The Real Reasons For Water Changes In Aquariums And Ponds

While it has been widely reported since the beginning of aquarium and pond keeping that water changes are needed for the health and safety of the fishes, the real reasons for this are rarely discussed properly.  there are two fundamental purposes for making water changes -- removal of the build up of toxic fish and other animal wastes in the water, and the replenishment of essential elements in the water that have been removed by the organisms in the water, including by the fishes. 

Fishes and other life in the water are constantly using the water as a basic source for essential elements and vitamins.  They are primarily absorbed through their skin and breathing organs (such as gills for fishes).  Therefore, water changes are needed to replenish the supply of essential elements and vitamins.  Of course, there are other reasons for water changes, such as for reducing contaminants in the water, reducing cloudiness in the water from algae (green coloring), reducing free-floating bacteria in the water (when there is whitishness throughout the water), and reducing off color in the water from whatever source.

Removal of Toxic Wastes in the Water

Keep in mind that aquariums and ponds do not have toilets or sewage disposal systems.  Water filters do just a limited amount in sewage disposal -- all exposed to the rest of the water.  Instead, the whole aquarium or pond is the toilet.  Sewage is everywhere throughout the water, much of it unseen, dissolved in the water.   

As soon as an aquarium or pond is set up and fish or other aquatic animals are introduced, their excretion begins to pollute the water.  A basic constituent of their excretions is in the form of ammonia/ammonium, for which the ammonia is highly toxic in the water to fishes.  Over 0.25 ppm parts per million = 0.25 mgl) of ammonia in the water should be avoided in fish keeping.  For some fish it is as low as 0.05 ppm of ammonia that is toxic to them.  Other bacteria in the water consume the ammonia and excrete nitrites which also are toxic.  Generally nitrites need to be kept below 0.1 ppm in the water for fish keeping, according to the latest scientific reports, being the most toxic of the naturally occurring nitrogen compounds in the water.  Then other bacteria consume nitrites and excrete nitrates.  Recent articles in the scientific literature indicate that fishes should be kept at 10 ppm or lower nitrate levels in the water for their health and physiology.  This process is known in aquatics as the "Nitrogen Cycle", in allusion to its being a part of the entire "nitrogen cycle" of the world's environment.. 

All of these incredibly low tolerances for nitrogen compounds in the water, that start with fish and animal excretion,
show that right from the start in fish keeping  -- there are serious factors to consider that are entirely different from keeping land animals as pets.  Remember, we are talking about incredibly tiny parts per million (=milligrams per liter) for toxicants in the water -- remarkably low numbers that are toxic to fishes.  In an unattended aquarium or pond, or in those for which the keeper is unaware, this can become very quickly a serious problem. 

Until recently, all that was really generally known was to make frequent water changes, usually indicated as being 20-30% of water for each change.  The frequency of the changes was dependent upon how many fishes and other aquatic animals were in the water, etc.

What is known now from the new invention of Kordon's AmQuel+ is that with the use of this product all of the toxic nitrogen compounds in the water can be harmlessly detoxified within a few minutes at any time.  The bacteria in the water that consume toxic nitrogen compounds remain unharmed and are then transforming nontoxic nitrogen compounds -- so far as we know without knowing the difference.  The "nitrogen cycle" goes on just as before -- with one major change.  The end product of nitrates, for which there are not bacteria in aquarium and pond keeping to sufficiently detoxify the nitrates, are now permanently detoxified by the AmQuel+, including all the other nitrogen compounds toxic to fishes and aquatic invertebrates for which there are no common names. 

Kordon's AmQuel+ makes aquarium and pond keeping a whole lot easier to do.
There are no adverse side effects on the fishes and other aquatic organisms, or on
water conditions, from using the AmQuel+. 

Another basic problem with making water changes is what has happened to the water before it gets to the user.  As for tap water, it has water that has passed through metal pipes from their sources.  All of these metal pipes contain various heavy metals in the pipes, such as lead, zinc, iron, and copper.  Substantial amounts of these metals are released by corrosion of the pipes into the tap water.  All heavy metals are very toxic to fishes and other aquatic life.  The use of Kordon's NovAqua+ or its predecessor NovAqua, or other Kordon products with heavy metal removers (see the Kordon Article "The Importance of Removing Heavy Metals From Aquarium and Pond Water") are necessary for permanently removing these heavy metals from the water.  Heavy-metal removal from the water needs to be an essential part of "water and fish keeping."

