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The Right Aquarium Heater
Generally, your fish will be healthy and comfortable in water that is kept around 79 degrees Fahrenheit. You want to keep the water temperature as constant as possible. Fluctuating temperatures lead to stressed fish, and it isn't a big step from stressed fish to sick fish.
Getting The Right Size Heater
Aquarium heaters are rated by watts, for example 75 watts, 150 watts, etc. The rule of thumb is 5 times the number of gallons of water in the aquarium for proper heating. So for a 25 gallon aquarium, you will need 5 times 25, or a 125 watt heater. If your aquarium is big, two heaters may do a better job than one. In these cases, divide the total wattage you need in half, and buy two heaters of the resulting lower amount. For example, a 50 gallon aquarium needs 5 times 50 watts of heating, or a 250 watt heater. Instead of buying one 250 watt heater, you can use two 125 watt heaters.
The other thing that is good about having two heaters is that if one fails, the remaining heater will keep the water temperature fairly even until you can get another heater. This is really helpful when you have a lot of money invested in the fish (or other animals). In fact, if you have a lot of money invested in fish, it may be a good idea to have a back-up heater on hand just in case.
Speaking of heat, whatever kind of heater you use, you will want a separate thermometer to check the water temperature. This is your early warning system for a heater that is going bad or that something is happening in the tank that needs attention.
Now, on to the heaters.
Immersible Heaters
The most popular and least expensive type of heater is called a immersible heater. These are generally tube shaped, and made from glass, plastic, or aluminum. They have a control at the top for setting the temperature and usually have a built-in thermostat. They are positioned so that the top of the control of the heater is above the waterline while the cylindrical part that does the actual heating is under water. Placing these near the area where the water circulation begins or is strongest will help keep the proper temperature throughout your tank and avoid hot spots.
There are some versions of immersible heaters called submersible heaters. These can go entirely underwater. Submersible heaters are also effective and inexpensive. They are a little easier to camouflage if that is a big issue for you.
Other Heater Styles
There are two other styles of heaters that you may see online or in stores. They are the substrate heater and filter heater.
The substrate heater is installed below the substrate, that is the rock, gravel, or sand you are using in your aquarium. This kind of heater produces very even heating and plants love it. In fact, these are the most popular style heaters in Europe. The downside of these heaters is that if you have to repair or replace them, you're going to have to take your entire aquarium down to get to them. So this is a good choice for installation in an initial set-up, but a lot more cumbersome to install in a tank that is already up and running.
A filter heater is a special heating unit that is placed inside the filter itself, so that the water goes back into the tank warm and clean. These heaters aren't very common and can be expensive.
Heater Safety Tips
Whatever kind of heater you choose, keep these safety tips in mind.
- Heaters are electrical appliances and must be handled with proper care. Remember, electricity and water do not mix.
- When it is time to clean your tank, turn your heater off, unplug it and give it a minimum of 15 minutes to cool down. Heaters can crack if they experience a rapid change in temperature, which is what would happen if you lowered the water level while the heater was still hot, or took a hot heater out of the water.
- If a heater is designed to be under the water, make sure it stays under water by keeping your water level topped off.
- Never touch a hot heater.
Author- Len Loman
About Best Pet Lighting:
Our site is best known for having the right equipment for the right aquarium. We will soon have great articles up on all areas of care for your aquarium but our main focus is Aquarium Lights And Aquarium Heaters
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What is the Importance of an Aquarium Heater?
One of the most important aspects of having a thriving tropical aquarium is to keep the water temperature at a good level. Both saltwater and freshwater fish do best in warm water with no drastic temperature variations. Only Goldfish are sturdy enough to handle colder temperatures.
Overheating can also be a problem. As the temperature rises, the oxygen saturation in the water tends to fall. But it's a lot easier to cool down the water than it is to heat it. You can turn off the lighting, float ice packs on the water, run a fan over the water surface or add cooler water on your water changes.
So the real problem is cold water.
The best way to avoid sudden drops in temperature is to have a reliable tank heater in your tank. There are many heaters in the market at various prices. The cheaper ones are more likely to break or malfunction, costing you more money in the long run, and they might not give you an accurate heat setting, which makes maintaining the right temperature in your tank quite difficult.
A mid priced heater will do a very nice job. Their thermostats are reliable and they are able to maintain a constant temperature without having to make many adjustments. Make sure you check your aquarium heater periodically and think about replacing it at least once a year.
