Freshwater Aquarium - Things I Learned About My Freshwater Aquarium

Introduction

When you do something new you will always learn something. When I developed my 75-gallon freshwater aquarium for the first time,I learned a bunch. Here is what I learned.

Maintenance

I initially thought that it would be very time-consuming to keep up. Surprisingly a freshwater aquarium is very easy to keep. It takes me less than an hour a week to do a 10% water replacement and to clean the debris.

I do not count feeding of the fish in this task because this is a chore I really enjoy.

Nitrogen Cycle

I initially thought you poured water in a tank, put some filters and an aerator in and then added your fish. How wrong could I have been? You have to make sure you have a bacteria colony established before you even add your first fish.

Most of the work performed in keeping a freshwater aquarium falls to the bacteria colony you have developed. I did not know that to keep the water clean and to keep toxic chemicals out, such as ammonia and nitrites, the bacteria colony you have to develop performs this work.

You can use fish to develop your bacteria colony, but you have to make sure they are tolerant of ammonia and nitrites and they are the fish you want. The fastest and easiest way to develop this bacteria colony is to buy your bacteria culture at your local pet store.

Adding Fish

Once you spent the time developing your bacteria colony, you cannot just dump your fish in the aquarium. Because I have a 75-gallon aquarium, and using the one-inch of mature fish for every gallon of water, I calculated I could put 15 fishes of the type I wanted in my aquarium.

I found out I should put just three fish of the same species in my tank every week. This is to prevent stressing the fish. Who would have thought?

I did violate this rule at the end when I added my Tiger Barbs. Since Tiger Barbs are schooling fish, they live in groups of six or more, anything less and they will become stressed.

So on the fourth week, after I had added nine fish already, I added my six Tiger Barbs with no problems to any of the fish.

Fertilizer

When I started replacing 10% of the water weekly, I found that this water was full of nitrates, phosphates and fish "poop". I had ready plant fertilizer.

I started pouring it on my houseplants and did they take off.

If you want more information on how to keep an aquarium, download a free eBook, titled "15 Tips On Building And Maintaining An Aquarium", at http://www.squidoo.com/homefreshwateraquariums or at Your Home Freshwater Aquarium.

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert

Five Tropical Stunners - A Feast For Your Eyes

What To Know Before Finding Freshwater Stingrays for Sale

Freshwater Aquariums - Electricty Made Freshwater Aquariums Possible

Freshwater Aquariums - 3 Golden Rules In Keeping A Freshwater Aquarium

Freshwater Aquarium - Common Problems

Freshwater Aquarium - 3 Obscure Problems With Freshwater Aquariums

If you are thinking about obtaining a freshwater aquarium or already have one, then you need to know about these three obscure problems that can happen with a freshwater aquarium. These three problems are not obvious but will eventually occur.

Nitrates

One of the biggest difficulties I had when I established my first freshwater aquarium was keeping the nitrates less than 50 ppm. No matter how many water change outs I performed, my nitrates were always up there around a hundred ppm.

After much research and asking on fish forums and at the pet store, I found out one of the reasons for high nitrates in my aquarium was I was feeding them too much. So instead of feeding them twice a day, I took the advice of more seasoned Aquarist and started feeding them once a day and only as much as they could eat in two minutes.

This helped cut my nitrates but they were still high. The other source of high nitrates in my aquarium was the decay of dead plants. When I started trimming my plants, when I performed my weekly water replacement, my nitrate levels dropped down to less than 25 ppm.

Less feeding and taking care of my plants proved successful in keeping nitrates at an acceptable level.

Tank Size

One obscure problem I avoided unintentionally was tank size. I struggled with determining which size aquarium I should get. Should I start small or go large. I decided to go large with a 75-gallon freshwater aquarium.

Little did I know that was the right decision. Most people who start their first freshwater aquarium go with a small aquarium. A small aquarium is more susceptible to huge chemistry swings than a large aquarium. These huge chemistry swings can have deadly effects on your fish.

Having a large aquarium created smaller chemistry changes, allowing me to learn about controlling the chemicals in my tank, such as nitrates, without jeopardizing my fish.

Fish Compatibility

Another problem I ran into was to find the right fish to put in my aquarium. Fish are classified as community, semi-aggressive and aggressive fish. The fish in your tank should all be of the same classification or you will have difficulties.

When I did my research on which fish fell into which group, I found conflicting information. The most reliable place I found to find which fish got along with other fish, was in fish forums.

In these fish forums you will find Aquarist who have years of experience and know first hand which fish can live in the same tank with other fish.

If you want more information on how to keep an aquarium, download a free eBook, titled "15 Tips On Building And Maintaining An Aquarium", at http://www.squidoo.com/homefreshwateraquariums or at Your Home Freshwater Aquarium.

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert

3 Things to Consider Before Buying Your BiOrb Life Aquarium

BySam Birch

The BiOrb Life Aquarium Collection is a modern, clean-lined and unique looking brand of aquariums. Its performance adds just as much satisfaction as the eye-catching curb appeal. This is definitely a recipe for love at first sight, but what things must be considered when selecting your aquarium?

Well lets see, it looks great, easily maintained, and you can stick it just about anywhere. Besides, the employee at the local pet store said everything you need is in the box. Sounds like all that is left is to grab the biggest one you can afford, select your favorite color, and off you go. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

There are a number of factors that must be considered when selecting either the 8-gallon BiOrb Life 30, 12-gallon BiOrb Life 45 or 16-gallon BiOrb Life 60. Some of those considerations are size, price, type of fish you wish to own, number of fish you want, type of tank (fresh, tropical or marine), placement, and your experience level. Yes, there is a little more to consider than the daunting task of trying match the color of the tank with your tile or carpet. Lets look at a few of them.

