What Variety of Koi Do You Have In Your Waterfall Pond

The Koi are differentiated by body color and three or four types of scale patterns. There are hundreds of varieties but we will discuss the most common ones that you may be able to identify. Here is a list of the Koi and their description.

Kohaku are the father of all the Koi. Their body is pure white with red markings. The pattern is spotted.

Taisho Sanke is white Koi with red and black markings. There is more red than black. They are spotted with no black on their head.

Showa Sanke is black bodied with red and white markings. There is more black on their head, pectoral and tail fins. They are striped.

Tancho are white with a red marking on their head and they are lacking red on the rest of the body. The spot on their head is either a circle or rectangle.

Bekko are a solid color with black markings. There are three types. The Aka are red, Ki are yellow and Shiro are white. The markings are spotted.

Utsuri are black striped fish. The Ki are black with yellow, Hi are black with red, and Shiro are black with a white pattern.

Asagi are a bluish fish with a red belly. The pattern on their back is like a net. These fish have regular scales.

Utsurimono are black Koi with one color marking.

Shusui are bluish fish with an orange belly. Rows of dark blue scales are down its back, on the sides, or both and are on an otherwise scaleless body.

Hikarimoyo are metallic fish with a pattern. They have two or more colors other than the colors that the Hikari Utsuri have.

Koromo are similar to the original Kohaku. However, they have accents of blue,goldfish, black, purple and some red.

Gin/Kin Rin have pearl reflective scales. The Gin Rin is pearl-silver and the Kin Rin is pearl-gold.

Hikari Utsuri is the metallic version of the Utsuri and Showa.

Matsuba are fish with a single color with a darker color inlaid in the scales to create the look of a pine cone pattern.

Hariwake are metallic fish with 2 colors and with rows of dark scales.

Koromo are white fish with spotted red markings. These markings are overlaid with a darker pattern.

Goshiki are Koi with 5 colors. They are white, red, black, light and dark blue.

Hikarimuji are single colored metallic Koi.

Kawarimono are non-metallic colored Koi that don't fit into another category.

How to Recognise and Treat White Spot Disease in Fish

White Spot Disease ('Ich')

- Ichthyophthirius multifilis (freshwater) & Cryptocaryon irritans (marine).

'Ich' is a very common protozoan disease of both marine and freshwater fish. The organism is a small, round ciliated protozoan with a distinctive horse-shoe shaped nucleus that lives on the skin and gills of the fish where it produces lesions that take on the form of tiny (~1mm) white cystic nodules.

Clinical Signs

The parasitic cysts are so large that they are visible to the naked eye. Affected fish will look as though they have been sprinkled with sugar and will often demonstrate irritation; scratching and rubbing against the rocks and tank. However, this may not always be present if only the "swarmer" stages are present. Thickening of the skin epithelium and increased mucus production on the skin may occur, but these may only be appreciated microscopically. The fins may also become ragged.

Since the gills are also exposed to the external aqueous environment, the organism will also parasitise the gills, causing increased mucus production as well as gill epithelial hyperplasia. This leads to respiratory embarrassment and fish will present with increased respiratory rate and flared opercula. In heavy infestations, fish will become lethargic and depressed, their respiratory rate slows down and becomes shallow. Ulcers form when the encysted stages break out of the skin and the gills. In heavy infections, mortality can be high which may be in part due to electrolyte loss (in freshwater fishes) or dehydration (marine fishes) through these ulcers. In those that survive the initial insult, the ulcers would provide portals of entry for secondary infection with bacterial and fungal opportunists.

Transmission

'Ich' is a very common infection of fish in both freshwater and marine systems and, in low numbers, may produce little or no clinical signs. It is important therefore to always look for other pathogens (bacteria, fungi, other protozoa etc.) when presented with a sick fish with only a small burden of Ich, as this may be an incidental problem.

'Ich' replicates quickly and so a minor burden in one fish tank can rapidly become a serious burden to a tank full of fishes if left untreated. Mature Ich parasites that have been feeding on the host eventually fall off the host to the bottom of the tank. There they secrete protective cysts around themselves and begin to divide,tropical fish, producing many hundreds of swarmers (infective stages) which swim off in search of a host.

The transmission of 'ich' is facilitated by high stocking densities of fish. Individual encysted stages on fish may go unnoticed by fish-owners and yet be a major source of infection to other fish. Temperature also plays a big role in disease transmission with the lifecycle being completed more rapidly at higher temperatures (3-4 days at 21oC vs 5 weeks at 10oC). This factor is particularly important when dealing with Cryptocaryon outbreaks as it is more temperature-governed than Ichthyophthirius.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by performing a skin or gill scraping in the region of one of the white lesions and by identification of the spherical ciliate organisms, with their characteristic slow spinning motion, in a fresh wet preparation. Notice also that the parasites can be of various sizes, which is pathognomonic for "Ich" (other ciliated parasites are of uniform size and shape). You may notice the horse-shoe shaped nucleus.

