Saltwater Aquarium Set Up

A marine fish tank, also known as a saltwater fish tank or aquarium is a fun and rewarding hobby. What makes a saltwater fish tank so exciting and rewarding as compared to freshwater fish tanks is that the variety of fish and plants are much more robust. There are more species of fish and plant life that you can choose from all in a variety of exciting colors, shapes, and sizes. Of course, the beauty of these fish and plant life do require more of a time and money commitment then there freshwater fish friends. In this article, we will discuss some tips that will help with your saltwater aquarium set up.

One of the first things that you will want to do before you get started is some research in order to find out what types of fish and or plant life that you would like to have. You can go online, to your local aquarium or fish store, your local library, etc to conduct your research. When making your fish and plant selections make sure that, the fish and plant life that you choose are compatible. The last thing you want to do is select fish that will eat each other or that cannot live in the same conditions as the other fish and plants that you choose.

After you have chosen, the fish and plants that you want to inhabit your marine fish tank you should choose a proper tank for them to live in. There are a variety of options, styles, and sizes available on the market today. Make sure to choose a fish tank that is appropriate in size for the number of fish you intend to put in the tank. You do not want to add too many fish to the same tank as it will likely result in the death of your fish. You will also need to purchase whatever additional equipment you may need in order to run your aquarium. Be sure to consult with an aquarist or conduct your own research in order to determine what equipment you will need for the fish and plants you have chosen.

The final step in your saltwater aquarium set up is preparing your new marine fish tank with saltwater. After you have made the saltwater mixture, you will need to let the water circulate in the new tank for a minimum of thirty days before you begin to add fish. Once you add fish to your tank you will need to maintain the water to ensure the chemicals are at the appropriate levels and clean the tank about once week on the outside and change out 25 percent of the tanks water every thirty days or so.

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Benefits of a Freshwater Aquarium

Having a home freshwater aquarium is one of the most enjoyable activities on the planet. If you have ever seen a aquarium, whether it be large or small, you were probably drawn immediately to the movement of the fish. There is just something about an aquarium that draws young and old to watch colorful fish swim around in their own little water world.

Water building
In the word, aqua-rium, "aqua" (from the Latin) means water and "rium" means building. A "water building" is, in fact, a very true literal description of an aquarium.

Whys of fishkeeping
People have a home freshwater aquarium for many reasons. The number one reason is probably because fish are fun to watch and it relaxes you at the same time. They are also a way to bring nature into the home. And,in this instance, a home freshwater aquarium can serve as a educational tool to help us understand how life works and to recognize the beauty and wonder of the fish themselves. The more understanding we have of the natural world, the more we value and understand human life and all of creation.

Having a home freshwater aquarium is hobby that can be enjoyed by people of any economic level. As you learn more about caring for fish, It is possible to upgrade to larger and larger aquariums with more and more fish. But, if you can't afford a 200-gallon aquarium, a one- or two-gallon bowl with a couple of fish can still be just as enjoyable to watch.

The great thing about fish is that you don't have to instantly meet their needs in the same way you do with other pets. For instance, you don't have to walk them or put up with fish chewing your couch or other treasured belongs. And, when you go on vacation, a home freshwater aquarium can be left for quite a long time with no maintenance at all. If you do have to be gone for a few weeks, it is much easier to ask a friend to feed the fish than to take care of your dog and cat.

Sit back and relax
A home freshwater aquarium has many health benefits. In fact, there is research going back almost thirty years that proves watching the fish in an aquarium reduces stress and lowers blood pressure. One of the reasons you see so many aquariums in the offices of doctors and dentists is because studies have proven that watching the fish in an aquarium significantly reduces the experience of pain as much as hypnosis. Watching a video or DVD of an aquarium has exactly the same effect.

Alzheimer's and aquariums
Further benefits of aquariums can be found in nursing homes. Senior citizens with Alzheimer's disease have shown many health improvements from the addition of an aquarium to a dining room or rec room. These seniors ate more, plus there was an overall reduction in stress levels, resulting in less aggression.

