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A health check

Get the right environment for your fish

PHOTO: H. SATISH

GREEN ALERT Take good care of your aquarium plants and it will tell on the health of your fish

Take a look at your aquarium and feel proud. But you can feel proud only if your fish stay in the pink of health. There is no abracadabra involved here: all you have to do is to carefully observe your bowl (okay, cube) of joy every day.

The signs to look out for are the fish fins, fish bellies, algal growth in the aquarium, colour of water, airstone, the gravel and the leaves of the plants.

If you have the wrong mix of fishes then it will show in the fins of your collection. Most freshwater fishes are not aggressive (piranhas, oscars and some cichlids are the dishonourable exceptions) and nip at the fins of others only if they are bored (oh yes, fish are intelligent and get bored). The solution is to read up and get the right environment for your fish.

There will be no algal growth if you are using treated tap water and the light is just right. Ground water has phosphorous and algae thrive in it. If you still have algae, clean the tank and reduce the light a bit. The algae will disappear.

The colour of water in your aquarium should not be the same as in a drinking water bottle. It has to be brownish green, but not too dark a shade.

If you are the one who keeps switching off the air pump, then it is likely that the airstone will get clogged. Boil it and shake it in water, the airstone would be bubbling.

The gravel gets compacted blocking the growth of plant roots. To prevent it, whenever you clean the water in the tank, stir and swirl the gravel sufficiently and siphon out the gooey poop.

Plants are the best indicators of the health of the aquarium. If they are green without any yellow or brown fringes or mottled appearance, then stop reading this column now.

Next week: Fertilizer for your aquarium plants

SERISH NANISETTI

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