July 2, 2010
Steps For Easier Aquarium Care And Maintenance
Whether you have a freshwater aquarium or a saltwater one, and regardless of its size, certain care routines are necessary to keep your fish healthy. Some aquarium care and maintenance tasks will need to be done on a daily basis, while others can be done weekly or monthly.
Each day, visually check your fish, see how they behave, and take note of any movement or behavior that seems unnatural or sluggish. Healthy fish will have erect fins, skin free of puffiness, red marks or white spots from infections or parasites. Also, check daily to see that equipment such as filters and aerators are working properly and that the temperature is constant.
Feed your fish daily, but never too much at once, since uneaten food will cause water to cloud and algae to grow. If you are using EcoBio-Block products, a porous volcanic rock that contains nutrients and beneficial bacteria, your job of keeping clear and clean water will be much simpler. The bacteria in the block will multiply, disperse and control the toxic ammonia and nitrites that form from excess food and fish waste.
Clean the outside of the tank weekly by wiping it with clear water. Do not use soap, glass cleaners or other types of cleaners, as they can easily get into the aquarium water and may kill the fish. Clean tanks allow more light to reach the aquarium plants, as well as making it easier to observe your fish.
You may need to do a partial water change every week or two weeks, depending on the size of your aquarium, the number of fish you stock, and the ammonia content of the water. With the timed-release EcoBio-Block products, you will likely find you need to change the water less often. The beneficial bacteria quickly propagate and convert the ammonia to nitrites and then to safer nitrates. Various products are available for different sizes of aquariums.
Periodically, you will need to remove any algae growth from your fish tank. Some algae thrive with light, and grow on the inside of the tank so must be scraped off. Other kinds live in the gravel bottom, thriving with the organic waste in the water. By using EcoBio-Block products, the production of ammonia and nitrites is controlled, so less algae will grow.
Excess fish food and waste excreted by the fish settles on the aquarium bottom, between the gravel pieces and sand particles. As it decomposes, ammonia and other harmful by-products form and must be removed. Cleaning the gravel by vacuuming up this waste material is a monthly task in aquarium care and maintenance.
The bacteria that are introduced with EcoBio-Block products break down ammonia and nitrites that are present, changing them into safer nitrates. With a suitably sized product in your aquarium, the task of cleaning the gravel will be less frequently needed. Each of these products will help keep your tank cleaner for up to two years.
Aquarium care and maintenance can be made easier with the introduction of beneficial bacteria. As long as these bacteria are present and able to proliferate, they will keep the tank water clean and clear and so ensure the health of the fish.
Discover the right techniques to aquarium care by looking online. There you will find many methods to clear water of organic waste that will harm your fish. Head online and learn more now.
Filed under Aquariums by Leonard Boyler
April 19, 2010
Helpful Hints You Can Use To Beat Cloudy Aquarium Water
A fish tank with cloudy water really does defeat the purpose of an aquarium. There is nothing relaxing about fish swimming through discolored, cloudy and even smelly water. In this article, we will take a look at the different types of cloudy water and how to make sure you never have cloudy aquarium water.
Every type of cloudy water has a different cause. There are four separate cloudy water colors. These include green, yellow, brown and white waters.
Cloudy Green Water
When a tank has too much decaying material, things like fish waste or uneaten fish food, this sets the stage for waking up to green water in your aquarium one morning. The decomposition creates nitrites. The nitrites are blue-green algae’s favorite food. Cloudy green water is created by an algae bloom.
Water That Is Yellow And Cloudy
Newly added driftwood can cause yellow water. This is because the driftwood is releasing tannins into the water. Yellow water can also be caused by dead plant decay or excessive fish waste.
Brown Cloudy Water
A brown algae overgrowth is the cause of brown aquarium water. This type of overgrowth is created in tanks that do not get enough light. It is important that aquariums receive some light during the day in order to prevent the build-up of brown algae.
Water That Is White And Cloudy
New aquariums may develop white, cloudy water. This is due to a bacterial bloom caused by the imbalance of bacteria and nutrients in the water. Another cause for white or grey cloudy water is dust from the aquarium decorations or gravel settling to the bottom of the tank. This is most often seen when a tank is brand new, even before fish have been put in. Be sure to rinse any new decorations prior to adding them to the tank. Gravel should be vacuumed occasionally to keep waste and uneaten food from accumulating.
Getting Rid Of Cloudy Water
To avoid getting most cases of cloudy water in the first place, it is very important that you not overfeed your fish. Fish eat whenever food is presented, so should be fed twice a day an amount that they can eat within 1-2 minutes. Use a net to take uneaten food out of the tank if it has not been eaten quickly.
