Salt Water Fish Aquarium

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Article by Kevin Smith

Where to place your aquarium

Placing the aquarium in the right spot is also essential. Putting an aquarium in the direct sunlight can make it too warm, and also disrupt the lighting cycle you want to create with your tank’s own lighting. Place your tank in a place where it will get just normal, filtered light from windows. Wash the tank thoroughly before placing anything inside. You can use water and salt but no soap as soap residue can kill fish.

Substrates are not all the same

Next, get your substrate (gravel), plants, and other structures, such as logs or driftwood and wash all of them thoroughly. One way to wash the substrate is to put it in a pasta/vegetable strainer and run water through it. You can choose from three sizes of substrate: small stones and pebbles, medium-sized stones and pebbles, or large rocks which can cover much of the bottom of the tank. The best choice is in the middle–medium-sized rocks and pebbles. No matter what the substrate is, everyone will refer to it as gravel. Some kinds of substrate can affect the pH of the water. Stay away from slate, shells, onyx, lava rock, geodes, quartz, dolomite, limestone, and other similar substances.

Aquarium fill-up

Put your clean substrate in the aquarium and then the heater, plants and other structures. Wash all of them off so no diseases can be transferred once the fish have been placed in the tank. Next, freshwater aquarium setup is going to mean filling the tank with water. Try to use distilled water that has been sitting at room temperature. If you have to use tap water and you have a city or town water supply, you will have to add an aquarium chlorine remover every time before you can add new water to the tank. Put the heater in the tank, let it adjust to the water temperature before turning it on (15 minutes), and then install the tank light and hood.

Patience is a virtue.

Plug everything in and turn it on. And then be very patient. The aquarium has to go through a nitrogen cycle, which can take as long as six weeks. Then you need to test the pH level, ammonia level, nitrate and nitrite levels. If all are within range (check the test kit instructions for levels), you can start adding fish to the tank two at a time.

Remember, your aquarium may well be a lifetime hobby, so waiting a little more time during the initial freshwater aquarium setup is really a good thing, because it will lead to healthy fish. You will need to continue to test your water for these various chemicals forever so that both your fish and plants thrive. Patience will bring many rewards, particularly when you consider how much enjoyment you will have watching your fish.

Article by Garry Macdonald

Aquarium keeping does not have to be a hobby that endangers the environment. There are steps you can take to ensure that your aquarium will not have a negative impact on natural ecosystems.Firstly when you go to a pet store to buy fish or plants, ask the retailer where the specimens came from. If they say they do not know, do not buy anything. You will want to know whether the specimens were bred in captivity to sell specifically for aquariums or if they were captured from the wild. Always go for the plants and fish that were bred in captivity. The less that aquarists buy organisms that were captured in the wild, the less the demand will be for wild fish and plants, and the less they will be harvested from their natural ecosystems.Some times aquarists are given an organism they can not keep, or they buy one too many, or they simply decide they want to get rid of a perfectly healthy, living plant or fish. Believe it or not, letting your unwanted goldfish loose in a pond is actually a bad idea. An organism that is released into the wild when it has only lived in captivity has little hope of survival. They do not understand their environment. They will not know what their natural food source is or how to hide from a predator. In the unlikelihood of survival, the organism becomes what is called an invasive species. These are organisms that are introduced to the environment and harm it. They degrade ecosystem functions. Invasive species also affect human day-to-day life. Because they upset ecosystems where they do not belong, whatever waters they are introduced to become unsafe to use for recreation. ‘Drinking water plants’ have to work harder to keep the water drinkable, which costs more money.

There are alternatives to releasing an unwanted fish or plant into the great unknowns of the wild. Contact the retailer you bought it from and ask them about returns. If they will not take the fish back they might have some ideas about how to get rid of it. Another option is to trade or give it to another aquarist. Plants are easier-just seal them in a plastic bag and throw them away with the rubbish.The best and really only way you can take steps to setting up an environmentally friendly freshwater aquarium is to think carefully about what fish and plants you want before buying. It is easier to buy few organisms and add on to your collection than it is to take organisms away! Your collection should only consist of specimens that were bred in captivity specifically to be sold for home aquariums. Follow those two steps and you will have a very environmentally friendly freshwater aquarium.

