How to Keep Fish Safe in Your Aquarium Water

While fish can be tolerant of conditions that humans might find uncomfortable, they are much more vulnerable to problems in their aquarium water. Ammonia, nitrite, phosphate, pH and temperature are just some of the elements that can cause stress or death for fish if not monitored closely and carefully in an aquarium.

Water Temperature

Because fish are cold-blooded, they depend on the water temperature to regulate their metabolism and breathing rate. Too hot a temperature stresses the fish and causes them to use up oxygen more quickly. When this happens, the fish become more susceptible to disease and may die from organ damage or suffocate. Water temperatures also impact the amount of oxygen in the water by affecting how well it holds oxygen.

Water Temperature:

While many experienced aquarists can keep their tanks at the edges of their preferred range without a heater, it’s best to always be safe and keep the tank within its temperature window. Thermostats are inexpensive and easy to use, so there is no excuse for not having one in your aquarium.

The type of aquarium rock you choose can affect your water chemistry. Some rocks contain chemicals such as copper (used to treat some diseases) and calcium carbonate which can raise or lower the pH of your aquarium. It is important to test your water and use only those rocks that are safe for your aquarium. If you are unsure, soak the rocks in a bucket of water and monitor their pH over a few days before using them in your aquarium.

Natural bodies of water have specific chemical properties that reflect the geological makeup of the region in which they originated. Water gets added to the ecosystem through rain, runoff, and groundwater, absorbing gases and minerals along the way. These factors collectively define a particular water ecosystem’s water specifications, or parameters. Aquarium fish and plants are physiologically adapted to the water in which they live, so it’s important for aquarists to recreate these conditions as closely as possible.

Tap water often contains chlorine and chloramine, both of which are toxic to fish. It is necessary to treat municipal water with a dechlorinator before adding it to an aquarium. This can be done by simply following the directions on the bottle of the product you purchased.

If you use a reverse osmosis system to prepare your aquarium water, it is still necessary to remineralize the water with a water conditioner. Reverse osmosis systems can sometimes create high levels of dissolved carbon dioxide in the water, which is harmful to some species of fish.

The most important element in an aquarium is the fish, but a good quality water is just as vital to their health. Keeping the water at the right temperature, pH and General Hardness (GH) allows your fish to thrive. This practical guide for beginners covers what these terms mean, when you should test your aquarium water, and how to adjust these parameters to achieve the desired results.