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• Published: August 13, 2006, 5:48 am
• Displayed: 7019 times
• Preview: 10 tips for a successful Betta splendens reproduction Sponsored links Betta splendens is one of the most wanted fish in everyone`s aquarium. Breeding Bettas is not hard, though you might face problems at spawning them. They are oviparous fish, the male builds a nest in which the eggs/fry are kept for few days under the strict care of the Betta male. If you follow the next advices, you have big chances to get nice results of your Betta fish spawning. 1. Reproduction tank equipment: volume of 15-20 liters, a heater, a thermometer and air pomp connected to an air rock which will spread small bubbles. You need small bubbles because the fry are very sensitive to water movements and you don`t want them to suffer. 2. The aquarium water must have a temperature of 28-29° C, a higher temperature will hurry the eggs hatching and the fry won`t be fully developed. Keep the temperature constant using the heater and check it with the thermometer to make sure it is at the right level. 3. The water depth mustn`t excel 10-15 cm because the Betta eggs are denser than water and they...

• Published: March 10, 2006, 6:39 am
• Displayed: 2761 times
• Preview: A Few Bits & Pieces on the Fairy Cichlid Neolamprologus brichardiBy David Marshall From the July 2004 Ryedale Reporter, Ryedale Aquarist Society, England Aquarticles (this article was taken from aquarticles.com - free aquarium articles) Sponsored links The Fairy Cichlid is known to science as Neolamprologus brichardi. English aquarists christened this particular fish the Fairy Cichlid as they believed the fish to have a strong ethereal appearance. These fish grow to a size of 3.4" (8.5cm). Neolamprologus brichardi Photo copyright Mrs Jackie Goulder These fish are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in the African Rift Valley. The fish in my care are several generations on from original stock, which came to me from two local aquarium retail outlets. Although there have been times when as many as four tanks in my fish house have held Fairy Cichlids, in various stages of growth, I am currently down to around 25 young individuals who occupy a 36"x12"x12" tank. This tank has various slate formations and small mounds of coal as décor. T...

• Published: October 19, 2006, 6:07 am
• Displayed: 21340 times
• Preview: A guide to the tropical fishkeeping Sponsored links Before you start an aquarium, you should know many things about fish, plants, tanks, biotopes, lighting, filters and other details. Otherwise, your effort will result in diseases, unhappy fish and a dirty tank. Basically, it doesn’t matter if you want to start a species or community tank, it also doesn’t matter if you’re about to start a Cichlid tank or a tank with Guppies, Bettas, Gouramis or Catfish. There are very simple principles which apply to all tanks. Take aquariums very wisely and you’ll be happy with the result. The right place and size for an aquarium Before you buy anything, be sure you’ve chosen the right place for your future tank. The basic rules say that the place shouldn’t be very sunny or cold. Very good are the wall mounted aquariums, since they look nice and they also look like a natural part of the wall. Nowdays, the aquarium stands and backgrounds make it easy to create a beautiful scenery. Personally, I also like the corner aquariums very much; Rounded glass make them very attractive. For the...

• Published: October 30, 2008, 9:52 pm
• Displayed: 157 times
• Preview: About Aquarium Lighting Sponsored links In order to answer more and more questions of Aqua-Fish.Net`s visitors, this article is devoted to information about aquarium lighting. All questions have been compiled from previous statistics. If you`re looking for answer that isn`t answered here (or on this website), feel free to contact us. Which lighting is suitable (best) for a freshwater aquarium? For plants I recommend AquaGlo bulbs (I have had very good experience with these). In past I recommended 0.625 Watt per 1 litre for very fast growth. However, nowadays I am using 0.308 Watt per 1 litre. It is enough to grow plants such as Vallisneria Gigantea, Vallisneria Spiralis, Anubias Nana. Some plants (especially the floating ones) can do better under ordinary sunlight than under special aquarium lighting. Pistia Stratiotes is a nice example of such a plant. Never buy bulbs which heat the tank too much. In Summer this can cause serious overheating. How long should a bulb be? If the fish tank is 100cm long, I recommend to use a 90 cm long bulb (or less, but not les...

• Published: November 9, 2009, 3:21 am
• Displayed: 2 times
• Preview: About Betta Fish an article submitted by Exotic Aquariums sponsored links Betta Fish or Betta Splendens are members of the familyCichlidae more commonly referred to as cichlids. Betta Splendens are endemic to Tailand. The Betta earned the nickname “Siamese fighting fish” because of their highly territorial nature toward other male members of their species. Two male betta fish will fight each other, very often to the death, when placed in the same tank together. Males will even flare their gills (in order to make him look bigger and more menacing) at their own reflection. Male bettas have been known to have trouble getting along with anglefish, gouramis, and fancy guppies (especially the colorful males). Male bettas are vulnerable to fin nippers such as tetras and barbs. You might want to keep all this in mind when deciding whether to purchase one to add to your community fish tank. The Betta fish is indigenous to Thailand. They were first domesticated in 1893 for combat where wagers were made on the outcome of the fight. It wasn`t until the 1920s when aquarists ...

• Published: November 6, 2009, 11:58 pm
• Displayed: 2 times
• Preview: About Dwarf Gouramis an article submitted by Exotic Aquariums sponsored links The gourami or Colisa lalia is a member of the family Belontiidae. It is native to India. The Indian Gourani is often referred to as the dwarf gourami because because there is a larger gourami endemic to Thailand that grows twice the size of the Indian variety. The Gourami is part of the Anabantoidei suborder. This suborder evolved a lung-like organ known as a labyrinth to help them survive in low oxygenated environments. The labyrinth allows them to breathe atmospheric oxygen. Gouramis will frequently rise to the surface to take in atmospheric oxygen. Members of the Anabantoidei Suborder need a combination of both airborne and dissolved oxygen to survive. In nature male dwarf gouramis have diagonal stripes alternating in blue and red. Females are silver. However selective breeding has yielded red, neon, and rainbow variations. Both sexes have tread-like touch sensitive cells extending from their pelvic fins. Adults reach about two inches in length. Gouramis are docile in nature. ...

• Published: March 24, 2009, 8:22 pm
• Displayed: 91 times
• Preview: About fish pond filters Sponsored links For every pond that has been set up there has to be a filtration system incorporated into the design to keep the water fresh and free from harmful contaminants. There are many too choose from on the market and all different sizes to suit different ponds. Indeed, many pond keepers have become skilled enough to make their own filters. Hopefully by answering the following questions, it should be clear which filters are required and why they are necessary. Do I need a pond filter and what methods does it use? The answer to this question is “yes” if you are planning to keep fish you need a filter with no exceptions to run a successful pond. If you are looking at a natural wildlife pond, then sometimes it is not required. The plant life in the pond will soak up any nitrates present in the water. As well as filtering the water mechanically (particles are removed as they pass through a set of sponges), it also converts any ammonia that is created by fish waste and rotting vegetation into nitrates by hosting beneficial bacteria that do ...

• Published: September 23, 2006, 1:26 pm
• Displayed: 4052 times
• Preview: Activated Carbon Sponsored links For many years, carbon has been used as an agent to remove impurities from air and water. Activated carbon is one of the most effective absorbents currently used. Activated carbon is carbon which has a positive charge added to it, which makes it much more effective at absorbing impurities and chemicals. An activated carbon filter works by the law of attraction. When water passes over the positively charged carbon, the impurities in the water which have a negative charge will be locked into the activated carbon filter. Usually activated carbon filters use either granular activated carbon or powdered block carbon. Both types of filters are effective, however the powdered block carbon filters do tend to remove more impurities than its counterpart. The efficiency of activated carbon filters are dependant on two factors. First, the amount of activated carbon which is contained in the filter and second, the amount of time the impurities stay in contact with the carbon. Of course the more carbon there is in the filter, the better it will do its jo...

• Published: September 8, 2006, 2:19 am
• Displayed: 6262 times
• Preview: Adding a Fish Pond to Your Garden Landscape Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! Many homeowners take pride in designing and maintaining their own landscapes and gardens. There is a lot of hard work involved and a lot of money spent, but owners definitely reap great benefit as well. Adding a fish pond, or water garden to your property will not only make it more appealing to the eye, it will also increase the value and equity of your home. Not to mention the enjoyment and relaxation you will get from the addition. Once the decision has been made to incorporate a fish pond into your landscape design, the next step is to determine the exact placement of your garden pond. It’s important to place it where you’ll always be able to see it from inside the house, or other areas of the garden. You should take into consideration the lay of the land, so you don’t have to worry about possible contamination from runof...

• Published: February 20, 2008, 12:43 pm
• Displayed: 936 times
• Preview: Adjustment of pH in the aquarium Sponsored links a measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution For an experienced aquarium hobbyist, adjusting and controlling the measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution (pH) in the tank is an undertaking that is understood needs a combination of time and experience. And for someone new to the hobby, it can be a really daunting experience. Experts state that more than half of the problems encountered in controlling a fish tank and taking ware of the well being of its occupants is keeping on top of the levels of pH in the tank. The problem often lies in an inexperienced beginner’s ability to trust that the levels of pH found in simple tap water is sufficient and their need to constantly adjust the level, causing a rise in the levels of pH bringing with it the possibility of damaging the fish’s health. A general rule of thumb and one that is worth remembering fro aquarists, whether they have been at a for a long time or are “newbies” is less is enough when it comes to pH adjustment, What is most important is to remember routine mainten...

• Published: May 7, 2006, 3:45 am
• Displayed: 5555 times
• Preview: African Cichlids Sponsored links African Cichlids come from three of Africa`s great lakes - Malawi, Tanganyika, and Victoria. In these lakes there are more species of fish than in any other lakes in the world. We don`t know the exact number of species and new ones are being continually discovered in all the lakes, so you can understand how difficult it is to count them. Cichlid fishes in these lakes often have extraordinary opportunities to instigate speciation, an evolutionary process that leads to differences. That is why they are the most spectacular examples of speciation and adaptive radiation within any vertebrate family. The process is what makes Africa`s great lakes, and the cichlids that inhabit them, so interesting. African cichlids are beautifully coloured freshwater aquarium fish. They have amazing social behaviour, display extroverted personalities, and are intelligent too. It is easy to care for cichlids, and they will bring a great deal of pleasure to the aquarium enthusiast if you take good care of them. This fish is territorial and it can be hostile to...

• Published: June 17, 2008, 10:58 pm
• Displayed: 290 times
• Preview: AFRICAN DWARF FROGS Sponsored links African dwarf frogs (Hymenochirus Boettgeri) are a very popular choice of aquarium addition as they are so easy to keep, no more difficult than keeping a goldfish. One of the biggest problems with these is when you actually go to purchase them from the pet stores. Some of clawed frogs may be labelled as dwarfs but they are not. Clawed frogs will grow quite large in comparison and are not so hardy. Two ways of spotting the difference are, if they are albino then they are not a dwarf species, also the dwarfs will have smaller eyes compared to the clawed frogs. They originally came from the Congo region in Africa, but unfortunately due to land clearing and the change in the eco system it is thought that they may have become extinct in the wild. Most of the frogs sold in the pet stores were originally bred in India where it was quite a large concern; large amounts were bred purely to be sold into the pet trade. This proved to be a valuable move as it has prevented this species from being extinct altogether. The dwarf species will grow to 1...

• Published: October 24, 2007, 9:01 am
• Displayed: 1162 times
• Preview: Air pumps Sponsored links They not only offer pleasing effects but also essential oxygenation and current to the aquarium. Not all aquarists use them though. It is possible to have an aquarium without one, but it poses challenges sooner or later. What do they do? An air pump can be used for filtration using foam, box or under-gravel filters, airation of the water by bubblestones, wands, or bubble tubes, and they can also power ornaments and create movement in the aquarium. Filtration: This is very often the first use of air pumps. Most aquarists buy air pumps for this reason initially. Filtration is an essential part of any aquarium and not all can be filtered by other methods. The principle advantage of air filtration is that it is gentle and safe for delicate and small fish. Many electrically powered filters are too powerful for small fish and fry to cope with, creating strong currents in the tank and tiring them out. They also create strong intake currents and can pull small fish into the intakes. Air filtration is much less dangerous for these fish. Beca...

• Published: March 20, 2007, 8:31 am
• Displayed: 20281 times
• Preview: Algae eaters Sponsored links If you notice small or large green spots, or even some hair algae in your freshwater tropical aquarium, you usually try to remove them manually. After careful removal or cutting sick plants for weeks you`ll find that it`s almost impossible to displace all the algae which grow, grow and grow all the time. An ordinary aquarist may consider introducing algae eaters into the tank at this point. Fish shops like this kind of customer since it`s easy to persuade a hopeless fishkeeper that some fish will fix the problem in a short time. Moreover, a skillful merchant recommends more than 1 or 2 fish in order to remove algae from your fish tank as soon as possible. This way people buy from 5 to 10 fish no matter that they don`t know anything about their demands, habits, etc. In order to avoid weedy aquariums you need to understand what algae is, what helps it`s growth and what to do if it gets out of control. What helps algae growing 1. Too little/much lighting, 2. Inappropriate feeding which leaves food to decompose, 3. Bad filtration and aeration, ...

• Published: June 1, 2009, 8:42 pm
• Displayed: 72 times
• Preview: Aquarium book - All about aquariums Ready to buy our e-book? Click here! Do you want to keep happy and healthy fish? Do you want to know how to grow aquarium plants? Do you want your aquarium to look like this? So buy our e-book! The aquarium book called "All About Aquariums" covers all topics that are: Needed to start a freshwater tropical fish tank,Needed to run a freshwater tropical aquarium properly without seeing fish suffering,Needed to understand how freshwater tropical fish behave,Needed to help you breeding your freshwater tropical fish,Needed to enjoy this hobby! In order to differentiate this book from most of others which are already available on the internet, here`s what you won`t find inside: Lack of contentMissing referencesPoor qualityImpossibility of finding answersPoor navigation within the book What`s inside 12 chapters covering all steps from factors when starting an aquarium to specialised equipment when running a fish tank seriously!A detailed guide how to set up an aquarium!Problems after setting up a new tank a...

• Published: October 29, 2008, 10:39 pm
• Displayed: 153 times
• Preview: Fish Pond De-icers; Questions and Links to De-Icers Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! Each of the questions below has been asked by visitors of Aqua-Fish.Net in the past. In order to share the knowledge and experience, I decided to publish and answer them within this article. You may be also interested in visiting another article devoted to fish pond de-icers, which is here: aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=ponddeicer. What is the purpose of a pond de-icer? (or what a de-icer does) To melt the the ice in a fish pond. This helps to keep the fish healthy since dangerous gases can get out from water (these gases are a result of excrements for instance). It also helps to avoid fishes from suffocate. How do I choose a fish pond de-icer? Firstly compare a few products (you can compare products listed at the bottom of this page too) and based on your requirements, select one. The requirements are: How big...

• Published: December 27, 2006, 3:53 pm
• Displayed: 5463 times
• Preview: Caridina Japonica – Amano shrimp Sponsored links Caridina japonica is the most common shrimp present in aquariums, is also known as Amano Shrimp because Takashi Amano has been the first one to introduce them in his aquariums, noticing their habit to eat algae. Caridina japonica, native of Japan, Korea and Taiwan, is a small transparent grey shrimp with black spots covering the body and a white line from the head to the tail; the body colour can anyway change a bit due food nutrients and water quality. Aquarium life Amano shrimp can live in every aquarium, prefer neutral or lightly acid PH, temperature can fluctuate between 71°F and 82°F (22°C – 28°C), while water hardness has not to be too much soft, because being a crustacean Caridina needs calcium and other minerals to grow healthy. Being really shy, it is better to house them in large groups in the aquarium, or they would spend the most of the time hidden among plants and decorations. There is not a maximum number of Caridina you can house in your tank, overpopulation is really difficult; they live on the gro...

• Published: June 22, 2008, 10:19 pm
• Displayed: 265 times
• Preview: ANACHARIS Sponsored links Anacharis must be one of the most popular aquatic plants available on the market. There is a lot of debate as to the name of this plant; there are various common names such as Brazilian waterweed, elodea, and recently is has been classified as being Egeria Densa. This must be one of the most versatile plants available to buy on the market, and definitely one of the most popular for new fish keepers to have their first attempt at keeping live plants. However, if it is not given the right conditions, it can just as easily melt down, like all other plant life. Anacharis is native to North and South America, where it can grow abundantly, in some areas it is even classed as an invasive plant. As it is so abundant, this reflects on the price, it is one of the cheapest plants to buy, another good reason for its popularity. It grows long stems, these will reach from the substrate right up to the surface, it has even been known to reach a height of 3 feet. The colouration of the leaves can vary from light green to a rich dark green, thickly protrud...

• Published: November 4, 2009, 5:25 pm
• Displayed: 4 times
• Preview: Angelfish an article submitted by Exotic Aquariums sponsored links The angelfish or Pterophyllum Scalare is a part the Cichlidae family more commonly referred to as cichlids. They have long been a favorite of freshwater aquarium keepers worldwide. They are indigenous to the Amazon River, Orinoco River and Essequibo River basins of South America Angelfish are elegant and graceful creatures. Their unique disk shape undoubtedly contributes to their popularity. They come in a variety of color palettes, from unadorned to striped, marbled, black, golden, or Koi. Because of their popularity they can be found at virtually any store that sales fish. They are inexpensive to buy and easy to maintain. But don’t be fooled by the size of the angelfish you see for sale in the fish store. Angelfish commonly grow to six inches in diameter. Keep this in mind when deciding whether to purchase one as an addition to your fish tank. They can be kept in an aquarium as small as 10 gallons. But 20 gallons and up is preferable. Angelfish work well in community fish tanks. But a note ...

• Published: April 3, 2008, 5:21 pm
• Displayed: 377 times
• Preview: Angelfish: Breeding Sponsored links Pterophyllum Scalare is a cichlid fish that is in high demand in the aquarium industry due to their unique beauty and unusual personalities. This fish is more commonly known as the “Angelfish” and it is known to come from rivers in Peru, Columbia, and Brazil. Angelfish are unusually shaped for cichlids because they are laterally compressed with round bodies and elongated triangular-shaped dorsal and anal fins. These egg-layers form monogamous pairs and are wonderful parents in the wild as most cichlids are. Although, it has been observed through captive breeding that angels are loosing their parenting instincts and tend not to care for their young as diligently as do the wild versions of themselves. Pairing Angelfish It is difficult to determine the sex of immature angelfish. To improve the odds of finding a suitable pair it is recommended to start with about 6 or more juvenile angelfish. Be sure to choose quality, hardy specimens with good color and finnage. This allows the spawning pair a chance to find each other naturally. A stron...

• Published: April 16, 2008, 9:25 pm
• Displayed: 348 times
• Preview: Aquarium Accessories Sponsored links So, you`ve just got home with your new fish tank, to me that is 30 gallons or less. Aquariums are larger, at least in my mind. Since most new fish tanks and some 55 gallon models come in as a kit probably have: 1.the tank2.a hood with light3.an adequate filter4.a 4 inch net5.some tropical fish flakes6.a small amount of a chlorine remover7.a plastic/silk plant or two8.possibly some coupons It is strongly suggested, if you haven`t already, that you do a good deal of research before investing any more of your hard earned cash. Research This is the most important step in any endeavor that involves dealing with live animals. Speak with store personnel to get a recommendation for what is best suited to your application. THEN check on-line forums for the opinion of experienced users. Then commit your hard earned money. This is true of any purchase you may wish to make. Check the stores but always check the various forums that are on the internet. Researching a project, whether it is size or type of tank, what types of fish get along...

• Published: August 31, 2006, 11:57 am
• Displayed: 7571 times
• Preview: Aquarium air pump Sponsored links Aquarium air pump is a device that brings air into the aquarium and it may filtrate the water too. There are many types of air pumps like air stones. You just put the air stone into the aquarium and start the device, which is out of the aquarium. An air pump may have the form of an aquarium ornament like treasure chests, shells, divers and many more. Such aerating devices make bubbles and that is how they aerate the water. Choosing the right air pump is not so difficult. You just have to choose it according to the size of your aquarium and to amount of the plants, because they can stop the bubbles and the aquarium is not fully aerated. But when you are choosing an ornamental aerator, you are choosing it according to that, how do you like it, or which would look best in your aquarium. And if you want to have your tank really good aerated, then you can combine the aerators. The use of the air pump is really easy. You just do everything what the guide says. Mostly you just take out the air pump from the box, put it into the aquarium and start i...

• Published: February 26, 2008, 1:08 pm
• Displayed: 460 times
• Preview: Aquarium airline Sponsored links A key component in a properly constructed aquarium which may seem totally insignificant but actually plays a vital part is the aquarium airline. As aquarists take fish from rivers, lakes and oceans, and place them in an aquarium tank, part of the object is to create an environment for them that will allow the fish to thrive. It is very difficult to recreate the exact environment that the fish enjoyed when not in “captivity”. It is impossible to recreate the large, even unlimited, surface areas that the fish had to live in, but at least it should be possible to recreate most of the conditions that they enjoyed within a limited area. As we all know, fish need oxygen to be introduced into the water to survive, and they also exhale carbon dioxide which needs to be expelled from the water for the sake of the fish’s health. This means that proper circulation in the tank is highly important, and this needs to be done through the process of aeration. In addition the air that is injected into the tank has to be very evenly distributed and this can ...

• Published: August 22, 2008, 10:38 pm
• Displayed: 192 times
• Preview: Aquarium algae(types, and how to get rid of them - natural and other ways) Sponsored links Green algae There are over 7,000 species of green algae, most of them being unicellular or filamentous freshwater species. Brackish and marine species also exist, so green algae can live in such aquariums as well. Green algae are often a beneficial part of the ecosystem in the aquarium and should ideally not be vigorously eliminated. It can for instance serve as food for various inhabitants and help you keep the water quality stable by binding organic waste. There is however situations where you need to do something about the green algae, e.g. when it suddenly starts to grow much faster than normally. If you wish to control green algae growth in the aquarium, you need to control light and nutrients. Green algae carry out photosynthesis and will therefore grow much faster when provided with plenty of light. Ideally place your aquarium in a spot where it receives no direct sun-light and do not let the aquarium lighting be on for more than 12 hours per day. When it comes to nutr...

• Published: March 26, 2008, 4:38 pm
• Displayed: 477 times
• Preview: Aquarium Backgrounds Sponsored links What can you do with the back of an aquarium? There are many answers to this question, form cheap to expensive, from plain to very decorative. Let`s look at the options. Firstly, we should start with the cheapest, and very often the best. If the aquarium is against a wall, and most are, you have several options: Leave it as it is, with the wall showing through the tank;Paint the back of the tankStick on one of the many patterned backgrounds that are available in your local fish stores;Build a decorative background inside the tank;Buy a decorative background from your LFS. Let`s take them one at a time, outlining the pro`s and con`s: Leave it as it is. Very plain, but if you are aiming for a planted tank, this could be a good option. A curtain of plants at the back of the tank would leave little background showing, so it wouldn`t matter that much. But at best it is simple and cheap! Paint the back of the tank. One of my own preferred options, as it`s not expensive, very easy to do, and looks good. You can use any proprietary g...

• Published: September 8, 2006, 2:07 am
• Displayed: 48964 times
• Preview: Add Realism and Beauty by Using Aquarium Backgrounds Sponsored links Aquarium owners have the luxury of having a piece of the underwater kingdom available for their viewing pleasure twenty four hours a day. Since a well maintained and presented aquarium can represent quite an investment, the die hard fish lover wants to perfectly display and enhance the appearance of his fish. One way to do this is through the use of aquarium backgrounds. These backgrounds can be made of various fish-safe materials and can be placed inside or outside the aquarium. Aquarium backgrounds come in an almost endless array of sizes shapes and colors, so it’s quite certain that there’s a background suitable for even the pickiest fish lover. The choices in which type of aquarium background to use can depend on several factors. First the actual size of the tank must be considered. Smaller sized tanks require aquarium backgrounds which will not take up too much of the tank space. Space within these tanks is at a premium from the get go so placing items in the tank will use up space which is needed for ...

• Published: September 30, 2008, 7:05 am
• Displayed: 180 times
• Preview: Aquarium bacteria Sponsored links When an aquarium is first set up it is incapable of supporting any livestock until it has built up large enough colonies of beneficial bacteria that will convert all traces of toxic ammonia and nitrites into nitrates that are removed during water changes or consumed by plants that have been added to the tank. But what are these beneficial bacteria and how do they keep our aquariums healthy? To understand the processes that are taking place in the aquarium, we have to first learn a little about water chemistry and what it involves. We have heard the phrase “cycling the tank” but what does that mean. When we first set up an aquarium we are actually setting up an artificial ecosystem that hangs on a fragile balance. If we get everything right then the tank looks great but if the balance tips against us and the water parameters take a dive we will start losing fish. The phrase “cycling the tank” refers to the nitrogen cycle that is being created in our small ecosystem i.e. the aquarium. A new tank has just been filled with water, the f...

• Published: May 8, 2008, 1:24 pm
• Displayed: 326 times
• Preview: Aquarium Canopy Sponsored links An aquarium canopy can do so much for the aesthetics of an aquarium. The purpose of the canopy is to finish the look of the aquarium by covering the filters, lights and electrical cords. The canopy can allow an aquarium to look like a piece of furniture or a decorative centerpiece in any room of the house. A canopy needs to be able to allow the aquarist to easily and conveniently access the inside of the tank for the sake of routine maintenance. What good is a tank topper that will not allow you to get into it? Most aquarium canopies come with one or more access points to get in and out, but for those really big jobs, the canopy is removable. The aquarium canopy is different from the aquarium hood even though they serve the same purpose. They both cover the aquarium to prevent fish from jumping out and they both house the lighting fixtures over the tank. The difference is the canopy will give the aquarium a nicer, more finished look as if it is something that is meant to decorate the room. Canopies usually come as a set with the aqu...

• Published: August 8, 2008, 7:00 am
• Displayed: 234 times
• Preview: Aquarium Carbon Sponsored links Carbon is an element that is largely used in the aquarium industry for filtering chemicals out of the water making it safe for both fresh and salt water fish to live in. Materials such as charcoal, coconut shells and wood are often used for carbon filtering because of the amount of elemental carbon it contains. When these materials are introduced to high pressured steam impurities are released and the elemental carbon contained within creates pores. This forms the substance we call activated carbon which acts like a sponge that is highly effective against organic chemicals. Active carbon has millions of pores which gives it a substantially large surface area of up to 750 square feet per ounce. The tiny little pores make activated carbon a highly absorbent substance that is useful in filtering not only aquarium water, but it is also used to filter drinking water and absorbing bad smells in the air. Three-Step Process: 1. The carbon attracts negatively charged chemical particles with its own positive charge. This draws the chemicals in causi...

• Published: August 30, 2006, 1:44 pm
• Displayed: 13332 times
• Preview: Aquarium Chiller Sponsored links In this guide you can find information about aquarium chillers as well as links to the products (expensive or inexpensive, it's up to the customer), and useful tips when buying/using one. Aquarium chiller (or cooler); an unusual and unknown piece of equipment in many countries... That's how one description could be written. In my previous article, I was talking about heaters in aquariums. Unlike the winter months, warm months in summer means problems with high temperatures, which could lead to fish problems. Also, fishes will live longer if you keep them in water which is colder than 30°C (86°F). Making an aquarium a cooler place is sometimes very difficult, because no-one will keep adding ice cubes into the water each day for weeks on end. Generally, there are a few ways how to keep the water cool. These techniques include adding ice, fish tank chillers, darkening the room and so on. Firstly, make sure you need an aquarium chiller for your tank. When the temperature exceeds 30°C (86°F), you should do something about it because not all f...

• Published: August 28, 2007, 10:38 pm
• Displayed: 1684 times
• Preview: Aquarium cleaner Sponsored links Basic knowledge Aquarium cleaner is a simple and cheap tool with price about $3. It is designed for pumping the water out/into the tank while the water is moved from one container to another container. From time to time you should pump out some water from the aquarium and replace it with some new water (you shouldn`t use any water taken from the duct without leaving it 1-2 days in some bucket). Water changes I recommend you to change from about 10% up to 20% of entire water. Depending on your tank`s capacity, this number might vary from 5% (for very large aquariums) up to 40% (small fish bowls). Water changes are necessary when there are too many excrements at the bottom of the tank or if you want to simulate tropical rain for fish which originate from tropical forests. However, this process sometimes happens for no apparent reason; just because you want to clean the environment. There applies a simple principle saying “less is more” in this case because you shouldn`t do water changes everyday. Do it and your fish will be stressed. Gene...

• Published: March 26, 2008, 2:19 pm
• Displayed: 401 times
• Preview: AQUARIUM CO2 SYSTEMSby Mick Sponsored links CO2 systems are added to the aquariums to enhance lush plant growth where the plants use light energy to utilise the CO2 to promote their growth. Several aquarists have success with their planted aquariums with installing these systems but for typical “Dutch Aquariums” these certainly play a major part in their success. How many times have we looked in magazines & wondered how on earth do they get them to look like that well hopefully this article will help to explain how they work & the choices available. Basics of CO2 in the aquarium: Plants need carbon for growth as well as adequate lighting but a balance has to be reached as lighting alone will not provide ideal conditions for the plants, hence the need to bubble in CO2 as this will provide the carbon required. Too much CO2 also can cause problems as this will affect the pH of the water & this will then lead to a pH crash, also bear in mind excessive CO2 will produce carbonic acid (H2CO3) which is toxic, definitely not good so most systems ...

• Published: August 23, 2006, 7:02 am
• Displayed: 15503 times
• Preview: Aquarium decoration Sponsored links As we all know aquarium decoration nowadays, it includes items such as caves, air pumps, plastic plants, rocks, shells, pearls. However, let's go through it's history and tips how to decorate your fish tank. The first kinds of fish tanks were small ponds in the gardens. The fish kept there were goldfish and some kinds of carps. It all started in China around the 10th century and it could be, that even in the 7th century. The goldfish species came to Europe in about 17th century. The first aquariums like we know them now were built in the 19th century. Mostly, people decide to start an aquarium because an aquarium is a part of their decoration. But the fish tank is a real and quality decoration only if it looks good. These days, there are numerous styles of decorating our homes, but when you are starting a fish tank, the first thing you should bear in mind is the comfort of fishes kept there. You can also choose how your aquarium should look like and only then you`ll buy fish according to the biotope in your aquarium. For example, if y...

• Published: March 19, 2008, 9:07 pm
• Displayed: 365 times
• Preview: Aquarium Decorations Sponsored links Aquarium decorations come in many shapes and sizes and vary enormously in price. For the purpose of this guide, I will group them into several categories: Plastic and Silk Plants;Plastic/fibreglass ornamentsCeramic ornamentsNovelty ornamentsDecorative substratesNatural decorative ornamentsReal plants Plastic or Silk Plants: Most of us have bought these type of plants, usually when we first start into the hobby. This is mainly because they are quick, simple and maintenance free. They also give you a finished result immediately. Some fish can be destructive too, and real plants don`t last long in tanks with these fish. Goldfish are very well known for eating live plants and at best, uprooting them, so silk and plastic plants have their uses! As you become more knowledgeable, this type of décor tends to disappear in favour of natural plants. Plastic/fibreglass ornaments: A vast range of these are available covering everything from an ornamental bush and tree stump to castles, pillars, bridges and houses. They also come as anc...

• Published: March 19, 2008, 4:31 pm
• Displayed: 441 times
• Preview: Aquarium Design Sponsored links These days, everyone who has an aquarium has seen the vast range of ornaments, fake plants and novelty toys that can be placed into the aquarium. There is no need to detail these, as you see the every time you enter the local fish stores. I want to look at the choices we have for alternative decorations here, letting your mind create the end result. It is quick and easy to run to the store, buy a few trinkets and put them into the tank just to give some effect, but that`s not what we want or strive for. Yes, it`s great for kids with their first tank and a couple of goldfish, but most of us have aquariums for pleasure and they need to be in keeping with our homes. You take time to plan your home, the furnishings and décor, why not do the same with the aquarium? When planning any aquarium, you need to be able to see the end result before you start. This involves imagination and thought. You need to decide what you want in the end, 12 months down the road, not look for a quick-fix. There is a place for ornaments from the store in here, but t...

• Published: September 22, 2006, 11:07 am
• Displayed: 10894 times
• Preview: Landscape Your Aquarium with Aquarium Driftwood Sponsored links Much like adding aquatic plants to your aquarium, adding driftwood to your aquarium can certainly add to that eye-popping effect you are looking for. Unlike aquatic plants, driftwood sinks naturally to the bottom of your tank, eliminating the need to be anchored in place, all you need to do is place it where you want it and will stay there until you or your fish move it to a new location. Each piece of driftwood has its own unique character and appeal, and can be used to build attractive underwater caves for your fish. If your fish tend to like to stay on the bottom of the tank, adding aquarium driftwood will sometimes get them to move up to the middle and top of the tank. There are a number of varieties of aquarium driftwood that you can purchase online to add beauty and dramatic effect to your aquarium tank. You can find Asian driftwood, planted driftwood (has ferns growing on top), Caribbean driftwood (very smooth, doesn’t cause any water discoloration), and branchy and stump aquarium driftwood ...

• Published: February 18, 2008, 3:36 pm
• Displayed: 444 times
• Preview: Aquarium filter cartridges Sponsored links Every lover of keeping fish in an aquarium will know that proper filtration is one of the principal keys to success and enjoyment. Anything less than 100% efficient filtration will lead to unclear and foul smelling water, and will be detrimental to health of the fish in the tank as well as being generally unpleasant for all those in the general vicinity of the aquarium. For this reason any self respecting aquarium owner, either in a domestic or commercial application, should spend the time and the money to ensure that they have the best of filtration equipment available. The smaller and less sophisticated aquariums used a fairly primitive form of water filtration that was housed in a small container that was hung in the corner of the tank. This was the first and at one time the only form of filtration available for aquariums and is still in use today for smaller aquariums. Basically inexpensive and simple to install, the “corner filter” was basically a plastic container filled with a basic form of filtration medium whi...

• Published: February 20, 2008, 9:15 pm
• Displayed: 644 times
• Preview: Aquarium filter media Sponsored links No one has ever had the heart to stand up and say that filtration may not be essential, because no one has yet had the courage to try and operate an aquarium without filtration. And hopefully they never will. The reason being that the costs and the effort involved in operating an effective aquarium filter media system are so minimal that it is not worth the argument, except possibly in large volume aquariums populated by very few fish and a large range and number of healthy aquatic plants. Over all the aquarist’s goal should be to provide the finest environment for his fish to live and flourish in and much though must be given to find the ideal filter media to produce the best results within a realistic budget. Filter media for aquariums need not be expensive and there are many options available that can keep the cost within reasonable levels. Once the decision has been made to install a filter system for your aquarium the next question will be which one? There are a few to choose from, some of them simple and some of them fairly ...

• Published: June 30, 2008, 2:17 pm
• Displayed: 224 times
• Preview: AQUARIUM FILTER PADS Sponsored links One of the most important aspects of running a successful filtration system is knowing which media to add to your filters. One component that is found in all powered filters is the filter sponge pad. As any experienced fish keeper can tell you, there are three areas that your filter has to cover. Mechanical filtration is the first step in the process; this is then followed by the biological filtration, and finally chemical filtration. Mechanical and biological filtration are a must at all times, chemical filtration is often only applied when it is required to do a specific job as in removing medications from the water, or for removing unwanted substances that have been found in the water. When the water is pulled from the tank into the filter it should be pulled through the sponges that are placed inside. The mechanical filtration will now take place. As the name suggests the sponges will sieve the water, pulling out any solid particles that are present, and them letting the water pass through to the next stage. The solid partic...

