Posts Tagged ‘aquariums’

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Cichlid Aquarium Fish – Common Mistakes

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

Keeping tropical aquarium fish can be very satisfying, but sometimes frustrating. In fact, cichlid fish care is very different than keeping most community tank fish.

More and more novice aquarists are taking on the task of learning how to keep African or American cichlids, but most are just unsure of how to take care of these very unique and beautiful aquarium fish.

Cichlid Keeping Mistakes

So what are the most common mistakes that most beginner fish keepers make? One of the most common things that home aquarium fish keepers are guilty of is the mixing of African and American varieties in the same tank.

Pet stores make this error also! It breaks my heart to see these poor tropical fish in pet stores that are improperly kept. Both the Africans and American varieties that are kept together in the same tank are miserable and literally barely living. Their specific water chemistry requirements are very different and they just are not naturally supposed to be in the same environment.

What is another mistake that a lot of tropical fish keepers make?

This is one of the most common errors that even the most experienced aquarist makes. Not making routine water change outs in their aquariums. Regardless of what variety of tropical fish that you have, routine water changes are literally the life of all tropical aquarium fish. Yes, it’s simple and easy, but a very common mistake.

The truth is, novice fish keepers just don’t know how to take care of their aquarium fish much less get them to thrive and even begin to reproduce. PH and other water chemistry requirements are also very important. Take cichlid fish for example. African and American varieties of these unique fish have very different water salinity requirements.

So where can you find out how to avoid making more mistakes when learning how to keep these very unique tropical fish? You need to find a good aquarium fish care guide to make sure that your cichlids stay healthy and happy for years to come.

Visit the Cichlid Aquarium to learn more about how to keep cichlids.

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Salt Water Fish Tank

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

Have you ever gone to an aquarium and watch the many denizens of reef, tropical, or deep oceanic fishes in their salt water fish tanks? It is almost assured that the colors, the movement, and the wonders of these strange creatures in the tanks mesmerized you. Have you ever thought of bringing the modern fish tank? Well, you can, and this article will give you basic tips on salt-water fish tanks, and working with the modern fish tanks being produced today.

Anyone who has actually possessed goldfish since childhood experienced a wonderful connection using the tiny fish inside the bowl. It had a name, and was watched as it dined on its food. There was a mystery of why the little fish got fired up once we approached the bowl to nourish these folks. It really seemed to think, did it not? For some people, that fascination had hooks, as well as the road to having and maintaining a modern tank.

Marine, or salt-water aquarium, have a certain magnetism for a lot of hobbyists, as the variety of fishes which could be contained in the same environment is vast. Invertebrates may also be an exciting add-on, such as anemone’s and mollusks. Fancy snails may not only add color or charm towards the tank environment, but can create the inclusion of cleaning the tank.

To begin your innovative adventure inside salt-water aquarium activity, your choices abound for the size you may want. An excellent choice would be a tank that can be mounted either on a stand or within a wall, thus giving the tank a mounted picture appearance. This sort of tank is the AquaBella stainless 49″ tank, which is among the most modern

Easy Mounting

Any tank for your fish requires a base to keep it, and the base should be strong enough to carry the weight of lot of water. A retaining wall mounting structure can make use of the studs in the wall to keep the tank firmly, and metal body coatings off the front, giving this current aquarium a look of fine art.

Problems Zero Maintenance

Most fresh or salt-water aquariums need regular clean-up and also servicing, especially from algal blooms or excessive microbes counts. The new modern fish tank is ready-to-use, you merely add water and fish. Very low upkeep may alleviate the hobbyist who wants the tank and its beauty, but not all of the headache.

No matter what your choices tend to be, whether fresh or a salt-water fish tanks, the activity is often a gratifying and enjoyable possibility. The fish, as you will subsequently notice, have got individuality. Moreover, it is actually an educating working experience watching them begin their tiny lives inside the environment you provided. There are also products for instance “live rocks”, which house a number of invertebrates and other sea creatures which have been anchored on the rock and “come alive after a few days of submersion. Sponges are also available to the new hobbyist, which cannot only be a wonder to observe, but can keep the tank nice and clean.