Treatment

Formalin may be used, however, because it displaces dissolved oxygen, it is not recommended if fish exhibit severe respiratory embarrassment. Malachite green + formalin combination is the most effective treatment since the mixture has a "synergistic effect" and a smaller concentration of each ingredient is used. Dip treatments and osmotic challenges will only be effective against the non-encysted stages of the parasites. Thus, this will need to be repeated every 2-3 days for 10 days. Thermal challenge by raising the water temperature to at least 32oC for a few hours every 3 to 5 days (provided the water is well-aerated and that the fishes will tolerate it) is another method used. The high temperature interferes with the reproduction of the parasites. Since the organisms are obligate parasites, allowing the aquarium or pond to be left fish-free for at least 7 days at >20oC usually eliminates the white spot parasites.

It has been reported that some fishes that recover from the infection will develop immunity to the disease.

This article taken from Loh & Landos (2011) Fish Vetting Essentials, Richmond Loh Publishing, Perth.

Tropical Fish Tank Guide! Decorations

Tropical Fish Tank Decorations:

The success of a tropical fish tank depends greatly on the decorations! Not only will it determine how active and colourful (and most importantly, how healthy!) your fish will be, but it will also determine whether or not you, the aquarist,Cichlid Fish Care, will enjoy being part of this fascinating hobby!

The more comfortable fish feel in their environment, the more active, colourful and healthy they will be! To achieve this, it is recommended that you try to replicate their natural waters as closely as possible by combining them with plants, rocks, roots and substrate to that which most closely match the waters your fish would naturally swim. This can be a difficult ask for newcomers who want a great looking tank before reading through the endless supply of information available! The following examples of decor will hopefully serve as a starting point for your imagination to then run wild, whilst at the same time respecting the needs of the fish you choose to keep.

An Amazon aquarium: The centrepiece of an aquarium for South American cichlids is a large root or stump from a peat bog. This naturally acidic wood is perfect for recreating the biotope of angelfish, as well as that of many small characins such as neon tetras or penguin tetras. It is advised to boil the root before placing it in your tank to eliminate any parasites and to reduce the chance of it colouring your tanks water. Place this root in the centre of your tank with smaller roots surrounding it, leaving a nice beach area free at the front once the plants have been added. The back of the aquarium should be covered with long stemmed plants such as sagittaria or vallisneria, with some large echinodorus on either side of the main root. Medium-sized Echinodorus parviflorus can colonise the middle area of the tank while dwarf species such as Echinodorus tenellus carpet the floor with greenery at the front. For a splash of red in the background you could also add Alternanthera reineckii along beside the sagittaria or vallisneria. A few pieces of slate piled flat on the ground can create terraces which will not only look good but will also act as shelter for your fish when they feel the need to hide.

An Indian Aquarium: Once again, wood is an important part of the decor, in the form of mangrove roots and fossilised wood. The substrate should be a very fine gravel. Planting can be very dense here as Gouramis love the shade. The plants will also supply them with plenty hiding places and allow the males to define their own territory. Hygrophila polysperma, Limnophila aquatica and Limnophila indica are ideal for your background as their vigorous growth will quickly hide the rear glass and any equipment attached to it. Cryptocoryne becketti and Cryptocoryne wendtii along with Aponogeten crispus are an excellent choice for the middle of the tank while Cryptocoryne parva sits perfectly in the foreground.

What to Expect From Laptop Rental

If you are considering a laptop rental over the purchase of a new notebook or netbook computer,make money online, then you need to understand how computer rentals work and what you need to look for in a computer rental company. Is it enough that the store simply has laptops available to rent, or should there be specific brands that you want to keep an eye out for? Are there specific things you should expect from your Laptop Rental store?

What to Expect from Laptop Rental Stores

Have you seen an example of today's laptop price? It can definitely be an eye-opener. Regardless of whether you are looking for a Toshiba laptop, an Asus laptop or even an Acer laptop, you are looking at a significant investment. This is why choosing laptop rental instead of purchase is a lifesaver.

A laptop rental store is a very good choice if you are looking for a basic computer without the bells and whistles that you get from the latest top of the line models. Most rental stores do not carry the top of the line models, but the models they do carry will do everything that most people need their laptop is able to do, but what about the store itself?

The laptop rental store that you choose should have a good reputation. Its rental rates and policies are clearly written with no hidden or extra fees. The sales staff are knowledgeable of the equipment that they are renting and be able to answer any questions that you have about any of the products they have to choose from. If you want to rent a Toshiba notebook, the sales staff should not only be able to tell you about that particular laptop model, but about the Toshiba company itself as well as its reputation in the computer world, perhaps even be able to refer you to a laptop review of the model.

By keeping an eye out on what the store itself and its staff are like, you will get a good idea what you can expect business with this particular company is like.

