Sep
20
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
Jack Safford asked:
The sport of fly fishing has been around for years and years. In medieval times, anglers fished for food, but the sport has evolved over the years to become a real test of skills. Anyone who has become involved in the sport of fly fishing knows how addictive in can be - but in a very good way!
Fly fishing is markedly different from regular fishing. With plain fishing, you use lures and often live bait to bring fish to your line and hook them. When you are fly fishing, you use a fly that resembles a real insect that the fish feed on naturally. The line is longer and you mimic the movement of the fly or insect on top of the water so that the fish thinks they are biting at a real insect.
Casting is constant in fly fishing. You put the fly out in the water and then draw it back several times so that the fish thinks the fly is landing on the water and then taking off again. With regular fishing, you cast your line and let it rest until the fish bites making the bobber sink into the water.
You can catch some pretty hefty fish using either method, but when you are fly fishing, you have the opportunity to “battle” the fish for survival. This can be extremely satisfying as man battles nature for the top position.
Flies are made out of natural materials in fly fishing while regular fishing utilizes latex and plastic lures made out of man-made materials. Many avid fly fishermen say that the fish are much more attracted to the natural lure rather than the man-made ones. This, they say, makes fly fishing an amazingly satisfying sport.
You can fish just about anywhere - a local pond, a lake, or even a reservoir. When you are fly fishing, you will want to go where the fish are most plentiful. That means traveling (perhaps) to rivers and streams where fish like trout and walleye are known to live. The challenge in fly fishing lies in making the fly look real to the fish below water.
Fly fishing in remote places like Alaska and Canada are great vacation getaways. You can plan a fly fishing trip to many different spots including Mexico, South America, and even Russia. That can be a great adventure - much more so than just fishing your local lake or pond.
Chess has been called “the sport of kings”, but many avid fly fishermen consider fly fishing to be the real sport of kings. It takes skill, finesse, and a lot of patience to get good at fly fishing. Thousands of anglers couldn’t agree more. When you’ve been fly fishing once, you’ll want to go back over and over and over again. May the fish bite well for you!
LEVI
The sport of fly fishing has been around for years and years. In medieval times, anglers fished for food, but the sport has evolved over the years to become a real test of skills. Anyone who has become involved in the sport of fly fishing knows how addictive in can be - but in a very good way!
Fly fishing is markedly different from regular fishing. With plain fishing, you use lures and often live bait to bring fish to your line and hook them. When you are fly fishing, you use a fly that resembles a real insect that the fish feed on naturally. The line is longer and you mimic the movement of the fly or insect on top of the water so that the fish thinks they are biting at a real insect.
Casting is constant in fly fishing. You put the fly out in the water and then draw it back several times so that the fish thinks the fly is landing on the water and then taking off again. With regular fishing, you cast your line and let it rest until the fish bites making the bobber sink into the water.
You can catch some pretty hefty fish using either method, but when you are fly fishing, you have the opportunity to “battle” the fish for survival. This can be extremely satisfying as man battles nature for the top position.
Flies are made out of natural materials in fly fishing while regular fishing utilizes latex and plastic lures made out of man-made materials. Many avid fly fishermen say that the fish are much more attracted to the natural lure rather than the man-made ones. This, they say, makes fly fishing an amazingly satisfying sport.
You can fish just about anywhere - a local pond, a lake, or even a reservoir. When you are fly fishing, you will want to go where the fish are most plentiful. That means traveling (perhaps) to rivers and streams where fish like trout and walleye are known to live. The challenge in fly fishing lies in making the fly look real to the fish below water.
Fly fishing in remote places like Alaska and Canada are great vacation getaways. You can plan a fly fishing trip to many different spots including Mexico, South America, and even Russia. That can be a great adventure - much more so than just fishing your local lake or pond.
Chess has been called “the sport of kings”, but many avid fly fishermen consider fly fishing to be the real sport of kings. It takes skill, finesse, and a lot of patience to get good at fly fishing. Thousands of anglers couldn’t agree more. When you’ve been fly fishing once, you’ll want to go back over and over and over again. May the fish bite well for you!
LEVI
Sep
16
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
Paul Talbot asked:
There are many factors to consider when selecting fish. You need to ensure that you have the experience to look after the fish you select, that the fish you buy are healthy, and that they are compatible with the fish you currently have.
As a starting point, it is very import that you only buy very healthy fish because the best way to keep strong healthy fish is to start with strong healthy fish. Buying a fish because it doesn’t look well or happy and you feel sorry for it and want to give it a better home in your display tank is not a very good idea. An unwell fish can introduce diseases into your tank that can infect your other fish, and may even cause them to die. It helps to become familiar with a species of fish before you buy it as this will allow you to be clear on exactly what it should look and act like. Ensure the fish looks alert with clean clear eyes, fins and scales. It is also important that the fish appears eager to feed and can maintain its position in the water column. And finally, as a precaution, only buy from a clean healthy store that you trust.
To break this down I simply refer to all fish as number 1, number 2, or number 3 fish. I refer to number 1 fish as fish that most people can easily keep in regular aquarium conditions. Number 2 fish are fish that from my experience work for some people and not for others and number 3 fish being those which don’t work for most people.
Some examples of number 1 fish are Damsels, Clownfish, Dottyback, Triggerfish, Pufferfish, Foxface, Rabbitfish, most Wrasse, most Tangs, Blennies, Cardinal fish, lionfish. Some examples of number 2 fish are , most Tangs, Boxfish, Angels, Gobies, Sweetlip. Some examples of number 3 fish are Moorish idol, Powder Blue Tang, Achilles Tangs, Anthias, Filefish, pipefish, Mandarin fish, Butterfly fish.
Many people select marine fish by wondering into aquarium shores and looking around until they see a fish that catches their attention at that time, they will them ask the staff member closes to them if this fish will go with the few of their fish that they remember to name. If the staff member says yes then that is a green light to buy the fish. This approach takes very little into consideration and will as often as not result in the person purchasing a fish that was not likely to work from the start.
After a considerable amount of time and money, the person will start to understand which fish work in their aquarium, mind you most will have given up marine fish before this time has arisen. Instead of the impulse approach where you slowly learn the hard lesions of fish selection, I strongly recommend starting with a wish list.
A wish list is simply a list of fish that you wish to keep together in your tank. The beauty of a wish list is that you are able to show it to other experience aquarists to get their opinions on how these fish are likely to go together. If you have fish already you can add them to the top of the wish list to reduce the chance of adding other fish that won’t work with the fish you have. If you have a wish list you are likely to seek out experts to ask in order to gain the right advise. With the impulse approach you are far more likely to ask the nearest sales person and hope that they know. With the wish list you are able to use the opinions of a range of experts to save you a lot of time and money learning hard lesson on paper instead of with real fish. This is a very responsible and economical approach.
