Calcium in aquariums

[cstrohmeyer]

I have written an article about the importance of calcium, magenesium, and KH in aquariums, Here is part of this article:

Calcium carbonate in your aquarium will keep a more stable Kh, while magnesium is another important element that works with calcium. A proper amount of Calcium and Magnesium in your aquarium will affect the fish’ health positively. Besides helping to keep a stable Kh, magnesium and calcium have been shown to increase resistance to degenerate diseases by lowering the acidity in the body. This will help with prevention of ich, fungus, and general “wear and tear” in your fish. The addition of antibiotics (such as Tetracycline) will lower calcium absorbtion.
Other needs for calcium:
• Calcium is a vital component in blood clotting systems and also helps in wound healing.
• Calcium helps to control nerve transmission, and release of neurotransmitters.
• Calcium is an essential component in the production of enzymes and hormones that regulate digestion, energy, and fat metabolism.
• Calcium helps to transport ions (electrically charged particles) across the membrane.
• Calcium is essential for muscle contraction.
• Calcium assists in maintaining all cells and connective tissues in the body.

For the full article, please follow this URL:
http://kh-aquarium.blogspot.com/
For even more information (including this article):
http://aquarium-info.blogspot.com/

Carl
Aquarium Design and Maintenance since 1978
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/

[cstrohmeyer]

I would like to add one other point about Calcium and KH that is VERY important (and a major problem I have seen over the years in my maintenance business when calling on customers who seemed to always have problems with their aquariums and claimed cleaning their aquarium caused their problems, which of coarse is not true).

The production of Nitrates (nitric acid) will slowly reduce your ph, but a proper KH will keep a more stable ph. This is important to note, if your KH is low and your ph has been dropping, a large water change (don't get me wrong, water changes are VERY important) can cause stress on your fish, or even kill them.
http://kh-aquarium.blogspot.com/

Carl
Aquarium Design and Maintenance since 1978
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/

[cstrohmeyer]

Keeping a healthy aerobic bacterial colony in your filters is also important for fish health, as it prevents the aquuarium from having ammonia or nitrite spikes do to medication treatment, over feeding, or many other resons. I often keep extra sponge filters running for seeding new bio colonies or just for inexpensive filter redundancy. Sponge filters are simple to keep clean, thus reducing organic build up, which in turn lower ph.
For more information about sponge filters and how they can compliment your excisting system or even be your primary filters, please vist this URL:
http://spongefilter.blogspot.com/

Carl
Aquarium Design and Maintenance since 1978
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/