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Water Treatment

By | 2022-10-17T10:53:46-05:00 August 6th, 2017|Categories: Goldfish Koi Maintenance|Tags: , , |

Water treatment for aquariums and ponds  STEP 5 Buy the Books Water treatment is used to neutralize chlorine and chloramines. Cities add cleaning agents to prevent harmful bacteria growth, making water safe to drink, however, both chemicals are dangerous to fish and friendly bugs that create the nitrogen cycle Combined ammonia; referred to as chloramines; gives the agent staying power in large cities Chlorine is a liquid gas, and is easily eliminated from water by exposing it to fresh air; Add a simple pond pump to your freshwater bucket. Oxygen destroys chlorine on contact. The process takes up to 24 hours Chloramines, also referred to as combined ammonia, is just that, ammonia combined with chlorine. The only difference between the ammonia used to disinfect our tap water, and the ammonia created from waste is the latter is ionized. Ammonia becomes ionized when enzymes are present. Enzymes initiate change, which allows beneficial bacteria to feed on it. The insignificant amount of ammonia found in chloramines will not injure your fish, and will quickly become consumed by friendly bugs. Whether you have chlorine or chloramines in your tap, water treatment does not need to be used to convert either one Goldfish care Chemicals found in water treatment: Sulfur dioxide, bisulfites, hydrosulfites, aqueous solution buffered at pH 8 with ameliorating ingredients and reducing agents are all chemicals used to create water treatment Although relatively safe in low amounts for healthy fish, these substances burn fish that have little or no slime coat due to living in an unhealthy environment. Use a product that enhances or builds slime coat when using increased amounts of water treatment. Slime coating can be increased by giving the fish a Sea Salt Remedy Salt irritates their skin, causing them to secrete a protective coating Read more about slime coat Aloe Remedy is another means of increasing the slime coat as your fish receive many other benefits as well A healthy slime coat helps reduce the risk of infection as well as avoid poisoning by water treatment. Goldfish with a healthy slime coat are more tolerant to low levels of ammonia, high KH levels and disease in general Warning: Do not use Stress coat water treatment for increasing slime coat when cycling a tank or pond. Stress coat contains only trace amounts of aloe and increased amount of treatment may put the fish at risk Read the label of your water treatment bottle. Some treatments convert only chlorine and chloramines while some convert metals as well. Other treatments convert ammonia, nitrite and nitrates. You may combine water treatments if caution is used to avoid overdosing Type water treatments There are water treatments that raise or lower general and carbonate hardness levels, while some treatments lower these same mineral values. This can also be done by using products found at the grocery store. Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) raises (GH) general hardness. Distilled or R.O. water lowers GH levels. Bicarbonate of soda raises (KH) carbonate mineral hardness. Vinegar lowers KH levels Nitrogen cycle Noted on treatment label; water treatment has the capacity to bind to a specific amount of substance per [...]

Freshwater Source

By | 2020-08-06T02:17:12-05:00 August 6th, 2017|Categories: Goldfish Koi Maintenance|Tags: , |

Freshwater Source should contain important minerals Step 4 BUY the Books Freshwater source should contain carbonate mineral, magnesium and calcium. Know your freshwater source, because it's a matter of life and death. Tap water is recommended as a freshwater source for goldfish because it contains important minerals necessary to support good health. General hardness gives our fish good health and vigor. Carbonate mineral gives water the ability to support life. Combined, general hardness and carbonate hardness make up the value of total hardness GH; general hardness is made up of two parts magnesium and one part calcium KH is just that; carbonate hardness Mineral amounts vary according to what region you live in Every body of water has a pH value or potential of hydrogen. In simple terms, pH is a measurement of oxygen and carbonate minerals combined. To support life, water must have a pH reading between 6.0 to 9.0 ppm, however, the comfort zone for goldfish is 7.4 To 8.4 ppm. The higher side of the zone offers a healthier environment. Don't settle for less Goldfish care pH is a combined reading of O2 and KH Carbonate mineral (KH) alone is responsible for how alkaline or acidic water is. KH gives water the ability to hold on to the O2 molecule, although, it will take more than a healthy KH reading to oxygenate water. There are a multitude of reasons that keep water from supporting oxygen, and most of them have to do with clouds or gases. You'll learn more about oxygenating water if you continue reading the 10 Steps Bottled water goldfish aquarium Distilled or R.O. (reverse osmosis) bottled water has no value, with little buffering capability. Goldfish keepers use R.O. water due to freshwater source containing bad bacteria or high levels of toxins. Bottled water that contains value may offer a better starting place for building value in water. This is where the term 'mineral water' comes in to play. Goldfish and humans alike share the need for minerals Boost pH by performing frequent water changes Tap water with low mineral value may be caused by a filtering system Mother Nature is hard at work, whenever and wherever possible. If your tap water contains ammonia, nitrites or nitrates, consider collecting rain water as your freshwater Humans and goldfish alike cannot tolerate nitrates at high levels. The preferred reading for both of us is 12.5 ppm; difficult to accomplish in a goldfish aquarium. The fact is, all animals can tolerate levels up to 20 to 40 ppm if not super sensitive Use Water Boost to increase magnesium, carbonate mineral and O2 value of water Goldfish aquarium water Cleaning agents in our tap water Both agents destroy formation of unfriendly bacteria, however, they also destroys the friendly kind.  Eliminate cleaning agents from your freshwater source before adding to fish house Freshwater source Cities add chlorine and sometimes chloramines to our drinking water to keep it free of harmful bacteria Most cities use only chlorine which can be eliminated naturally by using Oop Boost Large cities often combine ammonia with chlorine (chloramines) giving it staying power [...]

