Aquarium Pet Supplies

photo credit: threefingeredlord

Whether you’re keeping a coldwater aquarium, tropical tank or marine fish there are a host of invertebrates which are available in the trade at a reasonable price. Not only do invertebrates add an extra level of interest to an aquarium but they can also offer practical benefits.

Quiet simply many invertebrates are grazers and will work their way around your fish tank finding leftover food and cleaning it up thus you not only have a very interesting aquarium tank but your tank also stays cleaner which means a more attractive aquarium and less manual cleaning required by you.

An example of an invertebrate worth considering are the various snails available who typically graze on algae. They will slowly work their way around your fish tank getting rid of any green algae on the glass of your aquarium, on your aquarium tank decorations and so on. Just be certain you have a tight-fitting lid on the top of your tank if you don’t want them to escape.

Depending on the species of fish you keep (please check suitability with your local provider of aquarium pet supplies before making an investment) there are also a range of other invertebrates you can consider. From shrimps to crayfish to crabs. All of these small crustaceans will slowly work their way across the bottom of your aquarium picking up any interesting food particles either ignored by your fish or too small for your fish to bother with.

There are a huge range of different sizes, colors and shapes of these crustaceans and so some research is well worthwhile before introducing one or more to your tank. If you have used invertebrates to help you keep your tank clean please leave me a comment and let me know what you did.

photo credit: Tambako the Jaguar

There are certain things in life that should never be rushed. A good bottle of wine is just one example. And another, rather more appropriate to this website, is setting up a new aquarium.

The simple fact of the matter is that setting up an aquarium properly takes time and those people who are in a hurry and want to cut corners are typically the kind of people who have problems when it comes to keeping their aquarium fish fit and healthy.

Let’s look at a few examples together…

When it comes to decking out your aquarium with various plants and aquarium decorations it is worth taking the time to consider what you are doing. Spend a few days coming back to your aquarium before you consider adding any fish to check that your design really does look as attractive as you initially thought. Also consider how the plants are going to grow up and try to imagine your aquarium in a few months time as it gets established to see whether any changes will be needed.

Various aquarium decorations themselves may require patience. No matter how well you wash everything before adding water to your aquarium you some decorations may still dirty the water to a degree. Dust from gravel, tannins from wood and minerals from some rocks may still cause your aquarium water to go cloudy when you fish fill it up and so again having the patience to wait a few days for all the particles to separate out can be a very smart idea indeed.

The water that you place into your aquarium is likely to be high in chemicals such as chlorine which has been added to the water to keep us safe but may cause harm to your fish. Whilst dechlorinating solutions are now available if you opt not to use them you really need to leave your aquarium water to stand few a couple of days so these chemicals can dissipate before adding it to your tank.

And then of course there is the sensitive issue of fish tank chemistry. We know more now than ever about the complex bacterial cultures that build up over time in our tank substrate and in our filter media and how these cultures help to break down harmful chemicals that our fish secrete.

These bacterial colonies take time to build up and therefore for our filtration system to become fully functional. “Seeding” our aquariums with fish flakes and/or a small number of very hardy fish will allow the bacteria to grow slowly before we start adding other, more sensitive fish and even then fish should ideally only be added a few at a time to allow our filter to deal with all the extra work that will be required of it.

The worst possible fish-keeping situation is one where you try to set up an aquarium in an afternoon and fill it with fish the next day. In contrast the best situations are those where the aquarium keeper is fully aware of the patience required of him or her and takes the time – often weeks – to slowly introduce all the elements necessary for a healthy fish tank.

If you’re just setting up your first aquarium and are chomping at the bit to create a completely planted and stocked aquarium just try to remember how important your patience is and appreciate that this small initial investment of your time will be rewarded for years to come.

photo credit: robstephaustralia

One of the common themes which keeps cropping up here from visitors is all about the daily cycles of an aquarium such as how long lights should be left on for, how long filters should be left on for, when fish should be fed and so on.

So in this article I thought we’d attempt to cover as many of those bases as possible to give you a better idea of how to run your aquarium on a daily basis and keep your fish happy and healthy.

Feeding

In the wild many fish will browse throughout the day rather like a gazelle as opposed to a lion feeding every few days and spending the rest of the time asleep. In addition to this any uneaten fish food has the potential to pollute the water in your fish tank, affect levels of nitrates and nitrites and either cause harm to your fish or require more regular cleaning.

Therefore it is generally advisable if you have the time to feed your fish smaller amounts on a more regular basis. Feeding before and after work, for example, tends to work well and by following this pattern it is reasonably easy to get into the habit.

