Lighting Your Aquarium

Aquarium enthusiasts know just how important lighting is in a tank, both for aesthetic reasons and for the health of the organisms found therein. But this article isn’t for them, it’s for people considering a fish tank habitat, and who need to know everything to consider when putting one together. Months ago I did a general overview on how to choose an aquarium, but today I’ll focus on a more specific aspect: the lighting. I’m going to limit my article today to lighting considerations for fish aquariums. Reptiles and amphibians usually need very specific types of light and that’s something … Continue reading →

Choosing an Aquarium

Many different types of pets reside in aquariums, from fish to reptiles to amphibians. Your pet will likely spend the rest of its life in this little box, so you want to make sure you make a good decision when purchasing your aquarium. How does one go about doing that? If I decided today that I wanted a turtle, for example, I’d have no idea what sort of aquarium to purchase for it. I’d need research or help to determine what I should buy. That’s the key: be informed, or seek the help of someone who is. Chances are if … Continue reading →

Goldfish Bloat

Bloat can be a serious health issue for aquarium fish — especially goldfish. How do you know if your goldfish has bloat? The following symptoms are common at various stages of bloat: Bloating or swelling of the body. Passing clear, bubbly strings of feces (in early bloat). Refusal to eat. Inability to poop (in advanced bloat). Difficulty swimming. Reddish areas on the skin (in advanced bloat — often an indication of internal bleeding, which can lead to life-threatening infection). A goldfish doesn’t have a stomach that uses acid to break down foods, like humans do. Goldfish don’t have stomachs at … Continue reading →

Dealing with Aquarium Surface Scum

Keeping aquarium pets is a lot more work than some people expect. There’s a lot of cleaning that goes into keeping your tank-dwellers happy and healthy! So what happens if you start to get a weird scum on the surface of your tank water? Before you can fix the problem, it helps to know the cause. An oily film on the surface of the water could come from: Oily fish food. Some frozen fish foods are very oily, and can leave a residue on the water’s surface. Changing fish food brands may make a big difference! Oily people food. If … Continue reading →

Aquarium Maintenance

Very few pets are of the “set it and forget it” variety. They need constant care to stay happy and healthy! Keeping an aquarium clean and safe for your fish can take quite a bit of work… but it’s worth it! Daily checks should include: Observing the fish. Watch for signs of illness, including breathing difficulty, discoloration, and weird growths. Watch how your fish interact with each other. Check temperature and filtration system. A thermometer stuck to the glass or hanging from the top of the tank is a quick and easy way to make sure the water is comfortable … Continue reading →

Eight More Hardy Fish for Your Saltwater Aquarium

Although there are hundreds of fish available for saltwater aquarium keepers, some are easier to keep than others. If you are just starting out in the saltwater aquarium hobby, you might want to consider some hardy breeds that have a better chance of surviving tank mistakes. Here are a few more choices that may work well in a beginner tank: Hawkfishes — these saltwater fish are VERY hardy. Larger species of hawkfish may prey on smaller fish. Smaller hawkfish can do well in a community tank if introduced after peaceful species have already settled in. Comets — these fish are … Continue reading →

Four Hardy Fish for Saltwater Aquariums

Keeping a saltwater aquarium is in many ways similar — and in many ways different — from keeping a tropical aquarium. One main difference is the fish available for aquarium keepers. There are hundreds of possible choices for your saltwater aquarium, but some fish are better for beginners than others because they have a better chance of surviving tank mistakes. Here are a few options: Morays — these eels are hardy and usually adapt well to life in captivity. Watch out for occasional hunger strikes; captive morays may lose their appetites for weeks, then just as suddenly be hungry again. … Continue reading →

Easy Aquarium Plants for Beginners

Ready to add live plants to your aquarium? Here are a few plants that are hardy and easy to grow — perfect for beginners! Hornwort — a stem plant with spiraling forked leaves. It looks more delicate than it actually is! This plant is difficult to kill and grows very quickly — this helps slow algae growth in your tank. Amazon sword — a tall plant with very large leaves! This plant needs more sunlight than some of the others on the list, but the plant’s height helps it get the sun it needs. Because these plants are larger than … Continue reading →

Live Plants for Your Aquarium

Live plants look great in the tank and give your fish places to hide and explore. There are different types of plant you can include: stem plants, rooted plants, floating plants, and specialty plants. Tank plants will generally do well if you have a nutrient-rich substrate at the bottom of your tank and a layer of gravel to keep debris away. And don’t forget a light source! Plants need sunlight in order to survive. Place large, heavy objects like rock and driftwood before you plant your plants — if you try to add heavy objects last, you may damage your … Continue reading →

How to Do a Partial Water Change

Aquarium cleaning can be a messy chore — despite all the water involved! A partial water change is a good way to clear the water in your tank without destroying all the good bacteria that keep your fish healthy and happy. When doing a partial water change, you only want to remove twenty-five to thirty percent of the water. This leaves enough good bacteria behind to help repopulate the tank and keep harmful chemicals out of the water. Take too much water away and you run the risk of having to start the nitrogen cycle all over again. There’s no … Continue reading →