Tropical
Fish – Aquariums and Health
1.
Soluble chemicals
1.1
Water ions
2.
Acidity
2.1
Alkaline minerals (Bases)
12.2
Acidic minerals (Acids)
3.
Hardness
3.1
Buffering
What
do you need first??
Salt
Lighting
Flow
How
many are needed??
Mechanical
Filtration
Chemical
Filtration
Live
Rock
Eco
System Rock
Filtration
Deep
Sand Beds
Berlin
System
Jaubert
Style
Cleanup
Crew
Sumps
When
things go wrong
Disease.
Velvet/rust
(Amyloodinium ocellatum)
Lateral
line disease
Osmotic
shock.
Hoods
and Tank Tops
Locating
the Tank
Choosing
Equipment
Filters
work in three ways:
Eheim
Filter - Parts
FAQ
The
Nitrogen Cycle.
The
Nitrogen Cycle itself:
Tank/Fish
ratio
Starting
Up With Aquatic Plants
Java
Fern (Microsorium pteropus):
Hygrophillia
polsperma:
Vallisneria
spiralis:
Diseases
Table
Species
Guide
Family:
Cichlidae.
Breeding
Harlequins
Guide
To Breeding Angelfish
Breeding
Behaviour
Tank
Set Up
Spawning
Hatching
Raising
The Fry
Guppy
FIREMOUTH
CICHLID
Kribensis
Tiger
Barbs
The
Bristlenose Catfish.
The
Convict Cichlid
The
Blue Dolphin
The
Red Top Zebra
Lamprologus
Leleupi
LABIDOCHROMIS
CAERULEUS
AQUARIUM
REQUIREMENTS:
My
First Tanganyikan set-up
Cyprinids
Killifishes
Health
care
A
Healthy Fish
The good thing about starting up a tropical freshwater tank
is that its the best system for a beginner, Portsmouth Tropical Fish because
its relatively cheap and the fish are quite hardy. Saltwater fish are very
expensive, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and you will need a lot of knowlegde and technique.
When you have bought a tank you must remember these points:
Wash
the gravel: Put it in a bowl, Portsmouth Tropical Fish place it under a running tap and keep stirring
the gravel until the water that flows from it becomes clean. Really get in
there and nead that gravel, Portsmouth Tropical Fish get it as clean as possible.
Decorating material: Wash the rocks as well. If you have a background secure it firmly.
Clean the tank: Clean the tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish check for leaks, Portsmouth Tropical Fish then empty it.
Everything is correct: before you fill in the tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish check
that everything is right - filter, Portsmouth Tropical Fish heater, Portsmouth Tropical Fish light, Portsmouth Tropical Fish thermostat.
Knowledge: I bought several books when things started going
wrong, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and I recommend that you look extensively around other Tropical Fish
websites as well.
Now that you all ready to jump on the bandwagon, Portsmouth Tropical Fish these steps
should help you:
Add the gravel: Make sure that theres enough, Portsmouth Tropical Fish because the
plants will want to root. If you want an underground filter, Portsmouth Tropical Fish use at least a
depth of 5 cm at the front and rising to double at the back.
Add the water half way: Now you can add any plants easily. Best to put the taller ones at the back, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but its all in the eye of
the beholder. Make sure that the plants have enough gravel to root, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and
cutting might be needed. Don't disturb the gravel, Portsmouth Tropical Fish use
a plate or an object to weaken its force. It is probably best if you use a
hose.
Install the filter: Attach it so no plants or rocks are in
the way. Attach heater and thermostat firmly.
Add the rocks: If you use a large rock, Portsmouth Tropical Fish make sure that it is
firmly bedded in so that it can never topple other.
Add the water all the way: Watch out as well, Portsmouth Tropical Fish because if you
fill it right to the brim, Portsmouth Tropical Fish then later you want to change the arrangement and
put your hands in - whoops!
Important!! Condition the water: Before adding any fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you
must get rid of all the chlorine from the water. Chlorine/Chloramine can damage
the fish , Portsmouth Tropical Fish and there are a lot of "tap water
conditioners" on the market, Portsmouth Tropical Fish so buy one NOW!!
Turn it on: Set up you lighting system if you have one, Portsmouth Tropical Fish You should get a noise and a flow of bubbles when you turn
the filter on, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and then to a more steady flow. Before adding any fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish let the
filter run for 5-7 days, Portsmouth Tropical Fish so any last chlorine can escape. Also, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you may notice
that there maybe a lot of bubbles clinging to the glass - this is because tap
water is pressurised, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and as cold water is warmed and left in the aquarium, Portsmouth Tropical Fish gasses are released. Let these dissipate, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as they will disappear when aerated. Its not a bad idea to add a couple of flakes without the
fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish to start off the Nitrogen Cycle before your fish arrive. Even better, Portsmouth Tropical Fish take some water from an established aquarium, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and plonk it in. If you can
"nick" some media (gravel, Portsmouth Tropical Fish decor, Portsmouth Tropical Fish plants)
will all be helpful. There's no fixed limit there, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as this will get the cycle
going. If there are sick fish in it, Portsmouth Tropical Fish obviously try to find different water.
