Which plants can you get for your Tropical fish tank?

All those tropical fish tank owners, who have tropical fish, want to have good plants for it too. Plants keep the environment of the tank balanced and also provide hiding places for the fish. There are two types of plants available for the purpose – Cutting and floating plants. You can know about some of these plants from this article.

Rotala is a cutting plant that has giant red leaves. It needs bright light to photosynthesize and grow. The suitable temperature for this plant is 22 – 28 degrees Celsius. The plant also needs a pH of 5. It grows till the time the plant has leaves that grow on the surface.

Another cutting plant is Giant Hydrophilla. It is also known as Indian Water Star. It has broad leaves that help in providing shelter to the fish. It also forms a great spawning site. It needs intense light and hard water to grow. It can survive well in the temperature range of 20 – 28 degrees and a pH of 5 – 7 is very suitable for these plants. This plant grows quickly and requires regular trimming.

The Butterfly Fern is one of the floating plants. It is also named as Eared Watermoss. It is not a high maintenance plant. The bubble nesters use the Butterfly Fern as their nest. This plant also shelters the fry. Floating plants can block sunlight for fish and other plants. Therefore, you need to trim them regularly.

Java Moss is another of the famous floating plants. The plant gets attached to driftwood, roots, and rocks. There are no other requirements for this plant. It requires low light to grow. The temperature range of 21 – 24 degrees is quite favorable for the plant. However, if the temperature goes up to 32 degrees, even then it does not harm the plant. If you have just kept one of the Java Moss in your tropical fish tank then you will need to tie it to a rock. Later it can form its own attachment sites. This plant also provides spawning sites. It is important that you keep the plant free from algae.

All such plants will make your tropical fish tank stand out and will be a treat to watch.

tropical fish tank

What are the symptoms of Diseases of fish in Tropical Freshwater Fish Tanks - Fin and Tail Rot

Symptoms

Fin and Tail Rot is an infection of fish in tropical fish tanks caused by a group of bacteria called Cytophaga, which affect fish which have long, soft fins. The symptoms include:

• The tail and fins start looking ragged as if they are 'bitten’ or a 'shredded'. These lesions are discolored White/Grey with an edging of red. They can form into orange/yellow colored ulcers.
• The fish loses appetite.
• At an advanced stage, large milky patches appear on the fins and a good amount of tissue gets damaged.
• You will see rapid respiration with excessive amounts of mucous in the gills. The lips of the fish may become swollen. If the disease is not treated, it might rot the entire fin and start to grow on the fish's body.

Causes and Prevention

The diagnosis of the infection is highly necessary. Bacteria cannot be a cause of it because they exist in all tropical fish tanks. Therefore, chances are that stress or any other poor conditions might have started the infection and it is necessary to remove them first.

This disease is generally introduced into the tank by new fish which have harmful bacteria in them. So it is essential that you put the new fish in a separate tank to kill the harmful bacteria which they might expel through feces. You should also take special care when acclimatizing the fish because if it is not properly done, the fish might get stressed. It is important that you select the combination of fish which live peacefully with each other. If the fish are not friendly then they may bully each other and this can involve fin and tail nipping. These wounds provide breeding sites for the harmful bacteria. Do not add too many fish. Make sure that the tank is not overcrowded. This will make the fish comfortable in the tropical fish tank.

Whenever you clean the tank, check that your filter and other equipment is in working condition. Also, keep testing for the constant chemistry of water. Replace 15% of the water every week with fresh water. You should also remove and wash the filter regularly.

tropical fish tank

What ornaments can you put in your Aquarium for Fish

Many who live in apartments want pets even in that small place. However, there aren’t many pets that we can have because of the rules and regulations applied. There is a god alternative to larger pets and that is to keep fish. An aquarium for fish with several beautiful ornaments and decorative stuff seems like a good idea. The ornaments can be as colorful as you want it to be. How can the ornaments be chosen? This article will tell you about all this.

