Freshwater Aquarium Substrate

The topic of freshwater aquarium substrate is often neglected by many who don't realize how important it is in a freshwater aquarium set up. Seven pieces of advice are given in this article to help ensure nothing goes awry for you.

Quite often the question of freshwater aquarium substrate is not given enough attention when a new aquarium is being set up. It is far more important than a lot of people understand. Here are just 7 tips pointing out what could go wrong if certain advice is not taken.

1. Always wash your freshwater aquarium substrate thoroughly with hot water before you use it in your aquarium.And ensure that the tank itself has been thoroughly sterilized too.The substrate will be a place where favorable bacteria will establish themselves, assisting the cycling of nitrogen and producing great living conditions for the fish.

2. To give your aquascape a realistic look ensure the level of substrate rises from the front to the back of the tank. In addition put some localized dips and rises in it as you get in natural surroundings. Consider a combination of rocks, pots (to act as caves/shelter) and other decorations plus a range of different sized plants to complete the realism.

3. Your aquarium water can get harder and the pH get more alkaline if you have gravel with limestone in it. Fish who prefer a less alkaline environment and softer water could suffer as a result. To check that there is none, add a few drops of vinegar to a piece of gravel and if it fizzes then there is limestone in it.

4. If your fish like to dig into the substrate, do not use large particle size gravel. This would be unfair to them. If you have bottom dwellers then do not use sharp, rough edged gravel pieces. They can get injured. Find out about their behavior before you buy them.

5. Never place rocks on top of your substrate. Always bed them into the bottom of the tank and fill around it. This is more secure, especially if you have other rocks and decorations on top of them. And it may stop your fish from being crushed.

6. If an undergravel filter is to be used make sure you have at least 6 to 8 cms of depth to your substrate. If sand is used as a The topic of freshwater aquarium substrate is often neglected by many who don't realize how important it is in a freshwater aquarium set up. Seven pieces of advice are given in this article to help ensure nothing goes awry for you.

Quite often the question of freshwater aquarium substrate is not given enough attention when a new aquarium is being set up. It is far more important than a lot of people understand. Here are just 7 tips pointing out what could go wrong if certain advice is not taken.

1. Always wash your freshwater aquarium substrate thoroughly with hot water before you use it in your aquarium.And ensure that the tank itself has been thoroughly sterilized too.The substrate will be a place where favorable bacteria will establish themselves, assisting the cycling of nitrogen and producing great living conditions for the fish.

2. To give your aquascape a realistic look ensure the level of substrate rises from the front to the back of the tank. In addition put some localized dips and rises in it as you get in natural surroundings. Consider a combination of rocks, pots (to act as caves/shelter) and other decorations plus a range of different sized plants to complete the realism.

3. Your aquarium water can get harder and the pH get more alkaline if you have gravel with limestone in it. Fish who prefer a less alkaline environment and softer water could suffer as a result. To check that there is none, add a few drops of vinegar to a piece of gravel and if it fizzes then there is limestone in it.

4. If your fish like to dig into the substrate, do not use large particle size gravel. This would be unfair to them. If you have bottom dwellers then do not use sharp, rough edged gravel pieces. They can get injured. Find out about their behavior before you buy them.

5. Never place rocks on top of your substrate. Always bed them into the bottom of the tank and fill around it. This is more secure, especially if you have other rocks and decorations on top of them. And it may stop your fish from being crushed.

6. If an undergravel filter is to be used make sure you have at least 6 to 8 cms of depth to your substrate. If sand is used as a substrate then if you are using an under gravel filter don't forget that it will probably need additional maintenance than usual. It will clog up more frequently.

7. When filling your tank, first of all place a piece of brown paper over the gravel substrate. To stop the substrate being greatly disturbed use a cup to pour the water into and it will flow gently onto the paper when full. Continue filling until it is safe to remove the cup and the fill completes. Remove the brown paper carefully. This method stops you disturbing the substrate layer.

So now you have been given 7 tips regarding freshwater aquarium substrate. Take note of the advice given, carry these out actions and you will have removed several potential problems you may have otherwise had.

7. When filling your tank, first of all place a piece of brown paper over the gravel substrate. To stop the substrate being greatly disturbed use a cup to pour the water into and it will flow gently onto the paper when full. Continue filling until it is safe to remove the cup and the fill completes. Remove the brown paper carefully. This method stops you disturbing the substrate layer.

