Aquarium & Fish Care - 30 Points To Remember

There are several hobbies one can have that turn in to real passion some day.  One among them is maintaining an aquarium.  This hobby though is a serious one as there is no room for mistakes else you shall land up harming or killing a living creature.

Thee right place to gather ample knowledge about your fish and their house that is the aquarium is the library next door, or the global network that is the World Wide Web or the internet.

There are several starter kits available online.  You shall also come across loads of information on some beginner fishes to start with this interesting hobby.

But before diving in to this interesting field here are some essential tips to remember:

1. In order to maintain your fish tank well enough, you must understand the nitrogen cycle.This cycle involves nitrates, ammonia and nitrites.  The fishes naturally produce these chemicals in the water they live in.  Its your job to balance these chemicals so that the water remains healthy for your fishes to survive.
2. The beginners in this hobby find it difficult to balance the ammonia in the water.  In that case you could consider banking on the starter kits available online.  These kits contain additives like ammonia.  Basically these kits supply you with a mechanism to artificially control the degree of ammonia in the fish tank.
3. These kits also guide you through or at times make available the apt beginner fishes.These types of fishes naturally produce ammonia in an adequate amount.
4. In case you are beginning with a coldwater tank, the best option would be to have a goldfish.
5. Make sure that your fish tank contains ample amount of plants.  They not only beautify the fish tank but also purify the water in the tank by absorbing the chemicals & providing oxygen.
6. The water plants break down water and ammonia.  Then these plants filter the ammonia & the bad or contaminated pat of the water that is the portion that contains bacteria.
7. Plants maintain the balance between all the chemicals in the fish tank as the fishes produce lot of ammonia.
8. When you are ammonizing your fish tank with the starter fish, be very sure of the quantity of food you are feeding to the fish.  Remember that you should feed only small amounts of the food initially.
9. The food that remains settles down at the bottom and rots down finally.  This rotten food develops severely toxic chemicals that can kill your fish.  So try to maintain the least amount of remaining food.  The trick to do it simply is to watch your fish while feeding them.  Only put in the amount of food it consumes in the first 2-3 minutes, that to only twice a day.  In case of food, also make sure to read through the label of the fish that you always get on the purchase of the fish.
10. Make proper use of the test kits and make sure that you check the ammonia level in the water at regular intervals that is every week.
11. Usually, a proper ammonization process takes about 5 weeks or longer.
12. Before purchasing the fish tank make sure that you purchase the right stand to place this tank well.
13. Remember, the fish tank must not be exposed to direct sunlight and heaters, else more and more algae would develop in the tank thereby killing your fish.
14. Make sure that the gravel you add to the fish tank is absolutely clean.  In case you have purchased boiled gravel, rinse it well before adding it to the tank.  Else, you must boil it first and then rinse it and then add it to the tank.
15. The right way of adding gravel to the fish tank is to initiate from the back of the tank and then coming to the front.
16. The height of the gravel you add depends on the type of fish and the type of filter you would use.  This is more particular for the front of the tank.  The gravel layer in the front of the tank must be very light.
17. In case you are using under-gravel filters, the front layer of gravel would be very low.
18. Ideally, installing the filters and heaters is the last step in preparing the fish tank.  But in case you are considering using a powered filter, you must install the filter before adding the gravel.
19. After adding the gravel, the next step is to add plants and other ornaments.  Make sure that you rinse these additives well enough in order to maintain the purity of the water in the tank.
20. Be sure to select only marine based plants.
21. Initially fill the tank with only half of the total required quantity.  Make use of pre-treated water while filling the tank halfway.
22. Once you are done with all the additives you can fill it up with water fully.
23. After filling in the tank with all the water required, keep a regular check on temperature of the water with a thermometer.
24. Now finally, place the filters in the fish tank.
25. Goldfish can be added to your fish tank at the beginning of the ammonization process. In case you are planning to purchase any other, fish you must wait for a few weeks so that the ammonization process gets completed in the fish tank.
26. Also, be sure that you do not add any new fish to the tank until and unless the water in there is crystal clear.
27. Check that the ideal way is to introduce only one fish at a time, and gradually increase the number of fishes in the tank.  You could also consider starting with 4 different types of hardy fishes, one of each type.
28. The right way to add a fish in the tank is that you must afloat the fish in a bag in to the aquarium for around 15 minutes prior to leaving them in the tank.  This would help your fish get acclimated to the temperature of the water in its new home.
29. Make sure that you do not add the water of the fish bag in to the aquarium as this water might be contaminated, or would at times affect the temperature of the aquarium and the P.H. level of the water in there.
30. You must check that the aquarium has the right amount of lighting.  These lights are teamed with a hood that can be fit over the top of the aquarium.  The fact is that most of the aquariums these days come along with a hood.  Actually, the hood keeps away the critters and maintains the fish inside the tank.  The hood id also used to regulate the lights in the tank.

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Salt Water Aquarium – 11 Tips To Make It Picture Perfect

The sights of the aquatic world are indeed fascinating and thrilling.  It is undoubtedly all new world for the observers.  Many of the aquatic enthusiasts often wish to bring home this beauty. But to bring home this beauty do you think that you have to built a 20 foot tropical aquarium at home or turn your living room in to a room for a live shark – well you certainly do not need to do this!

You can create impressions of the Baltimore National Aquarium's picturesque beauty at home itself!  Some creative aquascaping in your home's salt water aquarium can do the trick that the professionals do at Baltimore!

The secret lies in selecting the right type of decorations and placing them well in your tank. Here are some easy tips on the same:

1. To decorate your aquarium you can opt among the real and the plastic plants accoutrements.  Anyhow using the live plants & other organisms in the aquarium helps you bring home Mother Nature.
2. Also you must understand that your fishes would make use of the decorations you place in the aquarium.  They would find shelter and playfulness in them.  Hence, for the best interest of your pets and to maintain the aesthetic feel of your aquarium, it is always advised to use the genuine aquatic plants.
3. A well decorated salt water aquarium is indeed an asset for years together, so, it is all the worth to spend considerable time and energy in searching for the right décor and ornaments of the aquarium.  The local vendor dealing with tropical fish can of great help as he could assist you with several varieties of decorations for your salt water fish tank.
4. Live rock is a great decoration for your saltwater aquarium.  This adds an aesthetic feel to the aquarium and helps you formulate the aquarium's ecosystem as it is a vital part of the aquatic life.  A live rock is covered with several micro and macro organisms.  These organisms filter all the waste products from of the water, thereby making that water safe for the aquatic inhabitants.
5. Adding glory, beauty and attraction to the salt water aquarium are driftwood and sand. Besides, these are essential elements for the saltwater fishes' natural habitat.
6. Live plants are another beautiful addition for the saltwater aquariums.  These are functional as well as they provide for a lot many facilities in the water.  Live plants oxygenate the water in the tank.  These provide a hide out for your fishes making them more playful.
7. In case you are fortunate enough, your fishes might lay eggs in these plants.
8. The experts always advise that prior to making purchases and decisions regarding your fish tank, you must first choose and finalize the breed and type of fish that you would purchase.  This would help you make rather appropriate and correct purchases for the aquarium, for instance some fishes like some particular plants that you would be able to decide on the basis of the breed you have decided to buy.
9. Salt water plants need special care and attention and that can be done with prior and well planned decisions.
10. Like all aquariums and you must light your salt water aquarium at least in the first half of the day as your plants and fishes need a perfect cycle of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The plants need carbon dioxide to live that they can generate through photosynthesis and this can happen only with the right lighting in the aquarium. You might also consider planting an artificial carbon dioxide producing gadget in the fish tank.
11. The depth of the bottom layer of the aquarium that comprises of silt, sand, and/or gravel must be of an adequate depth so as to allow the roots of the plants to seep in well. While this depth majorly depends on the type of plant you are placing in there, approximately 8 cm is the usual depth required for most of the plants.

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How To Care For Aquarium Fish – Over 20 Easy Tips For Beginners

When you are sure to shop for a fish aquarium, you must know the right equipments and accessories that would enhance the longevity and health of your fishes and aquarium.

These accessories include:

1.  Heaters
2. Buffers
3. Filters
4. Gravel
5. Floss
6. Food, etc.

In order to ensure the hygiene of your fishes, you must also know all the tips and techniques to keep the aquarium clean and the fish healthy.

The experts always advice you to research well before purchasing the fish and the aquarium. Here are some useful tips that would help you take good care of your fishes and the aquarium:

Some essentials for the aquarium include the following:

1. Ornaments – Decorations to add beauty and to give playful spots to your fishes.
2. Plants – You can choose from live and synthetic plants.  Though live plants need lot of care they perform several functions for the benefit of your fishes.
3. Gravel – Gravel forms the base of the aquarium.  The depth of this layer is defined by several factors like the plants you place in, the number of fishes you add to the aquarium, etc.
4. Test Kits – This is helpful in testing the water of the aquarium at regular intervals.
5. Water Treatment – These systems are available in various techniques and is quite essential to maintain the purity of the water, else the ever growing bacteria and ammonia in the water would kill your fish unexpectedly.
6. Food – Like all living beings fishes need food, so you must have a good supply of food for your fishes.  Make sure to read the contents of the food you purchase for the fishes and supply it to the fishes as per the instructions mentioned of the details you receive with the fishes.
7. Heater Accessories – In order o maintain the temperature of the water in the tank, you would need to plant a heater in the fish tank.  This is a must buy in case you are considering to keep some tropical fishes.  While purchasing the heater you must take care that the heater's size fits in to the fish tank.  It must not take a lot of space, else it would make your fish uneasy in the tank.  Also check that there are various types of heaters in the market, you must know which one suits the best to your requisite.

