Water quality is the top determinant of fish and aquarium health, so ensuring tiptop water quality is more than just vital; it is crucial!
Fish in their natural habitats don’t have to worry about produced waste such as toxic ammonia, as it is diluted and dispersed across the large body of water. The same does not occur in an aquarium, which is why having a water filter to increase water quality is critical.
Water filters are the life support fish need within the aquarium; it helps remove all pollutants and toxins and allow fish to survive in a smaller environment. In extreme cases, polluted tank water can kill the fish from their own waste, so make sure to keep a quality filter for your aquarium.
If you’re looking to find out ways to have your aquarium in top condition and find out which filter to add to your aquarium for the best water condition for your fish, then you stumbled upon the right article. We’ll cover everything you’ll need to know about aquarium water filter systems, as well as practical tips to keep your aquarium tank healthy.
Tips to keep aquarium tank healthy
Keeping a fresh and fully sanitary aquarium is paramount for the health of your fish and the environment. Here, we have some simple yet effective tips you can do to ensure the longer health and lifespan of your fish and aquarium.
Constantly Check Water Parameters
The contents and quality of water are some of the core elements that can affect furry caterpillars let alone the fish health, which is why we recommend you frequently check all the water substance levels. Tap water contains skewed mineral levels that need to be balanced out in order not to harm fish or other aquatic life. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to do this is to buy a kit, such as the API Freshwater Master test kit, to check levels of ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites. With frequent checks, you can ensure all minerals are at the ideal level, where the excess won’t harm the fish, but low contents won’t stunt their health either. Balancing the water mineral and substance levels are the key!
Regularly Change Water
An obvious but often overlooked is to change aquarium water regularly. As a general rule, changing around 25 percent of the water monthly will keep your aquarium clean and sanitised. Frequent water changes also remove excess debris and leftover waste from increased phosphate levels. Unless regularly cleaned, an increase in these levels can cause fish to be sick. Avoid this by regularly changing your tank water.
Adjust the Temperature
Water temperature is another critical aspect you should consider for a healthy aquarium. Frequent water temperature changes may be fatal to the aquatic life in the tank. Try to keep the water temperature at a comfortable medium and not near too much sunlight or cooling vents. Commonly, the optimal temperatures for the majority of fish species are between 22-26 degrees Celsius. Keep in mind, though, certain fish species require more specific temperatures at all times, and other fish types such as goldfish can survive in colder water temperatures. That being said, always check what your fish species ideal temperature is and do your best to always keep it around that optimum.
Maintain optimal pH levels
As you monitor the chemical levels within the water with the API Freshwater Master Test Kit, you should measure the alkalinity and acidity of aquarium water. Though this also depends on the fish species, most fish thrive well in balanced pH level water. We recommend implementing specific water filters that balance the tank water’s pH levels to keep a balanced pH. This will also help your aquarium tank be in a pristine condition, preventing faster corrosion or mineral buildup.
Clean the Aquarium
Algae buildup is inevitable in tanks, but excessive buildup where water in the tank is murky and green is detrimental to the fish’s health. Though there are various algae types, some of which aren’t bad for fish, a surplus of algae reduces the amount of oxygen in the water. To best remove algae from your aquarium, we suggest first identifying why it could occur in the first place. Algae buildup can occur due to overfeeding the fish, too many lights around the tank, or even infrequent water changes. Identifying the problem will help you eliminate it faster!
Is filtered water good for aquariums?
As we said above, filters are the life of aquariums; they help keep tanks clean and have additional benefits such as removing toxin buildup. Regular tap water contains chlorines, sulfurs, and other possible contaminants, and if they aren’t frequently monitored, they can get stale and smelly. This is harmful to fish in tanks; this is where water filter systems come in. They give phenomenal benefits to the tank and the fish alike!
- Balance out the pH levels
- Regularly remove chlorine, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate
- Reduce Algae and mineral buildup in the tank
- Better health for fish with increased minerals and dissolved oxygen
- Keep the aquarium looking fresh and clean
One important thing you should keep in mind is if you are moving fish from regular water to a filtered water tank, we suggest acclimating them to the new water first. If there is a change in pH levels, water content, or temperature levels, it’s best to get them used to the water first. This can be done by moving your fish to a water bag and slowly adding new filtered water into the fish bag every 15 minutes or so. This will help fish slowly acclimate themselves to the new pH of filtered water without initial shock.
What is the most effective aquarium filter?
Now that you know the benefits of a water filtration system for aquariums, you might want to get one, but where do you start? Here are the top three most effective and innovative water filter systems for your aquarium!
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Filter
Granular activated carbon (GAC) has been used for aquarium water filters for decades, as it is one of the most dependable and effective water filters. It eliminates chlorine, pesticides, and VOCs by using raw organic carbon, which, once activated with water, removes all contaminants. It is a simple and affordable method of water filter for many, but one major drawback is how it has difficulty filtering nitrates. Due to this many opt for more innovative water filter systems.
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse Osmosis is one of the most popular filters for both aquariums and homes alike. It is known for its ability to remove almost all contaminants, eliminating up to 99% of water pathogens and chemicals. RO works by implementing pressure and pushing untreated water through a semipermeable membrane, strictly filtering clean water from all bacteria and chemicals. This filter is reliable and highly effective but might be very difficult for many to afford. Due to its high price tag, it is not plausible for many to splurge on such a large sum for their aquariums.
Vortex Treatment
Vortex water treatment is one of the most water-intuitive and innovative water filter systems. This specific water treatment helps remove all impurities of tap water and brings numerous benefits to it. Vortex water treatment tries to bring water to its most natural state to revitalize it and repair its natural properties. The treatment is able to do this by taking water through a vortexing motion and bringing the water alive. This motion not only sanitizes the water but also creates a hexagonal micro-clustered molecular structure within the water. But why is this so important? Let’s read about these benefits.
The Vortex Water Revitalizer™ – The Best Water Filter System for your Aquarium
As we mentioned, vortex water treatment tries to bring tap water to the most natural and optimal water state by putting it through a vortexing motion. This is because water’s innate movement is in nature is similar to the vortexing motion, which has been found to give water its vitality.
Structured or vortex water is the inherent state of water, but this is lost once the water goes through numerous water treatments and constant manipulation through pipes and channels. The Vortex Water Revitalizer™ is a vortex water treatment that tries to take the damage done to the water to help bring back its capabilities. Keeping in mind water’s most innate needs, The Vortex Water Revitalizer™ invigorates the water by using the double spiral filter to create the vortexing motion. With the restored molecular structure, water can bring these phenomenal benefits to your aquarium and your fish:
- Eradicate and remove all water toxins and contaminants through its ability to self-clean continuously. Water is more robust against all toxins.
- Keep a constant balance of pH levels, helping ensure a better environment for the fish. Keep it around the foundation plants to give an aqua experience.
- Increased dissolved oxygen levels, aiding in the survival and health of fish.
- Reduce mineral and algae buildup, subsequently reducing maintenance requirements
The belief in positive impact and the need to give everyone the ability to access quality water is what drives The Vortex Water Revitalizer™. Easy installation, accessibility, and affordable prices are all part of the benefits of The Vortex Water Revitalizer™. With the vortex treatment, you won’t have to maintain your water treatment, just install it once constantly, and it’s good to go for the rest of your life, continuously keeping your aquarium in peak condition.
Keep your aquarium and your aquatic life healthy and in pristine condition with The Vortex Water Revitalizer™!