Titanium heaters are highly recommended because they're durable and virtually indestructible. Some are designed to automatically shut off when the water level drops or they are exposed to air when plugged in. Most heaters will break when this happens. They are also resistant to corrosion both in salt and fresh water tanks.
Another good investment for your aquarium is a thermometer. You can get thermometers that stick to the outside glass of the tank, making it easier to monitor the temperature at a glance.
The best place for the heater is near the filter, that way the heated water can be distributed throughout the tank avoiding hot and cold spots around the tank. A heater is a very important part of any aquarium ecosystem and keeping the water temperature at a constant level will allow your fish to live happy and disease free for many years.
A minimum of 3-5 watts per gallon is recommended to keep aquarium water temperatures at an optimal level, so always get the right size heater for your tank. If you want to heat 20 gallons of water, you should buy an aquarium heater of 200-300 watts. If you own a large tank, you should consider using more than one heater. If one of your heaters goes, having multiple heaters in place safeguards your tank from crashing.
So, when planning your set up, take into account purchasing a good and reliable aquarium heater.
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Saltwater Fish Care - Tips To Feed Your Aquarium Fish
Most predatory animals will eat types of meat. You can give these fish beef heart, live or fresh foods. They will skip to the top of the tank, or swim where ever they land. With these saltwater fish just make sure are not putting them in an aquarium with their prey. If you do it that, you could end up with a few less fish.
For invertebrate and bottom dwelling animals, they need food that is going to sink to the bottom of the aquarium. These saltwater fish feed on food that is easily within reach. Otherwise they cannot reach them and will not survive. It's imperative to feed fish by making it easy for them.
Herbivores will feed on green plants and vegetables. If your saltwater fish enjoy plants, this limits the type of plants you can put in your aquarium. Most plants won't survive if you have these types of fish because the fish will eat them up. Feed them lettuce, spinach, fresh food and flakes because all fish need a balanced diet.
Depending on the saltwater fish, they will either feed once or twice a day. This is important to find out because you don't want to overfeed the fish. Overfeeding is dangerous and could lead to their death. A way to monitor the fish's eating habits is to time how long it takes for them to eat. Once you put food into the aquarium it should take anywhere from two to five minutes for the fish to eat. If it is longer than this, you have put too much food into the tank. You need to take out the extra food because besides overeating the breakdown of the food can contaminate the water and lead to sickness or bad water conditions. Anything less than two minutes and you aren't feeding your fish enough.
Some saltwater fish aquarists use automatic feeders. This takes the guess work out of feeding and puts the fish on a schedule. It also allows the saltwater fish owner flexibility in his schedule. However, there are drawbacks to using the feeders. It is not as simple as filling the feeder and going on with your day. Currently, automatic feeders do not hold frozen or live foods. When you want to feed your fish these types of food, you have to manually do it. Just sprinkle a little under the hood and watch the fish dance around.
Abhishek is an avid Fish Lover and he has got some great Aquarium Care Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 105 Page Ebook, "Aquarium Care Made Easy!" from his website http://www.Wonder-Homes.com/636/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.
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Freshwater Aquarium Filter and Filtering Methods
What is Filtration Method?
This is one method of cleaning the aquarium through using filtration media and has 3 types namely; biological, chemical and manual. These 3 types have its distinct procedures of filtering the dirt inside the aquarium.
Biological Filtration
This is the kind of filtration method which uses a special kind of bacteria to convert several substances that can go through with the water. These good serving bacteria will then break down toxic substances found in fish tank into less toxic ones. These harmful and toxic substances are ammonia and nitrites which can bring hazardous effects to living things inside the aquarium if they are not properly removed.
Chemical Filtration
Synthetic substances are mixed with the waste materials to easily flush them out together with the water. Activated carbon is commonly used in chemical filtration making it easily dissolved and flushed out through its filter.
Mechanical Filtration
This type of filtration method involves the use of filtration media to trap solid waste particles in the water. This can be manually done anything that can hold the waste materials can be used here. This is the least costly type of filter and can readily be available when needed. This kind of filter must be replaced in determined time interval.
The filtration process made easier through using filters. There are a number of filters which can be used in any filtration methods you may want to select.