When selecting fish for your aquarium there are several things to consider before purchasing it e.g. diet, aggression, territoriality and weather it will nip at your corals.
A simple thing that you need to remember is that fish don’t want to die. They will only die if you don’t provide them with at least their basic minimum requirements. By researching a fishes basic minimum requirements first and asking a few people for their experiences keeping that fish you can massively increase the amount of success that you have when keeping marine fish.
The use of the wish list is going to help you make sure you are mixing fish that will commonly work together. Regardless of where you are at it is worth asking the right person the right questions to ensure that the fish you add are likely to work together. Regardless of how qualified the advice you get, fish are fish and in the end they do what they want how they want. Just because 10 experts tell you something is likely to happen, it doesn’t mean that that will happen. Understand that the fish you buy are your responsibility and your responsibility alone. So if the fish you buy don’t seem to be mixing well, it is up to you to separate them, before too many fish affected by the troubles.
It is important consider aggression when selecting fish. Monitor the aggression of the fish you keep and only add fish that will be able to compete with the fish that you have and not over compete. If you add a fish that is too aggressive for the fish you have it is likely to act boisterously and eat all the fish food and attack the other fish in the tank, even killing them. When you see this type of activity remove the trouble maker before it is able to cause you any more problems. The key is just as much in the monitoring and the action you take once a problem is identified as it is in initial selection.
Some fish are more so territorial then plan aggressive, an aggressive fish will attack fish for seemingly no reason. A territorial fish will drive fish out of their territory but leave them when the fish is out of its territory. It is worth considering territorial behaviour when selecting fish. Some fish like the Dottyback is territorial and can often be housed safely with many fish because its territory is small, leaving room for the other fish in the tank, while some other fish like coral trout can get so large that its territory can be the whole tank.
There is a big difference between territorial, aggressive and predatory. Territorial fish drive fish out of their territory, aggressive fish attack other fish for what can seem like to reason but to show dominance and predatorily fish eat other fish. Predatorily fish don’t have to be aggressive or territorial. Predatorily fish are primarily concerned with their belly, what can fit in their mouth is what they will eat. A perfect example of a predatory fish if the lionfish. This fish is not aggressive or territorial but it will eat any fish that will fit in its huge mouth, which is about the same size as it body. When selecting fish it is worth assuming that all fish are predatory.
When creating you wish list also include when you intend to adding the fish, because you also want to gather comments on this. Most groups of fish are best added at the some time to reduce territorially e.g. any tangs should be added together, any clown should be added together, this is also true for many fish even Wrasse and angels.
Many fish take about 3 day to settle into a new tank, in this time it is common for them not to feed and they may act differently. It is important to monitor new fish extra carefully for the first week for stress, behaviour, aggression and feeding habits. Always watch for changes in behaviour, action must be take when it is required.
Some fish live in large schools in the wild and do tend to fret with kept in aquariums singly or in small groups. These fish are used to having a lot of their own kind around them as an instinctual form of security, when they are placed in aquariums lightly stocked with fish they stress thinking there is danger because the rest of their school is absent. This can be the case when all the other fish appear fine but an individual seems to be jumpy and breathing quickly, some examples of these fish are Blue Tangs, green chromis and anthias.
If you are going to introduce fish to a tank with Coral and invertebrates it is important to identify which are likely to be a threat to them. This could be identified as A, B C fish. Some fish e.g. C fish will eat coral like Butterfly fish and Angelfish.
While others e.g. B fish will nip at it sometimes like Triggerfish, Pufferfish, Foxface, Rabbitfish most Wrasse, most Tangs Moorish idol. Others are mostly safe with coral e.g. A fish like Damsels, Clownfish, Dottyback, Blennies, Cardinal fish, lionfish, Anthias. Filefish, pipefish and Gobies.
Your wish list is a way of reduce the risk of introducing a coral eater to a coral tank. If you get a fish that only nips a particular type of coral you can consider avoiding that piece in the future. Hungry fish are more likely to graze on coral , even if your fish is not eating the coral it may stress it by nipping it regularly coursing it by often closed, depriving it of light.
Most fish need similar amounts of nutrients but the way they process the food means that not all foods are appropriate for all fish. You must consider what you will be feeding that tank when you buy fish for the tank. Herbivores have long digestive systems and a designed for consuming green food stuffs while predators have a short digestive system for eating fish meat. Some high quality pellet and flake foods can be fed to all fish but many natural food like fresh fish and seaweed are not suitable for some fish e.g. Meat is not good for herbivores and seaweed is not good for predators, this is because of the way that the fish process that food.
It is very important not to introduce new fish unless that your aquarium is running perfectly for the last month. You will increase the chances of problems like Whitespot if the fish are introduced more regularly than once a month, so add some fish then wait a month then add some more then wait a month. It will also help to ensure that you are running a lower salt level e.g. 1.020 when you introduce new fish, this will help lower osmotic stress on the fish and also help reduce the chance of problems like Whitespot.
A quarantine tank is a very good idea to help protect your display tank from decease out break.
All fish can thrive as long as their basic minimum requirements are met. I go into this further with my Instructional Marine Aquarium DVD available at http://www.exclusivefishfilms.com
Good luck and enjoy
Paul Talbot
AARON
There are many factors to consider when selecting fish. You need to ensure that you have the experience to look after the fish you select, that the fish you buy are healthy, and that they are compatible with the fish you currently have.
As a starting point, it is very import that you only buy very healthy fish because the best way to keep strong healthy fish is to start with strong healthy fish. Buying a fish because it doesn’t look well or happy and you feel sorry for it and want to give it a better home in your display tank is not a very good idea. An unwell fish can introduce diseases into your tank that can infect your other fish, and may even cause them to die. It helps to become familiar with a species of fish before you buy it as this will allow you to be clear on exactly what it should look and act like. Ensure the fish looks alert with clean clear eyes, fins and scales. It is also important that the fish appears eager to feed and can maintain its position in the water column. And finally, as a precaution, only buy from a clean healthy store that you trust.
To break this down I simply refer to all fish as number 1, number 2, or number 3 fish. I refer to number 1 fish as fish that most people can easily keep in regular aquarium conditions. Number 2 fish are fish that from my experience work for some people and not for others and number 3 fish being those which don’t work for most people.
Some examples of number 1 fish are Damsels, Clownfish, Dottyback, Triggerfish, Pufferfish, Foxface, Rabbitfish, most Wrasse, most Tangs, Blennies, Cardinal fish, lionfish. Some examples of number 2 fish are , most Tangs, Boxfish, Angels, Gobies, Sweetlip. Some examples of number 3 fish are Moorish idol, Powder Blue Tang, Achilles Tangs, Anthias, Filefish, pipefish, Mandarin fish, Butterfly fish.