Price

BiOrb Life aquariums range from about $225.00 - $500.00. This is a sizeable difference compared to the traditional glass aquarium with a range of about $50.00 - $150.00 for the same sizes. Now comparing the difference between BiOrb tanks and the common glass aquarium is a whole new topic of discussion. For the sake of this article, you have to decide how much you can afford. Ask yourself if the gains in the looks, design, and maintenance are worth the price tag.

Size

Most consumers want to go big. This is why we had the huge SUV boom until gas prices shot through the roof. Now everyone wants a Prius. Well its a little different with the BiOrb Life aquariums. The maintenance is relatively the same regardless of size. So the next thing to look at is placement. Where do you plan on storing this cool looking water container. Will it be on your desk at work, a conversation piece in your home, or a calming element in a board room.

Once you figure out where it will go. You have to make sure it will fit in the space. Not only if the space is big enough, but aesthetically as well. Will it be nicely situated on a bookshelf or is it the smaller 8-gallon BiOrb Life 30 sitting in a conference hall in the corner going unnoticed. If you are spending the money to buy one of these unique aquariums, spend the time to place it in a site that everyone can enjoy.

Type of Fish

Lastly, and probably the most exciting, what kind of fish will you be placing in this fine piece of acrylic? Selecting the type of fish you will raise is very important. You want to avoid overcrowding and make sure there are no compatibility issues. Now would be a good time to mention a rule of thumb, one-inch of fish per gallon of water. So if you planned on buying a 6-inch baby hammer-head shark you probably want to reconsider. That is assuming they get a little larger than the recommended 16-inches of fish in the 16-gallon BiOrb Life 60, the largest of the collection. Now this one-inch rule is a guideline allowing for some flexibility but do not veer to far off the course. Always keep in mind the size the fish will grow to and do not be fooled by the size it is at the time of purchase.

If you would like to have the more colorful saltwater fish, the largest BiOrb Life aquarium the way to go. The larger the tank the more stable the water conditions remain equalling less work for you.

There are many reasons why purchasing a BiOrb Life aquarium is the right choice. Take the time to review the above items prior to making your selection and you will find the aquarium that is just right for your needs.

Get more information about the BiOrb Life Aquarium Collection and the 8-gallon BiOrb Life 30.

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert

The BiOrb Life Collection of Aquariums Explained

BySam Birch

Take a blend of fine decor and intriguing science, and add the ability to capture the beauty of the sea, and you have the BiOrb Life Collection of Aquariums. This is definitely an impressive line of fish aquariums. This is one of those products that everyone has to consider when making a decision on what aquarium to buy.

There are a number of reasons that thousands of consumers have been drawn to this particular collection of aquariums. Whether it is the feeling of life added by the vibrant colors, modern look, or ease of maintenance, this is a brand that has left its mark with retailers and consumers alike.

The BiOrb Life Collection consists of three models: the 8-gallon BiOrb Life 30, 12-gallon BiOrb Life 45, and 16-gallon BiOrb Life 60. Each model is available in three colors, which are chili red, ivory white, and piano black. Every aquarium is sold with everything you need in the box, minus the fish, to operate a freshwater aquarium. The option always remains to personalize it with the numerous life-like decor but at an added cost.

Shape and Design

With the exception of the 8-gallon model, these aquariums are rectangular in shape. The 8-gallon is the only BiOrb Life aquarium that is square. They have a clear back and face made of acrylic which is about ten times stronger than the common glass aquarium. The sides are the portion that is colored. They wrap around the aquarium as a tire wraps around rims. The colors although very simple, pop. The style, color, and design will bring life to any room.

Maintenance

Most aquarium owners purchase fish tanks for the joy and stress-free feeling of staring at their tank. They stare, and stare, and stare. This is because the main reason consumers buy tanks has nothing to do with the joy of maintaining it. The designers understood this and designed the BiOrb line with that in mind, and they nailed it. They have taken the undesirable task of cleaning the aquarium and made it simple.

Every four to six weeks, depending on the model, the filter cartridge must be replaced. Every three to four weeks, depending on the model, one-third of the tank water needs to be replaced. That is pretty much it on the routine maintenance. Not too bad.

Flexibility

There are many options with the BiOrb Life Collection of Aquariums. If you have limited space and need a smaller high-performing tank, there is a model for you. So the variety in sizes is definitely nice to have, and since they all use the same equipment (filter, air pump, air stone, etc.) if you decided to upgrade there would be no learning curve to adjust to. Even greater flexibility is the fact you can add a heater and make it a tropical aquarium. Take it one step further and implement a marine conversion kit. Now you have yourself a saltwater tank. There are many options with this line which makes it a solid choice for a tank.

When everyone felt that it could not get any better, here appeared the BiOrb Life Collection of Aquariums. They are great to look at, easy to maintain, and provides you several options for the long term.

Get more information about the BiOrb Life Aquarium Collection and the 12-gallon BiOrb Life 45.

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert

Freshwater Aquarium - The Proper Way To Replace Your Water

Introduction

If you have a freshwater aquarium, you know that you need to replace 10% of the water every week to remove debris and keep nitrates down. You also need to remove other chemicals, such as phosphates. Without water replacement your water will become dirty, even though it looks crystal clear, and will hold less oxygen.

There is a choice you can make. You can either replace part of the water daily, so you have replaced 10% by the end of the week, or replace the total amount every seven days.

It may surprise you, but replacing 10% of the water at one time is more effective than replacing a small amount everyday. Not only is it less work to replace the water weekly, but it is more effective. You remove more of the debris and chemicals using a weekly replacement regime.

Using nitrates as an example, here is the proof.

The Equation

The equation I will use to prove my point is:

C1 V1 C2 V2C1