Tropical Fish Diseases - Choosing The Right Fishes

Being able to choose the right tropical fishes for your home aquarium is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent tropical fish diseases.

There are so many types of tropical fishes that you can find any that will match your personality and lifestyle. But there are some vital tips you need to be aware of if you want to keep them healthy and happy.

Temperament:

One of the first things you need to know about the tropical fishes at the pet store is their temperament. There are three types of fish:

Social: these fishes will get along well with most other types, they include Danios, Tetras, Guppies, Swordtails, Mollies, and Corydoras

Semi-social: these fishes can be kept with other fishes that are of the same size. They include Barbs, Angelfish, and Gouramis

Aggressive: these fishes should always be kept isolated from other fishes, because as the category suggests they can be quite aggressive. Some examples include male Bettas, Oscars, and Jewelfish

Color/health:

This might sound so common sense you might think it’s not even worth mentioning, but it is an often forgotten tip: when choosing your tropical fishes make sure they have dense and well-defined color. A fish with strong colors and no marks means it is in good health. If your fish is not healthy when you purchase it, it will be more susceptible to tropical fish diseases when you introduce it into your home aquarium.

Different environments:

Just like us, different fishes have different needs when it comes to a good environment to live in. You need to know what types of tanks the fishes like, how much space they need, as well as the water temperature that is required for each fish. Some fishes prefer bigger tanks, while others like smaller spaces, some fishes like a lot of room to swim around in, while others like to have rocks, plants, and other features so they can hide, and then again some like the water to be warmer than others. If you put a fish in an environment that they do not like, they will gradually become more stressed and this will lead to tropical fish diseases.

Don’t overcrowd:

Once you know the type of fishes you want, and have made sure that they will all get along, you want to be careful not to overcrowd the tank. This is often an overlooked reason for fishes contracting tropical fish diseases. You need to number the fishes in the tank on a per gallon basis, again this depends on the preference of the fishes you purchase (picky aren’t they?). Overcrowding will lead to stress and as we all know, too much stress is just not good for the health, in people and fishes.

If you are sure what the preferences are or the temperament of the fishes you want to purchase, always ask for advice at the pet store. If you take these steps when choosing your fishes, you will be ensuring they stay free from tropical fish diseases, and remain happy and healthy.

Chrystal Summers is a tropical fish. Not really, she just loves them. If you want to learn more about how you can take better care of your fishes, so they stay free from tropical fish diseases, visit her blog here: http://tropicalfishdiseases.blogspot.com/

Popular Types Of Tropical Aquarium Filters

An Aquarium filter is a required device for both freshwater and marine aquaria, and are very important for maintaining high water quality in your fish tank. Aquarium Filters can be either internal or external to the aquarium, external filters are sometimes called HOB's or hang on back. A filter will process fish waste, unconsumed food and other particulates, some filters can even filter down to the micron level. Filters are available in a wide variety of sizes and styles to work with any type or size aquarium you choose. Below are some of the most common filter styles used today.

Power Filters

Power filters are the most common and popular filter for most aquarium enthusiasts. They are easy to set up, require very little maintenance and are inexpensive which makes them a good choice for the new hobbyist. Many times power filters are used together with an under gravel filter for increased water purity.

The filter works by drawing the water through the filter media under slight pressure and forcing it back into the tank. An aerator is not usually needed when using a power filter since it provides enough water movement during filtration to keep the tank oxygenated.

Sponge Filters

Sponge filters are most commonly used in breeding tanks to keep small fish from entering the filter and are appropriate only for very small aquariums. Sponge filters use an internal form of biological filtration to keep the aquarium water clean and safe for your tropical fish. Aerobic bacteria will grow on the filter's sponge helping to facilitate the tanks nitrogen cycle. Extra care should be used when cleaning a sponge filter so as not to wash away the nitrifying bacteria.

Under Gravel Filters

Under gravel filters, also referred to as UGF are another popular type of aquarium filter that you can use for your fish tank. Under gravel filters are one of the more regularly used styles of fish tank filters due to its large area for biological filtration.

Under gravel filters are comprised of a porous plate which is placed an inch or two under the gravel substrate with one or more uplift tubes and an aerator. The UGF is a type of biological filter that draws the water through the substrate material and then returns it at the top of the tank.

The only drawbacks to this type of filter is that the fish waste tends to get pulled down into the gravel which requires regular vacuuming and live plants do not grow well planted over a UGF. Under gravel filters are sometimes paired with a power filter to provide extra filtration for the aquarium.

Canister Filters

One of the best filtration choices for any aquarium set up is a Canister Filter. Canister filters contain an internal pump connected to a sealed container where waste from the water is trapped for removal. A canister filter is an ideal choice for filtering large aquariums that contain many fish, or fish that create a lot of waste like large tropical fish or goldfish. Canister filters don't provide much aeration so bubble stones are recommended to help bring oxygen into the tank. Canister filters are great but are usually more expensive than ordinary hang on tank type filters.

