Aquarium Care

The Latin word for tall is altum, which truly describes the Altum angelfish, the biggest of the freshwater angelfish variety. Altum angelfish originate from South America, specifically the Rio Orinoco river in Venezuela.

Altum angelfish are silver colored with tan vertical stripes. This striped patterned helps them hide amongst the perpendicular plant life native to the region. Altums have a rather unique shaped mouth, which is rather pointed, and their forehead is sharply sloped. The first dark band runs through the eye; the second runs near the mid-section of the body, while the third runs from the tip of the dorsal fin, through the body, and to the tip of the anal fin. The final band runs on the caudal penuncle.

To adequately house such a large angelfish, the fish tank ought to be no fewer than 55 gallons and 30″ tall. The fish tank should be ornamented with sizable pieces of bogwood that if feasible should reach the waters surface. Large leafed plants like Amazon swordsplants can also be useful and are generally left alone.

Perfect water conditions for your Altums would be very soft and only slightly acidic. A pH level of 4.5 to 6.5 are perfect. The water ought to also be warm, in the 82 to 86 degree range to match natural conditions. It’s also important to keep your nitrates level very low for Altums. The water should also circulated slowly to match the low flow environment found naturally. Maintaining outstanding water quality is a crucial ingredient to successfully raise Altum angelfish.

Unlike the common angelfish, the Scalare, Altums can be challenging to keep and successfully raise in captivity. This is due mainly to the reality that nearly all Altum sold are wild caught, not domestically farmed. Because of this they can more difficult to find and not a lot of folks try and keep them.

In attempting to buy Altums, it is wise to look for an skilled angelfish breeder. Because they are wild caught they can be difficult to locate, and sometimes imitations are sold.

Although Altums are calm, they can also be very territorial. For that reason, Altums are not the greatest of community fish. They can be successfully kept with most calm fish, and are ideally kept with other calm species from the same area such as Discus and Tetras. Small fish might be considered food and should not be kept with cardinal and neon tetras given that Altum angelfish as all angelfish appear very fond of eating these. They ought to never be kept with regular angelfish because they can hybridize with (Pterophyllum scalare).

Altums will consume all the time if given the option. They have ravenous appetites. Coming from the wild, they prefer live food, but will ultimately accept frozen foods such as brine shrimp and blood worms.

Despite providing great water conditions and a good diet, Altum angelfish can be difficult to raise and even more tough to breed. Determining the sex can also be especially difficult, as it is with most of the angelfish varieties.

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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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So you want to get an aquarium. Your first step is to figure out what kind of fish you want. But just how do you choose from the colorful tanks on the wall of your local pet store?

This can be a daunting experience for new fish keepers. Of course, you want fish that appeal to you and have the right ‘look,’ but when selecting fish for your new aquarium, there are three important questions to keep in mind. First, how large will this fish grow? Second, what are the fish’s water quality requirements? Finally, how well will this fish live with the other fish I want?

Some fish will stay small, say an inch or less. These are generally considered community fish. Many fishkeepers select a group of similar community fish to fill their tank. Good choices for tropical community fish include guppies, swordtails, Platies, and dwarf Gourami. When selecting these varieties, choose fish that are about the same size, and avoid mixing different varieties unless you have been advised that they will get along well together. Never purchase just one community fish; they are used to swimming in schools, and will get lonely in your aquarium. A good rule of thumb for this size of fish is one inch of fish for one gallon of aquarium water.

The other kinds of fishes can mature to much bigger sizes, anywhere from 6 inches to several feet. These kinds of fish should be kept solitary for they usually show aggression to other fish that are smaller or weaker. When choosing one of these bigger fish you will need an appropriately sized aquarium. While it is possible to house them in a 10-gallon tank, it must be upgraded to a bigger size once they mature to adult size.

It will be better to just purchase the aquarium that can accommodate their adult size, when you first get your fish. Once you’ve selected the kind of fish you want, find out the maximum size they will grow to, then buy the appropriate aquarium.

There are some varieties of fish that will survive almost any water condition. A popular example of these is the goldfish. They have a reputation for being almost invincible. They will most likely flourish even without lighting or filter, but this is not good aquarium practice.

The slightly more picky tropical fish need a narrower water temperature range, as well as high-quality water. To achieve the water quality these fish need, test your water frequently, use a good filter on the aquarium, and consider products like the EcoBio-Block, which improves your aquarium water quality and reduces maintenance. Some fish need a specific pH, or have other water quality requirements. Be sure to do your research so that the fish you choose have similar water requirements.

The last category of fish includes saltwater or marine varieties. These are tricky to keep, and are best left until you have fishkeeping experience with freshwater fish. In addition to temperature, light, and water quality requirements, you must also keep an eye on the salt levels in the aquarium. These beautiful fish require a lot of work to keep them healthy, and you cannot mix freshwater fish with saltwater varieties.

Lastly, whatever the species you decide on, always remember to buy only those fish that are healthy. Inspect them carefully for uneven scales, irregular growth or injuries. Check also if they have bright eyes and intact fins. They should have healthy appetites and move actively and naturally in the water.

