Tropical Fish Information – Your Fish Tank Guru

Having a garden for Koi pond is a great experience for a pond owner. But before adding pets into your outdoor garden or planning a pond for your fish, you need to consider some things first. Talking about gardens, plants will surely pop out of anybody’s mind. A garden for Koi pond is a beautiful sight to behold, and it is a healthy and thriving system that mixes different kinds of elements. It is composed of three vital things: the pond, the fish (Koi), and the plants.

Consider the size and depth of your pond. In giving your fish enough room to live in, ensure that your pond’s depth is around 4 feet deep at the very least. Having these depth will protect them from outside predators. A great space is needed for your pond as your pets can grow to large sizes. This kind of space will help you to add more fish in your pond. Having determined the size of your pond, now you can decide where you will place the garden. A great spot would be that where its not directly laid down under the sunlight, but where it can have a shade from a tree (which will also provide protection from flying predators), and also those spots that are protected from harmful chemicals like pesticides.

It is a fact that the plants and fish really can’t co-exist that much in certain habitats, but this doesn’t make placing plants in your own garden for Koi pond a bad thing to do. The Koi sometimes mess up with the pond itself, destroying the plants placed in the pots, digging into the soil and knocking the plants over. For this, you can wrap netting over your pots, unabling the fish to dig into them. You can place big river stones and pea gravel over your plants to keep the fish from invading the pots. Your fish will feed on the foliage of the plants located at the bottom of the pond. In planning as to what kind of plants your going to place in your garden for Koi pond, you can choose to put lilies. Some of these plants live in shallow ponds, and others live in further depths of the water. Having lilies will provide you the necessary shade and shelter for your fish.

Observing your garden for Koi pond as a whole rather than just the fish and plants will really guarantee you a beautiful sight to behold, and what you can do with it is to make it flourish for a long time!

Koi enthusiasts always find it fun and popular to give their fish some food. It’s fun to see your fish respond to the food that you give to them, an activity that you can do with your children and grandchildren. Feeding your fish is a great bonding experience with them, and some important precautions should be taken all the time. It’s important for you to know that your fish will eat anything that they’re going to get (not minding if it’s good for them or not). For this, you should be the one who controls their diet. Overfeeding of your fish should be avoided, as this could cause some weight issues for them if not monitored closely.

Any owner would think that their fish deserve food, so there are many kinds of food that you can give your fish that contain nutritional value, and those that are guaranteed not to harm them in any way.

Natural Koi Treats: The best food for your fish are those that can be found naturally in the pond, and these are bloodworms, earthworms and tadpoles. You can look around your pond to find them, and once you locate them, you can always dig up these treats from the ground around the pond, or you can also buy similar products at your local pet store.

Lettuce: This fish food for Koi is rich in essential vitamins and minerals, making it very healthy for your pet. No need to tear it into small bits, as the Koi will enjoy doing it themselves!

Prawns: These are edible crustaceans which are quite similar to shrimp, only larger. These are great for your fish as they’re rich in protein. You can purchase prawns in department stores, local pet stores, and also feed stores. Prawns are sold as regular and frozen (if frozen, be sure to melt them down before feeding it to them). These are good in promoting hand feeding.

Bread: Wheat bread is one of the cheapest fish food for your Koi available. What you do is take a piece of it, break it up, and roll it into small balls, and then throw it into the pond. Avoid all types of those white bread, which contain small amounts of bleach and other chemicals that can be very harmful to your Koi.

Fruit: Koi eat a wide variety of fruit. When feeding, break the fruit up into smaller pieces. Keep in mind that most fruits contain a high amount of natural sugar which can be harmful to Koi if given in large amounts, so make sure to feed them with fruits only on special occasions.

As you feed your fish with food like corn, beans and grapes, make it a point to remove the outer casing that comes with these, because swallowing those casings will be dangerous and harmful to them. Also, never overfeed your fish, regardless of the kind of food you give to them, because giving them too much will interfere with their diet, which can do more harm than good to them.