Mollusks and eels can be purchased, along with specialized shrimps as well as small crabs, rounding out your tank with an interesting and lively community of living organisms. Within the modern salt-water fish tanks, the actual sea may be the limit while determining exactly what creatures you’ll use in your own small bit of design.

Looking to find the best information on salt water fish tanks or the AquaBella modern fish tank, then call on his website to find the most superb recomendations for you.

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What You Must Know About Angelfish

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Freshwater angelfish are generally recognized for their unique shape, as well as their grace and beauty, and are one of the most popular fish found in a fresh water aquarium.

Angelfish are prized for their unique body, color and behavior. Many hobbyists consider angelfish to be a relatively intelligent fish, with the ability to recognize their owners.

Oddly enough, the actually derived their name from the saltwater angelfish species, of which they are not related at all. Freshwater angelfish are originally from the Amazon basin South America. Angelfish are from the cichlid family. Cichlids are general known as an species of fish. Angelfish, however, are generally to overly aggressive but can be territorial during spawning, as are most fish for that matter.

Angelfish are cichlids, although their round bodies and triangular fins are quite different from the majority of cichlids which usually have sleeker shapes. This body design serves angelfish well however, since it permits them to stay hidden among the tall roots and plants that comprise most of their natural habitat . Angelfish are omnivores and do eat live food in the wild. They are ambush hunters in the wild and prey on smaller fish and micro-invertebrates.

Caring for Angelfish Angelfish, because they come from the Amazon Region, survive best in a warm aquarium, preferably about 76-80F. Angelfish have insatiable appetites and thus should be fed only moderate amounts of food several times throughout the day. If overfed they will become lethargic and are more likely to have health problems. When properly cared for angelfish can survive in an aquarium for up to 15 years. Aquarium water for angelfish should be soft and slightly acidic (pH of 7.0 or lower) which mimics the water of the Amazon basin where they originate.

As mentioned earlier, angelfish, although they are cichlids, are generally no overly aggressive. That being said, angelfish are opportunistic and well not pass up a meal of a smaller fish if given the opportunity.

To learn more information about how to successfully Raise Beautiful Angelfish ,visit the next link below and you be will taken a quick video concerning successful Angelfish Breeding.

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Angelfish Facts

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Fish Compatibility There are multiple different opinions concerningthe compatibility of angelfish with other fish. Generally speaking angelfish are compatible with tetras, platies, mollies, loaches, swordtails, plecostomus, danios and gouramis. In addition, the dimension of the aquarium can determine how well your fish get along. A crammed full aquarium will stress fish and cause them to be more hostile.

Everyday Angelfish Diseases One method of preventing sickness in your fish tank is to make certain that you look after your aquarium. Keeping good water quality is essential if you are to keep your angelfish content and healthy. Normal water changes will lessen the probability of any outbreak that may take place in your aquarium. Also, the most universal reason why angelfish expire is due to high levels of ammonia. The reason for high levels of ammonia is due to a jam-packed fish tank or from sporadic water changes. Make regular water changes and your angelfish should be healthy.

Universal diseases in angelfish are fin rot, mouth rot, cotton wool disease, ick, dropsy,worms, hole in the head disease and constipation. Every one are treatable although again the best means to control diseases in to sustain outstanding water quality all the time and minimize stress on your angelfish. You will be rewarded with vibrant, vigorous, happy and beautiful angelfish that live a long time.

Breeding Angelfish Breeding Angelfish is not overly complicated and can be a truly amazing experience. A fish hobbyist’s success in breeding angelfish can depend on numerous factors, including the fish themselves. Many angelfish have been so inbred that they have lost much of their rearing instincts. This often results in parents eating their young.

A typical angelfish spawn can produce anywhere from 400 to 1200 eggs. Fertile eggs will hatch in approximately 6 to 7 days, but the growth of the fry can be watched from about day 3 on. Young fry can eat live brine shrimp once the yolk sack is gone.

There are a number of variables that ought to be well thought-out when trying to breed angelfish not limited to fish tank size, water temperature, water condition, environment and lighting. Successfully breeding angelfish requires the appropriate combination of many factors that mimic an angelfishes normal ecosystem. If you discover yourself somewhat puzzled in how to bring together the needed requirements there are a number of outstanding sources offered to the hobbyist that will give you the essential tools and information to successfully breed angelfish.

