Tag Archives: Fish Tank Filters
The Biotope Aquarium Design
This aquarium design article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “Maintenance Of Fish Tank Filters“.
The best way to start off a brand new fish tank, regardless of whether it is your very first fish tank or one of many that you have around the house if to plan your aquarium design. You don’t have to be so elaborate and detailed but you do need a rough idea of what your aquarium design is eventually going to look like.
Aquarium Design Considerations
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There are a number of considerations that you do need to take into account when trying to figure out your ideal aquarium design. This includes:
- The types of fish you plan to breed.
- Do you have an overall theme that you are aiming for?
- Are you planning to have live plants?
- What type of decor do you plan to use?
- The size of the fish tank.
Jot down these considerations on a piece of paper as a guide and work your ultimate aquarium design around these factors. This will allow you the chance to adjust your plans and make changes before you make the mistake of buying items and equipment that you will not use.
The Biotope Aquarium Design
One of the most popular aquarium design which has been gaining in popularity each year is the biotope aquarium design. The aim of a biotope fish tank is to replicate as close as possible the actual ecosystem in nature within the confines of the fish tank. You can regard it as your own piece of nature in your own home, complete with the correct type of plant life, rocks and even fish.
A biotope aquarium design that is well planned and executed can be extremely impressive. It will be a better visual representation of the part of the world that is mimic and is ideal for someone who has a love for the country that the aquarium design replicates. It would be a great ideal to do a more in depth study into the type of ecosystem that you plan to replicate in order to prepare the ideal fish tank with the correct components.
Types Of Biotope Aquarium Design
To help you with your biotope aquarium design, here are a few suggestions that you could try. The end result will rely on your creative imagination.
The Amazon Aquarium Design
When well executed, this popular aquarium design will look superb. Some of the best fish that you can select for to replicate the Amazon include the Cardinal Tetra, Cory Cat, Hatchet and Ram Cichlid which can be bought from the more popular fish shops. Apart from fish, you would also need to make the right selection of plants. One which can easily be bought is the Amazon Sword plant species. Use medium sized gravel for the base and place a nice medium sized driftwood to enhance the effect.
The African Lake Aquarium Design
You may be one of the many African cichlid lovers in this country so it is only natural for you to want to give your prized cichlids a home that feels like the one they left behind. African cichlids tend to be territorial and you would want to provide them with personal places for them to hide in when they need a time out. Unlike the Amazon aquarium design, you would not be using driftwood this time. The African lake terrain in mainly rocks with caves and nooks for the fish to swim into. Also, you would not be placing any plants in the fish tank because the active African cichlids do have a tendency to uproot them. Use a rougher grade of gravel for this type of fish tank as well.
Replicate Your Own Homeland
Yes, that’s right. Why not have an aquarium design that replicates the lakes that your own native fish live in. You will definitely find many gorgeous varieties of fish from North America such as Sunfish, Shiners, Darters and Dace. The plant life will be extremely easy to buy and so too the rocks and driftwood of the exact variety that you need. Study the lakes that are near you and choose the best local aquarium design for your fish tank.
Create Your Own Biotope Aquarium
Executing a beautiful aquarium design is a challenge but it is one that is extremely fun and will provide you a conversation piece in your home that will last a lifetime.
An Overview of Fish Tank Filters
This article is a follow up of a previous post entitled “Maintenance Of Fish Tank Filters“.
In order to have a fish tank that runs perfectly with healthy fish swimming around, you need to ensure that your aquarium water is clean at all times. But the water in your fish tank will not stay clean forever and will be contaminated by excess food, fish waste, dying plants and even dead fish. If you were to leave this putrid state untreated, it will eventually cause your fish to get diseases and eventually die. Plus the fact that a cloudy, stinky aquarium will be a ghastly sight in your living room. That is why it is extremely important to install proper fish tank filters to keep your fish tank water clean.
Choosing Fish Tank Filters
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Complete fish tank filters provide three types of filtration: mechanical, chemical and biological. You have a choice of getting fish tank filters that perform each of these functions separately or one complete fish tank filter that does all three. If your aquarium isn’t that large, ranging from small to medium size, you can opt for Hang On filters, Corner filters, Sponge filters or Undergravel filters. The most commonly used here are Hang On filters which are usually hung at the back, on the outside of your fish tank. Corner filters are the cheapest type, which you place inside the aquarium water at one corner, but are the least efficient type of fish tank filters.
