Aquarium Care

KORALIA 3 UL 850 gph 6 5W

The Hydor Koralias are a new innovative range of circulation pumps for aquariums. The exclusive Hydor design and technology guarantee a continuous and powerful water flow which can be directed freely thanks to the special sphere shaped connection to the exclusive combination suction cup and magnet support. High performance, low energy consumption, quick and easy maintenance. The magnet can safely hold Koralias applied in tanks with glass (or acrylic) up to 15mm thick.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars KORALIA 3 UL 850 gph 6.5W
I have a freshwater 72 gal Bowfront aquarium. The pump adds only a very low hum to the room and is easy to place with the magnetic bottom. My one criticism is that the pump cant swivel 90 degrees on its base. The maximum the pump can swivel is probably 45 degrees. I would have liked to attach it to the back of the tank and swiveled it to point it to the back corner. Instead its attached to the side and pointed straight to the opposite back corner. The pump works so well that I probably could have used the Koralia 2 in my 72 gal tank. The plants in the opposite corner from the pump are leaning and the one large angel fish took a little time to get used to the force of the current. The shape of the angel fish works like a sail if it in the wrong position. After the initial snow globe effect, the quality of the tank water is much improved and all the fish are doing good.

5 Stars Koralia 3
Excellent powerheads. Well made with good materials. This is not some cheap brittle 3rd world plastic junk. I would advise against use with a wave timer as they tend to start a little hard. I don’t know if it is bad for the pump but I don’t like the sound it makes so I set that pump to run constant. I use this in a 55 gallon mixed saltwater tank, it is overkill for a 55 but it moves some serious water. I think 100gal and larger tanks would be better. I cannot comment on the durability of the #3 pump because it is still new, however, the Koralia nano pump I have has been in use 24/7 since I bought it and it is almost 3 years old. The nano is covered in coralline algae and is still working smooth. I would not aim the #3 at branching frogspawn or hammer corals or similar unless they are at the other end of the tank. They seem to push a little violently on delicate corals. Mine sits about 2-3 feet away everything but zoa polyps and they don’t seem to mind the wicked current. Amazon had them listed for $20.00 dollars cheaper than any of the local stores around here. Nice simple way to move 850+/- gallons an hour. I would buy another.

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Technorati Tags: Angel Fish, Aquarium, Circulation Pumps, Design And Technology, Durability, Energy Consumption, Gal Tank, Gph, Hydor, Little Time, Low Energy, Magnet, Plastic Junk, Powerheads, Saltwater Tank, Snow Globe, Suction Cup, Tank Water, Technology Guarantee, Water Flow

It is best to set up a fish tank if you love the aesthetics of displaying a clean, glittering, and well-decorated aquarium. A fish tank requires regular cleaning and maintenance checks. So, you should put in some time to care for it. A little love will really make fish tank maintenance a whole lot fun.

Water clean-up and conditioning

Probably, the first thing you might notice about your fish tank is the scummy water. If the water is no longer clear, you know that it is time for a total change. Do not wait for the water to look like something out of a drainage pipe. Make use of a method of changing water that suits you best. There are people who use a bucket to keep the fish in water, while a hundred percent of the fish tank water is being replaced. Others prefer changing about 20% of the water at a time, two times a week. Whatever the case, you should de-chlorinate the water that you will be putting into the tank.

Change the water.

Aside from the tank, the water is one of the primary clues as to how much scum is invading the aquarium. Dank smell and dark coloring are signs that your fish tank needs a total change in water. If you do not want to have to change every droplet of water at one time, you may have to change about 20% at a time. This process, however, should be done at least twice a week. If you want to follow this method, you need to make sure that you change a percentage of the water before the water changes in coloring and smell. This means that you cannot miss the twice a week regularity

Check the filter and bacteria growth.

Fish tank maintenance does not only focus on the tank itself but also on the organisms living in it and the equipment attached to the tank. The said equipment are installed for the reason of helping the fish survive at ideal conditions. The devices should be maintained in tip-top shape so that they can continue serving their roles.

Keep on checking the temperature in your fish tank.

The temperature is vital to fish tank maintenance. This is because your fish may not survive temperatures that are too cold or too hot. If temperatures are allowed to go haywire, you may not have anything to call your aquarium. Aquarium thermometers should make it easy for you to see if fish tank temperature is going over or under the limits.

Provide a certain amount of light.

How much lighting do your pet fish need? Find out the amount of light your particular breed of fish. This means that you cannot mix fish with very different lighting requirements. When you know the amount, maintain this level. Do not overdo lighting because this can cause fast algae growth.

Provide enough oxygen to your fish.

