HTML TITLE: First Aid For Your Aquarium,
Part 1 - Necessary Equipment
KEYWORDS: test kits quarantine tank hospital aquarium heater
SHORT DESCP: Situations demanding your immediate attention can quickly arise in your aquarium, threatening the health of your fish and invertebrates. To avoid a disaster, you must be able to recognize and remedy these possible crises.
Situations demanding your immediate attention can quickly arise in your aquarium, threatening the health of your fish and invertebrates. To avoid a disaster, you must be able to recognize and remedy these possible crises.
The first part of this 2-part article outlines the equipment needed to diagnose and correct potential aquatic emergencies.
Test Kits
Always make sure you have a quality
test kit close at hand. At a minimum, your test kit should include tests for ammonia, nitrite, pH, nitrates, and phosphates, and a
hydrometer if it is a saltwater aquarium. Hydrometers measure the specific gravity of your aquarium water, thereby allowing you to draw conclusions regarding its salinity.
Water Changing Equipment
Keep everything you need to perform a water change easily accessible. This equipment should include: aerated, temperature-controlled, and treated water (at least 25% of the aquarium's volume), a
siphon hose, buckets or garbage cans large enough to hold 25% of aquarium's water capacity,
powerhead or
air pump for aerating make-up water,
heater and
thermometer for make-up water,
dechlorinator if using tap water and
salt for a saltwater aquarium.
Chemical Medias
Several chemical media are useful in both emergency situations as well as general maintenance. These include:
ammonia-neutralizing media,
activated carbon or
organic removing resin,
phosphate- and
nitrate-adsorbing media, toxic metal or
copper remover, appropriate
pH buffer, and spare
media bags. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to immediately correct improper water chemistry.
The Hospital Aquarium
Most aquarists agree that a small investment of a separate hospital aquarium pays big dividends in helping you protect your large investment of fish. A hospital aquarium is a small tank used to medicate ill fish and separate them from the rest of the aquarium inhabitants. Separating ill fish helps prevent diseases from spreading, and also allows the compromised fish to heal without the stress of its tank mates harassing it. You can also use your hospital aquarium to quarantine new fish before acclimating them to the main display.
An excellent choice for your hospital aquarium is an
Nano Cube system, which is an all-inclusive "starter" aquarium kit, ranging in size from 6 to 24 gallons. The additions required for an Nano Cube system would be dark-colored gravel (to ease stress on the fish), a heater, thermometer, and some form of shelter for the fish (also to reduce stress).
Medications
In the event that illness should become evident in the aquarium, keeping a broad range of treatments in your first aid kit will help you combat the illness quickly. Good emergency medications include
Furanase,
Erythromycin, and Copper. NOTE: If you use copper, make sure you use a copper test kit to monitor the levels within the hospital aquarium.
Part II of this article will cover the typical warning signs of problems within the aquarium, and what to do to prevent these problems from escalating.
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