Publisher's Synopsis
Even though we've managed to keep our fish in captivity. Even though we've changed their coloration and their appearance, we haven't been able to change their natural instinct. By considering their native origin, and by recreating the natural habitat and conditions from which they come, our fish can thrive Work with Mother Nature instead of fighting against her; a battle no one can win Whether you keep your fish in a pot, a pond or an aquarium, and no matter how big or small their house, the environment could and should look similar to the photos included in these pages; a healthy body of water, rich in minerals and rich in oxygen with a lush layer of algae keeping nitrates at bay, balancing the ecosystem, lessening our workload In a natural and healthy body of water vegetation is plentiful. The vegetation feeds on nitrates, keeping levels to a bare minimum. The fish eat the vegetation, the fish make waste, and the waste is utilized by beneficial bacteria that produce nitratesAlgae and other plants as well all feed on nitrates. In a natural body of water, you won't see fish pressed to the bottom or curled from nitrate poisoning The vegetation offers a diet high in roughage. You won't see fish bobbing at the surface due to an impacted intestinal tract. In a natural body of water there is no painted rock, no marble substrate or polished stones, only natural stone covering its bottom. Made up of minerals, natural rock that adds value to water In a natural body of water, there are no plastic decorations, only fast moving water, free and clear. In a natural body of water there are no chemicals or medications Fish need a natural environment In a natural body of water, there are no carbon filters, no Zeolites, no charcoal discouraging the formation of beneficial bacteria. Friendly bugs are plentiful. In a natural body of water, there are no fish gasping at the surface, suffering from oxygen deprivation. The oxygen levels are high because the surface is broad and exposed to fresh air, the water rich in minerals Of course we can't have rivers in our back yards or in our homes, but we can offer our fish a small chunk of nature. Every fish house, every Koi pond no matter how large or small has the potential to be a natural and healthy one. You might think that creating the organic ecosystem is difficult to do and even harder to maintain, but the opposite is true Healthy ecosystem, healthy fish There's really nothing quite as sad as the sight of fish swimming in a tank with no vegetation, no natural stone or gravel, unless it's the sight of one swimming alone in in said tank The industry has convinced the fish keeper to enclose their aquariums; to use top loading filters with product that absorb ammonia, which keep the cycle from forming, but these products are unreliableFish living in a house that hasn't been cycled are at risk of being poisoned by ammonia and nitrite, a toxin created from their own waste Without a healthy colony of beneficial bacteria to guard the fort, bad bacteria will soon make their formidable presence known. To destroy them; chemical warfare begins, but in the end, the bad guys will win
