Why Choose A Saltwater Aquarium?

A salt water aquarium can provide you with a wide range of benefits. If you are used to walking around the department store and selecting the perfect little goldfish to take home with you, then you may be ready to move from the freshwater fish tanks to the ocean life. There are many differences in the two types of tanks of course. The main reason for this is due to the types of fish that you can have in the aquarium. Yet, there are many more reasons why you should consider going with a salt water aquarium rather than that of a freshwater. So, step back and put the goldfish back down. It's time for you to explore ocean life! 

The Benefits To Consider  

• You get a wider variety of fish to choose from. No matter what anyone says, you may just be able to have more interesting fish in your salt water aquarium then you can have in any type of freshwater aquarium. They are usually more full of color, more varied in their shapes and sizes and are often much more interesting to gaze at from across the room.

• You will also be providing yourself with a bit of a challenge. In the salt water aquarium, you are likely going to need to put a little more time into caring for your fish tank. You will need to check the quality and the salt levels in the water on a daily or weekly basis, depending on the type of fish you own. You will also need to check out the health of your fish as well. This only takes a second but will provide you with more respect and admiration for your little guys.

• Children can benefit from a salt water aquarium too. If you provide them with a good sized one, you will be able to teach them about ocean life. Not only can you create an aquarium that will house the fish that you love, but you can create a world that is above the sea level that is just as amazing and full of information that the children will love to learn.

The salt water aquarium is a choice that you have. You are sure to find that it is cheaper to own a freshwater tank and that those fish are less expensive. But, you will not find them to be more interesting and intriguing then the fish over here in a salt water aquarium.

 

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Taking Care Of Your Saltwater Aquarium

There are several things that you will need to do to take care of your salt water aquarium. Since you just invested a good deal of money into only not the aquarium itself but in the fish that you are going to stock it with, it makes sense to take some time to learn about the things you need to do to maintain your tank. Doing so is not necessarily hard to do, but it is something that you need to do if you plan to keep your tank up and running and your investment in fish well worth it. It is not hard to do though.

To help you, here is a checklist of the things that you need to do to keep your salt water aquarium up and running at its best level.

• Test your water every two weeks. There are several things that you need to test the water for. These include the ammonia levels, the salinity level, the pH level, the nitrite and the nitrate levels. These things are easy to test for and really only take seconds to do. You will want to know what the normal levels of these items should be, which you can easily learn from your pet store clerk prior to purchasing your fish.

 • If your level of pH is too high, you can adjust it by adding one tablespoon at a time of baking soda to the water. Make sure to allow it to completely dissolve before adding more.

 • If your level of salinity is too low, you can easily adjust this by adding salt to your water.

 • If your level of salt is too high, which is commonly the case, you will need to add dechlorinated water to the tank. This happens naturally as the water in the tank begins to evaporate. It will level the salt concentrates in the water remaining.

 • Add the appropriate levels of iodine and calcium to your tank. To know what levels and how often to do this, talk to your fish clerk about what the right amounts are. These are generally specific to the type of fish that you own.

 • Once a week, you should remove ten percent of the water from your fish tank and replace it with fresh, dechlorninated water. This will keep the water fresh.

 • Once every few months, remove 25% of the water in your tank and replace with fresh dechlorinated water.

 • Keep your water temperature at 75 to 80 degrees unless you have fish that prefer a different level of temperature.

 • Maintenance of the tank is also necessary. Keep algae off the interior cover and walls of the tank, check the filter pads and test its alkalinity as needed. You will also need to clean out the gravel in the tank as well.

 Doing these things will help you to keep your salt water aquarium up and running at its peak performance and it will keep your fish happy.

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Do I Really Want A Saltwater Aquarium?

The salt water aquarium is one of the most sought after types of fish tanks. Even though it can be more difficult to actually maintain and even more costly, it offers you the ability to have a wider variety of fish, many of which are attractive and fun choices to make. But, if you are considering this type of fish tank to have in your home or in your place of business, you really should know the difference between these two types of aquariums

 

 

Deciding

 The most essential way to choose which type of tank to have is to know which ones will provide you with the fish that you want to have. If you are looking to own a goldfish, for example, you’ll want to stick to the freshwater tanks. On the other hand, if you would love to own a clownfish, go with the salt water. If you have no idea what types of fish you would like to own, then take the time to check out a few species to determine which ones may just work the best for your needs and desires

You should also realize that there are differences in these tanks. The freshwater aquarium is one which will be easier to maintain (no salt to deal with here!) It will also offer a higher amount of fish in its tank. Of course, it also provides for you the ability to purchase the least expensive types of fish around too. If you are looking for something a little more challenging and more rewarding too, consider the saltwater fish aquariums. Although they do require more work on your part, you get a wider range of fish to choose from. You also will have the ability to create your own little ocean full of all sorts of different ocean life in it

Consider things like your budget and the amount of time that you have available to take care of these fish. You may also want to consider the amount of room that you have for the fish tank. While you can have a smaller salt water aquarium, many people are looking to have a much larger aquarium. This is quite normal yet requires that much more attention and needs. Weigh your choices carefully so that you can find the right choice for your needs. If you do go with the salt water aquarium, you will find a wide range of options ready and waiting for you to learn about

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Saltwater Aquariums From A-Z: Purchasing An Aquarium

1) Remember, there is no dearth of variety when it comes to the kind of aquariums you can buy for keeping saltwater residents in them; there are only two main consideration you should consider - your budget and the time and effort you can spare to learn about the potential inhabitants of your marine tank and whether you are up to seeing to their regular upkeep.

