What are the elements of a complete aquarium ecosystem?- Sensen Group Co., Ltd

All creatures in nature live in a certain ecological system. If they leave the relatively stable system to which they are adapted, it is difficult for them to survive normally. Even species with strong adaptability will experience a period of fragility. As for the fish and water plants that are the protagonists of the aquarium, if they don't have a stable system that suits them, most of them will become sick due to their weakened body and even die soon. So what are the elements of a complete aquarium ecosystem?
1. Microorganisms:
Including simple living organisms such as bacteria, mycoplasma and chlamydia, as well as many protozoa that are invisible to the naked eye, of which bacteria are important. The types and quantities of bacteria in different water bodies are different (some professional aquatic products have descriptions on this, If you are interested, you can go to the Xinhua Bookstore to read), but normal flora (relative to pathogenic bacteria)-that is,those bacteria which are classified as nitrifying bacteria simply by us have similar functions,that is, they decompose organic matter and convert harmful compounds such as nitrogen and sulfur into stable and harmless substances through their own metabolism, so as to achieve the purpose of purifying water quality. In addition, the maintenance of the normal flora can effectively inhibit the number of pathogenic bacteria, thereby preventing the occurrence of various diseases, especially bacterial diseases (because the number of pathogenic microorganisms plays an important role in the infection factors of microbial diseases) . In the process of establishing the entire aquarium ecosystem, these little elves everywhere played a decisive role.
2. Algae:
Including tiny single-celled algae such as diatoms and cyanobacteria, and multicellular algae such as filamentous algae and whisker algae that are common in aquariums. These little guys who are loved and hated by people play an important role in the aquarium ecology.They use light energy and compounds such as nitrogen and phosphorus in water (the metabolites of fish and other aquatic organisms and the decomposition products of bacteria, but due to the increasingly serious pollution of natural water bodies, industrial and domestic sewage have gradually become the main sources of nitrogen and phosphorus) to synthesize sugars , Protein and a variety of vitamins have become the starting link of the food chain. In terms of their status in the entire biosphere, they are far more important than all higher plants, and 90% of the oxygen produced by plants on the earth comes from algae. But when there are too many nitrogen and phosphorus compounds in the water, their growth will get out of control, and they will compete for light and oxygen, becoming killers of fish and higher aquatic plants. At present, water pollution in some areas is very serious. Even tap water has considerable nitrogen and phosphorus content. Although it has little impact on the human body, it is enough to maintain the growth of algae.If you do not pay attention to control in the new aquarium, the algae will quickly dominate the status and it is difficult to remove, which will affect the growth of aquatic plants, corals, etc., and in severe cases can also cause fish to suffocate and die.

It should also be mentioned that algae are tenacious residents in the aquatic ecosystem. Even a well-maintained aquarium cannot be completely free of algae, but it is too small to be noticed.
3. Zooplankton:
This refers to lower animals such as water fleas, brine shrimp, rotifers, and paramecium that feed on fine plankton. They are abundant in natural water bodies and are also an important source of feed for aquaculture, but there are not many in aquariums.You can see the effect is not obvious, and only a slight algae removal effect.

4. Benthic animals:
This category includes a wide range, from nematodes, sandworms to snails, sea cucumbers, shrimps and crabs, shellfish, etc., all can be grouped together. Although they have different food habits and habits, they can all play the role of scavengers in the water ecology. They perform preliminary digestion and treatment of animal and plant carcasses and convert them into products that are more prone to bacterial decomposition, and some can also remove algae. We often introduce them into the aquarium intentionally or unintentionally, and become a good helper to maintain the stability of the system, but some species can also cause trouble if they are not paid attention to.
5. Higher aquatic plants:
Including common aquatic plants of the genus of seed plants, as well as higher marine algae such as ferns and calcium algae that look like aquatic plants (hereinafter referred to simply as aquatic plants). They are also at the bottom of the food chain in nature. Although they are evolutionarily more advanced than single-celled algae, the nutrients required for growth and their role in nature are not much different from those of low-grade algae. They will also grow in large numbers when nutrients are excessive. Cause the deterioration of the aquatic environment. When aquatic plants grow vigorously, because a large amount of nutrients are consumed by them, the algae will grow slowly due to malnutrition; on the contrary, when the lower algae are rampant, the aquatic plants will gradually weaken due to insufficient nutrients and light. In addition, they are also an important force in water purification. Although low-grade algae have the same effect, it is much easier to control the growth of higher aquatic plants than to control algae, so most people still choose aquatic plants (there are also landscaping experts who use algae in local It is refreshing to decorate, but it is not something everyone can try).
6. Higher aquatic animals:
Of course, it refers to fishes. They are the focus of watching aquariums, but don't forget that they are also a link in the entire system. Fish are at the top of the food chain in the aquatic ecology. They obtain energy from the system, and their metabolites also provide nutrients for the growth of water plants, algae and bacteria.
7. Other:
Here we will focus on the corals and soft bodies in the rock reef aquarium. Some of them are symbiosis of plants (zoxanthellae) and animals (corals), and some are pure predators, but they play a role in the aquatic ecosystem. In general, it is between higher aquatic plants and animals, and more biased towards animals.