Sep
17
An aquarium can be a great addition to your interior decorations. If you are looking to add a certain level of style and beauty to your home or office, having an aquarium can do just that. While deciding to choose an aquarium for your house you may have wondered which one to choose from. There are endless possibilities when setting up an aquarium in your own home. If you are installing aquarium for the first time, you need to know many tit bits of keeping fish healthy and in a comfortable environment.
For people who are new to domesticating fish, starting with a small tank with less number of fishes is a good idea. This will give them time to understand the needs and will train them in many aspects that need to be taken care of before installing a fish aquarium or constructing a fish pond. For starters, the tank will need a pond pump, lighting, hood to prevent the fish from jumping out, a filter to keep the water clean, water testing kit for PH water levels etc. And when switching to a larger aquarium or a fish pond you will require many aquarium accessories like aquarium pumps, pond filters and pump, pond liners, water fountains, garden fountains and many other pond and aquarium supplies.
Know lets talk about which one to choose-a freshwater aquarium or a saltwater one. Many people choose a freshwater aquarium over a saltwater aquarium without really looking into the benefits and drawbacks of both. In my opinion if you have a good budget to invest on your aquarium needs, then you should definitely look into a saltwater aquarium. While people tend to go the freshwater direction due to the fact that it is a much cheaper alternative, the beauty and variety that having a saltwater aquarium affords you is not easily surpassed.
Moreover in a saltwater aquarium, you have much more variety of tropical fish to choose from. Clownfish, Hawk Fish, Blue Tang and many more varieties can be bred in a saltwater aquarium. The tropical fish are bright, colorful and lively —all of the things that you need in an aquarium to help you feel better about your space and more alive. The fish that you can have in a saltwater aquarium are a great deal more exotic and beautiful than anything a freshwater aquarium could house.
Maintenance is yet another factor that should be considered while choosing a tropical aquarium for your house. If you don’t’ have time to indulge in aquarium maintenance, having a saltwater aquarium is a bad idea. There are people who tend to go the freshwater direction due to the fact that it is a much cheaper alternative and need less maintenance and cleaning. Whatever type you choose an aquarium definitely adds a touch of your personal character to a home or office environment.
About the Author
Aquatics-Online is a leading online supplier of tropical aquariums and aquarium accessories providing best of aquarium lighting and heaters throughout UK.
DIY Pond Filter
Sep
16
In a freshwater planted aquarium a range of plant types are used and they come in a variety of forms. And in the same way fishes do, they also have requirements for specific water temperatures and lighting so you must find this out before you start planting them in your aquarium.
Marginal Plants – The majority of aquarium plants come within this category. In nature they are submerged for just a section of the year. Throughout the dry season they will grow out from the water and the majority flower and seed at that time.
Cryptocoryne genus and Echinodorus genus are good examples. There are more than 50 species under the genus Cryptocorynes and the Amazon Sword species (Echinodorus amazonicus), is very popular amongst the genus Echinodorus.
Real Aquatic Plants – Often sold as cuttings these aquatic plants are proper aquatic plants because they are submerged in the water and must stay that way. A good example is Cabomba caroliniana, which is from the genus Cabomba iand usually called the Green Cabomba .
Terrestrial Plants Are A No No – You can not leave these plants submerged for a long time in your freshwater aquarium because bad water quality will happen due to them rotting. Sometimes these are sold as aquatic plants so look out for them.
Cuttings – Cabomba is a very popular choice for the aquarium but is also one of the more difficult to succeed with. It is good for hiding heaters and pipes but it also means that its delicate fronds can be easily damaged in an area with fast moving water. A more hardy species can be used for this situation; the Hygrophilia.
Rooted Plants – As some of these can grow to a large size (for example the Amazon Sword plants) choose carefully so they fit in with the size of your aquarium. Plants that are easier to manage are the E. paniculatus and the E. tenellus which is ideal for the front of your tank as it quickly covers the substrate. Others such as the slow growing Cryptocoryne species will need to be thinned out after they establish themselves and grow in bunches.
Basket Grown Plants – These can be either planted as they are, in the basket, or preferably out of the basket. And check to see how many plants are actually in the basket. Quite often there may be four or five plants potted as one. These need to be separated and planted individually.