Diatom Filters

Diatom filters are primarily used for occasional cleaning of tanks, and are not constantly connected to the aquarium. Diatom Filters are extremely efficient and are designed to mechanically filter out the smallest of particles all the way down into the 1 micron size range. Aquarium diatom filters also help with "sick tanks" encouraging quicker fish healing by removing organics and other parasites. They are also excellent for removing algae blooms and clean your tanks water to an incredibly pure state.

Mike LaVallee is the webmaster of Tropical Aquarium Care a website about Tropical Fish and Salt Water Aquariums. Here you will find articles, advice and resources on many tropical aquarium topics.

How Many Fish Will My Aquarium Hold?

Have you got yourself a new aquarium?

If so, you need to have a plan on how you are going to fill it with those beautiful fish.

Before you work out exactly which fish you want, you need to work out have many inches (or centimetres) of fish you can accommodate in your new aquarium.

The fish will obviously have more room to swim and set up their territories in a larger aquarium, but more important than the size of the aquarium is the shape and proportions of the tank. A long, shallow tank will hold more fish than a short deep tank, even if they have exactly the same amount of water in each.

The reason for this is that the oxygen content of the water depends on how easily it can be supplied. The only place this can happen is where the air meets the water, which is at the surface of the tank, so the larger the surface, the more oxygen available. Similarly, the carbon dioxide that the fish exhale has to be expelled from the water, and this also happens at the surface.

So, to work out the capacity of an aquarium, you need to multiply the length of the aquarium by the depth to get the water surface. For instance, if your aquarium is 24in (60cm) long by 12in (30cm) deep, the answer is 288in2 (1800cm2).

The next thing you need to know is how many inches (or centimetres) of fish you can accommodate, and this will depend on the type of fish.

Freshwater Tropical Fish - 12in2 per inch body length
(75cm2 per cm body length)

Freshwater Cold Water Fish - 30in2 per inch body length
(187.5cm2 per cm of body length)

Marine Tropical Fish - 48in2 per inch body length
(300cm2 per cm body length)

So, in our example tank above you could fit:

24 inches (60cm) of Freshwater Tropical Fish
10 inches (25cm) of Freshwater Cold Water Fish
6 inches (15cm) of Marine Tropical Fish

To calculate the number of inches (or centimetres) of your fish, measure from the mouth to the start of the tail, and don't forget that the fish you see in the shops are normally juveniles and are not fully grown, you need to allow for the size they will become!

Get this right, and you're well on the way to having a successful aquarium.

Jackie Robinson is a keen hobbyist and has kept tropical fish for many years. See more information about choosing your aquarium, and other useful information about tropical fish at her website http://www.JustTropicalFish.com

3 Important Tips for Taking Care of Your Tropical Fish

If you are one of the millions of Americans with a tropical fish aquarium or pond then chances are you are looking for ways to make sure your fish enjoy a long, healthy life. For the most part, tropical fish are easy to take care of and require very little additional care outside the basics. However, there are a few things you should know that can dramatically extend the lifespan of your tropical fish, no matter if they enjoy a small 3-gallon fishbowl or a 1,000-gallon aquarium.

* The most important thing for freshwater fish is that you keep their habitat clean. Under normal circumstances, a filter will do the job just well. However, there are times when it can seem as though the tank or pond gets filled with algae or waste faster than you can keep it clean. This is often caused by a filtration device that is not sized correctly for the capacity of the tank. In most situations, you want your filter to completely clean the water every 4-6 hours. This represents the equivalent of up to 4 complete cycles of the water in a 24-hour period.

While you are checking out filters at your local store, be sure to also look into slugs and other creatures that can co-exist with your tropical fish and help clear out the algae. This is especially important in outdoor ponds or tanks where algae tend to grow faster due to direct exposure to sunlight. They are relatively cheap and do a great job that otherwise would be a manual task for you to complete!

* Next, let's talk about food. Now, you and I, well we tend to eat a lot - we are a society that loves our food! However, the same isn't the same for most tropical fish. In fact, in normal circumstances most varieties of tropical fish only need to be fed once or twice a week. The most common cause of death in household fish is over-feeding. Keep in mind that if you keep your fish in an outdoor pond that you may need to adjust the feeding schedule as the fish will also obtain food from nature - bugs and other flying insects that may make their way into the pond.

* Finally, keep in mind that most fish enjoy a warm environment. If you live in a cold climate you should make sure that your tank or pond is equipped with a heating device so that during colder weather you can keep it at a steady temperature. The ideal temperature will vary for your particular variety of fish, but rarely should you let the temperature of the water dip below 75 degrees in most circumstances.

The Author, Graham Wardle, offers tips and advice about the hobby of keeping fish both indoors and outside at http://beta-tropical-and-pond-fish-news.blogspot.com and also at http://tropicalpondandfreshwaterfishnews.blogspot.com

What Type of Fish Tank Supplies Do I Need?

A large factor to the proper maintaining of your fish tank is the amount of the right kind of supplies you have on hand. Many of these vary according to what kind of fish tank you have, but some of them are common in all tanks.

Replacement filter cartridges are one of the most common needed of these supplies. If you have a fish tank and what to keep the fish in it healthy, you will need to change your filter cartridge often. This may lead to you running out of cartridges in a moment of need. You would be advised to always have two or three replacements available to you whenever you need them.

