Green-colored water is caused by a phytoplankton bloom and no immediate effect against this problem can be expected even if an entirely new filtration system is added to the aquarium. It would be more effective if the existing filter is temporarily replaced with a filter used on another tank that contains an adequate amount of filter bacteria.
It would be best if a filter containing abundant bacteria colonies is installed in addition to the existing filter for the planted aquarium with a greenwater problem, this method is called Jump Start Method, although it might be difficult for hobbyists to do so in practice. Another remedy is to use UV Lamp into the aquarium. Please try it.
Which is more effective for the growth of aquatic plants, lower carbonate hardness or lower total hardness?
In the aquarium industry, carbonate hardness (KH) refers to the level of bicarbonate ions (HC03-) in the water; while total hardness (TH) and general hardness (GH) refer to the level of calcium ions and magnesium ions contained in the water, respectively.
If the pH and KH of the water decrease, more carbon dioxide, which is dissolved in the water through CO2 injection, takes the form of free CO2 In view of the fact that free CO2 is more easily absorbed by most aquatic plants, it will be easier to grow aquatic plants in water that has a lower KH concentration. For total hardness (TH), most aquatic plants do not grow well in hard water containing high calcium and magnesium ion concentrations, and therefore it is better to maintain soft water at a lower total hardness in the aquarium for healthy growth of aquatic plants. By using Aqua Soil as a substrate material, you can lower the carbonate hardness and total hardness in the water and obtain water quality that is most conducive to the growth of aquatic plants.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) is one of the most efficient ways of reducing water hardness and works without the use of any chemicals or harmful products. In fact, Reverse Osmosis will remove between 95 and 99 % of chemicals, minerals, and other dissolved particles, leaving behind pure clean water
In Nature Aquarium, aquatic plants grow in a tank and play a role in water purification. Beneficial microorganisms such as aerobic bacteria and protozoa in the external filter require oxygen in the water for their activity. It can therefore be said that microorganisms are more active or propagate at a higher rate with a higher concentration of oxygen. The external filter containing a lot of filter media has a powerful filtration capacity but, at the same time, it consumes a large amount of oxygen for microbial activity. Oxygen is always sup•plied to the water through the water surface, and on top of that, a greater amount of oxygen is generated through photosynthesis of the aquatic plants. This means the aquarium in which lush aquatic plants grow and vigorously perform photosynthesis is favorable to the activity and propagation of aerobic bacteria. In such an environment, organic matter causing water contamination can be captured and consumed by protozoa and they are further decomposed and oxidized by aerobic bacteria.
The role of the aquatic plants in water purification is not only to supply oxygen to the water. Aquatic plants grow by obtaining carbohydrates and energy through photosynthesis but are unable to perform adequate synthesis of amino acids and pigments essential for their growth just by this process. For this reason, the aquatic plants need to get their nutrients from the water. Nitrogen content and phosphoric acid cause water contamination but at the same time they are also nutrients to be absorbed by aquatic plants. Once the aquatic plants start growing vigorously, a large amount of nutrients are absorbed by the plants, by which the water in the tank is purified.
Aquatic plants absorb nutrients not only via their roots but also through their leaf surface. Therefore the environment with a large amount of stem plants with submerged leaves has a high water purification capacity via both the supply of oxygen and absorption of nutrients. Nitrogen content and phosphoric acid are often not detected in the aquarium under such a condition. Growing aquatic plants healthily can lead to water purification
The basic concept of Nature Aquarium, that is, making use of diverse living organisms including aquatic plants, mud snail and Cardina japonica for water purification. Although it is impossible to reproduce the natural ecosystem exactly as it within the limited space of a tank, the essence of the ecosystem can be extracted and rebuilt in an aquarium.Biological filtration, which is regarded as the most important process in the filtration system of Nature Aquarium, is a method of filtering water with the help of microorganisms, a representative decomposer in the ecosystem.
In a natural aquatic environment, microorganisms such as bacteria and protozoa are present on the mud and sand at the bottom of the water as well as on stone surfaces. In the aquarium tank, too, they are found on the surface of the substrate and stones, but their water filtration function is not powerful enough since the tank area to microorganisms can attach themselves is very restricted. To solve this problem, an independent external filter is used for the aquarium to produce more bacteria so as to achieve a high filtration capacity.
