Betta Fish Tanks

Good Reasons To Install Fish Tank Hoods! by Joe Slavin

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 01:26:29 +0000

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By going one stage further, and adding fish tank hoods to your fish tanks, is a wise move and will be immensely beneficial to your fish. The hoods create a safer environment, blocks any attempts of fish from jumping from the aquariums, helps to maintain a constant temperature, prohibit the water evaporating and makes an excellent place to connect your lights up in. With the introduction of aquarium hoods, it will simplify the tank upkeep, establish a more suitable zone for your fish and bestow you with a much improved spectacle.

Fish can be prone to assault from other animals in the home and in turn will traumatise them whether or not they do come through the assault. The looming figure of and the peering eyes of some giant cat about to scrape you from your home is not what any pet fish desires. Not only other animals, but your neighbours cute little kid, paying a visit, in an act of kindness feeds your fish with pieces of pizza, chocolate cake and other water fouling goodies.

Many types of fish will periodically leap from the tank which is alright if they land back in the tank. If the jumping fish go in the wrong direction, heaven knows where they will finish up. Well we all know about fish out of water, and further strengthens the argument about using fish tank hoods.

An aquarium tank without a hood allows water temperature to rise and fall and won’t be the idyllic aquarium ecosystem. This is particularly so for tropical fish. In many instances the temperature of your room will be different from daytime to nighttime and summer to winter.

Water evaporating can be eradicated with the addition of an aquarium hood. This can be a nuisance having to top up the tank periodically.

The benefits of lights is a major factor in being able to show the fish tank in all it’s glory. A fish tank hood will provide the most appropriate place to house the lighting tubes. This creates a beautiful effect in muted lighting, the light shining down through the water. All plantation that you have in place in your fish tank will derive benefits with the added light. If you add together the amount you have spent on fish tanks plus the livestock and plants etc. The extra spent on fish tank hoods may prove to be the wisest decision you will make. As well as the advantages of a safer habitat for your marine creatures and producing a better show, another major element would be contentment knowing your fish to be safe, and arguably could be the most advantageous.

About The Author

See a variety of fish tank hoods and other aquarium merchandise including, custom made aquarium with custom made aquarium cabinet to match and more at http://petsuppliesfish.co.uk/custom-aquarium-cabinets-and-hoods-13/custom-aquarium-hoods-32

How To Care For And Breed Your Discus Fish, The Correct Way! by Mike Hickmon

admin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:27:54 +0000

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Over the years there have been more instruction manuals written about breeding and raising discus fish than any other exotic fish. This is due to the fact that they are highly popular with most pet owners. You will need to know the preferred living conditions, feeding and breeding habits of discus fish if you want these sensitive creatures to live long lives.

To keep discus fish happy, you should start by noting that they are native to the calm, warm waters of the Amazon. Discus fish constantly modify their behavior depending on the surrounding environmental factors.

Discus fish usually act rather shyly, but they are very territorial and will fight against other fish that invade their space. Generally, with this kind of situation the stronger discus fish will survive while the weaker ones will be attacked. Discus fish should be kept in-groups of at least six. By maintaining them in-groups it will generally tend to increase confidence among group members and decrease the chance of them misbehaving. There are difficulties and joys involved when keeping a discus fish. Here are some helpful tips that may help you…

Pairing: The best way to form a steady pair of discus fish is to buy several unrelated fish that have the same color; they will choose their own mates, and won’t do well if you choose mates for them. Spawning usually occurs when there 3/4 of their adult size, this might happen from when the fish are half grown. These fish will be mates for the rest of their lives.

Spawning: Discus fish will choose a near vertical smooth site, which they clean. After which, the female will lay any ware from 80-400 eggs and then the male fertilizes them. Generally, it may take from fifty to sixty hours in order for the eggs to hatch and an additional thirty six to forty eight hours until they are swimming freely.

Breeding Tank: The breeding tank works best if it is simple and has spawning locations and air-powered filters. Broad-leafed plants or slate, terra cotta cones are suitable but do not use any substrate. The water must be soft in order to allow the eggs to develop, as they should. The water temperature should be 84-88F and be of the best quality. A tank with the dimensions of 24×18x18 is also suitable.