Power Filters
They are the most common type of filters mainly because they are cheap and can be bought almost every local hobby shop you can find. Power filters are easy to install easy to use and maintain that is why many would like to use this filter for most of their filtration needs.
Canister Filters
This filter is not quite easy to maintain and use, though it has bigger cleaning advantage than any filters do. This is heavy duty type of filter exerting much force so that wastes can be flushed out faster. Canister filters are also more expensive thus many would not prefer to use this especially those budget conscious people.
Corner Filters
A corner filter provides the most basic filtration in an aquarium. These are one of the most familiar things a hobbyist acquires when starting to build his first freshwater aquarium set up.
Sponge Filters
This type of filters makes use of a sponge to filtrate organic wastes from your aquarium. Oftentimes they are considered simple, effective and cheap. This type of filter is ideal for water tanks that have small fish or fry as it can absorb almost anything.
Fluidized bed filters
This is a relatively new type of filter today that uses sand in the filtration process. This is highly efficient biological filter which make sand as the filter media. The sand will slowly moves the bacteria as it moves outside the filter.
It is important to know and search on this information about filtration method and the different types of filters so that it will be easier to clean the aquarium since proper filtration system handles maintaining the cleanliness inside your freshwater aquarium. Basically these information that has just been presented can give a more positive result in your freshwater aquarium keeping.
For more great information on freshwater aquarium filter.
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.
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Aquarium Filter - Which Type to Use
Canister filter
There are external and internal aquarium canister filters available. An external aquarium canister filter has inlet and outlet pipes for water to flow from and to the aquarium. Whereas for the internal aquarium canister filter, it has slits for water to flow into the filter and an outlet from the pump. It is commonly placed on the floor beneath the aquarium or attached to the back of the aquarium glass. Aquarium canister filters have the capacity of filtering several hundred gallons of aquarium water per hour. The benefit of this type of aquarium filter is that its output can be adjusted to any part of the tank.
Undergravel filter
An aquarium undergravel filter is a plastic plate placed between the substrate and the aquarium base with uplift pipes. Water is being drawn down, passing through the substrate, and returned through the uplift pipes. The aquarium undergravel filter is considered as an excellent method for biological filtration. The benefit of this filter is that as the inlet is the whole aquarium base area, there is no way that wastes can escape from being processed. There is a large amount of filter medium available for bacterial colonization. The disadvantage of an aquarium undergravel filter is that when the system gets clogged, the cleaning task requires a major upheaval.
Undergravel filters are most suitable to be used in aquariums which do not have big rocks or decorations blocking large sections of the gravel bed. If such big rocks exist, the block plates would create dead spots on the filter. For udergravel filters, it is preferable to use regular gravel substrate as smaller substrates will tend to fall through and larger ones tend to hide huge amounts of debris.
Sponge filter
An aquarium sponge filter provides biological filtration. It consists of a perforated plastic tube fitted with a cylindrical sponge. The tube is attached to an air pump. It draws the aquarium water through the sponge, which acts as a medium for trapping bacteria. As a sponge filter does not have the tendency of having young fishes being sucked up into the filtration unit, it is suitable for use in aquariums with small fishes. Sponge filters are also good to be used in quarantine tanks where fishes are placed for treatment. This is because sponge filters have no chemical filtration which can affect the effectiveness of medications being used for treatment. As sponge filters only provide biological filtration, they are not suitable to be used in large tanks which have higher filtration requirements. This type of fish tank filter is mainly used in aquariums with low filtration needs.
Aquarium filters provides filtration which is essential in all aquariums in order to keep the clean for the fishes to live well. The above are some types filters used for aquarium filtration. These filters provide different level of filtration needs. You can consider using these filters based on the needs of your aquarium. Please visit Aquarium Filter website for more information.
Rose Mary enjoys travel and writes on various interest topics. Discover the essentials on keeping Betta Fish alive and Aquarium maintenance at http://www.fibcool.com/betta-fish/
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How to Take Care of Discus Fish - Simple Discus Fish Care Tips
1. Aquarium Size: Because of their sizes discus fish should be kept in deep tanks. Since they size may increase up to 6 or 7 inches, and they continue to increase the size, they prefer to wide space for their survival. The discus fish can be kept in the empty tank provided if you add plants or bog wood to the tank. If they are frightened the discus feel safe place for hiding in plants or bog wood. They hurt themselves from dashing around in the tank. They get stressed very easily if they are kept in bare tank.