The external filter contains filter media such to which microorganisms such as bacteria and protozoa adhere. Since more bacteria can adhere to a larger surface area, materials with large surfaces and good water permeability are ideal for biological filtration. The filtration capacity of microorganisms declines if the filter media are too fine or stuffed too much to the extent that water permeability is affected.
To perform biological filtration, it is necessary to ensure good water permeability so that the filter media surface is exposed to the water containing rich oxygen in order to optimize the important functions of microorganisms that need oxygen such as aerobic bacteria and protozoa. In nature, too, water quality can easily deteriorate in the aquatic environment with stagnant water where oxygen is lacking. To keep the water in a good condition, it is crucial that the water contains adequate amounts of oxygen and is kept in motion
When only fish are kept in the aquarium, the water continues to get contaminated unless water change is performed. By contrast, natural aquatic environments originally have their own water purification mechanism involving diverse living organisms. In fact, fish are a contributing factor to water contamination even in natural aquatic environments. However, water purification takes place at all times there by way of decomposition of organic matter and ammonium released from the fish feces by countless decomposers present at the bottom of water and other locations. Besides microorganisms, including bacteria and protozoa which are well-known decomposers, crustaceans such as Cardina as well as shellfish such as mud snail also help in water purification as decomposers in a natural environment.
What is important in the natural ecosystem is biodiversity. Swift decompositlon of water-contaminating organic matter is made possible by the presence of diverse species of decomposers other than microorganisms. For instance, the mud snail filters the water through its gill, and it also hardens algae, bacteria and organic matters with its mucus. A part of the hardened materials is consumed by the mud snail as food and the remainder is deposited at the bottom of the water. The deposited organic matter will eventually be eaten by crustaceans such as Cardina and refined through this process, allowing easy decomposition by microorganisms. Cardina and mud snails also feed on algae grown on emergent plants. After the algae on the plants have been eaten by these species, the algae start to grow again and absorb nitrogen and phosphorus in the water as nutrients.
In this way, water is further purified via repeated elimination and re-growth of the algae on plants. In addition, it is widely known that emergent plants such as reeds help to promote water purification by absorbing nitrogen and phosphorus in the water through their roots.
We need to feed the fish to keep them in an aquarium. The fish absorb a part of the consumed food for growth and respiration, and excrete the remainder as feces. From fish feces and leftover fish food, substances such as organic matter, ammonium and phosphoric acid are released and dissolved in the water.
In addition, ammonia produced through the metabolism of the fish is directly excreted via the gills and then converted into ammonium in the water. The accumulation of these substances within the tank contaminates the aquarium water gradually. Some instances of visible contamination include decline in water clarity and algae growth on the glass surface and substrate. This decline is caused by an increase in free-floating bacteria feeding on organic matter in the water and also by the growth of free-floating algae absorbing nutrients from phosphoric acid and nitrogen content such as ammonium.
Algae on the glass surface also grow by absorbing nutrients from nitrogen content and phosphoric acid. This is why periodic water changes are needed for the aquarium with fish. Meanwhile the factors contributing to the deterioration of water quality can also be seen in aquariums in which aquatic plants grow. Particularly during the initial stage of the aquarium, water contamination is caused by nutrients released from the substrate.
In Nature Aquarium, Substrate Additive and Soil are usually used as substrate materials for the healthy growth of aquatic plants. These soil contain organic nutrients and nitrogen content, which will be dissolved in the water and converted into organic matter and ammonium. These substances cause even aquariums with only aquatic plants to face problems of cloudy water and algae growth the same way as aquariums with fish. The issue of nutrients released from the substrate will eventually be resolved once an adequate amount of aquatic plants have been planted and the substrate surface has been covered by the grown plants. In Nature Aquarium, the first month after setup when the aquatic plants are still in the growing stage is the period in which aquarium water contamination is most serious. During this period, organic matter and ammonium should be eliminated by way of frequent water change
The water quality is also influenced by the growth of aquatic plants which spread their leaves in the water. One of the contributing factors is nitrate. This substance is absorbed by aquatic plants as a nutrient. Nitrate can pose a problem if it is excessive rather than when it is in short supply. An excessive concentration of nitrate leads to algae growth in the aquarium. Other factors that have a direct impact on the growth of aquatic plants are the pH and total hardness of water. Aquatic plants perform photosynthesis by absorbing CO2 in the water. The pH of water influences the behavior of CO2 in the water and its value reflects CO2 concentration. With some exceptions, most aquatic plants used in the planted aquarium grow well in soft acidic water at a lower pH level. This is because of the principle: “The lower the pH level of water, the higher the concentration of CO2 in the water, and vice versa”. In contrast to acidic water, alkaline water at a higher pH level contains less CO2. The pH level also rises when CO2 is actively absorbed in the photosynthesis process.
