THE AQUARIUM EQUATION

courtesy of Chee Meng Au Yong

This is not an algebra lesson, but it discusses the equal sign in an equation because = has an important thing to say about aquarium keeping. Here are a couple of examples:

1 plus 1 = 2

6X6=36

(Sorry, we don’t have a plus sign.)

Notice that both sides of an equation represent the same thing but in different ways. If you could write an equation about aquarium keeping, it would look something like this:

Good Stuff = Biological Load plus Safety Margin

The equation is pretty difficult to calculate precisely, but if both sides are not equal, or at least close, the aquarium is not going to be a suitable habitat. On the left, the Good Stuff side, you can count things like water volume, filtering, aeration, beneficial bacteria, regular maintenance, live plants, the right lighting, a sensible feeding schedule, compatible species, the nitrogen cycle, a turkey baster, algae, a good water conditioner, a syphon kit, a water test kit, etc.

Because the variables in the aquarium equation keep changing, the right side has a Safety Margin. If the Biological Load is too big, it will overcome the Good Stuff side of the equation and render the aquarium uninhabitable. A wide safety margin makes sure the aquarium system does not operate on the ragged edge, and it promotes a healthy environment for the fish and plants.

The Biological Load in the aquarium equation is everything that feeds the beneficial bacteria. It includes objectionable materials like fish and snail droppings, uneaten food, decaying plants, and bugs that happen to fall in. Most of those wastes turn into ammonia and nitrite, which will make fish very sick. But fear not. The good cooties (beneficial bacteria) will come to the rescue by eating all that garbage and converting it into plant food. What a bargain. On the other hand, if the good cooties get too much to eat, the left overs will pollute the aquarium water, and the equation will not balance.

In most natural aquatic environments, the garbage gets diluted by fresh water flowing through. In a closed environment like an aquarium, partial water changes remove some of the waste. If the Biological Load is small enough and the Safety Margin is large enough, the equation will balance, and the good cooties will not have digestive issues. Neither will the fish.

If we were scientists, we could put actual numbers to all of the variables in the aquarium equation. Then we would add up the numbers on each side to see if it balances. It has nothing to do with luck or putting one over on the rule makers. The equation is nothing but hard facts converted into numbers. When the right side exceeds the left side you will have a sick aquarium that cannot provide a livable environment to the fish. When the Good Stuff equals the Biological Load plus a generous Safety Margin, the fish will have an environment that allows them to fight off diseases and parasites, make more fish, and be easy to maintain.

The numbers have to add up, and cheating does not work. Think about it.