Warehouse Aquatics

10 fish tank maintenance tips

Lottie — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 08:00:22 +0000

If you’re new to fishkeeping, these 10 tips should help you keep your fish and aquarium in their best health.

1. Choose the right size fish tank

When choosing a fish tank size, there are two main factors to keep in mind.

1. Your available space. Measure the space you have for a fish tank – you don’t want to buy an aquarium that’s too big. But don’t be fooled into thinking that smaller is easier. Smaller fish tanks actually require more maintenance than large fish tanks. So, if you have room for something a little bigger than you originally imagined, fill that space.

2. How many fish you want to keep / how large you’d like these fish to be. Overcrowding can lead to aggression, stress, and disease in fish, so you’ll need a tank large enough for the number of fish you’d like to keep / the species you’d like to keep.

Our blog post What size fish tank do you need? explains how to work out how much space you need for a fish tank and which fish can live in which size tank.

2. Choose fish who will be happy living together

When deciding which fish to buy, research which species are compatible. Some fish can be territorial or aggressive, so check which fish can live peacefully together before buying.

3. Cycle and condition your aquarium water

Your fish tank water needs the right properties to keep fish healthy. You need to add microorganisms to your aquarium that will break down waste and keep the water safe for fish.

Lots of fish tank kits come with the conditioning solutions you need to prepare your fish tank, but you can also buy these solutions separately.

Make sure you have:

Cycling fish tank water can take some time, so let your fish tank run for at least seven days with all the necessary solutions before adding fish.

4. Test your water quality

Test your water quality to make sure the pH balance and chemical levels are right before introducing fish.

A water testing kit will help you check your fish tank for pH and the right levels of nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia.

5. Check the temperature of your fish tank

Your fish tank water needs to be the right temperature for your fish. Major changes to the water temperature can be fatal to fish, so it’s important to get this right.

While coldwater fish don’t need a heater and can live in water of around 18℃, tropical and marine fish typically need water of around 27℃. You will need a fish tank heater to sustain this temperature.

Our blog post on how to set up a fish tank for tropical fish can help you get this right.

6. Introduce fish to the tank gradually

Introducing fish straight into a new tank can distress them. Instead, float your fish in your tank in the bag(s) of water that you brought them home in.

Leave the bag(s) to float for around 20 minutes. Every five minutes, add around a quarter of a cup of your aquarium water into the sealed bag. Then, open the bag(s) and let your new fish swim out in their own time.

This process combines the chemistry and temperature of your fish tank with the chemistry and temperature of the fishes’ original tank, reducing the risk of your fish feeling agitated.

7. Complete regular water changes

Regularly changing 25 to 50% of your fish tank will keep the aquarium clean for your fish and get rid of debris and waste, which can distress fish and lead to illness.

The smaller your fish tank, the more regularly you’ll need to complete a water change. This is because it’s harder to maintain the right pH and chemical levels in a small tank.

While a small fish tank will likely need a water change every one to three weeks, you can probably leave a larger tank for four to five weeks between water changes.

Keep an eye on how quickly your tank accumulates dirt and adjust your water change schedule accordingly.

Bonus Tip

You can use a siphon to make removing water from your fish tank easier and quicker.

8. Clean out algae

Algae may build up on the inside of your fish tank (and on items inside the fish tank). Algae creates a swampy, murky look and reduces the amount of oxygen in the water, which can be damaging for fish and plants.

Use cleaning tools like an algae scraper, algae pad, or algae magnet to clean algae off your tank, ornaments, rocks, and plants.

You can also buy an algae treatment to get rid of excessive algae.

You can reduce algae growth in your fish tank by ensuring the aquarium is out of direct sunlight. While it’s important for your fish to get some natural light, too much sunlight can lead to excessive algae growth.

In fact, fish should only get up to 12 hours of light a day – after all, their natural habitat is pretty dark.

Our blog post Where’s the best place to put a fish tank? should help you find an ideal spot, out of direct sunlight.

9. Don’t overfeed your fish

Overfeeding your fish can lead to an excess of waste and debris in the tank, not to mention algae growth, all of which can cause water quality problems and a lack of oxygen.

Most fish don’t need a lot of food to live healthily. One or two feeds a day should be fine, although this depends on your species and how many fish are in your tank. Either way, don’t feed your fish more than they can eat in a few minutes.

