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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Angelfish, Pterophyllum Scalare, are classified to the family Cichlidae. This family is more casually identified as cichlids. Angelfish are endemic to the Amazon River.

Cichlids have become ever more popular with freshwater aquarists since they started being exported by the aquarium trade after the conclusion of WWII. Angelfish are undoubtedly among the most popular and easily recognizable freshwater fish in the world. Their unique triangular profile makes them one of the most exotic freshwater species on the market. The selective breeding of these creatures has dramatically increased the assortment of angelfish available to the consumer. Angels come in an array of colors, from white, silver, gold and black to striped, marbled and Koi. Their abundance keeps their price exceptionally reasonable. They are a robust species that can stay alive in a multitude of environmental conditions. Angels are one of the most care free fish you can own. Their ease of care has undoubtedly contributed to their global popularity.

Appearances can be misleading. The fish available at the retail stores are not fully grown. Angels routinely grow to six inches in diameter as adults. They can be housed in a fish tank as little as 10 gallons however 20 gallons and is ideal.

Angelfish are non-aggressive. Angelfish make excellent additions to a community tank. Angels will, however, deem smaller community dwellers as a source of nutrition. Avoid keeping them with smaller varieties like rasboras, zebra danios or fancy guppies. It is also ill advisable housing them with species like barbs and tetras. These are fin nippers by nature. An angelfish’s long, flowing fins are delicious taste treat, just begging to be snacked on.

Angelfish are omnivores. Their diet should consist of both plant and animal matter. You will want to make sure to choose a fish food prepared for omnivores as their main staple. A good quality flake food is all you will need to keep your angelfish healthy and happy. Many fish hobbyists prefer to provide an assortment of nutritional choices in addition to the main staple. Although this is not strictly mandatory, it is recommended. You might want to ask yourself; would you want to eat the exact same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of your life? A varied regimen will help to ensure optimum health. Dried seaweed sheets are a wonderful dietary supplement for omnivores. High protein supplements such as brine shrimp, tubifex and bloodworms make ideal dietary supplements. If you can not find them fresh, frozen and freeze-dried preparations are available commercially.

Angels inhabit the Amazon River. They are accustomed to water with a slightly acidic base. A pH factor of 6.8 and temperatures ranging between 72-86 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal environment. If maintained properly an angelfish can live in excess of 10 years.

When it comes to parenting, fish in general can be divided into two basic categories. There are those fish that will abandon their unborn eggs or even ingest them in complete disregard for nature’s mandate to prorogate the species. Then there are the fish that express varying amounts of brooding intuition. All cichlids fall to some extent in the latter category. Angelfish are commonly called open brooders. This simply means that they will prepare a flat surface like a rock or piece of wood in order to lay their eggs on. A common trait among brooders is that they will guard over their unborn offspring until they hatch. Typically the male adopts the role as the protector by standing guard while the female becomes the eggs’ caregiver. Once they are hatched, both parents will take an active role in tending the newborn.

Keeping a specific fish in a fish tank that is not large enough could have catastrophic results. A savvy aquarist wouldn’t think about attempting to keep an angel nano fish tank. To discover more fun filled facts on freshwater aquarium fish browse through my online fish guide.

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So you want to set up a fish tank, well the first thing that I will tell you is that you have to be patient and should not jump right into putting fish in your tank. In this article I will be explaining all of the steps to setting up a fish tank for tropical fish only.

Before you go out and start buying aquarium equipment determine what kind of fish that you will want to put in there and how many. This is necessary as you will need to know what size tank to get, if you are on a budget you will have to work with it. The general rule is for small to medium fish is 1 inch per one gallon of water.

Some of the things you will need to set up a tropical fish tank will consist of the aquarium itself, a stand for the aquarium, filter pump, heater pump, thermometer, water conditioner, bacteria supplement. Some other additional options you can add to your fish tank would be a lamp, decorations and wall paper for the back of the fish tank.

Find a space in your home that you want to set up the fish tank at. This should be somewhere that is not in the way and make sure you are happy with the spot because moving a tank can be a pain once you have fish in it.

The next thing that I would do is make sure that there are no leaks in the fish tank. Fill up the tank with water to the top, and just let it sit there for about a day, more if you want. Once that day is up check the surrounding area for any signs of water, once you know your tank is not leaking you can empty it.

While you are leak testing your aquarium you can start filling up jugs of tap water. Mix the tap water with water conditioner as fish do not like plain tap water. I also add bacteria supplement to the water also. Make sure you follow the directions on the water conditioner bottle exactly.