Gravel Vacuum Substrate

By | 2020-08-05T06:39:20-05:00 August 6th, 2017|Categories: Goldfish Koi Maintenance|Tags: , |

GRAVEL vacuum substrate with every water change STEP 3 Buy the book Gravel vacuum substrate in your goldfish aquarium or pond. Goldfish spend most every waking moment in search of food. There's nothing they love better than pecking through gravel and shoving stones around in hopes of finding an uneaten morsel. It's sad to see a goldfish in an aquarium without gravel; there's nothing quite as unnatural for a goldfish. Investing in a gravel vacuum is a must if you have a stone substrate Cleaning goldfish aquarium Because of this instinct; pecking through the gravel, a stone may become lodged in the fish's throat, although it's rare. There's less risk if natural pea gravel is used due to the irregular shape. Round, pet shop gravel is the culprit here. Most fish are able to expel the object on their own; this may happen within a few minutes or a few hours. If not, action may have to be taken to remove the stone  Lodged Stone Using gravel as a substrate makes for clear water by keeping waste and uneaten food from floating freely in the tank, giving it a place to settle. Use a gravel vacuum to remove the debris from the bottom of your goldfish tank. Since we know that friendly bacteria prefer building their colonies in filters and pumps, we can assume that unfriendly bacteria build their colonies in stagnate locations. We also have learned that performing a 100% water change will destroy good and bad colonies alike, but this makes removing debris and waste that has settled in the gravel difficult unless we use a gravel vacuum Gravel vacuum substrate Using a gravel vacuum also helps to reduce carbon dioxide that forms and hangs heavily in the depths of our tanks and ponds. Carbon dioxide is created from the waste your fish produce. Pond pumps do most of work in eliminating these harmful gases that take up space pushing oxygen out Python or siphon A gravel vacuum is actually a short hose or tubing that comes in a few various sizes with a wide mouth on the end of it. Smaller tanks require smaller hose widths to reduce the flow rate Place the mouth of the vacuum at the bottom of your tank. Using a suction device attached to the center portion of the hose, squeeze repetitively. A motorized pump (python) may also be obtained for simplifying the procedure or you may choose to siphon with your mouth to get the action going How use gravel vacuum Have a bucket handy for the old tank water to spill into, and be careful not to suck small fish into the mouth of the vacuum. Very gently, so as not to pollute the water, rake the mouth through the gravel pulling it backwards; not by pushing it forwards; this will clog the mouth of the vacuum and stop the flow of water. When you have completed the task, gently lift the mouth up as you remove it from tank, allowing the [...]

Goldfish Koi House

By | 2020-08-07T08:30:33-05:00 August 5th, 2017|Categories: Goldfish Koi Maintenance|Tags: , |