As long as your fish don’t show any of the following symptoms, you’re feeding them enough:

Digging around in the substrate for food.
Waiting and the top of the aquarium for feeding time.
Acting aggressively towards other fish.
Acting slow or sluggish.
Losing weight.

10. Look out for signs of fish illness

If your fish fall ill, you’ll have better chances of curing the illness the earlier you catch the disease.

Look out for:

Changes in your fishes’ eating patterns.
Slow or sluggish behaviour.
Flakes or bulges on the skin.
Abnormal inflammation.

If you notice these signs of illness, we have an array of fish treatments to help cure your fish.

With these tips in mind, you should be ready to buy your fish tank.

About Warehouse Aquatics

The Warehouse Aquatics mission is to offer the most choice at the best prices when it comes to your fishes’ wellbeing. We use the products on our website ourselves and are well-versed in all things fish, so we can give you all the advice you need. We’re not just here to sell aquatic supplies. We’re also here to guide you through your journey as a fish owner and enthusiast.

As a small team, we love to hear from our customers, so please do join the Warehouse Aquatics social media community. We’re always up for a chat, and we’d love to share your aquarium photos with our followers.

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What is a fish tank pump and why do you need one?

Lottie — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 08:00:45 +0000

Just as humans need air to breathe, fish need water circulation and aeration. And a pump is essential to ensure your fish get the oxygen and nutrients they need.

What are the different types of fish tank pumps?

There are two main types of fish tank pumps:

Air pumps, which oxygenate water to keep fish and plants alive. An air pump adds air to the fish tank through airline tubing in the form of bubbles. The pump sits outside of the fish tank, above the water surface.
Water pumps, which increase water movement in a fish tank or move water from one place to another, like from a sump to a fish tank. These pumps aerate fish tanks by producing a current that allows air to enter the water.

Fish tank water pumps

What is a fish tank water pump and how does it work?

A fish tank water pump aerates and circulates water to keep fish healthy.

The pump creates a current that feeds the water in the fish tank through the filter. The constant flow of the current distributes nutrients evenly throughout the fish tank, which helps prevent disease in fish.

In the middle of a water pump, an electric motor spins an impeller (one or two plates surrounding a series of vanes), producing kinetic energy.

An intake port sucks water in, and the kinetic energy from the impeller transfers to the water. The energy forces the water into the fish tank, and the water circulates into the filter, making its way back into the pump.

The current keeps all the water in motion, preventing stagnant water.

Do you need a fish tank water pump?

Small tanks don’t typically need water pumps, which are usually more beneficial to larger aquariums. So, if you have a small fish tank, an aquarium filter is likely all you need. If you have a larger fish tank, buying a water pump is a good idea.

If you’re not sure whether you need a water pump, keep an eye out for algae growth or sluggish fish. These are signs of low circulation, in which case a water pump may be your solution.

How should you clean your water pump?

To clean your water pump:

Turn off the water pump and unplug the power source.
If you have an external pump, remove the inlet and outlet tubing.
If your pump is in a sump, remove it from the sump and controller.
Remove the main housing from the water pump. You may be able to twist this off, but some pumps contain screws.
Remove the impeller and clean this and the pump housing with fresh water.
If there is calcium on the pump, mix one part muriatic acid with three parts citric acid. Soak the pump in this solution and rinse.
Dry the pump.
Reassemble the pump.
Reconnect the power (and tubing if necessary).

Bonus Tip

You should clean your water pump at least every four to six months. Some pumps require more frequent maintenance, so make sure you check the manual.

If you have a reef tank, you’ll need to clean your pump every two to three months.

Fish tank air pumps

What is a fish tank air pump and how does it work?

A fish tank air pump injects air into the water in your fish tank.

The pump forces oxygen into the water, and carbon dioxide releases into the water (with the help of surface agitation). The pump causes this surface agitation by displacing the water with air bubbles.

Do you need a fish tank air pump?

Small fish tanks don’t usually need an air pump. But the more fish in your aquarium, the higher the chemical imbalance in the water may be, making an air pump a good idea.

Similarly, cold-water tanks don’t typically need an air pump. But oxygen levels in warm water can decrease, so fish that live in warm water can benefit from an increased oxygen flow.

If you have live plants in your fish tank, buying an air pump could also be a good idea. Plants absorb CO2 and release oxygen during the day. But this process reverses at night, which can see plants diminish the oxygen levels in the water while raising CO2 levels. In this situation, an air pump can keep oxygen levels up.