 2) There is a wide variety of the types, construction material, size and ornamentation available for saltwater aquariums that really end up making consumers feel number of choices available and the belief that there is no sure-shot formula for success when it comes to building a saltwater aquarium, it can be very difficult for fish tank enthusiasts to decide which type of fish tank they should buy. There are many factors to be considered before anyone with any plans of setting up a fish tank should consider before ever setting foot inside a pet store.


 3) The next consideration is the size of the tank. If you are a beginner you should opt for a small size aquarium and set your skills on maintaining the tank and the inhabitants. You will get a fairly good idea within a couple of months, on how many fish a particular size aquarium will hold and how to go about taking care of it.

 4) Choose the fish for your aquarium wisely. If you are going to keep even the smallest variety of saltwater carnivore fish in the tank you should ensure that they have plenty of space to swim around. If the tank is crowded and small the small variety of shark will get aggressive and damage the other show fish in the tank.


 5) Choose the material the tank is made of wisely. Aquariums are made of two materials, glass and acrylic. Glass is the better choice as it does not scratch easily, though care must be taken to prevent cracking. While cleaning the aquarium acrylic is very easily scratched and in no time at all you will feel the need to replace it, An expensive proposition.

 6) Never keep more than 10 fish in a 2 cubic foot tank. If you want to keep more fish you should purchase a larger tank.

7) The foliage in the tank should be natural. Do not go for the artificial aquarium plants as the natural plants serve as breeding grounds for bacteria the fish feed on as well as help clean the aquarium water.

 8) Ensure that the tank comes with an aerator and water filter. There are many electric accessories that are easily available to choose from. 9) Gravel is an important part of an aquarium. It not only helps the water filter keep the water clean but it also adds to the beauty of the tank. 10) Lighting should be adequate and not too strong. A small florescent tube will suffice.


 Ensure that your tank has all these accessories before you begin to put fish into it. Your aquarium will not be complete if any of these items are missing.

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How To Care For And Clean A Saltwater Aquarium

1) Most tank owners think setting up a saltwater fish tank absolves them of all after care - after all, the same fish in the regular marine life take jolly good care of themselves, breed and lead a happy, long life there, so why should there be any special need for aftercare when they are kept in a home aquarium? But, here's where they make the mistake of not realizing that proper cleaning and care of a marine tank is very essential to avoid future health problems the fish may face and to maintain its general upkeep. Begin with purchasing a device to keep the tank water clean, which by the way should only be filtered water - you can buy a reverse osmosis kit, available at the local pet store or on the net. The other alternative is to use regular water at required temperature for the kind of marine fish in the tank, add chemicals to remove chlorine from it and other stuff and ensure cleaning is done at least once a month!

2) Caring for your saltwater fish tank requires regular maintenance and cleansing, if possible, once every 2 weeks; but, it is as important to understand that you do not clean out the good bacteria from too much cleansing.


3) If your saltwater aquarium is relatively new - please remember to let it sit for at least a month before adding fish or plants or even decorations to it. This period is for resting and testing the waters of the tank for the inmates to come: invest in some inexpensive test strips to check chlorine and pH levels in the tank water if you do not want to lose your precious Piscean pals to imbalance in the water levels they usually prefer! After you have ensured that the saltwater aquarium has been set-up properly and the water conditions in it are conducive to keeping fish and other marine creatures or even botanically beautifying it, do not indulge in removing gravel to clean the tank as this can upset the delicate chemical balance in the aquarium.

4) Any kind of cleaning supplies you invest in should be thoroughly researched as being advantageous and safe for tank inmates' health and cleanliness levels and should be effective in cleaning the saltwater aquarium without upsetting its chemical balance, especially if you own an acrylic tank.


5) Learn about the simplest ways to clean tanks and control build up of scuff and algae that dirty up the saltwater aquarium; you may use phosphate drops to cleanse the marine fish tank water, which prevents build-up too soon or buy a pair of hermit crabs and snails to keep algae at bay! These versatile marine creatures also clean out rocks and gravel in the tank and are often referred to as a tank's clean-up crew! For yourself, you can invest in a good pair of gloves, scraper or scratch pad to shine the glass as algae is difficult to remove with any old cleaning tool.

In closing, please remember that aiming a filter (if using one) should ideally be done downwards - into the tank water to avoid build-up of excess salt on the hood of the aquarium. Learn about ideal tank lighting (no more than 6 hours daily at a set time, keep tank away from direct sunlight etc.) for the kind of marine fish you have, the best water filter for your tank needs and the situations that make algae thrive so you know what to avoid and what actions to follow for good marine tank hygiene.

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Removing Algae From Your Fish Aquarium

1. After you have set-up your fish aquarium and enjoyed watching the fish in it swim about under soft or bright lighting, there is the unavoidable possibility of also dealing with scuff and algae build-up, which are natural possibilities to keeping water in an enclosed area where marine residents live and various bodily secretions take place besides plant life exists. This algae may develop through different places in the aquarium and it's not your fault - please understand that this build-up is a result of natural conditions of the tank and at times, it grows because of the strength of the light in the tank as well as the nutrients existing in the aquarium that promote its growth.

2. You need to understand the nature of algae and the various kinds that exist to ascertain the type growing in your fish tank; learn about what makes it grow, what can kill it and ways to remove it with the use of chemicals if it develops in the fish tank. This knowledge will help you stay atop any algae build-up that you can control, if not prevent entirely, since algae growing in the aquarium is a natural process.