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Article by Robert Khaw

To many aquarium hobbyists, setting up an arowana tank may appear to be a confusing procedure that requires a lot of work and equipment. In reality, it is a lot simpler. There are five major items in the checklist for preparing an arowana tank that you need to know. The moment you have everything in this list prepared, you can start to arrange for the transportation of your arowana back into the tank. It usually takes a few days for the water in your new fish tank to cycled properly.

Arowanas are probably one of the largest fishes you would find in a home aquarium. Some of them can even grow up to a meter long. The most popular length for an arowana tank is four feet. This helps to make sure that the arowana has sufficient space to grow. Smaller tanks also restrict the rate of growth of an arowana which is why very rarely will you find people using anything less than four feet tanks.

The next item you have to decide on is the color of your tank’s background. You will usually find hobbyists using dark colors like black for red arowanas and colors like blue or white for golden arowanas.

When you set up your fish tank, also make sure that it is resting on a cabinet that props the tank up to eye level. Arowanas are beautiful fishes and one of the reasons why so many people love them at home is because they are majestic fishes at adds to the aesthetics of any home. For your tank, also make sure that you have a cover on top of it at all times. This helps to prevent your fish from jumping out of the arowana tank.

Make sure you have an air pump for your fish as well. Whether it is a submersible pump or an external pump, set it up properly before introducing your arowana.

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Article by Tim

With a new aquarium, cycling your tank is the first and most important thing you need to do. This is the process in which your aquarium needs to establish good bacteria. When you first setup your aquarium it will be contaminated with bad bacteria. Before putting cichlid fish into the tank it is important that this bad (harmful) bacteria converts into good bacteria. The first stage of bacteria will break down ammonia into nitrites, and the second stage of bacteria will break down the nitrites into nitrates. Both ammonia and nitrites are harmful to your fish, but nitrates are not, as long as they are at a safe level (below 20ppm).

There are two ways to cycle your tank: with or without fish. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, but most fish enthusiasts prefer to do a fishless cycle. Doing a fishless cycle (which I recommend) has many more advantages: it’s faster, easier, and avoids permanently harming fish. Plus, the water will be completely ready for fish once the cycle is finished.

Fishless Cycle

One effective way of doing a fishless cycle is to use media, gravel, sand, or decor from another (disease free) aquarium that already has good bacteria established. If you can’t find any of these materials, you can purchase bacteria in a bottle from your local fish store. Also, during this process I suggest raising the temperature in the aquarium to around 85 degrees, this allows for a faster chemical reaction.

Cycling with fish

If you decide to go the other route, then you will need hardy fish that can withstand these harmful water conditions; I suggest using either tetras or guppies. Cycling your tank with fish can take anywhere between 4-6 weeks for the nitrates to become established. You will need to do frequent water changes (20%) 3-4 times a week until the cycle is complete. Of course if you are doing a cichlid fish aquarium you will need to remove the starter fish before adding any cichlids to the tank.

Conclusion

Whichever method you chose, it is important to realize that this can be time-consuming(3-6 weeks), therefore patience is a virtue. It is also important to constantly test your water during this process to ensure that your tank is cycling properly. I recommend using a liquid test kit rather than the basic test strips. Make sure before you add sensitive fish, your nitrates are at, or below 20ppm.

If you’ve enjoyed this article by Tim Carter, you can visit his website at http://www.cichlid-fish.com for more information and tips on Cichlids.

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Article by Quear Bergstresser

As you read the below helpful article, be certain to do so with your mind open and bear in mind that no education is ever wasted, whether it’s in general about salt water aquarium, or specially about water treatment. And take note, the popular proverb is correct – no information learnt is wasted!

