Thursday, November 17, 2011
Reef Aquarium Setup
There are really no specific secrets to keeping a reef collection, but there are a few rules regarding lighting, filtration, and set-up. These aquariums aren't for everybody because they can be expensive to build-out, furnish, populate, and maintain. They're also time-consuming and there are different marine systems. So I encourage you to practice the less demanding set ups that we'll discuss and read some specialty books in this field before going too far.
The intensity and quality of light is a function of arranging a mix of full-spectrum fluorescent lamps and fixtures, in whatever output formats. As far as looks go, metal halides and other novel illumination can be considered to increase the system's brightness and human appreciation. Some organisms are near the surface while others are found in deeper waters so they would require more and less light. They need to placed accordingly so that they don't fade from lack of or too much light.
Your artificial filtration system needs to be vigorous and exacting in removal of excess materials and chemicals from the water. There are two different approaches or ways of readily accomplishing these ends. There is the extensive method and intensive method. In this "extensive" method, you would use natural lighting. Intensive technologies include variations of wet-dry trickle filters.
Reef organisms are simulated by strong flow, and water movement serves to diffuse and distribute oxygen and wastes. So no matter what type of water you use, no reef system should be denied the benefits of energetic water flow. You can even use extra or alternate fluid moving mechanisms not normally associated with filtration, but whatever you use, make it brisk.
An important part of reef systems are the use of calcareous rocks or sand, made up of mainly aragonite/calcium carbonate instead of sedimentary or siliceous. This performs critically important functions. It buffers the pH and balances the biological processes of the reef.
If you properly set up your reef system, it's the closest thing marine systems have to being maintenance-free. Keep attention to balancing the living and non-living components because they become homeostatic. Make sure you're spending a few to several hours a week to check the water's chemistry to adjust salinity, feed the livestock, and just check the whole system overall. It's fun and enjoyable, but many people that try it are unaware or don't like the time commitment.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Coldwater Aquarium Fish
If you're interested in starting up an aquarium of coldwater fish, it's probably good to know which fish those are. You want to make sure that they can be placed in that kind of environment and survive. As with most blogs I write about, be sure to check and make sure that the fish you put together in a tank can co-habit well before throwing them in together.
The most common coldwater fish is the goldfish, followed closely behind by the koi. There are many other fish that do not require a heated tank. Many are even large enough that they are only suitable for ponds, but the following list of fish are specifically coldwater fish that can actually be set up in an aquarium because they are small to medium sized.
The most common coldwater fish is the goldfish, followed closely behind by the koi. There are many other fish that do not require a heated tank. Many are even large enough that they are only suitable for ponds, but the following list of fish are specifically coldwater fish that can actually be set up in an aquarium because they are small to medium sized.
- Barbs. There are a number of different species of barbs available, and all are easy to care for and suitable for a community aquarium.
- Bloodfin Tetra. Both the standard and false bloodfin can tolerate temperature as low as the mid sixties. They are offered in many pet shops, are easy to care for, and pretty hardy. They are usually top dwellers and are best kept in schools.
- Buenos Aires Tetra. They can also tolerate temperatures into the mid sixties. They are undemanding and easy to care for, as well. Very suitable for a community tank, but will eat live plants.
- Croaking Tetra. These are harder to find on sale, but they are an attractive fish that is worth shopping around for. They are easy to care for and suitable for community tanks.
- Guppy. There are many attractive variations of this popular fish and usually available at most pet shops.
- Hillstream Loaches. They're not often found in pet stores, but can be found for sale occasionally. They don't all prefer cool temperatures, but most can tolerate temperatures that fall into the mid to upper sixties.
- Native Fish. This is a variety of North American native fish that are now being sold in the aquarium trade. Most can tolerate cool water and vary in size.
- Pearl Danio. This fish is hardy and easy to care for. Can tolerate temps in the mid 60s and is easy to find.
- Weather Loach.This is one of the easiest fish to care for. It can even tolerate waters into the fifties.
- Wimple (or batfish). This is not very commonly found and is an unusual fish, but worth tracking down if you want a unique fish.
- White Cloud Mountain Minnow. One of the easiest to care for and do best in cooler temperatures, although very low temps will lessen their attractive coloration.
- Zebra Danio. Most readily accessible fish, besides the goldfish and guppy. They tolerate temperatures into the mid sixties and are easy to care for.
There are even more coldwater fish than that, but that list should give you enough options to at least start your aquarium. If you decide to venture out and put this tank together, have fun and good luck.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Freshwater Aquarium Sharks
Certain types of sharks actually can be kept in an at-home aquarium. You definitely want to do your homework before hand to make sure that the sharks you put in your aquarium get along with the other fish that are in your tank.