If in doubt, buy an air pump if your fish don’t seem to be getting enough oxygen and show the following symptoms:

Resting more than usual.
Swimming to the top of the tank for oxygen (although this could mean the water contains too much ammonia – test your water to check).
Moving their gills quickly.

An air pump can also agitate some kinds of fish, like bettas, so check before you invest.

Do you need an airstone with an air pump?

When you buy an air pump, you’ll also need an airstone. These stones, made of porous stones or limewood, reduce the size of the large bubbles that the air pump produces to make them a friendlier size for fish.

An airstone:

Increases water circulation.
Increases surface agitation, forcing more oxygen into the tank.
Reduces noise.
Reduces the size of bubbles that come from the air pump.

In short, an airstone improves oxygen levels and reduces stress for fish.

What is a good flow rate for your fish tank pump?

Your pump’s flow rate should be at least three times higher than your fish tank volume. So, if your fish tank holds 180 litres, like the Juwel Rio 180 (which comes with a water pump), you’ll need a water pump that has a flow rate of at least 540 litres per hour.

You’ll also need to accommodate any obstacles in your fish tank that can slow down your flow rate. Consider the height of the pump head, indirect plumbing routes, and the size of the inlet/outlet tubing.

To be on the safe side, you could buy a water pump with a flow rate that is higher than three times your fish tank’s volume.

That said, be careful not to buy a water pump with a flow rate that is too high for your fish tank. An overly high flow rate can cause too much circulation, which can harm fish or force water out of the aquarium.

Lots of pumps have adjustable flow rates and timers so you can set your flow rate in line with your tank size.

Does your fish tank pump need to run constantly?

Whether you have a water or air pump, this should run all the time in your fish tank. The pump offers life support for fish and plants, so leave it turned on.

About Warehouse Aquatics

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Everything you need to know about fish tank backgrounds

Lottie — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 08:00:18 +0000

If you’re decorating your fish tank, you’ve probably come across fish tank backgrounds. But what are these posters and 3D backdrops? Why are they a good idea? And what do you need to know about them?

What are fish tank backgrounds?

There are two main types of fish tank backgrounds:

1. Posters that you can cut to size and insert into your aquarium. These fish tank posters usually come on a roll and may be double-sided.

2. 3D fish tank backgrounds that you can fit or glue inside your aquarium. These textured backdrops are usually modular, which means you can expand them.

Designs usually feature ocean water, cliff drops, and rockeries. We’ve written another blog post on our top four fish tank backgrounds, where you can find inspo for your aquarium.

Bonus Tip

It’s best to insert your fish tank background before you add fish to your tank. Your aquarium needs to be empty when you install your background, so, if you already have fish, they’ll need somewhere to stay while you install your background.

Why should you buy a fish tank background?

Here are our top six reasons to buy a fish tank background for your aquarium.

1. Create a theme for your fish tank

Your fish tank background can play a huge part in your aquarium theme. For example, our trimmable poster seascape background can help you create an under-the-sea theme. (You’ll need an adhesive like Juwel Decoration Poster Fix to attach a background like this.) Meanwhile, our expandable Juwel Cliff Dark, Cliff Light, and Stone Clay backgrounds can help you create an authentic rock-themed design. (You’ll need an adhesive like Juwel Decoration Conexo to fit these backgrounds.

2. Enhance the appearance of your fish tank

Teamed with rocks, stones, pebbles, shells, plants, coral, and/or ornaments, a fish tank background can help you add depth and a touch of nature to your aquarium.

3. Stop fish from feeling agitated

Some fish feel distressed when they see their reflections in aquarium glass. A fish tank background can prevent this. Put your background on two or three sides of your fish tank to minimise the chances of your fish seeing their reflections.

4. Hide wires and equipment

While fish tanks can be tranquil to look at, they do need equipment like tubes and a filter and pump to keep fish healthy. These aren’t always the prettiest to look at, but an aquarium background can help you hide them. (Alternatively, if you have a Juwel internal filter, you could cover this with a two-piece Juwel filter cover, which is available in cliff- and stone-clay designs.

5. Recreate your fishes’ natural habitat

In the ocean, fish spend a lot of time in a dark blue-black environment. You can recreate this habitat with an authentic fish tank background. (However, this isn’t ideal in a small tank…but more on that later.)

6. Make a small fish tank look bigger

A white fish tank background can make your aquarium appear bigger than it really is. These backgrounds can also accentuate and showcase your fish, helping them stand out.

Is a fish tank background right for your aquarium?