When it comes to starting a salt water aquarium, the main information you need to have that will facilitate the project is how and what the various equipment are used and what they are not used for.

You can buy a salt water aquarium package so that the only things you will require to fully set up a salt water aquarium are water, filtration, salt, and some fishes. With a big salt water aquarium you can effortlessly simulate the environment obtainable in the ocean, which prop the saltwater fish contrary to the fresh water ones. However, due to the intensive care that saltwater fish require, the hobby is very expansive and requires patience.

You must not set up a salt water aquarium without first knowing the aquarium supplies you will need. The initial thing you will need is to get a solid base where the aquarium will rest. Metals are normally preferable to wood even though wood can also be a good base. You must need to take a stand on what you would like.

If you are interested in a salt water aquarium package you don’t really have to go for an already made package. You can contact a local fish shop and demand them to fashion out a salt water aquarium package of your choice. The good news is that there are numerous shops that will be glad to.

In days gone by for one to keep a salt water aquarium one has to go to the sea to fetch the water. These days you don’t have to. By just approaching most pet and aquarium shops, you can obtain salt for your aquarium. Do you know the most trendiest means of obtaining salt water for an aquarium? It is by purchasing bottled salt water. The water is sourced from the ocean it is then distilled and packaged.

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Article by Horris Temple

Aquarium tanks are the ideal conversation pieces. They are also educational for the kids, observingthem is very restful. You want to do a lot of things to fruitfully set up an aquarium tank, however. It may seem like an undemanding job, but you need to keep a number of things in mind before your tank will be able to supply a wholesome, attractive place for your fish. You will want to do some research to deflect problems no matter which sort of aquarium you choose, but your research will also help you avert spending money pointlessly on equipment and other things you don’t really require. To make your hobby a success you will need to investigate the food and everyday care that the fish you want will need to live and spawn.

The first thing that you ought to do is decide on the nature of fish to take care of. It is the needs and sustainment demands of the fish that determine the requirements of your aquarium setup. For instance, if you chose freshwater fish you want to setup a freshwater aquarium withthe earmark filters and lighting system. You need to occupy it with livestock that are taken from freshwater sources such as rivers and lakes.

For saltwater fish, you get to finish a more valuable and more difficult aquarium setup. This is because saltwater fish are not effortlessly flexible to the major changes in water chemistry and temperature. Nowadays, with this setup, you could need to have biological or machine filters and protein skimmers and supplementary special fish tank equipment to supply a stable surroundings for your marine livestock.

The next thing you should regard is the size of your aquarium. Keep in mind that the size of your aquarium should be proportional to the size and portion of fish that you propose to take care of. While most freshwater fish mature to be an inch or two, saltwater fish can grow 12 to 13 inches long. If this is your first time to have an aquarium, starting small with 10 to 20 gallon aquarium setup with littler and hardier fish species is a good idea. In general, aquariums are available in 10, 20, 29, 30, 40, 50, 55 or more gallons sizes and in rectangular and hexangular shapes.

You also need some equipment in order to preserve a fit, clean and unchanging aquarium environment for your fish. A gravel or pebble substratum is necessary for a sound aquarium because it helps hold the water clean by channeling junk. A water conditioner regulates the quantity of chlorine in the water and prevents the water from becoming toxic to your fish.

Heaters or heating elements may be essential in completing your setup as it helps balance water temperature, which not only protects the fishes but also keeps your aquarium’s glass sleeve from fracture.

After you amass all the equipment you’ll want, you will be set to knock together your aquarium. First, put a layer of gravel or pebbles on the base of the aquarium. The next step is to put any plants or decorations in the gravel in a picturesque arrangement. Make sure that everything you put into the aquarium is uncontaminated.

Delicately fill the tank with water to avoid messing up your gravel and plants. To get rid of the chlorine in water, run the water through the water conditioner. Now, setup your equipment. Install your water heater and thermostat. Connect up the water filter into your aquarium. Use a drip loop on all power cords for safety precautions.