Bulbs and Corms – The most well known species are the Aponogeton and Nymphaea. The Aponogeton have long pretty leaves and you can get flowers and if you are lucky they will seed giving you new plants.
The Nymphaea produce attractive leaves, varying from pink to red, under the water but you must make sure that lily pads are not formed on the surface. If you do not then the surface will get covered by them and no light will get to your plants.
Floating Plants – Not often used in community tanks as again they will cut out light to your other plants. But they are useful in breeding tanks for hiding places and spawning locations. Often used are Riccia, Ceratopteris thalictroides (Indian Fern) and Pistia stratiotes (Water lettuce). But avoid Lemna (Duckweed) like the plague as it will multiply very quickly and cover the surface completely.
Feeding – Rooted plants can be fed with fertilizer pellets so they can grow healthily but be careful not to use too much.
Lighting and Water Temperatures – Cabomba plants for the aquarium need warm water temperatures (from 18º to 32ºC) and good light levels (up to 3 watts per gallon). Cryptocorynes don’t need bright lighting and in fact are good with low to moderate lighting conditions and a temperature range of around 20º to 33ºC.
Propagation – Cabomba can be propagated by cuttings with good light conditions to facilitate rooting. Cabomba is a plant that is very easily cloned. Cut them in half after they reach 15-20 cm at the node or branch. Just stick it in the gravel and the plant does the rest.
Other plants, such as the Cryptocoryne species, give out runners that go into the substrate and form more plants. And others, such as Microsorium pteropus (Java Fern) and Ceratopteris thalictroides (Indian Fern), grow small plantlets from their leaves which drop off or can be taken off to form new plants.
About the Author
Paul Curran offers a FREE E-Course on fresh water aquariums and a Freshwater Aquariums Care Information System to help you set up a beautiful aquarium with happy and healthy fish. And from the articles resource you will learn more about what goes into a freshwater planted aquarium
Water Plants
Sep
15
How come I feel like my fish is full of little fishies?
Dood, i swear to god there is a school of fish swimming in my stomach man. So wierd. What kind of problems usually have these side effects?
Drug addiction, go see a doctor friend, these sorts of things arent really answerable here o.o
The Muppet Show – Three Little Fishies
Aug
17
What is a good aquarium plant fertilizer and other things that are helpful for plants?
I plan on asking for a hagen co2 ladder for xmas(considering i got my 55 gallon as an early gift) for now im going to add some plants with some flourish excel that will help with carbon, is there anything else i should get to help with co2 or the health of my plants.
and what is the best cheapest fertilizer?
You’ll need a fertilizer with micro and macro nutrients. Macro nutrients are Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphate. Micro nutrients are the ones that plants use up everyday, such as boron, copper, calcium, etc.
A good liquid one is the Hagen Plant Gro Iron Enriched and NPK: http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pPETS-3757092t400.jpg
http://www.f3images.com/IMD/aquarium_images/hagen_additives_plant_gro_npk_7684.jpg
I’m not sure where you can get them, but they provide the micro and macro nutrients for your plants.
Another source of fertilizer are dry fertilizers. They’re a bit more complicated to dose, but they last ALOT longer than liquid: http://www.bestaquariumregulator.com/ferts.html
Tips and tricks for handling plants in the aquarium, Tropica Aquarium Plants
Aug
15
Can the fish feed off of a plant in the fish bowl?
I won the fish, it is in a large vase like bowl with a plant on top that floats in a small plastic base, the roots go into the water. Is it better to remove the plant and use store bought food? or will it survive off the plant and approx. for how long?
Any type of fish will not survive like this. If it’s a Betta, they’re carnivores, so store-bought food and frozen food (from a pet store of course) would work better. They’d also do better in a 5+ gallon tank WITH a heater and filter, since the come from Thailand where it is naturally hot. Bettas CANNOT live in bowls since this is where they naturally live: http://www.cultureshocktherapy.com/pic/id/rice_paddy.jpg
(Note the size of the hut).
