How to Care for Live Aquarium Plants

Plants play an important role in aquarium life. They help to absorb nitrites that are toxic to the fish. In fact there are some plant only aquariums. There are many different varieties of aquatic plants. Tubers are a type of plant that needs to be anchored by the root to the bottom of the tank. They may be tied or simply buried underneath the substrate in the bottom of the aquarium. There are also floating plants. As their name suggests they simply float in the tank they do not need to be anchored and will not usually require fertilizer. The only regular care required is to make sure that water droplets are not regularly deposited on the leaves, as this will cause decay.

Water lettuce and Lily pads are examples of floating plants. Rooted plants, like tubers need to be anchored to the bottom of the tank. It is suggested that the roots be tied to pieces of rock or wood. These species usually grow to be fairly tall and will add length to an aquarium. When planting these, remember to allow plenty of room for growth. The roots will grow outwards and require additional space. Another type of aquatic plant is known as cuttings. These plants may be transplanted from other thriving plants, without have to root them. Cuttings should be planted individually. They will grow vertically and sprout shoots at the joints of the leaves. When these shoots grow to be a couple of inches, it is time to cut them and plant them individually.

Live plants may be kept in aquariums alone or with fish. The plants may even be used as a food source for some species of omnivorous fish. At the very least, they will provide shelter and a feeling of refuge for the fish. All plants require some form of light in order to thrive through photosynthesis. Check the specifics on the types of plants with your local retailer. Some plants will thrive on the waste put out by the fish in the aquarium, while others will require regular fertilization. Again check with your supplier for compatibility and feeding requirements. When purchasing plants, make sure that they are true aquatic plants. Live plants should be pruned weekly. Dead or broken leaves should be removed daily.

A live plant aquarium will require the same basic equipment needed for an aquarium containing fish. The basics are as follows. You will need a tank, some sort of filtration system, lighting and some basic cleaning tools. The plants are fairly easy to care for, but you do have to keep up with your regular maintenance. Synthetic plants may be a good alternative to live plants, if you are not willing to make the investment in live plants. Faux plants have come a long way in recent years. So much so, that your fish may not even notice the difference. Whether you choose live or synthetic plants, they will add interest and life to any aquarium.

How To Design An Aquarium

One of the most attractive conversation pieces that you can realistically have in your own home is an aquarium. Many satisfied aquarium owners have already discovered the almost magical drawing power that these displays can have on even the most cynical, “seen it all” people. It seems that no matter how world weary, or tired or stressed out you are, the glorious sight of a tank full of vibrantly colored tropical fish is enough to instantly whisk you away into a mystical underwater world where the world’s cares, no matter how urgent or pressing just don’t seem to matter very much. Honestly now: who can normally resist the charms of a several finned beauties traversing the gentle currents concerned only with their own slow and gentle progress? Even just a few minutes spent in front of an aquarium and your eyes glaze over leaving you far more serene and composed than you were before.

As awesome a sight as a home aquarium system is we are as human beings by nature a picky and hard to please lot, and we are constantly looking for ways to improve upon things whether it be visually or in terms of functionality. It is wholly understandable therefore that even with an already magnificent display of aquatic creatures in our midst our mind is constantly searching for ways to enhance what is by most accounts already a great thing. It is not uncommon for many home aquarium owners to be deeply into another perhaps less glamorous but certainly no less rewarding hobby: perusing online and printed catalogs of aquarium decorations! I am just kidding of course, but given the passion, fervor and dare I say it, obsession that some people approach this pursuit, it may as well be its own separate undertaking given the amount of time and money that they spend on it. All this is hopefully not wasted time however as at the end of the road, you can only end up with an aquarium display that is even more magnificent and awe inspiring than you first planned it to be.

Even if you just take a cursory glance at a typical online aquarium supply website, you may well find yourself being slightly overwhelmed by the amount of aquarium decoration options that are available out in the market today. Many people who have been confronted by this staggering wealth of options will often take the easy way out and merely settle for the obligatory rectangular aquarium. That will do fine for an ordinary aquarium but you did have something more special in mind for yours right? If that is the case you may want to check out the Ocean Treasures Collection Ancient Egypt Aquarium. With a motif that is heavily inspired by early Egyptian civilization artifacts, this unique aquarium is truly a showstopper and just may garner more attention than the fish contained therein! The product’s exclusive “dry tube technology” works to conceal all electrical cords and ensure that nothing distracts from the beauty of your water masterpiece.

The Ocean Treasures Collection Ancient Egypt Aquarium is unique aquarium design with a motif that is heavily inspired by early Egyptian civilization artifacts. For more aquarium products - please visit web-pet-store.com

Sveinung_Skoglund

All about Care for an Acrylic Aquarium Kit

The practice of keeping aquariums came about in the late 1800's. They were fairly crude. Usually these ancient aquariums only had one side that was made of glass, with the other three sides being made of metal or wood. Most aquariums consisted of fish that were native to the region of its owner simply because of availability. Also most old school fish tanks contained only fresh water fish. The reason being that salt water would corrode the metal frame that held the aquarium together.

Aquariums drastically changed in the 1960's with the invention of silicone adhesive. Metal frames became obsolete and more people started to keep salt water fish and invertebrates. More recently glass tanks have become less frequently used due to the flexibility of acrylic. Literally flexibility! Acrylic aquariums are far more for forgiving than there glass counterparts. If a heavy object strikes a glass tank, it will almost certainly break. The flexibility of an acrylic tank will prevent this catastrophe from happening. In addition, acrylic offers more flexibility in design than glass. Acrylic aquariums have been made into everything from coffee tables to gum ball machines.

That being said, there is a short downfall to owning an acrylic aquarium. They do scratch more easily than glass. When cleaning your aquarium, be careful not to use paper towels, and harsh or abrasive chemicals, as they can scratch the acrylic surface of the aquarium. Always use a cleaner specifically labeled safe for acrylic. Use plastic or rubber scrubbers, rather than metal to clean the sides of an acrylic tank. Be careful not to accidentally pick up a piece of substrate or gravel while cleaning the inside of the tank. However, if you do happen to scratch an acrylic aquarium, all is not lost. The tank can be repaired, unlike glass. There are acrylic repair kits available at specialty pet stores, your local hardware store and of course online.

When purchasing an acrylic aquarium kit, there will be many different options to choose from, at many different price points. Aquarium kits can be purchased at places such as specialty aquatic pet stores, from huge retail chains, or again online. A fish lover can choose from small cylinder shaped tanks that can double as a coffee table lamp to wall huge wall sized aquariums. While, there are some basic things that will be included in most kits, such as, a filter, some substrate or coral and sometimes lighting, the kits themselves can vary greatly. It really doesn't matter where you buy your starter kit, but keep in mind that it is extremely important to buy your fish from a reputable dealer. Don't buy fish that are hovering near the surface, or that are located in a tank with other dead fish. Fish diseases are extremely communicable. Be weary of a fish dealer that refuses to catch a specific fish out of the tank for you. After all this is going to be your fish and you have a right to choose.

