My own mother has taught me lots of issues over the years, not the very least of which is the value of owning a clean house. Not just simply because it seems great, but mainly simply because it helps keep you from getting sick! Unsurprisingly, Mother’s tip is applicable to fish homes, too. Great fish aquarium maintenance does not need to be a huge time obligation; it is mostly just a bit elbow grease and loads of widespread sense.

Here are some simple ideas to keep your own fish pleased and healthy:

Maintain the water clean. Water is a fish’s oxygen, and once it isn’t clean it’s extremely tough for them to have the air they’ll need. A water filtration system helps keep it the water pure on a day-to-day basis, but to actually ensure an excellent atmosphere for the fish, change 20% of the aquarium’s water twice a 7-day period.

Thoroughly clean the fish tank per month. Once per month, perform a complete deep-clean of your fish tank. Totally change the water, wash the pebbles, change the filtration system and carefully clean each and every single inch of your aquarium. Don’t make use of soap or cleaning agent to clean the tank, really hot water works all right and won’t try to make your fish ill.

Check the environment and pH on a normal basis. Too a lot fluctuation in water temperature may be incredibly tough for fish. Try to make specific your own aquarium tank is within a well balanced location away from A/C vents or direct sunlight. Test the pH of your water when you’re executing your two times a week replacement, and when it’s off, it is possible to put chemicals to balance it (you can uncover them at your nearby pet retailer)!!!

Watch your fish. When your fish are sick, they’ll show it. Watch out for patches on their scales, sliminess, clamped fins, erratic behavior, just about anything that does not appear regular. If you have a fish you believe is sick, quarantine it whilst you figure out what’s wrong with it. You’ll discover plenty of great internet websites around to help detect fish illnesses and suitable treatment options. Not to mention, be positive to give food to your fish on a standard basis!

Finally, don’t get suckered into purchasing high priced chemical substances or remedies which you actually do not require. The best method to maintain your tank clean and well-maintained is by performing it your self making use of the methods previously mentioned. And it’s significantly less pricey, too!

Freshwater aquarium filter might appear just a little challenging at initial, but once you get in the groove, you’ll be blown away at how simple and quick it really is. And your fish will thank you!

If you need more information go to Aquaria Info to learn more about keeping aquarium.

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55 Gallon Aquarium Décor

Decorating your 55 Gallon Aquarium is always a fun, thought out process with lots of different options. Depending on the different aquatic life you have in your aquarium can help you decide what décor best fits your 55 gallon aquarium. As shown in the compatibility chart certain aquatic life cannot coexist with live plants. In this case your best option would be artificial plants. Plants provide a great living environment for the fish, as most fish love to hide within the plants, making the fish happier and more secure in your aquarium. Artificial plants are much easier to maintain in your 55 gallon aquarium, however they will not produce oxygen that real plants do to help with using up the nitrogenous waste fish give out. Real plants are harder to maintain and need as much focus as your fish do. They require certain types of nutrients and need to be trimmed of dead or decayed parts. Most real plants will need certain lighting requirements. Artificial plants hardly ever have to be replaced and if dirty you can easily take them out and clean them. They don’t need nutrients or to be trimmed which make them the easier choice in your 55 gallon aquarium, as they already have a close resemblance to real plants. There are two kinds of artificial plants: Silk and Plastic. Both come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. All fish can go with artificial plants but if you do choose to go the route of real plants, just remember certain fish as stated in the compatibility chart cannot coexist with real plants.

A good way to decorate your 55 gallon aquariums is by adding rocks and wood, however it serves a bigger purpose than just being decorative. It helps make the fish feel more at home since it resembles the environment fish come from. It provides a safe place for fish to breed, spawn, and hide. Wood can help lower the PH levels in your 55 gallon aquarium and aids in anchoring certain plants and ornaments. When choosing your rocks and wood keep in mind the size of your fish, you don’t want to overcrowd the tank. If you have bigger fish in your tank you might want to get bigger wood and/or rocks but not as much of it, so they will be able to hide within the decor. There are a few different types of wood you can choose from to help decorate your 55 gallon aquarium. Recommended wood for your aquarium include: Driftwood (make sure its aquarium safe and not just for reptile tanks), Bogwood, Mopani Wood, and Malaysian wood. Recommended rocks include: Lace rock, Slate, Lava rock, Limestone, Sandstone, and Quartz.

