PART 40: DPM NATURAL METHOD SUMMARY!

Is there really a possibility that your aquarium can take care of itself and its inhabitants without you caring about it? Necessity triggered research and experimentations have been done to find an answer to this tough question. And, the answer, in the form of the DPM Natural Method, has been found. DPM Natural Method is an all-natural, lowest-maintenance, low-cost, energy-efficient, super-silent, low-tech, low-light and sustainable freshwater fishkeeping method.  So, what is this method all about? Let’s take a look.

Well, these are the factors required for healthy survival of a fish in an aquarium:

1. Good quality water (free from toxic chemicals)

2. Adequate amount of oxygen in the water

3. Fresh and nutritious food 

OK! This is how it all happens in a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl | Aquarium.

1. Colonies of beneficial bacteria, which grow automatically in an aquarium, keep the water in a good state by breaking toxic chemicals, generated by fish-waste, into non-toxic substances. That’s how the water quality is maintained continuously. So, you do not need a filter for your aquarium.

2. Green-algae, which are absolutely easy to grow in an aquarium, do photosynthesis when the aquarium gets exposed to a little direct or indirect sunlight. In that very process, the green-algae consume | use Carbon Dioxide and produce Oxygen, keeping the oxygen-level really high in the water in your aquarium. So, you do not need an air-pump to trigger gas-exchange in your aquarium. 

3. Green algae are a fresh and very nutritious food that the fish in the aquarium love to eat. This fresh and nutritious food keeps the fish healthy and active. So, you do not have to feed your fish.

4. Fish-waste helps in the growth of green algae and the colonies of helpful bacteria. And, that in turn results in a continuous supply of fresh nutritious food (Green Algae) and availability of great quality highly oxygenated water. What else do you want? What else do your fish need?

With the DPM Natural Method deployed, your aquarium | fishbowl is going to just do fine without you even touching it over a span of six-weeks! Yes, I said SIX-Weeks!  You are free to plan your vacation. You do not have to think twice about caring for your aquarium and fishes when you are away from home. Neither do you have to request someone to take care of your aquarium and fishes. The aquarium | fishbowl takes care of itself and its inhabitants. And, when you are not going on a vacation and it is just life as usual, it is really easy on you. For, on a day-to-day basis, your aquarium requires almost no maintenance.

The DPM Natural Method is a humble attempt to make life inside an aquarium, and outside the aquarium (that of the aquarist | hobbyist), better and easier while keeping the whole affair as close as possible to the nature. Is it not a beautiful thing? For more details, you may start reading here.

PART 40: DPM NATURAL METHOD SUMMARY! by Debi Prasad Mahapatra is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

PART 39: DESTINED TO FAIL?

<< Previous | http://www.fishforums.com | Question (Concern) | 04-17-2012, 06:34 PM:

Erm… Ioha, I think you were way off base. He's simply trying to do a more natural aquarium, and sharing his ideas.

Again his ideas are nothing new and routinely brought up as a new way to do less work on the tank. Someone nailed it pretty good… a lot of work to avoid working.

E for effort there to the original poster but your methods have been tried numerous times, it always fails in the end.

http://www.fishforums.com | Answer (Explanation) | 04-17-2012, 08:34 PM:

Hi,

I really appreciate your critical feedback. Honestly, I am yet to hear about a method built and designed around Green Algae. I know of Planted Tanks and Dirt Tanks, though. Please do let me know if there is any other method you know of that is designed around Green Algae.

I promise, I shall publish it in this forum if this method fails! 

Here is my goal: This DPM Type Natural Fishbowl continues to stay in a good state and the fishes in it stay healthy over a span of at least two years.

That may not be too ambitious. But, it’s interesting. Thank you. You have a good day.

Regards,

AquariumsFishes

Additional Notes form the Author: Honestly, it is not really about who is saying it and who is trying to do it. It is really more about what is said and what is done, as far as the DPM Natural Method is concerned. It is more about the philosophy and the intention. I find it hard to believe that DPM Natural Method has been tried numerous times! I would really appreciate if someone could guide me to any documentation available in the public domain that suggests that this method has been indeed tried numerous times! A quick link to a webpage or something would be just great. This method has not failed yet, at my end. May be, it is too early to draw a conclusion. However, that makes me still more curious to know if this method has ever been really tried (and failed), earlier ;-). Next >>  << Previous

PART 38: IS THIS JUST GREAT IN THEORY?

<< Previous | http://www.fishforums.com | Question (Concern) | 04-17-2012, 04:05 PM:

I have experienced with platies (and some other livebearers as well, but I see it the worst with platies) that they seem to give off some sort of growth-inhibiting substance that will build up in the water if there are not enough water changes being done. We got lazy with our tanks for a while and we started noticing that our baby platies had not changed size in months. They seemed healthy enough and even sexually mature, but stuck at half (or less) the size of an average adult. 

That's probably why your platies tend not to grow very big. The idea of a self-sustainable aquarium is great in theory, but the fact is that the smaller a tank is, the harder it is to "maintain without maintenance", if you will. We hardly ever have to do water changes/gravel vacuuming in our 40 gallon (in relation to actual water quality) because its bigger size, live plants, and large number of bottom-feeding fish keep the tank cleaner than your average aquarium. We do have to prune down the plants quite often, though - especially the darn duckweed. ;-)

http://www.fishforums.com | Answer (Explanation) | 04-17-2012, 08:18 PM:

I am completely in agreement with all the points you have mentioned here. In fact, I have mentioned about the growth-inhibiting substance here (the very last paragraph). 