Next you can start setting up the interior of the tank with decorations and gravel while the tank is still empty. It is very critical that you was anything that you put into the tank very well, even if it is brand new. There will still be dust and dirt on the gravel so make sure that it is rinsed with water before putting it into your aquarium.

Once you have it decorated set up the rest of the equipment, the filter pump, the heater, overhead light, etc. Start adding all of the pre-treated water into the tank, once you have it to the top turn on your filter pump and heater. Let the water cycle for about a week before adding fish, make sure the water temperature supports the fish you want.

Let the fish tank cycle the water for at least one week. After that one week you can add a couple of fish to get the tanks ecosystem in action, but do not add anymore fish for at least 5 weeks. Be patient and your fish will be healthy and live for a long time.

The author has been putting together aquariums of all types for many years and has great knowledge on aquariums. You can visit his store if you need to purchase a home aquarium. aquariums For Sale

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Owning a fish tank as a big responsibility and many problems can arise during this time. Whether you are moving to a new house, renovating or just need to move your tank, there is a right way to move the tank so the fish are not shocked or die. There are a few ways to move a tank, depending on the size shape and location. The easiest way will be shown step by step in this paragraph.

First, you need to figure out how far you are moving the tank. The size of the tank also needs to be taken in account for. If you are renovation or need to move the tank from one part of the house to another, the distance is a big factor in moving your tank.

Keeping the fish safe should be your first priority. In any instance the fish should be taken out of the tank before it is drained or moved, If you have another aquarium or small tank for carrying fish in, then I would suggest moving the fish into the extra tank, If none of these options are possible than put the fish into bags, like you would at a pet store. Remember the fish cannot stay in the bags or a small-unheated tank very long because of heat and air.

Keeping the fish safe should be your first priority. In any instance the fish should be taken out of the tank before it is drained or moved, If you have another aquarium or small tank for carrying fish in, then I would suggest moving the fish into the extra tank, If none of these options are possible than put the fish into bags, like you would at a pet store. Remember the fish cannot stay in the bags or a small-unheated tank very long because of heat and air.

While you are in the process of moving your aquarium, I would suggest cleaning it. The aquarium has to be drained anyway so why not clean it. When you are cleaning the aquarium, make sure to wash the plants and other accessories well. Soap residue can harm the fish or even kill the fish.

When you are ready to re fill the tank, fill it with the right type if water for the fish. Put all the accessories and plants back before the fish, Make sure the heaters have been going for awhile, so that the tank is to the warmth the fish need. If the water is too cold or hot the fish will go into shock. Float the fish in the water, just like when you purchase new fish, to prevent shock. If you follow these steps then your tank will be happy and healthy.

Roshan Goodman gives tips on aquarium and on aquarium tips.

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The size of the gravel is a vital piece of the puzzle for your tank. Having the wrong size of gravel can make owning a fish tank a hassle. This can be easily avoided with a few simple steps. The size of the grave usually depends on your tank and fish.

If the gravel is too big, then the food debris will get stuck in the gravel. When the debris gets stuck in the gravel then it makes it difficult to clean the tank. Also if you have fish such as cichlids, then smaller gravel is highly un-suggested. Cichlids move the gravel consistently, and if the gravel is smaller, the easier it is to move. The bigger gravel makes it a lot harder for the cichlids to dig in.

The drawback to having big gravel is that if you have smaller fish they can get stuck under the rocks. The bigger gravel is easier to clean; buy can grow a lot of algae on because of the surface area. Smaller gravel can get sucked into the filters and clog the filters.

My advice is to analyze the situation. If you have fish that like to dig a lot then I would suggest bigger gravel. If you have smaller fish I would suggest smaller gravel. If you have a range of fish than I would suggest medium gravel.

My advice is to analyze the situation. If you have fish that like to dig a lot then I would suggest bigger gravel. If you have smaller fish I would suggest smaller gravel. If you have a range of fish than I would suggest medium gravel.

Gravel sizing is simple; a few steps can save you a lot of effort. You only need to ask yourself a few questions. What kind of fish do I have? What size of fish do I have? What kind of algae problems do I have? Is cleaning a tank hard for me? What kind of decor do I have? If you ask all these questions then the gravel you purchase will be perfect for your tank.

Roshan Goodman shows you how to maintain aquariums an also gives tips on aquarium gravel.

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