Feeding and Conditioning: The mother and father need to have a varied and a good diet to be able to condition them to spawn and also to provide them with nutrition while they feed their fry. Spawning may be triggered by rising temperatures, lots of feeding, or major changes in the water.

Fry Rearing: The fry should be given more feedings with some specific small foods. (Also known as the BBS) Baby brine shrimp should be kept with their parents. Roughly 3-6 weeks after birth, the fry will be growing rapidly while the parents will be worn out, making this a good time to remove the fry. Lots of water changes are needed to achieve a decent growth rate. In the past I have grown circa. Approximately 40 fry could be kept in a 55-gallon tank, but the water had to be changed very frequently. So it is best to grow 20-50 excellent fry than 80 runts, seeing that the discus market is saturated with fish. The growth rate in this area is normal, but nothing too exciting.

If you are considering breeding discus fish I hope you have found some of these tips to be useful.

About The Author

The author has created a review site that provides you with the most In-Depth and Complete analysis of the best Discus Fish Secrets Guide on the Planet. Please go to: Pet-Whisperer.com

How To Care For African Carp Aquarium by Jan Clark

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:03:57 +0000

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The all-time favorite Carp fish include the Genus Aphyosemion African Tooth Carp. What a name. The Genus Aphyosemion species do not house well in communal tanks, yet these fish are some of the prettiest fish on the market. The fish will die quickly; therefore, it is recommended that you provide the fish their own separate aquarium. The hiders will fold their fins and conceal themselves in corners of aquariums. The male counterparts, i.e. the larger breeds are highly aggressive and will not habit with other male fish of its kind. Therefore, only house the male carps with females.

Tank recommendations:

You should provide the Genus Aphyosemion African Tooth Carp with floating plants and a shady environment. Cover the bottom section of the tank with purified overcooked peat. The water condition should be moderately hard, or else slightly acidy. You can also add 1 teaspoon of table salt to a gallon of water to produce alkalinity water for particular carps that prefer to breed in such water conditions.

Since these fish do not tend to live long, it is advised that you place these fish in separate aquariums and categories. The fish include surface breeders, midlevel breeders, and the bottom breeders. The first spawn should be provided floating plants, which the eggs will stick to. The second breeders should be provided fine leaf plants, which the eggs will also stick to. The third breeders should be provided peat, which is situated at the bottom area of the aquarium.

The fish rate in two separate categories, which include bottom and surface spawners. The fish prefer to live in glass tanks. You can use nylon mops, insert it into the tank to preserve fry. After the eggs arrive, you want to prepare to remove the parent fish to a different tank. Carp will eat their own kin. The water temperature should remain at 25 degrees Fahrenheit; unless the fish are in peaty waters then the temperature should be set at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. You want to avoid drying of peaty, since the eggs will not survive. To avoid fatality refresh the tank with soft water, while shaking the peat. Raise the water temperature to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bottom breeders require sterile peat at the bottom of the tank. The fish also require plants, which float. You can breed the bottom spawners in smaller tanks. After the eggs are delivered the parent fish demand removal from the tank, as well the water must be siphoned. You can use a small tube to siphon the water. You want to avoid siphoning the eggs and peat. The water temperature should be at 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

The temperature should remain constant for a couple of weeks. After the weeks are finished, break the peat up into lumps. You can now adjust the temperature to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. During egg transfer, occasionally you want to adjust the temperature to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you are a beginning in fish care and aquarium, it is wise to avoid this species until you become better skilled and knowledgeable to fish care. Other types of fish kin to this Carp family may be more suitable for starter kits.

For instance, the Brachydanio Rerio or Zebra Danio is less demanding than the Carp. The fish derived from the Eastern regions of India. Rerio has a small slim body, and grows around 1 ¾ inches in size. The fish are shaped like cylinders and have attractive colors, including gold, silver, blue, and black. Rerio is one of the smarter fish available, which these fish prefer to habitat in peaceful waters. Rerio is not demanding that is the fish will eat most foods, and do not expect catered water conditions.

