Aquarium at Home Blog

People tend to buy and install aquariums mostly because they have seen them in their friends or colleges’ houses. We think that it is so easy to maintain such a beautiful fish tank, bringing enjoyment to us and our children, but we are mistaken. Not only it is a very difficult task to keep your fish tank in order, but also it is a great responsibility, which must be analyzed before taken up. The greatest problem for beginners arises, when they choose species for their fish tanks. The most popular pretext of buying this or that fish is its color. Some people also choose species, because the saw them in their friends’ aquariums and want to have the same. But such an important purchase cannot be made so thoughtless. There are a number of reasons for this. To begin with, there are species, which cannot live in one and the same aquarium. It is predetermined by nature and you cannot do anything about this. If you put incompatible fish in one fish tank, problems are inevitable. One of these fish will have to die. If you don’t want to torture defenseless creatures, you have to read several books on aquariums and consult specialists in this sphere.

The greatest advantage of aquarium fish is that they don’t need so much care as other pets do. You don’t have to feed them several times a day or comp them out, you don’t have to look for a lively insects for them. All you need to do is to put a pinch of dried food once a day. Fish can even survive without food for several days in case you have to go on business and don’t have a friend or a neighbor, who would take care of them. The water must be changed just once or sometimes even rarer and nothing bad will happen to your marine pets.

There are several types of fish that should be considered when starting up an aquarium. The most popular and unpretentious type are the community fish. The greatest thing about them is that they can live in one and the same tank with any other type of fish. Some of them tend to school and look very beautiful in your aquarium, swimming together hither and thither. Guppies and Neon fish are the most popular ones for those, who want to have colorful and cheerful atmosphere in their aquariums. Neon fish are very beautiful and opalescent, so you will never be disappointed by your choice.

The second type of fish is the semi-aggressive fish, which can be quite tolerant to other species. Rainbow shark and Red tailed shark belong to his type. However, it is not recommended to put semi-aggressive fish in aquarium with a smaller fish, because they will obviously be eaten.

There are much more useful recommendations if you want to have different species in your aquarium and you can get them in the nearest pet shops and aquarium fan web-sites.

For the information about fish aquariums, freshwater aquarium tips and resources to get fish tank table – please visit this blog.

And use your golden chance to find the best bargain on the market. We live in the world where knowledge quickly enhances the quality of our life.

That is why if you are properly armed with the knowledge in your sphere of interest you can be sure that you will in any case find the way out from any bad situation. So, please make sure to visit this site on a regular basis or – an ideal solution for you – sign up to its RSS. In such an easy way you will have a direct shortcut to the freshest info updates here. Blogging can be helpful, you just need to understand how to use them.

So I was looking for something to post today and so I went to YouTube. I found a nice video showing and explaining about the Cuttlefish. Now the interesting thing about a cuttlefish is that they are not really fish, despite their name. The are actually mollusks. They are highly intelligent and are the camouflage experts of the deep. They can change colors and textures to match the environment they happen to be in. Did you know that they can apparently hypnotize their prey? Be careful if you happen to run across one if you go diving! Now I know this not really a tropical fish that you will find in your pet shop for sale, but I thought it was an interesting video. Enjoy!! Remember that if you need help with the basics of setting up your home aquarium, make sure that you check out our ebook The Beginners Guide to Home Aquariums.

I saw an interesting post on another blog today by a man asking about what kind of filter to use with a 600 liter tank. Now i thought that there would be some consistent answers to this question, but as in everything else in life, there were 3 answers and differing opinions on the subject. The blog post is at http://home-aquarium-store.co.uk/2009/08/need-info-on-what-filter-to-put-in-600-l-tropical-fish-tank/ so you can read it directly.

One person suggested he use a hagging filter and not an under gravel filter. A more complete answer and I quote”

“I have been keeping fish for a long, long time, and around 3 times I have tried using UGF’s each time they screwed up and my tank was extremely filthy and created an unlivable environment for my fish. I now use half submerged filters – and my tank has never been cleaner. My fish seemed much happier when I installed the half submersible filter and became more active.

As Graham R said, using An aerator in the tank will prove a very good idea as it does indeed oxygenate the water and the fish enjoy swimming through the bubbles it pumps out. As well as oxygenating the water the bubbles also add a sense of realism to your setup. (Depending on what design you make your tank – e.g. rift lake, estuary etc).

Make sure its a quality filter as well so it doesn’t break or malfunction. If you live in Australia (might be USA as well not sure) but a good brand of filter which I have been using and recommending to people like those in your situation is an Aqua One Half Submersible Filter. I have still got one of my older Aqua ones in a goldfish tank for my cousin and it is in perfect working order.”

I found it interesting. If you ever have questions and you are not sure about what you find on the Internet, do not be afraid to check with your pet shop pros for help.

Using Nano fish tank aquariums

When we think of aquariums, we think of maintenance that are relatively easy to maintain. However, a nano fish tank requires a bit more maintenance.

Should you start a nano reef aquarium?

