Fish are great starter pets for kids. They do not need a great deal of attention or special care, like a dog might. They are quiet, reliable pets. Though the fish themselves require minimal care, there is much aquarium maintenance that one needs to think about. If a fish is the first pet your child ever has, teach them proper care. It is a good foundation for taking further responsibility with more complicated pets later on.

When choosing a fish tank, consider getting a good-size tank rather than a fishbowl. The bigger the tank you have, the more water, and the less likely that any contaminant will affect the fish.

You can also have more fish in a bigger tank, and they can all live happily and have their own space. Why buy all of the equipment for a tank and have just a solitary, lonely fish? The fish themselves are very inexpensive and do not require much food. Having more fish is good for the health of all the others because it is more like a natural environment. It is good for them to interact.

Your goal is to keep the ecology in the tank as normal as possible. The fewer the fish, the less genetic diversity, and the more chance of an ecological disturbance if a fish is sick or dies. Think of how life really is in an live body or water.

The maintenance of a tank depends on what type of fish you have. If you have fresh water fish, you do not have to worry quite as much. If you have salt water fish, you need to measure the salt content of the water you put in. Salt may require specialized systems for briny species. It can be difficult to measure the levels.

Apart from the system, which you should discuss and decide upon with the sales associate at the pet store, the system should be cleaned every two weeks. That is how often the water should be changed. You should be taking some out and replacing it with new. Usually between ten and thirty percent is sufficient. Once again, a tank is not the same as an open body of water. Contaminants will infiltrate because there is only so much water to deal with. You can reduce water changes and create a healthy ecosystem with the new EcoBio-Block products. They are volcanic blocks which contain beneficial bacteria which multiply in the block and then populate your fish tank, breaking down toxins, clarifying cloudy water, and eliminating odors.

The gravel should be vacuumed occasionally, removing large pieces of organic waste. (This job will also be reduced with the use of the EcoBio-Block). You should check the filters every couple of weeks to look for any clogs (if they are left too long, you will definitely notice a dirty tank and probably some dead fish). You can also test the water for pH levels occasionally, or more often if they seem stressed and you can't find any other possible reason.

Change the filter inserts at least once per month to ensure everything is going all right. Apart from that, just be observant. Count your fish, if you have a lot of them. Watch how they play with each other every day, if there is bullying, if some are not getting any food, or if others are getting too much. If you have an overly aggressive fish, you should remove it.

Learn the correct aquarium maintenance for your home setup. Look into EcoBio-Block to help with the job. Go online and learn more now.

• Choosing the Right Aquarium Tank by Leonard Standeley There are many things to consider when selecting an aquarium tank. One of them is the size of the aquarium. To determine the ideal size for you, you have to know the kind of fish that you are putting in the aquarium and exactly how many of......
• Blue Tang : An In-Depth Guide On Paracanthurus Hepatus by Roman Veaila The Blue Tang (Paracanthurus Hepatus) enjoys the distinction of being one of the five most recognizable maine fishes along with the percula clownfish (Percula, Ocellaris), flame angelfish (Centropyge Loriculus), yellow tang (Zebrasoma Flavescens) and the royal gramma (Gramma Loreto). It remains the sole species under the genus......
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• Saving Money By Planning Ahead - Hurricane Preparations It’s that time of year again here in Florida where talk is turning to hurricane season. We’ve learned from past experience how important it is to be prepared in case a hurricane does come our way, and it’s much easier (and cheaper) to buy supplies now rather than when an......
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• eBook Fishing in California The Complete Guide to California Fishing Download Your 32 Page FREE eBook Are you planning a vacation to California? Looking for a better way to fish the more than 1000 lakes throughout this state? You'll find everything you need to know inside The Complete Guide to California Fishing! We've......
• Nitrate And How To Reduce It All salt water aquarists will know about nitrate, or at least I hope so. Nitrate (NO3) is a product of the nitrogen cycle, and follows on from Ammonia/Ammonium (NH3/NH4) and [tag-ice]Nitrite[/tag-ice] (NO2). The full nitrogen cycle will lead to nitrogen gas which is removed by gas exchange at air/water interfaces.......

Written by Leonard Boyler using tags: aquarium, aquarium care, aquarium fish, aquarium maintenance, Fish, fish tank, Pets

If you own an aquarium, keeping your fish happy and healthy is the most important thing. Fish can get many diseases and this can be costly and stressful. Preventing disease is the best cure. There are some things that you can do to stop and prevent diseases.

The most common way for your fish to get sick is by contracting it from another fish. This can be easily prevented, by paying attention to the tank. When you bring home new fish, you can get lots of disease in your tank. Before you purchase a fish make sure it acts normally and does not have any weird bumps or things on their body. After you buy the fish, just make sure you watch them for a while to make sure nothing weird happens.

Diseases can enter a tank if the tank is not cleaned properly. When you clean your tank, wash out the tank well. Try not to use bleach, because if any residue is left it will kill your fish. If you use soap, you need to make sure all of the soap is washed out of the tank.

The plants, gravel and dcor should also be washed. When the fish are healthy move them into the clean tank. Watch that tank for a few days to make sure the disease if fully killed. If any disease re-established, move the fish back into the infected tank until the disease is gone. Move all the healthy fish into the other tank that is healthy. Clean the infected tank out fully.

If you get a disease in a tank, you should always have a backup tank to move the fish into. If some of your fish are already infected, move the healthy fish into the other tank. The sick fish should be treated in the same tank until they are healthy. After the fish are healthy again, move them into the other tank, and clean the infected tank out.

Keeping your tank clean a healthy is key for your fish to survive. If your tank gets a disease, try to clean the tank ASAP. The best weapon to not getting a disease is to not buy infected fish. When you spot a fish acting differently, it may have a disease. Watch your tank if a fish is acting strangely, to spot a disease before it infects others.

Roshan Goodman helps with fish tanks and fish tank advice.

• Most Popular Pet Fish Rearing of pet fish is increasingly becoming a common occurrence and as a result increasing the popularity of obtaining pet fish. There are various fish types that can be reared. Apart from keeping them as pets, the idea of staring at the colorful display of the fish as they swim......
• Are You Looking For Pet Pain Relief by Derick Mcgee There are plenty of techniques a dog can experience discomfort just as a human can, which is the reason why it is vital to get your pet pain relief. There are lots of causes for agony in dogs like, damaged bones, cuts, scrapes, gashes, arthritis, joint issues,......
• An Aquarium Fish Tank It must make any aquarium enthusiast cringe, having to feed his fish every day in the same water that they swim in, breathe in and release their bodily wastes in. If it were not for reasons of yuckiness that that such a situation could not be allowed, it would......
• Freshwater Fish Online Store by Jose Terisaki If you have ever tried buying freshwater fish from a store, you may have realized the hassles involved. Instead, why not buy freshwater fish from an online store? There are usually more selections available when you buy freshwater fish online. Before you purchase freshwater fish, be sure......

• Is the Bistro MD Diet Right For You? For many people, having to prepare diet foods and counting calories can be a lot of work. If you’re looking to get healthy the easy way and you don’t have time to mess around with complicated recipes or measurements, sticking with a special food plan diet may be just the......
• The So-Called Old Tank Syndrome New tank syndrome is well documented, in fact there is an article on it on this website (http://www.aquaristsonline.com/articles). It is where the aquarist has been impatient and has added livestock either in too much quantity in the first place, or has added livestock in ones or twos but has left......
• Keeping Up With the Joneses - All About Appearances Lynnae at BeingFrugal.net has been reviewing the book, (Not) Keeping Up with Our Parents. Her posts have caused some reflection on the early years of my own marriage when my wife and I struggled to keep up with others, to our financial detriment. We had some church friends that were......
• Five Distinct Fishing Techniques /caption]If you've ever taken your child out swimming and haven't been sure about what kind of techniques to teach, don't worry: you're not alone. Many of us who would like to consider ourselves fun-loving and adventurous are willing to go out on a fishing trip, but how often do we......

Written by Roshan Goodman using tags: advice, aquarium, aquarium advice, aquariums, Fish, fish tank, fish tank advice, freshwater fish, Pets, tropical fish

When starting a fish tank, the hardest thing to decide may surprisingly be the type of fish to raise. Even though the funniest thing about owning a fish tank may be choosing the types of fish. Choosing fish can be a difficult and fun task, but if it is done incorrectly can cost a lot of money and time. There are many combinations of fish to chose from, but narrowing down these choices is fairly easy. To narrow down the choices, you need to decide the types of fish you would like to raise.

