Picture Record

You can see about all animals,animal pets,animals pictures,birds picture,fish picture,funny animals picture,wildlife animals in this blog.

Dog Halloween Costumes

At Halloween, kids aren't the only ones who get to dress up and enjoy treats. Hundreds of dog lovers get their pets into the act with dog Halloween costumes. The following are the costumes for dogs this Halloween.

Angel Dog Halloween







Clown Dog Halloween


















Devil Dog Halloween














Groom and Bride Dog Halloween


















Jailbird Dog Halloween












Pirates Halloween Costumes












 







Adding Salt to Freshwater Aquarium

The practice of adding salt to a freshwater aquarium is one that has been around for quite some time. There are several reasons why sodium chloride (aka table salt or aquarium salt) would be added to a freshwater tank, including stress reduction, medication, and to create a natural environment for fish normally found in brackish water. Before you add salt to your freshwater aquarium for any reason, be sure to understand the reasons for doing so and any possible side effects.

Many popular aquarium fish species come from brackish areas, such as rivers feeding into an ocean. In these cases, adding salt to the aquarium serves to replicate their natural habitat by creating a water quality that is between the typical freshwater and saltwater tank options. Known as "brackish," attaining the optimum salt content for these types of fish requires knowledge of your fish species' natural environment, as the salt requirements can vary widely even among brackish fish.

Many species of fish are not brackish, but still benefit from a small quantity of salt in their water. Salt can reduce stress in goldfish, African Cichlids, and most live-bearers such as Mollys, Platys, Guppies, and Swordtails. When using salt to reduce stress, the recommended dose is one to two tablespoons for ten gallons of water. This use of salt in a freshwater aquarium is especially common with fish that have lost a lot of scales. A teaspoon per 10 gallons of water will support the healing of scales by helping the fish maintain the proper level of salt in its blood.

In addition to this use, salt may be added to treat common ailments of freshwater aquarium fish, including ecoparasites, ich, and Costia. To kill these ailments, you'd need to add about 1 1/2 cups of salt for every 10 gallons of aquarium water. If you have an aquarium hydrometer, which measures the salt content, it should read between 1.005 and 1.009, or 7 to 19 parts per million. This salt level must be maintained for several weeks. Not all species can tolerate this much salt. Whenever treating freshwater fish with salt, you must monitor the fish closely for signs of stress, and return the fish to a fully freshwater environment if necessary.
A short-term dip in lightly salted water is often recommended as a treatment for fish that have been exposed to water with a high level of nitrites. Add about four teaspoons of salt to a gallon of water, and place your fish in the bucket for about half an hour, observing them closely for signs of distress during this time.

When should you avoid adding salt to an aquarium? If your tank is planted with live plants, avoid salt, because plants are easily damaged by relatively low salt levels. Scaleless fish are very sensitive to salt, as are some other fish species, including Tetras.

If you do decide to add salt to your aquarium, avoid using ordinary table salt, which contains additives such as iodine and calcium silicate. Aquarium salt has no such additives, making it safer for your fish.

Jason MacParland is a freshwater aquarium expert. For more great information on Adding salt to freshwater aquarium, visit http://www.easyfreshwateraquariumcare.com to learn more about setting up and maintaining a freshwater aquarium.

Helpful Tips For Starting a Tropical Freshwater Aquarium

There are many worthwhile hobbies that you may seriously consider adding to your list of creative interests. Caring for tropical fish is a great option and you can begin your venture by learning proper knowledge and tips regarding starting a tropical freshwater aquarium. In the course of beginning this exciting aquatic adventure, there are several things you need to know and understand to have a successful endeavor.

How do you ensure that your aquarium, especially for beginners, is a success? It is every fish keepers ultimate goal to have healthy fish with remarkable longevity. An aquarium that is breathtaking adds not only self fulfillment but also color to a boring and dull room. However, you want to make sure that it will not take all of your time in maintaining your freshwater aquarium.

Setting up a tank takes time and patience to get started right. It is not a good idea to purchase a tank, set it up, and add fish to the aquarium in one day. If you want to have the best results and a wonderfully assembled fish aquarium, start by doing your research, then purchase your tank and equipment or an aquarium kit and set it up. Next, add water and run the filter system. Let the tank cycle for at least 48 hours which will allow the water conditions to stabilize and allows important micro-organisms to grow in your tank.