Replenishment of Essential Elements in the Water

The organisms in the water, including the fishes and aquatic invertebrates, are constantly taking out of the water all of the elements that they need for their health, growth, reproduction, and survival.  Over time in older water all of the essential elements are eliminated, particularly the trace elements and vitamins in the water.  While elements and vitamins can be provided in the food put in a pond or aquarium for fishes and other animals, there are usually deficiencies that need to be supplied by other means, such as by water changes, and by the addition of trace elements and vitamins to the water, for which Kordon's freshwater or saltwater VitraTrace product is  recommended.

Regular water changes by using tap water is generally going to provide most of the essential elements.  Bottled spring water may or may not be sufficient, depending upon the water source.  Water prepared by RO (reverse osmosis), DI (deionized), or whatever means that  pure water (H2O) is provided, all lacking the elements needed for a fish's breathing and health.   When these sources of water and instruments are used, it is recommended to use Kordon's freshwater or saltwater VitraTrace product ito replace the trace elements and vitamins needed in the water.

The use of an ozonizer breaks apart the large proteins in the water which will then be removed by a protein skimmer, but this does not remove all of the toxic nitrogen compounds dissolved in the water.  They still need to be removed, which is done with Kordon's AmQuel+ or any of its related products (see AmQuel+). 

Water changes with tap water, such as from municipal water supplies and wells, have other serious problems in water keeping for aquariums and ponds.  The water will have passed through water pipes during which the water goes anaerobic.  When put into a pond and especially when put into an aquarium, the water is so anaerobic (lacking oxygen) and rapidly changing in pH (acidity/alkalinity) due to the exchange of carbon dioxide in the water and oxygen from the air, that it can harm or kill fishes.  See the Kordon Article "The Importance of Buffering Tap Water For Aquariums And Ponds".

Getting Rid of Whitishness in the Water

This is usually caused by free-swimming bacteria that come in through the air into the water.  They are normally attracted by organics in the water from excess food or dead and dying fish or other dead animals in the water.  Sometimes the source attracting the bacteria may be hidden in nooks and crannies and not be noticed.  It may take searching to find the source.  When found it should be removed. 

Help in removing excess food and dying animals is provided by the Kordon products Tidy Tank for freshwater or Tidy Tank for saltwater, and for small aquariums the Kordon products EZ4U Sludge Remover. 

An antibiotic that kills gram positive bacteria (such as erythromycin) can be used, but this also kills off the beneficial nitrifying bacteria, such as in the biological filter.  Use of erythromycin or other killer of gram positive bacteria requires reestablishment of the "Nitrogen Cycle" in the aquarium or pond.  Therefore, the use of an antibiotic that kills gram positive bacteria should generally be avoided.  Particularly so, since these are among the most beneficial bacteria in aquariums and ponds and should not be eliminated. Most of the bacteria harmful to fishes are gram negative. 

Getting Rid of Particle Cloudiness in the Water

If regular filtration is not getting rid of particles in the water, what needs to be done is to change the form of the particles so that they either drop out of the water, or are cleared out by regular filtration.  This is done by Kordon's TransClear for fresh water and Sea Clear for salt water.  These transparent products have "sticky" molecules that fasten onto the particles that are causing the cloudiness, and either drop them out of the water, or attach them to the materials in the water filter, thereby removing them through filtration.

Getting Rid of Algae Green Coloring in the Water

The use of one of the algaecides is commonly used for getting rid of algae in fresh water.  To some extent the Kordon TransClear product will help in this by attaching to algal particles in fresh water (or the particles on which the algae is attached) and the same for Kordon Sea Clear in salt water.   However, they are not classified as algaecides since they are not killing algae, nor has the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) provided approval for such purpose. 

Getting Rid of Off Color in the Water

As the water ages it can take on a yellowish to brownish or other color as organics build up in the water, clearly indicating that a water change is needed.  See the section above on "Removal of Toxic Wastes in the Water" for further information.

In Conclusion

Despite all the hurdles with which the fish keeper has to contend in aquarium and pond keeping, there are simple answers and excellent easy-to-use products.  For those wanting to keep it elementary and quick, without stress or harm to the fishes and other aquatic life, the basic products to use when setting up aquariums and ponds and in making water changes are Kordon's NovAqua+ and AmQuel+ .  These will accomplish more than a dozen tasks needed to be done, saving time, stress, and money.  It is recommended to use them regularly, such as when water changes are made, or -- depending upon conditions -- once a week to twice a month in aquariums, and about twice a month in ponds. 

As the aquarium or pond ages, it needs some "sewage treatment" which is easily provided by Kordon's Tidy Tank.   Trace elements and vitamins needed as replenishment in the water are provided by Kordon's VitaTrace products. 

See other Kordon Products and Kordon Articles that provide additional insights into what can be done for better aquarium and pond keeping.