What kind of goldfish house is right for you and your fish? STEP 1 Buy the book Goldfish Koi House can be any container that's clean, appropriately sized and strong enough to hold water. What size goldfish house do your fish need? Goldfish average 16 years living in a healthy environment, however, some live for much longer, growing much larger. Start with a goldfish house adequately sized. Goldfish will easily reach 2" their first year, averaging 1" per year Recommended STOCKING LEVEL 2.5 gallons of water per 1" of body Recommended water minimum DEPTH; body length of largest fish from nose to tail base Koi grow three times as large, requiring three times the space Size fish house appropriately, so that water parameters remain consistent. With proper care and proper housing a common goldfish could easily out live your dog or cat Goldfish Housing There are many styles and sizes of aquariums on the market today, however, keep in mind when choosing a fish house that goldfish require less depth and more surface area. The majority of aquariums are designed for tropical fish; not goldfish Goldfish houses with small surface area compared to the body of water need increased water movement. Depth of water should not be less than the length of the longest fish from nose to tail Suitable tank mates for goldfish Separate the smallest fish from the largest. Goldfish are omnivorous. They will eat anything that fits in their mouth, including other goldfish. The same holds true with Koi. Even though these fish form attachments to other fish, their natural instinct to survive in the wild drives them to nibble at anything and everything. They just can't help themselves Goldfish care Goldfish have been known to jump out of their water. Avoid accidents by lowering the water table. The gap between the surface and the top should match the body length of your longest fish, and yet another reason to have a larger container for your goldfish. Most aquariums come equipped with lids, however, goldfish fare much better in open topped tanks with the water surface exposed to fresh air. If you feel more comfortable with a top consider a screen Goldfish keeping It's fun to play around in your tank or pond. It's hard to resist beautiful decorations, and sometimes we have a tendency to overdo it. Make certain that the decorations you place in your goldfish house are aquarium safe before adding. If quarters are tight make sure that the object is not taking up valuable space the goldfish need. Goldfish are easily injured on sharp objects, especially the fancy varieties. Some materials, such as plastic, metal, fresh concrete or wood will affect the water quality Type plants goldfish aquarium There's a variety of fake plants to choose from, although silk ones are safest. Plastic plants can injure delicate fish. Be prepared to replace plants regularly if you choose real vegetation. Goldfish enjoy nibbling on plants, and some fish are very aggressive with their nibbling. Make sure the plants you place in your aquarium are [...]

10 Steps Goldfish Koi Keeping

By | 2020-08-05T15:12:32-05:00 August 5th, 2017|Categories: Goldfish Koi Maintenance|Tags: , |

Follow the 10 Steps Goldfish Koi Keeping  Buy the Book 10 Steps Goldfish Koi Keeping offers methods that are founded on many years of experience that have been proven with outstanding results. The theory is simple, by recreating their ancestor’s natural environment, the cold and fast moving rivers of China, our goldfish can and will thrive in an aquarium or pond. Centuries ago, and still today; the Chinese displayed their goldfish in glass bowls much to the delight of their guests, but the goldfish were quickly returned to their ponds after the party was over. This could very well have started the ‘goldfish in a bowl’ tradition, and with dire consequences Goldfish Keeping Even a pond isn’t the goldfish’s natural environment. When we place them in aquariums or small ponds we must go to great lengths to keep them healthy by making certain their water is rich in minerals and oxygen value Something all freshwater fish share is the need for healthy water. If you follow these golden rules, 10 steps goldfish Koi keeping, you will not only create the perfect ecosystem for your goldfish or Koi. They will live up to their full potential in growth and life expectancy. Study each and every critical step thoroughly and learn how to maintain your goldfish or Koi house. Learn everything you can, and your fish will flourish in the natural environment you create, bringing you, your family and friends lasting joy Goldfish Care It will take more than a quick read to understand fully the 10 Steps to goldfish and Koi keeping. Study each and every critical step thoroughly and learn how to maintain your set up. You should never have to perform a 100% water change; never have to disinfect your tank or equipment ever again. Mother Nature knows best 10 Steps Goldfish Koi Keeping You may want to start with the 10 EASY Steps Goldfish Keeping (short version) for the how to. When you're ready, or if you're a quick learner, the full version (see below) offers the how to's and the why for's Step 1 Goldfish Koi House Step 2 Nitrogen Cycle Explained Step 3 Gravel Vacuum substrate Step 4 Freshwater Source Step 5 Water Treatment Step 6 Oxygenating Water Step 7 Pond Pumps Step 8 Water Changes Step 9 Testing Water Parameters Step 10 Feeding Our Fish GLOSSARY of Fish Terms CONVERSIONS Goldfish Anatomy 10 Steps Goldfish Koi Keeping Items recommended 1.   Goldfish house 2.   Fresh water tub 3.   Substrate (natural pea gravel) 4.   Gravel vacuum (python) 5.   Water treatment 6.   Pond pump (sized for goldfish house) 7.   Parameter Test kit 8.   Thermometer If you're a kid or even a kid at heart, have fun coloring, reading stories and learning the Golden Goldfish Rules Be a Goldfish KID The Goldfish Kid Copyright 2007 Author: Brenda Rand

Sea Shells in a Freshwater Tank?