If it’s a Goldfish in the bowl, then there’s big problems. Fancy Goldfish can grow up to a foot, Comet Goldfish can grow to slightly larger than a foot. Fancies need a minimum of 20+ gallons to live in while they’re adults, and Comets need a 55+ (or a pond) to live in while they’re adults. Goldfish don’t need heaters since they’re a coldwater fish, but they do need filters since they poop alot. Read this article on Goldfish in bowls: http://www1.epinions.com/content_3185614980
The only fish you can keep in a bowl are these: http://www.pepperidgefarm.com/ProductDetail.aspx?catID=772
Or you could leave the plant in there but upgrade to a real tank for the fish.
Make sure to cycle the tank before you add any new fish: http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php
http://fish.orbust.net/cycling.html
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/information/CycleAquarium.php
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/biologicalcycle/a/nitrogencycle.htm
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cycling.htm
http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/what_is_fishless_cycling.html
http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/how_to_do_a_fishless_cycle.html
E-mail me for any questions!
CHEAP AND EASY PORTABLE FISH POND – A GOOD SOURCE OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER FOR YOUR PLANTS
Aug
2
Where to purchase sand, and driftwood for an aquarium?
Can i get like sand from home depot or lowes as long as i rinse it out well it’s gonna be in a 10 gallon aquarium and for 1 betta and either 6 pygmy corodaras catfish, or like 4-5 panda corys. Where can you find driftwood for cheap too?
Thanks for all the help!
I would personally stick with the aquarium sand from the pet store. I know it’s more expensive but it’s free of harmful chemicals that may hurt the fish.
I found driftwood is too expensive from the pet stores. I went and walked the shore of the lake while the level was down. I found beautiful pieces of wood for free. Make sure you boil the wood for an hour. This is very important to release tannins and make sure you kill off any bacteria and bugs living in the wood.
Driftwood aquarium
Jul
26
How long I can put my snails and ghost shrimp back to aquarium?
after i use chemical “algae remover” which I know that will harm the them. It has been a day
I would not place them in the tank until after a full water change.
DIY Shrimp Trap for Dwarf Shrimp tank
Jun
25
Having an aquarium can be much more than just a place to put the fish. Using the right aquarium accessories, you can turn the aquarium into a fine piece of decoration in the house. With the proper accessories, you can add to your fish’s habitat and dress up the overall appearance.
When selecting aquarium accessories, you first want to identify the type of water and the type of fish you have. There are some accessories that will not hold up in salt water like they can in freshwater. Also, some accessories are not good for various types of fish.
For a salt water aquarium, coral can be a great addition because of the elegance it adds. It will fill the aquarium up nicely and make it look less dull. There are several different kinds of coral to choose from giving you options to decorate the aquarium.
Rocks are another accessory that can suit an aquarium perfectly. There is a plethora of different sizes, styles, and colors of rocks to choose from. This way you can match the rocks with the scenery you have already added. Some options include rainbow rocks, lace rocks, and carved lava.
If you have a freshwater aquarium, there are just as many options to choose from to spice up the tank. As with saltwater, you can opt to place all different kinds of rocks with no problems. An accessory that is only suitable for freshwater is driftwood. Driftwood comes from swamplands and sinks naturally to the bottom of the tank. This will keep it from tangling up and injuring the fish.
Aside from adding style to your aquarium, you also need maintenance aquarium accessories like pumps and filters. These will help keep the tank free from toxic waste that could harm your fish.
Lastly, you will need additives for the water. Additives will allow you to keep the fish healthy and free of any kind of harm. For a saltwater aquarium, you can use a reef solution to enhance the lifestyle or your fish. For freshwater aquariums, there is a solution that can be used to stimulate the appetite of the fish.
Aquarium accessories are crucial to enhancing the appearance of the tank and the overall lifestyle of the fish. Everything from coral to rocks to pumps and filters should be considered when looking for accessories. While decorating the tank adds to the appearance, pumps and filters can keep fish healthy and lively.
About the Author
Danny Wright is the webmaster for MerchantLand.com .Let us help you enhance the appearance of your tank with our wide variety of aquarium accessories.