Freshwater angelfish make great pets. Want to uncover further great angelfish information ? Visit our website at http://angelfishbreeding.slhost3.com. While your are there feel free to sign up for our free “Angelfish Breeding and Care” email minicourse.

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Angelfish Fry Information

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Angelfish have been bred in captivity for decades. As a consequence most angelfish are well adapted to aquarium life and getting them to successfully spawn is not too complicated. But keeping the fry living, however, is not always easy.

It does no good to have successfully gotten your angelfish to reproduce if you can’t successfully raise the fry. You set up the right conditions as far as water, filtering, lighting and food so that as soon as your fry emerge they have the greatest opportunity for survival.

Your mother angelfish ought to deal with most of the initial rearing of the fry. After your eggs hatch it will take roughly three days for your angelfish fry to fully absorb their yolk sacs. Yolk sacs on angelfish tend to be rather big and will inhibit their ability to swim for the first few days of their life. The mother angelfish habitually works hard during this time to keep the wriggling mass of fry all together into a condensed mass of wriggling fry.

If you have kept your angelfish eggs in a methyl blue bath initially you ought to be changing the water around 50% every day. By the time the fry are free swimming the water ought to be fairly clear. Any white eggs should be siphoned out of the fish tank at this point as they are unfertilized and will not hatch. If left in the tank they can cause unwanted bacterial growth. Carry on the 50% daily water changes to keep the water uncontaminated and curtail bacterial growth.

The general agreement amongst nearly all experts is that live baby brine shrimp is the best food source for your angelfish fry for the fist couple of weeks. Feeding times should be between 4 and 12 times a day. It’s important when feeding your fry to feed moderate amounts. Angelfish generally have insatiable appetites and can easily overeat during feedings. Your fry ought to be full but not overfed in appearance.

Into the eighth day of life the fry are most likely ready to be moved from the grow fish tank into a permanent fish tank. Water changes ought to still be performed and baby brine shrimp ought to still be the foremost food source..

After several weeks of growth, if all has gone well, you may have too many baby angelfish for your fish tank. Also some have grown-up more rapidly than others and may possibly need to be divided based on size. At this point, it may possibly be time to search for an active buyer for a number of of your angelfish family.

Great video showing angelfish fry development

Want to discover additional great Altum Angelfish Tips? Visit our website at http://angelfishbreeding.slhost3.com. While visiting our site you can also sign up for our free “Angelfish Breeding and Care” email mini-course.

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Keeping Altum Angelfish

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

The Latin word for tall is altum, which correctly describes the Altum angelfish, the biggest of the freshwater angelfish variety. Altum angelfish come from from South America, in particular the Rio Orinoco river in Venezuela.

The Altums look is silvery with brownish upright stripes. This helps the Altum keep cover effortlessly between elongated stemmed plants growing in the Amazon river. Altums have a rather unique shaped mouth, which is rather pointed, and their forehead is sharply sloped. The first dark band runs through the eye; the second runs near the mid-section of the body, while the third runs from the tip of the dorsal fin, through the body, and to the tip of the anal fin. The final band runs on the caudal penuncle.

Being a such a sizable angelfish, they require a larger and taller tank. Tanks should be a minimum of 30″ tall and 4 ft long. The fish tank should be ornamented with sizable pieces of bogwood that if possible ought to reach the waters surface. Sizable leafed plants like Amazon swordsplants can also be helpful and are usually left alone.

The water ought to be kept in very soft water that is somewhat acidic. A pH level of 4.5-6.5 is suitable for Altum Angelfish. They favor very warm water and they are best kept in 28-30C / 82-86F. The nitrates levels ought to be kept very low and the water should be somewhat circulated to imitate the surroundings this variety are usually found in the wild. It is extremely essential to sustain high water quality to effectively keep this variety.

Unlike the common angelfish, the Scalare, Altums can be tough to keep and successfully raise in captivity. This is due chiefly to the fact that virtually all Altum sold are wild caught, not domestically farmed. Because of this they can more difficult to find and not a lot of individuals try and keep them.

Because they are wild caught fish, Altums can be challenging to come across at times. And one must be careful of fake Altums being sold. They can be tough to tell apart from Scalares if not well trained.