Aquarium history
Aquariums are not new to the twentieth or twenty-first century. In fact, in China and Egypt, evidence shows that fish were kept in bowls and revered thousands of years ago. Back then goldfish had the most popularity. People started breeding goldfish and by the mid-1800s, big wrought-iron aquariums filled with goldfish were found across Europe. Aquariums gained popularity in the United States at the turn of the century and into the 1920s, the time of the first World War.

Since that time, technology has obviously changed and there now are no limits to what you can do in terms of constructing large and small aquariums with just about every kind of fish you can imagine.

Absolutely the biggest aquarium
Whether you have a large or small home freshwater aquarium, you will undoubtedly reap the benefits of watching fish, with reduced stress and better overall health. Just do a little research on freshwater fish and in no time you could have a thriving aquarium population.

For those of you who think big, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is the largest aquarium in the world. If you want to be astounded by nature, this is the place to go. This aquarium has eight million gallons of water and the biggest collection of fish and other aquatic animals anywhere. They have whale sharks, and the shark area alone has 6.3 million gallons of water.

The Georgia Aquarium cost $250 million dollars to build and is now a 320 million dollar facility with a $13 million improvement project. The aquarium opened debt-free because it was a gift to the people of Atlanta and the people of Georgia from Bernie and Billi Marcus. Mr. Marcus was the co-founder of The Home Depot chain of stores.

In the first two years, over six million people visited the Georgia Aquarium. If you love fish and you ever have a chance to get to Atlanta, this aquarium is a must-see. In the meantime, you can't go wrong with any size home freshwater aquarium. Just sit back and relax, and enjoy your fish.

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Saltwater Fish Guide - Setting Up the Aquarium

If you are interested in starting your own saltwater fish aquarium, then the first thing you need to do is to set up the aquarium. This might sound easy, but there is a lot more to it than simply buying a tank, sticking in a few plants and adding water. Saltwater fish are obviously used to certain water temperatures, pH levels and need various elements in order for them to survive. Keeping a aquarium thriving and happy is a difficult task, but just because you are a beginner, doesn't mean that you cannot learn the ropes! Read this saltwater fish guide for a few helpful tips on how to set up your aquarium.

Before you head off to the pet store to purchase your new aquarium, you should take a list of some of the items you will need to set up your tank and these include: an aquarium, a photo background (optional), live sand or crushed coral, live rock, hydrometer or a refractometer, aquarium filter, multiple power heads, heater, protein skimmer, saltwater test kit, fish food, fish net, glass scrubber, aquarium thermometer, power strip, brush, rubber gloves.

This might seem like a lot of equipment for a fish tank, but a saltwater aquarium is a big responsibility and involves time and cost. This means that you should only consider beginning a saltwater aquarium if you are dedicated, hardworking and know you will be able to put in the time, care and money that a saltwater aquarium requires.

Before setting up your aquarium you need to know just what it takes to keep a saltwater tank thriving. You need to feed your fish every day, once a week you will have to change the water and test water quality and the cost can be significant. You should also note that the complete set up of a aquarium can take up to eight weeks to complete before you even think about adding your fish to the tank. But if you are dedicated and are sure that a aquarium is what you want, and then you are ready to begin the task!

Before starting your aquarium set up, you should do a bit of research on the saltwater fish, aquariums and guides that are available on the internet and in book form. There are plenty to choose from and each one will give you helpful tips and hints on how to set up and maintain a saltwater aquarium. Investing in one or two saltwater books is a must!

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Gold Barb Fact Sheet

The Gold Barb, Puntius semifasciolatus is an excellent little aquarium fish. It usually grows to about two inches long (5cm) although I have seen ones nearer 4 inches (10cm). The Gold Barb is from Asia although the actual Gold form does not exist in the wild. Their usual life span is about five years.

Naming Confusion

This fish has many names. Other Common names are Golden Barb, Schubert's Barb, Green Barb, Half Stripped Barb, China Barb, Chinese Half Stripped Barb and Six Banded Barb. Other Scientific names it has been known by include: Barbus semifasciolatus, Pontius Shubertii, Puntius Shubertii, Barbus Shubertii and Capoeta semifasciolatus.