Some points to remember about maintaining the fishes and the aquarium are as follows:

1. Gravel maintains the natural resources in the aquarium.  You can also consider adding some decorative ornaments in the aquarium.
2. Adding live plants t the aquarium makes your fish lively and more playful.
3. In case you are fortunate enough the fish might lay eggs in real plants, they do not do so in the synthetic ones.
4. Make sure to offer the right amount of food to the fishes.  The remaining food settles down in the gravel and generates harmful bacteria.
5. Most oft you would use tap water to fill in the tank and that contains lot of bacteria and germs, so water treatment is very essential.
6. Choose your water test kit with lot of care as it must be very effective and should give most accurate results.

Here follows the procedure of making the aquarium:

1. First of all fill a bucket of water and rinse the gravel washing of the dirt, grime and germs.
2. Then add water to your tank, once the gravel is purified.
3. Further add half of the water actually required for the tank.
4. Next add the ornaments & plants to your aquarium.
5. This makes the job of additives completed for the aquarium.
6. Now finally add the tank with the water in full quantity required.
7. Now use the manual that you have received with your tank.  Follow the outlines mentioned in this manual to fill your tank properly.
8. Next move to placing the heater & filtration systems in the tank.
9. In order to fit in the heater and filters safely and properly, follow the instructions mentioned in the manual you have received with these equipments.
10. Finally you add the water treatment system to the tank.  This purifies the harmful chemicals form the water like metal, copper, metal and other related elements.
11. Now before adding the fish to the tank either make use of the specialized products that enable you doing that safely, else we recommended you to wait at least a few weeks prior to adding life to your tank.
12. A tank filled with water has some natural bacteria that produce naturally.  These bacteria must be filtered out of the water so as to keep your fish healthy and safe.  So once the water in aquarium is settled, use your test kit to check if the water is perfectly clean or not, it must also be checked that the water has the right temperature and all the chemicals in it are balanced.
13. Now after the final verification of the water in the tank, add your fish in small quantities.
14. It is always advisable to keep passive fish in the aquarium rather than the aggressive ones.  Some common passive fishes most advisable for the starters are goldfish, otocinclus, plecostemas, etc.  These not only are easy to maintain but also keep the aquarium clean.

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Aquarium Care For The Freshwater Guppy – 20 Easy Tips To Care

When it comes to the fresh water aquariums, guppy is probably the most common fish that people love to maintain.  Though they are not that tough to maintain, these have their own requisites to live healthy.  Some tips that will help your guppies live longer, happier and healthy are as follows:

1. These are hard water fishes that can well adapt to the minor fluctuations in the water quality.  Still, you must to minimize the fluctuations as this causes stress to your fishes.
2. 72 to 82 degrees is the perfect temperature of water for an aquarium providing home to the guppy fishes.
3. P.H. level that is apt for an aquarium homing guppies is 7.0 and 8.2.  A
4. The specifications that need to be maintained for guppies are quite easy as compared to the other tropical and marine fishes.
5. Guppies mature quite quickly.  Their usual full grown size is around 1.5 to 2 inches long.
6. These little fishes with their tails resembling the feathery fan make the aquarium pretty attractive and interesting.
7. Guppies are quite playful thereby it’s great fun to watch them swim across the aquarium.
8. For any living beings food is a necessity.  In case of guppies you must understand that they can eat nearly everything.  But their favorite food is frozen and the flake foods.
9. You should feed a guppy around three times a day.
10. Make sure that you feed it in very small quantities.
11. Supply it its favorite food especially when the babies are in their, as in the absence or scarcity of food, the guppies tend to eat their young ones.
12.  Like any other aquarium, the guppy fishes also need regular change of water.  Though it must be done after every week or every fortnight, the sure indication to change water is when it starts smelling or gets cloudy.
13. At a time, change only one third of the water.  This would minimize the water fluctuations for the fishes and that means less stress for the fishes.
14. Making your pet happy automatically makes it healthy.  Creating a very home like atmosphere for your guppies would make them very happy.  Like add varied types of plants where thy can hide.
15. Consider maintaining around 1 to 2 inches substrate at the bottom of your tank.
16. Guppies love the colored rocks and the dead crushed coral.  Adding these two to the aquarium would make it visibly quite attractive and give pleasure to your guppies.
17. Some known guppies to choose from are Flagtail, Fantail, Deltatail, Spadetail, Roundtail, etc.  Guppies are known for their attractive, remarkable and unique tails that form nearly one third of its entire body.
18. While keeping guppies with any other breed in the aquarium you must understand the guppies are the easiest prey owing to their delicate and long tail.  So beware that with what breed you mix it with.
19. Guppies breed every 3 to 4 weeks that is very frequently and they can also breed with the other fishes.  So, very soon you could find an overcrowded aquarium.
20. In case you do not ant any cross breeding, simply keep the fishes in different aquariums.

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Cleaning A Fresh Water Aquarium - 6 Easy Steps

There are several hobbies one can have that turn in to real passion some day.  One among them is maintaining an aquarium.  This hobby though is a serious one as there is no room for mistakes else you shall land up harming or killing a living creature.

The first and foremost thing you must understand before deciding to take care of an aquarium and its fishes is to know the right technique to clean your fresh water aquarium.  This process needs lot of patience and knowledge else you might land up killing those beautiful creatures. The beginners in this field would benefit a lot from these tips.

When it comes to cleaning a fresh water aquarium, there are two main factors that you must consider:

1. When should you clean the tank?
2. Why should you clean your tank?

Well, the answers to these questions are as follows:

At regular time intervals the bacteria and other harmful chemicals that generate in the water of the tank develop algae, that is, very harmful for your fish.  It might also make your fish ill or lead to their death.  So you must clean the fresh water fish tank once in every 2 months to get rid of these harmful algae.

Following some easy steps, you give a clean, safe and healthy life to your fishes.  These are as follows:

Step 1:  Preparation for Cleaning the Fish Tank
The basic step before cleaning the aquarium obviously is to empty it first. But, emptying the fish tank naturally means placing your fish out somewhere, where they are safe.

But it won't be good to leave your fishes in a new place for very long, so before emptying the fish tank, you must keep all the required material to clean the tank handy enough to do the job as quickly as possible.

So the first thing you arrange for is the alternate tank to keep your fish that need not be very large but it should be large enough to place all your fishes and allowing them enough space to swim.  Not to mention, the size of this alternate tank purely depends on the number of fishes you have.

Now here is a list of the things you require to clean the tank:

• A fish net to take our your fish from the tank
• A towel and/or paper towels in order to wipe away the spills iii. A water pitcher and/or a bucket to refill the tank
• A food drainer v.  A clean sponge vi.  A clean rag

Step 2:  Removing the Fish from the Tank
You must take care of the following things while removing the fishes from the fish tank:

• Make sure that the alternate container is also set to place the fish in it.
• The temperature of water in the alternate container must be almost similar to that in the fish tank or the fishes would go in to shock.
• Place the fishes one-by-one in the new container.  You can do this by catching each fish with a net.
• The moment all the fishes are placed in the alternate container place it in a clean and safe place where you are sure that the water won't spill.
• Remember when you place the fishes in a new place for the beginning they make a lot of movement which might lead to spilling of the water.  So the container must be selected accordingly.  These movements are also considerably reduced with the right temperature of water.

Step 3: Removing Old Water from the Fish Tank
Once you have moved your fish out of the tank, now its time to empty the water in the fish tank. This could be the messiest job out of all the process, so here are a few tips to make it easy:

• Use a pitcher or small bucket to remove the water of the fish tank. ii.    Dispose this water in to the toilet or a sink.
• Try not to remove the entire water form the fish tank.
• Usually in case of a fresh water aquarium you should empty 3/4th  part of the total water.
• The rest 1/4th  helps you in the acclimation of the new water that you would add later.

Step 4: Removing & Cleaning the Gravel in the Tank
Most of the dirt & waste of the fish tank gathers in the gravel placed at the bottom.  So cleaning it well is indeed very important.  Here are some simple tips to clean the gravel:

• First remove all the gravel from the tank.
• For this you can make use of the following equipments:

           a fish net,
           a dust pan, and
           a small scoop.

• Now place the gravel in some type of strainer.
• Place this strainer filled with gravel under hot water.
• Keep mixing the gravel while rinsing it, in order to get rid of all sediments and wastes that have settled down.
• Now place it aside safely, as we shall add to the fish tank later.