Lighting

If you use artificial lighting in your aquarium like most fish keepers then it is wise to turn these lights off during the night. Leaving lights on 24 hours a day can stress your fish out, tire out plants and encourage algal growth so lights should ideally be turned on for 12-16 hours per day and for ease I generally use a timer so I don’t need to think about this aspect of aquarium care.

Filtration

Most fish don’t “sleep” as we humans do and so may still be active at night though typically less so than during the day. Because of this they may still defecate in the water and of course some excess food etc. may also still be present in the water so it is recommended that you leave your aquarium filtration system on at all times unless you are removing it to clean it during routine tank maintenance.

photo credit: majcher

One of the questions which I seem to have been getting quite a bit recently focuses on how to hide your aquarium filter from view. It seems that quite a few of our regular visitors are trying to create attractive, naturalistic aquarium setups and that having a plastic box buzzing away takes away from the overall effect.

If you are in the same camp of wanting to hide your aquarium filter then there are several possible steps you can consider but before we get onto these I’d like to issue a gentle warning.

The purpose of a filter is really to draw in dirty water, filter out chemical and physical debris and then eject the cleaned water back into the fish tank. By doing this your fish will stay much fitter and healthier and no established fish keeper would ever claim that filters are a luxury; filters really are an essential aquarium pet supplies if you really care about the health of your aquarium.

To a degree aquarium filters also have a second function in that the water being ejected from the filter causes ripples, bubbles or drops on the surface of your aquarium water, helping to aerate it so that your fish can breathe easily in their underwater world.

This means that whilst there are steps that can be taken to hide your aquarium filter it is just as important to consider that your filter is able to do it’s job successfully. The filter should be able to easily suck water in and spit it back out again. I have seen some aquariums over the years where a filter is tucked away behind dozens of plants but it is likely this filter isn’t doing as good a job as it could if it weren’t for the plants.

In other words, by all means hide the filter, but ensure it is able to do it’s job properly when you have finished making the changes to your fish tank.

So, with that said, how do you hide an aquarium filter?

Firstly of course you can consider placing your filter behind some plants or rocks so long as it will function properly in this way. However you can also take the next step and rather than using an internal power filter, you could consider using an external filter.

These external filters suck water out of the fish tank, into a separate filter compartment which is housed outside the aquarium, then the water is returned to the tank through another pipe.

In this way the main canister can be hidden away behind the fish tank or in a cupboard and the aquarist only has to worry about disguising a few clear plastic pipes rather than a large plastic box. In this way an external filter can be far more attractive to look at than an internal filter.

photo credit: madprime

The classic round goldfish bowl has been used for hundreds, even thousands of years – to keep fancy goldfish in the home. They are attractive, cheap to buy, easy to clean and show off fish well making an attractive display. And yet fewer people than ever choose a goldfish bowl over an aquarium. Why is this?

Aquariums of course come in all sorts of sizes and shapes which means the fish keeper has a wide choice when it comes to housing and almost any home can find a space for an aquarium of some size.

However it’s not so much the aesthetics which lead most people to choose an aquarium over a goldfish bowl as the practical elements. Quite simply when looking for aquarium pet supplies an aquarium makes it far easier to successfully keep goldfish and other coldwater fish than a bowl.

The first issue to consider is the volume of water. Water naturally warms and cools over time; cooler during the night and warmer during the day. But all sorts of other things can also make a difference. A window left open. A heater turned on. These fluctuations in water temperature can have a negative effect on your fish and the larger the change and the quicker it happens the more stressful it is for fish.

An aquarium typically holds more water which acts as a “buffer” and means temperature changes are less extreme and are felt more slowly leading to happier, healthier fish.

In an aquarium it is also far easier to fit hardware like filters to keep the water clean and pumps to aerate the water which are typically absent in a goldfish bowl further making keeping goldfish far easier.

Lastly there is the size of the surface area of the water to consider. The larger the surface area, the more oxygen can enter the water and the more fish you can safely keep in a given area. With the shape of a goldfish bowl, the top is typically very narrow, minimizing the amount of oxygen that can enter the water. Proportionately the aquarium has a larger surface area of water and so your fish will find it easier to take up the oxygen they really need to breathe.

photo credit: xmatt

When it comes to choosing an aquarium hood there are really three key elements that you should consider before investing your hard-earned money. The first of these steps is to ensure you have carefully measured your fish tank to ensure you are buying the correct size for your aquarium.

Whilst this may sound basic and simple, aquariums come in such a wide range of sizes these days that it can be quite a challenge to find the right one unless you take careful measurements and this is particularly important if you have an unusually-proportioned fish tank.