Fish tank maintenance entails fish survival as one of the top objectives. You should ensure that your fish have enough oxygen. This means that the water has to be cleaned regularly so that oxygen can be properly absorbed. If there are too many organisms competing for oxygen in the tank, then it would be best to install an aerator. The aerator can ensure that there is enough oxygen for every organism.

Do not forget that an important point of fish tank maintenance is the care of your fish. Check your fish regularly for a change in coloring, listlessness, and other odd behavior. Immediately remove any dead fish.

Sean Kerring is a marine fish enthusiast and breeder who has been raising and breeding fish for over twenty years, when his parents gave him his very first betta. He always uses the highest quality aquarium products, including various brands to get the highest quality results out of his regular fish tank maintenance. Learn more at marinedepot.com.

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Aquarium canister filters are responsible for the mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration of particulates in your aquarium water. They come in different sizes but most are small enough that they do not dominate your aquarium. They are often called submersible filters because they are placed inside the tank and not hung on the side. Tank filters are a requirement in all tanks, but they are very important in tanks which contain fish that are messy eaters.

Knowing the type of filter for your tank

There are three types of filters depending on the function. Mechanical filters remove debris and other particles from the water with a foam layer or any other type of porous material. Mechanical filters are a must for all tanks. A chemical filter removes dissolved materials with a carbon layer. This is most effective for removing ammonia but it is also useful in removing metals and odors.

Biological filters do the job that is not finished by the previous two kinds of filters. They contain beneficial bacteria called nitrofiers that remove harmful wastes.

How to maintain your filter

Regular cleaning for your aquarium canister when is a must because aquarium filters do the main part of cleaning the tank and they tend to collect a lot of debris quickly. Accumulated debris can clog your filter and this could lead to an accumulation of harmful toxins in the tank.

You clean the filters when you replace the tank water, removing the filter and taking it apart so you can clean the individual parts like the impellers, tubings and intake and outlet pipes, and the main body. You can lubricate the parts of the filter using petroleum jelly or liquid silicone before putting the tank parts back together and reinstalling the filter.

Choosing aquarium canister filters

There are some factors that you need to consider when choosing a filter. For one, you need a filter that has easily replaceable parts since there will come a time when you need to replace parts such as rubber gaskets and impellers. Make sure that your store regularly stocks on filter parts so you can easily get a replacement when one is needed. You also need to choose aquarium canister filters that are easy to remove, clean, and reinstall. You may need the help of an expert when putting up the filter for the first time, but subsequent cleanings will require you to handle the disassembly and the reassembly yourself. Also make sure that the filter is easy to use in case of emergencies when you have to stop the filter.

Get to know your filter before you buy, such as how to assemble and disassemble it. You can get an expert to teach you how to install the filter for the first time so you can do it yourself later on.

Jeffry Johnston is a pet store owner and an aquarium enthusiast who finds happiness in helping others succeed in raising healthy, happy fish as well. He is a member and guest speaker at many aquarium clubs, as well as having a few very large tanks of his own. To learn more about aquarium filters and other aquarium equipment, pleasego to marinedepot.com.

Technorati Tags: Accumulation, Ammonia, aquarium canister filter, Aquarium Canister Filters, Aquarium Equipment, Aquarium Filters, Aquarium Maintenance, Aquarium Water, Beneficial Bacteria, Biological Filters, Biological Filtration, Carbon Layer, Chemical Filter, Debris, filters, fish tank equipment, fish tank filters, Harmful Toxins, Liquid Silicone, Mechanical Filters, Outlet Pipes, Particulates, Petroleum Jelly, Porous Material, Tank Water, Two Kinds

Cloudy Aquarium

Many a new aquarium owner has panicked when their tank has taken on the appearance of what one such owner described to me as “a smoke filled room at a party.” In aquarium lexicon, we call such smoky appearance “cloudiness” because of its resemblance to the wispy clouds that sometimes appear in the sky. Everyone who keeps fish as a hobby wants their tank or tanks to be sparkling clean and clear at all times. Cloudy fish tanks look unsightly, and the water in these tanks can seriously harm the health of your fish. What causes these cloudy fish tanks, and what is the best way to get rid of the cloudiness?

The water clarity in a fish tank is generally affected by several factors, and the color of the water can often be a clue as to what is causing it to be cloudy. The water in a fish tank that has just been set up will often display a gray or white tint. This is called a “bacterial bloom” and it is very common in new tanks, for the nutrients and the bacteria in the water are imbalanced.

