Monday 16 July 2007
Pond Aquarium Plants: More than Just Decoration
What is a pond with plants in it? Just another hole in the ground with water! Well, maybe it isn’t that bad, but you will find that by adding plants to your outdoor pond you can greatly help not only with the visual aspects of the pond, but also help your fish breed better and the pond keep itself healthy for your fish. Let’s take a look at how aquatic plants can help spruce up your outdoor pond.
* Different tropical fish like different types of aquatic plants. There are a large number which to choose from and it is important to pick types that your fish will enjoy and those that will help your pond. Most pet stores and tropical fish handbooks can give you an idea of what types of aquatic plants will work well in an outdoor environment. If your pond is large enough you may even want to consult with your local greenhouse which may have a selection of aquatic plants available.
* Aquatic plants serve many purposes in a pond. They not only provide a place for fish to hide, rest and breed, but they also help keep the Carbon Dioxide levels in the water regulated as well as help control algae production. Without aquatic plants you would need to use chemicals and other methods to control the environment.
* Freshwater ponds also benefit from having aquatic plants in them to control the environmental conditions of the water itself. Water lilies not only look beautiful, but they also provide a cool area for fish to hide out during particularly hot days. Many plants also attract bugs and other small insects to them which can provide a great secondary food resource for your tropical fish friends.
* If you are interested in trying to breed your fish, then adding some water-loving plants can also provide a habitat for your fish to breed and raise their young. Fish often lay eggs and want to do so in a place they think is safe. Plants provide the natural covering necessary to help in this process.
Finally, as with everything else in your pond, your aquatic plants will need periodic maintenance. Don’t let them overtake the entire pond – some are nice, too many can be deadly to your fish. Also, as plants die out over the course of nature be sure to remove them so they don’t add contamination to the pond as they decompose.
* Different tropical fish like different types of aquatic plants. There are a large number which to choose from and it is important to pick types that your fish will enjoy and those that will help your pond. Most pet stores and tropical fish handbooks can give you an idea of what types of aquatic plants will work well in an outdoor environment. If your pond is large enough you may even want to consult with your local greenhouse which may have a selection of aquatic plants available.
* Aquatic plants serve many purposes in a pond. They not only provide a place for fish to hide, rest and breed, but they also help keep the Carbon Dioxide levels in the water regulated as well as help control algae production. Without aquatic plants you would need to use chemicals and other methods to control the environment.
* Freshwater ponds also benefit from having aquatic plants in them to control the environmental conditions of the water itself. Water lilies not only look beautiful, but they also provide a cool area for fish to hide out during particularly hot days. Many plants also attract bugs and other small insects to them which can provide a great secondary food resource for your tropical fish friends.
* If you are interested in trying to breed your fish, then adding some water-loving plants can also provide a habitat for your fish to breed and raise their young. Fish often lay eggs and want to do so in a place they think is safe. Plants provide the natural covering necessary to help in this process.
Finally, as with everything else in your pond, your aquatic plants will need periodic maintenance. Don’t let them overtake the entire pond – some are nice, too many can be deadly to your fish. Also, as plants die out over the course of nature be sure to remove them so they don’t add contamination to the pond as they decompose.
Friday 13 July 2007
Betta not Beta- and 4 other Betta FishFacts
Here are the top 5 things you may not know about our favorite tropical fish:
1. It’s a Betta Fish, not a Beta Fish
Beta is the 2nd letter of the Greek alphabet. Betta is the beautiful Siamese Fighting Fish swimming gloriously in your 10-gallon (minimum) aquarium. “Beta” is pronounced “bay-tuh.” “Betta” is pronounced “Bet-Tuh.”
Got it? Good.
2. Bettas are gentle and not fighters.
In the wild, Bettas don’t kill each other unless they’re in an area that’s too small. Normally the loser swims away after the winner flares at him. If there’s nipping involved, the loser gets nipped once and then escapes. It’s never a fight to the death.