3. Once you know of the nutrients that are promoting algae build-up, you can work to minimize or eliminate their levels so the algae do not find circumstances to thrive in; to prevent other slime from accumulating and spoiling the healthy living environment of the tank inmates and have an adverse effect on the cleanliness quotient of your aquarium, clean it immediately when you detect it building up! Begin by changing the tank water and step up to cleansing with chemicals meant to clean algae build-up.

4. Since algae build-up is caused much in part due to the lighting in the tanks, opt for reducing the brightness and heat in your fish aquarium to prevent frequent algae build-up and to have minimum use of low light levels in it and to be on the safe side, keep the aquarium out of direct sunlight since this can lead to algae build up also.


Of course, if you buy a family of fish that eat up algae you will have naturally used the best way to reduce any build-up and also found a way to build up your fish collection in the aquarium - so do consider it! After all, you have nothing to lose but algae - and everything to gain, including a beautiful and clean aquarium to give you hours of pleasure.

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Purchasing Fish For Your Freshwater Aquarium

1.) As a home aquarium owner wanting to purchase freshwater fish, there are a few things you must remember; of this, the most important is that you know which kind of fish you want to keep and the other species that can stay together with them. The size of the aquarium determines how many fish you can keep comfortably in it - go by the simple thumb rule of each fish requiring at least 3 inches in each gallon of tank water so they can discover and grow naturally. Freshwater aquarium fish only grow as big as the space granted them, so you know that the more space you give them in tank water, the longer their lifespan will be!

2) Know your fish species: especially for the freshwater aquarium set up you have, in order to determine which are the types that can live in captivity, along side other varieties and the kind of tending they require in order to grow and breed. Also take the time to find out the kind of tank environment will suit the kind of freshwater fish you are keen to buy, the kind of temperature preferable to them and the food they will be eating as apart from compatibility, these factors also influence the health of your tank inmates.

3) When buying fish for your non-marine aquarium, keep in mind any advantages you can give the tank fish you purchase in terms of investing in fish that consume algae so the build-up does not affect the maintenance of the tank and makes less work for you.

4) Last, but not least, when considering buying fish for your freshwater tank, it is important to know which are the species to avoid buying that can be unfriendly - to say the least - after all, you do not want the fish in your home aquarium to live in an environment of disharmony, do you? So, learn as much as you can about which kind are territorial e.g. Catfish that can also grow big in a short time and eat into the space required by others in the tank. Also avoid buying the dangerous or poisonous kinds of fish harmful to keep in a freshwater aquarium, such as Piranhas since these can disease easily and also intimidate the other fish in the tank, which is an expense you want to avoid if you want to keep your fish happy, healthy and for a long time.

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Preparing Your Custom Made Saltwater Aquarium

1. Getting a customized Saltwater aquarium and its inmates is the dream of many who love fishy friends, but knowing you can learn a thing or two from the experts can help reduce the cost of buying a custom-made one. You can buy the tank for storing your saltwater fish easily enough from the local pet store and chalk out a tentative budget for your project to include ornamentation and accessories for it.

2. Cleaning out the aquarium is the first step after buying the tank; it is equally important to cleanse the different parts with freshwater (minus soft) with a soft cloth to rid them of dust and chemicals that may have built-up during storage, which may harm the fish

3. Set the tank on a steady stand a little away from a wall so electrical cords and the plug outlet is accessible without the risk of causing any accidents as periodic cleaning and feeding the fish will be required. Keep a soft dusting cloth handy near the aquarium to control condensation from the saltwater tank as this can damage the stand. After ensuring level installation, fill the tank with store-bought saltwater or you can prepare a solution of your own. Run all tank equipment for a couple of days to test proper functioning and to judge saline, pH and temp levels of the tank water for the species of marine fish you intend to keep in the tank.

 4. After the tank water conditions have been tested, you can move to the final level i.e. aquarium landscaping by removing about half of the water to decorate it with plants, fronds and rocks etc. as reducing water levels helps make landscaping easier. After this has been attended to, you can once again replace the water marked previously by you as being the fill-line measure. (Use a permanent marker for this).

It is strongly recommended that to begin keeping an aquarium, a minimum one-month period be kept aside to determine the ammonia level of the water and the conditions being favorable for the kind of marine fish you want to keep in it; you can choose to do this with the saltwater fish kept inside or minus them.

Do not use an ammonia reducer as this will require you to go over the same process again in order to determine the ammonia content in your tank's living conditions and rob you of precious time in which you can lie back and enjoy your marine friends swimming about!

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Mollies, Guppy Aquarium, And Fish Care

The Mollies belong to the Poecilia family and are easy to keep in a tank environment; they are akin to the swordtail fish, which belongs to the Xiphophorus helleri group. It has a larger fin than the swordtail, called and mollies can be of many different shapes and size, reaching up to 4 3- quarter inches sometimes with only the males being an inch or so smaller; the males and females differ in size, coloring and gonopodium but both sexes adapt to different living surroundings rather well.

 From living in an estuary habitat to varying temperatures in a natural environment, Mollies can adapt to heat conditions ranging from 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, preferably in hard water conditions (pH level of 7 or 8), which means bright lighting and a certain brackishness should be present in the water besides a variety of suitable plants.

The dietary habits of Mollies include feeding on veggies, like spinach and algae and they are more comfortable in areas that have a constant water flow. Being livebearers, Mollies typically spawn plentifully due to a lively disposition and ability to adapt easily in a communal tank set-up

As for the Guppy fish, these belong to the Poecilia reticulata family and are off-shoots of the Poeciliidae family; found mainly in Guyana, Venezuela and Brazilian waters, they can be traced around the waters surrounding Trinidad and Barbados as well since the kind of environment enjoyed here benefits them: this means a temperature range of 68 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit with pH levels as preferred by Mollies.

