Quick tips for beginners on fishkeeping and aquariums.
Aquarium Tips for the beginner. AQUARIUMS Information pages on setting up an aquarium. DISEASES AND CURES Information page. Setting up a Freshwater Aquarium, Maintaining a Freshwater Aquarium.
How To Keep Your Aquarium Clean
Excerpt : No one likes living in a dirty, stuffy house. Thank goodness a little dirt is not hazardous to our health. The same cannot be said for our aquatic friends. Most fish and invertebrates are unable to
No one likes living in a dirty, stuffy house. Thank goodness a
little dirt is not hazardous to our health. The same cannot be
said for our aquatic friends. Most fish and invertebrates are
unable to adapt to changes in water chemistry that result from
increased bacteria, waste, and chemicals. Proper filtration can
preserve the overall health of the aquarium and maintain its
beauty.
Three types of filtration exist on the market - biological,
mechanical, and chemical. Varying experts will assert that you
must utilize all three in your tank. For a marine aquarium with
a reef environment, that may be good advice. There is no
definitive answer on what combination is suitable for your
aquatic environment. Educating yourself on the functions of all
three will enable you to pick the filter(s) that will safeguard
your fish and invertebrates' natural habitat.
Also see :
Reef Aquarium
When choosing the route that you want to follow when it comes to
aquariums a reef set up is probably one of the more complex set
ups that you can...read more
must for every
aquarium. They stimulate the growth of nitrifying bacteria that
breaks down harmful ammonia to less toxic chemicals such as
nitrate. It sounds simple enough, but how this is accomplished
is quite impressive. A widespread method of producing these
beneficial bacteria is adding fish to the aquarium. The
bacteria, which ride on the fish, drop off and spread throughout
the tank and grow. This also leads to increased amounts of
dangerous ammonia, so it is important to add fish gradually. It
can take several months to establish this cyclical process.
Aquarist believed that they had an easier, quicker solution in
under gravel filters and crushed coral. Along with the water,
detritus and junk was pulled through the crushed coral, which
clogged the filter bed. Some fish enthusiasts have gladly
replaced these under gravel filters with biofilters such as
canister filters, trickle filters, bio wheels,
Also see :
Aquarium Fish Buying Tips
It’s very important as part of your plan for having successful aquarium to take note of the type of inhabitants. One of the most important elements...read more
Tropical Fish And Aquariums
The hobby of aquarium keeping and tropic fish as pets is fairly recent in the Western World, and took a while to catch on. The keeping of fish in...read more
fluidized bed
filters, or sponge filters. These devices incorporate other
methods of filtration making them even more useful. Other
aquarists opt for the natural route to biological filtration
using a mixture of live sand and crushed coral as the tank's
substrate.
Mechanical Filtration Mechanical filters use a more direct
approach to remove particulate matter before it decomposes and
adds to the ammonia load. These filters are the most versatile
since they can be used in most filtration devices. The key to
their efficiency is regular cleaning. Otherwise, waste can
accumulate and your effort is in vain. Aquarium owners must
always be mindful of the flow rate of their device, which is
automatically set to manufacturer's standards. A reduced flow
can lead to an unclean filter (or vice versa) and adversely
affects the health of the entire aquarium.
Also see :
A Bigger Aquarium... Or The Ocean?
A few weeks ago, I asked my goldfish what his ultimate dream was. Boy, was I in for a surprise! His eyes glowing with enthusiasm, he answered that...read more
Keeping The Aquarium Clean
You do clean your house don’t you? Well you have to clean your Goldfish’s house too and it’s a lot simpler! Cleaning and maintaining a goldfish tank...read more
market, each
with its own advantages. The power filters' low price, ease of
use, and maintenance makes it the most popular of all mechanical
filtration devices. These quiet devices can also be used for
chemical and biological filtration.
Canister filters are equally as versatile. These large-capacity
filters, which run on their own pumps, can be used for
mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration. Many aquarists
prefer the hang-on-tank canister filters to promote water
quality, but there are a large variety of canisters styles
available.
Wet/Dry filters, also known as trickle filters or bio-towers,
are more suitable for fish-only tanks than reef systems. This is
due to the biomaterial inside the filter's wet/dry chamber that
becomes dirty and results in a buildup of harmful nitrates.
Internal filters are a great option for smaller tanks. Their
compact and simple design makes them
Also see :
Aquarium
An aquarium is made of glass or extremely strong plastic and is
basically made for holding fish, amphibians or any other type of
marine animal....read more
easy to operate. As the
name suggests, the filter runs within the aquarium and is
powered by a small water pump, or air pump.
