Mr Fish Aquarium Info

  THE IDEAL WATER If you're new to the world of fishkeeping, you might think the key to a healthy aquarium is the purest, cleanest water you can find. It’s a common assumption, but it’s also one of the most dangerous misconceptions for your aquatic pets. I can't tell you how many times a concerned fish owner has come to me with the same story: "My fish are breathing fast, refusing to eat, and none of the disease treatments are working." After a few questions, the root cause almost always becomes clear. The problem isn't a strange parasite or a rare illness; it's the water itself. But not in the way you might think. The issue is that the water is too clean .   THE MYTH OF "PURE" WATER Many beginners don't realize that "pure, clean water—like distilled, fully desalinated, or even collected rainwater—is highly detrimental and can even be fatal to fish." Why? Because fish don't live in H₂O alone. They live in a complex, biological soup....

USE OF WELL-WATER IN OLD AND NEW TANKS   A common question from fish keepers, especially those with access to natural sources, is about the suitability of well water for their aquariums. This reader's query from our archives tackles this very issue, offering timeless advice on how to approach water safety with caution. A Reader's Question on Well Water : "I have a well in my compound, which is about 14 years old. The water seeps in from rain and underground water, and it is crystal clear. Do you think it would be safe to use this water in my aquarium, which is 3 ft long and contains various tropical fishes? Also, where could I get the water analyzed?" The reader also noted that their tank was initially set up with water from their local pet shop, a good practice for starting a new aquarium. The Expert's Cautious Advice:  "It is impossible for me to say whether the well-water would be safe to use in your aquarium." Appearances can be deceiving. Even cryst...

  LIGHTING IN YOUR TANK Lighting deserves careful attention not only for the added aesthetic pleasure it may give, but because fishes need it and it is essential to plant growth. The total amount of light required is a matter of trial and error, and how much of it will turn the water green, while too little stunts plant growth. The lighting may be artificial or natural daylight. When using the latter, the best position is near a north-facing window. This should provide the ideal amount of indirect light, which can be supplemented by artificial lighting, if necessary. This additional lighting should be housed in a hood placed above the tank and may be switched on for three to four hours in the evening. If there is little or no natural daylight, the lights should be left on for approximately 10 to 12 hours per day. If the water goes green, you must cut down either the natural light or the artificial light. Aquarium lighting is usually achieved using either small bulbs of 15-25 watts ...

  AQUATIC QUERY Every aquarist has a story about a fish that turned from a peaceful pet into a fin-nipping tyrant. An aquarist's letter gives us a look at solving this common problem: I recently bought a beautiful 32×25×3×30 centimeters aquarium. The tank was initially stocked with one red platy, a black molly, and two silver shares. I later purchased a blue gourami. Shortly after introducing the fish into the aquarium, it started pursuing all the other fishes relentlessly.  One of them (the red platy) got wounded and died two days later. I had to remove the gourami to prevent a further attack of the other occupants. Could it be that all blue gourami are carnivorous? What do I do to this bully? ADDISSI, O.    Lagos. Expert Diagnosis   Your problem has to do with inexperience in knowledge about the type, size, nature, and habits of the new fish you bought. The blue gourami (Tricogaster Tricopterus) is a naturally gentle, adaptable, and well-behaved community fish...

HOMESTEAD FISH POND On building a functional fish pond, the core principles are; * Keeping costs and Depth in check The cost involved in constructing a fish pond depends on the type of material to be used, which could be clay, concrete, or liners. For a concrete pond type, you are likely to spend a lot of money. Your depth dimension should not be greater than 4ft to prevent stratification (sharp difference between the water temperature at the top and bottom of the pond), which can create oxygen-poor conditions at the bottom, which is detrimental to fish health and could adversely affect fish life. * Chemistry of pond preparation As for chemicals, you would only need agricultural limestone. But a good alternative would be finely ground quicklime (CaO), which is a strong alkali used as whitewash by painters. You only need a minimal proportion for this. This serves two key purposes; I) It acts to kill parasites, providing a basic level of disinfection. II) It helps neutralize the acidity ...

POISONOUS SUBSTANCES IN AQUARIUM WATER  As we are all aware, atmospheric air is made up of about 23 per cent oxygen and 76 per cent Nitrogen, together with a host of other gases in very minute quantities. It follows that when we put on the air-flow system of our aquarium, the air pumped in contains a little oxygen and a lot of nitrogen. This atmospheric nitrogen can be lethal to fish when the water is oversaturated (over 100 per cent saturation) with this gas. Research has shown that nitrogen embolism, otherwise known as NITROGEN GAS BUBBLE DISEASE, can occur with 103-118 per cent nitrogen saturation and cause a lot of fish casualties. Source: The Spruce Pets This condition can affect an aquarium fish when one is replacing the old aquarium water with slightly warm fresh water. The infection is characterised by the presence of small bubbles of nitrogen beneath the skin, in the fins, tail, or mouth, behind the eyes, and in the blood vessels. Source: Fish Pathology One can prevent the...

  HOW TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT SICK FISHES Apart from some visible disease symptoms of the fish, which we shall talk about in this guide, the fish will sometimes display behavioral symptoms like: * Gasping at the water surface. Source: TotalPond * Constant lying on the bottom or hanging at the surface. Source: bunnycart.com * Rubbing of the body against rocks. Source: Aquariadise * General dullness and lethargy * Non-response to feeding.  The most common of the visible signs is the development of pinhead-sized white spots on the body or fins. This ailment is referred to as White Spot caused by the parasite Ichthyophthirius multifillis. Source: ARKA Biotechnologie GmbH This parasite has a free-swimming stage, which attaches itself to the fish. The most common chemical used in treating infected fishes is Methylene Blue . You could buy a one percent stock solution from a reputable chemist or aquarium shop and apply at 0.8 to 1.0ml per gallon of water. This amount should be added a...