Why Laptop Rental is the Best Choice

While not everyone even wants to consider laptop rental, it is an excellent choice, especially if you do not need the computer for high-tech experiences. Simply browsing the internet, checking email, playing a few games or doing homework or basic business functions is not something that you need a state of the art computer to carry out, so why should you have to pay for all the extras?

Not only that, laptop rental can save you from having to come up with hundreds or thousands of dollars to buy a computer outright. By renting you only pay a flat monthly rate to use the equipment that you choose. In addition you also escape the headaches and problems such as upkeep and updating programs that you would normally have to pay for if you owned a computer, all good reasons to consider laptop rental instead of purchasing for your next computer.

Why Do Home Offices Use The Brother HL 4570CDW Printer And Toner Products

Home offices often have different needs than high traffic businesses that have more of an output demand. That's why the Brother HL 4570 has a set of features that are purposely directed toward the needs of a home office.

The Brother HL-4570CDW is a color laser printer and certainly not in the shabby-performance category. It is a great utility to have in the household as a printer and is definitely a nice looking design that gets the job done. The sharp edges and flat color fit right in to any small area that needs space saving.

This printer can print at a speed of 24 pages per minute in black and white and also in color. On more intricate jobs it will slow down to 17 pages per minute to make sure it doesn't give any less quality than it should. The letters are dark and have nice character definition without getting too thick. This printer is meant as a text printer.

Of course you CAN print from the USB port but you don't have to. There is an Ethernet port that is included for direct access to your networks. It is not a wireless printer but that is because home oriented printers often don't need the wireless option.

It has also incorporated auto duplex features which allow you to print on both sides of the page without having to manually feed it in every sheet. The speed will fall to 10.9 pages per minute for this but while it is doing all the work itself it still saves you time. This will allow you to also cut down on paper cost by up to 50 percent. The printer even can be folded in half to make booklets.

Laser printers such as this one which is angled toward business usually are not amazing at printing color photos. This one does it,templates, but it isn't meant as a photo printer so it is advised to not use this one for the purpose of Christmas cards or photographs to hang up since they're not going to be as great as those that would come from a photo printer.

The cost to run this printer is something to consider as well. It is advised to shop around but this printer really does do the trick when it comes to the need for saving. You can get this printer at a low cost and run it at a low cost while still getting that same advanced quality that you need to get things done.

Microsoft Windows 8 Promises a Platform for Full-Screen Apps

As the beta release date of Microsoft Windows 8 is approaching near, discussions and speculations about what the latest operating system has to offer are rising high. Other than the regular yet improved features, the cult operating system from Microsoft now offers a great platform for full-screen apps. Users can now touch their applications, customize them, and view them in a full-screen mode without interruptions or menus hanging on the top of the screen.

So whether you want to create a word document or PowerPoint slide, browse the internet, watch movies and videos,templates, check weather information, or read RSS feeds, you simply need to slide your finger over the tile to open it. Open the full-screen view and experience a truly beautiful, rich app feel. Yes, even your word document will appear in a full screen mode to give you the feel of a white blank paper on which you can scribble your story.

Or else, take a walk down the memory lane when seeing friends' or family photos in full screen mode or roll on the floor laughing when watching your favorite animated movie. Nothing can dare to interrupt your pleasure, no menu, no tabs to give you the feeling of a computer. What's more, when you need to access another application, just slide your finger to the right hand side or up at top of the screen to bring up five Charms viz. Search, Share, Start menu (or the Home screen), and more. You can even open and view 2 or more apps in parallel.

What's more, Internet Explorer (IE) 10, the web browser, is here to take your browsing experience to another level. Get faster, richer, and never before fluid-touch web experience when browsing the internet in IE 10. The chrome-free browser screen offers a full screen view of the websites. If you want to customize the settings or go to another website, slide your finger down from the top of the screen to unhide the address bar and other tabs. This way you get more space and a neat website experience. You can even pin your preferred websites to Windows Start, the startup screen to access them with just a single tap.

Wait it's not over yet. Windows 8 has a lot in store for developers too. They can now create rich, beautiful Metro style full-screen apps for their customers. Besides, the built-in Windows Store will enable them to preview and use apps before buying them and download from a comprehensive suite of services and tools. Same goes for the customers too.

Windows 8 integrates DirectX, which is a set of APIs (application programming interfaces) for creating different apps, especially rich, Metro-style games. Thus developers can now write chrome-free, rich, full-screen view games using JavaScript, CSS3, and HTML5. They can even create immersive 3D and 2D game apps using XAML powered by Visual Basic or C#. There are HLSL and C++ languages also powered by DirectX 11.1 to exploit the full graphics capabilities of contemporary graphics devices.

It doesn't end here as the list of features continues. There is much more to say about Windows 8, which is still under Microsoft's veil. Let's wait for the beta version to be unveiled and we'll have bountiful information to review and share the features.

