stirring up the gravel
- Thread starter lilfishy
- Start date
Uh oh
then that brings me to another question because you mentioned bad water. When I do my vacuuming, I have a bucket and a strainer filled with filter floss. I vacuum and the hose sprays the water onto the floss and catches the yucky stuff and then I poor the water from the bucket back into the tank. Is this a bad thing to do? I do it because I used to lose a lot of fish after vacuuming and water changes. I do add water when the tank evaporates some to keep the water level to the top which would be every week or week and 1/2.
then that brings me to another question because you mentioned bad water. When I do my vacuuming, I have a bucket and a strainer filled with filter floss. I vacuum and the hose sprays the water onto the floss and catches the yucky stuff and then I poor the water from the bucket back into the tank. Is this a bad thing to do? I do it because I used to lose a lot of fish after vacuuming and water changes. I do add water when the tank evaporates some to keep the water level to the top which would be every week or week and 1/2.
Well all you are really doing there is acting like a filter just taking out the large gunk from the water. The benifet of replacing old water with new is to remove toxins that build up in your tank water over time. By just putting the same water back into the tank you are reintroducing the same toxins allowing them to reach deadly levels.
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Can I
Can I use regular tap water if my water is really hard water? I used to use distilled water in a tank I had a long time ago. What about filtered tap water with one of those aqua pure things attached to the faucet? Can I use that water. They are saying the water has traces of pollutants from chemical spills by nearby factories. We have really, really bad water here and I can't use spring water or the fish all die.
Can I use regular tap water if my water is really hard water? I used to use distilled water in a tank I had a long time ago. What about filtered tap water with one of those aqua pure things attached to the faucet? Can I use that water. They are saying the water has traces of pollutants from chemical spills by nearby factories. We have really, really bad water here and I can't use spring water or the fish all die.
The problem that can be encountered using distilled is that some of it is distilled using copper tubing. Some copper gets into the water this way and too much copper is not good. Your best bet would be to get RO filtered water from a supermarket that carries it. It's a big filter/dispenser machine in the store. But then you may need to condition the water with minerals and nutrients. I am not sure exactly what you would do that with but if I find out I'll let you know.
Geez, you're just full a good news about your water....hahaha just kidding, lilfishy.
Anyway, that purifier on your faucet is pretty much the same thing as the filter in our fish tank. It uses carbon to absorb as much pollutants as possible before you drink it. I would say that you're okay with your water being really hard....as long as there are no major fluctuations with your water.
I would be more worried about the pollutants. I think if you use plenty of extra carbon filter media, then you would be okay. I think the carbon would absorb the rest of the pollutants. I am just postulating here. So I would try this out with a few "cheaper" fish.
This is all my opinion of course.
Question: where did you get the water that is in your tank now?
Anyway, that purifier on your faucet is pretty much the same thing as the filter in our fish tank. It uses carbon to absorb as much pollutants as possible before you drink it. I would say that you're okay with your water being really hard....as long as there are no major fluctuations with your water.
I would be more worried about the pollutants. I think if you use plenty of extra carbon filter media, then you would be okay. I think the carbon would absorb the rest of the pollutants. I am just postulating here. So I would try this out with a few "cheaper" fish.
This is all my opinion of course.
Question: where did you get the water that is in your tank now?
Also don't forget that a lot of water is chlorinated...I'm assuming your tap water is REALLY chlorinated with the rumors of other nasty chemicals in your water.
I would filter your water (if you have the filter and don't feel like buying water) and then get a good water conditioner and use that on the filtered water for your tank.
Flex26 also brings up a good point...your fish are used to the water they are in, so you also need to use some water with close to the same parameters as the water that they are in (MINUS the nastys) If you used your tap water ("really hard water") before...then they should be used to that and the fact that your tap water is hard is ok.
I would filter your water (if you have the filter and don't feel like buying water) and then get a good water conditioner and use that on the filtered water for your tank.
Flex26 also brings up a good point...your fish are used to the water they are in, so you also need to use some water with close to the same parameters as the water that they are in (MINUS the nastys) If you used your tap water ("really hard water") before...then they should be used to that and the fact that your tap water is hard is ok.
Um! Shouldnt most of your bacteria be in your filter anyways since thats what its more or less used for? Besides, most of your water also flows thru your filter thus increasing 02 and ammonia/nitrite flows making the filter a prefer environment for aerobic bacteria.
About anaerobic bacteria bloom! Only happens when they is very low or no 02. At this time, your fish would be dead anyways.
About anaerobic bacteria bloom! Only happens when they is very low or no 02. At this time, your fish would be dead anyways.
I got my water from the sink and distilled
I mixed them and didn't have fish for a while. I let it sit for a month and then I got some fish and it cycled some more.
I ended up just doing the 20% water change with treated tap water. I didn't let the water sit or anything. I just changed it and added start right. Crossing my fingers that the fish will survive. Thanks everyone for the advice!
I mixed them and didn't have fish for a while. I let it sit for a month and then I got some fish and it cycled some more.
I ended up just doing the 20% water change with treated tap water. I didn't let the water sit or anything. I just changed it and added start right. Crossing my fingers that the fish will survive. Thanks everyone for the advice!
RedTurquoise, my fault - I should have been more clear - allow me to explain in more detail. A bacterial bloom can occur when the gravel bed is disturbed if it is not cleaned routinely. A biofilm establishes and develops on the gravel and surrounds each piece of gravel. Various types of bacteria form within this film and can become trapped and deprived of the proper nutrients and oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria form and begin to decompose waste products. This anaerobic decomposition produces hydrogen sulfide. When cleaned,or disturbed, these bacteria, which were dormant, now begin to multiply in the presence of oxygen and nutrients and releases hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is released from gas pockets in the gravel, it is then absorbed by the gills and combines with the red blood cells of fish. Then the red blood cells cannot carry oxygen to the body and the fish suffocates.