Step 5: Cleaning Your Tank 

This step refers to cleaning the inside portion of the tank.  Here are some tips on the same:

• Here your main job is to clean up the algae built inside the tank.
• Algae builds up when the temperature of the water in the tank is to warm or the fish tank is exposed to direct sunlight.
• To clean the algae you should use a scratch pad, but make sure to choose a scratch pad that is least abrasive, else you shall land making scratches on the glass of the fish tank.
• Use hot water to clean the glass, this way you shall remove the algae more effectively.
• Remember you should never use any cleaners or detergents to clean the glass of the fish tank, as these are extremely harmful for the fishes.
• Once the algae are removed, you must wipe the rest of your tank with the help of a towel or a soft rag.  Remember you might have to repeat this at least a few times.
• Make sure that you rinse the rag and/or towel frequently while cleaning so as to remove all the wastes.
• In case you have placed some decorative pieces in your tank, wash and rinse them well with hot water.
• Make a final check that the tank is absolutely free of all wastes and build-ups.

Step 6: Placing up the Tank Again
Now when all the items of the inside of the tank are washed well and the container is all clean, its time place everything back in to position.  Here are some steps of doing the same:

• First of all place the gravel – from back to front. ii.    Next, fill in the tank with water.
• Check on the temperature of the water and make sure it is in tandem you’re your usual one.
• Try adding water with the similar temperature that you have to achieve at the end. v.    Now place all the decorative pieces back in to place in the fish tank.
• Now its time to place your fish back to their home.
• Your fish might take some time to adapt to the new water but after all these steps, you have ensured that the water is clean and healthy enough for your fishes.

Some other tips you must keep in mind are as follows:

1. Cleaning of the fish tank must be done every 2 months.
2. Always keep the filters of the tank clean.  Clean them or change them at regular basis and never leave them dirty.
3. If you change around 20% of the water of the fish tank every month, the cleaning that is to be done every two months would get less tedious.
4. In order to have a healthy fish tank and happy fishes, it is a must to keep your aquarium clean and safe all the time.
5. This would not only add beauty and life to your pets, but also make your aquarium a loveable sight for one and all.

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Creating The Perfect Reef Aquarium – 12 Tips On Right Creativity

Nature has given us varied beautiful seasonal differentiations to enjoy that are from white snow tipped mountains to lush green lands.  When it comes to the water, there is a whole new world to search.  The water creatures can be phenomenally beautiful and beyond our imagination. Similarly, the water plants are all unique attractive.
 

The constant studies and research has proved that no two coral reefs are alike.  These reefs are all one of its kind amazingly attractive and all those who see them want to get them home with themselves.

This can be done with some effort and lot of creativity but the fact remains that there is no pre- defined formula to grow these at home.

Creating that picturesque salt water aquarium you have to choose from various costly and average priced ornaments.  The whole game at the end is about striking the right balance between imaginations, frugality, aesthetics, ecological balance and the financial aspects.

Here are some points you must know in order to grow one of these reefs at your home aquarium:

1. The size of the aquarium must be well planned and apt for your fishes to live healthy.
2. Fishes need lot of place to swim and play.  Also if there are varied breeds of fishes living in the same aquarium, they would need some extra space to co-exist healthily.
3. While choosing your fish you must be careful to keep only the compatible breeds together in one aquarium, else it would land up in to a disaster.
4. To set up an ideal eco-system in the fish tank with all natural resources in tact, 175 gallon tank is the minimum you must consider.
5. While preparing a picture perfect reef in your home aquarium you are now lucky that you can find pre-drilled aquariums in the market.  You just have to shell out some extra money that you pay as an advance for to the store form where you are purchasing the aquarium.  This helps you get a very clean look rather than that traditional hang on the back overflowing tanks.
6. You have a bulk of choices to choose from when decorating your aquarium with a natural reef.  The experts advise that as much as possible you should stick to organic decorations.  This would ensure the health of your fishes, the plants and a surely maintained ecological balance in the aquarium.
7. Live rock is a great decoration for your saltwater aquarium.  This adds an aesthetic feel to the aquarium and helps you formulate the aquarium's ecosystem as it is a vital part of the aquatic life.  A live rock is covered with several micro and macro organisms.  These organisms filter all the waste products from of the water, thereby making that water safe for the aquatic inhabitants.
8. Live plants are another beautiful addition for the saltwater aquariums.  These are functional as well as they provide for a lot many facilities in the water.  Live plants oxygenate the water in the tank.  These provide a hide out for your fishes making them more playful.  They not only beautify the fish tank but also purify the water in the tank by absorbing the chemicals & providing oxygen.  The water plants break down water and ammonia.  Then these plants filter the ammonia & the bad or contaminated pat of the water that is the portion that contains bacteria.  Plants maintain the balance between all the chemicals in the fish tank as the fishes produce lot of ammonia.
9. Corals are also great beautifiers for your perfect reef aquarium.
10. The experts always advise that prior to making purchases and decisions regarding your fish tank, you must first choose and finalize the breed and type of fish that you would purchase.  This would help you make rather appropriate and correct purchases for the aquarium, for instance some fishes like some particular plants that you would be able to decide on the basis of the breed you have decided to buy.
11. The depth of the bottom layer of the aquarium that comprises of silt, sand, and/or gravel must be of an adequate depth so as to allow the roots of the plants to seep in well. While this depth majorly depends on the type of plant you are placing in there, approximately 8 cm is the usual depth required for most of the plants.
12. Like all aquariums and you must light your salt water aquarium at least in the first half of the day as your plants and fishes need a perfect cycle of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The plants need carbon dioxide to live that they can generate through photosynthesis and this can happen only with the right lighting in the aquarium. You might also consider planting an artificial carbon dioxide producing gadget in the fish tank.

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Caring For Tropical Fish In The Freshwater Aquarium - 12 Easy Tips

The tropical fish can reside well in a fresh water aquarium only if you take good care of them. Here can be some major issue that you would not be able to see on the surface yet they would be there in any case.  So, you must educate yourself in this regard in order to enhance the life and health of your fish.

Gathering the right information on maintenance of your fishes can easily help your tropical fish live longer in that fresh water aquarium.

Here are some key points to remember:

1. Remember that poor quality of water can considerably harm the tropical fish.
2. In case your aquarium comprises of a large amount of algae, it can result in major damage to the tropical fish.
3. Lack of oxygen is also a matter of concern when it comes to taking care of the tropical fish is a fresh water aquarium.
4. To ensure the heath of your tropical fish in a freshwater aquarium, you must make sure as to the water in there is balanced.
5. Test the fish tank's water regularly in regards to a proper level of oxygen and salinity in it.
6. The water testing kits are available at all local pet stores. These are useful to ensure the proper properties of water.  These tests must be conducted at least once a week.
7. In case you come across any problem in the matching of the properties, you must check on the corrective measures.
8. Feed your fish properly.  There is a large variety of fish food available in the market.
9. While picking the right fish food for your pets, make sure to read the contents and ingredients.  The fish food must comprise of proteins, amino acids, and other essential nutrients.  This would ensure that your fishes are getting a healthy diet, its digestion is functioning properly, and its overall color is maintained.
10. Make sure to read through the instruction manual that you get with the fish food to know the right quantity you have to feed to the fish.
11. Just like humans, the tropical fish could suffer severe ailments if given too much or too less food.
12. Check of the lighting in the aquarium and make sure that it is apt for your fish to live healthy.  In case the aquarium is over exposed to direct sunlight or if the fish tank has a lot of light, the growth of algae in the fish tank catches up lot of pace that can be harmful for your fishes.

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Aquarium Filter

While setting up any aquarium, there are several essential gadgets involved, like the heater, the test kit and the filter.

Fishes are normal living beings that eat food and excrete waste.  Also as a natural process water develops some bacteria.  The filter in the fish tank cleans up all these germs and unwanted elements to keep the water clean and safe for your beloved pets.

The two basic types of filters are:

1. External Filtration Systems
2. Internal Filtration Systems

The filters for your aquarium are readily available at the local fish shop.  The local pet shops are probably not the right place to look for the filters.

The Internal Filtration System

These are used for the salt water & fresh water aquariums.  Usually, this tank works in the following manner:

1. The salt water aquariums contain an internal tube that allows the water to flow down in to a sump tank.
2. The sump tank is just below your main tank.
3. All the water in the fish tank is made to pass through certain kind of foam.
4. Here all the wastes and the bad bacteria get accumulated thereby, filtering the water.
5. This water is then finally pumped back to the top in the main tank.
6. This is a continuous process in every aquarium.
7. This is very noisy and pricey filtration yet all the worth as it is very effective, in fact is considered the second best available in the market.
8. These types of filters are usually expensive as they are tailor made as per your tank, but often they are not worthy of that heavy expenditure.

The third best option available in the market is a large black internal filter.  This works in the following manner:

1. A large black rectangular structure is fitted inside the tank.
2. This rectangular filter sucks up the water in the tank along with the waste in there, through its bottom.
3. Then this water passes through the filter.
4. It is quite inexpensive and affordable filter.

The External Filtration System

This is the most effective and hence the most expensive system available in the market.  But the expense made on these is all the worth.

This filter is basically quite hard working machinery that is placed outside your fish tank. While it works just like the two internal filtration systems explained above, here the connecting element amidst the tank and the filter is the long black tube.  As it is comparatively silent and extremely effective, it is worth all the expenses made.