Driftwood for aquarium
Jun
17
When it comes to choosing from a wide variety of freshwater fish species for your aquarium, we always opt for those attractive and unusual ones. Having a fish tank filled with beautiful fishes at home is fun. Our eyes do not get tired of looking at them swim inside the aquarium. If you have no fish tank yet and you are planning to acquire one for you, this article will help you all the way in choosing the best unusual fish species. Here are 5 of them which you can consider opting for. You must expect that these species are extraordinary or unique and seldom do you see them in home aquariums.
The first specie you may consider is the bristle- nosed catfish. They are found throughout rivers and floodplain areas of the Amazon River in South America. One good thing about these species is that they are known for having the ability to eat algae. In addition, their adults are smaller in comparison to most other fish species you can see in many different fish stores. In terms of physical appearance, they come in wonderful, attractive and colorful patterns. They are characterized by their high level of tolerance to a vast range of water conditions and ability to breed easily in captivity. They are also “friendly” or “sociable” because they are compatible with other types of freshwater fish. When bristle- nosed female fish spawn, it is well for you to prevent their eggs from being excessively exposed to light to get rid of hatching them into albino baby fish.
The second specie we would like to suggest is the Zebra Pleco. Unlike the first specie aforementioned, they do not come with colorful patterns but patterns similar to that of a zebra. They are found in Xingu River, a tributary of the Amazon River. To this specie, carnivorous diet is more preferable. It is best for you to provide them with hiding places, subdued lighting and quiet company. The third freshwater fish specie in our list is named the Glass Catfish also known as Ghost Fish. They are unusual partly because they are transparent. Their maximum length is 6 inches. They are endemic to Southeast Asia. They are more into open swimming areas. Hence, you still need to provide them with planted area which serves as their hiding place. You must keep them as a group of at least five because of their timidity. And they can get along well with other species of similar size and temperament. When light strikes its body, you can see that the fish becomes an iridescent rainbow color. Additionally, with the use of a magnifying glass, you can see its heart beating.
The fourth fish specie in our list is called the Gold Nugget Pleco found in the Amazon River. They are known for being nocturnal. However, they may come out from their hiding places during daytime if they have gotten accustomed to the fish tank. Their maximum length is 7.8 inches. You must be careful in grouping them with other fish because they aggressive to smaller ones. The fifth unusual freshwater fish specie is the Marbled Hatchetfish which are found in South America. They are small in size normally 35 mm. long. They come in a hatched shape with a gold line extending from its eye to its caudal fin while the area below has a brown and cream colored marble- like pattern. They are known for having the ability to “fly” above the surface of the water by flapping its pectoral fins.
These are the 5 freshwater fish species we would like to suggest for your fish tank. It is a must for you to do extensive research on every specie of fish you plan to opt for to find out if it is really what you prefer.
About the Author
Buy unique species of freshwater fish at http://www.livefishforsale.com/freshwater-fish
Freshwater Fish Acclimation
May
6
How do I controll brown algae in my aquarium?
I have a 40 gal tropical fresh water aquarium, and it keeps getting brown algae on the rocks and on the glass. I run the lights about 12 hrs a day, keep the water at 76 degrees, and have no live plants. I keep about 12 quarter sized angel fish . I do partial water changes and clean the rocks and glass weekly. I would like to keep from adding extra chemicals. any suggestions please?
Your problem is light. Brown algae grows when there is light that’s either low intensity, or lower on the color spectrum.
If you have no live plants, reduce the hours of lighting the tank receives per day.
Keep in mind, brown algae is harmless to fish. Some fish even eat the stuff. There is no need to add chemicals to get rid of it as it’s really not dangerous to the fish. Reducing the amount of lighting your tank receives will reduce the amount of brown algae that grows.
Aquarium with algae
May
6
The great thing about starting up a tropical freshwater aquarium is it’s the best system for beginners. Tropical aquariums are
relatively cheap and the fish are usually hardy. Marine aquariums, with saltwater fish, are more expensive and you will
need a lot of knowledge and good techniques from the outset.
When you have purchased your aquarium you need remember these points:
Wash the gravel:
Put it in a bowl, place it under cold running water and keep stirring the gravel until the water that flows from it is clean.
Stir the gravel around vigorously to make absolutely sure you get it as clean as possible before returning the gravel to
your aquarium.