Your last step is plugging all the equipment cords into a power strip. You can then turn on your aquarium. Make sure the aquarium tank is all set up, tests demonstrate the water is safe, and every bit of equipment is working smoothly before you add your fish.

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Article by Shawn

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Article by Iain Shimmy

A fresh water fish tank requires about 30 minutes to an hour of work a week depending on the size of the tank.

Waht you will need:1) You will need a clean 5 gallon bucket that has never had chemicals or soap inside of it.2) A hose or gravel cleaner3) A bag of natural or synthetic sea salt

I have split the work into two parts the tank which needs to be cleaned ever week on the same day and the filters which can be cleaned every 2 or 3 weeks.

The very first thing you have to do before you start cleaning your fish tank is to unplug your tanks heater if you have one. The heater can not be allowed to be removed from the water while it is hot so make sure to leave it unplugged at least 20 minutes before attempting to remove it. The water help cool the glass on the heater if removed it could crack, or the glass could totally shatter. You should also remember to never stick your hand inside of any fish tank before making sure the heater is not only off but unplugged from the wall. A small crack in the heater could be more then enough to cause a shock to you that can be fatal.

After the heater has ha time to cool you can safely remove the heater from the tank or it the heater is submersible you can just push it down to the bottom of the tank.

Now take any decorations you may have placed in the tank, so all you have are the small gravel at the bottom, this will allow you to get any dirt that those decorations may have been covering up. Now if you do not have a gravel cleaner you are going to have to roll up your sleeves and get your hands wet. You will need to stir up the gravel to get the dirt that has settled between the gravel into the water, and start removing the water into the bucket with the hose. Do not throw out the water you will still need it to clean the filters.

If you have a gravel cleaner, push the plastic tube into the gravel until it hits the bottom of the tank, then start a siphon into the bucket, every second or 2 move the gravel cleaner over an inch or 2 and repeat this process until either you have removed 15 percent of the tanks water of you have cleaned all the gravel.

Now at this point you can clean the Aquariums filters. The insides of the filters are used to grow bacteria, that help break down the nitrites and nitrates that are in the water from fish waste and uneaten food. To make sure we don’t kill all these Aquarium friendly bacteria, we clean the filter materials and sponges in the dirty water that I also full of the bacteria. Take everything out of the filters and rinse them of in the bucket of dirty Aquarium water, then give the sponge a couple of squeezes in the bucket and reassemble the filters, and put them back on the tank.

Now before adding the water sea salt must be added to the tank. All water has some amount of salt in it and to replicate the natural habitat of the fish there must be salt in your tank as well. Add approximately 1 cup of sea salt for every 50 gallons of water.

Now you can add water to the tank, but you must make sure the water is the within a degree or two of the temperature of the water in the tank. A drastic change in the tanks temperature suddenly can throw the fish into shock and kill them or weaken their immunity and help give them a fish disease. I recommend filling the bucket with hot water and checking it regularly till it is the same as the tanks temperature, then slowly add the water to the tank, start the filters and the heater.

Cleaning the filters only needs to be done once or twice a month, but the water in the tank must be cleaned on the same day every week.

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Article by Mischa Hill

When you decide to buy your first aquarium, there will be several choices you will need to make. I will illustrate this process using Marineland Eclipse 5 as an example. This will give us the needed focus.

SizeThe first decision is how large the aquarium should be. You will find many different opinions about that. Some people say that as little as 1 gallon is enough. Others give you more precise recommendations, such as 1 gallon of water per 1 inch of adult fish. That is a very good way to determine a minimum size for an aquarium.

So, since an average adult Betta is about 2 inches long, we can say that 2 gallons is an absolute minimum. 3 gallons would be better and 5 gallons would be a good, potentially “optimal” Betta’s first home. I assume that you are interested in more than just the bare minimum. That would make Marineland Eclipse 5 a good starter aquarium for a single Betta fish.