Clown Knifefish Supply List and Maintenance

Fun Fish for your Fish Tank

Knifefish (Clown Knife) Size: 12-36 Inches

Knifefish are a great fish for a mid-sized aquarium, make sure your fish tank leaves room for your fish to grow. Knifefish are in the Tropical fish group or community. Clown Knife fish eat meat! That's right they are carnivores. Feed knifefish worms, insect larva, some crustaceans. Knifefish are rambunctious at night and slow during the day. Knifefish spend their happy time swimming in the middle or bottom of the fish tank. Make sure there is room for it down there. Most young knifefish swim happily in a group of five but as they grow the begin to separate from the group.

If you are going to add fish to your tank with the Knifefish be prepared to watch it eat. They can be aggressive to fellow fishes as they get older. As your knifefish get older you should also be aware of the other species of fish you put in your aquarium. You never know the Knifefish may eat the other species of fish

Supply List for your Knifefish

• Right sized fish tank, glass or acrylic
• Strong Stand for your aquarium
• Aquarium Hood/Hatch
• Proper lights
• Gravel
• Reliable Filter
• Algae scrubber
• Heater & Thermometer
• Fish food Frozen/live/freeze-dried Tank Decorations
• Live plants or Artificial plants
• Water conditioner to keep water balanced
• Water testing kits
• Gravel vacuum to reduce gook buildup
• Get a net - Knifefish will bite your hands.

Other species of Knifefish include South American Banded, Asian, Black Ghost and Brown Ghost

http://www.FishPlenty.com/wordpress - The Ultimate Fish Tank Guide For all Aquarium Lovers! This is the mecca for Fish Tank Maintenance, Tips and Tricks and Health information in regards to your tropical fish.

Nathan_E_Peterson

Aquarium Care for Freshwater Fish

Freshwater fish are perhaps the easiest fish to care for in comparison to saltwater species because they are usually hardier fish. A basic aquarium set up will be required. You will need a tank, some rocks or substrate to line bottom of the tank. You will also need a filter, and some lighting. When choosing fish, it is imperative to make sure the fish are compatible. Not only do they need to be compatible for water temperature and P.H., but they also should have similar food requirements. Try to keep the fish relatively the same size. It has been said that if a fish is small enough to fit in another fishes mouth, that is usually where it ends up. So don't be discouraged if this happens. Even fish that have been housed together for several months have been known to disappear on occasion.

Freshwater fish should be fed twice daily. Feed only a small amount that can be consumed within the first two to five minutes. Over feeding is a common mistake among novice fish keepers. Any excess food should be lifted with a net if possible, as it will become debris and quickly dirty the tank. Water should be kept regulated and tested weekly. Any discrepancies in P.H. and water temperature should be corrected immediacy in order to minimize stress caused to the fish.
Stress is significant because it causes illness in fish. It is important to monitor the activity and overall well being of the fish in an aquarium. The signs of stress will be fairly obvious. Slow moving or lethargic looking fish will require a stress coat that can be purchased at a local pet store. Try to avoid overcrowding the tank. This should help to reduce the amount of stress caused to the fish.

Change about a third of the water in the aquarium at a time, because this type of change will cause the least amount of disturbance to the fish and other inhabitants. This will need to be done every two to three weeks. Use either a bucket or a siphon to remove the water from the tank. Try to remove any loose or floating debris at this time. When adding the new water to the aquarium, be sure that it is within approximately two degrees of the tank water. The sides of the aquarium should be scrubbed regularly to remove an algae build up. Again be careful not to disturb the fish. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling the aquarium. Lastly, check the manufacturer's recommendation on filters and change them accordingly. Filters collect any fish waste or left over food. They can't function properly unless they are clean.

Introduce hardy fish to a new tank. These fish can withstand higher nitrite levels that are present in a new aquarium. Choose fish such as danios, barbs, gouramis, and live bearers. Don't add more than three to four small fish per week. Acclimation times vary per species, so check with your retailer before adding any other new fish.

Fishless Cycling - A Better Method For Your New Tropical Aquarium

Once you have set up your tropical aquarium the next step is to 'cycle' it. This process is the production of beneficial bacteria that will process the waste ammonia from your fish and convert it into nitrites and then relatively harmless nitrates. After adding fish to an uncycled tank the toxic ammonia and nitrite levels will rise to a dangerous high until there are sufficient numbers of bacteria to convert them into less toxic nitrates. In order to overcome this methods have been devised to encourage the growth of the bacteria. The traditional method is to add a few 'hardy' fish that will produce ammonia to encourage bacteria growth while the tank is 'cycling'. This method is very stressful for the fish, many of which die or are damaged by the process. The toxic ammonia burns the gills and leads to permanent damage. At the end of the 'cycling' you are left with fish in poor condition which you may not want in your aquarium.

A better, more humane method to cycle the tank is to use a fishless cycling method. It uses household ammonia as a source, rather than live fish, and a bacteria culture obtained from a healthy tank or purchased from an aquarium supplier.

The Bacteria Starter Culture

You can obtain a starter bacteria culture by adding some gravel, filter medium or rock from a healthy, aged tropical fish tank. If you do not have a source there are commercial products available, for example StressZyme or Hagen's Cycle. The culture will give a quick start to producing a colony of bacteria but you can also use this method without a starter culture. It will take a bit longer then to cycle your tank.

The Ammonia

Purchase some unscented, additive free 100% ammonia. Some aquarium supply shops are now selling ammonia for this purpose. If you know a chemist or science teacher they may be able to get you some pure ammonia from a laboratory supplier..

The Tank Temperature

The bacteria (Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter) thrive best at higher temperature than is usually used for a tropical tank so during the cycling increase the temperature to between 30 and 35 C (85-95F). When you add the fish you can turn it down again.

Testing Kit

A testing kit to check the ammonia and nitrite levels is essential to test the levels and to indicate when cycling is complete.

The Fishless Cycling Method

Extra aeration is recommended while cycling as bacteria need oxygen to grow. Increase the aeration through the tank and filter if possible. You could add an extra air stone or even use an extra pump if one is available. Add your bacteria culture, then add about a teaspoon of ammonia for a small tank. Increase this for a larger tank. Allow about an hour for the ammonia to circulate then test. The ammonia level should be between 5 mg/L (or 5ppm). Add some more ammonia if the level is too low. Leave the tank alone for a few days then test again.

At this stage the ammonia level should begin to drop and the nitrite level to rise. This means that the bacteria are doing their job of processing the ammonia. Add some more ammonia when it drops to zero to give the bacteria more to work on. The nitrite level should rise until it reaches a maximum then begin to drop as the nitrites are converted into relatively harmless nitrates. Three or four days after the maximum nitrite levels are seen the nitrite level should drop to zero. The cycling is now complete.

Change about 50-70% of the water, carefully so as not to disturb the filter or the gravel bed where the bacteria are colonised. Reset the temperature to 25°C, or the recommended temperature for your intended fish and allow the temperature to stabilise for a few hours. Retest for ammonia and nitrites and if the levels are zero you can now begin to add some fish.

It is possible after cycling the tank to add all the fish in one go but this will result in a spike in the ammonia and nitrite levels which is stressful for the fish and could cause them to become diseased. adding the fish slowly will allow the bacteria to grow to cope with the added levels of ammonia excreted by the fish. Even for a fully cycled tank it is advisable to gradually add the fish. aim to take about a month to fully stock the tank.

A fishless cycling method is more efficient and produces a fully cycled tank in a much shorter time than the traditional method of using hardy fish. It is also more humane and you will not be left with unwanted, often damaged fish, at the end.