Decorating material:
Wash any decorative ornaments, plastic plants and rocks thoroughly using cold running water. If you have a background
secure it firmly to your aquarium..
Clean the tank:
Clean the inside of the aquarium with clean water, checking for leaks whilst doing so. Then empty the aquarium of water.
Is everything correct?
Before you fill the aquarium with water for your fish, check the filter (attaching firmly and ensuring no plants or rocks
are in the way), heater (attaching firmly and set at 27 degrees), ensure the light and the thermostat are positioned correctly.
(Do Not Turn Your Heater On At This Point)
Add the gravel:
Make sure that there’s a depth of 4 cm.
Add the water half way:
Now is the time to add your cleaned décor or plants easily. It is best to put the taller plants at the back and the smaller
one’s at the front, but its all in the eye of the beholder.
For ease of maintenance in the future you may want to consider using plastic plants.
Fish-Fish-Fish believe the Algarde ranges are the most realistic. If you use large rocks as decoration, make sure they are
firmly bedded in so that they can never topple.
Add the water all the way:
Watch out because if you fill it right to the brim, then later you want to change the arrangement and put your hands in and
the water overflows- whoops!
Important!! Condition the water:
Before adding any fish to your new aquarium you must remove all the chlorine from the water.
Chlorine/Chloramine can damage your fish and Fish-Fish-Fish recommend API Aquarium Stress Coat to assist in
treating your water.
Turn it all on:
Turn on your heater, lighting and filter systems. You should get a noise and a flow of bubbles when you turn the filter on.
This will settle to a more steady flow after a minute or two.
Before adding any fish, let the filter run for 5-7 days to let the aquarium settle.
You may notice that there maybe a lot of bubbles clinging to the glass – this is because tap water is pressurised and as the
cold water warms in the aquarium, gasses are released. Let these dissipate as they will disappear when aerated.
Make sure that the temperature is set correct, at about 27C.
Add the fish!!:
Add only a couple of fish to start off with.
Use the Equalising method, by floating the fish using the bag in which they were purchased. Leave them in the bag
floating for 30 minutes before releasing them.
(You must not over feed these fish, 1 small pinch of food every other day is sufficient at this time)
Adding more fish:
Before adding more fish make sure the existing fish living in your aquarium are happy.
It’s a good idea at this time to do a nitrite test and Fish-Fish-Fish recommend Hagen Nitrite Test Kit for this.
If your nitrite levels remain high, please phone Fish-Fish-Fish for advice. When the nitrite level is okay you can add more fish.
Fish-Fish-Fish always suggest adding a couple of fish at a time, take things slowly as there is no rush!
Once you have added more fish you need to feed them once a day.
If you have any queries or need advice in setting up your aquarium, Fish-Fish-Fish are only a phonecall away and will offer you
free advice anytime.
Maintenance of your aquarium:
Now you have successfully set up your aquarium you now need to keep it maintained.
This is vital to keeping your aquarium healthy and fish happy.
A typical aquarium maintenance schedule is as follows
1. Clean the Glass (every 3 days) :
Aquariums always have algae build up on the glass making the appearance of the aquarium unsightly.
This is very easy to remove using a combination of tools. Fish-Fish-Fish recommend Tetra Aquarium Glass Scraper.
2. Cleaning Gravel (every 2 weeks):
It is very important to clean your gravel to stop waste building up on the bottom of the aquarium.
It’s very easy to clean using a gravel cleaner and Fish-Fish-Fish recommend Rena Telescopic Vacuum Cleaner.
The way this product works is by siphoning the water from the aquarium (into a bucket) and as this is happens you push the
end of the cleaner into the gravel which in turn cleans it!
Make sure you don’t take to much water from your aquarium – 20% is about right.
3. Water Change (every 2 weeks):
This is best done at the same time as cleaning the gravel as you will already be taking 20% of the water out from the aquarium.
Put some fresh cold water in a big bucket to the volume of 20% of your aquarium. Add some API Aquarium Stress Coat
to the water in the bucket and leave to stand for a few hours. When you have done this top up your aquarium with the water
from the bucket It is very important to undertake regular water changes to dilute the nitrate.