The Koi is well-known for its uniqueness when it comes to its wide array of colors and patterns. The black Koi are is unique due to its own distinctive coloring, and nothing more. In terms of age, the fish normally lives about 25 to 35 years old. These fish thrive in outdoor ponds throughout the world. The females can lay up to a thousand eggs. The males have concave anal sections and those breeding spots on the top of their heads. The babies (known as the fry) will start to emerge within four to seven days, but it depends on the water temperature conditions, and their colors will surface when they’re three to twelve weeks old. Through years of breeding, these pets have come in a wide variety of colors.

The pets can reach up to about a length of 36 inches, which calls a need for them to be kept in ponds that are large in size. The species known as the Magoi Koi is considered as one of the first black mutations which can reach to great sizes in length. Their actual color is deep bronze, which can be seen as black when they are being viewed from above. Due to their unique possibilities in terms of size, the blood of the Magoi is being re-introduced to the other species so as to maximize their potential when it comes to growth.

The Karasu Koi (“karasu” which means “crow” in Japan) is another one of those extremely old species. These fish are characterized by their black fins and black body. They can also have an orange or a white belly.

These pets can also have the ability to change color due to environmental or dietary effects. The color changes range from duller to brighter shades. The Matsukawabake Koi is known for this characteristic, which is typically black in color that has areas or white on its own body. Depending on the temperature of the water or seasons, its color can completely change. It can turn to a full white or full black, and will return to its original pattern once the temperature conditions will change.

The Kumonryu Koi (“kumonryu” which means “dragon fish”), which first appeared in the 1980’s, is considered to be as the most popular of the species of the black Koi. It was designated with such a name as it is reminiscent of the bodies of dragons that are depicted by the paintings of the ancient times (some would say that these fish looked as if they were dragons that ascend through the white clouds). This Koi can also change in color.

Enthusiasts love the Koi for their colors and patterns, and what’s even more exciting is that they can own a fish that can literally change their color right before their eyes, such as the black-colored Koi!

Using Nano fish tank aquariums

When we think of aquariums, we think of maintenance that are relatively easy to maintain. However, a nano fish tank requires a bit more maintenance.

Should you start a nano reef aquarium?

A nano reef aquarium can be a smaller system or a larger one. In some cases, it’s recommended that especially if you’re a beginner, you start with a larger tank, such as one that’s at least 24 gallons. Smaller systems can also literally “tank” very fast, whereas a larger tank gives you a bit more leeway when it comes to maintenance. This may be advisable if you’re just starting out.

Investment

In general, a nano reef is probably going to cost you a bit MORE than another type of system will, although your final investment will probably be less once you get going. Coral collecting is probably going to be a bit pricier for you, which may up the cost of the nano reef if this is something you get into.

Are they difficult to keep up?

Nano fish tank aquariums are not really difficult keep up once you know what you’re doing. However, you should research thoroughly so that you know what you’re getting into before you decide to start one. As long as you stay on top of things, you’ll need between 5 and 10 minutes a day to keep to keep things functioning on most days; you also have to be careful about any additions you make to your aquarium, as this can upset the balance you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Change your water frequently

Nitrates can build up very quickly in a small body of water, so you have to make sure you keep your water changes up.

What fish or other creatures can you put in your nano reef?

Some good hearty fish for beginners are the pajama cardinals, cardinals, clown gobies, royal grammas, fire fish, pseudochromis, most damsels and basslets. “Clean up” creatures include hermit crabs like red legs and left-handed, astrea snails and turbo snails. You should have a snail for every one to 2 gallons your tank holds, and one crap for every three to 5 gallons. Cleaner shrimp are also good because they will clean your fish of parasites and will help your other “clean up” creatures do their jobs, too.

What coral should I keep?

You can pretty much keep any type of coral, but some will need more light than other kinds. Be careful about coral that puts out sweeper tentacles, because it may affect other coral negatively. Don’t overdo the coral, either, because the coral needs enough room to grow.

Sterilization

Using a UV sterilizer is recommended to keep “bad bacteria” down, or, you can buy an aquarium with a built in wet dry filter. The polycarbonate cover should be left in place over the lights so that UV transmission is properly done. A separate internal filter with a UV sterilizer is still recommended Cured live rock broken up into 1-inch fragments is also a good way to purify.