 The Guppies can live in hard water well enough so long as tehre is plenty of lighting, added plant vegetation and assorted foodstuff made available to them in the tank environment. Being loose-school natured fish, the Guppies need to be on the go constantly with good tank breeding potential even as they eat their young, they still manage to reproduce easily enough in community living.

Learning about the easiest kind of fish to keep in a home aquarium is the first step towards ensuring you are an informed hobbyist; the next step is to learn about the different kinds of aquariums available and which type is best to duplicate a natural ecosystem aided by advanced technology to provide healthy air and water conditions for the inmates of the tank.

 Innovative design technology has taken over the huge market for aquariums today, which now come fitted with electrical circuitry of the best kind, plugs, filtration and oxygenation systems, besides temperature control devices to raise or lower the heat in the water! The enviable choice in lighting for tanks enables an owner today to invest in automatic or mechanical switches besides automated feeders to ensure fish are fed in time besides a host of other accessories that make community living a comfortable option for fish owners looking for variety in aquatic life.

 Of course, it pays to learn about the kind of fish that can harmoniously co-exist with other varieties, including marine or non-marine species and tropical and coldwater fish.

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Marine And Freshwater Fish Aquarium Care

1. Your approach to purchasing and keeping freshwater fish in your home aquarium should be based on prior research and information to guide your purchase of tank set-up plan, which can be kept completely natural or have an ornate touch, depending on your preferences. Of course, scientifically speaking, keeping fish captive away from natural surroundings does mean they are not really kept in a natural environment but closely substituting these in the tank makes up for a lot that is lacking in plant and their habitat otherwise.

 2. After cloning as much of their natural environment as possible, home aquarium owners will find that these tank fish have a tremendous amount of resilience and adapt easily to new surroundings for that determines their survival capacity

3. Understand that a sterile tank container is a device for isolating fish from their beneficial biosphere and learn about the ways in which you as a home aquarium owner can work to incorporate these varied organic parameters to clone the fish's natural atmospheres so that captive fish of any kind can survive here with minimum distress. It is important to learn about methods you can apply in order to maintain healthy living conditions in the tank for your fishy friends, including knowledge of water purification, oxygenating it, preventing harmful chemical build up and learning to detect changes in the eating patterns of the tank inmates. Therefore, a fish caregiver needs to be an observant person focused on preventing undesirable circumstances in the aquarium as much as a keen hobbyist to upkeep fish.

 4. The option of purchasing a framed fish tank as opposed to a simple one is entirely a matter of choice for the owner; however, care must be taken to ensure that the water is always clean in a framed tank, which is the preferred, low-cost option for many people. Some framed aquariums have plastic bodies while others are made of metal; in both cases, the front is chiefly made of strong, water-resistant Plexiglas that curtails corrosive action of chemicals and water, but accumulates scuff easily thus losing much of its visibility over time. The other variety of tanks include those made of glass and lined with silicone-based compound that acts as an adhesive to live up to any amount of wear and tear, proving quite supple in the long run.

5. Home aquarium owners would do well to remember that tank water gathers acids and salts, which need to be regularly measured to test for dangerous levels to prevent fish falling sick; test kits and buffer units help to control and check for calcium and sodium build-ups that can be caused by toxic chemicals besides other apparatuses that are readily available in the market for judging quality of water i.e. hard or soft. These are important investments for home aquarium owners as they need to know the quality of water for the kind of fish they have (marine fish prefer brackish or hard water while freshwater fish may like spring, tap or purified well water) so the owner needs to be aware of these and when to use water free of chlorine.

The use of hydrometers for testing the salt levels in the tank water, adding 2-4 fractions of sea salt to every thousandth part of tank water to increase brackishness for marine fish, how to make water soft (add distilled water) and which variety of fish require acidy water (yellowybrown in color, can be made with chemical additives for reproduction stage of some fish) will go a long way in helping owners take care of their fishy friends better.

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Jewel Aquariums

The earlier days of stepping into a pet store in the neighborhood and simply buying an ordinary tank with a hood and then stepping up to purchasing lighting and inmates for them is finally over - with the arrival of modern, innovative and elegant options besides a host of accessories for the aquarium owner!

Investing in a jewel aquarium is not for the faint-hearted (or for that matter, those without deep pockets) since it is a costly way to follow a hobby. Some people liken the desire to purchase a jewel aquarium with going on a shopping spree to buy whole-sale goods in a larger size or pack to cut costs instead of individually sourcing and fitting pieces or items: this is because when buying a jewel aquarium (it gets its name from the manufacturer - a one of its kind product currently), all the possible support devices are provider to the buyer by the dealer in one lot, which is a great deal! Not only does buying from one manufacturer, Jewel, offer customers a wide variety of different combinations in the type and size of aquariums they want, but the dealer also doubles up as a accessory provider to offer varieties of aquariums with or without stands, fitted with filters, purifiers and lights etc.

 At times, ornamented and gravel included aquariums are much in demand too; these range from 60 to 120 in size apart from the fabulous Rio range of 125 liters to 400liters and may be fitted into cabinets with heaters or other assorted devices.