2. Aquarium Water: The best way to keep discus fish healthy by keeping the aquarium water clean and avoiding chlorine and heavy metals. We have to invest in water purifying unit to keep the discus aquarium tank clean. We have to make sure that water is filtered and movement of water should be minimal. The normal temperature should be between 82-86F.
If you want to other discus fish care information that's guaranteed to help you raise beautiful discus fish, click here.
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Basic Discus Fish Care Tips
The basic discus fish care tips are:
1. Aquarium Size. Discus fish need to be kept in deep tanks because of their size. Typically, they grow up to 6 or 7 inches. As they continue to grow, discus prefer to be in shoals of at least 6.
You can keep discus fish in tanks that are empty, but it's best if you add plants or bog wood to the tank. This will help your discus feel safe because they'll have somewhere to hide if they are frightened. If they are kept in bare tanks, they will get stressed easily and could possibly hurt themself from dashing around in the tank.
2. Aquarium Water. The next basic discus fish care tip is keeping the aquarium water clean and free of chlorine and heavy metals. To keep your discus aquarium tank clean, you may want to invest in a water purifying unit. Be sure that the aquarium water is slow moving and filtered. The temperature should be between 82-86F.
3. Fish Mates. If you are going to add other fish with your discus, you can add catfish, plecs, or small tetras from South America (neon tetras). Whichever fish mate you choose to add, make sure that your discus fish is the largest fish in the tank.
4. Feeding Discus Fish. The last basic discus fish care tip is feeding your discus. They can be fed most aquarium foods, such as frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp. Make sure you feed adult discus once a day and young discus fish three times a day.
These are the basic discus fish care tips. Follow these simple tips and you will raise your discus into beautiful, colorful fish.
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Top 10 Pet Fish Care Tips
2. Don't overcrowd the fishes. Overcrowding can create a stressful environment for the fishes and as many fishes are very territorial, causes infighting. General rule of thumb is, one fish per gallon of water.
3. If you are planning to expand your fishy domain and introduce new species to the aquarium, make sure to check their compatibilities first. That way you won't come home to a fish tank with a one really empy tank with a fish with its stomach full of your prized schools of fishes. Which brings us to the next advice...
4. Overfeeding the fishes is one of the major cause of death for pet fishes. You want to avoid overfishing because the waste build up from uneaten food and waste produced by the fish breaks down and changes the chemistry of water in the tank.
5. Cover your fish tank, your fishes may not be Flipper but they sure can and will jump out of the tank if you provide them with the opportunity. Don't let fishy suicide be a scene you're coming home to, keep your fish tank covered.
6. Knowledge is power isn't just another public PR campaign. The more you know about your fishes, the better you are equipped to take care of it. (That's why you're reading this list presumably right? To provide a better home for your gilled buddies.) Likewise, make sure to do plenty of research about your aquarium equipment before buying them.
7. The decorations aren't just for looks. Sure the sunken pirate ships and underwater castles sass up the fish tank but they're primary function for your fishes are as hiding places. More hiding places for the fish mean happier fishes.
8. Sun light for your fishes is a good thing but like overfeeding, too much sun light, or any sort of lighting, can be a bad thing. Excessive sunlight can encourage green algae growth, which in it of itself is not a bad thing but can quickly grow out of control. Over growth in algae = extra care and maintenance. Make sure to keep the exposure of light to your fish tank limited to about 8 to 10 hours daily.
9. NEVER place your fish tank by the window. There are two reasons for this. One as mentioned previously, is that too much light exposure can encourage the excessive growth of green algae. Second is that leaving your tank near the window leaves it susceptible to temperature changes. Make sure you leave your fish tank somewhere out of way of direct sunlight and prone to extreme temperature changes.
10. When cleaning, don't remove all the stuff out. Not only does it create more work for you when cleaning out the tank, you would be scrubbing away bacterial growths in your tank that are beneficial to your fishes.
These 10 advices are just the basics of pet fish care but they should guide you towards the right direction of building your very own fantastic aquarium.
