Fish Health?

Question

We have an aquarium at the office that has had problems with the fish living very long.
We recently brought in a professional aquarium service and now the aquarium seems to be doing much better.
The guy who is maintaining our aquarium mentioned that the Redox was not good. He mentioned positive vs. negative Redox.
My question is can anyone tell me more about Redox in aquariums?

Answer 1

Redox as it applies to aquariums/ponds is ability for the loss of an electron by a molecule, atom or ion to the gain of an electron by another molecule, atom or ion. Without this ability to gain electrons many minerals cannot be absorbed and properly assimilated.

*Oxidation describes the loss of an electron by a molecule, atom or ion

*Reduction describes the gain of an electron by a molecule, atom or ion

This is more important than many realize and your service guy was not using BS to dazzle you as this is well known in the professional aquarium maintenance community.

With positive Redox environment your tank will better oxidize organics; however these same free radicals are very hard on your fish as well. I am sure he was referring to a negative (-300mV) Redox which promotes an aquarium environment that is sort of like an anti-oxidant and allows for much better disease resistance.
So the key is maintaining a reducing environment which is relatively easy by a few regular steps:
*Regular cleanings which include the removal of nitric acid producing organic mulm.
*Maintaining Calcium and other Redox reducers (a good GH over 100 ppm helps here).
*UV sterilization is was of the best and most proven methods for Redox maintenance.

Please read this up to date article about aquarium Redox that also list both reducers and oxidizers:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Redox_Potential.html

:~) C

Answer 2

Redox is the ability to reduction/oxidation reaction. Basically the process of turning one element into another. Honestly I question him using such a term. The term really deals with the loss or gain of electrons by a molecule, atom or ion. It would be really interesting to know how he tested for this.

Oxidation describes the loss of electrons. So carbon would be turned into carbon dioxide.
Reduction would gain electrons. Carbon reacting with Hydrogen creating methane. These are just examples and there are countess possibilities. So these might not even apply. If the tank is doing fine I wouldn't worry. Doing water changes should take care of what ever Redox is taking place. In time the tank should balance out anyway.

Answer 3

Hi Misti. First off, please excuse the ignorance of some people who choose to try to provide "answers" in this forum. Here you are asking a simple honest question and you are attacked with ignorance and misinformation. It is an embarassment to those of us who honestly try to help others with informative, non-judgmental "answers" (I don't like to call them "Answers", because not everyone here is qualified to truly answer any one question, nor is it possible to "Answer" many questions because we are not there with the person and obviously unable to see what they are talking about. I prefer to call them "opinions" or "in my experience".)

Anyway, in the case of Redox, it is very real. HOWEVER, someone with no knowledge of fish or who may or may not have an interest or vast knowledge of keeping an aquarium, would not know anything of it. In fact, most people who DO have fish know nothing of or about Redox (it's just not something that is brought up all the time or referred to using this term often). And those who do know of it, most don't truly understand it. So obviously, your best bet was to ask about it. I'm just sorry you were "attacked" while trying to learn. Last time I checked, learning was a good thing.

Carl S. provided you with the information you needed to fully understand Redox. Carl has been in the aquarium maintenance business for almost 30 years and has done extensive research into Redox. Therefore, I would point you toward the information about Redox on his website. Also, while you are there you should check out the whole entire site as it is chock full of GREAT information regarding all aspects of aquarium care and fish care. I completely trust Carl and the information he provides, and would take his "Answer" over anything here. He backs all his "Answers" up with proof as well as experience, not just "guesses".

I hope things get straightened out with your office tank. Remember, the gentleman taking care of the tank is working FOR YOU. If anyone in the office should not understand something or has questions about something, he should be happy to help you learn and/or give you answers. If not, perhaps you should think about finding someone who will take the time to explain things to you to where you can understand them. That's just my opinion. ;o)

Best of luck to you all!!! ;o)

Answer 4

Redox(reduction/oxidation) is the balance between the amount of oxygen available to oxidize the organic waste in the tank,and the amount of organic waste that requires breaking down.
Things you can do to lower redox requirements are; feed less,use a foam fractionator, better aeration, and maybe get a tank guy who will talk straight,and not try to dazzle you with big words,and B.S.
I'm sure that you will be able to find a more accurate definition and explanation of the Reduction/Oxidation process on some of the aquarium forums(forae?).

Answer 5

Fried fish isn't as healthful as poached fish and extra healthful than deep fried Mars bars. No single foodstuff is healthful or undesirable. basically diets are healthful or undesirable. ingesting fried fish "each each now and then" is fantastic.

Answer 6

He was just using a fancy word to describe the nitrogen cycle and then finally de-nitrification. He didn't really use it right either judging from the above description. (De-nitrification is the process of removing the nitrates, i.e. water changes)

I'm going to assume that no one in the office cared to read up on the nitrogen cycle and that's why your fish died so quickly.

That man is saving your fish from your own ignorange about fish keeping. Keep that man! Without him they'd surely die by the office's hands.