Aquarium Ornaments are the most commonly used decorations for a tank. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and can really make an aquarium look amazing. Different types of ornaments range from castles to different multi colored coral. A commonly used ornament is ancient ruins or my personal favorite, ships. If your this is an aquarium for your kids or your letting your kid help you decorate it there a plenty of different ornaments that they would love. Disney characters such as Ariel and Nemo are adorable and a great idea for a childrens aquarium. With ornaments for your 55 gallon aquarium it all depends on what you like and it’s a lot fun to be creative and decorate.

Backgrounds for your 55 gallon aquarium can drastically change the way your aquarium looks. They colorful ones that really make the aquarium look whimsical. For a more natural look they have ones with the ocean, coral, rocks, and fish. If you’re going for the natural look they really do have some beautiful backgrounds you can put in your 55 gallon aquariums. Just keep in mind which fish you have in the tank because if you put a coral background in a tank with goldfish or non tropical fish it would look kind of out of place and funny. Before purchasing your 55 gallon aquarium background be sure to remember to measure the width and length of your tank. Some backgrounds come with some kind of adhesive or suction to attach your background to your aquarium. Either way, backgrounds are a good way to make your 55 gallon aquariums look amazing and really stand out.

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Setting up a 55 Gallon Aquarium

In setting up a 55 gallon aquarium you need to remember to buy all the supplies before you purchase the aquatic life. The tank and all the supplies need to be set up and running through its cycle period before purchasing the fish and introducing them to their new home. If the fish are not properly introduced in a healthy manner to their new home, there is a great possibility of losing those fish within the first few days. Some of the supplies you will need are: Gravel, filter, heater, water pump, fish net, fish food (depending on which fish you choose to get), thermometer, testing kits, and decorations.

Now in setting up the tank, put the 55 gallon aquarium where you want it be. Next, you should take the gravel and decorations and wash them off thoroughl

55 Gallon Aquarium, 3rd of January 2009

Image by chris1h1 via Flickr

y before placing it into the aquarium. The gravel should be 2 inches thick surrounding the bottom of the tank. You are able to fill the tank halfway next with tap water. Once that is filled, set up the heater, filtration, and thermometer. Before adding anything else you should wait until the tank maintains a temperature usually anywhere around 75-82 degrees Fahrenheit. With the test kit test your PH levels and make sure they are good for the fish. Usually you let the water cycle for a period of 48-72 hours before purchasing and bringing your new fish home.

Acclimating the fish to their new environment is a very important part of setting up your 55 gallon aquarium. The purpose of this procedure is that the fish you bring home in the bags are in different temperature waters, and the PH level is most likely different as well. You have to slowly introduce them to the new water in the aquarium otherwise the fish can go into shock from the change.

The floating method is the most commonly used. First, turn off the lights in the aquarium. This will give the fish a better easier time to adjust to the new water. Next, float the un open bag that has the fish in it, in the tank for about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes is up, cut the bag below the metal clip tying the bag together. Add about a half a cup of the aquarium, water into the bag. Repeat that every 5 minutes until the bag is almost full, but not all the way. Keep the bag floating in the water for another couple minutes. Open the bag and slowly slide the fish into their new home. Keep an eye on the fish for a few days just to make sure that they are OK with the new aquarium settings but if you have followed all of the steps listed above then there should be no problem.

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Have you always wanted to set aside a section of your home where you can retreat and enjoy endless tranquil moments in front of your very own aquarium?

240 litres aquarium with different fishes, pla...

Image via Wikipedia

Before you embark on creating your own fish environment, there are some essential processes that you’ll need to know to ensure a healthy and stable environment for your fish.

For example, have you pre-planned the details for your aquarium setting before purchasing one? Do you know what kind of aquarium to purchase? What kind of fish species? What kind of fish requires what kind of water environment? How to create and maintain a stable fish environment?

Despite facing these basic questions, learning all of the ins and outs of creating your own tranquil fish paradise is NOT as complicated as you may think. In fact, keeping fish is one of the simplest pets to care for! After the initial setup, the hardest thing an aquarist deals with is… routine.