The freshwater aquarium setup is vital to the health and overall quality of your aquatic friends because it provides the environment for your fish to live and be comfortable. Stressed fish are most likely to have weaker immune systems, become susceptible to diseases and eventually perish.

Other fish keeping guidelines to consider include not overfeeding your fish and keeping them in an aquarium with compatible tank mates. A major part for successful fish keeping is determined by your maintenance of your freshwater aquarium. Make sure that you regularly make partial water changes to ensure good water quality. Check your filtration system and make sure it is working in order to provide the cleanest water and healthiest place for your pets. It is also imperative to give them enough room where they can live and interact with other tank mates. One of the biggest sources of tank problems has to do with putting too many fish in your aquarium. This can cause stress, excessive waste in the tank, algae problems, and more.

Choosing the best tropical freshwater aquarium setup is a very crucial yet rewarding effort to begin with in developing your passion for freshwater fish keeping. Make the most of your time by doing thorough research which will save you time, money, and most of all make aquarium keeping more enjoyable.
Chris Walker is an aquarium enthusiast. For more great information on setting up a tropical freshwater aquarium, visit http://freshwateraquarium.org/.

Guide For Buying and Preparing Your Freshwater Aquarium Tank

Before buying your freshwater aquarium tank, one of the first considerations is how much available space you have. The size of your tank will also determine the number and size of fish you can keep. It is my experience that larger aquarium tanks are easier to maintain once they are up and running for a few months. Now that you have considered how much space you have, it is now time to secure your freshwater aquarium.

Buying the Tank

When you go to a pet store, or a preferably a retailer that specializes in fish tanks, choose among the available tanks that will fit in the space you allocated in your home. Another decision is whether you want a fish tank made of glass or acrylic material for your home freshwater aquarium tank.

If you have children at home, the best choice might be an acrylic fish tank because they are more durable and much more difficult to break. However, this material is also prone to scratches, and is more expensive. Nonetheless, it is a good material for a fish tank. A fish tank that is made from glass is less prone to scratches, although it does scratch, costs less, but the event of a breakage cannot be dismissed. I usually keep aquariums made of glass and just exercise caution so that breakage does not occur.

One more thing that you have to consider is the number of fish that you will be placing inside the tank. A general rule is to load the tank at 1 inch of fish per gallon. It is my experience that this can be somewhat excessive. I am usually more conservative loading my tank as low as 1 inch of fish per 2 gallons of water. This combined with an aquarium filter that is more than adequate for a fish tank can reduce the frequency of tank cleaning and aquarium maintenance activities.

Preparing the Aquarium Tank

The freshwater aquarium tank must be prepared before fish can be placed inside. First, fill the tank with freshwater. Setup all accessories that you would like to see in your aquarium such as aquarium gravel or sand, background paper on the back of the fish tank, set up the filter system and aquarium heater, and place any other habitat you provide such as rocks or plants. Get everything up and running and let every run for 3 days to a week. This allows the water chemistry to stabilize and give time for important micro-organisms to grow in your tank.

Stabilizing the aquarium before placing the fish inside it is a must. The pH level should come to an acceptable level, the temperature should be normal for all the fish in the tank. Everything inside the tank contributes to the general well-being of the fish, and therefore, everything must be in place when the tank would be set to run for stabilization.

Time to Buy the Fish

Now that your tank has stabilized since it has been running for a couple of days, you now can go back to the pet store and buy your fish.

Once you have purchased all the fish that you will be placing inside the aquarium, let them acclimatize first to their new home. Float your fish, which should be in plastic bags, in the water so that the water temperatures normalize, so they won't get shocked by being submerged immediately into water that they are not used to.
The freshwater aquarium tank is the home for your fish and must be maintained with care. With the appropriate care, freshwater aquarium keeping can be fun, easy, and be a low maintenance hobby. If done wrong, you could have a lot of maintenance on your hands by learning the hard way, as I have many times in the past.

Chris Walker is a biologist freshwater aquarium enthusiast. For information on freshwater aquarium tanks, visit http://freshwateraquarium.org.