Some common sharks that you can get are the bamboo sharks, cat sharks, epaulette sharks, and nurse sharks. They grow relatively small and even if you still need a large aquarium it is possible to keep and care for them in a home aquarium.
To keep aquarium sharks you will need a large tank that is at least three times the length of the shark when it is fully grown and the width of the aquarium must be at least 2 times the length of the fish. This means that a 150 cm long shark will need an aquarium that is at least 450 cm long and 300 cm in width. The tank should be shallow and offer as much surface area as possible. A round or hexagonal aquarium is preferred because corners might prevent the shark from swimming freely. Decorate the tank to create as much open space as possible for swimming however a few hiding places that they can hide under is appreciated. Make sure the shark can't get stuck in the hiding places.
Have a good protein skimmer and good filtration. Use circulation that turns over the water at least 5-6 times per hour. All equipment, including tubes, should be hidden. The water needs to be kept high and stable. The importance of keeping it stable means that you only keep sharks in established tanks. Sharks don't tolerate metals in the construction of the aquarium so it's recommended not to use any metals with your aquarium.
These are just some basics. As far as feeding and co-habitability, just make sure you do your research before purchasing any new fish or sharks and putting them into the tank.
Some common sharks that you can get are the bamboo sharks, cat sharks, epaulette sharks, and nurse sharks. They grow relatively small and even if you still need a large aquarium it is possible to keep and care for them in a home aquarium.
To keep aquarium sharks you will need a large tank that is at least three times the length of the shark when it is fully grown and the width of the aquarium must be at least 2 times the length of the fish. This means that a 150 cm long shark will need an aquarium that is at least 450 cm long and 300 cm in width. The tank should be shallow and offer as much surface area as possible. A round or hexagonal aquarium is preferred because corners might prevent the shark from swimming freely. Decorate the tank to create as much open space as possible for swimming however a few hiding places that they can hide under is appreciated. Make sure the shark can't get stuck in the hiding places.
Have a good protein skimmer and good filtration. Use circulation that turns over the water at least 5-6 times per hour. All equipment, including tubes, should be hidden. The water needs to be kept high and stable. The importance of keeping it stable means that you only keep sharks in established tanks. Sharks don't tolerate metals in the construction of the aquarium so it's recommended not to use any metals with your aquarium.
These are just some basics. As far as feeding and co-habitability, just make sure you do your research before purchasing any new fish or sharks and putting them into the tank.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Planted Aquarium
If you've decided that you want a planted aquarium, then you've come to the right place. If you have an aquarium with plants, you'll notice that your tank looks more natural and help your fish behave in a more natural manner, as well. Since we've already talked about fish so much, my goal here today is to go over some basics for the plant life of your aquarium.
You need to get a good-quality substrate to put your plants in. If you get cheap gravel, it will cause the plants to not grow as well. Put in a little extra money at the beginning will pay off in the end. All plants need a supply of iron to grow, so substrates like Flourite and Eco-Complete provide iron to the plants through the roots. Plants will grow somewhat in average gravel, but the size of the gravel is what's important. It needs to be a finer grain in size and fertilized to provide the nutrients your plants will need. The depth, no matter what kind of substrate or gravel you use, should be about 3 inches.
Lighting is important, as well. Lighting can make or break your plants. The lighting that is usually supplied when you initially purchase your tank is intended for viewing so it is under-powered to successfully grow the majority of plants you put inside. You need to figure the watts per gallon. It is 2 1/2-3 watts per gallon will grow most plants that require moderate light.
Just like the fish, plants have nutritional needs too. The stronger the lighting you have, the hungrier your plants will be. If they lack nutrients, they may start to get yellow leaves, stunted growth, or spindly stems. You want to allow your plants about 4 weeks or so to adapt to the tank before any fertilizing. They need micronutrients, which are available through tap water, as well as macro nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium), and substrate fertilizers.
Keeping up with your plants is just as tricky as the fish. You want to give them nutrients, but not too much. You want to give them lighting, but not too much. The key to keeping healthy, vibrant plants is balance. You need to give them just the right amount of everything to have them flourish. Just keep an eye on them, though. It's not difficult. If their health seems to be deteriorating, figure out what it is that you need to adjust and work from there.
You need to get a good-quality substrate to put your plants in. If you get cheap gravel, it will cause the plants to not grow as well. Put in a little extra money at the beginning will pay off in the end. All plants need a supply of iron to grow, so substrates like Flourite and Eco-Complete provide iron to the plants through the roots. Plants will grow somewhat in average gravel, but the size of the gravel is what's important. It needs to be a finer grain in size and fertilized to provide the nutrients your plants will need. The depth, no matter what kind of substrate or gravel you use, should be about 3 inches.
Lighting is important, as well. Lighting can make or break your plants. The lighting that is usually supplied when you initially purchase your tank is intended for viewing so it is under-powered to successfully grow the majority of plants you put inside. You need to figure the watts per gallon. It is 2 1/2-3 watts per gallon will grow most plants that require moderate light.