A common choice that people make is to raise fish for offspring. When fish have offspring, it can be a very fun part of raising fish. I would suggest a peaceful tank so that the fry will survive. Mollies and Guppies are good livebearers to start with and easily breed. They have many offspring, so the chances of some of the fry surviving are high. Adding some bottom feeders is also nice, I would suggest some Cory Cats and Plecostomus.

If you would like a community tank with a variety of fish and many colors, there are many possibilities. Barbs, Tetras, Angel Fish and Kribensis make for a nice community tank. These fish swim around the tank for an active tank. Loaches, Cory Cats and Plecostomus are good bottom feeders.

If you just like a certain type of fish, or would like interesting fish to own I would suggest Cichlids. African Cichlids are very fun fish to rise, but can be very difficult. Finding the right type of Cichlids can be difficult and the wrong kind can cause fighting. Only get the same species of Cichlids in a tank, and you will be fine. Cichlids are egg layers and very protective of their young.

There are some fish that can be very hard to raise no matter the circumstance. I have had experience with certain types of fish that are impossible to raise. Jack Dempsies eat other smaller fish and I would not suggest owning one to begin with. Chinese Algae Eaters are very good at eating algae, but have one problem, they suck the slime off other fish and can kill them.

If you are new to fish raising, I would suggest using a few of these combinations to start with, you can add more fish and experiment as your tank grows. I would not start out with aggressive fish, these fish can be very difficult to own even if you are experienced. Trying new combinations of fish is good, but after you add a new fish, watch the fish to for a while to make sure they fit in.

Roshan Goodman gives help on fish tank and on aquarium advice.

• Proper Fish Tank Water Treatment For Healthy Fish If you want to have healthy fish, you need to have the right type of water in your fish tank. Many people who are just beginning to set up a fish tank don't understand how important it is to test your water and treat it for any imbalances. You......
• Why Fish Tank Heaters Are Important by Darren Bradley Setting up a fully functional aquarium does not merely require a fish tank and a stand. There are a few accessories you need to set up, and among the most important are fish tank heaters. Aquarium heaters help maintain the right temperature in the water, which is......
• Choosing The Right Fish Tank For Your Home For the soon-to-be owner of the home aquarium who has little to no education regarding fish and equipment that might be needed, it might be wish to do some reading before purchasing. Prior to the purchase of fish tanks or aquariums, one certainly should have some idea of what......
• How to Choose Betta Fish Tanks and Supplies by Darren Bradley Do you like brightly colored fish in your aquarium? Then, chances are that you would like to have betta fish because they have bright and beautiful colors and you can choose from a wide range, including green, blue, turquoise, yellow, orange, and red. However, you might have......

• What do I need to raise fresh water fish? I recently received a 55 gal tank and want to raise some fresh water fish. All I have right now is a filter. What else would I need?Do I need a UV light and air pump?Also would I need another filter? Thx for the response. I really want to raise......
• Fishing Report: September 11, 2009 Here is a look at what’s happening in terms of fishing for the week. Local Ocean Fishing – There was a decent calm on the water over the span of the weekend, enough it seems to have attracted skiffs out of the harbor and into the sea. Miles offshore, they......
• The Rolling Stones The price of everything is going up and up and up.  Who knew that someone would be interested in rock?  Well, it is Live Rock (don't ask if you don't know)... My tank got a major reduction today.  Virtually all the Live Rock (again, no questions) was taken today... three......
• Jumping Back in to the "Pool" After a few month hiatus, I've gone and done it.  And, I've done it for a very good cause.  My son. I setup a 20 gallon freshwater tank in his room.  We've got some nice live plants, and today just added four fish (two red platty's and two black mollies).......

Written by Roshan Goodman using tags: advice, aquarium, aquarium advice, aquariums, fish tank, fish tank advice, fish tanks, Pets

When children get their first fish, if this is something that they want, can be a very exciting time. However, it can also be when a child first has to confront what happens when a life comes to an end. Fish as pets are risky because they can die early, but they can also be fun and easy for a first pet for any child. They require very little upkeep once they are in the tank and doing fine. It's getting there that can be the battle for parents. There are some things to keep in mind when getting aquarium fresh water fish for your child's first pet.

If your child wants to get aquarium fresh water fish, you have to tell them that they are going to have to wait for the fish, but you can get started right away. You should take your child to the store, or look online, and see what size tank you want to get and take it home or order it. If you want to have more than one fish, avoid the one gallon size tank, as that is only good for just one fish. Follow the instructions for fish limits when buying or the fish will not last very long. If it says just one fish, that is all you can have in there. Most very small tanks only handle one or two at the most.

Once you have the tank in your hands for your aquarium fresh water fish, tell your children that they can help you set it up, but do not go out and get your fish. You want to choose the rocks you want to have at the bottom, any decorations and plants (remember fish need places to hide), and the chemicals and foods that you are going to need for your fish. This will be fun stuff to choose, but your child will not understand why they can not get their fish just yet. The reason for this lies with the filters and air supplies that you are going to be buying as well.

You may get lucky and put your aquarium fresh water fish right into a new tank and they will do well. For the most part, however, this is not going to happen. In order for a fish tank to work well and support life, there has to be a balance of bacteria in the water that agrees with life. If your tank does not have this good bacteria, your fish are not going to last long. Many experts recommend that you set up your tank, start the filter and air, and let it run for four to six weeks before you consider adding fish. This makes the water ideal for them when they do arrive, and they are more likely to survive.

Once this time has passed and your water is indeed as it should be (look for help and kits to let you know that this is the case), you can then add your fish. Take your child with you and let them choose the fish that they want, and learn how to safely add them to the tank that you have had up and running for some time. If you follow all of these instructions, your aquarium fresh water fish have a much better chance of surviving and thriving in your care and your child can enjoy them for some time to come.

I enjoy writing about pets and christian books on my psychology book reviews website daily.

• Choosing and Maintaining An Aquarium For Your Child Fish are great starter pets for kids. They do not need a great deal of attention or special care, like a dog might. They are quiet, reliable pets. Though the fish themselves require minimal care, there is much aquarium maintenance that one needs to think about. If a fish......
• How to Buy a Freshwater Fish Aquarium by Lisa Mautag Have you ever thought of owning freshwater fish? Before you go out buying freshwater fish, you will need a freshwater fish aquarium set up. You do not want to just buy any freshwater fish aquarium either. There are many factors you must consider. You need to do......
• The Importance Of Choosing the Ideal Fish Tank Filter by Darren Bradley If you have always planned on setting up an aquarium, you have to choose the necessary fish supplies carefully. There are various types of fish tank supplies available, all designed to cater to the needs of different fish species and different aquarium types. The web is home......
• Most Popular Pet Fish Rearing of pet fish is increasingly becoming a common occurrence and as a result increasing the popularity of obtaining pet fish. There are various fish types that can be reared. Apart from keeping them as pets, the idea of staring at the colorful display of the fish as they swim......

• Planning and Tackle The prime fishing season, at least for the Lake Tahoe area, begins on a typical year in late April and goes until Memorial Day, and then from just beyond Labor Day until the fall stream closure in around mid November. A few of the waters, such as the tributaries in......
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• Kona Kampachi -- Very Delicious Yellowtail From Kona Blue Water Farms The Kona Kampachi is a sustainable farmed yellowtail with zero detectable mercury or PCBs. Last week after finding Kona Blue Water Farms I order 4 fillets. The fish arrived 2 days ago fresh, not frozen, packed on ice straight from Hawaii. The fish had been swimming in the ocean about......
• Should You Purchase A Used Fish Tank Or Not Purchasing a used fish tank or even a complete [tag-tec]saltwater aquarium[/tag-tec] system can save you a great deal of money as long as you are careful. As we all know this hobby can become expensive if you allow it to. When considering this area you need to consider the following......

Written by Angel Knight using tags: aquarium, aquarium fish, fish tank, fishes, how to pets, pet fish, Pets

It doesn't readily occur to people that the aquatic creatures in ponds, lakes, rivers, what have you, live the same way that we do - on energy from the sun. It's easy to look down into the gloomy half-dark world they inhabit and to feel that in an aquarium, they could not want anything more than to be kept in a dark corner all the time and be blinded with bright lights when guests need to see how the light bounces off their iridescent scales. As it turns out, fish and all the pretty plants in an aquarium don't quite work that way.

