What is the Best Location for a Tropical Fish Aquarium Pump?

It is usually advisable to have the pump at a higher level than the tank. This will prevent any possibility of a siphoning action draining the water from the tank back into the pump. Pump platforms are available for pump placement. These are small plastic or metal shelves designed to hold the pump while hanging on the back of a tank.

If it is desirable to place the pump on the floor, or on any level below the level of the tank, there are several precautions to be observed: Backflow seldom starts while the pump is in operation; it is when the pump is not operating that the greatest danger occurs. Backflow may be started by several actions.

(1) The tendency of water to rise in a narrow tube is known as capillary action. If the water in the tank is very close to the top, it is possible for water to rise in the air tube by capillary action to a point where it starts a downward flow and a siphoning action occurs.

(2) The cooling down of a warm pump can cause the air inside to contract and draw the water down.

(3) Over- oiling the pump can cause excess oil to enter the lines. Air pressure will keep the oil clinging to the inside walls of the vertical tubing, but with the air pressure removed; the oil starts to run back. As it collects in droplets, a vacuum is created behind it strong enough to start a siphoning action.

In order to prevent this, keep a small surgical type “C” clamp handy. When, for any reason, the pump is shut off, clamp shut the line leading to the pump. Also shut all air valves tightly. Whenever oil or moisture is seen in a tube, discard that piece of tubing. It is also a good idea to clean the pump when excess oil appears in the line.

How To Clean Your Aquarium

As a responsible pet owner of course you want to provide your fish with the best
environment you possibly can, and you want to be certain you keep your tropical
fish tank as clean as possible. After all this is the home for the fish and
where they’ll live out the rest of their days, but they need to rely on you to
maintain it, clean it, keep it warm, and everything else that’s needed for that
home to be safe and sanitary. It’s not that hard to keep tropical fish tanks
clean and healthy but you should follow some rules that will allow you to do just that.

Be certain not to use any harsh cleansers, chemicals or abrasives when cleaning
tropical fish tanks because this may cause severe damage to your fish. Chemicals
and bleach always leave a residue no matter how much you rinse and these things
are very bad for your fish. If there are algae stuck to the side you can use a
razor or straight edge on glass tanks or a special cleansing cloth for tropical
fish tanks as this is the best way to keep your tank nice and clean.

You should use a special vacuum to clean the substrate or gravel on the bottom
of tropical fish tanks. This type of vacuum will get any harmful buildup and
bacteria without needing to remove and upset the entire collection of gravel,
which is never a good idea. Some people make the mistake of thinking that the
entire tank needs to be emptied and everything cleaned but this isn’t safe for
the fish as it wipes out the entire water of the tank.

Doing a water change is also important when cleaning tropical fish tanks. For large tanks you simply pull out about 10%-15% of the
water and replace it with warm tap water; for smaller tanks you’ll need to do
this with about 25% of the water. Always add a water condition afterward and you
can find these most anywhere that tropical fish tanks are sold.

It’s just as important not to over clean your tropical fish tanks as it is to
clean them periodically.  Don’t over clean them as this can cause as much damage
to the fish as not cleaning it enough.