• Published: June 7, 2008, 11:31 am
• Displayed: 264 times
• Preview: AQUARIUM FILTER SYSTEMS Sponsored links To a novice fish keeper, choosing which filtration system to purchase for their tank can sometimes be a bit confusing. There are several types to choose from so which will be the most efficient for their tank. There is no point paying out for a large canister filter when running a small tank, researching what is required can save money but still maintain high water quality. The two main factors in choosing which system are, the volume of the tank, and what stock are you going to keep in it. In some cases a secondary filter may be required; if this is the case then it doesn’t always mean paying out for two identical ones, a smaller one will often be used for a back up. Planning your filtration system at the start will save a lot of time and hassle in the future. So why do I need a filter? An aquarium has closed parameters; this means that when your fish foul the water it is trapped in the tank unless pulled out by other means. In nature the seas, lakes or rivers will remove their pollutants, debris on their own, this cannot hap...

• Published: August 22, 2008, 10:47 pm
• Displayed: 198 times
• Preview: Aquarium fish diseasescommon diseases, symptoms, treatments, and prevention Sponsored links Preventing disease Quite a few aquarists routinely treat their fish against various health problems or even retort to constantly keeping the salinity level high in their freshwater aquarium just to prevent outbreaks of certain contagious diseases. The problem with such an approach is that keeping a fish in a suboptimal salinity level and exposing it to various treatments will weaken it in the long run. If you want to keep thriving fish instead of barely surviving fish, prevention is a much better solution than continuous use of salt and disorganized emergency treatments. Here are a few suggestions that can decrease the risk of disease in your aquarium. 1.)Keep your fish in an optimal environment, i.e. optimal water temperature, optimal salinity, optimal pH-value, low levels of organic waste, and so on. Always read up on all species you plan on keeping and do not combine species with dissimilar preferences.2.)Avoid stress in the aquarium by including suitable hiding spots an...

• Published: March 19, 2006, 3:41 pm
• Displayed: 2946 times
• Preview: Aquarium fish forum Sponsored links Join our aquarium fish forum at aqua-fish.net! It`s an easy way to exchange your experiences of keeping freshwater aquarium fish and plants, as well to discuss your problems related to freshwater aquariums. We have released our aquarium fish forum in late 2005 and after several updates, it is now completely ready for posting. What do you need to do if you want to join aqua-fish.net? 1) Register for free. You can find a registration form under Project->Registration. 2) Fill in the registration form. 3) When you`re registered, just click on Project->Our forums. 4) Every new post (except your own) since your last visit will be marked with a blue smiley. Of course, this smiley may vary, but you will see what`s new in our aquarium fish forum. Our website will inform you how many times each topic has been viewed and how many repliesit has had. The same smileys and information will appear in each topic and forum threads. You will see who started each thread and when. 5) Of course...

• Published: January 27, 2006, 4:58 am
• Displayed: 3760 times
• Preview: Aquarium fish needs Sponsored links I started keeping aquarium fish 4 years ago. Like every new fan of this hobby, I wasn`t able to set-up a good fish tank and I made some mistakes. In this article, I want to let you know about beginner`s mistakes. I want to buy aquarium, what should I do first? You need to know something about the aquarium fish you want to keep. Normally that people buy fish that eat each other. Your aquarium can be looking very good, but the fish won`t feel good. This is something you should keep in mind when you decide to take up this aquarium hobby: 1) Place your aquarium somewhere where it will stay for a long time. 2) Larger aquarium = Better aquarium. The conditions in a fish tank are more stable in a larger aquarium than a smaller one. 3) Buy a good filtration system. 4) Buy efficient neons that will give good light conditions for your plants to grow. 5) Buy gravel or something else for the bottom of your aquarium. You can find inspiration for your tank in our database. Just click here. The tank is finished, I want to buy ...

• Published: February 29, 2008, 11:51 am
• Displayed: 454 times
• Preview: Aquarium glass cleaner Sponsored links Anyone involved in any way in keeping fish, is well aware of the dilemma faced every few months as the amount of foreign bodies that fish and plants generate begins to mount up. The dilemma is whether to empty the tank completely, place the fish in a quarantine tank, and give the main tank a thorough cleaning inside and out. This seems like the easy way, yet an experienced aquarist will do just about everything possible to avoid doing it. Why? Not because they are lazy, but because if they do so they will more or less lose all the colonies of beneficial bacteria that has accumulated in the tank water. Another reason is that for the fish themselves, it is traumatic and cause fairly significant health problems, no matter the short their stay in their temporary accommodation. So the dedicated aquarium operator or owner every now and then, as part of an annual maintenance program, will roll up their sleeves and give the aquarium a thorough cleaning both outside and inside. Cleaning the tank on the outside, as you can imagine, is fairly str...

• Published: November 15, 2007, 12:30 pm
• Displayed: 1239 times
• Preview: Aquarium Gravel: Old fashioned, or just overlooked? Sponsored links Aquarium gravel has been the staple substrate for fish tanks and aquariums for many years, but is it still popular, still needed, or just something that we use because it’s simple? The answer to this is complex. Aquariums have become works of art in the last few years, ranging from simple ornament displays to heavily planted and beautiful aquaria. Because of the change in opinions about fish keeping and the desire to explore new avenues of design and appearance, gravel has been replaced by hi-tech substrates in many aquariums. Products like Flourite, which are enhanced with nutrients to sustain plants have become more common, sand has become a very common substrate in aquaria because of the ease with rooting plants, and substrates like marbles and glass beads have become popular because they look nice! The improvements in filtration have also helped common aquarium gravel to be pushed out, as the newer filtration systems such as HOB (Hang on Back) and Canister filters don’t need a gravel substra...

• Published: March 28, 2009, 5:39 am
• Displayed: 88 times
• Preview: Aquarium heaters Sponsored links One of the most vital pieces of equipment in an aquarium has to be the heater. This is often neglected and forgotten about when placed in the tank but it plays a vital role in the fish’s welfare. Misplacing a heater in the aquarium can often mean cold spots in the tank or the heater cannot run as efficiently as it should be doing, hopefully this article will help give everyone a good understanding of how a heart should be used. When should a heater be placed in a tank and why are there some tanks without them? Many species of fish are classed as coldwater fish. When keeping a coldwater tank, there is no need to add a heater as the fish prefer to live in cooler temperatures. Sub tropical and tropical fish come from climates that have higher water temperatures, this is the reason that these fish need to be kept at temperatures above room temperature. How does a fish tank heater work? The heaters that are used for aquariums are basically an element enclosed in glass or stainless steel and the temperature is controlled by a thermostat....

• Published: March 26, 2009, 1:11 am
• Displayed: 95 times
• Preview: Aquarium hoods (and lighting) Sponsored links Many aquariums nowadays are run open topped but there are cases where a tight fitting hood and built in lighting are necessary. Most bought aquariums will come with a hood and lighting but sometimes fish keepers will resort to making their own. This may sound complicated but it isn’t! Even the smallest of tanks come complete with a hood and some form of basic lighting. Hoods are normally made from wood, plastic or metal, deciding which one is used is purely personal preference. Why do I need a hood? Aquarium hoods serve a few purposes. They will reduce the amount of evaporation from the tank water as well as preventing contaminants entering the tank from outside sources. Hoods also act as a base for attaching the lighting equipment to and with built in flaps give access to all areas. If the aquarium is bought as a complete package, the hood will be a perfect fit and will do its job well. If making your own hood, measure carefully to ensure a tight fit. Should I choose wooden or plastic for my hood? As mentioned ab...

• Published: September 23, 2006, 1:30 pm
• Displayed: 4017 times
• Preview: Choosing an Aquarium Hood That’s Right for You Sponsored links Unless you purchased your aquarium as a pre-selected complete kit, then you’ll also need to acquire an aquarium hood. Aquarium hoods are not only an attractive topper to finish the look of your aquarium, but they also serve practical purposes as well. They add protection from foreign objects falling in the tank which could kill your fish, and they hold the upper lighting for the aquarium. Aquarium hoods also keep wayward pets such as ferrets and cats from making an afternoon munchie of your aquarium denizens. Dust, smoke, pet dander and other airborne pollutants are also held at bay, helping to keep the tank water cleaner for a longer period of time. Of course, hoods help prevent your fish from leaping out of the tank and onto the floor to their death. We can’t always be there to scoop them up immediately and return them to the tank, therefore an aquarium hood is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. You will find that aquarium hoods come in all standard sizes and that custom sizes can be found at some retailers. ...

• Published: September 25, 2008, 7:18 am
• Displayed: 182 times
• Preview: Aquarium ideas Sponsored links One of the joys of the fish keeping hobby has to be designing an eye catching and pleasing tank set up with all the décor involved. This can take many hours to get the desired effect or it may work straight away with instant success. Pre-planning your aquarium can save a lot of time when you actually get to the physical side of putting items into the tank. The planning should also involve researching which types of fish you intend to keep in your tank, this will then give you a good idea of the size of tank required and the décor that needs to be added. If the fish need hiding places, then artificial caves or pieces of driftwood will provide them, even some of the artificial ornaments will include hidey holes for the fish. It maybe that fish are not going to be the main feature of your tank, in some planted tanks, the scenery provided by the plants is the focal point of the tank, and a few fish are merely added for some movement in the scenery. This applies more in a saltwater reef tank where the reefs constructed of living rock adorned with co...

• Published: August 22, 2008, 10:54 pm
• Displayed: 177 times
• Preview: Aquarium kits(about kits which are available on markets) Sponsored links If you wish to set up and aquarium, an aquarium kit can be a convenient and sometimes cost effective way of getting what you need. The term aquarium kit is used very freely and can refer to anything from a glass tank with a lamp in the hood and a tiny filter in the corner to all-inclusive package deals that include everything from tank and equipment to fish, plants, food and a test kit for water values. In this article, we will take a look at a few things that are important to consider before purchasing an aquarium kit. Size of the tank The size of the aquarium is very important when choosing an aquarium kit. Many beginner aquarists go for small or even tiny aquariums, but the truth is that medium large aquariums are much easier to maintain. In a small aquarium, waste products emitted by the fish will quickly reach harmful levels since there is so little water to dilute them. The small water mass will also be more susceptible to rapid changes in water temperature which can be dangerous for fish. In ...

• Published: January 9, 2007, 2:24 am
• Displayed: 5032 times
• Preview: Aquarium Light Fixture Sponsored links I'm writing this article in order to give some guidance regarding aquarium light fixtures and the precise construction of the aquarium light fixtures of my social aquarium. A joiner created the case for my tank to order. The dimensions are 120 cm x 55 cm x 100 cm. The cover's dimensions are 120 cm x 55 cm x 20 cm. I chose 4x39W 850 mm T5 lighting fluorescent tubes as the lighting. All in all, it is 156 W for 220 litres of water. I like to have a planted tank and 0.7 W/l is enough in my experience. In order to boost the intensity of the aquarium lighting I attached mirror foil to it. To use T5 lighting fluorescent tubes you need to plug them into the electronic ballasts. I use two pieces of Helvar electronic ballast "El 2x39s". If you have the aquarium light fixture made of wood or any flammable material, you must embed the asbestos bearing between the ballast and fixture. The ballast has a temperature of 80 degrees Celsius when working. To connect electronic ballast with T5 tubes I used cable CY 1.5mm2. Finally, you have to c...

• Published: February 29, 2008, 8:06 am
• Displayed: 398 times
• Preview: Aquarium light timer Sponsored links Of the many reasons to maintain an aquarium in your home, the office or in a public building, the most popular reason is for therapeutic purposes. People who are easily agitated can calm down and watch fish in an aquarium swinging around in their tank for hours on end with no major worries in life. People, who have worries, and some of them serious, can forget them for just a little while as they watch these fish swirl around in their tank. For those people outside the tank looking in it is very important that the aquarium have an efficient lighting system, and for this inside the tank but not necessarily looking out it is no less important, but for different reasons. Proper lighting in an aquarium is very important for all forms of life in the tank, especially in a tropical freshwater (and reef) aquarium. Proper lighting is very important to all these life forms that are in need of proper photosynthesis to balance the equilibrium in the tank. These plants and life forms will fade gradually without access to so many hours of light every ...

• Published: September 4, 2006, 3:48 pm
• Displayed: 9545 times
• Preview: Aquarium lightinga guide to lights for freshwater aquariums Sponsored links Before you decide to buy an aquarium lighting system there are a few facts you should know. Always focus on more aspects than only price, given discount or cheap offers. It's necessary to understand the purpose of a lighting system in a fish tank, and only then one should go ahead and buy. This guide is here to help you and it has been written by experienced fish keepers for everyone who needs advice. Imagine, you are a colourful tropical fish. You swim in warm water, with lot of plants, in which you can hide and of course you know where are you swimming. Do you know how this paradise may exist? It is because of the sun. Sunshine is a perfect light. Thanks to the sun the life exists on the Earth's surface. Thanks to the sun I can write this article now. As you all know, it is because of the photosynthesis. So you see, that the light is very important. And an aquarium needs it too. That is the reason why you have to buy a specialized aquarium lighting. When you are buying an aquarium lighting, y...

• Published: March 27, 2009, 7:22 am
• Displayed: 87 times
• Preview: Aquarium lighting fixtures Sponsored links Aquarium lighting if used correctly can create an outstanding effect and show off everything in your tank. Most aquariums nowadays are supplied with the lighting already fitted but when buying a second hand tank this may not always be the case. A lighting system is not all that complicated and is very easy to fit into the hood of the aquarium. Basically there are three main components to a lighting system. BallastLighting TubesWaterproof connecters Once these three items are matched together and fitted correctly you will have a great display in your aquarium and in the case of planted tanks, the lighting will encourage the plant growth. How do I create an aquarium light? As mentioned above you will need to purchase the three main items to set up your lighting fixture. The first thing that you need to do is measure the length of your tank to ensure that you are getting the correct length of tubes for your lighting. The tubes sold will be slightly smaller than the tank length and will be rated in watts. They are attached ...

• Published: March 12, 2008, 8:51 pm
• Displayed: 457 times
• Preview: Aquarium Maintenance Sponsored links Regular aquarium maintenance keeps a tank healthy allowing its inhabitants comfort and longevity. It is a lot easier to prevent trouble rather than having to fix it. Maintaining your aquarium is easy when all of the components in the tank are in proper working order. There are specific guidelines to what works best when maintaining your aquatic environment. The most important thing to check on a daily basis is your fish. Take a good look at them for a few minutes each day and check to see that there are no diseases present such as skin irritations or fin rot. See that they are eating properly because a sick fish might not present any symptoms other than lack of appetite and diminished physique. Also be sure that there are no casualties because dead fish can cause water contamination levels to spike if not removed right away. Catching the problem early and taking swift action will help to keep maintenance down to a minimum. Be sure that your aquarium equipment is also running properly. Check daily to see that filters are filtering, ai...

• Published: February 26, 2008, 4:07 pm
• Displayed: 510 times
• Preview: Aquarium medications Sponsored links For aquarists who have invested a considerable amount of money and time in establishing an aquarium, there is nothing more daunting than seeing their fish become ill and possibly dying. Anyone who has maintains an aquarium either for work of for pleasure should take the trouble to learn what is involved in maintaining their fish’s general health, how to recognize the common diseases that can affect the fish, and more importantly, have on hand the relevant aquarium medications to apply to the water to nurse their cares back to perfect health. The first thing to understand is that healthy water means healthy fish. One of the major causes of fish becoming ill is if they are kept in overcrowded conditions where they can develop a condition known as fish stress. This problem can also develop as a result of water in the tank being less than ideal for the health of the fish. Not necessarily fatal, fish stress will cause a gradual deterioration in the health of the fish, and cause them to be more vulnerable to diseases. Therefore aquarists must b...

• Published: March 10, 2008, 4:22 pm
• Displayed: 569 times
• Preview: Aquarium Ornaments Sponsored links Interesting under water scenes are created by using the right combination of aquarium ornaments. By choosing the right décor an aquarist can create the perfect environment to raise happy and healthy fish. Sure, aquarium ornaments are wonderful to look at, but they also serve a bigger purpose. There are many pieces that also function as important survival tools for aquatic pets. When choosing ornaments for an aquarium you’ll have to assess the needs of your fish, pick features that accommodate those needs and use them to create and eye-pleasing scene. There are so many different aspects of decoration to think about when building an underwater scene. Keep in mind you are creating a whole world for your fish to live in. It is a three-dimensional space where your pets will eat, breath, sleep and hide, so where do you start? The best place to begin is at the bottom. The first thing to decide is what to put at the bottom of the aquarium. There are so many substances to choose from. Gravel is most commonly used to decorate the bottom of trop...

• Published: July 7, 2006, 2:56 am
• Displayed: 10339 times
• Preview: Aquarium plants Sponsored links Plants are a very important part of freshwater aquariums. It is worth choosing plants carefully and taking good care of them. Water plants are not only nice in aquarium, but they are good for fish too. They give shadow to fish, which like it if they are shy. Some fish use plants as a spawning nest. For plant eating fish they also serve as food. Of course in some tanks, for example with big plant eating cichlids, plants are already doomed and it will be better to choose plastic plants. Water gardening is almost the same as normal gardening. Plants require good conditions and care. They make their food themselves in strange green cells by absorbing carbon dioxide and excrete oxygen in a process called photosynthesis. For this process light is needed. Plant nutrition: As the terrestrial plants, so water plants need nutrients like nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. They usually take it from the water, but some of them take it from the roots. For some plants trace elements are more important than for others. But give it to the all plants...

• Published: June 4, 2008, 10:13 pm
• Displayed: 238 times
• Preview: AQUARIUM POWER FILTERS Sponsored links One of the most important pieces of aquarium equipment, if not “the” most important, has to be a reliable filtration system to keep the water quality at its highest. In the early days of fish keeping the choices of filters to use were basically one design, the under gravel filter (commonly referred to as a UGF). This was basically a plastic plate with holes in that sat under the substrate in the tank. It worked by air being driven into it by means of piping which created a water flow through the gravel, cleansing the water as it travelled. Those days have long gone; there is now a wide variety of powered filters on the market that gives us much more scope to choose which system we wish to use. There are basically 2 types of powered filter, an internal version, or an external one. So how do we know which one to use? A lot of the decision involves the tank size that we have, but in some set ups it can also be influenced by stocking load or even if we want to create extra current for various biotopes. The general rule i...

• Published: August 22, 2008, 11:01 pm
• Displayed: 180 times
• Preview: Aquarium problems(problems from weight, overcrowding, ... to moving) Sponsored links Aquarium weight An aquarium filled with water and substrate is really heavy and this must be taken into account when you plan your aquarium. Even small aquariums can be surprisingly heavy and must be supported by a strong enough structure. The exact weight of your filled aquarium will depend on several factors, including aquarium type and substrate. Generally speaking, an empty glass aquarium will weight twice as much as an empty acrylic aquarium. (Even a small 20 gallon glass tank can weigh over 25 lbs.) An acrylic aquarium will, despite its lower weight, call for a more supportive stand since it is more flexible and needs to be supported along the full bottom surface. A glass aquarium is heavier but only requires support along the outside edges. As you begin to fill up your aquarium with water, you will add an extra 8 lbs for each gallon of water. As mentioned above, the weight of the substrate must also be taken into account. A deep sand bed will for instance weigh more than a th...

• Published: March 26, 2008, 2:06 pm
• Displayed: 349 times
• Preview: Aquarium refugiumsby Mick Sponsored links As the name suggest a refugium is basically a refuge for macro algae, copepods, amphipods, shrimps & fish species that require quiet surroundings away from predation, bullying etc. They are normally connected to the main display tank or in close vicinity as they need to benefit from the high water quality that is maintained in a reef tank. And this can only be achieved by the water being pumped directly into them which is then allowed to drain back at a steady, constant pace. Some fish keepers keep refugiums purposely to breed their shrimps & copepods. They also provide ideal conditions for seahorses, mandarins, pipefish & all fish that require calmer water flow. SETTING UP A REFUGIUM: Any small tank can be used to create a refugium; in fact on the market nowadays it is possible to purchase a hang on variety which is just as suitable.I have used a 10 gallon tank for this purpose in the past. Now we need to supply a water supply to fill the tank. This is done by means of a small water pump or even...

• Published: April 18, 2008, 9:03 pm
• Displayed: 316 times
• Preview: AQUARIUM REVERSE OSMOSIS Sponsored links In the aquarium hobby there are many instances where reverse osmosis water is used but to most people it can be quite baffling, if they have never actually had to invest in a unit. Hopefully this article will explain its uses and also exactly what it is. It is mainly used for water softening which is ideal for discus, angelfish and in fact nearly all of the South American species, also it is now used with almost every marine or reef tank. An RO unit (reverse osmosis unit) is used as a water purifier and in fact it will reduce the pH of the water as it pulls out 99% of all total dissolves solids, leaving the closest thing to pure water that you can get. This is particularly important where water quality has to be at its highest for the more delicate species of fish and where internal or external filter cannot clean the water to reach desired levels. The water is so pure that it has to be re-mineralized before use, as it can become unstable due to the KH potentially dropping, which in turn can cause a pH crash. So how do...

• Published: June 3, 2008, 9:03 am
• Displayed: 402 times
• Preview: Aquarium Rocks Sponsored links Rocks can be used as decorative elements in an aquarium while providing hide-outs and homes for the fish that reside there. Aquarium rocks provide caves and territories, a surface to lay eggs on, and a place for algae eaters to graze upon. Rocks come in all different shapes and sizes and are made out of all sorts of different materials. Pay special attention to the type of rocks you use in your aquarium because not all rocks are safe for fish. Rocks that are good for the aquarium do not crumble, erode, or leach harmful chemicals into the water. Slate, granite, and quartz are all examples of good rocks that can be used in the aquarium without harming the inhabitants. Avoid using rocks such as lava rock and marble. Lava rock is known to have plenty of sharp, jagged edges that can scratch a fish if it swims to close to it, or the mouth of a sucker fish attempting to graze upon it. Marble will alter the chemistry of the water causing the water to become too hard for most fish to survive in. Testing water regularly is one way to be sure that the roc...

• Published: August 22, 2008, 11:07 pm
• Displayed: 213 times
• Preview: Aquarium sand Sponsored links Advantages Many fishes hail from sandy environments in the wild and will love a sandy substrate in the aquarium. For some species, sand is more or less mandatory, e.g. for bottom feeding fish with delicate barbells adapted for fine sand rather than coarse gravel. There are also many species of fish and invertebrates that likes to hide in sand and some will even dig out burrows. Examples of popular fish that will appreciate a sandy substrate are Tanganyikan featherfins, shelldwellers and sandsifters.Some species will only breed in sandy aquariums.Some species need sand to aid digestion.Sand is an ideal choice for many species of aquatic plants.Since grains of sand are smaller than gravel, there will be more surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize. Sandy bottoms occur in the ocean as well as in brackish environments and in freshwater lakes, rivers, streams and ponds and sand is therefore used in all sorts of aquariums. Risks Fine sand is more tightly packed than coarse gravel and it is therefore easier for “dead” pockets with...

• Published: August 22, 2008, 11:11 pm
• Displayed: 191 times
• Preview: Aquarium silicone(the purpose and usage) Sponsored links Aquarium silicone is used to glue the glass together in a glass aquarium and seal the joints. Learning how to use silicone is not only necessary for those interested in building an aquarium for scratch; it is also very helpful for anyone with an older aquarium in need of some repair. It is very important to only use aquarium safe silicone, because other types of silicone can include harmful compounds that may leech into the water and harm the inhabitants of your fish tank. Silicone sold for bathroom use can for instance contain arsenic to prevent fungi growth in damp rooms. When using aquarium silicone, it is important to work on a very level surface. It is also important to keep the room well ventilated, because the fumes aren’t exactly healthy to inhale. Different aquarists use slightly different methods when applying silicone and you may have to practise and experiment a bit before you find which method that suits you best. A commonly used technique is to run a continuous 0.25 inch bead over the glass ...

• Published: April 24, 2008, 8:50 am
• Displayed: 660 times
• Preview: Aquarium Snails Sponsored links Aquarium snails are animals that are amphibious which means they can live both on land and in water. They are mollusks, meaning they are animals that have neither a skeleton nor an exoskeleton, so they have adapted another form of protection for their soft bodies. This protection comes from a single, spiral shaped shell into which they can draw themselves inward at any sign of danger. The fact that they have just one single shell classifies them as gastropods. The snail’s shell which is made of calcium carbonate grows as the snail grows. Just as humans need calcium for strong teeth and bones, snails need calcium for a strong outer shell. The operculum is the outer “trap-door” like structure that is used to close up and seal the snail’s shell to prevent harm or dehydration. A snail uses its muscular foot for mobility and movement. This foot is lubricated with mucous to reduce friction and protect the snail from being injured on sharp surfaces. Some snails are gilled and breath oxygen diffused from the water, while other snails have lungs to breathe ...

• Published: June 6, 2008, 9:02 am
• Displayed: 291 times
• Preview: AQUARIUM SPONGE FILTERS Sponsored links With the choice of powered filters available to purchase nowadays, many fish keepers seem to neglect a cheap and efficient way to filter the water in their tanks. An excellent alternative to paying a fortune on equipment is to set up your tanks with sponge filters. If used correctly they provide good mechanical and biological filtration, as well as returning oxygen back into the water. If you think about it, the sponges in powered filters are doing the same job as a simple sponge filter, but price wise are a lot more expensive. Sponge filters are ideal for breeding tanks, the fry will not get sucked up the inlet pipes and with some of the more modern sponges that are now available, they can even be used in the large display tanks. Quarantine tanks benefit from these as well; if the filter is allowed to run in another set up it can simply be transferred to the “Q” tank as and when required. Because these are so simple to set up, they are ideal for beginners and experienced fish keepers alike. Unfortunately sponge filters will not remove...

• Published: September 8, 2006, 2:11 am
• Displayed: 12728 times
• Preview: Aquarium Substrate Sponsored links When you think of aquariums, the first things that probably pop into your mind are beautiful fish, green submersed plants, and the little plastic diver guy that finds himself stranded in many fish tanks. Then of course there are the bubbles which permeate the water with their gentle flow upward through the seascape. Little or no attention is given to the bottom substrate whether it is sand, gravel, soil or clay but it is a vital part of the miniature underwater system especially for planted tanks the heater and filters are always checked, some keepers will even add a substrate full of fertilizer for planted tanks. Unbeknown to most people, the layer of gravel and materials (aka substrate) which lies quietly at the bottom of the aquarium plays a vital role in the tank set up and maintaining a healthy environment for the fish and for plants which live there. Getting the correct depth will also ensure that the substrate works as efficiently as possible, bit how do we know how much we need. There is a simple calculator for this purpose. S...

• Published: September 8, 2006, 1:52 am
• Displayed: 3428 times
• Preview: Selecting the Correct Aquarium Supplies Sponsored links There are many different types of aquariums, but the one thing they all have in common is that they all require aquarium supplies. Which supplies your aquarium will need will be determined by the particular type of fish and plants you have. It is a good idea to research this information before you begin to set up your aquarium, so that you will be well prepared with all needed supplies readily available. One thing that you will need pretty much regardless of the type of aquarium you have is a high quality air pump. Making sure that you have a well aerated aquarium will help you to maintain the proper ph level so that your fish have the oxygen they need in order to survive. You can also purchase air pumps that are powered by battery, so that you will have a backup if for any reason your power should fail. There are many different pumps on the market, including some which are able to maintain other equipment, such as protein skimmers, or ozonizers. Which particular unit you purchase will depend on what you intend its mai...

• Published: September 8, 2006, 2:15 am
• Displayed: 7588 times
• Preview: Aquarium Thermometers Are An Essential Item Sponsored links When it comes to keeping your saltwater aquarium maintained and a safe environment for all that lives within, no piece of equipment could be more essential than the aquarium thermometer. These devices vary in the materials from which they are made, and they span a price range from cheap to expensive. The type or brand of thermometer you purchase is not as important as the fact that you do purchase one for your saltwater aquarium. The fish and other creatures which dwell in saltwater aquariums can be very sensitive when it comes to the temperature of the water around them. Temperature changes that are too dramatic will result in death to many of your expensive tropical fish and little creatures which scuttle back and forth across the bottom of the tank floor. Having your investments die, (and let’s face it, tropical fish aren’t cheap) from temperature changes is completely avoidable by simply purchasing and installing an aquarium thermometer. Since these devices come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges, there ...

• Published: April 3, 2008, 6:16 pm
• Displayed: 359 times
• Preview: AQUARIUM VOLUMES Sponsored links One of the most important things we need to know about our aquariums is the size of it, plus we need to know the volume of water that it contains. Why do we need to know these things, I have done this myself in the past, found a perfect enclosed corner for a new tank, found what I have been looking for, checked the measurements given in metric – worked out in my head a conversion to imperial, given myself the wrong answer & you’ve guessed it the tank didn’t fit. On the internet there are now several sites that will do instant conversions (cm-inches, feet – metres & vice versa) that take all of the guess work out of this. There is a link provided below to a calculator that can be used just key in the measurements & hey presto instant results. aqua-fish.net/index.php?cur_lang=2&count=no&secured=&section=51 A few of us from the old school were educated in imperial measurements and as most aquariums are advertised using metric, calculators like these are of great benefit. ...

• Published: April 4, 2008, 9:17 am
• Displayed: 562 times
• Preview: Aquarium Water Hardness Sponsored links One of the hardest subjects that most aquarists have trouble with is understanding water chemistry and what we are actually testing for in our water parameters. We all know why it is important to check ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates in our tank, but what is pH, KH, and GH. Hopefully from this article things will become clearer. Let’s start with General Hardness (GH) sometimes referred to as Total Hardness. Depending on which type of land areas the water has passed through, varying levels of hardness are reached before it reaches its final destination i.e. if it passes over rocky areas it will have a higher mineral content, if it passes over marshy, forest areas it will normally create a soft water river or lake. Fish like the neon tetras, and cardinal tetras are good examples of soft, acidic water lovers. When we turn on our taps the mains water will contain many minerals that it has absorbed on its way to us, mostly magnesium & calcium, with small traces of other metals such as iron and zinc. The concentratio...

• Published: March 7, 2008, 9:23 am
• Displayed: 544 times
• Preview: Aquarium Wood Sponsored links Wood pieces act as creative and decorative sculptures in many aquariums but they serve as more than just ornaments in these underwater structures. They help to anchor various plants and lower pH levels in the water. Aquarium wood also functions as a mimic to the natural environment where fish originally come from. It provides a place for fish to hide, breed and spawn. What to look for: When looking for a new piece of wood you’ll want to know what you are looking for. You want a very hard, dense wood. Soft wood decays too quickly and is not very practical for keeping a clean tank.Look for unique shapes that you can set up alone or together with other pieces and plants. If you have several pieces you can lean them against each other to create more crevices and places to hide. The right layout can maximize your aquarium’s visual appeal. I like to place one or two larger pieces in my tank and create the rest of the décor around it.While looking for your wooden structure keep in mind the size of your fish and the size of your tank. You won’t...

• Published: March 16, 2008, 11:06 pm
• Displayed: 778 times
• Preview: Aquariums and Ammonia, Nitrates, Nitrites Sponsored links The nitrogen cycle is the process in which ammonia is converted to nitrite which is then converted to nitrate. This progression is made possible with the presence of ammonia and nitrite converting bacteria with the end result being a chemical compound known as nitrate. Cycling: When setting up a new aquarium it is important to first complete a thorough cycling so that the beneficial bacteria needed for ammonia and nitrite conversion can be established. In a mature aquarium it is important not to over clean the bacterial environment to maintain a healthy level of nitrogen cycling. Once nitrifying bacteria is present it can begin to metabolize the harmful ammonia produced by decaying plants, uneaten food and decomposing fish waste. Process: As previously stated ammonia is produced by decaying plants, uneaten food and decomposing fish waste. One group of bacteria’s purpose is to convert the ammonia by binding it with water and the resulting chemical is nitrite. This is when another group of bacteria does its ...

• Published: June 4, 2008, 10:51 pm
• Displayed: 296 times
• Preview: Aquariums And CO2 Systems Sponsored links Overview: In planted freshwater aquariums, one must use multiple techniques to promote healthy and thriving plant growth. This includes proper substrate, adding CO2, lighting, and fertilizers. I will now explain the use of CO2 systems and how they work and benefit your aquarium. First off, for those of you who do not understand the basics, plants need energy, as do we as humans. They get this from water, sunlight, nutrients in the ground (or water in the case of aquariums), and CO2. In aquariums, adding CO2 to the water helps promote healthy growth of the plants, and differences can easily be seen. Plant in general will grow larger, and taller with the added CO2. And yes it is true that fish take in Oxygen and give of CO2 as a waste, but this is not enough for you tank. Adding a CO2 system to your set up will be beneficial. A planted tank will show significant differences when a CO2 system is added. Yeast CO2 reactor system: This is a very common inexpensive CO2 system. Basically, yeast, a type of fungus used in baking, co...

• Published: January 22, 2006, 4:21 pm
• Displayed: 2055 times
• Preview: Aquariums in my life Sponsored links Hello, my name is Susan and I thought, that I could post here an article about aquariums. I'm my life. When I was child, about 10 years old, I had my first aquarium. It was a ball aquarium. Even me or my parents or anybody whom I knew, had known nothing about aquarium. It was a disaster! There were no aquatic plants, no filter, nothing. Just gravel from outside. We were changing whole water every week. I don´t remember how many fishes died... But I felt very sorry about all of them. But now, 10 years after, I met a man, who have 2 aquariums. He knows a lot of about aquariums and care about them and I´m amazed by life in these small pieces of nature inside rooms. Now I know a lot about aquariums, biotopes, aquatic fishes and plants. Aquarium is an amazing thing. Maybe because we live on the dry land and those aquariums are a piece of the water life. It is better than watching TV! I feel always relaxed, when I`m watching on a good arranged aquarium. Those fishes are just swimming around quietly and mostly slowly. They don´t care, if s...

• Published: September 21, 2006, 2:29 am
• Displayed: 6571 times
• Preview: The Convenience of Automatic Aquarium Fish Feeders Note: Aqua-Fish.Net isn`t advertising any product within the article below. Sponsored links Automatic fish feeders help make your life as an aquarium owner much easier. It is often hard to remember whether or not you fed the fish, or if someone else in your house did already, and the automatic fish feeder eliminates missed feedings or over feeding altogether. Too much food in the water can easily clog up important filters, and cause you to have to spend more time cleaning your aquarium tank than enjoying it. There are many different brands and designs on automatic fish feeders on the market, you just have to decide which one is within your means and will best suit your needs. One of the most popular automatic fish feeders is the Eheim 3581 “Feed-Air” Digital Automatic Feeder. This model is capable of using either granule or pellet fish food types. You can set it to feed your fish up to four times per day. This model comes with its own ventilation system which keeps the food dry, preventing spoilage issues. You can choose w...

• Published: August 3, 2007, 10:16 pm
• Displayed: 3036 times
• Preview: How to make a baby brine shrimp hatchery cheaplyBy Tim Gautrey Sponsored links To make a hatchery this way is very easy. All you need is an empty 2 litre cola bottle, a polystyrene tile, a piece of air piping that you can connect to a pump via a control valve and a sharp knife. You might need a vacuum to clean up the polystyrene afterwards, but that`s DIY!) Cut the bottle just above the label, so that the bell and screw cap are left. See the image below. Take the polystyrene tile and cut a square just a little bigger than the bottle diameter. Place the cut neck of the bottle onto the centre of the square and press down so that it leaves an indentation in the tile. Using the knife cut out the round shape, leaving you something like the image below. Float the tile in your tank, Fill the bottle with water from the tank to half an inch from the top, Drop it into the centre hole in the tile, Add the air pipe making sure that it goes right to the bottom of the cone and connect to the pump, adjusting so that you get a gentle bubble in the b...