Freshwater Aquarium Information For Beginners

Maintaining an aquarium is a worthwhile hobby. There are a lot of fish species making aquarium keeping interesting and exciting. Also, seeing fish swimming inside an aquarium can be soothing to the senses, thus helping you relax and relieve stress. In general, there are two main types of aquariums that hobbyists can enjoy. They are freshwater and saltwater aquariums. As a beginner, you might want to choose to maintain a freshwater aquarium at first. Considering this, adequate freshwater aquarium information must be obtained so that your new hobby as an aquarium enthusiast is a success.

One of the first things that needs to be considered when planning your aquarium is the size of the tank. It is recommended that you stick with a tank no less than ten gallons. Smaller tanks are harder to maintain, especially for maintaining healthy water quality. Of course, bigger tanks are more costly than the smaller ones, so consider your budget and the available space in the process of selecting a tank.

A factor that could affect your choice of tank is the number and types of fish that you would like to have in your aquarium. The number and size of fish is directly proportional to the size of the aquarium setup that you have. A general rule when to stocking your tank is to add one inch of fish size to one gallon of water. However, this is a general rule that I tend to be very conservative about by putting in less fish rather than more. This should cut down your aquarium maintenance by reducing the amount of waste from your fish. Another trick is to get an aquarium filter that is more than adequate which will also reduce how often you will need to clean your tank. Typically, fish must have enough space to swim freely in order to give them comfort. Large species of fish can become stressed if the tank they are placed in is too small.

In making your selection, the location of the tank must also be considered. Do not place it in direct sunlight or near vents. Just make sure that the aquarium is placed on an aquarium stand that can hold its weight and that it is stable.

With adequate knowledge about fish care and aquarium maintenance, fish keeping can be done by anyone. Obtain as much knowledge as you can about the aquarium hobby. You might not always get the correct answer from the pet shop, so try to gather as much freshwater aquarium information first from as many sources that are available.

Chris Walker is an aquarium enthusiast and expert. For more great information on freshwater aquariums, visit http://www.freshwateraquarium.org.

Proper Artificial Lighting For A Freshwater Aquarium



Proper lighting is one of the essential elements for a balanced underwater ecosystem. Technically termed as photosynthesis, it is equally important to organisms like fish and other aquatic animals to produce food. Freshwater aquarium requires specific kind of light so that fish may live longer. Some may require minimum lighting; others prefer intense lighting so the application of lighting to the aquarium is another thing to be serious about.

There is a number of artificial lighting available in the market today that can be used to brighten your fish tanks. Every aquarium has special features that require specific kind of lighting therefore each aquarium requires different type of lighting.

Incandescent bulbs generally are not advisable for fish water tanks because of its low luminosity and high energy consumption. It tends to get hot too quickly fish may die due to sudden change of heat therefore it is not efficient to use.

Fluorescent bulbs on the other hand are the most used type of lighting option because of its relatively high luminosity and low energy consumption. Fluorescent lamps are truly favorable for the freshwater aquarium since they can be readily available at all times.

Metal halide lamps are considered to be a better lighting alternative for freshwater aquarium because of its intense lighting. Its light so in tensed that can be compared to the actual sun light making it appropriate for a busy marine ecosystem. Metal halide lamps are notably expensive and a bit hard to maintain.

What is the appropriate type of lighting to use?

There are a number of factors to deal with before deciding which type of artificial lighting to use. The most basic one is to consider the general condition and the specification of the aquarium these things when combined together will constitute the total well being of marine life inside your aquarium.

Take into consideration the population inside the aquarium, depth of the water and the entirety of the fish tank.

In an aquarium where there are only fish present on it medium lighting maybe applied. It is not necessary to apply intense lighting to aquariums of this type. Usually minimum wattage requirement is 2-3 watts per tank gallon. The quality of lighting may vary according to the number of population. The more fish you have then more lighting can be applied to accommodate them all.

Fish tanks with fish and live plants added on it requires intense lighting. The more intense the lighting is the better it would be. 4 watts per tank gallon should be the minimum wattage for these types of tanks. The bigger the water tank is the more lights should be shared with. Be cautious to note that there are some kinds of marine life requiring specific type of luminosity. Learn techniques and information from the experts to properly address this concern.

It is suggested that once in a while you perform light simulation wherein you regulate the light of your freshwater aquarium the same way as the sun lights. It must be brightly lighted the whole day while turned it off the whole night. This will bring good effects to fish from getting too stressed in an artificial aquatic environment. Simulating the lights will make fish feel they actually lived in their natural habitat.