And the trade-off?. . .

One of the most effortless and relaxing environments you can cultivate in your own home!
Fish keeping is one of the oldest forms of relaxation and home aquariums are becoming more and more popular every day. Investing in a home aquarium can be a great experience for the entire family and is relatively easy to take care of.

But it’s not as intuitive as an inexperienced hobbyist may think. For example, it may not be obvious to everyone that you shouldn’t keep big fish in a small tank, or that small fish probably won’t fair well with larger more aggressive stock. And, unless you follow the advice of the store clerk where you buy Betta fish, you may not know that putting multiple male Betta fish in the same fish tank is a bad idea!

This primer will show you…

* The differences between freshwater and saltwater setups
* What to look for when purchasing your aquarium
* How to setup your aquarium
* Why and how to “cycle” your tank
* How to maintain stable water conditions
* How to add, and care for, your fish
* And much, much more!

With your Keeping Fish Primer, you’ll learn everything you need to know before you buy your aquarium, AND how to set things up to ensure your fish live a long and healthy life!
I’ve taken the most reliable information I have found for raising fish and weeded out the unproven and unethical opinions and used only what works for myself and expert aquarists. Everything is compiled here, in one easy-to-read format and is guaranteed to get you up and running in as little time as possible (remembering of course, that your tank will sit empty for a few weeks while the water creates a stabilized environment for your fish).

The information in this primer is the safest, most reliable, most common-sense approach to setting up either a freshwater or saltwater aquarium. And I can tell you with all confidence that my personal aquarium has given our family hours of absolute joy and our fish are enjoyed by everyone who visits!

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Giant Danio (Devario aequipinnatus)

Image by Jubs13 via Flickr

Three fish for your freshwater tank are described here; Scientific names, preferred conditions, colors description, sex differences and breeding advice are given for the Firemouth Panchax – Epiplatys chaperi (Family: Cyprinodontidae), the Giant Danio – Danio aequipinnatus (Family: Cyprinidae) and the Half-beak, Dermogenys pusillus (Family: Exocoetidae)

Read more ……

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A dwarf gourami (Colisa laila) with platyfish ...

Image via Wikipedia

Having a tropical fish tank hobby is not only a fun and engaging activity; for it is also known to offer numerous benefits for its care taker. Now in starting this hobby, you need to know some important information regarding this type of leisure activity. First off, you need to know what variety of fresh water tank fish would be ideal for you to take care of. In addition, you need to know if they are compatible enough to live with one another in just one tank.

Some of the more popular fresh water fishes that people usually purchase would be the Betta tropical fish since it is easy to care for. As for some ideal tropical fish for your tank, these may include the Bloodfin Tetra, Cherry Barb, Dwarf Gourami, Gold Barb, Goldfish, Platy, Serpae Tetra, White Clouds and Zebra Danios – just to name a few. These fishes are suitable for beginners since they are considered to be hardier and are quite easy to find.

Now in terms of the environment of your fishy friends, you need to take into consideration the proper tropical fish temperature for your aquatic pets. This is very critical because the right temperature will allow your pet fish to be healthy and they will flourish in the ideal environment. Moreover, it will be easier for them to ward off diseases.

Take note too, that the ideal tropical fish temperature for freshwater fishes, would normally range from 76 and 80 degrees F. If you keep your pet fish in a perfect range temperature it not only easily adapts to it but, it will also live a longer life and will be much healthier because they regulate their body temperature to the temperature of the water around them. The reason behind this is because they are cold blooded creatures which mean that it is imperative that your aquarium temperature is regulated especially during summer months and winter.

A small amateur aquarium – tank for 100 liters.

Image via Wikipedia

Having said that, if you reside in a place where the temperature changes considerably each year, then you need to invest in a quality heater for your tank. In addition to the tropical fish temperature in your tank, you need to also consider having a functioning filter to keep the oxygen levels correct. It makes life much easier if you use good heating rods and have programmable thermostats to help you control the tanks water temperature. You must find the perfect location for your aquarium. It is important to consider when placing your tank to avoid any areas that will be exposed to sunlight because this makes controlling your water temperature difficult.