The important focus of this method is "how to make smaller aquariums self-sustainable (to a great extent), in practice". I really appreciate your valuable feedback. You have a good day.

Regards,

AquariumsFishes

Additional Notes form the Author: It is absolutely possible to compose an aquarium that is self-sustainable to a great extent, even if the size of the Fishbowl | Fish Tank in question is not really big! I have successfully converted a 15-Liter Fishbowl into a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl and been enjoying the benefits of the transformation. I never realized that maintaining an aquarium could be this easy before I moved to this natural method! I have given it a try and life is good. Next >>  << Previous

PART 37: THE READER’S DIGEST VERSION!

<< Previous | http://www.fishforums.com | Question (Concern) | 04-17-2012, 03:07 PM:

Is it possible to make an abridged version? It's REALLY long! Sounds like it might work. At least the part I read...

http://www.fishforums.com | Answer (Explanation) | 04-17-2012, 07:55 PM:

Thank you so much for your encouraging words. 

Here is the abridged version:

1. There are five basic elements to the DPM Natural Method - Sunlight, Stones, Glass, Green Algae and Water.

2. Exposure to sunlight triggers algae growth. The inhabitants eat nutrition-rich Green Algae. That is supplemented with other high quality natural fish-food.

3. Algae and fish-west help growth and sustenance of colonies of helpful bacteria. That helps in maintaining the water quality.

4. Photosynthesis by Green Algae keeps the oxygen-level reasonably high.

5. No mechanical | motorized | plastic parts are used in this method.

6. Very infrequent partial water changes are made.

NOTE: Green Algae are the heart and soul of this method. This method is, in a way, designed around Green Algae (That an aquarist usually likes to stay away from!).

Please do let me know if you have a question or if this abridged version is too compact for the purpose ;-). You have a good day.

Regards,

AquariumsFishes

http://www.fishforums.com | Question (Concern) | 04-17-2012, 03:07 PM:

Yeah, I'd love the reader's digest version without the infomercial type self-promotion...

http://www.fishforums.com | Answer (Explanation) | 04-17-2012, 03:10 PM:

I am really sorry about the painfully long mechanical description (of this method). That is the crude theorized form of this method. Could not escape that! I really appreciate your interest. Neither am I selling any product nor, am I trying to sell any service. So, there is no intention on my part to create infomercial type self-promotion. I am trying to spread awareness, lest this method should help someone or some fish ;-).

Here is the abridged version:

1. There are five basic elements to the DPM Natural Method - Sunlight, Stones, Glass, Green Algae and Water.

2. Exposure to sunlight triggers algae growth. The inhabitants eat nutrition-rich Green Algae. That is supplemented with other high quality natural fish-food.

3. Algae and fish-west help growth and sustenance of colonies of helpful bacteria. That helps in maintaining the water quality.

4. Photosynthesis by Green Algae keeps the oxygen-level reasonably high.

5. No mechanical | motorized | plastic parts are used in this method.

6. Very infrequent partial water changes are made.

NOTE: Green Algae are the heart and soul of this method. This method is, in a way, designed around Green Algae (That an aquarist usually likes to stay away from!).

Please do let me know if you have a question or if this abridged version is too compact for the purpose. You have a good day.

Regards,

AquariumsFishes Next >>  << Previous

PART 36: DOES THIS REALLY LOOK UGLY?

<< Previous | http://www.fishforums.com | Question (Concern) | 04-17-2012, 10:21 AM:

This is starting to get interesting. You should add some pics because the image I have of this right now is a neglected fish bowl. We all have those buddies where you go to their house and see the goldfish bowl that they forgot about and is offensive to look at. Obviously there is more to what you are doing but it sounds like a fancy way of saying you dont maintain your tanks. (just my interpretation)

http://www.fishforums.com | Answer (Explanation) | 04-17-2012, 07:36 PM:

I really liked the way you put it across ;-). Well, I do not have pictures of it. But, there are vivid videos. I would love to hear back from you. You have a good day.

Regards,

AquariumsFishes

http://www.fishforums.com | Expert Opinion | 04-17-2012, 07:41 PM:

Honestly that is not what I expected. I like the look of the tank. Excellent rock work by the way. As I have said before this is very interesting to me. I am curious to see how this turns out. I always enjoy a good experiment, heck all of my tanks are experiments. 

Swap out that light with something a bit more designer! Heck a single bulb led would meet your minimalist style.

http://www.fishforums.com | Answer (Response) | 04-17-2012, 08:47 PM:

……., you made my day! I am glad to hear that you liked the look of the tank. I really appreciate your curiosity. I shall keep you posted on how this turns out. And, that's a good suggestion about the light bulb. Someday, I shall share with you the story behind my current light-fixture. Thank you so much.

Regards,

AquariumsFishes Next >>  << Previous

PART 35: IS THIS METHOD FLAWED?