About The Author

The author Jan Clark manages a website that offers you a variety of freshwater tropical fish aquarium, other tropical aquarium and various types of fish aquarium supplies and fish aquarium information online.

http://www.the-fish-aquarium.com

Aquarium Fish Can Provide The Perfect Relaxtion Zone by Joe Slavin

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 07:40:31 +0000

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An aquarium that has been well looked after must surely be one of the most attractive sights known to man. When casualy walking past a fish tank display, it is difficult not to stop in your tracks and feast your eyes on this array of colourful fish varieties. Relaxation is just one of the benefits that can be accrued from aquariums, more so in the busy stressful lives we live today.

If you are in the same room as a tank of fish, you find yourself drawn to viewing it time and again. Aquariums are an attraction by themselves and can complement their surroundings and are widely used by interior designers to enhance their commissions. If you have ever had the chance of viewing an aquarium you may recall the experience of how you were transfixed by the various species of fish as they darted in and out of the plants and rocks.

You can totally switch off from your surroundings and immerse yourself completely while observing this watery habitat of these wondrous pet fish. Personal viewing is highly recommended. You cannot convey to anyone just how wonderful this exhibition can be in the natural medium of water. The antics of the fish constantly vary and are never repeated exactly, putting on an ongoing show.

It does not matter whether it is a fresh water aquarium or saltwater aquarium, both can offer endless hours of entertainment for all the family, irrespective of age, young or old, who can take an interest in the fish. Indeed you will find in many families, three generations who all have their own fish tanks, the knowledge and enthusiasm being handed down from parents to the children. Keeping fish can be both a very interesting pastime and hobby that you can enjoy in your own home.

There is a wide choice of aquariums, so you can select one that is both suitable for your home and budget. You can start quite modestly and upgrade as you gain experience and you are able to afford further purchases. It can be interesting getting to know the types of fish that are suitable, their species names, and how to look after them properly.

Adults and children alike usually like to give their pet fish names. This can be as obvious as to name a gold coloured fish “Goldie” or a white one “Snowy” and can be lots of fun both to give the names and then remembering them. It can be very interesting if you study the fish closely to observe tiny differences and in this way you can recognise them individually and give them a name.

About The Author

If you are one of the many people who are interested in starting out in keeping pet fish, then picking your aquarium will be your first step. If you visit http://petsuppliesfish.co.uk there you will find a large selection of fish tanks ranging from “Starter Fish Tanks” to “Custom Built Aquariums” to suit all requirements.

Skin and Gill Flukes in Tropical Fish – free article courtesy of ArticleCity.com

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:31:26 +0000

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Skin and Gill Flukes in Tropical Fish
by: Nate Jamieson

While parasites of various types are often responsible for fish rubbing themselves against objects in the tank, sometimes to the point of causing raw skin, it can be difficult to identify which parasite it is, unless you have a very good visual of it.

In the case of skin fluke, which is a parasitic flatworm, they are unlikely to show themselves to the extent where you would be able to remove them manually as you can with leeches or fish lice. One of the common denominators they have with other parasite infections, is they can cause redness of skin, but so can rubbing against stones and wood. However, skin fluke also causes a fading of color, and because the treatment is common to other types of parasites, you are best to go with a general medication, such as Droncit or formalin baths, when unsure whether it is skin fluke or not. Remove severely affected fish to a hospital tank.

The standard treatments of adding 1 tbs. of aquarium salt to a daily change of water in the home aquarium, and raising the tank temperature by four degrees also applies. This is used for most parasites, including gill fluke, which has more obvious and visual symptoms.

Gill fluke is a worm that specifically attacks the gill membranes, causing them to turn red and acquire a coating of slime that makes it difficult to breathe. Fish will hang at the water’s surface, gasp, and lose weight rapidly. The same tank treatments as skin fluke can be used, but with gill fluke, removing to a hospital tank and adding short baths in either formalin, salt or ammonium hydroxide to the regimen will help kill what is on the fish, and you can then treat their environment.