The light from the sun and moon may not be quite so bright for them in their natural habitat, but it does exist, and if you see yourself running an aquarium full of bright happy and healthy fish, you do need to replicate for them in your aquarium lighting, the kind of light and darkness that they would have enjoyed in their natural habitat.

Aquarium lighting comes in all kinds intensities and technologies. There are the regular fluorescent strips, the compact fluorescent lamps, metal halide lamps and light emitting diodes - every kind of lighting technology there is, as you can see. If what you have on your hands is an aquarium with freshwater fish, these can survive very well on low-intensity fluorescent lighting. Fish actually like fluorescent lighting much better than incandescent bulbs. Fluorescent lights run cooler, and the light they put out is closer in appearance to daylight. If you've been kind to your little finny friends, you'll have a few little plants colorfully waving around your tank looking for a little light for their photosynthesis.

Plants can't do with the mild lighting that fish can get by on; they will need brighter aquarium lighting, typically around 5 Watts of fluorescent light for every gallon of water your tank holds. Plants actually use the light they receive for energy; if you have a saltwater aquarium, the algae on the live rock you'll have used, will appreciate much better lighting too. The key word here is "full spectrum lighting"; these life forms need to receive light on all the wavelengths or colors that the sunlight would let them have. Regular fluorescent lighting will work fine, but actinic light will work even better for plants and algae.

But there can be too much of a good thing too when it comes to lighting. The fish have wake- and sleep-cycles just like us; the idea is then to give them as much darkness as they would have in nature. About 12 hours of darkness would not be a bad idea. Using aquarium lighting of too high an intensity or leaving it turned on for too long can be harmful for the environment in the tank; nuisance algae tend to feel encouraged and tend to take over your tank if there is too much lighting too. A good way to go about it would be to buy an aquarium light timer. The fish will have a steady day- and night-cycle they can count on and you can be sure that you will never forget to make the sun come up or go down for the fish. You wouldn't want to pull a Truman Show climax-like scene on your fish now would you?

I like writing about fish and christian books on my writing book reviews website daily.

• Labrador Retrievers Make Great Family Pets Originally a hard working gun dog used to spending its days hunting the Labrador retriever has an altogether different image today. Now, Labs are considered to be ideal family pets and if you want the perfect picture of doggie cuteness than a Labrador puppy will fit the bill. Labs......
• How To Take Care Of Pet Fish Compared to other things, aquariums usually require very little care and daily attention. In fact, if you started maintenance on your aquarium by the time you begin reading this article, you will probably have been through before you even finish the article. So what is involved in aquarium care?......
• The Stunning Emperor Angelfish : Care And Requirements by Gabriela DeSouyez Among the large angelfish in the hobby, the emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus Imperator) is on of three that reign as most popular. The other two being the french angelfish (Pomacanthus Paru) and the queen angelfish (Holacanthus Ciliaris). It is the most popular angelfish in the genus Pomacanthus. It......
• How to Practice Responsible Fish Keeping Responsible fish keeping starts with how you set up your aquarium. Make sure that the aquarium can accommodate the fish you want. Many people believe that fish will swell to the size of the aquarium. Preventing them from growing to their fullest size by keeping them in a small......

• Hunting Deer: Knowing Their Diet Deer, when they are in their natural habitat, do not actually eat the commercial "deer feed" that most feed stores will sell you as bait or as a lure. So when deer are out in the wild and they are left to their own devices, what do they eat? Unlike......
• Fishing Report: February 12, 2010 Striped Bass, Crab and Halibut A trip went out of Berkeley/Emeryville on Friday and brought back lots of rays and sharks, and one good sturgeon, but nothing like the 80-pounder that was caught here last week. More trips are scheduled for the weekend. The recent weather is expected to cause......
• What Lighting Should You Use Above The Refugium A refugium can be made from many things in the aquarium but for the concept of this article we shall classify a refugium as an area which contains a sand covering and macro algae being grown. This type of refugium allows for two things to be completed : 1. A......
• Two Small Spectacular Fishes The words ‘marine’ and ‘spectacular’ seem to go hand in hand. Consider corals in all their diversity and splendour. The corals don’t have it all their own way; there are spectacular marine fish as well. Many of the colourful fish available are medium to large in size. There are the......

Written by Andy Garvin using tags: aquarium, aquariums, fish tank, online aquarium advice, pet aquarium, Pets

You've probably seen live rock in all the most elegant saltwater aquariums you remember. They sell aquarium live rock in all the better aquarium supplies stores: pieces of undersea coral reef broken off through the natural action of the sea, picked up by divers for use in aquaria. Coral reefs are made of a very porous substance. The ocean's underwater environment is filled with tiny creatures, crabs, crustaceans, algae and myriad other life forms that make their home in the little pores, nooks and crannies of these reefs. When a piece breaks off and is fished up by people for use in aquaria, these rocks come with all the life that fills their entire structure; hence the name, live rock.

The saltwater aquarium is a pretty popular option around homes these days; it wasn't really an option up until a few years ago when aquarium live rock was not commonly available. What is it about live rock that helps though? The thing is, when you put a hunk of live rock into your aquarium, you give the thousands of organisms holed up within, a home in your tank as well; in return, they are happy to earn their keep by entering a symbiotic relationship with their tankmates, the fish.

Fish eat and breathe in the same water space they release their bodily waste in; someone's got to clean up all the pollution in the water before it gets too thick for the fish. Of course you could always roll up your sleeves every couple of days and filter it all out with plenty of time and equipment. With aquarium live rock though, all you need to do is leave it to the organisms in the rock, the aerobic and anaerobic critters, to turn the bodily waste floating about in the water into harmless nitrogen that bubbles up to the surface and leaves.

The rule of thumb for the quantity of live rock you want for your saltwater aquarium is about a pound of rock for every gallon of water your aquarium holds. But you can't just lie back and relax just yet; the aquarium live rock that you buy from your aquarium supplies store needed to make quite a trip to your home all the way from the bottom of the sea. The living organisms in there seem to not find the inside of a mail order store's mailer box quite as hospitable to life as the bottom of their favorite sea. After the grueling trip making it to your aquarium, the rock will take a while to acclimatize to its new surroundings and grow the full complement of life forms it is capable of. In the meantime, you will need to check the nitrate levels in your water from time to time and use a protein skimmer to take up the slack until your live rock kicks in.

When aquarium live rock does kick in though, there is quite nothing like it: the fish love to play around it, the rocks grow beautiful colorful algae and plants, and the rock really lives, changing from day to day in the life it supports. There are several kinds of aquarium live rock you'll get to choose from when you set forth to buy some. There are rocks from the Fiji Islands, there is Atlantic rock and there is aquaculture rock. The ones from the Pacific are real coral reef, but when you buy something of this kind you never know if environmentally friendly harvesting practices were used to get them. Aquaculture rock could be the best choice; they artificially place porous rock at the bottom of the sea a couple of years to get all the life forms to take to them, and then ship it to you. If you have a saltwater marine aquarium, you owe it to your fish to help them feel at home. They'll be healthier and happier for your trouble.

I like writing about pets and christian books on my audio book reviews website daily.

• Centropyge Multicolor : Guide On The Expensive Deep Water Multicolor Angelfish by Gabriela Desouyez The Multicolor angelfish (Centropyge Multicolor) is a deep water angel that live at depths from 50 to 200+ feet in the wild. Probably named after the variety of colors present on its body. Its body is white while its chest has a patch mixed with yellow, orange......
• High Quality Aquarium Needs To ensure that your fish tank is running well and your fish are in good health, you need to have all of the following aquarium equipment: Filtration system Aquarium filters are necessary to maintain the cleanliness of the water. Filters remove dirt, waste, odor, and other impurities. To make......
• Swalesi Basslet : A Guide On This Rare And Elusive Deep Water Basslet by Roman Veaila Liopropoma Swalesi is a small deep water basslet commonly found around the waters of Indonesia. As with other members of the genus, it has a body that resembles an arrowhead, sleek and streamlined. It rarely tops 4 inches while most specimens come at 2 to 3 inches......
• Tropical Fish Species review by Gavish Rotem So how can I choose my first tropical fish or should I need to change my fish tank population? There are many families of tropical fish, cichlids, Chaetodontidae, bottom feeders, Characins, Acanthuridae, labyrinth fish, livebearers and much more. Make sure that your desired animal fits to your......