Marine Eclipse 5 comes in several variations – there is the Marineland Eclipse Hex 5 Fully Integrated Aquarium Kit, Marineland Eclipse Hex 5 Aquarium Kit and the Eclipse System 5 Corner Combo

MaterialAnother decision will be between glass and acrylic. In the olden days, aquariums were made mostly of glass and it is still preferred by many aquarists. It doesn’t scratch easily and maintains its clarity over time. But acrylic has some quite important advantages. For one, it is much lighter, which can start to really matter once you add water, substrate and decorations to your tank.

High quality acrylic, such as that of the Marineland Eclipse 5, also maintains its clarity and does not lose its color. Acrylic is easy to repair when scratched. Those polishing kits are widely available, but please don’t use them on the inside of the tank, only the outside.

It is much, much more difficult to break an acrylic tank. Especially if you are buying it for a child, an acrylic tank like the Eclipse 5 would be a safer way to go than glass.

Acrylic is stronger than glass. An acrylic tank will therefore be thinner than a glass aquarium. And any acrylic aquarium can be drilled, if you decide to add an overflow system.

Ease of Set upThe Marineland Eclipse 5 aquarium is designed for easy set up. Since the lighting and filtration come with the tank, there is very little you will need to worry about purchasing separately. The instructions are easy to follow and most customers write rave reviews about this product.

AppearanceMarineland Eclipse 5 aquarium is a very attractive combination of functionality and design. People find the hexagonal shape a plus because of the panoramic 360 degrees viewing area.

PriceMarineland Eclipse 5 is definitely priced for people on a budget. That is why it has achieved such popularity. It can be appropriately called an aquarium starter kit. It includes a bio-wheel filter and mini-compact fluorescent lighting system, both of which are housed in the hood. Purchasing all the essentials separately would cost you a lot more money.

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Article by Groshan Fabiola

People love to buy live coral and saltwater fish just as much as they love to scuba dive these days, and there is good reason. The wonders of the deep are beautiful and mystifying, so why would you want to leave this world when you’re done scuba diving and back on dry land? If you buy saltwater fish and create a realistic aquatic environment in a tank within your home, you can recapture this feeling of being part of the underwater coral reef environment every day. And even if you have never gone scuba diving, you can appreciate the exquisiteness of a saltwater aquarium.

You will have to do much more than buy salt water fish and dump them into an aquarium full of water to create this marine habitat in your home, but most hobbyists find the effort to be well worth it for the enjoyment and loveliness it provides in return. It is much easier to set up saltwater aquariums than it used to be, though, thanks to modern technology. You can also opt to buy live coral and fill your aquarium with that instead of worrying about any fish if you are concerned about the maintenance. Live coral do require certain conditions to thrive, but they are considered to be much easier to take care of.

It is not easy to set up saltwater fish tanks in a home or office. Before you buy saltwater fish, you will need to read up on the subject and become familiar with the necessary equipment and all the proper maintenance procedures. Besides the aquarium, the necessary equipment includes saltwater mix, live rocks, aquarium filters, hydrometers, heaters, aquarium vacuums, saltwater fish foods, protein skimmers and various other necessary items. You must also have proper lighting, which will depend on the types of fish and other life forms inside.

If you do make the investment and buy salt water fish, it will be well worth the upkeep and setup – just imagine feeling like you’re scuba diving off a coral reef every day.

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Article by Dexter McClean

Okay first is the inventory you will need to complete before getting started. Below you will find all the equipment you’ll need get simple basic Cichlid fish tank up and functional.

Fish Tank Shopping List:

20 Gallon Aquarium

Aquarium gravel or sand

Aquarium filter

Replacement filters

Heater

Decorations (such as hardy plants, flower pots, mini caves and other structures)

Flat stones and limestone

Aquarium test kits to test water parameters and monitor the infamous aquarium nitrogen cycle

Cichlid fish food (consult with your pet store owner)

Aquarium vacuum

Net

Aquarium Glass Scrubber

5-gallon buckets

Plastic Strainer

STEP 1: Plan your set and maintenance

Setting up and maintain a successful Cichlid fish tank is not at all, with this easy to follow road map. All your effort will be very rewording. Don’t get me wrong work is required to create this wonderful environment for you and your fish. It’s very important task to keep your fish tank clean.