For more information about aquariums and fish keeping check out Cheap Aquariums for Sale or Cheap Acrylic Aquariums

Janet_Ashby

Caring for a Goldfish Aquarium

Keeping Goldfish can be a fun and rewarding hobby. As with any new hobby, especially one that involves living creatures, always consider the maintenance that will be involved. If you care for your aquarium properly, you will be sure to have happy and healthy Goldfish for many years. Goldfish have a life expectancy of five to ten years. If you do a good job maintaining their fish tank, you should have fun, beautiful fish for a long time. Make sure to feed them correctly and keep their water fresh and clear.

When starting any new aquarium, you should get everything in place before buying the fish. If you are going to put gravel on the bottom, you may want to put only a thin layer. This will make it easier to keep clean, as Goldfish tend to be messy. Make sure that you rinse the gravel thoroughly before placing it in the bottom of the tank. If you have some decorations, you should add them now. Make sure that you rinse them well before putting them into the tank. Also be sure that the goldfish have plenty of room to swim, as they as active fish. Give them a place or two to hide, and that should do nicely.

Now that you have everything in place, you can add in the water. You will need to use a dechlorinator, as the chlorine in tap water is poisonous to fish. Once the fish tank is filled up, you can turn on the filter. Change it as often as recommended to keep your fish healthy. Goldfish live at room temperature, so you will not need a heater. They are quite comfortable in temperatures from 68 to 80 degrees. However, they should not be exposed to rapid temperature changes. You might want to let the filter run in the new goldfish tank for a day or so to filter out any chemicals or dyes that might have been left on the gravel and decorations that you just added. Waiting to buy new fish can be one of the hardest things about fish keeping!

You need to add fish gradually. Fish excrete ammonia. If you add too many fish at once to a new fish tank, the water will not be seasoned enough to dissipate it. As the water in your Goldfish tank ages, it builds up beneficial bacteria that turn harmful chemicals excreted by the fish into harmless ones. However, this will take some time. Start out with only one fish. The nitrogen cycle will not begin until you add the fish, so running an empty tank for several days will not help. Since your fish tank is brand new, you might want to consider making partial water changes of about 25 per cent of the total water volume every few days for the first week or so.

You can find Goldfish food at almost any pet shop. Make sure to purchase some when you buy your first fish. Feed only a small amount. Especially at first. Any uneaten food will sink to the bottom and rot. Keep this to a minimum. Watch your fish the first few times that you feed them. Feed only as much as they will eat in two to three minutes twice a day, or as recommended on the Goldfish food label. Be especially careful not to overfeed when the Goldfish tank is new. This will cause excess build up of toxic chemicals and can kill your fish quickly.

As the water in your fish tank cycles through the nitrogen cycle, you may notice that is becomes very cloudy. This is a normal process and should clear up in a few days. Do not add any new fish until the water is crystal clear again. Clear water will signify that the nitrogen cycle is working and that the toxic chemicals are being converted to good ones.

Remember that Goldfish will grow large and they need a big space. Don't overcrowd the tank if you want to keep healthy fish. If you follow this little guideline, you will be sure to have a healthy goldfish aquarium.

Gallon Fish Aquarium - Essential Equipment Needed

Gallon fish aquariums need certain essential pieces of equipment in order for you to provide the ideal environment for the fish and other marine life to reside in. If you intend to keep a saltwater gallon fish aquarium, along with a good filtration system, you need a good heating system and an air pump system.

Below we take a look at some of the essential equipment that you will need for setting up a tropical saltwater gallon fish aquarium. What you should be doing before you go out to buy this equipment is to actually carry out some research beforehand. The best place to do your research in order to learn about and compare the various different filtration kits, air pumps and heating systems, is by going online.

Not only are you able to compare each item and their prices quickly at various different aquarium supply sites, but you may find it much easier to do your shopping online also. In fact you may find through online shopping you could save yourself some money as well.

Gallon Fish Aquarium - Which Filtration System?

The main role of any of the filtration kits available is that they help to remove waste and debris which can accumulate in the water. When looking for your filtration system select those which are capable of doing the following:

• The intake should be large enough to let dirty water pass through it easily.
• If you have to go for a mechanical filtration system make sure that it can filter out any sediment which is floating in the water.
• A good one will have a chemical filtration system that helps to remove excesses of nitrogenous and phosphorous from a gallon fish aquarium.
• It should include a biological filtration system which can help to remove bacteria and organisms that are harmful to the marine life and fish in the tank.
• The systems outlet valve should be sufficient that it allows filtered water to be easily returned back into the gallon fish aquarium.

As well as being the most complex piece of equipment in your fish aquarium, the filtration system is also a very important one. There are a number of different designs to select from and each one will filter the water to a different level. Along with the actual filtration system, there are other pieces of equipment to consider purchasing such as protein skimmers which ensure that the environment within the aquarium remains balanced.

Gallon Fish Aquarium - Purchasing An Air Pump For It

As with filtration systems you will find that you are spoilt for choices when it comes to getting an air pump for your aquarium. The more expensive kinds of air pumps you can purchase today are traditionally a lot quieter than their cheaper counter parts.

Installing an air pump in a gallon fish aquarium ensures that the fish and marine life in it are being supplied with plenty of fresh oxygen regularly. If not then the chances of the inhabitants in your tank dying is greatly increased, because just like us they need oxygen to breathe.

Using an air pump will ensure that the levels of fresh oxygen in the water remain constant and this provides an environment that fish and marine life will find comfortable in a gallon fish aquarium.

For more gallon aquarium tips and aquariums visit The Aquarium Lady.

Trish_Hunter

Tips on Aquarium Care and Cleaning

The proper care and cleaning of your aquarium is the most important, yet most overlooked aspect of owning an aquarium. By avoiding the care and maintenance of a fish tank, not only will it lose the visual appeal, but your fish will be unhealthy and unhappy. By following a daily, weekly and monthly care program, you will maintain a beautiful, clean and healthy aquarium.

Daily Cleaning Routine

To maintain a clean aquarium, there are some daily tasks that must be done. First and foremost, it's important to check the temperature of the tank and make sure it stays consistent. For tropical freshwater fish, the temperature should average at around 77 degrees. Too much heat in your aquarium will promote the growth of algae. Always check for sick or dead fish daily. If you have a sick fish, it should be removed from the tank immediately or it may harm the other inhabitants of the aquarium. Lastly, check that the pump and filter are functioning properly.

Weekly Cleaning Routine

Weekly maintenance is necessary to keep the tank healthy. On a weekly basis, any waste should be removed from the surface of the gravel at the bottom of the tank. Using a siphon tube will accomplish this. If water is removed during this process, be sure to replace it and keep the water in the tank at the same level. Add chemicals and chlorine weekly so the balance within the tank remains the same. At this time, it is best to test the water for the ammonia and nitrate levels. Don't overlook testing the pH of the water as well. If you are raising live plants, tend to them each week. Trim them back if they are getting too big, and remove any dead or sick leaves. Re-anchor and new sprouts into your gravel. Also, check your tank for snails. You can remove snails by floating a piece of lettuce leaf in the tank. The snails will be attracted to the lettuce, and you can remove them using a net.