Many people select marine fish by wondering into aquarium shores and looking around until they see a fish that catches their attention at that time, they will them ask the staff member closes to them if this fish will go with the few of their fish that they remember to name. If the staff member says yes then that is a green light to buy the fish. This approach takes very little into consideration and will as often as not result in the person purchasing a fish that was not likely to work from the start.
After a considerable amount of time and money, the person will start to understand which fish work in their aquarium, mind you most will have given up marine fish before this time has arisen. Instead of the impulse approach where you slowly learn the hard lesions of fish selection, I strongly recommend starting with a wish list.
A wish list is simply a list of fish that you wish to keep together in your tank. The beauty of a wish list is that you are able to show it to other experience aquarists to get their opinions on how these fish are likely to go together. If you have fish already you can add them to the top of the wish list to reduce the chance of adding other fish that won’t work with the fish you have. If you have a wish list you are likely to seek out experts to ask in order to gain the right advise. With the impulse approach you are far more likely to ask the nearest sales person and hope that they know. With the wish list you are able to use the opinions of a range of experts to save you a lot of time and money learning hard lesson on paper instead of with real fish. This is a very responsible and economical approach.
When selecting fish for your aquarium there are several things to consider before purchasing it e.g. diet, aggression, territoriality and weather it will nip at your corals.
A simple thing that you need to remember is that fish don’t want to die. They will only die if you don’t provide them with at least their basic minimum requirements. By researching a fishes basic minimum requirements first and asking a few people for their experiences keeping that fish you can massively increase the amount of success that you have when keeping marine fish.
The use of the wish list is going to help you make sure you are mixing fish that will commonly work together. Regardless of where you are at it is worth asking the right person the right questions to ensure that the fish you add are likely to work together. Regardless of how qualified the advice you get, fish are fish and in the end they do what they want how they want. Just because 10 experts tell you something is likely to happen, it doesn’t mean that that will happen. Understand that the fish you buy are your responsibility and your responsibility alone. So if the fish you buy don’t seem to be mixing well, it is up to you to separate them, before too many fish affected by the troubles.
It is important consider aggression when selecting fish. Monitor the aggression of the fish you keep and only add fish that will be able to compete with the fish that you have and not over compete. If you add a fish that is too aggressive for the fish you have it is likely to act boisterously and eat all the fish food and attack the other fish in the tank, even killing them. When you see this type of activity remove the trouble maker before it is able to cause you any more problems. The key is just as much in the monitoring and the action you take once a problem is identified as it is in initial selection.
Some fish are more so territorial then plan aggressive, an aggressive fish will attack fish for seemingly no reason. A territorial fish will drive fish out of their territory but leave them when the fish is out of its territory. It is worth considering territorial behaviour when selecting fish. Some fish like the Dottyback is territorial and can often be housed safely with many fish because its territory is small, leaving room for the other fish in the tank, while some other fish like coral trout can get so large that its territory can be the whole tank.
There is a big difference between territorial, aggressive and predatory. Territorial fish drive fish out of their territory, aggressive fish attack other fish for what can seem like to reason but to show dominance and predatorily fish eat other fish. Predatorily fish don’t have to be aggressive or territorial. Predatorily fish are primarily concerned with their belly, what can fit in their mouth is what they will eat. A perfect example of a predatory fish if the lionfish. This fish is not aggressive or territorial but it will eat any fish that will fit in its huge mouth, which is about the same size as it body. When selecting fish it is worth assuming that all fish are predatory.
When creating you wish list also include when you intend to adding the fish, because you also want to gather comments on this. Most groups of fish are best added at the some time to reduce territorially e.g. any tangs should be added together, any clown should be added together, this is also true for many fish even Wrasse and angels.
Many fish take about 3 day to settle into a new tank, in this time it is common for them not to feed and they may act differently. It is important to monitor new fish extra carefully for the first week for stress, behaviour, aggression and feeding habits. Always watch for changes in behaviour, action must be take when it is required.
Some fish live in large schools in the wild and do tend to fret with kept in aquariums singly or in small groups. These fish are used to having a lot of their own kind around them as an instinctual form of security, when they are placed in aquariums lightly stocked with fish they stress thinking there is danger because the rest of their school is absent. This can be the case when all the other fish appear fine but an individual seems to be jumpy and breathing quickly, some examples of these fish are Blue Tangs, green chromis and anthias.
If you are going to introduce fish to a tank with Coral and invertebrates it is important to identify which are likely to be a threat to them. This could be identified as A, B C fish. Some fish e.g. C fish will eat coral like Butterfly fish and Angelfish.
While others e.g. B fish will nip at it sometimes like Triggerfish, Pufferfish, Foxface, Rabbitfish most Wrasse, most Tangs Moorish idol. Others are mostly safe with coral e.g. A fish like Damsels, Clownfish, Dottyback, Blennies, Cardinal fish, lionfish, Anthias. Filefish, pipefish and Gobies.
Your wish list is a way of reduce the risk of introducing a coral eater to a coral tank. If you get a fish that only nips a particular type of coral you can consider avoiding that piece in the future. Hungry fish are more likely to graze on coral , even if your fish is not eating the coral it may stress it by nipping it regularly coursing it by often closed, depriving it of light.
Most fish need similar amounts of nutrients but the way they process the food means that not all foods are appropriate for all fish. You must consider what you will be feeding that tank when you buy fish for the tank. Herbivores have long digestive systems and a designed for consuming green food stuffs while predators have a short digestive system for eating fish meat. Some high quality pellet and flake foods can be fed to all fish but many natural food like fresh fish and seaweed are not suitable for some fish e.g. Meat is not good for herbivores and seaweed is not good for predators, this is because of the way that the fish process that food.
It is very important not to introduce new fish unless that your aquarium is running perfectly for the last month. You will increase the chances of problems like Whitespot if the fish are introduced more regularly than once a month, so add some fish then wait a month then add some more then wait a month. It will also help to ensure that you are running a lower salt level e.g. 1.020 when you introduce new fish, this will help lower osmotic stress on the fish and also help reduce the chance of problems like Whitespot.
A quarantine tank is a very good idea to help protect your display tank from decease out break.
All fish can thrive as long as their basic minimum requirements are met. I go into this further with my Instructional Marine Aquarium DVD available at http://www.exclusivefishfilms.com
Good luck and enjoy
Paul Talbot
AARON
Aug
31
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
Gina Sarento asked:
Are you in the market for a new fish tank? If this is your first time purchasing a fish tank, you may be unsure as to which type of fish tank you should purchase. When it comes to fish tanks, the two most common choices are glass fish tanks and acrylic fish tanks.