• 9 Ways to Reduce Heating Costs There are a number of techniques that you can do to reduce your heating costs. Here is a list of tips and techniques to give you the ability to reduce your heating bill. 1 - Find a warm pair of socks. Sounds silly, but feet that are cold will send......
• Building a life It's time to start living the life you've imagined. Henry James We lay the groundwork every day for the life we wish to live. There's no better time to start than now. What do you want to see in your life? where do you see your life heading? I always......
• 5 Cardinal Sins Of A Marine Aquarist I thought I’d jot down what I consider to be the five major sins of a marine aquarist, be that for a reef tank or a fish only tank. They are not in any particular order. The list is not just aimed at beginners to the hobby who are just......
• Green Fishing and Boating As the environment becomes a bigger concern, it has never been more important to practice green fishing and boating techniques. There are many ways that you can enjoy your favorite hobbies and still be eco-friendly. It is vital to preserve the state of our waterways and to ensure that there......

Written by Tod Lawn using tags: aquarium, aquarium fish, fish online, fish tank, look at fish, Pets

In your quest for the perfect fish tank you will come across many problems and have many difficulties. The biggest problem can be the fish, which are in the tank. The books can give you the types of fish that work well together. For the most part the books are right and will not mislead you; but something can go wrong and the books are not always correct. The only way to be sure of the fish to be correct is experience. Sometimes experimenting is good for the success of a fish tank.

For the most part it is suggested to go by the books and get fish that are compatible. As stated before the books are not always correct, so event if it is said that the fish will be fine together than they may not be. After new fish are added to your tank, keep close attention to the fish for a week or so. If everyone in the tank is happy than you can lessen your watch more and more as time recedes.

If you find a fish that is causing a problem you must first identify the problem. The fish may be attacking all the other fish or attacking a certain group of fish. The case may be that two of the fish are battling it out or one fish does not like a certain other fish. The fish may just be digging or very hyper. Whatever the problem is it can be fixed.

Solving this problem can be easy and done without having to kill the fish. Isolating the fish that has the problem in a different tank for a while is best. If the problems cease in your main tank then the fish cannot be with the other fish in the tank, and is best left alone or maybe only with its own kind.

If you have checked everything that you possibly can then it is time to take action. First, try removing the fish and all of its kind from the tank and put them in another tank alone. This should usually solve the problem within your main tank. If you find that the fish are still acting up, that you should see if they might be sick or breeding. Give the fish a week or so in the new tank if they are still acting up, the water or temperature may be the problem. Next, experiment with the decorations in the tank. Finally, if you still are pursuing the problem then the fish might have to be given to a different home.

The most common problem with fish that have a problem is that they dislike a different fish. If you find that this is the problem then try just giving the problem the fish away. This will avoid conflict and make life easier.

Roshan Goodman gives help on aquarium advice and on buy aquariums.

• Tips in Selecting Tropical Fish Tanks by Darren Bradley Selecting a tropical fish tank is not just selecting the first one that comes along. You need to consider some factors to ensure that your tropical fish would have a good environment to live and thrive in. That said, listed here are some considerations in choosing among......
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• How to Choose Betta Fish Tanks and Supplies by Darren Bradley Do you like brightly colored fish in your aquarium? Then, chances are that you would like to have betta fish because they have bright and beautiful colors and you can choose from a wide range, including green, blue, turquoise, yellow, orange, and red. However, you might have......
• Improving Your Aquarium With Fish Tank Accessories Although buying a good-sized fish tank is important for any aquarist, choosing the right types of fish tank accessories also merits enough attention. From choosing the right substrates to aquarium enhancements, it is important to make sure that the accessories you choose are suitable to the tank. Accessories for fish......

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• Can You Build A Fish Tank From Plywood? Aquariums get more expensive as they get bigger. Well, there’s a pretty obvious statement to start with! However for the aquarist who is not keen to meet the price of a large aquarium but is able to deal with the cost of everything else there is a way around the......
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Written by Roshan Goodman using tags: advice, aquarium, aquarium advice, aquariums, Fish, fish tank, fish tank advice, fish tanks, Pets

Whether it's your first aquarium or you are an expert aquarist, bringing fish home from the store can be a tricky task for everyone. Getting your fish home safely can be easy or very difficult. With a few steps your fish can arrive home and be happy and healthy. The distance to get your fish is a big factor in getting your pets home safely. Longer distance can cause hardships for the fish and yourself.

If you live far away then planning when and how you get the fish home can be vital. If you cannot get the fish home right away you might consider investing in a small plastic transporting tank. A tank can help the fish feel more safe and they will have airflow in the tank.

The biggest mistake that most people make is leaving their fish in the car alone. This can cause the fish to die and is a very easily fixed mistake. If you leave the fish in the car they can overheat or freeze. Always keep someone in the car with the fish.

One of the biggest mistakes many people do is to leave the fish alone. Leaving the fish alone can cause many problems; they can die, spill out of the bag, overheat or freeze. The best decision is to keep the fish with you at all times until they are home in your tank.

When the fish are home there is one step left to insure their security to the tank. If the fish were in the small tank, put them back in the bags. Float the bags in the tank for at lest twenty minutes to get the fish used to the water. When the fish are acclimated net out he fish and put them in the tank. Do not dump the water into your tank; you can avoid diseases and bad water by not pouring out the water into your tank.

Following the steps put forth in this article will save you a lot of time and money. Being careful can help your hobby in being an aquarist and can also make it more pleasurable. Tips and tricks are very helpful and can be acquired easily and quickly until you are an expert.

Roshan Goodman gives tips on fish tanks and on buying an aquarium.

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• Choosing The Right Fish Tank For Your Home For the soon-to-be owner of the home aquarium who has little to no education regarding fish and equipment that might be needed, it might be wish to do some reading before purchasing. Prior to the purchase of fish tanks or aquariums, one certainly should have some idea of what......
• Choosing The Right Fish Tank For Your Home For the soon-to-be owner of the home aquarium who has little to no education regarding fish and equipment that might be needed, it might be wish to do some reading before purchasing. Prior to the purchase of fish tanks or aquariums, one certainly should have some idea of what......
• How to Start Your Own Aquarium Setting up an aquarium is easy to do and a satisfying way of entering into the fascinating hobby of keeping fish. You can enjoy the ease of a freshwater fish community or venture into the more demanding realm of a salt-water aquarium. The color and movement of aquarium fish......

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Written by Roshan Goodman using tags: aquarium, aquarium help, aquarium tips, aquariums, faquarium advice, Fish, fish tank, fish tank advice, fish tanks, hobbies, home and family pets, Pets

Cleaning your fish tank is task that must be done every few weeks or so until your tank is established. Once established, your tank will only need to be cleaned a few times a month. The size of your tank can depend on how long it takes to clean. The bigger the tank and more decor is the, the harder it will be to clean.

When cleaning a tank, changing the filters is the first step. If you have a bio filter, or power filter changing the filters is a breeze. A under gravel filter is another story. You must remove all the plants, decor and accessories. Then you must pull it out from under the gravel to clean.

Once the filters are cleaned, replace them with new ones. If you have an underground filter do not replace it back in the tank yet. If you have an established tank then leave the plants and decor, even if they have algae on them. If you do not have an established tank or smaller tank (ten gallon or smaller) then wash off all the plants and decor. If you have real plants do not wash them.

After the accessories, decor and plants have been washed do not place them back in the tank yet. The next step is to siphon the tank. Siphon no more than one third of the water out of the tank. If there is still debris at the bottom of the tank fill it with water and re siphon until all debris is gone. If you have an established tank then only siphon out some of the debris and leave a little in the gravel.

When replacing the water only use soft water so the fish do not die of shock. Soft water is water without minerals. Tap water or filtered water is considered soft water. After the water has been replaced remember to not fill the tank too high because, the plants, decor and filters have to still be added.

Replace the under gravel filter if you have one. Also consider in investing a power filter, this will make your life a lot easier. Then replace the plants and decor. You're all done, and now your tank is clean. Remember that cleaning a tank can be traumatizing for the fish, so they might be timid for a while after the clean.

