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Keep It Glowing With Aquarium Lighting by: Low Jeremy
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008 |
If you have your own aquarium at home, you need to take care of your fishes just like they were family because a bit of carelessness may cause them some trouble. You need to check if there is good aquarium lighting. This is important for aquarium plants and the fishes.
If your aquarium has poor aquarium lighting, your colorful fish may not be seen properly and it will also cause it to fade and turn the shades to other colors. If you want to have good aquarium lighting, you can choose between fluorescent or incandescent light.
If this is your first time to put up an aquarium, trying out the light may be from trial and error because you need to check if the light matches with the environment of your aquarium. Try to see first whether it is too dark or too light, then you can start adjusting the lights.
If you have too much aquarium lighting, it might cause the water to look green. If you have little light, it might cause to inhibit plant growth. You may choose whether you want artificial light or natural light. You can even make a combination to see which does better in giving light to your aquarium.
If you want the best aquarium lighting, you can place the light facing a window in the north. It is a good way to provide light in this manner because indirect lights are being spread. You can add artificial light to it if you want to. If it is daylight, it will be fine to shut the artificial lights off but when the natural light goes out, you need to let light stand in the aquarium for at least 8 hours.
You can also use light colored bulbs for your aquarium lighting. This will give impact to the nice colors of your fishes and the colors may even be enhanced. If you want your aquarium lighting to give a good effect to your aquarium, use light from behind. This will show the best features of your aquarium and the plant growth will stay healthy too.
Start gathering the best light that you wish to put in your aquarium. After setting up a good lighting, you might never take your eyes of your aquarium. A lot of people will surely notice and appreciate your aquarium because of the aquarium lighting that you have installed. |
posted by neptunus @ 5:02 PM
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Efficient Care Requirements For Aquarium Fish by: Low Jeremy
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You need not to purchase the most expensive kinds of fish just to set up the best aquarium. This can be luxurious already. What you need to know is the proper way of maintaining your aquarium to make it pleasing to the eyes at all times.
Besides all other aquarium supplies, the fish is the most important. It cannot be called an aquarium without the species that will swim into it. This can come in varying types depending on the aquarium you put up.
Aquarium fish can be purchased in extraordinary color patterns. It comes in red, white, green, purple and even blue. In most cases, the male fish has brighter color and longer fins than the female fish. Typically, the more vibrant is the better because it can add appeal inside the aquarium.
There is a specific lifespan for the fish. However, it can be changed through your maintenance. There are times that fish has longer lifespan but due to your negligence, it can be shorten to months instead of years. This will just be a waste of money so better to take note of this factor.
Below are some reminders for proficient care of your aquarium fish:
1. Have regular check for the unnecessary things that may fall into the aquarium.
Cleanliness is very essential for your maintenance. This will not concern the pleasing appeal of the aquarium alone but most particularly the health of the species residing in the habitat. You can use filtration supply on this matter. Cleaning habit can be done weekly or you can do it gradually if you see some falling food remains at the top of the aquarium.
2. Beware from buying aggressive species.
Peaceful types of fish are more advisable because aggressive specie can affect the entire habitat. One can kill the other. Prevent this scenario to happen because you can probably end up with your aquarium to nothing.
3. Do not overfeed the aquarium fish.
Some fish are only required to be fed once a day although others are for twice. Overfeeding is not helpful nor will it make your fish grow larger instantly. Many cases have shown that it can cause death to your fish.
4. When changing the water, add product that will remove chlorine in the water.
Chlorine can be toxicant for your fish. You can purchase products from pet stores in order to eliminate the amount of chlorine in the water.
If you care for your fish, then better follow the advice that will cater your aquarium fish needs. |
posted by neptunus @ 2:58 AM
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Aquarium Tank Basics by: Nathan Miller
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Sunday, September 28, 2008 |
Any new aquarium tank should first be given a thorough test to ensure that it is watertight. If after 12 hours there are no leaks, it may be emptied and placed in its final position.
Now all is ready to set up the aquarium, for this work we shall require various items such as sand, rocks etc. These will be death with in order. For making a bottom soil, you need, first of all some sand, the most suitable is called 1/16th grade and it is about the size of the average pin-head:
The gravel to be used must also be graded; that is, the gram must be of uniform size. Sand and gravel’s sold in aquarium supply stores are always graded, but if you buy elsewhere they may nor be. Gravel grains 2-5mm work best.
If you use nothing, but sand, it must be well washed-in buckets, under running water until no more dirt or foam comes to the surface - and spared out on the bottom of the tank in a layer running from 3- 6cm thick sloping upwards from front to back. If you decide to mix the sand with gravel to make at least a layer 6cm deep on top of the subgravel filter since less than this amount reduces the filtering capacity of the tank.
Your tank is the basic element, and is of the most important in building an aquarium. The size of the tank depends on the number and size of fish you plan to have in it. That is why proper planning is quite essential when you want to set up aquarium.
But then it is important to make it as big as you can afford. By all means avoid a globe tank as much as possible. Rectangle shape is always good because of various reasons you will discover later.
Option 1: You can buy ready made glass tanks already sealed professionally set up aquarium tank at any aquarium store.
Option 2: Buy ready-made plastic models through distributors or mould-extrusion manufacturers and put your aquarium tank together yourself. Below are the tools you need and the steps you need to take to set up completely new aquarium tank:
Tools:
Sheet of glass (4mm to 12mm) Silicone sealant (clear and transparent) Silicone gun or (syringe) Dulling stove Tape rule Sheet of paper, ruler, pencil and eraser napkin (x2) newspaper hand glove (rubber type) methylated spirit blade knife toilet soap and soap case masking tape flat bench (made with plywood) 1/4 flash water and siphon hose buckets (x2) polythese sheet about the size of the table Other than that, I'll give you my 12 essential aquarium tips below is a great start on your way to having a beautiful aquarium full of happy and health fish that you can be proud of:
1. Location of the tank in a spot which is draft free and has a moderate amount of light for 8 to 10 hours. This will ensure the safety of the tank and the inhabitants.
2. Location of the aquarium tank where water spillage a day will do no damage, at a height convenient for working, and in a place where it will not have to be moved.
3. Proper sand gravel (not too large, not too fine).
4. Conditioned water - free of chlorine, dirt, excess hardness, excess acidity, or excess alkalinity. Hard, acidic, dirty water is not suitable for an aquarium. It will make life uncomfortable for fish and leads to constant fish death.
5. Availability of plants properly place is highly essential.
6. Proper, even temperature for the fish species.
7. Decoration and furnishing if you desire them.
8. Aeration to supply additional oxygen.
9. Filtration to remove excesses waste products.
10. Fish which will live peacefully together.
11. Food to keep them health.
12. Kits and utensils to make maintenance easy. |
posted by neptunus @ 6:08 PM
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Fish Aquarium by: Daniel Roshard
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Saturday, September 27, 2008 |
A fish lovers work is never done, some of us that love and appreciate fish know this for a fact, the never ending search for new kinds of fish to place in our aquariums alone is enough to make some people tired already. The maintenance and energy that one needs to put into having an impressive aquarium in his house is something that easily equals a full time job. Nevertheless it is a passion that has touched many, and many more discover that there is something very special and unique to growing fish and having an aquarium of any size in your home.