When it comes to choosing between glass fish tanks and acrylic fish tanks, there are many first time fish tank buyers who choose to go with glass fish tanks. One of the reasons for that is familiarity. Many of us are more familiar with glass fish tanks than we are with acrylic fish tanks. What you might not know is that you may be making a costly mistake, when purchasing a glass fish tank instead of an acrylic fish tank. If you are unfamiliar with acrylic fish tanks, you will want to take the time to familiarize yourself with them. To get you started, below a few fascinating acrylic fish tank facts are outlined.
FACT: Acrylic fish tanks are strong and durable.
When it comes to acrylic fish tanks, especially when compared to glass fish tanks, acrylic fish tanks win, hands down, when it comes to durability. The acrylic materials used to make acrylic fish tanks are highly durable; thus, making them strong and dependable. That strength is why a large number of fish tank manufacturers and fish tank suppliers offer warranties on all acrylic fish tanks. In fact, a large number of those warranties are lifetime warranties.
FACT: Acrylic fish tanks are lightweight.
While you might assume that acrylic fish tanks are heavy, due to their strength and durability, they are not. Acrylic fish tanks, especially when compared to glass fish tanks, are considered lightweight fish tanks. When examining the weight of acrylic fish tanks, it is important that you keep size in mind. Obviously, a desktop acrylic fish tank is going to weigh less than an in-wall acrylic fish tank, and so forth. However, no matter what the size, acrylic fish tanks are much lighter than their competition.
FACT: Acrylic fish tanks are easier to repair.
When it comes to repairing acrylic fish tanks, you will find that the repairs that need to be made are minimal or even nonexistent. Many times, the only so-called repairs that need to be made are repairing a few starches. There are a number of products, which can be purchased for affordable prices from most fish tank supply stores, which can easily repair all acrylic fish tank scratches. These scratch repairs can be done by you, right in your own home.
FACT: The acrylic used to make acrylic fish tanks can easily be distorted.
When it comes to examining the materials used to make acrylic fish tanks, you might not think that the ability to distort or manipulate the materials has an impact on you buying an acrylic aquarium, but it actually does. Since acrylic materials can easily be manipulated or distorted, there are an unlimited number of different acrylic fish tanks to choose from; each of these fish tanks come in different sizes, shapes, and styles. When keeping this important fact in mind, it is important that you concentrate on the materials used. When an acrylic fish tank has been completed, the chances of distortion or damage are virtually nonexistent.
The above mentioned acrylic fish tank facts are just a few of the many that exist. In fact, there are many other acrylic fish tank features that you may find fascinating. Other noteworthy features include the cleanliness, at least on the outside. Acrylic fish tanks are clearer than all other fish tanks, including glass fish tanks. This is ideal for you, especially if your sole purpose of purchasing an acrylic fish tank is to improve the appearance of your home or your business.
If the above mentioned acrylic fish tank facts and features are of an interest to you, you are advised to further examine acrylic fish tanks, such as the acrylic fish tank styles that you have to choose from. To do this, you will want to visit a well-known and highly rated fish tank supplier, like FishTanksDirect.com.
TERRELL
Are you in the market for a new fish tank? If this is your first time purchasing a fish tank, you may be unsure as to which type of fish tank you should purchase. When it comes to fish tanks, the two most common choices are glass fish tanks and acrylic fish tanks.
When it comes to choosing between glass fish tanks and acrylic fish tanks, there are many first time fish tank buyers who choose to go with glass fish tanks. One of the reasons for that is familiarity. Many of us are more familiar with glass fish tanks than we are with acrylic fish tanks. What you might not know is that you may be making a costly mistake, when purchasing a glass fish tank instead of an acrylic fish tank. If you are unfamiliar with acrylic fish tanks, you will want to take the time to familiarize yourself with them. To get you started, below a few fascinating acrylic fish tank facts are outlined.
FACT: Acrylic fish tanks are strong and durable.
When it comes to acrylic fish tanks, especially when compared to glass fish tanks, acrylic fish tanks win, hands down, when it comes to durability. The acrylic materials used to make acrylic fish tanks are highly durable; thus, making them strong and dependable. That strength is why a large number of fish tank manufacturers and fish tank suppliers offer warranties on all acrylic fish tanks. In fact, a large number of those warranties are lifetime warranties.
FACT: Acrylic fish tanks are lightweight.
While you might assume that acrylic fish tanks are heavy, due to their strength and durability, they are not. Acrylic fish tanks, especially when compared to glass fish tanks, are considered lightweight fish tanks. When examining the weight of acrylic fish tanks, it is important that you keep size in mind. Obviously, a desktop acrylic fish tank is going to weigh less than an in-wall acrylic fish tank, and so forth. However, no matter what the size, acrylic fish tanks are much lighter than their competition.
FACT: Acrylic fish tanks are easier to repair.
When it comes to repairing acrylic fish tanks, you will find that the repairs that need to be made are minimal or even nonexistent. Many times, the only so-called repairs that need to be made are repairing a few starches. There are a number of products, which can be purchased for affordable prices from most fish tank supply stores, which can easily repair all acrylic fish tank scratches. These scratch repairs can be done by you, right in your own home.
FACT: The acrylic used to make acrylic fish tanks can easily be distorted.
When it comes to examining the materials used to make acrylic fish tanks, you might not think that the ability to distort or manipulate the materials has an impact on you buying an acrylic aquarium, but it actually does. Since acrylic materials can easily be manipulated or distorted, there are an unlimited number of different acrylic fish tanks to choose from; each of these fish tanks come in different sizes, shapes, and styles. When keeping this important fact in mind, it is important that you concentrate on the materials used. When an acrylic fish tank has been completed, the chances of distortion or damage are virtually nonexistent.
The above mentioned acrylic fish tank facts are just a few of the many that exist. In fact, there are many other acrylic fish tank features that you may find fascinating. Other noteworthy features include the cleanliness, at least on the outside. Acrylic fish tanks are clearer than all other fish tanks, including glass fish tanks. This is ideal for you, especially if your sole purpose of purchasing an acrylic fish tank is to improve the appearance of your home or your business.
If the above mentioned acrylic fish tank facts and features are of an interest to you, you are advised to further examine acrylic fish tanks, such as the acrylic fish tank styles that you have to choose from. To do this, you will want to visit a well-known and highly rated fish tank supplier, like FishTanksDirect.com.
TERRELL
Aug
30
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
Keeping Discus Fish asked:
With a compressed rounded body shape and gorgeous colors of green, red, brown and blue, (There are 4 ‘real’ discus variants, with their own Latin name. The rest of the color variants are captive bred and the list of these color variants is nearly endless. They have exotic names like, ‘White Diamond’, ‘Blue Diamond’ ‘Snake Skin’, etc… ) discus fish are among the most popular aquarium freshwater fish in the world. Native from the Amazon River, Wild caught discus fish first started to appeared in the 1920s, discus fish are spread all over the world being part of true industries in Asia, for instance. When they reach adulthood, discus fish are no bigger than eight to ten inches and they make great pets, bringing an excellent array of lively color to your house. Make sure you know everything about the needs of this fish breed before even thinking about keeping them, though discus fish are not very fragile, they still require a lot of care.