Monthly Cleaning Routine

Finally, some monthly steps will assure that your aquarium stays clean and healthy. A partial water change should be performed each month. Using a siphon hose, remove 20 to 25 percent of the water from the tank. Always make sure that your chemical balance is correct. High levels of chlorine and ammonia will cause death. Cleaning the filter should be a monthly task as well as changing the filter cartridge. Be sure not to clean the filter too thoroughly as it contains helpful bacteria that aids in stabilizing the chemical balance in the tank. During the monthly cleaning, scrape and remove all algae from the surface of the tank. If you find you are having a significant amount of algae, consider adding an algae eater to the tank. Should you already have one, be sure to keep an eye on the temperature of the tank and you may also want to limit the time in which a light is used. Any increased heat source will speed up the production of algae inside the aquarium. If your tank is located in direct sunlight and you are having an algae problem, it is best to relocate the tank.

By following a maintenance schedule, you will be sure to keep a clean, clear and healthy tank. Aquarium care is essential and must be performed regularly to ensure the long and happy life of your fish. Provide yourself with an aquarium to be proud of by keeping up with the care and cleaning.

Acrylic Aquarium - Hobby and Art

If you haven't seen an acrylic aquarium, you're in for a pleasant surprise! These aren't your grandma's goldfish bowls! Get ready for breathtaking displays of art and craftsmanship.

No longer restricted to major aquariums hosting exotic sea life, acrylic aquariums are the must-have art pieces for everything from Las Vegas casinos, Beverly Hills hotels, the Statue of Liberty, and, of course, posh private homes.

Why Acrylic? Typically we think of glass for aquariums, but acrylic has quickly become the material of choice for aquariums.

Let's look at the benefits of acrylic materials...

1. Lighter - Acrylic aquariums are about half as light as glass structures, making them easier to move and assemble.
2. Stronger - Acrylic is up to 17 times as strong as glass, particularly in larger aquariums.
3. Clearer - Acrylic allows more light to pass through it with less distortion.
4. More Flexible - Curved surfaces are possible, with nearly unlimited shapes and sizes. Since acrylic has "give" to it, it will not shatter or explode like glass would.
5. Seamless - Acrylic can be bonded to itself to create an invisible connection. Without the need for ugly seams, greater creativity in sculpting the actual aquarium.
6. Insulating - Acrylic protects the animals and plants against outside temperature fluctuation because it doesn't convey heat and cold like glass does. In the event of a power outage, the aquarium would hold its heat longer than one made from glass.
7. Safer - Acrylic won't shatter or crack. Acrylic can be scratched, but these are easily repaired with repair kits sold in aquarium supply stores and on-line.
8. Acrylic is "machinable," meaning that it can be drilled or routed, unlike glass.
9. Acrylic is easier to ship and position at the final site.

But nothing is perfect, so on the down side, acrylics have a higher initial cost, about two to three times the price of glass. It has a greater tendency to develop scratches, although these can be repaired, and glass can certainly be scratched as well. Acrylics have the risks of yellowing over time, but new UV stabilizers resist yellowing. Finally, acrylic structures need increased support because acrylic tanks will bow under pressure, while glass will not.

All things considered, there is a strong case for acrylic aquariums. If you're a beginning hobbyist, glass is still the way to go, but for larger art pieces, commercial office spaces, restaurants, doctors' offices, and huge public spaces, acrylics are here to stay.

What's the key to the perfect aquarium? Find out at http://aquarium-guide-online.blogspot.com/

Kathy_Ferneau

Aquarium Fish Care- All About Start Up

Okay so you have decided that you want to own a fish tank. Great! All you need to do is go to the pet store and pick out a tank and the prettiest fish in the store, and you are ready to go right? Wrong! Starting up an aquarium is a process. It takes time and a lot of patience. If you are a beginner, it is recommended that you start out with some hardy freshwater fish, but don't buy the fish just yet. You need to set up the aquarium first. Most aquarium retailers will sell an aquarium in the form of a kit. This takes the guess work out of purchasing.

In order to get your tank ready, first rinse out the tank with clean tap water. Rinse the gravel and any substrate as well. If you are using an under gravel filter, place it in the bottom of the tank. Next cover the filter with approximately two to three inches of gravel. Fill the tank about a third of the way full with water that has been de-chlorinated. The next step is to add any plants or decorations to the tank. Check with your retailer on the specifics for adding live plants. Some live plants need to be anchored, while others can be left free floating. Next connect the air pump and filtration system, and fill the tank the rest of the way. Lastly put the lid on the tank and let it cycle for one to two days before adding any fish to the tank.

Watch the tank for cloudiness and check the temperature and P.H. of the water. If all is clear you may add a few hardy fish. It is important to choose fish that can withstand high levels of nitrites and ammonia, because these levels are always high in a new tank due to the nitrogen cycle. Debris in the tank from fish excretions help to generate the good bacteria that is needed in order for the fish to survive. Since there are currently no fish in the tank this will take some time. It usually takes about four to six weeks.

Once you have purchased your fish, let them float on the surface of the tank in the bag for about fifteen minutes. The purpose of this is to allow the fish to become acclimated to the water temperature in the aquarium. Carefully add the fish into the aquarium using a net and a bucket. Don't pour the water from the bag into the aquarium. The water from the bag could throw off your perfectly regulated water, as well as introduce new bacteria to the aquarium. Watch the fish carefully for signs of stress. Stress causes illness in fish. Monitor their activity levels. Inactive fish or fish hanging out near the surface of the aquarium indicates stress. There is a stress coat that can be used, if symptoms of stress do appear. Wait anywhere from a week to a month before introducing any new fish to the aquarium, allowing the existing fish to become acclimated to their new environment.

Basic Aquarium Plant Care

Most people who purchase an aquarium do so for it's visual appeal. People are known to spend more money on decorating their tanks than the fish and tank itself. It's a good idea when purchasing these decorative pieces that you consider buying pieces that are both gratifying to the eye, but also useful tools for the balance and maintenance of your tank.

Before resorting to plastic green pieces stuck into the gravel, consider using live plants. Aquatic plants are functional in many ways. Most importantly, the live plants will add oxygen to the water and will help to maintain the water chemistry. They also serve as a place where beneficial bacteria can colonize. This bacteria is essential to have and helps in breaking down waste products in the tank. Overall, the use of live plants aids keeping your aquarium clean and healthy while adding a perfect visual effect.

Once the decision to use live plants is made, you must familiarize yourself with how to grow and care for these plants. The key to growing healthy live plants is the balance between lighting and nutrients within the tank. It is best to use more lighting than what is included with standard hoods. The one bulb that comes with a hood is not enough to promote healthy plant growth. When adding extra lighting, be sure to compensate that with a nutrient supplement to stimulate plant growth and at the same time reduce the chance of algae build up. Algae eating fish will make a great addition. They will keep algae levels low and will not damage the live plants.

The decision to use live plants should be a primary one and steps need to be taken to prepare the tank for later use. It is suggested to add all your plants in the beginning and let them become established. By doing this, you will eliminate the chances algae utilizing the nutrients added and the extra lighting. Quick growing plants are recommended as well as some floating plants. Certain types of fish, such as a catfish, like to seek cover from direct light. The floating plants will provide this escape for the fish and will add a pleasing effect to the design and decoration of the aquarium.