You must take into consideration many factors as you begin your hobby, such as taking care of fishes. Just keep in mind that the tropical fish temperature is very important so try to learn more about this. By doing so, your aquatic pets can enjoy living with you and bring you much joy and delight in the process.

Are you a lover of Tropical Fish Tanks? The first step is finding the correct Tropical Fish Temperature which will help your tropical fish live a long and happy life. Learn all of the tips and find out all of the secrets that make this hobby more enjoyable and rewarding? Visit=>
Tropical Tank Fish Secrets

If you want an aquarium which is easy to setup and simple to maintain then the BiOrb or BiUbe range of strong plexiglas acrylic aquaria are worth considering.

Everything you need arrives in the box. They come with everything that you need to quickly and easily put together a fully functional home or office aquarium. Only the fish are missing but full directions and even some fish food are included.

They have a unique and extremely efficient built-in five stage filtration system with a central air lift and a replaceable filter cartridge. Biological filtration on a large scale occurs in porous ceramic beads which serve as the substrate and which house vast numbers of the good bacteria which ‘cycle’ the aquarium.

Standard for most and an optional extra for the rest ‘Intelligent LED Lighting’ is very advanced. This light source replicates sunrise and sunset and after sunset it automatically fades into a monlight blue.

They even have plant rings available which are designed to go round the central filter tube and are an array of silk plants.

Accessories include tank stands, heater pack, digital thermometer, colour swaps, silk plants, a three stage timer and even a marine pack.

The Classic Biorb is globe shaped and the range goes from the ‘Baby BiOrb’ which has a capacity of 15 litres through a 30 litre and 60 litre to the newest arrival which has a massive 105 litre capacity.

The BiUbe range is not cube shaped as you might think but very elegant cylinders. They hold around 9 galls of water and come with either a coloured top and base or as the ‘BiUbe Pure’ which is made from completely clear acrylic.

The final set in the Biorb range is the square or rectangular ‘BiOrb Life’ series, they have a clear front and back and coloured opaque wrap around top, bottom and sides. Sizes range from a 30 litre square shape to two rectangular ‘Portrait’ tanks 45 litre and 60 litre capacities.

One criticism is that they are not cheap but the main criticism was that they are all quite small tanks and not able to hold a lot of fish of any size. The arrival of the BiOrb 105 has countered this criticism, 28 galls is a respectable size for any home aquarium.

John Thomson is an aquarium expert. Learn more about the BiOrb tank visit freshwateraquariumsecretsonline.com.

The BiOrb tank is perfect for a beginner aquarist who wants a bit of a helping hand with setting up an aquarium or for people who don’t have or don’t want to spend the time buying all the required aquarium peripherals and maintaining the tank afterwards.

The unique built in five stage filter system minimises maintenance and keeps the tank water crystal clear making the whole thing look stunning. In addition they come with special ceramic ‘gravel’ which is porous and is able to hold a very large number of the friendly bacteria responsible for keeping ammonia and nitrite levels down. Maintenance wise all that is necessary is to change the filter cartridge when specified and to change some of the water every month to keep down the nitrate levels.

The biggest thing to remember is that the BiOrb tank is totally made up of relatively small aquaria compared with normal size glass tanks. The biggest mistake that you can make with a BiOrb tank is to fill it with far too many fish, much more than the filter and aeration system can handle. In a baby BiOrb even one goldfish is too many and of course they don’t get any smaller. Fish size is not the only reason for suitability for these tanks, some fish prefer densely planted aquaria or plenty of open water.

To summarise, the advantages of these tanks are:

Good design and excellent lighting effects consistent through the whole BiOrb range
They have a small footprint
They come with full instructions and everything in the box
They are 10 x stronger than standard glass because they are made from plexiglas acrylic
They come with an easy change filter cartridge
The 5 stage filtration system keeps the fish healthy and reduces maintenance

and some disadvantages:

BiOrb quality and design does not come cheap
Fish choice and numbers are limited due to their small size
The top opening of the globe shaped tanks can make cleaning more difficult

In Conclusion

Taking everything into account there is no doubt that these aquariums look great, particularly with the special lighting effects provided by the intelligent LED lighting. Provided you take care not to overstock they certainly provide easy access to the wonderful world of owning a home or office aquarium.