• Published: November 4, 2009, 4:00 am
• Displayed: 2 times
• Preview: Bala Shark an article submitted by Exotic Aquariums sponsored links The bala shark or Balantiocheilus melanopterus belongs to the familyCyprinidae and is the sole member of the genus Balantiocheilos. The name “shark” refers directly to its torpedo or shark-like shaped body. They have no relation to the shark family. The bala shark is also commonly referred to as a silver shark or tri-color shark. Bala sharks are indigenous to Southeast Asia. They swim the streams and rivers of Thailand, Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. The recent industrialization of these regions is threatening the Bala shark’s natural habitat. Their numbers have diminished greatly in the wild over the past two decades. The bala shark does not normally breed in captivity. Fortunately, for their guaranteed survival as a species, they are commercially raised in Asia with the use of hormone injections. Bala sharks are typically sold is stores when they are young. Despite their size at the time of sale, bala sharks are actually quite large freshwater fish. An adult bala shark can reach up to 14...

• Published: November 3, 2006, 6:34 am
• Displayed: 6969 times
• Preview: Barbus Tetrazona - The Tiger barb Sponsored links Barbus tetrazona is one of the most common barbus fish in aquariums. It comes from Sumatra and Borneo, that`s why you can find it also under the name of “Sumatra Barb”. Another common name of this fish is a “Tiger barb” due it`s colour pattern, golden body with four vertical stripes, the first on the eye and the last at the begin of tail. There are few differences between males and females, usually you are able to recognise them when they`re adults, and their size is near 2 inches. Male is slimmer than the female and has red fins, edges and mouth. Females are bigger and don`t have any red part. Like other barbus, tiger barb lives in shoals. The best number of fish in shoals is five or six. More fish could end up creating two shoals fighting towards each other; while a smaller number is dangerous because they could be aggressive towards weaker fish and not create a shoal. After captive breeding you can find various colour mutations. - Green tiger barb has only a vertical black stripe on the eye, while the res...

• Published: June 17, 2008, 11:05 am
• Displayed: 314 times
• Preview: Before You Buy a Goldfish Sponsored links Goldfish have been bred for over a thousand years for the sake of observation enjoyment. The art of breeding the finest specimens of goldfish first started in Asia and was later picked up in Europe. Breeders aimed to produce the highest quality of colors and shapes ever found on a goldfish. Because this type of fish has been bred so rigorously for all those years, you will never find one for sale that has not been born in captive breeding. An amateur aquarist could decide that he or she would like to raise goldfish in a pond or aquarium but there are a lot of factors to consider before getting started in this hobby. The beginner aquarist should first learn about the different types of goldfish to find out which varieties are hardy and easy to care for. A little bit of research as to what different varieties of goldfish to purchase and their specific needs is necessary for a successful pond or aquarium. Without the proper knowledge of water chemistry and conditions the inexperienced hobbyist might stumble upon some pretty devastating misha...

• Published: March 15, 2006, 9:39 am
• Displayed: 57681 times
• Preview: Betta fish Sponsored links Betta fish – Betta splendens is a very beautiful aquarium fish. Of course, it needs care if you want to keep this species successfully. This fish needs a lot of space even it`s not the largest fish you can buy. There are 4 betta fish in my tanks (42 l and 81 l). Naturally, only 1 male per 1 tank. Aquariums are 30 cm tall with the water depth being about 27cm from the surface of the gravel. Good care of betta fish means good feeding, adequate water temperature, water hardness and so on. Usually, I feed my fish with Sera food, and sometimes with frozen food (cows heart). The temperature in my tanks varies between 23-29 °C (winter-summer) and all betta like it. They haven`t been sick and they have bred successfully. The water in my tanks is little bit hard and alkaline. This is caused by rocks and sea shells (yes, sea shells in freshwater tank). Shells are there to keep good and stable quality of water. Of course, you will probably hide all shells, because it looks crazy in a freshwater aquarium. Anyway, all betta fish like these water conditions...

• Published: September 5, 2007, 10:05 am
• Displayed: 1878 times
• Preview: Betta fish bowls; To buy or not to buy? Sponsored links Some stores sell sphere aquariums, or aquariums which look like big glasses. Of course, such fact isn`t bad in it`s basis. What might become bad is that some people use such fish tanks for keeping Siamese Fighting Fish (Bettas) males incorrectly. Bettas are one of the most beautiful freshwater fish around the world and that`s why aquarists (including all ages, sexes, amateurs or professionals) house them. Generally, people want to have an extraordinary aquarium with this extraordinary fish. Bear in mind that a “Betta fish bowl” is usually a small aquarium, with no extra space for filtration device, plants and light. Is it OK? Isn`t it an animal abuse? In my opinion this kind of fish tanks should be used only as an aquarium with plants only. Imagine yourself in a such small room for all your life, would you accept it? But why do people like such aquariums? First, such product is very small and it can be moved at no time. People can have it on the table and maybe they feel that the fish is part of their life much mor...

• Published: October 8, 2006, 8:37 am
• Displayed: 9215 times
• Preview: Betta splendens diseases Sponsored links Betta splendens is a strong fish, and if kept in good condition, it won`t get sick. No matter what the disease is, when you notice a behaviour change, or some symptoms, remove the betta from other fish to avoid contagions. Remember also to have an “aid kit” always ready: 1) A small tank for quarantine 2) A water heater 3) A small filter or water oxygenator 4) A dedicated net 5) Products like malachite green and methylene blue. There are a lot of diseases that can develop in aquarium, betta splendens usually are subjected to these: 1. Injuries 2. Swim Bladder diseases 3. White spot diseases 4. Ammonia poisoning 5. Fins and tail rot Injuries Even if relations in aquarium looks good, sometimes injuries may happen. Often it`s impossible to understand how a fish has been injured; for bettas most of times it`s because of a male attack towards a female or vice versa, or an attack from a stronger fish disturbed by the betta male. Bettas` fins and tails are the most attacked by other fish, usually...

• Published: February 5, 2008, 9:37 pm
• Displayed: 793 times
• Preview: BiOrb accessoriesby Albert Sponsored links The BiOrb goldfish bowl has become the center piece of many aquarium lovers’ homes over the last few years. Combining the performance ability of a high tech aquarium, with the looks of a traditional fish bowl, the BiOrb provides all the design features to make life a pleasant experience both for the fish as well as the aquarium owner. Available in a variety of sizes as well as colors, BiOrb aquariums can contain either goldfish in small quantities or tropical fish. For example the more popular 30 liter volume BiOrb aquarium can contain 3 small fantail or 12 tropical fish that are small in size. Its bigger brother, the BiOrb 60 volume aquarium is designed for the more avid aquarium enthusiast, will contain twice that amount of fish within the same permutation. No matter the size or the volume of the BiOrb fish bowl that you choose, you will be entering into a whole new world of aquarium design and performance. Each BiOrb aquarium comes complete with its own filtration system, designed to make life as easy for its owner as it does f...

• Published: October 21, 2009, 12:14 am
• Displayed: 3 times
• Preview: biOrb Filtration Sponsored links Reef One and their range of biOrb aquariums have always been recognised as the leaders in style. The original biOrb with its classic globe shape has now become one of the most recognisable aquariums ever created. With the arrival of the biOrb LIFE Collection Reef One now have further show they can create stylish aquariums that offer something different, with its modern variation on the traditional rectangular aquarium. The familiar biOrb filtration with its central bubble tube is still a familiar sight in the new biOrb LIFE Collection. The filtration system which Reef One have employed in their fish tanks is rather unique, this has often caused considerable misunderstandings about how the filtration actually works. It’s time to investigate the biOrb filtration and give you the full picture on how it works and dispel some of the long standing myths. As a quick overview on the biOrb system, it works by water flowing over the highly porous ceramic media that form the biological filter. This biological filter, which is never removed f...

• Published: April 26, 2008, 10:49 am
• Displayed: 547 times
• Preview: Black Molly Sponsored links The black molly, also known as the midnight molly, is a hybrid species between Poecilia latipina and Poecilia sphenops. This live bearer is named for its very dark, all over black coloration. At times this fish can be found with a yellow streak on the dorsal fin or minor silvering on the flanks, but for the most part this fish lives up to its common name: black molly. The black pigmentation of this fish is a result of a melanistic condition. Melanism, the opposite of albinism; it is a condition in which the full potential of melanin or skin pigment is represented. The result is a really dark black pigment which is the opposite condition of albinism; the lack of color pigmentation. This strain of molly is not one that occurs naturally in the wild. The black molly is bred to display certain desirable traits in the aquarium industry. The lyretail black balloon molly is one hybrid commonly sold for its fine display of unique finnage and its cute, puffy physique. But not all black mollies are born with fancy fins or the balloon shaped bodies, and many ...

• Published: July 31, 2007, 6:37 pm
• Displayed: 2855 times
• Preview: Gymnocorymbus Ternetzi – Black Skirt Tetra Also called White Skirt Tetra, Black Widow, Black Tetra, Black Widow Tetra Sponsored links Origin and Tank Suggestions This species comes from the waters of Paraguay, South Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia. The aquarium where you keep Tetra should be about 50 cm high and well planted, so they will have place for hiding, but with free swimming areas as well. The water should have a temperature from 20 to 26°C and the hardness level should be between 5 and 19 dH. pH should be about 7, but the water can vary a bit acid or alkaline. Maybe I should mention that the tank should be as large as it can be, but Black Skirt Tetras prefer a deep aquarium much more than shallow and longer fish bowls. At least in my experience. The fish like to swim vertically more than horizontally. But I won't claim that you have to put these fish into an aquarium which is one meter tall and 20 cm wide. I just saying that the tank should have high water level. Behaviour In general, it is not difficult to keep the Black Skirt Tetra. It is a shoal fish so yo...

• Published: November 3, 2009, 4:32 am
• Displayed: 2 times
• Preview: Bleeding Heart Tetra an article submitted by Exotic Aquariums sponsored links The Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma is more commonly known as the bleeding heart tetra because of the red mark in the center of their body. They are members of the family Characidae more commonluy refer to as Characids. Their natural habitat is the Amazon River. They are members of the Characidae family. Bleeding hearts are a smaller variety of fish. They only reach a length of two or three inches when fully grown. This makes them perfectly suited for smaller desktop or wall mounted aquariums. Tetras are egg laying fish. But the bleeding heart rarely breeds in captivity. Unlike the black skirt tetra, it is easy to tell males from females in the bleeding hearts. The females tend to have smaller dorsal fins than the males. The males’ dorsal fin can become long and flowing in adulthood. The males grow to an adult size slightly larger than females. Both sexes have that eye-catching bright red spot in the region of their heart area. Their color palette becomes more pronounced if they are fed ...

• Published: November 23, 2008, 9:26 pm
• Displayed: 160 times
• Preview: Blue Dolphin Cichlid Sponsored links Scientific and Common Names Blue Dolphin Cichlid is a common name for this species that is known by either of two scientific names: Cyrtocara moorii and Haplochromis moorii. This fish earned its common name because it is blue and the shape of its head closely resembles the shape of a dolphin’s head. Other common names include Malawi Blue Dolphin, Dolphin Cichlid, Blue Moorii, and Hap Moorii. This relatively peaceful cichlid is gorgeous to look at due to its bright, shiny blue coloring. Physical Description The Blue Dolphin Cichlid has a nuchal hump protruding from its forehead and it has bulging lips that extend from its face like a bill. Both of these physical characteristics combined resemble a dolphin. The nuchal hump on its head starts to develop as the fish matures and gets progressively larger as time goes on. This hump develops in both male and female specimens. They are metallic-blue in color and may or may not have a scattering of black splotches all over their bodies. This eye-catching species can grow to be a maximum of 1...

• Published: June 5, 2008, 8:59 am
• Displayed: 313 times
• Preview: Blue Ram Sponsored links The Mikrogeophagus ramirezi is a popular fish known by their common names: blue ram, dwarf cichlid, or German ram. This freshwater species is part of the cichlidae family and is considered to be one of the more peaceful cichlid species. Blue rams are originally found in South America in the Orinoco basin around Venezuela and Columbia, though they are now raised and bred in different parts of the world. They are named “blue ram” for their brilliant blue coloration located on each side flank. The wild caught specimens tend to exhibit more dramatic colors than the aquarium bred varieties. Aquarium and feeding M. ramirezi is a warm water species requiring temperatures between 78-85°F. They prefer a neutral to acidic pH of 5.0-7.0, and a low mineral content which means softer water. Typically, they live in habitats with plenty of woody hiding places so the wood found in their habitat leaks tannins which soften the water. It is a good idea to add pieces of aquarium wood to a tank featuring this particular type of fish. Blue rams require at least 20 gal...

• Published: May 14, 2006, 9:46 am
• Displayed: 7639 times
• Preview: Blue-green algae Sponsored links Blue-green algae are bacteria which grow in warm, shallow, slow moving or still freshwater. There are known as cyanobacteria too, but they are more commonly known as pond scum. They need light for life. That is why they are photosynthetic bacteria. The first known species were blue-green. Now we know of algae from olive-green to red in color. When the conditions are good (hot, calm weather), algae populations can increase dramatically. This can create large blooms which are big numbers of blue-green algae. These blooms can cover the whole surface. Blue-green algae mostly do not live long. Some of these blue-green algal blooms can be toxic or can be poisonous if they are swallowed by wildlife, livestock, pets or people. You should not even swim in these waters, because you can get itchy. And if you drink water with these toxic blue-green alga, you may have symptoms such as sore throat, stomach cramps, diarrhoea , vomiting or fever. The toxins are very dangerous, so if you have any of these symptoms, visit your doctor immediately. Do not...

• Published: August 22, 2008, 11:24 pm
• Displayed: 189 times
• Preview: Brackish aquarium(what is different between brackish and freshwater, which species are suitable for such an aquarium, and so on) Sponsored links What is brackish water? Brackish water, also known as brack water, is less salty than seawater but more salty than freshwater. As long as the water salinity (based on dissolved salts) is 0.5 ppt or less, the water is considered freshwater. If the salinity is 30 ppt or more, the water is considered saline. Brackish water falls in between; from 0.5 ppt to 29 ppt. Brackish species There are many species of fish, invertebrates and plants suitable for brackish aquariums since brackish water occur in many different habitats and climate zones all over the world. Brackish water can for instance be the result of a freshwater river emptying itself into the ocean, and there are also brackish seas and lakes, e.g. the Baltic Sea and the Caspian Sea. Some species live their entire life in brackish water, while others spend their youth in brackish water before migrating into the ocean. This means that you have to research the species...

• Published: October 20, 2007, 7:55 pm
• Displayed: 1352 times
• Preview: Breeding Angelfish(reprinted from forums, originally posted by Tim) Sponsored links Angelfish are quite easy to breed, once you can find a pair. It is near impossible to sex angels, so you have to buy about six young angels and let them pair off themselves. Put the six into a 55 gallon tank and you will soon see when a pair is forming by the aggression towards the others. Once two angels pair, they stay together for life, and will not re-pair if one of them dies. They become mature at around 9 months old. Once a pair has been formed, move them to a tank of their own. This needs to be 20 Gallons minimum and at least 18" high. Once paired they do not work well in community tanks, because they become very territorial and are real bullies to even the smallest of fish! Feed the angels well on both flake and live foods for a couple of weeks and you will soon see the female start to swell with eggs. At the same time the egg tube will start to show. This is the easiest way to sex angels. If it is a female the tube will be quite large and round, males tubes are much smalle...

• Published: April 9, 2006, 2:39 am
• Displayed: 2096 times
• Preview: Breeding Corydoras gossei by Bud and Cathy White First published in "Tank Topics", Greater Akron Aquarium Society, April/May 2001 (this article was taken from aquarticles.com - free aquarium articles) Sponsored links Corydoras gossei is fairly new to the hobby, being described by Nijssen in 1972. They come from a creek near Guajara Mirim, in Rondonia, Brazil. They reach over two inches in length. Both male and female are darkly colored in the top half of the body and head, with yellow/white in the lower half. They have orange/yellow markings, and the front spine of the dorsal and pectoral fire are the same orange/yellow. The rest of the fins are mostly clear, with wavy vertical stripes on the tail. Since we have always enjoyed the different types of corys, we try to pick up new ones when we can! And from where else better to get corys than Eric Bodrock of Pennsylvania. Eric`s been breeding a lot of different corys for quite a while now, and has been very successful with them, as the local auctions prove when he brings them in! Eric has been a friend of ours...

• Published: August 1, 2007, 10:43 pm
• Displayed: 2011 times
• Preview: Breeding TanksBy Tim Gautrey Sponsored links Important note This article was reprinted with permissions given by the original article`s author. Bear in mind that information here is "as is" and potential references to "will be added in future" (or similar) might not be done by aqua-fish.net. However, we may update the article later. Introduction I have just completed a little project in between the others on the go to build some breeding tanks. This has been very successful and so I thought it would be helpful to share the method of construction with you all, hopefully saving you money! The method is simple, cheap and effective. The object is to build 4 breeding tanks as a single unit, which can sit on a shelf, mount on a wall or almost anywhere you have space. Over the next few days, I will be building another one, and will keep a record of the progress for you to see how it is done. Materials: 1 sheet of 12mm polycarbonate sheeting (3m x 1m) 2 tubes of aquarium safe silicon 1 roll of masking tape 2 pieces of glass. (For th...

• Published: October 7, 2006, 3:26 pm
• Displayed: 12429 times
• Preview: Breeding Betta Fish Sponsored links After live bearing fishes, betta splendens is one of the easiest fish to breed in captivity even for newbies. Following some easy rules you`ll be able to have a successful breeding. There`s not the best method to breed bettas, most of breeders due to personal experience have found the best ways for them. Spawning is not difficult, and the hardest part is fry growing, at least the first days. Surely the first time you may experience a high mortality due to water pollution depending by overfeeding. Remember, bettas can be bred various times if they`re young so you can have various chances to improve your abilities. First of all you have to choose the two breeders. Both have to be healthy, fins condition tells a lot about bettas` health, a betta with damaged fins could have fought and now have low energies to mate. Betta have a short life so it`s important to choose young fish, about 5 months old, usually those you may find in shops are of that age, while if you`re getting them by a breeder simply ask information. Age is important specia...

• Published: March 7, 2006, 10:26 am
• Displayed: 13712 times
• Preview: Bristlenose catfish Sponsored links Bristlenose catfish - Probably the most "common" fish in aquatic shops. Usually dark, sometimes with a small moustache, there is nothing sharp in the aquarium at all. It often sucks the bottom of the tank. But these are just the first impressions. When you take a more in depth look, you will see how superlative this fish is. Ancistrus is a fine and good-looking fish which complements many freshwater aquariums. I have kept ancistrus fish for more than 4 years and they have become an integral part of my tanks and my hobby. At first I bought only 4 of them and I didn`t know how to differentiate males from females. Fortunately, my aquarium was suitable for them and they did well. As time went by, the males acquired a moustache, all of them grew larger, and they all got a very nice coloration. After 2 years of successful keeping this nice species of fish, I decided to buy a larger tank. They liked it, because I saw small tails after few months. They sucked on wood all days long, and they showed me how beautiful they are. Generall...

• Published: September 10, 2007, 2:03 pm
• Displayed: 2173 times
• Preview: Build your own aquariumby Tim Gautrey Sponsored links Here is a project for the beginner to tackle that will test your DIY skills, stretch your abilities a little and get you used to doing basic things like cutting straight lines, square corners and making inset joints! The project I am going to outline here is to build your own aquarium and stand. It will be split into two parts, first the stand and next month, the tank itself. For those of you who might want to cheat and buy a tank, the sizes are not going to be standard on purpose, so if you follow this project to the letter, (and it would be a good idea if you are not fully confident about what you doing), you’ll have to wait till next month to get it finished! I would anticipate that the stand will take around a week to complete anyway, so you won’t have to wait too long to complete the project anyway! You will end up with a fantastic aquarium, large enough to be easily maintained and one that you can be proud of. Here’s the outline The stand will be constructed of timber and contain a cupboard u...

• Published: October 20, 2007, 12:48 am
• Displayed: 1933 times
• Preview: Building your own aquarium(Part 2) (Part 1 is here) Sponsored links I wonder how many stands are out there waiting for this month’s issue. If you have followed my directions in part one, by now there should be a wonderful empty stand just begging for a tank to grace it! So, let’s get down to the easy part! Building a fish tank isn’t as daunting as you might think. It’s all down to simple assembly techniques, and if you follow a few basic rules, the tank will take you no longer than a couple of hours to put together. Ok, here’s what you need to build the tank: Tools: A silicon gun A sharp blade/craft knife Paint scraper Emery cloth or similar abrasive sheet. (Not sandpaper) A teaspoon with a rounded handle Materials: All the measurements below need to be exact, so I would recommend that unless you are proficient at glass cutting, you take the list to the professionals. All glass referred to here is float or plate glass, (standard window glass), not toughened! 1 off x 7/16” (10mm x 48...

• Published: August 2, 2007, 11:01 am
• Displayed: 2988 times
• Preview: Building your own fish tanksBy Tim Gautrey Sponsored links Important note This article was reprinted with permissions given by the original article`s author. Bear in mind that information here is "as is" and potential references to "will be added in future" (or similar) might not be done by aqua-fish.net. However, we may update the article later. Introduction This guide is suitable for making any rectangular or square glass fish tank. It is not suited to shaped tank construction. When I build my tanks, I always use clear float glass and have it cut to size. The size of the tank determines the thickness of glass required. Depending on the height of the water you will need 4mm, 6mm or 10mm glass. I always use either 6mm or 10mm for the bottom of the tank, as this is what takes all the weight. The rule of thumb that I use for this is less than 15" (150mm), 4mm is sufficient, less than 18" (225mm), 6mm above 18 (225mm)" and below 36" (300mm) 10mm. Any higher than 36", talk to the glass supplier, because you will need ...

• Published: November 20, 2008, 5:03 pm
• Displayed: 149 times
• Preview: Bushy Nose Pleco Sponsored links The Bushy Nose Pleco is a peaceful species that is popular among hobby aquarists. The common name “Bushy Nose” was developed because of the fleshy bristles that stick out of the male’s nose like branches from a tree. Females tend to have virtually no bristles at all. At times a male’s bristles can be small and barely noticeable but there are certain times of the year when the same fish’s nose bristles will be very long and bushy. The reason for the periodic change is yet to be explained but there are theories that it has something to do with their reproductive season. Other common names for this fish are Bushy Nose Catfish, Bristle Nose Catfish, and Bristle Nose Pleco. Bushy Nose Plecos are members of the Loricariidae family of the Ancistrus genus. There are many different varieties of this species but it is hard to tell the difference between them all. Physical Description As mentioned, this pleco gets its common name because of the fleshy bristles that extend out from the males’ noses. These algae suckers have flat undersides and d...

• Published: August 22, 2008, 11:42 pm
• Displayed: 177 times
• Preview: Buy aquarium(how to find the best aquarium, which aspects to pay attention to) Sponsored links Aquarium size Many beginner aquarists start out with small aquariums, but a large aquarium is actually easier to maintain than a small one. When shopping for an aquarium for the first time it is therefore a good idea to look for fairly large ones and leave the small ones for more advanced aquarists. In a large aquarium, the larger water mass will create a more stable environment for the inhabitants and there will also be more water to dilute organic waste and other pollutants. If you as a beginner find yourself in a situation where you have to choose between filling a large aquarium with inexpensive fish or filling a small aquarium with expensive fish, you should definitely chose the first alternative. It is unfortunately quite common for beginner aquarists to stock small aquariums with costly fish only to be forced to watch them die one after another due to improper water conditions. Volume is not the only interesting figure when purchasing an aquarium. If you plan on keeping...

• Published: August 25, 2007, 6:51 pm
• Displayed: 8932 times
• Preview: Cheap fish tanks; Quality vs. price of such aquariums Sponsored links How to buy an aquarium with discount? The gold rule still says: Ask for a discount no matter if you're buying an aquarium, a car or a house! If you are looking for a new aquarium you can choose an expensive one, such as a big aquarium installed into some cabinet. These aquariums are usually sold with everything what you may need for keeping all fish alive; sometimes with a discount, sometimes not (if there is no mention about discount, ask for better price!). The cabinet emphasizes the aquarium and it really looks nice especially if you know what and how put decoration, equipment, substrate, plants and fish specimens into the fish bowl, so that it may behave like a piece of nature cut somewhere from a rain forest or African creek. However, not everyone is able to buy such an expensive tank and there are various solutions how to obtain relatively cheap fish tanks as well. Buying a second hand tank One way how to buy a cheap aquarium tank is to buy second hand aquarium (or buy it from a wholesale dealer, ...

• Published: September 2, 2006, 4:03 pm
• Displayed: 5306 times
• Preview: Canister filter in an aquarium Sponsored links As words „canister filter“ say, this equipment is used for filtration in aquariums. But why are they good, what are their advantages and disadvantages? Firstly, let me say that this kind of filters are used for both, biological and mechanical filtration. Canister aquarium filters are very robust and powerful, but you should clean them periodically. You should bear in mind that filters which are installed for aquariums with a lot of waste must be cleaned often, because filthiness in the water current could cause fish diseases. Some sources say that you should clean canister filters once a week, some sources say that once per 5 months is enough. I strongly recommend you to clean it when it`s needed. For example, I use hang on tank filters and I clean them if only they don`t aerate the aquariums enough. Generally, any aquarist is able to determine the situation when a filter isn`t clean enough. A canister filter can`t be placed inside of an aquarium and since it isn`t a hang on tank filter, it should be placed somewhere where peopl...

• Published: November 3, 2009, 4:46 am
• Displayed: 3 times
• Preview: Cardinal Tetra an article submitted by Exotic Aquariums sponsored links The cardinal tetra or Paracheirodon axelrodi is native to the Amazon River. Cardinals are among some of the most colorful freshwater fish varieties available commercially. They are a member of the family Characidae more commonly known as Characids. Black skirts are also commonly referred to as black tetras or black widow tetras. Cardinal tetras and neon tetras look very similar in appearance. There are, however, subtle differences in body markings that can be used to distinguish them from one another. Cardinals have a red stripe or band that extends from their head to the base of their tails. Neon tetras have the same band but it starts mid-body and runs back to the tail rather than extending the entire length of the body. The cardinal tetras color palette tends to be a little more vibrant than that of neon tetras. Adult cardinals are a little larger than neons. Cardinals reach approximately 2 inches in length. Even though they are a smaller variety of fish, cardinals need ample room to swim...

• Published: July 25, 2008, 10:05 am
• Displayed: 242 times
• Preview: CHEAP AQUARIUM FILTERS Sponsored links When planning a new set up it is advisable to work out a budget which will include your tank, stand and all of the required hardware for running your tank. More often than not the budget will fall short of expectations so a little maneuvering of the available cash has to be sorted. There are ways to obtain the required gear with out too much hunting around, on the internet there are always suppliers offering reductions on the equipment they sell. In this article I will try to show you the options available for saving a few pennies on your filtration system. We must remember though that the filtration is a vital part of your tank, by trying to save money, a fish keeper must not buy a filter that is not capable of keeping your water parameters to the accepted levels. With the larger tanks external filters are normally used as internal filters are just not capable of handling the water volumes, in some cases it is even necessary to run two of these, my own display tank is running two externals as I have always believed it is bett...

• Published: August 11, 2008, 10:57 pm
• Displayed: 250 times
• Preview: CHEAP AQUARIUM LIGHTING Sponsored links Nowadays there are many complete aquarium packages to be bought from the high street retailers, but these all come at a price. Many fish keepers find that they can build up their systems by purchasing second hand tanks and running equipment far cheaper than just going for the complete package. Included in the running equipment has to be a good reliable lighting system but reliability doesn’t always mean that the price will strain the fish keeper’s pocket. Adequate lighting has to be provided especially if running a planted tank or a reef system but shopping around can pay its dividends when trying to save pennies. Is lighting a necessity - the answer to that is yes!!! For your aquarium to be successful then lighting will have to be added. There are several reasons for this, when feeding your fish it will help them locate the food that you have just added to the tank, never add food when the lighting has gone off, it will foul your water as it decomposes at the bottom of the tank. If you are growing live plants in your tank th...

• Published: July 22, 2008, 11:42 pm
• Displayed: 237 times
• Preview: Cheap Aquarium Stands Sponsored links With every aquarium set up there is normally an impressive cabinet to match. Style and looks do not come cheap and this aspect can put off many potential buyers when it comes to purchasing a full set up with everything thrown in. In many cases the aquarium cabinet can work out dearer than the price of the actual tank so shopping around can certainly pay dividends. There are other options when it comes to buying your cabinet, some of them will be explained here, but at the end of the day there are some rules that cannot be ignored just to save a few pennies. When buying a cabinet separately from the tank, measure the tank size and then measure again, your tank must sit on the cabinet flush. If any of the tank is overhanging the cabinet it will cause excessive stress to the tank glass, the final result can only be a lot of tears as the tank will crack and then shatter.Always make sure that the cabinet is capable of supporting the weight of the filled tank-water is heavy, do not underestimate it!I always look at tank stands or cabinets...

• Published: November 26, 2007, 6:34 pm
• Displayed: 1533 times
• Preview: Cheap fish tanks(New tank, old tank, second-hand or used, what’s the best option? And how to get a discount?) Sponsored links At some time in everyone’s life, there comes a point when you want something so bad, but just can’t afford it. Fish-keeping is no different. Many aquarists start out with a small tank or bowl, but very soon realise that it’s just not good enough! So this is when they start to count their savings and work out what they can afford to do next. Are you there yet? Most of us are always looking for bigger and better and are prepared to struggle to the point of broke to get it. But do we need to? If you love the hobby as most do, then the answer is yes. For the love of our pets, and the desire to give them the best in life, for the wish to have more fish, and more tanks, we need to! It’s an addiction for many, and one that you can’t get away from. Fish are relaxing, peaceful, company, friends, fascinating and much more for the devoted aquarist. When I come into the room, the first thing I look at is the tanks, all 18 of them! Yes, I’m a fanatic about fish, ...

• Published: July 3, 2008, 9:58 am
• Displayed: 278 times
• Preview: Cherry Barb Sponsored links The Puntius titteya or Capoeta titteya is a freshwater fish known more commonly as the Cherry Barb. The Cherry Barb is a cyprinid fish that is well known and very important in the aquarium industry because of the attractive, deep red coloration often displayed by the males as well as their ease of keeping. Origin and Habitat: The Cherry Barb is originally from Sri Lanka but they were also found in Mexico and Columbia. They are a warm freshwater species that would often be found in bodies of water with calm, shallow waters. Cherry Barbs are nearly extinct in the wild these days but are easy enough to breed in captivity to the point where maintaining the species is not of dire concern. In fact, they are so easy to breed that it is a great species for beginner aquarists who are interested in breeding aquarium fish to start off with. Water conditions: The optimal water conditions for the P. titteya will have a pH between 5.6 and 7.0, with a temperature range of 74- 81°F, and soft to slightly hard water. A recommended volume of no less than...

• Published: April 16, 2008, 8:42 am
• Displayed: 468 times
• Preview: Chinese Algae Eaters Sponsored links “Chinese Algae Eater” is the most common name for the Gyrinocheilus aymonieri which is also less commonly known as the “Indian Algae Eater” and the “sucking loach”. This fish is often mistaken for the Siamese algae eater which is a similar species yet quite different. Saying that G. aymonieri are Chinese is misleading because this fish does not come from China, in fact in comes from northern India and central Thailand. Additionally, this fish is not a loach so the name “sucking loach” is an inaccurate use of terms, although some of its characteristics are quite similar to that of a loach. Regardless of where it comes from, this algae eater, in its youth is very useful in clearing aquarium surfaces of algae. It quickly inches its way along every surface all the while sucking the algae in its path. Once the task is done, the algae eater starts at the beginning to clean everything all over again. The job is never done for this diligent young worker. As the algae eater matures he gets tired of working so hard. The sucker fish that use...

• Published: December 22, 2006, 7:11 am
• Displayed: 4986 times
• Preview: Choosing the first aquarium Sponsored links This article is meant to help people who want to buy the first aquarium and need some advices. First of all you should decide how big you want your aquarium, the first mistakes people usually do are: choosing a too much small tank and overpopulating it; both big and small aquariums have pro and cons, value them all and then choose your solution. Most of time aquarium shops staff can help you in your choice, but sometimes they tend to suggest you more products than those you really need. Small or big aquarium If you already have in your mind what fish you would like to have, choose the aquarium big enough according to their necessities. Most of time anyway beginners do not have any idea at all, so you can decide the aquarium size thinking about the free room you have to place it, or how much money you want to spend. A too much small aquarium has two major problems: chemical values tend to fluctuate, even dangerously, due the small amount of water, poor filtration and fish overpopulation; moreover beginners usually decide to...

• Published: March 8, 2008, 10:30 am
• Displayed: 358 times
• Preview: Cichlid Food Sponsored links There are a large number of cichlids sold and bred in the aquarium industry today. Just as these cichlids can be diverse, so are their eating habits and needs. This is why the foods they are fed come in all different shapes and forms. In the aquarium industry it is highly recommended that you feed your cichlids a variety of foods to keep them well balanced and healthy. This helps to promote growth as well as reproduction and it improves the color and quality of your fish. Cichlids all have the same basic needs despite their difference of original habitats. They all need to get the maximum amount of nutrition through the various foods they eat. Facts: There are over 1300 different species of cichlid discovered from freshwater bodies around the globe. Most of these come from the lakes and rivers found in Africa and South America, but others are also found in Asia and Central America. There are some species of cichlids that are herbivores meaning they eat only vegetable matter such as algae and plants. Some cichlids are Carnivores and eat ...

• Published: July 25, 2006, 3:40 am
• Displayed: 6503 times
• Preview: Cleaning the aquarium Sponsored links Why do people decide to clean their aquariums? Generally, there are three basic reasons to clean the fish tank. Firstly, the tank smells. The reason for the smell varies depending on the fish; excrement fails to be filtered, pieces of old food gather on the bottom resulting in dead fish somewhere in the tank. It is important to install a strong enough filtration system in order to keep good conditions in the tank. Still water naturally smells and there are even aquariums without filters which contain many plants, which bring stable chemistry. The next reason to clean the aquarium is that it is overgrown with algae. You should bear in mind that algae usually grow in tanks where there are not enough plants, nitrification bacteria, or there is very bright lighting. In this case, you should buy some algae eater, pleco fish, cory fish, etc. The algae is a natural part of aquariums and it helps to keep good water conditions and chemistry. Fish excrement falls to the bottom of the tank and it becomes the part of substrate. If the substrate is...

• Published: April 1, 2008, 4:33 pm
• Displayed: 379 times
• Preview: CLOUDY WATER IN AQUARIUMS Sponsored links One of the most common problems aquarists have to deal with is cloudy water. Whether we are talking brand new set ups, tanks cycled tanks running for a few weeks or established mature tanks at some time or another I have keepers asking me why this has happened. Hopefully this article will explain a few of the reasons, how to combat the problem, and how to prevent future occurrences of this problem. New set ups: We have just arrived home with our brand new tank, gravel or sand, and some nice shiny ornaments. Everything has been put in the tank and the water has clouded up. One cause of the cloudiness could be part of the cycling process as the tank water will be unbalanced, but when the cycling is complete it should clear itself, but more of that later. A must when setting up the tank is to rinse thoroughly the gravel or sand being added as if this isn’t done it will create cloudiness when the water is added. Not the nicest of jobs, but necessary. Add the substrate to a bucket, cover with clean water, give a good s...