Once your plants are established and growing well, add the fish of your choice and enjoy a beautiful tank. While keeping live plants in the tank, it is important to care for them as you would any other plant. Always remove decaying leaves as they tend to drain the nutrients out of the healthy parts of the plant. Dying roots will rot beneath the gravel. Be sure to remove any part of the plant that is dying or appears diseased. Many plants that are seeded into the gravel will reproduce. The new plant growth can be removed and planted in another part of the aquarium. If you are using a live plant that is primarily a stem plant, try to remove the lower leaves. These low leaves tend to not get the amount of light needed to remain healthy.

The use of live plants will definitely help in creating a masterpiece aquarium that is pleasing to the eye and is a happy and healthy environment for your fish. Always remember to clean your aquarium on a regular basis and inspect plants weekly for decay. Scheduled maintenance is the key to keeping a beautiful and healthy aquarium.

Filter to be Pure! Aquarium Filtration Units

Most filters fall into three categories, namely mechanical, chemical or bacteriological filtration base. The aquarium supply scene is so diversified and a multitude of products available that it becomes a little confusing to make a quick choice without studying the competitive data. You must carefully prepare your "brief" and specify all your requirements before deciding on the type of filtration to be used.

What & Why of Aquarium Filtration Units

Fish and organisms cause pollution in the form of waste and if not removed would cause toxin development and consequent illness of the fish. The aquarium filtration units consolidate this waste and purify the water that recycles back into the fish tank. The assembly of a filter relies on filtration media that serves the purpose of removing chemicals, particles, and bacteria. Commonly filters are available as packaged units with mechanical and bacteriological media. Chemical filtration can be added to this. Nitrogen residues in the form of ammonia causes distress to fish and the bacteriological filtration unit remove this component very successfully.

Short description of Aquarium Filtration Units

There are four basic types that you can install in case you are assembling your own aquarium. These are:

• Internal Power type
• External Power type
• Powered filters
• Internal box type filters

Let us compare the features of each filter assembly.

1. Internal Power driven filters are in two parts. The main cylinder contains a bio foam compound and is attached under the submersible pump that drives the filter. This is a mechanical filtration system and is most common in aquarium filter units integrated with fish tanks. The filter unit first mechanically filters the water, removing sludge and solid waste etc and then the bio-filter cleans the water of all biological impurities. It is also possible to have an option of chemical filtration, if that is desired or necessary. As this is the most common type of filter almost all manufacturers can supply a suitably sized filtration system to the aquarium owner.
2. External filter unit are also widely available and give superior duty in comparison with the internal aquarium filtration units. Since these are not integrated into the fish tank the capacity and duty may be of a higher quality and obviously cost compared to the previous internal type. The control is better and one can incorporate additional accessories that enhance the filtration of the water for your aquarium.
3. Air driven under gravel filters was earlier used by aquarium owners when the power driven versions were still in its nascent stage. This is a kind of biological filter where the water is purified and kept in constant motion through the gravel bed and the aerobic bacteria produced breaks down the waste into less toxic products, thereby rendering a pseudo-filtration action. The assembly is electrically driven or can be attached also to a power pump. Easily available and of a lower cost, the under gravel type of aquarium filtration units offer an easy solution to keeping your aquarium clean and healthy.
4. Finally, air box filters driven by internal air are compact and fit alongside the aquarium fish tanks. They are made of plastics and contain suitable filtration media. The air box filters are no longer used in professional or commercial units where the previous three types are more popular. They can provide low cost easy installable aquarium filtration units that a newbie or small fish tank owners can easily use.

Article Source: Desert Coral Aquatics Thomas_Bladecki

How to Create and Care for a Coral Aquarium

Many aquarium owners crave to someday own a saltwater tank displaying numerous kinds of coral. This may be achieved is fast easy steps if you use coral starter kits to grow your own coral. This is recommended over buying coral from a store. By growing your own, you ensure it is properly acclimated to your tank. Setting up and caring for the coral aquarium, or reef aquarium is a task that requires a bit of knowledge before starting. There are some steps to take when setting up a new coral aquarium. The process may seem to take a long time, and because of this, many people opt to use fake coral instead. However, the time spent waiting will be well worth it when you are later able to display your own coral aquarium. If you follow some simple steps and have patience for about 12 weeks, you will be able to create and own your piece of underwater paradise.

To begin, the first thing to do is assemble your aquarium. Find a spot in the home that you wish to have it displayed. Follow through with the set up as you would a freshwater tank. When you are ready to add the water to the tank, follow these simple steps. First, pour the sand into the bottom of the tank. Add dechlorinated water to the tank. Next, add the salt and make sure it is mixed until the specific gravity measures 1.205. After the water and salt are added, arrange your live rock as desired and install the heater and the hood of the tank. After doing these things, you must then wait 4 weeks to move ahead.

After the four weeks has passed, you will then add your first living creatures to the tank. It is best to add fish later, and slowly as to make sure the salt balance in the tank is correct and remains that way. At this time, you can add a variety of snails or crabs if you wish to have them part of your tank. You will also need to install a protein skimmer. The tank should be functioning as if it were full of fish. Make sure the filters are working properly and the lighting is right. Remember not to leave the light on for more than 10 to 12 hours a day as it may promote algae growth. After adding some snails or crabs, wait another 2 weeks before proceeding.

Now at week 6, you will add your first pieces of coral. There are many types of coral used in saltwater coral aquariums. Some of the most common are Button Polyp, Yellow Polyp, Hairy Mushroom Coral and Bullseye Mushroom Coral. Make sure when adding your coral, it is attached to the live rock at the bottom of the tank. Wait another 2 weeks. Don't get frustrated... you're almost there! During the eighth week, you can add Aquacultured Coral such as Pumping Xenia, Starburst Polyps and Spaghetti Finger Leather Coral to name a few. Place these corals into the live rock as you did with the previous set of coral.

Now you have succeeded in creating your reef aquarium. During the course of the 10 to 12 week mark, you may begin adding your fish to your underwater world. It may seem a long drawn out process to get a coral aquarium up and running, but the time and hard work will pay off for years to come. Creating and caring for your coral aquarium will bring you much enjoyment and a wonderful sense of accomplishment for creating a spectacular coral aquarium.

Salt Water Aquariums - Things to Consider Before Setting Up One

Salt Water Aquariums need much more than you just filling them with water, and turning on all the appropriate pieces of equipment before putting your fish into the tank. Certainly salt water aquariums offer you the chance to select and keep a wider variety of fish species which come in a wide variety of beautiful colors.

Salt water aquariums can hold more than just the popular kinds of tropical fish such as Angelfish and Clown fish; they can also hold a wide variety of corals, live rocks, invertebrates and shell fish as well. Plus you have a large selection of different kinds of plants which you can incorporate into your salt water aquariums also.

Salt Water Aquariums - - Tank Considerations

The first thing you need to remember is that when you are initially buying all your equipment to set up your own salt water aquariums at home, it is at this stage you should not actually be buying any fish. You need to be aware that you have to spend some time preparing the tank of your salt water aquariums before you actually place the fish into it. Certainly spending time preparing the tank will ensure that you create the right type of bio-filtration system, which will create the perfect environment to sustain all the marine life which you place into your salt water aquariums.