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Know Your Fish

Here are some types of fish that we recommend you to place in your aquarium:

1. Hardy fishes like barb, danios, gouramis, and other live bearers are known for their ability to withstand quite high nitrite levels & ammonia that are generated in a new aquarium.
2. Check that the ideal way is to introduce only one fish at a time, and gradually increase the number of fishes in the tank.  You could also consider starting with 4 different types of hardy fishes, one of each type.
3. The right way to add a fish in the tank is that you must afloat the fish in a bag in to the aquarium for around 15 minutes prior to leaving them in the tank.  This would help your fish get acclimated to the temperature of the water in its new home.
4. Make sure that you do not add the water of the fish bag in to the aquarium as this water might be contaminated, or would at times affect the temperature of the aquarium and the P.H. level of the water in there.
5. Before giving the first ever feed to the fish, give it at least two hours to get acquainted with its new house.
6. While purchasing the first fish of yours, be sure to purchase some food for it. Remember that you should feed only small amounts of the food initially.
7. The food that remains settles down at the bottom and rots down finally.  This rotten food becomes debris and develops severely toxic chemicals that can kill your fish that is ammonia.  So, try to maintain the least amount of remaining food.  This thing must be taken are of in the newly set up aquariums especially those that lack the nitrifying bacteria.
8. The trick to do it simply is to watch your fish while feeding them.  Only put in the amount of food it consumes in the first 2-3 minutes, that to only twice a day.  In case of food, also make sure to read through the label of the fish that you always get on the purchase of the fish.
9. During the first month, make sure to test the level of P. H. in the water everyday.
10. In case the tank is getting cloudy; it is time to add some clarifiers in the water.
11. Monitor your fish well enough for any signs of ailment or stress.
12. The usual behavior study of the fish in the aquarium explains that the healthy fish would swim regularly and the lethargic ones would usually hover around the surface of its aquarium.
13. Hence, water in the tank must be changed regularly, especially when it is new.  For the new fish tank you must consider changing around 10% of its total water every few days. This must be done for at least the first few weeks or so.

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Aquarium Care Guide – 20 Easy Tips

There are several hobbies one can have that turn in to real passion some day.  One among them is maintaining an aquarium.  This hobby though is a serious one as there is no room for mistakes else you shall land up harming or killing a living creature.

The first and foremost thing you must understand before deciding to take care of an aquarium and its fishes is that prior to purchasing the fishes you must prepare the fish tank and make it apt for the fish to live in.  This process needs lot of patience and knowledge else you might land up killing those beautiful creatures.

For preparing the fish tank you must first add the gravel and all other additives in the tank. Make sure that all these decorations are rinsed well so that the water is free of all harmful bacteria.  The process of preparing the tank can take anywhere between 24 hours and 4 weeks.

Make sure that you do not use any soap while washing these substrates.  Next, fill in the tank with dechlorinated water.  Attach the filters & lighting.  Now, allow the tank to cycle until at least once the water becomes clouded.  Then allow the cloud to settle down.   Make use of that test kit to check for the optimal temperature of water and for the sufficient P.H.

Also, be sure that you do not add any new fish to the tank until and unless the water in there is crystal clear.

Actually, when the aquarium is fully functional, some bacteria support the breakdown of ammonia in to nitrates.  These bacteria are generated from the existing fish hence they are not there in a non-active fish tank.  So, the crux of this explanation is that without any existing fish, there would be no good bacteria in the tank water.

This is called as the nitrogen cycle.  You must know that the nitrogen cycle would not initiate until & unless you add fish to the tank.  Hence, running the empty tank for quite a lot of days would not do any help.

The nitrogen cycle that takes place in the fish tank clears away the toxic chemicals being generated in there in to beneficial ones. This cycle generates foam that makes the water cloudy for sometime.  This is a natural process and you do not have to worry if this happens, rather it proves that the tank is healthy enough for the fish.

Here are some simple points to understand what nitrogen exactly is:

1. Like all living beings the fishes eat food & generate waste or excreta.
2. This waste combines with the excess food that settles down at the base of the tank and the plant debris forming ammonia in your aquarium.
3. Ammonia is quite toxic and hence pretty harmful for the fishes, therefore we need to imply a mechanism to break it down.
4. This mechanism is the nitrifying of bacteria.
5. These bacteria turn the ammonia in the aquarium in to nitrites that are rather tolerable to the fishes.
6. Next, the varied nitrifying bacteria would convert the nitrites in to nitrates that are further less toxic for the fish & other aquarium life.
7. These nitrates are collected & minimized by filters.  They would eventually accumulate in your tank.

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Know Your Fish And Aquarium – 22 Points To Remember

Once you have gathered all the materials required for an aquarium, you must first learn how maintain your aquarium that is taking care of your fish and keeping aquarium clean.

Before purchasing the materials required for the aquarium you must search the market well and gather as much information as possible.

Some of the materials required for making an aquarium are:

a.  Container or the Aquarium
b.  Filters
c.  Heaters
d.  Gravel
e.  Floss
f.  Buffers
g.  Food
h.  Fish, etc.

In order to help you better maintain the fish and the aquarium here are some helpful tips:

Heaters

1. These are quite necessary to maintain the tropical fish.
2. However, before purchasing the filters and heater you must check on their size and that they perfectly fit in to your aquarium.
3. They must not capture any unnecessary space.
4. In case your tank is too small to fit in these, you would surely require a larger tank.

Materials Required

An aquarium calls for several other purchases as accessories and for apt maintenance.  Some of these items are: plants, gravel, food, ornaments, test kits, water treatment, etc.

Al these items have different purposes to solve like gravel maintains the natural resources in the fish tank, ornaments provide for a lively décor, fish feel at home with the plants and food is necessary for your fish to survive.  The test kit keeps a watch on the water quality.  Water treatment becomes a must as the tap water that is usually used in the aquarium is not pure enough in most of the areas.

Here follows the procedure of making the aquarium:

1. First of all fill a bucket of water and rinse the gravel washing of the dirt, grime and germs.
2. Then add water to your tank, once the gravel is purified.
3. Further add half of the water actually required for the tank.
4. Next add the ornaments & plants to your aquarium.
5. This makes the job of additives completed for the aquarium.
6. Now finally add the tank with the water in full quantity required.
7. Now use the manual that you have received with your tank.  Follow the outlines mentioned in this manual to fill your tank properly.
8. Next move to placing the heater & filtration systems in the tank.
9. In order to fit in the heater and filters safely and properly, follow the instructions mentioned in the manual you have received with these equipments.
10. Finally you add the water treatment system to the tank.  This purifies the harmful chemicals form the water like metal, copper, metal and other related elements.
11. Now before adding the fish to the tank either make use of the specialized products that enable you doing that safely, else we recommended you to wait at least a few weeks prior to adding life to your tank.
12. A tank filled with water has some natural bacteria that produce naturally.  These bacteria must be filtered out of the water so as to keep your fish healthy and safe.  So once the water in aquarium is settled, use your test kit to check if the water is perfectly clean or not, it must also be checked that the water has the right temperature and all the chemicals in it are balanced.
13. Now after the final verification of the water in the tank, add your fish in small quantities.

Know your fish

Here are some types of fish that we recommend you to place in your aquarium:

1. The most recommended one is damsel – it is a salt water fish.
2. Remember, the aggressive fish would always devour the passive fish.  Hence, is salt water we recommend you to place some aggressive fish, to be precise, only two of one type, and you can add more slowly and gradually.
3. In case you opt to keep some fresh water fish, it is advisable to choose out of the passive fishes.
4. However, you cannot have both the salt water fish and the fresh water fish in one tank, so in that case you must consider having two separate tanks.
5. For the starters we suggest fishes like white cloud mountain minnow, gold fish, danio, etc.
6. Further you can try having a bristle nose that is type of passive fish.  It grows approximately 5.5 inches.
7. Similar to the bristle nose, the otocinclus is another type of passive fish; this grows around 2 inches.  An otocinclus loves to live in the rocks & plant areas.
8. Plecostomas, another passive fish, grows around 24 inches, and lives in & around rocks & plants.
9. Veitail and Marble are other varieties of passive fishes.  These both grow approximately 6 inches and love to live in & around plants & rocks.

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Maintaining Your Goldfish Aquarium - 25 Easy Tips

There are several hobbies one can have that turn in to real passion some day.  One among them is maintaining an aquarium.  This hobby though is a serious one as there is no room for mistakes else you shall land up harming or killing a living creature.