By | 2019-04-01T10:29:35-05:00 July 2nd, 2017|Categories: Goldfish Koi Maintenance|

Hello wise and wonderful Venus! Finneas is doing great after your instructions for ammonia/nitrate poisoning. And the use of several of your great products as brought him back to life as usual...thank you thank you! quick question: are sea shells ok for a freshwater tank with my one goldfish? just don't want to upset the apple cart. thank you Tammy

Natural Remedies VERSES Meds

By | 2020-08-05T17:50:02-05:00 June 23rd, 2017|Categories: Goldfish Koi Chat|

Natural Remedies verses Meds no contest Natural remedies verses meds; hands down, the latter wins almost every time. Our society has been relying on medicines ever since penicillin was discovered, and from there the field has exploded. Medicinal vaccinations once saved our children from the dreaded disease, Polio. From there, other deadly illnesses were practically wiped out due to simple vaccinations. Our society was brain washed early on by the fact, and has become solely dependent on medications ever since It's true that these same vaccinations have killed a few, however, the percentage is small by comparison Today there are drugs for anything and everything that ails you, and sometimes they even work, if they don't kill you first. We've all seen the advertisements on television for these prescriptions, and at the end of the commercials, if you listen closely, you'll hear the warnings. The risk is real, yet, for some reason, the majority of the masses rely on them for good health. The pharmaceutical industry is the largest in the world Have you ever wondered what medicines actually are? Most come from the heart of the rain forest in Brazil, however, chemists have learned how to reproduce and substitute most of these magical qualities found in plants with chemicals. Now they're able to sell to the masses, instead of the few Natural remedies verses meds Our love of the drug doesn't stop with humans. Our pets are bestowed the same honor. One of the largest industries in the animal kingdom is treatment for pests and parasites. This same courtesy is bestowed to our fish as well. The pet shop shelves are lined with treatments that kill parasites and destroy bad bugs, as well as those that cure dropsy and nitrate poisoning. The list goes on. The only problem; they inadvertently destroy the immunity of the environment as well as the fish, all too often pushing them over the edge Most sick fish suffer from poor water quality. Add chemicals to sick water, and what you get are sicker or dead fish The beauty of natural treatments; parasites can be destroyed as the health of the water and the health of the fish is enhanced. The affects of nitrate poisoning can be reduced if not eliminated by oxygenating water and improving the quality of the blood. There are no chemicals that stake that claim; no chemicals that can relieve the affects of burns caused by ammonia poisoning. These are just a few of the ailments out of the hundreds that can be cured by using natural remedies Natural remedies verses meds Fact is, there is no disease that cannot be treated successfully with natural substances; even cancer Medications sold at pet shops are actually dangerous chemicals that can and will destroy the natural environment in our fish houses, but can kill our fish as well. Most diseases are preventable by feeding high quality foods proportionately and by creating an environment rich in minerals with heavily oxygenated water The fish [...]

Moving a Nitrate sensitive fish

By | 2019-04-01T13:37:11-05:00 June 18th, 2017|Categories: Goldfish Koi Health Issues, Goldfish Koi Maintenance|

Hello, After having successfully treated my sick fish with you I wanted to ask your advice for moving. I have observed the following sensitivities and requirements for my fish. 1- Roughly 5% of the tank water evaporates every 1-2 days, If I let it evaporate anymore, the fish gets Nitrate shock. 2- If I change more than 5% of the tank water the fish gets Nitrate shock. 3- If I change the water more that 1x a week the fish gets Nitrate shock. 4- My Nitrate water parameters never get above 5ppm in a week time. At this point, I have to do a water change because the GH levels rise to 14-15 drops. So my water parameters weekly test roughly: Nitrate 5.0ppm Nitrite 0ppm Ammonia 0.25 High PH 8.4 KH 11 drops GH 12 drops My water temperature is consistently 66-69 degrees. We now have algae on the walls of the tank. And I am the only one who touches the fish tank. We are moving 5 minutes away into a new house, by the end of June. What is the best way to handle the move for this very sensitive fish?