Another thing you need to consider when setting up any kind of salt water aquariums, is what size tank you want. Ideally you should purchase the largest tank you can possibly afford, and which will comfortably fit into the space in your home where it is going to be located, making sure that you keep it away from natural sunlight.

After thinking about what size tank you want for your salt water aquariums, you need to decide whether you are going to just keep fish in it, or whether you want a salt water reef aquarium instead. This means spending money on purchasing live rocks and corals to install in the tank as well, and these items do not come cheaply. Therefore in the beginning when setting up salt water aquariums, it is a good idea to have a budget in place, and which you should keep to as much as possible.

Salt Water Aquariums - - Other Things To Be Considered

Along with choosing the right size tank, you need to choose the right filtration and heating systems for your tanks. Although you may think buying one large filter system for a large salt water aquarium tank is more economical, then think again. It is much more advisable to purchase two smaller ones as this will ensure that if anything goes wrong with one, the other will ensure that things are kept running until the other is repaired or replaced.

Also you need to consider which type of fish you want to keep in your salt water aquariums. Remember that not all tropical fish get along with each other, and some species of saltwater fish can be very aggressive towards others. Therefore you need to spend time learning about the different fish species, along with reading reviews on what they like, and what other fish they are compatible with.

Certainly when it comes to setting up any kind of salt water aquariums, it is crucial that you spend as much time as you can in learning about the different types of tanks and equipment, along with the different types of fish, plants and corals which can be put into them. There are plenty of guides available either from a good quality aquarium supply company, or through bookstores. If you can, purchase a number and read as much as you can prior to making your purchase.

For more saltwater aquarium tips and saltwater aquarium supplies visit The Aquarium Lady.

Trish_Hunter

Tips for Great Deals When Purchasing a Saltwater Aquarium on e-Bay

With the world quickly entering the age of the virtual consumer it seems as though everyone is looking to the internet to purchase and sell their goods. The savvy consumer can find everything from fungus to jewelry throughout the mysterious twists and turns of the world's largest shopping mall. Is it any wonder, then, that e-Bay, the all in one auction site where buyers can literally buy almost anything, is becoming one of the largest "retailers" in the world?

Of course, just because they are beginning to exert a dominance over the international market is no reason for consumers not to take advantage of the deals that can be had by shopping on e-Bay. e-Bay is an auction site, not a retailer. Many of the sellers who are listing their wares on e-Bay have a greater interest in finding a good home for them than in making a good profit-and the added bonus of no longer tripping over them when they walk through their house doesn't hurt either. Due to the fact that most of these sellers are interested in moving their products as quickly as possible the opening bids are generally well below market value.

Bear in mind, of course, that competition is going to inevitably drive the bidding up. Unless your mind is completely made up on the precise type of aquarium you want it may be best to go for one of the less popular models in an attempt to get the best deal. There will probably not be a great number of bidders competing over these products and the bids will probably not go a great deal higher than the minimum bid (we say probably because the only absolutes in life are death and taxes, and in the auction world the unexpected often happens). These less popular models are every bit as functional and beautiful as the more popular models, they just lack the newfangled gadgets which accompany every new and improved product that hits the market. (If you truly have your heart set on these gadgets, bear in mind that many can be added separately a little farther down the road for a great deal less expense).

Be careful not to find yourself starting a bidding war. Do not throw your hat in the ring too early. Bear in mind that it is competition that drives the price of a product up. If you are too excited to purchase a product you will probably play your hand too soon and start a bidding war. The only thing that is going to mean is more money out of your pocket if you win. It is best to find an aquarium that suits your needs, then take note of the current bid and the day that the bidding is ending. On the last bidding day, as close to the closing time as possible without being over, visit the site and see what the current bid is. If it is still within your budget this is the time to make your bid.

Of course, if you find the aquarium that is absolutely perfect for your needs and you do not wish to wait another minute to add it to your home many items on e-Bay come with a "Buy It Now" option. This is generally a minimum amount which the owner has agreed to accept to stop the bidding process and make a sale. Beware! This price may be higher than the bidding would go, so do not jump the gun too early unless you feel you have truly found your heart's desire.

With a bit of organization and savvy planning e-Bay can yield tremendous deals on aquariums and their accompanying equipment. Happy Hunting!

Tropical Fish Aquarium Accessories Every Tank Needs

When looking to get into the tropical fish aquarium hobby one has to consider everything involved, not just the beautiful tropical fish and the amazing aquarium styles and sizes. There are many other important accessories needed that play a important role in keeping your tropical fish healthy so you can enjoys years of amazement and relaxation by these beautiful fish.

The hood of a aquarium plays a important role in not only the safety of your tropical fish but also in maintaining water temperature, evaporation loss, unwanted elements from entering the aquarium and a housing for the lighting unit. There are many styles available in hoods that can fit any décor from modern looking to contemporary. Hoods for tropical fish aquariums are made out of a variety of materials now days from wood to plastics to tinted glass. When using a hood that has a built in lighting system make sure there is a condensation panel between lighting fixtures and tank.

No tank is complete without gravel and if using an underwater filtration device, gravel is imperative. Aquarium gravel serves a couple purposes, one, it gives the tank a look of a natural habitat, and secondly, for ground feeders a more natural environment for feeding. Make sure your base tank cover gravel is appropriate for the type of tropical fish your aquarium accommodates and is free of contaminants. Your best bet is to purchase your gravel from a tropical fish/aquarium supply company.

Although the gravel gives the tropical aquarium a more natural affect it does end up being a catchall and needs to be cleaned regularly. In order to do this without having to disrupt your tropical fish, gravel cleaners are a necessity. You can purchase gravel cleaners that work much the same way a siphon works or an electrical operated one dependent upon how much money you want to invest. .

The water filter plays an important role in your tropical fish aquarium. Waste floats in the water in particles one cannot always even see with the naked eye, the filter helps to eliminate this waste as well as keep your water clear. As mentioned earlier, the under-gravel water filter is just one of the three types of water filtration systems available. There is also the traditional top based internal filter you may see used on many tropical fish aquariums which is probably the easiest to maintain and why so widely used. The top filter is not near as quiet though as the under-gravel filter. The external top filter is similar to the internal basic functioning but is larger and generally has more then one filtration system, require plumbing in, and sits off the tank itself.

Air pumps are essential to your tropical fish aquarium to keep the water circulating for oxygenation purposes and removal of harmful gases that may sit in corners of your aquarium otherwise. Air pumps are bought to gallon size of your tropical aquarium.

Tropical fish are accustomed to particular water temperature specific to their species. This is where an aquarium heater comes into play. Lighting plays a huge role if you have live plants in your tropical fish aquarium. Make sure you get the right lighting requirements for what your aquarium accommodates.

Décor helps to maintain a natural environment in your aquarium and allows for coverage for the shy fish and protection for tropical fish against more aggressive tropics. There are various types of décor for a tropical aquarium, some is chosen by personal taste but take into consideration your tropical fish species individual needs when purchasing.

When it comes to the actual water in your tropical fish aquarium, there are conditioners and dechlorinators that are needed as well as water test kits such as ammonia and ammonium test, nitrite test, nitrate test, pH test, and water hardness tests.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Colin Tebb is an aquarium owner dedicated to providing aquatic people with all the knowledge they need on tropical fish. His website http://mytropicalfishtank.com provides a wealth of informative articles and resources on everything you will ever need to know about tropical fish care.