The second step in choosing an aquarium hood is to consider the practical aspects. For example you will probably be wanting to include some form of artificial lighting so consider the space and fittings that a hood has to enable you to fit such a system. Is there a lighting unit that comes included with your hood or will you need to fit one separately?

If your hood already has a light fitting then check how easy it will be for you to find replacement bulbs when the time comes as the hoods some manufacturers make require unusual sizes of bulbs.

If you will be adding your own lighting setup then check that it will be easy to clip the tube(s) into place and also consider where the starter unit will sit.

Also consider the issues of both dealing with evaporation by being conscious of whether an aquarium hood has a built-in aquarium tray and also how easy it is to gain access to your tank in order to feed your fish. The more fiddly this is, the more annoying it will become for you.

When you have considered both the dimensions and the practical aspects of an aquarium hood the third and final step is to consider appearance. Try to find a hood which compliments your existing fish tank and that also matches the rest of your room so that the hood adds impact to your tank rather than attracting it away.

photo credit: laszlo-photo

Whilst when many of us think about aquarium pets we most commonly think of a range of fish – whether that’s coldwater fish, tropical freshwater fish or marine fish – there are actually quite a wide range of other pets that kept be kept in aquariums if you’re looking for something a little bit different.

In this article we’re going to take a closer look at some of the types of aquarium pets for you if for whatever reason keeping fish in your aquarium isn’t quite what you’re looking for.

Crayfish/Lobsters

Some aquarium shops sell these interesting arthropods from time to time. Whilst large specimens are seen from time to time it is most normal to find small youngsters of a few inches for sale. The specimens most normally seen are tropical freshwater creatures rather than their saltwater cousins.

Crayfish are reasonably easy to care for in captivity though have been known to nip at fish so it is recommended to keep them on their own rather than as part of a community fish tank.

A basic set-up of a tropical fish tank works well for these animals though there are a few minor changes that will be welcome. Firstly crayfish can be quite shy animals and like to hide away safely. Because of this a number of flat rocks are recommended behind which your crayfish can hide.

Whilst this will keep your crayfish much happier and healthier than being on display all the time, appreciate that you may only see your pet from time to time. The most likely time to observe your pet will either be late in the evening or whilst feeding.

Speaking of feeding, this is really the second major change you will need to make to your fish tank. Rather than feeding fish flakes or life food, most crayfish are scavengers and so it is best to feed them on sinking catfish pellets which they will readily run over to collect when they are dropped into the tank.

Newts

There are a surprising number of newts available from specialist reptile suppliers and many can be easily kept in an aquarium. Depending on the species involved they may require warm water or cold so check with your supplier before making a purchase.

In addition, many newts appreciate access to dry land where they can climb out of the water which may therefore require some modifications to your fish tank layout. However there are species, like the Japanese fire bellied newt, which are almost exclusively aquatic and a pair will not only live happily in a cold-water tank but well well also mate and lay eggs which can be a fascinating process to watch.

Triops

Triops are shrimp-like creatures which are the bigger, more exciting cousins of “sea monkeys”. These creatures are easy to keep and feed and may grow up to around 2 inches in length in a very short space of time.

Eggs and food can easily be bought from many online aquarium pet suppliers which are then hatched out at home. Unlike many of the other animals here you are unlikely to see too much fascinating behaviour but triops are cheap to buy, easy to care for and can make quite a pleasant change if only for the few months they will live.

Toads

Like newts, some species of toad can be kept in a totally aquatic environment while others will require a dry land area so they can leave the water from time to time.

Also like newts there are a huge range of species offering many different choices for the aquarium keeper. From large, grey clawed frogs that will happily live in the water at all times to the smaller, more brightly-colored fire-bellied toads which ideally like some dry land. As always, carry out suitable research on the species you are considering before investing but for me exotic toads are one of the most exciting types of aquarium pets.

Terrapins/Turtles

The final type of aquarium pet worth mentioning in this short article is the possibility of keeping turtles or terrapins. I mention both these words meaning the same thing: in the USA we typically refer to these reptiles as turtles though in Europe they are generally known as terrapins.

Turtles appreciate warm water together with an area where they can climb out of the water to bask in the “sun”. Because of this additional equipment will be required in the form of a basking lamp and a UV tube though if you already own an aquarium these pieces of equipment should be simple-enough to add to your existing setup.

Whilst some turtles can grow quite large, they are understandably popular as they are one of the few types of aquarium pet that seem to show some real personality. Over time they will gain confidence around you and may even become willing to eat out of your hand.

photo credit: nttrbx

For many fish keepers, aquarium algae can become an ongoing problem. This green algae can cover plants or other aquarium decorations in an unsightly film. It can grow on the glass of your fish tank making it difficult to see your fish or can even be waterborne, turning your water into a green soup.

