Aquatic Plants Introduction

July 26th, 2008

I know I do not talk about them much but I believe they make the fish tank just as pretty are aquatic plants and hands down real aquatic plants have 3 times the benefits of fake plastic aquatic plants.

I have 2 bunches of Amazon Swords in my 10 gallon fish tank and an Anubias nana in my 2 gallon fish tank. In which I have to trim once every 2 weeks since or when I change the water, since it gets a little big.

Potted Amazon Sword ()

Potted Amazon Sword ()

This is a background plant. Aquatic plants not only add beauty but also improve the water quality and add color to your aquarium. These plants absorb carbon dioxide and nitrates, and provide shelter and security for fish. The Amazon Sword can grow either fully or partially submerged in water. This plant does best when kept in groups as the background in larger tanks. Propagation occurs by plantlets and grows at a rate of 2-3 leaves per month.


Anubias nana - Potted ()

Anubias nana - Potted ()

This is a foreground or mid-ground plant. Aquatic plants not only add beauty but also improve the water quality and add color to your aquarium. These plants absorb carbon dioxide and nitrates, and provide shelter and security for fish. Anubias Nana has short dark green leaves and is a very slow growing, hardy swamp plant. This plant prefers to grow above or on the substrate which makes it great for covering rocks or driftwood. Propagation occurs by rhizome division.


A Cute Fish Tank to Think About

July 6th, 2008

Hello,

I was thinking about getting my nephew a small fish tank and I was looking around and I thought to get him an All-Glass Aquarium Mini-Bow 2.5 Gallon Acrylic Aquarium Kit.

All-Glass Aquarium Mini-Bow 2.5 Gallon Acrylic Aquarium Kit (7.75 All-Glass Aquarium Mini-Bow 2.5 Gallon Acrylic Aquarium Kit (7.75″ L X 11.38″ W X 14″ H)

Everything you need to start a great aquarium for your goldfish or betta. Its undergravel filtration keeps the water crystal clear and makes it an ideal step up from your goldfish or betta bowl.2 1/2 gallon acrylic tank with base that conceals air pump and lighted hood with handy feeding door.Air pump and 24″ airline tubing.Undergravel filter with base and clear lift tube.Clear betta divider that makes room for two bettas.15 watt incandescent light bulb.Goldfish and tropical fish food.Water conditioner.Perfect starter aquarium for a new fish hobbyist or as a tranquil addition for your desk or family room.


Well I did just buy him one and since I was in the mood I bought one for my self for the office to. Well next time I will help him set it up or get a fish for the fish tank. For me I am getting a Betta of course.
Well on top of buying the All-Glass Aquarium Mini-Bow 2.5 Gallon Acrylic Aquarium Kit for my self I also bought the the SeaClear(tm) 40 Gallon Regular Jr. Executive Aquarium Kit

Aquarium 40 Gallon Kit

Aquarium Kits

June 28th, 2008

Well I know it could be fun and more custom if you buy each piece of your fish tank like the tank, the lid and so forth but that could be time consuming considering you still have to buy the fish, plants and run a house hold or work your job. Don’t worry you still need to maintain a fish tank so no threat on not spending time with your fish.

The one I really like and this is 2 of my fish tanks now is the AquaTank X Plus 10 Gallon Seamless Acrylic Aquarium which is a good deal and really easy. My biggest complaint which is not many is that it is hard to find the right filter size in your local pet store and hard to clean the edges of algae.

Here is 10 Gallon Aquarium Kit is the AquaTank X Plus 10 Gallon Seamless Acrylic Aquarium

Aquarium Kit 10 Gallon

Natural Ways to Control PH in an Aquarium

June 16th, 2008

Hello there,

Well the way I always prefer to control PH levels in an Aquarium is by natural means. For a long time I know how to decrease the ph levels in water that would get some drift wood. Just recently I learned a way to increase the PH levels. That would be by ground up coral, same stuff you would by for a Saltwater Aquarium.

To Increase PH try these products;

Tideline Medium Natural Coral Sand Pure Marine Substrate (Medium; 10 lbs.; Coral Sand) Tideline Medium Natural Coral Sand Pure Marine Substrate (Medium; 10 lbs.; Coral Sand)

100% calcium carbonate substrate for marine tanks. Provides a natural bed for your aquarium and increases buffering capacity. Minimal rinsing.


To lower the PH in your Aquarium use this;

Zilla Malaysian Driftwood (7.5 Zilla Malaysian Driftwood (7.5″ L X 13″ W X 10″ H)

Real Malaysian driftwood makes an ideal natural decoration for your aquarium or terrarium. Each piece is unique in shape and texture.


Angelfish can be tricky.

June 10th, 2008

Hello it has been a while.

Angelfish Gray and Black

Well I was thinking of all the tropical fish species I have owned and the one that comes to my mind as being the most unpredictable is the Angelfish. I have had very aggressive Angelfish to other Angelfish that are very passive.

So if you are thinking of getting Angelfish I would recommend to read up on them and a great place to find information on Angelfish is Angelfish Secrets Revealed

So after getting this book I would get Angelfish again, I do think these tropical fish are really a gem in any aquarium.