Fish are very common pets when you think of it, in almost any pet shop you will find an abundance of fish, someone can foolishly think that this means that most people are familiar with the knowledge of growing them, it is not necessarily true. While most of the fish growers enthusiasm starts at a young age, and in fact most of the lovers of fish start as young boys and girls staring at the pet shop window wishing to get some fish, once you have a couple of fish you start realizing that you will have to do much more than just fill a tank of water and feed the fish every couple of days.
With this realization you would also understand that the sum of money that you have intended for this purpose is probably going to be a little bigger than what you initially planed, and form here the story starts. The passion is to have a unique aquarium that holds many different types of fish, to add as many features to the aquarium and make it as harmonious as possible, even as natural as possible to reflect a true way of living in a sense.
Since the fish market has much to offer a aquarium fish grower can almost never run out of more options to make his aquarium richer and more colorful, but also healthier and stronger. The race in the technology in providing better aquarium equipment that we maintain the aquarium needs better is never ending, the products are not very expensive at first but as you start to grow you aquarium to larger sizes you will need to invest wisely in the maintenance produces you use.
The last part of the article is devoted to the design of the aquarium, we have all seen those movies in which the bad guy has a huge aquarium with sharks swimming round in it, this is somewhat the average dream for the average fish grower, and although it is not probable that many growers will get this, some will, but everyone tries and makes their fish aquarium look better. The design of the aquarium has a lot to do with the person that has it, it is not only the basic design of the aquarium, but of what is in it, what it uses as an aquarium stand and the placing of the whole thing. A lot of effort goes into this part and I hope that when you spot a nice aquarium you let the owner know he is doing something right. |
posted by neptunus @ 6:52 PM
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Aquarium Fish Health: White Spot Disease Symptoms And Cures by: Nathan Miller
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Friday, September 26, 2008 |
Fish death is one of the main problems that beginner aquarist and even some expert aquarist face. It’s frustrating to the extent that most quit keeping aquarium fish.
But fish death can be avoided. Most fish deaths are caused as a result of both an internal and external types parasites that compete with the fish in tank.
As a result if you watch your aquarium fish often you should be able to discover when they have been infected by this parasite and be able to treat them to avoid fish death.
Look out for the following White Spot disease behavioral symptoms in your fish.
- Constant lying on the bottom or hanging at the surface.
- Rubbing of the body against rocks
- Gasping at the water surface
- No response to feeding
- General dullness and lethargy
- Hovering in a corner
- Fish swimming with clamps up
The most common of the visible signs is the development of the pin head-size while spots on the body or fins. This ailment is referred to as White Spot disease and is caused by the parasite - Ichthyophthirius Multifillis.
This parasite has a free-swimming stage, which attaches itself to the fish. The most common chemical used in treating infected fishes is Methylene Blue. You could buy a one per cent stock solution from a reputable chemist or aquarium shop and apply at 0.8 to 1.0ml per gallon of water. This amount should be added all at once. Repeat after one or two days.
The fishes must remain in this bath until every while spot has disappeared. A water change after treatment is necessary or else prolonged contact with the chemical may affect the fertility of the fish.
Another tip if you are using a side filter with activated charcoal should remove it to prevent the coal from absorbing the Methylene Blue.
Another tip... during treatment you should use artificial aeration with coarse bubbles near the surface, since a dirty bottom would inactivate the medicament by absorption. A better measure is to remove all dirt from the bottom before treatment.
Methylene Blue is harmless to young fish and unlike the general belief, it does not affect plants if used in weaker concentration |
posted by neptunus @ 10:06 PM
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Aquarium Questions - Cleaning Your Aquarium? by: Addison Ercanbrack
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Wednesday, September 24, 2008 |
When the mosses mix with the water, the water becomes dense and sticky. Mosses live through in the oxygen in the water. They excrete carbon dioxide that causes the water to become stinky.
* Why is my aquarium green?
The green colors that appear in your aquarium are mosses. They are water plants that serve as foods for the fishes. Sometimes the green pigment will mix with the water causing it to blur.
* How do I clean my aquarium?
When your aquarium already has noticeable mosses around it and already emits an unpleasant smell, it's time to clean your aquarium. Cleaning an aquarium is as easy as washing dishes in the sink. All you have to do is remove the fish in your aquarium first. Transfer them temporarily to a bowl or a pail with water. After transferring the fish into the bowl remove and discard the stinky water in your aquarium. Remove all other equipment in your aquarium including rocks and accessories.
Wipe your aquarium with a smooth surface sponge so that the glass will not be scratched. You may use other glass cleaning substances but be sure to rinse the glass thoroughly before putting the fish back in. The substances you have used may contaminate your pets and can damage their skin. If you use tap water to refill your tank, be sure to treat it first with a chorine neutralizer. Again, the chlorine in tap water can damage fish and frog's skin.
* What cleaning supplies do I need for my aquarium?
Cleaning your aquarium does not need complicated tools, supplies and processes. All you need are smooth-surface sponges, a small amount of glass cleaner and water. A small brush may also be used to clean your aquarium accessories. Soap may also be ideal to use instead of glass cleaner. Just be sure that whatever substance you use you clean thoroughly. As mentioned above, the cleaners may contaminate and damage your pet. So, be sure to rinse the aquarium well.
* What do I do with the fish when I clean my aquarium?
In cleaning your aquarium, you have to transfer your fish into a bowl with water that has been treated in advance with a chlorine neutralizer. Use a net to transfer fish to avoid accidents. Catch the fish and slowly transfer them into the bowl of treated water.
About The Author
Addison Ercanbrack is a regular contributor to aquarium and fish-related resources such as http://www.AquariumsTips.com. |
posted by neptunus @ 7:07 PM
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Aquarium tips
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Tuesday, September 23, 2008 |
Aquarium Tip 1. Be sure to take the growth of fish you want into account. Some fish go out of your tank fast (plecos common, Chinese algae eater)! While some remain relatively low (tetras, Corys).
Aquarium Tip 2 If you can afford, and a pool of more than 50g, consider making canister 2 filters. It is better filtration, it is preferable for water flow and reduces the risk of algal blooms or ammonia spikes, you are able to alternate cleaning the filter (own one month and another next month). So perhaps get nominal 2 filters to 100g, instead of one side to 200g.
Tips Aquarium 3 Get fish that meet your requirements of the water. It is much easier to fish than to try to adapt your water for fish.
Aquarium Council 4 Stability in water is one of the most important keys to the success of the aquarium.
Aquarium Council 5 Research and research a little bit more. Know what you are getting into.
Aquarium Board 6 Join a forum fish such as the forum AC aquarium
Aquarium Tip 7 Learn more about the fish you are going to buy before then.
