Water is not just a source of life. Depending on its properties, which fish and how long they will live in the aquarium. Being simple in its composition, water actually, very complex chemical element.
Aquarium owners do not need to know all the chemical properties, enough to understand some of them. So, example, aquarists need the following water characteristics, as rigidity, the presence of dissolved gases, temperature, salinity and the degree of concentration of waste.
Water temperature values for aquarium animals
The temperature of the water in the aquarium is a vital condition for the existence of the inhabitants. From what the temperature environment, depends on the course of all processes of development of fish and plants. There are special aquarium thermometers to determine the temperature. They measure not only how warm the water is, but also how many degrees it can differ in the lower and upper layers. There should be no difference in temperature difference.
If there is such a difference, measures must be taken to restore the balance, as differences can be detrimental to fish.
Dependence of aquarium fish on water temperature
The body temperature of fish is not a constant value. It is very dependent on the environment. The higher the heat, the faster the metabolic rate and the faster the fish grows.
Each species of fish has its own temperature, in which they feel most comfortable. Even exceeding the optimum temperature conditions significantly affects aquarium fish.
In the aquarium, especially if it is small in volume, and many living organisms themselves, an increase in temperature leads to a decrease in oxygen in the water. Increased life processes in fish, leading to an increase in oxygen consumption. All this affects the state of the water: it becomes cloudy, the smell of ammonia appears, living organisms have oxygen starvation. In this case, even an air aerator does not help.
Under natural conditions, aquarium fish live in tropical waters, where it is always warm. Temperature differences are not as large as in our latitudes and is 2-3 degrees. Therefore, for fish there is a lower and upper bar of temperature values. To make the fish comfortable, they are quarantined. In a couple of days at high water temperature, if it does not differ from their usual environment or one or two degrees higher, the fish gets used to the new habitat. If the temperature is lower, then acclimatization may be longer, sometimes up to several weeks.
There is no set temperature for everyone, because fish are divided into warm-water and cold-water.
The warm-water type of fish lives at a temperature range from 18 to 20 degrees. But they can also exist at seventeen degrees in the aquarium. These fish require a large aquarium, if you have a couple, then they need a minimum 40 liters, two pairs must be respectively 80 liters. All this requires plantings and oxygen supply to the aquarium.
Cold-water fish also need a good supply of oxygen. But they can live at low temperatures (14 degrees), and at elevated water temperature (25 degrees).
In fact, all this is not an inviolable rule. Each species has its own specific water temperature, from which to start, to know what the temperature should be in the aquarium.
The optimal temperature level for keeping fish in the aquarium
If fish, contained in the aquarium of one species, then there will be no problems in their content - it is enough to maintain one constant water temperature. Some aquarists want to diversify the wildlife of their aquarium. In this case, you need to choose fish with one temperature. Help, especially for beginners, may be able to know the following rules:
- the aquarium should be populated with fish with one common habitat temperature;
- for pregnant fish and fry have appeared, it is necessary to start a separate aquarium with high water temperature;
- per day temperature changes in the water in the aquarium can not deviate from the established norm by more than 2-3 degrees;
- know, what is the optimal water temperature in the aquarium should be: in cold water it is easier to get sick and in water of higher temperature the presence of oxygen decreases;
- to control the temperature of the aquarium must be provided with a thermometer and heating system (best with an alarm sensor).
Ways to maintain the temperature in the aquarium
As already mentioned, special means are used for constant temperature value. These funds, in the first place, designed to heat the aquarium. How much room temperature affects the aquarium, experienced aquarists know. Others should remember ways to change the temperature balance of the water at different times of the year:
- not everyone knows, that an aquarium refrigerator is used to reduce the temperature;
- if the apartment has air conditioning, then it will support the desired mode;
- some fans blow the water surface with a fan;
- if there is neither, then ice can be used for cooling;
- heating is carried out by a special heater;
- when there is no desire to spend on the purchase of equipment, you can use an ordinary hot water bottle.
In any case, a person decides for himself, how he will use to heat or cool the water in the aquarium. Using professional devices, there is a guarantee of the correct control of a temperature mode.