Just like the fish, plants have nutritional needs too. The stronger the lighting you have, the hungrier your plants will be. If they lack nutrients, they may start to get yellow leaves, stunted growth, or spindly stems. You want to allow your plants about 4 weeks or so to adapt to the tank before any fertilizing. They need micronutrients, which are available through tap water, as well as macro nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium), and substrate fertilizers.
Keeping up with your plants is just as tricky as the fish. You want to give them nutrients, but not too much. You want to give them lighting, but not too much. The key to keeping healthy, vibrant plants is balance. You need to give them just the right amount of everything to have them flourish. Just keep an eye on them, though. It's not difficult. If their health seems to be deteriorating, figure out what it is that you need to adjust and work from there.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Aquarium Fish Species
There are so many species of fish out there that it's hard to know which ones can be put into your aquarium. Well, that list is actually quite long it self. What I'm going to do is give you two lists of fish. The first one is a list of freshwater fish that you can get for your aquarium, and the second is for saltwater fish. Now, be sure, before you go out and buy all these fish and throw them in together, that you do a little research to find out which ones are compatible with each other and how their living environments need to be so you can have a harmonious aquarium.
Freshwater fish that you can put in aquariums include, but are not limited to:
Freshwater fish that you can put in aquariums include, but are not limited to:
- Jewelfish
- Angelfish
- Arowana
- Barb
- Betta
- Tetra
- Gourami
- Catfish
- Cichlid
- Loach
- Cory
- Danio
- Discus
- Firemouth
- Goldfish
- Guppy
- Hatchetfish
- Jack Dempsey
- Kribensis
- Livebearer
- Swordtail
- Molly
- Oscar
- Otocinclus
- Paradisefish
- Platy
- Plecostomus or Pleco
- Rainbowfish
- Ram
- Shark
- Botia
- Siamese Fighting Fish
- Silver Dollar
- Peckoltia
- Moorii
- White Cloud
Saltwater fish include, but are not limited to:
- Tang
- Angelfish
- Anthias
- Blue Devil
- Boxfish
- Butterflyfish
- Cardinalfish
- Clownfish
- Damselfish
- Eel
- Firefish
- Frogfish
- Goby
- Chromis
- Grouper
- Hawkfish
- Jawfish
- Lionfish
- Cowfish
- Marine Comet
- Pufferfish
- Rabbitfish
- Gramma
- Seahorse
- Soldierfish
- Squirrelfish
- Surgeonfish
- Triggerfish
- Wrasse
Those are some pretty long lists of all of the different fish that you can put into aquariums. Like I said earlier, though, make sure your fish can get along with one another. You don't want one fish eating the other and end up with just have one big fish in your tank. Get the information you need to set up your aquarium and maintain it, as well as take care of the fish you put inside.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Sea Life Aquarium
The Sea Life Aquarium are all around the world.They have locations in Germany, UK, USA, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Eire, Holland, Italy, Finland, Italy, and Portugal. They have 9 locations in Germany, 13 in the UK, and 5 in the US.
No matter which location you are able to go to, they all have amazing exhibits and animals to see. Many of their creatures are even on the endangered list and have been rescued. Some of their animals cannot be released into the wild because they have been born or bred as part of the conservation projects.
The aquariums have an Interactive Rockpool, where you can hold a Crab. They have an African Dwarf Crocodile, Asian Short Clawed Otter, Blacktip Reef Shark, Clownfish, Common Octopus, Cownose Ray, Green Turtle, Hammerhead Shark, Humboldt Penguins, and Leafy Seadragon.
The aquarium in California has additional exhibits like the Discovery Zone Touch Pool, where you can touch sea stars and crabs, alike. You can even walk through a 35-foot-long tunnel and explore the Lost City of Atlantis, which is a 200,000 gallon ocean that features sharks, rays, and tropical fish. They also have feeding demonstrations all day that you can take part in.
In Texas, there is a children's submarine themed play zone, and go on a shark walk. There's even a behind-the-scenes experience you can take or you can watch a conservation film in the cinema.
With other locations in the US in Kansas, Minnesota, and Arizona, you're sure to find an aquarium that you can visit and have a day of fun.
There is so much to do so no matter where you travel, look up the Sea Life Aquarium and stop by, no matter where you go!
No matter which location you are able to go to, they all have amazing exhibits and animals to see. Many of their creatures are even on the endangered list and have been rescued. Some of their animals cannot be released into the wild because they have been born or bred as part of the conservation projects.
The aquariums have an Interactive Rockpool, where you can hold a Crab. They have an African Dwarf Crocodile, Asian Short Clawed Otter, Blacktip Reef Shark, Clownfish, Common Octopus, Cownose Ray, Green Turtle, Hammerhead Shark, Humboldt Penguins, and Leafy Seadragon.
