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Showing posts from December, 2009

Breeding Guppies for dummies

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Guppies rarely need any encouragement to breed in the aquarium, but if you want to produce high-quality guppies it is a good idea to devote some time and energy to the process of breeding guppies. By carefully controlling the breeding process instead of simply allowing your fish to breed randomly, you can develop guppies with a much higher quality than what you would normally find in pet shops. Start out with high quality fish While the Guppy in your local fish store might be an excellent pet , chances of finding high quality guppies in ordinary pet shops are usually very slim. It is therefore advisable to contact a breeder and purchase high quality fish of the specific color and/or fin strain that you wish to breed. Purchasing from a reputable breeder is usually more expensive, but you will get a much better genetic material to work with. The breeding aquarium If you want to breed guppies, you should give them at least a five gallon aquarium. A fi

Is plants necessary in aquariums

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Planted aquariums are fun! They offer a whole new dimension to the fish keeping experience. With freshwater aquarium aquascaping you can create an individual, one-of-a- kind, aquarium design. You will also be providing a natural balance to the aquarium and all sorts of benefits for the tank's inhabitants. Why Start a Planted Aquarium?    Perhaps the most exciting aspect of keeping plants in your aquarium is the addition of a natural decor. Aquarium plants are very pleasing to look at and they offer hours of enjoyment for the hobbyist. With freshwater aquarium aquascaping you create a uniquely designed aquarium.    For the fish and other tank inhabitants, aquarium plants provide many benefits. They create a comfortable 'homey' environment, they offer hiding places for fish, and they can serve as food source for a variety of aquatic animals. Vital Functions of Aquarium Plants:      Having plants in aquariums is one of the most beneficial things you can do

How to clean aquarium gravel

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A clean tank ensures optimum health for your fish, and provides them with a safe environment in which to swim and grow. One of the most important parts of cleaning out a fish tank is the cleaning of the gravel. Because food and waste tends to sink to the bottom of the tank, it becomes trapped beneath the gravel. Proper cleaning of your tank's gravel is essential to the health of your fish, and should be done approximately every two weeks. What you need for this: A container for holding your fish during the cleaning process Fish net Plastic gravel cleaner tool with a hose attached Bleach Large bucket Before beginning the cleaning process, you will need to remove any fish from your tank. Prepare a container to hold your fish by removing some of the water from your main tank and placing into a bucket or other container. Using a fish net, gently remove your fish from their current tank, and place them into the temporary holding container. After draining

Is Gravel Necessary?

Most people assume the gravel, or substrate, is only there to make their aquarium more attractive. If that is the case, is it a necessity or not? Not an absolute requirement, but there are many reasons why it's recommended. Biological Filtration Perhaps the most important function that gravel serves is to provide a home for beneficial bacteria. Those bacterial colonies are necessary to eliminate waste produced in the aquarium. If the bacteria don't have a comfy gravel bed to live in they will find other places, but may not grow in sufficient quantities to keep the aquarium safe for your fish. If the tank is left with a bare bottom, it will be necessary to change the water more often in the aquarium to keep harmful wastes from building up. In the event the tank is heavily stocked, even frequent water changes may not be enough to keep ammonia and nitrites at bay. Fish Habitat Gravel of the appropriate type (i.e.: not too bold and glaring) can cr