With these facts in mind, it can be judged that the amount of CO2 injection is insufficient if the water is found to be alkaline through the pH check conducted at the peak of photosynthesis (4-5 hours after the lighting is turned on). If such a condition becomes chronic, the aquatic plants are unable to perform photosynthesis adequately and suffer from poor growth. When the pH level of water is neutral (pH7.0) at the time the lighting is turned on (i.e. commencement of CO2 injection), the pH level should be slightly acidic at about pH6.8 · 6.6 within 4-5 hours. The appropriate CO2 level can be achieved at this pH level. Changes in pH level in conjunction with CO2 concentration can be continuously measured with the Drop Checker
In aquariums, the pH level falls with acidification of water due to the effect of Aqua Soil. On the other hand, when aquatic plants absorb CO2 and when the carbonate hardness rises under the influence of stones, the pH level also rises. Changes in pH in conjunction with changes in CO2 concentration can be checked by the Drop Checker. Meanwhile, the total hardness rises under the influence of stones but it declines with the use of RO Water.. The pH and total hardness of the aquarium water are influenced by such interactions.
Meanwhile in regard to total water hardness, the growth of the aquatic plants is affected by this factor if a value as high as 100 mg/ltr is observed through the Test Kit. Total hardness indicates a concentration of calcium and magnesium ions in the water. If it is too high, absorption of other nutrients such as iron is hindered and chlorosis of the new buds of the aquatic plants or dwarf syndrome of leaves may occur. The aquarium which experiences a rise in total hardness tends to also face a rise in carbonate hardness (KH) and pH level at the same time, and this symptom may affect the growth of some aquatic plants.
Moreover, if the tap water used for the water change shows a high level of GH, KH or pH, the cause of the rise in total hardness in an aquarium can be the use of substrate sand or composition materials such as stone. Marine sand containing broken pieces of coral or seashells as well as calcareous stones such as Elephant Skin / Ryuoh stone tend to increase total water hardness. A higher total hardness becomes prominent particularly when CO2 is supplied, so it is recommended to check total hardness if stones are used as composition materials in the planted aquarium. Excessively high total hardness can be moderated by mixing RO water & tap water. Carbonate hardness can be lowered by the use of substrate material, such as Aqua Soil -Amazonia / Tropica / ControSoil, which has the effect of increasing the acidity of water.
Once the initial stage of the aquarium has passed, the filter bacteria in the filter system start functioning fully and the aquatic plants grow vigorously. This is the time when the quality of tank water is stabilized. At this stage, there is no problem in adding fish to the tank. We must feed the fish to keep them in the aquarium environment. Most of the species to be reared in the planted aquarium can grow on an artificial diet, and artificial fish food is the common feeding method. After the feeding, the tank water is always polluted with fish excreta and leftover food. This organic matter constantly generates ammonia but it is eventually converted into nitrite, and then into nitrate as long as the filter bacteria are very active. Therefore in aquariums with established filter bacteria, almost no ammonia and nitrite are detected through water quality measurement.
For this reason, there is usually no need to measure nitrite in aquariums which are in a stable condition. For such an aquarium, nitrate, instead of nitrite, is used as an indicator to know the timing of the water change. In a planted aquarium with lush aquatic plants, the nitrate in water is absorbed as an important nutrient and thus the nitrate concentration will not be too high. If a high level of nitrate is observed, an excessive feeding amount or an excessive number of fish in the aquarium can be suspected. In this case, the nitrate level can be lowered by water change. If the nitrate level rises again after a few days, we know that it is the right time to change the tank water. If the regular measurement shows a sudden spike of nitrate to as high as 10 times the original value, the nitrite level should be checked again.
The Test Kit measures the nitrate concentration accurately as long as no nitrite is detected, but it indicates abnormal values in the presence of nitrite. Although the toxicity level of nitrate is quite low, nitrate can be converted back to nitrite when its level is very high and when dissolved oxygen is lacking. If this phenomenon occurs, the toxicity level becomes very high and this causes the shrimps to die. The generation of nitrite due to lack of dissolved oxygen can be observed when the filter media is excessively dirty or night-time aeration is not performed in an aquarium with a lot of plants. In this event, check the filter media first and, if they are dirty, rinse them lightly with tank water in a bucket and then put them back in the tank. After this rinse, it is recommended to perform stronger aeration by making use of the water flow of the filter for a whole day. This enables the rejuvenation of aerobic microorganisms in the filter, which eventually leads to the elimination of nitrite in the water. Even after the water condition is restored, be sure to continue aeration after the lighting is turned off at night. This can prevent poor aerobic microorganism activity due to lack of oxygen.
