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Salt Water Fish: Fish Tanks and Maintenance

Jan 8th, 2010
by Aquarium Lover.
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So you’ve decided to purchase those saltwater fish, but where do you go from there? The planning and preparation for your new fish shouldn’t be taken lightly or made on a whim. Caring for salt water fish is relatively easy; however, you’ve got to make sure that you’ve prepared the ideal living environment first.

Fish Tanks

Before investing in a tank for your fish, you’ve got to think about the type of fish you want to put in it. Some salt water get very large and you’ll want to have a tank large enough to accommodate your fish.

Once you’ve purchased your tank, make sure that you have a good place in your home for it. It should be kept away from direct sunlight, which can raise the internal temperature significantly.

Also make sure that you have a quality stand for the tank. A 25 gallon tank can weigh as much as 250 pounds and you certainly don’t want that to spill.

Setting the Tank Up

Once you’ve filled your tank with water, add the premixed salt mixture to the tank and allow it the settle for a few days before adding your fish. Then set up the plants and decorations you would like to use. Allow them to acclimate to the environment for a couple of days. Continue reading →

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How to Clean Your Large Fish Tank

Jan 6th, 2010
by Guest Blogger.
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A giant grouper at the Georgia Aquarium, seen ...

Image via Wikipedia

The downside to owning a large fish tank is that it is more work to clean it every week (preferable.) If you want your fish to live a long time and your tank to look clean and clear and free from algae overtaking your habitat then you’ve got to properly clean your tank. Here are the basics.

Siphoning

At least once a week you should siphon out 20% of the water from your tank into a giant bucket and then replace that old water with new tap water that has been properly treated to remove the harmfull acid and iron from the water. When siphoning make sure you dig around into the rocks to get all the waste and leftover food out that has fallen to the bottom.

Don’t worry about scaring your fish they should be fine with your sticking your hand and siphon into the tank and going over it thoroughly. When you put the new water into the tank don’t just pour it in which can upset the landscaping but use the siphon to slowly filter the new water into the tank.

Algae scraper

These tools are cheap and effective. Use a squeegee like algae scraper to clean up the walls of your tank from being overrun with algae which not only looks bad but can be harmful to your tank. If you are looking for an easier solution invest in buying an algae eater fish like a pleco which will roam around your tank at night and help to keep it clean and free from algae.

Don’t overfeed

The amateur mistake of first time fish keepers…don’t overfeed your fish as it can lead to waste buildup in your tank. Feed them a small amount of flakes or pellets about twice a day to keep them healthy and satisfied. Remember that it is always more safe to underfeed than to overfeed.

Alan McGee is a freelance writer from MN.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-clean-your-large-fish-tank-1671316.html

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Reasons to Avoid Cheap Fish Tanks

Dec 30th, 2009
by Aquarium Lover.
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When it comes to something as cool as a fish tank, why would you want to get the cheapest tank you can? That is just asking for trouble. You wouldn’t skimp out on your house selection just because it’s thousands of dollars less. Get what you really want and what your fish really deserve and avoid buying cheap fish tanks just because you think you are broke. Save up and get the tank that’s perfect for your home and your pets. Here are some reasons why you definitely don’t want to purchase cheap fish tanks.

  1. If the “glass-like” material is too cheap, it won’t be able to hold much and it could bust open when you add water leaving a stinky mess on your freshly vacuumed carpet.
  2. Your fish could become really ill from particles of cheaply made accessories contaminating their water and their food source.
  3. It might not be way too small for your fish.
  4. It could be stylistically way too different from the rest of your rooms, making it a forced, and honestly an ugly addition to your home.
  5. It will become dirtier much faster and most times they are actually harder to clean due to the cheap faux glass that they are made with.
  6. Your fish will begin to rebel and cause much more trouble in the tank than if you had the proper, more expensive materials present.
  7. Your fish may not reproduce or decide to boycott eating any of their food leaving you with a super cloudy tank and a lonely couple of fish.

