Posts Tagged ‘fish tank aquariums’

Some Free Tips Before You Buy An Aquarium Tank

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

If you have been planning on getting yourself a marine tank full of fish for the home or office you should take a few things into consideration. The style of aquarium you buy, glass or acrylic, will make all the difference. The selection you make will definitely effect the well being of your fish.

Some Advantages of Acrylic

  • Higher clarity
  • Stronger and more rigid than glass
  • Greater choice of styles allowing for more personalised work
  • Very light in comparison to glass
  • The chances of acrylic breaking is almost zero
  • Resistant to leaking
  • Easy to modify to allow for extra equipment
  • Higher insulation compared to glass
  • More commonly available online compared to glass

Cons of Acrylic Aquariums

  • Very pricey
  • They scratch very easily
  • Repairs are difficult
  • Visual distortion can be an issue
  • Over time acrylic can change to a slight yellow color

More selections are attainable with acrylic because it is easier to manufacture or mold than glass. They can be great decorative and conversational pieces, however if you have fish the fancy shapes may not be the prime purchase for you, as they have less air to water ratio (surface air) than glass and the fish can suffocate.

For this reason your choice of fish tank supplies need to be correctly selected for your application so your pets stay healthy.

If you are plannig to keep your marine tank for a long time glass could be a great option for you. As it will not change color or scratch over time. It will also be easier on the wallet than what a comparable acrylic tank would be.

Now as mentioned before glass is more susceptible to breaking than acrylic is but in reality it is still very strong. And unless you throw yourself or something else at it, it’s not going to break on you.

Some Advantages for Glass

  • Many sizes and shapes available
  • Last for many years if looked after
  • Is very wear proof to scratches
  • Less cost than acrylic
  • Will not change color
  • Extra support or bracing is not required
  • Very popular

Glass Aquarium Negatives

  • Heavier than acrylic, so needs a stand to hold its weight
  • Easily breakable
  • Not easy to drill holes for accessory additions
  • Hard to move when full with water, rock, etc.
  • Limited on customizations
  • Less insulated than acrylic
  • Not as readily available from online distributors due to its fragility

With the many differently odd shaped acrylic marine tanks on the market, you should be able to find a great conversation piece for your room. Just remember to take your pets needs into consideration by not cluttering the fish tank. Because this can and will affect their ability to flourish.

If you decide to add a lot of decorations or rock or plants to your tank then glass is a good choice. The acrylics can bow under too much pressure, wherein the glass will only expand and breath to facilitate the extra weight.

Now remember the most important thing is the condition of your fish or pets. Keep that in mind and you will get many enjoyable years out of your aquariums tanks whether it is acrylic or glass.

Another choice that is proving to be very popular with many new and seasoned hobbyists is the biorb fish tank. What makes this a good choice is the fact that it is kind of old school meets new school. It is small enough to fit on top of a desk or shelf but large enough to still be a great center piece for any room.

Fish Tank Aquariums – A Miniature Undersea Environment

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Fish as pets are very popular. Fish don’t shed on the carpet or upholstery because they don’t have hair. Fish cannot scratch, or bite; unless, of course, you put yourself in the all glass aquariums water. Best of all, they are quiet and definitely do not keep the neighbors up at night!

Pet fish require relatively less food, compared to larger pet animals like cats and dogs. Tropical fish, the most beautiful type, come in a full palette of colors and shapes. A well-kept home all glass aquariums beautifies any room, and is sure to attract attention. Yet the most common reason why people have home aquariums for pet fish is simple: fish are calming.

In their little world of light and water, fish swim about endlessly. You can place either real or fake plants and rocks into the aquarium, and the fish will play with them. Their silent presence and worryfree attitudes have an overall calming effect on people. Some people spend hours just watching the fish in their home aquariums. Home aquariums offer limitless entertainment, well worth the efforts to set up and maintain!

Fish Tank Aquarium tanks are watertight receptacles which is made up of glass or plastic & available in different sizes. You can find some that are tiny bowls intended for just a couple tiny fish. They can go up to 55 gallon fish tanks, capable of holding a small ecosystem within the confines of four glass walls (plus a bottom). Recently, wall aquariums have become more popular. Wall aquariums are not as wide as home aquariums on fish tank stands, but they can be hung up on a wall using sturdy supports. A wall aquarium is a unique and attractive focal point of any room. Not only large home aquariums but also wall aquariums require fish tank filters to maintain clean water for longer time. To keep the oxygen levels in the water healthy for the fish and to keep the water clean and clear, you need an air pump. If you want to display your tank, a fish tank stand would be appropriate.

The tank you choose may affect the the kinds of fish you can own. The amount of fish is definitely restricted by your aquarium’s dimensions. Carefully select your sand, rocks, plants and any novelty props. Be warned that tropical fish while the most visually engaging, are more expensive. It is true that the supplies you need for tropical fish do cost more than those for tanks with marine or freshwater fish. The most important thing to remember is to have loads of fun picking out and planning for your home aquarium!

Prior to selecting your fish, conduct a bit of investigation. Not all fish have the same requirements, and certain fish require very particular care. Salinity, temperature, brightness, oxygen saturation, as well as fish compatibilities are things you should know early on. It wouldn’t make sense to have your fish ingest each other. Once you’ve set up your aquarium, remember to clean it regularly. Don’t put too much fish food when you feed your pets, as excess food is not eaten and makes the water dirty. The water may also lose its cleanliness due to fish feces. Sensitive fish require close monitoring to maintain proper temperative and salinity levels. Keep it dark every once in a while. Just like you, fish need their sleep!

