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Choosing the Right Aquarium – a Fresh Water or a Saltwater

Sep 1st, 2011
by Guest Blogger.
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An aquarium can be a great addition to your interior decorations. If you are looking to add a certain level of style and beauty to your home or office, having an aquarium can do just that. While deciding to choose an aquarium for your house you may have wondered which one to choose from. There are endless possibilities when setting up an aquarium in your own home. If you are installing aquarium for the first time, you need to know many tit bits of keeping fish healthy and in a comfortable environment. (more…)


Your Questions About Best Freshwater Fish To Eat

Jun 29th, 2011
by Aquarium Lover.
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Chris asks…

What kind of saltwater game fish is the best to eat?

Just wondering. Not including salmon or any kind of freshwater fish.

Aquarium Lover answers:

When caught fresh it really odesnt matter, but sea trout are very good if you are not into the fishy taste. Grouper is always good when fresh, and even if it is frozen for a few weeks it is ok, but the taste of fresh out of the water fish is no comparison to frazen

Mary asks…

Best Freshwater Catfish to eat Algae in a 20gal tank?

I have a 20 gallon freshwater tank. I am looking for a catfish to eat the algae off the walls and keep the tank clean. I do not want a sucker fish (my girlfrind wants a catfish, lol). What are the best ones? What website can I purchase them at? Also, any suggestions about bottom feeders?

Aquarium Lover answers:

As the others have said, there are several “algae” eaters you can get. Bottom feeders also. It does depend what else you have stocked the tank with. Fish such as BN plecs and Otos poop…CONSTANTLY…so if you already have a well stocked tank, you should maybe instead invest in a magnet scraper for your glass instead!

I’ve have otocinclus and they are real pros when it comes to gobbling up algae, but they need a lot of it. They poop AND eat constantly. So they shouldn’t just be left to fend for themselves, they will need to be supplemented with their own food, plec flakes, blanched courgette or cucumber, as will any other fish you get.

At all costs AVOID the Chinese Algae Eater or Golden Sucking Loach, this is a vicious beastie that in fact will prefer to eat your fish as it grows up over algae. However the Siamese Algae Eater is a peaceful community fish!

As far as bottom feeders, if you want peaceful corydoras and pygmy corydoras are excellent. They prefer meat in their diet to veges though.

Below is list of plecs that stay under 8″, some easier to find than others!

William asks…

fish question……?????????

what is the best freshwater fish to eat? i heard crappie was relly good to eat, but i thought largemouth bass were the best? whats ur opinion?

Aquarium Lover answers:

Crappie are delicious. My uncle fishes for crappie and we have fixed them every way imaginable- I haven’t had a bad one yet.

Bass are also very tasty. I haven’t had one in a long time.

I would say that both are equally good.

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Your Questions About Freshwater Aquarium Fish

Apr 24th, 2011
by Aquarium Lover.
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Mary asks…

Where’s the BEST place to buy freshwater fish for an aquarium?

I’ve looked at Petco.com, Petsolutions.com, Liveaquaria.com, Petsmart.com……Is there any where else to look at good prices on freshwater aquarium fish?

Aquarium Lover answers:

I do NOT buy my fish from chain stores. I buy my cichlids from fellow hobbyists or from mom&pop stores who are generally hobbyists as well. There, you will recieve better quality fish that would most certainly be in better health. Look around online for local clubs in your area. They’re a great way to find fellow hobbyists for new fish, make new friends even! Prices with fellow hobbyists are even tons better.

Sharon asks…

What are only ‘two’ of your favorite type of freshwater aquarium fish?

Name only “two” types or breeds of freshwater aquarium fish that are favorites of yours….
Yeah, this answer got posted twice because ‘Yahoo Answers’ said this site was down and that the my questions did’nt go through (however, obviously they did). – Sorry about that.

Aquarium Lover answers:

I love the many subspecies of goldfish.

Parrot fish are pretty awesome, too. But I think they might be brackish water fish.

Why, are you planning to get a freshwater aquarium??

<3
Lorelai Chaos Heiterkite

edit:lmfao @ fishcraz…

Betty asks…

Is the tap water in Las Vegas, Nevada safe for freshwater aquarium fish? How about water softeners?