Discus fish make excellent aquarium inhabitants and they can be combined with other species in the habitat, the best choices would be the uaru or the tetras species. Normally discus fish are very serene creatures; they are a bit sensitive to stress and a disturbing environment but most fish are. However it is not too great an idea to combine them with fish that are quite a bit smaller, as the discus fish may eat them. It is also totally unadvisable to combine any variety of discus fish with catfish since you might find you just end up with fat catfish and no discus. Like all aquarium creatures, discus fish require optimal living conditions; otherwise they are exposed to disease and may die.
As the natural water temperature the discus fish are used to, is around 26-31 degrees Celsius ( 79 to 88 °F ), you will have to recreate and maintain very similar conditions. The hardness of the water ranges from 3 to 10° dGH. Additionally, in the wild, the environment discus fish live in is slightly acid, so make sure you adjust the pH values to such coordinates, between 5.5 and 6.5 the pH is completely friendly to your pets. If the discus fish were bred in captivity they may just as well adapt to higher pH values, but not during the mating season when you really have to provide optimal conditions.
Keep in mind that discus fish are very clean animals, and the water you put in their tank has to be really clean, without the any trace of pollution whatsoever. You need to use a high capacity filter to cycle the water constantly.
HENRY
With a compressed rounded body shape and gorgeous colors of green, red, brown and blue, (There are 4 ‘real’ discus variants, with their own Latin name. The rest of the color variants are captive bred and the list of these color variants is nearly endless. They have exotic names like, ‘White Diamond’, ‘Blue Diamond’ ‘Snake Skin’, etc… ) discus fish are among the most popular aquarium freshwater fish in the world. Native from the Amazon River, Wild caught discus fish first started to appeared in the 1920s, discus fish are spread all over the world being part of true industries in Asia, for instance. When they reach adulthood, discus fish are no bigger than eight to ten inches and they make great pets, bringing an excellent array of lively color to your house. Make sure you know everything about the needs of this fish breed before even thinking about keeping them, though discus fish are not very fragile, they still require a lot of care.
Discus fish make excellent aquarium inhabitants and they can be combined with other species in the habitat, the best choices would be the uaru or the tetras species. Normally discus fish are very serene creatures; they are a bit sensitive to stress and a disturbing environment but most fish are. However it is not too great an idea to combine them with fish that are quite a bit smaller, as the discus fish may eat them. It is also totally unadvisable to combine any variety of discus fish with catfish since you might find you just end up with fat catfish and no discus. Like all aquarium creatures, discus fish require optimal living conditions; otherwise they are exposed to disease and may die.
As the natural water temperature the discus fish are used to, is around 26-31 degrees Celsius ( 79 to 88 °F ), you will have to recreate and maintain very similar conditions. The hardness of the water ranges from 3 to 10° dGH. Additionally, in the wild, the environment discus fish live in is slightly acid, so make sure you adjust the pH values to such coordinates, between 5.5 and 6.5 the pH is completely friendly to your pets. If the discus fish were bred in captivity they may just as well adapt to higher pH values, but not during the mating season when you really have to provide optimal conditions.
Keep in mind that discus fish are very clean animals, and the water you put in their tank has to be really clean, without the any trace of pollution whatsoever. You need to use a high capacity filter to cycle the water constantly.
HENRY
Jun
21
Four Reasons not to Use a Betta Fish Vase
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
D Swain asked:
Have you ever seen a betta fish vase? It’s basically a large flower vase filled with water and maybe a live plant. There are quite a few good reasons why you shouldn’t put your betta in one. This article will take a look at some of these reasons.
Space
The main reason why you shouldn’t use one of these vases is the lack of space. Although there are relatively large designs, most don’t provide enough space for your fish. Without enough space to swim around freely and exercise, your betta will be unhappy and less healthy.
Air
Did you know that bettas have a special organ on top of their head? Called a labyrinth organ, it allows fish to breathe oxygen from the air in addition to getting it from water. A betta fish vase with a large plant inside may prevent your buddy from getting the air that he needs. Without enough space to come up for air, he’ll die.
Plant
Even if you do house your betta in a vase, you should avoid putting a live plant in there. A plant will only take up more room, which is already an issue with such a small amount to begin with. The plant also produces waste that will eventually cause health problems with your betta.
A common plant found in a betta fish vase is the peace lily. Some new owners believe that their betta can eat the plant and survive for a while. However, these fish are meat eaters. Although they may nibble on the plant occasionally, they need real food.
Water
Bettas are tropical fish, so they like warmer temperatures. Do you think you could easily regulate the water temperature in a betta fish vase? I think not. Also, the water will get dirty from waste produced by your fish and the plant if you have one in there. The vase will be too small to have a filtration system, so you’ll have to change the water frequently.
TYSON
Have you ever seen a betta fish vase? It’s basically a large flower vase filled with water and maybe a live plant. There are quite a few good reasons why you shouldn’t put your betta in one. This article will take a look at some of these reasons.
Space
The main reason why you shouldn’t use one of these vases is the lack of space. Although there are relatively large designs, most don’t provide enough space for your fish. Without enough space to swim around freely and exercise, your betta will be unhappy and less healthy.
Air
Did you know that bettas have a special organ on top of their head? Called a labyrinth organ, it allows fish to breathe oxygen from the air in addition to getting it from water. A betta fish vase with a large plant inside may prevent your buddy from getting the air that he needs. Without enough space to come up for air, he’ll die.
Plant
Even if you do house your betta in a vase, you should avoid putting a live plant in there. A plant will only take up more room, which is already an issue with such a small amount to begin with. The plant also produces waste that will eventually cause health problems with your betta.
A common plant found in a betta fish vase is the peace lily. Some new owners believe that their betta can eat the plant and survive for a while. However, these fish are meat eaters. Although they may nibble on the plant occasionally, they need real food.
Water
Bettas are tropical fish, so they like warmer temperatures. Do you think you could easily regulate the water temperature in a betta fish vase? I think not. Also, the water will get dirty from waste produced by your fish and the plant if you have one in there. The vase will be too small to have a filtration system, so you’ll have to change the water frequently.
TYSON
Jun
9
Aquarium Fish Care - 4 Basic Things Beginners Must Know
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
Abhishek Agarwal asked:
Presently there are around 20,000 types of fishes and to instruct on care for each of them is going to be a very hard task. Hence I have decided to help you out by giving you the basics in fish and tank care. Unlike animals with fur coats fishes do not have any protection. This is why the temperature of the water is so vital. If it is very high then the supply of oxygen would be affected and if it is too cold then too the health of the fishes would be in danger. Make sure you read the manual properly so that you can ensure the right gravity and temperature is maintained for healthy fish. For goldfishes you must keep the water temperature at 75 degree Fahrenheit. For tropical fishes keep the temperature of the water between 75 to 80 or 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
While buying the aquarium, make sure to buy a thermometer and also a heater to cater to different type of fishes. Like Goldfishes which can withstand low temperatures at some times.