Tropical Fish Danios

June 1st, 2008

Well I don’t talk about these tropical fish enough even though I own 5 Turgoius Danios for almost a year with my swordtails. These little fish are actually pretty as well as harty little fish. They even seem to stop conflicts in the tanks. Maybe the UN should hire them (JOKE). I have notice they seem to be able to actually survive in a wider range of PH then even my swordtails, 2 died over the week. I found out my PH was low.

Zebra Danio Tropical Fish
A popular verity of Danio’s that most Pet stores have is the Zebra Danio which looks very nice with the DarkBlue and Grey Stripes so for another easy fish I would suggest to get Danios.

Water Testing, This is Vital for Fish Tanks

May 29th, 2008

Hello,

What a information you need to have a healthy fish tank is to test the water. Also when buying fish you need to know what your fish tank’s PH level is depending on this is what type of tropical fish you can get.

My favorite water tester I like is something that you place into the fish tank and leave it in your fish tank. It is the Mardel Freshwater LiveMeter Master Test Kit (6″ W X 2.5″ H; Freshwater)

Mardel Freshwater LiveMeter Master Test Kit (6 Mardel Freshwater LiveMeter Master Test Kit (6″ W X 2.5″ H; Freshwater)

LiveMeter Master Test Kit continuously monitors three key aquarium water conditions; ammonia, pH and temperature. It combines the test strip technology of Live NH3 and Live pH with a liquid crystal thermometer in ONE sensor.Convenient slide indicators remind you when it’s time to replace the sensor Helps you maintain healthy water by constantly monitoring pH and ammonia, and providing immediate response to harmful pH changes and toxic ammonia levels The advanced crystal liquid thermometer allows water temperature to be monitored inside the tank, not on the outside glassFor freshwater use only


What makes this great is you don’t have to take water out of the tank put in little vials and then putting chemicals into the vials and maybe know the PH level.  What this tester also shows you is the Ammonia Monitor and this is great and really needed to keep a healthy fish tank.  One bad thing is that it only last 6 Weeks.  But still all easy to read on 2 vital stats you need to keep a healthy freshwater fish tank.

A great classic Freshwater Aquarium Book

May 23rd, 2008

Hello,

I was looking to see how I could improve my aquarium and some times it is good to go back to the basics. So I decided to buy a couple of books including both traditional and ebooks. A really great book for the beginner is David E. Boruchowitz book The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums. In which you learn the basic, some nice hints and even going as far as stating what tropical fish a beginner should and should not get.

The Simple Guide To Freshwater Aquariums (Paperback)

The book also is very easy to read and great pictures. So if you get a chance I would get this book.

Dying Tropical Fish and what I learned

May 14th, 2008

Hello,

Well sometimes in buying tropical fish and building your tropical fish tank we might get to antsy and learn somethings and forget others.

Well I did that myself this last month. I needing to solve my algae problem and learning about Plecos (Plecostomus) and other Tropical Fish that eat algae. I thought great that solved my problem. I will buy a Pleco, so I did with out the number one thing you should do before you buy fish. I did not do any research on Plecos. For example what a healthy one looks like. Also thinking all they eat is algae, which later I found out was false. They eat wood as well. Even though Plecos are not the prettiest fish they are part of the fish community in your aquarium as well.

What to look for when buying a Pleco is do they have a round belly not flat or concaved. The Pleco is healthy if he has a round belly. Does there fins stick out more often then not. Also make sure your water is close to the pet stores water as in PH and Amonia levels. If buying on line email them what is there water conditions. Plecos are very sensitive to that. Also buy a wooden decoration for them and Pleco tablets what I learned is very good is Hikari Tropical Algae Wafers for Plecostomus & Algae Eaters.

Also again a big valuable lesson in what I learned. Research, Research and more Research before you buy the fish. This means do an internet search before you go to the pet store.

Sample of wood you should get for your aquarium if you get a Pleco
Zoo Med Aquatic Natural Mopani Wood (Medium; 12

Here is what a Pleco which is short for Plecostomus looks like, there are many types of Plecos but this is one of the more common.

Plecostomus - Small ()

Bettas and Gouramis

May 7th, 2008

Betta FishHello all well I found out something really interesting the other day and I thought I would share it. Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) and Gourami are both are breathers which are know in the tropical fish anabantoid
. They could go up to the surface and breath from the air as we would. Of course they don’t need to like us but this gives them a huge survivor rate if the water conditions get really bad. They could do this since they have some thing simular to our lungs known as a abryinth organ. These to fish can get along as well if you but the Gouramis in first. Of course you should never put in 2 male bettas. Of course knowing this is comfortable to know but you

Kissing Gouramis

still should do basic fish tank care. What is also great about these two breeds of tropical fish is that they have many colors and you could miss

match and make a very pretty tank. One combination that looks great is Kissing Gourami and a blue or red betta does not matter if it is a delta tail as pictured or Betta Halfmoon Male or even a Betta Crown Tail Male