Aquarium Tip 8 Keep a clean container with the weekly water changes
Aquarium Tip 9 Do not overfeed your fish
Aquarium Tip 10 Always round of the tank in the beginning
11 Tips Aquarium Make sure you have a set temperature before adding new fish
12 Tips Aquarium Test your water at least twice a week
13 Tips Aquarium Acclimate your fish.
Aquarium Tip 14 Trick is to feed your fish a balanced diet, having more than one type of food I feed my fish Ocean Nutrition community formula (comprising mainly seafood) Hikari algae discs, and small lettuce, carrots minced bits. This will support the long life of your fisheee fwends! (This will support the long life of your fisheee fwends!)
Aquarium Tip 15 Quarantine new fish and other plants for a few weeks to avoid introducing the disease to current stock.
Tip Aquarium 16 (similar to the peak 1) Do not buy fish that do not correspond to the size of your tank. Pleco of the town, Oscars, Bala sharks go in large tanks.
17 Tips Aquarium Do not try to have a full tank of Angelfish. It does not work because of the aggression.
18 Tips Aquarium Get as large a tank you can afford. A), you always want to larger B) = Increase the more stable parameters of water (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, temperature)
Aquarium Tip 19
Remember that the shell is a small fraction of the total cost of an aquarium .. There is the filter, the substrate heater, fish, lighting, food for fish ...
Aquarium Tip 20 Get a timer for your lights. And reduce stress to your fish in the aquarium lights go off, then close the lights of the room 15 minutes later. They do not like the light of the sudden changes.
21 Tips Aquarium Only on your lights for a maximum of 12 hours per day. Fish need sleep, too.
Aquarium paragraph 22 Stock of the tank you have, not what you expect to have
Aquarium paragraph 23 Remember to turn your water heater before a change (or turning them back later |
posted by neptunus @ 7:14 PM
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Aquarium Lighting
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Monday, September 22, 2008 |
Different aquariums need different types of lighting and understanding, it is one of the keys to successful maintenance of the aquarium.
Fish aquarium and lighting Unlike plants, fish do not perform photosynthesis and are therefore not as dependent on the light of their day to day survival. There are in fact quite a large number of fish species that have adapted to living in caves or deep in the ocean where no light at all. Most aquarium species, however, will appreciate the sense of day and night in the aquarium, because that is what they are used for nature. The development of a color reproduction of color, for example, be unnecessary if the black, it was impossible for any other fish to see.
In incandescent or fluorescent lamps? Because fish do not perform photosynthesis, they are not really your choice of light. Incandescent lamps will be producing a lot of heat and can make the water near the hot light. Since the fluctuations in water temperature can be dangerous for your fish, fluorescent lamps are a safer choice. They are slightly more expensive, but on the other hand money on your electricity bill. Fluorescent lamps are also more similar to sunlight and fish to look more colorful and bright in the aquarium.
How many hours? If you have fish that originates in the tropical or subtropical, they prefer about 12 hours of light per day, all year. Fish that live farther from the equator are used to long summer days and short winter days. The easiest way to provide your fish with a stable light wise, of course, to connect the lights of the aquarium to a timer.
Too much light? While most fish species appreciates the sense of day and night, a strong light can make them shy and some will even reduce their colors. This is particularly true for species that come disorder waters or environments where the sun is filtered through floating plants or canopies of overhanging trees. The addition of floating plants to the establishment normally solve the problem.
Too much light will also promote excessive growth of algae in the aquarium. In an aquarium fish only, no more than 3 watts of lighting per gallon of water is recommended. If you keep live plants, you can use stronger lights without causing algal bloom since live plants and algae compete for the same nutrients.
Aquarium plants and lighting How many light of your planted aquarium will need depends on which species of plants you have chosen. It is therefore important to find the light of the requirements of a plant species before you decide to use it in your aquarium. There are many species of plants that grow, even if you put them in an aquarium with no other source of light than normal fluorescent lighting for aquarium fish-only aquarium. In the other end of the spectrum, you find extremely light demanding species of plants that need the strongest available type of fluorescent lamps or even more powerful lighting to survive and retain their color. Be especially careful with species that grow near the surface in clear tropical waters. Species of plants that develop red leaves are also known to be very light taste.
Corals and lighting aquarium Keeping coral is very popular among saltwater aquarium, but most corals will really need powerful lighting and not even the strongest fluorescent lamps will be enough for them. Metal halide lights are common to these aquariums. There are coral species that grow far into the ocean depths where light is scarce, but a vast majority of the population aquarium species grows near the surface under the tropical sun and forms strong relationships symbiosis with algae requiring light green door to photosynthesis. |
posted by neptunus @ 9:57 PM
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Aquarium Cycling
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Sunday, September 21, 2008 |
The process known as the bicycle is a necessary way to cultivate bacteria in a new aquarium. Bacteria are needed to break down waste from fish and other inhabitants in the aquarium. An aquarium will always need a combination of cultures of bacteria adapted and frequent changes of water to stay clean and provide fish with a good environment. If you add the fish in an aquarium cycling badly, they can quickly get sick or even die, since their waste products pollute water. Some fish are more tolerant to moderate levels of soluble than other waste, but not appreciate an aquarium fish with high levels of these toxic compounds.
Cycling basic method is based on progressively adding fish in the aquarium during a period of several weeks. There are several ways to jump from this method. If you already have an aquarium, or know someone who has, you can use this maturity colony of bacteria in a new Jumpstart your new aquarium. Gravel and biological filter media is a rich source for bacteria. Keep in mind that even the harmful bacteria can be included when you use the filter media and gravel from another aquarium. It is therefore imperative to choose water from an aquarium healthy. Another way of jumpstarting the new colony of bacteria is to buy water with additives small populations of bacteria adapted from a fish shop.
A new bicycle method known as the "cycle of fishless' has become very popular in recent years. During a fishless cycle, you do not relay on the fish to produce sufficient quantities of waste products startup culture bacteria. Instead, you add small amounts of ammonia in water during the cycle. This simulates the process of normal cycle as the bacteria feed on ammonia. Since you do not fish in the aquarium to act as guinea pigs, it will be even more important to test the levels of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.
Another way cycling is the "cycle of silence", where you fill the aquarium densely planted with aquatic plants. Choose plants that are hardy and grow quickly. During a cycle of silence, the levels of bacteria is generally very low and nitrogen is consumed by plants. This is still a relatively unusual method bike. Some aquarium plants not only effectively cycle the aquarium, but also lower spikes of nitrates and ammonia levels that are often seen during the most common methods cycling.
The reason for the need bike is good that the balance found in a natural ecosystem need help from the aquarium in an enclosed area as an aquarium. It is almost impossible to make a perfect balance in the aquarium, and frequent water changes will be required. The aquarium will also ensure that the processes that occur on their own in the wild takes place in the aquarium as well. One such process is cycling.
Many aquarists beginners start with a small aquarium, but a large aquarium is actually much easier to take when it comes to water chemistry. A small piece of food that is left to rot in a small aquarium can pollute the entire environment, while a small piece of rotting food can cause a slight change in the levels of soluble waste really in a large aquarium where there is a lot more water than can absorb the shock systemic.