Getting cheap fish tanks is really not recommended. There are some deals out there but just be sure they are using real glass and that it is put together properly. The last thing you need is a leaking fish tank that leaves a horrible stank in your house for weeks on end. Do the right thing, spend a little more on your fish tank. It will save you time and money in the long run.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/reasons-to-avoid-cheap-fish-tanks-1646039.html

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Random Things about Fish Tanks

Dec 30th, 2009
by Aquarium Lover.
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There are some things about fish tanks, you may never realize. They come be installed to your toilet or become half of your living room wall. You decide. Read on to find out some interesting, albeit crazy true facts about fish tanks and aquariums.

  1. Fish tanks impress kids who love animals and drunk people who are easy to entertain.
  2. Creative people are usually intrigued by fish tanks, although sometimes they like the colors and backgrounds more than the fish themselves.
  3. Toilet fish tanks have become popular because they keep things interesting, no matter what you are doing in there.
  4. Some people make it a full on bathroom theme and get an entire fish tank to make up their sink and toilet areas.
  5. Toilet fish tanks definitely stir up conversation.
  6. Kids love toilet fish tanks.
  7. Newer types of fish tanks can be put into old TV or computer monitors to make for an interesting conversation piece.
  8. Fish tanks are expensive over time so serious fish lovers or people with children generally invest in them.
  9. Certain fish such as the betta fish are not allowed to be in the same tank as one another, they will indulge in murder.
  10. Places like the Rainforest Café are known for having extravagant, swirling, blocks long fish tanks that are cooler than any other fish tank that can fit into a home.
  11. Fish tank stands are great because the provide a lot of room for other things such as shelving space, storage cubberts, and not to mention a decorative element.
  12. Some people take over five years to create the perfect, sustainable fish tank stand for their home.

Fish tanks aren’t for everyone but they sure are fun to have and fun to look at!

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/random-things-about-fish-tanks-1646193.html

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Caring for Male Betta Fish: Betta Fish Tanks, Feedings and Maintenance

Dec 29th, 2009
by Aquarium Lover.
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A male betta fish will be the perfect first fish for anyone interested in starting their very own aquarium. They are relatively easy to care for, however they do require some work on the part of their owner so be prepared to spend time each day caring and maintaining your betta fish. Follow my tips below and you’ll have a healthy happy fish.

  1. Before you bring your betta fish home, make sure that you’ve got all of the necessary equipment. Betta fish tanks are relatively inexpensive; just make sure that it holds at least 3 gallons of water. Make sure to wash it out if you’ve purchased it used, but avoid using soap as it may be toxic to your fish. Just use piping hot water instead. Next fill it up with tap water or bottled water. Avoid distilled water. If you use tap water you will need to add water conditioner. Follow the directions on the bottle for specific amounts.
  2. Next you will need to purchase a water heater for the tank. Bettas are happiest in water temperatures of 78 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat the water up with your water heater and be sure to check the thermometer daily to ensure the temperature is stable. Do not place the tank in direct sunlight as this may affect the water temperature as well.
  3. Once you’ve prepared your tank, you can go out and purchase your male betta. Make sure that the fish appears healthy. Check for a bubble nest at the top of the aquariums as this is a sign of happiness. Make sure that the betta you choose is lively and brightly colored.
  4. When you bring your betta home, place the closed travel container into the tank. Allow the travel container temperature to adjust to the tank water temperature. Allow your new betta to get used to the tank water by adding a little bit of tank water to its travel container. After about ten minutes, remove the fish and place it into the tank.
  5. Purchase betta fish flakes to feed your betta. Follow the directions on the bottle for specific instructions on how much and how often.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/caring-for-male-betta-fish-betta-fish-tanks-feedings-and-maintenance-1641046.html

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Adding Tetra Fish to Your Fish Tanks

Dec 29th, 2009
by Aquarium Lover.
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If you’re interested in creating your first aquarium, tetra fish will be a great first addition. Originating from the depths of the Amazon River, these fish are beautiful, dynamic fish that you can gaze at for hours. They do require some basic care and maintenance so follow my tips and you’ll have a happy healthy tetra fish.