How to Keep Your Betta Fish Healthy and Happy

Every month, hundreds of people are purchasing a pet Betta fish for the first time ever. And most of these people are not yet familiar with the basic steps to keeping their pet Betta's healthy and disease free. So, if you are interested in keeping your pet fish alive for years to come, I suggest that you keep reading this article.

Follow these steps to keep your Betta fish the healthiest it can be:

1. Purchase a large fish tank. Doing this will ensure that your Betta lives twice as long as any other pet fish. The truth is, fish bowls are useless. In fact, a Betta can only live up to three years in one of these homes. However, a full size tank will allow your little friend to live up to six years. A larger tank will reduce the stress levels of your pet fish, and keep them active and happy. To keep your fish living for years to come,pet cat, make sure the Betta fish tank contains at least three gallons of water.

2. Water purity is very important. In case you didn't know this, Betta fish need certain minerals to survive. Make sure to pick up a product that will remove harmful additives from your tap water. This will ensure that your pet fish lives for many more years.

3. Never forget the importance of food. The most important thing you could do for your pet Betta fish is to provide it with high quality food. Their health will depend on the food you give them. So, feed your fish a couple times a day, and never overfeed them. Make sure to measure the amount of food you give them. Also, make sure you feed them at the exact same time every day. This will keep their digestive system working well.

4. Clean your tank at least once every two weeks. Make sure that you do not use soap, as it will harm your Betta fish. Instead, take a clean rag, and scrub the tank clean with just water. Also, avoid using chemicals of any kind when cleaning your tank. Remember to clean your tank often, as not doing so can result in tragedy.

Now that you have a better understanding of how to care for your pet Betta, I suggest that you start following these steps to ensure a long and healthy life for your fish.

Freshwater Aquarium Set Up - How To

Introduction

Freshwater aquarium set up is more than just dumping some water in a glass tank and then throwing some fish into it. It takes planning and time to get the right environment so that your fish will thrive.

I received a 75-gallon fish tank for Christmas and this is what I did to establish a vibrant freshwater aquarium.

Leak Test- Most recommend that you leak test your tank. This is not really necessary if you buy it from a reputable dealer, but if you are buying it used, leak test it before you buy.

Location- Find a good spot for your tank. It is recommended that you stay away from windows but locate it close to an electrical outlet. I have mine in my office where I do most of my work away from the window but close to an electrical outlet.

Aerator- Place your aerator in first and place it at the rear of the aquarium, this way you can cover it with the rock you place in your tank.

Rock - Your next step is to put the rock or pebbles in. For my 75-gallon tank I have about 25 to 35 pounds of rock in using rock I purchased at my pet store. Make sure you wash the rock before you place it in the aquarium.

The rock should be thin in the front of the aquarium and gradually have it get higher at the back to where it covers the aerator at the back of your tank.

Water- Fill your tank with tap water and then put in water conditioner that will remove chlorine that is in the water. This can be purchased at any pet store.

Heater and Filters - Place your heater and filters in next. For fresh water fish set your heater at between 75 to 80 degrees.

Bacteria- This is an important step to developing the environment for your fish. You can get a bag of bacteria from your local pet store.

Plants- I use live plants in my aquarium because they keep my fish happy, provide algae to keep them fed and make the tank more natural.

Wallpaper- On the back of the tank I have placed wallpaper that you can also purchase at your local pet store. This wallpaper should match your rock you have placed at the bottom of your tank. This is a two-person job to install, so convince your significant other to help you.

After you have done all this,pet bird, let your aquarium cook for a couple of weeks then take a sample of your water to your pet store to determine if it is ready for your fish.

How to Have a Sustainable Fish Tank Without Filters

Introduction

The fish in your aquarium come from a very vibrant eco system. The rivers, streams and ponds your fish come from are able to maintain the right amount of chemicals and oxygen needed and eliminate those that will harm your fish.

But when you bring them into your 30-gallon tank, you shrink their surroundings to where any change in their water environment can have major negative effects on your fish.

That is why a filter is important for any aquarium, but you can keep an aquarium without a filter, it is more work for you but you will have a cost savings.

What Filters Do

When you establish an aquarium, it is important that you develop a healthy biosphere that will essentially take care of itself by keeping harmful chemicals, such as ammonia and nitrites, out.

The filter will contain carbon that will remove chemical contaminants and the padding will remove large pieces of debris.

Operating An Aquarium Without A Filter

Though having a filter is important for keeping the right environment for your fish, you can develop a successful aquarium without one.

You need to start with substrate that has been in an established aquarium before. This will allow for the creation of a bacteria colony, or you can even get some bacteria from your local fish pet store. It is very important that you have this colony established before you put your first fish in.

Since you will not be using a filter to remove chemicals and debris, you will need to rely on some other sources to keep your biosphere healthy. These other sources are:

Plants - Plants will be your number one allies in keeping nitrates down in your tank. Ensure you have enough plants to perform this job. Water Change Out - With no filter you will have to do a more frequent change out of your waters volume every week. It is recommended that you replace 50% of the water in your aquarium every week. Fish - Also ensure you do not have to many fish in your tank to keep the nitrates down. The more fish you have in your tank the more they will produce nitrates.