3. Bettas are way different than their wild ancestors.
The original Bettas were not fancy and colorful as they are now. Those traits were bred in over the years as Betta made their way from being warrior fish to prized aquarium tropical fish-bettas. (Today in fact Bettas are becoming less aggressive as breeders favor their ornamental qualities — colors and finnage — to fighting ability.)
4. Bettas can breathe air.
Betta fish are known as anabantids because they have the ability to breathe atmospheric air thanks to a unique organ called the labyrinth. This accounts for their
ability to thrive in low-oxygen water conditions that would kill most other fish. Bettas also prefer shallow water that allows them to easily come up for air.
5. Bettas do not prefer confined areas.
The saddest thing I see is Bettas being kept in tiny cups at pet stores.
There is evidence to indicate that the male Betta prefers a confined area when breeding, but other than that he appears to be perfectly happy to swim in larger tanks, as long as he has small places in the tank to stake out his territory and hide. So there is no hard and fast requirement to keep your Betta in a small area, contrary to popular belief.
If you notice your Betta swimming in circles a lot, rubbing against the glass, and other sorts of odd behavior that says “Get me outta here!”, it indicates he wants to be in a larger tank.
You see, Bettas do like to have room to swim around. They like clean water that’s filtered well. The males like to display their toughness to one another — i .e., to see other Bettas on occasion and flare (puff out their gills and fins) at them. It makes them happy and stimulated.
And it’s beautiful the way a Betta’s fins flow when they’re given lots of room to sprint around their tank. Basically the bottom line is this… Bettas have a lot of personality. So as a rule, you should give each Betta enough room to display their individuality. Ten gallons is a good rule for minimum tank size for your Bettas to be happy.
from the Betta Fish Blog
1. It’s a Betta Fish, not a Beta Fish
Beta is the 2nd letter of the Greek alphabet. Betta is the beautiful Siamese Fighting Fish swimming gloriously in your 10-gallon (minimum) aquarium. “Beta” is pronounced “bay-tuh.” “Betta” is pronounced “Bet-Tuh.”
Got it? Good.
2. Bettas are gentle and not fighters.
In the wild, Bettas don’t kill each other unless they’re in an area that’s too small. Normally the loser swims away after the winner flares at him. If there’s nipping involved, the loser gets nipped once and then escapes. It’s never a fight to the death.
3. Bettas are way different than their wild ancestors.
The original Bettas were not fancy and colorful as they are now. Those traits were bred in over the years as Betta made their way from being warrior fish to prized aquarium tropical fish-bettas. (Today in fact Bettas are becoming less aggressive as breeders favor their ornamental qualities — colors and finnage — to fighting ability.)
4. Bettas can breathe air.
Betta fish are known as anabantids because they have the ability to breathe atmospheric air thanks to a unique organ called the labyrinth. This accounts for their
ability to thrive in low-oxygen water conditions that would kill most other fish. Bettas also prefer shallow water that allows them to easily come up for air.
5. Bettas do not prefer confined areas.
The saddest thing I see is Bettas being kept in tiny cups at pet stores.
There is evidence to indicate that the male Betta prefers a confined area when breeding, but other than that he appears to be perfectly happy to swim in larger tanks, as long as he has small places in the tank to stake out his territory and hide. So there is no hard and fast requirement to keep your Betta in a small area, contrary to popular belief.
If you notice your Betta swimming in circles a lot, rubbing against the glass, and other sorts of odd behavior that says “Get me outta here!”, it indicates he wants to be in a larger tank.
You see, Bettas do like to have room to swim around. They like clean water that’s filtered well. The males like to display their toughness to one another — i .e., to see other Bettas on occasion and flare (puff out their gills and fins) at them. It makes them happy and stimulated.
And it’s beautiful the way a Betta’s fins flow when they’re given lots of room to sprint around their tank. Basically the bottom line is this… Bettas have a lot of personality. So as a rule, you should give each Betta enough room to display their individuality. Ten gallons is a good rule for minimum tank size for your Bettas to be happy.
from the Betta Fish Blog
Thursday 12 July 2007
Monitoring the Healthcare of Your Tropical Pond Fish
You have a beautiful outdoor pond stocked full of the fish that create a wonderful kaleidoscope of color in your backyard. If you aren’t careful, though, you can come outside one day to find most of your habitat dieing or in poor health. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can monitor the health of your outdoor pond fish.