1. How to measure water?
The measuring of water is done in pH, depending on the sourness of water and also on the different types of fishes you have. For saltwater fishes, the water should be measured from 7, 8 to 8.3 and for freshwater fish you should measure from 6.8 to 7.2. In case you should monitor the pH measurement of the water where as water is measured more ammonia will be produced. If the temperature of the water falls too low it could become harmful to the growth of bacteria and also for the gills of the fish. In order to maintain the pH balance in the fish water, you could also buy test kitsand buffers. Further, we will discuss how gravity and oxygen is measured in the water.
2. How much of oxygen is needed for fish?
Human beings, animals and even fishes require oxygen in order to survive. If there is no sufficient supply of oxygen to the brain then it will die and slowly the rest of the body too will collapse. Both air and water give the needed oxygen to the fish tanks. The oxygen level can be increased by the usage of air supply or pumps which gives the oxygen. The other thing that you can is keeping the water cool.
3. How to measure gravity?
The chemicals added to water is the basis of gravity. If the aquarium is supplied with unadulterated water the ionic gravity is 1.0 If the fish is a saltwater one the gravity level should not be more than 1.023. Anyhow, illnesses of saltwater fish can be reduced by keeping the water gravity level at 1.017. Freshwater fish or non-marine fish can benefit by adding a lesser volume of salt to the water, particularly to reduce stress. The gravity level can be maintained with the help of test kits and refactometers .
4. How are saltwater fish aquariums maintained?
This question is stressful as saltwater fish being marine creatures, their habitat and environments change consistently. It also depends on the kind of aquarium that is purchased to keep your fish. When a larger aquarium is purchased, maintaining saltwater fish is easy when you keep the environment stable. However if the saltwater fish is yet to be purchased, it has to be noted that Damsel, an aggressive salt water fish hardly mates with other fish.
To conclude, visit the internet to know more about fish care and aquariums , where you can get a wide range of information.
Tip: Damsel fishes are ideal for beginners as they require very little attention.
MASON
Presently there are around 20,000 types of fishes and to instruct on care for each of them is going to be a very hard task. Hence I have decided to help you out by giving you the basics in fish and tank care. Unlike animals with fur coats fishes do not have any protection. This is why the temperature of the water is so vital. If it is very high then the supply of oxygen would be affected and if it is too cold then too the health of the fishes would be in danger. Make sure you read the manual properly so that you can ensure the right gravity and temperature is maintained for healthy fish. For goldfishes you must keep the water temperature at 75 degree Fahrenheit. For tropical fishes keep the temperature of the water between 75 to 80 or 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
While buying the aquarium, make sure to buy a thermometer and also a heater to cater to different type of fishes. Like Goldfishes which can withstand low temperatures at some times.
1. How to measure water?
The measuring of water is done in pH, depending on the sourness of water and also on the different types of fishes you have. For saltwater fishes, the water should be measured from 7, 8 to 8.3 and for freshwater fish you should measure from 6.8 to 7.2. In case you should monitor the pH measurement of the water where as water is measured more ammonia will be produced. If the temperature of the water falls too low it could become harmful to the growth of bacteria and also for the gills of the fish. In order to maintain the pH balance in the fish water, you could also buy test kitsand buffers. Further, we will discuss how gravity and oxygen is measured in the water.
2. How much of oxygen is needed for fish?
Human beings, animals and even fishes require oxygen in order to survive. If there is no sufficient supply of oxygen to the brain then it will die and slowly the rest of the body too will collapse. Both air and water give the needed oxygen to the fish tanks. The oxygen level can be increased by the usage of air supply or pumps which gives the oxygen. The other thing that you can is keeping the water cool.
3. How to measure gravity?
The chemicals added to water is the basis of gravity. If the aquarium is supplied with unadulterated water the ionic gravity is 1.0 If the fish is a saltwater one the gravity level should not be more than 1.023. Anyhow, illnesses of saltwater fish can be reduced by keeping the water gravity level at 1.017. Freshwater fish or non-marine fish can benefit by adding a lesser volume of salt to the water, particularly to reduce stress. The gravity level can be maintained with the help of test kits and refactometers .
4. How are saltwater fish aquariums maintained?
This question is stressful as saltwater fish being marine creatures, their habitat and environments change consistently. It also depends on the kind of aquarium that is purchased to keep your fish. When a larger aquarium is purchased, maintaining saltwater fish is easy when you keep the environment stable. However if the saltwater fish is yet to be purchased, it has to be noted that Damsel, an aggressive salt water fish hardly mates with other fish.
To conclude, visit the internet to know more about fish care and aquariums , where you can get a wide range of information.
Tip: Damsel fishes are ideal for beginners as they require very little attention.
MASON
Jun
7
Aquarium Fish Food Tips
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
Nathan Miller asked:
nced diet for your aquarium fish is essential to thier survival. Most of the commercially available dry fish foods are almost always unbalanced. In many cases, the vitamin content will gradually decline at room temperature and since majority of the dry food for tropical fish commonly used will only keep for about three months, it is always advisable to buy fish-feeds in many small packs rather than in one large pack.
BOBBIE
nced diet for your aquarium fish is essential to thier survival. Most of the commercially available dry fish foods are almost always unbalanced. In many cases, the vitamin content will gradually decline at room temperature and since majority of the dry food for tropical fish commonly used will only keep for about three months, it is always advisable to buy fish-feeds in many small packs rather than in one large pack.
The feed could preferably be kept absolutely dry in a refrigerator. However, all fish appreciate a change of diet and will thank you for your consideration with more interesting behavior, better colours, and greater readiness to breed and better general well -being. This change of diet should be supplemented with live food; majority of which now come in irradiated freeze dried forms to make sure that they are disease free.
I will mention a few that could be found handy in some major aquarium shops and I will group them into two. And they are flake foods and freeze-dried foods
Flake foods
Most popular and highly recommended brands are Aquarian®, Tetra®, and Wardley®. They are varying in cost and quality. Wardley is the least expensive among the three. However, the Aquarian and Tetra are richer in specialty flakes compare to Wardley.
Freeze-dried foods
You will also find freeze-dried foods available in aquarium stores. They are favorite foods for aquarium fish. They have single animal-ingredient like mosquito larvae, blood worms and Tubifex worm each. Aquarist should note that freeze-foods are not in themselves complete diet but they can be combine to flake food or other type of freeze-dried foods. We shall discuss more about Tubifex as a popular freeze-dried food.