Finally, change water and check water regularly, including alkali reserve, if necessary. In a nano aquarium, water characteristics change quickly, so you have to keep on top of this.

Filtration is important

For a good marine aquarium, you need good filtration. Filtration turnover should be at least four times per tank per hour, with in tank circulation at eight times an hour, at least. Live rock also performs its own filtration.

Models

Some good models for nano fish tank aquariums include the TRUVU Micro Series NANO Model 6, Model 12, or Model 25 fish tank aquariums. These particular models have easy to remove filtration systems and room for protein skimmers, for easy maintenance.

Look at the great example of a well aquascaped tropical fish tank.

View 40 Gallon Fish Tank Video

I love the rocks and the plant set up in this fish tank I next time I would set up a tank just like this one. I have to admit my tanks are boring, just 2 or 3 plants with green and white stones. This guy is a true aquascape artist.

Well I think this is a great tank I found it on a very nice site known as Fish Lore.

Now what is aquascaping? Well aquascaping is the process of decorating or arranging your aquarium. This is an artistic term for situating the tank to the needs of both the aquarium inhabitants and the fish keeper and is quite fun. Doing this right would give you a very lovely fish tank for you and your friends to look at.

Well thank you Fish Lore for a posting the lovely video.

Aquarium Filtration

Hang on filters:

1. Aqueon Power Filter, made by Central Aquatics
For good strong circulation, more media space than most other hang on filters, and sturdy, easy design, the Aqueon Power Filter takes #1 for me. The pump is submersible and sits into the water, which makes for less risk of leaking and a stronger current. This also helps in the prevention of running the filter dry and damaging the impeller inside the pump.
This is not a good filter choice for weak swimming fish or fish who desire less water current, such as betta splendins, neon tetras, hillstream loaches, etc.
Noise level is dependent on water level. In a completely filled aquarium any noise is minimal. Lowering the water level is limited to that level where the pump sits as it must remain submerged. The telescopic intake tube makes it easy to adjust to just the right level.

2. Whisper Power Filter, made by Tetra ranks #2 on my list of effective, easy, and quiet. Tetra has designed their power filters with easy to read coding to match up correct filter media based on model size and they spend a lot of time and effort in marketing to make their replacement cartridges easy for the customer to find. The water current from a Whisper power filter is more conducive for a low circulation environment.

3. Aqua Clear Power Filter made by Hagen gets the #3 slot on my list. With a large box for media and sponge insert to promote biological filtration and chemical filtration at the same time, Aqua Clear beats all other filters for its biological abilities (when used correctly). The one drawback with Aqua Clear is the noise. While not extreme, it is more than some people can tolerate. Because of the design, even with a full water level, there is known to be some water noise.

Canister Filters:

1. Eheim gets the #1 slot for both effectiveness and sturdy product. Eheim canister filters are designed to make the most of biological filtration, and they use ceramic parts to ensure durability in saltwater environments. The drawback of the Eheim canister filter is the expense. German made and seldom offered at sale prices, Eheim rules store shelves as the overall #1.

2. Cascade Canister Filters made by Penn Plax make #2 on my list. These filters are durable, sturdy, and offer the ultimate in space for filter medias. Cascade has a good strong motor that handles heavy waste loads well (provided it is maintained properly). The Cascade has quickly become popular due to the smaller price tag it carries. In a freshwater environment the Cascade is a great bargain for the price.
Cascade is not suggested for use in saltwater do to erosion and clogging of the parts from the salt content.

3. Filstar made by Rena ranks #3 on my list of the best canister filters. Like the Cascade the Filstar offers ample space for media, but is not quite as good with heavy waste loads. This filter is best for low to moderate waste level situations. Filstar is also sturdy enough to use in saltwater, although it will require a bit of extra maintenance to ensure the life of the filter due to the erosion and buildups from salt and other mineral deposits.

