The importance of natural plants (II)
Apart from providing
fresh 100 per cent pure oxygen to aid fish breathing and the reduction of toxic
carbon dioxide level in the aquarium, plants also serve the most important
function of CONVERTING WASTE into harmless and useful products. In this way
they generate a self-recycling process (the NITROGEN CYCLE) that automatically
converts the waste produced by the fish and the excess food into fertilizer
which the plants utilize for rapid growth.
The sequence of events
in an established aquarium set-up is illustrated in the chart. Wastes are
generated inside the aquarium mainly by – (i) the fish, as they excrete and
urinate and also nibble at some plant leaves these produce ammonia and
nitrogenous wastes, (ii) the aquarist, when excess food introduced are uneaten
and get decayed in the water these produce albuminous wastes.
Naturally occurring
putrefying bacteria break down these wastes into potentially harmful chemical
known as NITRITE which will accumulate gradually to toxic level. This accumulation
is prevented by some other bacteria residing in the roots of the plants –
(nitrogen fixing bacteria). They break down the nitrites into NITRATES which
the plants use for growth. With the recycling system therefore, at no time
would you have: Foul water odour and toxic waste build-up, hence you will have
no fish death and at the same time there would be no need to change your
aquarium water.
I know of aquariums
that have maintained themselves in perfect conditions for over three years
without cleaning of any sort. The only attention needed is the trimming of the
plants and topping up the water lost due to evaporation.
Aquarists
intending to
change their aquariums into the natural system could call these numbers
08037189694 or 08096680061 or send us an E-mail on
catfish192001@yahoo.com for details on the plant collections needed to
effect a
change of your aquarium to the natural system.
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