A beautiful and fun fish maintain in your aquarium is a goldfish.  Here are some easy tips to follow to have a fun pet in that beautiful aquarium for years together:

1. The life expectancy of a goldfish is 5 to 10 years depending upon your way of maintaining it.
2. Make sure that you purchase the fish only when you are done with the preparation that is setting the aquarium up to date for your new pet.
3. Supply a good amount of food to the fish so that it lives healthy.
4. Make sure that the water is the tank is always fresh and clear.
5. Before adding fish to the tank, make sure that your tank is absolutely ready with everything required just in place.
6. While preparing the tank, check that the gravel you add to the tank is absolutely clean. For cleaning the gravel, first of all fill a bucket of water and rinse the gravel washing of the dirt, grime and germs.
7. Remember goldfish is quite messy creature so keep the layer of the gravel very thin.
8. Next add the ornaments & plants to your aquarium.
9. Before adding the water to the tank check that the additives are all added to the tank, that too all clean and well rinsed.
10. Goldfish is very active creature so give it lot of space to swim in the tank.
11. Also do not forget to create one or two places for the fish to hide.  This would make it more playful.
12. Now finally add the water to the fish tank.
13. Make sure to plat a dechlorinator in the tank as the chlorine content in the usual tap water can indeed be poisonous for your fish.
14. Now when the fish tank is all set, turn on that filter.  Also make sure that the filter must be changed quite often as this keeps your fish healthy.
15. As the goldfish live at a room temperature, you would need a heater.  The ideal temperatures for a goldfish are 68 to 80 degrees.  Also, the goldfish can not bear any rapid changes in the temperature.
16. You can also opt to keep that filter on in the tank for a day or two, before adding the fish to the tank as it would clean up any germs or bacteria left in the gravel, additives or the water.
17. Now add the fishes gradually to the tank.  Actually, the fish excrete ammonia that initially makes the water unhealthy for the fishes to live in and the cleaning up process takes time to settle down.  Adding too many fishes to the tank in one go might kill your fishes.
18. Further, as the water in the gold fish tank ages on, it starts developing some very beneficial bacteria that make your fish rather healthy, though it is a very time taking process.  These bacteria primarily convert the harmful chemicals excreted of the fishes that live in there in to beneficial ones.  Hence, the bottom line is to start with one fish only.
19. Also, you must know that the nitrogen cycle would not initiate until & unless you add fish to the tank.  Hence, running the empty tank for quite a lot of days would not do any help.
20. 20. For the new fish tank you must consider changing around 25% of its total water every few days.  This must be done for at least the first few weeks or so.
21. You can get goldfish food at any and all the pet shops.  While purchasing the first goldfish of yours, be sure to purchase some food for it.  Remember that you should feed only small amounts of the food initially.
22. The food that remains settles down at the bottom and rots down finally.  This rotten food develops severely toxic chemicals that can kill your fish.  So try to maintain the least amount of remaining food.  The trick to do it simply is to watch your fish while feeding them.  Only put in the amount of food it consumes in the first 2-3 minutes, that to only twice a day.  In case of food, also make sure to read through the label of the goldfish that you always get on the purchase of the fish.
23. The nitrogen cycle that takes place in the fish tank clears away the toxic chemicals being generated in there in to beneficial ones.  This cycle generates foam that makes the water cloudy for sometime.  This is a natural process and you do not have to worry if this happens, rather it proves that the tank is healthy enough for the fish.
24. Also, be sure that you do not add any new fish to the tank until and unless the water in there is crystal clear.
25. Goldfish grow up to be quite large and yet they require all the more space in the tank to swim.  Overcrowding the tank would make your fish unhealthy and might kill them as well.

Following these guidelines, we are sure your fish tank would be a good aquarium for your goldfish to live in!

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55 Gallon Freshwater Aquarium – 14 Easy Tips For Maintenance

When you decide to purchase a new aquarium, a 55 gallon fresh water aquarium is quite a good option.  Its size is big enough accommodate several fishes at a time yet, can be placed in very less pace in your home or the office.

While the local retailers could very well assist you regarding all the specifics involved in these types of aquariums, here are some simple tips to understand the basics of aquarium maintenance:

1.  To make an ideal 55 gallon freshwater tank, one should always opt for an acrylic tank over the glass aquarium.  It is because the acrylic tanks are very light in weight and are far easier to manage.  The acrylic tanks also have a better visibility than the glass tank.

2.  Make sure to purchase a suitable stand for your fish tank before purchasing the fish tank so that you must place it safe and accurately.

3.  You would need several equipments to maintain the fish tank such as heater and thermometer to maintain & watch the temperature of the water in the fish tank.

4.  A normal 55 gallon freshwater fish tank would require around 5 bags of rocks.  You can also select among other substrates that you would require to line the bottom of your tank.  Make sure to pick a very bright color in order to you’re your fish tank rather interesting.

5.  Further, you would need a filter to fir on ton your fish tank so that water in their must be clean and safe for your fishes.  The market is flooded with many types of filters so the experts always advise to research well before purchasing a filter.  The type of filter you purchase sheerly depends on the type of fish tank you have.

6.  Certain filters are placed beneath the substrates that are at the bottom of your tank and there are also those that are placed at the side of your aquarium.  Filters can be very expensive it is not always necessary to buy the priciest one.  Many a times the basic filters are also just apt.

7.  Your aquarium would also require the right lighting.  The fishes respond to light in a very positive manner, yet they need a balance of lights in & out.  You can either opt to keep the lighting of the fish tank very basic, or may shift to some very technical settings.  For most types of fishes, switching on the basic light for a few hours a day is great.

8.  Make sure that your fish tank contains ample amount of plants.  They not only beautify the fish tank but also purify the water in the tank by absorbing the chemicals & providing oxygen.  The water plants break down water and ammonia.  Then these plants filter the ammonia & the bad or contaminated pat of the water that is the portion that contains bacteria.  Plants maintain the balance between all the chemicals in the fish tank as the fishes produce lot of ammonia.  Also the fish love to hide away in the plants.  There are many varieties of fresh water plants to place in your 55 gallon aquarium.

9.  In case you do not want to get hassled with the live plants, you can also opt to purchase the plastic ones.  Unless and until the fish try to eat the plants, the synthetic plants' variety available out there is so impressive that your fish would never be able to figure out the difference between the real and the plastic plants.

10. Once the tank is all set to welcome your fish, you can choose from a large variety of starter fishes.  In case you want to start with the hardy fishes try keeping some live bearers such as barbs, gouramis, and danios.  These fishes are naturally capable enough to handle the high nitrate levels in your fish tank.

11. Before adding some new companions for these fishes, wait for a month that is 30 days, so that your earlier fish get acclimated to their tank.

12. Make sure to keep a watch over your fishes else you might never know if they are ill or at unrest.  Usually such symptoms show up only after 30 days.

13. While transporting your new fish, be careful and take good guidance form the pet shop from where you purchase them and some trained people in this hobby, else, you might make the fish ill.

14. Ideally a 55 gallon fresh water aquarium is capable enough to handle around 15 to 20 small fishes, in total.  Make sure that your fish tank gives them enough space to grow and play healthily.

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Maintaining Your Saltwater Aquarium

You spent a good deal of time and money putting together your salt water aquarium.  Now, you are ready and able to fill it with the fish that you have loved to own.  Yet, just because you are stocking it full of the fish that you want does not mean that you are done taking care of it.  The leading cause of deaths in fish in salt water aquariums is that they are not in the right quality of water.  It is essential as a fish owner for you to take care in maintaining the tank’s water quality. This is your largest responsibility even.

To do this, though, there are several things that you need to do in order to make sure that you have the best quality of water and the right conditions for your fish to be in.  You will need to test several things within your tank every two weeks.  You should not do this testing when you have just added water to the fish tank or when you have just added a new fish to your tank.  These things will throw off the quality of water instantly.

Check:
•    Nitrate Levels
•    Salinity Levels
•    pH levels
•    Ammonia levels
•    Nitrite levels

To know if these levels are right on, you will need to know what your fish need to have.  This is something that you should know before you even purchase your fish. You will want to find out what needs the fish have and insure that all the varieties of fish that you place into the salt water aquarium agree on these levels.  Now, if the levels are off from what they should be, you should purchase the right chemicals to help to level them out.  These can be found at your local pet supply store that stocks fish or you can find them on the web.  If your pH levels are off, you can adjust them by adding a tablespoon of baking soda to the tank in cases where you need to raise it.  In cases where you need to increase the level of salinity, add table salt to the water.  If the water in your tank is too salty, which is common, you can add dechlorinated water to the tank to balance this out.

Taking care of your salt water aquarium will become more like a task that is natural and normal rather than a challenge and too much trouble.  Taking care of your fish is a great way to learn more about them and to get to interact with them.  You can become mesmerized in their beauty too.

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Saltwater Aquariums: Knowing Your Fish

Once you have your fish stocked in your salt water aquarium, you are done right?  This is not the case.  You still have things to do including learning more about your fish.  Just like people, all fish are different from each other.  Some like to eat at specific times while others want to eat whenever they feel like it.  One thing is for sure.  Just like babies, you will need to provide them with all aspects of their care.  This can be more than just a chore, though.  It can be quite fun and enjoyable even.  Salt water aquariums require that you do take time to take care of your fish.

Most of what you will need to know about your salt water aquariums you will be able to learn right from your pet store clerk (assuming that you have one that you trust and that is knowledgeable!)  You will want to know certain aspects about your fish before you take them home.  For example, you should know what types of fish you can stock together in your tank. You should know the types of water that they need to survive in including the pH levels, the salinity levels and the temperatures that the fish need.  All fish that you put into your tank should have similar needs in these things.

Once you get them in there, you will need to feed them.  In most cases, salt water fish tend to need to eat every three days, but this varies for each species.  This is something that you should know before you purchase your fish.  You should also know what they will like to eat.

Some will require that you provide them with a varied diet including things such as cut up shrimp and even romaine lettuce.  This will help them to have a balanced diet.