• Published: November 10, 2009, 3:16 am
• Displayed: 2 times
• Preview: About Clown Loach an article submitted by Exotic Aquariums sponsored links Clown loaches or Botia macracantha belong to the familyCobitidae. They are native to the rivers and streams of Borneo, Sumatra, and Indonesia. Their vertically striped bodies make them a favorite among freshwater aquarium owners. The striping consists of three wide, black vertical bands on an orange body. This configuration has also earned them the nickname of tiger loaches. Their mouths have three downward pointed pairs of maxillary barbels. A barbel is a slender, whisker-like tactile organ. Maxillary refers to the barbel’s location near the mouth. These tentacle-like organs house taste buds and are used to search for food in murky water. Barbels are a bottom dwelling species of scavenger fish like catfish and carp. Barbles and downward pointed mouth are what distinguish bottom dweller from other fish. The clown loach is one such bottom dweller. Bottom dwellers in general make a good addition to any community fish tank. The scavenging of food from the aquarium substrate helps prevent harmful...

• Published: May 7, 2008, 11:30 am
• Displayed: 329 times
• Preview: COMPATIBLE AQUARIUM FISH Sponsored links There are many factors to consider when deciding which livestock you are going to add to your tank. Not only the tanks size, but you need to make sure that the different species you are going to buy will get along with each other. Most aquarists nowadays set up community tanks with a mixed variety of fish so this second point could be crucial in determining which fish to add. Tank size does play a major part; you certainly would not contemplate adding a large 6 inch or over fish to a relatively small tank, providing it with no swimming room. Many species of fish become territorial over time, defending their space in the tank, thus resulting in injuries to the other tank mates; this is not something that keepers like to see. There is a golden rule as well that most keepers stick to “don’t add fish that are small enough to fit into another fish’s mouth, they will eat it”. This cannot be ignored! All fish have different temperaments, even within the same species. Malawis for example are constantly battling in the tank to obtain thei...

• Published: March 20, 2008, 10:20 pm
• Displayed: 329 times
• Preview: Control Algae in a Fish Pond Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! Now, this is a challenge! How can you control the algae that grows naturally in your pond? First of all, you need to know what it is, how it gets there and why it grows. What is algae? “Algae are photosynthetic organisms that occur in most habitats. They vary from small, single-celled forms to complex multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length.. The US Algal Collection is represented by almost 300,000 accessioned and inventoried herbarium specimens.” Quote taken from the National Museum of Natural History website: nmnh.si.edu What are the common types of algae that occur in your pond? Most ponds have several species of algae. They include green algae, (which is such a large group I will not bore you with the details, just point you to berkeley.edu where you can spend the next 10 hours reading...

• Published: March 14, 2008, 9:22 pm
• Displayed: 410 times
• Preview: The Convict Cichlid Sponsored links The Archocentrus Nigrofasciatus is a cichlid fish that is nicknamed “convict” or “zebra” both names for its similarity to the black stripes on a British prison uniform. This fish is native to the Central American waters of Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama with temperatures ranging from 69-84ºF. They are not very particular about the conditions of the water as long as you keep a certain amount of consistency. Convicts are omnivorous and they are not picky eaters. They will eat anything small enough to fit in their mouths including flake and pellet foods, small fish, crustaceans and blood worms. Although they do seem to particularly enjoy frozen beef hearts. Convict males grow to roughly 6 inches, slightly larger than the females. This is an extremely aggressive species that will take on any fish including those twice their size especially in the reproductive phase. Sexing: Convicts are known for their highly reproductive tendencies and it is said that they will spawn absolutely anywhere and everywher...

• Published: June 21, 2006, 4:21 pm
• Displayed: 6014 times
• Preview: Corydoras Sponsored links Corydoras come from South America and they live in freshwater. They are known as cory catfish, cory cats or just cories. Their name Corydoras comes from Greek and it consists of kory (helmet) and doras (skin). Corydoras is a small aquarium fish. You can find many kinds of Corydoras, but they mostly differ only in their colour. Their size and their caring for is the same for all the Corydoras. When I saw a cory for the first time I thought that it was ugly. But after a while, I started to love it. Yes, it might look like alien life on earth, but that is the problem with us new guys in the aquarium business. Everything is new and strange. But the truth is, that Cories are very nice. There are many variants of cories, so you can find more or less beautiful Corydoras. We have Corydoras pandas and they are really irresistible. They really look like an aquarium panda bears. Corydoras like slow-moving and almost still (but seldom stagnant) water, which is very clean and oxygen rich. They live on the bottom of the tank and in the wild eat bo...

• Published: April 23, 2006, 4:37 am
• Displayed: 4694 times
• Preview: Panda Cory - Corydoras panda Sponsored links This is a small inoffensive little Cory. Corydoras Panda come from the Rio Pachitea in Peru. The body is sandy colored with black spots/patches. They have black over their eyes (like panda bears). They have a black band on the tail and the back fin is black and the rest of the fins are clear. The Panda females are more rounded and fuller than males. They grow to the size of 3.0 - 4.0 cm (1.2 - 1.6 in). Corydoras Panda feels better in a shoal so buy at least six off them. Cory, without companions, will waste away. It would also be advisable not to keep fin nipping species as they would worry them to death with their constant bother and would also deprive them of food. Other large Cichlids would also be a bad choice. A good community tank for Pandas would be inoffensive tetras such as Neon`s and other smaller fish, and if you would like other catfish, the Ancistrus types would make good partners and of course other Corydoras or Aspidoras species. Breeding of Corydoras Panda is not too difficult. They will breed as any Co...

• Published: August 19, 2007, 10:34 pm
• Displayed: 3766 times
• Preview: Creating a stunning fish tank display for your homeby Tim Gautrey Sponsored links This instruction is not for the faint-hearted and definitely for the more skilled DIY enthusiast. The object is to build a display tank unlike any other, where your fish can be displayed in all their beautiful colours with plenty of room to move around. This build involves a 48” x 18” x 12” standard fish tank as a base unit. This needs to be either built onto a custom stand or use a stand capable of being placed 6” away from the wall and strong enough to carry a lot more weight than the tank itself. I opted to build the stand myself out of 4” x 2” timber and flooring grade chipboard, fixed to the wall along the back. The stand was constructed 12’3” long (since it also took an 8’ tank), and 18” front to back, at 30” from the floor to the top surface. The whole thing had to be perfectly level in all directions. Cross bars were placed every 24” along the length to avoid distortion of the chipboard. It has to be very strong because it isn’t just supporting one tank, but two! ...

• Published: January 12, 2007, 5:49 am
• Displayed: 3019 times
• Preview: Cryptocoryne Sponsored links Cryptocoryne are one of the most common plant species used in aquarium, they belong to the Araceae family like other famous aquarium plants, Anubias and Pistia. Their name derives from “krypto” which means “hidden” and “koryne” which means “stick”, and it refers to the shape and position of their flowers. There are about 60 known crypto varieties at the moment, all coming from Asia, specially from New Guinea, Indonesia, and Malaysia; all of them are characterized by a strong root system that grows fast and generates new plants in every side of the tank. The easier crypto, more common to find in shops, come from Sri Lanka, and are C. Wendtii, C. Becketii, and C. Walkerii. In nature, they live inside or near small rivers and torrents with mainly light acid and soft water, both in sand, gravel, clay, or dead leaves substrates. In aquarium, they are not very demanding to cultivate, anyway once arrived they often develop the Crypt melt. This is not a real illness but their adaptation to the new aquarium`s water conditions; almost all the leaves ...

• Published: August 2, 2007, 1:04 pm
• Displayed: 3786 times
• Preview: Custom Tank Stand By Tim Gautrey Sponsored links Important note This article was reprinted with permissions given by the original article`s author. Bear in mind that information here is "as is" and potential references to "will be added in future" (or similar) might not be done by aqua-fish.net. However, we may update the article later. How to build a custom aquarium stand Forget the pro`s! If you have basic skills you can build the stand yourself, make it look good and have something to admire! Can you imagine how much it would have cost me to get this lot built by professionals? The first run of tanks was estimated at over £1500, it cost me two weeks and £135 to do the complete job, including lighting! Regular lumber, as you call it works fine! Make the framework from 4"x2" planed timber, fixed to a wall at the back if you can. Make sure you have vertical supports every 2` and make the tank support base with cross-members every 12". Use a good grade flooring chipboard or 6"x1" planking to build the...

• Published: April 11, 2008, 8:20 am
• Displayed: 371 times
• Preview: DIATOM FILTERS FOR AQUARIUMS Sponsored links Diatom filters are used in the aquarium hobby mainly for polishing the water to almost perfect clarity, plus they are unsurpassed for filtering out the smallest debris & even parasites from the aquarium which in turn leads to healthier fish. Using these filters has also increased the variety of fish that some of the large public aquariums can now keep on display. How many of us at some stage have been plagued with green algae and needed to find an efficient way of eradicating it, well these certainly do the job. So what is a diatom & how do the filters work Diatoms are basically a single celled organism that feed on silicates in the water which they use to create a protective hydrous silica cell wall. When the diatoms die off they leave behind a shell that is full of minute pores, (some of the pores are as small as 3 microns), but inside the larger pores there are a second, smaller pore (roughly 0.5 microns). This in effect means that the mass of the diatom is mainly formed from empty spaces, ready to trap the ...

• Published: June 9, 2008, 10:48 pm
• Displayed: 265 times
• Preview: DIGITAL AQUARIUM THERMOMETERS Sponsored links Temperature inside your aquarium is something that needs to checked on a daily basis. It is crucial to your fish’s health that they are kept in an environment that is best suited for them. Most fish and invertebrates are cold blooded, they can only maintain their body heat from the environment that they are living in; incorrect temperatures can affect their metabolism in all sorts of ways. Large changes in the temperature are not a good thing in any aquarium. When I perform water changes in my tanks I always preheat the water that is going in, not all keepers do this, so checking the temperature for sudden drops as they refill the tank is vital. Make sure the water is added back slowly, giving it time to reheat this is the only way around this problem. Incorrect temperatures can cause the following problems:- Illness caused by stressDeath brought on by stressReduction in the appetite of the fish, this in turn will reduce the capability of their immune system. Every aquarium must have a thermometer fitted, most fish...

• Published: November 7, 2009, 6:19 pm
• Displayed: 2 times
• Preview: Discus an article submitted by Exotic Aquariums sponsored links The discus is quite possibly the most popular fish among large freshwater aquarium owners in the world today. They belong to the genus Symphysodon. They are members of the family Cichlidae more commonly known as cichlids. This family also includes another extremely popular species the angelfish. Both are native to the Amazon River system. There are two individual species collectively referred to as Discus; S. aequiafasciata and S. discus. These two species are further divided into five different subspecies. But this in not a science lecture. Suffice it to say that these wonderfully exotic species are distinguished by their color palettes. They are available in brown, green, blue, red and yellow. Both species have been selectively bred to further enhance their natural coloration. The end result is some of the most beautiful fish you will ever see in a home aquarium. The Discus is a rather expensive fish as far as freshwater varieties go. You can expect to pay anywhere form $35 to upwards of $200. The pri...

• Published: May 23, 2006, 2:17 pm
• Displayed: 69147 times
• Preview: Discus Aquarium Fish By Stokes; 19/05/2008: this article has been revised, the new version is here; see copyright information here Introduction and general information The Discus is a large cichlid from the Amazon River, its tributaries and flood planes, in South America. Discus and its variants were first described in 1840 by Dr. Heckel as Symphysodon discus, this name is now in use for the Heckel discus variant. The three "original" colour variants received their own name, the Green Discus Symphysodon aequifasciata aequifasciata, the brown discus Symphysodon aequifasciata axelrodi, and the blue variant Symphysodon aequifasciata haraldi. Discus fish pictures - part 1 More and more people are choosing to keep Discus Aquarium Fish over other fish and care for it. By becoming more popular more money is going into the industry which assists the funding for research and the development of products and different strains of Discus Aquarium Fish. The discus is a social fish and lives in large groups in their native waters, and has a very advanced so...

• Published: May 19, 2008, 2:03 pm
• Displayed: 705 times
• Preview: Discus fish How to care for them Sponsored links Discus fish online Feel free to visit the SADISCUS Petshop. The origins of the discus fish Discus fish are now a common sight in all of the aquatic stores bit this is a fairly recent happening in fish keeping terms, 20 years ago they were mainly kept by expert fish keepers who had learned the art of keeping them alive for extensive periods of time by word of mouth with fellow breeders. But where does the discus originate from? All discus fish are found in the tributaries of the Amazon River. It has now been agreed that the discus can be found in three different types of Amazonian waterways, the white waters of the Upper Amazon, the black waters of the Rio Negro, and the clear waters from the Lower Amazon. The bulk of the discuses are found in the black water areas, they will also inhabit the flood lakes on the banks where the water is very soft and acidic. The temperature of the water changes very little in the 24 hour day cycle, it normally stays around the 80 deg F mark, this is makes the pH remain constant as w...

• Published: July 10, 2008, 3:05 pm
• Displayed: 311 times
• Preview: Diseases of Goldfish Sponsored links Goldfish are known to be highly susceptible to various diseases because of all the selective breeding that takes place. Common and comet goldfish are the hardier variations of all the goldfish varieties available in the aquarium industry. The fancier, more selectively bred varieties of goldfish are more apt to contracting the various diseases that can ail goldfish. Books and internet websites on fish diseases can be your best source of information to finding out all about goldfish diseases. It is highly recommended to have access to either or both of these sources of information when owning goldfish, especially the fancy varieties of goldfish. Prevention: Disease prevention is the best solution to any type of fish disease. Although prevention does not always work 100% of the time it definitely improves the odds of having healthier goldfish. 1.The first step in disease prevention is choosing only the highest quality fish for purchase. When looking to purchase a new goldfish approach the task with high standards in mind. If the aqu...

• Published: August 13, 2008, 2:26 am
• Displayed: 316 times
• Preview: DIY Aquarium Backgrounds Sponsored links When setting up your new aquarium one of the most popular items to purchase is a nice tank background to set off the look of the tank. But why do we feel the need to add a background to our tanks? Personally speaking I have a few reasons for always adding a nice background. I find all of the wiring and piping from filters, heaters and such like look very unsightly hanging down from the back of the tank. A background will hide all of these instantly and give your tank a nice, neat finish. I have known from the past that sometimes certain fish will be spooked by seeing their reflection in the glass and it can cause them to go into hiding or even stop eating. A nice background is very pleasing to the eye for me and any visitors that may wish to view the tank. When I am setting up a specific biotope the right background ensures that the tank looks as it should depending on which fish I am keeping, a typical example of this is for a Malawi tank where a rocky background falls right into place. Purchasing a background for your tank...

• Published: April 7, 2008, 9:35 pm
• Displayed: 380 times
• Preview: DIY Aquarium Cabinets Sponsored links When purchasing a tank, we also have to take into consideration the cabinet; would it look right in our house etc., indeed in some cases does it actually match the tank that is sat on top of it. A lot of money can also be saved if we bought the tank alone and created our own cabinet. This is not such a daunting task as it seems, even a basic cabinet can be made with the most basic of wood working skills. I have created a couple of cabinets in the past that were very pleasing to the eye and believe me I am no carpenter. There are a few options that can be used, one of the most basic stands can be achieved using breeze blocks (cinder blocks) or even using house bricks for the stand columns and lengths of wood across the top for the actual tank support. In this case for quickness and strength I have used breeze blocks stacked and cemented 3 or 4 high, (depending on the finished height you require), and I laid 3 strips of 4” x 2” wood across the top for support. Please bear in mind that wherever you are going to house the finished set ...

• Published: August 11, 2008, 10:14 pm
• Displayed: 247 times
• Preview: Electric Blue Hap Sponsored links Electric Blue Hap is the common name for the Sciaenochromis fryeri, Sciaenochromis ahli, Cyrtocara ahli, or the Haplochromis ahli. All of those names are used to represent the same cichlid because of some discrepancies in the naming process. The proper scientific name for this fish is Sciaenochromis ahli, but other names are still used today out of habit and familiarity. This fish is nicknamed “Electric Blue” because of the rich, metallic blue of the males once they reach maturity. This cichlid was mistaken for a Haplochromine because they prefer to swim in areas where the rocks surrounding the shoreline meet the sandy bottoms of the deep. Natural Habitat: The Electric Blue Hap is native to the waters of Lake Malawi where the rocky cliffs meet the sandy bottoms. This tropical freshwater cichlid is found in regions off the coasts of Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. Water Conditions: Optimal water conditions for the Electric Blue Hap include a pH of 7.5-8.5 and temperatures between 75 and 78°F. Be sure to provide plenty of rocky ...

• Published: November 26, 2008, 11:23 pm
• Displayed: 151 times
• Preview: Electric Yellow Lab Sponsored links The Electric Yellow Lab earned its common name because of the striking yellow color of its body. Also known as the Labidochromis caeruleus, this shy and peaceful species is very popular among hobby aquarists. Any beginner aquarist can successfully keep this fish because they are undemanding of water conditions, they will accept a wide variety of foods, and they are very easy to breed. Other names for this mbuna cichlid are Lemon Drop Cichlid, Lemon Yellow Cichlid, Electric Yellow, and Yellow Lab. Physical Description The bold yellow color of the Electric Yellow Lab stands out making it a lively addition in any cichlid tank. This fish will get to be as long as 6 inches which makes it a great candidate for the aquarium since it is not a very large species. A black stripe running through the dorsal fin may be either bold or faded and in some cases not existent. Males will have black pectoral fins and a black stripe running along the edge of the anal fin. The strongest male will generally have the boldest black stripes of the whole group. S...

• Published: November 3, 2006, 6:56 am
• Displayed: 8238 times
• Preview: External filter for a 26 gallon or bigger aquarium Sponsored links Doing yourself an external filter is not really difficult, but needs a bit of patience. Building a filter by yourself is a good solution for those people who need a higher filtering (for big fish, turtles etc.) and do not want to spend a lot of money. Materials - 13mm garden poly pipe. It`s is usually cheap so take a good measure: think it has to start inside the aquarium go down on the floor and come back. - 13mm tap. You need 2 taps, one for the way in pipe, and one for the way out. These are extremely useful to isolate the filter in case you need to move it. - 2 or 3 gallon polycarbonate water bottle with large neck (the pump has to pass in it). You need just one bottle, the size depends on the size of your aquarium. - Aquarium silicone. - submersible aquarium water pump. The speed of the pump depends on the size of your aquarium; read the instructions on the pump before buying. Prefer anyway powerful pumps at least 400 litres per hour. - filter materials like (foam, ceramic rings etc.) O...

• Published: November 2, 2008, 5:49 am
• Displayed: 169 times
• Preview: Facts about Paradise Fish Sponsored links Paradise fish are very beautiful fish, therefore many fish keepers raise them in home aquariums or ponds. However, there are still some questions which need answers in order to keep these fish healthier and happier. All questions shown below have been compiled from the past statistics of what people wanted to know. If you feel that your question isn`t answered yet on this website, feel free to use the contact us form. Also here are an other pages devoted to the Paradise fish:aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=paradiseaqua-fish.net/show.php?h=paradisefish Paradise fish care When I kept this species I focused on stable water conditions such as pH and temperature. dGH (water hardness) varied between 4 and 20. In fact it was higher than 15 nearly always. These fish`s origin is Asia, thus a planted tank is a necessity. What is very important is a space given to each specimen. Never keep 2 or more specimens if you cannot give them at least 40 litres per fish. When I kept 2 specimens in a 42 litres tank, one was dominant and the second one was al...

• Published: February 21, 2006, 3:18 pm
• Displayed: 3212 times
• Preview: Feeding Fish (this article was taken from aquarticles.com - free aquarium articles) by George Herrman Sponsored links “How much do I feed my fish?” - this is a question we get asked every day, and there is no hard and fast rule for feeding fish. It’s all a matter of trial and error, but one thing is for sure - over feeding does more harm than under feeding. Bear in mind that in the wild fish don’t get fed on a regular basis, and in certain seasons food is very scarce. Start by sprinkling a little food over the water surface. If all this food is consumed within 3 to 5 minutes the amount of food is enough. If all the food is consumed in less time add a little more the next time you feed, and if it takes longer don’t put so much in the next time. One way to gauge the amount of food to use is to remember that most fish`s stomachs are about the same size as their eyes. Fish do not require as much food as is often thought, and it is very tempting to feed every time they look hungry or when you want to view a timid species. As a result fish are often over fed. This creat...

• Published: June 26, 2006, 3:38 pm
• Displayed: 5995 times
• Preview: Feeding your aquarium fish Sponsored links Fish, like other animals, need balanced food which consists of proteins, fat, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. Most aquarium fish are fed onindustrial food, which has the form of flakes or granules. But you shouldfeed them with natural food also. Unbalanced food can cause health problems in the tank. But carefully customized food can play a main role in resistance against infections and illness. The general rule is to feed small amounts frequently. Usually it is an amount which is swallowed in two or three minutes two or three times a day. After few weeks there should be a day, when you don`t feed your fish. It`s always better leave fish a little bit hungry, because some part of the food, which is given to the fish until it is full, crosses the alimentary tract unconsumed and then on egestion raises the cloudiness of the water. The biggest part of natural food is usually water. The dry part consists of components of balanced food. The producers of food for fish prepare dry meals in which the hard parts are like their natu...

• Published: January 4, 2006, 3:28 pm
• Displayed: 3005 times
• Preview: Fish Acclimatization (this article was taken from aquarticles.com - free aquarium articles) by Peter McKane Sponsored links The acclimatization of fish is an incredibly important process. Without it, fish that you introduce to your tank, whether it is a new setup or not, will become severely stressed and as a result may die or suffer severely reduced life expectancy. The process itself is incredibly simple, and if more people stuck to it, then many stress related deaths could be avoided. Transport Acclimatization begins where you first pick up the fish. From the moment they leave their tank, whether it is from a private supplier, a local fish store or even out of the box that they were delivered in, the fish must be kept as still as possible. If you are driving home with your fish, then hold the fish in its box or bag in the air between your legs. This means that any sudden acceleration or stopping will mean that the fish will sway and not be bumped up against the side of their container. The container should also let in as little light as possible. Most fish stores w...

• Published: February 26, 2007, 7:29 am
• Displayed: 3817 times
• Preview: Fish Breeding Sponsored links People mostly don`t have fish tanks for breeding purposes, since they like to watch them acting like in the wild. However, a natural part of life in nature is breeding. Of course, some aquarists breed fish for money too. Taking care of any fish could be relatively expensive and breeding is one way to get invested money back. Naturally, there are specialized fish keepers who breed various fish species for a living. Moreover, some of professional fish breeders are very specialist and they try to `create` new species or new colour variants, and some of them try to keep species in danger alive for next generations. Anyhow, even if it might look easy, fish breeding is not as easy as it seems. Nearly all fish species require special conditions for breeding, otherwise they eat their eggs, newborns, or other fish will eat them this is the most common reason why newborns die. There are numerous factors affecting readiness for breeding. The best way to breed your fish is to copy the conditions which they need to breed exactly (usually like they have ...

• Published: August 22, 2008, 11:47 pm
• Displayed: 179 times
• Preview: Fish care(basic and advanced care - from water to automatic fish feeders) Sponsored links In this article we will take a look at three very important aspects of successful fish keeping: water quality, water chemistry and feeding. If you manage to get these three things right, you are well on your way towards a well functioning aquarium with thriving inhabitants. Water quality When aquarists talk about water quality they are normally referring to the amount of organic waste products in the water, particularly ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Keeping the water quality high is the same thing as keeping the level of organic waste low. There are many things that you can do to prevent the water quality from dropping, such as: Always cycle a new aquarium properly. During cycling, beneficial colonies of bacteria will colonise suitable environments, such as gravel and sponge filters. I strongly recommend reading a more detailed article about cycling and cycling methods before you set up an aquarium, because it can save you a lot of money and trouble in the long run. Unfortuna...

• Published: March 30, 2007, 6:05 am
• Displayed: 6783 times
• Preview: Fish food Sponsored links Feeding freshwater tropical fish is obviously very important part of fishkeeping in general. Depending on species which you keep, it`s necessary to find the most suitable food due to following reasons: 1) Prevent diseases in the tank, 2) Help your fish to be active, 3) Make your fish well-coloured, 4) Stimulate breeding, 5) Proper fry growth. Division into groups Generally, fish food can be divided into 2 basic groups; Live-food and „Lifeless“ food. However, this doesn`t mean your fish require one kind of food only. Bear in mind that every species eat differently which is the result of various factors including, but not limiting to it`s locality, momentary season, it`s place in the food chain, size, feeding habits, etc. Even though live/lifeless food division might look sufficient for beginners, let`s use another division which helps us to determine what to feed your fish. This division is based on habits which determine if fish accepts vegetables, meal based food, or both: 1) Omnivore – Such fish eat animal and plant matte...

• Published: July 2, 2007, 3:15 am
• Displayed: 2158 times
• Preview: The purpose of a fish pond aerator(For aerators from Living Water Aeration click here, for others click here - you will be forwarded to the bottom of this page) Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! Pond aeration equipment is a vital part of any pond set up; these are mostly supplied as pond aeration kits which will comprise of a pond aerator pump, with special pond aeration tubing and a pond aeration diffuser. A pond will deteriorate if it does not have enough pond aeration with proper pond aerators to raise the dissolved oxygen level to meet the demand of the plants, fishes, and other organisms in the pond especially those located on the bottom. As soon as the pond deteriorates, stratification will occur and sludge and debris will start to settle on the bottom of the pond which will produce toxic gases. These gases make it difficult for the organisms in the pond to survive especially the fishes and oth...

• Published: March 21, 2008, 9:21 pm
• Displayed: 374 times
• Preview: Fish Pond Filters Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on plenty of pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! To go to a list of fish pond filters, click on this link (you will be taken to the bottom of this page)... Of course, if you don't wish to buy yet, feel free to read all information available on this page... Fish ponds are very similar to your aquarium in as much as they are a close environment, needing regular attention to keep them in good condition. The main difference is the size, since most ponds are 500 gallons or more. A similar aquarium would take up half the living room in most homes! But, with a large volume of water comes the need for a filter to handle it. This creates its own problems, as to maintain a high quality of water, the filter must be able to cope with several times the volume of water per hour. So, for a 500 gallon pond, the filter has to have a capacity of at least 5 times that volume each hour, so throughput of the ...

• Published: December 22, 2006, 3:47 pm
• Displayed: 6411 times
• Preview: Set up and filtration of a fish pond Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on various pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! When a fish pond is first designed, it is often a common mistake to incorrectly add the wrong pond filtration systems with incorrect media inserted. The design of this part of the fish pond has to be right for it to be effective. Drawing a diagram of the filtration system and how it fits into the pond often helps research which media is the most effective and the material that is used for the filtration system casing is also important. It is easy to think that to keep high the water quality of a pond is easier than controlling an aquarium, due to the really higher amount of water present inside. Surely a great quantity of water avoid dangerous fluctuations of chemical values, temperature and pollution; anyway this is not enough, ponds unlike aquariums are not kept in neutral environment, but being outside, in gardens, terr...

• Published: July 2, 2007, 3:21 am
• Displayed: 1549 times
• Preview: Information about Fish Pond Pumps Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! Hold it! Before you have that hole dug for a fish pond, take a look at the features of a pond pump. Will it be just the right pump for the pond you have in mind? This is something you have to bear in mind when you are going to have a pond or a water garden. Are you going for moving water in your pond? Then here are some tips in selecting just the right pond pump for you. Before you go shopping remember that there are two types of water pumps—submersible and out of water models. Ask for a chart and other information from the supplier before settling on a choice. If you have a small fish pond in mind, get a submersible pump—aside from being economical, it will be efficient. A bigger pond will need an external water pump. A submersible pump is placed in the pond. This can drain the water from the pond without a distract...

• Published: May 26, 2008, 9:55 pm
• Displayed: 296 times
• Preview: Pond Vacuums Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! To buy a particular fish pond vacuum cleaner, click on this text, please. If you wish to get some information firstly, then continue reading... One important part of pond maintenance has to be clearing out the debris from the bottom and the sides with pond vacuum cleaners. Not only is this done for aesthetics, but removing debris, leaves, algae, and string algae will prevent them from adding toxins to your pond as they break down. This used to be done by draining the pond, removing the fish, and then scrubbing out with a sweeping brush. Nowadays this task has been replaced with pond vacuum pumps, the advantage being, they can be used under the water level without disturbing the pond inhabitants. All of the debris is automatically removed by the pond vacuum pump with out having to scoop it out, then doing a large water change. There are companies that will...

• Published: March 23, 2009, 7:56 pm
• Displayed: 90 times
• Preview: Fish ponds Sponsored links One of the most satisfying aspects of fish keeping to me has to be the addition of a garden pond to view in the evenings while relaxing and the joy of seeing healthy fish swimming to me at feeding times. Building and maintaining a pond can be a daunting task if not planned properly but there is always an answer to any question and hopefully most of theses questions will be answered in this article. Where do I start? The best way of starting your preparation is to sketch a plan of how you want the pond to look when you have finished the project. Walk around your garden to pick the best spot for your pond, this will also give you a rough idea of how much space you actually have to contain the pond in. Draw up a budget that you know you can afford, this may affect a few decisions you will need to make later on as regards which materials to use etc. When you have drawn your plan, use string or hosepipe, to mark the area that you need for installing the pond. What’s the best equipment to dig a pond? In the old days, there was only one way to ...

• Published: August 22, 2008, 11:53 pm
• Displayed: 185 times
• Preview: Fish species (how we divide fish) Sponsored links Within the aquarium hobby, we use many different systems to divide fish into practical groups. Scientists use the taxonomic system created by Carolus Linnaeus in the 18th century, and understanding the basics of this system is very helpful for hobby aquarists as well since it makes it easy to see which fish species that are closely related to each other. Using the scientific names of fish instead of common names can also prevent a lot of misunderstandings since many popular aquarium species have been given a long row of different common names and the exact same common name can also be attributed to several different species. In addition to Linnaeus taxonomy system, you can encounter a lot of other ways of grouping fish within the hobby. In this article, we will take a brief look at some of these other divisions as well. Taxonomic division of fish Living organisms are divided into Domains, Kingdoms, Phylums or Divisions, Classes, Orders, Families, Genera and Species. In some cases, Subphylums/Subdivisions, Subclasses...

• Published: October 3, 2008, 7:11 am
• Displayed: 167 times
• Preview: Fish Tank Accessories Sponsored links There are many potential fish keepers wandering around the pet stores looking at their future tanks, not realizing the purchase of the tank is only the first step towards setting up a good, healthy aquarium. There are many accessories to the tank that are required, not by choice but by need. The costing of the set up should include all of these before the initial purchase of the tank is undertaken. Nowadays it is possible to buy complete packages i.e. the tank plus everything you need to set it all up, but in most cases the extras are usually not of the standard that you would get if the equipment was purchased separately. This is not true in all cases and often novice keepers will purchase the packages with the intention of upgrading equipment further down the line as they get more experienced. The golden rule before actually buying your tank is to think first, get an idea in your head of what fish etc. that you wish to keep. Researching these fish will tell you which size of tank will be best for your and your fishes needs. The size of...

• Published: October 10, 2008, 1:45 am
• Displayed: 174 times
• Preview: Fish Tank Cleaning Sponsored links One aspect of the fish keeping hobby that is often neglected has to be the cleaning of the aquarium. I set myself a schedule of routine cleaning that needs doing regularly and stick to it, by doing this, the health of the fish will not be compromised as detritus and algae do not clog up filters etc., because of bad house keeping. There are many aids to help us out with our tank chores, long gone are the days when we had to roll up our sleeves and get our arms wet to clean the glass and substrate. I keep a box purely for my cleaning utensils, buying these handy tools can make cleaning the tank a pleasure rather than a burden. This is a list of my cleaning gear:- Long handled algae scraper with a pad on the reverseLong handled blade scraper (do not use with acrylic tanks)Siphoning tubeA bucket which is only used for cleaning purposesWhite vinegarClean dishclothPaper towelingFilter brushesFilter pipe brushesGravel vacuumAlgae magnetSterilizing tabletsAn old toothbrush This may seem quite a long list but when you start doing the aquariu...

• Published: October 8, 2008, 1:44 am
• Displayed: 177 times
• Preview: Fish Tank Decorations Sponsored links What do I class as a fish tank decoration? To me it’s anything that is added to the outside or the inside of the tank to enhance the overall viewing of the tank. This can be anything that the fish keeper desires but there are some rules that need to be applied. The decoration must be inert if placed inside the tank, if it reacts with the water the parameters will be affected over a period of time, this could be detrimental to the health of your fish. Any ornaments that are placed inside the tank must be aquarium safe. All of the ornaments purchased from pet stores should be but it still pays to check as some of the cheaper ornaments may be painted with inferior paints that can leach toxins into the water. All ornaments or décor must be cleaned and rinsed before they are placed in the water. If this is not done you could be adding potential diseases to the fish and contaminate the tank water. Do not add anything to the tank with sharp edges; they could injure your fish. That is the serious side of decorating the tank but mos...

• Published: November 29, 2008, 1:15 am
• Displayed: 156 times
• Preview: Fish Tank Divider Sponsored links Fish tank dividers are used to separate areas of the aquarium where defined spaces are required. The ability to break up sections in the fish tank can come in handy for breeding purposes, segregating feuding fish, and conserving aquarium resources. Different materials used for fish tank dividers Glass is used for dividers that are meant to permanently separate one space from the next. Aquarium silicone sealant which is also used to secure the exterior walls of glass fish tanks can be used to secure the dividing walls in place. When creating your own dividers be sure to a silicone sealant that clearly states that it is non-toxic and safe to use on aquariums.Acrylic fish tank dividers, much like glass, are more durable than plastic. This is a less permanent solution than glass and silicone sealant so it leaves you with the option to change your mind about the divided aquarium. Acrylic dividers can be held in place by hooks hanging on the rim of the aquarium or suction cups secured to the inside of the glass or acrylic fish tank. Acrylic div...

• Published: August 29, 2006, 4:11 pm
• Displayed: 10662 times
• Preview: Fish tank heater Sponsored links I`d like to explain why heaters are necessary in the aquariums in this article. Before you continue reading, you must realise that some fish tanks don`t need any heating equipment, because they require other kind of conditions. But let`s go from the beginning. First, make sure that your fish and plants need the same temperature. Naturally, it`s a bad idea to keep fish which prefer different temperatures. The same goes to plants. When you select the right fish species and the tank which should be large enough for all of them, you should choose the right accessories including heater for the tank. Generally, larger aquariums need more powerful heaters. The smallest aquariums on the market need only some 25 watt heater, but 300 L / 75 Gallon tanks require 300 or more watt heaters for sure. The size of a fish tank heater does matter and is also important from this point of view: Even a 50 watt heater can heat a 300 L aquarium, but the speed how the desired temperature is achieved is very questionable. Naturally, if your aquarium has a lid, then w...