Good Deals On a Saltwater Aquarium?

Aquariums make a lovely addition to any home, and the exotic nature of a saltwater aquarium and the tropical fish who inhabit it have caused these household decorations to rise in popularity over the years. Unfortunately, because of their exotic nature and high demand it can often be quite costly to purchase and outfit a saltwater aquarium. The tank is not the only factor to be considered when calculating cost, although it is bound to be one of the greatest. There is also the cost of the plant life, sand, gravel or silt, the rocks (particularly if you are using live rocks), coral, the filtering system, the stand, the lights and, of course, the fish themselves.

With all of these costs it is no wonder that people look for deals whenever possible when attempting to put together their aquarium. The most common venue for purchasing an aquarium is to simply go to some form of pet store, such as Petsmart, that offers all of the things that are needed to establish a saltwater aquarium in one convenient location. This is much easier than attempting to put together an aquarium piece by piece and is the method generally chosen for those who do not want to wait months for their aquarium while they attempt to find the perfect pieces at the perfect bargain, an often frustrating hunt. These pet stores can also be invaluable when it comes to obtaining the saltwater and chemicals necessary to get the aquarium up and running; however, unless the store is running a special this is probably not going to be the method of choice for getting a good deal on an aquarium.

Online retailers offer consumers a better chance at good deals on an aquarium and all of their parts, and the ease of navigating the internet means that a search that could take months on foot can be done in only a matter of minutes from the comfort of the consumers own home. A would-be aquarium owner can search the online retailers who sell these parts new or they can choose to utilize such sites as e-Bay and Amazon, who offer these products gently used at prices much lower than can be found in any of the major retailers.

It is important to shop around a bit before making a commitment if you are attempting to get a good deal on an aquarium. Never take the first deal offered to you until you have seen how it compares to the competition. Regardless of what the retailer may claim, chances are that the offer will still be there in an hour or two after you have had the opportunity to examine what the competition has to offer. If the product is being sold by a private seller rather than a retail chain it may also be possible to barter the price down, particularly if this is something that they have been attempting to sell for some time.

With a bit of ingenuity and the proper resources it is possible to obtain a quality aquarium at a bargain price-it simply requires a bit of patience and faith. Happy hunting!

Saltwater Aquariums - Adding Supplements to Yours

Saltwater aquariums require a lot more maintenance compared to freshwater aquariums, if you want the fish in yours to remain healthy and to thrive. What one needs to be aware of when it comes to saltwater aquariums, is that over time certain minerals and nutrients which are essential to the health of fish, can become depleted. Therefore, there are going to be times when you need to replenish these through the use of special aquarium supplements.

However, not everybody does need to add supplements to their aquarium; it all depends on how well you maintain yours. For those who chose to keep just saltwater fish in their aquarium such as, Angelfish and Clownfish and regularly change the water, and also carry out essential maintenance procedures, then adding supplements may well not be necessary.

The reason for this being that each time you change the water within any kind of saltwater aquarium, you are in fact replenishing those essential nutrients and minerals that are needed. However, if you have a saltwater aquarium in which there are corals, then you do need to provide supplements that will help to keep the calcium levels within the water high.

How Do You Determine If Saltwater Aquariums Need Supplements

The simplest and most effective way for you to determine if your saltwater aquarium requires additional supplements, is to test the water. There are numerous test kits available which can be purchased either from your local tropical fish store or online, and which quickly identify what is missing from the saltwater in your aquarium, and how much you need to add to bring it up to the appropriate level.

However, when you are adding supplements you need to be careful, otherwise you may find yourself adding too much and fixing an excess of anything can cause you problems. The only way in which an excess of anything in an aquarium can be corrected, is by changing all the water in the tank completely. This unfortunately can cause the plants, fish and coral in your tank considerable amounts of stress.

Types Of Supplements Which One Must Include In Saltwater Aquariums

There is still some debate regarding the matter of adding supplements to saltwater aquariums, as many believe that just by regularly changing the water should be sufficient to replenish those essential elements which have been lost. This certainly seems to be the case where saltwater aquariums only contain fish or fish and live rocks. But for coral reef er aquariums they feel it is essential to add a supplement of calcium to the water. But as well as adding calcium to your aquariums which contain coral reef, you may find that you need to start adding some magnesium and Kalkwasser supplements as well.

The reason why one should actually be adding calcium into coral reef saltwater aquariums is because it helps the corals, algae and any invertebrates you have in the tank to grow. Certainly without adding such a supplement, you may find it extremely difficult to keep the levels at a balance that is beneficial to the life in the tank, and which is naturally found in their wild environment.

Today you have a number of different products available which can be purchased online or through your local aquarium supply company, that provide the correct dosage of calcium for your saltwater aquariums. These come either in tablet or liquid form and although the liquid type is far easier to add to the aquarium water, it is also more expensive. However, you may also find that you need to add some carbonate or bicarbonate to the water to ensure that when you add the calcium into your aquarium, it does not lower the alkalinity in the tank as well. If the level of alkalinity does go below that which is recommended, (2.5 meg per liter of saltwater) you may find you need to add a supplement of Kalkwasser to it.

For more saltwater aquarium tips and saltwater aquarium supplies visit The Aquarium Lady.

Trish_Hunter

The Easiest Way to Setup a Saltwater Aquarium: Part 3

The 30 Day Cycling Process

The importance of the thirty day cycling process cannot be understated; this is a vital part of establishing the ecosystem of each individual aquarium. The exact processes which are occurring during this cycle, however, are often not well explained, or else they may be a little too well explained and no one without a degree in organic chemistry can understand a word that is being spoken.

The truth is that while the nitrogen cycling process is a complex one it is not by any means impossible for the average citizen to understand. James Kostich of Aquatics Unlimited took the time to gather together a thorough, day-by-day explanation of the processes which are occurring during the thirty day cycling process in a manner that is simple for even the amateur aquarium designer to understand. This explanation can be found at http://www.bestfish.com/newtank3.html; however, the process is briefly summed up below.

If you are using fish to stimulate the cycling process take a great deal of care. While on the first day there is likely to be no ammonia in the tank, by the end of the third day these levels will have reached near toxicity. It is important to carefully monitor the fish during this crucial state; it may be even better to use an artificial source of ammonia to trigger this process. This will allow you to establish the proper balance in the tank without placing your aquatic friends at risk. While ammonia levels are beginning to rise first stage bacteria are beginning to grow.

By the fifth day these first stage bacteria will have begun to metabolize the ammonia into nitrite. This process will be well established by the end of the first week. At the end of the second week ammonia levels will be completely safe for the fish and nitrites will be at their peak. From here until approximately day 27 the second stage bacteria will be working to begin metabolizing the nitrite to nitrate. By day 30 ammonia and nitrite levels should be all but non-existent as nitrate levels reach their peak and the bacterium are well able to handle maintaining the chemical composition of the water.

This is an example of minimizing Mother Nature's perfect filtration system in order to provide your fish with the perfect habitat. Hopefully you have chosen to artificially stimulate the cycling process so that it is well established prior to inserting your fish. If you have not it is very important that you keep a very close eye on them while the tank is undergoing its cycling process. The spikes in ammonia and nitrite levels can be severely harmful to fish if they are exposed to it for too great a period of time, and they will likely begin to show signs of distress during these periods of the cycling process. If this becomes severe their conditions can be aided by changing a portion of the water in order to dilute the concentration of these products.