Also, Portsmouth Tropical Fish "running in" a new aquarium in an established tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish will
colonise it with beneficial bacteria. There is always the option of a
"fishless cycle", Portsmouth Tropical Fish where ammonia is added to the aquarium. Make sure
that the temperature is correct, Portsmouth Tropical Fish at about 24C.
Add the fish!!: Add only a couple
of fish to start off with. Use the Equalising method, Portsmouth Tropical Fish by floating the fish
using their bag. Leave them there for 15 - 20 minutes. Then release them.
OK, Portsmouth Tropical Fish we'll start at the top. Everything you're dealing with
in a tank of water is to do with ions. Ions are either atoms or molecules of a
chemical substance which have an imbalance of charge so that they're either
positive or negative - how an individual 'species' (general term for an atom or
molecule) behaves depends on what it's made of. Most chemical compounds split
into ions in water and this is how they become dissolved - Intact species can't
exist in solution but ions can quite happily interact with water molecules due
to their charge.
As well as the chemicals you put in, Portsmouth Tropical Fish water also does the
same thing. At any one time, Portsmouth Tropical Fish a small proportion of a body of water will be
split into H+ ions (positively charged hydrogen) and OH- ions (negatively
charged oxygen with a hydrogen atom attached to it). These are what allow other
chemicals to dissolve. Which leads us on to...
First, Portsmouth Tropical Fish let's dispel a myth. There isn't really any such
thing as alkalinity. The term alkalinity is an academic crutch for describing a
substance that is less acidic than pure water. Everything should really be
considered in terms of acidity.
Acidity is quite simply the proportion of H+ ions in a
solution. Its common notation, Portsmouth Tropical Fish pH, Portsmouth Tropical Fish means just that -
proportion of H. Water has a pH of 7, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which corresponds to 10-7 ppm, Portsmouth Tropical Fish or parts
per million of H+ ions. This assumes that the water is at a fixed
temperature and pressure and is completely pure - pH can vary enormously with
even tiny changes. Even distilled water on standing in air will become slightly
acidic as carbon dioxide dissolves into it.
Some, Portsmouth Tropical Fish or indeed most compounds when they dissolve in water
will change its pH. What happens is that the positive ions of the compound will
interact with the OH-
and H+ ions from the water and so change the dynamic between H2O species and
its ions. The upshot is that the body of water will
produce more or less of its own ions to restore the balance.
Yes, Portsmouth Tropical Fish I know, Portsmouth Tropical Fish I know - I complain about something then adopt
it myself in the same article. Still, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it's a convenient reference to materials
which increase pH. This sounds like an odd contradiction as when pH increases, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the acidity decreases. In simple terms, Portsmouth Tropical Fish alkaline minerals, Portsmouth Tropical Fish or Basic minerals, Portsmouth Tropical Fish remove H+ ions from solution. The common ones, Portsmouth Tropical Fish carbonates, Portsmouth Tropical Fish react with the
hydrogen ions to produce carbon dioxide, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which is released, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and water, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which
returns to the system. As this happens continually it lowers the proportion of
H+ ions in the solution and hence, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the pH rises - the solution is less acidic
than water.
And correspondingly, Portsmouth Tropical Fish we have acids. Acids release H+ ions
into a solution. A good example of this is the nitrogen cycle, Portsmouth Tropical Fish explained in
detail in the wonderful article by ParrotFishRule. Basically, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the chemical
processes that convert the nitrogenous wastes release H+ ions due to the fact
that they use oxygen ions from the water - leaving the rest of the molecule -
H+ ions - behind.
Hardness is a rather complicated area dealing with the
quantities of different types of ions dissolved in the water. Of the two types, Portsmouth Tropical Fish there is General Hardness (GH), Portsmouth Tropical Fish which refers to the total quantities of ions
dissolved in the water and Carbonate Hardness (KH - the standard adopted is
German, Portsmouth Tropical Fish in which 'carbonate' is spelt with a K...) which deals with the
proportion of Hydrogencarbonate ions, Portsmouth Tropical Fish HCO3-. General Hardness is also referred
to as Permanent hardness because it's very difficult to change. For the purposes
of aquaria, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it's best left alone as the only safe and reliable method of
changing it is 'cutting' with pure water. Carbonate hardness however is
extremely important...
Carbonate hardness is important because it dictates your
tank's Buffering Capacity. Buffering capacity is the ability of a given body of
water to resist changes in pH. Because the hydrogencarbonate ions in the water
are a base, Portsmouth Tropical Fish they can react with H+ ions and remove them from the system. With a
given value of carbonate hardness, Portsmouth Tropical Fish your water will have a fixed pH, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but how
much that pH will change when new chemicals are introduced depends on your
buffering capacity. If the amount of new H+ ions released by the chemical is
small compared to the amount of carbonate hardness, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the pH will remain
relatively constant, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which is what you want. If the carbonate hardness is low, Portsmouth Tropical Fish a small amount of new acid will make a large change to the body's pH.