Cheaper to buy over the Internet, these jewel aquariums are a more cost-effective bet than buying at the local pet store, available in color choices of black and beech. The other series known as the Jewel Vision variety comes in sizes 180, 260 and 450 with a curved glass-front; Jewel's Trigon series are best for corner fitting or mounting on stands, being the most costly buy of the lot in model sizes of 190 and 350. All Jewel fish tanks come equipped with a filter and heating systems, which make them a great buy for the money they cost, though they are heavy. All cabinets of Jewel aquariums need to be assembled at home but are conveniently flatpacked.

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How To Install A Wall Mounted Aquarium

1. Marine life has long been the source of fascination for many people who are water-lovers and long for a peaceful, restive and calm environment that keeping an aquarium provides them. However, keeping marine or fresh-water fish are 2 different passions that come with their own set of rules as regards keeping these species in a home tank environment is concerned that hobbyists need to educate themselves about. For example, marine tanks can boast tropical, cold-water and exotic fish to sharks and stingrays but learning about their dietary habits and needs is equally important in picking a home for them.

2. Knowing the category of fish i.e. saltwater or fresh water is essential to knowing the kind of tank necessary to keep them in, where to place it (based on cleaning weekly or monthly and accessibility needed for the same) it and what kind of plants one can put inside the aquarium.

3. Getting a wall mounted aquarium is a definitive style statement apart from being an innovative way to display your Piscean Pals; these comes in many sizes and shapes from those the size of a TV screen to huge walls containing the National Aquarium, Baltimore in Maryland. It does require a certain skill level and time besides patience to do the job right, though but being stylish home accents, wall mounted tanks are the in-thing.

4. The first step towards deciding on having a wall-mounted home aquarium is to determine whether the walls of your home are study enough to take the weight of such an innovative fishkeeping concept: strength of the walls will help you decide the size of wall studs to be used. If possible, try to consider this at the time of laying the foundation of your home as only strong walls can support the idea of a wall mounted fish tank.

5. You can consider hiring a professional services firm to install your wall mounted aquarium for you so the headache of having cables, pumps and other paraphernalia underfoot is minimized and a good job done. This is a considerably more costly option though as compared to a DIY job for wall mounting an aquarium but preferable to investing time, money and effort you cannot spare currently besides a way to transfer any gaffes onto the company the job is entrusted to, should accidents happen or home repairs needed.
Wall mounted aquariums come with a host of distinct advantages as compared to the conventional type of fish tanks that are fraught with hassles of cords and plugs getting underfoot and require lesser degree of maintenance so home owners save valuable floor space, have added safety from children upsetting the tank and the joy of having gay, colorful fish floating along side them in a dream environment.

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Home Aquarium

1. A little bit of attention goes a long way when fish-keeping is being considered and potential owners of a home aquarium need to research the kinds of fish that are easy to keep and feed besides types of aquarium they can invest in to make it an enjoyable hobby. Taking over from pups and kittens, the perennial pet choices, fish are fast growing in popularity as pets that are easy to keep and look after with pet shops registering greater demand for these finned-friends more than ever before - so much so that this boom has lead to local shops growing into larger set-ups and a fish industry that was never there before. These are typically great places to pick up additional tips and know about choices for fish-keeping - so visit them when you get a chance.

2. The local pet store is a good bet for picking up valuable advice and knowledge about different species of fish and the maintenance required for their proper upkeep and keeping tank conditions suitable for communal living with other varieties of aquatic creatures. From tips on sources of bacteria and chemical build-up that can be harmful for the fish in a tank to learning about ways and means to prevent, control and treat toxins and other substances that threaten the wellbeing of the aquarium fish, there is a lot you can learn from experts at the local pet store. You can also look around and make informed choices about the kind of products you need to build a fantastic home aquarium and support system for your fish-keeping hobby. Cheap and cheerful, visiting the pet shop owner can guarantee better advice at lower price as can clicking on the Internet.


3. Investing in fish-keeping as a hobby is much more than simply purchasing the fish and putting them in an aquarium; a home aquarium calls for upkeep that involves the use of support devices such as stand, temperature regulators, filters, lighting and feeding helpers besides a host of others to ease your mind and keep the fish healthy.

4. Learn about home aquarium upkeep on the web or consult the local pet store expert so you can cut-back on the extensive maintenance that keeping fish requires besides of course, knowing which the dangerous kinds to avoid keeping at home are or close to a child-friendly environment.

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Gasteropelecidae Fish Care And Aquariums

It is a proven fact that investing in an aquarium is more than just a hobby or passing phase for real fish lovers and knowing which to buy depends largely on whether you intend keeping marine (sea fish) or non-marine (freshwater fish) in the tank. The lucky part about modern living is that now we have tanks fitted with switches that enable one to change the temperature of the water contained in it so a dim or intense tank light makes for comfortable surroundings inside.

Besides temperature control, modern tanks can also benefit from the huge variety of purification systems available for filtering out toxins and debris from the tank environs, helping keeping the water oxygenated and clean for the inmates. Some are mechanical while others are electronic in nature; however, more than these, the innovation in fish care for aquarium owners comes by way of an automatic food distribution cum fertilized dosage system that takes the hassle out of remembering to feed the fish and when to do so!


Fish owners today are spoilt for choice when it comes to buying aquariums as so many different sizes, materials and advanced electronically-aided tanks are available in the market for keeping Piscean pals and botanical buddies in them; of course, researching the 22,000-odd species and their preferences when it comes to keeping fish healthy in a tank is sure a task, but an enjoyable one for those that love the hobby. Learning about coldwater or tropical fish as opposed to simply freshwater and marine creatures is important for tank hygiene and fish health besides learning which are the dangerous species and should not be kept in captivity i.e. Piranhas.