The aquarium in California has additional exhibits like the Discovery Zone Touch Pool, where you can touch sea stars and crabs, alike. You can even walk through a 35-foot-long tunnel and explore the Lost City of Atlantis, which is a 200,000 gallon ocean that features sharks, rays, and tropical fish. They also have feeding demonstrations all day that you can take part in.
In Texas, there is a children's submarine themed play zone, and go on a shark walk. There's even a behind-the-scenes experience you can take or you can watch a conservation film in the cinema.
With other locations in the US in Kansas, Minnesota, and Arizona, you're sure to find an aquarium that you can visit and have a day of fun.
There is so much to do so no matter where you travel, look up the Sea Life Aquarium and stop by, no matter where you go!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Florida is home to many animals. It is one of the best aquariums in the country. You can meet a penguin face-to-beak or watch the children splash the day away in their outdoor water fun zone, Explore a Shore.
They have 200,000 square-feet of air-conditioned space filled with things for everyone to do.
Explore a Shore is a 2-acre outdoor water adventure zone that lets the kids cool off while parents are able to relax in the shade at the Cantina bar and grill. This zone includes watery waves, slippery slides, gushing geysers, and all sorts of animal models. Toddlers can even enjoy sand castles, little slides, and giant sea creature figures at Shipwreck Shore.
They also offer an adventure where you can Swim with the Fishes. It is an in-water reef adventure where guests (6 years old and up) can encounter some of Florida Keys' most beautiful coral reef dive sites without even being a certified SCUBA diver. They can experience SCUBA diving from the surface, while enjoying all of the sights of a thriving coral reef.
You and your family can even experience Penguins: Backstage Pass. It is a 30 minute "behind the scenes" experience where guests can interact with penguins, up-close and personal. You'll be led by an experienced penguin biologist, and may be able to touch the penguins, see them waddle, swim, shake their tails, and jump in and out of their interaction pool. The biologist there will describe and answer any questions about these birds. You can also catch a glimpse of their feeding habits as the biologists feed them. These penguins are South African birds that live in a temperate environment so no coats are even needed.
The aquarium even offers a 90-minute journey through the bay aboard their 72-foot catamaran, the Bay Spirit II. This allows guests to encounter the awesome animals that thrive in the local waters.
The last special activity they offer is Dive with the Sharks. This is a unique opportunity for anyone 15 or older who is a certified SCUBA diver to come face-to-face with live sharks. You can dive into the aquarium's largest tank, the Coral Reef Exhibit, with the warm clear water which encloses sharks, eels, barracuda, green sea turtles, and more. They provide all of the gear (and the sharks) for this experience.
You can go to their website here, for more information and to plan your trip to their aquarium. With so many special exhibits and activities to do, you're in for a day (or maybe even 2 days) of fun-filled adventures.
They have 200,000 square-feet of air-conditioned space filled with things for everyone to do.
Explore a Shore is a 2-acre outdoor water adventure zone that lets the kids cool off while parents are able to relax in the shade at the Cantina bar and grill. This zone includes watery waves, slippery slides, gushing geysers, and all sorts of animal models. Toddlers can even enjoy sand castles, little slides, and giant sea creature figures at Shipwreck Shore.
They also offer an adventure where you can Swim with the Fishes. It is an in-water reef adventure where guests (6 years old and up) can encounter some of Florida Keys' most beautiful coral reef dive sites without even being a certified SCUBA diver. They can experience SCUBA diving from the surface, while enjoying all of the sights of a thriving coral reef.
You and your family can even experience Penguins: Backstage Pass. It is a 30 minute "behind the scenes" experience where guests can interact with penguins, up-close and personal. You'll be led by an experienced penguin biologist, and may be able to touch the penguins, see them waddle, swim, shake their tails, and jump in and out of their interaction pool. The biologist there will describe and answer any questions about these birds. You can also catch a glimpse of their feeding habits as the biologists feed them. These penguins are South African birds that live in a temperate environment so no coats are even needed.
The aquarium even offers a 90-minute journey through the bay aboard their 72-foot catamaran, the Bay Spirit II. This allows guests to encounter the awesome animals that thrive in the local waters.
The last special activity they offer is Dive with the Sharks. This is a unique opportunity for anyone 15 or older who is a certified SCUBA diver to come face-to-face with live sharks. You can dive into the aquarium's largest tank, the Coral Reef Exhibit, with the warm clear water which encloses sharks, eels, barracuda, green sea turtles, and more. They provide all of the gear (and the sharks) for this experience.
You can go to their website here, for more information and to plan your trip to their aquarium. With so many special exhibits and activities to do, you're in for a day (or maybe even 2 days) of fun-filled adventures.
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