leaves' surfaces
* to provide a strong current for those fish originating from rapid flowing streams.
To insure your filtration System is functioning properly you must have an unobstructed flow of water through the filter media. By monitoring the flow rate of your aquarium system you will know when your filter needs cleaning or any maintenance needs performed. Also for pump protection, the AAS AMACS Software can shut down your pump in case of a "No Flow" condition.
AAS has answered this need with the AAS Flow Rate System
7. Provide Dense Planting
An optimum aquarium also requires dense and well growing plants, as a well planted aquarium has the following advantages:
* Plants release oxygen to the water and the substrate, thus preventing
the substrate from turning black
* Plants remove organic waste materials
* Special aquarium plants are able to destroy disease causing germs
and even remove toxic substances from the water
* Dense and well growing aquarium plants are the best protection against
algae of all kinds and provide good hiding and spawning places for aquarium
fish
8. Keep a Balanced Fish Population
A balanced fish population goes hand in hand with the idea of providing both fish and plants with an environment that is optimally designed. In the optimum aquarium, fish and plants should be a harmonious combination. Here are some basic rules:
1) Do not mix fish that continuously attack each other.
2) Avoid plant eating fish.
3) Algae eating fish should be introduced as an algae preventative right from the start.
4) Make sure that the fish all have the same water requirements, especially with regard to temperature, water hardness and pH value.
5) Choose fish that occupy all areas of the aquarium, ie the bottom, middle and surface zones.
6) Do not introduce any picky eaters if you are not sure that you will be able to provide them with the food they need.
9. Provide Quality Fish Food compatible with the Tropics
Healthy and vital fish in the long run, depend on good vitamin-rich, and easily digestible fish food. As most tropical fish come from waters with very low salt levels, it is important to ensure that they receive very low salt food - otherwise intestinal diseases are almost inevitable.
10. Maintain Control of all Variables
The regular control of important water and system parameters will prevent aquarium conditions from getting out of control unnoticed. This means the regular monitoring of Temperature, pH, REDOX (ORP) and Flow Rate. Compared to natural waters, an aquarium is a very small mass of water. Test values can go from one extreme to another within a short period of time. The aquarium however, requires a high degree of stability and continuity. For this reason AAS has developed a fully upgradable Aquarium Monitoring and Control System that fulfils all of these diagnostic, control and monitoring functions.