* Your tropical fish live in that pond, but so do their waste, food, oxygen and everything else from nature that may drain into the pond. It’s important to keep on top of pond maintenance to keep up the well-being of your fish. One of the regular maintenance items on your list should be to take the pH level of the pond at least once a week. Know what pH level is appropriate for your fish and if you notice an increase or decrease try to find and resolve the problem before it affects the health of your tropical fish.
* Maybe you just moved some of your favorite species from the indoor aquarium to the outside pond and they just don’t seem to be doing so well. It could be “new tank syndrome” as they are getting over the shock of being transported to a new environment. Tropical fish are very susceptible to stress, and moving definitely applies stress to the poor fellows! Try to introduce them gradually to the pond, and always make sure they spend at least 24 hours getting used to the temperature of the new pond before releasing them.
* Don’t crowd them out! You may think you have a big pond, but you still need to keep space considerations in mind. Too many fish in the pond will quickly turn the water toxic and could potentially kill off the entire pond. Start out small and keep a record of how many and what species you have introduced to the pond. Not only does this help plan out how many fish you can add, but if you notice a sudden change in health of the fish after adding a certain species you will have a record of where and when to help you isolate it.
* Keep on top of pond cleaning and maintenance. If you notice your fish losing their color, or becoming bloated it could be because there is too much algae, carbon dioxide or other parasites in the water. It’s hard to control all the variables in an outside setting, but there are a number of additives you can put in the water to at least control the parasites.
Although an outdoor pond requires you to keep an eye on it a bit more than your indoor aquarium you will find that with just a little bit of extra work you can have a tropical fish setting that will please you for years to come – not to mention add that special touch to your outdoor landscaping.
* Your tropical fish live in that pond, but so do their waste, food, oxygen and everything else from nature that may drain into the pond. It’s important to keep on top of pond maintenance to keep up the well-being of your fish. One of the regular maintenance items on your list should be to take the pH level of the pond at least once a week. Know what pH level is appropriate for your fish and if you notice an increase or decrease try to find and resolve the problem before it affects the health of your tropical fish.
* Maybe you just moved some of your favorite species from the indoor aquarium to the outside pond and they just don’t seem to be doing so well. It could be “new tank syndrome” as they are getting over the shock of being transported to a new environment. Tropical fish are very susceptible to stress, and moving definitely applies stress to the poor fellows! Try to introduce them gradually to the pond, and always make sure they spend at least 24 hours getting used to the temperature of the new pond before releasing them.
* Don’t crowd them out! You may think you have a big pond, but you still need to keep space considerations in mind. Too many fish in the pond will quickly turn the water toxic and could potentially kill off the entire pond. Start out small and keep a record of how many and what species you have introduced to the pond. Not only does this help plan out how many fish you can add, but if you notice a sudden change in health of the fish after adding a certain species you will have a record of where and when to help you isolate it.
* Keep on top of pond cleaning and maintenance. If you notice your fish losing their color, or becoming bloated it could be because there is too much algae, carbon dioxide or other parasites in the water. It’s hard to control all the variables in an outside setting, but there are a number of additives you can put in the water to at least control the parasites.
Although an outdoor pond requires you to keep an eye on it a bit more than your indoor aquarium you will find that with just a little bit of extra work you can have a tropical fish setting that will please you for years to come – not to mention add that special touch to your outdoor landscaping.
Tuesday 10 July 2007
Size It Up: Picking the Right Aquarium Size for Your Tropical Fish
Perhaps you’ve enjoyed your tropical fish for many years, or maybe you are just getting started with this wonderful hobby. Whatever the case, you may have questions and concerns about how to size your aquarium to best fit your needs. Finding the right size aquarium that will provide the right habitat for your fish is a process that doesn’t time much time and will ensure that you have an environment you and your fish can enjoy for years to come.