You should also be able to take note of any differences that you see in your fish from time to time.  That means that you should watch the animal swim and eat and know what its normal is. If you notice something is wrong or something seems different, the fish may be sick.  This can be caused by the water that the fish is in or a number of other conditions.  You can find all sorts of products to put into your tank to help them to stay healthy or to recover.  You can talk to your vet about any problems that you may notice and see what is recommended specifically.  It is also important to note that fish just do not live as long as people do.  Therefore you can expect to have to replace them as well.

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Saltwater Aquariums: Adding Fish

When it comes to adding fish to your salt water aquarium, you may be ready to go and wanting to quickly fill it up.  You just spent a good amount of money on your tank.  You may have even purchased something that is very attractive and now you want to have fish in it.  Yet, before you just head to the pet store and grab a bunch of fish to dump into your tank, you really do need to know a few things before you get started.  By doing this, you will help to insure that your fish get the best chance at life in your salt water aquarium as they can have.

Realizations…

It is important for you to realize a few things about the fish that will soon call your aquarium home.  First off, not all fish can live in the same aquarium together.  Some fish will require different levels of salinity, different pH levels and even different water temperatures.  You will need to find fish that can tolerate the same conditions.  Also, some fish are more aggressive then others.  You do not want your expensive fish being killed by the big, tough one.

Another thing to take note of is the fact that you should insure that your fish are adding to the tank slowly.  Fish do not react well to change.  They need the same types of elements to be present in the water that they were just in as well as in the water that they will be in.  You will want to add fish only a few at a time to the tank.  You will want to make sure that whenever you do add them that the ammonia and nitrite levels are at a level of zero.  This is generally going to happen after the tank has cycled.  Also, take note that you should realize how many fish that you should have in that aquarium.  A good rule of thumb is to remember this.  For every ten gallons of salt water in your aquarium, you can have up to three inches of fish in your tank.

Providing these aspects to your fish is necessary if you plan to keep them long.  When you take these steps, you are allowing the fish to get accustomed to the location that they will be in and giving them the best opportunity to survive.  If you will be spending money on fish, there is no reason not to get the best results from your aquarium.

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Saltwater Aquariums: Questions You Need to Ask

When you are on the hunt for the perfect fish for your salt water aquarium, you should take some time to do several things.  First, you should know what you are looking for.  Take some time to really learn about the fish that will work well together in your tank. You should also think about how much room they need as well as what type of care they will need from you as well. You can do much of your learning right here on the web.  When it comes to actually stocking your salt water aquarium, though, there are several things that you should ask your sales person before you purchase the fish.

Remember to always purchase fish from a trusted pet store.  You should feel comfortable with the quality of the fish that they provide.  If you have any doubts about the place, and plan to purchase expensive fish from them, really consider what you are doing.  You can probably find a better location to purchase your fish from.

With that said, there are some things that you should ask when it comes to the fish that you plan to purchase to fill your salt water aquarium.  Here are some.


•    What type of care do you need to provide to the fish?  In most cases, you will want to know the basics here.  It is necessary for you to know not only what the fish needs, but also what the fish has been accustomed to while living at the pet store.  This can help the fish to survive better when you bring him home to your aquarium.

•    What type of food does the fish need to eat as well as how much and when is it eating?  Again, this may be specific to the pet store and it may be specific to the animal as well.  The goal is, though, to insure that you provide your pet fish with the best quality of foods as you can.

•    What levels of water quality does the fish need?  You should know the type of pH level it needs, the salinity that it needs as well as the temperature of the water that it needs.  You will need to insure that you can meet all of these needs in your tank as well as that this fish needs to have the same levels as the fish you already have in your tank.

•    Finally, ask your sales clerk about the aggressiveness of the fish.  You need to know if this fish and that fish will work well together or if they are going to kill each other.  Really, it is as simple as that!

Learning this information can help you to get the best results for your salt water aquarium.  You will have the knowledge that you need to have a successful aquarium too.

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Filling Your Saltwater Aquarium

Once you have chosen your salt water aquarium, you can begin working on filling it up the fish that you would like to own.  But, before you do this, you will want to take some time to consider the options that you have.  You can put much more than just fish into your aquarium.  But, remember this.  Whatever you do put into the tank, you will need to insure that your fish will still have enough room to swim about as they please.  If your tank is smaller, then you may need to limit what you put into it otherwise.  Nevertheless, consider your options.

Your salt water aquarium can actually be stocked with more then just your fish.  You may want to consider purchasing a reef tank instead of just a fish tank.  If you are new to fish, though, a standard tank can be much easier to clean as well as maintain.  If you are ready for more of a challenge, you will definitely benefit from the reef tank.  This tank can provide you with some very beautiful qualities including things like coral and anemones.  You can even base your entire tank around these things if you would like to.

Fish Next

The next thing that you will want to consider is the fish.  The best things to start in your salt water fish tank including fish such as damselfish, mollies, and clownfish.  These are the best starter fish to begin with because of their size, ability to survive and the ease of care that they provide to you.  Once you do this, you can add in other fish including grammas, triggerfish, tangs and even wrasses.  Remember to always keep in mind the amount of fish and the aquarium size.  If you would like to add something besides standard fish, you can even go with things such as hermit crabs, shrimp, and sea urchins.

Beginners Beware

You have seen them and you would love to have them, but fish such as jellyfish, seahorses, angelfish, anemones, and eels are very hard to care for fish.  If you really would like to own one of these, make sure that you advance your fishing knowledge through hands on practice before investing in these creatures.

When you go to purchase your fish, always take the time to insure that they are completely healthy as well as from a healthy looking tank.  If you walk into your pet store and wonder what smells bad, wonder what is floating in the water or are not sure that the salespeople know what they are doing, don’t buy from them.  More than likely, the fish will not survive long.

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Getting Started With A Saltwater Aquarium

Once you have decided that you will own a salt water aquarium, you will want to jump right in and get started at purchasing and filling your tank.  But, there are some things to consider when it comes to these tanks.  Since this will serve as your fish (your expensive fish, mind you) home, you will want to insure that you provide for it the best possible space for their needs.  Here are some easy steps to help you to choose the right aquarium and to get the most for your money.

•    Choose the types of fish that you would like to own.  You should do this first because each fish will require a different amount of room in your tank.  If you really want to have a larger fish, then you will need to purchase a more extensive aquarium to call your own.  If you only want to purchase smaller species, then you do not want to waste your money on a much too big aquarium.

•    Choose your tank based on your needs.  Not only will you want to choose the right tank based on the types of fish that you will place into it, but you will also want to insure that your tank is strong enough for the amount of water that it will hold, that it is well built so that you do not need to worry about any problems, as well as it should be placed on a surface that is strong enough to easily hold its weight full of water.

•    Consider prices.  There are many choices when it comes to salt water aquariums.  You may be tempted to purchase the one that you saw at the local pet store.  But, before you do this, you may want to check out your options in other locations as well.  If you know what you are looking for, a second hand store or even garage sales may provide you with the right type of aquarium, but this is hard to do.  Instead, consider using the web to help you to find the right price on your aquarium.

You can also consider purchasing a kit for your salt water aquarium.  Yet, these can be costly. If you need all that is included in the kit, then it may be worth more than it would if you were to purchase pieces individually.  Yet, it is an option that you have to consider in most cases.

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How to Choose A Saltwater Aquarium

When it comes to choosing a salt water aquarium, your job is to select the one that is right for your needs.  You may find that there are many types of aquariums to choose from, from different materials to different sizes.  If you compare your options, though, you are sure to see that you will need to carefully consider your needs and desires here.  The salt water aquarium should be chosen carefully and it is always wise to insure that your choice is one that you can actually take care of too.

The Material

The first thing that you will need to choose is the type of material that the salt water aquarium will be made from.  You have two main choices.  First, you have the option of glass.  This is the less expensive of the two and provides for a decent ability.  You can easily clean it too.  The other option is that of acrylic.  Now, these are usually better choices because you can see through them better then you can glass and they are much stronger then glass.  Yet, probably the most important reason to consider acrylic aquariums is the fact that they can be purchased in all sorts of shapes and sizes which allows you to have them fitting perfecting in your home. You should not use anything such as a glass bowl or a vase for your saltwater fish as this is much too small and dangerous for your fish.

Size Counts Too

You should also consider the size of the salt water aquarium that you will be selecting.  The larger the aquarium is, the better your fish will enjoy it.  It can also provide for them a better living arrangement.  Yet, the larger it is, the more costly as well as the more difficult it will be to keep it clean.  Usually, you will want to stick with between 20 and 55 gallon tanks for this job.

You should also carefully consider the types of fish that you plan to put into the tank.  Each fish will need a specific amount of room to call their own.  Some fish will need more room to swim than others will.  Choose the right tank for the fish types that you would like to own.

Finally, when choosing the right aquarium, make sure you take into consideration the amount of weight that the tank will have.  You will likely need to insure that the table that you put the tank on can withstand the weight of the tank full of water and fish.  If you plan to put your tank into a wall, make sure it is strong enough to accommodate this too.

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Why Choose A Saltwater Aquarium?