While you choose for some suitable ornament, do try to avoid plastic or limestone ones. These objects increase the acidity of water and change the pH value thus altering the water chemistry. In that case you won’t be able to have required water chemistry required by the fish. Limestone changes the pH of neutral water to a higher value and this can be harmful for the fish. You also have to bear in mind that things like cockleshell and coral are not good for the fish health.

If you are worried about your water quality then you can carry out a test for limestone presence. What you have to do is to place a drop of vinegar on the surface of the ornament, if bubbles start appearing on the surface, this means that the ornament has limestone in it and you have to avoid putting it in your aquarium.

Instead of that you can use granite made ornaments to place in the aquarium. You may also use granite as your aquarium’s substrate. You can also make use of live plants in your aquarium for fish. Live plants provide a very good hiding place to your fish. They also help in improving the overall ecosystem of the aquarium by providing food and oxygen to the fish. However, you will have to take much care of these plants as they require some proper cleaning and pruning also.

You must take care to carefully clean any new objects that you want to place in the aquarium for fish. First of all, wash the ornament with warm water and then, if possible, keep the ornament placed in warm water for a few days. In this way, you’ll be able to easily get rid of any paint or dye present on the surface of the ornament.

You should try to keep your aquarium for fish as clean as possible because, this is the most important and the most necessary part of this hobby. This also ensures good health of your precious fish.

aquarium for fish

5 Tips on designing an aquarium for fish

You need to design a proper aquarium for fish. You should aim to provide them with the environment as close to nature as possible as the fish are more comfortable in their natural environment. In this article you will find tips about how to keep your aquarium as natural as possible.

Tip 1: You should study about the natural habitats of the fish in your aquarium. Then you can use those points to care for the needs of the fish. The pet shop owner can help you in this matter too.

Tip 2: You can get natural or artificial decorations for your aquarium for fish. A great variety of statues, pots, rocks are available for this purpose. Keep in mind that objects made of limestone can increase the alkalinity of the water which can harm the fish. So, test for any limestone beforehand.

Tip 3: Maintenance is key point that you should never overlook. Choose the objects that you can easily care for. Artificial decorations require comparatively less care. You should always prevent algae formation on your decorations.

Tip 4: Themed aquariums are easier to look after because you are always following one theme and get all the things according to that. Some examples for themes are sand castle, sunken pirate ship etc.

Tip 5: you can make a draft of things that you would like to pit in your aquarium for fish. You can make a plan for these. Before filling the aquarium with water, you can put all the objects in the empty aquarium to see if everything fits in place.

Following these tips will lead you to a well thought out aquarium for fish. You can either put the decorations and other things first or then introduce the fish or the other way round too. Whatever you choose, you will surely have a brilliant looking aquarium.

aquarium for fish

What can spoil your freshwater fish aquarium?

Keeping the freshwater fish aquarium is the best thing you can ever do. This is a very simple and interesting hobby that can keep you happy. There are a few things that can spoil your excellent fish aquarium. It is very important to keep your tank clean and maintain it neatly like that. Here, in this article, I will discuss three main problems that lead to your fish’s death and spoil your beautiful tank. You may read through this article and identify the possible threats to your fish. Also see how you can avoid these problems from harming your freshwater fish aquarium.

Ammonia poisoning:

Ammonia poisoning occurs when the ammonia levels, in the water, cross the safe level. Ammonia levels can possibly rise when

·         A new fish tank has been set up by you

·         Any of the mechanical filter fails to work

·         the colony of good bacteria die due to fish medication that you provided.

·         there are any kind of changes in tank’s water chemistry.

