AllClear Water Purifiers

WHAT SHOULD BE TESTED?

The list of what substances can harm fish and what they can actually do to the fish could fill a book or two. The following chart gives a guide, and sound reasons as to why tap-water should be checked for its 'fish' suitability before sending it to the fish.

Substance Group	Effect of Some Toxins on Fish
Disinfectants including free chlorine & chloramine	Distress, respiratory failure and in the worst cases, death.
Organic Compounds	Distress, respiratory failure, imbalance in the exchange of fluids through the skin, blindness, haemorrhage, anaemia, open wounds, loss of balance, stunted growth failure of the reproductive system and in the worst cases, death. These substances are often introduced to fish water by the fish-keepers themselves. E.g. overdosing of organophosphates, wood treatments for pergolas & filter covers, etc.
The Pesticide Group including algicides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, molluscicides & pesticides.	Damage to the central nervous system, dying tissue in the liver and kidney, poor growth, spinal deformities, asphyxiation and in the worst cases, death.
Toxic Metals	Growth depression, deformities, a small percentage of deaths, respiratory distress, water imbalance and reproductive organ damage. The organs most likely to be damaged are the gills, liver and kidney. Kidney damage can lead to anaemia. Younger fish are more susceptible to the lethal effects of acute exposure. Fry hatching from contaminated eggs are likely to have deformities. These toxins cause fish to be more vulnerable to fungal and bacterial invasion. The more readily recognisable sympton is damage to the skin and scales leading to small wounds and difficulty in wound healing. In the worst scenario a sudden high influx of toxic metals can cause sudden pond wipeouts. Keep a check for the following behavioural and physical signs of toxic metals damage: Gasping at the surface, hyperventilation, crowding at water inlets, jumping, abnormal and erratic swimming, dropsy, scale lifting, popeye and particularly small, frequent wounds which fail to heal.

The chart gives a horrific list of health problems that can be caused by various substances found in water. It could be very easy to assume that this list of horrors couldn't possibly apply to your fish. But to bring it down to everyday events don't think in black and white. Think of very small bits of damage that could be occurring day by day - and which could easily be prevented.