26 Nov 09 Adding Water To Your Tank
Every week water must be added to your fish tank, because of evaporation. A few tips can help your tank be happy and healthy. To have successful replenishing of the tank water you need to know the type of water, type of fish, and how to get the type of water.
Many fish such as Cory cats and neon tetras can only live in a certain range of hard water. Hard water is water with more minerals and can harm some fish. There is a solution that can be purchased to clean the water if it is hard, but is best used only when first filling your aquarium for the first time.
Before you regularly change your tank’s water they type of fish your own should be assessed. If you have a variety of fish that cannot live in hard water it is best if you fill your tank with just soft water. Having a little bit of soft water can be good for the fish. Fill the tank with a fifth of hard water and the rest soft.
Soft water and hard water come from different places. Soft water comes from most bottled water, and also from tap or filtered water. Hard water is most water from your faucet. Hard water is also from your hose or outside faucet. If you need hard water to be soft, there are solutions that you can buy to make it safe for all fish. I would suggest using the solution only for the first time you fill the tank.
Not everyone may know how to find out how to get water that is soft and water that is hard. The trick is knowing where you can find it. If you have tap water or a water purifier then that type of water is soft. Also any bottled water is also soft. Hard water is any faucet water usually. Also hard water is from your hose or outside faucet.
Being able to tell the type of water that you fill your rank with can highly impact owning a fish tank. Also finding the type of fish that can live in different types of water can help you avoid death. Filling your tank regularly can help your fish live a healthy and happy life.
Roshan Goodman will help you with aquariums and fish tank help.
Tags: animals, aquarium, aquarium advice, aquariums, Family, fish, fish tank, fish tank advice, fish tanks, hobbies, pets
08 Aug 09 How To Get Rid Of Algae In Your Aquarium
If you have had an aquarium at home for at least some time, you must have surely been faced with the problem of algae. Unfortunately, all fish owners will have to deal with it sooner or later. Algae can be divided into four major groups – blue green, brown, red-brush, and green.
Green algae is the type that many people are familiar with and lives within any aquarium that gets an abundance of light. The two more frequently seen green algae within fish tanks are the hair algae and hard “green dot algae”. Hair algae are long thin strings of algae which are simply cleaned from the tank, and the green-dot algae looks like green dots of algae attached to the side of the aquarium and it is very hard plus time consuming to get rid of.
It is common for brown algae to show up in a fish tank which has just been started and it typically shows up in the initial two weeks. If it shows up in established tanks it means that the owner of the aquarium has to check the nitrate as well as phosphate degrees in the tank. Brown algae is abnormal because it lives in aquariums which don’t get a lot of light, therefore the aquarium owner needs to clean the entire tank and increase the lighting. It’s not uncommon for brown algae to vanish when the conditions of the tank stabilize.
Red-brush algae is a form of algae that loves aquariums that have a high PH, however it’s incredibly difficult to manually remove red-brush algae from aquariums.
If you have something that looks like a slime in your tank, it indicates the appearance of blue-green algae, which actually is a cynobacteria. This is not only going to be dangerous for the plants in your aquarium, but is also likely to cause harm to the fish.
The easiest way to lower the amount of algae in your tank is to reduce the lighting level. If you keep the aquarium lights on for less than nine hours per day, you will shorten the time that algae has for photosynthesis.
Changing the water often or using distilled water for cleaning a saltwater aquarium is another good way prevent to algae from growing in your fish tank. Also when changing water try to use as little additives as possible and do remember about vacuuming the rocks. It also helps to keep algae eating aquatic creatures in your aquarium, such as the Yellow Tang Fish, Hard Star Fish, Turbo Snails, Hermit Crabs, Blennies or Angel Fish.
Obtain the biggest, sturdiest glass cleansing algae magnet you’re able to locate and then make use of it. If you utilize the magnet every single time that you cleanse the water in your aquarium the glass in the tank will probably remain algae free. For especially stubborn algae spots, you will have to use a razor blade, however do not fail to clean the runoff pipes. If you follow the advice found in this article, getting rid of fish tank algae will not be a problem for you ever again.
Tags: algae, animals, aquarium care, aquariums, Family, fish, fish care, fish tanks, hobby, House & Home, pet care, pets
17 May 09 Ordinary Aquarium Fish Diseases
The most common cause of death in aquarium fish is disease. This accounts for more tank deaths than any other cause, but its something you can easily avoid. The predominant reason for spread of disease within tanks is poor water quality. There are several factors that can contribute to poor water quality. These can be over-crowding, irregular cleaning or placing too much food in one tank for the amount of fish present.
Poor water quality can mean too many fish in the same tank, which means your ammonia levels will be too high for them to live comfortably. It can also mean incorrect temperature levels. Other reasons for disease in aquariums can be introducing a new fish with an existing disease from the store into your tank.
Normal Aquarium Fish Diseases:
Fin Rot: Fin rot is manifested by a form of bacteria that eats away your fishs fins. When fish are injured or stressed they are more likely to develop fin rot. Keep your aquarium water clean and be sure any injured fish are isolated in separate tanks until they show signs of recovery or you risk making all your fish ill.
White Spot: Tiny bright white dots on your fish scales could be an indication of Ichtyopthirius infestation. These are little parasites that cling to fish scales so they can nibble away at the soft flesh beneath. If you notice one fish with White Spot, isolate that fish and change the water or you risk all your other fish becoming infected too.
Hole In The Head: If you notice any tiny dimples or dents in the sides of your fishs head then they could be suffering from hole in the head. The primary cause of this is usually incorrect nitrate-levels within your tank water. Always be sure you monitor the nitrate and ammonia levels within your water. Clean water regularly and check that the temperature is correct.
Fungus: Fungal growths often appear in fish as fine little fluffy bits of cotton growing around wounds or injuries. If you introduce a new fish from the store with a fungal infection into your tank, you risk spreading that fungus to any other fish in that tank that may have scratches or injuries too. Change your water immediately and monitor any fish that display white fluffy growths.
Some tips for reducing aquarium diseases: If you have aquarium fish then its important to keep the tank water clean by changing it regularly. Monitor the nitrate levels and pH balance within your tank each time you clean the water and ensure the temperature is correct. Whenever you buy new fish, always be sure to inspect all the fish in the tank and not just the one you want to buy. Watch your existing fish carefully to check theyre not overcrowded. Too many fish in the same tank can increase the chance of disease too.
Tags: animals, aquarium tanks, aquariums, aquatic pets, Family, fish, fish aquariums, Fish bowls, fish tanks, learning, pet supplies, pets, science