The cycle of the aquarium is closely linked to the so-called nitrogen cycle. The nitrogen cycle is a process where waste products produced by the creatures living in the aquarium are transformed into nitrate. In your aquarium, animals, fungi, and certain types of bacteria produce waste products. These wastes contain ammonia. Ammonia is also produced when matter is decomposed dead, as dead aquatic plants, left on food and shredded fish scales.
These products can be converted by a type of bacteria of the genus Nitrosomonas. Nitrosomonas were nitrifying consume and excrete ammonia and nitrites. Like ammonia, nitrites are highly toxic and high levels of nitrites will seriously harm or even kill your fish. Fortunately, a good balance eco-system will contain another type of bacteria - the kind Nitrospira. Nitrospira bacteria convert nitrate to nitrite. Nitrates are not as toxic as nitrite and the inhabitants of the aquarium will not tolerate better than nitrate and nitrite to ammonia. This does not mean you can allow nitrate levels sky-rocket. You should always strive to maintain levels of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates low.
If you keep live plants in your aquarium, they will also help remove waste products because they can metabolize ammonia and nitrate. They remove ammonia and nitrate in water and include it in their biomass. This means that the removal will be temporary; plants release nitrogen compounds in water as a new old leaves die and decomposes.
In an enclosed space like an aquarium, only a portion of the nitrogen cycle will take place. Nitrogen should always be added outside the aquarium (which is essentially what you do when you feed your fish). On the other end of the cycle, nitrates accumulate and must be removed by water changes. If the aquarium are not enough bacteria to convert all waste products into less harmful compounds, you will need a certain type of filter or make frequent water changes. A biological filter is a way designed to nitrifying bacteria to colonize and thrive in. active carbon filters may also help maintain levels of soluble waste to the extent of activated charcoal absorbs nitrogen and other toxic compounds.
As mentioned above, you can buy cultures of bacteria fish stores to jump start the cycle again in your aquarium. When choosing between different products, you should be aware that some of them could contain bacteria Nitrobacter instead of Nitrospira bacteria. Nitrobacter bacteria were earlier seems to be the main converters content of nitrite and nitrate it is true that Nitrobacter bacteria can convert nitrate into nitrite. Attention studies in aquariums with a well-established nitrogen cycle have shown that levels of bacteria Nitrobacter in such aquariums are close to undetectable. Nitrospira bacteria also were found in large quantities |
posted by neptunus @ 8:26 PM
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Safe Rock and Wood Aquascaping
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Saturday, September 20, 2008 |
An aquarium without decoration seldom looks good and there are numerous ways to decorate or "aquascape" your aquarium. Some prefer to use unnatural decorations using plastic plants and sunken plastic ships, divers and treasure chests, other prefer a more natural feel. This article will focus on the later but everything you learn in this equally true if you choose to decorate an unnatural aquarium. Especially if you don't buy all the decorations in a pet store but also use decorations you found or made yourself.
Before allowing anything to enter your aquarium, it is very important to make sure that it is safe for aquarium use. Never use anything without knowing for sure that it is safe. There are numerous reasons to why a piece of decoration can be none aquarium safe and that therefore not are to be used in aquascaping and there are some decorations that only are suitable in certain types of aquariums as they affect water values.
To be completely aquarium safe a piece of aquarium decoration should be non toxic and not affect the water chemistry or physics in any way. If a decoration affects the water chemistry or physics it can still be a good in certain aquariums where the effect they have are positive. Lime stone decorations are as an example beneficial in the aquascaping in an Lake Malawi aquarium as it helps buffer the high pH. The same effect would be very damaging in a discus or other low pH soft water aquarium.
Today there are a lot of ways to very exactly measure the existence of just about any chemical compound. These methods are however only seldom available to the aquarist and aquarists have to make sure that the decoration they use are safe in more primitive ways. There are simple ways to check for certain quality in a piece of decoration such as pouring a drop or two of vinegar on a piece of decoration to test for the present of chalk. It will start to bubble if there are chalk present. (Chalk raises pH). These easy methods usually only checks for the presence of certain compound and will therefore not guarantee that the tested decoration is safe. The easiest way to test for "all" possible dangers is test using the decoration in an aquarium with "guinea pig" fish. Make sure to use same type of water that you are going to use in your aquarium in the test aquarium and boil the decoration before putting it in the test setup. If the fish seems healthy and happy after 2-3 weeks in the test setup and the water parameters remain the same during the test period it usually means that the piece of decoration is safe. At least in a setup similar to the test setup. It should however be noted that this method isn't 100% safe unless a considerable longer test period is used. 2-3 weeks are enough to make the findings reasonable reliable. Be sure not to use a too hardy species in the test as it might survive and thrive in conditions that would kill the fish you plan to have in the aquarium in question.
Early in this article I said that I was going to focus on natural ways to decorate your aquarium and this primarily mean aquscaping the aquarium using roots, rocks and plants even if other things such as leaves sometimes are used. I will not say anything about that as that is an entirely different topic but it can be good to know that some plants are toxic and not suitable to be used in aquariums. Even some plants sold in pet stores are can release toxins if broken and should therefore not be used.
There are 3 main sources of the roots and rocks needed for your aquscaping.
Pet stores Other stores In the wild Many people will tell you that the decorations attained in the pet stores are safe and that the risks raises the further down the list you go. I.e. that the risks of getting toxic or otherwise unsuitable is the largest with roots or stones collected in the wild. The truth is however not that simple. You can not be sure that everything you can buy in the pet store is aquarium safe and you should preferable test every piece of decoration you get regardless of where you get them. There is as an example a lot of decoration that affects the pH of your water in your local pet shop. It is worth remembering that even if a product have been sealed to make it non reactive with your water the seal might brake and the decoration start leaking toxins or affect your water.
It is true that roots or rocks collected in the wild are more likely to cause you problem than the counterpart from the zoo regardless of how you treat the roots and rocks. You should however despite this take the same precautions regardless of the source of the decoration as the risk is present regardless of source.
Things and especially wood found under water is often referred to as safer as and more suitable for aquariums than things found on land. This might be true but they are still not guaranteed to be safe and should still be tested. I benefit of wood found under water is that it usually is waterlogged and sinks. Dry wood often has lower density and the water and need to be kept in place artificially to prevent it from floating up.
Some roots, rocks or other decorations can be unsuitable for an aquarium even if they are totally no reactive with the water in your aquarium. This is as example the case with very sharp rocks as sharp rocks can hurt your fish.
When you finally have found your aquarium decorations you need to put together you aquascaping and it is than important to remember that the aquarium decoration shouldn't only be beautiful but also offer the fish an environment they thrive in. The aquascaping should allow the fish the possibility to form territories, to hide and find shelter, to find suitable breeding grounds and to show any other behavior the fish species in question might have.