To add to the naming perplexity, the Gold Barb is often confused with: the Golden Barb (Puntius gelius) or the Gold-finned Barb (Puntius sachsii). The species name Shubertii refers to Tom Shubert of Camden, New Jersey, USA who developed the Gold Barb. He did this by selective breeding, presumably from the wild form of Puntius semifasciolatus, in the 1960's. I remember when I was a teenager keeping fish in the 1960's and later that the Gold Barb was called Barbus Shubertii. It was believed by some people to be a distinct species although there was already a suspicion that it was a form of Puntius semifasciolatus. I do not think that Barbus Shubertiiwas ever a valid scientific name.

Water Conditions

The Gold barb thrives in cooler water than most tropical fish. 18 - 24 degrees C (64 - 75 degrees F) is this fish's preferred range although it will certainly survive several degrees above this and a few degrees below. This means that it is suitable for either a tropical aquarium with the temperature set at 24 degrees C (75 degrees F) or an unheated tank in areas that do not get very cold. It is interesting to note that the color change was not the only change that happened when Mr. Shubert was breeding these fish. The Gold form of the species is a little less cold resistant than the wild type.The wild type is sometimes sold as the China Barb and is a good aquarium fish although not as attractively colored as the Gold Barb.

The Gold Barb likes fairly soft, slightly acidic water, but does well over a range of pH. I usually aim for neutral (7). It will tolerate a moderate amount of hardness in the water.

Food

The Gold Barb is an easily fed omnivore. Any good quality fish food is an excellent basis for its diet. As with nearly all fish, and most other animals, the Gold Barb benefits from the occasional change in its diet. Live food like mosquito larvae and Daphnia are gobbled up greedily. Frozen blood worms also make a good treat.

Companions

The Gold Barb is a schooling fish and a minimum of six should be kept. The Gold Barb is not as likely to become a fin nipper as Rosy Barbs and Tiger Barbs, but can be kept with these fish as well as with other slightly aggressive fish like Paraguay Tetras, Buenos Aires Tetras and Colombian Tetras. Because the Gold Barb is peaceful it can also be kept with fish like Pristella Tetras and Rummy Nose Tetras. I would not recommend them as companions for Siamese Fighting Fish, Guppies and Endlers Guppies. Small fish like Neon Tetras and Cardinal Tetras can certainly be kept with smaller Gold Barbs. In all cases, avoid too great a size difference between the fish in your aquarium. Do not put large, aggressive or predatory fish with Gold Barbs.

Breeding

Gold Barbs scatter their eggs over plants, preferably fine leaved ones. The males tend to be brighter in color and when ready to breed will get an orange-red belly. The females are duller in color and plumper. An increase in temperature to about 27 degrees C (80 degrees F) as well as a drop in pH to about 6.5 will tend to encourage them to breed. The spawning can be a little violent, so the tank should be reasonably big. I suggest at least two feet (60cm) long.

The actual spawning will usually take place when the tank starts to get light in the morning. I suggest removing the parents immediately after spawning. The average number of eggs per female is about a hundred although I have known of a female that produced over 400 eggs at one spawning.

An alternative way of breeding them is to have them in as big an aquarium as possible, with large numbers of plants and leave the parents in. Of course you are likely to get less babies surviving, but this is a little closer to what could happen in the wild. A variation on this method is to put them into a well planted pond in the summer months and catch all the fish before it get too cold in the autumn (fall). The eggs are a yellowish color. They should hatch in 2-3 days. The fry will eat fine dry foods, but benefit from suitable sized live foods at all stages.

Pest Fish

As with all captive fish, do release your Gold Barbs into the wild and do not put them in a situation where they could get out.

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The Top Facebook Games of 2010

Facebook games have shown a lot of popularity during the past year. As Facebook adds more games to its already huge entertainment menu you may be wondering which games are the best and most fun to play. This article will give separate game reviews for each of the twenty five top Facebook games for 2010.