Before you buy a fish tank background, consider these three points to check whether a background is right for your aquarium.

1. Fish tank size

If you have a small aquarium that is already full of plants and ornaments, adding a dark background could limit the amount of light that your fish get. If you have a medium or large fish tank, aquarium backgrounds shouldn’t be a problem, though.

2. Fish tank placement

If the back of your fish tank faces a wall, an aquarium background is probably a good idea. But if your fish tank is in the middle of a room, the reverse side of a fish tank poster won’t give you a great view. In this case, stick to the plants and pretty substrate.

3. Fish health

Make sure you buy a fish tank background that is safe for aquarium life. If you don’t buy a proper background from a reputable shop, you could disrupt the chemical balance in your aquarium. (All of our fish tank backgrounds are safe for fish.)

Ready to choose your fish tank background?

About Warehouse Aquatics

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Our four favourite fish tank backgrounds

Lottie — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 16:13:41 +0000

There are plenty of ways to decorate and personalise your fish tank. But one of the easiest, most striking ways to transform your aquarium is to buy a fish tank background. These backgrounds offer a unique way to bring depth, colour, and theme to any aquarium.

What are fish tank backgrounds?

While some fish tank backgrounds are like giant posters for your fish, others are 3D textured backdrops that you can fit or glue inside your aquarium.

Our fish tank backgrounds include scenes of ocean water, cliff drops, and rockeries. So, whether you’re after a stick-on ocean backdrop or a 3D rock formation, we have a fish tank background that can help you create your under-the-sea vision.

Not only do these backdrops provide a scene that brings your fish tank to life, but they’re also great for hiding your heater tubes and filter.

Our four favourite fish tank backgrounds

These are just a few of our favourite fish tank backgrounds.

1. Juwel fish tank backgrounds

This stone granite fish tank background from Juwel can help you create a striking rock structure for your aquarium. The natural grey tones and the background’s illusion of depth give this backdrop an authentic feel.

This background measures 60 x 55 cm, and you can cut the background to fit your fish tank, making it easy to install inside your tank. The background also has a modular design, which makes it expandable.

We stock variations of this Juwel fish tank background, including the Cliff Dark, Cliff Light, and Stone Clay designs.

Bonus Tip

We recommend attaching this background with Juwel Decoration Conexo.

2. Juwel rear wall posters

This double-sided fish tank poster from Juwel gives you two backdrops for your aquarium, which you might like to switch between each time you do a water change.

Choose between a natural rocky scene and a bright underwater landscape with mixed vegetation.

This fish tank poster measures 150 x 60 cm. Like the Juwel fish tank backgrounds above, you can cut this poster to size. However, these posters attach to the back wall of your fish tank rather than slotting inside the tank.

We also stock variations of this Juwel rear wall poster, including a:

Bonus Tip

We recommend attaching this poster with Juwel Decoration Poster Fix.

3. Juwel filter covers

If you’re interested in covering your Juwel internal filter without inserting a background that will fill your fish tank, a Juwel filter cover is perfect for you.

We love this two-piece Juwel filter cover, which features a ‘Cliff Dark’ design that replicates the appearance and texture of a cliff.

We also stock variations of this Juwel filter cover, including the Cliff Light and Stone Clay designs.

This filter cover measures 55 x 18 cm.

4. Back to Nature rocks

Fishkeepers who are looking to design a natural fish tank will love Back to Nature’s rock aquarium backgrounds.

These slim backgrounds are approximately 10 mm thick and come in two colours: Red Rock and White Limestone.

These backgrounds are available in heights of 45 cm for 50 cm fish tanks and 55 cm for 60 cm fish tanks. Each height comprises four sections that you can interlock to cover the back of virtually any fish tank.

About Warehouse Aquatics

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What size pond pump do I need?

Lottie — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 09:34:19 +0000

If you’re building a garden pond, choosing the right-sized pond pump is essential to your pond health. Choosing the wrong pump can lead to all sorts of problems and prevent fish from living in the water.

Not to worry, though. In this blog post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to choose the right-sized pump.

Why do I need a pond pump?

Most ponds need a pump to circulate the water. The only exception to this is naturally occurring wildlife ponds that have a natural stream of water flowing into them.

If you’re adding fish to your pond, a pump is essential to keep your water clean and safe for your pond inhabitants.

You can choose between submersible pond pumps, which sit at the bottom of the bond, and external pumps, which sit above the water line or outside of the pond.