An ingenious way to keep clear water from becoming cloudy and to clear cloudy water once and for all is a product called EcoBio-Block. Originally developed in Japan, EcoBio-Block clears water completely naturally. No harsh chemicals needed.
Each piece of volcanic rock has live bacteria living within it. As they multiply, they disperse into the water. These bacteria are beneficial to the tank’s environment, breaking down nitrites from the waste products in the water, maintaining clear water and clearing cloudy aquarium water. One EcoBio-Block will last about two years. Aquariums with this product will need fewer water changes and generally be much less difficult to maintain. For a totally natural way to ensure the health of your fish tank, this product is really a must.
Experienced fish keeper, Leonard Boyler’s favorite products make aquarium care and maintenance very easy from start up to clarifying cloudy fish tanks. To learn more about how to keep your water clear and your fish healthy, please visit ONEdersave.com.
Filed under Aquariums by Leonard Boyler
February 10, 2010
Choosing and Maintaining An Aquarium For Your Child
Fish are perfect for first pets. They are silent, contained, and not messy. They also allow children to learn responsibility over pets (in terms of aquarium maintenance) and can let them build up their skills toward tending to a more complex pet. You may have to start by cleaning the tank yourself and having your child help with small tasks before they can eventually fully take over.
Bigger aquariums tend to be much better than smaller. Though it is tempting to save money by buying the traditional bowl, the water will almost always be more easily contaminated. Bigger tanks can firstly support different filtration systems. Secondly, bigger tanks have more water, which means that if there is a slight impurity in the water, it will be less problem to the fish than being in a smaller bowl. More water means more dilution for imperfections.
You can also have more fish in a bigger tank, and they can all live happily and have their own space. Why buy all of the equipment for a tank and have just a solitary, lonely fish? The fish themselves are very inexpensive and do not require much food. Having more fish is good for the health of all the others because it is more like a natural environment. It is good for them to interact.
The reason why a bigger tank and more fish are important to tank maintenance is because the aquarium has its own tiny ecological system. You want to keep it as normal and natural as possible. The fewer fish you have, the more likely that a sick or dead fish will upset the balance.
Tank maintenance depends on several factors. The leading factor is what kind of fish you have: salt or fresh water. Fresh water fish tend to be less exotic and may lower the costs of your equipment. Salt water can be a great and rewarding challenge, but may not be a good option for kids just starting out. It is just one more factor you have to check and maintain.
The specific components of the system should be discussed with a professional at the pet store. They can help you fit the tank to your budget and your fish. There are a few things to do regardless of what type of system you have. Clean up any large messes, but most importantly you need to change out a third of the water and put in new about every two weeks. If you use EcoBio-Block products, you can reduce this part of your maintenance to once a month or less. EcoBio-Block contains beneficial bacteria that create a healthy environment for your fish. These bacteria which are found in nature, break down toxic organic waste into safer by-products, clarify your water and eliminate odors. All you have to do is put the block in the water and wait for the bacteria to build up in the tank. Just be sure to monitor your ammonia and nitrite levels on a regular basis.
The gravel should be vacuumed occasionally, removing large pieces of organic waste. (This job will also be reduced with the use of the EcoBio-Block). You should check the filters every couple of weeks to look for any clogs (if they are left too long, you will definitely notice a dirty tank and probably some dead fish). You can also test the water for pH levels occasionally, or more often if they seem stressed and you can’t find any other possible reason.
Change the filter inserts at least once per month to ensure everything is going all right. Apart from that, just be observant. Count your fish, if you have a lot of them. Watch how they play with each other every day, if there is bullying, if some are not getting any food, or if others are getting too much. If you have an overly aggressive fish, you should remove it.
Find the correct aquarium maintenance for your home setup. Look into EcoBio-Block to help with the job. Head online and learn more now.
Filed under Aquarium Fish by Leonard Boyler
February 3, 2010
Review of a Dominant Aquarium Filtration System
An aquarium is as good as its filter and it is a well known fact by all aquarium enthusiasts. You will reap many advantages in the long run if you have a premium and an efficient filter like the FX5 canister filter in the Fluval range. You don’t have to clean your aquarium every now and then and the water remains free of chemicals and other products which are typically found in tap water. Also, your fish will highly benefit because they will stay healthy until they are too old. For their quality and efficiency, FX5 aquarium filters by Hagen are well known and highly recommended. Their superior features and ease of use these filters have also been applauded by many users.