Sponge fish tank filters do not cost very much and do perform exceptional mechanical and biological filtration. They are great for small to medium tanks and are a perfect type of fish tank filtrers for beginners to start with. The downside, however, is that they do need to be cleaned quite often.
Better Fish Tank Filters
If you do have money to spare and own a slightly larger fish tank, then you may want to invest in better fish tank filters. Two of the best type of fish tank filters sold today are Diatom filters and Canister filters.
Diatom fish tank filters use microscopic earth particles to clean the fish tank water to an extremely pristine state. The level of purity that Diatom filters provide is unmatched by any other type of fish tank filters. But the filter media which is the diatom earth needs to be handle with extreme caution and should only be used by experience hobbyists.
Canister fish tank filters are generally the most expensive fish tank filters sold today. But what you pay is nothing compared to the minimal amount of work you will ever need to do. Canister filters are so efficient that they require very little maintenance which usually is done only every 3 months or more. You will have the peace of mind knowing that your fish tank will be pristine for a very long time without your intervention.
Parts For Fish Tank Filters
Once you have decided on the type of fish tank filters you would like to use, consult the expert at your local fish shop. You will need to discuss with him on the methods of maintaining the fish tank filters of your choice and most importantly the type of parts which you might have to replace from time to time. The most common of these are the filter media or filter cartridges but it may differ depending on the type of fish tank filters that you choose. It is always a good idea to keep the more important parts as spares in the event of an emergency.
Types Of Fish Tank Filters (Click for more details)
Regardless of the type of fish tank filters that you choose, they will provide you the most important and most basic function in keeping your fish tank water clean.
Maintenance Of Fish Tank Filters
This fish tank filters article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “Getting Rid Of Algae On Sponge Filters“.
You can find fish tank filters is a huge variety of models, shapes and sizes. But they don’t just differ in shape, they can also greatly differ in function as well as how effective they are. But in general we can classify a filter by three main filtration function, which are mechanical, chemical and biological fish tank filters.
Types Of Fish Tank Filters
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Mechanical Fish Tank Filters provide the most basic form of filtration. They allow water to pass through a porous filter media which traps large debris and waste while allowing cleaner water to flow through.
Chemical Fish Tank Filters either absorb chemical pollutants in the water or breaks them down into less deadly components. These type of filtration is general used along with mechanical fish tank filters to provide a more complete filtration process. An example of this type of filter media is activated carbon.
Biological Fish Tank Filters use live colonies of beneficial bacteria to maintain a perfect balance of chemical levels in the water. In general, these beneficial bacterias control the ammonium cycle in your fish tank and assist in eliminating nitrite and nitrate impurities.
Choosing Fish Tank Filters
Whether your fish tank filters use all three of these filtration methods or just one really depends on the type of fish tank filters that you are currently using. In general, the more expensive variety of fish tank filters tend to provide all three filtration types while the cheapest fish tank filters tend to focus more on mechanical filtration. But if you have a large fish tank, you should get fish tank filters that provide all three filtration methods.
Maintaining Fish Tank Filters
While these three filtration types differ in the type of filtration they provide, they also require different maintenance and cleaning methods. Here is a general idea on how you should maintain and clean each of the filter types:
The main component in mechanical fish tank filters is the filter media which is a porous material such as a pad or sponge that traps debris. This means that it will require washing to prevent the filter media from getting clogged. General what you would need to do is wash them properly at least once every week. When washing the filter media, never use direct tap water because the filter media is almost always home to colonies of beneficial bacteria which also provide biological filtration and the chlorine in tap water would kill off these important organisms.
Chemical fish tank filters never need cleaning, what they do need is replacement. The activated carbon used for filtering out chemicals in the water will eventually lose its potency and will need to be replaced at least once every two months.
Biological fish tank filters incorporate a passive filtration method, they do not trap any debris. But over time, the filter would be caked with a layer of grime and might need to be washed. When washing them, never ever use chlorinated water such as direct tap water. And never ever dry them out in sunlight because the UV rays will kills them. Be gently in your washing and just focus on removing the physical dirt.
Samples Of Fish Tank Filters (Click for details)
If you have not bought your fish tank filters, take into consideration the size of your fish tank to base your decision on what type of filtration you need. Also make sure you enquire from the sales person on the cleaning and maintenance methods to do your the fish tank filters that you have selected.
Getting Rid Of Algae On Sponge Filters
This algae on sponge filters article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “7 Ways To Avoid Fish Ich In Your Fish Tank“.
