SHOULD THE WATER IN THE AQUARIUM BE LEFT TO STAND FOR A CHANGE?
On the pages of our website in many descriptions of fish and plants there are recommendations for systematic water changes in the aquarium. This raises a reasonable question among aquarists, and whether it is necessary to defend the water for water changes in the aquarium? Contrary to the opinion of most novice aquarists, we can say at once - there is no such a need at this time.
To understand what happens to the water in the process of sedimentation, let's understand all the physics of the process.
First, the gas balance is normalized during the sedimentation process. The gases dissolved in the water, as a result of lowering the pressure to atmospheric pressure, begin to volatilize out of the water, similar to the way we watch gas bubbles escape when we open a soda bottle.
Second, chlorine evaporates if the water has been chlorinated beforehand.
Third, after standing, the water gets to room temperature.
In general, this is the end of all processes with standing water and there is a reasonable question about the effectiveness and necessity of these activities. To answer it, we will focus on the information that we have:
- During the daily maintenance of the aquarium usually change 1/3-1/4 part of the water and the total concentration of dissolved gases in the water is small enough to cause any harm to the health of fish. Do not worry even if you find small bubbles on the walls of the aquarium and plant leaves - it is just the usual air. If the substitution of only part of the water, excess air is not much and it does not give much discomfort to aquarium inhabitants.
- As you know, the assurances of water services in various cities, tap water is safe and can be drunk even with the tap. Is this in fact or not - you decide, but the fact that the chlorine content in the water is small should not be doubted. If you change only part of it, the concentration of chlorine will be much lower and will be at a safe level for the fish.
- What's really important is to equalize the temperature of the water being changed with that in the aquarium. It is not necessary to leave the water to reach room temperature. Just dilute the water with boiling water to a temperature of about 22-25° C, and it can be poured into the aquarium.
It should be noted that the recommendation that the water should be left to stand in the last century, and then it could be argued that the increased chlorination of tap water. In addition, in those days, the water was replaced by large proportions, and in some cases made a complete change of water in the aquarium with fresh water. Of course, with such volumes of changes, chlorine had an adverse effect on all the inhabitants of the aquarium.
Of course, if you'll defend the water, it will not get worse, but you need to do it in open vessels so that the evaporated chlorine will volatilize. In addition, keep in mind that no matter how much water is not delayed, but a sudden change of more than ½ the volume of the aquarium can cause a lot more trouble than pouring a small amount of fresh chlorinated water into the aquarium. All changes should be smooth and not disturbing the biological equilibrium established in the aquarium.