1. There are fish that fly, Gasteropelecidae, include the Hatchet fishes and these are found mainly in South America's northern reaches, known for their distinctly deep figures. They are referred to as flying fish because of their affinity to raising the chest fins and attempting a float in the sky; for this reason, tank owners are advised to keep a hood on the aquarium with flying fish in them to prevent them from escaping like they are prone to doing - at least 15 feet away from the tank!


2. Another species similar to the first are the Carnegiella Marthae, also known as Blackwing Hatchetfish that has their roots in the Amazon areas, Peru and Venezuela. They typically grow to only an inch or a quarter more in size, boast a black chest, ridge and keel and do better inpeaceful waters and others closer to their species. A calm temperament and easy food habits are advantages of keeping this variety of fish that prefer soft waters and breed in a fashion much like that of Hyphessobrycon.


3. The Silver Hatchetfish or Gasteropelecus Levis originate from the lower Amazonian regions, growing to an inch more than the Blackwing variety with a silver body and blue-black tinge of parallel stripes and are generally non-fussy about sharing a tank with other fish, provided they are kept in a clean environment. Its breeding habits, much like the Blackwing variety is currently under study and not much is known about them breeding in tanks.

Besides this family, that of the Cyprinidae, which covers Carps and other similar fish, is of interest; these fish tend to have big bodies and bones and are generally found across North America, Europe and some parts of Africa and Asia. Their pharyngeal bones also double up as teeth and few of them have barbel fins, which make up for adipose fins - 8feet is a normal size for them. The Indian version is named the Mahaseer and is among the largest Carp breed found in freshwaters, sometimes boasting round scales, soft fins and toothless jaws in the minnow variety used for baits, much like the Carps.

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Fish Care And Aquarium Support

1. Know Your Fish: the care of your fish is determined largely by what type of fish they are i.e. saltwater or freshwater. The first kind is also referred to as marine fish. The kind of water-home you provide for your fish friends depends on the category they fall under as saltwater fish need to be looked in at daily to check for their good health in an alien environment and this is why experts recommend fish-owners to observe the patterns of behavior of every fish in the tank so anything out of the ordinary can be recorded and attended to by a pet specialist.

2. Learn about the eating pattern of your fish to fix a daily routine for them as some fish may require frequent meals while others can do with just one meal daily; it is important to understand and interpret the eating demands of your fish.


3. Try and keep the aquarium water clean as neglecting this aspect may cause chlorine buildup in the tank, leading to unhygienic conditions for the fish in it. You can invest in some affordable water-filters to maintain aquarium water and find out about adding calcium in it besides adding iodine salt twice weekly for marine fish kept in a tank. Clearing the aquarium of algae buildup that contains photosynthetic substances is essential too for the healthy upkeep of your fish.


 4. Another tip for maintaining tank water of the best quality is to filter out at least 15 per cent of it contained in the tank on a weekly basis and refill this quantity with pure, oxygenated water to prevent build-up of chemicals that can be harmful for the fish. Don't hesitate to seek advice from the local pet shop on the ways to eliminate chemical build-up in your tank water and the type of filtration system you can use to benefit your fishy friends.


5. Always work to remove debris such as gravel etc. from the tank before attempting to clean and change the water. Check for any impurities such as ammonia content etc. in the aquarium water by investing in a tester kit and buffer system easily available in the market and use this every 2 weeks to spot harmful levels of other chemicals, such as copper, chlorine and nitrate build-up etc. and to check the pH level of the tank water. However, do remember that fish tend to produce their own level of nitrites, which are not harmful for them and only concentrate on removing the nitrous acidy salts that can be toxic for them. When doing these weekly tests,add in the useful alkalinity build up test on a monthly basis also to judge the concentration of it in terms with the pH level of the tank water

6. Investing in a good quality chemical, mechanical or biological filter that your local pet shop can guide you about is a smart way to prevent fish from falling ill when kept in an aquarium environment and checking to see these are working properly is also important as a bi-weekly filter-check can tell you when a replacement is due. Keeping your fish records updated and your aquarium clean is essential for fishy friends to breathe easy - click online for more details!

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Freshwater Aquarium Fish

Aquariums can be beautiful, but expensive and complicated to maintain. For the beginner, it is highly recommended that you go with freshwater aquariums and fish. While both saltwater and freshwater aquariums require some setup and maintenance, freshwater aquariums are by far the cheaper and easier of the two. All you really need to start with freshwater is a tank, some gravel and/or rocks, light, filter, heater, and thermometer. Fill it with water, let it sit for a few weeks to get a biological filter cycle going, and you are good to go for freshwater fish. And if you choose well, freshwater fish can be just as bright and colorful as their saltwater counterparts

Which Fish Should I Get?

 Probably the most common question a freshwater aquarium keep asks is "Which kind of freshwater aquarium fish should I get?". Freshwater fish come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some can be kept with others, some can't. Probably the best way to decide is to look around at your local aquarium shop and see what catches your eye. If you don't see anything you like, the shopkeeper will likely be able to help you in ordering the ones you want. And be sure and find out whether the different species of fish you are considering keeping together are compatible.


Some common choices for beginning freshwater aquariums keepers are cichlids of various types and rainbow fish. Cichlids come in all sorts of colors, and can grow to be quite large (3 feet or so) in the wild. Rainbow fish are from Australia and are usually multicolored and quite pretty. If you want a small fish to round out your tank, a school of 4-5 Neons can fill the role nicely. They never get bigger than large minnow sized, and have almost fluorescent stripes on otherwise clear bodies.