Balancing Your Aquarium

To get the right balance between fish and plants, I recommend you start small with adding plants and fish to your aquarium. As you add more fish to your tank keep measuring the nitrates. If the levels of nitrates go up and will not come down, even after adding more plants,pet fish, you have three options:

Feed your fish less food so you have less decaying in the substrate creating nitrates. Remove some of the fish in your tank so that you reduce the population of fish in your tank. The option I highly recommend is to use a filter so that you will have less to worry about and it will be less work for you.

How to Breed GoldFish at Home Breeding Goldfish Successfully in a Home Aquarium

Goldfish (Carasius auratus auratus) is one of the most popular and ubiquitous aquarium fish around the globe. If you are looking to breed goldfish, you might already know that they are adorable and they are easy to maintain. Today we will learn how easy it is to breed goldfish.

Preparations for breeding:

Nutrition: The most important step in preparing your fish to breed is to feed them well. Not just the quantity of the feed, but quality. There are hundreds of how-to guides out there, but not stress importance of brood-stock nutrition. Look for the label of ingredients of your feed. It should contain at least 30% protein ( preferably majority of it coming from fishmeal). It is our 15 years of experience that live food like insect larvae, worms, and brine shrimp work out better than pelleted feed. Also this will help keep your fish healthy. Starting from a couple of months before breeding, feed your fish three times a day. Remember to feed them small meals. Most home-aquarists fail to breed fish because they feed their fish too much and the leftover food decomposes in the aquarium ad becomes toxic to the fish.

Water quality: It is very important to maintain water quality in any aquaria, more so when you are getting ready to breed. These tropical fishes breed in running water. To simulate that, ideally at least 15% or more water should be replaced daily starting from 2 weeks before breeding.

Temperature: Breeding in goldfish happens with a significant change in temperature. Ideal temperature is in the range of 20 °C (68 °F) and 22 °C (72 °F). They can tolerate higher temperatures than that but they will be stressed beyond 30 °C (86 °F).A drop of 5°C over a period of 4-5 hours is considered ideal for breeding. So if initial temperature is about 24°C it can be brought down to 19°C or so to induce breeding.

Sexing and separation: You will need to separate males from female goldfish at least a few weeks before the actual breeding. Now the question is how to recognize which is a male goldfish and which is a female. If you have been keeping goldfish for a while, this might be a no-brainer, but for the benefit of first-timers, here are a few hints:Females will have a softer bulged belly than males. Males will develop white pimple-looking patches on their gill cover and pectoral fins called 'breeding tubercles'Males will possess longer and continuous ridge along their bottom side from pectoral fins to anal fin. In females ridge will be shorter,pet bird, discontinuous and thinner. Its a good idea to have two males per female

How to recognize your goldfish is ready for breeding:

Bulge in the belly: You will notice as the eggs in your fish's belly grow in size to be ready for breeding, the size of the belly will grow. Males start chasing females aggressively. Fishes shoal, meaning swim in groups. Body colors are brighter than before.

Preparing your tank for breeding: Ideally you should have a third tank with colder water and lots of live plants, coconut shells, fibers etc for the eggs to attach. Ciprinid (carps) eggs attach and develop while attached before hatching. So it is very important to provide enough nesting material.

Breeding: Actual mating happens during early morning hours. Males would focus on one female and chase her down. Female will eventually twist her body hard enough to squeeze the eggs out and the male will spray milt (containing sperms) on it to fertilize them. Laying egg and being chased for a while makes the females exhausted and they would be really tired after this exercise. Fishes would swim on the surface if they have spawned. The female would look thinner, spent and inactive. You would find mustard seed sized oval eggs attached on the nesting material you provided. If you see these indications, remove the breeders from the tank and let the eggs develop by themselves. Keep the water fresh and circulating if possible. Dead embryos become opaque and clear ones are developing healthy!!

Each healthy well prepared female would lay anywhere between 5,000 to 15,000 eggs. Beware, if you do not remove the parents, you will see no eggs!!

Hatching: Two black spots you see are the eyes and if you observe close enough you will see the babies' heart beating. Baby fishes should start coming out of egg shells in about 4-5 days depending on temperature (an increase in temperature by a couple of degrees will make fries hatch a day early!).

Congratulations! you have just learned how to breed goldfish successfully at your home aquarium. Now its time to roll up your arms and dive into your pond in preparation!! Good luck!

For more details on aquarium fish keeping and fish breeding techniques, please visit www.shoal.in/wiki/

Freshwater Aquarium Information How To Start An Aquarium

Nearly everyone would love to see an aquarium. It has become pretty popular among persons from all walks of life. There are several benefits you can get from owning one. It does not just beautify a home or an office, the plants and fishes it contains can also lead a longer and healthier life. If you plan to place this beautiful fish tank at home or at your workplace then you ought to read the following freshwater aquarium information.