Freshwater aquarium is a fun hobby that involves a generous amount of discipline and responsibilities. Just like any other jobs or hobbies freshwater aquarium has its distinct characteristics and needs that should be given preferential attention. With the hints cited above about proper artificial lighting keeping a freshwater aquarium at home can be the most rewarding experience you can truly have.

For more great information on freshwater aquarium lighting visit the site.
Wilson is an aquarium enthusiast and loves to share his secrets on Freshwater Aquarium. For more great information on freshwater aquarium keeping, visit http://www.freshwateraquariumadvice.com

Creative Freshwater Aquarium Setup

Seeing an aquarium at once will make you realize how beautiful and creative it can be with its unique setting of creatures inside a caged container; wonderfully you can say that freshwater aquarium set up can become a hobby for everybody. There are people, especially hobbyists, who possess more than one aquarium at home or at the office because of unexplainable happiness you can feel when you make one. Though it looks difficult to assemble, but following all the necessary steps can make things easier and simpler for you.These are some suggestions to help you make a creative freshwater aquarium set up:

Be Responsible

If you dream of having an aquarium at home it entails a number of responsibilities to deal with. It can be tedious and challenging at first because of some routines to follow but you will get used to it once a good habit has been established. Be ready with what you are going to do daily such as feeding the fish, cleaning fish tank at regular intervals, checking any signs of sickness, giving medicines to weak fish to avoid contaminating others are some of the routine roles you have to undergone. So be ready to take actions after all this your aquarium, if you can't handle these things better not to start making an aquarium at all.

Get some Information

Do some research before buying anything and get some basic information on freshwater aquarium. Listen to people who are doing it for the longest time, ask hobbyists of their experiences while taking care a freshwater aquarium. Learn from their challenges so that you will not commit the same mistakes as they did. Absorb every detail that you can get from and be able to apply it to your own aquarium set up.

Build your aquarium first

Make your aquarium first before buying any fish to put on it. Get all the necessary equipments ready such as filters and water tank. Water ph level must be treated at once to maintain the desired water chemistry set up.

Right Choice of Fish

There is a wide variety of freshwater aquarium fish to choose from but proper considerations must be made before picking one variety to put unto your aquarium. Choose a fish that matches your set up and carefully study all of those affecting your water tank. Is your fish tank large enough to accommodate a number of fish? While you may want to put more variety of fish and yet your tank is not big enough to accommodate all of them it is suggested that you prepare the tank first then you can start putting a good quantity of fish that can be readily accommodated by the fish tank or else they can easily die of suffocation. Is the pH level good enough for the fish to survive? Always check the acidity of the water before putting any kind of fish for them to live longer and healthier. Always do the routine check yourself if you want to add or buy more fish for your aquarium.

Always do the Maintenance Work

After you have understood all the necessary things to do how to make a freshwater aquarium the most challenging part would be is to maintain how the aquarium will last longer. Aquarium maintenance can be tiring because you have to set aside time and effort to do the cleaning of fish tank and treating the water level. This job entails self discipline and self direction or else your efforts will be wasted. If you are not going to maintain it consistently the tendencies are higher rate of fish death thus you lose your passion, time and resources. In order to keep your freshwater aquarium alive a good attitude of diligence is needed to keep you focused on your goals of maintaining a healthy freshwater aquarium though careful and consistent fish tank maintenance.

Wilson is an aquarium enthusiast and loves to share his secrets on Freshwater Aquariums. For more great information on freshwater aquarium setup, visit http://www.freshwateraquariumadvice.com.

Types of Freshwater Aquarium Fish Species That You Can Pick Out

Types of freshwater aquarium fish will let you choose the type of fish you want to have in your fish tank. Fish are relatively easy to care but there are few things to consider before you decide to buy one. Remember that before introducing any fish in their new habitat, you should let your aquarium left running for two weeks so that the good bacteria in the filter will mature to a safe level.