John Thomson is an aquarium expert. For more information on the BiOrb fish tank visit freshwateraquariumsecretsonline.com.

If you are starting an fish tank then keeping it clean is an indispensable task that you are going to be spending heaps of time on. So, is filling it with fish that will keep it clean for you a viable proposition? Done properly and the maintenance will be minimal. Done badly and it makes no difference!

If you want the inhabitants of your fish tank to keep your tank clean for you, then you need to consider what aspects of your tank will need cleaning for you. These will include:

* cleaning algae from glass, ornaments, equipment and plants
* removal of dead plants (and dead fish!)
* removal of extra food
* cleaning out of the snails that manage to invade your tank

But it is not merely fish that you might use to do the job for you. Shrimps and snails could also be added to a community aquarium, and certain specialist tanks, to assist with the job. Not merely do they act as extraordinary cleaners, but they can be very interesting. And by using the correct snails (such as, Apple Snails), you will not be introducing a species that will in excess of run your aquarium. In fact with Apple Snails it is very straightforward to stop them breeding as they lay their eggs out of the water. You merely remove them when you see them.

So, what fish are you going to be looking at? There are a whole variety of species that can help, but if you look at algae eaters (look for fish with their mouths on the undersides of their heads) then straight away you know they will be eating the algae. They will also enjoy a snack on a dead leaf or animal, when they could. However, they wil as a rule not attack tank mates!

Corydoras, Bristlenose Catfish and other similar fish are all outstanding for this role. I really enjoy watching my fish of both of these groups doing their jobs and the Bristlenose are particularly good at cleaning the glass (along with the Apple Snails). If you are inundated with small snails then there are various loaches that will be your friend here. Clown Loaches are good snail eaters, but they grow quite large and need to live in a group, meaning that they are only suitable for larger tanks. For smaller tanks, a loach that is small and happy in pairs is better, or get an Assassin snail!

It is possible to help your aquarium stay a load cleaner by choosing specialist fish and feeding properly. But in the end, don’t forget that there is no replacement to proper maintenance.

By Keith Lunt. If you want to learn more about online pets pharmacy, just call over to the website!

A proper aquarium
Not a goldfish bowl or a brandy glass, you need a proper, dedicated, aquarium. One that has been built for the purpose of keeping fish. Only a dedicated aquarium will have the required seals to stop it leaking and keep it safe.

A filter
Under gravel, internal or external. Under gravel filters can be difficult to change, so for a smaller tank go for an internal filter, which hangs on the side of the glass, whereas for a larger tank an external filter is a must. These have much larger capacities than internal filters, are easier to change and should do the job much better.

A heater
Unless you are keeping goldfish (which should never be in a heated tank), you should have some suitable underwater heater to keep the water temperature steady and constant. What temperature will depend on your fish, several requiring a slightly higher temperature than others.

An air pump
Several filters have venturis fitted to them to add air to the outflow, however if the filter starts to run slowly then this does not produce enough air movement. So a simple air pump, with an air stone or similar to produce a curtain or steady stream of bubbles, is an important.

A tank scraper
Even with loads of cleaning fish, your glass might get dirty. Or if you are keeping egg layers they might lay their eggs on the side of the tank and you will need a scraper to remove them to a safer place. Either a magnetic scraper, or better still one with a holder for a sharp blade that can also be used to move and place plants in the bottom of the tank.

A background
They might look like they are there for a childish addition, but by putting a backing on the back of the tank you are giving your fish several privacy and actually making them more comfortable!

Gravel or sand
Several washed gravel or sand is needed to line the bottom of the tank. What you use will depend on how you want the tank to look and the needs of your inhabitants. But a layer of an inch or two will provide a beautiful base and somewhere for various fish to dig and even hide.

Plants
I do not like plastic plants and always go for the real ones. Yes, they might not last forever, but they help to keep the water clean by using the fish wastes as their own food! And feed them occasionally with aquarium plant food and they will last longer than you expect.

A gravel cleaner
All of that gravel and sand will not keep itself clean, you will need to syphon up the dirt with a special syphon. And not merely a piece of plastic – just the proper equipment does the job properly!

Written by Keith Lunt. If you want to know more about online pets pharmacy, just call in!

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