AQUARIUM WITHOUT WATER FILTER
It is important to maintain high water quality in every aquarium. Clean water in an aquarium is essential for the health of all aquarium inhabitants. In most cases, in order to maintain high water quality, the aquarium must be equipped with a filtration system. However, the current trend among aquarists is to keep aquariums that do not require any filtration system.
It is actually possible to achieve excellent results in maintaining an aquarium without a filtration system, but this will require some knowledge and planning.
Tips for maintaining an aquarium without a water filter
First, you should carefully select all of the aquarium's inhabitants to make sure that they will not only survive in such an aquarium, but also contribute to the ecosystem. For example, live aquarium plants will serve as filters, recycling the CO2 produced by the fish into oxygen. Having plenty of live plants in an aquarium will help keep the water quality in the aquarium at an appropriate level.
Secondly, once you have established biological equilibrium in the aquarium, you need to take certain steps to maintain high water quality. It is not enough to stock your aquarium with plants alone to achieve this goal - you will also have to make frequent water changes and be careful about any additives that are used to purify the water. For example, liquid fertilizers and medications can significantly change the chemical composition of the water and it will be very difficult to restore it to its original parameters. Always read the dosage instructions for any medications carefully before adding them to the water.
In order to keep your aquarium clean, you also need to think about ways to control algae. Only keeping live plants in the aquarium will help avoid an algae infestation, as the plants will compete with the algae for nutrients and the latter will simply have no food for their development. To further reduce algae growth, try not to light the aquarium too much, because excessive light is one of the main causes of algae growth. Avoid placing the aquarium near a window and direct sunlight, and keep it away from heating and cooling equipment - this is especially important if you plan to keep your aquarium without a thermostat. Also, to keep live plants in good condition, you need to use a nutrient-rich substrate.
Preferable fish for keeping in an aquarium without a water filter
When it comes to stocking an aquarium with fish, it is necessary to carefully select those fish species that will not be afraid of slight fluctuations in the chemical composition of the water. Below we list the most preferred fish that can easily be kept in an aquarium without filtering:
- Macropodus opercularis in natural conditions in freshwater reservoirs located in East Asia. These fish are very hardy and can tolerate large fluctuations in water temperature. Fish have a bright color and size up to 5.5 cm;
- Poecilia reticulata are small but hardy fish that also breed well in aquariums. The fish are up to 2 cm in length and come in a variety of colors and shapes. However, the fish prefer a temperature of 24-27° C and they can not be kept in unheated room where the temperature drops below these values;
- Tanichthys albonubes - is an excellent starter fish for novice aquarists. They tolerate cool water well, as they naturally inhabit cold mountain rivers. The size of fish does not exceed 3.5 cm;
- Paracheirodon innesi is one of the most popular species of freshwater aquarium fish, due to its hardiness and attractiveness. These fish can be found in bodies of water throughout South America and are easily identified by their silvery body with iridescent blue and red horizontal stripes. The fish measure about 1 cm in length;
- Corydoras aeneus. This catfish species is found in bodies of water located in South America. The fish are about 5.5 cm in size. These fish are bottom-dwelling and are excellent cleaners, clearing the bottom of various debris. It should be noted that these fish are very sensitive to certain drugs and various additives in the water.
As for the plants that you are going to keep in your aquarium, you need to choose those species that do not require intensive lighting and do not grow too fast. Some examples of such plants are:
These plants do not require bright light, although the light day should be, like most aquarium plants, 10-12 hours. It should also be taken into account that while the plants produce oxygen during the day, they absorb it at night, and if there are too many plants, the fish can get oxygen starvation. In this case, you can solve this problem by using a water aerator.