  1. First you will need to look at fish tanks for your new fish. You may want to invest in an aquarium kit. Tetras are tropical fish so their aquarium needs differ from most fish. A kit will come with everything that you need for the ideal tropical environment for your fish. Make sure to set up the tank before you bring your tetra home. You will need to line the bottom of the tank with sand and fill it with de-chlorinated water. Make sure to add plenty of plants so that your tetra will have several hiding places. Make sure to cycle the water so that the nitrogen and ammonia is diluted properly.
  2. Next go out and purchase your tetra fish. Make sure that you go to a reputable pet store with a knowledgeable staff on hand. Look for signs of neglect as this may have an affect on the health of your tetra.
  3. Once you’ve purchased you tetra, allow it some time to get acclimated to its new environment. You may want to place the travel container into the tank and allow it to heat up to the same temperature then slowly add small amounts of the aquarium water to the container. After about ten minutes place the fish into the tank.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/adding-tetra-fish-to-your-fish-tanks-1641099.html

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A Guide to Aquarium Lighting and Plants

Dec 17th, 2009
by Aquarium Lover.
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Aquarium plants are as important to aquariums as water is to fish. Aquarium plants add more life to aquarium and make it to look beautiful while completing the aquarium community structure.

The most important thing to bear in mind with plants is to form an attractive background, leaving ample space so the fish can swim undisturbed and be seen. The tall, grassy type is best planted at intervals in rows, while the feathery ones look better when they are bunched into small clumps, which makes them to appear like branching bushes.

When planting rooted plants, hold the tips of the bunch of roots between the thumb and second finger and rest them on the sand. Now with the first finger push the upper part of the roots (where they join the stem) about 2cm into the sand. Without moving this finger scrape with the thumb and second finger some sand over any uncovered portion of the root.

When putting in rootless plants in bunches, the method explained above is repeated, but this time the lower ends of the stems are placed together and treated exactly as if they were roots.

It is important that the water surface should be right up to the lower edge of the top angle iron of the tank, so that looking from the front the water surface can not be seen and the viewer gets the impression that there is no water in the aquarium. If the level is allowed to fall below the top angle iron the tank looks like a container holding water.

Aquarium Lighting is also important for aquarium plants

This depends greatly on whether you intend to successfully grow plants or not. Lack of light causes colorful fish to fade and clanch-reds to pink, green to white. The two main methods of lighting aquarium are by the INCADESCENT and FLOURESCENT.

The total amount of light required is a matter of trial and error. Too much light will turn the water green; too little will stunt plant growth.

The lighting can be natural or artificial or a combination of both. The best position is near a north facing window. This should provide the ideal amount of indirect lights which an be supplemented by artificial light.

The lighting should be housed in wood constructed stylishly with the furniture and placed above the tank. if there is no natural day light, the lights should be left on for approximately eight hours per day.

If the water turns green, you cut down on the light.

The best light for showing off an aquarium comes from behind.

Read about jugging for catfish and how to catch catfish at the Types Of Catfish website.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/a-guide-to-aquarium-lighting-and-plants-1595004.html

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Knowing Freshwater Aquarium Temperature in Proportion to Size

Dec 16th, 2009
by Aquarium Lover.
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Heaters are one of the important accessories that one should always add when raising freshwater fish. As you may know, most of the freshwater fish that are available to aquarists are native to tropical waters, and for us people in the colder region of the world, trying to raise them in a regular aquarium can be potentially lethal without the use of heaters to regulate the freshwater aquarium temperature.

Relative Temperature for Tank Size
Raising the temperature of the water in your aquarium is not enough for fish to survive: one must also know that it is necessary to maintain this temperature over certain levels in order for the fish to get used to their artificial habitat. But techniques for maintaining the temperature of the water in an aquarium vary greatly depending on the size, because heat diffuses on a larger molecular area.

Take heat as an additive coloring for example: when it is dropped on a liquid of a smaller volume, it diffuses only on a limited region, making it more concentrated. But drop the exact same amount on a larger area, and you’ll notice that the additive is actually diluted and is dispersed in the liquid farther. The exact same principle works with heat, so if you need to apply heat to a larger area, you’ll have to raise the temperature of the heater by increasing its technical power or wattage to fulfill the heat requirements of a certain amount of water.

Knowing the Average Temperature Needed
Now let’s do a little math. Okay, so we know that heat diffuses all over the area, and this does not only limit itself to the water in your aquarium, because the heat all around the room where the aquarium is also scatters around all the articles in the room. Now, add this fact to the heat regulation in your aquarium, and we now have a problem. No matter how much the heater works continuously to keep the aquarium warm, the temperature still drops at a considerable degree below the required temperature, because the heat diffuses from the water and out to the air around the room. 