A salt water aquarium can provide you with a wide range of benefits.  If you are used to walking around the department store and selecting the perfect little goldfish to take home with you, then you may be ready to move from the freshwater fish tanks to the ocean life.  There are many differences in the two types of tanks of course.  The main reason for this is due to the types of fish that you can have in the aquarium.  Yet, there are many more reasons why you should consider going with a salt water aquarium rather than that of a freshwater.  So, step back and put the goldfish back down.  It's time for you to explore ocean life!

The Benefits To Consider

•    You get a wider variety of fish to choose from.  No matter what anyone says, you may just be able to have more interesting fish in your salt water aquarium then you can have in any type of freshwater aquarium.  They are usually more full of color, more varied in their shapes and sizes and are often much more interesting to gaze at from across the room.
•    You will also be providing yourself with a bit of a challenge.  In the salt water aquarium, you are likely going to need to put a little more time into caring for your fish tank.  You will need to check the quality and the salt levels in the water on a daily or weekly basis, depending on the type of fish you own.  You will also need to check out the health of your fish as well.  This only takes a second but will provide you with more respect and admiration for your little guys.
•    Children can benefit from a salt water aquarium too.  If you provide them with a good sized one, you will be able to teach them about ocean life.  Not only can you create an aquarium that will house the fish that you love, but you can create a world that is above the sea level that is just as amazing and full of information that the children will love to learn.

The salt water aquarium is a choice that you have.  You are sure to find that it is cheaper to own a freshwater tank and that those fish are less expensive.  But, you will not find them to be more interesting and intriguing then the fish over here in a salt water aquarium.

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Do I Really Want A Saltwater Aquarium?

The salt water aquarium is one of the most sought after types of fish tanks.  Even though it can be more difficult to actually maintain and even more costly, it offers you the ability to have a wider variety of fish, many of which are attractive and fun choices to make.  But, if you are considering this type of fish tank to have in your home or in your place of business, you really should know the difference between these two types of aquariums.

Deciding

The most essential way to choose which type of tank to have is to know which ones will provide you with the fish that you want to have.  If you are looking to own a goldfish, for example, you’ll want to stick to the freshwater tanks.  On the other hand, if you would love to own a clownfish, go with the salt water.  If you have no idea what types of fish you would like to own, then take the time to check out a few species to determine which ones may just work the best for your needs and desires.

You should also realize that there are differences in these tanks.  The freshwater aquarium is one which will be easier to maintain (no salt to deal with here!)  It will also offer a higher amount of fish in its tank.  Of course, it also provides for you the ability to purchase the least expensive types of fish around too.  If you are looking for something a little more challenging and more rewarding too, consider the saltwater fish aquariums.  Although they do require more work on your part, you get a wider range of fish to choose from.  You also will have the ability to create your own little ocean full of all sorts of different ocean life in it.

Consider things like your budget and the amount of time that you have available to take care of these fish.  You may also want to consider the amount of room that you have for the fish tank. While you can have a smaller salt water aquarium, many people are looking to have a much larger aquarium.  This is quite normal yet requires that much more attention and needs.  Weigh your choices carefully so that you can find the right choice for your needs.  If you do go with the salt water aquarium, you will find a wide range of options ready and waiting for you to learn about.

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Saltwater Aquariums From A-Z: Purchasing An Aquarium

1) Remember, there is no dearth of variety when it comes to the kind of aquariums you can buy for keeping saltwater residents in them; there are only two main consideration you should consider - your budget and the time and effort you can spare to learn about the potential inhabitants of your marine tank and whether you are up to seeing to their regular upkeep.

2) There is a wide variety of the types, construction material, size and ornamentation available for saltwater aquariums that really end up making consumers feel number of choices available and the belief that there is no sure-shot formula for success when it comes to building a saltwater aquarium, it can be very difficult for fish tank enthusiasts to decide which type of fish tank they should buy. There are many factors to be considered before anyone with any plans of setting up a fish tank should consider before ever setting foot inside a pet store.

3) The next consideration is the size of the tank. If you are a beginner you should opt for a small size aquarium and set your skills on maintaining the tank and the inhabitants. You will get a fairly good idea within a couple of months, on how many fish a particular size aquarium will hold and how to go about taking care of it.

4) Choose the fish for your aquarium wisely. If you are going to keep even the smallest variety of saltwater carnivore fish in the tank you should ensure that they have plenty of space to swim around. If the tank is crowded and small the small variety of shark will get aggressive and damage the other show fish in the tank.

5) Choose the material the tank is made of wisely. Aquariums are made of two materials, glass and acrylic. Glass is the better choice as it does not scratch easily, though care must be taken to prevent cracking. While cleaning the aquarium acrylic is very easily scratched and in no time at all you will feel the need to replace it, An expensive proposition.

6) Never keep more than 10 fish in a 2 cubic foot tank. If you want to keep more fish you should purchase a larger tank.

7) The foliage in the tank should be natural. Do not go for the artificial aquarium plants as the natural plants serve as breeding grounds for bacteria the fish feed on as well as help clean the aquarium water.

8) Ensure that the tank comes with an aerator and water filter. There are many electric accessories that are easily available to choose from.

9) Gravel is an important part of an aquarium. It not only helps the water filter keep the water clean but it also adds to the beauty of the tank.

10) Lighting should be adequate and not too strong. A small florescent tube will suffice.

Ensure that your tank has all these accessories before you begin to put fish into it. Your aquarium will not be complete if any of these items are missing.

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How To Care For And Clean A Saltwater Aquarium

1) Most tank owners think setting up a saltwater fish tank absolves them of all after care - after all, the same fish in the regular marine life take jolly good care of themselves, breed and lead a happy, long life there, so why should there be any special need for aftercare when they are kept in a home aquarium? But, here's where they make the mistake of not realizing that proper cleaning and care of a marine tank is very essential to avoid future health problems the fish may face and to maintain its general upkeep. Begin with purchasing a device to keep the tank water clean, which by the way should only be filtered water - you can buy a reverse osmosis kit, available at the local pet store or on the net.  The other alternative is to use regular water at required temperature for the kind of marine fish in the tank, add chemicals to remove chlorine from it and other stuff and ensure cleaning is done at least once a month!

2) Caring for your saltwater fish tank requires regular maintenance and cleansing, if possible, once every 2 weeks; but, it is as important to understand that you do not clean out the good bacteria from too much cleansing.

3) If your saltwater aquarium is relatively new - please remember to let it sit for at least a month before adding fish or plants or even decorations to it. This period is for resting and testing the waters of the tank for the inmates to come: invest in some inexpensive test strips to check chlorine and pH levels in the tank water if you do not want to lose your precious Piscean pals to imbalance in the water levels they usually prefer! After you have ensured that the saltwater aquarium has been set-up properly and the water conditions in it are conducive to keeping fish and other marine creatures or even botanically beautifying it, do not indulge in removing gravel to clean the tank as this can upset the delicate chemical balance in the aquarium.

4) Any kind of cleaning supplies you invest in should be thoroughly researched as being advantageous and safe for tank inmates' health and cleanliness levels and should be effective in cleaning the saltwater aquarium without upsetting its chemical balance, especially if you own an acrylic tank.

5) Learn about the simplest ways to clean tanks and control build up of scuff and algae that dirty up the saltwater aquarium; you may use phosphate drops to cleanse the marine fish tank water, which prevents build-up too soon or buy a pair of hermit crabs and snails to keep algae at bay! These versatile marine creatures also clean out rocks and gravel in the tank and are often referred to as a tank's clean-up crew! For yourself, you can invest in a good pair of gloves, scraper or scratch pad to shine the glass as algae is difficult to remove with any old cleaning tool.

In closing, please remember that aiming a filter (if using one) should ideally be done downwards - into the tank water to avoid build-up of excess salt on the hood of the aquarium. Learn about ideal tank lighting (no more than 6 hours daily at a set time, keep tank away from direct sunlight etc.) for the kind of marine fish you have, the best water filter for your tank needs and the situations that make algae thrive so you know what to avoid and what actions to follow for good marine tank hygiene.

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Removing Algae From Your Fish Aquarium

1. After you have set-up your fish aquarium and enjoyed watching the fish in it swim about under soft or bright lighting, there is the unavoidable possibility of also dealing with scuff and algae build-up, which are natural possibilities to keeping water in an enclosed area where marine residents live and various bodily secretions take place besides plant life exists. This algae may develop through different places in the aquarium and it's not your fault - please understand that this build-up is a result of natural conditions of the tank and at times, it grows because of the strength of the light in the tank as well as the nutrients existing in the aquarium that promote its growth.

2. You need to understand the nature of algae and the various kinds that exist to ascertain the type growing in your fish tank; learn about what makes it grow, what can kill it and ways to remove it with the use of chemicals if it develops in the fish tank. This knowledge will help you stay atop any algae build-up that you can control, if not prevent entirely, since algae growing in the aquarium is a natural process.

3. Once you know of the nutrients that are promoting algae build-up, you can work to minimize or eliminate their levels so the algae do not find circumstances to thrive in; to prevent other slime from accumulating and spoiling the healthy living environment of the tank inmates and have an adverse effect on the cleanliness quotient of your aquarium, clean it immediately when you detect it building up! Begin by changing the tank water and step up to cleansing with chemicals meant to clean algae build-up.