Find out more about fish tanks and pet fish care at Fish Tank Warehouse
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Aquarium Fish Care Tips - Different Varieties Revealed
Just like the sucker which cleans the glass of the tank and the plants kept in them with the help of its mouth suitable to this job, the Labeo Bicolor also carries out similar responsibilities in the communal aquariums where they are kept. They thus are happy in communal waters but do not tolerate fishes from other families. Being a forager Labeo lives on algae and other foodstuff. Labeo is not fussy about the condition of water and makes sure the tank is sparkling clean at all times. One important thing to be noted though is that if one chooses to go in for this fish, he or she must make sure other fishes in the tank are those which can effectively adapt to the same living conditions. There are fishes that will easily adapt to acidic waters which are soft and there are those others which will adapt to alkaline waters which are hard. It is advisable to go through every detail regarding the nature and habits of this fish before going in for purchasing them for your aquarium.
One more breed of fishes which grow up to one and a half inches in size and feature olive or brown skins are the White Cloud Mountain Minnows or the Tanichthys Albonubes. These fishes have their origin in the White Cloud Mountain rivers in China and Canton.This fish has attractive stripes which goes all the way to the snout and roots of the caudal or the peduncle of the tail. Its adjusting nature and preference for all types of food stuff make the White Cloud Fish best suited for communal tanks. Water conditions can be neutral or hard for this species of fish. Ideal temperature would be about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, definitely not 70 degree Fahrenheit. Though a lot of fishes of other species generally prefer a temperature of 80 degrees, the White Cloud Mountain are the cold water types. Males of this species are not as plump as their female counterpart.
Minnows
Breeding the White Cloud
If you have ever bred the Brachydanio, then you can breed the White Cloud Fish in the same way. Brachydanios including Rerio require you to line the bottom of the aquarium with pebbles of one and a half inch diameter. You must make sure water is not more than three inches deep. These fish are happier in longer aquariums.
Abhishek is an avid Fish Lover and he has got some great Aquarium Care Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 105 Pages Ebook, "Aquarium Care Made Easy!" from his website http://www.Wonder-Homes.com/636/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.
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Salt Water Aquarium Fish For Beginners - Looking at Marine Aquarium Fish That Are Easy to Care For
Damsel Fish- Damsel fish are very hardy marine aquarium fish and some are very colorful. However they can also be very, very aggressive and kill other fish in the tank. For this reason you should stick with only a few kinds. These would be the yellow tail blue damsel, the chromis species which should be kept in schools. Both these species are peaceful and very active additions to the aquarium, but as a precaution add them last to avoid any aggression.
Yellow Tang- This is a very popular fish but also a fish that is not cared for properly by many people. To start with these fish need tanks that are at least 4 feet long in order to swim freely as they do in nature. They also like to eat constantly so they need to fed frequently throughout the day. Other then that they are very good aquarium additions and easy to care for.
Blennies and Gobies- Blennies and Gobies are some of the best salt water aquarium fish for beginners because they are inexpensive, full of personality and very hardy. Two of the best choices are the bi-color blenny and the lawn mower blenny. Both of these fish will graze algae in the aquarium and also provide a fun fish to watch.
If you are setting up a new Saltwater Aquarium and feeling a little confused then you need to have our marine aquarium guide on your side. Our marine aquarium guide will give you a complete step by step plan to follow for a successful marine aquarium. You can learn more by visiting http://www.dseventures.com
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All About Aquarium Freshwater Fish
Certain fishes have the tendency to fight with the others. So if you putting in many fishes together then take care that there is no deficit of oxygen and plants in the aquarium. If you love pets then aquarium freshwater fish will offer you a unique pleasure. You will find great happiness in changing water for them or offering them food and watch them swimming in the aquarium.
You must keep the aquarium clean and tidy for which proper filters are important. Good filters will keep the water of the aquarium clean and fresh. Besides water filters you must also keep air pump that will supply fresh air so that the fishes get the oxygen and even the plants inside the tank will require fresh air.
There are different kinds of decorations that are available for the aquarium. It definitely adds to the attractiveness of the aquarium but at the same time these things can often pollute the environment of the water. These decorative eat up much space so fishes don't get enough space to travel. But you have to leave enough room for the fishes so that they can move freely.
You have to communicate with the aquarium vendor for the types of freshwater fishes they deal in. if required you can shop around for varieties of freshwater fishes. If you research the internet you will find different types of freshwater fishes. From relevant websites you can know even more about aquarium freshwater fish.