To start the Facebook Game reviews, we will begin by taking a look at the number one game on Facebook called FarmVille. FarmVille which is made by Zynga currently has approximately 73,800,000 monthly users and is growing at a steady upward pace. FarmVille is a game in which you can become a farmer. FarmVille allows you to interact with your friends and even become neighbors with them. Basically you will do everything a farmer does while playing FarmVille. Planting, plowing, harvesting and growing a successful farm. Just make sure when playing this game that you harvest your plants on time. Different plants have different times for harvesting and if you don't harvest in time the plants will die. By taking care of your farm you will get more points and go up in level.

Birthday Cards holds the place of second most popular game of 2010. Birthday Cards is made by RockYou and has approximately 32,000,000 users per month. When using the Birthday Cards game you can customize and send free cards, use a birthday calendar, have a personal birthday list and personal reminders. The game also allows you too start your own birthday zoo. This is popular for those who want to remember their friend's birthdays and send cards on Facebook.

The third most popular game on Facebook is Café World which is made by Zynga. Café World has approximately 31,000,000 active users per month. Café world is a fun game to play if you ever dreamed of owning your own restaurant. When playing this game you can cook, bake sauté and make anything you want when playing Café World. When playing Café World you are the cook and the restaurant owner therefore you will have to hire servers. When hiring a server on Café World you can select one of your Facebook friends. Make sure to always have plenty of food ready for your guests.

The fourth most popular game on Facebook is Happy Aquarium which is made by CrowdStar. Happy Aquarium has approximately 27,000,000 active users per month. When playing Happy Aquarium on Facebook you will be able to set up your own fish tank. This can be done by purchasing fish and other creatures. Make sure to always feed your fish when playing Happy Aquarium because the fish can die just like in real life. This is a fun game for those who love wish and wish they had an aquarium in their home. The bad thing about this game is that you can't feed your friends fish if you notice that they are dying.

The fifth most popular game on Facebook is FishVille which is made by Zynga. FishVille has approximately 24,000,000 active users per month. FishVille is very similar to Happy Aquarium in which you set up your own fish tank and care for the fish. When you're done raising your fish you can sell them for coins and points. Like Happy Aquarium you will maintain your fish tank or your poor creatures will die.

The sixth most popular game on Facebook is Mafia Wars which is made by Zynga. Mafia Wars has approximately 24,000,000 active users per month. The goal of playing Mafia Wars is to grow your Mafia family. This can be done by inviting your Facebook friends to join you at Mafia Wars. Another goal is to increase your group's wealth and supply your friends with weapons. What it comes down to is whoever has the biggest and the strongest Mafia is the group that comes out on top.

The seventh most popular game on Facebook is Texas HoldEm Poker which is also made by Zynga. Texas HoldEm Poker for Facebook has approximately 22,000,000 active users per month. When playing Texas HoldEm Poker on Facebook it's pretty much the same as playing the game in life. Before starting get familiar with the rules on how to play Texas HoldEm. Texas HoldEm Poker on Facebook can be played between friends.

The eighth most popular game on Facebook is Pet Society which is made by Playfish; Pet society has approximately 21,000,000 active users per month. Pet Society on Facebook is a very cute game for the animal lover. When playing Pet Society you can decorate your house and go to your friend's house with presents. This is a very cute and fun game.

The ninth most popular game on Facebook is Petville which is made by Zynga. Petville has approximately 17,000,000 active users per month. This is another adorable pet lover's game. When playing this game you will take care of your own pet. When you first become a player of Petville you will be asked to create your own pet. The options are endless and the end result is an adorable virtual pet. The goal is to keep your pet clean, well fed, walked and loved. This in turn will create a happy Petville pet for you. This game is very similar to Playfishes Pet Society and other pet based games.

The tenth most popular game on Facebook is YoVille which is made by Zynga. YoVille has approximately 17,000,000 active users per month. When playing YoVille you will be living a virtual life. This game is pretty similar to the extremely popular Sims game for personal computers. While playing YoVille you will be building a virtual life. When playing you can work, socialize; decorate your house or anything else you may desire. This is a fun game for those who like the escape of a virtual world.

The eleventh most popular game on Facebook is Farm Town which is made by Slashkey. Farm Town has approximately 16,000,000 active users per month. Farm Town is very similar to the Facebook game FarmVille. When playing this game you will take care of your own farm. In order to advance to higher levels you will need to plant and harvest crops, invite friends to join you and hire workers to help you with the farm. This is a fun game for those who want to be farmers but live in the city.