So now you have been given 7 tips regarding freshwater aquarium substrate. Take note of the advice given, carry these out actions and you will have removed several potential problems you may have otherwise had.

Wood In Aquarium

Natural wood in an aquarium looks beautiful and can make an aquascape look more natural. There are also biological benefits to having real wood in an aquarium. Most aquarium owners who put wood in their aquarium prefer the wood stays at the bottom, this can be a problem since most wood floats in water.

Getting your aquarium wood to sink in water can be simple but not always. Many types of wood will sink after they are allowed to become saturated with water. Some common aquarium woods, like manzanita, are popular in part for their ability to sink after saturating.

To saturate your wood you can soak it in water for a while. Keep some kind of weight on the wood to keep the entire piece submerged. The soaking will also help to leach tannins out of the wood which can discolor the water and can be harmful to some fish. The time needed to saturate the wood will vary depending on the size and the type of wood. It is a good idea to change the water every couple days when soaking if you are also wanting to remove tannins.

Another way to get aquarium wood to sink is to weight the wood in your aquarium. Enough extra weight can get the wood to sink and eventually it will probably saturate enough that you can remove the weight if you want. If you have rocks in your aquarium you can wedge the wood between them or place a rock on top of the wood. Beware that if the rocks slip the wood will then float to the surface. Both the wood and rocks moving could damage your aquarium and injure your fish.

A better way to weight aquarium wood is to attach a weight to your wood. This is often done by using silicone to glue the wood to a rock or piece of slate. When using silicone make sure it is non toxic or food grade silicone. You can also drill a hole in the wood and insert a piece of stainless steel, rock or other non toxic heavy material. You can wedge it in or use silicone to glue it in. For those who prefer not to have any metal in their aquarium you can use a piece of fishing line to attach the wood to a heavy object like a rock.

FISH A TASTE OF PARADISE

On land, if you choose to build a scene or even a gorgeous scene, you do landscaping. But if you choose to create such a scene in water, then you'd be aquascaping.
Aquascaping is an art. It's actually a course of action which calls for 1 to acquire an overflow of creative juices. It's actually a masterpiece.

It really is a technique of arranging aquatic facilities, rocks, stones, and so on. so as to arrive up with an exceptionally gorgeous aquarium. That it is just comparable to gardening or landscaping, the only distinction is with all the venue exactly where this sort of creative juices are designed for.

Aquascaping is largely accomplished for making an aquarium stunning. But you should bear in mind that you are placing animals inside the aquarium. So, in coming up with styles, you've got to figure out a solution to merge beauty with functionality.
Aquascape models occur in the range of designs, this sort of since the following:

· Dutch Style incorporates an arrangement of a variety of crops that are available in various leaf colors, sizes and textures. This design features a central focal point which is surrounded by various rows or sheets of facilities. These rows are palced geometrically to ensure that it types a street-like arrangement between the facilities - this helps make it a Dutch aquascape style. Also, the shortest varieties are put at the forefront while the bigger ones are gradually positioned towards the back.

· Nature Style could be the brainchild of Takashi Amano who has been acknowledged to obtain "set a new standard in aquarium management". The Character design is intended to imitate organic landscapes by making use of couple of plant varieties and meticulously chosen stones. Hence, a miniature landscape is creatively completed in lieu of a colorful garden.
· Jungle Model is often a mix of both equally the Dutch and Character Model. From these two styles, the Jungle Design makes use of crops, rocks and driftwood/ Nonetheless, rocks and driftwood are driftwood usually are not broadly applied as very much as Amano's Dynamics Fashion. But 1 fascinating factor is, aquatic vegetation are permitted to grow wild and the aquarist or aquarium hobbyist can leave it untrimmed till he/she has reached his/her wanted output.
· Biotopes mock-up the crops, fish types within, a particular geographical position. Hence, it aims to offer an exact normal habitat for that fish varieties residing in this kind of a area. Biotopes are valuable because the similar varieties are incorporated inside the aquarium. This similarity allows the aquarist to simply balance the several factors of aquarium existence. That it is also an avenue for folks to own a grasp of what the organisms' pure surroundings actually seem not having getting to go to this sort of a area.

· Paludarium is a mix of both equally an aquarium along with a terrarium or even a blend of land and drinking water bodies. It entails higher efforts like a paludarium can serve as being a housing or care method for plant and animal types which could array from frogs, tropical fish, orchids, and so forth.

