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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...
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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 b...
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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...
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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...
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How to choose healthy fish

It's sad but true - not every fish is in perfect health. Here's how to pick the best of the bunch Here's How: Look at the top and sides of the tanks. If most are encrusted with residue, look for another shop entirely. Look for clear water. If it's discolored, avoid that tank. If the water in most tanks is discolored, look for another shop. Scan a half dozen tanks to see if any fish are sick or have died. If you see more than one sick or dead fish, find another shop. Avoid tanks with decaying plants, as the water chemistry is questionable. Do not buy fish that just arrived in the shop. They are stressed from travel, and might be carrying disease. Avoid fish with cloudy eyes, torn or clamped fins, and spots or sores on their body. Avoid fish that are sluggish or appear to be shivering. Look at all the fish in the tank. If any appear sick, don't buy a fish from that tank. Choose an active, alert fish. Take him home and enjoy your new pet. Tips...
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Which Fish Tank Filter is Right For My Aquarium?

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To begin to understand which fish tank filter would be right for your aquarium, it is important to look at how the different kinds of filtration currently offered by various fish tank filter systems and what this means for your aquarium. Chemical Fi ltration - Chemical filtration works by processing the water through a substance such as carbon which removes fish excrement and dissolved minerals. Phosphates, nitrites, nitrates and ammonia as well as various other chemicals can be effectively sand safely removed by chemical filtration. Biological Filtration - Biological filtration works by bringing a kind of bacteria known by the name of "nitrofiers". These bacteria basically work by breaking down ammonia and nitrite, both of which in large enough quantities prove fatally harmful to fish, into nitrates. Nitrates can then be removed with the aid of chemical filtration or by simply changing the water. Regardless of which fish tank filter you may choose for your aquarium...
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Live Aquarium Plants - Background Plants

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In an aquarium, background plants refer to those plants that are normally placed at the rear of the aquarium. These aquarium plants are usually taller plants with longer stems or leaves. They are placed at the rear of the aquarium for mainly two reasons. Firstly, they enhance the appearance of the aquarium background scene. Secondly, they he lp to conceal unsightly items such as filter tubes and heaters at the rear of the fish tank. Sometimes, these aquarium plants are placed at the front corners of the fish tank to the further enhance the overall appearance. Some common background plants are described below. Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana) Cabomba caroliniana is a fine-feathered plant which is light green in colour. This aquarium plant looks stunning when planted in groups of three or more. It grows fast and lives well in bright lighti ng. It can grow up to a maximum height of about 50cm. Cabomba caroliniana is one of the most common species available and fairly easy to keep. An advanta...
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