The twelfth most popular game on Facebook is Restaurant City which is made by PlayFish. Restaurant City has approximately 15,000,000 active users per month. Restaurant City is very similar to Café Town. When playing Restaurant City you will own a restaurant, create the menu and hire workers. This is a fun game if you are interested in how a restaurant operates. This is a social game and you will be able to interact with your Facebook friends.

The thirteenth most popular game on Facebook is MindJolt Games which is made by MindJolt. MindJolt games have approximately 14,000,000 active users per month. When playing MindJolt you can play over 500 games. The games are arcade style, puzzles, strategy, and so much more. MindJolt is fun for those who want a little gaming variety.

The fourteenth most popular game on Facebook is Happy Pets which is made by CrowdStar. Happy Pets has approximately 12,000,000 active users per month on Facebook. When playing Happy Pets you will grow your kitten into an adult. The object of the game is to take care of as many cats as you can. How many happy cats can you take care of on Happy Pets? If you end up feeling overwhelmed by having too many pets to care for don't be tempted to sell your cats. Happy Pets doesn't like those who sell their kitties.

The fifteenth most popular game on Facebook is RCK which is made by Zynga. RCK has approximately 11,000,000 active users per month on Facebook. This is a fun Facebook game in which you can create your own rock band. Ask your Facebook friends to join and help you create a rocking band. This is a fun game to play for any music lover.

The sixteenth most popular game on Facebook is Zoo World which is made by RockYou. Zoo World has approximately 10,000,000 active users per month. When playing Zoo World on Facebook you will take care of zoo animals and Zoo World cash. When earning your Zoo World cash you can purchase new zoo animals and place them in your zoo. This is a fun way to pass time if you enjoy zoo animals.

The seventeenth most popular game on Facebook is Bejeweled Blitz which is made by Popcap games. Bejeweled Blitz has approximately 10,000,000 active users per month. Bejeweled Blitz is an easy to master puzzle game. The fun thing about this game is that you can compete with your Facebook friends. Many people will spend hours out of there day playing Bejeweled Blitz.

The eighteenth most popular game on Facebook is Fish World which is made by Tall Tree Games. Fish World has approximately 9,000,000 active users per month. Fish World is very similar to Happy Aquarium. When playing Fish World you will care for your very own virtual fish. Make sure to feed them and take care of them so they stay alive. Selling your Fish World fish are a common part of the game.

The nineteenth most popular game on Facebook is Pillow Fight which is made by Shikha. Pillow Fight has approximately 8,000,000 active users per month. Pillow fight is a fun game if you enjoy hitting your friends with pillows. The pillows come in different materials and your friends can accept being hit by pillows are choose not to. The pillow that you choose to use will be posted on your friends Facebook page.

The twentieth most popular game on Facebook is (Lil) Farm Life which is made by Playdom. (Lil) Farm Life has approximately 6,000,000 active users per month. This is another game that is a lot like FarmVille and Farm Town. When playing this game you will create your own farm with crops, animals and buildings. This is another fun game for those who tire of Farmville and Farm Town.

The Twenty first most popular game on Facebook is Sorority Life which is made by Playdom. Sorority Life has approximately 6,000,000 active users per month. When playing this game you can create your own sorority. When signing up for sorority life you can invite friends to join your sorority. Another feature is that you can dress and accessorize however you want. This is a fun game for those who miss their college sorority lifestyle.

The Twenty second most popular game on Facebook is Island Paradise which is made by Meteor Games. Island Paradise has approximately 6,000,000 active users per month. This is a fun game in which you create your own island paradise. When creating your island you can grow crops, add animals or whatever you want on your island. When playing island paradise you can stop by and visit your friends. This is similar to Farmville but for those who love the island life.

The twenty third most popular game on Facebook is Country Life which is made by Country Life. Country life has approximately 5,000,000 active users per month. This game is another one that is a lot like Farmville. When playing this game you take care of crops, the only difference from Farmville is that you can create your own bread for more profit.