Basic Steps of Setting Up Saltwater Fish Aquariums

Saltwater fish aquariums are not that easy to set up as you would first imagine. In fact there are a number of things that you can do before you are actually able to introduce any kind of marine life (fish, coral or plants), into your saltwater fish aquarium.

By setting up your saltwater fish aquarium correctly, you will ensure that at all times the saltwater fish and other marine life will remain healthy. Also you will know that you have purchased all the right kinds of saltwater aquarium supplies for your aquarium as well.

Steps To Take When Setting Up Your Saltwater Fish Aquariums

Of course it is important that you purchase the right kind of tank for your saltwater fish aquariums to keep the fish in. Preferably it is a good idea to go with a recommended tank that has been suggested by the staff in the store where you are purchasing it from. Once you get the tank home, you need to start on the next stage of preparing the tank before you actually introduce the fish and other marine life into your saltwater fish aquariums.

1. First off you need to get some clean freshwater and thoroughly clean out the tank. When setting up saltwater fish aquariums for the first time, this should be done and even before you apply any kind of background at the back of the tank (if you are having one).
2. Now get the stand and place this in the location where you are looking to situate your saltwater fish aquarium. Make sure that it is close to a power outlet, and also that the place where the saltwater fish aquarium stand is going to be, is level. Also make sure that there is sufficient space for you to have access to the tank itself.
3. Before placing any kind of saltwater fish aquariums on their stands, make sure that some kind of under pad has been put in place. This will not only help to level up the tank, but also cushion its base as well.
4. Once the tank is in position, now is the time to start placing the essential pieces of equipment into your saltwater fish aquarium. The first thing that should go in is the filtration system, especially if you are going to have one that is situated under the gravel. If not, then this will then be placed on the side of the tank. Now you need to put the gravel into the tank. Ideally lay a good couple of inches or so into the tank's base and make sure that some is banked up at the back.
5. Now one can move onto putting in the water, if you can allow the water to stand for several days, or else add a special saltwater mixture to it prior to actually putting the water into any saltwater fish aquarium. At this stage you should still not be thinking about putting any plants, fish or other marine life into it.

Saltwater Fish Aquariums - - - Now That The Water Is In

After you have put the water into the tank, before you actually do start to put any tropical fish, coral, or plants into the saltwater fish aquarium, allow all the equipment to run for 24 hours. This will give you a chance to test all the equipment to ensure that it is working correctly. Plus you will able to test if the water has reached the necessary temperature that the aquarium fish and other marine life will find comfortable to live in.

However, at this stage you will not really be able to see if the protein skimmer in your saltwater fish aquarium is running correctly. But what you will be able to detect, is the production of bubbles which means that water is running through it correctly.

If you want to ensure that the saltwater and other protein and pH levels are correct in the water before placing any fish into the tank, it is advisable that you carry out a test first. There are home test kits available which you can purchase from a reputable saltwater fish aquarium supply company, either locally to you or online.

It is important that you follow the above steps before you actually move on to the next stage with your saltwater fish aquarium, which is actually to put the saltwater fish, plants and coral into the tank. If not, you may find yourself having to replace all these at a later date, as they just could not cope with the changes.

For more saltwater aquarium tips and saltwater aquarium supplies visit The Aquarium Lady

Trish_Hunter

The Easiest Way to Setup a Saltwater Aquarium: Part 2

Establishing Live Rocks in an Aquarium

Aquariums are beautiful in their own right, particularly ones which are large enough to make the viewer feel as though they have been transported into an underwater wonderland. For many individuals the inside of a clear glass aquarium is as close as they will ever come to the wonders of the world beneath the ocean's surface, and for that reason an aquarium which is as close to the natural habitat of its inhabitants as possible is a joy unto itself.

Live rocks, rocks which are covered with both micro- and macroorganisms which help to digest the waste produced by the fish, are a vital part of every natural ecosystem. For that reason it makes sense that they would be an important part of an aquarium environment as well. It is not as simple as dropping a rock into an aquarium and allowing all manner of things to grow on it, however. There is a process that must be followed to ensure optimal benefits for both the large aquarium and the live rock.

It is very simple to cure live rock before placing it in the aquarium, but this is an important step that must be taken in order to prevent a build up of ammonia in the tank which could negatively affect the fish. To cure live rock first select a plastic container that is of a suitable size to hold the amount of live rock which you are working with, then fill it with saltwater. Then place a heater and water pump in the "tank" for optimal temperature and circulation. Once the water has reached the desired temperature remove the heater and pump and half of the water content, then preclean the rock in a bucket of saltwater by swishing it around to remove any lose organisms and debris and place it in the prepared water. Then reinstall the heater and pump and allow nature to do its thing!

The process is done when an ammonia reading of the water in which the rock resides is at zero and it is no longer giving off an unpleasant odor. At this time it is safe to place the rock in your aquarium and allow Mother Nature's perfect filtering system to work for you.

Helpful Advice And Tips On Finding Aquarium Supplies Quickly And Easily

If you're looking at setting up an aquarium, then you need to know which aquarium supplies are essential. Firstly, you need to place the aquarium on a solid stand. These are usually metal, but wood can be a good alternative. It needs to be solid if you're using a glass tank, because these are already heavy when they're empty, but become even heavier when filled with water.

You also need some sort of aquarium hood to cover your tank. This stops the fish from jumping out of the tank, and also helps to reduce the amount of water evaporation that occurs. The best ones are made of aluminum, so that they are light and easy to handle. Generally they also come with a window to feed the fish through, a condensation tray, and some type of compartment for a lighting unit.

A water filter should also be on your list of essential aquarium supplies. It's good to use the filter for water you're adding to the tank, to make sure the water is deionized and safe for both saltwater and fresh water fish. A water filter will also help to keep the tank water clean, by removing any particles that float around and make the tank water cloudy.

A light always makes an aquarium more attractive. You can buy them in red, blue or green shades, as well as the standard white, and depending which one you choose, can give the aquarium a nicely colored tint. If you're planning to do some rock landscaping in your aquarium, then add aquascape construction epoxy to your list of aquarium supplies.

It's also nice to give the aquarium a green touch by adding plastic plants. You can choose from a variety of plant styles and colors, and some of the most popular include: anacharis, ambulia, hygro, hornwort, corkscrew vallis, jumbo vallis, red ludwigia and foxtail.

Another way to liven up your aquarium is with aquarium toys. These are particularly good if your kids love to watch the fish in the aquarium. You can get really cool toys like battery-operated wheels, divers and treasure chests. You can also buy static items such as ice crystals or shells in a variety of colors.

Buying aquarium supplies is quite simple, as most of the main items will be available in your local pet store. You can also find specialist aquarium supplies stores, or browse various Internet sites that sell aquarium supplies.

For more helpful advice on setting up an aquarium for freshwater pet fish please visit Pet-Fish-Super-Guide.info where you will find valuable resources on saltwater fish, saltwater aquariums, freshwater aquariums and tips on how to properly clean your pet fish aquarium.

Tim_Gorman