What the Beginning and Advancing Aquarist Absolutely Needs to Know and Do When Starting An Aquarium

What A Beginner Needs To Know About Water Changes

Ever since the beginning of aquarium and pond keeping regular water changes have been recommended because of the build up of toxic nitrogen compounds in the water, especially nitrates.  Generally it has not been known that there is another reason why there should be water changes.  Over time the organisms in the water use up the trace and minor elements in the water that are essential to their health, growth, and survival.  The toxic nitrogen compounds in the water can be easily eliminated at any time by the use of Kordon AmQuel+ , a recent invention.  Now with the use of AmQuel+, what water changes are mostly needed for is to replace the trace, minor and major elements in the water that are essential to fishes, plants, and other aquatic life for their functions, growth, reproduction, etc.   In addition the use of Kordon's freshwater or saltwater VitaTrace+ is advisable to augment the trace elements and vitamins in the water.

The importance of trace elements in aquarium keeping is generally under estimated.  All the organisms in the water, from the bacteria up to and including the fish, are constantly absorbing elements (trace, minor, and major) out of the water that are important, and essential, for their health, growth, and reproduction.  For aquarium animals, this is particularly true for invertebrates, such as sea anemones, coral, shrimp, crabs, etc. , as well as for all aquatic plants, including algae. They get these elements out of the water and from their food.  The trace elements and vitamins in the water are the first to be used up and need to be regularly replaced.  This is easily done by the use of Kordon VitaTrace.


For the average freshwater aquarium, a water change of 10-25% of the water once every 2 to 4 weeks, or as needed will be sufficient, such as by using tap water. For more crowded conditions change water once every week. If water conditions are excellent, and the aquarium is not crowded, water changes can be more seldom, such as up to once a month.  When a water change is made, use Kordon AmQuel+ and NovAqua+ to eliminate the toxic nitrogen compounds (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and others) in the water.  If bottled water (spring water, distilled water, reverse osmosis, deionized, or other treated water to make it "pure") is used, the dosage of NovAqua+ is needed to add essential trace and minor elements that are necessary for the fishes and other aquatic life. This is particularly important for the aquatic animal's breathing (carbon dioxide out, oxygen in) in the water.   If there is a substantial water change, it is recommended to use Kordon freshwater VitaTrace to increase the amount of trace elements and vitamins in the water that are needed by the aquatic organisms. 

For the average saltwater aquarium, the considerations are more difficult because it needs to be with fresh sea-salt mix.  How much water should be changed each time, such as once every two weeks to up to once a month, has to be determined based on how good the water conditions are.  Particularly for saltwater aquariums, the change in pH should be kept within 0.2 pH, and the temperature within 1-2 degrees variation.   When a water change is made, use Kordon AmQuel+ to eliminate the toxic nitrogen compounds (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and others) in the water.  If using tap water, use Kordon NovAqua+ to remove the heavy metals and to reinforce the protective slime coating on the fishes.  Since the sea-salt mix should contain all the of the trace elements in sea water, these should be replenished with the water change.  However, there is a great difference between sea-salt mixes on the market, and the amount of trace and minor elements that they contain, as can be seen by looking at the scientific literature on the subject.  It is often helpful to add Kordon saltwater VitaTrace to augment the trace elements and vitamins that are needed in marine aquarium keeping.  

For both fresh and saltwater aquariums, If Kordon AmQuel+ is not used, the amount and frequency of water changes may need to be increased, because getting rid of the toxic nitrogen compounds that build up over time in the water from the "Nitrogen Cycle" is essential in aquarium and pond keeping.  Amquel+ is a unique product in performing this function.  Without it, the only effective way to get rid of the nitrates and other toxic nitrogen compounds not consumed by aquatic bacteria are by making water changes successful.

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