Aquarium Care

The hobby of keeping cichlids can be a very enjoyable and rewarding experience. Most people just getting started in keeping these very intelligent aquarium fish have lots of questions. Even as an experienced aquarist, I seem to learn something new everyday. Here are some tips to get you started.

The single most important thing that you need to do is to consider how big your cichlid fish will be when they reach their adult size. Oscars and some of the largest and most intelligent of the cichlids and they need a lot of room. The are simple going to need a very large tank. But don’t let that discourage you.

Oscars need at least a 55 gallon tank, and that’s just for a pair of these big guys. And guess what, if your cichlids are smaller, then a smaller tank will do. Couldn’t be any simpler than thay.

Next, the salinity of the water and proper ph levels, among other levels, can vary widely between the very diverse types of cichlids. More specifically, they can vary widely among the various American Cichlid varieties. This goes for African Cichlids also. Proper salinity and ph level is very important if you are keeping African Cichlids, so do your research wisely.

Temperature and water chemistry are very important if your cichlids are going to thrive. These levels must be monitored for African or American cichlids.

Keeping these beautiful and intelligent fish with plant life can be very challenging. Having plant in your cichlid tank may be impossible with certain varieties of cichlids. Again, research is very important.

African varieties of cichlids simply don’t do very well with plants. South American cichlids seem to have a better tolerance for plant life. But if you have Oscars, don’t bother. They love to dig plants up. Angels, however love plants and will thrive in a fully planted aquarium.

Angel fish can be some of the most enjoyable cichlids in my opinion. They even do very well in community tanks because they are generally docile and tolerate plants very well.

Visit cichlid care to learn how to keep cichlids healthy, colorful and happy. And visit keeping cichlids to learn how to keep your cichlids stress free.

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If you are interested in buying a new pet, you’ll find yourself confronted with several options, and it may be difficult to decide which way to go. One of the most popular pets is the aquarium fish. At first glance, some people may not recognize the appeal of these fascinating creatures. In this article, I’ll list 5 reasons why fish make wonderful pets, and why they’re particularly ideal for people with certain lifestyles and situations.

1. Fish are low maintenance

When you have your fish tank prepared, and you’ve paid for all of the needed accessories, your fish will basically look after themselves. All you must do is give food to them often and look after the safety of their environment. These are essential tasks, and you will have to take them seriously, however they’re absolutely nothing compared to the problems associated with looking after many pets. You won’t have to worry about shedding, toilet routines, building destruction and all the other issues that lots of other creatures bring to the table.

2. Fish are relaxing pets.

Watching fish as they interact with their environment is like peeking into an alien world. It can be a hypnotic experience, and it’s a great way to relieve stress after a hard day’s work. An aquarium is really a tiny simulated ecosystem that you can observe at your leisure. Studying your fish as they exist and thrive in their watery world is an incredibly soothing process, and it’s one of the main reasons for owning these pets.

3. Fish are great pets for children.

Many individuals wrestle with the decision of whether or not to get a pet for their child. You may want your child to learn a respect for animals, however, you may feel that they aren’t prepared for cats or dogs. Fish are simple to care for, so children can manage many of the jobs themselves. The simple task of feeding fish can help your children discover the value of daily routine, and find an appreciation for nature.

4. Less allergies.

For some, allergic reactions to pet dander can be a enormous issue, and it can make owning any sort of mammal very difficult. For these people fish are a great choice for clear reasons. There are other animals that fit the bill, such as insects and reptiles, but fish are very definitely the most common pet in this category.

5. Believe it or not, you can really bond with your fish.

A lot of folks don’t realize the kind of strong attachment that can be formed with these beautiful pets. After weeks of watching your fish, they will grow to be a part of your life. Even though you can’t interact with them directly, you’ll start to think of them as your pals. They rely on you for food, while you will grow to count on them for the beauty and calmness they bring to your life. This is a different type of bond than you form with a dog or cat, but it is still quite powerful.

As you can see, fish are a superb pet for people with active lifestyles, and they are more fascinating to own than you would possibly anticipate. Many other pets bring complication and anxiety, while fish mostly produce simplicity and calm. That’s probably the biggest reason for their popularity.

This article is sponsored by Cheap Fish Tanks - http://www.cheapfishtanks.org.uk

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Although you are new at fishkeeping, it’s possible for you to have a beautiful aquarium at home. Ensuring the health of the fish, plants, and other organisms in your tank can be tricky, but the rules on keeping an aquarium are quite simple.

The tank material and shape matters.

Consider buying rectangular glass aquariums. Although aquariums come in many kinds, shapes, and sizes, the better option for beginners are glass aquariums, as they are not as expensive as acrylic ones. They are also less prone to scratches and discoloration, so maintaining them won’t be so complicated. As for the shape, narrow cylindrical and spherical aquariums may be pleasing to the eye but are not always suitable for the fish. These types have too little water surface open to air. Fish get oxygen and discharge carbon dioxide through the water surface, so narrower aquariums can be suffocating for fish.

Pay attention to details.

If you want to reduce the risk of contaminating the water in your tank and poisoning the fish, know which materials are dangerous and keep it out of your tank. Since glass aquariums are not prone to scratches and yellowing, you get to avoid using polishing compounds that are normally toxic. Other harmful substances include detergent, paint, plastic, and soap. It’s also important to keep even the slightest hint of metal out of your tank because it poisons the fish.

Buy accessories and decors only from pet shops.