<< Previous | http://www.fishforums.com | Question (Concern) | 04-17-2012, 10:20 AM:

There are a few obvious flaws, but this is an interesting idea that could use a little work. The biggest problem I see is that if you want to do something sustainable, you need a large amount of space. The reason lakes are sustainable is that there is enough space to provide enough food so that once one source is depleted, the fish can move on to another and allow the first to replenish. I don't think your platies are necessarily eating the algae but the little creatures that like to live in it. There are pros and cons to this idea, keep working on it. One more thing you should consider: your platies might still be depending largely on the feedings you give them every four days. Fish can go a long time between feedings. The stunting could be because of lack of nutrition and space, not "Dwarf Platies".

http://www.fishforums.com | Answer (Explanation) | 04-17-2012, 07:27 PM:

You have an interesting point. Yes. As I have stated here (the 5th Paragraph), the bigger the environment | habitat, the better. The amount of Green Algae that grow in my DPM Type Natural Fishbowl is way more than my Platies will ever be able to consume. They keep feeding on it. And, it keeps on growing. The supply, in this case, has always been much bigger than the demand, by design. Every day, out of habit, I watch my Aquarium (Fishbowl) over a span of around 3 hours at the least! I have placed it on my work desk at home. I enjoy it. I see Platies actually feeding on Green Algae. So, I believe that.

I may be wrong. They may actually be eating the little creatures that like to live in colonies of Green Algae. I have never tried taking a real close look using a magnifying glass or microscope. To my naked eyes, it looks like they are feeding on Green Algae. Well, I have a few videos. You take a look and opine. Of course, there are pros and cons to any method. 

I personally do not believe that there exists a species called Dwarf Platies. I believe, their size is a function of the size (and type) of their habitat | environment. The type influences and includes what they get to feed on. Their smaller size, at least, is largely attributed to their small environment and the mechanism that platies deploy to align their size and population with their environment. I have mentioned about this aspect here (the last paragraph). On the food front, I really believe, they are doing fine. They just keep eating, every day, day in and day out. I do not think they would keep picking on something unless that really feeds them. Just my guess!

Thanks for the interesting observations and feedback. I really appreciate. You have a wonderful day ahead.

Regards,

AquariumsFishes
Additional Note from the Author: The fishes in question produce a lot of green and black feces | poop every day! If they are not eating enough, how come they do poop so much every day? ;-) Next >>  << Previous

PART 34: IS THIS METHOD REALLY NATURAL?

<< Previous | http://www.fishforums.com | New Discussion Thread | 04-16-2012, 07:51 PM:

Title: The new All-Natural Lowest-Maintenance Method!

It was about deriving a method of Freshwater Fish-Keeping that would make my life and that of my fishes better. I wanted it to be:

1. Self-sustained to a great extent

2. As natural as possible

3. LOWEST-Maintenance

4. Absolutely Low-Tech

5. Energy Efficient

6. Silent and extremely simple 

7. Truly healthy and comfortable for my fishes

As far as my academic education is concerned, I am not literally a Fish-Expert. I believed that I would be able to derive and develop a new All-Natural method through cycles of 'experimentation and analysis'. I got started and eventually, theorized this natural fish-keeping method!

After I deployed this method and it really worked, I was happy. My fishes were happy! And, happy was my wife ;-). She found it so cool that I would not have to spend a lot of time any more maintaining my aquarium! Well... that was a bonus!

Please do let me know if you have a question on this method. You have a wonderful day ahead. Take care.

Regards,

AquariumsFishes

http://www.fishforums.com | Question (Concern) | 04-16-2012, 11:19 PM:

I have one HUGE issue with this method for your fish. 

You are NOT providing a natural environment for them (platies) if they do not have at least some current and a source of protein-rich food. You say that they get plenty of sustenance by picking at algae, but that is just not true. Platies are naturally omnivorous like most fish - yes, even "algae eaters" are omnivorous. Of course they are eating the algae, because that's all that is available. 

How long do they live? What do they look like when and if they die? Fish need a varied diet to truly live to their potential and I don't see that being provided with your methods.

http://www.fishforums.com | Answer (Explanation) | 04-17-2012, 09:44 AM:

Thank you so much for putting across those interesting points, ........ . That gives me an opportunity to elaborate further the details of the method is question.

1. The DPM Natural Method is not about Platies, alone. It is a highly customizable scalable generic method. It is more about creating a near-natural environment that resembles the environment of a freshwater lake | pond. That being the theme, by design, no attempt has been made to incorporate a mechanism to create any current | artificial flow.

2. Creating artificial current would require a motorized mechanism (Power Head). The philosophy of this method is about getting rid of external dependencies as far as possible. It is about sustainability. In this method, you do not worry about power outage, broken motorized equipment and many more! That makes life easy and keeps it simple.

3. You are absolutely correct. Even though Green Algae are full of very rich nutrition, Platies really require other kinds of food as well (They are omnivorous). For the sake of variety and balanced nutrition, I feed my Platies once in every four days. I use a high quality natural fish-food. My Platies love that food so much. And, a 3-day interval is sure to intensify that love ;-).

4. These platies were born on the 18th and 19th of August in 2011. They are doing fine and appear healthy. My platies are very active. One of my female Platies became pregnant (by my Red male Platy) and gave birth to a few fry inside the DPM Type Natural Fishbowl. Two of those fry have survived and are doing fine (on 20-Apr-2012). These platies are smaller than the regular Platies. Some people say that these are Dwarf Platies! I believe, their size is a function of the size (and type) of their habitat | environment.