The twenty fourth most popular game on Facebook is Country Story which is made by Playfish. Country Story has approximately 5,000,000 active users per month. This is another farm themed Facebook game. This game is great for those who like FarmVille or Farm Town and want to play something different.

The twenty fifth most popular game on Facebook is Happy Island which is made by CrowdStar. Happy Island has approximately 5,000,000 active users per month. When playing this game you can create your own island. The more attractions you add to your island the more your island will earn. This is similar to Island Paradise but with more buying and selling involved.

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Turtle Pets - Setting Up a Home For Painted Turtles

Painted Turtles can make great turtle pets for the novice owner. These beautiful reptiles earned their name from the red and yellow stripes that decorate their bodies, giving the impression that these attractive patterns have been painted on by hand.

Painted Turtles usually live in ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers, which have squashy, muddy bottoms. They are mostly active between the months of May and October, when the temperature becomes warm enough for mating. When the winter season comes, they will hide themselves deep in the mud at the bottom of a body of water. The mud serves as an insulator during hibernation, helping the painted turtle regulate its temperature and conserve energy, ensuring that it will not freeze to death during the harsh winter period.

Even though painted turtles prefer to spend most of their time in water, these turtles can be frequently seen on rocks or floating logs, basking and enjoying the sun. Some turtles bask by sticking their noses up, breaking the surface of the water while they are afloat.

There is actually a biological reason for this behavior of these turtles. Painted Turtles do not have the capacity to control their body temperature or generate heat on their own. They are dependent on the sun to help them attain sufficient body heat so that they are able to digest food efficiently. Painted turtles must
normally spend two hours daily in the sun for this purpose.

Painted turtles enjoy a vast array of food, but are not able to ingest food unless their mouths are fully submerged in water. Their diet includes tadpoles, insects, small fish, crustaceans, worms, and aquatic vegetation. Turtle pets can also be fed with pre-manufactured turtle food and supplements, although it is always better to prepare a diet that consists of larger, natural food.

Painted Turtle hatchlings need carnivorous meals, with such offerings as insects, worms, and small fish. Adults require the addition of plant material to their diets. Adult painted turtles also require less food than their younger counterparts, eating only a few times a week instead of every day.

When considering housing for your turtle pets, a breeder tank is advised, especially for the hatchlings. However, should you prefer to purchase an aquarium, make sure to calculate a tank size of at least 280 liters (approximately 74 gallons) per turtle. You should also provide an area in which your turtle pets can
bask or dry off. You can allot an area for this by placing manufactured turtle ramps, which are sold in pet stores, into their tank, or by placing large, wide rocks in strategic locations.

Keep a close watch on your turtle pets, so that they do not become exposed to too much sunlight or artificial lighting. This is important because turtles can be killed within minutes if they become overheated.

You should establish and stick to a regular schedule in cleaning the housing of your turtle, as it has the tendency to become messy. Otherwise, algae and bacteria can grow in the housing, which may eventually lead to illness.

Adult Painted Turtles are usually prone to predators like snapping turtles and eagles, while the younger ones are preyed upon by rats, snapping turtles, and bullfrogs. Be sure that the area in which you place your turtle pets is free from these predators! This will ensure that your turtles remain healthy, and can enjoy
their expected lifespan of 20-75 years!

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Live Plants Vs Artificial Plants

So you have a fish tank set up and now you are wondering what type of plants to add to it. In my years of owning and maintaining fish tanks I have had both live and artificial plants. Both types are a wonderful addition to your fish tank, and are essential if you want to breed fish.

Live Plants:

In my experience, I have found that live plants are a great addition to any fish tank. They help with oxygen levels, bio-load, camouflage for babies, color in the tank, and are a great food source for some types of fish. You must be sure that you are aware of any fish you might have that like to eat live plants, so that you can pick plants that they will not eat (unless of course you are buying plants to feed them). When using live plants, I like to have a good variety in my tank, so that all levels of the tank are covered (bottom, middle and top). If you have floating plants, make sure that you have them floating root side down. Briar moss and algae are a great addition to any tank that has small babies.