• Published: July 5, 2008, 11:15 pm
• Displayed: 292 times
• Preview: FISH TANK TEMPERATURE Sponsored links There are many tests that we perform on our tank water to ensure that the quality is high to give us a thriving aquarium, but one aspect that many fish keepers seem to overlook is constant monitoring of the aquarium temperature. At least once per day thermometers should be checked to make sure that there are no temperature swings occurring, and indeed checking the temperature so that we know the aquarium heater is actually working. But why is temperature so important? Fish are cold blooded creatures, they cannot create their own body temperature, and therefore the water around them will give their body heat to maintain a correct metabolism. Fish originate from all corners of the globe, in different parts of the world the fish will live in different temperature scales. They can tolerate a slight variance from the natural water temperature, but beyond that the fish will start to suffer which in turn will induce stress in the fish; this can then lead to fatalities in the aquarium as the fishes immune system will start to break down ...

• Published: January 4, 2007, 8:35 pm
• Displayed: 3603 times
• Preview: Fish Tank: How-toby Peter Sponsored links The first tip: Decide for a fish tank As we all know, fishkeeping is a hobby and fish are live beings. This is the reason why you must decide wisely following and focusing on a previous research. Fish tanks are usually bought after long solicitous asking by small children. This is not the way how it should be, because your tank crew will be flushed in a toilet sooner or later, usually in a week after starting a tank just for your children or small brother/sister. So before you buy a tank, ask yourself following questions: Am I going to take this hobby seriously? Do I know enough about fish species, plants and aquariums in general? If you`re a beginner and if you answer these questions honestly, you will realise that you don`t know anything or very little about fishkeeping. Basically, this is why I started this post. The first tip, part one: Prepare yourself to be helpful for your fish. Prepare for potential troubles which almost every aquarist went through. Prepare yourself for that you will wait months or eve...

• Published: November 26, 2007, 12:47 pm
• Displayed: 1001 times
• Preview: Fish Tanks: Which one do I choose? Sponsored links The fish-keeping hobby has taken enormous strides over the last ten years, from simple and plain metal-frames fish tanks in black plastic covered frames to the very attractive bow-fronted acrylic aquariums and wood-effect cabinets of today. This guide is aimed at setting up a medium or large aquarium and the considerations that need to be addressed. It aims to help the inexperienced or beginner at fish-keeping, but will also contain valuable information for the more experienced. So, with the huge range available, which one should I choose? This is a question that can lead to big mistakes and huge costs if you get it wrong! Firstly, what do you want in the way of an aquarium? Things to consider are: * how much you can afford to spend, * The space available, * The type of fish you want to keep, * The eventual size of those fish, * Whether the aquarium will be on it’s own stand or on that favourite unit in the corner, * Availability of power outlets, * The type of floor, * How much time yo...

• Published: April 15, 2008, 9:41 pm
• Displayed: 328 times
• Preview: FLUIDIZED BED FILTERS Sponsored links Nowadays in the aquarium hobby there are many forms of filtration available from the suppliers, so sometimes it can get confusing as to which are the right ones to use on your aquarium. We have internal filters, external canister filters, running a sump, wet and dry trickle filters, diatom filters plus an old favorite with many people – the fluidized filter bed. All of the above filters have their advantages and disadvantages but over them all, the fluidized bed filter makes a great secondary filter to use as a back up for your overall system. They come into their own with heavily stocked aquariums, planted aquariums and marine aquariums. The great advantage with planted aquariums is the fact that these filters will not reduce the CO2 levels in the water which the plants depend on. Another great advantage of this system is that the maintenance side of them is drastically reduced as they tend to run for much longer periods without clogging and indeed they have the ability to clean themselves. Internal filters tend to be restrict...

• Published: May 11, 2008, 10:10 pm
• Displayed: 305 times
• Preview: Fluorescent Aquarium Lighting Sponsored links Aquarium lighting is very important to the basic function of an aquarium and its inhabitants. Originally, aquarists utilized aquarium lighting as accessories with which to observe but lights have proven to be far more useful than that. Plants benefit from specific regions of the light spectrum resulting in enhanced growth. Corals and invertebrates feed on algae that gain support from light for their photosynthetic processes. The colors of fish are enhanced by the warm end of the color spectrum allowing their natural colors to stand out. Fish rely on light to influence their mood and behavior making light a vitally important feature in the maintenance of their health. Different lights sources are available in a wide spectrum of colors and brightness, customizable to fit the needs of your aquarium. Light naturally gives off heat which is one of the things you need to take into consideration when choosing the correct lighting system. Fluorescent lights run coolest and are by far the most efficient to utilize. Fluorescent light bulbs...

• Published: March 6, 2008, 10:39 pm
• Displayed: 336 times
• Preview: Fluval Internal Canister Filters Sponsored links Fluval Internal Canister Filters have been around for some time, with the series five being the latest model from the Hagen Corporation who manufacture this heavy duty range of aquarium filters. The interesting thing about these filters as any veteran aquarist will tell you are that each model that is introduced is mechanically better than its predecessor. Hagen is a company that obviously listens to feed back from their customers and acts on them. The model five series has had all the “glitches” ironed out of what were relatively minor problems with the series four filters, and the same rule appears to apply with series three models. Nowadays the Fluval series five canister filters are mostly widely marketed, online as well as in the pet shops and aquarium suppliers worldwide. What has always made this series of filters heads up amongst their competitors was their solid feel, The series five are square and even bulkier than their predecessors and their ease of operation has increased the satisfaction levels of aquarium owners...

• Published: November 14, 2008, 3:56 am
• Displayed: 153 times
• Preview: Food and feeding aquarium fish Sponsored links This article answers the most common questions regarding feeding your aquarium fish, and also offers answers about food for particular species. All questions have been asked by visitors of Aqua-Fish.Net. If your questions aren`t answered on this website, then contact us and we`ll try to help you. Before you do so, make sure that you used the site search (see top-left corner on this page). How much should I feed my fish? In various guides you can find something like “the amount of given food should be eaten in 1-5 minutes”. The number which replaces 1-5 is usually different for each guide. Anyway, I feed my fish differently... Firstly I put flakes into the aquarium in order to feed fish which swim in the top or middle levels. As flakes sink (they float for a few seconds – up to one minute, depending on water flow), they get to the bottom levels where bottom-dwellers start eating them. At this time usually all fish except bottom-dwellers are full. Now it`s time to put some granules and tablets into the tank (foods which fall d...

• Published: April 10, 2008, 9:30 am
• Displayed: 374 times
• Preview: Frontosa Cichlid Sponsored links The Cyphotilapia frontosa is named Cypho- meaning “hump” in Greek, -tilapia meaning “fish” in Tswana (the language spoken around lake Ngami), and frontosa based on the Latin word Frontis meaning “with big forehead.” Nicknamed frontosa, this very distinguishable fish is a highly prized and highly priced cichlid in the aquarium industry. The more common variation in retail is from Burundi which can run anywhere from $12 to $15 for juveniles. Other variations can be considerably more expensive because of their vibrant blue coloration and the fact that they are not as easy to breed. They can cost around $250 for the juveniles. Despite the high price, these fish are definitely worth the investment because they are an attractive and hardy species that can live up to 25 years. Frontosas are hunters who like to work smart, not hard. They hunt for food at dusk, just when their prey would be falling asleep thus making themselves easy targets. In an aquarium setting this fish will eat a variety of frozen and live foods in addition to prepared flakes an...

• Published: April 29, 2008, 10:15 pm
• Displayed: 350 times
• Preview: FROZEN FISH FOODS Sponsored links An important part of satisfying your fish’s diet is variety. Just to feed them flake every meal, not only deprives them of some important vitamins, but can also bore the fish into not eating. Nowadays there are so many options on the market to buy that it makes sense to keep in a stock of flake, frozen, and in some cases live foods. The advantages of feeding frozen are not just the extra vitamins, but it can also make your fish a lot more colorful and energetic, swimming happily around the tank. A lot of digestive problems can occur by just feeding flake or pellet foods, which can then lead onto other problems as the fish will become constipated. The price of frozen food is slightly more than the others but the benefits of using it can well out way the extra costs. The foods available are normally supplied in cubes, encased in a blister pack to keep them fresh, or they are sometimes available in a solid block. Always remember to only thaw out the amount required, even if using the cubes, they can be chopped into smaller pieces. Nev...

• Published: November 4, 2009, 1:09 am
• Displayed: 2 times
• Preview: Glass Catfish an article submitted by Exotic Aquariums sponsored links The glass catfish or Kryptopterus bicirrhisand its smaller relative the ghost catfish are native to Indonesia. They inhabit the large rivers and turbid waters of Borneo, Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula and the Chao Phrayaa and Mekongg drainage basins. They live near the shorelines in water with strong currents. They are diurnal predators (active in daylight) whose diet consists mainly of true water bugs in the wild. Glass catfish are some of the most unusual fish you can buy for a freshwater aquarium. Their bodies are totally devoid of scales and their skin and meaty tissue is completely transparent. You can see right trough to its bones and internal organs and out the other side of their bodies. As with all Catfish, they have barbells on either side of their mouths. Glass catfish have a docile temperament. They make good community fish as long as they are in the company of similarly mild mannered fish. Glass catfish are a medium sized fish. They grow to about four inches in length. They ar...

• Published: November 6, 2009, 11:45 pm
• Displayed: 2 times
• Preview: Glofish or Zebra Danios? an article submitted by Exotic Aquariums sponsored links Glofish do not exist in nature. They were created in a laboratory. Glofish are genetically modified zebra danios or Brachydanio reri. Geneticists in Singapore added the fluorescent gene from sea coral to zebra danio eggs. The result was the glofish. Aside from their genetically altered neon color palette they are identical to zebra danios. These fish are vibrant under any circumstances. But they fluoresce or light up when they encounter environmental toxins. They were first created to do precisely that, detect environmental toxins. They were made available for sale to the general public in 2003. Environmentalists have expressed concern about what might happen if these genetically altered fish made their way into natural rivers and streams. The creators of glofish state emphatically that these genetically engineered fish are not an ecological threat. Glofish, like regular zebra danios, can only survive in tropical waters. Aquarium water temperature should be between 64-74 °F. In the six...

• Published: November 8, 2009, 4:33 am
• Displayed: 2 times
• Preview: Glowlight tetra an article submitted by Exotic Aquariums sponsored links Glowlight tetras or Hemigrammus erythrozonus are native to the Essiquibo basin in South America. Glowlights like all tetra are a member of family Characidae. They received the name glowlight tetra because of the highly reflective red stripe that runs from their mid-body to their tails. This stripe appears to glow under aquarium lighting. Tetras are shoaling fish. Shoaling fish are extremely social fish that instinctively travel in a group. They tend not to fare well in an aquarium devoid of other members of their species. Depending on how strong the instinct runs in an individual species, some shoaling fish can not survive at all in an isolated environment. It is always advisable to have at least four of any given shoaling fish in a community fish tank. The glowlight tetra is a small freshwater fish variety, reaching an adult length of only about an inch and a half. They have a mild disposition and make wonderful additions to community tanks provide they are in the presence of similarly natured...

• Published: December 28, 2006, 10:28 am
• Displayed: 74950 times
• Preview: Goldfish Carassius Auratus, widely known as “Goldfish”, is an ornamental ciprinidae, native from China, where it has been bred for long time. Being one of the first ornamental fish bred, goldfish has a great number of colour and shape mutations. Mutations can be divided in two categories: “long body” looking similar to the wild-type, and “short body” that usually have a egg shaped body much different from the common goldfish. “Long body” goldfish are the stronger ones and can live also in ponds; They usually reach 6-8 inches or more. Long finned are usually faster than short finned but can still live together without problems. - Common goldfish: it has a stout body and short rounded fins, the most common colour is bright orange, but you can find also brown, silver, yellow and calico. - Comet: it has thinner body and long caudal fin. Colours are the same of the common one. - Shubunkin: its shape is the same of the common goldfish body, but has a heart shaped tail and is only calico coloured. “Short body” goldfish are delicate and can live only in aquarium, ...

• Published: July 30, 2008, 10:11 pm
• Displayed: 270 times
• Preview: Goldfish and Water Quality Sponsored links The quality of the water in a goldfish aquarium determines the health of the goldfish in it. To start with, it is important to set up an aquarium with fresh, clean water, and then the challenge is to maintain the quality of the water. Setting Up an Aquarium with High Quality Water: When setting up a new aquarium it is important to first start with a large, clean aquarium. Goldfish have the potential to grow very large for aquarium fish and will thrive in a pond or very large aquarium of no less than 75 gallons of water. Never use detergents or any type of cleanser to get the inside of your fish tank clean. Scrubbing any fish equipment with a rough sponge or brush should work just fine. Chemicals of any kind should never be used in a fish tank unless they are specifically made for aquarium use, in which case they should be used sparingly, only as directed, and only as a last resort. Filtration: Mechanical filtration is where the debris and wastes of the fish and plants are filtered out of the water. Since goldfish...

• Published: June 18, 2008, 1:04 pm
• Displayed: 296 times
• Preview: Goldfish Aquarium Sponsored links Establishing a happy, healthy goldfish aquarium can seem like quite a challenge, but if you have the right information and all the proper tools you can be on your way to creating a wonderful underwater scene in which your goldfish will thrive. Creating a Vision Deciding to create a goldfish aquarium is the first step. Once you decide to create a goldfish aquarium you will need to envision what you would like this waterscape to look like. Do you want to incorporate a lot of different decorations and water features, or would you rather keep it simple and let the beauty of the fish decorate the aquarium? Would you like a lot of fish to make it a busy fish tank or would you rather create a simple waterscape with just a few carefully selected fish. When you envision your perfect aquatic scene what do you see? Aquarium Size It is very important to do your research before you purchase anything at all because there are a number of factors to consider when starting the new aquarium. Think about how big a fish tank you can afford before dec...

• Published: January 9, 2006, 2:03 am
• Displayed: 2668 times
• Preview: Good Shop / Bad Shop by Andy Gordon of England, and Michelle Stuart of Ontario Canada (this article was taken from aquarticles.com - free aquarium articles) Sponsored links If you have never kept fish or you are planning to buy your first fish tank and you have never set foot in an aquatic shop before how can you judge what makes a good shop or a bad one? Because fish are living things and because being transported and moved around is very stressful to them good careful handling at the shop can make a lot of difference to their future prospects. In a good shop you should find: Helpful Staff If you explain that this will be your first aquarium the staff should be prepared to guide you through a list of essential equipment and explain how to set it all up. And answer your questions about anything you aren`t sure of. They should also explain about the need to properly mature a tank and how important it is not to add the fish until it is fully mature. A really good shop will refuse to sell you the fish on the same day as the tank. This may seem rude but they have a ...

• Published: April 8, 2008, 9:43 am
• Displayed: 417 times
• Preview: The Gourami Species Sponsored links A very common freshwater fish is the gourami which is diversely represented in the aquarium industry under the belontiidae, osphronemidae and helostomidae families. These fish come from waters through out Asia and Africa including oxygen poor roadside ditches and rice paddies. They all fall under the category of labyrinth fish because of their ability to breathe oxygen from the atmosphere above the water. There are many types of gouramis bred for the aquatic hobby and they range in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and temperament. Despite all the different variations, most gouramis are quite adaptable to different water conditions of temperature, hardness, and pH level. Optimum water conditions are wide ranged from soft to hard, 72-82ºF and a pH range of 5.5-7.5. One very prominent trait that most gouramis possess is their long, skinny pelvic fins. They are used like antennas on bugs or like whiskers on a cat. The purpose of this feature is to feel their way through the water especially muddy, murky water for food and other objects. Mo...

• Published: September 8, 2006, 2:04 am
• Displayed: 5626 times
• Preview: Things You Should Know Before You Purchase an Aquarium Stand Sponsored links Nothing sets fish owners apart more than the manner in which they display their aquarium. You can always tell a proud fish owner by the materials and quality of the aquarium stand which holds their aquatic investment. Aquarium stands are available in many sizes, shapes and price ranges. Although most aquarium stands are for fish tanks that are 20 gallons or more in size, there are stands available to hold aquariums from 10 gallons on up. There are several styles of aquarium stands, from the simple rack style, to the more robust cabinetry style. Materials are also varied, as the bigger the fish tank, the sturdier the stand materials must be. Rack style stands are usually for the lower gallon sized tanks, and are made of light metals such as aluminum. The racks for larger fish tanks or for double tank display are made from sturdier steel construction with welded joints. Next up the line in stands is what is sometimes referred to as aquarium furniture. These stands can house the aquarium, or ...

• Published: April 15, 2008, 9:43 am
• Displayed: 549 times
• Preview: Guppies Sponsored links Poecilia reticulata also known as guppies, are among the most commonly kept fish in the aquarium industry today. Nicknamed, the “million-fish” the guppy is known to be a highly reproductive species that readily spawns in any given environment. Guppies are in the Poecilia family and are a live-bearers which means the females birth to live fry after being inseminated by a male. This fish is selectively bred for the purpose of developing a unique array of color combinations and finnage displays. The excitement of breeding these interesting little live bearers is to see what kinds of combinations will be produced next. The guppy comes from various freshwater regions in South and Central Americas as well as the Caribbean, and is easily adaptable to a wide range of temperatures between 66-82ºF. They thrive in soft or hard waters of neutral to alkaline pH (7.0-7.5) growing up to 2.5 inches in length. Guppies are a non-aggressive species who like to live in a well planted tank containing no less than 20 gallons of water, with other small non-aggressi...

• Published: May 21, 2008, 10:17 pm
• Displayed: 348 times
• Preview: HOW TO BUILD A POND Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! A major project that many people undertake nowadays is to create a pond in their garden. One of the key aspects to this is to draw up a plan initially. Take into consideration whether the pond will be used for goldfish only, or for koi. Look around your garden to find the best situation, remember too much sunlight on your pond can cause outbreaks of algae, and observe the site over the day to find out the position of the sun at different times. Take into consideration how big you want the pond to be, are there small children that will be in the area, if so think safety into your design. Work out a budget remembering to allow for all the extra equipment that you will need i.e. filters, lighting, and fountains. If designing a square or rectangular pond peg out the corners, then mark out the area with line. If your design involves an irregul...

• Published: October 10, 2006, 3:26 pm
• Displayed: 11779 times
• Preview: How to care about Betta Fish Sponsored links Betta splendens is a small siamese freshwater fish, really common in aquariums for it`s colours, easy care and peculiar behaviour, sadly they don`t have a long life, usually they reach two years old. Betta is also known as a siamese fighting fish for it`s intra specific aggressiveness, for this reason it`s impossible to house two males together in the same tank, since they`ll end up fighting to death; males can be aggressive towards females and females can attack each other as well, so keeping one male with two or three females is the best solution to avoid continuous attacks on the weaker fish. Males can be easily distinguished by females for their long fins and bright colours. In nature male bettas are brown-grey with iridescent green-blue fins and tail, while females are dark brown-grey with light coloured fins. Years of captive breeding has created new colours and fins shape both of males and females. New colours can be divided into: 1) Solid colour, where all the body and fins are of the same colour: cellophane (al...

• Published: August 3, 2007, 5:47 pm
• Displayed: 1514 times
• Preview: How to increase the capacity of your tankBy Tim Gautrey Sponsored links Important Aqua-Fish.Net has got rights to reprint this article from original author. Information here is "as is" and potential references to "will be added in future" (or similar) might not be done by aqua-fish.net. However, we may update the article later. Article Simplicity is the best way! I just tested a theory I had, using an old whisper air pump and a spare 10 gallon tank. Here`s what I did: The pump: I connected a small bore tube to the air intake of the whisper. (Luckily, the one I have has a rubber base with a single air intake hole.) I sealed the pump with silicone, all round the mains cable and air outlet nozzles as well, so that the air only had one way in. The air intake was then connected to a length of 6mm air tubing, with a check valve inline, long enough to go from the pump to the bottom of the tank. Another piece of small bore pipe was then pushed into a suction cup and the tube attached. This was then placed as close to the bottom of the tank...

• Published: August 24, 2007, 11:19 am
• Displayed: 3337 times
• Preview: How to use an Aquarium Air Stoneby Zuzana Sponsored links Design and sizes Aquarium air stone is a lightweight stone, which is full of little holes intended for displacing air into the water. The most common shape is a bole, however you can find it also as a globe or disc, even cube. The bole shape can exist in many sizes and colours. The sizes vary from an about 3 cm (1 inch) and 1 cm in diameter to more than 1,5 meter (60 inches) long. Generally speaking longest air stones are usually flexible and not very robust. How does it work and what is it`s purpose An air stone is used in aquariums to aerate the water. Very important part of this device is an aquarium air pump. It pumps the air into the stone and the stone spreads the air into the water in the form of little bubbles. If the stone is small, the air pump doen´t have to be powerful and bubbles will come out only from a small area. But if you connect a large air stone to a small pump, the bubbles will be generated at the front of the stone. Basically, it is recommended to use big air stones for powerful air pump...

• Published: April 16, 2008, 9:52 pm
• Displayed: 442 times
• Preview: Ich; The White Spot Disease Sponsored links Ichthyophthirius multifiliis is one of the most common diseases encountered by freshwater aquarists. It is a parasite that attaches itself to the skin and gills of fish, forming white spots that look like grains of salt. You may or may not notice an infected fish “flashing”; a behavior that is characterized by quick rubbing or scratching up against logs or rocks. This parasite digs into the victims’ epidermis while feeding on the blood and cells of the host. Some of the common names of this parasite are ich, ick or white spot disease. In addition to feasting on a fish’s mass, this parasite will also add stress and lower immunity. As if things aren’t bad enough with just having to deal with a parasite, this opens up the infected fish to bacterial infections and respiratory dysfunction. Rarely will Ich go unnoticed, but the earlier you catch it the better. Without proper action taken it will be deadly, especially if the fish are not already in a healthy state of being. Ich is highly contagious, so if you see one fish has been infecte...

• Published: November 1, 2008, 4:23 am
• Displayed: 171 times
• Preview: Information about Aquarium Driftwood Sponsored links Since many aquarists aren`t sure regarding some aspects of having a driftwood in the aquarium, I decided to answer some commonly asked questions. If you want to get answer to something what hasn`t been answered on Aqua-Fish.Net yet, feel free to leave your question in the forum, or eventually use the contact us form. Also feel free to visit another article devoted to this topis: aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=aquariumdriftwood Is driftwood safe for an aquarium? Yes; usually. I recommend you to buy driftwood in aquatic shops, although it`s possible to make your own too. The driftwood is basically wood that has been dried for some time. This is also the reason why many driftwoods float when put into a fish tank. Driftwood is safe if it doesn`t decay, however decay of some level can be accepted! In my own aquariums I sometimes find putrescence. Although it doesn`t mean that fish are going to die. Actually, decay is a natural process that can be seen in the nature obviously. I mentioned that a driftwood isn`t safe if it does decay b...

• Published: December 24, 2006, 6:51 am
• Displayed: 13659 times
• Preview: Internal and external aquarium filters Sponsored links Both internal and external filters are good solutions to keep clean water and good chemical values, there is not a better one, it depends on different factors connected to the aquarium. Internal filters Internal filters usually are rectangular boxes attached with suckers on a side glass of the tank. They may have two or three sections inside, thought to divide filter materials, pump and sometimes also the water heater. Often you can find in shop really small internal filters meant for 10 gallons aquariums, even if they claim to use special technologies, they are the most of times inadequate for the aquarium cleaning. Adding plants and reducing the number of fish inside the tank is not a solution with inadequate filters, specially in small aquariums; an undersized filter can not guarantee constant chemical values, even if it can clean water, great sudden changes of nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia due to the small concentration of filtering bacteria, can kill your fish and plants. A good rule to follow to...

• Published: June 20, 2008, 2:14 pm
• Displayed: 309 times
• Preview: Java Moss Sponsored links Vesicularia dubyana is an aquatic plant belonging to the Hypnaceae family and it is most commonly known as Java Moss. There is some talk about the naming of this aquatic plant because there are other classifications under which this plant can be placed. There is a debate whether or not the name of the V. dubyana is the proper name for this aquarium plant. Taxiphyllum barbieri is the other name that may eventually become the scientific name for Java Moss. This plant will grow anywhere on anything and it does not need very much care in order to do so. Wherever Java Moss is concerned, less is more because no matter how much you plant, more is sure to grow in no time at all. Java Moss grows as a tight entanglement of stems that are covered with teeny-tiny (4mm long) leaves of olive and dark green. Unless you look at the moss really closely you might never know there are leaves covering the stems. The Java Moss will develop rhizoids which are small root-like structures that help it attach onto other objects. Rhizoids are not true roots because they do n...

• Published: April 15, 2008, 9:16 am
• Displayed: 423 times
• Preview: Jewel Cichlid Sponsored links The Hemichromis genus is the scientific name for the commonly known jewel cichlid of the cichlidae family in the aquarium industry. This name broadly includes common species such as H. peynei, H. lifalili, and H. gutattus all with subtle differences. One species can be easily mistakable for the next to the novice aquarist. The most common of all the jewel cichlid species is the Hemichromis bimaculatus which is characterized by two prominent black spots on each side of the body. There is a red variety and a blue variety of this species. Both colors possess turquoise, jewel-like spots that stand out brilliantly on the body and tail of well-kept specimens. This is a moderately priced fish in aquatic retail, selling for approximately $10 per fish. A native species to Central and West Africa, these fish can be found swimming in middle to top water of muddy bottomed rivers and streams. The mature jewel will be 4-6 inches in length and can be aggressive when pairing up and spawning. These carnivorous hunters are not to be trusted with any species that ...

• Published: January 4, 2007, 10:39 am
• Displayed: 4374 times
• Preview: Keep the Discus Fish in your Tank Sponsored links This article is here for beginners who ask basic questions and for those who consider buying and later want to keep the Discus species. If you are looking for more comprehensive article about Symphysodon species, simply click here. Introduction In defiance of common judgement, housing the discus species in not very difficult. A newbie or an experienced hobbyist might ask himself why discus species are considered to be difficult-to-keep, why many people think they're not immune enough, why are they suitable for professional fish keepers, etc. Basically the myth about their immunity system or demands has been built by so-called “Discus fish expert-keepers”. First of all, they require a couple of basic things: 1) Aquarium depth should be 50 cm at least, 2) Width of their tank should be not less than 70 cm, 3) Length of their tank should be not less than 80 cm. Since majority of all hobbyists are not looking for breeding their pets, the care is limited to feeding only. Man must understand that feeding includes ...

• Published: May 8, 2008, 9:39 pm
• Displayed: 333 times
• Preview: KILLIFISH Sponsored links The name killifish is actually derived from the Dutch word “kilde”, meaning puddle or small creek. These fish are so varied with hundreds of different species and they are very popular with aquarium keepers because of their bright coloration and markings, plus the ease with which some of the species can breed, requiring very little in special needs. Obviously I cannot go into great detail with all of the species, so I will try to give you a general guide to keeping these beautiful fish. They are to be found all over the world apart from Australia, Antarctica, and the Arctic. These fish are excellent jumpers so they must be kept in a tank with a tight fitting lid. Filter intakes should be covered over with a sponge as they are the perfect escape artists of the fish world. In most cases no form of heating is required; all they need is clean water with no ammonia levels, and just the usual aquarium maintenance. In fact these fish are so hardy; they can survive in the most adverse conditions in the wild. There are two main groups of these...

• Published: November 24, 2006, 2:09 am
• Displayed: 26371 times
• Preview: Koi carp Sponsored links Koi carp is an ornamental mutation of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), native from Asia, especially China and Japan. Koi carp may look like a big goldfish, anyway you can distinguish it for it`s barbels at the sides of the mouth and for it`s size, an adult Koi can reach 30 inches (75cm). Japanese breeders have selected a great number of colour varieties during years. The most common in shops are: - Kohaku: white Koi with red spots. Red and white colours are uniform, without shadings; Red spots should cover the half of the body. - Sanke: red and black spotted white Koi. Red and black colours do not have shadings. The head must have only red spots (like Kohaku). - Shusui: blue grey Koi with dark blue shadings on the lateral and dorsal lines, red colour on sides, fins and tail. - Asagi: blue grey Koi with red orange shadings on the sides, fins, and tail. - Showa: three coloured Koi. Looks like Sanke, but the black colour is more present, even on the head, and covers a big part of the body. Black stripes can be present on the fins and tail...

• Published: June 25, 2008, 10:27 pm
• Displayed: 297 times
• Preview: KRIBENSIS (PELVICACHROMIS PULCHER) Sponsored links Kribensis fish are one of the most popular of the dwarf cichlids that many keepers will use to start out in the world of fish breeding. When the fish form a pair they will become prolific breeders, the problem arises, not getting the fish to breed, but where to pass on all of the fry that they will produce. The name Kribensis actually is the common name for Pelvicachromis Teaniatus, most pet stores have used the common name to sell the Pelvicachromis Pulcher, this is the fish you will normally see in the tanks described as Kribensis. So how did it get this name - Pelva is the Latin for belly, chromis is colour, and Pulcher is Latin for beautiful. This is a very apt name for this beautifully marked fish, especially at spawning times. As this fish only grows to approx. 4 inches it is classed as a dwarf cichlid, smaller tanks are perfectly alright for setting up as a breeding tank. Other common names that the Kribensis has been sold under include Niger cichlid, purple cichlid, palette cichlid, and there is also an ...

• Published: November 10, 2009, 3:36 am
• Displayed: 3 times
• Preview: Labidochromis an article submitted by Exotic Aquariums sponsored links Labidochromis caeruleus is a member of the family Cichlidae more commonly known as a cichlid. The Labidochromis is native to Lake Malawi in Africa. Lake Malawi is situated between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. It is the third largest lake on the continent of Africa and the eight largest in the world. The Labidochromis is part of a group of fish collectively referred to as African cichlids or Malawi cichlids. The Labidochromis is commonly called an electric yellow cichlid due to it vibrant yellow palette. Its colors are almost as brilliant as that of the saltwater faring yellow tang. Labidochromis are referred to as a mbuna. Mbuna means rockfish in the native tongue of the Tonga people from Malawi. Mbuna refers to a large group of cichlids native to Lake Malawi. These rock-dwellers live in piles of rocks, caves or other openings in the lake. The Labidochromis was unknown to aquarium keepers until 1986. They where “discovered” by Stuart Grant and his divers at Lion’s Cove, Malawi in 1980....

• Published: April 3, 2006, 3:30 am
• Displayed: 9194 times
• Preview: Lake Tanganyika Cichlids (this article was taken from aquarticles.com - free aquarium articles) by Andy Gordon of England, and Michelle Stuart of Ontario Canada. With photographs and contributions by Tom Hammond. Sponsored links Lake Tanganyika is situated in the E. African Rift Valley in an area which has active volcanoes. This has affected the whole area and the water of the lake is very rich in minerals and quite alkaline. This must be taken in to account when planning to keep any fish from this lake. There are three main biotopes within the lake itself: - Open water with a sandy substrate. - Rocky, found around parts of the shoreline and underwater reefs. - Shell beds. Piles of empty snail shells found in various bays litter the floor. Each biotope has attracted a different set of fish which has found ways to exploit that particular environment. The water quality remains the same throughout the lake - there may be one or two local variations where a river enters the lake but overall it is a very stable environment and the fish which have evolved the...

• Published: April 29, 2008, 9:36 pm
• Displayed: 274 times
• Preview: Lamprologus species Sponsored links Lamprologus is actually a temporary genus used to name some of the cichlids found in Lake Tanganyika. It is believed that the Lamprologus genus is restricted to the Riverine Species and not found in Lake Tanganyika. Currently Caudopunctatus, Ocellatus, Similis, Speciosus and Multifasciatus are among some of the cichlids found in Lake Tanganyika that are temporarily assigned to the Lamprologus genus. Lamprologus Caudopunctatus is an amazing and very intelligent species. They are found in shallow water and they feed on plankton. They live in shells or small caves, and usually in large numbers. L. Caudopunctatus usually have an orange or yellow color to their dorsal fin. When they are stressed they display dark gray vertical stripes through their body, and their eyes have a blue glow. When they breed it is either inside shells or small caves. L. Caudopunctatus do not eat their young, in fact the fry from each spawn will take a roll in the care and hatch of the eggs in the following spawns. They will do fine in a tank as small as a 10 ...

• Published: August 2, 2007, 11:31 pm
• Displayed: 1424 times
• Preview: Aquarium Light Canopyby Tim Gautrey Sponsored links Important note This article was reprinted with permissions given by the original article`s author. Bear in mind that information here is "as is" and potential references to "will be added in future" (or similar) might not be done by aqua-fish.net. However, we may update the article later. Introduction Here is a very simple and low-cost lighting canopy suitable for any straight fronted tank. It is designed to use common household materials and takes just a couple of hours to make. Method - Cut the back and front panels 20mm longer than the tank from x 200mm. - Cut the side panels 5mm longer than the tank side x 200mm. - Cut the corner blocks out of 2" x 2" planed timber into 150mm lengths. - Screw/glue the corner blocks flush with the end and top of the side panels. - Screw/glue the corner blocks onto the ends of the front/back panels, so that the side panel is flush with the end. - This forms a basic box that sit over the tank and cover the top 2" of glass. ...

• Published: July 16, 2008, 12:17 pm
• Displayed: 239 times
• Preview: LIGHTING FOR AQUARIUM PLANTS Sponsored links One of the biggest debates that have been going on for years is “what is the correct lighting for my planted tank”. Basically there is no easy answer to this question. It is a proven fact that fish are a lot happier in a planted tank, their coloration will stand out more and they will feel a lot more secure than if they were being kept in an unplanted tank so getting the plants to grow successfully is well worth while. So lets take one step backwards from the original question and ask why plants need the lighting in the first place. Plants grow by a process called photosynthesis, this is a complicated process in itself so let me try to explain how it works. Photosynthesis is the process where plants need to convert carbon dioxide gas and water into cell building glucose and oxygen. In nature the equation for this is:- 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight = C6H12O6 + 6O2 Looking at the equation it may still seem baffling but quite simply it means that in daylight the plants soak up the CO2 produced by the fish respiration plus wat...

• Published: January 18, 2007, 12:15 pm
• Displayed: 4917 times
• Preview: Lighting for Freshwater aquariums Sponsored links There are two main ways to light up an aquarium, using a neon tube system or a HQL (metal halide lamps) system. Illumination is really important for the aquarium, not only for plants but also for every animal that lives inside; lamps do not provide only the simple lighting, but gives the power needed for a lot of biological and chemical operations. Planning the right illumination for your aquarium, you could think that recreating the sun spectrum (that is the same light of the one produced by sun) is the most important goal to reach; however this is not right, because animals and plants living in different waters, receive the sunlight in different ways (think about animals living in clear waters and those living in a deep dark waters), moreover there is not yet a kind of lamp able to recreate totally the sun spectrum. Buying a lamp you surely would find various informations about the kind of it`s illumination, and some of them can be not easily understandable; for aquariums, it is important to know the colour temperatu...

• Published: April 26, 2008, 10:24 am
• Displayed: 449 times
• Preview: LIVE FISH FOODS Sponsored links Live fish foods make a great supplement to the diet of your fish and some of these can be cultivated quite easily therefore providing a free food as well. Aquarists must always remember though, these foods should not be fed as the only items on the diet as they can lead to digestive problems in the fish, a main diet of flake, pellets or similar should also be fed as the vegetable content will keep the digestive tracts clear. Because of the above problems, I will only feed live foods two or three times a week, as a treat for the fish. Live foods can also be disease carriers so always purchase your starter colonies from a reliable supplier. The main live foods come from various types of worms, so I will list these first and try to give tips on how to culture them. Earthworms:- I have an abundance of these in my back garden just waiting to be dug up for fish food, but this is not the case for everyone, so a simple wormer can be made from any kind of box or even an old fish tank. Just fill it with soil or compost medium, add some wor...