About The Author

Nate Jamieson

Love Tropical Fish? Find out how to create a beautiful, low-cost tropical fish aquarium with complimentary tips at http://www.TropicalFishIsland.com

Efficient Care Requirements For Aquarium Fish by Low Jeremy

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:43:37 +0000

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You need not to purchase the most expensive kinds of fish just to set up the best aquarium. This can be luxurious already. What you need to know is the proper way of maintaining your aquarium to make it pleasing to the eyes at all times.

Besides all other aquarium supplies, the fish is the most important. It cannot be called an aquarium without the species that will swim into it. This can come in varying types depending on the aquarium you put up.

Aquarium fish can be purchased in extraordinary color patterns. It comes in red, white, green, purple and even blue. In most cases, the male fish has brighter color and longer fins than the female fish. Typically, the more vibrant is the better because it can add appeal inside the aquarium.

There is a specific lifespan for the fish. However, it can be changed through your maintenance. There are times that fish has longer lifespan but due to your negligence, it can be shorten to months instead of years. This will just be a waste of money so better to take note of this factor.

Below are some reminders for proficient care of your aquarium fish:

1. Have regular check for the unnecessary things that may fall into the aquarium.

Cleanliness is very essential for your maintenance. This will not concern the pleasing appeal of the aquarium alone but most particularly the health of the species residing in the habitat. You can use filtration supply on this matter. Cleaning habit can be done weekly or you can do it gradually if you see some falling food remains at the top of the aquarium.

2. Beware from buying aggressive species.

Peaceful types of fish are more advisable because aggressive specie can affect the entire habitat. One can kill the other. Prevent this scenario to happen because you can probably end up with your aquarium to nothing.

3. Do not overfeed the aquarium fish.

Some fish are only required to be fed once a day although others are for twice. Overfeeding is not helpful nor will it make your fish grow larger instantly. Many cases have shown that it can cause death to your fish.

4. When changing the water, add product that will remove chlorine in the water.

Chlorine can be toxicant for your fish. You can purchase products from pet stores in order to eliminate the amount of chlorine in the water.

If you care for your fish, then better follow the advice that will cater your aquarium fish needs.

About The Author

This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on aquariums, how to maintain, the basics of owning one, please visit http://aquarium.articlekeep.com

Setting Up Marine Fish Tanks To Enjoy The Marvels Of The Sea

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:19:44 +0000

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Setting Up Marine Fish Tanks To Enjoy The Marvels Of The Sea

You don’t always need to go scuba diving in order for you to appreciate marine life. You can set up your own marine fish tank or saltwater aquarium so you can enjoy the beauty of the sea. Marine fish tanks do not only satisfy marine life enthusiasts, but they can also add an interesting and beautiful attraction to any home or office. They actually make a good conversation piece.

Though you can easily purchase marine fish tanks and other equipment from various pet supplies stores, setting up your own saltwater fish aquarium is not that easy. You need more than just the equipment to get started. You also need a lot of information, patience, and commitment to maintain marine fish tanks.

Saltwater fishkeeping versus freshwater fishkeeping

Salwater fishkeeping or marine fishkeeping is different from freshwater fishkeeping in that the requirements for marine fish tanks are more complex. Water parameters such as salinity, pH, specific gravity, temperature, and ammonia, among others, need close monitoring. Marine fish tanks have intricate filtration systems, including the need for protein skimmers that remove organic compounds before they degrade.

Aside from the equipment, you will also spend more on acquiring saltwater fish since they are usually more expensive than their freshwater counterparts. This is because they are usually more eye-catching and exotic. In addition, you will also have to invest in live rock. This can be the most expensive part of your initial setup for the aquarium as you may need to have the live rock cured. However, it is a worthy investment because it is considered as the best form of biological filtration, not to mention the beauty that it will add to your entire marine aquarium setup.

Getting ready for your marine aquarium setup

Setting up your marine aquarium need not to be too difficult. First, you must familiarize yourself with the needed equipment, read instructions and requirements carefully, and pay attention to details.

Be patient. The entire setup–from cleaning the aquarium to installing the equipment, ensuring you hit the correct water parameters, curing the live rock, and gradually adding
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saltwater fish–cannot be done overnight. Once you are done with the physical setup, you cannot just add saltwater fish immediately. You need to let the tank settle first. Moreover, adding saltwater fish should not be done all at once. Do it one or two at a time, and let them adapt to the new environment first.