If your tank is so new that you have not added fish to it, dust from one or more of the decorations you added, or from the gravel or other substrate you placed at the bottom of the tank may be the cause of the cloudiness you see. Any item that goes into your fish tank must be made for that purpose, and you must rinse it well beforehand. When bacterial bloom appears in a fish tank that has already been established, your tank filter may not be working properly. You may be overfeeding your fish, or you may have too many fish in too small an aquarium.

A green cloudiness in your tank water means you are dealing with a sudden algae bloom. There are several reasons for an algae bloom some of which mimic the causes of a bacterial bloom. For example, when there is too much waste matter in your tank, be it left over food or the waste products from your fish, the bacteria from this waste converts into nitrates. As these nitrates grow in number, an algae bloom is imminent. Leaving the tank light on too many hours a day encourages the growth of green algae, and so does a high phosphate level in the tank water.

You may sometimes see a yellow color in your cloudy fish tanks. Decorative driftwood, decayed plant matter from aquarium plantings, fish waste, and dissolved organic carbons, often called DOC, can all be the cause of yellow cloudy water. Occasionally, you may also see a brown cloudiness in your tank water. This is caused from an overgrowth of brown algae. Brown algae can be caused by the tank not getting enough light, or from certain types of driftwood that have been placed in the tank.

By eliminating the causes of the different varieties of cloudy tank water, you can make caring for your aquarium much easier. Partial water changes of 10 to 20 percent of the water can help, as can making sure the filter on your tank is of the proper size. In order to remove the cloudiness from the water, and to make sure it does not come back, you need to see to it that your tank has a good supply of beneficial bacteria. This point confuses many newcomers to the aquarium hobby. They are so sure that bacteria are a bad thing that they balk when told it is needed in their tank! However, once they understand about good vs. bad bacteria, they are eager to know what they can do in order to maintain a colony of the good bacteria. Fortunately, there are some good solutions available. One of the best for cloudy water is the EcoBio-Block. When hobbyists learn of the advantages that go along with placing a product from EcoBio-Block in their aquarium, they agree that this is the easiest solution to the problem.

These products contain live beneficial bacteria, which multiply and make their way into the tank water every 30 minutes or so. They work in new set-ups as well as established aquariums to establish a nitrifying bacteria colony. This will take care of most cloudy water naturally, cuts down on the need for water changes and vacuuming the gravel or substrate, and will last for years. You could almost say that EcoBio-Block products are an aquarium owner’s best friend!

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biOrb Service Kit 6 pack

The filter cartridge works like a waste bin, trapping dirt, once full it should be thrown away and replaced with a new one. This should be done every 1-2 months. A partial water change of 30% should be carried out at the same time. Contents: Replacement filter cartridge, Algae cleaning cloth, Sachet of water preparation chemicals.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Reef One biOrb Aquarium Service Kit (6 Pack)
The kit is easy to use, although I completely emptied the tank because there had been no fish in it for about a year. The only draw back is that you can only buy it in 6 packs. I would like to be able to purchase them as I need them in single units.

1 Star don’t waste money on a biOrb
these filters are useless. BiOrb aquariums may be cool looking but they are poorly designed and always foul.

2 Stars Overpriced
Reef-One claims this filter needs to be changed every month, which is ridiculous. I think they lose a lot of potential customers this way. I rinse the filter out in old tank water during partial water changes, and replace the charcol they provide with a little charcol from a $5 jug purchased at PetSmart. I check my water quality (nitrite and nitrate) every 2 weeks and my tank is in perfect shape.

5 Stars So far, so good
I purchased this after I took down a larger full sized tank. Found out that I could not live without fish, with a grandchild. The small orb works well. I have had it set up for several weeks. Pump is quiet, but then I had had pump issues with larger tanks, so I really don’t hear this one. The light truly lights up the unit and of course, if you have a fish in a globe environment, it will have different appearances. I have one Beta in at this time, and the bubbles don’t really give it any problem. I purchased a device to place over the air unit, to dispurse the air somewhat. I do watch the food go up and down with the currents, but in short, this works quite well. I did decide to purchase a heater, which I have not received yet. I think this is a good unit when downsizing a larger tank, if you choose to do so.

4 Stars BioOrb Filter easy to install and it works
The Bio Orb filter pack comes with almost all needed items to install filter and keep tank water clean. Good packaging. Would have gotten a Five Star if they had included the necessary air stone in the package. As it is you have to buy the air stones separately which is inconvenient.

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Technorati Tags: 6 Packs, Aquarium Service, Charcol, Filter Cartridge, Jug, Nitrate, Nitrite, Old Tank, Partial Water Change, Partial Water Changes, Perfect Shape, Petsmart, Reef Aquarium, Replacement Filter, Sachet, Tank Water, Time Contents, Waste Bin, Waste Money, Water Preparation