* The first thing you should ask yourself is just how much room do you have for an aquarium? Perhaps you just have a small desk in the den to set a small aquarium on, or maybe you have a huge inset wall that you could place a 200+ gallon tank in. While you are taking inventory of where you might be able to place your tank, also look at the environment near where you have in mind. Avoid placing an aquarium directly below or above an air conditioning or heater vent. Also, do not place the aquarium near a window that gets strong sunlight all throughout the day. Finally, keep in mind that you will need a power source and a storage area for the food and other materials.
* Next, decide what type of tropical fish you would like to have in your tank. Each different species of fish has specific requirements for the amount of water and space they need in a tank. Do not make the mistake of adding fish to your tank without taking into account how much room they need. Most stores tend to over-populate their aquariums with way too many fish because of the turnover they have in selling them. This can lead you to believe that you can actually place more fish in your tank than it can safely handle. If you have any questions about how much room your particular tropical fish will need ask the salesman or consult a handbook.
* Now remember, most aquariums have more than just fish in them. They also may include tropical plants, other freshwater creatures (such as slugs or snails), decorative items and wood or rock pieces. Each of these items takes up valuable real estate in your aquarium. Yet they are all vital components of a successful aquarium. Tropical plants can do wonders in keeping your tank clean and water well aerated. Likewise, snails and other freshwater creatures can also help keep algae down in the tank which can sometimes be a problem depending on what environment you have.
Now that you have mapped out all the requirements for your aquarium it’s time to go shopping. Here your bank account may dictate what type of aquarium you can purchase. Larger tanks require more heavy duty filtration devices and water aerators. This can add up quickly. Many people who are just getting into the hobby may be better suited in checking out local yard sales, online auctions and the classifieds for people who are selling old aquariums for a fraction of the price!
* The first thing you should ask yourself is just how much room do you have for an aquarium? Perhaps you just have a small desk in the den to set a small aquarium on, or maybe you have a huge inset wall that you could place a 200+ gallon tank in. While you are taking inventory of where you might be able to place your tank, also look at the environment near where you have in mind. Avoid placing an aquarium directly below or above an air conditioning or heater vent. Also, do not place the aquarium near a window that gets strong sunlight all throughout the day. Finally, keep in mind that you will need a power source and a storage area for the food and other materials.
* Next, decide what type of tropical fish you would like to have in your tank. Each different species of fish has specific requirements for the amount of water and space they need in a tank. Do not make the mistake of adding fish to your tank without taking into account how much room they need. Most stores tend to over-populate their aquariums with way too many fish because of the turnover they have in selling them. This can lead you to believe that you can actually place more fish in your tank than it can safely handle. If you have any questions about how much room your particular tropical fish will need ask the salesman or consult a handbook.
* Now remember, most aquariums have more than just fish in them. They also may include tropical plants, other freshwater creatures (such as slugs or snails), decorative items and wood or rock pieces. Each of these items takes up valuable real estate in your aquarium. Yet they are all vital components of a successful aquarium. Tropical plants can do wonders in keeping your tank clean and water well aerated. Likewise, snails and other freshwater creatures can also help keep algae down in the tank which can sometimes be a problem depending on what environment you have.
Now that you have mapped out all the requirements for your aquarium it’s time to go shopping. Here your bank account may dictate what type of aquarium you can purchase. Larger tanks require more heavy duty filtration devices and water aerators. This can add up quickly. Many people who are just getting into the hobby may be better suited in checking out local yard sales, online auctions and the classifieds for people who are selling old aquariums for a fraction of the price!
Monday 9 July 2007
Some Helpful Tips for Choosing the Right Tropical Fish
If you are starting out new in your tropical fish hobby then you may be wondering just what type of fish you should get. Perhaps you want something a bit more advanced than the traditional goldfish that sat on your dresser as a child. The good news is that there is such a wide variety of tropical fish nowadays that you can pretty much find one that will fit your personality and setting. Let’s check out some tips for helping you choose the right ones for your aquarium!