• Published: February 17, 2008, 8:05 pm
• Displayed: 542 times
• Preview: Magnum and penguin aquarium filter Sponsored links In order for fish to thrive in an aquarium, the water in the tank must be maintained to the highest level of purity. This requires the investment and maintenance of a high level filtration system. There are several types and choices of filtration on the market. One of the best and most popular amongst aquarium enthusiasts in the know is the canister filter system. Both large and powerful the canister filter is situated underneath the aquarium tank and is used for either biological, mechanical and if the occasion demands it also filtration of harmful chemicals that might enter the tank and cause damage to the fish. Many of the large free standing aquariums have the canister filters placed below the tank, inside of their stand. Canister filters have the appearance of a closed cylinder around fifteen inches high (38 cm) high with a click on lid designed to keep the canister closed under pressure. All the water loaded into the aquarium tank contain tow valves, one for water input and the other for output connected by flexible ...

• Published: August 23, 2007, 9:18 pm
• Displayed: 1763 times
• Preview: Making a DIY Lighting Canopy(For the beginner) by Tim Gautrey, reprinted with permissions Sponsored links This How-To details a simple way to make a new lighting canopy for any rectangular tank. It is designed with simplicity in mind and easy enough for almost anyone with basic DIY skills to make. Tools: - Hand Saw - Hammer - Screwdriver - Tape Measure - Pencil - Set Square - Electric drill - Selection of drill bits - Fine sanding sheets. Materials: - 9mm Plywood - 25mm x 25mm soft wood batten - Piano Hinge - Wood Glue - 25mm countersunk self-tapping screws - 15mm Panel Pins - White Undercoat - White Gloss paint - Varnish - 10mm wooden edging trim (If you want to trim the edges!) - Lighting unit(s) Size: For this How-To, I am going to detail a canopy to fit a standard 36” (900mm) tank. You can work out the sizes to fit the tank you need from the guide sizes here. The light unit will be 200mm in overall height and square in shape. Measure the length of the tank and add 24mm to get the length of the front and...

• Published: June 27, 2008, 11:40 pm
• Displayed: 245 times
• Preview: MALAWI CICHLIDS Sponsored links Keeping Malawi cichlids is definitely not for the faint hearted fish keeper. They are all aggressive species, but if kept in the correct conditions can provide hours of entertainment watching go about their daily life. All of the Malawi species originate from one place, Lake Malawi in Africa. It is one of three rift lakes in Africa, the other two being Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika, but the amazing thing is that Lake Malawi is almost entirely inhabited by cichlids, the other two hosts a variety of fish. There are more than 600 species of cichlids in this lake and they are endemic to it, you will not find them anywhere else in the world. Some keepers will divide the fish into smaller groups, but to me there are only two groups, mbuna and non-mbuna. Mbuna cichlids Mbuna cichlids are the most aggressive, they are to be found in the rocky regions of the lake, as there is less space in that region they have to spend more time defending their territories. Mbuna are smaller than the non-mbuna and have some fantastic coloration on th...

• Published: September 25, 2008, 10:39 pm
• Displayed: 177 times
• Preview: Marble Pleco Sponsored links The Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps is a species more commonly known as the Marble Pleco. This species is also referred to as the sailfin pleco or the leopard pleco. Diet The Marble Pleco is an herbivore and should be fed a variety of algae and veggies. Aside from the algae already growing in the aquarium, algae wafers or pellets can be used as extra nourishment for this sucker fish. Spirulina, which is blue - green algae, is an excellent source of nutrition with many health benefits. If you want to feed your Marble Pleco veggies, soften some peas, spinach, lettuce or cucumbers by boiling for a few minutes. This species can also be conditioned to accept meaty foods but do not forget to provide them with the much needed nourishment of the greens that will aid in digestion. Marble Plecos also need a small amount of wood in their diet. The cellulose which is what wood is made of is a key element for digestive function in a pleco. Water Requirements The Marble Pleco is not very particular about the condition of their tank water. They can adapt...

• Published: March 20, 2008, 10:08 pm
• Displayed: 355 times
• Preview: Metal Halide Aquarium Bulbs Sponsored links Almost all indoor aquariums have lighting of some kind. Most use traditional incandescent or florescent lighting because of the efficiency and convenience of this type of lighting. Under most circumstances these lights are all you will ever need and the majority of planted aquariums can thrive happily using this method. But, if you really want a planted aquarium to thrive, have a deep tank, a marine coral tank or just want to be different, you can use alternatives like the T5 florescent or metal halide bulbs. Mainly used in commercial applications, the metal halide bulb is specially designed to produce maximum light for minimal power. For the techies amongst you it works by throwing an arc of electricity across two electrodes through a mixture of argon, mercury and metal halide gases. The colour of the light is influenced by the mixture of metal halides in the chamber, producing a spectrum of light, and you can choose the effect you require when you purchase the bulb. This is, however, not guaranteed, as the colour of the ligh...

• Published: May 13, 2008, 10:41 am
• Displayed: 318 times
• Preview: Mollies Sponsored links Mollies are interesting and popular fish from the family Poeciliidae. They are freshwater livebearers; which mean they give birth to live young, much like guppies, platies and swordtails. There are several varieties of molly, some of which are readily available to the aquarium industry. Their colors and fin variations make them a highly desirable species for keeping. They are hearty and easy to breed which make them a great pet for novice aquarists. All molly fish are named under the genus Poecilia in reference to their coloration. Each of the molly species has a name that represents what make them different from the other molly species. Some of them are: Poecilia sphenops which means wedge-like appearance, Poecilia velifera refers to its sail bearing dorsal fins, and Poecilia latipinna describes this molly’s broad dorsal fin. Molly fish are brackish or fresh water species that are native to waters along coastal salt, brackish and freshwater regions of North Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. Populations of several molly species were transported to...

• Published: March 27, 2008, 2:52 pm
• Displayed: 408 times
• Preview: Mystery Snails Sponsored links Snails in the aquarium, not everyone’s cup of tea - they are a pest clogging the filters etc. but this is not always the case. Enter the world of the mystery snails and you will be amazed with the variety of different coloured shells (golds, reds, browns, blues, striped), their strange antics when they are coming up for air is fascinating to watch, keepers soon fall in love with them. So what are mystery snails? There is a lot of debate as to the actual classification of these creatures, they can have various different names – apple snails, ivory snails, Inca snail, day & night snails, the list goes on but the most common variety sold on the market are usually classified as being Pomacea Bridgessii and these all belong to the family of Ampullariidae (sometimes referred to as Pilidae) which contains over a hundred different members. Far from being a pest these snails can be a bonus to your tank as they will clear up any rotting vegetation from your plants, plus any surplus food from the substrate, and they will earn their keep by ...

• Published: September 26, 2008, 6:51 pm
• Displayed: 173 times
• Preview: Neon Tetra Disease Sponsored links One of the darker aspects of fish keeping has to be identifying and treat successfully diseased fish. One of the worst diseases that can strike your tank is Neon Tetra disease. As of yet I can think of no-one that has manages to treat this disease and cure their fish as it spreads rapidly through the tank. This disease is quite common but often cases are not reported as symptoms are not diagnosed correctly and it will also affect other species of fish, not just the Neon Tetras. It received its name as it was first reported in the Neon tetra but there have been countless cases where it has infected nearly all members of the tetra family, cichlids like Angelfish, Rasboras and barbs have all fallen victim to it. Goldfish are also prone to this disease yet Cardinal Tetras seem to be resistant to it. Angelfish and Goldfish may take longer to show the symptoms than the smaller tetras but this does not mean that they will beat the disease; they should still be removed from the tank as soon as possible. What causes this disease? Neon T...

• Published: April 12, 2006, 8:52 am
• Displayed: 5762 times
• Preview: New to Planted Tank? by Marcus Ng of Singapore Originally published on www.aquaticquotient.com Reprinted by permission. Aquarticles (this article was taken from aquarticles.com - free aquarium articles) Sponsored links A lush planted aquarium is a wonderful sight to behold. But often many people are held back from getting into this hobby as they perceive it to be beyond the technical grasp of a casual hobbyist. Certainly, it may look difficult at first, but as they say, the biggest hurdle in every task is your mind. And any activity that is worthwhile will involve some degree of initial learning and preparation. But it is our hope that you will find aquaticquotient.com a useful resource of information where a community of new and experienced hobbyists exchange their knowledge and learn from each other. Do note that when you are posting a question, e.g. why is my plant turning yellow etc, forummers can only help if you can provide as much information as possible about your tank`s conditions, inhabitants and maintenance. Following is a simple guide on the basi...

• Published: July 11, 2008, 11:27 pm
• Displayed: 314 times
• Preview: NEW WORLD CICHLIDS Sponsored links On our planet there are at least 1300 species of fish that belong to the family Cichlidae. Yet the amazing thing is that they can only be found in certain areas of the world, these are Central and South America, and Africa. These species of fish are known to everyone as cichlids and they are the most colorful and interesting fish to keep. But why are they only found in certain areas? The answer to this is very simple. Before the continents split to what they are today there was one super continent in the south of the planet, this was called Gondwana. This is where cichlids first evolved and as the Gondwana split 150 million years ago, the cichlids were separated. Old world cichlids are to be found on the African continent, whilst the New World cichlids inhabit Central and South America. It is believed that the lineages have been evolving into the different sub species for the last 90 million years. Cichlids have become one of the most popular species of fish to keep in an aquarium for several reasons:- Most cichlids are quite e...

• Published: March 9, 2007, 12:55 pm
• Displayed: 2107 times
• Preview: Nothobranchius rachovii Sponsored links Even though I don`t enclose any picture, I can tell you that the Nothobranchius rachovii, which comes from the Mosambic and South Africa regions, belongs to one of the most beautiful aquarium fish species I`ve ever seen. Usually living in drying swamps, sometimes with other fish species, they grow up to 5.5 cm and it`s nearly impossible to see any difference between females and other fish of the Nothobranchius species. Becoming a water birds` food, their role in the food chain differentiates in home-kept aquariums and the wild nature. Naturally, you probably don`t keep your fish in order to make them a dinner for birds, or even other pets/animals. Despite their eye-catching look, they`re not seen in tanks a lot; I would say they`re rare as pets. Description and requirements The Nothobranchius rachovii fish usually lives a short life also because of very fast metabolism. On the other hand, fast metabolism means fast growth. Water should be alkaline a bit, which is necessary for breeding purposes especially. In order to avoid incorre...

• Published: August 12, 2006, 2:05 pm
• Displayed: 55395 times
• Preview: Oscar fish Basic information about the Oscar fish species: Maximum size (min-max): 30.0 - 40.0 cm ( 11.8 - 15.7 in) Recommended temperature: 24.0°C - 30.0°C ( 75.2°F - 86.0°F) Recommended water hardness (dGH): dGH 4.0 - 18.0 N Recommended pH of water: 6.5 - 7.5 Origin: South America Introduction to the Oscar fish This fish is very intelligent, it can even recognize it`s owner. Oscars have they own ideas, although they're not the only fish having them. If Oscars don´t like how the items are placed in the aquarium, they pick them up and replace them, or they spit it out from the tank. It doesn`t matter if the plant or rock is real or plastic. If you have a high aquarium, standing near it can be dangerous. The best choice is to have a sand bottom and a few big rocks in the tank. Sometimes Oscars pretend that they are dead. In nature they pretend to be dead and wait until a small fish comes close so it can be caught and eaten. Behavior Oscars are aggressive fish so they need a big aquarium and a large group, because if there are only a few specimens in the ta...

• Published: July 31, 2008, 1:53 pm
• Displayed: 332 times
• Preview: Paradise Fish Sponsored links Macropodus opercularis is a fish in the anabantid group that is most commonly known as the Paradise Fish. These fish, along with betta and gourami are all characterized by their ability to breathe atmospheric oxygen with the help of an accessory organ known as the labyrinth organ. This organ allows them to be able to live in waters that are murky and depleted of oxygen where most other fish would never survive. Paradise fish have the reputation of being very hardy and easy to care for, all the while being very attractive ornamental pets. They are in high demand in the freshwater aquarium industry. Description: Paradise Fish have oval shaped bodies that are laterally compressed. The mature adults can get as long as 4 inches. These fish are beauties to look at with their vibrantly colored vertical stripes of bright orange and shocking blue. The long flowing fins of the Paradise fish make them one species that is highly desired in the aquarium industry. There are several species variations of the paradise fish: The Albino Paradise Fish is ...

• Published: June 17, 2008, 11:38 am
• Displayed: 302 times
• Preview: Parrot Cichlid Sponsored links The parrot cichlid is not a fish that naturally occurs in the wild. It is essentially a man made fish so it does not have a scientific name. This hybrid cichlid is produced by combining other species of cichlids; some seem to think it is a combination of the red devil and the severum, while others may argue that it is the midas cichlid with the red head cichlid. There are several different varieties of parrot cichlids in existence today so I would not be surprised if both combinations were used to spawn this hybrid fish. The parrot cichlid is named for the shape of its face which has the appearance of a parrot’s face and beak. The common parrot cichlid comes in a deep orange coloration which gave them the name “Blood Parrot Cichlid”. They also come in a whole variety of colors and patterns which will later be described in more detail. These fish grow to a maximum length of 8 inches, sometimes more, and they can live for up to 50 years if they are good specimens and very well cared for. Water Conditions and Foods Parrot cichlids are the ...

• Published: July 16, 2008, 1:02 pm
• Displayed: 293 times
• Preview: Peacock Cichlid Sponsored links Aulonocara is a genus of African cichlids most commonly known as Peacock Cichlids. They are very popular among the aquarium industry because of their brilliant colors and also because they are peaceful and fairly easy to care for. There are more than 20 known Aulonocara species and subspecies based on their variations of colors and characteristics. This eye catching fish is nicknamed the Peacock Cichlid for its similarity to the bird it is named after because the males are bright and colorful while the females are plain and not quite as attractive. The Aulonocara cichlids were once classified as Haplochromines but were later separated into their own group. Both Aulonocara and Haplochromines are generally peaceful fish that mostly live in open water. This was a great contrast to the Mbuna Cichlids who are aggressive, territorial, and they live in the rocky cliffs of the lake. After all the word “Mbuna” means “rock fish” in the language spoken around Lake Malawi. Any Lake Malawi Cichlid that was not Mbuna was automatically classified as Haploch...

• Published: June 18, 2008, 10:17 pm
• Displayed: 277 times
• Preview: PEARL GOURAMI (Trichogaster Leeri) Sponsored links The Pearl Gourami has accumulated several common names, Leeri Gourami, Lace Gourami, Diamond Gourami, Platinum Gourami, Mosaic Gourami, to mention a few, but they are all the same fish, trichogaster leeri. They are one of the most colourful of the Gourami family, and also one of the hardiest, making them an ideal fish for novices at fish keeping. They are a peaceful community fish; however, if you are keeping more than one male in the tank, they may fight with each other, especially at breeding time. They originate from Asia, Thailand, and Indonesia, living to an average lifespan of 5 years, but some have been reported to live for 8 years in captivity. Feeding is not a problem with these; they will accept flake foods, granules, almost everything that is offered. Their colouration is a brownish/silver with a wonderful spotted lace pattern running from head to tail. A black line runs midway along the body; this then ends with a well defined dark spot near the tail. In the wild they would normally live in the slightly aci...

• Published: January 9, 2007, 2:21 am
• Displayed: 4338 times
• Preview: What Does Peat Change in an Aquarium? Sponsored links Peat has an ability to reduce pH and water hardness values. It also changes the colour of water from clear to brown. Besides the aforementioned changes, it releases hormones, CO2 and probably some nitrates into the tank too. Some toxic metals are rendered harmless. What causes these changes? Acids are materials with fantastic attributes. Are these attributes fantastic or aren't they? Let's analyze the advantages and disadvantages... Advantages: 1. Brings down pH and hardness. 2. Doesn't change the conductivity. 3. Releases lots of useful materials that are welcomed by fish. Disadvantages: 1. The water must be tested frequently. 2. It is not suitable for fish that need hard water with a high level of pH. 3. If you have a Dutch (planted) aquarium, some plants don't like water with very low pH levels. 4. It's difficult to select the right amount of peat to use in your aquarium. If you decide to use the peat, read the rest of this article. What peat to use and where to buy it? Attention! Attent...

• Published: November 14, 2007, 1:22 pm
• Displayed: 1771 times
• Preview: Pet Fish: Are fish pets? Sponsored links Can fish be pets? Yes, of course they can! I have over 1000 pets in my home. When I make that statement I get a lot of strange looks and then the subject is changed very quickly! But why? Is it because I can’t put a fish on a lead and take it for a walk? Or perhaps it’s because it doesn’t talk, bark, meow or chirp. It could be because it doesn’t come and sit on my lap or maybe it’s just because people don’t really understand what a pet is. Here is a quote from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: “A pet or companion animal is an animal kept for companionship and enjoyment, as opposed to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic reasons.” That is fairly descriptive and covers most of the arguments. So do fish make good companions? Well, I spend a lot of time talking to them, but it’s a one way conversation, and I spend a lot of time with them and they calm me, relax me and disperse my bad moods, so I would say that they are companions. As for enjoyment, I am sure that everyone ...

• Published: September 25, 2006, 4:56 am
• Displayed: 6139 times
• Preview: Pictures of the Black Skirt Tetra Sponsored links When I firstly saw the Black Skirt Tetras, I decided to keep them. Of course, I asked about the conditions and requirements for this fish. The Black Skirt is very nice, beautiful and peaceful. Their origin is the South Amercia; Rio Negro. As the name „Rio Negro“ says, the water where they come from, is usually dark. Dark colours are the result of decomposition of wood and relatively slow water current. Your tank should contain at least one driftwood and enough of plants. Good solution is to use Anubias Nana, Vallisneria Spiralis, Vallisneria Gigantea and some kind of Cryptocoryne. Even though these plants don`t come directly from Rio Negro, they are easy to care for. Acid or alkaline water isn`t any problem for the Black Skirt Tetra. The same goes to the question of hard or soft water. Generally, this species adapts easily, but don`t overrate them. Keep the conditions stable, so your fish will be happy. If the water is of good quality, you`ll be a successfull breeder of Black Skirt. Generally, males are a little bit darker th...

• Published: October 3, 2008, 3:54 am
• Displayed: 180 times
• Preview: Pictus Catfish Sponsored links The Pictus Catfish is a very attractive species that is extremely popular in the aquarium industry. The scientific name for this species is Pimelodus pictus. This is the ideal catfish species for aquarists who want to own can care for catfish but do not have the space required for larger varieties. Unlike most catfish, the Pictus Catfish stays quite small. They can be purchased in aquarium retail stores for as little as $6.00 but they can also cost quite a bit more. Origin The Pictus Catfish comes from South American countries such as Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, and Columbia. They are found in both the Amazon and Orinoco River Basins. Lifespan The lifespan of a Pictus Catfish can be as much as 8 years if they are well cared for. Water Conditions The Pictus Catfish prefers warmer waters between 72 and 78°F. They require a slightly acidic to neutral pH between 5.8 and 7.2, with a water hardness level somewhere between 4 and 8 dGH. Pictus catfish can be pretty sensitive to chemicals and medications so be sure to use them only whe...

• Published: June 18, 2009, 4:03 pm
• Displayed: 58 times
• Preview: Planting and Growing Aquarium Plants Sponsored links Nowadays many aquarists have decided to take a slightly different route with their tanks, rather than just use the tank to keep fish in with a few ornaments dotted about and the odd plant stuck in the corner, they are getting into the world of dedicating their tanks to a display of foliage where the plants are the main feature and any fish added are placed there for movement, taking second place to the greenery behind them. Some keepers seem a bit daunted by this idea and are very reserved about taking the plunge but once this side hobby is taken on it is very rewarding and not as difficult to keep the plants healthy as many people think. More than often the hardest part is keeping the plants trimmed back when they are established, if this is not done on a regular basis, the tank will soon transform into a jungle unless slow growing species are specifically chosen. If you have decided to set up a planted tank then hopefully reading through this article will answer many of the questions you have yet to answer. Starting...

• Published: May 20, 2008, 10:40 am
• Displayed: 425 times
• Preview: Platies Sponsored links Platies are part of the Poecilidae family which means they are part of the group of livebearers. Xiphophorus maculatus and Xiphophorus variatus are the two different platy species from which all platy variations are bred for aquarium purposes. Platies are very similar to swordtails, so much that they are even able to mate with one another and produce fertile young. This is one of the reasons why there are so many different variations of platy fish available. There are over 325,000 known varieties of platy fish. The different varieties of platies display diverse coloration and patterns, and some even have fins of different shapes and sizes. This is a great fish for beginning aquarists because of their ease of keeping and breeding. They get along well with other species in community aquariums. Platies are originally from the freshwaters of Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. They are now bred commercially in Florida and from areas around the Pacific Rim. Although platies are highly adaptable fish, they prefer medium to hard water that is slightly alkaline....

• Published: July 12, 2008, 2:42 pm
• Displayed: 262 times
• Preview: PLECOSTOMUS CATFISH Sponsored links There are many species of catfish throughout the world, several of the species are also classed as armoured catfish and these all belong to the family of Loricariidae. Loricariidae is the largest of the catfish family containing 700 species with several new species being discovered all the time. These species originate in fresh water locations of Costa Rica, Panama and tropical areas of South America. They are classed as armoured catfish due to the bony plates situated around the body and head and they have this wonderful sucker mouth for grazing on algae. Plecostomus now seems to be used with a variety of catfish that actually belong to a different gender. It is normally shortened down to “plec” and added to the end of many catfish’s names. The name “pleco” originated from one of the first armoured catfish to be introduced into the aquarium hobby, this was known simply as Plecostomus plecostomus. This fish is now referred to as Hypostomus plecostomus or commonly known as the sucker mouth catfish. This is where it can get a bit c...

• Published: July 2, 2007, 3:07 am
• Displayed: 1785 times
• Preview: Deicer: Why Your Pond Needs One Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! Ponds enhance a garden’s aesthetic look. It adds to the natural grandeur of the outdoor design in our backyards (and sometimes in our front yards). The soothing sound of the water exudes a relaxing feeling, and the sight of live fishes busily swimming about never ceases to give a pleasant feeling to whoever drops by to see. Nevertheless, like all the other elements in our exterior decorations such as the plants and trees, the pond (and the fish and plants in it) likewise needs proper maintenance and care—especially during the harsh seasons of winter. Even at the installation phase of their ponds, pond owners are always faced with the question of whether or not a pond deicer is necessary to be installed in their ponds. It is, therefore, significant to note that there are some factors that need to be taken into consideration when ...

• Published: June 2, 2008, 10:53 pm
• Displayed: 238 times
• Preview: POND EQUIPMENT Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! When working out a budget for building a pond, we must always take into consideration the extra equipment that is needed to keep our pond healthy and clean. There is no point in finishing the pond just to realize that we can’t afford the equipment to maintain it. Some items are essential; some are bought purely to make life easier for ourselves in the everyday tasks that have to be performed. Pond filter The most important piece of equipment needed is a good quality filtration system that is capable of mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration. This is the mainstay to keeping your water quality high. Always purchase the best system you can afford, cutting corners will lead to heartache at a later date, never try to use a large external aquarium filter for your pond, they are not safe for outdoor use. Most models of filters work on the...

• Published: May 16, 2008, 11:25 pm
• Displayed: 270 times
• Preview: POND FOUNTAINS Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! One of the most popular centerpieces to any pond has to be the addition of a pond fountain. Not only are these a great display piece, but also serve another purpose. They will also oxygenate the water. What could be more relaxing than sitting by the pond on a warm, summer evening listening to the splashing of the water! There are several available to buy, deciding which one has to be based on the size and depth of your pond. There is no point adding a huge fountain to a small pond, it would just send water flying everywhere apart from back into the pond. Fountains are not just restricted to ponds; they can even be created as a water feature for your garden. Simple to do, just sink a plastic reservoir, insert a small water pump attached to a fountain head and switch on. Easy as that!! If money is no object then the fountains can be very creative, ma...

• Published: October 14, 2008, 4:56 pm
• Displayed: 163 times
• Preview: Pond Ideas Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! To me, designing that perfect pond is no different to designing that perfect aquarium; everything is just on a larger scale. With a pond the world really is your oyster, there are so many options available to you. The initial planning stage is probably more important than with an aquarium, equipment may have to be incorporated into the build, landscaping features may also have to be included as well. If you are stuck for ideas there are plenty of websites on the internet offering advice, and hopefully this article will give you a few ideas also. The first thing to be considered with your design is how will the pond blend in with they area that you have put aside for it. It might be that you will look at the site, and then decide to add on some decorative borders around the pond. Always take out a sketchpad with you and start sketching what type of pond you ...

• Published: May 15, 2008, 9:56 pm
• Displayed: 265 times
• Preview: POND LIGHTING Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! All pond keepers enjoy relaxing around the pond in the daytime, marveled by their creation, but why not add pond lighting to extend a daytime pond into an evening viewing ponds as well. There are many types of lighting on the market today, the choice is endless but once installed it can create a wonderful sight in your garden. For all electric systems, we must be aware that they need to be installed safely, and if need be use a qualified electrician for connecting them to the power source. Better safe than sorry. So which lighting system will you choose? Basically the first thing that you have to ask yourself is what will I be using it for? By this I mean, is it purely for illuminating the pond or do you need it for some sort of security, or even a safety aspect. A lot of ponds are level with the ground so illuminating the walkways clearly d...

• Published: May 10, 2008, 11:57 am
• Displayed: 337 times
• Preview: POND LINERS Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! One decision we all have to make when we decide that we are going to construct a pond is which type of liner I should go for. Things have certainly changed in recent years with the development of stronger liners with longer guarantees, new types of underlay for the liner etc... Research should be done to make sure that the correct choice has been made for your requirements. Once the pond is finished and filled, it takes a lot of undoing, better to sort it out initially. Costs will always play a part in your final pond, liners do not come cheap, don’t try and cut corners as it will cause problems at a later date. There are a few choices out there so I will try to make things a bit simpler for you. Preformed pond liners These have to be the quickest option available on the market. The main drawback being that you are forced to use a pond shape or sh...

• Published: May 14, 2008, 11:21 am
• Displayed: 254 times
• Preview: POND MAINTENANCE Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! An important part of pond keeping is to work out a regular maintenance program to keep your pond looking at its best, and most importantly, keeping your fish healthy and strong. A yearly calendar of events can help you prioritize which maintenance jobs need doing first and which time of the year is the best time to do them. Much of the maintenance work can seem tedious, but it is necessary to keep your pond on top form. At the start of the year your pond is in a bit of a dormant state, pumps and filters have been turned off, heaters or de-icers have been running to keep the pond ice free. Spring has arrived, now things will change. In spring the weather is starting to warm up, frosts and ice should have been a thing of the past; now is the time to turn off the heaters or de-icer and remove them, they should not be required again till the e...

• Published: May 13, 2008, 11:40 am
• Displayed: 248 times
• Preview: POND PLANTS Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on various pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! One of the most pleasing aspects of pond keeping is seeing a well balanced variety of plant life. Not only do they look pleasing to the eye, but they play a major part in water quality, oxygenating and removing nitrates from the water. There is a vast array to choose from, but basically the planting method for them follows the same guidelines. Always check the planting depths that your selection of plants requires. These do vary with each species, so to get the best from them research each plant. For a good balance of plants go for floating leafed ones, as well as submerged species. Your floating leafed plants should cover approx 50% of your water surface; this will prevent too much light reaching the bottom of your pond, which in turn will reduce the chances of algae growing out of control. Never use normal compost in your baskets, alway...

• Published: May 30, 2008, 12:07 am
• Displayed: 282 times
• Preview: POND SKIMMERS Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on many pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! Having a beautiful, clean pond is the aim of all pond keepers. Just doing regular water changes will not keep your water crystal clear, there are many external factors that can downgrade the quality. Most ponds are situated in back gardens, surrounded by shrubbery and trees. When autumn falls the trees will disperse their leaves onto the pond water, this in time will make the pond look quite untidy. Not only that if the leaves and debris are allowed to fall to the bottom of the pond, they will decay, this in turn will start to pollute the water as toxic gases are released. So how can this problem be overcome, quite simply by installing a pond skimmer. There are three types of water filtration – mechanical, biological, and chemical. All good pond systems will have a decent filter fitted into the chain, but without a skimmer the life of the filte...

• Published: March 4, 2008, 11:55 am
• Displayed: 455 times
• Preview: Pond test kits Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on various pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! A fish pond in the garden can be an immaculate center piece, capable of adding tremendous character to a home setting. When deciding to build and especially to successfully populate a fish requires a combination of experience and patience, in order to bring the correct professional results. In order for the fish to thrive the water in the pond must be kept in perfect condition, and unlike a hone aquarium, this target is more difficult to achieve due to a combination of “outside“ forces. One of the more important factors in proper pond maintenance is to know the cubic meter capacity the pond, and when introducing chemicals into the water for any reason, to strictly adhere to the levels prescribed. Dosage which is either too low or too high can be very dangerous for the environment. The investment in establishing and maintaining a fish pond c...

• Published: May 9, 2006, 2:27 am
• Displayed: 19654 times
• Preview: Puffer Fish Sponsored links General information Puffer Fish belong to the family Tetradontidae, which means they have four teeth. They are also called blowfish. There are species of Puffer Fish which live in freshwater, some species live best in brackish water, and some Puffers live best in marine or sea water. Because they live in these kinds of water, they have various colors and sizes. They are called Puffer Fish because their ability to inflate themselves with water or air when they feel threatened. It is a defensive mechanism. It`s harder to swallow a large fish than a small one. It is hard to resist a Puffer fish. If you see them you may think that it is a sweet and charming fish. Maybe because they have a unique and comical way of swimming and they have big eyes and a round belly. But it is not true. Puffers are predators. Most Puffer species have a nasty temperament. They can be fin nippers and killers. Even those who have previously been in a community tank can become aggressive when they are older, or if they are not well fed. That is why you should be careful w...

• Published: April 22, 2008, 8:11 am
• Displayed: 402 times
• Preview: RAISING BRINE SHRIMP Sponsored links There are a wide variety of feeds on the market available for fish - flake, pellets, frozen, etc., but one of the most nourishment enriched foods has to be freshly hatched. One of the easiest ways of harvesting this food has to be by hatching and raising brine shrimp. These creatures can also make fascinating pets to grow onto adults. But what are brine shrimp? Basically they are a small crustacean from the Artemia family and these creatures have been around since the Triassic period, having changed very little since then. They are found all over the world in salt lakes but never found in the oceans. Fish love them as a treat when they are newly hatched but beware, they should not be fed on a regular basis as this can lead to digestive problems, plus if there is a build up of uneaten shrimp it can start to foul the tank water. As stated above they live in salt lakes that luckily for the brine shrimp, do not provide the correct conditions for predators, so they spend most of their life feeding of bacteria and algae which blooms alo...

• Published: July 19, 2008, 8:53 am
• Displayed: 286 times
• Preview: RAMSHORN SNAILS Sponsored links Snails in an aquarium are not to everyone’s taste, a lot of fish keepers regard them as a nuisance that gets out of control, other keepers believe that there are good points out weigh the bad points so therefore they should be included in the tank. I have an open mind on this as I have kept them and still do but I can see both sides to the argument. Ramshorn snails can include a variety of species of snails that all get classed as one breed in the aquarium trade, the differences between the snails is negligible so many keepers are quite happy with this general classification. Their shells are planispiral, this means that they are similar to a coiled piece of rope or a rams horn, hence the name that they are given. They all belong to the Family Planorbidae which is the largest family of aquatic pulmonate gastropods; they can be found on most continents throughout the world. They are lung breathers, having no gills they have a large pulmonary sac for the gaseous exchange, this is found on the outer whirl of the shell, and if you shine a li...

• Published: May 25, 2008, 10:49 am
• Displayed: 243 times
• Preview: Reptomin Sticks Sponsored links Reptomin is a floating stick food manufactured by Tetra, a company that provides a wide variety of aquarium care solutions. Tetra Reptomin floating food sticks provide nourishment for a wide variety of water turtles, newts, frogs and other amphibious reptiles. They set high quality standards to give maximum nutrition to these animals that are used for breeding or keeping as pets. This food is widely accepted by a number of species and is enriched with plenty of vitamins and calcium for strong shells and bones. There is plenty of protein in these Reptomin sticks to promote growth and reproduction. Tetra sells this particular food in a variety of package sizes to meet your feeding needs. It is sold in just about all of the aquatic retail stores at a reasonable price. The size ranges from just under 2 oz. at $3.00 a container to 2.5 lbs. for about $30.00 per container. Tetra Reptomin is reputed to be the best dry food available. It is recommended to feed your pet one to two times a day and only what can be consumed within a few minutes. Reptomin ...

• Published: March 4, 2006, 3:52 pm
• Displayed: 3147 times
• Preview: Rotala macrandra (this article was taken from aquarticles.com - free aquarium articles) by Lynn McMullen Sponsored links When researching the available literature dealing with aquarium plants, often the plants are categorised by growth patterns. Some of those include “roseate” (which defines plants that grow from a common central point, such as Amazon Swords); “opposite leaves” (which includes plants whose leaves grow in pairs on opposite sides of a common stalk, like Hygrophilia polysperma); and plants with “alternate” leaf arrangements (which is when the leaves grow on opposite sides of the stalk, but not exactly at the same point - there is a small space between each leaf). The Rotala macrandra falls into this last category. This plant has a dense bushy growth pattern under optimum conditions, with many branchlets and thick clusters of leaves, so that it can almost look like an impregnable wall of growth. This is a misleading impression, as the plant can be considered very soft and delicate, never in fact becoming woody or tough. A fish would not become injured on thi...

• Published: March 19, 2008, 4:45 pm
• Displayed: 416 times
• Preview: Selecting a Water Pump for the task Sponsored links There are many different water pumps around, which are designed to do specific jobs, and a wide variety of prices being asked. Water pumps are an essential part of our lives in many different ways, from the central heating system to the drinking water. If you look around they are everywhere! So, how does this influence our aquarium choices? It may be possible to save a lot of money with a little thought and ingenuity! What do we need pumps for? Here are some of the common reasons we look for pumps: We are setting up a rack of tanks with a sump filter;We are linking several tanks together to increase the total capacity;We want to add a water feature to an aquarium/pond;The type of fish we have demand strong currents;We want to improve the existing filtration; Let`s look at what you want to do and why you are looking for a pump. Most aquariums have powered filters which use a small impeller to force the water through the filter. This is a simple, quiet and cheap form of pump and quite sufficient for its require...

• Published: April 1, 2006, 7:32 am
• Displayed: 4004 times
• Preview: Selecting Discus (this article was taken from aquarticles.com - free aquarium articles) by Beta Mahatvaraj Sponsored links The King of Aquarium Fishes is an easy fish to keep in the home aquarium if some simple tips are followed. Proper selection is the first step to success with discus. The quality of discus on sale in the Indian LFS is usually not too good. So it’s very important to make the right start to avoid future heartbreaks. Let`s see why this is the case: Firstly, the best discus go where the money is. Japan and Europe are some of the major markets for top quality discus, and then comes North America and so on. Most of the discus offered for sale in the Indian LFS are lower grade discus from farms in South East Asia. If you want good quality discus be prepared to pay for them! The import restrictions on ornamental fishes means that there are fewer options available to the hobbyist. Enough of rambling let me get down to business! Below are some general tips on how to select good discus: - The first step is to observe the discus in your dealer’s...