5. Many of the baby-platies from that brood (18th and 19th of August in 2011) died during the first few weeks of their birth. Those were basically the weaker ones and the ones with birth-defects. The ones that did not die are still alive and are healthy. They have grown reasonably well. But, they are smaller than the regular Platies. The good news is none of the grown-up Platies have died and I am going to celebrate their birthday in August. I believe, these platies are going to live to their true potential.

I really appreciate that you wanted to put your concern and observations across. Thank you so much for your time and interest. You gave me an opportunity to clarify the above points for all of us. You have a wonderful day ahead.

Regards,

AquariumsFishes
Additional Notes from the Author: 
(1)There is one more reason why no current is generated | produced in this method. DPM Natural Method does not use any kind of artificial filter mechanism. In the absence of a filter, any degree of current would make the Mulm | Detritus | Fish Waste fly in the water and make the water really cloudy, negatively impacting the comfort of the inhabitants and destroying the elegant look of a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl | Aquarium!
(2)The DPM Natural Method really helps when an aquarist goes on vacation and there is no one available back at home to feed the fishes and change the water. Since the fishes are accustomed (since their very childhood) to living on Green Algae and other bio-organisms that generally grow in such an ecosystem, they just do fine during that vacation without substantial damage to their health. Exposure to indirect sunlight | filtered sunlight is maintained throughout the vacation period, Green Algae keep growing and the fishes keep consuming that. The water quality remains stable. This is not a possibility in case of Automatic Feeders and Feeder Blocks | Weekend Feeders! Next >>  << Previous

PART 33: THE JUDGMENT!

<< Previous It is absolutely easy to imagine and understand that every method of fish keeping is not for everyone. The choice of a particular method is usually based on a philosophy and a goal. It is about how I look at it and what I want to achieve. No method, like most of the things in life, is perfect. Every method of fish keeping has its own set of advantages and limitations. And, the DPM Natural Method is no exception. I have talked enough about the strengths and benefits of this method of Fish Keeping. It is, probably, the right time to throw a little light on the limitations of this new natural method. One may like the DPM Natural Method for its massive set of advantages.

However, I would NOT choose this natural method:

1. If I do not like natural methods of Fish Keeping, in general.

2. If my Fish Keeping hobby is more about working on my Aquarium(s) | Fish Tank (s) | Fishbowl (s) than enjoying my Aquarium(s) | Fish Tank (s) | Fishbowl (s) and Fishes. That is, I would like to keep working on my Aquarium continuously and I do not really mind if I do not get adequate amount of time to sit back and relax while enjoying (watching) my Aquarium (s) and Fishes. I just want to work and I do not care whether or not I get sufficient opportunity to enjoy the results of my work! I believe, this hobby is all about just changing water and cleaning the aquarium!

3. If I really do not care if a few my fishes die because of improper water conditions and care. I just love to visit the Pet Shop | Aquarium Shop again and get new fishes to compensate for my loss. I just do not care if I lose a couple of fishes as long as I can just visit the Pet Store | Aquarium Shop to get a few new fishes for my aquarium. Change is the essence of life, I truly believe.

4. If my fish live really long, it becomes uninteresting and monotonous for me. I cannot look at the same set of fishes every day!

5. If am absolutely more concerned about how my Aquarium LOOKS than how my fishes FEEL about their little environment inside my Aquarium. I do not care much if it feels good or bad to my fishes. But, at the end of the day, my Aquarium MUST look magnificent.

6. If I believe, an Aquarium is really not a little ecosystem. It is just a piece of functional furniture for home decoration.

7. If I really do not care whether my Aquarium is natural, silent, energy-efficient, low-tech, low-light and low maintenance. I just love to see as many instruments | gadgets attached to my Aquarium as possible to make it LOOK really high-tech and modern! I just want it to be the talk of the town. Owner’s pride and neighbors’ envy!

8. If I believe in “what you see is what you get”! If I do not see air bubbles coming out of an air-stone in my aquarium, I do not believe that the water is sufficiently oxygenated!

9. If I love an aquarium that produces a lot of sound. That is just soothing music to my ears.

10. If I believe that existence of a miniature ecosystem in an aquarium is next to impossible.

11. If I think, natural way of doing things or lettings things happen are the most ineffective and inappropriate ways of accomplishing specific goals.

12. If I do not believe that a truly sustainable Fish Keeping method is a possibility.

13. If I believe that the more money I spend on my aquarium, the better it feels to its inhabitants!

14. If I am really not interested in watching how fishes behave in a near-natural environment.

15. If I do not like smaller fishes in my aquarium and I just like relatively bigger fishes.

16. If I do not mind catching my fishes as many times as required. Because, I think, catching those little guys is never a stressful affair for them!

17. If I believe, without a plant (or more) to care for, an Aquarium is incomplete.

18. If I believe, an aquarium cannot remain in a good state without a mechanical or other kind of artificial filtration system.

19. If I think, an aquarium without a heater is not a real possibility. And, if I know that my room-temperature is too low to be easily described as too cold for any practical purpose (heater-less Aquarium).

