Fishkeeping - Aquarium Maintenance

Aquarium Maintenance

Ideal aquarium ecology reproduces the balance found in nature in the closed system of an aquarium. In practice it is virtually impossible to maintain a perfect balance. As an example, a balanced predator-prey relationship is nearly impossible to maintain in even the largest aquaria. Typically, an aquarium keeper must actively maintain balance in the small ecosystems that aquaria provide.

Balance is facilitated by larger volumes of water which dilute the effects of a systemic shock. For example, the death of the only fish in a 10 litres (2.2 imp gal; 2.6 US gal) tank causes dramatic changes in the system, while the death of that same fish in a 400 litres (88 imp gal; 110 US gal) tank that holds many fish creates only a minor imbalance. For this reason, hobbyists often favor larger tanks when possible, as they require less intensive attention.

A variety of nutrient cycles are important in the aquarium. Dissolved oxygen enters at the surface water-air interface or through the actions of an air pump. Carbon dioxide escapes into the air. The phosphate cycle is an important, although often overlooked, nutrient cycle. Sulfur, iron, and micronutrients enter the system as food and exit as waste. Appropriate handling of the nitrogen cycle, along with a balanced food supply and consideration of biological loading, is usually enough to keep these nutrient cycles in adequate equilibrium.