Altums generally do best by alone, but can be kept with other peaceful species from the matching river region, such a tetras and discus. Being cichlids, Altums can also be quite territorial in temperament. One must use caution when mixing fish with Altums. Even if from the same territory smaller fish will be consumed. They seem uniquely fond of neon and cardinal tetras.

Altums, similar to other angelfish, have an insatiable appetite. Since they are normally caught wild, live food is the favored cuisine. Most will readily accept other foods over time, such as frozen brine shrimp and blood worms.

Despite providing great water conditions and a good diet, Altum angelfish can be tough to raise and even more challenging to breed. Determining the sex can also be exceptionally tricky, as it is with nearly all of the angelfish species.

To discover more great tips on Altum Angelfish Care visit our site at http://angelfishbreeding.slhost3.com and sign up for our free “Angelfish Breeding and Care” email mini-course

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Things To Think About When Buying An Aquarium

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

There are a few things to consider when you are buying tropical fish tanks. First you have to decide if you want saltwater or freshwater fish. Saltwater fish are a little harder to care for and require more to set up the tank. For this reason, freshwater tropical fish are usually recommended for beginners. Saltwater tanks can take weeks to get ready for fish while a freshwater tank can be fish ready within 24 hours.

Another main concern when buying tropical fish tanks is location. Location is almost as important as deciding the type of fish. There are a lot of rules when it comes to placing an aquarium. For example: Aquariums can’t be placed in direct sunlight because that can overheat the water and kill your fish. The tank can’t be placed somewhere that has extreme temperature changes, such as in a unfinished basement or unheated garage.

The perfect location would be somewhere out of the immediate walkway, with a level floor and easy access to an electrical outlet. It also needs to be accessible to you for cleaning and redecorating purposes. The reason you want tropical fish tanks in a slightly out of the way area is because of their size. Even a 20 gallon tank can be quite heavy when filled with water, gravel, plants and fish. Being on a level floor helps keep the weight of the water from putting stress on some seals more than others, preventing leaks. Tropical tanks need an electrical outlet mainly for their heater, but most tanks come with a lighted cover that also needs to be plugged in.

Once you have all the information you can get from your house, its time to go to the store and actually pick your tank. There are a few things to keep in mind when picking out tropical fish tanks at the store too. Your main concerns at the store will be shape, size and material of the aquarium.

First the shape. The longer and wider a tank is the larger the surface area of water, which is how oxygen gets into the water for your fish to breath. The size of your aquarium matters too. The larger a tank is, the easier to care for the fish but keep in mind where you want to put it when you get home. Finally material of the aquarium. Most aquariums are made out of glass or acrylic. Glass is easier to care for and therefore recommended for beginners.

Tropical home aquariums are beautiful and fun to own. These are basic tips for setting up freshwater fish tanks in your home.

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A Simple Guide To Aquarium Filtration Choices

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

An aquarium can add beauty and interest to a room and collecting sea life for it is often a fascinating hobby. However, it is important to understand some basics in order to create a healthy environment for fish. One of the most important decisions is which Aquarium Filtration system will be used.

Filters remove toxins and chemicals from the water. They can also be decorative and help create an attractive effect. An ideal system will provide biological, chemical, and mechanical filtering. There are several types of systems to choose from, depending on individual needs.

Aquarium filtration systems come in three basic types. Each has its benefits, and all of them do a good job. Canister filters hang outside the tank, They can clean the tank for long periods of time without maintenance and are a good choice for people with little time to clean tanks. Power filters also hang outside of the aquarium, do an effective ob of filtering, and are less expensive than canister filters. This has made them very popular. Another option is undergravel filtration, which is also an attractive choice. The system can be combined with colorful gravel to create a beautiful effect.

Your choice of filters also depends on future plans for expansion and what type of fish will live in the aquarium. You may not need a powerful canister filter for your first small tank but it still might be wise to buy an Aquarium Filtration system which will support any size setup. This would allow you to increase your tank size in the future without replacing the filtering system. It is also a good idea to consider the type of fish which will be living in the aquarium. For instance, if you plan to have baby fish, you might not want to use a power system, since these can suck small fish into them. A canister filter would be a better choice, although it is more expensive.. If you prefer the decorative undergravel system but want to make sure you are getting the best filtration, a powerhead can be added to the setup.