Roshan Goodman gives cool info on fish tanks and advice on aquariums .

• How to Choose Betta Fish Tanks and Supplies by Darren Bradley Do you like brightly colored fish in your aquarium? Then, chances are that you would like to have betta fish because they have bright and beautiful colors and you can choose from a wide range, including green, blue, turquoise, yellow, orange, and red. However, you might have......
• How to Practice Responsible Fish Keeping Responsible fish keeping starts with how you set up your aquarium. Make sure that the aquarium can accommodate the fish you want. Many people believe that fish will swell to the size of the aquarium. Preventing them from growing to their fullest size by keeping them in a small......
• Why Fish Tank Heaters Are Important by Darren Bradley Setting up a fully functional aquarium does not merely require a fish tank and a stand. There are a few accessories you need to set up, and among the most important are fish tank heaters. Aquarium heaters help maintain the right temperature in the water, which is......
• Factors to Consider When Purchasing an Aquarium by Lane Jordan Aquariums give people the prefect opportunity to decorate their homes with aquatic organisms. There are various types of aquariums depending on their shapes and sizes. The type of aquarium also depends on the material used in making it, for instance aquariums are available in a choice of......

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Written by Roshan Goodman using tags: animal care, animals, aquarium, aquarium advice, aquariums, cleaning an aquarium, Fish, fish tank, fish tank advice, fish tanks, Pets, pets and animals

The best part of owning an aquarium is decorating it however you want. Decorating an aquarium can be fun, but the decorations still have to be suitable for the fish. Fish feel more secure with more hiding places. If you have only a few decorations in the tank the fish will not feel secure and not swim around the tank as much. If you have lots of hiding places then you will not be able to see the fish very often. There is a balance that you must find for a happy, healthy tank.

First, when designing an aquarium the essentials are needed such as lights, filters and heaters. The tank first needs the filters, depending on your size of tank, depends on how many filters you have. A lid for your aquarium is vital for the fishes' health. A lid protects them from outside dangers, and also can provide light. A lid is highly suggested for an aquarium hobbyist.

If you do not have a lid on your aquarium, then I suggest investing in one. A lid provides more security for the fish so that things do not get into the tank. Also a lid helps regulate the temperature in the tank. Most lids have lights and, which are very beneficial. If you can, invest in a lid with a light, most aquarium tanks come with a standard lid with a fluorescent light.

Filters are very useful and needed to keep the tank clean. If you have a power or wheel filter, decorating can be a lot easier than if you have an under gravel filter. If you have a under gravel filter then I suggest investing in a power filter, they are inexpensive and get the job done.

Heaters are necessary for fish life, but can get in the way. Make sure to put them in a place out of the way of the fish. Submersible heaters work the best. Just to be safe put at least tow heaters in your tank so that if one stops working the fish will still have one heater to regulate the habitat.

Lights are a nice add-on for an aquarium, and make the fish feel more secure. The light can give the fish a difference between night and day, so that their feeding routines stay the same.

Bubblers are great for the tank to get oxygen for the fish, and also look cool. Place bubblers off to the side of the tank so that they do not disturb the fish that do not like the bubbles.

When it comes to decorating your tank keep these tips in mind do make a tank a good living environment for the fish. The accessories and decor for the fish tank are great but keep in mind to not forget about the essentials such as filters and heaters.

Have a fish tank or thinking about buying one, check out Roshan Goodmans' tricks and tips on aquarium and designing a fish tank.

• Freshwater Aquariums For Beginners, Don't Make These Mistakes If you want to experience the joy of owning an aquarium for yourself, then you must follow these principles. While selecting an aquarium, the utmost importance should be given to the surface area. This is the top of the tank where water comes in contact with air. It is......
• Finding Nemo Aquarium Decorations For Sale The Disney Pixar finding Nemo is one of the most memorable aquarium movies I have seen next to A Sharks Tale. It gets you laughing from end to beginning and you can always watch it again. Taking me back to the aquarium games I used to play on my......
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• An Aquarium Fish Tank It must make any aquarium enthusiast cringe, having to feed his fish every day in the same water that they swim in, breathe in and release their bodily wastes in. If it were not for reasons of yuckiness that that such a situation could not be allowed, it would......

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• Starting A Marine Aquarium - The Very First Considerations Seeing pictures of a healthy marine fish only or reef aquarium in books or on the internet, or even better, in reality at a public aquarium will cause just about anyone to appreciate the beauty and general fascination of them. Some people will wonder if they could have one, and......
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Written by Roshan Goodman using tags: advice, animal advice, animals, aquarium advice, aquarium tips, aquatic pets, Fish, fish tank, fish tanks, Home Garden, Pets

Owning an aquarium can be a joy, but cleaning it often seems like a lot of work. It doesn't have to be that way. Here are some tips and products that can make cleaning and maintaining your fish tank a breeze.

It's typically recommended that you start by replacing 15-20 percent of the water every two weeks. While there are a number of ways you can do this, one of the easier methods is to use a plastic gravel cleaner with a hose attached. While cleaning your gravel, you can suck up the water you want to replace and drain it into a bucket.

Be sure to keep that old water on hand. Use this water to clean items such as the filter, as using water from the tap will kill the good bacteria. This beneficial bacteria helps break down and process fish waste.

In addition, using a product such as Bioverse's All-Natural Fish Tank Cleaner will help maintain a healthy level of bacteria in your fish tank. This is of critical importance to your fish. Simply place this chemical-free Bioverse product into your fish tank, and it will work with your filtration system to reduce any unnecessary nutrients and ammonia, as well as improve water clarity. The packet, which uses beneficial bacteria to keep your fish tank clean, works for 30 days.

Another time-saving maintenance tool is a magnetic algae scraper. This allows you to attach magnets to either side of the aquarium glass and move your scraper from the outside of the tank. Just connect the magnets at the top of the tank and easily scrape each section of the wall. These can be used on aquariums with thickness up to an inch and a half. These also work on acrylic aquariums.

So don't worry about keeping your aquarium clean. With the right products, you easily can maintain healthy bacteria levels in your fish tank.

• Why Fish Tank Heaters Are Important by Darren Bradley Setting up a fully functional aquarium does not merely require a fish tank and a stand. There are a few accessories you need to set up, and among the most important are fish tank heaters. Aquarium heaters help maintain the right temperature in the water, which is......
• Freshwater Aquariums For Beginners, Don't Make These Mistakes If you want to experience the joy of owning an aquarium for yourself, then you must follow these principles. While selecting an aquarium, the utmost importance should be given to the surface area. This is the top of the tank where water comes in contact with air. It is......
• I Love Aquariums And Take Care Of Them To any aquarium hobbyist, the exciting and creative time to be had building your own little underwater fantasyland often can feel let down by what follows: watching a week's pall of dirt and dullness settling over everything that you prized for its clear color and healthful liveliness. The joy......
• Most Popular Pet Fish Rearing of pet fish is increasingly becoming a common occurrence and as a result increasing the popularity of obtaining pet fish. There are various fish types that can be reared. Apart from keeping them as pets, the idea of staring at the colorful display of the fish as they swim......

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• Fishing Report: January 15, 2010 Striped Bass, Crab and Halibut At Rio Vista, you can find sturgeon from the Slough to Sherman Island. The water's not crystal clear but it's not quite muddy. No catch has been terribly good here for a few weeks aside from the occasional 20 to 30 pound striper being......

Written by Trey Casselman using tags: algae, aquarium, clean fish tank, cleaning, Fish, fish tank, Pets, pond

Introducing new fish to an already existing aquarium is not as easy as it may seem. There are a lot of things to think about and prepare before you can safely transfer your new fish to your aquarium. You cannot just buy any aquarium fish you want then dump them in the tank as soon as you reach home.

First thing to check is the quality of your water. It is stressful enough for all the fish involved when new fish are introduced to their number. Do not add to it by making them suffer in poor water quality. The stress in them might reach fatal levels. Make sure that you have the highest possible water quality by testing for the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. Do the necessary changes or cleaning before you add the new fish to the aquarium. If you dont like frequent aquarium cleaning, add an EcoBio-Block to your aquarium to give it the beneficial bacteria and trace minerals that can reduce harmful substances in your water and keep it clean, healthy and clear.