20. If it is not possible on my part to expose my Aquarium to a little direct | indirect sunlight to promote Green Algae growth.

21. If I believe complete water change and a full aquarium cleanup is really a MUST for my Aquarium.

22. If I believe frequent water changes is the only way to go!

23. If I think cleaning my Aquarium has to be a really a big deal.

24. If I cannot tolerate a certain degree of Green Algae growth in my Aquarium and the resultant graceful natural look.

25. If I do not like the fact that I need NOT buy | maintain | repair | replace the following ever: Filter, Air Stone, Power Head, Air Pump and Heater.

26. If I do not like the way a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl | Aquarium helps a pregnant fish | Fish Fry | Fish Eggs.

27. If I do not like the No-Plastic philosophy of DPM Natural Method.

28. If I like my fish to eat only when I want them to eat and not when they want to eat.

29. If I do not care about the water quality becoming bad because of uneaten food-residue in my Aquarium.

30. If I do not like the fact that DPM Natural Method absolutely makes it easy and quick to move over to another method of Fish Keeping, in case I decide to do so.

31. If I think the nutritional value of Green Algae is more fiction than fact.

Well, that’s quite a long list. And, I hope, that makes the picture really clear. DPM Natural Method is neither a product nor a service that I am trying to sell. And, that’s exactly why, I have all the liberty at my disposal to critically analyze this natural method of Fish Keeping. My goal is to spread awareness to make our lives and the lives of our fishes better. I hope, I have done the job reasonably well. Please feel free to ask a question, in case you have one, on this method. Let us take a quick look at a few interesting discussions | questions (and the answers to those questions) about the DPM Natural Method next. NEXT >>  << Previous

PART 33: THE JUDGMENT! by Debi Prasad Mahapatra is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

PART 32: STEPS IN DPM’S WATER RESTORATION METHOD!

<< Previous Q U E S T I O N: What are the steps involved in DPM’s Water Restoration Method?

A N S W E R:  This procedure is performed in iterations | cycles | sets of steps. Following are the steps involved in the first iteration of this this procedure.

Step 1. Just wipe clean the algae on the walls, if any, with a little piece of cloth | algae scrubber suitable for aquarium-use. There is no need to take the fishes out of the Fishbowl I Aquarium. There is no need to take the substrate or anything else out of the DPM Type Natural Fishbowl I Aquarium for cleaning.

Step 2. Gently stir the water well for a minute using your hand. The flow so generated, by stirring the water, releases the Fish-waste | Mulm locked within and under the layers of substrate.

Step 3. With the clean pipe | hose | siphon, drain 50% of the water and collect that water in the bucket. Theoretically, close to 40% of the total Fish-waste | Mulm volume goes out of the Fishbowl | Aquarium, with the outgoing water. If the bucket is relatively smaller for this purpose, you may consider draining a smaller percentage of water volume from the Fishbowl | Aquarium into the bucket.

Step 4. Inspect the water collected in the bucket for presence of Fishes | Fish Fry | Babies | Eggs. If you find any of those in the bucket, put that back into your aquarium | fishbowl.

Step 5. [Case-A] In case, it was already time for a water change and the water quality was checked and found bad before this procedure, throw the water, so collected in the bucket, away. You do not need that water any more. Fill the bucket with the same volume of suitable water already prepared for this procedure.

[Case-B] In case, it was NOT already time for a water change and the water quality was checked and found GOOD before this procedure, do NOT throw the water, so collected in the bucket, away. And, this step (Step 5) is not required to be performed, in this case.

Step 6. Let the water transferred to the bucket sit for some time (Around 20 minutes!). That will allow a substantial portion of the Mulm | Fish-Waste to settle down at the bottom of the bucket. The more time you allow for the Mulm | Fish-Waste to settle down, the lesser the number of iterations of this procedure you will need to perform. 

In case of [Case-A] of Step 5, you do not have to wait at all in the very First Iteration of this procedure. For, in that case, it is the fresh and clean water you have with no Mulm | Fish-Waste in it.

Step 7. Once a large portion of the Mulm | Fish-Waste settles down at the bottom of the bucket, carefully transfer the relatively clean-looking portion of water from the bucket to your Aquarium | Fishbowl without disturbing the Mulm | Fish-Waste that has settled down at the bottom of the bucket.

It is usually easy to achieve this by placing the bucket at a higher level than the Aquarium | Fishbowl and then using the pipe to transfer the water from the bucket while taking care not to let the receiving-end of the pipe reach the area | level | depth of the bucket where the Mulm | Fish-Waste has settled down. 

You can induce the flow of water from the bucket to your Aquarium | Fishbowl by following the steps mentioned below and letting gravity run the show. You do not need a pump or other motorized device for this purpose.

Step 7-I. Fill the pipe with the water from your Aquarium | Fishbowl.

Step 7-II. Keep both the ends of the pipe closed with your fingertips.

Step 7-III. Take your fingertip off the receiving end of the pipe while you gently place the receiving end of the pipe in the bucket. When you do this, take care to place the receiving end of the pipe at the upper level of the water in the bucket. That way, it does not get a chance to suck in the Mulm | Fish-Waste that has settled down at the bottom of the bucket. Take care not to allow the receiving end of the pipe to come out of the water.