There are many ways to create a beautiful aquarium but there are some tips that can be good to try and remember. Avoid symmetry. Nature is chaos and a too neatly ordered aquarium will look strange. Try to great a few natural focus points in the aquariums and try to create contrast between areas next to each other in the aquarium, Plant narrow leafed plants next to round leafed plants etc. Think through the aquascaping before getting started and try to stick to the intended plan and the thought behind it as much as possible. |
posted by neptunus @ 3:55 PM
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Aquarium decoration By: William Berg
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Tuesday, September 16, 2008 |
Most aquarist wants to keep a beautiful aquarium with healthy fishes. An important part in setting up such an aquarium is aquarium decorations. The aquarium decoration gives the fishes places to hide and fills a series of other important functions for the fishes as well as creating a more stimulating landscape for the viewer. In short aquarium decorations have both practical and aesthetical use. There are a large number of different decorations that can be used in aquariums and I thought I should guide you through a few of them.
Many people have preferences regarding what should and should not be used as aquarium decoration. An example is that many believe that one should not use any unnatural objects such as plastic ships as aquarium decoration but you should choose to use whatever you feel like when decorating your aquarium as long as it not harmful to the fish. It’s your aquarium and you should like it not everyone else.
One of the first things you should choose is a background for your aquarium. Aquarium backgrounds can be very cheap or very expensive depending on what kind of look you want and on your budget. The cheapest choice as background in aquarium decoration is simple painting the back of the aquarium. Another cheap option is printed pictures that you attach to the back of your aquarium. On the more exclusive side you have background that are made to look just as a natural landscape and are put inside the aquarium. They are really beautiful, but unfortunately expensive. Other aquarium decorations for the background include mirrors, pieces of cork and much more.
I should no talk about the aquarium decorations you put inside your aquarium and will start with some of the more natural options that exists.
Stone and rocks make excellent aquarium decorations. A commonly ask question is whether you can use stones you found as aquarium decorations and the simple answer is yes. However there are some catches first of you should never use that can effect your pH levels or stones that might contain toxins. One test you could do is drop a weak acid on a stone and se if it reacts. If it does it is properly not suitable for use in aquarium decoration. If your not sure to the answer to those questions its better if you buy your stone to make sure they are suitable. Rocks could be set to create caves which many fishes will appreciate.
There are also fake rocks that look very much like real rocks. They fill the exact same functions as aquarium decoration and you can use whether to use real or fake stone. Fake stones are however normally much more expensive.
Another good source of aquarium decoration is drift wood and mangrove. Rots like these can be very decorative in an aquarium and some fishes require driftwood to thrive even though they might survive without it. Drift wood should only be used as aquarium decoration in aquariums with soft slightly acid water since wood might lower pH levels and the hardness of the water.
Corals and shells should generally be avoided in fresh water aquariums if possible and especially coral since this are dead corals and the collecting of corals can be harmful to the reefs. In marina aquariums on the other hand corals might be an important part to setup an environment your fishes thrive in. And in this case the coral hasn’t been killed and should hopefully live for many years in your aquarium.
Another living aquarium decoration is plants however I will not write about them here but should rather move on to more unnatural aquarium decorations.
And I will start with different kind of glass marbles. Glass marbles can be used as aquarium decoration but should no that they are not a good bottom substrate out of a biological standpoint since it hard for a good bacteria flora to develop. So if you want to use marbles to add some colour to your aquarium you should preferable have another more functional substrate below and just a small layer of marbles on the top. Treasure chests, skulls, divers and ships in plastic are all suitable as aquarium decoration and even though the opinion about there attractiveness as aquarium decoration might differ many fishes like them as they would any other aquarium decoration. The fish doesn’t care whether it has a plastic skull or a ceramic pot as aquarium decoration. And since they are not harmful there really isn’t anything wrong with them as long as you like them.
Ceramics are excellent aquarium decoration and most ceramic decorations can be used as aquarium decorations as long as that they not have to sharp edges. Be aware however that it might grow algae on it that might be hard to remove once you finish using it as an aquarium decoration.
Even though I personally think that real plant are superior to fake plants as aquarium decorations there are situations when fake plants might be a better choice like for example when you keep plant eating fish. There are a lot of fake plants that look relatively real today and you would be able to create a beautiful aquarium using fake plants if you for whatever reason do not want to use real plants.
This has only been a short intro to a few of all the aquarium decorations that there are out there and new ones like sand waterfalls and underwater light shows are coming out on the market all the time. So make sure that you decorate your aquarium so that you and the fishes like it. The rest is up to you. |
posted by neptunus @ 7:40 PM
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Aquarium Decoration
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Monday, September 15, 2008 |
In this part of the articles library you will find information about different types of aquarium decorations and what to think about when you select, purchase and arrange them. Aquarium decoration is not only beautiful for the aquarist to admire; the fish will also appreciate an aquarium that is decorated instead of barren. If you arrange your aquarium decorations properly they will form hiding places and natural borders and make the aquarium more like the natural environment for fish. Natural borders can help to reduce the amount of aggression in an aquarium. If you want to introduce a new fishes, you can rearrange the aquarium decorations and break up all the old territories in order to make the old inhabitants less territorial and give the new fishes a chance to claim their own territories.
Cave dwelling fish species will love aquarium decorations that form caves, holes and crevices. Fish that live in densely grown waters will appreciate plants and other types of tiny hiding places. An intelligent and curious fish that is bored in your aquarium can perk up significantly when you give him a plastic diver that is blowing bubbles. Aquarium decorations can even be used as spawning sites for many fish species. Plants are one form of aquarium decoration that can play a much larger part in the aquarium than simply being beautiful. Plants will bind carbon dioxide and oxygenate the water. They will also use organic waste products as nutrition and thereby remove potentially harmful compounds from the water. Some aquarists use cheap but sensitive aquatic plants as canaries in the aquarium. If the water suddenly goes bad, the plant will die before the fish and the aquarist will notice the problem and be able to handle it before the fish begin to die.
Some people find aquarium decorations tacky and want their aquarium to be as clean and sterile as possible when it comes to decorations, but the fish do not care about fashion – they care about sheltering places, a varied environment and things to investigate. Today, there are fortunately a lot of beautiful and stylish aquarium decorations to choose among and even the pickiest minimalist can find something to his or her liking.
It is common for aquarium decorations to consist of natural materials; such as rock, wood or coral. These are commonly used in set ups that have been arranged in order to look as natural as possible. An aquarium can be like a tiny piece of the true habitat for the fish species. Some aquarists will for instance set up an aquarium with Tanganyika cichlids, and turn the aquarium into a small replica of the part of Lake Tanganyika where the selected species live; including Lake Tanganyika plants and a substrate that is similar to the sandy bottom in Lake Tanganyika. There are also plenty of artificial aquarium decorations that can look very realistic. Plastic plants can for instance be a good idea in an aquarium with plant eating fish species. Coral replicas and artificial anemones are popular in saltwater aquariums. If you are a beginner saltwater aquarists, it is recommend to start out with a fish only aquarium and use artificial coral and anemones as aquarium decoration, since corals and anemones are hard to keep and have very particular requirements.