So, what do we do to adjust the temperature then? Find the room’s average temperature first. Then, subtract the average temperature (because this would usually be the lower one) to the desired temperature. This is now your net temperature. After that, try tweaking with the temperature by adding the net temperature to the desired temperature, and then try observing it for about an hour (yes, and I mean observing it from time to time for an hour). If the temperature doesn’t reach the desired level, try tweaking again, this time by adding a little more heat, until the desired freshwater aquarium temperature is achieved. For fish tanks that can hold 50 or more gallons of water, you may have to use two heaters to achieve the desired temperature.

Sandra Gaffney is a freshwater aquarium expert. For more great tips on
freshwater aquarium
temperature, visit http://www.myfreshwateraquariumsecrets.com/

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/knowing-freshwater-aquarium-temperature-in-proportion-to-size-1589093.html

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Why Does My Fish Tank Have Green Water?

Dec 15th, 2009
by Aquarium Lover.
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Green water in your fish tanks is seriously a no brainer. It’s because of too much algae growth and the most difficult part is getting rid of it all. It is much easier to cure this problem, if you understand why it happened. Here are the most common causes of green water in fish tanks.

Excessive Light: This is by far the most common cause for green water but it’s the easiest to cure. To stop this from happeneing, reduce the amount of time the tank’s lights are on and move the aquarium to a new location with limited sunlight.

Too Much Nutrients: Algae growth is largely enabled through the nutrients phosphate and nitrate. To combat this problem, it’s best to get rid of them at their source. This can be a little more difficult. However, for immediate relief you can easily do a water change.

Phospates: There are two sources for phosphates, decaying matter like fish food, and the water itself. You should always test your tap water for its phosphate levels before using the water. If the levels are too high, you will need to use RO water. You could also try using a phosphate remove to treat the water in the tank. Other suggestions include switching to a brand of fish food with less phosphates and reducing the amount of food you feed them.

Nitrates: As a byproduct of fish waste, nitrates naturally float around the aquarium water over a period of time. To keep this to a minimum make sure you keep your filter clean and that your fish tank is large enough. Rising nitrate levels is also caused by a cluttered aquarium so try not to overstock your tank with décor.

Keep in mind that if you want to get rid of green or cloudy water in your fish tanks, take part in 10-15% water changed every week, keep your gravel super clean, and use quality fish food.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/why-does-my-fish-tank-have-green-water-1585128.html

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Why is my Fish Tank Water Cloudy?

Dec 15th, 2009
by Aquarium Lover.
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Fish owners who are not necessarily pros when it comes to caring for fish tanks usually ask, why is my aquarium water cloudy? Well, there is no single answer because there really is not one single cause. But, based on the circumstances that cloudy water exists, it can usually be narrowed down to a few basic causes.

Residue from your gravel: If you notice that your fish tank water appears cloudy within an hour or two of filling it then it’s most likely due to insufficiently cleaned gravel. To resolve this problem simply drain the tank and rinse the gravel until the water runs perfectly clear. Remember to never use soaps, this will get your fish sick.

Dissolved constituents and nutrients: If your water is still cloudy after attempting the above, it is probably because of its high levels of constituents. This can include anything from phosphates, silicates, or heavy duty metals. At this time, if you test the water you will notice that the pH levels are super high in alkaline. To resolve the problem in this case, you can treat your water with conditioners. You may also try switching to Reverse Osmosis water. It will be sold at your local pet store.

Blossomed bacteria: Sometimes it takes weeks or months for a fish tank to become cloudy. This is usually caused by bacterial bloom. The cool thing about this cause is that over time, the bacteria forms colonies and the problem eventually resolves itself. Uneaten fish food or decaying plants usually cause bacterial bloom and cloudy waters. All you have to do is remove these decaying objects and the bacteria will be cleared away naturally.

Keep your feeding times to a minimum and try not to overfeed your fish. If a vacuum doesn’t work you may invest in a flocculent to clear away all the debris from your fish tanks. These are marketed as water clarifiers and can be found at any local fish shop.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/why-is-my-fish-tank-water-cloudy-1585166.html

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