Internal Filters:

1. The #1 spot for internal filters goes to the Whisper I Series made by Tetra.
Whisper I Series filters are great for submersible or hang on type of filtration. These filters are easily mounted via bracket that hangs on the frame of the aquarium or the suction cups supplied to mount it to the inside wall of a tank. These are great filters for keeping amphibian environments and make for great waterfalls for anyone with a little bit of imagination and some rock work supplies. These filters do take up a fair amount of space, so are not always good for nano aquariums (under 20 gallons) and they do not have a strong current from the output. Like their Whisper hang on cousins, filter media is rather easy to find in most pet stores and is coded for easy identification. The Whisper I Series is one of the few adjustable internal filters available and work wonderful for fish who require a low circulation environment, such as bettas, neon tetras, and hillstream loaches.

2. Eheim holds the #2 spot for internal filters. Slightly more unattractive than the Whisper I Series, don’t let the looks deceive you. Eheim still holds true for its level of durability and maximum use of biological filtration. For a tank that needs a bit more power in a filter, the Eheim is a great choice. The latest Eheim design offers baskets that can be added later to increase level of filtration in any of their internal units. This is great for tanks starting out young fish, it enables the filter to increase with the growth of the fish while not having to purchase an entirely new unit each time.

3. The Hyrdo Sponge Filter made by Lustar makes the #3 spot for internal filters. This filter does require the use of an air pump and airline tubing, but is the safest and most effective form of filtration for fry tanks. The Hydro Sponge Filter is great for that added circulation, aeration, and biological filtration for tanks with high waste levels, but should be used alongside another filter type in high waste situations to ensure healthy water chemistry. These filters are easy to maintain, and last for years if properly cared for. Simply rinse the sponge in a bucket of dirty fish tank water to preserve bacteria culture, slide it back onto the base, and set it back into the tank and you’re done. For simple yet effective and easily adjustable with a simple air line control valve, the Hyrdo Sponge filter is a bang for the buck. This is one of the least expensive forms of aquarium filtration available.

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Did you know that the history of placing fish in containers goes back more than 2000 years? For research, as pets and fr religious significance. The Romans were the first to place Sea-Barbels in their homes and contained them within small marble tanks. Over time, they designed these small tanks with glass panes on one side of the containers to allow for better viewing of the fish. Millennia then passed before the Chinese reinvented these tanks into tub shapes and then they were gradually reformed by other people into the shape of the modern fishbowl that we know today. As more time passed, other designs were invented and during the Industrial Age, the modern fish tank aquariums first came into being.

Getting started

The main reason for having an aquarium and placing fish in them is nowadays usually for reasons related to a hobby. Although you cannot simply pick a fish and throw them all into one tank. You need to research the kind of fish that’ll fit perfectly in your aquarium because if you have no idea how big it’s going to get, then you’ll be in trouble. You will also have to ask the fish store owner the possibility of the fish frightening the other fish or especially if they have a penchant for bullying them. It happens, and sometimes they actually prey on them. Choosing the right group for your aquarium is very important. Never hesitate to ask the fish clerk’s opinion to make sure that the fish can all live comfortably with one another within the same habitat. Ask other people who have fish tank aquariums too. Their insight can be helpful especially when it comes to the feeding requirements of a particular fish.

Know the trade

However, not all fish clerks are experts especially when it comes to most exotic fish that catches one’s eye. Most stores that have large chains of aquariums employ people who have little knowledge of the trade. Privately owned stores (usually the smaller ones) tend be more intimate with this craft and are generally helpful, and not to mention the fact that you can probably bargain with them if a particular fish that attracts you sounds a bit high priced. Also, if it’s possible, bring a large sample of your own water (in a clean jar) that you plan to use for the fish and ask them to test yours and their water right in front of you. See how much different the two samples are (compare the nitrate, pH, and ammonia readings) to make necessary changes for acclimating your desired fish to your own water.

Finally, there are a number of other things you need to know that can be helpful when choosing the right fish for your aquariums. Take your time when choosing a fish. Observe it if it looks healthy or weak. Make sure it isn’t too aggressive and note its body characteristics. And also, don’t forget about the plants in your aquarium. Try to copy the plant variety and placement of the store’s fish tank aquariums to make it easier for your new fish to settle in. Armed with all this knowledge, one can be ready to go out and confidently buy the fish of your heart’s desire.

