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 :
Aquarium Plants and Lighting Mini-Guide
Aquarium plants are as important to aquariums as water is to fish. Aquarium plants add more life to aquarium and make it to look beautiful while...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
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 :
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
What Aquarium Should You Go For?
So what aquarium is best for you. If you've been to the aquatics
or have even seen some aquarium fish in your local pet shop then
you may be...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.
Setting Up A New Aquarium
Location of your aquarium So, you bought your very first fish tank. And you probably already decided where to place it. But keep in mind that a...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 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
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
Are aquariums suitable for children?
Most children are fascinated with animals and want a dog, a cat,
two birds, a horse and some fish. But are fish and aquariums
suitable for...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.
Aquarium Lighting
Aquariums need light for the fish to survive, this doesn't
matter if it is a freshwater set up or a marine set up. There
are however different...
Aquarium Stand
Aquarium stands are a great thing to have in your home when you
have an aquarium. Placing tanks on tables can be dangerous;
maybe the table is not...
Children and Fish Tank Safety
Having a tank of tropical fish, or a saltwater aquarium, can
give your whole family many hours of enjoyment. Even young
children will find the...read more
Home Aquarium
Home aquariums are becoming more and more popular, it is a hobby
that many people are flocking too and fish shops are on the
rise. Fish are...read more
Cleaning Your Fish Tank
One of the nicest additions to any home is a fish tank. A fish tank creates a colourful, relaxing ambience and they come in a huge range of sizes...read more
Saltwater Aquarium
Saltwater aquariums are for fish that can only live in salt
water obviously. Some of the fish are grouped for example
triggers and groupers. Each...read more
Detroit - For the eight years Susan Doolittle lived in Detroit she never visited the Belle Isle Aquarium before it closed. When she heard the historic building would be opened on Saturday she brought her daughter Madeline, 10, for a visit.
The New England Aquarium plans a $15 million facelift, including renovation of its Giant Ocean Tank and surrounding exhibit spaces plus opening a new ground-floor center focused on conservation and research efforts. Scheduled for completion in July 2013, it marks the final phase of a five-year, $42.5 million expansion and renovation program for the Boston aquarium, which opened on the city’s ...
WINDSOR, Ont. -- With Toronto getting an aquarium beside the CN Tower, Windsor shouldn’t try to build its own $50-million to $100-million aquarium, says a report going to city council Monday night.
The New England Aquarium, one of the region's most popular attractions, is planning a $15 million renovation of its core exhibits as the final phase of a five-year upgrade.
At 9:45 a.m. Saturday, with a just a few minutes left before Shiver on the River opened to the public, Vance Patrick looked outside the Belle Isle Aquarium and saw 54 faces peering back at him.
BOSTON -- The New England Aquarium, one of the region's most popular attractions, is planning a $15 million renovation of its core exhibits as the final phase of a five-year upgrade.
SANDY, Utah, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Â The Living Planet Aquarium board of trustees selected Beecher Walker Architects and Layton Construction for the development, design and construction of the new ...