The symptoms for ammonia poisoning, in your tank, are as follows:

·         The fish’s gills start turning purple or red. Also, if they develop red streaks on their body,

·         Fish, that normally swim in lower portion of tank, go to the surface to take in air,

·         All the fish become lethargic,

·         Fish start losing their appetite,

·         the fish lie at the bottom of the tank

This can be treated by decreasing the water pH to 7.0, i.e neutral, or lower than this. Try to replace one-fourth or about half of the tank water in your freshwater fish aquarium. Discontinue the fish feed. If it’s not possible then reduce the food quantities that you provide your fish. You may also use some helpful chemicals that will not harm your fish and will help in bringing the ammonia down to safe mark.

Nitrate poisoning:

This is also sometimes referred to as the ‘brown blood disease’. This disease follows the ammonia poisoning. This limits and inhibits the fish’s blood’s ability to carry oxygen to different parts of body. Symptoms for nitrate poisoning are:

·         The fish develop tan or brown gills,

·         There is a rapid gill movement,

·         The fish become lifeless and lousy,

·         The fish go to surface to get oxygen or to breathe

You can get rid of this nitrate poisoning by changing all the water in your freshwater fish aquarium and then adding salts to the water.

You so need to clean your tank regularly, religiously and diligently. Only this way you’ll be able to keep these harmful things away from your fish and also the plants in your freshwater fish aquarium.

freshwater fish aquariums

Freshwater Fish Aquarium Decorations

If you have an aquarium, then you must always be looking for objects which enhance its beauty. Objects which are used for the decoration of your freshwater fish aquarium serve many purposes. They not only beautify your aquarium but also provide hiding places for your fish when they need a moment of solitude. The decorations can be natural like rocks or artificial like statues, ruins etc.

There are many different types of decorations available such as live rocks, fake rocks, fake wood, fake plants etc. Organic decorations require a lot of care as compared to the manufactured ones. This is because manufactured decorations are easier to clean.

Manufactured decorations are expensive than organic ones so you can get organic decorations too. These do look better but they have negative points too. They can alter the pH of the water. Also, if you are using rocks as decorations, they should not have sharp edges as it would harm the fish as they swim close to the rocks.

Other than these there are hundreds of decorations available for your freshwater fish aquarium. These live decorations look pretty good too but the problem with them is that they are very expensive and need a lot of your time for their maintenance. It is also possible that the fish will eat them up.

When you actually visit a shop, you will find quite a few objects which can be used as objects of decoration. They will have varying prices too. You will see that the manufactured decorations have a wider range and their prices will also be lesser than the organic objects. You should choose the object that fulfills your requirements. You should not buy very large pieces which cover a lot of space. The decorations wil add a new dimension to your freshwater fish aquarium.

freshwater fish aquariums

Why Home Aquarium is better to keep than any Pet

Aquariums have been in vogue since some time in the coastal areas. They have been a source of joy and luxury for those interested in keeping fish and taking care of them. A lot of famous hotels and restaurants around the world have also kept and maintained aquariums. Though, the concept of home aquariums is not very new, still it was believed previously that home aquariums are difficult to maintain. However, now, this is a hobby that is both famous and affordable.

Home aquariums make your home colorful and full of life. The kids and adults are attracted towards the fish and their movements in the fish tank. Fish have been known to have a therapeutic and healing effect on people. That is the reason they are kept in hospitals near patients. Many people keep home aquariums as they believe it to keep them relaxed and joyful.

You can keep a home aquarium for your kids’ pleasure. If your kids want a pet and you cannot afford to keep one because of time constraint, then you can go for a home aquarium. Home aquariums are easier to maintain than many other pets like dogs and cats. You simply need a good routine with the fish tank so that you don’t neglect the needs of the fish. Home aquariums can be a great source of entertainment and learning for your kids. Unlike a cat or a dog, fish do not require regular visits to a vet for vaccination purposes too.

With new TV channels and video games, the children have become somewhat sluggish. You can keep your kids busy with a home aquarium. Your children can play around and learn to take care of their fish. This is a health activity for you and your children as it instills responsibility and the idea to take care of the animals in nature.

home aquariums