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Choosing Aquarium Freshwater Fish
Fish community
When you are first setting up a freshwater aquarium, you need to let it run for a few weeks so that everything is working properly and the water is just right for the fish. As you eagerly await placing your first fish in the tank, it is the perfect time to do a little research on fish and find out which aquarium freshwater fish are going to get along together the best.
Once you figure out which fish can live together in a community, the next thing to determine is which fish to choose for different levels of the tank. You see, every aquarium works best when you have top feeders, who like to live near the surface of the water, middle feeders, who like to be right in the center of the tank (vertically), and bottom dwellers, those nifty fish who swim around the bottom of the tank, eating all of the food that falls there. These bottom dwellers actually keep uneaten food from spoiling and ruining your tank water, which causes diseases. They also keep it algae-free.
Pet Store Discoveries
Unless you are completely fixated on a certain type of fish, the best choice for aquarium freshwater fish is to have a whole aquarium of fish who get along, live at different levels, and are colorful and exciting to watch. One of the best ways to make these selections is to go to the local pet store and spend some time looking at the fish. Don't let shop salespeople hurry you along. Just take all the time you need going from tank to tank, and bring along a notepad to jot down the names of the fish you really liked.
Next, ask the salesperson to take a look at what you have chosen and make their recommendations as to what fish can live in harmony and which cannot. As a rule it is always best never to put more than one male of any type of fish in an aquarium. Males of different species can get along but as a rule, two males of the same species will not. So, one male and several females is a better choice. The aggression level of fish is very important because some fish will fight another fish to the death of one of them if they are incompatible. And, even if death is not an issue, some placid fish can be terrorized daily by more aggressive fish, having their fins nipped at and being driven away from the food.
The truth is that many of the people who work in pet stores are not experts on aquarium freshwater fish. That means that you should write down what the salesperson said and take your notepad home to do a little more research. There are literally thousands of websites online about aquarium freshwater fish, and dozens of forums where people get together to talk about their fish. Never let a pet store employee talk you into bringing your aquarium and your fish home on the same day.
Online fish facts
Do a little more research to figure out if the fish you like get along with one another. Find out if the fish need to have lot of plants and other hiding places. If some of your fish need huge open spaces and others need large areas of plants, you will not be able to live with the smallest tank available. Keep in mind that for every one inch of fish, you need 3 to 4 gallons of water. The rule of thumb that says each inch of fish needs one gallon of water is far from reality.
Obviously, if you are enthused by large fish you are going to have to put out some big bucks to buy a big tank. Go down the list of fish you liked and see how much space they will need. Find out if they can all live in water with the same acidity level. This is determined by a number and then the letters, pH. Some fish need a low pH and some need a high one. And, check out as to whether or not you have fish who can live at the surface, mid-way and bottom water levels.
Even if you choose to have fish that all live at one level, you will need a bottom feeder, or you will have big problems keeping your water clean and your fish healthy. Besides, bottom dwellers are a lot of fun to watch as they scour the bottom of the tank with their big mouths constantly opening and closing. Also make sure all the fish can survive at a similar temperature level.
Best beginner fish
As you are trying to determine the freshwater aquarium fish you want to purchase, take a look at some of these fish, who all live at the same temperature level, different water levels, and who all get along in a community. Most fish do best with at least a half dozen of their own kind in the tank. Check these out: tetras (used to be the best tiny fish but in recent years quality has declined and they don't live as long), cherry barbs, danios, blue gouramis, rasboras, and corydoras catfish, who are perfect bottom dwellers.
Kevin Elliott is an aquarium expert. For more great information on freshwater aquariums fish, visit [http://www.afreshwateraquarium.com]
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Tropical Freshwater Fish Aquarium - Things You Need to Do and Avoid
For freshwater aquarium maintenance, you need to have the right supplies and equipment such as water monitoring tests particularly for ammonia or pH. You also need water additives for the removal of chlorine and buckets and siphons to facilitate your regular water change tasks.
So what are some things you need to remember when purchasing your tropical freshwater fish aquarium? There are actually an overwhelming number and choices of aquariums you can choose from varying in size and shape. The best criterion in terms of size is to choose the largest tank you have space and money for and that makes sense for your home or office. Larger aquariums are more stable and fish are more amenable to this, avoiding instances of fish stress, sickness, or death.
