| You've got the tank, you've got the fish and | | | | where the water is stagnant and oxygen-poor, |
| the plants and the gravel, you've got the | | | | and where fish and food wastes collect and |
| filters and the bacteria and the lights. | | | | decay. I hate these – spots like this |
| What else did you need? | | | | increase the toxins in the water, foster |
| | | | algae growth, and make your water cloudy and |
| Well, have you looked at how well your water | | | | disgusting. The moving water also stirs up |
| is moving? If you have a power filter, it | | | | debris and particles, so that they're |
| might be helping, but the odds are it's not | | | | suspended in the water where your mechanical |
| doing enough – you might need to look | | | | filter can remove them, rather than settling |
| at adding a powerhead, a water director, or a | | | | in a scummy layer on your tank furniture and |
| wavemaker to add a little more action to your | | | | gravel. |
| tank. | | | | |
| | | | Probably the most important benefit your |
| Here's a quick list of all the benefits of | | | | aquarium gets from moving water is |
| having a steady liquid "breeze" circulating | | | | oxygenation. By disturbing the surface of the |
| through your whole tank: | | | | tank, it increases the amount of water |
| | | | exposed to the air, leading to a quicker |
| A moving current will spread nutrients and | | | | exchange of gases. The water molecules |
| oxygen to all of the fish, plants and | | | | release carbon dioxide wastes and absorb tons |
| bacteria in your tank. This will enhance | | | | of oxygen. Richly oxygenated water is |
| your biological filtration, which reduces the | | | | absolutely essential to keeping your fish, |
| amount of toxins floating in the water. | | | | plants and bacteria healthy. Keeping the |
| | | | bacteria healthy, in turn, helps to maintain |
| I always remember that moving water is really | | | | pH level, and keep ammonia and phosphate |
| important in regulating temperature, keeping | | | | levels to a minimum. |
| the water temperature stable by distributing | | | | |
| heat evenly. I noticed that it can also | | | | And finally, maybe it's just my imagination, |
| prevent hot spots from developing near lights | | | | but I think my fish are actually healthier |
| or motors, or cold spots in distant corners | | | | and happier when they get to test their |
| of the tank. | | | | muscles by swimming against a gentle current. |
| | | | To be honest, I just think it's more FUN for |
| A current that moves through the whole tank | | | | them to be in water that moves! |
| will prevent the formation of "dead spots", | | | | |