The fish you eventually choose for your aquarium will bring you many happy days of living nature experiences that are guaranteed to reduce your stress and give comfort and beauty to your home or office.

Leonard Boyler has been keeping fish for more than 20 years. His favorite products make aquarium care and maintenance very easy from start up to clearing up cloudy aquariums. To learn more about how to clear up your water and have healthy fish please visit ONEdersave.com.

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Responsible fish keeping starts with your aquarium setup. Make sure that the aquarium you choose is large enough for the fish that you want. Many people believe that fish will grow to the size of their tank, but stunting their growth by keeping them in a small tank will reduce the lifespan of the fish. Eventually, you will need to upgrade the aquarium if you started with a too-small tank.

Find out as much as you can about the fish that you plan to keep, to know what size of aquarium you need to get for them. It is best to factor in the adult size of the fish when choosing the size of the aquarium. But if you got a small aquarium and later it became too small for your fish, then upgrade as soon as possible to the appropriate size.

Make sure that the fish you choose will be compatible with each other. Responsible fish keepers will not add different species to the same aquarium without first making sure that they will get along. Different fish have different requirements for pH, water temperature, and other measurements, too. Do not purchase too many fish for your tank, either. Just because they are small doesn’t mean that several dozen of them can fit in your small aquarium.

When you want to dispose of some of your fish or aquatic plants, be sure not to release them in a pond, stream or other water bodies anywhere. This is because fish that have grown too big for your aquarium may not fare well in other environment or, even if they survive, they may cause an imbalance in the local ecosystem when they breed or feed on other creatures in the water.

A lot of tropical fish found in the aquarium cannot continue to live outside the aquarium especially in frigid waters. Releasing them in this environment is like giving them a death sentence. If you cannot afford an upgrade of your tank, returning your fish to the pet store is a better alternative.

Aside from getting the right aquarium, you also need other aquarium equipment like a water filter and a heater. These are important for the good health and comfort of your fish. The type and specifications will again depend on the needs of your fish. Be sure that they are working properly before putting in your fish.

Even with a filter, responsible fish keeping also includes regular water changes. Test the water weekly to track pH, nitrates, ammonia, and other water quality indicators. You can reduce water changes with beneficial bacteria. The EcoBio-Block Family Products do a great job with this. Their unique system of delivering beneficial bacteria on a regular basis insures that your water will stay clear and healthy even while reducing water changes.

Some of your fish may be small but that does not mean that you can just disregard them or that they will survive with less care than what you are giving to the other fish. Do not forget to feed your fish. Make sure that they receive proper nutrition. Find out the best kind of food for them.

Responsible fish keeping means taking the responsibility of caring for your fish seriously. This involves keeping them in a healthy environment, feeding them and providing for their every need.

Leonard Boyler has been keeping fish for more than 20 years. His favorite products make aquarium care and maintenance so easy from start up to clarifying cloudy aquariums. To find out more about how to have clear water and healthy fish please visit ONEdersave.com.

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The reasons are legion, but because of the limited space, we will mention only the most obvious. The first and probably most important thing that comes to mind is the fellowship of meeting regularly with others with the same interests. The hobbyist who has no close aquarist friends is likely to become starved from a desire to talk about it to others. To belong to a society is to be able to converse with others who can share one’s problems and accomplishments in the concerns of aquarium care.

This writer recalls the joy of attending the meetings of a New Jersey society when only a boy. What fun it was to listen and dream as older folk discussed their finny friends! The same thrill awaits every serious beginner, as nearly everyone today lives within joining distance of some organized group of tropical fish fanciers.

Beginners especially can benefit from the wisdom and experience of society members. Almost any member is willing and happy to spend one or more evenings at a beginner’s home to help him get started in the right way. One such evening can be more informative than a year with all the aquarium care websites around. The experienced member can give valuable information on what to buy, where to buy it, what to feed, and the host of other problems that confront every beginner.

Perhaps the choicest plum, from the point of view of personal gain, comes with the fact that most society members exchange excess fish and plants with each other. This can widen any hobbyist’s scope far beyond what his pocket book would permit. The complete novice with nothing to exchange can often purchase fishes and plants at a fraction of the price a dealer would charge-——and they are likely to be in better condition too. It’s also a terrific place to get information about products for aquarium care like EcoBio-Block, which keeps the aquarium water clear and healthy for fish while greatly reducing the need for water changes.

When an emergency situation strikes without warning, time is often of the essence. The beginner has only to telephone an experienced fellow member who can offer sound advice. How sad it makes us when we receive an  e-mail from a hobbyist whose valuable pets are dying as the result of spraying carpet cleaners on the living room rugs. We know full well that they are dead to the last one even before the e-mail reaches us. Such a loss need never sadden the member of a good society.

Most societies maintain a library. This alone can be worth the annual dues. The typical sequence is to equip in a lavish way and hunt up a good book after some problem has appeared. But the hobbyist who has access to a few good books and reads them before they are needed seldom gets off to a bad start.

The benefits of belonging to an active aquarium society are so strong that it is difficult to understand why anyone would remain separated from one by choice. Even those who live in isolated places can become a corresponding member of a society.

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