Easy Pickins

By | 2020-08-06T00:52:13-05:00 June 15th, 2017|Categories: Goldfish Koi Chat|

Easy pickins our goldfish and Koi Easy pickins, the fish in our pond. Our goldfish and Koi are prey fish. The creatures that stalk them come in all shapes and sizes. They walk on land, they fly and they also swim with our fish. We can fence in our ponds and cover them with nets. We can set up deterrents of all kinds, but it's easier to build a pond that's predator proof Herons are at the top of the list of predators for Koi, being the largest of the fish kept in captivity. They grow up to 3' in length. It takes a really big pond to support a school of Koi, and these ponds are easy to spot from the sky. Smaller predators may have difficulty hauling off the big fish to a safe place to eat, however, they will try Heron's nemesis is the raven; ravaging their nests, devouring their eggs and their young. The very sight of a raven sends heron flying off in a different direction. Add a statue or silhouette of the infamous black bird to your pond decor to keep your fish safe Goldfish are more likely prey for ground predators. Their ponds are typically smaller, so it's less likely heron will spot them, and if they do, the small fish are just a light snack to tide them over until they get to the next Koi pond Koi predators Neighborhood cats are always on the prowl, and the sound of moving water beacons them. They must feel like a mountain lion as they make their way down to the watering hole. Thankfully, few are willing to reach too far down into the water, and if by accident they fall in, they'll make a quick and embarrassing exit. Motion detected sprinkler systems detour cats easily Raccoons are a different story; they enjoy the water, and a tasty meal is so worth getting wet. In order to discourage these crafty critters, the water table must be well below the top of the pond by a good 12" to 16" This same distance also works for cats as well as most other animals. Raising the ridge also keeps fish in the pond during the spawning season. Build up from the top of your pond with stone if possible Easy pickins Terrapins and water turtles are not above snagging a goldfish or small Koi. Many of the species are nocturnal, making our fish easy prey while they sleep. You might spot them during the day, but chances are they're dug in somewhere, getting some shuteye. You would be surprised to find out what's swimming in your pond while you sleep. There are many snakes that are comfortable in and out of the water, and during the summer, many of them become nocturnal to avoid the heat. Sleeping fish are an easy catch for water snakes, and the rocks around your pond make them feel right at home Make your stone slither proof by securing gaps [...]

pH undefined

By | 2020-08-05T08:02:35-05:00 June 11th, 2017|Categories: Goldfish Koi Chat, Goldfish Koi Maintenance|

pH undefined as potential of hydrogen pH undefined by the so called experts is one of the most controversial topics in the industry, and the most misunderstood. It always has been and will be in debate, but how does it affect us as fish keepers? A great deal of the information found online has been copied from one fish site to another, leading fish keepers to believe misconceptions on the subject. What is potential of hydrogen? It's known as; a measure of hydrogen ion concentration; a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. Sounds complicated because it is Why we use pH as a measurement in the fish industry is unknown, unnecessary and even dangerous Don't rely on the industry for accurate information. If you read the instruction manual in a master drop test kit, you'll see they refer to pH as being responsible for alkalinity; untrue Most fish keepers test pH regularly, however most of them test in vain, lacking the full understanding of it's meaning. Potential of hydrogen is not actually a parameter, although we could consider it to be the parent of two. Carbonate mineral (KH) and oxygen (O2) make up the value of pH when it comes to fish keeping. Carbonate mineral gives water the power to support the oxygen molecule. Without it, water would be lifeless. This parameter alone is responsible for alkalinity, not pH as a whole, but as a part of it. The misunderstanding comes from the rise in pH when alkalinity is buffered In order to fully understand pH, we must examine both KH and O2 individually Many fish will be poisoned by carbonate mineral because pH tests reveal low levels. Bicarbonate of soda will be used to increase these readings, when all the while, O2, or lack of it is responsible for dragging pH down. Test your freshwater source; pH should be very close to the same as your tank or pond water. Higher pH readings in tap water indicate oxygen levels in the fish house are low Low pH readings in tap water indicate low KH levels; as tap water is always oxygenated. Perhaps your home or your city water is filtered pH undefined It's said that some fish require lower or higher pH readings, although this isn't actually true. What they should say is various kinds of fish need various KH readings according to their origin. Unfortunately, KH requirements are difficult to trace due to this same misunderstanding. In order to estimate your fish's KH comfort zone a little research may be necessary All fish require healthy levels of oxygen, however not all fish take in oxygen from their gills. Beta fish breathe water from the surface, and this is why they're able to tolerate low levels of carbonate minerals in their water. These fish evolved in water low in KH, and can easily tolerate water low in oxygen. This is the very reason why they've developed the ability to take in oxygen from the air above the [...]

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