A nano reef aquarium can be a smaller system or a larger one. In some cases, it’s recommended that especially if you’re a beginner, you start with a larger tank, such as one that’s at least 24 gallons. Smaller systems can also literally “tank” very fast, whereas a larger tank gives you a bit more leeway when it comes to maintenance. This may be advisable if you’re just starting out.

Investment

In general, a nano reef is probably going to cost you a bit MORE than another type of system will, although your final investment will probably be less once you get going. Coral collecting is probably going to be a bit pricier for you, which may up the cost of the nano reef if this is something you get into.

Are they difficult to keep up?

Nano fish tank aquariums are not really difficult keep up once you know what you’re doing. However, you should research thoroughly so that you know what you’re getting into before you decide to start one. As long as you follow a regular maintenance schedule, you’ll need between 5 and 10 minutes a day to keep to keep things functioning on most days; you also have to be careful about any additions you make to your aquarium, as this can upset the balance you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Change your water frequently

Nitrates can build up very quickly in a small body of water, so you have to make sure you keep your water changes up.

What fish or other creatures can you put in your nano reef?

Some good hearty fish for beginners are the pajama cardinals, cardinals, clown gobies, royal grammas, fire fish, pseudochromis, most damsels and basslets. “Clean up” creatures include hermit crabs like red legs and left-handed, astrea snails and turbo snails. You should have a snail for every one to 2 gallons your tank holds, and one crap for every three to 5 gallons. Cleaner shrimp are also good because they will clean your fish of parasites and will help your other “clean up” creatures do their jobs, too.

What coral should I keep?

You can pretty much keep any type of coral, but some will need more light than other kinds. Be careful about coral that puts out sweeper tentacles, because it may affect other coral negatively. Don’t overdo the coral, either, because the coral needs enough room to grow.

Sterilization

Using a UV sterilizer is recommended to keep “bad bacteria” down, or, you can buy an aquarium with a built in wet dry filter. The polycarbonate cover should be left in place over the lights so that UV transmission is properly done. You should still use a UV sterilizer. Cured live rock broken up into 1-inch fragments is also a good way to purify.

Finally, change water and check water regularly, including alkali reserve, if necessary. In a nano aquarium, water characteristics change quickly, so you have to keep on top of this.

Filtration is important

For a good marine aquarium, you need good filtration. Filtration turnover should be at least four times per tank per hour, with in tank circulation at eight times an hour, at least. Live rock also performs its own filtration.

Models

Some good models for nano fish tank aquariums include the TRUVU Micro Series NANO Model 6, Model 12, or Model 25 fish tank aquariums. These particular models have easy to remove filtration systems and room for protein skimmers, for easy maintenance.

It is amazing that the history of aquariums goes back more than 2000 years! People have over that time used ‘aquariums’ for science, religious significance, and of course for pets The Romans were the first to place Sea-Barbels in their homes and contained them within small marble tanks. Over time, they designed these small tanks with glass panes on one side of the containers to allow for better viewing of the fish. Millennia then passed before the Chinese reinvented these tanks into tub shapes and then they were gradually reformed by other people into the shape of the modern fishbowl that we know today. As more time passed, other designs were invented and during the Industrial Age, the modern fish tank aquariums first came into being.

Getting started

Undoubtedly the main reason people have aquariums and place all kinds of fish in them these days is for the purpose of their hobby. However one does not just go and buy a whole lot of different fish and throw them all in together! You need to research the kind of fish that’ll fit perfectly in your aquarium because if you have no idea how big it’s going to get, then you’ll be in trouble. You will also have to ask the fish store owner the possibility of the fish frightening the other fish or especially if they have a penchant for bullying them. It happens, and sometimes they actually prey on them. Choosing the right group for your aquarium is very important. Never hesitate to ask the fish clerk’s opinion to make sure that the fish can all live comfortably with one another within the same habitat. Ask other people who have fish tank aquariums too. Their insight can be helpful especially when it comes to the feeding requirements of a particular fish.

Know the trade

However, not all fish clerks are up to scratch with their knowledge of aquarium fish. Most pet stores that have aquariums employ people who do not have a clue about fish! Privately owned stores (usually the smaller ones) tend be more intimate with this craft and are generally helpful, and not to mention the fact that you can probably bargain with them if a particular fish that attracts you sounds a bit high priced. Also, if it’s possible, bring a large sample of your own water (in a clean jar) that you plan to use for the fish and ask them to test yours and their water right in front of you. See how much different the two samples are (compare the nitrate, pH, and ammonia readings) to make necessary changes for acclimating your desired fish to your own water.

Finally, there are a number of other things you need to know that can be helpful when choosing the right fish for your aquariums. Take your time when choosing a fish. Observe it if it looks healthy or weak. Make sure it isn’t too aggressive and note its body characteristics. And also, don’t forget about the plants in your aquarium. Try to copy the plant variety and placement of the store’s fish tank aquariums to make it easier for your new fish to settle in. Armed with all this knowledge, one can be ready to go out and confidently buy the fish of your heart’s desire.