When you have live plants in a tank, you want to make sure that you have good lighting. If you do not have a fluorescent lighting system, you will not see much growth in your tank. In fact, you might begin to see your plants die. So make sure, that your lighting system is capable of allowing growth for your plants.

You also want to make sure that you have a scrubber (for acrlyic tanks) and a razor blade or something sharp (for glass tanks), so that you can clean the algae growth off the sides of the tank at least once a month. If you put your tank in direct sunlight you can expect to see much more algae growth than a tank that is not in sunlight. Depending on what types of plants you have, the amount of fish in the tank, and the amount of light or sunlight the tank gets you will see variations in the amount of algae growth. For example: I have one tank that is a 55 gallon, it has 24 fish in it and a fairly decent amount of live plants in it. This tank almost always has algae growing on the sides of it. Another tank I have is a 35 gallon, with 10 fish in it and almost the whole tank covered with live plants. This particular tank has not had any algae growth on the sides since I have had it. Both tanks have fluorescent lighting and both get regular feeding (twice daily). So you see, what you have in your tank greatly affects the amount of algae growth you will have.

Artificial Plants:

Artificial plants are also a great addition to any fish tank. What I like about fake plants is that you rarely have to clean the sides of your tank from algae. There are now some types of fake plants that look exactly like live plants. In my 55 gallon tank I used to have a bunch of fake plants, and people would look at it and think they were real (they were silk fake plants).

But one thing that I do not like about fake plants, is that they do not grow. I enjoy seeing my plants that I buy grow and flourish with my fishes, and with artificial plants you will not see that.

Artificial plants, are great if you are not planning on spending alot of money or investing a lot of time to cleaning your tank but they will fade in color (unless plastic), and will often accumulate a lot of algae growth.

As with live plants, when stocking a fish tank with fake plants make sure that you have types of plants for each level in your fish tank. It is often hard to find floating plants though, so you might just stick to plants that stay close to the bottom, and plants that will fill in the middle area of the tank.

Which is better?

I have owned tanks with both live and fake plants in them, and I am partial to both. I think that live plants do look a lot nicer, and make your tank look more natural, but you can also find fake plants that do the same thing, and in some cases look even more real then real plants. So when it comes down to it, you just have to make a decision based on your personal preference. If you are planning on investing a lot of time and money into your tank, then live is the way to go. If you do not want to "break the bank" setting up and maintaining your fish tank, then I would stick with artificial plants. You have to remember that a fish tank is a home to your new pet(s), and like your home it needs to be kept clean. There is a lot of hard work that goes into setting up and maintaining your fish tank, but once you get through the hard part it's very painless and easy to do minor cleanings and adjustments.

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Before You Buy Your Freshwater Tropical Fish

So you've decided on which aquarium to buy, been and purchased it, and set it up in a prominent location in your home - what next? Before you rush out and buy your freshwater tropical fish, you need to make sure you have all the equipment necessary. At the very least you need a lid for the aquarium, lighting, heating and a filtration system. It is very important you buy the correct size for your aquarium.

For instance, the lighting needs to be sufficient to light the entire aquarium, likewise the filter must be able to cope with the amount of water you will have, or it will not work to optimum efficiency. Buying a heater which will have to work hard to keep your aquarium at the correct temperature may be cheaper, but will end up a false economy, as it will soon break. If you are in any doubt as to what to buy to go with your aquarium, check with a reputable aquatic dealer.

You will now need to decorate your aquarium. For this you need gravel, and by this I mean special gravel you buy from an aquatic dealer, the quality is important. You also need a lot of it, because you need to cover the base of the aquarium by at least 2-3 inches (5-7.5cm). This will allow the plants to root properly, and if you have an under-gravel filtration system you will need this much to cover the filter.

To complete the decoration you will need some plants, either real or artificial, and you may want to consider some bogwood, which looks attractive in an aquarium, and as it has been treated it is suitable. Do not add shells or coral, as these can hurt your fish, and can also change the balance of the water, as well as be sharp and may hurt the fish. Aquatic dealers also sell other artificial decorations that you may want to purchase. Ensure that whatever you do you give your fish some hiding places.