Care and Maintenance


 With all of these fish, you will need to pay attention to your water PH, which is a measure of how acidic or alkaline it is. Various fish have different comfort levels, and some fish, like the Discus, can actually die if the PH is not precisely maintained.

Watch your temperature, and make sure it is warm or cool enough. A lot of the more colorful freshwater fish come from tropical freshwater, and require warm water to be healthy and happy.

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Aquarium And Fish Care Support

As a beginner first learning the ins and outs of keeping an aquarium healthy, things can get a bit overwhelming. There is so much terminology and equipment; it is enough to make anyone's head spin. Learning it all a piece at a time is recommended. Patience is key in many things relating to keeping aquariums. A fish often recommended to beginners is the goldfish. Commonly available, and quite pretty when healthy, the goldfish is one of the easier fish to keep healthy and happy. Be prepared to do some reading, however. There are terms and procedures to become familiar with.

The aquarium is absolutely critical to being able to keep healthy fish, no matter what kind of fish it is. Proper care and maintenance of your aquarium is necessary, and there are daily and weekly procedures that must be followed. The first step in keeping a goldfish is choosing the aquarium. While you may see goldfish in bowls and other small containers on television and even in real life, this is really a bad idea. While a goldfish can live for a while in a small bowl like that, they will never really thrive, and will be more susceptible to disease and death. A 10 gallon minimum aquarium with filtration should be the minimum you consider for keeping a goldfish. The filter running into the aquarium agitates the surface of the water and provides more oxygen to the water, which in turn means the fish has plenty of oxygen and is healthier. More room to swim, and even some currents from the filtration, make sure that the goldfish stays happy and in shape. Don't forget to take the number of goldfish into account! More than one goldfish will require more space.



Ask the guys at your local pet store or aquarium shop (recommended) what they recommend. Don't buy too much tank at first though. Try to keep it small and simple. Tell them how many fish you intend to keep, and whether you would like to add fish later. Always do some research before buying a product you are not familiar with. There are a ton of accessories and products associated with aquariums and fish. Doing some research beforehand can keep you from buying products you don't need.

Unless you have access to well water, your tap water probably contains chlorine or ammonia. These substances are very harmful to your goldfish, and can even kill them if you have particularly chlorinated water. There are products available that you simply mix thoroughly into your tap water after filling the aquarium. They usually remove chlorine as well as adding things to the water to help your fish form its slime coat and fight off ick (a small parasite that is extremely common on fish that are stressed). If you would rather use distilled or reverse osmosis purified water, there are other additives that restore needed minerals into these toopure waters.


Make sure you check the filters once a week, and rinse them out with dechlorinated water of some type. It is okay to use distilled water for this. It is common to get snails living on your filters. Try not to crush them, and remove them during your weekly cleaning. It is not recommended that you put these types of snails back into your aquarium, because they tend to over-breed and eat every bit of plant matter in your aquarium.

It is also necessary to keep the aquarium at a fairly constant temperature. An aquarium heater can be used to control the water temperature with some precision. You should also have an aquarium thermometer to verify the water temperature.

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Aquarium And Fish Care Choices

Members of the family Characidae share many characteristics with other freshwater fish. They are a member of the Ostariophysi super order, which includes around 68% of all freshwater species in the world. This super order is characterized by the Weberian apparatus and some sort of alarm substance that is released when the fish is stressed. Family Characidae were originally discovered in South and Central America, but have also been found in central Africa. There are two main variations of Characidae: carnivorous and omnivorous. The omnivorous kinds will eat both vegetable matter and meat, while the carnivorous only eat meats. While there are also herbivorous Characidae, you should probably avoid keeping them, because they will eat literally every plant in your aquarium.

When choosing to keep carnivorous Characidae, there are some things you will want to keep in mind. First and foremost, be aware that anything smaller than the Characidae will be considered food. And mixing other aggressive carnivores will only lead to one or the other being eaten. You will want to keep herbivorous fish that are much larger with Characidae. They will generally leave anything bigger than themselves alone, and the herbivore will not be interested in attacking unless provoked. In contrast to the piranha, which has similar jaws and eating habits, a Characidae will attack both alone and in schools. Piranhas tend to attack only in schools. But the effect either type can have on your hand is similar, so be careful. These kinds of fish are definitely not recommended for the beginner.



Carnivorous Characidae will eat pretty much any kind of meat. Worms, smaller fish (a lot of dangerous fish keepers will stock the aquarium with several small, cheap fish so the predator has something to hunt), etc. Try to avoid giving them a taste for red meat, and do not put your hands into the tank while feeding them.


Characidae live in the brackish waters of South and Central American rivers. Lots of peat and vegetable matter contribute to hazy waters and a PH leaning towards acidic. When properly kept, Characidae will breed in captivity, leaving eggs that stick to the bottom of the aquarium. They will eat their young however, so if you are going to attempt to breed Characidae be prepared to move either the adults or the young into a separate aquarium right after hatching.


Serrasalmus Rhombeus, also know as white piranha or spotted piranha, are another favorite of people who like to keep dangerous fish. Like Characidae, piranhas are from South America, in the Amazon Basin. They can grow up to 10 inches long in the wild, but most aquarium-raised piranha only grows to around 6 inches. As with Characidae, piranhas are not for the beginner. As one of the most aggressive fishes, they cannot be kept with other fish. Their most prominent feature is the over-sized jaw, with rows of needle-sharp teeth. Piranhas have been known to tear apart aquariums with those teeth. When netting a piranha, you must use extreme caution to keep your hands away from the fish at all times. They will attack and shred your hand without hesitation if you let them. In the wild, a school of piranha can reduce an entire cow to bones in a matter of seconds, so your hand is just a little snack for them.