In addition to the natural or natural looking aquarium decorations, there are also a wide range of aquarium decorations that would not normally be found in a lake, river or ocean. It can for instance be fantasy sea monsters from fairytales or copies of the Egyptian pyramids. Sculls, bones, shipwrecks, and half buried treasure boxes are also popular. Some fish keepers like the idea of a sunken Atlantis and decorate their aquarium with statues and temple ruins.
It is very important that you only use aquarium decorations that are safe to use in aquariums. If you have a saltwater aquarium, you should make sure that they are saltwater-safe as well. If you place normal decorations that are not intended for aquarium use in the water they might leak toxic compounds. It is for instance common for many types of ornaments to contain minerals that will be dissolved by the water and slowly poison your fish. If you pick stones, wood etcetera from the wild you can introduce harmful organisms to your aquarium, e.g. parasites, fungus, virus and bacteria. |
posted by neptunus @ 11:51 PM
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Tropical Fish Aquarium
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Sunday, September 14, 2008 |
Tropical fish are beautiful and are brilliant for keeping at home provided that they have the right habitat. When thinking of keeping tropical fish always remember to have a suitable home for them, a large enough tank, clean fresh water, a tank that resembles their natural habitat and plenty of food. When fish are happy then they are likely to live longer so making sure that you fish has all those things mentioned then you are already on your way to being a great fish keeper.
There are several types of fish that you can have in your tropical fish aquarium. You can keep smaller fish such as Neon’s, Tetras, Angel fish, Guppies and Gourami’s or you can keep larger fish for example cichlids or Malawi’s. When it comes to cichlids and Malawi's there are different types of fish that fall into these categories. Cichlids are well known to be like cannibals, there are fish such as Oscars, black belts, jaguars, parrots and Jack Dempsey’s to name a few. The list goes on. Malawi cichlids have fish like Black Doral’s, blue nose, chidunga and luhuchi to name a few.
Tropical fish aquariums are made up with freshwater. The water needs to be completely purified, no salt or chlorine in the water. The best thing to do is set up your tank about four weeks before purchasing any fish and let the bacteria cycle, this will give your fish the best start in your tank. You get what is known as new tank syndrome, if you put your fish in the tank too soon. The bacteria has not had enough time to build up and the fish suffer. The bacteria is extremely important as this is what gets rid of the fish waste and if there is not enough bacteria the waste gathers and becomes toxic to the fish. This is also why a lot of learning needs to be done. Never use fresh water always take out boiled tank water to clean your filter so that you don’t destroy the good bacteria! When cleaning the gravel in your tropical aquarium always remember to have some water prepared a few weeks beforehand. Fill up a bucket of water and leave some chlorine solution in it. This will also help to protect your fish.
A tropical fish aquarium is an absolutely stunning piece of furniture for any home but it does require constant attention, so you have to make sure that you know what is involved before getting into fish keeping. If you are ready for the challenge and you can keep your tank clean and your fish happy, then there is no reason why you can't be a great fish keeper, good luck! |
posted by neptunus @ 6:53 PM
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Tropical Aquarium
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Saturday, September 13, 2008 |
Tropical Aquariums are for keeping tropical fish, but you can have two different types of fish, saltwater or freshwater. Saltwater fish obviously needs saltwater and the salt needs to be a regulated level along with the PH and temperature. Freshwater fish need to have fresh purified water, both of these set ups need the good bacteria that helps to keep the aquariums clean. Tropical aquariums that contain saltwater are only for saltwater fish. If you put a freshwater fish in this tank it will die! Saltwater fish are made to stand the levels of salt and are essential for the fish to breath and move. If salt wasn’t present they would die a death like suffocation. In saltwater aquariums you need to make sure that there are living rocks in it, this means rocks that already have the good bacteria present. You then need to leave the rock in the tank for at least two months before putting any fish in, this is to get a bacteria cycle on the go. Once the bacterium has built up, I set up the filter. After that it is safe to add the fish. Freshwater tropical aquariums are for fish that need clear and clean water. This water has to be chlorine and ammonia free. The freshwater tank also needs to be set up and cycling for at least four weeks before adding any fish to it, as this will help the bacteria to build and make sure that the ammonia levels are kept to a bare minimum, ammonia is a substance that will kill our fish as it makes breathing for them very hard to do. You know when your tank has very high levels of ammonia because the fish are at the top of the tank struggling to breath but the trick is not to change the water, what to do is clean out the filter in some of the tank water (in a separate bowl of course) and then put it back in within a day or so. The water will be in a completely better condition. Purchase a water test kit to check your levels or nutrients before putting in your fish, they are not expensive but are a great help. Tropical aquariums are stunning ornaments in any household! Just make sure that you don’t forget about the work and responsibility involved, they may be fish but they are still alive and should of course be kept that way! |
posted by neptunus @ 7:57 AM
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Marine Aquariums
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Friday, September 12, 2008 |
You basically have to be a chemist to do a marine aquarium set up, they require a lot of dedication time and effort, you are looking at about half a hour per day at least. The aquarium set up is difficult to master and then taking care of the fish that go in the marine is even harder. I'm not trying to put you of. I’m just warning you that this is for no light hearted or easy going fish friend, this is for the avid hard bearing fish enthusiast! They require the correct PH level and temperature constantly, and also the correct level of salt to water level; this would be the most important part of any marine set up as the fish need the salt to survive! Most salt tanks need a salt level of about 1.6 or 1.7. You can buy tools that will measure what kind of level that your salt is at. They also require a specific PH level; collect fish that need roughly the same PH level or you could end up with a disaster. The marine aquarium needs a complex filter system that is made by professionals and is very, very expensive to buy. The equipment, the storage and the fish are almost double the price of a freshwater aquarium but the end result is worth all the effort and hard work. The fish are absolutely stunning and are worth whatever you were willing to pay for them, not only that you are not limited to fish in this set up, you can have coral reefs instead! You can have anemones and special corals and you need only a few fish with some bottom feeders like crabs and shrimps and this still provides a beautiful tank, but because of the delicacy of the corals, it does tend to require a little bit more work. I know you think that more work isn’t possible but it is! A marine aquarium is stunning when it is set up, but the filtration system is complex, the materials and the fish are expensive and the whole thing needs a lot of time and work,.Only use this kind of aquarium if you are willing to do all those things I have mentioned! |
posted by neptunus @ 1:46 AM
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Freshwater Aquarium Fish
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Wednesday, September 10, 2008 |