• Published: May 8, 2008, 6:09 pm
• Displayed: 386 times
• Preview: Setting up an aquarium Sponsored links When deciding to set up an aquarium it is important to think about how to approach the situation. There are very specific methods to setting up a successful aquarium no matter what kind of fish you decide to keep. There are so many things to think about like, what types of fish do you want? How much time and work are you willing to put into the hobby? How much are you willing to spend on your new aquarium? These questions are only the beginning of what is to come with the start of a new aquarium. It might all be overwhelming at first but in the grand scheme of things having an aquarium will pay off in the end because it is a rewarding and relaxing hobby. This article is going to present some guidelines to follow in order to start a successful aquarium. The key is to consider all of your options and choose features that compliment one another in the underwater world you are about to create. Choosing your fish The first step to setting up an aquarium is choosing the types of fish you would like to keep, but do not buy them. By first ch...

• Published: March 28, 2008, 5:59 pm
• Displayed: 413 times
• Preview: Should I buy Glass or Acrylic Aquarium? Sponsored links At some time or other we have all had to make a decision when it comes to purchasing a new tank, albeit our first investment or an upgrade, do we stick with the traditional glass tank or venture into the world of acrylic tanks. Both tanks have their advantages / disadvantages so hopefully by means of this article some of your questions will be answered. A couple of the main aspects in deciding which tank we buy has to be the shape we require and also how big does the tank need to be to successfully keep the livestock or plants we have planned to involve in the set up. Even a small tank made from glass can be quite weighty, not a major problem with say a two foot one but when we start looking at 50 plus gallon tanks made from glass it would be impossible for one person to move about on their own, help from a friend would be a must. This is one advantage with acrylic the weight is dramatically reduced thus making replacement an easier task (acrylic is at least half the weight of glass). Always remember th...

• Published: November 13, 2007, 10:30 pm
• Displayed: 7458 times
• Preview: Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta Splendens) Sponsored links Introduction Siamese Fighting Fish are one of the most popular and beautiful aquarium fish available. They come in a wide range of colours and the male of the species have long flowing fins. They are also capable of surviving in many different conditions. Many were once sold in a vase with a lily in the top, and you still see them kept in cups and small jars. This is far from ideal for the Siamese Fighting Fish, although they will tolerate these conditions indefinitely, but it doesn’t mean to say they are happy! I never recommend keeping any fish in less than 2 gallons of water, which should either be filtered or changed regularly and I abhor the practice of “Jarring”, keeping them in 1-2 pints (1/2 – 1 litre) of water. The name Siamese Fighting Fish came from when they were first used by gamblers in the Far East. They would put two males together and watch them fight, often to the death of one, for money. Splendens are one of a few species of male fish that will not tolerate any other males in their vicinity. The o...

• Published: May 26, 2008, 9:21 pm
• Displayed: 393 times
• Preview: Silk Aquarium Plants Sponsored links Silk aquarium plants are a wonderful solution to having full and vibrant plants all the time with minimum responsibility and maintenance. Not only do these silk aquarium plants provide realistic beauty but they convey realistic movement unlike plastic plants. Real plants differ from silk plants because they do not alter the chemistry of the water. They do not produce waste or debris that will pollute or cloud the water and they do not need to be trimmed or tended to. Overall silk plants provide a realistic alternative to aquarium gardening without the added work. Unlike the original fake aquarium plants, the silk plants sold in aquatic retail stores today are very much like the real thing. These fake silk plants are so realistic that it is not noticeably unreal unless viewed within a close proximity. For the sake of realism, silk aquatic plants have been fashioned after the real thing right down to the last detail of color, size, shape and proportion. Most of the natural aquatic plants are replicated for use in the aquarium hobby. You can...

• Published: January 20, 2006, 5:53 am
• Displayed: 4091 times
• Preview: So You Want to Grow Aquatic Plants this article was taken from aquarticles.com - free aquarium articles) by Olga Betts Sponsored links Some aquatic plants will grow under some conditions all of the time. In other words, anyone who wants to can grow aquatic plants. Here is the secret: Grow aquatic plants that suit the conditions of your aquarium. Know your plants. Buy a simple book about aquatic plants such as: Aquarium Plants Manual published by Barron’s. This is a good and inexpensive book to get you started; available in many aquarium stores. Aquatic plants are just the same as those that grow in a garden. Some prefer lots of sun, some prefer shade, some like rich soil, others sandy, poor soil. Of course, all aquatic plants like lots of water but the beauty of that is — you don’t have to water them! Calculate how many watts of light per gallon of water you have. You can grow most aquatic plants with at least 2 watts per gallon. Some will do fine with less; some will do better with more. The typical aquarium comes with one light in the hood (aquari...

• Published: November 22, 2005, 2:50 pm
• Displayed: 4131 times
• Preview: Some tips for beginners (this article was taken from aquarticles.com - free aquarium articles) by Bill "Pegasus NZ" of New Zealand Sponsored links How Long Do You Wait Before Adding Fish? Opinions vary so much on this subject that it is hard to give a reasonable answer. The Americans for instance have what is known as "cycling", which is the period of time a tank has to remain empty of fish until the good bacteria have established themselves and are controlling the conditions of the water in the tank. Most aquarists in the States recommend a six week waiting period using what they call "A Fishless Cycle". In order for the good bacteria to build up (starting the nitrogen cycle), they need a source of ammonia to feed on. When using this fishless cycle they recommend you add daily doses of pure ammonia to the tank for the bacteria to feed on, which is needed to actually start the nitrogen cycle working. I would however like to point out that I personally have never used the "Fishless Cycle" method, and never shall. Having to sit an...

• Published: July 21, 2008, 10:21 pm
• Displayed: 253 times
• Preview: SPIRULINA FISH FOOD Sponsored links One of the most eagerly accepted foods that are given to herbivorous and algae eating fish has to be spirulina fish food. Malawi fish, plecs, snails will pounce on this food as soon as it is offered in the tank. It is available as flake, pellet or wafer making it a good choice for any size of fish. Most of the prepared flakes or pellets will have traces of spirulina in the food; it is such a great additive to the food as it is recognized as a health booster as well as being full of protein. It is even being recognized now as a good additive to include in the human diet but what makes spirulina so special. What is Spirulina? Spirulina is actually a cyanobacterium, more commonly known as blue-green algae, and is a very small botanical algae; only growing up to half a millimeter in length. It is a free floating cyanobacterium that can be found in lakes with an extremely high pH and very hard water. These lakes are to be found in Africa, Asia and South America. The name Spirulina derives from the spiral structure of the algae as ...

• Published: January 1, 2007, 6:22 pm
• Displayed: 4349 times
• Preview: Staghorn algae Sponsored links In this article, I want to write about my experience with Staghorn algae; scientific name "Compsopogon sp.". However, this is not a scientific article. I¹m not writing a definitive guide to how to eliminate this algae from your aquarium. I'm going to write how I defeat it. Let's start from the very beginning. I established my aquarium in April 2006. I keep a few plants and fish there. Feel free to read about my tank at my blog called Aquarium fish and plants. Step by step, I planted my aquarium successfully. Basically, I was introducing new plants as well as Staghorn algae into my tank. I cannot say exactly when I first got the algae, but I noticed some algae in my aquarium. I didn't know what a catastrophe was waiting for me. In the beginning, I saw only a few spots. Immediately, only a week after the first spot was noticed, the algae had grown on every piece of my tank. It usually grows about 5-10 cm during a night, so I had to cut a lot of algae from my tank every morning. I couldn't believe how fast it was growing. P...

• Published: November 22, 2005, 2:56 pm
• Displayed: 5214 times
• Preview: Start right with tropical fishkeeping (this article was taken from aquarticles.com - free aquarium articles) Some helpful tips when starting with tropical freshwater fishes First published in leaflet form by Aquarian Fish Foods, of England Aquarticles Sponsored links Introduction Freshwater tropical fish, as their name suggests, originate in freshwater rivers and lakes in the warmer parts of the world, particularly in South America and Central Africa. There are literally tens of thousands of species of freshwater tropical fish, with new ones being discovered almost every day. With such a vast variety of fish, each living in its own particular environment, it`s easy to see why fish keepers are never lost for new areas to study and new challenges to enjoy. Fish Names All fishes are classified by the `binomial system` (two names). First there is the family or generic name -which should always be written with an initial capital letter. This is followed by the species name/s - which should always all be written in lower case letters, (both names ideally all i...

• Published: June 11, 2008, 10:59 am
• Displayed: 250 times
• Preview: SUBMERSIBLE AQUARIUM HEATERS Sponsored links We all know how important it is to have a good quality filtration system in our aquariums, but one piece of equipment that a lot of fish keepers tend to neglect is the heater that we use in our tanks. To me this is just as important as the filtration and cutting corners by trying to save pennies does not pay in this case. Our livestock depend on us to give them the correct temperatures to live in, they are cold blooded so the only way that they can get any heat into their bodies is through the tank water. In the early days of fish keeping immersible heaters were available, these hung on the back of the tank with the heating probe in the water, and the thermostat was a separate unit that was kept over the tank in the dry. For this reason they are commonly known as hang on heaters, but nowadays these have been replaced with a new range of heating equipment, the fully submersible heater. The whole unit is placed in the water, the heating element and thermostat are built into the unit, and this means that the only piece out ...

• Published: November 26, 2007, 7:25 pm
• Displayed: 2057 times
• Preview: Sump filtersWhen do I need one? Sponsored links Sump filters are very large filters, capable of handling high volumes of water and processing it quickly. They are only practical on large water systems, such as display tanks in shops, multiple fish tanks in a single location or a large aquarium in the home. If you have 100 gallons or more in one tank, or a combination of tanks in a rack, then a sump is worthwhile, as long as you are able to connect the tanks to it. This usually involves drilling the glass to take piping, so, on an established setup, it isn’t always possible. I am considering installing a sump on my living room display, because there are 6 tanks, all on the same level around two walls, but to do this I have to take each tank down, drill a hole in the bottom to take the pipe connector and then set the tank back up. I also have to install piping to take the outlet flow from the tank to the sump, and piping to put the filtered water back into the tank at the top. So why bother? 6 tanks all need regular water changes and conditions change more quickly i...

• Published: February 10, 2008, 11:33 am
• Displayed: 789 times
• Preview: T5 aquarium lights Sponsored links To buy a T5 aquarium lighting, simply follow this link. If you need information firstly, then go through this page... To get the best from your aquarium, you need to make sure that the lighting you install provides the maximum results. Lighting which does not suit the application or is insufficient in strength will in time depress the growth of the fish in the tank and will affect their health. What an experienced aquarium owner is constantly aware of is the need to provide 12 hours of effective and appropriate lighting in their aquarium in order to provide an atmosphere as close as possible to the occupant’s natural surroundings. For this reason, a conscientious aquarium owner will always be on the look out for the best combination of lighting that they can provide for the fish their care. And they may well find it if they opt for T5 aquarium lights. What is a T5 aquarium light? Many people get quite excited when they hear the term, T5 because the human brain works in such a way that they automatically assort the number five with t...

• Published: May 12, 2008, 10:00 am
• Displayed: 308 times
• Preview: T8 and T12 Aquarium Lighting Sponsored links Fluorescent aquarium lighting comes in all different colors and sizes. When choosing the right lighting system for your aquarium you should fully understand all of the options before making a decision. One of the most common lighting size options is the T12 light fixture. This fixture is being replaced more and more by a smaller more efficient version called T8 fluorescent lights. This article will explain the differences in cost and efficiency between the T12 and T8 light fixtures. Size T12 fluorescent light bulbs are 1.5” in diameter. These light bulbs are run on magnetic ballasts that are there to limit the amount of electrical current running through the bulb. The magnetic ballasts are not as quiet or as efficient as electrical ballasts. T8 light bulbs are 1” in diameter and run on electrical ballasts. When compared to the T12 bulbs, T8 fluorescent bulbs have an illumination output that is more efficient. The T8’s slimmer design allows the illuminating gasses to run more efficiently while using less wattage. Both T12 ...

• Published: January 18, 2007, 4:19 pm
• Displayed: 7348 times
• Preview: Taking pictures of your aquarium with digital cameraby Jan Hvizdak Sponsored links Important note This article was updated on 08/16/2007. If you came here looking for information about Black Ghost Knifefish just click here. Introduction When you try to take pictures of your aquarium for the first time, you'll realise that it is not as easy as it looks. Here you can find various examples, so that you'll avoid beginners mistakes. Mistake no.1 – Moving your hands Here you can find pictures taken without tripod. Tripod is necessary in order to produce quality images because it allows you to think before you push the trigger. Solution: Use a tripod. Mistake no.2 – Too much light in the room Beginners usually don't care about noise light which practically disallows you to take a quality picture. Here below is an example. Note that I didn't use any tripod yet. With minimal zoom man can achieve nice pictures which aren't blurred. Moreover, the mode is still “auto”. Solution: Darken the room as much as possible. Mistake no.3 – Usin...

• Published: April 30, 2008, 9:54 pm
• Displayed: 286 times
• Preview: Tetra BettaMin Sponsored links BettaMin is a “tropical medley” of nutrition designed by Tetra specifically for betta fish. This high protein mix of flakes mimics the diet they would consume in their natural environment. The purpose of BettaMin is to help enhance fin development and also to improve natural color. Tetra recommends that you feed your betta 2 or 3 times daily and only what he can consume within a few minutes. You may have to crush the flakes before dropping it into the aquarium because a betta’s mouth is not all that large. If used correctly as stated by the instructions on the container, this food will not cause the water to become cloudy or murky. Once you feed your betta watch to see if he is eating the BettaMin before you walk away. It is important to observe your fish because if he is not interested in the food you give him you must remove it from the aquarium or it will pollute the water. One customer stated his fish would not eat BettaMin but instead his betta preferred a betta pellet. You may have to try a few different things before you settle on one type of...

• Published: May 25, 2008, 11:09 am
• Displayed: 257 times
• Preview: Tetra Pond Koi Sticks Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! Tetra Pond Koi Sticks are specially formulated to provide well balanced nutrition for koi as well as other pond fish. Koi Sticks are designed to float on the water’s surface so they can be quickly eaten before sinking to the bottom. This prevents ponds from being overly polluted with uneaten food while allowing you to observe these beautiful fish while eating. These sticks soften when they come in contact with the water which causes them to be digested easily by koi and other types of pond fish. Koi fish do not have stomachs so it is impossible for them to hold food for digestion. When they ingest food, it goes straight into the intestines to be digested until it can be excreted. The digestive tracts of koi fish are not very long so it is more practical to feed less food more times a day in order for them to get all of their daily requirements. I...

• Published: May 25, 2008, 10:27 pm
• Displayed: 250 times
• Preview: Tetra Pond Sticks Sponsored links Advertisement: Get a 10% discount on pond products (except for pond liners) at graystonecreations.com! Enter Aquafish10% in the coupon code section of the order form when you check out! Tetra Pond Sticks are an easy to digest, and highly nutritional food specially developed for pond fish such as goldfish and koi. The Tetra brand knows what these coldwater fish need as far as diet and nutrition are concerned so over the years they have come up with the perfect formula to meet all the dietary requirements. Tetra Pond Sticks contain all the protein, fat and fiber the coldwater fish need to stay happy and healthy. Tetra Pond Sticks come in a variety of sizes so that you can choose the one that is right for you. A 3.53 oz. container is the smallest one offered and it runs for about $6.99, while the largest container comes in a 3.75 lbs. bucket that runs for $39.99. This mixture of easy to digest floating sticks is a combination of ingredients specially formulated to promote healthy fish and increase energy. This combination of food ...

• Published: May 29, 2008, 12:26 pm
• Displayed: 329 times
• Preview: Tetra Whisper Air Pump Sponsored links The Tetra Whisper Air Pump boasts to be one of the quietest and most efficient aquarium air pumps manufactured today. The sleek new design has a dome shape and an inner chamber with thick walls and a suspended motor which helps to silence the powerful motor. This air pump has rubber feet which help to keep the structure from vibrating noisily away. The purpose of the Whisper Air Pump is to aerate both marine and freshwater aquariums by powering air stones and various filters. The Tetra Whisper Air Pump comes in models of different size to aerate aquariums from 5 gallons to 100 gallons. The Whisper 10 is the smallest size which retails for as low as $5.49 online and the largest size is the Whisper 100 which retails for as low as $18.29. The prices vary throughout the various websites and aquatic retail stores. In order to find the air pump to suit your aquarium size, simply refer to the model number. The Whisper 10 is meant to aerate up to 10 gallons of water while the Whisper 100 aerates up to 100 gallons of water. All of the Tetra Whis...

• Published: April 28, 2008, 9:46 am
• Displayed: 412 times
• Preview: Tetra Whisper Filter Sponsored links The Whisper Filter is an aquarium filter that is as quiet as the name describes. This filter is manufactured by Tetra and comes in a variety of sizes for both internal and external filtration. Priced between $12 and $65, these filters are relatively inexpensive compared to many other brands. It is a widely available product that is sold in most aquatic retail stores and many different aquarium supply websites. The Tetra Whisper Filter will provide clean water in tanks from 2 gallons up to 60 gallons. The filters canisters have one or two chambers for cycling water, depending on the volume of water it is meant for. You will need one filter for each chamber in your filter canister. The cartridges come in small, medium, large and X-large to suit your filtering needs. Tetra makes their filters easy to clean and maintain. They are comprised of a number of parts that are easy to remove for cleaning purposes. The external filter hangs on the back of your aquarium. The motor, located on the bottom of the canister, sucks water up throu...

• Published: May 25, 2008, 11:22 am
• Displayed: 248 times
• Preview: Tetrafin Flakes Sponsored links TetraFin Goldfish Flakes are specially designed by the Tetra Company for goldfish and small koi. This particular type of food is formulated to be consumed by these coldwater fish for aiding in digestion and promoting longer life. It is the world’s leading brand in goldfish food. Tetrafin Goldfish Flakes comes in all different sizes from as little as .45 oz. for $1.85 to as large as 4.52 lbs. for $40.00. This formula is packed with much needed vitamins that are necessary for the health of cold water species. A few of the vitamins included are vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A. It contains Omega-3 fatty acids which gives fish plenty of energy and helps them grow. When used as directed, TetraFin Flakes will not contribute to clouding the water. Goldfish tend to make plenty of waste so you should still clean the water frequently to keep your aquarium water clean and clear. These fish flakes are specially made to stay firm while the fish are eating, instead of crumbling and falling apart. Although most fish foods contain generally the sa...

• Published: May 25, 2008, 9:26 pm
• Displayed: 241 times
• Preview: TetraMin Flakes Sponsored links TetraMin Flakes is a fish food produced by Tetra which is the leading brand for flaked fish food in the aquarium industry today. For over 50 years, Tetra has perfected this product which was the first of its kind; an easy solution to feeding fish in the form of non-perishable flakes. The founder of the Tetra Company, Ulrich Baensch, created TetraMin, this convenient, less messy food to make it easier for aquarists to feed their pet fish. This food source for a wide variety of aquarium fish was supposed to promote health and vibrant coloration. Continual product research has put the Tetra Company on the top with a well known and trusted product. TetraMin is formulated to give aquarium fish maximum nutrition while not clouding the water. This product has been tested again and again to come up with more practical and convenient ways to feed your fish. The container itself is easy to use and it is practical with its sliding dispenser lid. The newest formula of TetraMin Flakes boasts that it provides more protein and less fat allowing the fish to ...

• Published: August 15, 2006, 3:15 am
• Displayed: 2892 times
• Preview: Red parrot - The king of monstrosity This article was submitted by one of our users and aqua-fish.net doesn't guarantee it's accuracy! Sponsored links They are sold under the name of Red Parrot or Bloody Parrots, but these fish must not be confounded with parrot Cichlids (Hoplarchus Psittacus) or with marine Parrot fish (Callyodon fasciatus). The real Parrot, Hoplarchus psittacus is an American Cichlid which lives in the Amazon waters and has a green color. This is extremely pretentious specie and it has been successfully spawned only by few American breeders. This article is not a description of this fastidious fish; it is about the baggy hybrid which can be found in pet shops. Maybe some of us are not long time experienced breeders, but certainly we are not blind. Yellow, blue, red, fluorescent green, pink - it is amazing how sublime these parrots, a laboratory fishes, are. We only have to breed them in orange and fluorescent water, given by a cool light, with ultra colored sand and plastic plants and the kitsch is perfect! Anyway, let`s hope that at least fo...

• Published: August 2, 2006, 2:14 am
• Displayed: 34054 times
• Preview: Angel Fish Angel Fish are one of the most beautiful kind of tropical freshwater aquarium fish. They also have a strong personality and it is a pleasure to care for them. They like to attract attention when somebody is nearby, or at feeding time. They are one of the first fish which were brought from America and they are very popular. They were brought to Europe around 1820 and in 1930 Angel Fish were bred in captivity in the United States for the first time. Because of the mentioned advantages and extraordinary look, Angelfish are highly demanded and are for sale in almost every pet shop. Picture They have a quite round and flat body, but their dorsal and ventral fins are long, each is almost as long as the body is. They can grow up to 15 cm vertically. There are many freshwater variants such as: 1) Golden - a light shade of yellow. 2) Silver - silver bodies and black vertical markings. They can be dark, light, solid, or broken. 3) Koi - red-white with patches of black or gold markings. Young fish can have red markings under the eye. 4) Smoky - a shade of s...

• Published: December 1, 2007, 9:10 pm
• Displayed: 1397 times
• Preview: The Axolotl: One of natures wonders! Sponsored links It’s not often these days that we come across a rarity in the local pet shop, but this week I found one. (Actually, it was two, a breeding pair no less!) Here is José, the male axolotl, pronounced Ax-oh-lot-ul: As long ago as 1996, these were declared “Critically Endangered” by the IUCN, iucnredlist.org and as such, are in need of help. The natural habitat has all but disappeared, so almost all the ones you find now are captive bred, and then very rarely seen. Here’s a little of their background, for those who don’t know anything about them. It is well worth a little research to find out just what these amazing creatures are capable of. Scientific Name - Ambystoma mexicanum Common names - Axolotl, water-dogs Class: Amphibia Family: Ambystomatidae Genus: Ambystoma Habitat: High altitude lakes in Mexico Life-span: 10 – 15 years, (although there are reports of much older, up to 25 years) Temperament: placid Tank mates: NONE (See below) Feeding: Live, frozen or ...

• Published: March 10, 2008, 9:08 pm
• Displayed: 343 times
• Preview: The Bacopa Plant in an Aquarium Environment Sponsored links Of the many beautiful plants you can choose to enhance the color of your aquarium, those of the stemmed variety provide the widest variation in colors and leaf shapes as well as ease of care. The Bacopa plant in an aquarium environment is one of the most popular. In need of regular and relatively strong lighting to thrive, the plant will cost from $3.00 to $5.00 at your local garden center, pet stores or even online. When planting the Bacopa in an aquarium environment, it should be taken into account that any stemmed plant will grow to a good height, meaning that regular trimming should take place to prevent the plants from getting out of control, which will considerably reduce its allure and prevent the free flow of light to the bottom of the tank. On the upside these plants are simple and friendly to trim. Once you have a good and healthy growth of Bacopa plants in your aquarium, their continuation is guaranteed because they are one of the easiest plants to propagate. Although Bacopa in an aquarium will g...

• Published: January 4, 2007, 10:49 am
• Displayed: 9277 times
• Preview: The Blue CrayfishCherax Quadricarinatus (or the Blue Claw Lobster) by Zuzana Sponsored links Previous article notification If you opened this page looking for information about African Clawed Frogs then you should know that Aqua-Fish.Net removed that article because it was stolen and reprinted here without any premission. The person who did so is not able to post articles to Aqua-Fish.Net. Introduction Blue crayfish is the same species as normal coloured crayfish. Sometimes they are called lobsters as well, because everybody knows what lobster is and crayfish is something unknown, but it in not the same. Lobsters have two claws where each is of different size, but crayfish have claws of the same size. The blue colour is caused by gene mutation just like albino form of any animal or human species. However, just like other artificial colour mutations, this blue colour causes that an animal with blue colour is eaten very quickly. It is like an animal which has a light panel with a title: I'm here, come and eat me. The blue colour can by different at various geographic ...

• Published: August 8, 2006, 4:43 pm
• Displayed: 10221 times
• Preview: The Blue Gourami Sponsored links The Blue Gourami originally comes from Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. It`s popularity originates in the beautiful blue colour, peaceful temperament towards another species, and especially it`s intelligence. I personally kept from 2 to 6 gouramis for about 2 years and the only reason I gave them up was that my tanks were too small for them. It should be pointed out at this point that even the blue gouramis grow up to 10-12 cm (about 4 inches) and they become territorial as adults. I recommend you keep 1 gourami per 40 litres. They like shallow water as well as deep tanks, so there`s no need to build a special tank for them. Since the blue gouramis are very beautiful, I highly recommend you keep them in a single species tank. They do well with tankmates, no matter if they`re guppies, angel fish or cory fish. But for breeding, it`s better to keep them alone. It also creates a special feeling if there are only gouramis in the tank. Their movement and quite lazy nature will keep the tank looking very peaceful. In my experience, this fish is more activ...

• Published: March 6, 2008, 7:12 am
• Displayed: 546 times
• Preview: The Clown Loach Sponsored links The Chromobotia Macracanthis, also known as the clown loach is a commonly kept fish for many tropical freshwater aquarists. They are characterized by their deep orange coloring and black stripes. Their flat bottoms are suitable for bottom dwelling. Habitat This fish originates in the warm (77- 86°F/ 25- 30°C), inland waters of Sumatra, Borneo and the Sunda Islands. Sexing It is hard to tell the sex of this fish although females tend to be bulkier. Rare incidents of breeding in captivity have been known to happen, yet it is not a common occurrence for hobbyists. It is a fact that clown loaches take years to reach sexual maturity so the larger fish are much more expensive and difficult to find in fish stores than the juveniles. Diet Clowns are omnivorous so they eat both meat and vegetables. I’ve noticed snails are their favorite but be sure to provide plenty of veggies for a well balanced diet. Algae wafers made with Spirulina can be a good source of vitamins for your fish. They also like frozen brine shrimp and beef hearts...

• Published: October 31, 2007, 2:22 pm
• Displayed: 2047 times
• Preview: The Dropsy Disease Sponsored links Dropsy is caused by bacteria which live in contaminated, but also in slightly contaminated water. The probability of getting this disease is higher if fish live in stressful conditions. This is because the stress negatively affects the immune system and fishes succumb this disease easier. What`s bad is the fact that this disease chooses it`s target slowly; Your fish will be attacked one by one, not all at one time. Naturally, the fist victims will be the weakest specimens. The development of the dropsy disease The disease opens itself as a bacterial infection of guts. You can spot it as fish` excrements are covered by mucus. The gut mucous slowly dies, the fish accepts less food than usual and there are long, transparent, mucus-looking excrements hanging from the anal opening. The internal organs are getting smaller, they also die slowly and of course, they stop doing their function as well. The fish wants to eat, but it`s digestive system isn`t capable to consume it. This connects to saddles malfunction, infection of uric ways and other...

• Published: April 16, 2006, 1:58 am
• Displayed: 7000 times
• Preview: The Dwarf Gourami Sponsored links The Dwarf Gourami is one of the small members of the Gourami family. Males are a little bit larger than the females. In the wild the male is very colorful while the female is less colored. There are several color variations, including Blue/Powder Blue, Neon, Rainbow, and Red/Blushing. Dwarf Gouramis are Labyrinth Fish, meaning they breath directly from the air, so they must have access to the surface. It is recommended to keep them in a tank that is more than 15 gallons in size. Water conditions in the tank should be stable with pH between 6.5 and 8.0, temperature from 23.0 to 28.0 °C (73.4 - 82.4 °F) and water hardness dGH of 4.0 - 18.0 °N. Because of their peaceful and shy nature and ease of care, they are well suited to smaller aquariums, as well as community aquariums. The truth is, that they should not be kept with very large or aggressive fish. They need plenty of vegetation, including floating plants that cover part of the surface of the water. On the one hand the Dwarf Gourami enjoys each other`s company if they are mixed and m...

• Published: October 27, 2006, 8:15 am
• Displayed: 6087 times
• Preview: The Dwarf Gourami (Colisa Lalia) Sponsored links Colisa lalia is a peaceful freshwater fish, also known as the “Dwarf Gourami”. Gourami is the name used for a big variety of perciform fish coming from Asia, especially India and Pakistan characterized by flat body and two elongated rays of pelvic fins used as sense of touch. Since they reach only 2 inches, they can be housed in small tanks and are a good fish for beginners because of their low aggressiveness, easy care and nice look. Males can be easily distinguished from females for their colours. The dwarf gourami male is a bit bigger than the female and has turquoise and orange-red iridescent vertical bands on the entire body and on fins; you can find also colour mutations with total orange-red body and turquoise dorsal fin, or total turquoise body with just some red at the edges of the fins. The dwarf gourami female is totally silver with pale turquoise vertical stripes. Colisa lalia can live in small groups or couples, both in dedicated or community aquariums. Males have some territorial habits especially duri...

• Published: October 19, 2007, 9:03 pm
• Displayed: 1458 times
• Preview: The Essential Nitrogen Cycleby Tim Sponsored links Any fish tank, large or small, needs some way to control the waste products of your beloved fish. This can be done by several methods, from changing the water every day to expensive canister filters and sumps. Whatever you use in your tank, it is best to have some sort of filtration, purely to help reduce stress on the fish and yourself! Let`s look at the most common method of controlling waste, in the form of a filter. There are several categories of filters available, depending on the size of the tank and the types of fish you keep. But they all have one thing in common: Removal of ammonia and nitrites which can kill your fish. The way this is done is by supporting a bacteria culture in the filter media and pulling water through it. This media can be many different materials, from simple floss to ceramic rings, or even standard aquarium gravel! The material isn`t important, so long as it is there and works! That`s a very basic outline of how a filter works, but this isn`t to discuss the details of filt...

• Published: January 18, 2007, 12:39 pm
• Displayed: 17575 times
• Preview: The Flowerhorn fish The Flowerhorn fish is also known with the Chinese common name Hua Luo Han; this fish does not exist in nature but it is a hybrid result of various cross-breeding of South America cichlids, in fact it can be listed under the Cichlasoma genus, even if the starting breeders are unknown, the most of people think about Cichlasoma Trimaculatus, C. Festae, Red Parrot cichlid, Jingang and other fish. Pictures Information about care Flowerhorn cichlid is a big fish with compact body, it can reach 30cm in length and sometimes can grow even bigger. Intensive breeding has created a very peculiar fish that is becoming really famous and relatively common in the last few years; moreover breeders keep on trying to improve the fish qualities focusing on bigger hump on the head, new and better colours, wider body and fins, more peculiar black marks on the body, without the employ of chemical and artificial factors. For the importance of appearance, a good Flowerhorn must follow a standard that defines various aspects of its body: - General body: the fish ...

• Published: July 2, 2007, 4:59 am
• Displayed: 3835 times
• Preview: The Glass Bloodfin Tetra Sponsored links Tank requirements This tetra comes from South America, the Amazon river, exactly from its affluent – Maderia. So the natural environment for them is tropical freshwater aquarium. This fish is easy to keep in aquarium with moderate hard water, about 10°dGH and with pH bit more than 7. They don´t get on well in soft and acid water, where they start getting white and they slowly die. The temperature can vary between 22 to 28°C. The aquarium has to have many hiding places, but also many places for swimming. These fish are little athlets and they need place for training. Glass bloodfin species is small, so they don`t require much place for living (however they need a lot of space for having fun), but they need company, and more fish you keep, more place they demand. And how large the aquarium should be? For example we have about 30 tetras in 81 L aquarium and they look happy, but we had about 20 tetras in the same aquarium and they were just fine too. Last, we had about 15 tetras in 54 L aquarium, but they had not much place for swimming. ...

• Published: April 16, 2006, 2:06 am
• Displayed: 61685 times
• Preview: The Guppy Fish The Guppy fish is probably the most popular aquarium fish species in the world, and is also known as one of the cheapest fish in shops even though some forms may be expensive. Small, beautiful, peaceful, lively, curious and hardy, there are many colourful variations (see the pictures below) that can be collected and easily bred. The Guppy fish is one of the best choices for beginners, especially children. However, like every fish kept in captivity, these fishes also require proper care and conditions. Although care of Guppy fish is easy, one shouldn't underrate it as Guppies may suffer of diseases too! Sexing Females are much larger and rounder than males. They even do not look like the same specie. Unlike females which are dull grey, males are very colourful and have large fins. There are many types of Guppy fish and by breeding you can even create new variants. One of many variants is the Endler's Guppy (link). In size they are: 4.0 - 6.0 cm ( 1.6 - 2.3 in). Information about feeding The Guppy fish can be feed a wide variety of foods (flakes, Spirul...

• Published: April 14, 2006, 8:08 am
• Displayed: 14493 times
• Preview: The Jack Dempsey Cichlid Sponsored links Originally from Yucatan peninsula, Guatemala and Honduras, the Jack Dempsey Cichlid belongs to very beautiful, but aggressive fish. It`s named after the heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Dempsey. This fish can grow up to 20 cm (7.8 in), so it is recommended to keep it in a larger tank. As the Jack Dempsey Cichlid originally came from Central America, the water should be alkaline and little bit harder (dGH 18.0 - 30.0 °N and pH of 7.0 – 8.5). You can find the exact values of water chemistry and temperature in this fish profile - The Jack Dempsey Cichlid. The temperature in a tank has to vary about 25°C. So if you keep it under the right water conditions, its colours should be as beautiful as possible. You will enjoy this fish for more than 15 years as its lifespan is usually 16-17 years. The Jack Dempsey Cichlid has several colourful speckles across its body and almost a stained glass effect on the dorsal fin that will be displayed especially in the proper lighting. Healthy Jack Dempsey Cichlids should have an attractive muted purple colour...

• Published: April 14, 2006, 7:55 am
• Displayed: 12051 times
• Preview: The Jaguar Cichlid Sponsored links The Jaguar Cichlid has its origins in Eastern Honduras, Lake Managua, Lake Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The common name `Jaguar Cichlid` comes from all the dark spots like on the jaguar cat. In a fish tank, this beautiful fish can grow up to 35 cm and it`s a predator that likes to eat any smaller fish that fits into its mouth. You should keep Jaguar Cichlids with other large cichlids in a tank which length is at least 6 times bigger than its adult size. Of course, if you keep this fish in an aquarium that is smaller, it should grow smaller, but it will be more aggressive. Females aren`t as colorful as males and, if fed well, they`re much plumper. The Jaguar Cichlid easily adapts to a wide variety of water conditions. Nonetheless, they need clean water, which makes their colours look best. The water pH should vary between 7 and 8 and they also like soft water more than hard. They appreciate a lot of rocks and caves as well as low lighting, so they`ll feel like they are in their natural environment. You have to keep the water temperature about ...

• Published: January 4, 2007, 8:14 pm
• Displayed: 8069 times
• Preview: The Kissing Gourami (The Kissing fish)By Tim Gautrey Sponsored links Scientific Name Helostoma temmincki Common Name: Kissing Gourami Size Can grow up to 12 inches long (30 cm) pH 6 - 8 Temperature 72°F - 82°F (22°C - 28°C) Tank 50 gallons at least Origins South East Asia Breeding They require very large tanks, so breeding is rare. Compatibility Best kept in a species tank. Life expectancy In the correct environment, will live up to 7 years Diet Flakes, pellets, freeze dried and especially fond of live food. They can be territorial, especially at breeding times. It is good to get at least two so that when they are feeling aggressive they will chase each other around instead of their tank-mates. Due to their potential size, they need a large tank and would be best kept in at least a 75 gallon tank with plenty of plants and hiding places. If you must mix them, take care to select fish of a comparable size to avoid bullying. Don’t be tempted to put small fish in with them, they will eat them! ...