This does not mean that you can't start a smaller aquarium and be a success. It is also good to choose a shorter, wider and longer tank over its narrow and taller counterpart. The former allows more available surface area that facilitates gas exchange and eventually helps in keeping the fish tank clean and your fish healthy. The narrow taller tanks seem to be very popular and very available in stores. These styles still work fine and actually are designed to save space.
There are also vital points to consider when choosing the best location for where to place your freshwater aquarium. Always remember that you should not place the aquarium in close proximity to the door or window. A stable temperature is essential for the environment that you provide your aquatic pets, and this is directly affected when temperature fluctuates due to excess light reaching your tank. Furthermore, it may also cause algae growth which can be difficult to deal with.
Never put your aquarium or fish tank in a place where you have a weak floor especially for larger aquariums that hold heavier water weight. If you have carpet, the tank will put indents that are very difficult to get out if you decide to move your tank. You also need to ensure that the aquarium stand you use is sturdy enough to support the entire weight of the fish tank.
The art of fish keeping can be a very challenging task to deal with, however using common sense and doing your research to learn as much as you can, will increase the success of your venture.
Chris Walker is a fish biologist and an aquarium enthusiast. For more great information on starting a freshwater tropical fish aquarium, visit http://freshwateraquarium.org.
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Choosing the Best Live Freshwater Aquarium Plants
When setting up your aquarium, it is very important to reproduce the fish's natural habitat, to ensure that they are healthy and can breed. An easy way to do this is by choosing freshwater aquarium plants that the particular species of fish would probably live around in the wild.
Live freshwater aquarium plants, hence, are the most suitable choice and there many different types that you can choose from. Depending on what kind of fish you buy, you can include floating plants in your aquarium, which will not only add to the tank's beauty but will also provide the fish with a great place to hide. Floating freshwater aquarium plants include Fairy Moss and Riccia.
Using Rhizomes is also a good way of incorporating freshwater aquarium plants into your aquarium, as these generally grow upwards and its roots spread on the gravel. These roots hence give the look of a lush green carpet spread over the bottom of your tank. The most commonly known varieties of Rhizomes are anubias and the African Fern.
In addition to looking gorgeous in the tank, they are also very easy to plant, as these plants attach to any piece of wood or large stones in your tank. As the Rhizomes grow, there shoots expand horizontally, they produce leaves, as well and eventually covers most of the aquarium. This gives your fish the perfect hiding spots.
Another commonly known freshwater aquarium plant is the rosette. They are said to look like crowns. These also cover the entire aquarium by the branching of their shoots. Sometimes, these plants, including the Amazon Sword and Sagittaria, also produce lovely flowers.
One of the most commonly found aquarium plants is the stems. As ordinary as the name may sound, these miraculous plants grow from the nodes of a single stem. This trait is also the origin of the plants name. The roots of the stem are firmly rooted in the gravel and the stem rises upwards. The stem also has leaves, which can be either individual or in pairs and on rare occasions having multiple leaves.
Java Moss is another freshwater aquarium favorite and it is sometimes known as the java fern. The java fern will make a great tank starter plant. Because of its nature to survive in a range of pH and is not particularly sensitive to all kinds of water.
Algae are the worst enemy of a dedicated aquarium keeper. It not only destroys the clear look of your tank, but also has more far-reaching and threatening consequences. Being a living creature, algae has a respiratory system and needs oxygen to survive; therefore, it consumes the vital oxygen content of the water. The best possible solution to this problem is to choose between two plants known as Water Wisteria and Plectomus. These two freshwater aquarium plants are 'algae-eaters' and help keep the algae content in your tank to a minimum.
If you are searching for one special plan, try cryptocoryne becketti. This plant comes with a potential of growing both on land and underwater. What makes this plant a real hit is the fact that it is available in a range of exceptional colors.
Amazon sword is another good option to consider for those who are searching for a popular aquarium plant. Echinodorus bleheri is its technical name and it is popular for its easy maintenance. As it grows fast and does not ask for a lot of care, it is the right choice for someone who has just setup a freshwater aquarium for the first time.
The fact of the matter is that live plants add to the visual delight of your fresh water aquarium. No doubt, you have to put in more effort to take care of these live plants, but they also allow you to reap several amazing benefits. So, get them and make your fish feel extremely comfortable.