If you think that the initial setup takes a lot of time, well you have to give as much time and attention to cleaning and maintenance too. Ideally, you should clean your saltwater aquarium once a month and change some of the saltwater too. Change 20% of saltwater monthly. This ought to keep your fish happy and healthy.

Other things you might want to consider is the location of the aquarium, the size of the aquarium, and the kind of saltwater fish you wish to put in it. The key is to be well informed by reading a lot about marine fishkeeping.

By: Greg Black

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Greg Black is a pet store owner and an aquarium enthusiast who likes to help others succeed in raising their fish as well. He is a featured member and guest speaker at many aquarium clubs, as well as having a few very large tanks of his own. To learn more about

The Right Way To Clean Your Fish Tank.

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:00:30 +0000

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The Right Way To Clean Your Fish Tank.

The most neglected part of the aquarium hobby has got to be cleaning the tank itself. No one wants to do this, not even the most dedicated fish keeper, but it needs to be done.

Set yourself a schedule of routine cleaning and stick to it, your fish will be healthier and your tank will be more in balance preventing algae buildup and other problems.

Cleaning really isn’t that difficult when you have the right cleaning gear. While this may seem like alot of supplies most of it is very cheap at a hardware store. In fact only the algae scraper, blade scraper, and algae magnet will be found at an aquarium store:

Long handled algae scraper and pad

Long handled metal blade scraper

Plastic siphoning tube (any plastic tube will work from hardware store)

A bucket which is only used for aquarium purposes

White vinegar(this is non toxic to aquatic life)

Clean dishcloth

Paper toweling

Filter brushes

Filter pipe brushes

Algae magnet

Sterilizing tablets

An old toothbrush

Setting up a cleaning schedule is very important. The algae magnet should be run across the viewable glass once every day or two. An algae magnet adheres to both sides of the glass can can easily be run across the glass panel from the outside to clean the inside of the glass pane. This takes a mear ten seconds and algae buildup on the viewing panel can distract from your beautiful tank and can be difficult to remove once it accumulates.

Other tank cleaning can be done once every week or two most aptly at the same time you might do a partial water change that way a great deal of the particles that cleaning might dust up can be removed with the water change.

Use the scraper to clean the back glass, often it is just a matter of reversing the scraper so that the pad side is showing. For a real good cleaning use the toothbrush for difficult areas that the scraper can’t reach.

Vacuum the detritus and other particles out of the gravel. This can be done with just a plastic siphon tube make sure the tube diameter isn’t so large that it builds up enough suction to suck up the grav
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el itself. This will remove any uneaten food or rotting vegetation before it starts to spoil the tank water.

Whatever filter you are using will need to be rinsed on during cleaning as well. If you have a large canister filter you can defer this to every three or so times you clean your tank but the popular trickle filter sponges need to be cleaned every time. Whenever you rinse out the filter sponge or other filter media do not rinse it in tap water. Rinse all filter media with excess tank water from your water change tap water will kill the bacteria in the filter that actually does most of the filtering.

A part of cleaning that is overlooked is the hood and lights. Filters and other circulation pumps splash water on lights and equipment above the tank, this water evaporates and leaves a residue behind that blocks light and looks dirty. Clean these with a damp cloth and white vinegar that will not harm your livestock.

Over a period of time you may find that your tank ornaments will have built up a coating of algae or debris. To clean these, either brush them or simply remove them from the tank and rinse off the debris and algae.

Now you must clean the outside of the tank and the stand. This can be cleaned with ordinary household cleaners but I don’t recommend that. If any of these cleaners accidentally makes it into the water it could contaminate the whole tank. Usually using the a paper towel with white vinegar is more than enough to clean these surfaces but if you need the extra cleaning power of standard cleaners in some spots be very very careful.

By: Kyle Montgomery

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

The tank is now clean, your tank looks better and your fish are healthier. Your not quite finished however, rinse your utensils and store them somewhere where they wont get contaminated with any other cleaners till next time check out Aquarium Facts For more info all about aquariums.

