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.

Technorati Tags: Adult Size, American Cichlids, Angel Fish, aquarim fish, Aquarist, Aquarium, Aquarium Fish, Aquariums, Big Guys, cichlid care, Cichlid Fish, Cichlid Tank, Community Tanks, Fish, Fish Tank, Gallon Tank, hobbies, home, Intelligent Fish, Keeping African Cichlids, keeping cichlids, Oscars, pets, Ph Level, Ph Levels, Proper Ph, Rewarding Experience, Salinity, Single Most Important Thing, Water Chemistry

If you are setting up an aquarium and you don’t yet have any decorations or plants, you may notice that your tank looks incomplete. In fact, plants aren’t just decorative, but a necessary addition to your aquarium. Aquarium plants provide hiding spots for your fish, making them more comfortable in the tank.

There are two main choices for aquarium plants: real and fake. Keeping real plants alive requires specialized care, above and beyond keeping your fish alive. Plastic plants, on the other hand, are easy to care for, even if it’s your first aquarium.

Plastic plants are long lasting and very easy to clean. You only need to take them out of the aquarium and wash with soap and water. The colors are varied and sometimes even more vivid than real plants. Although you have to be careful about the too bright colors or it might stress your fish. Some of them will adjust their colors to a less vibrant color in order to be less conspicuous to predators. Better stick to the more natural marine tones to bring out the natural bright colors of your fish.

There are also aquarium plants that are made of silk. They are a little more expensive but they appear more realistic and are easier to care for than other plastic plants. It is important to buy only silk plants that are designed for aquariums and not those found in craft stores that may contain chemicals that are harmful to your fish.

Fresh plants are of course, the most natural looking. Like some kinds of fish, though, they can be very hard to maintain. Some of them will thrive only under specific water temperatures or pH levels. Find the fresh plants whose specific needs are compatible with the water requirements of your fish.

There are other more noteworthy benefits in choosing real plants over fake ones. They give out oxygen and use up nitrates in the water thereby maintaining some balance in the nitrogen cycle. They also provide for breeding grounds for some fish and can be the natural food source to some others.

Although, fresh plants may appear to have many benefits, most varieties have special requirements that may discourage some people from using them. Many of them need lighting and special fertilizers. All fresh plants need light for photosynthesis. The amount of light required by these plants may vary depending on their kind. A special aquarium fertilizer is also a requirement for most plants. You cannot use your ordinary garden fertilizer. This will most likely kill your aquarium.

Cleaning fresh aquarium plants is more difficult than cleaning fake ones because you’ll have to clean them where they are planted. Decaying plant matter means a lot of waste at the bottom of your tank, which can reduce water quality. Products like EcoBio-Block can help keep your water healthy by providing a continual source of beneficial bacteria that breaks down organic waste, such as decaying plants, into safer by-products. Prune dying parts of the plant just like you would prune your houseplants. Healthy live plants improve your aquarium habitat, but if not cared for properly, they can reduce your water quality. Only you decide whether fresh aquarium plants are worth the additional maintenance.

Technorati Tags: Aquarium, Aquarium Plants, Aquariums, Boyler, Breeding Grounds, Bright Colors, Craft Stores, Kinds Of Fish, Natural Food, Necessary Addition, Nitrates, Nitrogen Cycle, Ph Levels, Plastic Plants, Setting Up An Aquarium, Silk Plants, Soap And Water, Specialized Care, Vibrant Color, Water Requirements, Water Temperatures