Archive for the ‘Fish’ Category

What You Should Put into Your Aquarium

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Aquascaping is a fancy word that means to decorate your aquarium. People decorate their aquariums with different types of rocks, wood, plants, etc. Arranging the gravel, decorations, plants and other materials can be an awful lot of fun and also gives you a chance to show off your creative talents. Your fish will appreciate the effort that you put into setting up your tank.
Creating different designs in the inside of your tank can be one of the best aspects of having an aquarium hobby. There are so many different items that are available to help decorate your tank that you could have an endless combination of items for your fish to play in.
Although you can have an awful lot of fun setting up your tank, there are certain things that you should not put in certain aquarium set ups. You need to know what you should buy before you begin to randomly toss things into your aquarium. If you purchase things that are dangerous for your fish, then you are putting your fish at risk.
Some hobbyists enjoy setting up a tank that has many plants and not very many fish. Others prefer a simpler floor plan and they would rather have more fish and fewer plants. The choice is yours.
The most important thing to remember is that you need to create an environment that your fish will enjoy and that will also be safe. You want to make sure that you do not put anything that is dangerous or hazardous into your tank. You also need to take clues from the natural habitat of your fish. This will give you a good idea as to what you should start with.
Gravel is something that you need to start with. Manufactured gravel is the best bet for a freshwater tank. It can be easily cleaned and is widely available in pet stores or in supercenters. You can buy it by the bagger by the pound. Gravel will come in many different colors and levels of shininess. Be sure that you choose gravel that does not contain lime. Gravel that contains lime can raise the pH level in the water.
Choosing the right substrate in aquarium set up is very important. It is equally as important as providing the right water condition. The type of substrate that you use will also be determined by the type of plants that you have in your tank.
You can use different sizes of gravel from large chunks down to very fine particles that are like sand. You do not want to use something that is too fine because it will end up clogging your filter system. Your best bet is to go with the particle size of about 1/8 of an inch. If you simply must go with sand in the bottom of your tank, make sure that you use a very thin layer or have a mesh plate underneath it to stop it from falling into the filter.

What Type of Water Should You Use for Your Neon Tetra?

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Using the correct type of water in your aquarium is very important for the health of your Neon Tetra. Since water can be obtained from so many different sources, it is important to understand which sources are the best. Making a mistake in choosing the wrong type of water to put in your aquarium can be hazardous to your pet’s health.

Collecting water from sources that are outside is a horrible idea. You might think that because the water is natural and out in the open, it would make a great type of water to put into your fish tank. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Water that exists in ponds or rivers is teaming with bacteria and other microorganisms. All of these can be quite dangerous for your fish. It is best to avoid using water from open sources at all costs. You would be better off just dumping your fish in a mud puddle.

Tap water is not usually the best option for your pet. In order to make water from the tap safer for humans, treatment facilities add different chemicals to it, such as chlorine, in order to wipe out bacteria and other small organisms. If you choose to use water that has chlorine in it, you have to remove the chlorine from the water first. Chlorine kills all types of fish. It is similar to putting a human in a gas chamber.

There are options for removing chlorine from tap water in order to make it safe for your aquarium. The easiest option is to go down to your local fish store and to purchase a commercial preparation that is used to remove chlorine and chlorine compounds from tap water in order to make the water safe for fish. Add the preparation after your tank is filled up all the equipment is up and running. Don't forget to deplore and ate all the water you add to the aquarium.

There are also other materials that could be in your tap water. Depending on your area, the water that you get from your faucet may also contain metal deposits. Copper is a common one. Too much metal can be just as deadly for your fish as the chlorine. Just to be on the safe side, by preparations from your pet store that will safely remove these materials from the water.

Some aquarium owners will collect rainwater for their aquariums. If you have a large tank to fill, this is not very practical. Unless you have an awful lot of spare time, plus a small tank, then you probably should not use this method. Another problem with collecting rainwater is that it can contain some pollutants from factories. You may spend more money for the chemicals used to treat your rainwater as if you had just used water from your faucet.

No matter what type of water you use, make sure that it does not contain any substances that are harmful to your Neon Tetra.

Watching for Signs of Fish Pox in Your Neon Tetra

Sunday, May 30th, 2010

Keeping your Neon Tetra healthy is the most effective way to make sure that your pet enjoys a long life. There are many things that can cause disease in your pets. Stress, bacteria, parasites, chemicals, and poor water conditions can all cause disease in your Neon Tetra. The best way that you can ensure that your pets enjoy good health is to make sure that you do everything you can to prevent disease in your pets.

The first thing that you can do to make sure that your pets have the best living conditions is to make sure that all the mechanical equipment is properly functioning each and every way. Check the filter systems and make sure that they are running smoothly. Check to make sure that there is a proper water flow. If you notice anything unusual, take care of it right away. Poor water flow can cause the chemical balance in the water to be disturbed.

Make sure that you monitor your the water temperature. A fluctuation in the water temperature more than a few degrees can lead to serious health problems. If something is wrong with the temperature in your tank, make sure that you check the water heater.

Make sure that you are cleaning the tank on a regular basis. You need to make sure that you are doing at least a partial cleaning every week. A weekly vacuuming of the gravel in the bottom of the aquarium is usually enough to help keep the water clear. If necessary, make sure that you use an algae scraper in order to clean the site of the tank as well.

It is important that you observe your fish on a daily basis. It is very easy to watch your fish while you are feeding them. This will give you the opportunity to observe them at least twice a day. It will help you to become familiar with their feeding habits, activity levels, and appearance. By observing your fish daily, you will be able to notice right away if something is wrong. Quick diagnosis is the key to making sure you keep diseases from getting out of hand and spreading through your entire tank.
Fish pot is a disease that actually affects goldfish, cloying, and Clark more than a dozen other aquarium fish, but it is still worth mentioning. This is a viral infection that causes a milky white or a pinkish gray film that looks waxy to develop over the fish’s skin and fins. Usually the infection will appear, worsen, and then disappear.
It is not really known what triggers fish pox, but it does not appear to be contagious. However, you need to take the proper precautions and isolate the infected fish until the symptoms disappear. This will usually take about 7 to 10 days. This is an ailment that is more annoying than dangerous, since it does not kill the fish. Please note, however, that there is no known cure.