Coral, coral sand, marble chips, and other limestone products are among the materials that should not be placed inside your fish tank. Bits of these dissolve easily and make the water tough for the fish to live in. If you want to keep your fish alive and happy, the best choices are granite, quartz, and sandstone, minerals that can be used to decorate glass aquariums. If you don’t know these rules, you will simply think that any material which seems to look great in an aquarium is suitable. Therefore, it’s best to only use accessories and decor that you can buy from stores selling aquarium supplies, as they are made from materials that are safe for the fish.

Get the location right the first time.

The major setback to glass aquariums is that they’re heavy and more prone to breaking and leaking. Imagine how much heavier any tank is going to be once you fill it with water. For this reason, be sure to choose the right location for your tank right away, as moving it might cause the glass to crack.

Where is the best place to put your aquarium?

Aside from wind- and heat-generating equipment, constant and direct exposure to sunlight tends to overheat the water in your tank. Aside from that, it also causes rapid algae growth. Minimal presence of algae can be beneficial, but if it becomes excessive, algae will turn your tank water green. Algae are not only unattractive, but they also compete against fish and other plants for scarce nutrients in your tank. To avoid these risks, avoid direct sunlight except for very short periods. You may use artificial aquarium lighting instead.

Other aquarium care tips

To protect fish and plants inside your aquarium, place a cover on top. Some people think that using a glass cover will cut the supply of oxygen in an aquarium. This is a myth, however. Aquarium covers are designed such that they can allow adequate supply of air into the tank. Finally, avoid moving your tank once it’s been filled, as this may cause the glass to break or leak.

Even a beginner like you can maintain an aquarium successfully. All you need to do is to follow these simple yet effective tips. You’ll certainly be fulfilled as you watch your fish swim happily in your own aquarium.

Dave Bowman is an aquarium enthusiast who enjoys helping others be successful in raising their fish in glass aquariums. He is a guest speaker at many meetings on complete aquarium systems

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Marineland Rite Size Cartridge

Our filter cartridges meet the absolute highest standards of water purification performance and operational ease. Each pre-assembled cartridge slides easily into place, providing superior mechanical and chemical filtration and making replacement fast, dry, and effortless. The cartridge mechanically filters water through a pad of couble thick poly-fiber. Debris and waste particles are trapped, and water is chemically filtered through Marineland’s Black Diamond Premium Activated Carbon. Inside the cartridge, a patented ribbed backing ensures the even distribution of activated carbon to deliver maximum water-to-carbon contact, resulting in crystal clear, crystal clean water.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars Are there other choices?
Works fine. I need to replace mine about every 6 weeks. I know it says to replace every 2-3 weeks, but I have found that if I rinse it out once a week it lasts longer.

4 Stars Works well with the system
We purchased the 3 gallon aquarium for my son’s betta fish, Blowie the Scary. Blowie doesn’t eat all of his food, and this filter does a great job of getting out the extra food and initial cloudiness when my son puts too much in. The filters are extremely easy to use and my 4-year old can change them himself. It’s a really nice set, with easy filter maintenance and I’d recommend it. Sometimes it takes a day for the filter to clear enough out, but it’s still high on my list.

5 Stars Excellent filter
Simple to use, replacement filter does a good job cleaning the water in our aquarium.

3 Stars Doesn’t last as long as expected.
The original filter that came with the aquarium (Eclipse Hex 5)seemed to keep the tank cleaner longer. The water is getting cloudy after only 1 week and I only have 1 fish!

It is however very easy to install.

5 Stars hard to find filters
I am experiencing it hard to find this size filter, since the fish tank we have is a few years old now. Glad to see that I can buy them on Amazon!

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Tetra 8 4 9 Ounce AquaSafe Water Conditioner with BioExtract

Fastest-acting, most complete water conditioner available. AquaSafe’s one-step formula is simple and easy to use and delivers maximum effectiveness. AquaSafe is the fastest-acting, most complete water conditioner available. The formula neutralizes chlorine and heavy metals, removes chloramine and toxic ammonia and provides a slime coat to heal and protect fish. It treats water with effectiveness and your fish with care. AquaSafe’s slime coat is the only one that increases fish tolerance to environmental stress, moderates toxic influences, protects fish from abrasions, heals wounds and protects fish against aggressive fresh tap water. AquaSafe is the fastest acting water conditioner because only AquaSafe uses sodium hydroxymethane sulfonate as a reducing agent to remove chlorine and chloramine–proven to be the fastest acting ingredient. AquaSafe is the most complete because only AquaSafe provides every function necessary to improve fresh tap water–slime coat that heals and protects fish, neutralization of chlorine, removal of chloramine, and neutralization and detoxification of heavy metals. Contents treats 500 gallons. fish tank aquarium water conditioner water care wa

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars The best product out there.
I love this product. I trust this product above any other, I have used it for every kind of pet imaginable, fish, frogs, toads, snakes, iguanas, hermit crabs, turtles, EVERYTHING. I will also continue to use it above any other product. And the rest of their line is great too! Tetra is the best!

5 Stars great for 1000 gallon ponds
We just got done setting up a 1000 gallon pond in our backyard. The bottle originally says “for up to 500 gallons”. We have 10 assorted fish in our pond. And they are doing great. If you use this product for a pond you might consider adding it in an area of the pond with a pump. So the fluid can distrubute quickly. With in seconds the pond was ready for fish.

5 Stars Great Product
The first, and only water conditioner I have ever used for my betta. Spike is now 3yrs old, and continues to thrive. I attribute that in part to AquaSafe water conditioner.

5 Stars Good Product
Another great product from this manufacturer and have used this for years and extremely satisfied and works very well in fresh water and has kept our fish safe.

5 Stars Great for my fish!
This water conditioner is the best for my fish. It came sealed properly and at a great price.

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