Arowana Care – Always ensure a safe and effective approach to corrective water quality measures

Weekly water tests should make water quality problems apparent before the Arowana’s health is at risk. This is one of the benefits of a proactive approach when it comes to managing water quality. It is much safer and easier to correct problems before a disaster develops. Quick but conservative action can then remedy the situation.

If your Arowana is visibly stressed due to poor water conditions, it’s still important to act conservatively when taking corrective action. Arowanas do not tolerate drastic changes to their environment, regardless of intentions. Hasty efforts to improve water quality could inadvertently harm your fish. Take a calm, planned approach that tackles one problem at a time. When one condition is improved, others can be eliminated naturally.

The best sequential order to address water quality issues if more than one component is compromised is:

1. Ammonia

2. Nitrite

3. Nitrates

4. pH

Temperature adjustments can be made simultaneously with any of the above steps, but avoid changes of more than one or two degrees every 24 hours.

1. Ammonia:

Ammonia is highly toxic and must be removed from the tank. It is even more toxic if the pH is alkaline, when a more aggressive approach is required. If the pH is fairly neutral, take the following corrective measures:

o Aerate the tank as much as possible

o Stop eating temporarily

o 30% water change on day 1; 10 – 15% daily until ammonia tests below 1 ppm

o Add zeolite to filtration systems

o If fish are visibly stressed or ammonia readings are extreme, add an ammonia neutralizer to immediately reduce toxicity. Chemical ammonia neutralizers can interfere with test results and should only be used in severe circumstances.

Start adjusting the pH to reduce ammonia toxicity only as a last resort, and preferably only if you are experienced in doing so. If the pH is slightly alkaline, change up to 25% of the tank water on the second day and 15% thereafter.

2. Nitrite

Nitrite is also highly toxic to arowanas and is disposed of in the same way as ammonia. Increased aeration, reduced feeding, and aggressive water changes should reduce or eliminate nitrite.

3. Nitrates

Although the presence of nitrate is generally not harmful to Arowanas, it is a strong indication of water quality problems. Since debris is generally responsible for nitrate buildup, a thorough tank cleaning will most likely be required. Pay particular attention to vacuuming up any substrate present in the tank. Reduce feeding to eliminate excessive food waste and consider replacing dirty filter media. Avoid disrupting biological filtration by staggering cleaning procedures.

4. Incorrect or fluctuating pH

For your Arowana’s benefit, only try to adjust the pH when absolutely necessary. It’s a tricky task for a number of reasons, and even minor adjustments stress the fish. Only do this if your Arowana appears to be stressed in optimal water quality conditions. Never attempt to alter the pH by more than 0.3 within 24 hours.

“Pure” water has a naturally neutral pH (7.0). The presence of chemicals makes it more acidic or alkaline. Acids lower the pH while bases raise it. Buffers are substances that stabilize the pH, keeping it stable. In order for the pH to go down or up, buffers must be neutralized or removed.

The danger arises when buffers are overcome with chemicals. Once buffers are neutralized, the pH rises or falls rapidly. The drastic pH changes that result can be deadly to arowanas. Biological filtration is also compromised. If you manage to achieve a satisfactory pH, it will be necessary to perform a chemical adjustment again at each and every water change.

If you must adjust your pH or if it tends to fluctuate, consider the best method to keep it stable. It may be possible to remove buffer ions with a tap water purifier to achieve a lower pH in the long term. Crushed coral can also help the water maintain a proper pH. If possible, seek professional advice before attempting to modify the pH. Arowanas can and do adjust to less than ideal pH levels. They cannot tolerate sudden pH changes or frequent fluctuations.

Prevention of deterioration of water quality

Regardless of the situation, you must determine the cause of a water quality problem to prevent a recurrence. Adjust the tank population and feeding schedule if water quality problems persist. Excess debris and debris can seriously jeopardize water quality. Proper filtration and a good tank maintenance regimen prevent deterioration of water quality under normal circumstances.

The foundation of your Arowana tank maintenance plan should be a 10-15% partial water change performed 1-2 times per week. All filters should be inspected weekly and cleaned as necessary. Pay special attention to mechanical filter media and inspect aeration hoses and other filter components weekly. Remove mineral deposits and other debris that may compromise performance. If your tank contains substrate, avoid vacuuming in conjunction with filter media replacement to preserve biological filtration.