How do I measure the water in my pond?

There are a few things to consider before you choose a pump. First, you need to measure the volume of water in your pond. You can use this Blagdon calculator to work out how much water there is in your pond.

How do I measure the head of water?

Once you’ve calculated the volume of water in your pond, you’ll need to do a second calculation. This one is to do with the head of water that your pump will need to handle. The head of water is the height of water at its highest point from the pump to the top of a waterfall, a stream, or your filter system.

To calculate the head of water, measure the height of the water from the pond pump to its highest point. So, if the highest point is a waterfall that stands 120 cm above the pump, the head would be 120 cm. As you don’t have a pump yet, measure from where the pump will sit.

How do I measure piping to calculate the head of water?

If you have a waterfall, stream, or filter system in your pond, you also need to know the length of pipe that the pump must move water through to get to the top of this feature.

For example, if you need 300 cm of pipe to reach the top of a waterfall in your pond, this will affect your head calculation.

For every 300 cm of pipe, you need to add 30 cm to your head calculation. So, if you had 120 cm of height and 300 cm of pipe, you would have a head of 150 cm.

As the pond pump pushes water upwards towards the head height, the pump’s flow rate may decrease. Therefore, if you don’t take head height into consideration, the pump that you think is the right size may be underpowered for the volume of water you need to circulate.

All pumps have a maximum flow rate, which is rated at a zero head height. This is because as you increase head height, the flow rate decreases, sometimes to half the original flow rate.

Most pumps have a flow chart that shows the flow at different levels of head height, which you can use to choose your pump.

All pumps also have a maximum head height, which refers to the height of water the pump can handle. Once the water reaches this level, the flow of water will slow and then stop.

How do I measure circulation per hour?

For your third calculation, you’ll need to work out your circulation per hour. This measurement refers to the volume of water that your pump can circulate in an hour. So, a pump that matches the volume of water in your pond (including the head) should circulate all the water in your pond every hour.

There are various schools of thought on how often you should circulate your pond water. Some people say once an hour. Others say once every half hour. We suggest that you measure the size of your pond to work out how often you need to circulate the water. More on that below.

You should also take the stock of your pond (fish and plants) into consideration here. If you have a higher-stocked pond, you might opt to circulate your water more frequently.

Pond pumps for small ponds

Much like bigger fish tanks are easier to maintain than smaller fish tanks, larger ponds are easier to maintain than small ponds. This is because of dilution. The smaller the volume of water in a pond, the more toxins from fish waste and debris build up. A small pond will struggle to dilute the waste in the limited volume of water available.

So, if your pond holds fewer than 4,500 litres, we suggest you circulate your water every half an hour. To do this, you’ll need a pond pump with a flow rate that can handle double the size of the volume of water, plus head.

For example, if you need a pump that can circulate 3,400 litres of water once an hour, you can double the size of the pump to 6,800 litres to circulate the water twice an hour.

Pond pumps for medium ponds

Typically, a medium pond of 4,500 to 9,000 litres needs to circulate its water once an hour. You can get away with circulating a medium-sized pond less frequently than a small pond because there is enough water to better dilute waste in the pond.

So, for example, if your pond needs a pump that can circulate 6,800 litres an hour, you can go ahead and buy this pump.

Pond pumps for large ponds

As there is so much more water in a large pond, it’s much easier to dilute waste in these than it is in smaller ponds. Therefore, if your pond holds more than 9,000 litres of water, you may only need to circulate it every two hours.

In this case, if you calculate that you need a pond pump of 13,600 litres, you can half this and buy a pump that can only handle 6,800.

So, you might find that you end up using the same-sized pump for your small or medium pond as a fishkeeper who has a large pond.

Bonus Tip

If you haven’t yet built your pond, keep in mind that a large pond can be just as cheap and easier to manage than a small pond.

That said, you will need to invest in a pond filter that can handle the volume of water that the pump sends through. Your filtration system needs to match the pump’s flow rate.

Lots of filter systems also come with a UV clarifier, which destroys single-cell algae that turns pond water green. However, if you buy a separate UV clarifier, make sure you buy one that matches the pump’s flow rate.

Accommodating waterfalls

If you have a waterfall, the amount of flow from your pump dictates how much water cascades down your waterfall. If you want to increase the volume of water that cascades down your waterfall, you can add an additional pump alongside your filter pump.