You should purchase freshwater aquarium fish from reputable pet store or dealer. Make sure that the fish is in good condition while still in the dealer's shop tank. There are several types of freshwater fish that you can keep in your aquarium. Types of freshwater aquarium fish include school fish, catfish, barbs, loaches, cardinal tetras, pearl, and zebra danios. Be careful in getting aquarium fish that could be a predatory of your other fish just like the catfish. If you are just beginning to keep fish, you can get killifish as it is good in freshwater aquarium. There are other freshwater fish that you should avoided to keep in your tank like the Oscars that eat other fish and make a lot of clutter as well as goldfish that is very sensitive to many health problems.

Before adding a fish to your aquarium, it should be quarantined for a short time. This will let you know if it is healthy to avoid passing any illness to other fish. Add fish gradually in your freshwater aquarium to avoid chemical imbalance. Different types of freshwater aquarium fish have different preference when it comes to their new environment. Some prefer hiding in rocks while others does not like overcrowded tank. It is important to make research on the freshwater fish you like better. You should also know about the special needs such as temperature, chemical balance, dietary and compatibility.

Make sure that you provide the right water temperature appropriate for the type of species you choose. Freshwater fish are sensitive when it comes to the cleanliness and freshness of water. Your fish may acquire disease when there are ammonia toxins in the water. As much as possible, change the water regularly and always checks the water temperature.

Many types of freshwater aquarium fish can be obtained easily at your local pet stores or dealers and even on the online retailers.

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6 Tips to Maintain Healthy Freshwater Aquarium Plants



Adding plants to your aquarium will enhance the appearance of your tank. Always bear in mind that the main purpose of an aquarium is to provide food and shelter for your fish.

Plants also help maintain the ph balance of the water. 

Looking after and setting up a freshwater aquarium is not complicated. But, there are daily tasks needed in order to keep it clean and environmentally fresh.

Your selection of freshwater aquarium plants is as important as your selection of fish.

The plants must complement the fish. This means they must not harm the fish in any way. There are a variety of plants that are suited to growing in a freshwater aquarium.

Plants are not only used to improve the appearance of a freshwater aquarium but they must also contribute to the optimum health of your fish. There is nothing less pleasing to see an aquarium filled with beautiful plants but marred with sickly fish with no energy.

When starting your freshwater aquarium you can choose between personally selected freshwater plants or a package of plants. If you choose the package you will have a pre-selected choice of plants that will create a wonderful water wonderland in your aquarium.

You can find pictures of aquariums on the internet to see how some people have set out their freshwater plants. Read books and visit websites before planning your freshwater aquarium.

Don't over crowd your tank with plants.
A balance of all the elements has a more pleasing effect and gives your fish sufficient space to move around.
Consult your pet supply store for types of plants and prices and which would be best for your fish. Here are some suggestions of plants you can look into and decide which would be best for your particular environment.
Some plants you can choose from are:
  • Downoi or "Little Star" (Pogostemon helferi)
  • Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus)
  • Dwarf Sag (Sagittaria subulata)
  • Water cover (Marsilea hirsute)
  • Floating Watermoss (Salvina natans)
There are steps you can take to maintain your plants are in a healthy condition:

1) You must have sufficient light.
You get this by use of artificial lighting. Some tanks already have lighting set up or have holes pre-drilled for you to set up lighting. You may want to place your tank near a window to get extra light.

2) Check your plants regularly to ensure roots don't come loose.
Sometimes your fish will loosen the plants from the soil and if you don't check they may die.

3) Don't overcrowd the aquarium with plants.
Each plant needs sufficient space and ability to draw nutrients from the soil. Over crowding means plants will have to struggle for what they need.

4) Try to emulate an environment close to the plants' original environment.
It's no use putting a tropical plant in a cold climate where it has little chance of survival.

5) Beware of introducing a diseased plant into your freshwater aquarium.
A diseased plant will infect other plants in your aquarium

6) Purchase your freshwater aquarium plants from a reputable dealer.
That way you are certain to get healthy plants with an excellent chance of survival in your freshwater aquarium.

Adam McConnell is the author of "The Ultimate Guide To Freshwater Aquariums" which provides more detail on maintaing healthy freshwater aquarium plants - compulsory reading for anyone considering a freshwater aquarium.