When adding new fish to your aquarium set up, choose the kinds that are compatible with the fish that are already in your aquarium. Choose those that will peacefully and comfortably co-exist with your present fish. You dont want them hurting or eating or killing any of your old fish and vice versa. It will be wiser to introduce more than one fish to your aquarium to minimize the chances of the new fish being picked on by the old fish. Also choose those that will thrive in the same water environment that you have in your tank. There are specific pH and water temperature levels that have to be considered when introducing new fish to any water.

One way to avoid conflict among the fish is to rearrange the tank before putting in the new fish. Your old fish are likely to have established regular hiding spots, which they can get territorial with, if a new fish is introduced. Rearrange your plants and other accessories as part of your preparation for that new fish. Give them as many hiding spots as possible to help them steer clear of each other while getting used to the new set up.

One important rule in introducing a new aquarium fish to an established tank is to first acclimatize the fish to its new environment before releasing them into the water. If you dont do this, the shock to their system will surely kill them. The thing to do is immerse the bag of water containing your new aquarium fish, into your aquarium water. Let it stay there until the temperatures are equal and the fish have had the chance to look over their new environment. When a few hours have passed, release the fish slowly into the aquarium.

Ideally, a new tank can be set up for the new fish. This is so you could isolate them first and check them for diseases they may have. You wouldnt want any carry-over sickness to contaminate your aquarium.

Careful preparation to the aquarium, timing of the introduction of new fish, plus proper acclimatizing will ensure a smooth transition with minimal stress to all your aquarium fish.

• Improving Your Aquarium With Fish Tank Accessories Although buying a good-sized fish tank is important for any aquarist, choosing the right types of fish tank accessories also merits enough attention. From choosing the right substrates to aquarium enhancements, it is important to make sure that the accessories you choose are suitable to the tank. Accessories for fish......
• The Importance Of Choosing the Ideal Fish Tank Filter by Darren Bradley If you have always planned on setting up an aquarium, you have to choose the necessary fish supplies carefully. There are various types of fish tank supplies available, all designed to cater to the needs of different fish species and different aquarium types. The web is home......
• Factors to Consider When Purchasing an Aquarium by Lane Jordan Aquariums give people the prefect opportunity to decorate their homes with aquatic organisms. There are various types of aquariums depending on their shapes and sizes. The type of aquarium also depends on the material used in making it, for instance aquariums are available in a choice of......
• How to Choose Betta Fish Tanks and Supplies by Darren Bradley The brightly colored betta fish from the tropical countries of Cambodia and Thailand is a favorite of people who like to have fish as pets. The betta fish, which originated from fresh waters, may be bought in a variety of colors including turquoise, red, orange, blue, yellow,......

• Twelve tips for installing and maintaining an electric water heater A couple of weeks ago our electric water heater began leaking out the bottom.  I had an older copy of Black & Decker Complete Home Repair and it told me a couple of things.  First, there was no repairing mine; it needed to be replaced.  Second, it appeared that I......
• Fish Disease - What To Look Out For When the aquarist obtained the desired fish for the display aquarium hopefully time was spent observing them. Just because fish are ‘new’ and in a dealer’s sale tanks does not mean they are problem free. This isn’t having a go at dealers at all; fish can have problems that don’t......
• What To Look For When Purchasing A New Fish The purchase of a new fish be this your very first one or a new one to an existing aquarium already stocked with fish can be a very exciting time. Due to the excitement this can often result in impulse purchases. Everyone is tempted to purchase on impulse and it......
• Hair Algae And How To Control It Mention the word algae to a marine aquarist and the first thought is usually ‘marine nightmare’. Hair algae usually meets this criteria. It is unloved and unwanted. Strange to think that in the very early days of the marine aquarium the aquarist would be pleased to see the algae growth......

Written by Leonard Standeley using tags: aquarium, aquarium care, aquarium fish, aquarium maintenance, aquarium water, aquarium water conditions, aquarium water quality, beneficial bacteria, established tank, Fish, fish tank, new aquarium fish, new fish tank, Pets, water change

When buying an aquarium tank, the first thing you have to consider is how many fish you want and what type of fish they are. This will determine the actual size of the tank that you need to buy. The fish you start with may grow to a size that will make your aquarium too small in the future. Be sure, therefore, that the aquarium you get now will be big enough to accommodate all your fish at their full adult size. You then avoid the additional expense and work involved in transferring everything from the smaller aquarium.

Some fish require larger tanks. To determine the proper tank size, follow this simple rule of thumb: for every fish that grows to less than 4 inches, you need one gallon of water for every inch of fish. For bigger fish like the cichlid, you will need at least 55 gallons of water and for the angelfish, 29 or more gallons of water. The bigger the tank, the bigger the capacity to house more fish. The more water in the tank, the more oxygen there will be for your fish.

Aquarium tanks come in many sizes, anywhere from two and a half gallons to several hundred gallons. They may be rectangular, bow-front, or hexagonal, or designed for a corner, among other shapes. Smaller tanks are a good choice for a first aquarium, because they generally have lower maintenance needs. Don't go too small, though, or your fish won't have enough room. For a first aquarium, consider a prepackaged kit containing everything you need to get started, like a filter, light, and heater.

Aquarium tanks can be found in both glass and acrylic styles. Those that are glass are less expensive and widely available. The glass will not scratch, but it is heavy. Glass aquariums come in limited shapes. Compared to glass, acrylic is lightweight. The acrylic material allows for a wider range of custom shapes and sizes. They are easier to scratch than glass aquariums, however, and are usually the more expensive option.

Once an aquarium is filled, it can get very heavy. It can weigh 10 pounds for every gallon of water. Be sure that the stand that you put it on is very sturdy and will not collapse under the heavy weight. There are stands, made of either wood or metal, which are specially built for heavy aquariums tanks. They even come equipped with compartments that will hold your aquarium supplies. Aside from the stand, you will also need to get a lid for the tank. Make sure that the lid, sometimes called the "hood" fits your tank properly.

Once you purchase your aquarium tank, place it in your bathtub or backyard and fill it with water. Add your heater, filter, and any other equipment, and plug these items in. Then, wait overnight, to test both the aquarium tank and the equipment. You don't want to add fish immediately only to find out that the tank leaks or your heater does not work. Selecting the proper aquarium tank size and type, and making sure that it is ready for fish before adding them, can ensure that your fish will live a long and happy life in your aquarium.

• Proper Fish Tank Water Treatment For Healthy Fish If you want to have healthy fish, you need to have the right type of water in your fish tank. Many people who are just beginning to set up a fish tank don't understand how important it is to test your water and treat it for any imbalances. You......
• Beginners Guide To Setting Up A Fish Tank So you want to set up a fish tank, well the first thing that I will tell you is that you have to be patient and should not jump right into putting fish in your tank. In this article I will be explaining all of the steps to setting......
• Discus Fish: Fish Tanks and Care Tips If you have ever seen a Discus fish, you know they are extremely beautiful, making them a very popular choice for aquariums. Discus fish come in many various sizes, colors, and shapes. Originally, the Discus fish can be found in the Amazon basin located in South America. Due to the......
• Choosing the Right Aquarium Tank by Leonard Standeley There are many things to consider when selecting an aquarium tank. One of them is the size of the aquarium. To determine the ideal size for you, you have to know the kind of fish that you are putting in the aquarium and exactly how many of......

• Fishing Report: February 12, 2010 Striped Bass, Crab and Halibut A trip went out of Berkeley/Emeryville on Friday and brought back lots of rays and sharks, and one good sturgeon, but nothing like the 80-pounder that was caught here last week. More trips are scheduled for the weekend. The recent weather is expected to cause......
• Boating and Fishing Glossary Continued Bluegill - A common member of the sunfish family. This word is not interchangeable for panfish or sunfish. Bobber - A small float that is fastened to the fishing line a distance above the hook. This is used to both control the depth that the hook will sink to and......
• The Basic Kit For A Marine Aquarium Part One - Fish Only Despite the number of modern books available and information on the internet confusion continues to arise with a newcomer. This confusion is sometimes caused by the book and/or the internet. Books could be out of date as far as equipment is concerned, and an internet forum could cause confusion by......
• Shirley J Recipe: Turkey Chowder Nothing could be tastier than a Turkey Chowder served on your Christmas vacation! Ingredients: 1 c. Shirley J Universal Sauce 4 c. water 1 c. turkey (shredded) 1 c. corn 1 c. potato (cooked and chopped) 1t. Shirley J Chicken Bouillon ¼ t. black pepper 1 T. fresh sage (chopped......