I’m moving from southern California to Las Vegas and I have freshwater fish. Oscars and a community tank . I’ve heard that water softeners are ok to use if you use magnesium instead of salt and replace the removed minerals and adjust the ph back to neutral. Is that true, or will the fish be better off with straight untreated water from the tap?

Aquarium Lover answers:

Regardless of how wonderful your tapwater is, I would reccomend at least using some kind of water stabalizing solution (StartRight, AquaSafe, etc.) to neutralize the chlorine and mineral levels of the water before adding fish. I have been using StartRight for five years everytime I do a water change, or, in the event of moving, adding all new water. If you use a stabalizing solution, you should be A-OK.

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Your Questions About Aquarium Styles

Mar 2nd, 2011
by Aquarium Lover.
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Paul asks…

I have an Elite Style Aquarium with a light that makes a loud noise. What’s occuring?

Basically the filter is fine, and the light was fine too for 8 months but for some reason the light is making a loud hum. What’s occuring?

Aquarium Lover answers:

One of two things could be the answer;

1. The bulb is coming to the end of it’s use (probably going dark at the ends too?) which as stated already, most bulbs only last for upto 8-10months anyway when left on all the time.

2. Depending on the light fitting, it could be the starter… I know I had a light that not long ago which hummed, turned out to be nothing more than a replacement starter needed.

Sharon asks…

Is BioCube an actual style of aquarium or just a brand name of a company?

A BioCube 29 Gallon Aquarium is what I’m in to, I would like it to be my first marine aquarium.

Do you reckon it’s a good aquarium. If you know; what’s the price range for it? Is there anything else I would need to get to set-up the aquarium because I hear it comes with most of the basic accessories.
Yea I’m 15 and I’ve been handling tropical fish tanks for 6 years. I know how to care for fish :)

Aquarium Lover answers:

It is a brand name made by Oceanic. It is a quality nano cube.

Other similar products:
AquaPOD (discontinued but was my favorite) – CurrentUSA
NanoCube – JBJ
and I’m sure there are more.
Of the nicer designer stuff, there is the RedSea Max, CurrentUSA’s Solana and Cardiff (my new favorites), etc…those rangs around $1000 for the complete system.

The Oceanic 28 gallon is a great starter marine tank. With the halide model you get the lighting that can support anemone and most corals! With the standard lighting you can do many beginner corals but no anemone. Also the 28 gallons are limited on what species of fish you can add, but there are some great choices. Just stick with the appropriate species for that size and shape of tank (no tang!) and stock conservatively and you should be fine. Also, LIVE ROCK is the key to success.

Unless you are going for catalina gobies or other cooler water fish, get a heater. A little 50-100 wat Hydor is great in those tanks and can fit in the back.

Avoid most the “nano skimmers” that are “designed for the biocube” as they are garbage!

Pricing depends on location and lighting, and if you are getting a stand etc. Expect several hundred in any case.

Try local specialized fish stores. Many have a cycled and established display model they might sell as a complete package (live rock, sand and all!). We had two competing fish stores offering the package pre-cycled deals and it was great and perfect for beginner…they all went out of business and now we only have PetCo..boo!

You can often build your own for a little cheaper, but the main price is the lighting, so take that into consideration in pricing on your own..
“The New MArine Aquarium” is a great starter book.

Michael asks…

What is the best Plug and play style marine aquarium?

What is the best plug and play marine aquariums? in UK.

1. Red Sea Max
2. Aqua reef 200
3. other(please state)

Aquarium Lover answers:

I can vouch for the Red sea aquarium, although it is quite expensive at £600 (approx $1200) and the cabinets are a bit tacky looking. I’ve also heard good reviews on the D-D HQI 28g nano cube (which is actually manufactured by JBJ but is sold under the D-D name in the UK).

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Saltwater Fish Guide, Saltwater Fish Care

Jan 8th, 2011
by Aquarium Lover.
1 comment
Saltwater Aquarium
Image by caffeine_obsessed via Flickr

If you are interested in starting your own saltwater fish aquarium, then the first thing you need to do is to set up the aquarium. This might sound easy, but there is a lot more to it than simply buying a tank, sticking in a few plants and adding water. Saltwater fish are obviously used to certain water temperatures, pH levels and need various elements in order for them to survive.

Keeping a saltwater aquarium thriving and happy is a difficult task, but just because you are a beginner, doesn’t mean that you cannot learn the ropes! Read this saltwater fish guide for a few helpful tips on how to set up your aquarium.