I understand a little bit. Yes, if not cleaned routinely, you can get anaerobic conditions.
Anaerobic and aerobic bacterias are different. They are not the same bacteria. Anaerobic thrive in no 02 conditions and aerobic in 02 rich conditions. When one or the other condition occur, the 'opposite' bacteria will die as 02 is required even if the bacteria enter dormancy.
Whenthe gravel is 'disturbed' and there is 02 available in the water, this is not a condition where anaerobic bacteria grow therefore you will not get an anaerobic bloom. The bacteria will not multiply if there is any presence of 02 in the water because they actually multipy in conditions lacking 02. You may get a aerobic bloom depending on the availibility of nutrients.
HTH!
Anaerobic and aerobic bacterias are different. They are not the same bacteria. Anaerobic thrive in no 02 conditions and aerobic in 02 rich conditions. When one or the other condition occur, the 'opposite' bacteria will die as 02 is required even if the bacteria enter dormancy.
Whenthe gravel is 'disturbed' and there is 02 available in the water, this is not a condition where anaerobic bacteria grow therefore you will not get an anaerobic bloom. The bacteria will not multiply if there is any presence of 02 in the water because they actually multipy in conditions lacking 02. You may get a aerobic bloom depending on the availibility of nutrients.
HTH!
Some of the anaerobic bacteria have the ability to switch from operating in a mode that needs oxygen to a mode that does not. The aerobic mode of operation is more efficient, and is usually preferred. The anaerobic bacteria live in areas devoid of oxygen, such as deep in the substrate of the aquarium or in areas where decorations cover the substrate. Some of the anaerobic bacteria are beneficial; some of them convert nitrate into nitrogen gas. This is why most denitrators have such slow flow rates and long coiled tubes- the idea is that bacteria will colonize the first part of the tube or denitrator and consume all of the oxygen, so everything from that point on will be anaerobic. In large quantities, anaerobic bacteria are bad because some types produce hydrogen sulfide as a metabolic byproduct. Hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs; in marine aquaria, just stirring an anaerobic pocket can kill the fish. In freshwater it is largely less toxic, but is a symptom of poor husbandry techniques. These anaerobic areas also indicate lost bio filter real estate. Some of the other byproducts of anaerobic respiration are toxic if allowed to build up, but hydrogen sulfide is the most noticeable. The main way to fight anaerobic areas are to avoid placing rocks and decorations in a way that water cannot flow over the surface of the substrate. Decreasing substrate depth or increasing particle size will allow more oxygen to go deeper in the substrate. Fine sand has a tendancy to get packed and turn anaerobic; livestock ranging from Malaysian livebearing snails to horseface loaches to eartheater cichlids to (small) softshell turtles may be needed to prevent anaerobic pockets from forming.
Is that better RedTurquoise?
Is that better RedTurquoise?
LOL! Pretty good!
The only thing is that I have not been able to find any info on the bacteria the can do both, aerobic and anaerobic. I was always under the impression that there is until someone asked me to really look into it and I could not find any info. I was reading about anaerobic bacteria. There are different strains as aerobic, nitrosomonas and nitrobacter. Some anaerobic bacteria are Desulfomonile tiedjei, Syntrophomonas wolfei, Syntrophobacter wolinii, and Desulfovibrio sp.
If you have any info that indicated otherwise of the strains of bacteria that can do, I would love to see it!
Anaerobic filteration sometimes refered to as nitrification is commonly used in treating sewage and also water treatment (including anerobic).
http://www.nishihara.co.jp/english/pdf/anaerobic.pdf
http://aem.asm.org/cgi/content/full/65/11/5082
http://www.ece.eng.wayne.edu/~hying/images/AE squid 00.pdf
http://www.ntlabs.co.uk/Lower_nitratesP2.htm
http://tech.praqua.com/pdf/nb/2000/JulyAug00.pdf
The only thing yet is that when anaerobic are disturbed and come into contact with 02 rich water, they will not multiply unless as you mention the bacteria is capable of 'switching'. In that event, they will be aerobic instead of anaerobic.
The only thing is that I have not been able to find any info on the bacteria the can do both, aerobic and anaerobic. I was always under the impression that there is until someone asked me to really look into it and I could not find any info. I was reading about anaerobic bacteria. There are different strains as aerobic, nitrosomonas and nitrobacter. Some anaerobic bacteria are Desulfomonile tiedjei, Syntrophomonas wolfei, Syntrophobacter wolinii, and Desulfovibrio sp.
If you have any info that indicated otherwise of the strains of bacteria that can do, I would love to see it!
Anaerobic filteration sometimes refered to as nitrification is commonly used in treating sewage and also water treatment (including anerobic).
http://www.nishihara.co.jp/english/pdf/anaerobic.pdf
http://aem.asm.org/cgi/content/full/65/11/5082
http://www.ece.eng.wayne.edu/~hying/images/AE squid 00.pdf
http://www.ntlabs.co.uk/Lower_nitratesP2.htm
http://tech.praqua.com/pdf/nb/2000/JulyAug00.pdf
The only thing yet is that when anaerobic are disturbed and come into contact with 02 rich water, they will not multiply unless as you mention the bacteria is capable of 'switching'. In that event, they will be aerobic instead of anaerobic.