Our plants and animals rely totally and utterly upon us for their lives so WE must rely upon our senses to understand what is going on in the small worlds we create for them.
The most informative sense we have is sight. Most of us look at our tanks several times in any given day and by observing the animals we keep and the plants we grow we get to know what normal looks like. When anything starts to go amiss we look for answers or take action in accordance with the problem. EX- if a fish gets ick then one or more of several treatments is in order.
Hearing is a sense we use mostly with filters. Some filters, like many canisters, are normally quiet. When they start making sound it could mean trouble and at the least means maintenance is needed. If its a HOB that normally does make sound then the absence of sound could mean a total failure. Either way an investigation of suspected trouble is in order.
The sense of smell is one that seldom comes into play with our tanks but is one that can tell of a problem unseen. A normally cycling tank will smell like freshly turned earth to many. When a tank has gone afoul then you need to look for that missing fish or get that dead plant out. A bad piece of driftwood will make the tank smell like... rotten wood. Water tests ought to be done and possibly water changes too.
Our sense of touch as it relates to heat is one that is often underutilized. Sure we all touch our tanks but it's good practice to get to FEEL the temperature of the tank. Heater malfunctions have killed many animals before the keeper even realizes what has gone wrong. My tank lights don't come on until the afternoon but I pass my tanks every morning. As I do I habitually touch them with the back of my hand to feel the temperature.
Observation is the receiving of knowledge through the senses. Observation is key to the livelihood of our plants and animals.
Q
Qs-Tips #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
The most informative sense we have is sight. Most of us look at our tanks several times in any given day and by observing the animals we keep and the plants we grow we get to know what normal looks like. When anything starts to go amiss we look for answers or take action in accordance with the problem. EX- if a fish gets ick then one or more of several treatments is in order.
Hearing is a sense we use mostly with filters. Some filters, like many canisters, are normally quiet. When they start making sound it could mean trouble and at the least means maintenance is needed. If its a HOB that normally does make sound then the absence of sound could mean a total failure. Either way an investigation of suspected trouble is in order.
The sense of smell is one that seldom comes into play with our tanks but is one that can tell of a problem unseen. A normally cycling tank will smell like freshly turned earth to many. When a tank has gone afoul then you need to look for that missing fish or get that dead plant out. A bad piece of driftwood will make the tank smell like... rotten wood. Water tests ought to be done and possibly water changes too.
Our sense of touch as it relates to heat is one that is often underutilized. Sure we all touch our tanks but it's good practice to get to FEEL the temperature of the tank. Heater malfunctions have killed many animals before the keeper even realizes what has gone wrong. My tank lights don't come on until the afternoon but I pass my tanks every morning. As I do I habitually touch them with the back of my hand to feel the temperature.
Observation is the receiving of knowledge through the senses. Observation is key to the livelihood of our plants and animals.
Q
Qs-Tips #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