Step 7-IV. Place the other end of the pipe in your Aquarium | Fishbowl and release your finger. Because the bucket is placed at higher level than your Aquarium | Fishbowl, the water flow gets started and continues.

Step 7-V. Monitor the level of the water in the bucket. Take care to gently readjust the position of the receiving end of the pipe in such a way that it does not get a chance to suck in any air to disrupt and stop the flow. You need to keep gently readjusting the position of the receiving end of the pipe along with the diminishing level of water in the bucket.

Step 7-VI. When the water level in the bucket drops to a level where it is not possible to continue the flow | transfer without disturbing | sucking in the Mulm | Fish-Waste that has settled down at the bottom of the bucket, stop the flow by taking the receiving end of the pipe gently out of the water in the bucket.

This is the end of our first iteration of this procedure (DPM’s Water Restoration Method) and we have already transferred a good volume of Mulm | Fish-Waste from the Fishbowl | Aquarium to the bucket. We may repeat Step 1 through Step 7 over the next iterations till we reach the desired state.

Here is the DPM’s Water Restoration Method explained in the form of a set of equations. Each of the subsequent Iterations yields you a smaller result compared to the result of the previous Iteration! However, each of the iterations absolutely takes you closer to your goal. That is what the set of equations illustrate. So, it is efficient for you to get done with the procedure in the least possible number of Iterations. 

Xn = Initial Volume of Mulm in the Aquarium | Fishbowl at the beginning of an Iteration, 
Yn = Volume of Mulm transferred to Bucket through water-change in an Iteration [Yield], 
Zn = Volume of Mulm remaining in the Aquarium | Fishbowl at the end of an Iteration

Iteration 1: X1 - Y1 = Z1 

Where, (X1 = Z1 + Y1)

Iteration 2: X2 - Y2 = Z2 

Where, (X2 = Z2 + Y2), (X2 < X1), (Y2 < Y1)

Iteration 3: X3 - Y3 = Z3 

Where, (X3 = Z3 + Y3), (X3 < X2), (Y3 < Y2)

Iteration n: Xn - Yn = Zn 

Where, (Xn = Zn + Yn), (X(n) < X(n-1)), (Zn ≠ 0), (Xn = (X1 - (Y1 + Y2 + Y3+ …+ Yn))), (Y(n) < Y(n-1))

This method | procedure may seem | sound complicated. However, you realize that it is really a simple and easy to perform procedure only when you actually do it. And, it is not really a lot when you do this once in a year or more | longer! This procedure tries to help your fishes by giving them the feel-at-home feeling (by keeping the water quality | parameters relatively stable in an absolutely natural way) when you try to get rid of the Mulm | Fish-Waste from your Fishbowl | Aquarium. Let us talk about something really interesting on DPM Natural Method next. NEXT >>  << Previous

PART 32: STEPS IN DPM’S WATER RESTORATION METHOD! by Debi Prasad Mahapatra is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

PART 31: DPM’S WATER RESTORATION METHOD!

<< Previous You may use DPM’s Water Restoration Method when you want to get the Mulm | Detritus out of your DPM Type Natural Aquarium | Fishbowl. Mulm | Detritus is the organic debris that builds up in and on the aquarium substrate. Mulm usually constitutes of fish-waste and uneaten portions of food. In a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl | Aquarium, Mulm has an important role to play. It supports the growth of Green Algae and colonies of beneficial bacteria that help maintain the quality of the water in your Aquarium | Fishbowl. However, there could be cases in which you may want to get rid of a small or substantial part of the Mulm volume in your Fishbowl | Aquarium.

DPM’s Water Restoration Method is generally used in the following cases:

A. If and when you want to switch over to another method of Fish-Keeping in which Mulm has no role to play.

B. You do it as a part of your Annual Maintenance and Cleanup Routine.

C. If and when the volume of Mulm far exceeds the desired and required level | quantity.

D. When Mulm starts to impact the appearance of your Fishbowl | Aquarium.

Q U E S T I O N: What is the distinct advantage of DPM’s Water Restoration Method?

A N S W E R: DPM’s Water Restoration Method is a technique of changing water in which you get rid of a substantial volume of Mulm without actually changing a proportionate substantial volume of water. That results in relatively less variance in how the water feels to your fishes after the restoration is done. In the context of DPM Natural Method, actually changing a huge portion of water is never a good idea, in general, unless it is absolutely required. For, in case of a huge water change, the water feels very different to your fishes. And, that may lead to stress in your fishes.

In nature, in case of a natural lake or pond, a huge water change does not usually happen, anyway. During the rainy season, a water change may happen. But, that is a gradual process in which the water change happens gradually. The process does not change the water parameters suddenly substantially. That is what we try to achieve through DPM’s Water Restoration Method when it becomes absolutely required to get rid of the Mulm in your Fishbowl | Aquarium. In case of DPM’s Water Restoration Method, your fishes do not experience a sudden substantial change in the water parameters (quality).

Q U E S T I O N: What do you need to perform the procedure involved in DPM’s Water Restoration Method?

A N S W E R: You just need:

1. A clean Hose | Pipe | Siphon (Common Names: Clear Flexible PVC Hose, Clear PVC Pipe, Transparent PVC Soft Tube, Clear Flexible PVC Tubing, Transparent Flexible PVC Tubing)

2. A bucket (or any large vertical container) suitable for aquarium use. The bigger the bucket, the quicker you will be able to perform this procedure.