The etymology of aquarium came from two Latin words aqua meaning water, and rium meaning building or a place. In other words, aquarium is synonymous to water building. Starting a freshwater aquarium is easy. However it is recommended to know the basic freshwater aquarium information to ensure the safety and health of your fish pets.

The first thing you need to do when starting one is to find a fish tank. For beginners it is recommended to start with a small one, but having a bigger one is not discouraged. However you need to keep in mind that a smaller fish tank requires lesser cost and maintenance,aquarium plants, while a bigger one does the opposite.

If space, finances and maintenance are not an issue for you, then go for a bigger aquarium. A larger aquarium will allow you to replicate nature better which is the natural environment a fish lives. Another important information you need to know is to include freshwater aquarium plants in your freshwater aquarium. This allows natural biological processes inside the aquarium which helps beneficial bacteria to flourish and grow. These good bacteria help reduce the levels of nitrate in the aquarium which in turn stabilizes the water chemistry in the aquarium, making the fishes healthy and happy.

Choosing the fishes you want to put inside your aquarium is also important, although not necessary. A great freshwater aquarium information is to choose fishes who can sustain even a bad water environment. Sometimes it is inevitable to forget cleaning the aquarium especially with your busy schedule. So it is important to also consider the survival ability of the fishes.

An aquarium can also be beneficial to the health of the owner. Based on recent studies having an aquarium at home or in the office reduces stress which is the main cause of several diseases. Indeed fishes are great stress busters as they allow you to have a more peaceful and fresher mind. In Chinese beliefs, having an aquarium at home or in the office can attract positive energy that will bring good luck to the owner.

We hope that the following freshwater aquarium information we have provided have helped you in planning your freshwater aquarium.

How to Create the Perfect Freshwater Aquarium

Adequate aquarium size is very important for creating the right environment for your ,aquarium fishfreshwater fish. One of the most common mistakes that many beginners make is getting an aquarium that is too small. Research needs to be done in regards to the size requirements for the desired fish and accessories that will be in the tank. Providing a larger more spacious tank will result in less tank maintenance, better tank water quality and healthier fish. The best plan is to get a tank that is as large as money and space will allow.

The next element to focus on is adequate filtration for your aquarium. The filter used in the aquarium should provide mechanical, chemical and biological filtration. To provide mechanical filtration it needs to be able to physically clean the water and remove dirt from the water. To provide chemical filtration it should remove chemical and toxins from the water. To provide biological filtration it should promote the growth of bacteria that is needed for a healthy nitrogen cycle.

The third element for the perfect aquarium is providing the required temperature range. An aquarium heater will keep the water at the optimal temperature. Aquarium heaters have thermostats that detect when the water temperature drops below the desired range. The heater then turns on to warm the water back up to the right temperature. There are many heaters to choose from for your pets. It is highly recommended to do research and select the heater that is capable of consistently keeping your aquarium at the required temperature range.

Consistent maintenance is an element that should never be overlooked under any circumstances. Regular partial water changes are needed to remove dirt from the water and maintain optimal water conditions. Water changes can be done using a gravel vacuum and should be done once or twice a week. A partial water change consists of removing 10% to 20% of the water by sucking it out with a gravel vacuum. The water is then replaced with fresh water that has been treated to remove the chlorine from it before adding it to the tank.

Learning the living conditions for your desired fish is the fifth key element for setting up your aquarium. Every aquarium fish is different and has different preferences when it comes to water conditions and how a tank is set up. Some fish like to dig and should have fine gravel or sand for the aquarium substrate. Some other fish like to have places to seek shelter in like caves and passages between rocks. Overall, it is best to prepare the aquarium first before purchasing your aquatic pets.

The sixth and final key element for setting up your aquarium is purchasing fish that are compatible with each other. Do not mix passive fish with other more aggressive or territorial fish under any circumstances. Plan to have either a community tank or a species tank. Mixing the wrong types of fish in your aquarium can cause a bloodbath to take place in your aquarium.

Facts About the Queen Angelfish

The Queen angelfish is considered the most beautiful of all the angelfish, although it isn't suited for a small aquarium. The Queen angelfish was named in 1758 by Linnaeus, a scientific name of Holacanthus ciliaris. They live to up to 15 years of age. If you decide to introduce a Queen angelfish to your aquarium there are some guidelines to follow:

Description

The adult Queen is blue with yellow rims on its scales. The ventral fins and pectoral fins are yellow, their lips and edging on their dorsal fins and anal fins are blue. They also have blue around each gill cover. They grow up to 45 cm in length.

The juvenile queen angelfish has blue bodies with yellow gills, tail and lips. They have vertical bars ranging from light blue to white.

Geographical Location

The Queen angelfish is found in the Western Atlantic, from Florida to Brazil to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. It is also found in the Eastern Central Atlantic, around Saint Peter and Saint Paul Islets. It is found at a depth of up to 70 meters. It can be found on stony reef corals and Porifera sponges.

