Arowana – Getting the right water conditions for your tank
Arowana fish are freshwater fish and are the largest freshwater fish to keep as a pet. They can grow to 3-4 feet long if conditions are right and their growth is not restricted by water conditions or tank size. Having the right water conditions inside the tank is one of the most important factors in maintaining and growing a healthy arowana.
For an arowana, having good water conditions within their tank usually means having an appropriate microorganism biofiltration system that will allow for the correct bacterial levels to help promote amino acid breakdown and protein digestion. Now, as complicated as it sounds, the filters and chemicals that are available today will do this job for you.
Another very important factor when starting the microorganism system is trying to increase the oxygen levels in the water. It’s important to spend time in the beginning working on and adjusting your tank water, because once you finally get the levels you’re looking for, it’s easy to maintain. But if you put the fish out early and the conditions aren’t right, then you’re fighting an uphill battle to get them in before the fish get too stressed.
The PH levels of the water in the tank is another very important factor that should not be forgotten when setting it up. The PH scale measures how alkaline or acid a solution is. Arowana fish are a hardy and hardy breed of fish, but I would recommend keeping the PH levels of the water at a neutral or slightly acidic level. It is very important to check your PH levels regularly. Something as small as the type of plants, peat, or C02 system you use in your tank can affect your PH level. It is easy to check as special kits are available that give very accurate readings.
The hardness of the water is also worth considering, as arowanas are like a soft water environment.
Next you will have to focus on the temperature of the water. The perfect water temperature for arowanas is between 26C-30C or 79F-86F. As we know, the arowana is a very hardy fish and although it can live in temperatures slightly outside of this range, it is not good to test your fish. Any sudden rise or fall in water temperature can also seriously affect or shock your fish and may cause your arowana’s tail to droop.
Now that you have the correct water conditions and have most likely added your fish to the tank, you should do water changes at least twice a week. Arowanas are carnivorous fish and tend to produce a lot of waste. This waste can lead to ammonia and nitrite problems within your tank, so it is very important to change 20% of the water at least twice a week.
I hope this helps you with the setup of the arowana tank, if the initial setup is done correctly then it will make your life easier in the future. Therefore, it is important to get it right from the beginning so that your fish can have a happy life.