3. Appropriate volume of suitable water. That is around 50% of the volume of water that exists in your aquarium | fishbowl. The water must not contain any trace of chlorine, chloramine, any chemical, detergent, soap and oil. This third element (Water) is not required in case it is NOT already time for a water-change and the quality of the water in the Aquarium | Fishbowl is checked and found GOOD!

4. A little piece of cloth | algae scrubber suitable for aquarium-use.

Let us talk about the steps involved in performing this procedure (DPM’s Water Restoration Method) next. NEXT >>  << Previous

PART 31: DPM’S WATER RESTORATION METHOD! by Debi Prasad Mahapatra is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

PART 30: A LITTLE MORE ON MAINTENANCE!

<< Previous Q U E S T I O N: What to do when ALGAE GROWTH goes beyond the required level?

A N S W E R: Described below is how to address this problem.

In case of excessive algae growth, which is not good for the fishes, the water of your DPM Type Natural Fishbowl I Aquarium turns green and you can hardly see the fishes. To address the problem, take the following three steps:

STEP 1. Clean walls on the inside of the Fishbowl | Fish Tank

STEP 2. Change 50% of water

STEP 3. Drastically reduce Fishbowl's | Fish Tank's exposure to light.

If the problem persists, repeat STEP 2 once in every 3 days until the problem is gone.

Q U E S T I O N: How about lighting?

A N S W E R: Here is the information about this aspect stated below:

You may use a low wattage (5 to 15 watts) electric light-bulb to see your fish or show your fish. If the Fishbowl | Fish Tank is exposed to many hours (more than 8 hours) of indirect sunlight, the electric light-bulb really becomes optional. It is ideal to offer 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light to your fishes to make the case resemble that of nature. When the electric light-bulb is switched on, it increases the temperature of the air surrounding it. The hot air goes up and cooler fresh air comes in to fill the vacuum. That's how the electric light-bulb triggers air-circulation. This process also helps, increasing the level of oxygen in the Fishbowl | Aquarium.

PLEASE do ask a question if you have one on DPM Natural Method | DPM Type Natural Fishbowl | DPM Type Natural Aquarium. Thank you for your time and interest. I wish you all the very best. Happy Fish Keeping! Here is something interesting next. NEXT >>  << Previous

PART 30: A LITTLE MORE ON MAINTENANCE! by Debi Prasad Mahapatra is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

PART 29: WHY ALGAE?

<< Previous Q U E S T I O N: WHY ALGAE ARE SO IMPORTANT AND SPECIAL?

A N S W E R: The following aspects make Algae so special:

Algae saved our planet by transforming our atmosphere to oxygen, allowing life to exist. Algae saved us again by providing the Earth's first food. Early Earth supported neither living creatures nor food. About 3.7 billion years ago, no life existed because the Earth's surface was too hot and there was no oxygen. The Earth's atmosphere was composed of a blanket of deadly and heat trapping CO2 and methane gas. As per Fossil records, a tiny plant emerged in the primordial soup and did an extraordinary thing. The plant absorbed the sun's energy and used a chemical reaction, photosynthesis, to split a CO2 and a water molecule.

The tiny plant converted the carbon atom into a high-energy green plant bond, a hydrocarbon, by taking two hydrogen atoms from H2O and released the oxygen molecule to the atmosphere. Algae had begun its work to change the atmosphere.

Algae are good indicators of the atrophic status of a water body, that is, the degree of pollution and nutrients in that water. A lake dominated by green algae has relatively "clean" oligotrophic water. Green Algae do not produce substances that are toxic to animals. Green algae are a very normal and naturally positive component of the aquatic arena that benefits overall water quality and aquatic life.

Algae systematically collected solar energy, sequestered carbon atoms and released oxygen. Moving at the incredibly slow rate of one tiny molecule at a time, algae transformed the harsh carbon dioxide atmosphere that could not sustain life to an oxygen atmosphere that supported life. Algae took another 3 billion years to create sufficient oxygen to support other forms of life because land plants evolved from algae only about 500 million years ago.

Algae's atmospheric transformation enabled the development of other water plants, fish, insects, land plants, amphibians, reptiles and eventually land animals. Even though microalgae are the tiniest plants on our planet, each day algae create 70% of the atmospheric oxygen, more than all the forest and fields combined!

Many of the earliest plants and water creatures depended on algae as a food source. Algae serve as nutritious food for everything from the tiniest phytoplankton to the largest mammal on earth, the great blue whale, because the plant offers an excellent set of proteins, minerals and vitamins. Every day, while algae captures CO2 and releases pure oxygen, the green biomass supplies food for 100 times more organisms than any other food source on Earth.

Algae use plentiful and often surplus inputs, including sunshine, CO2, Fish Waste and water. Algae photosynthesis strips CO2 and nutrients from the surrounding water and produces plant biomass made up of various forms of lipids (oils), protein and carbohydrates. The process releases considerable pure oxygen to the atmosphere.