Before you head off to the pet store to purchase your new aquarium, you should take a list of some of the items you will need to set up your tank and these include: an aquarium, a photo background (optional), live sand or crushed coral, live rock, saltwater mix, hydrometer or a refractometer, aquarium filter, multiple power heads, heater, protein skimmer, saltwater test kit, fish food, fish net, glass scrubber, aquarium thermometer, power strip, brush, rubber gloves.

This might seem like a lot of equipment for a fish tank, but a saltwater aquarium is a big responsibility and involves time and cost. This means that you should only consider beginning a saltwater aquarium if you are dedicated, hardworking and know you will be able to put in the time, care and money that a saltwater aquarium requires. (more…)


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


How to Set up a Betta Fish Aquarium

Nov 2nd, 2009
by Aquarium Lover.
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Aquarium Size

Betta Fish Aquariums usually vary in size, ranging from small fish bowls to bigger, full-sized aquariums. To fully comprehend the requirements of a betta, we must look at their natural environment as a basis. Bettas come from the slow moving streams, ponds, and rice paddies of Asia. And those conditions should be replicated in order to effectively rear bettas. So, to mimic those conditions, Betta fish tanks should range from 5 to 10 gal.

You can get a larger aquarium, if you’d like. Your betta will not complain. There really isn’t an upper limit to the aquarium size, if you provide enough hiding places, but too little space will shorten the life span of your betta at best, and at worst will create conditions under which it will simply not survive.

A larger, 5 to 10 gallon tank would be beneficial to both you and the betta, since the temperature in a bigger body of water tends to be more stable and would only change slightly when ambient temperature changes. The bigger tank would also benefit you since that means less frequent water changes. Contrary to popular belief, larger aquariums are much easier to take care of than small ones.

Aquarium Water

With the size of the tank out of the way, we need to settle the other aspects of our betta fish aquarium. The type of water is vital to a betta’s survival. Using distilled water isn’t the best for bettas because of the filtering process that removes most minerals in the water. Tap water is usually sufficient for bettas, provided that you treat the water to remove chlorine and let it sit for over 24 hours before adding it to your tank.

When you first buy the tank, let the water sit for a few weeks to get the biological filter cycle started.

Aquarium Filters

Filtering the water could also be an issue. Bettas are quite used to the tranquil or slow moving water in ponds and rice paddies, which means that using a high flow filter inside your betta fish aquarium is not advised. These types of filters will cause too much turbulence and the betta would find it stressful to come up to the surface to catch a breath (Bettas have a specialized organ called a labyrinth that allows them to breathe air).

Aquarium Heater

When you buy a heater for your aquarium, make sure to also get a thermometer. You will need to monitor the water temperature carefully, because sudden fluctuations can be deadly for your betta. Choosing the right heater will depend on the tank size as well as the temperature of the room where you will keep the aquarium. And even if you buy a high quality heater, you will probably have to replace it every year, so monitor it closely and replace it right away if it stops working.

Aquarium Gravel

You must also obtain a natural looking substrate or gravel to put inside your betta fish aquarium. Taking gravel from your backyard simply isn’t going to be the best reproduction of its natural milieu. You must also sustain the tank’s temperature to closely resemble their native climate of more or less 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Final Thoughts

Building appropriate betta fish aquariums is not that difficult a task. The first thing is to have a tank that is satisfactory in size. Keep in mind though that the suggested size is for one betta fish. If you would like to add a compatible fish, you may have to upgrade your tank’s size so that they can be properly accommodated.

Aside from the proper size of a betta fish aquarium, you must also learn how to maintain the right levels of ammonia, nitrites, and pH. This is important so the water doesn’t become lethal to your betta.

Before actually bringing your betta home, give yourself enough time to test all your equipment – the filter, the heater, etc. Make sure that the water as well as the entire set up is what it needs to be before introducing your fish to it. Number one mistake of new aquarium owners is trying to do too many things at once.

Mischa Hill is a Betta fish enthusiast. His website compares prices on a large selection of betta fish aquariums. Visit his site also for betta fish care tips, price comparisons on betta fish supplies, remedies, books and more. Also, sign up for FREE Mini-Course on Betta fish care.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-set-up-a-betta-fish-aquarium-1407566.html


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