Next, purchase a net, a bucket, a gravel cleaner and a glass cleaner - these are essential tools of the trade, and will be used often. I would also recommend buying de-chlorinator - tap water may be great for people, but it was not made for tropical fish. All the chemicals which are put in the water are not good for freshwater tropical fish, so the water will either need to be left standing for a couple of days, and be subjected to strong aeration, or have a de-chlorinator added to it.

Finally, purchase some fish food, so that when you bring your new freshwater tropical fish home you have something to feed them.

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Responsible Care for Freshwater Fish Aquarium

Have you ever wanted to have a pet that is something unique, never clutters and messes around in your house, or not that much expensive? Why try freshwater aquarium fishes? It takes a lot of work sometimes especially when changing or filling water on the tank, but it is a gratifying task. It just takes a bit of adjusting and getting used to with this kind of hobby, but due to its relaxing effect as expert say, many people tend to forget this tedious tasks whenever they stare at the fish as they swim lazily.

Some people find taking care of fishes as a pet difficult. The reason behind this maybe is that they lack familiarity or they were not given the right information on the proper ways on taking care of the aquarium as well as the fishes inside, but the truth is, it is not that much difficult at all.

There are several steps to be considered in order to become successful on taking care of freshwater fishes. First step is to have all the equipments to be used on the aquarium or fish tank. One is the filtration equipment, which is responsible for keeping and maintaining the cleanliness and freshness of the water on the tank and you need an air pump to keep the water on the tank aerated and to produce oxygen for the fish or plants inside the tank.

Decorations such as gravel, sand, and plants that can be plastic or real ones, depending on your choice, are great ideas as well. There are also some decorations nowadays made of plastic such as a fortress, vessel, shells and other fancy garlands and some aquarium backgrounds, which are commonly underwater views. Lights also give a very desirable effect on the enhancement of color in the aquarium and gives real plants inside chlorophyll for them to grow. However, beware of putting different decorations inside the tank because it may just pollute the water or just muddle the water inside. Always remember that fishes needs space for them to swim.

There must also be a cover on the aquarium to protect dust or other materials going into the tank. A stand for the aquarium also plays a vital role in keeping the balance of the tank. Other cleaning materials is also important such as a net, chlorine remover, heater for keeping the right temperature of the water and most importantly, fish food.

Some of the best advices is to be careful in feeding the fish because over feeding of fish may result to harm. There are also some people who put too many fishes on their aquarium, do not forget that some fish fights and it might cause inadequate supply of oxygen for the fish and real plants inside the tank if there are too many fishes on the tank.

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How to Start a Saltwater Aquarium - Important Tips That Are Often Overlooked on New Marine Aquariums

Most people who want to bring beauty into their home often turn to saltwater aquariums. The color an movement of marine fish is hard to beat and when done correctly a saltwater fish tank is truly stunning. However most people are not sure how to start a saltwater aquarium so it has long term success.

How To Start a Saltwater Aquarium That Will Last

The first thing you need to do is select a spot for your tank. Make sure that it is not hit by direct sunlight as this can increase algae growth. make sure it is away from drafty windows or doors because this can cause temperature swings. You should also make sure that it will have a sturdy surface to sit on.

Never set a aquarium on thick carpet where it could easily tip over. Saltwater weights almost 10 lbs per gallon and the weight of the tank and other items can easily push a 55 gallon tank over 650 lbs, this is weight that can hurt or injure if it should fall one some one. If you must put it on carpeted area trim the carpet around the tank so it can sit on the wood sub floor.

After you know where your tank is going to go you will want to put the biggest tank you can fit into the area that you can afford. A larger tank is more stable and will give you more fish options. However if this is your first marine aquarium you may want to hold it under 125 gallons.

The next step is to research and select the types of marine fish you want to keep in your saltwater aquarium. This is the step that people often do after their tanks is set up. But if you do it before you will be able to select equipment for the fish you want and this will give you the best set up possible.

Pre-planning for fish will allow you to identify any problems species or potential aggressive fish. The last thing you want is to put a aggressive fish into a tank full of peaceful marine aquarium fish, the results could be devastating.

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