* Now think of this for a moment. Say you purchase 4 small Angelfish thinking they are perfect for your tank. They look great until a year later you wake up and realize that they have grown and are now over 110mm in length! Suddenly that aquarium that housed them with plenty of room is cramped and the Angelfish aren’t looking too healthy. It’s important when choosing your tropical fish you not only account for the space they take now, but how much they will take as they grow older.
* A piece of advice any good tropical fish hobbyist will give you is to purchase your fish from a reputable dealer. Wal-Mart is not the place to be buying fish you plan to keep for years. A pet store or aquatic supply shop that takes pride in what they sell will make sure you are getting quality stock. Any sick fish will be isolated from the rest of the bunch. At mass merchandisers that sell fish you are pretty much “hoping for the best”. It’s worthwhile to spend a little more money to make sure you are not going to get a sick fish that could potentially infect your entire tank!
* Just like people, different fish have different requirements in what makes a good environment for them to live in. For example, Angelfish tend to favor tall tanks, while Tetras and Danios like space as they tend to school together and love to race each other around! A fish like a Labyrinth, as the name suggests, like places they can hide so be
sure to have rocks, plants and other decorations they can retreat off too.
When stocking the fish in the tank, keep in mind that if you try and add too many you will get what is called toxic shock syndrome and risk losing your entire tank! Seek out advice if you are not familiar in how many fish per gallon you need in your tank or are unsure about the space requirements of what you plan to purchase. Again, this is where it helps to go to a store that specializes in tropical fish that can give you expert advice.
* Now think of this for a moment. Say you purchase 4 small Angelfish thinking they are perfect for your tank. They look great until a year later you wake up and realize that they have grown and are now over 110mm in length! Suddenly that aquarium that housed them with plenty of room is cramped and the Angelfish aren’t looking too healthy. It’s important when choosing your tropical fish you not only account for the space they take now, but how much they will take as they grow older.
* A piece of advice any good tropical fish hobbyist will give you is to purchase your fish from a reputable dealer. Wal-Mart is not the place to be buying fish you plan to keep for years. A pet store or aquatic supply shop that takes pride in what they sell will make sure you are getting quality stock. Any sick fish will be isolated from the rest of the bunch. At mass merchandisers that sell fish you are pretty much “hoping for the best”. It’s worthwhile to spend a little more money to make sure you are not going to get a sick fish that could potentially infect your entire tank!
* Just like people, different fish have different requirements in what makes a good environment for them to live in. For example, Angelfish tend to favor tall tanks, while Tetras and Danios like space as they tend to school together and love to race each other around! A fish like a Labyrinth, as the name suggests, like places they can hide so be
sure to have rocks, plants and other decorations they can retreat off too.
When stocking the fish in the tank, keep in mind that if you try and add too many you will get what is called toxic shock syndrome and risk losing your entire tank! Seek out advice if you are not familiar in how many fish per gallon you need in your tank or are unsure about the space requirements of what you plan to purchase. Again, this is where it helps to go to a store that specializes in tropical fish that can give you expert advice.
Saturday 7 July 2007
Fish in the classroom
The Pet Care Trust today announced that it will create and support a Fish in the Classroom Program over the next three years.
Lew Sutton, PetAg, the President of the Pet Care Trust, said, “I am pleased to announce today the creation of the Pet Care Trust’s Fish in the Classroom (FIC) Program that will educate and enhance the experiences of grade school students who are learning about fish and how to care for them, while at the same time providing value to the industry that makes fish ownership and enjoyment possible.”
Sutton continued, “Over the next three years we will look forward to working with five nationally recognized aquariums and grade schools and retailers across the country to create Fish in the Classroom Programs that will include a 'Retail Mentoring Program' that will operate on an ongoing basis by the retailers in the communities where the Aquariums are located.”
The FIC team will also develop a National “Retailer” Fish in the Classroom Program that will help retailers across the country establish their own grassroots-based Fish in the Classroom Programs where retailers can support teachers and mentor the program on an ongoing basis.