· Saltwater reefs, in the name itself, it is an aquascape layout that's centered on a reef. Thus, live rock types are mostly arranged and populated by corals and marine invertebrates.

These are just a few from the aquascaping models. But whatever your decision of styles are, you positive a re offering fish a taste of paradise!

Aqua scaping

My final planted freshwater aquarium.

Planted Freshwater Fish Aquarium

This is my new hobbies.I try setting up a large tropical freshwater aquarium in my home.

As much as you want to have a nice, big, attractive freshwater aquarium, you only have a small budget with which to set it up. So it's time to settle for the alternative and go the least expensive route. You can try having a fish bowl, a round-shaped, small fish tank which is far cheaper than a standard-sized fish tank. The important thing that you should bear in mind is not to include too many fish in the fish bowl as this may tend to cause an imbalance in the environment for other fish species. The ideal number of fish pets is one or two per normal-sized fish bowl.

Building your own freshwater fish bowl is as easy as 1, 2, 3. You do not need lots of expensive equipment - you just need clean water, a small guppy and some pieces of ornamentation. You can utilize aquatic plants that live in freshwater aquariums to provide a balance in your tank. As long as you remember a few of the basics, you can set up your favorite fish bowl without the help of professionals. The first thing you need to do is decide where to position your fish bowl. In terms of positioning simply place it on the top of a small table or stand. There is certainly no need for a customized stand. Also, you can save on your home's monthly water costs as a fish bowl only uses approximately a gallon (or less) of clean water. You can also save on electricity costs since you do not need water filters.

If you are the type who prefers to have a medium size fish bowl, you can choose to buy low cost lighting equipment for your tank. Again, this is not expensive. However, if you are not the type of person to settle for a small fish bowl, you can set up a mini aquarium to further accentuate your living room. You just need to have a small water filter that helps maintain your tank's water, certain types of fish species such as Bloodfin Tetra and Guppy, live aquatic plants, decorative rocks and sand, and other ornamentations that you may include based on personal preference.

You also need to choose the type of material for your mini freshwater aquarium. Basically, manufacturers offer glass and acrylic aquariums, but you need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each type. Since you are working with a small budget, you may opt for glass which is less expensive than acrylic. Generally, acrylic is lighter than glass and more readily fashioned into your own unique shape, but it is more expensive and somewhat more easily scratched than glass. However, some acrylic scratches can be polished out, while scratched glass is all but impossible to fix.

No matter how big or small your freshwater aquarium, it does not matter as long as you keep your tank looking good. It is also important that you keep your fish healthy - the main reason to maintain your freshwater aquarium. Sit back, relax and enjoy the company of your fish, regardless of what size of aquarium you choose.

Live aquatic plants can also be a big help in a tropical freshwater aquarium because plants also help utilize the ammonia and reduce waste levels in the tank. Plants also provide shy or frightened fish with hiding places reducing the amount of stress the fish experience which keeps them healthier. Planted tropical freshwater aquariums are often more stable and contain healthier, happier fish than non-planted aquariums.

As for the stand of your mini aquarium, you can personalize it by using some basic carpentry skills or seeking the help of a friend when building it. This way, you can save a significant amount of money compared to buying a custom-made stand from the manufacturer. Determine how high you want the stand to be - high enough for comfortable viewing, but not so high that the aquarium dominates the room.

Crystal Red Shrimp

Second Aquarium in my home.This is small planted tank only for shrimp.

The crystal red shrimp is a red color variation of the bee shrimp from China and Hong Kong. It was selectively bred from the bee shrimp (and NOT from the bumblebee shrimp as some erroneously claim) in Japan. It gained huge popularity in Japan and Germany due to its nice colors and excellent algae eating habits. Their colors stay red and white permanently and even young crystal red shrimp (even hatchlings) already show this beautiful coloration. There are several color variations of this shrimp in Japan. There are shrimp with mostly red bodies and thin white stripes (most common), shrimp with wider white stripes, and shrimp with very wide solid white stripes (most sought after). Recently a Japanese breeder has been producing shrimp that are almost solid white from tail to mid-body and show some red in the front. Quite a bit of variation can even occur among siblings as the photos above show.

This shrimp will readily cross with the bee shrimp (crystal black shrimp), chinese zebra shrimp, and the tiger shrimp. The bumblebee shrimp might also cross with this shrimp, but it is less likely to do so since it seems to be a completely different species.