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Type Of Fish To Stock In Tropical Freshwater Fish Tank Aquariums by Jill Kaestner

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:11:08 +0000

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Match-Making

To make your aquarium a stunning swirl of activity and color, you will want to add a variety of tropical freshwater fish. All fish have different colors, patterns, fin designs, sizes, shapes, temperaments and ideal living conditions. For the welfare of fish and therefore the success of tank aquariums, it is vital that you research the fish you would like, to know which ones can live together in health and harmony. For example, you cannot match (i.e. without stressing or harming your fish) peaceful and aggressive fish, ones that like cooler water and ones that need higher temperatures etc. Common sense stuff!

Give Room To Your Fish

A good idea is to select fish that occupy different levels in fish tank aquariums so they don’t need to compete for space. This adds a pleasant amount of activity and variety, enhancing the appeal of your fish tank aquarium.

Top-Dwelling Fish

Top-dwelling fish generally have upturned mouths for feeding at the water’s surface. Danios are active and hardy with a long lifespan making them ideal especially for beginning aquarists. One of the most popular tropical freshwater fish is the Betta, an easy to look after, peaceful fish with striking fins and a remarkable variety of color. Hatchetfish are unusual but are moderately difficult to manage and are powerful jumpers, so you need to replace the lid of your fish tank aquarium immediately after feeding and maintenance.

Middle-Dwelling Fish

Middle-dwelling fish could be most striking and be stocked with a mixture of schooling fish and larger colorful fish. Schooling fish are obviously happiest when they are among their own kind and you need to have around six. Examples of schooling fish include Rainbow fish and Tetras. Rainbow fish are simple to take care of and their amazing iridescent colorations change when light reflects off these fish. Neon Tetras tend to swim or remain suspended in schools to create a breathtaking array of color. All types of Guppies and Platies are excellent for middle-dwelling fish. They are both easy care fish and come in many bright color variations which add excitement and brilliance to fish tank aquariums. For something slightly larger, Swordtails are easy to look after and have wonderfully diverse fin and color varieties. Mollies add drama and contrast to any fish tank but require a moderate level of care. The following small Gouramis are of a peaceful temperament and easy to look !

after: Neon Blue Dwarf, Sparkling Gourami and Dwarf Gouramis. Angels are a dazzling fish to include in your aquarium but bear in mind they are semi-aggressive and growing to 6 inches they also require at least a 30 gallon tank. For a larger tank (50 gallons), Cichlids are an option but many can show signs of aggression. Examples of peaceful ones are Acei Cichlid, Albino Kribensis Cichlid and Brichardi Cichlid. Of course, the Goldfish remains the most popular freshwater fish and comes in many varieties with amazing color patterns and features.

Bottom-Dwelling Fish

Bottom-dwelling fish have down-turned mouths, enabling them to feed on food that falls to the bottom of the tank, thereby keeping the substrate clean. Cory Cats are entertaining, energetic and peaceful scavengers. They remain relatively small and survive in a wide range of water conditions. For larger fish tank aquariums (30-50 gallons), Loaches will add color, interest and beauty to your fish tank aquarium. They are active bottom dwelling scavengers ideally suited for the community aquarium.

All Peaceful or All Aggressive

You will have noticed that I mainly refer to peaceful fish. These community fish can co-exist peacefully with members of their own species and other species of similar size. Being the kind of person who likes to ‘keep the peace’ I prefer easy-going fish for an easy life but if you like a bit more action, by all means pick aggressive fish. Just remember to keep all the fish species in your aquarium aggressive so no one gets bullied! Aggressive fish are aggressive toward their own species and/or other species, regardless of their size.

Fish Tank Sizes

Most of the fish mentioned are ideal for smaller fish tank aquariums. Bettas, Danios, Gouramis, Platies and Tetras measure around two inches and are good for the smaller 10 gallon tanks. Though small, Guppies thrive best in at least a 20 gallon tank along with Hatchetfish, while the larger Swordtails, Mollies, Rainbow Fish, Angels, Goldfish and Cory Cats will require a minimum of a 30 gallon tank. Cichlids and Loaches normally require a 50 gallon tank.

Do Your Homework!