One common question which I keep getting from my readers these days is how it is possible to have algae on sponge filters. A lot of people are surprised that a sponge filter which is supposed to filter out contaminants can have algae growing on it but this is really not a strange thing, nor is it something to be too concerned about.
Algae On Sponge Filters
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You need to know how a sponge filter functions in order to figure out how algae on sponge filters can grow. A sponge filter is a very simple filtering device with one major filtration media which is the sponge. When water is drawn into the sponge head, large debris and waste matter is trapped on the sponge surface. This waste is mostly organic matter and is fertilizer for the algae. After all, algae is plant life. This makes the sponge head now an excellent breeding ground for algae.
Cleaning Off Algae On Sponge Filters
The beauty of a sponge filter is how relatively easy it is to clean. All you need to do is take off the sponge head and give it a little wash to get rid of the algae on sponge filters.
To properly wash the sponge head, you should not use tap water. What you should do is use some of the aquarium water. The best time to do this is when you are doing your weekly water change. Instead of throwing away the water, use if first to wash the sponge head. The reason why we do not use tap water is because the sponge head is also home to colonies of beneficial bacteria that will provide biological filtration to hour aquarium. The chlorine in tap water will kill of the beneficial bacteria and cause an imbalance in your fish tank water.
But just cleaning off algae on sponge filters is just a temporary solution. You have to get to the root of e problem which is why is algae growing in your fish tank in the first place. Once you tackle this issue, you would not have to keep cleaning off algae on sponge filters ever again.
Algae On Sponge Filters Causes
Algae is a form of plant life and as long as you know this, preventing algae from breeding in your fish tank and most importantly algae on sponge filters will be extremely easy. Like all forms of plant life, algae need sunlight and nutrients. Without them, the algae would never be able to thrive.
First off, inspect the position that you have placed your fish tank. Is it in a place that gets an ample amount of sunlight each day? Is it close to a window or door, or worst yet is it outdoors? Having a lot of sunlight is the perfect condition for algae growth. If possible, move your aquarium to an area that gets less sunlight.
Next, is there too much free floating nutrients in your fish tank? These nutrients can come from excess food or fish waste. Are you overfeeding your fish and allowing the food to dissolve in the water without the fish finishing it? Also, since you are using a sponge filter, you need to ensure that you perform regular cleaning or the sponge head would be clogged and not providing sufficient filtration.
To limit the amount of plant nutrients in your fish tank you could plant decorative plants that would compete fiercely with the algae for food. Wisteria is the type of plant that I personally use in all my fish tanks that are prone to algae because they are the best competitors to algae.
Algae Control Essentials
These are some of the simplest ways to combat algae in your fish tank. While algae presence if definitely not deadly to your fish, having them especially algae on sponge filters can be unsightly and more importantly reduce the efficiency of your filter.
7 Ways To Avoid Fish Ich In Your Fish Tank
This fish ich article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “Using Rocks In An Aquarium Design“.
Imagine looking into your fish tank one day and seeing your listless fish with tiny white spots on it looking as if someone powdered it with salt. This is a clear sign of fish ich and not only do they make your beautiful fish look weird and ugly, they will also be detrimental to the health of the fish.
Fish Ich
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Fish ich can affect anyone’s aquarium anytime and it is not an unusual aquatic disease but it is one that you would need to address as fast as possible. The affected fish needs to be quarantined and treated, the entire tank needs to be clean out and sanitized and the sick fish needs to be closely monitored. But rather than have to solve the problem on hand, what you should be focusing on is to avoid introducing fish ich to your fish tank in the first place. This is because as always, preventing is always the best cure.
7 Ways To Stop Fish Ich
Here are 7 ways that you could put in place to ensure that your precious fish are never affected by fish ich:
- Perform your water changes diligently. You must do a water change at least once a week or at the worst once every two weeks. But a water change is more than just throwing out the old water and pouring in new water. You should only remove and replace about 20% of the water in your fish tank during each water change. Changing the entire tank of water will actually harm the fish and should be avoided as much as possible unless it is because of a disease. Also, the replacement water should never be taken straight from the tank. It should be allowed to sit in a bucket for at least 24 hours before introducing it into the existing aquarium water.
- Vary the the fish food. Could you imagine eating the same food each day for the rest of your life? The different brands of food sold on the shelves of pet shops each stress a different nutritional need and content so change food types once in a while. Also if your fish feeds on live food which you could get from your pet shop, use that for main meals and keep the packaged fish food as supplements.