The website contains valuable information on how to easily create and maintain your own stunningly beautiful freshwater aquarium with lively and healthy fish, even if you have never owned fish before!
For a FREE 10 part mini-course "Learn The Secrets To Creating & Maintaining a Stunning Freshwater Aquarium With Lively & Healthy Fish" go to => http://freshwateraquariumhelp.com/

Benefits of a Freshwater Aquarium

Having a home freshwater aquarium is one of the most enjoyable activities on the planet. If you have ever seen a aquarium, whether it be large or small, you were probably drawn immediately to the movement of the fish. There is just something about an aquarium that draws young and old to watch colorful fish swim around in their own little water world.



Water building
In the word, aqua-rium, "aqua" (from the Latin) means water and "rium" means building. A "water building" is, in fact, a very true literal description of an aquarium.

Whys of fishkeeping
People have a home freshwater aquarium for many reasons. The number one reason is probably because fish are fun to watch and it relaxes you at the same time. They are also a way to bring nature into the home. And,in this instance, a home freshwater aquarium can serve as a educational tool to help us understand how life works and to recognize the beauty and wonder of the fish themselves. The more understanding we have of the natural world, the more we value and understand human life and all of creation.

Having a home freshwater aquarium is hobby that can be enjoyed by people of any economic level. As you learn more about caring for fish, It is possible to upgrade to larger and larger aquariums with more and more fish. But, if you can't afford a 200-gallon aquarium, a one- or two-gallon bowl with a couple of fish can still be just as enjoyable to watch.

The great thing about fish is that you don't have to instantly meet their needs in the same way you do with other pets. For instance, you don't have to walk them or put up with fish chewing your couch or other treasured belongs. And, when you go on vacation, a home freshwater aquarium can be left for quite a long time with no maintenance at all. If you do have to be gone for a few weeks, it is much easier to ask a friend to feed the fish than to take care of your dog and cat.

Sit back and relax
A home freshwater aquarium has many health benefits. In fact, there is research going back almost thirty years that proves watching the fish in an aquarium reduces stress and lowers blood pressure. One of the reasons you see so many aquariums in the offices of doctors and dentists is because studies have proven that watching the fish in an aquarium significantly reduces the experience of pain as much as hypnosis. Watching a video or DVD of an aquarium has exactly the same effect.

Alzheimer's and aquariums
Further benefits of aquariums can be found in nursing homes. Senior citizens with Alzheimer's disease have shown many health improvements from the addition of an aquarium to a dining room or rec room. These seniors ate more, plus there was an overall reduction in stress levels, resulting in less aggression.

Aquarium history
Aquariums are not new to the twentieth or twenty-first century. In fact, in China and Egypt, evidence shows that fish were kept in bowls and revered thousands of years ago. Back then goldfish had the most popularity. People started breeding goldfish and by the mid-1800s, big wrought-iron aquariums filled with goldfish were found across Europe. Aquariums gained popularity in the United States at the turn of the century and into the 1920s, the time of the first World War.

Since that time, technology has obviously changed and there now are no limits to what you can do in terms of constructing large and small aquariums with just about every kind of fish you can imagine.

Absolutely the biggest aquarium
Whether you have a large or small home freshwater aquarium, you will undoubtedly reap the benefits of watching fish, with reduced stress and better overall health. Just do a little research on freshwater fish and in no time you could have a thriving aquarium population.

For those of you who think big, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is the largest aquarium in the world. If you want to be astounded by nature, this is the place to go. This aquarium has eight million gallons of water and the biggest collection of fish and other aquatic animals anywhere. They have whale sharks, and the shark area alone has 6.3 million gallons of water.

The Georgia Aquarium cost $250 million dollars to build and is now a 320 million dollar facility with a $13 million improvement project. The aquarium opened debt-free because it was a gift to the people of Atlanta and the people of Georgia from Bernie and Billi Marcus. Mr. Marcus was the co-founder of The Home Depot chain of stores.

In the first two years, over six million people visited the Georgia Aquarium. If you love fish and you ever have a chance to get to Atlanta, this aquarium is a must-see. In the meantime, you can't go wrong with any size home freshwater aquarium. Just sit back and relax, and enjoy your fish.

Kevin Elliott is an aquarium expert. For more great information on freshwater aquariums, visit http://www.afreshwateraquarium.com.

Easy Steps to Your Own Saltwater Fish Tank



Whoever told you that it was too hard to start your own saltwater fish tank was wrong! Saltwater fish are in a league of their own in terms of color and beauty. More and more people have realized that having their own saltwater fish tank is not a great mystery that only the experts can manage.


