Aquarium Gravel
April 12, 2009 by admin
Filed under Fish Tank Decorating, Fish Tank Supplies
In practice it is entirely possible to keep fishes indefinitely in a bare aquarium. They do not require gravel, plants, rocks, or ornaments. But how many people would keep such an aquarium in a living room? An aquarium to be properly enjoyed should be a thing of beauty, a miniature underwater garden.
Gravel is used primarily as a rooting medium for the plants. A depth of 1 to 2 inches is usually sufficient. The greater the depth of the gravel, the greater the likelihood the water in the aquarium will be polluted. To avoid pollution, many aquarists put their plants in small pots which are set on the bare floor of the aquarium, even though this does not look as attractive as other plantings. When using this method, it is best to keep a thin layer of gravel, about 1- inch deep, over the aquarium bottom. This will “hold” settlings. It should be siphoned up and replaced with fresh gravel when cleaning the aquarium.
Crushed rock, preferably containing no lime, is best. To test for lime, drip some hydrochloric acid on the grave if it fizzes, lime is present. Medium grade #2 or #3 gravel is most satisfactory. The size of the granules should be about twice the size of a pin head.
Plants do not grow so well in fine gravel as in coarse; but if the gravel is too coarse, bits of food will drop into the spaces between the particles, where the fishes will not be able to get at them. So gravel size is important. Note: never use sand. Sand is so fine that there is very little circulation throughout. Putrefaction takes place very readily under such circumstances.
Do not try to wash too much at once: 3 to 6 pounds at a washing is enough. Place this amount in a large pot or bucket. While running faucet water on it, stir the gravel well; then pour off the dirty water. Repeat until no more dirt can be stirred up. Using a sieve or colander for washing gravel is often unsatisfactory. There is then no way of telling whether all the dirt has been washed out.
Some aquarists report good results from the use of layer of well-washed river mud below the gravel. The dangers of such a procedure far outweigh the possible benefits. Should organic matter be introduced in the mud, its decomposition will pollute the aquarium. The pH of the aquarium is frequently disturbed by the use of mud. Uprooting a plant by the aquarist or natural rooting by a Catfish can disturb the mud and result in a cloudy, messy tank.
Freshwater Aquarium Guide
April 8, 2009 by admin
Filed under Keeping Tropical Fish
A major mistake many people make is adding too many fish. Fish need space! You can get three to four small fish per gallon, or one to two medium fish per gallon, or one large fish per gallon. Make sure that the fish you get can be housed together so that you will not have any fish fighting. When you bring your fish home, float the bag in the tank for about twenty minutes so they will adjust to your tank’s temperature. After that you can put them in the aquarium.
Freshwater aquariums generally have a capacity of between 30 and 60 gallons. You need to have an inlet, pumps, a filtration system and an outlet. It’s very important to keep the water cycling through a filtration system in order to maintain the fine ecological balance of your aquarium. The pump is used to keep the water circulating. You can use normal tap water when you fill up your tank initially, or to top it up, but it’s important to make sure it’s of good quality or has been filtered first.
You have endless possibilities when setting up an aquarium of your own in your home. A fresh or saltwater aquarium can be a great addition to any room of the house, and you can create any environment you like using an array of aquarium supplies for your fish to live in. It is important to keep in mind that there are things to consider when first setting up an aquarium, such as the type of fish you would like to have in it.
Many mechanical filters also contain activated carbon, which functions as a biological filter. The chemicals in your freshwater aquarium need to be kept in balance, so zeolites are used to remove ammonia, and water hardness is reduced by ion exchange resins. A biological filter also recycles nitrogen, which is an essential requirement for keeping your fish alive. It’s also a good idea to have an air pump, which increases the circulation of oxygen and its concentration.
You can also get gravel, plants and decorations for your tank. Gravel comes in many colors, such as green, blue, pink and natural colors. If you have a small tank, then get small gravel. For plants, you can use real ones or fake ones. Plastic plants don’t require extra care and come in many varieties. If you want to do real plants, I would wait until you are familiar with taking care of the tank. Decorations for tanks include castles, mu
shrooms, bubble wands, ships and many other plastic things. Just make sure that whatever you put in your tank doesn’t clutter it up.
You should also know that in order to maintain your aquarium, supplies are a necessity. For starters, your tank will need a hood to prevent the fish from jumping out, a filter to keep the water clean, water testing kit for PH water levels, a pump, lighting and others depending on type of aquarium.
The most important maintenance to do on the tank is water changes. Every month you should change about one-third of the water. Use a siphon hose with a suction tube and siphon out about one-third of the water into a bucket. Replace with clean freshwater. Just make sure that the water you replace with is the same temperature as the tank.
The most important maintenance to do on the tank is water changes. Every month you should change about one-third of the water. Use a siphon hose with a suction tube and siphon out about one-third of the water into a bucket. Replace with clean freshwater. Just make sure that the water you replace with is the same temperature as the tank.