Whatever size or type of aquarium you choose, there is an Aquarium Filtration system which will fit your budget and ensure a long, healthy life for your fish.

Aquarium power filters are just one type of aquarium filters. This simple guide discusses the different types of filtration for a home aquarium.

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Setting Up A Tropical Fish Tank For Beginners

Monday, January 11th, 2010

This will be a beginners guide to setting up a tropical fish tank. You will need to take your time and make sure not to add fish to the tank right away as this could kill your fish. You must understand that it takes a little time for the water to fully cycle so your fish can live a long time and stay healthy.

Before you go out and start buying aquarium equipment determine what kind of fish that you will want to put in there and how many. This is necessary as you will need to know what size tank to get, if you are on a budget you will have to work with it. The general rule is for small to medium fish is 1 inch per one gallon of water.

The items that you will need to set up a fish tank are the aquarium, filter pump, heat pump. Optional items that you should get also are gravel, thermometer, lamp, decorations, and a back up filter pump in case the main one goes bad.

Once you have all of the necessary items to set up the fish tank find spot in your home where you will be keeping it. Make sure it is not somewhere that is going to be in the way, and that it is not blocking anything you might need to get to later.

Next fill the tank up with water to the top, do not worry about putting any conditioner in the water yet as we are only testing to see if the tank has any leaks. Let the water sit in the tank overnight, and in the morning check around the tank for any signs of water, once you are sure there are no leaks you can empty the tank.

While you are leak testing your aquarium you can start filling up jugs of tap water. Mix the tap water with water conditioner as fish do not like plain tap water. I also add bacteria supplement to the water also. Make sure you follow the directions on the water conditioner bottle exactly.

Next you can start adding gravel, make sure that you rinse the gravel very good. Since the tank is still empty you can start putting in the gravel and decorations. It is very important to make sure that everything that you put into your fish tank is washed well, as it only takes a little bit of dish soap to kill fish.

Start setting up the filter pump and the heating pump. Add the water solution from the jugs that you already pre-mixed, fill the tank up to about an inch from the top. Put the overhead lamp on if you have one and turn on the heater and the filter pump, you now want to be patient and let the water cycle for a week at the minimum.

Let the fish tank cycle the water for at least one week. After that one week you can add a couple of fish to get the tanks ecosystem in action, but do not add anymore fish for at least 5 weeks. Be patient and your fish will be healthy and live for a long time.

The author has been putting together fish tanks of all types for many years and has great knowledge on fish tanks. You can check out his store if you need to purchase a home fish tank. Fish Tanks For Sale

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Preventing Disease

Sunday, December 13th, 2009

If you own an aquarium, keeping your fish happy and healthy is the most important thing. Fish can get many diseases and this can be costly and stressful.

Preventing disease is the best cure. There are some things that you can do to stop and prevent diseases. The most common way to get a disease is when a new fish is brought into the tank and already has the disease. When buying new fish make sure they look healthy. If a fish is swimming sporadically it probably has a problem. Some other signs are if a fish lingers at the bottom of the tank or swims upside-down. Make sure that the fish are healthy before you let them into the tank.

Diseases can enter a tank if the tank is not cleaned properly. When you clean your tank, wash out the tank well. Try not to use bleach, because if any residue is left it will kill your fish. If you use soap, you need to make sure all of the soap is washed out of the tank.

When the fish are healthy move them into the clean tank. Watch that tank for a few days to make sure the disease if fully killed. If any disease re-established, move the fish back into the infected tank until the disease is gone. Move all the healthy fish into the other tank that is healthy. Clean the infected tank out fully.

If you get a disease in a tank, you should always have a backup tank to move the fish into. If some of your fish are already infected, move the healthy fish into the other tank. The sick fish should be treated in the same tank until they are healthy. After the fish are healthy again, move them into the other tank, and clean the infected tank out.

Protecting the fish in your tank is very important. To protect your fish from disease there are a few things to remember. Clean your tank regularly, at least once a month. If your fish start acting weird, they could have a disease. Finally, check your fish before you buy them. Doing all these things will greatly reduce the chances of your fish getting a disease.

Roshan Goodman helps with aquariums and aquarium help.

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