Freshwater tanks are a lot easier to maintain than a saltwater aquarium. The fresh water fish may not be easy to keep but the set up is a lot less complicated, you do not have to be chemist to run one of these tank set ups. Basically in your tank should be your filter, your heater and your lights. You will also need a thermometer. After the tank has been sitting for a few weeks getting the bacteria to cycle then it is ready for some freshwater fish! There are different kinds of fresh water fish that you can get. There are of course large and small and different species of each. If you are just starting out and your tank is only for decorative purposes then stick with small fish, but if you see this as becoming a great hobby and you are going to stick to it then don’t bother with small fish as they are a waste of money, it is better to get the bigger fish! Bigger species of fish aren’t harder to keep than smaller ones, just different. When I say bigger species I don’t mean that they are bigger to start of with, but most of the “bigger species” can grow to at least half a foot long. Cichlids and Malawi's are the usual favourites of fish enthusiasts, although they are both freshwater fish they both need different types of fresh water. African Malawi's prefer hard water, and a lower PH. American cichlids like to have a different temperature and PH level. Also there is a certain type of fish, known as Discus which is very, very expensive and hard to keep. There PH level has to be maintained almost exact throughout their tank life or it can result in death, they also like their temperature higher than most fresh water fish, nearly thirty degrees. When choosing your fresh water fish make sure that they are fish that you like! Not to mention make sure that the fish that you choose are going to be relatively easy for you to keep, there is no point in purchasing hard to keep fish if you are not going to spend the time and take on the responsibility to look after them! Fish are living creatures to and they need a lot of looking after, so don’t purchase them if you are not prepared to do so. |
posted by neptunus @ 8:53 PM
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Aquarium Stand
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Tuesday, September 9, 2008 |
Aquarium stands are a great thing to have in your home when you have an aquarium. Placing tanks on tables can be dangerous; maybe the table is not strong enough to withhold the weight of the tank filled with water? The table may be on wheels? These are things that you have to think about and you can’t just leave a tank on the floor. When a tank is filled it is impossible to move as it is extremely heavy with water, and it is not very nice to get the fish settled then haul them out and start over again. So the best thing that you can do is to purchase a proper stand and place the tank on it before setting up your aquarium. Aquarium stands can be bought at any fish shop; they usually come with a cabinet on the bottom, and range in size. They need to have their weight spread out so that they can support the weight of the full tank. Most tanks come in beech or black but they are easy enough to strip and paint. There are some aquariums that come ready with their stand. They are like multi pack aquariums, the stand and all the equipment such as heaters, filters and lights all come together and of course the stand is included. These are probably the best types of aquariums to buy. When purchasing your aquarium stand second hand always give it a thorough checking over, make sure that there are no cracks or pieces of the stand are loose as this could make your stand faulty and it may not be able to hold the weight of the tank, which is of course essential. Examine the stand and if you have any doubts don’t buy it, it is not worth it if it falls to pieces two weeks after the tank has been set up! Choosing your aquarium stand is not hard; just make sure that it is the right size for your aquarium. Also that it is not falling to bits and of course it is in the colour that you want. |
posted by neptunus @ 9:46 PM
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Aquarium Plant
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Monday, September 8, 2008 |
Aquariums plants are not crucial when it comes to setting up a new aquarium but they do help adding attractive features to it. A tank full of fish or amphibians can be quite boring so the plants are there to spruce things up a little bit. You don’t need to put plants in a tank that has bigger fish such as cichlids in them as they will just remove them as they don’t like a lot of greenery in their tank, they like it rather rocky. When decorating an aquarium that is going to have smaller fish in it such as tetras and guppy’s plants are essential. These types of fish like to have a lot of foliage to swim around in. Aquarium plants can be bushy or slim like trees; they are there for the fish to hind in between and for the effect of a fish’s natural habitat. Some fish were found in reefs and some where found among reeds and plants, so their habitats need to be imitated in the aquarium. A fish’s life expectancy can be greatly raised when it comes to their habitat; if they have enough room to move around and the aquarium is set up like how they are used to, then this will keep the fish happy, and when fish are happy they eat and stay alive; an unhappy fish won't eat and eventually it will die. An aquarium plant can be used for decorative purposes or can be used for helping the fish. Plants are there to help your fish survive in its new home, if the fish is unhappy it affects the way that it lives and feeds. This in turn can affect whether the fish lives or not, and we don’t want a dead fish on our hands, now do we. So if you are going to get small fish then make the effort and spend a little more to get the best plants for the fish to keep them happy, if your going for big fish don’t bother spending the money or wasting the time! Plants are also used for decoration. Arranging the plants in a pretty way can make all the difference to your tank! |
posted by neptunus @ 9:39 PM
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Aquarium Hoods
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Sunday, September 7, 2008 |
When you have an aquarium you need to have lighting set up and to do this you need to have somewhere to put it. Before now when it came to lighting, it used to come attached to your aquarium hood but that is not the case anymore. The shops are selling the hood, lights and light attachments separate which is costing people a fortune! Hoods are not only needed for lights but they are also needed to help the fish stay in the tank, some fish when they get excited especially when getting fed are often jumpy and is has been known for fish to basically propel themselves out of the tank, I speak through personal experience. Aquariums hoods are available in either specialised aquarium shops or your local pet store. They are just simply a tank lid for the fish tank. It is essential that you have one of these otherwise you have no place for your lights; unless you get some hanging ones and hang them from your roof! Hoods are also essential for keeping those jumping fish in the tank! They are often made from plastic but some are made from wood. The wood variations are often more expensive than a plastic one, basically because of the wood and there is more time and effort put into making a wooden hood. Some tanks can have a hood customised to it. These are the most expensive ones. But at least they have the lights and light fixtures attached. When you buy a jewel aquarium the hood is included in the price and so are the lights and fittings. Aquarium hoods are not very expensive but all the attachments and other accessories are costing fish collectors a fortune. They have to make sure that the tank has everything that it needs, but it is getting more and more expensive to run and maintain the tank. Just make sure that when starting to purchase the tank that you know all about the extra outlays that are involved with the tank! It would not be a good idea to purchase the tank and then not be able to afford the rest of the accessories! |
posted by neptunus @ 7:36 PM
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Aquarium Fish
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Saturday, September 6, 2008 |
You have the set up and now all you need is the fish to go in it, but what to choose? Do you want to start of small? Or do you want to dive right into the deep end, pardon the pun. The best thing to do it is to talk it over with your local fish shop. But they will advise you exactly the same as what I am going to advise you. If you see this as becoming a really good hobby then don’t bother will small fish as this is just a waste of time and money, but if this is just a fad or is for your kid’s or whatever, then small fish is the way to go. Small aquarium fish can be anything from tetras to angel fish, they are usually brightly coloured and tend to eat fish flakes rather than fish “meat”. The smaller fish tend to be for decorative purposes as they are very shiny and create a lot of bright silvers under the right aquarium lights. They are simple fish with no personality and they are no fun at all! These kinds of fish are for simple decorative aquarium set ups and suit people who want a low maintenance tank. Larger fish however, such as cichlids and African fish are a lot harder to keep. They are the harder fish in general though, so your fish mortality rate is pretty low, unlike smaller weaker fish. The problem or should I say fascination with cichlids is that they are cannibals. If there is a smaller fish in the tank then say good bye to it as it won't be there much longer! They eat fish meat and don’t try to feed them any less, they will not be happy. Different types of cichlids are available. They do not all look the same, there are Oscars (my personal favorite) which you can have tiger, red or albino. There are black belts, there are jaguar cichlids and the list does go on. The types of fish require a lot of filter and gravel cleaning as they have high amounts of waste. A breeding pair of cichlids is worth a lot of money! Cichlids in general are more expensive as they tend to be larger (we have a tank of 5-6 one and a half foot Oscars). Just remember that these fish like the tank. Set up the tank how you like but it may not stay that way for long. I could go on forever about cichlids but Ill leave it there for now. So depending on what the reasons for your aquarium is depends on the type of fish for the aquarium that you should get. Smaller more decorative tanks need smaller more decorative aquarium fish. But the bigger the tank the bigger the fish! Put in some big boys and let them do the talking! |