Learn more about Tropical fish and more details on how you should choose your new Tropical Fish and take care of them a long time join our email list and tune into our radio show coming soon to Blog Talk Radio. Times will be posted soon on our site.

Keeping fish is a popular hobby for a number of reasons, because fish are fun pets to keep and also exciting to learn about. There are numerous considerations that need to be made when it comes to setting upup your own fish keeping hobby, including selecting the tank aquarium, selecting the environment, choosing your fish and setting up the right accessories.

The initial step to setting up your aquarium is to decide what size aquarium you want to begin with. There a quite a few tank aquariums to choose from but even as a beginner, larger is usually better. So while you may be able to begin with a 10 gallon aquarium, the smallest that is recommended is closer to 25 or 30 gallons.

Where are you going to put your aquarium? Ensure that you have adequatespace on a surface, or that you are prepared to buy an appropriate stand. If placing your aquarium on another piece of furniture, keep in mind that a single gallon of water weighs 8 lbs.

Most tank aquariums will already come with a basic light and a hood that will work on a general purpose basis unless you plan to grow a few aquatic plants. If your hood and light are not already running on a timer, it would be advantageous to purchase one when you buy your aquarium. Depending on the species of fish you keep, your aquarium lights should only operate for between 8 and 10 hours a day for the best results.

Your aquarium will also require a filter and a heater. There are a number of choices to consider, and the choices that you make for these pieces of equipment should hinge on what type of environment you are looking to create. Each filter type, for example, has pros and cons associated with it.

Bio-Wheel filters are popular for small and medium sized aquariums. What you should think about when buying an aquarium filter is the gallons per hour flow that the filter has. Your GPH rating should be 2 times the size of the aquarium that you are purchasing for the best results.

Heaters are important if you need to keep the water above 78 degrees, which is essential for tropical species of fish.

Another important consideration to make is the substrate that you will use for your aquarium. If you are looking to create a tropical fish aquarium, then sand or gravel is usually ideal. Some species of fish tend to prefer one or the other, so make sure that the fish you are going to buy will work well with the substrate that you want to use.

Aquarium d?cor is completely up to you. Ask someone at your local pet store before you add anything that you did not purchase from the store. The d?cor you buy at a pet store is designed to be safe for your aquarium, but bringing home random shells, driftwood or other d?cor may cause problems with your aquarium.

Setting up your aquarium is the next step before you buy your fish. Set your tank up exactly how you like it, fill it with water, and apply the necessary water conditioners and treatments. Your aquarium should be allowed to run just as it is for at least 24 hours before you buy your fish, though longer is always preferred.

The last step is to add your fish. Choose community fish and always ask a professional before you mix different species, because even some community fish are aggressive towards other species. Generally you should stick to 1 inch of fish per gallon of water, based on the full grown length of each fish. Start with a small number of fish when your aquarium is still cycling to make sure that everything is working right before you add too many new bodies to your tank. After about a month you can begin to add more fish in, when you know that the water has properly cycled.

Go green – read about heirloom organic seeds.

Installing Aquarium Canister Filters

This is a great video on installing Aquarium Canister Filters which is for Salt Water Aquariums. The video is produced by ThatFishPlace.com: Your source for aquarium supplies and fish up to 60% off retail

Ocean Clear 375 Filter with 18W UV – Mechanical Ocean Clear modular filters allow you to mix and match in order to get just the right combination of filtration for your needs. This system works with freshwater or saltwater aquariums or ponds. Each unit is rated for aquariums or ponds up to 500 gallons. Multiple units can be hooked together to accommadate any size aquarium or pond. The 375 uses a 25 micron pleated cartridge to polish water and an 18 watt UV bulb to kill free floating bacteria and algae. The bulb fits in the center core of the pleated cartridge. Use an external pump with a flow rate of 500-1600 gph. Manufacturer recommends using a pump at the higher end, especially if using more than one unit in tandom.

I just actually bought my first saltwater tank, even though to be honest I still like freshwater tropical fish.

Hello all,

Well starting in March Your Fish Tank Guru is going to have a call in Radio Show on the Blog Talk Radio Network to answere your question on tropical fish.

So check out the radio show coming in March 2009.