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Avoid Ill Gills
Pet Age Staff //July 1, 2019//
Listen to this articleWhen it comes to sickness, the common phrase you might hear is “green around the gills.” This idiom’s origin has been lost, but it is believed to have started sometime in the mid-1800s. It’s typically used to describe someone who looks ill, specifically nauseated.
While starting an aquarium is easy, it takes some effort to ensure that the tank’s livestock is healthy. If fishkeepers properly care for their livestock, a disease is unlikely to occur. However, on those rare occasions when a fish does become ill, having the proper health products is critical.
Putting idioms aside, gills and other parts of the fish are great indicators for health. Mucus covering the gills or body, chewed or folded fins, reddened skin, gills moving rapidly, appearance of bloating, protruding scales and more are all various physical signs that something is wrong with the fish’s health and they are potentially suffering from a disease. Luckily many treatments exist, but many of these illnesses can be avoided and prevented.
The aquatic sector of the industry is home to an array of products designed to keep aquariums well-maintained and properly adjusted. From filters to additives, these products keep the water clean and clear without harming the fish; many even provide fish with some of the nutrients they might be lacking. But even with the cleanest aquarium, fish can still get sick, so there are also tons of treatments available for fish owners to have in their aquatic first-aid kits.
Ultimately, it’s important to advise consumers on the necessity of keeping aquariums clean and to recognize any changes in appearance or behavior with their livestock so that they can properly and efficiently address the situation. Accurate or not, no one wants a fish to be “green around the gills.”
Tetra Brand Water Care System
Recreating freshwater, a fish’s natural habitat, is one of the most essential aspects of fish keeping. To help fishkeepers recreate the conditions of clean, clear and healthy freshwater, Tetra brand’s easy water care regimen includes Tetra Cleaning Bacteria to add beneficial microorganisms and reduce organic waste, Tetra EasyBalance to replenish essential vitamins and minerals, and Tetra AquaSafe to make tap water safe for fish.
Acurel F
Fast-acting and easy to use, Acurel F clears cloudy, green or polluted water within hours of application. It combats the harmful effects of overfeeding and improves filter efficiency, resulting in a crystal clear environment for fish. Safe and effective, it will not disturb the beneficial bacteria in biological filtration systems of healthy established aquariums. Made in the USA with organic extracts from renewable resources, it is safe for all freshwater fish and plants, and environment-friendly.
Chemi-Clean
Chemi-Clean cleans stains from red, black, blue-green and methane (bubble) producing cyanobacteria in marine aquariums. It is completely safe for all fish, corals, invertebrates and nitrifying bacteria in reef systems. Chemi-Clean works within 48 hours to oxidize trapped organic sludge and promotes an ideal enzyme balance.
Fritz RPM Reef Elements
The Fritz RPM Calcium/Buffer System and Fritz RPM Magnesium allows aquarists to maintain a marine aquarium’s calcium, alkalinity and magnesium levels. Fritz RPM Reef Elements do not contain unmeasured and unnecessary ions and metals. Part 1 is formulated to provide the highest purity carbonate alkalinity, and when used in conjunction with Part 2 along with regular water changes with a high-quality salt-like Fritz RPM Salt, it will provide the correct ionic balance necessary for healthy and beautiful fish, corals and invertebrates. Fritz RPM Magnesium is formulated using only the highest purity magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate in a balanced ratio.
Ruby Reef First Aid Kit
The Ruby Reef First Aid Kit in a Box can be used for freshwater and saltwater tanks. It’s reef-safe, copper-free and non-toxic, combatting ich, marine velvet, clownfish disease, gill flukes, tail and fin rot, bacterial infections and more.
AquaLife Reef Café
AquaLife Reef Café is the industry’s first customizable system for feeding marine life from fish to corals. Reef Café is a four-part system: Brew Base for mixing the other components, Zoo-ka Moka zooplankton component, Phyto-Frappe phytoplankton component and Amino Shot amino acids, vitamin C and sugars component. Components are mixed at the point of sale to produce a customized nutritional profile for any reef system.
PondKeeper
Pond Starter removes or detoxifies chlorine, chloramines, ammonia and heavy metals; Rapid Cycle establishes strong natural filtration with a concentrated, non-pathogenic aerobic nitrifying bacteria blend; Immune Boost is a full-spectrum disease treatment and prevention that boosts fish’s ability to heal; and Sludge Control is a waste management system.
Aqueon Quiet Flow Specialty Filter Pads
The specialty filter pads from Aqueon are now available as a bundle with the Bio-Media Grid, a needed tool for those with an Aqueon Quiet Flow Filter. Designed specifically for Aqueon hang-on back units, the pads provide an additional stage of mechanical filtration and can help address water quality issues. The pads come in three varieties: ammonia reducer, carbon and phosphate remover. Now that the filter pads can be bought with a pre-loaded Bio-Media Grid, installation is simple and quicker than ever.