Always Gets the Job Done
Maintaining a clean and healthy aquarium is a tough job. The primary reason is that your fish cannot speak and tell you about problems they face in your aquarium. The water may appear clean to you but it may be full of microscopic impurities which might jeopardize the very survival of your fish. The Fluval FX5 filter helps in filtering these microscopic impurities with ease. This filter is a multistage filter which can filter a high volume of water without any problems. Moreover, unlike the other multistage filters, these aquarium filters are quite easy to install and maintain.
The FX5 is a three in one filter that has the capacity and strength to filter several types of impurities including mechanical, chemical and biological–the basics of an ideal aquarium filter. Additionally, other unsavory conditions such as high ammonia content and other chemical combinations, that can create a hostile and toxic waste environment for your fish, are eliminated with the FX5 filter. It is the perfect aquarium filtration system.
Capable of Just About Anything
As far as their design and structure is concerned these canister filters are quite compact and this helps them fit into most aquariums easily. Ensuring an out put which is not just powerful but also utilizes the energy efficiently and economically, its hi tech electronic circuit board monitors and maintains the performance of the filter. These aquarium filtration systems are so convenient due to the fact that all you need to do is set it up and get it started. There is no requirement for any kind of manual siphoning unlike the other filters.
Other Interesting Facts
The FX5 comes with twin out put nozzles which help in circulating and filtering the entire water in the aquarium. This filter also has a valve drain which allows it to get rid of all the waste without opening the lid of the filter or moving the unit. The rim connector helps in holding the pipes and the entire equipment in place. These filters also come with three year warranty and guarantee which means that you don’t need to spend money on buying any additional guarantees or warranties. FX5 aquarium canister filters come with all the features that an aquarium owner would want in a filter. It is compact, easy to install, energy efficient and utilizes the most superior technology available. Once you install the FX5 in your aquarium, you can just sit back and relax and watch your fish swimming happily!
Trevor J Rockberry has had a keen interest in aquariums and aquarium care products for many years. For more details, particularly on the Fluval FX5 and other brilliant aquarium canister filters, check out his online resource page now.
Filed under Aquariums by Trevor J Rockberry
January 1, 2010
Review of a Premium Quality Aquarium Filter
If you are looking for a better filtration system for your home aquarium, then the Fluval 405 aquarium filter gives you excellent filtration for an aquarium holding up to 400 liters, or 100 gallons. External multi-stage filtration makes the system easy to clean and maintain, which is why the Fluval is so popular among many home aquarium owners. Fluval has put a lot of effort into designing all of their filtration systems into optimizing maintenance, use of space, and filtration power just so you can get everything you need.
The Features
Amazing qualities, such as instant priming and Aqua stop features that enable you to stop the water flow without disconnecting the hoses, provide the users a quick and trouble free maintenance for their filter. There is no need for manual siphoning due to its self-priming function which prevents leaks and other messes when your 405 is being cleaned and maintained. As the chemical and biological media are kept in different compartments, you can easily replace one without having to take out both at the same time, only if needed.
Professionally Approved
UL approved with a 3 year guarantee, this aquarium filtration system works off 120 volt household current at 60 Hz and filters 225 gallons per hour while using just 22 watts. Keeping the cover secure for safe and consistent operation is the lift-lock clamp. When it is time to clean the filter, this lid is easy to open and lift off although it is tightly fitted. This filtration system is easy to set up in a matter of seconds straight from the box and includes an updated intake strainer, pre-packed media and a number of pre-assembled parts.
Value and Convenience
The filter size is 8.75″ X 6″ X 16.75″, making it small enough to fit into many spaces easily, yet it is designed to use the entire canister space so water flow is increased for optimal filtration and better efficiency than other canister aquarium filters. The smooth and quiet operation makes your home aquarium a relaxing distraction, instead of a noisy one. These filters usually run a little over a couple hundred dollars and come with four-baskets for media, bags of carbon, biological media and suction cups. You also get two foam blocks, the tubing for intake and outlet, along with a paper manual for instructions and an instructional DVD. The 405 is the middle of the line of aquarium filters in the new breed of Fluval filtration systems-they make some smaller less expensive models and a larger more expensive model, the Fluval FX-5.
Conclusion
Most aquarium owners will agree that cleaning the filtration system is a chore they dread and keeping their aquarium clean with canister filters that have enough power can be a problem for some. With the 405, the main complaints of aquarium ownership has been addressed since the water flow is optimized for better filtering and cleaning is one of the best features of the Fluval 405 filters. They are affordable, easy to use out of the box and easy to operate, clean and maintain. When you are looking at aquarium filtration systems for your home aquarium, this is one you should consider.
Trevor J Rockberry has had a marked interest in aquariums and aquarium accessories for many years. For more information, particularly on the Fluval 405 and other superb canister filters, check his online web site today.
Filed under Aquariums by Trevor J Rockberry