4. Cleaning Your Filter (every 3 weeks):
Take the media from your filter. You will notice there are grades of sponge and some ceramic/plastic biological media.
The biological media must not be cleaned in tap water and instead must be cleaned in the aquarium water to keep the
beneficial bacteria alive. (This bacteria turns the fishes waste nitrite into nitrate. This is very important because nitrite is
poisonous to your fish where as nitrate is only dangerous in high levels). All the other media can be cleaned under tap water.
Knowledge:
Books are a great way of learning the basics and you can find a good selection on our website or you can also contact
Fish-Fish-Fish on 01799 550 943 or e-mail for any free advice you may need anytime.
About the Author
aquarium pond
Apr
19
IS THEIR A DIFFRENCE WITH A AQUARIUM AND A TERRARIUM?
I’m about to buy a bearded dragon and i was wondering if theirs anything wrong with using a aqurium that i use to use for my fishes?
An Aquarium holds water = aqua
An Terrarium holds earth = terra
for the tank, you can use an old aquarium and convert it to a terrarium.
Aquarium-Terrarium Hybrid
Apr
15
Setting up your first ever aquarium can be a daunting task. Whether it’s a goldfish starter kit or a giant tropical tank, if the same rules are followed it can be a walk in the park.
It is vitally important when getting any new pet to make sure you understand the needs and responsibilities they require to live a full and happy life. Keeping fish is no exception. The most important factor to remember when starting out in your fish keeping hobby is that your new pets are living in an environment that is un-natural and different to our own. The fishes environment is essentially its home, play area, bedroom and even toilet.
The Nitrogen Cycle
When an aquarium is first set up it has to go through a maturation process which we call the “Nitrogen Cycle”. This is a process of building up two main types of good bacteria in your tanks filter system which will keep the water clean and free from pollutions.
When a fish goes to the toilet, the waste that is produced is Ammonia. This waste is highly toxic to fish if allowed to build up. The first bacteria that colonises your filter is “Nitrosomonas”. Millions of these bacterias get to work consuming the ammonia and convert it into another chemical, Nitrite. Nitrite is slightly less toxic than ammonia but if left to build up in the aquarium it would soon become toxic. So the second form of bacteria to grow in your aquarium is called “Nitrobacters”. This bacteria consumes the nitrate in the aquarium and converts it into harmless nitrate. Nitrate must be dilluted by doing regular water changes as it can contribute to algae growth.
There are two main ways of going through the “Nitrogen Cycle”. The first way, after treating your water with a water conditioner to remove all chlorines and chloromines, is by adding a few hardy fish that can with stand the changing water conditions during the cycle and use these fish to feed the bacteria with ammonia. It is advised top use a bacterial supplement product such as Waterlifes bacterlife.
The second way is to use a synthetic ammonia additive to feed the bacteria and leave your tank fish free. This can take longer but will put less stress on your fish and is a more ethical way of maturing your tank.
The full process of the nitrogen cycle can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 8 weeks depending on your tank situation and how you choose to mature your tank. It is advisable to test your water regularly either at home or by bringing a water sample in store to be tested for free.
About the Author
Tropical fish Newcastle – Tyne Valley Aquatics – Aquarium and Pond Supplies – Sunderland, Durham
Mar
1
Aquarium Plants?
I was wondering if I could put any regular plant in an aquarium with fish, without the plant harming the fish. Because I have regular plants in pots that I would rather see in an aquarium than the kinds you buy in the store. So I was hoping i could put them in my aquarium
Nope, aquatic plants are of entirely different species than plants that grow outside of water and have different methods of absorbing nutrients, sorry. Even those that are grown submerged (roots in water, leaves out) by stores have to adjust and have a lot of leaves die out before they manage to recover and grow leaves that can handle being immersed in water.
If you don’t want to pay money to buy your plants from the store, go down to the nearest pond or lake and scrounge some plants up from the bottom. Just make sure you give them a good rinse in a weak bleach solution and then quarantine them for a week or two before you put them in with your fish so you don’t introduce any aquatic pests or diseases into your aquarium.
The advanced plant aquarium, Tropica Aquarium Plants
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