• Published: January 4, 2007, 7:42 pm
• Displayed: 4400 times
• Preview: The Kuhli Loach Sponsored links Origin, body and aquarium Pangio Kuhlii (known as the Kuhli loach), a fish that grows up to 10-12 centimetres comes from Java and Borneo. In order to offer them some kind of natural habitat it's recommended to keep them in planted fish tanks. Their bodies are slimmer than bodies of "YoYo loaches, however if you kept YoYo's you would notice that areas without overgrown roots or plants are suitable for them more than jungles. Heavily planted tanks make it difficult to move backwards or to the sides. We would suggest an aquarium with different environment stages, which should include plains, driftwood and caves, and well planted places. If you achieve this set-up, they will be able to hide (which they do through days a lot), they will be able to find foods and, if you have really large tank, they'll maybe breed. Moreover, if you can use floating plants (Azolla caroliniana, Lemna minor, Pistia stratiotes, or others), this species will appreciate it. Bear in mind that light must fall on the gravel. Well aerated and filtered tanks are welcomed. ...

• Published: November 4, 2009, 5:02 pm
• Displayed: 3 times
• Preview: The Molly an article submitted by Exotic Aquariums sponsored links There are actually two different species of fish that are collectively referred to as mollies; Poecilia sphenops and Poecilia velifera. Mollies are members of the familyPoecilidae which includes southern platyfish (the plati) and swordtails. They are native to the Americas. They can be found in the Southern U.S., Central and South America. Mollies are often found along coastal waters. As costal dwellers, they prefer a small amount of salt in their water. The standard recommendation ranges from one teaspoon to a tablespoon for every five gallons. Split the difference and play it safe. If you only have experience with freshwater fish you should be aware of the fact that salt does not evaporate with the water. You will only need to add more salt during water changes. Iodized table salt can kill your fish. Use only aquarium salt. Interestingly enough, mollies can be found for sale in both the fresh and salt water sections of fish stores. Mollies can survive either or both if acclimated slowly to their new envi...

• Published: October 28, 2006, 5:16 am
• Displayed: 15564 times
• Preview: The Neon Tetra Sponsored links General information Paracheirodon innesi of the characin family, also called ‚the neon tetra‘ is probably the most known freshwater fish kept at home aquariums. This peaceful and schooling species does well in groups of 10 or more. You could find recommendations like 5+ tetras, 7+ tetras or whatever. However, my personal experiences say that more neon tetras equal happy fish. Therefore, it`s recommended to buy a species tank with 50-100 neons. In my experience, it looks terrific. Moreover, large shoals will attract your eyes more than any TV program. Well organized tank for neon tetras means plenty of plants, a bit acidic and soft water. Generally, neon tetras are very shy, what is noticeable if you keep only 2 or 3 of them. They come from South America’s moderate sized rivers, southeast Colombia and eastern parts of Peru, where the water is usually dark-yellow or dark-brown. It makes the sense, since such rivers are full of woden pieces, plants (dead or alive). Such elements help the water to be acidic. I’ve seen many neon tetras in the cry...

• Published: April 10, 2008, 10:54 am
• Displayed: 447 times
• Preview: The Pacu Fish(A Red Belly Pacu) Sponsored links One of the first fish I ever owned was a Red Belly Pacu. I first noticed them because of their natural look and exciting swimming behavior. Especially after a meal, they would chase each other around the tank almost as if they were playing a game of tag. Moving through the water you can really see that they are powerful swimmers and enjoy room to play with other Pacus in the tank. When first introduced into the tank you might notice their skittish behavior when it comes to sudden movements around the tank. Much like their piranha cousins, Pacus like rocks, plants and other décor to hide behind and feel less vulnerable. Often times, especially in the juvenile stage, the Red Belly Pacu is confused with their cousin the Red Belly Piranha. You might see Red Belly Piranhas sold as Pacus because of the inability to differentiate between the two fish. In the two pictures below you can see the simple way to tell the difference. Red belly Piranha You can see the larger under bite and bigger lower jaw of the piranha. Red...

• Published: September 13, 2007, 11:16 am
• Displayed: 6006 times
• Preview: The Piranha Fishby Zuzana Sponsored links Introduction As everyone knows, the Piranha species is a very noted fish especially from TV. It`s aggression and hunger for everything what moves in the water are well known facts. They are shown as cruel and merciless beasts in the TV. So why do people keep them? Aren`t such people only criminals who drop their victims into the tank with Piranhas in order to hide their crime? Not everyone knows that Piranhas bite only if they are hungry, or something bleeds in their aquarium. So basically, a wise and skilled fish keeper will not be bitten or even eaten (it`s a myth that few Piranhas can eat the whole man`s body). Their attacks towards humans are very rare in the wild. The natives from the locations where Piranhas live are swimming with them a lot and they haven`t been harmed. However, nowadays it is not recommended to do so because as the environment changes all around the world, the fish` behaviour may change as well. Generally, they have less food so they can be much more aggressive against humans than before. There are no reports...

• Published: March 1, 2008, 3:48 pm
• Displayed: 583 times
• Preview: Ammonia test kit Sponsored links The most toxic of the nitrogenous wastes that can build up in aquarium water is Ammonia (NH3). Ammonia, once it reaches a certain concentration in the water will cause the fish to become increasingly unwell, and if the presence of ammonia in the water is allowed to remain undetected for a protracted period, it will eventually cause the fish to die. Ammonia in the tank is generated constantly as the organic materials present break down. The fish in the tank also metabolically produce ammonia which they excrete through their gills. Concentrations of ammonia in the tank as they increase will gradually cause the fish’s gill to become blocked and reduce their ability to absorb and maintain the desired quantities of oxygen in their blood. The cycle of life in the tank is very finely balanced, with bacteria in the tank’s filter utilizing ammonia as a source of energy which will cause the ammonia to become nitrite. Bacteria, in a different form, will use the nitrite to turn it into nitrate, which is harmful to the fish in the tank. The nitrate needs ...

• Published: January 19, 2007, 9:16 am
• Displayed: 16830 times
• Preview: What is the purpose of an aquarium filter?By Tim Gautrey Sponsored links To clean the water of debris and suspended particles, remove ammonia and nitrites and aerate the water. How does it work? Most aquarium filters are divided into three sections: Biological, Mechanical and Chemical. Biological. An aquarium filter is a breeding ground for two main types of bacteria. This is not something to worry about, quite the opposite. The type of bacteria that filters culture is specifically to work on the chemicals that fish produce through waste. The first type of bacteria breaks down the potentially very poisonous ammonia that fish produce into less harmful nitrites, and then a second type of bacteria breaks down the nitrites into even less harmful nitrates. Mechanical. The filters will also remove large suspended particles of debris from the water. Chemical. Some aquarium filters allow the addition of Active Carbon in the form of balls, sheets, wadding or crystals. The purpose of this is to remove medications and heavy metal traces from the water. Aquarium ...

• Published: July 17, 2008, 10:15 am
• Displayed: 303 times
• Preview: Rainbow Shark Sponsored links The Rainbow Shark is a freshwater fish of the cyprinidae family. Rainbow Sharks come in two different varieties: The Epalzeorhynchos frenatum which is gray with orange fins and the Epalzeorhynchos munense or the Albino Rainbow Shark, which is white with orange fins. The E. frenatum was once called Labeo frenatus; the name has since been corrected but some people still use the old name to describe the Rainbow Shark. Physical Description: Rainbow Sharks are long and slender with their mouths turned down-ward for bottom feeding, and two pairs of barbels for feeling their way along surfaces. These fish will grow to an average mature size of about 6 inches and can live for up to 6 years if well cared for. The E. frenatum has a greenish-black coloration with bright orange fins. There is a black line that starts at the snout and ends just past the gill plate and a caudal spot on the caudal peduncle. The E. munense is the Albino Rainbow shark which lacks the black pigments coloring the body, eyes, stripe and caudal spot. The albino has red eyes, a wh...

• Published: June 15, 2008, 10:47 pm
• Displayed: 245 times
• Preview: RAINBOWFISH Sponsored links Rainbow fish deservedly earned their name from the amazing variety of colors that the fish display. The colors seem to change as they swim about, giving a beautiful show for the aquarists. These fish were first discovered way back in the mid 1800’s, they are only to be found naturally in Australia, New Guinea, and the surrounding islands, where they inhabit the local rivers, streams and lakes. There are many, many varieties of this fish, but the families that they are classed as belonging to are Atherinidae, Telmatheriidae, Melanotaeniidae, and Pseudomugilidae. They have a good reputation for being peaceful fish, ideal for any community tank, but they are best kept in groups of at least six fish as they are schooling. All of the varieties are top swimmers and feeders so make an ideal choice to fill the top area of the aquarium. They have been kept by aquarists since the start of the last century, so this alone has proven their popularity has stood the test of time. A lot of keepers never appreciate their true colors when they visit the pet st...

• Published: April 7, 2008, 2:47 pm
• Displayed: 420 times
• Preview: The Red Belly Piranha Sponsored links When someone says piranha, the first thing that comes to mind is often the red churning water over prey that has entered the fish’s territory. It is truly astonishing how a large mammal can turn into nothing in the blink of an eye once it hits piranha infested waters. A vicious fish yes, but just as any other aquarium pet, the piranha species demands extreme care and attention. The most notorious of the species, the Red Belly Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri) lives in the wild hunting together in schools that can reach into the thousands. Most people think piranhas only will eat meat, but in the wild they will eat nuts and fruit that fall from nearby trees. When setting up an aquarium for any fish, the best environment is one that closely mimics the natural setting the fish lives in. Seeing how the Red Belly Piranha (RBP) is from the murky, highly vegetated rivers and streams of South America, dropping him in your old betta tank with a couple marbles at the bottom is not going to cut it. Aquarium decor: It should have a ...

• Published: January 4, 2007, 10:29 am
• Displayed: 10395 times
• Preview: The Silver Shark (Bala Shark)By Tim Gautrey Sponsored links Characteristic and tank requirements Scientific Name Balantiocheilos melanopterus Common Names Bala Shark, Silver Shark Size Up to 13 inches long (33 cm) pH: 6 - 8 Temperature: 22°C - 28°C, I have known them to be quite happy in much cooler waters. Water Hardness: 5° to 12° dH, Lifespan: 8 - 10 years Origin: South East Asia Temperament, breeding, compatibility, feeding, pictures & final word Temperament Peaceful and can be kept with smaller fish. However, will eat fish if they are small enough to take in their mouths Breeding Breeding is rare in the home aquarium due to their size. Tank 75 gallons minimum. Compatibility Will get on with most other fish. Diet Will eat most foods including flakes, pellets and live foods. They also love shelling snails! My Bala Sharks have great personalities and mix well with all sorts of other fish. They are rarely quiet, always rooting around and playing in the plants and ornaments. They are now around 12 mo...

• Published: September 21, 2006, 1:57 am
• Displayed: 7987 times
• Preview: The Skinny on Wall Mounted Aquariums Sponsored links Aquariums can be found in all shapes and sizes. For those of you who think you don’t have room in your home or office for an aquarium, but would love to have one, you should consider purchasing a wall mounted aquarium. Wall mounted aquariums take up no floor space, and are also a good way to keep children’s little fingers out of the tank. Wall mounted aquariums are also known as portrait or wall aquariums. Wall mounted aquariums come in a number of sizes, so you are sure to be able to find one to suit your needs. You can install your wall mounted aquarium yourself, just locate the wall studs and follow the included instructions. Wall mounted aquariums have many benefits to offer that you cannot get from a traditional aquarium setup. They take up no floor space at all, so you don’t have to worry about moving things around to make room for your tank. Design your room around your wall mounted aquarium. You can have your wall mounted aquarium built into your wall to act as a divider between two rooms, which allows you to...

• Published: January 16, 2007, 2:47 am
• Displayed: 11381 times
• Preview: The Swordtail fish Sponsored links Xiphophorus hellerii - Swordtailfish is a favourite aquarium live-bearer fish. Generally, it is considered a suitable tropical fish for beginners. But this is not true. You must be an experienced aquarist generally, and you must be experienced in taking care of aquariums and fish especially. Only then you will be successful in breeding and keeping the Swordtail fish. General information as mentioned in the database: Fish name: Xiphophorus hellerii Common name: Swordtail Maximum size (min-max): 10.0 - 12.0 cm ( 3.9 - 4.7 in) pH of water: 7.0 - 8.0 Water hardness (dGH): dGH 12.0 - 18.0 N Recommended temperature: 21.0 - 28.0 °C ( 69.8 - 82.4 °F) Temperament to its family: peaceful Temperament to other fish species: peaceful Place in the aquarium: Top levels The way of breeding: Live-bearer Fish origin : Central America Care: Easy Pictures Males Females Body and sexual dimorphism: The male`s body is elongated with a sword in the adult age. The fish`s length with the sword is abou...

• Published: October 18, 2008, 1:37 am
• Displayed: 167 times
• Preview: Texas Cichlid (Herichthys Cyanoguttatus) Sponsored links This cichlid is very unusual as it is the only one that is native to the United States; often it is the game fish for many anglers. It is not a recommended fish for beginners; this is due to the Texas cichlid having a very aggressive nature. It is found in sub tropical areas swimming on the bottom to mid water areas of the lower ROI Grande in Texas and north eastern areas of Mexico. The Texas cichlid mainly inhabits the pools and narrow waterways that lead onto the larger rivers. If kept in optimum conditions, this fish should live up to 15 years of age. There are several color varieties, the main ones being the Red, Green, and Blue. The body of the fish should display white and turquoise dots on a golden background running down the middle of the body, as the dots approach the caudal fin they will turn dark. Most Texas cichlids should also display three black bars, for some reason there are a few that don’t. Juvenile Texas cichlids will not display the full coloration, their bodies will display a grayish backgroun...

• Published: January 17, 2007, 11:08 am
• Displayed: 9932 times
• Preview: The underrated GoldfishBy Tim Gautrey Sponsored links Profile Scientific Name Carassius auratus Common Names Goldfish, various other names Size 1” to 36” dependant on environment pH 6 - 8 Temperature 4°C - 28°C, I have known them to be quite happy in much cooler waters. Water Hardness dGH 4 - 18 Lifespan 5 - 20 years Origin China Temperament Peaceful. Will tolerate most fish of similar size. Breeding Difficult to breed in an aquarium, as they need temperature changes to trigger sporning. They breed in the spring, when the water warms after a long period of cold. This is very difficult to imitate in aquaria. Tank Anything from 1 gallon upwards Compatibility Will get on well with almost any fish large enough not to be considered as food! Diet Almost any foods, flake, frozen, fresh and live. Other information Goldfish are some of the most underrated fish on the planet. Originally from China, the Chinese have bred them for centuries. They are the most adaptable and hardy fish to ever...

• Published: October 23, 2008, 5:21 am
• Displayed: 156 times
• Preview: Wolf Cichlid (Parachromis dovii) Sponsored links The Wolf cichlid is not a fish that should be kept unless you have a good knowledge of them and a large tank to put them in. Adults can grow to over two feet (60cm) in length and have a very aggressive nature. Their natural habitat is the lakes and rivers that are found in the Honduras right down to Costa Rica. They can also be found on the Atlantic side of Central America and it is even believed that populations of Wolf cichlids are to be found in Florida. They do not like fast flowing water so the larger populations are to be found more in Lakes than in rivers, but they do adapt to a slower current. The body of the Wolf cichlid is designed to be the perfect killing machine, it is packed with solid muscle and it will attempt to attack anything in its path. The body coloration is mostly silver with touches of green and a black line runs from the back of the eye right down to the tail fin. The area below this midway line tends to be lighter than the area above it. Tank set up for the Wolf cichlid:- As mentioned earlier,...

• Published: July 3, 2008, 10:24 am
• Displayed: 246 times
• Preview: YOYO LOACH (BOTIA ALMORHAE) Sponsored links Botia Almorhae has several common names, yoyo loach, Pakistani loach, Almora loach and even its scientific name has changed recently from Botia Lochata to the above. The common name yoyo loach is derived from the fact that on its body, with some individuals the markings actually spells out the word “yoyo”. This strange phenomenon never seems to occur with juvenile fish, the strange markings only develop with the fish maturing. This loach belongs to the family Cobitidae and is found in the slow moving waters of India and Pakistan. This is what gives it the other common name Pakistani loach. They can reach a size of up to 6 inches in the wild, but in captivity 4 inches is more often than not the maximum size. The yoyo loach is generally longer and slimmer than some of the other loaches that are part of this family but it still retains the overall shape of a typical loach with its curved back and straight belly. On the mouth there are four distinct pairs of barbells, a spine is also located just below the eye socket. The mai...

• Published: October 29, 2008, 3:42 am
• Displayed: 164 times
• Preview: Things to know about Aquarium Chillers Sponsored links In this article I`m going to answer the most common questions regarding aquarium chillers, their usage, purpose, advantages and disadvantages. These questions have been compiled from questions asked by our previous visitors. What is the purpose of an aquarium chiller? To chill the water in an aquarium. Read below why some fish need this. Although I mention fish only, corals or live rocks need stable temperature too. And some freshwater plants are sensible to dramatic temperature changes too. Do I need an aquarium chiller? Well... It depends on the type of your aquarium. If it`s a marine fish tank, then it is very likely that one needs a chiller. This results from the fact that saltwater fish live in waters with very stable temperature (unlike freshwater species). Unless you live in a country where the average yearly temperature stays below 20°C (even in rooms; which is not likely), it is not necessary to buy an aquarium chiller. The second possibility when one needs a cooler is a coldwater fish tank. Some...

• Published: May 25, 2008, 11:14 pm
• Displayed: 310 times
• Preview: Tilapia Fish Sponsored links Tilapia is the Tswana word for fish. There are many varieties of fish called tilapia but the 4 main categories are Tilapia, Oreochromis, Sarotherodon, and Danakilia. The name Tilapia is the common name for almost 100 species of cichlids from the “Tilapiine Cichlid Tribe”. Most tilapia cichlids are freshwater fish and some are brackish water species. Tilapia cichlids are native to waters throughout Africa and the Middle East. The water chemistry and quality in these areas are not always suitable for many species but tilapia have the ability to survive even where conditions are very poor. Most types of tilapia are omnivorous, preferring to eat soft vegetation and detritus, which can be anything from dead animals and organisms to fecal matter. Originally they were introduced into several different countries to help control pesky plant populations or mosquitoes. It turns out the tilapia became a worse pest in many areas of the world than the pests they were meant to eliminate. This species is considered a pest because they can take over many bodies ...

• Published: October 6, 2006, 10:58 am
• Displayed: 7615 times
• Preview: Tips on Freshwater Aquariums Sponsored links Nowadays more and more people have aquariums and aquarium fish. It is because fish don`t need much space, they don`t make mess in the house, they don`t destroy the furniture, they are silent, they don`t need any attention and they need only food a few times a day. And aquariums are very nice in the house. There is one thing about the aquarium, that not many people know: aquariums humidify the air and so you will be healthier. And aquariums are not good only for your physical health but for your mental health too. If you are stressed, there is no better thing like watching on those peaceful creatures as they are swimming around. Having an aquarium is like having a piece of underwater world in your living room. But if you want to have a realy good looking aquarium, you have to know about the needs of your fish and plants. People usually get their fish in special stores. But they mostly don`t ask about fish, they are buying, so they don`t know what the fish requires. I know only sellers, who say something about any fish only if you...

• Published: June 13, 2008, 12:10 am
• Displayed: 251 times
• Preview: TITANIUM AQUARIUM HEATERS Sponsored links As most of us know there are a wide variety of submersible aquarium heaters available to buy, normally aquarists will purchase the standard units where the heating element is enclosed in a glass or plastic case. Another option on the market that is now widely available is the submersible titanium heater. Standard heaters are more in the price range of most people, but they do have their disadvantages. They have to be submerged to the recommended water level (normally there is a line on the glass tube to act as an indicator), if the water drops below that the tube can blow, or at least overheat, this could mean a premature death for your fish, and it will definitely kill off the heater. Remembering to turn off the heater before removing it from the aquarium is often overlooked; I have done it myself on numerous occasions.After constant use a build up of scale can accumulate on the heater, not only is this unsightly, it can lead to total failure of the heater.Some of the cheaper heaters can sometimes be made to fairly low standard...

• Published: January 14, 2006, 2:20 am
• Displayed: 7158 times
• Preview: To filter or not to filter, that is the question (this article was taken from aquarticles.com - free aquarium articles) By John Fichtl (not Shakespeare) Sponsored links The question of filtering comes up on a daily basis on most forums. Which one is the best, cheapest, most efficient? etc. The answers are very diverse. Some people have nothing but undergravel filters and swear by them. Other couldn`t live without their Eheims. Then comes the DIY person. Mind boggling. Now along comes a fellow who will open the eyes of most. Who?... Me. The Undergravel Filter. Let`s start with the trusty old undergravel filter. They are easy to install - in an empty aquarium that is - cheap to run, and hardly any maintenance...that`s what most people think. All the dirt in your water sinks to the bottom, or is slightly sucked down. The gravel acts as the filter medium. The outcome; seemingly clean water. What happened to the dirt? Where did it go? It is still there inside and underneath the gravel. It is like sweeping the dirt under the carpet. Room looks clean. But is it? - No. The sa...

• Published: April 14, 2008, 10:32 pm
• Displayed: 346 times
• Preview: Tropheus species Sponsored links The genus “Tropheus” is a very popular cichlid found in Lake Tanganyika. Lake Tanganyika is located in central Africa, and is known to be the second deepest lake in the world. Below the surface of the lake live over 600 species, and among them are Tropheus. Tropheus are not a fish I would recommend for a beginner aquarist. They are very demanding and require a lot of attention not only with the food you feed them, but with the habitat you create for them in your aquarium. Tropheus are very aggressive and should be kept in large numbers. With my personal experience I have found that the aggression is kept to a minimum if you are female heavy and provide lots of rock work for them to seek shelter. In the wild, Tropheus are found throughout rocky habitats, all over Lake Tanganyika. They feed on algae, andother vegetation that may grow on the rocks. They can be seen in schools of more than one Tropheus species feeding together, although it is not recommended that you keep more than one Tropheus species together in the same aquarium because of hyb...

• Published: July 13, 2006, 4:41 pm
• Displayed: 16094 times
• Preview: Tropical Freshwater Community Aquarium Sponsored links The goal of most aquariums is to capture the look of natural environs characteristic for specific parts of the world. Fish and plants in such aquariums are usually the kind that would live in these environs in nature. But the goal of community aquarium is different – it is to create a collection of plants and fish, which get on well together, but they don’t need to be from the same place. Such a tank is attractive because you can mix species from all around the World in it. That is why aquarists do not look further than a really good community aquarium. Before you launch into a community aquarium think carefully about what you want to reach and provide for adequate preparation. The first goal of a community aquarium should be creating stable, healthy and comfortable environs for many species of fish. Arrange the aquarium in an attractive way, so it will give an impressive and original look. The tradition is to situate fish and plants from various environs into the community aquarium, which will probably settle into vario...

• Published: August 6, 2007, 10:46 pm
• Displayed: 3622 times
• Preview: Under Gravel filter CleaningBy Tim Gautrey (---reprinted with permissions---) Sponsored links Most people complain about the cleaning of UGFs and their effectiveness after a while. It involves taking the tank down, re-locating the fish, plants, ornaments etc., emptying the gravel out and cleaning it, lifting the UGF and washing it off, (holding your nose while doing this), scrubbing the tank itself and rinsing it out and then putting the whole lot back together, re-cycling and then putting the fish back in. I have found a solution to this chore that is simple, easy, quick and completely safe and stress less for the fish and the human. It does not involve pulling the tank apart, unsettling plants or even removing the fish! (You might want to take out small ones though, just to be sure). What you need A wet/dry vacuum, preferably the bottle type with adjustable power; A hose adaptor to fit onto the UGF riser pipe and the cleaner hose; (You may have to make this beforehand); About five minutes of your time! What you do: Remove the cap and air stone or p...

• Published: March 21, 2008, 9:48 pm
• Displayed: 407 times
• Preview: Undergravel Filters Sponsored links Old, familiar, outdated, problematic, simple, reliable, they have been called all of these and more, depending on who you ask. Please note: During this guide, I am attempting to give a balanced view and not condemning any specific filter or manufacturer. I have chosen Eheim in this guide purely because they are a well-known brand with a good reputation. Under Gravel Filters, (UGF), were the first type of filter made available for aquarists. Although they have a long and proven record, many aquarists have turned their backs on these in favour of more powerful, and more expensive filters. The undergravel filter is a simple biological filter, using a shaped plastic plate which lays on the bottom of the tank with slots cut into it to allow water through into the gullies of the moulding, and a riser tube to draw the water back to the surface with the aid of an airstone or powerhead. The plate is covered with gravel and that`s it! It works very effectively by pulling water down through the gravel, where the solid debris is trapped c...

• Published: February 7, 2008, 10:14 am
• Displayed: 918 times
• Preview: Underwater aquarium lightingby Albert Sponsored links Humans have always enjoyed a fascination for fish. It may well be that in a strange way we might even envy them their freedom, even those who live in a fish tank don’t seem to have it too bad. Fed and pampered by their owners, and free of the dangers of being way down the food chain. There is something very tranquil about watching a goldfish or a flock of guppies swimming effortlessly around in an aquarium. This is why so many people enjoy having a home aquarium. And there is no doubt that it has become an increasingly more “user friendly” hobby that it was even ten or fifteen years ago. Advances in technology has meant that acquiring an aquarium is in reach of us all, and there is such a wide variety of accessories that can make placing an aquarium as a center point of attraction in your front room a very attractive prospect, both for the owner, their family and their guests. One aspect of home aquarium management that has improved immeasurably over the last while is the underwater aquarium lighting that is now...

• Published: March 18, 2008, 2:23 pm
• Displayed: 404 times
• Preview: UV Clarifiers/Sterilizers Sponsored links What is a UVC? A UVC (Ultra-Violet Clarifier) is used for the purpose of removing water-bound Algae spores. This is primarily used for ponds where algae is most prevalent because of the still water conditions. It can also be used to clear algae from indoor fish tanks with great effect. A UVS (Ultra-Violet Steriliser) is basically the same as above but is usually more powerful. When do we need them? For pond owners, this next section is a “must read”, for aquarium owners, some of this information will be informative and may raise a few questions in your present methods! Traditionally, ponds are naturally filtered by live plants and poorly maintained. When they are new, they look great, but after a year or so, they tend to get forgotten and allowed to stagnate and silt up. This is a shame, as well maintained ponds are a real pleasure as well as a small pocket of nature in your garden. Do you have a pond? When was the last time you changed the water? Have you cleaned the bottom lately? Most people will answer “No” to th...

• Published: January 13, 2007, 10:06 pm
• Displayed: 3912 times
• Preview: Vallisneria Spiralis and Anubias Nana in your aquarium Sponsored links Previous article notice Original article about Jaguar Cichlid was replaced with article about plants. If you came to this page looking for previous information, simply follow this link. Article People who want to grow aquarium plants are usually excited when they see nicely planted tanks with numerous plants species inside. My personal experiences say that less is sometimes more and that a man may achieve interesting layout with very few species. Currently I am focusing on growing Vallisneria Spiralis, Vallisneria Gigantea and Anubias Nana. Introduction My initial goal was to have two types of tanks; Planted one and rocky one. Nevertheless both of my aquariums look different now. If you're a beginner, you'll end up in a similar way just like me. Dealers will sell you ten or twenty different plants, you'll put them into the tank and as time goes by, 50% or even more will die, or will not reproduce at all. This fast is caused by different geographical origins and various habitats. Every thing'...

• Published: November 24, 2006, 7:12 am
• Displayed: 3227 times
• Preview: Vitamins and fish feeding principles Sponsored links Introduction Every aquarist is proud if fish in his aquarium are or natural colours and if they are healthy. Fish`s good health heavily depends on diet, since your pets need something similar what they could find in nature. Various fish subsist on various food including worms, maggots, algae, plants or fruits. Some are carnivores, some are omnivores. Maybe you didn`t know what food (besides common foods like flakes, granules or brine shrimp) you can feed your fish with: Daphnia, Bloodworms, Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Angelica root (Archangelica officinalis), Capsicum, Carrot, Wheat, Spinach, Nettle, Borage (Borago officinalis), Spirulina, Seaweed, Glycine soja. Daphnia and bloodworms are easily consumable and very rich fish food. Both, Basil and Angelica root help your fish against stress. Capsicum and Carrot stimulate digestion and are full of vitamins. Carotene keeps the fish coloured. Wheat contains carbonhydrates. Spinach and Nettles offers a lot of minerals and trace elements which help them to grow natura...

• Published: July 4, 2008, 10:30 am
• Displayed: 248 times
• Preview: WALL MOUNTED FISH TANKS Sponsored links Many fish keepers say that looking at their fish tank is far more entertaining than watching their television. This inspired many companies to take the next step in aquariums and produce a tank that actually sits on the wall. The wall mounted aquariums are also known as portrait aquariums; they were first produced in Korea and were actually made with a picture frame surround, hence the “portrait” in the name. These are not to everyone’s taste, some keepers think they are cruel, some fish keepers think that they are an excellent addition to the room, a showpiece to give visitors something to talk about. I personally would not use one purely for the thought of the limited swimming space, but that is my opinion. They are mounted on the wall by means of studs or brackets, and these need to be strong to support the weight of the aquarium, nobody wants to go into a room to see the tank lying on the floor. Originally they were only sold in smaller sizes, but as they have become more popular the sizes have increased to meet demand. A...

• Published: October 19, 2007, 9:14 pm
• Displayed: 1352 times
• Preview: Water Chemistry: What about it and why should we worry?by Tim Sponsored links The chemistry of the water in a fish tank is very important. A fish tank is a closed environment, where everything that goes into it affects the chemistry in one way or another. Imagine you are sealed into a room with no toilet, no windows and fed only when the keeper saw fit. What would the air be like in a week? This is essentially what happens in a fish tank. The fish are trapped in an environment that you control. They get fed when you give them food, the water gets changed when you remember to do it. Filters help a lot, by controlling the levels of toxins, removing large bits of debris and un-eaten food and aerating the water, either by disturbing the surface or by adding air internally in the filter. You can add air stones, plants and ornaments, but the fish are still trapped. The décor makes it a little more comfortable for the fish, but they are still trapped. So, where does the water chemistry come into the frame? Without knowing what the conditions are inside the tank, you cannot ...

• Published: September 24, 2008, 7:11 am
• Displayed: 179 times
• Preview: What to do with your aquarium while on holiday Sponsored links Holidays are booked; everything is packed but what about the aquarium? How will the fish cope without food, water changes? This is a problem that all fish keepers face every time that they go away on vacation, in some cases it becomes such a worry that several keepers will not even consider leaving the tank while they are on vacation. If everything is organized properly it is not a problem keeping the tank in order, feeding the fish etc. so a vacation need not be avoided. While you are away the last thing you need is to be worrying about your aquarium all of the time. The main concern that most keepers have is worrying that the fish will not be fed and will suffer because of this. Let me give you some facts about fish feeding that many people do not realize. Fish do not need to be fed every day, even while keepers are at home tending the tanks themselves, one day of the week is set aside for not giving the fish any food so that it will aid the fish to clear out their digestive systems, this does work, e...

• Published: January 23, 2006, 6:37 am
• Displayed: 5840 times
• Preview: Which aquarium biotope is the best one? Sponsored links When I got my first aquarium, I didn`t know anything about aquarium biotopes, good water conditions, fish species, plants, heating, etc. I didn`t know which aquatic plants I can buy in order to reach good looking tank. You can easily imagine how it was... As time went by, I found some sources on the internet and I started to plan changes. Like other people, I want to own nice aquarium too. Various plants can make your tank very attractive especially when you use them wisely. Many people consider using high aquatic plants in the background of their tanks and small plants in the foreground. It isn`t bad idea, because it gives some kind of „depth“ to the aquarium. Anyway, I decided to try something else. My aquarium has 81 litres with its measurements 90x30x30 cm. Everyone can understand, that it doesn`t give large space to experiment with aquatic plants or fishes. But it creates very good basis for some creek based biotope. Stream is very important factor in creek biotope. Let`s talk about creeks now... Creek aq...

• Published: May 11, 2006, 8:50 am
• Displayed: 6609 times
• Preview: Ichthyophthirius Multifiliis - White Spot Disease Sponsored links I set up my social tank for fishes. In the first step I give in gravel and plants. 3 weeks I keep aquarium without fishes. Then I enter there first fishes. The first fishes was 2 Brachydanio rerios, 2 Otocinclus affinis and 2 Poecilia sphenops. All was OK, fishes was healthy. Then I waited one week and entered 4 Aphyosemion australe along with 4 Rivulus magdalenae. Two days was all OK but next day I saw a Ichthyophthirius Multifiliis - White spot on some fishes. I started cure. It was in Saturday, aquarium shop was closed and I have only FMC medicine. The first step was change temperature to 27 °C. I don`t enter salt to water when I set up tank. Now I enter 150 g on 250 litres of water. And applied 2,5 ml FMC what is 1 ml on 100 litres of water. I applied FMC in this concentration four days. Second day was Ichthyophthirius Multifiliis - White spot on all fishes expect Rivulus and increase. Third day was Ichthyophthirius Multifiliis - White spot less. Thourth day evening I don`t see any White spot. Next day I ...

• Published: January 6, 2007, 8:09 pm
• Displayed: 7328 times
• Preview: Why have a Planted Tank?By Tim Gautrey Sponsored links There are several reasons for wanting real living plants in your aquarium. To start with, plants can help the environment in the tank by removing the nitrates from the water as well as oxygenation, help to reduce algae growth and they look good as well. Artificial plants have their uses too, but real plants, well tended and arranged well can make an aquarium simply stunning! Before you decide on whether to go for a planted tank, check that it is the right option for you. Are the fish you will have in the tank going to eat or uproot the plants? What type of plants do you want? Is there enough light for the types of plants you want to grow. Is the substrate suitable for plants? Do you have enough time to tend them? What about CO2? Will you need to feed the plants? What about cleaning the tank after it’s planted? Can you get the right plants to make it look good? There are many factors to consider achieving a successful planted aquarium. Let’s look at this subject from the top: What types of fish are best sui...

• Published: September 21, 2006, 11:06 am
• Displayed: 5845 times
• Preview: Why You Should Consider Plastic Aquarium Plants for Your Tank Sponsored links Adding decorations to your aquarium can be almost as much fun as putting the fish in the tank for the first time. Adding plants to your aquarium can be a very cost effective way to spruce things up a bit. Plastic plants are inexpensive, and require very little maintenance or care once they are placed in the aquarium. The idea of adding plastic plants has made many aquarium owners shudder. At one time plastic plants were considered bulky eyesores added by novices to make their aquarium look better. You didn’t have to have a magnifying glass in hand to be able to tell that the plants weren’t real, all you had to do was look at them and there was no doubt. Aquarium plastic plants today are nothing like what they once were. They can look so real, that you have to actually touch them to tell that they are plastic. These plants are made more realistic by the fact that many are made of silk, which allows them to move freely within the water. One benefit that aquarium plastic plants give is th...