Alternatively, you can run one pump for your filter system and another for your waterfall. This way, you can turn your waterfall pump off when you don’t need it, leaving only the main filter pump running to maintain water quality.

Choosing a pond pump

When you’ve measured the volume of water in your pond, the head of water, and the number of times you need to circulate your water per hour, you can choose a pond pump that meets your needs.

The charts that come with most pumps should help you decide which is most suitable. If in doubt, opt for the larger pump.

Remember that you can never have too much filtration (but you can have too little), and you’ll rely on your pump to supply the water to the filtration system.

About Warehouse Aquatics

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Heating a pond in winter

Lottie — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 07:47:24 +0000

If you’re thinking about installing a pond in your garden, you’ll need to decide whether you’ll heat the water and, if so, how you’ll do this.

When deciding whether to heat your pond, think about the kinds of fish you’d like to keep and how warm they need the water to be. While koi and goldfish are hardy and can usually survive cooler temperatures, this isn’t the case for other pond life.

Most pond fish can handle summer temperatures. But, when the temperature drops over the winter months, heating your pond can help your fish survive the season.

So, what preparation steps can you take ahead of winter? How can you heat your pond during these cooler months?

1. Buy a pond heater

When it comes to heating a pond in winter, purchasing a pond heating system is the main way to keep your water warm.

Different pond heaters have different capacities for raising the temperature of a pond. So, research is important when deciding which heater to invest in for your fish.

2. Buy a pond cover

Using a pond cover is a great way to keep cold air off your pond and maintain warmer water. Pond covers work like greenhouses, trapping warm air and keeping chilly winds out.

3. Buy a pond ice preventer

When temperatures get really low, your pond might freeze over, which can prevent fish from surviving the season. However, you can hang a pond ice preventer in your pond to heat the water and prevent freezing.

We recommend the Eheim Thermo 200, a thermal device that uses modern technologies to create an effective heat shield. This pond ice preventer comes with a three-year warranty.

We also recommend Blagdon’s Affinity Living Feature Pools Ice Vent Heater, which is ideal for ponds up to 5,000 litres. This heater prevents the water surface from freezing over and allows the pond to breathe. You can also use more than one of these heaters if your pond is larger than 5,000 litres.

4. Buy a pond thermometer

One of the best ways to keep an eye on your fish during colder months is simply to keep an eye on them. This way, you can decide to make changes to your pond ecosystem if and when necessary.

A pond thermometer is an essential piece of equipment for monitoring fish health. We recommend the Velda Pond Thermometer, part of which floats underwater to give an accurate reading.

You can use this thermometer to alert you to water temperatures all year round. So, if the temperature drops low enough, you may change your fish food from Growth to Staple or Wheatgerm. And if the temperature rises and causes a reduction in oxygen, you might install a pond air pump.

Heating a pond in winter – protecting your pond

Whether you invest in a pond heater or not, there are many ways to protect your pond and keep your fish healthy, both in summer and in winter. Our blog offers tips on how to clean your pond and pond filter, how to get rid of algae, and how to decide whether you should invest in a pond UV light.

We also stock a wide variety of supplies to keep your pond in its best condition when heating a pond in winter.

About Warehouse Aquatics

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What are pond UV lights and do you need one?

Lottie — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 07:18:41 +0000

Ponds need constant upkeep to keep fish and other pond life healthy. One way to maintain your pond is to invest in a pond UV light (also known as a UV filter or a UVC clarifier). A UV filter can help you control algae and green water, which is ideal for pond keepers who are hoping to achieve crystal clear water.

What are pond UV filters?

UV filters aren’t like other filters as they don’t directly remove debris. Instead, these UV lights work when pond water pumps through their light path, exposing algae to high levels of ultraviolet light. This ultraviolet light destroys algae DNA, killing the algae. The light also causes the algae to clump together, which makes it easier for you to remove it from the pond.

Although UV filters are effective, they do only work on single-celled alga. This means they won’t combat blanketweed. You can use a separate blanketweed treatment for this.

All-in-one pond filters

You need a pond filter as well as a pond UV light to keep your pond water clear and healthy. That said, when it’s time to replace your pond filter, you can opt for a filter that comes with a UV light and additional filter media. These all-in-one pond filters are ideal for both filtering and clarifying your water.

Remember to replace your UV bulb every 12 months (or as advised in the bulb manual) before they lose their effectiveness.