TUBIFEX - This is a traditional favorite food relished by most fishes. They are small red worms that live at the bottom of streams and rivers particularly where large amounts of organic matter are present. Therefore, it is difficult for the aquarist to collect them life from their habitat. It is therefore preferable to buy Tubifex from pet shops where they are already clean, freeze-dried and concentrated into cube forms.
From personal experience, Tubifex tubes could probably be the most exciting feed to use for fishes. The cube can be stuck to the front inside wall of the aquarium. The fishes in the tank will immediately come forward and bit off pieces of worms excitedly until satisfied.
You need not bother to remove the rest worms since they seldom pollute and in most case fishes return to the feed for further fill.
BOBBIE
Jun
7
Creating Koi Fish Garden Pond - Important Tips
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
Tatyana Turner asked:
Are you thinking of building a koi pond in your garden? Bringing these gorgeous fish in your garden is an interesting hobby and it is not as complicated as you might think. With the proper pond maintanance decorative koi fish have a long life span and some can become almost a meter long. Follow these tips to build your garden pond for fish properly so your beautiful fish will live long and happy life.
Make your pond deep
Depth of your pond is very important. You pond should be at least 4 feet deep, however it is best to provide for your fish six or even 8 feet deep pond. This will ensure that your fish are protected from raccoons, cats and other animals who can empty your pond. Deeper fish pond also helps to maintain water temperature in the middle of summer
Koi really love a lot of room to swim
Small ponds are no good for koi. Remember, with time they can grow quite large and they will need a big space. Also there are so many color variations of koi, that as time goes you will probably want to add more fish to your pond. So it is better to create a large garden pond from the start than rebuild it later. About ten thousand gallons is a good size for a garden fish pond, bigger would be even better.
Provide some heating in colder months
Unlike tropical fish, koi don’t suffer much from cold; however you should never let your pond freeze completely. Installing a proper heater for backyard ponds will always keep an opening in the ice. Also keep in mind, that like most fish koi only grow when the water is warm, so with a heater your fish will grow faster
Plan some shade for your koi
When selecting where to place your pond, make sure it is out of direct sunlight. Also keeping water plants like water lilies in your pond makes sence - not only they add beauty to the overall look of your pond, but they also provide shade for the fish. However, you should avoid building your pond under trees. Cleaning a garden pond of fallen leaves is a nightmare.
Plan to install a bird net
There are many birds of prey that will enjoy eating your koi. Don’t give them the opportunity; plan your pond location so it is possible to protect it with a net.
Keep insecticides away from your pond
When planning your pond keep in mind that you should not use any insecticides or herbicides near the water. Even a small amount of common garden poison can destroy your beautiful fish.
Pumps, filtration systems and other fish pond accessories
Several accessories are nessesary for healthy garden fish pond. Ideally you should get a water pump, filtration system, pond water aerator and an ultraviolet sterilizer. If the water in your pond is still, your pets might feel unwell. Koi pond filtration systems are pricey, so as an alternative you can make your own homemade filters.
BERT
Are you thinking of building a koi pond in your garden? Bringing these gorgeous fish in your garden is an interesting hobby and it is not as complicated as you might think. With the proper pond maintanance decorative koi fish have a long life span and some can become almost a meter long. Follow these tips to build your garden pond for fish properly so your beautiful fish will live long and happy life.
Make your pond deep
Depth of your pond is very important. You pond should be at least 4 feet deep, however it is best to provide for your fish six or even 8 feet deep pond. This will ensure that your fish are protected from raccoons, cats and other animals who can empty your pond. Deeper fish pond also helps to maintain water temperature in the middle of summer
Koi really love a lot of room to swim
Small ponds are no good for koi. Remember, with time they can grow quite large and they will need a big space. Also there are so many color variations of koi, that as time goes you will probably want to add more fish to your pond. So it is better to create a large garden pond from the start than rebuild it later. About ten thousand gallons is a good size for a garden fish pond, bigger would be even better.
Provide some heating in colder months
Unlike tropical fish, koi don’t suffer much from cold; however you should never let your pond freeze completely. Installing a proper heater for backyard ponds will always keep an opening in the ice. Also keep in mind, that like most fish koi only grow when the water is warm, so with a heater your fish will grow faster
Plan some shade for your koi
When selecting where to place your pond, make sure it is out of direct sunlight. Also keeping water plants like water lilies in your pond makes sence - not only they add beauty to the overall look of your pond, but they also provide shade for the fish. However, you should avoid building your pond under trees. Cleaning a garden pond of fallen leaves is a nightmare.
Plan to install a bird net
There are many birds of prey that will enjoy eating your koi. Don’t give them the opportunity; plan your pond location so it is possible to protect it with a net.
Keep insecticides away from your pond
When planning your pond keep in mind that you should not use any insecticides or herbicides near the water. Even a small amount of common garden poison can destroy your beautiful fish.
Pumps, filtration systems and other fish pond accessories
Several accessories are nessesary for healthy garden fish pond. Ideally you should get a water pump, filtration system, pond water aerator and an ultraviolet sterilizer. If the water in your pond is still, your pets might feel unwell. Koi pond filtration systems are pricey, so as an alternative you can make your own homemade filters.
BERT
Jun
4
Caring For Aquarium Fish - Some Useful Tips
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
Abhishek Agarwal asked:
If you have recently purchased your aquarium from a pet shop chances are that the system was fully set up for you. Such an aquarium will in all probability be self sufficient and can take care of itself for extended periods of time. However, it is important to know how to take care of your aquarium manually too. It is important to keep a tab on the water conditions of the aquarium. The type of fish you keep in the tank as well as the kind and quantity of water plants in the tank play an important role in keeping the water clean and the fish healthy.
Many tropical fish are used to living in softwater, tetras for example thrive in rain water. This means that the water has got to be as near to purity as possible. This is why it is important to get a hold of a hydrometer to test the hardness of the tank water frequently. This is easily available from any fish store. If you find that the water is getting hard it is best that you add some fresh water to the tank at regular intervals after removing some of the out of the tank.
So how do you go about avoiding the hardening of water?
First of all do not use limestone as a lining at the bottom of the tank. This is a sure way of hardening the water and is a resort used in saltwater tanks. Regularly test the water for hardness as explained above. Add fresh water to the tank to soften the water regularly. When you notice white deposits on the aquarium glass it is an indication that the water is hardening. While testing the pH of the water with a hydrometer remember that the natural level of the pH is 7. Try to maintain this level.
Try not to keep the aquarium too crowded with aquatic plants. Fish need freedom to dart around or cruise and the plants do tend to get in their way. besides this you cannot enjoy the full pleasure of the fish as the plants tend to hide them from view.