4. Since algae build-up is caused much in part due to the lighting in the tanks, opt for reducing the brightness and heat in your fish aquarium to prevent frequent algae build-up and to have minimum use of low light levels in it and to be on the safe side, keep the aquarium out of direct sunlight since this can lead to algae build up also. Of course, if you buy a family of fish that eat up algae you will have naturally used the best way to reduce any build-up and also found a way to build up your fish collection in the aquarium - so, do consider it!  After all, you have nothing to lose but algae - and everything to gain, including a beautiful and clean aquarium to give you hours of pleasure.

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Purchasing Fish For Your Freshwater Aquarium

1.) As a home aquarium owner wanting to purchase freshwater fish, there are a few things you must remember; of this, the most important is that you know which kind of fish you want to keep and the other species that can stay together with them. The size of the aquarium determines how many fish you can keep comfortably in it - go by the simple thumb rule of each fish requiring at least 3 inches in each gallon of tank water so they can discover and grow naturally. Freshwater aquarium fish only grow as big as the space granted them, so you know that the more space you give them in tank water, the longer their lifespan will be!

2) Know your fish species: especially for the freshwater aquarium set up you have, in order to determine which are the types that can live in captivity, along side other varieties and the kind of tending they require in order to grow and breed. Also take the time to find out the kind of tank environment will suit the kind of freshwater fish you are keen to buy, the kind of temperature preferable to them and the food they will be eating as apart from compatibility, these factors also influence the health of your tank inmates.

3) When buying fish for your non-marine aquarium, keep in mind any advantages you can give the tank fish you purchase in terms of investing in fish that consume algae so the build-up does not affect the maintenance of the tank and makes less work for you.

4) Last, but not least, when considering buying fish for your freshwater tank, it is important to know which are the species to avoid buying that can be unfriendly - to say the least - after all, you do not want the fish in your home aquarium to live in an environment of disharmony, do you? So, learn as much as you can about which kind are territorial e.g. Catfish that can also grow big in a short time and eat into the space required by others in the tank. Also avoid buying the dangerous or poisonous kinds of fish harmful to keep in a freshwater aquarium, such as Piranhas since these can disease easily and also intimidate the other fish in the tank, which is an expense you want to avoid if you want to keep your fish happy, healthy and for a long time.

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Preparing Your Custom Made Saltwater Aquarium

1. Getting a customized Saltwater aquarium and its inmates is the dream of many who love fishy friends, but knowing you can learn a thing or two from the experts can help reduce the cost of buying a custom-made one. You can buy the tank for storing your saltwater fish easily enough from the local pet store and chalk out a tentative budget for your project to include ornamentation and accessories for it.

2. Cleaning out the aquarium is the first step after buying the tank; it is equally important to cleanse the different parts with freshwater (minus soft) with a soft cloth to rid them of dust and chemicals that may have built-up during storage, which may harm the fish.

3. Set the tank on a steady stand a little away from a wall so electrical cords and the plug outlet is accessible without the risk of causing any accidents as periodic cleaning and feeding the fish will be required. Keep a soft dusting cloth handy near the aquarium to control condensation from the saltwater tank as this can damage the stand. After ensuring level installation, fill the tank with store-bought  saltwater or you can prepare a solution of your own. Run all tank equipment for a couple of days to test proper functioning and to judge saline, pH and temp levels of the tank water for the species of marine fish you intend to keep in the tank.

4. After the tank water conditions have been tested, you can move to the final level i.e. aquarium landscaping by removing about half of the water to decorate it with plants, fronds and rocks etc. as reducing water levels helps make landscaping easier. After this has been attended to, you can once again replace the water marked previously by you as being the fill-line measure. (Use a permanent marker for this).

It is strongly recommended that to begin keeping an aquarium, a minimum one-month period be kept aside to determine the ammonia level of the water and the conditions being favorable for the kind of marine fish you want to keep in it; you can choose to do this with the saltwater fish kept inside or minus them.

Do not use an ammonia reducer as this will require you to go over the same process again in order to determine the ammonia content in your tank's living conditions and rob you of precious time in which you can lie back and enjoy your marine friends swimming about!

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Mollies, Guppy Aquarium, And Fish Care

The Mollies belong to the Poecilia family and are easy to keep in a tank environment; they are akin to the swordtail fish, which belongs to the Xiphophorus helleri group. It has a larger fin than the swordtail, called  and mollies can be of many different shapes and size, reaching up to 4 3- quarter inches sometimes with only the males being an inch or so smaller; the males and females differ in size, coloring and gonopodium but both sexes adapt to different living surroundings rather well.

From living in an estuary habitat to varying temperatures in a natural environment, Mollies can adapt to heat conditions ranging from 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, preferably in hard water conditions (pH level of 7 or 8), which means bright lighting and a certain brackishness should be present in the water besides a variety of suitable plants.

The dietary habits of Mollies include feeding on veggies, like spinach and algae and they are more comfortable in areas that have a constant water flow. Being livebearers, Mollies typically spawn plentifully due to a lively disposition and ability to adapt easily in a communal tank set-up.

As for the Guppy fish, these belong to the Poecilia reticulata family and are off-shoots of the Poeciliidae family; found mainly in Guyana, Venezuela and Brazilian waters, they can be traced around the waters surrounding Trinidad and Barbados as well since the kind of environment enjoyed here benefits them: this means a temperature range of 68 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit with pH levels as preferred by Mollies.

The Guppies can live in hard water well enough so long as tehre is plenty of lighting, added plant vegetation and assorted foodstuff made available to them in the tank environment. Being loose-school natured fish, the Guppies need to be on the go constantly with good tank breeding potential even as they eat their young, they still manage to reproduce easily enough in community living.

Learning about the easiest kind of fish to keep in a home aquarium is the first step towards ensuring you are an informed hobbyist; the next step is to learn about the different kinds of aquariums available and which type is best to duplicate a natural ecosystem aided by advanced technology to provide healthy air and water conditions for the inmates of the tank.

Innovative design technology has taken over the huge market for aquariums today, which now come fitted with electrical circuitry of the best kind, plugs, filtration and oxygenation systems, besides temperature control devices to raise or lower the heat in the water! The enviable choice in lighting for tanks enables an owner today to invest in automatic or mechanical switches besides automated feeders to ensure fish are fed in time besides a host of other accessories that make community living a comfortable option for fish owners looking for variety in aquatic life.

Of course, it pays to learn about the kind of fish that can harmoniously co-exist with other varieties, including marine or non-marine species and tropical and coldwater fish.

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Marine And Freshwater Fish Aquarium Care

1. Your approach to purchasing and keeping freshwater fish in your home aquarium should be based on prior research and information to guide your purchase of tank set-up plan, which can be kept completely natural or have an ornate touch, depending on your preferences. Of course, scientifically speaking, keeping fish captive away from natural surroundings does mean they are not really kept in a natural environment but closely substituting these in the tank makes up for a lot that is lacking in plant and their habitat otherwise.

2. After cloning as much of their natural environment as possible, home aquarium owners will find that these tank fish have a tremendous amount of resilience and adapt easily to new surroundings for that determines their survival capacity.

3. Understand that a sterile tank container is a device for isolating fish from their beneficial biosphere and learn about the ways in which you as a home aquarium owner can work to incorporate these varied organic parameters to clone the fish's natural atmospheres so that captive fish of any kind can survive here with minimum distress. It is important to learn about methods you can apply in order to maintain healthy living conditions in the tank for your fishy friends, including knowledge of water purification, oxygenating it, preventing harmful chemical build up and learning to detect changes in the eating patterns of the tank inmates. Therefore, a fish caregiver needs to be an observant person focused on preventing undesirable circumstances in the aquarium as much as a keen hobbyist to upkeep fish.

4. The option of purchasing a framed fish tank as opposed to a simple one is entirely a matter of choice for the owner; however, care must be taken to ensure that the water is always clean in a framed tank, which is the preferred, low-cost option for many people. Some framed aquariums have plastic bodies while others are made of metal; in both cases, the front is chiefly made of strong, water-resistant Plexiglas that curtails corrosive action of chemicals and water, but accumulates scuff easily thus losing much of its visibility over time. The other variety of tanks include those made of glass and lined with silicone-based compound that acts as an adhesive to live up to any amount of wear and tear, proving quite supple in the long run.

5. Home aquarium owners would do well to remember that tank water gathers acids and salts, which need to be regularly measured to test for dangerous levels to prevent fish falling sick; test kits and buffer units help to control and check for calcium  and sodium build-ups that can be caused by toxic chemicals besides other apparatuses that are readily available in the market for judging quality of water i.e. hard or soft. These are important investments for home aquarium owners as they need to know the quality of water for the kind of fish they have (marine fish prefer brackish or hard water while freshwater fish may like spring, tap or purified well water) so the owner needs to be aware of these and when to use water free of chlorine.

The use of hydrometers for testing the salt levels in the tank water, adding 2-4 fractions of sea salt to every thousandth part of tank water to increase brackishness for marine fish, how to make water soft (add distilled water) and which variety of fish require acidy water (yellowy- brown in color, can be made with chemical additives for reproduction stage of some fish) will go a long way in helping owners take care of their fishy friends better.

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