Breeding

Adult Queen angelfish are found in pairs leading to suggest that they are monogamous fish. Reproduction occurs with the pair rising to the surface of the water and releasing sperm and egg in a cloud effect. Females can release from 25-75 thousand eggs each evening, which equates to 10 millions eggs in their spawning cycle. The eggs hatch in 15-20 hours as larvae. The larvae doesn't have eyes, fins or a gut. Within 48 hours the sac is absorbed and somewhat resembles a free swimming fish. The larvae feed on plankton. 3-4 weeks later the juvenile will settle on the bottom and is around 15-20 mm in length.

Aquarium Requirements

The Queen angelfish is not recommended for a novice aquarist. It is sensitive to organic waste and because of that it is hard to feed. It is a lively fish and swims in the open in the day.

The tank needs to be at least 150-200 gallons as it approaches its full size in length. It needs to have hiding spots for the Queen as well as other fish who may want to keep away from it. The Queen angelfish can be semi-aggressive and therefore should be added last to the aquarium. Two male Queen angelfish can lead to violence, but if it's to be kept with other angelfish they should all be introduced together. This is not a guarantee though that it won't be aggressive, however.

It is best to make sure the aquarium environment factors such as water temperature and pH-balance is stable before you introduce the Queen.

Queen angelfish respond well in a reef aquarium. They will nip at soft corals, clam mantles and stony corals. It is best to train it to eat foods other than sponges,guppy fish, hydroids, tunicates, feather dusters because they can deplete the environment and it leads to malnutrition.

Food

In the sea, the Queen survives mainly on sponges. In an aquarium it is expensive to feed it only sponges so training it to eat other foods is advised. Serving up frozen meat foods like shrimp, squid and an angelfish formula which consists of sponges is beneficial. They also require algae on a daily basis. You can also feed them vegetables like spinach, aubergines and zucchini. They require many small portions of food a day.

Although there are a few requirements to get your Queen angelfish to thrive in your aquarium, the beauty of these fish certainly outweigh any hardships you encounter along the way.

Do Betta Fish Fight

Betta fish are known to be real fighters but does this mean that they actually fight each other? If so, what are the conditions under which they fight and what are their reasons for doing so? Are there any fights to the death? In this article I am going to answer these questions.

Firstly, it is indeed true that Betta fish fight each other and this occurs both in the wild and in captivity. They are highly aggressive and territorial which explains why they seek to defend their area of control, usually a few square feet in size.

Once challenged, they will seek to defend their territory and will often fight until one of them concedes and back away. Their fighting consists of fin-nipping and can often result in infection and death for either or both of the fish. In captivity Betta fighting is considered a sport. This mostly occurs in the native country Thailand where large amounts of money are placed on the outcome of a fight. This is considered a cruel sport by many foreign onlookers, even if they are not forced to fight to the death.

You can buy Bettas in Thailand from stored that almost resemble traditional sweet shops with Betta fish in jars filling every shelf. It seems they are less interested in keeping them as pets as we are. Very few pet shops are likely to sell a Betta fish to you if they think you are going to be using it for this purpose,tropical fish, many stores are unwilling to sell more than one male Betta to any customer at one time.

It is important not to keep more than one male Betta fish in the same aquarium tank in order to avoid this phenomenon. If kept together, male Betta fish will become very aggressive to each other and eventually one of them will most probably wind up dead. In order to avoid this it is essential to understand the compatibility of this tropical fish species with other aquarium fish before finding out the hard way. Betta fish have a significant propensity to attacking large and colourful fins which means keeping them in the same aquarium as guppies or angelfish for example a very bad idea.

In conclusion, it is true that Betta fish fight and for this reason are to be kept apart if ever you decide to keep more than one in the same aquarium tank.

Juwel Rio 240 - 7 Point Product Review

One of the most popular aquariums available today. The Rio 240 is a classic design but with some clever additions.,aquarium fish

Here is our 7 point review -Juwel Rio 240

Appearance -
The Rio 240 is a nice size and the lighting makes the tank come alive. Could easily be a centre point in a room but will always be a great gallery for your fish.

Size -
With 240 litres this tank can take a small community of fish. If you want a tank which can handle some tetras, a few medium sized fish and some plants then this could be the perfect tank for you.

PVC -
Some aquariums are made from PVC while others are made from glass. Some people prefer PVC while some prefer glass. The drawback with PVC is that the tank will get scratches on it. You can buff out the scratches if they get too bad. The advantages are that the PVC is stronger and that the view is less likely to be distorted.

Accessories -
The Juwel Rio 240 is slightly lacking when it comes to the filter and heater that come included. While these are perfectly good for a smaller aquarium like the Rio 180. The 200 watt heater and Bioflow 3.0 compact filter are just not strong enough to use the aquarium to the full capacity. This means that if you want to get the most out of your aquarium you will have to replace these with other products.

