The importance of Water Quality

An aquarium is essentially a miniature ecosystem and it is important to make sure that the water your fish 'breathe' is not polluted and is of good quality. Poor water quality is often responsible for unhealthy fish and it can even spark off disease, so regular monitoring is essential.

Healthy Water = Healthy plants and healthy fish.

Good water quality is essential for the plants and fish in your aquarium or pond. It's important for you to understand what can cause abnormal values and what action you can take if your testing indicates that the water quality is not good. Water quality is the result of many factors. The most important are: plants, fish, aquarium volume, pond size and depth, bottom layer of sediment etc. as well as external factors such as overfeeding, type of water added, the filter used, acid rain, duration and amount of lighting, sunlight etc.

Rarely is there a stable and completely natural balanced system. Aquariums and ponds are set up by people whom also choose the plants and fish. The system has not developed naturally and spontaneously. Some plants and fish are very adaptable. Others are more sensitive to their environment and need very stable and optimal water quality. Therefore, you sometimes need to give your aquarium or pond a helping hand.

Regular water testing allows you to spot water quality problems in time to take corrective action when needed. This is your best guarantee for having a beautiful aquarium or pond full of healthy active fish and thriving plants and, most importantly, keeping it this way. Get more pleasure out of your aquarium of pond and save yourself worry, frustration and even despair.

If you have problems with the water quality it's a good idea to consult your aquarium specialist, who is usually glad to be of help. However, you don't have to be a chemist to make sure your aquarium meets the necessary basic requirements for remaining healthy and in good shape. If regularly test the water it's easier for you to take proper care of the fish and plants and to keep disaster at a distance. Check the water quality on a regular basis, once every 2 to 3 days. If you have problems with the water quality, you should test more often. Also, check the quality of water before adding it to an aquarium.