Keep the temperature of the water at 20 degrees. This is a comfortable level and the fish will stay healthy and lively. There are automatic heaters available at the local pet store and you can get yourself a handy one at a very reasonable price. These heaters are set to maintain the temperature of the water automatically so you do not have to worry.
You must also get your tank a water filter. This is a pumping mechanism that ***** water into the tank and sends it through a membrane filter. It cleans the water very effectively and needs to be manually cleaned with boiled water at regular intervals like once in 6 weeks. Remember not to over clean the filter as the bacteria on it is important. this bacteria helps in cleaning the water of fish excreta.
The water filter serves two other important purposes as well. It circulates the water in the tank and splashes the surface of the water constantly allowing the water to absorb oxygen.
If you have all this in your tank and you know know to take care of the instruments your fish will be happier, healthier and your tank will look good longer.
EFRAIN
If you have recently purchased your aquarium from a pet shop chances are that the system was fully set up for you. Such an aquarium will in all probability be self sufficient and can take care of itself for extended periods of time. However, it is important to know how to take care of your aquarium manually too. It is important to keep a tab on the water conditions of the aquarium. The type of fish you keep in the tank as well as the kind and quantity of water plants in the tank play an important role in keeping the water clean and the fish healthy.
Many tropical fish are used to living in softwater, tetras for example thrive in rain water. This means that the water has got to be as near to purity as possible. This is why it is important to get a hold of a hydrometer to test the hardness of the tank water frequently. This is easily available from any fish store. If you find that the water is getting hard it is best that you add some fresh water to the tank at regular intervals after removing some of the out of the tank.
So how do you go about avoiding the hardening of water?
First of all do not use limestone as a lining at the bottom of the tank. This is a sure way of hardening the water and is a resort used in saltwater tanks. Regularly test the water for hardness as explained above. Add fresh water to the tank to soften the water regularly. When you notice white deposits on the aquarium glass it is an indication that the water is hardening. While testing the pH of the water with a hydrometer remember that the natural level of the pH is 7. Try to maintain this level.
Try not to keep the aquarium too crowded with aquatic plants. Fish need freedom to dart around or cruise and the plants do tend to get in their way. besides this you cannot enjoy the full pleasure of the fish as the plants tend to hide them from view.
Keep the temperature of the water at 20 degrees. This is a comfortable level and the fish will stay healthy and lively. There are automatic heaters available at the local pet store and you can get yourself a handy one at a very reasonable price. These heaters are set to maintain the temperature of the water automatically so you do not have to worry.
You must also get your tank a water filter. This is a pumping mechanism that ***** water into the tank and sends it through a membrane filter. It cleans the water very effectively and needs to be manually cleaned with boiled water at regular intervals like once in 6 weeks. Remember not to over clean the filter as the bacteria on it is important. this bacteria helps in cleaning the water of fish excreta.
The water filter serves two other important purposes as well. It circulates the water in the tank and splashes the surface of the water constantly allowing the water to absorb oxygen.
If you have all this in your tank and you know know to take care of the instruments your fish will be happier, healthier and your tank will look good longer.
EFRAIN
May
31
Choosing a Fish Tank Heater
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
Andrew Bicknell asked:
Aside from the condition of the water there is probably nothing as important to properly maintaining a fish tank then keeping the temperature of the water at a set level. Both salt water and fresh water fish thrive best in warm water that stays constant. They are after all tropical fish. Gold fish on the other hand are cold water fish and can handle fluctuation in temperature.
The temperature of the water is important for the health and welfare of your fish. If the temperature drops by one degree over a twenty four hour period it can leave many fish susceptible to diseases such as “Ich”. If not caught soon enough it can create irreversible damage and kill any and all the fish in a tank. This is why it is doubly important to keep a close eye on the water temperature during the change of season, particularly as winter approaches and temperatures drop.
There are a variety of different fish tank heaters on the market and depending on how much you are willing to spend will determine how functional the one you get may be. The cheaper ones may save you money but they are more likely to break or malfunction, thereby endangering the investment you have made in your fish. Many times the cheap heaters also do not have an accurate heat setting, which makes dialing in the temperature difficult.
For most people a mid priced heater will do the job they are looking for. Their thermostat controls are reliable and they maintain a constant temperature without having to make adjustments all the time. It is important to check your fish tank heater periodically to make sure it is operating correctly and after about a year of use there is a good chance that it may need to be replaced.
The best way to make sure your fish tank heater is working properly is to invest in a thermometer. These days you can purchase thermometers that stick to the outside glass of the fish tank. This makes it easy to monitor the temperature because it is always in a conspicuous spot. You can use the type that float around inside the fish tank but they are not always as easy to read and more often then not they float behind a filter or some other obstruction making it impossible to see what the temperature is.
Once you have your heater it is best to place it near a filter. This allows the heated water to be distributed throughout the tank keeping hot and cold spots to a minimum. A heater is an important part of any fish tank ecosystem and by keeping the water temperature at a constant level your fish will be disease free and entertain you for many years.
ERVIN
Aside from the condition of the water there is probably nothing as important to properly maintaining a fish tank then keeping the temperature of the water at a set level. Both salt water and fresh water fish thrive best in warm water that stays constant. They are after all tropical fish. Gold fish on the other hand are cold water fish and can handle fluctuation in temperature.
The temperature of the water is important for the health and welfare of your fish. If the temperature drops by one degree over a twenty four hour period it can leave many fish susceptible to diseases such as “Ich”. If not caught soon enough it can create irreversible damage and kill any and all the fish in a tank. This is why it is doubly important to keep a close eye on the water temperature during the change of season, particularly as winter approaches and temperatures drop.
There are a variety of different fish tank heaters on the market and depending on how much you are willing to spend will determine how functional the one you get may be. The cheaper ones may save you money but they are more likely to break or malfunction, thereby endangering the investment you have made in your fish. Many times the cheap heaters also do not have an accurate heat setting, which makes dialing in the temperature difficult.
For most people a mid priced heater will do the job they are looking for. Their thermostat controls are reliable and they maintain a constant temperature without having to make adjustments all the time. It is important to check your fish tank heater periodically to make sure it is operating correctly and after about a year of use there is a good chance that it may need to be replaced.
The best way to make sure your fish tank heater is working properly is to invest in a thermometer. These days you can purchase thermometers that stick to the outside glass of the fish tank. This makes it easy to monitor the temperature because it is always in a conspicuous spot. You can use the type that float around inside the fish tank but they are not always as easy to read and more often then not they float behind a filter or some other obstruction making it impossible to see what the temperature is.
Once you have your heater it is best to place it near a filter. This allows the heated water to be distributed throughout the tank keeping hot and cold spots to a minimum. A heater is an important part of any fish tank ecosystem and by keeping the water temperature at a constant level your fish will be disease free and entertain you for many years.
ERVIN