Here are some simple steps to get you started on your own saltwater fish tank.

1.Setting up your tank

Saltwater fish or marine fish are less tolerant to changes or conditions than freshwater fish. Before even thinking of chucking your fish in, you have to let the water build up the natural levels of pH, minerals and bacteria and this can take up to 2 months. First you will need to add crushed coral to the base of the tank, then the best option is to use real saltwater from the ocean which is available in the specialty fish stores. You will also need to add "live rock" or rocks from the ocean to get your microscopic organisms working to balance your water. You will need your filter to be going from the beginning and after a week or so start testing the levels of pH, salts, and more.

2.Getting ready for the fish

Once you think the water levels are right, take a sample of your tank water in to your local aquarium shop for them to test it for you. This will make sure it is perfect for your fish to live happily.

3.Stocking your tank

Stocking your saltwater fish tank takes some careful planning before you begin, or you may find yourself with one or two fish that are incompatible with everything else. Coral can be the most beautiful part of your tank, but not all fish will live peacefully with it. If you want coral then you have to plan which fish will live in and amongst it. There are some fish that are peaceful (like clown fish, damsels and more) but many others that are extremely aggressive and territorial (like lion fish, butterfly fish, etc). Add the fish one by one and start with the hardiest fish to make sure they will all survive.

4.Taking care of your tank

Regular feeding of the food your particular fish and corals like, regular change of half of the water in the tank, and regular testing of the water quality are the only things left to do.

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Freshwater Aquariums - Tips For Algae Control

An aquarium can be a very tranquil decoration in a home or office. There is nothing more relaxing than watching fish swim peacefully in clear, sparkling tropical fish tank. However, there is nothing more unsightly than an aquarium covered over with algae. So here are a few considerations and tips to help you with algae control.




Most all aquariums have algae. A small amount of it is not a bad thing. However, when algae grow rapidly and take over the tank, it can be troublesome. While there are no true ways to completely prevent it, it can be controlled.

Green algae are a common concern for most freshwater tank owners. The two types, hair and green dot, can be time consuming and even difficult to remove from the tank. This alga grows rapidly in tanks that receive and over abundance of light.

The brown form of algae most often grows after the initial set-up of the tank. The algae growth in tanks that have been established for a longer period of time may indicate a nitrate or phosphate problem. The growth of this algae is also encouraged by low light levels. To remove it from the tank, typically you need to clean the tank, increase the light it receives, and ensure that the water condition is at proper levels.

Red-brush and blue-green are two other forms of algae that can grow in a fish tank. The red-brush form tends to feed from aquariums with higher pH levels. Blue-green algae are a slimy type that can be dangerous to both plants and fish in the tank.

One of the easiest ways to control the growth of most algae is to control lighting. For algae control, do not place tanks near windows and minimize the lighting to eight hours each day. Using a lighting timer is a great way to give your tank consistent and adequate amounts of light.

Just like your fish, algae need to eat to survive. Algae grow best from consuming potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. You can greatly enhance algae control in tropical fish tanks by making sure that aquariums are not overcome by fish waste, excess food, and decaying plants. Also, perform water changes regularly and use a properly sized filter. And finally, if the algae are persistent, you can get a special silicate absorbing resin to use in your filter.

Adding algae eating organisms to your tank is also an option. Snails and algae eating fish can help control algae in the tank. It is important to keep in mind that snails can populate very quickly. Adding a snail and a plecostomus to a tank may be a good idea. Remember when all of the algae are consumed, you will need to feed these animals. Your local pet store has the right food for them readily available.

It is not uncommon for algae to begin to re-grow in a clean tank within three weeks. For ongoing algae control and management, be cautious about over feeding your fish, be certain to promptly remove dead fish from the tank, be mindful about the amount of light that the tank receives, and use some type of filtration system. And, remove any visible algae with a magnet or scrubber designed for this type of cleaning. Hopefully these simple tips will make your algae control efforts and aquarium keeping much easier and enjoyable.

Gary is an aquarium enthusiast and enjoys helping others with this amazing hobby. He has owned and maintained freshwater aquariums for over 20 years and teaches others how to set up a beautiful thriving aquarium. For more information and advice on how to keep your aquarium water clean or other useful tips please visit: http://freshwateraquariumbliss.com.
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