Written by Leonard Standeley using tags: aquarium, aquarium care, aquarium fish, aquarium maintenance, cloudy fish tank, Fish, fish tank, Pets

There are many things to consider when selecting an aquarium tank. One of them is the size of the aquarium. To determine the ideal size for you, you have to know the kind of fish that you are putting in the aquarium and exactly how many of them. Also, try to find out how big your fish can grow. If you buy a fish without finding out its maximum growth size, you may someday find your aquarium tank too small or too crowded. Remember to choose the aquarium that will be big enough for all the fish at maximum growth size.

Although some fish species require larger tanks, there is a rule of thumb for determining appropriate tank size. For fish with an adult size of less than 4 inches, like tetras and guppies, allow one gallon of water for every inch of fish. For larger fish, water requirements can vary greatly between species, so do your research. A large cichlid requires a 55 gallon aquarium, and an angel fish needs 29 or more gallons, even though the adult sizes of these fish will never approach 55 or 29 inches.

Aquarium tanks come in many sizes, anywhere from two and a half gallons to several hundred gallons. They may be rectangular, bow-front, or hexagonal, or designed for a corner, among other shapes. Smaller tanks are a good choice for a first aquarium, because they generally have lower maintenance needs. Don't go too small, though, or your fish won't have enough room. For a first aquarium, consider a prepackaged kit containing everything you need to get started, like a filter, light, and heater.

Aquarium tanks can be found in both glass and acrylic styles. Those that are glass are less expensive and widely available. The glass will not scratch, but it is heavy. Glass aquariums come in limited shapes. Compared to glass, acrylic is lightweight. The acrylic material allows for a wider range of custom shapes and sizes. They are easier to scratch than glass aquariums, however, and are usually the more expensive option.

An aquarium weighs about 10 pounds for every gallon of water once it's filled. A large aquarium can be very heavy. Choose a stand that can support this weight; don't just place your large aquarium on a table or bookcase, because it could collapse under the weight. Specialized aquarium stands in metal or wood provide aquarium supply storage and an attractive, sturdy method for holding the tank. Besides the aquarium and a stand, you'll also need a lid for the tank. Sometimes this is referred to as a 'hood.' This is often purchased as a set with the aquarium itself so that you can be sure it is the appropriate size.

When you have chosen and purchased your aquarium tank, test it first before putting your fish in. Place it in a container, like your bathtub (or you can place it outside in your yard), and put water in it. Then add and plug in all your aquarium equipment like the filter and the heater. Let your test run for a day to check if all the equipment is functioning properly. Make sure also that your tank doesn't leak. If all goes well, transfer your fish to their new home carefully, and watch them live a long and healthy life in your safe aquarium tank.

• Basic Fish Tank Maintenance for a Healthier Aquarium Ecosystem A beautiful tank and healthy fish are your top priorities when you have an aquarium in your room. Fish tank maintenance is the requirement for both. Fish need a clean haven where the oxygen flows freely. Fish tank owners want to showcase a clean and beautiful aquarium to their......
• Aquariums - Fish And Aquariums Fish Aquariums have always retained a distinctive place in the minds of a substantial proportion of the populace for years and years. Ever since the original pioneers of the hobby learned how to keep marine creatures (mainly marine fishes) in glass boxes for decent lengths of time, it seems......
• How to Choose Betta Fish Tanks and Supplies by Darren Bradley Do you like brightly colored fish in your aquarium? Then, chances are that you would like to have betta fish because they have bright and beautiful colors and you can choose from a wide range, including green, blue, turquoise, yellow, orange, and red. However, you might have......
• How to Choose Betta Fish Tanks and Supplies by Darren Bradley The brightly colored betta fish from the tropical countries of Cambodia and Thailand is a favorite of people who like to have fish as pets. The betta fish, which originated from fresh waters, may be bought in a variety of colors including turquoise, red, orange, blue, yellow,......

• The Good Human Eco-Friendly Holiday Gift Guide. No greenwashing, no spending money you don't have, no buying stuff just for the sake of buying stuff. Just real, useful products for the green or the green at heart. I received a few emails last week while we were moving asking me for my ideas for "green" Christmas presents,......
• 6 Tips for Catching Crappie and Bluegill When it comes to fish that are easy to catch, fun to find and plentiful, there is nothing quite like crappie and bluegill. Normally found together in lakes, you can use a lot of similar techniques to land them. In fact, with the right tips, you can even bring in......
• Wifey 101: Ignoring It Will Not Make It Go Away This Wifey 101 post is for the men. That's right, I have male readers out there...so I figure I will write this one for you. This post is in honor of Captain Awesome. He is the king of wishing that I will just forget about things, and that they......
• Starting a marine aquarium reef tank [tag-tec]Starting a marine aquarium reef tank[/tag-tec] is both an exciting time and at the same time a challenging one.The beauty of the reef mixed with the challenge of starting a marine aquarium reef tank, so that you can have your very own slice of the reef in your own home,......

Written by Leonard Standeley using tags: aquarium, aquarium care, aquarium fish, aquarium maintenance, cloudy fish tank, Fish, fish tank, Pets

So how can I choose my first tropical fish or should I need to change my fish tank population? There are many families of tropical fish, cichlids, Chaetodontidae, bottom feeders, Characins, Acanthuridae, labyrinth fish, livebearers and much more. Make sure that your desired animal fits to your aquarium size and choose one. Betta splendens is a good choice; it is very hardy and tolerates species.

In nature, Betta splendens males have shorter fins that those we usually see in pet shops, these are called by the Thai "Plakad" (meaning- "Fighter"), and are used in Thailand for show-fights (just like roosters). The Betta splendens is hardy species and can thrive in low water conditions, though; long-finned strains are more susceptible to high amounts of nitrogen compounds in water and will quickly suffer from fin-rot, dropsy and other diseases. In large tanks these fish need excellent filtration system with low to moderate water flow. If water flow is too strong or direct, the fish will settle in a spot where flow is lowest and will hardly move from it so it should be take care of. When kept in a jar, water should be changed every week- the amount of water changed, depends on the jar's volume the recommendation are 10 %. Some people buy dry leafs of a tree called Ketapang/Indian Almond-tree (Terminalia katappa) and insert them to the fish's jar. It is said to help preventing infectious diseases and getting the fish into breeding-mood. When feeding the betta fish, avoid over-feeding, as these fish tend to gorge itself, which might end up in a bloated fish suffering from deadly incurable Enlarged-leaver.

Another common tropical fish is the Labidochromis caeruleus also known as the yellow lab. The lemon cichlid (Labidochromis caeruleus) is one of the most astonishing Mbuna that exist in the trade, its yellow and black colors along with the fact that it is one of the least aggressive cichlids makes it very popular all over the world. The Labidochromis caeruleus needs at least 20 gallon aquarium.

The Labidochromis caeruleus should kept in large community aquarium with other small Mbuna type fish like the species from the Labeotropheus Melanochromis. Decorate the tank with rocks, woods and other hiding places. These fish prefer hard alkaline water with a fairly high PH. The yellow lab will appreciate water changes on a weekly basis and well filtered water. The yellow lab is an omnivore, in captivity they will accept any food given, flakes, pellet, frozen or live food, they also need green food such as lettuce, cucumber.

The last one but one of my favorites, belongs to the livebearers family, the well known Guppy fish. The guppy is an elongated tropical fish that available in many different colors. The guppy is one of the most popular aquarium fishes all over the world with many standardized varieties. This species offers a large selection of colors with no two fish look alike. It is a small member of the Poeciliidae family (and like all other members of the family, he is livebearer). The most notable characteristic of this group is the presence of a copula-tory organ in males the andropodium or gonopodium, this organ is formed by the anterior rays of the anal fin. It is very easy to distinguish between male and females, Females are dull grey while the males are very colorful and have large fins.

There is nothing special to setup if you want to breed this amazing fish, the only thing you should do is to keep a ratio of one male and three females, the reason you need to bring more than one female for the male not harass the females to the point of exhaustion. Like all livebearers when the female is in pregnant it will develop a dark triangular shaped gravid spot near her anal vent. As the pregnancy advances the gravid spot will get bigger and darker. At the time the fry comes out it is recommended to move them or the parents to another fish tank or else the parents will eat their own fry. These fry can be fed with crushed commercial foods.