Another key to keeping you fish healthy and happy, is to keep their food constant and steady. This may require you to stock up on the food that your fish are used to. Food companies are constantly changing their products, and it is best for fish to keep one food source. If you are able to find a fish tank supply store that has your food at a good price, you may be advised to buy a couple of them. This should help you in keeping your fish on a normal diet in case the food company decides to eliminate the product.

For the proper cleaning of the water in your fish tank, you need to keep a good supply of chemical cleaners on hand. These cleaners are available at most pet stores, and do a great job in keeping the water clear and healthy. They simply dissolve into the water and the chemicals rid the tank of harmful waste and debris. These chemicals should always be on hand and at your access whenever you have the need to clean your fish tank.

If you are looking to maintain your fish tank and wondering what fish tank supplies you need, keep these simple instructions in mind. They will help you greatly in your quest and ensure your fish are healthy and happy.

For more information about Fish Tank Supply, feel free to visit us at: http://www.fish-tanks-land.com/article-9-Fish-Tank-Supply.html

Freshwater Aquarium Fish Are Good Choice for Beginners

If you have come to the conclusion that you would like to set up a tropical fish aquarium for the enjoyment of yourself and your family, then you are probably in need of some directions in how to get started. If you have never had an aquarium before, then it is recommended to start out with freshwater aquarium fish because they are easier to care for.

Freshwater aquarium fish, as opposed to their bright and flashy cousins of the saltwater variety, can be a good experience for people who have never cared for fish before. Saltwater aquarium tanks can be quite challenging to set up and properly maintain. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that those new to fish keeping, look first at starting with freshwater fish. After you have been able to master the challenges of keeping freshwater fish alive and their aquarium in good order, at that point you might want to broaden your fish keeping horizons and branch out into the saltwater aquarium realm.

Ultimately, it does not matter what kind of aquarium or tank that you choose for your freshwater aquarium fish, as far as care and maintenance is concerned. However, if you cannot keep to a regular, weekly schedule of cleaning and maintaining the tank, then perhaps you should not even bother setting up an aquarium.

In addition, you will also need to monitor your tropical fish tank on a daily basis. You need to be sure that the water is always properly in balance for your freshwater aquarium fish and that the correct and comfortable temperature is constantly maintained. The other daily task that you must remember to perform is to make sure that your fish receive the proper amount and type of food as needed.

After you have determined that you will be able to keep up with the regular required maintenance of freshwater aquarium fish, then you can start deciding on what kind of fish you want to include in your tropical aquarium. The tropical fish tank that you choose must be large enough so that it can properly accommodate the number and types of fish that you plan to purchase. The overcrowding of a tropical fish tank can be a deadly mistake because it can cause polluted tank water and can lead to diseased fish. Before making your final decision, make sure you ask how large the selected fish will be at maturity, as size can vary a great deal depending on the species. A newbie to fish keeping might want to start with a 10 to 20-gallon tropical fish tank and fill it with the smaller and heartier freshwater fish varieties.

In order to maintain a healthy environment for your freshwater aquarium fish, you will also need to have a quality water filtration system, a reliable heater and some nice aquarium decorations and accessories. When setting up your freshwater tropical aquarium, be sure to choose a location in the house where light and temperature can be controlled so that it remains constant. And, remember that once your tropical fish tank is set up and filled, it will be very heavy, so be sure that it is on solid footing with flooring that can handle the load.

Mike LaVallee is the webmaster of Tropical Aquarium Care a website for Aquarium Enthusiasts including Aquarium Lighting Here you will find articles, advice and resources on many tropical aquarium topics.

How Hard is it to Set Up a Tropical Fish Tank?

This will greatly depend on the amount of knowledge you have on the subject. If you are not that knowledgeable, you may want to research the project before beginning. The process is basically simple, but if done wrong, your fish will pay the price.

The first thing required, is the purchase of the proper elements to keep your tropical fish tank working properly. The most important thing you will need is a tank heater. Since the fish you will keep are used to swimming in warmer water, you will need to keep your tank at that temperature. A good heater will allow the fish to swim as if they were in their own local water, resulting in a better overall tropical fish tank.

A filter is another key feature to the installation of a tropical fish tank. The filter should be large enough to handle the size of your tank. The filter is the main source of keeping the water clean and clear to better keep your fish healthy. The lack of a filter or an improper filter could lead to green water and alga deposits on your tank. This is not the desired effect of any tank and should be avoided.

The stand for your tropical fish tank will add emphasis to the tank. It can be bought or built to add style to what has been known to be an eyesore of a room. The stand must be strong enough to handle the weight of your tank and the water it will hold. Make certain that the stand can handle your specific tank or the result could be costly.

Setting up the proper tropical fish tank is not a difficult process. If you give yourself the proper tools needed, you should have no trouble. The heater, filter and stand all play a pivotal role in keeping a tropical fish tank. They are all necessary and should not be left out of the process. They will allow you to enjoy your tropical fish tank to the fullest.

For more information about Tropical Fish Tanks, feel free to visit us at: http://www.fish-tanks-land.com/article-5-Tropical-Fish-Tanks.html