Get a calendar and mark out a plan of action for dates to clean your fish tank. This will make it easy to keep up with your tank cleaning schedule. Here is your maintenance plan; clean the glass, pump and filter once a week, or at most once every two weeks. Every month change at least 25 present of the tank water. Everyday add feed for your fish. You will also have to feed your fish at least once a day.

STEP 2: 20 gallon aquarium is best for the newbie Cichlid owner

Cichlid are aggressive, this size tank gives everyone a little room to room. It’s to introduce a small group rather that a pair of fish. Here is where the decorations like plans, mini caves, stones and overturned pots can help with places for your Cichlids to hide and retrieve as they did in the wild.

STEP 3: What does location have to do with your fish tank?

Your number one goal is to keep your fish healthy and vibrant. Temperature plays a huge role in the overall health of your aquarium. It’s extremely important you choose a location not exposed to any kind of heat sources especially direct sunlight. Avoid lights of any type that gives off heat of any kind sort.

Green algae will kill your fish, warm water produces algae, keeping your fish tank at the right temperature and again cleaning will minimize algae growth. Soap can also promote algae toxics, so do not use soap when cleaning.

Your 20 gallon tank will weigh about 200 pounds, so make sure the location will support the weight of the fish tank.

STEP 4: Aquarium and equipment purchase.

A couple of points to make sure you pay attention to when buying your equipment. Get details form someone at the store you buy all these items. The filter hast to handle the size tank and amount of water it will have to keep clean.

Make sure the heater will get the job done and is reliable. You should get a UPS unit with multiple outlets for all your electrical components. I recommend a UPS unit that will serve as a power source if the power goes out. Based on the type of UPS unit you get it will support your tank and equipment for up to 8 hours without power.

STEP 5: Aquarium stand and setup.

Remember no soap or any outer type of detergents. A good double wash and glass scrub before you put anything in the tank. If, you are using a stand as the platform of you aquarium, make sure to use the appropriate tools to tighten to manufacture’s specs.

STEP 6: Everything gets washed!

Anything going into the tank permanently or temporally gets wash not just a mild rinsing I really mean washed. All, yes all plants live or fake, stones, gravel, pots, and parts of the filter that is exposed to the water. Again, I said everything that includes your hands. This step in short, be sure to wash everything thoroughly without soap or detergents that’s it.

STEP 7: Fill the tank

After you placed your sand, stones, plants and decoration in the tank. Use tap water fill to recommend level. Some people like to use a bowl to break the flow of the water helping to keep things in place.

Let the aquarium stand for at least 24 hours. The tap water has chlorine and will dissipate overnight. Check the PH level to ensure the level are within scope.

STEP 8: Implementing equipment

Now take some time to read all instructions of the lamps, thermostat and water filter. It you never followed any instructions in your life. Follow the equipment instructions to install each device, because your Cichlid’s life depends on your attention to details in the content of the equipment directions.

My two tips let the lamp and heater acclimate to the water temperature before you ever plug them in, let alone turning them on. Normal this can take about 20 to 30 minutes.

Now follow the instructions to install the tank filter. Now once everything setup.

STEP 9. Stabilization

Let stand one more 24 hour cycle. This will do two things. One ensures everything is working as advertised and guarantees the aquarium has stabilized. I know, but you have to wait just one a little longer before you add the fish.

STEP 10. Finally it time!

If, everything is in order, it’s time to start introducing your fish to their new home. Add one or two fish at a time. Float the bags containing the fishes in the aquarium. This should be 5 to 10 minutes for each group. This gives the fish time to acclimate to the aquarium and gives your filtration system the time needed to take on the increased biological load that the new fish introduce.