More pond care advice

You might also find the following pond care blog posts helpful:

About Warehouse Aquatics

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Six tips for summer pond care

Lottie — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 10:11:16 +0000

Summer is the season for beautiful ponds to flourish. But a pond doesn’t thrive on its own. A pond that stays healthy throughout the summer months needs proper maintenance. So, here you go, the follow-up to our winter-care pond tips blog post: six pond care tips to help you keep your pond healthy throughout summer.

1. Aerate your pond

Aeration is important to maintaining oxygen levels in your pond. If you have a waterfall in your pond, aeration might not be a problem. But, if not, a good-quality pond pump or aeration system is a must-have.

Aeration is particularly important during the hotter months of the year. Warm water holds less oxygen than cold water, so fish need more oxygen in warm water. If your fish are gasping near the surface of the water during summer, they likely need more oxygen.

2. Use a bacterial treatment

Virtually all ponds will benefit from a bacterial treatment. During the summer, apply a treatment to prevent cloudy water and assist the breakdown of plant and fish waste. Bacteria treatments like Evolution Aqua’s Pure Pond Biodegradable Bacteria Balls optimise the capability of your pond filter, allowing you to keep your pond healthier for longer.

3. Clean your pond filter

Your filter is the workhouse of your pond, so keeping on top of cleaning is an essential pond care tip. Here’s a link to our blog post on how to clean your pond filter.

Bonus Tip

It’s also important to make sure your filter is adequate for your pond. This blog post should help you decide whether you have the right filter for your pond: ultraviolet, all in one, pressurised, box, low stock, or high stock.

4. Top up your pond water

Pond water can evaporate during warm weather. A loss of water makes for a smaller ecosystem, and fish may become stressed or even die if they end up overcrowded. Top up your pond with dechlorinated water to maintain a higher volume of water. You can dechlorinate tap water with a pond tap water treatment, like The Pond Doctor Dechlorinator or Tetra Pond Aquasafe Dechlorinator.

5. Add aquatic plants

Aquatic plants are an important part of a healthy pond. Plants provide shade, shelter, and oxygen for pond fish and other inhabitants. You can choose from a huge variety of plants to pretty up your pond, from submerged plants like water lilies to marginal plants like irises.

As a bonus pond care tip, make sure you remove dead foliage so this doesn’t break down and consume oxygen or turn your pond water green.

6. Remove algae

Speaking of green water, you can apply an algae treatment to get rid of blanket weed and other types of algae, which spread quickly and can choke your pond. Here’s a link to our blog post on how to get rid of green algae and blanketweed.

To finish, make sure you stay on top of cleaning your pond throughout summer. Your pond and its inhabitants will thank you.

About Warehouse Aquatics

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The nitrogen cycle in your fish tank explained

Lottie — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 10:02:03 +0000

As fish tanks are closed environments, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates collect in the water and can cause fish diseases. Although these compounds build up in all fish tanks as part of the nitrogen cycle, overcrowding and overfeeding your fish can cause a particularly large build-up of compounds that contain nitrogen. So, how can you keep your fish healthy and limit the ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates in your tank?

Here, we’ll explain how the nitrogen cycle works and explain how to keep nitrates down with a good filtration system.

What is the nitrogen cycle?

Outside of fish tanks, the nitrogen cycle is the process of nitrogen moving from the air to plants, then animals, then bacteria, and then back to air. Although this system doesn’t need human intervention in the outside world, the cycle works differently in the confines of a fish tank. This is because nitrates convert into harmless nitrogen gas in open spaces. But this doesn’t happen in fish tanks, so partial water changes are essential.

The three stages of the nitrogen cycle

In a fish tank, the nitrogen cycle is a biochemical mechanism that causes the ongoing degradation of nitrogenous compounds like ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Put simply, there are three stages in this cycle.

Ammonia

Bacteria in your fish tank break down waste products like uneaten food, dead organisms, dead plant leaves, and fish waste. As the bacteria break this matter down, the metabolism of protein produces ammonia, a colourless gas that is harmful to fish. Even low levels of ammonia in your fish tank can cause oxygen deprivation and possibly burn your fishes’ gills.

Nitrite

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria called Nitrosomonas then consume the ammonia in your tank, producing nitrite, which is also harmful to fish. Nitrite disrupts your fishes’ oxygen-carrying capabilities. However, most fish can cope with double the quantity of nitrite in the water than they can ammonia.

Nitrate

During the third stage of the nitrogen cycle, bacteria called Nitrobacter process the nitrite and release nitrate, which is less harmful. Although nitrate isn’t harmful at a low level, a higher level can pose danger to your fish.