These tropical freshwater fish are only a guide to varieties of fish which would be suitable in tropical freshwater aquariums. It is fundamental that you research the fish including size, temperament, the tending they require in order to grow and breed, the food they eat, and the water parameters in which each individual type of fish is the most comfortable with. This will be vital in determining the varieties of fish that can be suitably matched.

About The Author

Jill Kaestner

From a childhood fascination with fish, begun by winning my first goldfish at 5 years old at a May Day fun event, to becoming a passionate aquarist/retailer, I aim to provide you with professional advice on setting up, stocking and servicing your fish tank aquariums so you too can enjoy the wonders of the underwater world. With personal experience in tropical freshwater aquariums and extensive professional research, information and advice in my articles can be trusted. My love for our fish friends motivates me to share advice with others which will promote their fishes’ welfare and thereby their own lasting enjoyment and success as aquarists. I have also created ‘Aquarius’, an online store to share with you some of my favorite tropical freshwater fish tank aquariums and bowls. Why not have a look at the products I love through the link to my website below?

http://www.fishtankaquariumsbowls.com/

Guide To Fish Tank Filters

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:11:45 +0000

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Guide To Fish Tank Filters

A fish tank is a closed environment. This means that the conditions inside the tank should be properly monitored and the ideal settings should be maintained to ensure a healthy fish population. Clean water is one important factor to having this equilibrium. Changes such as fish deaths, uneaten fish food, fish waste, changes in water composition, dead plants, and the like will compromise the water quality.

If left untreated, water pollution will build up and toxic substances will also abound, causing fish illnesses and deaths. To ensure that clean water is circulating inside the tank at all times, fish tank filters should be a part of your fish tank setup.

Types of filters

The type of filter you will need will basically be dictated by the size of your tank. Fish tank filters perform either mechanical, chemical, or biological filtration. Some types combine two or all filtration methods.

Inexpensive filters such as hang-on filters, box or corner filters, internal power filters, diatom filters, and sponge filters are generally ideal for small tanks. Consisting of just a sponge or foam and a tube, sponge filters are the cheapest and simplest fish tank filters, ideal for tanks with small or newborn fish and quarantine tanks. Also known as external power filters, hang-on filters are among the most popular since they often provide all three filtration methods. On the other hand, internal power filters are placed inside the tank. These are ideal only for small freshwater tanks. Box or corner filters are also placed inside the aquarium, providing mechanical and chemical filtration for small tanks. To provide the best method of mechanical filtration, diatom filters use diatomaceous earth .

Aside from being sufficient for small tanks, these filters can also be used in larger tanks but only as complementary or backup filters. Hang-on filters and internal power filters can support all filtration methods. However, their small media chambers, which translate to smaller surface area, means that they won’t be efficient in tanks with large populations. Diatom, sponge, and box or corner filters tend to easily clog up, requiring you to clean more often.

Canister, undergravel, fluidized bed, and wet/dry fish tank
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filters are used for larger and heavily populated fish tanks. Canister filters are popular since they can provide all stages of filtration and are located outside of the tank. Undergravel filters consist of a filter plate and uplift tubes located under your aquarium gravel, while fluidized bed filters are made of fine-grained sand suspended in a column of water, providing either biological or chemical filtration. The efficiency and power of wet/dry filters makes it the best choice for a complete three-stage filtration system.

The large surface area of undergravel filters give excellent mechanical and biological filtration but you have to know that stubborn buildup will develop, making it lose efficiency over time. On the other hand, fluidized filters tend to deplete your tank’s oxygen supply and add nitrates during power failures. Being the most advanced filtration type, wet/dry filters are for advanced aquarists, as they require more planning, time to set up, and additional equipment or plumbing.

Filter accessories

It is important that you also know about the different filter accessories available for your fish tank filters. Accessories such as filter bags, cartridges, and filter media are the ones used and replaced regularly.

By: Jeffry Johnston

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Sean Kerring is a pet store owner and an aquarium enthusiast who likes to help others succeed in raising their fish as well. He is a featured member and guest speaker at many aquarium clubs, as well as having a few very large tanks of his own. To learn more about fish tank filters and aquarium wet/dry filters, please go to marinedepot.com.

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