Please call our toll free number to discuss ordering. 7:30 am - 10:00 pm CST Mon-Fri 8:00 am - 8:00 pm CST Sat-SunWhen thinking about water quality, it’s important to remember that the very thing that your fish lives in is water. It is all around them, they ‘breathe’ it through their gills, so the quality of your fish tank's water is critical to your fish’s health, wellbeing and ultimately their survival. You should test your aquarium frequently to keep an eye on any changes in the makeup of the water. You should also check the water quality if your fish are looking sick or you have had a death in your tank. We recommend that you test your fish tank regularly, fully testing on these main four areas; Nitrite, Nitrate, Ammonia and PH. When you first get a fish tank we recommend that you test the water once a week to get your head around what is happening with your water and how it changes. Is there anything you are doing that is causing these changes? If you do have a high level of something what you do to bring these levels down?

When you are first starting up a tank the nitrite levels will most likely increase as the tank is establishing the biological filtration. High Nitrite Levels are a concern as high nitrite levels can stress or worse yet kill your fish. If your nitrite increases in any way it is a concern that the biological filtration is not being as effective as you thought, so a water change is the best place to start to decrease the nitrites. Check out our aquarium nitrite testing kits. Although nitrates are not as toxic as ammonia or nitrites, they must be monitored to avoid stressing the fish. Nitrates can also be a source of algae problems. If you have any level of nitrates we suggest a 20% water change, it is best to try and get on top of them as soon as you can. Check out our nitrates aquarium testing kits. Testing for ammonia is one of the most critical water tests. Ammonia is a build-up of any waste, left over fish food or plant matter in the tank. If the biological filtration is not working well then there will be a rapid build-up of ammonia.

We suggest you test for this weekly as you are unable to see ammonia build up. The only sign might be the fish gasping at the top of the water. Once a tank matures ammonia can still build up if regular maintenance is not performed, with regular water changes and filter cleaning. Regular maintenance helps to keep ammonia build up down. If you experience any ammonia in your tank, we suggest a 20% water change as soon as possible and re-test the water within 24 hours. If you are still having trouble with ammonia then we recommend a further water change, make sure that your filter is cleaned out and gravel siphon to remove as much matter as you can from the tank that may be causing the build-up. Click here to check out ammonia aquarium testing kits. PH can also be a frequent stressor and cause of fish death. It is the sudden fluctuations in PH that cause the most damage to fish. It’s important to know the PH of your tank at home and also the PH of the water that is coming into the tank from the tap.

You are best to let Tap water sit overnight before testing its PH as the water will have dissolved gasses as a result of being under pressure. fish tank chiller diyMake sure that any water you put into the tank has the same PH as the water in your tank.fish tank divider homemade Also if you are adding fish from a shop what is their PH, will there be a sudden change when you put the fish into your tank?fish tank acrylic cover PH does change in a tank over time, so it is also important to test this weekly to begin with so you are well aware of what is happening with your tanks water. biorb 60 litre fish tank used

Once you are confident the PH is stable then you will be able to test on a monthly basis.where can i buy a fish tank bed If your water PH changes suddenly, or changes over time, you should check the KH (Carbonate Hardness) of the water. 3ft fish tank cardiffA PH test will help you see if you have a good buffer in place that helps to maintain the stability of your tank.cheapest fish tanks in uk Check out our aquarium PH testing kits.best rated small fish tanks Phosphate is a food for algae, so if you are having algae problems test your phosphate levels to make sure this is not the problem.cheap saltwater aquariums for sale

Phosphates are easy to remove – click here for some products to help remove phosphates. Master aquarium test kits – this kit enables you to conduct all of the main tests so is a good starting point to get you going. Individual aquarium test kits – these are great to refill your master test kit, or if you have a specific problem that you want to test for./Getty Images Air pumps force oxygen into your tank by increasing surface agitation so your fish have lots of O2 to breathe in. In many cases, your aquarium inhabitants don't need the extra oxygen and live just fine without an air pump. But take a road trip, add in medication or run a certain type of filter, and the extra oxygen from an air pump becomes a necessity. Medication and Increased Water Temperature When your fish fall ill, medications can put them on the mend. Raising the water temperature often goes along with or is done in lieu of adding medications. Medicines typically call for increased aeration because many either remove oxygen from the water or create a film that spreads across the surface of your water and impedes oxygen exchange at the surface.

Increasing water temperature also calls for increased aeration because warmer water holds less oxygen. In both cases, air pumps offer the quickest and easiest solution for increasing oxygen throughout your tank. Filter If your filter does not agitate the surface of the water, you'll need to adjust your filter, purchase one that does offer surface agitation or add an air pump. All hang-on-the-back filters, also known as power filters, agitate the surface of the water, thereby pushing oxygen into the water. For canister filters, you may need to adjust the output upward so the water being pumped in agitates the surface. Undergravel filters do not agitate the surface and do require an air pump. Wet/dry filters typically provide more than enough surface agitation and pump dissolved oxygen into the water. Travel and Power Outage When traveling long distances with fish -- think moving to another state or across the country -- adding an air pump to their travel quarters is vital. The pump ensures your fish have enough oxygen on their little road trip and limits their stress.

Opt for a battery-powered pump so you can run it all times. Battery-powered pumps also give you peace of mind in case your power goes out. Signs More Oxygen is Needed Your fish won't hesitate to let you know if they need more oxygen. You'll notice them hanging around and gasping for air at the surface, even fish who routinely spend their time near the bottom of the tank. Fish will also swim to the surface to breathe if ammonia levels in the tank are too high. An ammonia test will tell you if that's the problem. If it is, change out a large percentage -- 40 to 50 percent -- of the water immediately. If not, then your fish don't have enough oxygen in their water and you need to either increase surface agitation or add an air stone. References Aquatic Community: Treating FishFrostburg State University: Why Does the Solubility of Gasses Usually Increase as Temperature Goes DownThe Saltwater Aquarium Handbook; George BlasiolaAtlas Van Lines: How to Move a Fish TankRaising Healthy Fish III; /Getty Images See More Animals Habits of the Gourami How Often Do GloFish Lay Eggs?