- Reduce the amount of stress that your fish has to endure. The more stress the fish is placed under the more the more likely it is to fall sick. Stress can come in so many factors, not just physical. Do not place the fish tank in an area that has heavy human traffic. Place rocks and plants in your fish tank, not just as decoration but as little hiding places that your fish can escape to when they feel stressed. Control the chemical and well as temperature fluctuations well and monitor them with a proper test kit.
- Do not breed too many fish in one tank. More is less. Having too many fish not only stresses the fish out but it also increases the chance of disease spreading.
- Never introduce a new fish immediately into your existing fish tank. Always quarantine new fish for no less than 4 days before allowing it to mix with your existing fish. This is to rule out the possibility of e fish having fish ich and spreading it to your existing fish. Fish ich has a life span of 4 days and if there are no signs of disease after the period is over, the fish is fine and ready to be integrated into your aquarium.
- Choose your pet shops well. There are many pet shops around today which has a tendency to have several tanks sharing one filter. These merchants do not concern themselves with fish disease too much because they buy fish in bulk and sell them for a higher price. Regardless of how great a filter may seem, there is always a chance of disease being spread through the filtration filter too. Also, when you bring your fish back home from the shop, never mix the water they came in with the water in your fish tank.
- Do not buy plants that are sold from a tank with fish in it. Always buy plants that are sold from a separate tank. If the plant that you bought did come from a tank of fish in the pet shop, then make sure that you quarantine the plants just like you would quarantine a new fish. The 4 day period would ensure that any fish ich has completed its life cycle and died before it had a chance to spread.
Prevent Fish Ich From Spreading
These are 7 simple steps that you can take to ensure that your fish live long and healthy lives. These steps will ensure that fish ich as well as many other fish disease will never hurt your fish ever.
Using Rocks In An Aquarium Design
This aquarium design article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “Using An Aquarium Sponge Filter For A Small Fish Tank“.
Using rocks in an aquarium design is a superb choice. By choosing the right kind of rocks, preparing them and then arranging them into a natural look, your aquarium will look less like a fish tank and more like the kind of environment that your fish came from. This not only makes your aquarium design look great but will also make your fish feel more relax and at home.
Your Aquarium Design Rocks
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What you need to know here is that not all rocks are created equal. You can just take any rock from beside a river or the beach and plunk it into your fish tank because it may not be suitable. You need to fish test them to ensure that they do not harm the aquatic life in your fish tank. The kind of rocks that you can safely use in your fish tank largely depends on the species of fish and plant life that you already have or are planning to breed.
If what you have is a freshwater aquarium, then the rocks you use for your aquarium design should be inert rocks. These are rocks that will not alter the chemical balance of your fish tank and is the safest choice. Some of the types of inert rocks include basalt, obsidian, coal, quartz, sandstone and shale.
If your plan is in fact to raise the pH level of your fish tank or maybe to increase the hardness of the water than you may want to select calcareous rocks for your aquarium design. These include chalk, limestone and marble. Calcareous rocks will help alter the pH level as well as water hardness without you having to resort to chemicals.
Testing Your Aquarium Design Rocks
Here is an easy way for you to test to see if the rocks that you have chosen for your aquarium design is suitable. All you need is a bucket of your fish tank water, a test kit and your rocks.
First, test and jot down the pH, hardness, nitrates and phosphates levels of your aquarium water. Next, place the rocks into the bucket of water and allow it to sit for about a week. After the week is over, test the water one more time and compare your findings. You will find a slight change in reading but if the change is not much, then the rocks should in all likelihood be safe for your fish tank and can be used in your aquarium design.
You can also do a quick test by using vinegar. All you need to do is drip a few drops of vinegar on the rocks. If there is foaming, then the rocks are calcareous and should not be used in your fish tank unless you intentionally want to alter the chemical composition of your water.
Preparing Your Aquarium Design Rocks
After selecting the right type of rocks that you plan to use in your aquarium design, before adding them into your fish tank you would need to disinfect them first. Simply put, you would need to kill off any pathogens that may be breeding on the rock surface and cracks. To do this, vigorously brush the entire rock and rinse it properly to wash off any loose particles. Do not use any detergent for this, just plain water. After that, place it under direct sunlight for a couple of days to allow the sun ultra violet light to kill off any remaining pathogens.
Rocks For Aquarium Design (Click for details)
Your rocks are now ready for your aquarium design and will make a great addition to the ecosystem in your fish tank.