Piranhas eat meat, of course. They will attack and eat any other fish they are kept with. Some of the nicer things about keeping piranha include their relative indifference to water conditions, and that they will not breed in a tank. This prevents schools of piranha from appearing in your tanks. They will eat each other in captivity, especially if there are no other fish to attack. Piranhas are extremely aggressive and dangerous, and should only be kept by experienced keepers.

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Purchasing Your Saltwater Aquarium

When it comes to purchasing your salt water aquarium, there are several things that you will want to consider. First off, you should take your time to consider the types of fish that you would like to own. Remember that it is necessary to insure that these creatures can actually get along together well and that their water needs that they have all match well. Once you know what fish you plan to stock, you can take a look at the various options you have in the tanks you can purchase.

You should consider the size of the tank first. The larger the tank is, the more room the fish will have to swim and live. This will allow them to do the best that they can. But, the larger the fish tank is, the more work it will take you to keep it clean as well as at the right levels for the fish. Most individuals that purchase a salt water aquarium will do so at the level of a 30 to 55 gallon size. Remember to talk to your pet store clerk about the amounts of room your fish need to have.

You should also heavily consider purchasing acrylic for your tank. It is stronger as well as easier to maintain. And, you will be able to see better through it. You should then consider where you plan to house your aquarium. The larger it is the stronger the table or place will need to be. Remember to consider the weight of the tank full of water. Another thing to consider is having a reef tank instead of a fish tank. If you will have enough room and the price is right, these can provide you with more detail and more beauty in your fish tank. You can even purchase a kit that comes prepackaged with all of the things that you need to get your fish tank up and running. Insure that these are all the right elements for your needs though.

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Choosing Fish For Your Saltwater Aquarium

Once you decide to go with a salt water aquarium, your next task will be to choose the types of fish that you would like to stock within it. Now, you should not head out and purchase an aquarium just yet. First, you need to carefully consider your fish choices. There are thousands of species but not all of them are ideal for an aquarium like setting. And, many of them are better left to the ocean. Yet, you can not get your aquarium before you know what fish you are putting it in for one main reason. That is of course the size.

Depending on the amount of fish and their needs for space, this is what will determine just how large the salt water aquarium you choose will be. It is important to take your time in choosing these fish. If you are a beginner aquarium owner, take your time to make the right choices. You may want to choose fish that are easy to take care of including clownfish, damselfish and mollies. Then, you can add things like triggerfish, grammas and tangs. One thing to really consider before you purchase are the more unique choice such as angelfish, anemones, seahorses and even clams. These are much more difficult to take care of and are often something a beginner will struggle with.


You should also consider other elements about the fish that you plan to stock in your salt water tank. You should note just how well the various species will interact with each other. You should also know which ones are more aggressive. Finally, you should make sure that they all tolerate the same living conditions especially when it comes to the water’s temperature, the salinity levels and the pH levels of the tank. These things are a must when choosing the species of fish to stock in your salt water fish tank.

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Can You Handle A Saltwater Aquarium?

Having a salt water aquarium can be a lot of fun. There are many benefits to having it around including the wide range of fish that you can stock it with and call your own. Yet, you can also find that there are some down sides to having this type of aquarium too. It is essential that you take the time to compare these options before you choose whether or not you should go with a salt water aquarium or with a freshwater aquarium.

A freshwater aquarium is easier for most to maintain because it is easier to keep clean. A saltwater aquarium will be harder to clean but it will be able to be stocked with a larger amount of variety in the fish and creatures that you can put into it. A freshwater tank will be less expensive as will the fish that you stock it with. But, again, there is more variety offered in the salt water version. And, you can even create your own living ocean in your salt water aquarium because you can put in a wide range of other sea life animals that are not fish.



You will need to do more work and invest more money into a salt water tank. You will also need to commit more time to keeping it up and running. You should realize, though, that there are many rewards offered to you in this type of tank. It will allow you to create a whole new world in your home and it can even teach children about the life under the sea. Take your time to consider your choice. Take a look at the types of fish that you would love to have in your salt water aquarium and decide if you can indeed provide for them the type of environment that they need to survive in.

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Maintaining Your Saltwater Aquarium

You are enjoying your fish in your salt water aquarium. You have done all that you can to provide you new little friends with a great home to live in. Now, you need to maintain it. Remember, maintaining the tank is essential to keeping your fish alive. There are several things that you will need to do in order to keep your fish happy and healthy.

The first thing you need to do is to remember to check the water of the tank every two weeks. You need to check for the right levels of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, pH and salinity. You should know what these levels are based on what your fish needed when you purchased them. You can find the chemicals that you need to adjust these levels at the pet store too.



Monitor the salinity of the water. Usually, it will be too high. To balance it out, add fresh dechlorinated water to the tank. You will need to add salt to the water if the salinity levels are too low. You should remove just about ten percent of the water from your tank each week and replace it with fresh dechlorinated water. Every several weeks, take out 25% of the tank’s water and replace it.

Finally, taking care of your salt water aquarium includes keeping it nice and clean for your fish. You should monitor the amounts of algae in it and insure that you keep the sides, top and the interior of the tank algae free. You should check the filter pads and check the alkalinity as directed by the manufacturer. You will need to clean out the debris in the water and in the gravel as well. Taking care of your salt water aquarium is necessary if you plan to keep it a safe place for your fish. But, you can do this quite simply by knowing what needs to be done and making it a habit. Then, it is less of a chore and it becomes something that you look forward to. 

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