posted by neptunus @ 4:06 PM
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Aquarium Cabinet
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Friday, September 5, 2008 |
Aquarium cabinets often come with tanks when they are purchased from a fish shop. The size of the tank depends on the size of the cabinet. Most cabinets act as stands for the aquarium tank. The cabinets usually come with a cupboard under the place where the tank is located. This is a good place for you to store your equipment that you are not using for example, spare heaters, ornaments and filters, also the fish food if it is flakes otherwise the food needs to go in the freezer. Aquarium cabinets range from all different sizes and colours, they can be custom built or you can have a generic one. Custom built cabinets are very expensive although you get exactly what you are looking for. Generic cabinets are available in all different sizes. They are built to withstand the different sizes of tanks so you can get generic aquarium cabinets usually up to about six feet long and they are usually sold in maple, black or pine and the style of design is usually a cupboard with shelves. Aquarium cabinets are available in all fish and pet shops. Although if you are looking for a bigger cabinet then it is best to go to a specialised fish shop rather than your local pet store. The cabinet is usually used for adding a bit more decoration with your aquarium as placing them on tables and other types of units can look unsightly. The stand is there to add some more spice to your set up. A custom made set up differs greatly from a generic one. They are often made to suit what kind of style that you want, whether that is drawers or open shelves. They are usually made in about four or five weeks, depending on the size and style of the aquarium that you are wanting to be built. No matter whether it is a custom or generic cabinet, the aquarium cabinet should accentuate the beauty of your tank! They are expensive but are worth the money that you pay for them! |
posted by neptunus @ 1:42 AM
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Saltwater Aquarium
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Wednesday, September 3, 2008 |
Saltwater aquariums are for fish that can only live in salt water obviously. Some of the fish are grouped for example triggers and groupers. Each play their part in the salt water aquarium set up. You can also keep corals and anemones as well as saltwater fish, but avoid things like crabs and shrimps and snails as they will try to eat the anemones. Fish are a beautiful addition to this kind of tank, the lights accentuate the beauty of the fish and the tank looks like the deep blue sea, try to add a solid blue background at the back of the tank and the light will make the tank look fantastic and like something that you will only see in movies. There are lots if different fish that are available to be put in the tanks such as: Lion Fish, Puffer Fish, Eels, Panther Groupers, Shrimps, Crabs and dog puffers. Each of these fish is stunning and under the light of tank against the deep blue background will keep you in awe! Another variant that you can keep in a saltwater aquarium is a coral or an anemone. Some people only have these types of living things in their saltwater tank but they can be put in with some fish, most other fish will try to eat them especially the anemones. These types of plants are living, the anemones need to be hand fed, you should just place the food on top of it and it will then curl itself around the food and open up its mouth and feed itself, its is a miraculous thing to watch. Saltwater aquariums are like watching the ocean, the colours bounce of the fish and hey all get on so well, but it is like any other type of fish species; if it is smaller it will get eaten by something bigger. You also have to watch out because some of the fish are poisonous, for example the lion fish; its tentacles if touched will sting your hand and you need to seek medical help straight away! Saltwater aquariums are only for the professional fish keeper though, as it takes a lot of work to get the conditions for the fish correct, the saltwater needs to be at a safe level as does the temperature and the PH. This is a hard work task but the rewards are well worth the effort. |
posted by neptunus @ 7:45 PM
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Jewel Aquariums
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Tuesday, September 2, 2008 |
You can walk into your local pet store and buy a plain tank and a hood, then purchase all the lighting and accessories and then the fish to go with it. This is an extremely expensive method to start an aquarium. It is like when you go shopping if there is a multi-pack you buy it, because it is cheaper than buying all the items individually. Buying an aquarium is just the same. If you can get all the items in one bundle for one price it is fantastic. But there is only one manufacturer that does this and they are called "Jewel". Jewel aquariums are ready made aquariums with a stand containing built in filters, heaters and lights, some even include ornaments and gravel. There are several different kinds of Jewel aquariums: They record 60, 70, 96 and 120. The numbers stand for the size. They all come with the cabinet/stand, light, heater and filter. If you bought this on the internet, it is likely to be a lot cheaper than your fish shop, but your fish shop is likely to be a lot cheaper than you pet shop! There is also the Rio range; they are available in five sizes, the 125, 180, 240, 300 and 400 litres, they come in black and beech. Then you also have the jewel vision series of tanks which include the 180, 260, and 450. This tank offers a curved front glass which makes it different to the other two styles that jewel offers. Last but not least the Trigon range, they are corner fish tanks and stands and are the most expensive of the lot. They include the 190 and the 350. All of the tanks include filtration, heating and heating systems. All jewel aquariums are beautiful and ready made to suit you. The internet prices usually include delivery. What is great about delivery is that you have a couple of extra people lift the tank in for you which is brilliant as it is very heavy. The cabinets however are to be built at home, they are flat packed! |
posted by neptunus @ 8:10 PM
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Aquarium Tank
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Monday, September 1, 2008 |
Your aquarium tank is something that you should choose wisely. It is not something to be bought on a whim. The tank has to be suitable for what you are planning to put in it. Aquarium tanks can be used for several things, decoration, fish, amphibians or corals. All these different things need different tank types and different types of things in the aquarium. Fish are the easier thing to keep whereas corals are a lot harder than the others. Corals require a marine setup aquarium tank, this means saltwater basically. It needs to have intensive hard lights, a saltwater level of around 0.7, this is the optimum level for fish and corals that need saltwater. Corals are like beautiful rocks, they are different coloured and also available for this type of set up are anemones. Anemones are like lots of little fingers sitting on a plant that wave around in the water and are absolutely stunning. Saltwater fish can also be incorporated in a coral tank aquarium. Amphibians don’t really need a lot of taking care of, just make sure that they have adequate water and surrounding objects that they can associate with their natural habitat. Some amphibians need water baths so that they can bath in them such as turtles and snakes, it is important to make sure that these animals have enough room and space to move around because if they don’t then they may suffer from the effects of disfigurement and growing problems. Fish are like I said the easiest to keep in a tank aquarium; they need a full tank of water, obviously. They need a filter, heater and proper lighting equipment. There are several different types of fish that can be put in an aquarium and they all need different types of habitats, so make sure that your aquarium tank suits the type of fish that you have purchased. Aquarium tanks are of course the most essential part of any tank set up; you have to make sure that the tank suits the type of animal that you are keeping in, otherwise you animals won't live very long! Tanks are quite expensive, because they are made of reinforced and safety glass to stop the glass breaking when you fill it with water! |
posted by neptunus @ 11:25 PM
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