Lighting -
What the Juwel Rio 240 loses in filter and heater power it gains in lighting. There is a real step up here in power from the Rio 180 as you get two 54 watt bulbs which really make your tank glow. Unless you have a demanding system you probably won't have to replace these bulbs.

Cabinet -
As with most quality fish tanks you can purchase a matching cabinet for the Juwel Rio 240. As always we recommend that you purchase the matching cabinet as the tank - when full - can weigh too much for many normal home furniture. Your dining room table may look steady but unless it can take the weight of two people standing on it this tank will be too heavy.

Unsung Genius -
The Juwel Rio 240 comes with a suspended base which may seem to be an insignificant feature but could stop your aquarium straining and ultimately leaking.

Guidelines to Start a Freshwater Aquarium

For beginners with the fish keeping hobby, you can easily start a freshwater aquarium. By doing so, you'll have a great introduction for being a fish hobbyist. For the most part, a freshwater aquarium is very cost efficient and it also requires minimum maintenance. Even if you think you don't have the money, you can always start with a small fish tank the size of two or five gallons and you can see how you like the hobby of having fish. If you determine that it's the hobby for you, you can move on up the ladder after getting some experience with your first aquarium.

If you start a freshwater aquarium that's small in size, you can easily keep your fish in your bedroom or even in your office. You can get something bigger if you'd like and the next level would be five or 10 gallons. An interesting fact with aquariums is that if you get something large like a 20 gallon tank, it is going to be easier for you to maintain it. The reason for this is with a larger tank, you have something that will more easily mimic nature. The biological process of the tank can be sustained on its own.

With that little tip in mind, you now have to weigh your options on whether to go for a big tank or a small tank. Provided you have enough space to put it in, you can go with a larger tank. You can start a freshwater aquarium as soon as you have purchased your tank and purchased the necessary equipment for keeping your fish happy and healthy. You need to set your tank up and check it for leaks for the first few hours. Put it on the stand to ensure that the stand can carry it. Clean your tank and equipment out and fill your tank with two inches of water to check for leaks.

When everything is okay at that stage, you can go on to the next steps with how to start a freshwater aquarium. Having rinsed your sand and gravel,pet dog, you can install your under-gravel filter and pour the sand into the tank. You fill the tank up with more water and install the heater. After doing so, you can put the decorations and the plants around. You can't put your fish in as soon as you've finished with putting the plants and decorations in. You first have to turn on the filter and then later the heater to ensure that they're working properly.

You also have to monitor the temperature for your tank using your thermometer. Treat your tank water with a de-chlorinator and cycle the tank for 24 hours. With everything ready the next day, you can introduce your fish, preferably gold fish at first, into the tank. You can open the bag your fish is in or just let the bag float in the tank water for 15 to 20 minutes. This allows the fish to adjust to the tanks water temperature. Slowly remove the bag and allow the fish to swim out into the tank. Once done, you now know how to start a freshwater aquarium.

The Question about Common Filter System

Q: Select the size of the filter for my aquarium?
A: Considering the processing capacity of the filtration system. Lack of processing capacity of fish tank, the same to reach the effect, I consider equivalent to the non-existent, its a waste of resources would be better designed handling capacity greater than actual demand. This will not only keep a good fish but also eliminates a lot of trouble, the volume of the filtration system in general at least 5% of the breeding tank volume.
Q: What is the role of the filtration system on fish?
A: The filtration system has a significant role in keeping tropical fish, on the one hand you can filter fish feces, filter feeding the fish when the remaining residual feed, to avoid these substances decompose oxygen to increase the organic matter content of the water damaged the quality . On the other hand, in the filtration system to cultivate nitrifying bacteria and other bacteria, you can create nitrification decomposition of these substances, inhibit harmful nitrite.
Q: What factors affect my filtering system processing capacity?
A: The filter coefficients of factors: water flow, filter (filter pool filter volume) volume, all kinds of filter. I believe that the relationship between them is the multiplication effect as a filter.
Q: I use the bottom filter system, the need for heating? More power in the heating rods?
A: Bottom filter cylinder is of course the need for heating, the temperature difference between the fish is not good, will increase the load of heating rods in the tank. The combination of your room temperature to consider the needs of multiple high-power to master the principles of the outlet water temperature and tank water temperature difference of not less than 1 degree Celsius, in general, 1.2 m of the bottom filter cylinder 600 watt heating rods.
Q: Activated carbon filtration system where what to put them?

A: The main function of activated carbon adsorption of ions, demineralized water, and remove the odor, but on the microporous activated carbon can easily be clogged, so we have to put all the filter in front of, on the one hand, before the large particulate matter will not plug the micropores, on the other hand, if placed on the location of the back of the activated carbon will be nitrifying bacteria as a breeding ground and thus clogging the porous activated carbon loss of adsorption, while the activated carbon as the carrier of the nitrifying bacteria is not ideal, not as good as biochemical ceramic ring, or biochemical ball better.