Don Hill is a Freshwater Aquarium enthusiast. For more information on Freshwater Aquariums Visit
http://freshwater-aquariums-answers.com/
More on Freshwater Aquarium Live Plants.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donald_P_Hill
What You Need to Know About Freshwater Aquarium Maintenance
Freshwater Aquarium Maintenance Tips
Good freshwater aqurium maintenance habits are important not only for your own enjoyment but also for the life and health of your fish.
Now that you have your home freshwater aquarium up and running and populated with fish you want to make sure to protect the lives of your fish and keep them healthy and stress-free.
Proper maintenance of your home freshwater aquarium means doing regular water changes, maintaining a steady and proper tempature level, monitoring the water's PH levels and keeping the water clean and debris-free.
CHANGING THE WATER
You should siphon out approximately 20-20% of the water in your tank about twice a week and refill it with clean water. Make sure you do a partial water change at least once a month if you can't do it every two weeks, but two weeks is optimal.
You also want to make sure you don't change the water too frequently, as the friendly bacteria that builds up is actually required to keep the tank balanced and the fish healthy.
MAINTAIN A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE
Maintaining a constant temperateure between 72 and 75 degrees is optimal for most community tanks. Some fish like it a little warmer while others can tolerate it cooler, but this range will suit most home aquarium fish breeds.
KEEP A STEADY PH LEVEL
The PH level of your fish tank is basically how alkaline or acidic your water is, The PH scale ranges from 0 (highly acidic) to 14 (highly acidic). 7.0 is considered neutral and for most community fish this is what you should try for and maintain.
Maintaining a proper PH level in the tank is key and can sldo be dependent on the PH level of the water coming out of your tap. Unusually hard or softwater will need to be pre-treated before you can use it.
TIP: take a sample to your local pet store where you buy your fish and have them test it. You can buy various chemicals to adjust the PH of your tank depending on the levels.
KEEP THE WATER CLEAN
Probably the biggest reason for dirty water is overfeeding. It's a simple truth that the more food your fish ingest the more waste comes out the other end.
Now, we're not suggesting you starve your fish for the sake of a clean tank but a pinch of food goes a long, long way.
A good rule of thumb is to put a pinch of food into the tank and see if it all gets eaten within a minute or so. If it does, add a second pinch, and that's it.
Granted, it totally depends on the size of your tank and how many fish since 30 fish will simply eat more than 13 fish, but watch to see how many flakes are just rolling along the bottom of the tank after 5 minutes. If after 5 minutes you still see flakes floating or rolling around, yoo're feeding them too much. Cut back a bit next time.
KEEP OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT
A little sunlight on the tank each day won't harm the tank or the fish and is actually a good thing.
But you want to avoid sustained amounts of direct sunlight since this can contribute to algae.
Algae can take over your tank and make it hard to clean and see the fish and sometimes makes the water smell bad, too.
A healthy, balanced, well-aerated home freshwater aquarium will hardly smell at all and should not have a fishy smell or any strong odors.
Odors are usually a sign of decay, either from rotting food or a dead fish. So doing a smell check as part of your routine freshwater aquarium maintenance duties is a good tool to use. The nose knows!
KEEP IT AERATED
Keeping the water aerated with a separate air pump and airstone will help your home freshwater aquarium maintain good circulation and oxygen levels which the fish need to maintain good health.
By having a properly aerated home freshwater aquarium with the correct temperature and PH that you don't overfeed, will increase your chances of having a healthy and happy fish tank for years to come.
Gene Sower is an expert in freshwater aquarium keeping with nearly 40 years of experience. For more information on how to keep your freshwater home aquarium clean, visit http://www.aquarium-keepers.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gene_R._Sower
Bird of paradise
The birds-of-paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae of the order Passeriformes. The majority of species in this family are found on the island of New Guinea and its satellites, with a few species occurring in the Moluccas and eastern Australia. The family has forty species in 13 genera. The members of this family are perhaps best known for the plumage of the males of most species, in particular highly elongated and elaborate feathers extending from the beak, wings or head. For the most part they are confined to dense rainforest habitat. The diet of all species is dominated by fruit and to a lesser extent arthropods. The birds-of-paradise have a variety of breeding systems, ranging from monogamy to lek-based polygamy.
Data refer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird-of-paradise
Blue bird of paradise
King Bird-of-paradise
King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise
Raggiana Bird-of-paradise
Red bird of Paradise
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
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