Protein skimming/foam fractionation is not mandatory, but it is
a trusted method of maintaining water quality. Dissolved
proteins linger to air bubbles and form protein foam. Protein
skimming pumps the air bubbles through a small columnar removing
the dissolved proteins from the tank.
Chemical Filtration Particles are not the only thing floating in
your aquarium's water. Copper, ammonia, and phosphates also
threaten the stability of your tank's environment. Chemical
filtration utilizes chemically enhanced products to treat the
water. Activated carbon is the leading medium used. Others such
as calcium hydroxide, zeolite, and even peat moss work as well.
Protein skimming, Power, Canister, and Internal filters are some
of the most common filtration devices used for
Tropical Aquarium
Tropical Aquariums are for keeping tropical fish, but you can
have two different types of fish, saltwater or freshwater.
Saltwater fish obviously...read more
chemical
treatment. Of course these double for mechanical filtration
devices as well. Trickle filters are a popular choice amongst
saltwater aquarium owners. The water is first drawn from the
tank. Then, it is siphoned through the mechanical, biological,
chemical, and auxiliary filters. Finally, it placed back into
the aquarium.
To target specific chemicals, look to Reactors. Water is drawn
through a canister-type chamber where it meets the chemical
media. For even more effective filtration, they can be run
pressurized.
The methods of keeping your aquarium's waters clean are
numerous. Using biological filters as a base, there is a wealth
of combinations that you can build upon to create a healthy
environment for your pets.
Expert Tips on Choosing Plants for Your Aquarium
When confronted with such variety of plants for your aquarium, there is a great temptation to take a piece of everything that appeals to you. If...
Aquarium Equipment
Aquariums are not just a tank and a stand, the aquarium has to
be filled with certain equipment such as heaters and filters.
Aquarium equipment is...read more
Aquarium Hoods
When you have an aquarium you need to have lighting set up and
to do this you need to have somewhere to put it. Before now when
it came to...read more
How to Buy The Right Aquarium
Buying Your First Aquarium, What To Look For
If you are interested in buying an aquarium and keeping several varieties of fish as pets, there...read more
Raising Vinegar Eels For the Aquarium
It is a well known fact that feeding live food to your fishes will help them to grow better, show better coloration, and improve vigor. Fish love a...read more
How To Grow Daphnia For The Aquarium
The benefits of feeding live food to fish in a community tank are many: live food will improve vigor and color, and more closely resemble the food...read more
Marine Aquariums
You basically have to be a chemist to do a marine aquarium set
up, they require a lot of dedication time and effort, you are
looking at about half...read more
Starting a saltwater aquarium
starting a saltwater aquarium is a task that can be fun and
rewarding, or devastating. It all depends on if you put it
together well where it...read more
The Optimum Cichlid Aquarium Part 2
Part 2
Heating
If you want to keep Cichlids you will need to heat them. A good guide is approximately 1 watt of heating per liter of water. A...read more
NIAGARA FALLS—The Aquarium of Niagara is seeking votes to help it establish a$ 50,000 coral reef exhibit at its site at 701 Whirlpool St. The Aquarium, in competition with other agencies throughout the country, has filed a grant request with the national Pepsi Refresh Project for a$50,000 grant.
Expanding conservation, research role The National Aquarium is set Thursday to unveil its new Conservation Center, established to focus the institution's work in marine conservation and research, and to expand its scope to a national and global stage.
The National Aquarium was joined today by honored guests, esteemed partners, elected officials and supporters from the community to officially unveil the National Aquarium Conservation Center and kick off its celebration of the Baltimore venue’s 30th anniversary year. The Conservation Center enables the National Aquarium to become a global leader in conservation, research and education, and to ...
Monterey Bay Aquarium is recruiting volunteer docents age 18 and over and will hold informational meetings from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 14 and 21 at the aquarium. For more information or to request application materials e-mail volunteers@mbayaq.org or visit the "About Us" pages on www.
SAPPORO (Kyodo) Fuel oil from a tank at Otaru Aquarium in Otaru, Hokkaido, spilled into the nearby port early Wednesday, the aquarium said. The spilled oil, used to warm water for tropical fish aquariums, could reach up to 2,000 liters, and has spread to a 500-meter radius covering the surface, according to the aquarium and the local coast guard.
Taking its commitment to inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards to record-setting levels, Aquarium of the Bay today announced that 16,552 Bay Area students, teachers and chaperones benefited from its free education programs during the 2009/2010 school year. Â The number marks a 21% increase from the previous year and a 44% increase since 2005. Â Beginning today, teachers can ...