Whichever way you cut it, aquarium algae isn’t good stuff but luckily there are ways to get around this problem.

Light

Algae is green for a reason, and that reason is that just like plants, it needs to photosynthesize to produce enough nutrients for life.

One of the most common causes of algal blooms in aquariums is quite simply that the tank receives some natural sunlight each day. Perhaps it is near a window or against a south-facing wall. Whatever the reasons, direct sunlight can affect the algae in your tank.

Equally, aquarium lights left on all night can also cause problems if the bulb you are using is specifically designed to aid plant growth.

One potential solution therefore is to ensure that no sunlight is able to fall on your aquarium and also to consider ensuring your lights are turned off each night to reduce the speed at which algae can grow.

Nutrients

Just like light, algae also need nutrients just like plants in order to grow. Another common cause of algal blooms is excess nutrients in the water, such as can accumulate in aquariums that are overstocked or have insufficient filtration.

In this way the nitrogen-rich nutrients which your fish excrete are serving as a potent source of energy for the algae that you want to get rid of.

Therefore try carrying out a water test to see if nutrient levels are too high, improve filtration so that excess nutrients are quickly removed, carry out water changes to physically remove these nutrients and also consider adding some live plants which will compete with the algae for the nutrients, thus making the algae weaker.

Chemicals

Lastly there are chemicals that can be added to aquariums which will kill of algae whilst being safe for most fish. However whilst this solution will work over the short term, you should be aware that if you want long-term success, you should fully investigate the other problems mentioned above to ensure that you do not suffer from similar problems again in the future.

photo credit: LaMenta3

Siamese fighters, often known as betta fish or Siamese fighting fish, are popular tropical fish with an unmistakable appearance.

Whilst the females are far less showy than the males, these small fish possess long, flowing fins of varying colors. Vivid reds and electric blues are the most common color forms though others are seen from time to time. These fins move elegantly through the water, making it look like these fighting fish are wearing flowing capes.

In short, whilst these fish do not attain a particularly large size, they are some of the most attractive, colorful and elegant fish a tropical aquarium enthusiast can own.

Luckily, these fish can be reasonably easy to care for if one is willing to bear in mind a few basic steps.

Firstly, Siamese fighters are so-called for a reason. Quite simply, two or more males if placed together will fight – often to the death – and so one should be careful to only ever keep one male in a tank.

Secondly, the long, flowing fins of the males can be a source of great entertainment to some other fish such as barbs which may nip the fins of these beautiful fish leaving them looking tired and unwell. Worse, the stress of this harassment has been known to cause death in extreme circumstances.

Fortunately females possess smaller fins and may be kept in multiples though they are far less showy than the males and so typically less popular amongst fish keepers.

The best way to keep siamese fighters is therefore either in a tropical community tank being very careful about the other inhabitants of the aquarium, or in a species-only tank where one male plus a number of females can be kept in the hope that breeding will occur.

Apart from these small steps, betta fish can be kept like most other tropical fish. Warm water of around 25′C tends to work well, with a base food of tropical fish flakes. We aware that color-enhancing foods are available should your siamese fighters start to lose their color with age.

photo credit: Silvain de Munck

In the past most aquariums were made of glass however modern technologies have enabled manufacturers to start creating acrylic aquariums but which type of aquarium is really best?

On the one hand, glass aquariums suffer from a number of problems. First an foremost they weigh a lot, making the simple act of buying an aquarium and bringing it home something of a challenge. Glass is of course rather fragile and so chips or cracks are not uncommon and an aquarium with a hole in it isn’t going to hold too much water.

On the flip side though glass aquariums come in a massive range of different sizes and shapes and are very reasonably priced. They normally have excellent visibility and are easy to keep clean.

Acrylic aquariums are typically stronger than glass so are less likely to shatter, and they are also normally much lighter and hence easy to bring home.

However one downside to acrylic aquariums is that the surface of the plastic can suffer from scratches which can quickly appear. Not only can this reduce your viewing pleasure but can also make cleaning more of a challenge.

For example many fish tanks develop a “water mark” at the top where minerals deposit themselves and this can quickly look unsightly. Removing it in a glass aquarium is reasonably easy with a scouring pad but great care must be taken with a plastic tank so as to not scratch the surface.

The matter of glass versus plastic aquariums is not a clear-cut one, with many fish keepers having their own preference. Personally I like glass aquariums due to the ease of cleaning and general appearance with the weight being less of an issue as I’m really only likely to need to move the tank when I buy it. But, as the saying goes, the decision is yours.