Take care of your fish, and they will allow you to watch their world — calm, serene, and filled with light and water.

Is It Important For Your Aquarium To Fit Your Personality?

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

Are you wondering what type of aquarium fits you based on your personality? Some experts claim that you can decorate your all glass aquariums in a variety of ways so long as it doesn’t cause ill health to your fishes.

Hardworking,compassionate,optimistic,determined,compact and sharing attributed A kind of people similar to African Cichlid fish tank. I need an an aquarium built that is low maintenance. If you are a type A, authoritarian then you shoud exude the ambience. An authoritarian themed décor with many plants, colorful substrate, small to medium sized fishes fits the temperament of type A.

The goldfish aquarium suits the outgoing, fast paced, energetic, impeccably dressed, enthusiastic, friendly, persuasive and spontaneous type B personality. The goldfishes should be nimble, small sized to medium sized living in impeccable glistening crystal aquariums with black gravel or grey substrates and contrasting granite stone. Lionheads and Ryunkins are two types of goldfish that look good in made different tanks’ decorations. Plastic plants or real plants can be used. Type B people look to enhance with an artistic touch.

Type C personalities are cagy, careful oriented, precise, intellectual, innovational in their thoughts, meticulous, deliberate, capable, excellent thinkers, and may not seem to be very communicative. Community aquariums would be a good match for a person with this type of personality. Community aquariums consist with a mix of fish and plants coming from different geographical area.

A planted home aquarium that features the beauty of underwater plants matches type C personality. This individual is likely to be an expert on the fish and plants that are compatible. If you are a type C you can chose from hydrophilia, Valisnerian, Rotala or Limnophilia to be planted in the background, the echidorus species at the middle and cryptocornes in the foreground. Type C will mix and match, after the research will come up with another amazing piece of live art combination of flora and fauna. The plant life will constitute décor and besides artificial décor would have very little space after teh chic plants are in their place. The fish would not be but a small group.

The goldfish fish tank aquarium likewise matches type D’s personality with their easy pace in life and at their job seeking security. They really enjoy doing a task over and over again and becoming experts at them. Organized in a secure, stable enviroment, they are afraid of change. They seek respect and reassurance, determined to work even when others have given up. This personality type suits the goldfish aquarium just as much as the type B for different reasons. There would be only one species and/or assortment of goldfish that populates the aquarium with their languorous slow paced motion such as what type D lives life.

A variety of species in an aquarium would create a problem with type D because the different personalities would create a disturbances in the aquariums rectangular aquarium. The aquarium would differ from type B’s. The aquarium of a Type B has probably undergone several home makeovers while that of the Type D remains identical to the day he brought it home from the store. The décor colors would be muted or normal and would be genuine with the hues of the goldfishes. It is not the boredom merely the alterations scare Type D personaliites.
If you are not a certified type A, B, C or D but is a mixture of any two or even three types; almost any aquarium type can fit you. The manner how you tailor it to accommodate your personality depends upon you as long as the fishes are euphoric and healthy.

Planning Fish Tank/Aquariums Set-up

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

Although it’s not very difficult to set up a new aquarium, you may want to choose a ready-made tank to make things even easier for your first tank. This allows you to learn about fish and fish tanks without much risk, thus saving you from beginner problems such as mass fish death. Also you’ll know that any standard accessory will fit the tank and not leak.

Nonetheless, if you don’t want to use a ready-made tank, you’ll need to know the process of putting together an aquarium. The first step of any undertaking is planning.

To guide you in putting together a good aquarium, you need to ask a series of quesitons. Such questions as:

•    What are you hoping to achieve with your aquarium?
•    Will your tank be fresh or salt water?
•    What kinds of fish and plants fo you plan to keep?
•    What is the necessary equipment for the type of aquarium you want?

Read online articles and other information to discover what equipment is needed for different types of tanks. Investigate the equipment you’ll need for your tank by doing a little looking at some directories online.

The Tank Equipmet You Need

All-glass aquarims are, as the name suggests, made up of glass on all sides (including the bottom). A pliable and inert silicon sealant holds the pieces together more securely than old aquarium cement used to. See the list of equipment (below), which includes everything you need to put together your fish tank (except for the fish and plans you’ll add later).

•    Tanks come in two basic styles: high and low. High tanks have less surface area but are taller.Low tanks are the opposite; they have a low vertical profile and greater surface area. The high tank is less desirable than then low, because having height is less important than having surface area. Your tank must be 25 to 50 gallon capacity range in order to provide stable environment for your fish.

•    Aquarium light.

•    Fish tank heater. Any of the submersible or semi-submersible aquarium heaters that rate between 100 watts and 150 watts.

•    A biological/bacterial filter.

•    A mechanical filter. You’ll need this you have under gravel filtering. You don’t need these if you have a powerful biological filter instead.

•    An air or water pump.

•    Sand or gravel.

•    Stand for solids.

•    Rocks and driftwood for decoration and the security of the fish.

•    Glass scraper to clean algae.

•    A soft fish net.

•    High quality thermometer.

Once you’ve put together the items in the list above, you are ready to find the fish and plants that make fish tank/aquariums a wonderful addition to any home.