Water quality is significantly affected by substrate materials during the period immediately after the setup of Nature Aquarium. Particularly in the aquarium with an ordinary substrate system made up of a combination of Substrate like Power Sand and Aqua Soil, the water becomes acidic and a large amount of nitrogen is released from the substrate into the water. During the initial stage in such an environment, the pH level sometimes dips below 6.0, but this level is suitable for the growth of many aquatic plants and poses no particular problem.
The problem that arises during the initial stage is the concentration of nitrogen-containing substances, such as ammonia and nitrite. These substances are highly toxic to fish and shrimp, so adding fish and shrimp to the tank should be avoided while the level of such substances is still high.
The source of nitrogen within the tank is organic matter. Ammonia produced from organic matter is converted into nitrite and then into nitrate. Through this process, the toxicity of ammonia is reduced. This conversion takes place mainly through the activity of filter bacteria in the filter system. When a filter with new filter media is used, the filter bacteria are not yet adequately established in the initial stage of the aquarium, and toxic ammonia and nitrite can easily accumulate. The period in which the aquarium is subjected to high levels of ammonia or nitrite will usually last for 3-4 weeks from setup. During this period, the tank water should be changed frequently to reduce the ammonia/nitrite level and, at the same time, the nitrite concentration should be checked with the test kit.
Water with a high level of nitrite is prone to brown diatom. Adding Amano Shrimp or even molly fish , a diatom eater. to the tank is an effective way to fight this type of algae. However, this shrimp is particularly vulnerable to nitrite, and its leg movements slow down in the presence of just a trace amount of nitrite or it can even die if the nitrite concentration is high. It is therefore recommended to remove brown diatom by suctioning with a fine hose when nitrite is detected. Amano Shrimp should be added only after nitrite is no longer present in the water through repeated water change.
Meanwhile, when using filter media that have been installed in another aquarium, the period in which nitrite is detected is usually shorter. However, the actual length of such a period varies with the condition of the filter media, so a check of the nitrite level before adding Amano Shrimp is recommended. Besides nitrite, sudden changes in pH and total hardness of water may also affect the condition of this type of shrimp. Check the pH level of tank water with the Pack Checker pH or the pH Kit before adding the shrimp to the tank, and if the result shows a significantly low pH level, change the tank water immediately before adding the shrimp, and perform a thorough water adjustment. Through this procedure a sudden change in pH level can be averted.
Among the various ways to measure water quality, the Fresh Water Test Kit provides a simplified and standardized measurement. In this method. we can measure water quality just by pumping the water into the tube and checking the result against the color comparison chart. This allows the user to easily take a measurement whenever necessary and use the result as an indicator for maintenance needs.
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for the growth of aquatic plants and must be generated in a tank with fish. However excessive nitrogen may cause algae growth and some nitrogen-containing substances may affect the health of the fish and shrimps. In addition, the pH level and total hardness of water may affect the growth of aquatic plants and health of the fish.
These factors vary with the materials used in the aquarium. They also vary with the water change process. Usually water change is carried out when the concentration of harmful substances rises in order to lower it. It can be said that water change is the easiest way to improve the quality of tank water. The water change should basically be carried out periodically and the appropriate interval of water change can be known through the measurement of the water quality using the Fresh Water Test Kit. Among the various types of Fresh Water Test Kits, the ones which should be used for periodic checks in planted aquariums include:
Fresh Water Test Kit pH (hydrogen ion concentration) Indicates acidity, neutrality and alkalinity of water, which influences the growth of aquatic plants and health of the fish.
Fresh Water Test Kit TH (total hardness)
Indicates the concentration of calcium and magnesium ions in the water, which influences the growth of aquatic plants.
Fresh Water Test Kit N02(nitrite)
Nitrite is a substance converted from ammonia and is highly toxic. Ideally no N02 should be detected in the aquarium.
Fresh Water Test Kit N03 (nitrate)
Nitrate is a substance converted from nitrite. A high level of nitrate can promote algae growth.
