Undoubtedly, an aquarium with fish swimming in it is an extremely beautiful design element, popular in almost all countries of the world. However, before installing an aquarium at home or in a cafe, restaurant and bar, you need to understand the principles of life of this microcosm. This and the airlift filters needed to maintain the internal cycle of the aquarium will be discussed later in the article.
History of Aquariums
For the first time, aquarium keeping and breeding of beautiful fish for decorative purposes originated in China back in the 6th-7th century AD. Then the fish were kept in opaque vases and it was possible to admire them only from above, through the water column. Since then, a lot of time has passed, aquarism has spread all over the world and has come to what we see now - to glass aquariums with filters and decorative elements.
Modern aquariums exist in any, the most bizarre forms, and the conditions for the life of fish in them are as comfortable and close to real as possible. But whatHow is this achieved in a closed space where there are almost no outside influences?
Nitrogen cycle in closed aquarium systems
As in any closed system, in aquariums there is a constant transformation of some organic substances into others. In them, in addition to carbon dioxide produced by the respiration of any living creatures, nitrogen also accumulates. It occurs due to the fact that all the inhabitants of the aquarium emit ammonia in the course of their life. This ammonia then stimulates the growth of bacteria, which convert it into less toxic compounds - harmless nitrites.
Another colony of bacteria, created by nitrites, in turn converts nitrites into nitrates, which then serve as fertilizer for plants and algae, which, in turn, can become food for fish and other inhabitants of the aquarium. Thus, the cycle is closed. Despite the apparent simplicity, this is a rather complicated process, and periodically such cycles can go astray, so you should always monitor the condition of the water in the aquarium.
Nitrogen cycle in new aquariums
You should be aware that the formation of such a cycle is not an instantaneous process, and in new aquariums it occurs only for a certain amount of time. At first, during the first few days of operation of the system, an increased content of ammonia appears in it, since the colonies of bacteria that will process it have not yet had time to form. At this time the waterbecomes cloudy and has a characteristic odor. This condition of the aquarium is harmful to all its inhabitants.
In the next few weeks, ammonia-recycling bacteria grow and the tank fills up with nitrite. The smell of water becomes normal, but nitrite is also harmful to any aquatic life. And only a month later, the nitrogen cycle returns to normal, when a colony of bacteria appears that processes nitrates. It is at this moment that it is recommended to populate the fish.
However, depending on their type, they can be settled earlier, subject to a constant change of part of the water in the first few weeks, but you need to consult specialists about this when buying. Both ammonia and nitrite are dangerous to fish. You need to monitor their condition and activity. Sluggish movements of fish may signal poisoning.
In the first weeks of life of fish in an aquarium, a partial change of water will have to be done in any case, since the nitrogen cycle will be shifted due to the appearance of waste products from the inhabitants.
Further functioning of the aquarium
After the nitrogen cycle has been established, and the water has acquired an unnatural smell and color, you need to take care of airlift filters or more powerful analogues. Such devices help speed up the nitrogen cycle and make it safer for the inhabitants of the aquarium. However, filter capacities should be taken into account when choosing. For example, for an aquarium with small shrimps, only an airlift filter without powerful compressors is suitable. smallshrimp, like fish, can rub against the sponge surface of the filter and get stuck in it if the flow of water drawn in is too strong. This can even lead to the death of the inhabitants of the aquarium.
How do aquarium filters work?
The principle of operation of airlift filters is very simple. These devices for the aquarium are a sponge with a certain surface area, inside of which a hollow tube with perforation is fixed. This tube, in turn, is connected to a compressor, which draws in air that carries water along with it. This water is then poured back into the aquarium. There are also bottom filters, without the use of compressors.
The sponge itself, according to experts, is needed for more efficient formation of bacterial colonies. Such filters are very simple to manufacture, they are cheap, their device is extremely banal, but at the same time they are very effective. Overall, they are the perfect choice for any aquarium. Naturally, during operation it is necessary to clean them periodically, like the entire aquarium.
How to make an airlift filter for an aquarium with your own hands
Due to the simplicity of their design, many people want to make their own filter. This approach not only allows you to save money, but also to make a filter of exactly the right size, decorate it to match the design of the aquarium and its elements. To do this, you only need a few tubes, a square, the sponge itself and a compressor.
All these elements are mounted together and attached to the suction cups toaquarium walls. You must first test run the filter to make sure it is functioning correctly. However, the main disadvantage of this approach is that it is extremely difficult to independently calculate the compressor power, sponge porosity, water intake rate and other parameters.
To avoid further problems with the aquarium, in the reviews, many do not recommend making an airlift filter with their own hands. It is better to pick it up in a pet store, taking into account the parameters of the aquarium and the recommendations of specialists. In addition, you can decorate or customize a purchased filter, and many of them are immediately sold with decorative elements. And the price of such devices is not so high that you can seriously save on this.
Conclusions
Aquarium is a complex process, one might even say an art. When getting fish in the house, you need to understand the fact that they require some care. According to aquarium owners, you need to change the water, clean and change filters, monitor the condition of the water and the creatures living in it. However, if you do everything right, consult with experts and do not be lazy when caring for the system, a home aquarium with fish will become a wonderful decoration that will perfectly complement almost any interior.