Now, it must be clear how the water in a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl I Aquarium is adequately oxygenated even without the use of Air Stones and Air Pumps. Let’s talk a little more on Maintenance and Lighting in case of a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl | Aquarium next. NEXT >>  << Previous

PART 29: WHY ALGAE? by Debi Prasad Mahapatra is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

PART 28: MAINTENANCE!

<< Previous Q U E S T I O N: How about maintenance of a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl I Aquarium?

A N S W E R: Important aspects of DPM Type Natural Fishbowl I Aquarium maintenance are noted below.

ALGAE ON THE WALLS: 

Maintaining a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl I Aquarium is pretty simple. You may consider scrubbing (wiping) the Green Algae that grows on the inside of the walls, once in 10 days. You may use a piece of cloth, appropriate for use inside an aquarium, to clean (wipe) the algae off the walls. It should not take you more than 15 minutes in case of a Fish Tank and 5 minutes in case of a Fishbowl. Do NOT touch the substrate and the algae on the substrate. While cleaning the walls inside, you are not required to clean anything else. Do not worry about the look of the water just after the algae-cleaning is done. The dust settles down really fast (usually, within a day). However, you may choose to clean 40% of the surface gravel, without disturbing the remaining 60% of the surface-substrate, to enhance the appearance of your DPM Type Fishbowl | Aquarium.

You may clean the algae off the walls more or less frequently based on how quickly the algae comes back on the inside of your walls. You may control the exposure to sunlight to control algae growth. You may reduce the length of light-exposure to reduce or slowdown algae growth. The platies, discussed in one of the previous section in the context of the DPM Type Fishbowl, love to eat algae. Other type of food is given to them only once in every 4 days, for the sake of variety and nutrition. So, certain amount of algae is always maintained on the surface of the substrate and the glass vase. The fishes feast on Green Algae as and when they want.

CHANGING WATER:

You may use an appropriate and clean pipe | hose | siphon (Common Names: Clear Flexible PVC Hose, Clear PVC Pipe, Transparent PVC Soft Tube, Clear Flexible PVC Tubing, Transparent Flexible PVC Tubing) to change water. While you use the pipe, you may keep the receiving end closer to the substrate. So that, the fish-waste locked within and under the substrate gets sucked into the pipe and goes out of the Fishbowl | Fish Tank. Do not worry about the rest of the fish-waste. That is going to be useful for the algae and the colonies of helpful bacteria. While changing water, take care not to suck in Fishes, Fish Babies and Fish Eggs. Collect the water in a clean bucket. In case something that should not have gone out of the Fishbowl | Aquarium is found in the bucket, you have an option to put that back into the place it came from!

DPM Natural Method is all about comfort and convenience. Just a 30% water change once in every TWO WEEKS is sufficient, in case of a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl (Recommended Capacity - 15 Liters). Just a 30% water change once in every TWO MONTHS, in case of a DPM Type Natural Aquarium (Recommended Capacity - 60 Liters or more), is sufficient. Add water, periodically, to your DPM Type Natural Fishbowl | Aquarium to compensate for the amount of water lost due to evaporation. Take care to add water in such a way that the flow | current of the incoming water does not disturb the fish-waste sitting locked underneath the substrate. If you could do that, you do not have to wait for the “dust to settle down”!

CLEANING THE FISHBOWL | AQUARIUM:

It is really easy to clean a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl I Aquarium. The procedure to clean a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl I Aquarium is known as "STIR-CLEANING". There is no need to take the fishes out of the Fishbowl I Aquarium. There is no need to take the substrate or anything else out of the DPM Type Natural Fishbowl I Aquarium for cleaning. Just clean the algae on the walls, as described under "ALGAE ON THE WALLS", stated above. Then, gently stir the water well for a minute using your hand.

The flow so generated, by stirring the water, releases the fish-waste locked within and under the layers of substrate. Then, with a  clean pipe | hose | siphon, drain 60% of the water. Theoretically, close to 50% of the total Fish-waste volume goes out of the Fishbowl, with the outgoing water. The remaining 50% volume of waste remains to play its role in supporting the growth of helpful bacteria-colonies and helping growth of algae. The helpful bacteria-colony plays a wonderful role in maintaining the water-parameters. And, that is why exactly, one would never find the water in a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl I Aquarium smelling foul. Is not that so good a deal?

Once in 15 days, you may gently wipe the outside of the Fishbowl | Aquarium with a piece of wet cloth to remove the dust and dirt, if any, accumulated on the outer surface of the Fishbowl | Aquarium. Do NOT use the very piece of cloth that you use to clean the INSIDE of the Aquarium | Fishbowl wall (s). Instead, use ANOTHER piece of cloth to clean the OUTSIDE of the Aquarium | Fishbowl wall (s). "STIR-CLEANING" performed once in TWO MONTHS is enough to maintain a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl (Recommended Capacity - 15 Liters) in a good state and " STIR-CLEANING" performed once in EIGHT MONTHS is enough to maintain a DPM Type Natural Aquarium (Recommended Capacity - 60 Liters or more) in a good state. Does that sound good enough?

As you understand here, algae play a very important role in a DPM Type Natural Fishbowl I Aquarium. What is so special about Algae and why algae have been chosen to play a role in the DPM Natural Method? Let's discuss about what is so special about algae next. NEXT >>  << Previous

PART 28: MAINTENANCE! by Debi Prasad Mahapatra is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.