Removing nitrates from your fish tank

You can manage the nitrogen cycle in your fish tank by:

Using a biological filtration system. Your fish tank filter will contain sponges that aid the growth of healthy bacteria. These bacteria are essential to the nitrogen cycle because they break down the nitrites and ammonia produced by fish waste, as well as decaying organic matter. This is key to keeping the water safe for your fish.
Adding live plants to fight nitrates.
Removing waste and uneaten food from your fish tank. A gravel cleaner can be helpful here.
Putting less fish food in your tank. Only give your fish enough food for them to eat within a couple of minutes.
Carrying out regular water changes to manage nitrates.

You can also buy test kits to check the pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels in your fish tank.

About Warehouse Aquatics

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How much does it cost to own fish?

Lottie — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:50:33 +0000

If you’re thinking about buying your first fish, you might be wondering how much it costs to own fish and all the equipment needed to run a healthy tank. Unsurprisingly, the cost can vary depending on lots of factors. We’ll talk you through these factors here.

How much does a fish tank cost?

Fish tanks come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s no surprise that price varies hugely. Our lowest-priced tanks are our 17-litre Ciano aquariums, which come in white and black. At just over £40, these fish tanks come with a pre-fitted filter and LED strip light.

At the other end of the scale, we stock a variety of high-end fish tanks that come with cabinets designed explicitly for these aquariums. A couple of examples include our Juwel Vision 450 range of aquariums and cabinets, which starts at £1,453, and our Eheim range of luxury aquariums, which starts at £1,389.

How much do fish tank filters, heaters, and pumps cost?

You can buy different types of fish tank filters, like powered filters, under gravel filters, and sponge filters, depending on your tank. These filters range in price from £7–£38.

Meanwhile, fish tank heaters range in price from £10–£39. But you only need a heater if you’re keeping tropical fish. Coldwater fish don’t need a heater.

You can also buy an air pump for extra aeration and oxygen or to power a funky ornament. You can pick up air pumps for £11–£41.

How much do fish tank decorations and substrates cost?

When you come to decorate your fish tank, we stock loads of substrates, fish tank backgrounds, ornaments, plants, stones, pebbles, rocks, LifeRock, driftwood, shells, corals, leaves, and ceramic nature. This means you can decorate your aquarium on virtually any budget.

Our fish tank backgrounds cost £1–£60.
Our substrates, sands, and live sands cost £4–£46.
Our fish tank ornaments cost £3–£28.
Our artificial plants cost £2–£5.
Our stones, pebbles, rocks, and LifeRock cost £5–£203.
Our fish tank driftwood costs £3–£83.
Our artificial corals cost £3–£27.
Our leaves cost £5–£10.
Our shells cost £4–£7.
Our ceramic nature costs £5–£13.

How much do fish treatments and test kits cost?

Fishkeepers have to test their aquarium water and treat their fish from time to time. We stock a variety of dechlorinators, bacteria filter starters, water conditioners, water quality test kits, algae treatments, and fish disease treatments to help you with this.

Our dechlorinators range from £2–£25.
Our bacteria filter starters range from £2–£46.
Our water conditioners range from £2–£50.
Our test kits range from £5–£50.
Our algae treatments range from £3–£11.
Our fish disease treatments range from £3–£138.

How much do fish tank lights cost?

Almost all fish tanks come with light tubes, so you don’t need to worry about this added cost. However, we do stock replacement T5, T8, and LED bulbs. These bulbs range in price from £6–£31.

Read about the difference between these bulbs here.

How much does fish food cost?

We stock an array of fish foods for goldfish, tropical fish, marine fish, and shrimp. We also stock holiday feeders for while you’re away. These foods range in price from £1–£4 per tub or sachet.

How much do fish cost?

Much like aquatics equipment, fish can cost virtually anything. That said, you can pick up most starter fish for up to a few pounds each. And the smaller your tank, the fewer fish you can keep. Bigger fish can cost much more and even enter the hundreds.

So, how much does it cost to keep fish?

You can decide how much to invest in keeping fish. While some of our customers are huge fish hobbyists who purchase high-end fish tanks and advanced filtration systems and treatments, other customers prefer a more traditional approach to fishkeeping.

With our supplies, you can spend well under £100 to set up a fully functioning fish tank. But you might decide to splash out and treat your fish to some luxuries too.

About Warehouse Aquatics

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