“We will use the remainder of 2007 to learn from and help expand the existing Florida Aquarium’s Aquariumania Outreach Program. Our plan is to help the Florida Aquarium extend their outreach program to 100 teachers by the end of 2007,” noted Sutton.
On July 30, 2007, senior executives from the hardware and software aquatic industry will meet for the first time in Chicago, IL, to create and organize an Aquatic Advisory Council (AAC) that will provide ongoing strategic counsel to support the FIC program.
“Our goal is to create and extend the FIC program across the United States to reach grade school students, and do so in a partnership with those in business who recognize the opportunity and value that can be created by helping young people learn about and enjoy fish,” Sutton concluded.
Thursday 5 July 2007
Saltwater Aquarium
The decision to purchase a saltwater or marine fish tank for your home or office should not be taken lightly. Marine fish will have requirements far greater than freshwater fish. However, once you’ve decided to purchase a saltwater aquarium you’ll be rewarded with a stunning range of tropical and reef fish to choose from.
But first you’ll need to purchase your tank. The selection process can be time consuming and confusing because the range of tanks available is large. The best advice is usually to purchase the largest tank you can afford and that will fit in the available space. There are numerous stories of people starting out their fish tank hobby with a small fish tank only to find in a short space of time that they wish they had purchased a larger tank!
A 30-gallon saltwater aquarium is probably the smallest tank you should consider. A fish tank of this size will provide sufficient surface area to allow adequate exchange of oxygen into the water and to provide a comfortable swimming environment for your fish.
The oxygen supply in the water together with the water temperature will determine the success or otherwise of your fish keeping hobby. Tropical saltwater fish require a water temperature of about 75 degrees F. The warmer water in the saltwater aquarium will tend to deplete the oxygen in the water which means that the surface area becomes important. The addition of aeration equipment is usually desirable to increase the oxygen concentration. Aeration can usually be provided in conjunction with your filtration equipment.
But first you’ll need to purchase your tank. The selection process can be time consuming and confusing because the range of tanks available is large. The best advice is usually to purchase the largest tank you can afford and that will fit in the available space. There are numerous stories of people starting out their fish tank hobby with a small fish tank only to find in a short space of time that they wish they had purchased a larger tank!
A 30-gallon saltwater aquarium is probably the smallest tank you should consider. A fish tank of this size will provide sufficient surface area to allow adequate exchange of oxygen into the water and to provide a comfortable swimming environment for your fish.
The oxygen supply in the water together with the water temperature will determine the success or otherwise of your fish keeping hobby. Tropical saltwater fish require a water temperature of about 75 degrees F. The warmer water in the saltwater aquarium will tend to deplete the oxygen in the water which means that the surface area becomes important. The addition of aeration equipment is usually desirable to increase the oxygen concentration. Aeration can usually be provided in conjunction with your filtration equipment.
Sunday 1 July 2007
Aquaplancton for Ponds
I have just come across an advert for Aquaplancton, and looking at the advertising for it, it looks a very good product for the pond. It clears the pond of rotting algae and organic matter according to the literature. I haven’t tried it myself but looking at the website it looks a sure fire winner. It is a very “natural” way to keep ponds clear, if anyone has used this can they please leave feedback on this post.
I have included a copy of an endorsement from their website:- "Further to purchasing the bulk bag last month and treating our koi pond with Aquaplancton last week, we have seen a dramatic reduction in blanketweed. Where we previously had to clean the sponge pre-filters on the pumps every day, or 2nd day at the latest, we have now been running for 10 days and the pumps still run nearly as well as when we changed the
pre-filters (which coincided with the initial Aquaplancton dose).
Excellent product! Highly recommendable."
Aquaplancton
I have included a copy of an endorsement from their website:- "Further to purchasing the bulk bag last month and treating our koi pond with Aquaplancton last week, we have seen a dramatic reduction in blanketweed. Where we previously had to clean the sponge pre-filters on the pumps every day, or 2nd day at the latest, we have now been running for 10 days and the pumps still run nearly as well as when we changed the
pre-filters (which coincided with the initial Aquaplancton dose).
Excellent product! Highly recommendable."
Aquaplancton
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