• The Rare Chinese Dwarf Hamster by Chris Copeland It is really hard to come by the Chinese Dwarf Hamster as the purchase of this specie of hamsters is highly regulated in the U.S. These Chinese and Mongolian natives are desert creatures, and difficult to nurture when away from their habitat. The Chinese Dwarf Hamster is......
• Introducing New Fish to an Established Aquarium by Leonard Standeley Introducing new fish to an already existing aquarium is not as easy as it may seem. There are a lot of things to think about and prepare before you can safely transfer your new fish to your aquarium. You cannot just buy any aquarium fish you want......
• Surgeonfish - Surgeonfish And Saltwater Aquariums The surgeonfish family are some of the most well-liked marine aquarium fish in the marine aquarium hobby. By and large considered a big fish, the smallest of them can attain a length of at least 7 inches in captivity. The largest of them can reach lengths of over 3......
• What Should I Consider Before Buying Aquarium Heaters? by Dustin Williams If you are making the decision to bring tropical fish into your home, like any pet you bring home there are certain things you need to be aware of before you do. Most of the tropical fish you will find at the local pet store are warm......

• Nitrate And How To Reduce It All salt water aquarists will know about nitrate, or at least I hope so. Nitrate (NO3) is a product of the nitrogen cycle, and follows on from Ammonia/Ammonium (NH3/NH4) and [tag-ice]Nitrite[/tag-ice] (NO2). The full nitrogen cycle will lead to nitrogen gas which is removed by gas exchange at air/water interfaces.......
• Fishing Report: January 29, 2010 Striped Bass, Crab and Halibut Thanks to recent heavy rains and storms, everything's running full and most everything is muddy. But after almost a full week of no fishing, anglers were able to get back out this week and the results were better than expected in many cases. At Berkeley/Emeryville......
• Is Yours Scummy? Sounds as though I'm getting too personal! I'm not, it is definitely to do with the fish only aquarium or reef aquarium. It is equally relevant to both. Another possible target of such a question is the protein skimmer. That could be involved, but not entirely.What I'm actually on about......
• Kona Kampachi -- Sustainably Farmed Yellow Tail from Kona Blue [pics] Have you ever hear of the Kona Kampachi?  Well I think you will be hearing a lot more about it soon... The Kona Kampachi is a sashimi grade Hawaiian species of yellowtail (amberjack family and related to hamachi) with no detectable mercury or PCBs... AND IT IS SUSTAINABLE FARMED by Kona Blue.......

Written by Gavish Rotem using tags: animals, aquarium, family, Fish, fish tank, Pets

Choosing the right marine fish to our new tank can be hard sometimes, maybe it will harm other fish or maybe it wiil suffer from the "old" guys. So how can I choose my first marine fish or should I need to change my tank population? There are many marine fish families out there, Blenniidae, Gobiidae, labroids, Chaetodontidae, Pomacanthidae, Acanthuridae and much more. For example, Yellow tang is a hardy species that can tolerate some newly fish keeper's mistakes.

The yellow tang known also as Zebrasoma flavescens. It is one of the most sought after, popular marine fish all over the globe. The Yellow Tang is a very hardy fish that is not territorial except with any other flavescens tangs especially from the genus Zebrasoma. it is highly aggressive conspecific species. The yellow tang has very sharp white colored barbs around the tail area, these barbs used as a weapon, it can inject poison. It's beautiful yellow color along with its temperament and the fact that it is less prone to diseases than other Tangs Makes the yellow tang a very common and sought after marine fish in reefs and marine tanks. Like its entire genus the Zebrasoma Flavescens is herbivore . In nature, the yellow tang feeds on micro and macro algae. In captivity they should get "green" food, lettuce, nori algae with flakes and pellet food all can complete their diet. frozen foods can be added from time to time. Requires 70 gallon tank and up with a lot of hiding places,live rocks and plenty of room to swim. Strong aeration and well filtered water are essential.

Another common marine fish is the tomato clown fish. Tomato Clownfish is one of 27 known Clownfish species in nature. Tomato clownfish is known to inhabit lagoon reefs, the female of this species is larger then the male, once in an established pair, the female gets darker then the male whom keeps its beautiful red orange color. The Tomato Clown fish prefer the Entacmaea quadricolor, Carpet Anemone or Heteractis crispa as a host anemone but also does fine without a host anemone. As with all clownfish, most are born as males, and the dominant male will change to a female. The tomato clown fish is an omnivore.

In the wild its diet based on various planktonic items, algae's and small crustaceans. In home tank, a varied diet is recommended. Will accept commercial food (flakes and pellets). Frozen or live food is recommended also. The minimum tank size suggested is about 20 gallons; the aquarium must be filled with lots of hiding places. Avoid keeping them in an aquarium with predatory fish large enough to eat them. Keeping the tomato clown fish with other clown fish species can be a hard task.

Picasso Triggerfish has a remarkable colors and patterns on its body. Picasso triggerfish is one of the most beautiful marine fish hobbyists like to have it in their tank. In Hawaii the Picasso Triggerfish is the state fish and known as "Humuhumunukunuku apua'a", Picasso Triggerfish, has a wacky, painted appearance. It has a tan body with gradient dark bands, vibrant blue and black stripes on the top of the head with a yellow stripe from cheek to cheek and deeply set-back eyes. The Picasso triggerfish feeds on all kinds of live, frozen, and flake foods, be sure to feed it 3 times, they also will like squid, shrimp (the same kind people eat), mussels, and all kinds of chopped up fish- if you feed it with this food you will enjoy a healthy fish and the fish will thank you by showing its beautiful colors.

The Picasso triggerfish should at least be in 75 gallon tank, do not put more than one Picasso triggerfish in the same tank .Before you go and buy Picasso triggerfish you must know that its kept in temperatures between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. PH value of 8.1 or 8.4, and a specific gravity of 1.020 to 1.025 should be maintained. If you keep these conditions you can enjoy of beautiful Picasso triggerfish

• Keeping Marine Fish Tanks - What You Need to Know by Edmundo Tabatt Salt water environments are described as marine environments. Marine fish need different environments to tropical fish so you need different equipment to keep a marine fish tank than to keep a tropical fish tank. The biggest difference between fresh and salt water tanks is the salt. This......
• How to Choose Betta Fish Tanks and Supplies by Darren Bradley The brightly colored betta fish from the tropical countries of Cambodia and Thailand is a favorite of people who like to have fish as pets. The betta fish, which originated from fresh waters, may be bought in a variety of colors including turquoise, red, orange, blue, yellow,......
• Tips in Selecting Tropical Fish Tanks by Darren Bradley Selecting a tropical fish tank is not just selecting the first one that comes along. You need to consider some factors to ensure that your tropical fish would have a good environment to live and thrive in. That said, listed here are some considerations in choosing among......
• Clown Trigger Fish - Ways to care for the Giant Clown Triggerfish Among the triggerfish family, the clown triggerfish is arguably the most popular. Along with being highly assertive, it is also one of the largest. Its scientific name is Balistoides conspicillum along with they are generally collected all through the Indo-Pacific seas. Its lower body is full off white patches......

• We’re All Aquarists There surely is little argument, if any, that a successful marine display aquarium is really eye-catching. That must be one of the major reasons or the reason that this hobby has grown so large and is still expanding. The size of the hobby of course generates manufacturer’s interest - where......
• Dental Care Dogs are truly a man's best friend. We treasure their loyalty and affection. It is just as important that we care for our pet's health as it is our own. With the advent of the vaccinations and treatments available today, most dogs live long and happy lives. One area of......
• Wifey 101: Ignoring It Will Not Make It Go Away This Wifey 101 post is for the men. That's right, I have male readers out there...so I figure I will write this one for you. This post is in honor of Captain Awesome. He is the king of wishing that I will just forget about things, and that they......
• Fishing and Boating Lexicon Continued Carolina Rig Continued - In certain situations, such as the clear waters that are found in some reservoirs out in the west, or when the winter weather is making it a good idea to scale down in size, there is actually an alternative form of the rig that may work......

Written by Rotem Gavish using tags: animals, aquarium, Fish, fish tank, hobbies, leisure, pet, Pets