In general, Portsmouth Tropical Fish carbonate hardness is produced by your water
coming from an area rich in chalk and/or limestone, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which releases Carbonate
ions into your water. Such water will normally have a high GH and KH, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and will
also tend to have a higher pH. Areas which take their water from reservoirs
rather than groundwater, Portsmouth Tropical Fish or are on clay or peaty soils, Portsmouth Tropical Fish will tend to have a
lower GH and KH, Portsmouth Tropical Fish though in this case GH may not change much while KH is reduced
by reacting with the acids in the soils. This water will also tend to have a
low pH and a low buffering capacity.
Thats easy - its information, Portsmouth Tropical Fish get informed before a drop of
water hits a tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish decide what you want to keep, Portsmouth Tropical Fish is it going to be fish only? or maybe coral only or possibly a full reef as this will
decide what equipment/lighting you should be aiming for..
A marine tank cycles in different ways to a freshwater tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish we predominantly use live rock ( which is rock taken
from the ocean) and live sand to help not only cycle the tank but also process
waste products on a constant basis, Portsmouth Tropical Fish if the tank is stocked with approx 2lbs of
live rock per gallon it should be able to cycle out most nitrate that the tank
produces if the tank is stocked at a reasonable level.. plus
a marine tank will go through many different cycles, Portsmouth Tropical Fish they usually come as
ammonia-nitrite-nitrate, Portsmouth Tropical Fish diatoms-algae-hard algae( corraline algae).
This last stage of diatoms to algae can take some 6 months, Portsmouth Tropical Fish especially if water conditions are bad or cheap sand is used as the free
scilicates in cheap sand will feed the diatom bloom for many months..likewise with the algae stages, Portsmouth Tropical Fish if water quality is less
than perfect then algae will be a big problem possible for years until the
source of the food is discovered.
Lastly we have hard algae, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this is desirable and a sign of a
healthy tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish hard algae comes in a range of colours from pink to red and
purple etc
F ish come in all different shapes and sizes, Portsmouth Tropical Fish nearly all
marine fish are classed as delicate, Portsmouth Tropical Fish obviously there are a few that are hardier
than others but they cannot and will not suffer bad water conditions or cycling
tanks, Portsmouth Tropical Fish therefore just chucking in a few damsels and thinking that they will do
ok isn't usually the case, Portsmouth Tropical Fish that's why we use live rock as a cycling agent.
T he general rule for stocking is about 1" of fish per
3 gallons for fish only systems and 1" of fish per 5 gallons of water for
reef systems, Portsmouth Tropical Fish obviously this isn't a rule that's hard and fast, Portsmouth Tropical Fish if you have a
thin bodied fish that's 3" long vs a fat fishthats also 3" long the
fatter fish is going to produce more waste, Portsmouth Tropical Fish so a bit of common sense must be
used when selecting fish or deciding on stocking levels.
once again a big section of your
tank will be influenced by the salt you use, Portsmouth Tropical Fish there are many brands available, Portsmouth Tropical Fish i
have tried some of the cheaper ones as well as the more expensive ones and
there is very little difference in the top end of salts, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but a big difference
in the budget end.
I would personally recommend either kent
instant ocean
http://www.petdiscounters.com/small_animal/reptile/hermit/io_salt.jpg
or
the best i have tried is reef crystals
obviously as with most things in
life if you buy in bulk it will be cheaper, Portsmouth Tropical Fish i have found it better to go for
the 55lb drums of salt and save about 40% on the cost of i bought it in small
bags.
Mixing salt is done differently by everyone, Portsmouth Tropical Fish i like to mix
my salt in a spare tank/waterdrum as when first mixed the salt is very caustic, Portsmouth Tropical Fish if you are just starting out and the tank is TOTALLY EMPTY then yes you may mix
the salt you need in the tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish get the temp of the water to 26c ( or the
hydrometer wont work properly) then add salt till you hit about 1.015, Portsmouth Tropical Fish leave
this mix for 24-36 hours as different compounds in the salt mix at different
rates, Portsmouth Tropical Fish after 36 hours all the compounds should have mixed well and you can
retest the sg.. normally it will stay the same but it may have increased in
that time as all the salt mixes into the water, Portsmouth Tropical Fish then slowly add salt til you
read 1.022 and stop there, Portsmouth Tropical Fish wait another few days with a powerhead circulating
the water, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the ph will be quite high when the salt is first mixed, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and it also
can give a false reading for ammonia when just mixed as well so don't be
alarmed if you notice this.
The tank should now be ready for rock and live sand.
mixing salt for water changes..
a little forward planning is
usually needed for waterchanges on a saltwater tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish most keepers know when a
water change is due and will plan a day or 2 ahead making ro water and pre
mixing to prevent problems.
S alt mix for water changes are usually done in spare
buckets/rubbermaid tubs or any food grade plastic containers, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the salt is mixed
in exactly the same way as the first time you did it, Portsmouth Tropical Fish get it to temp then add
the salt, Portsmouth Tropical Fish check the salinity of the new water against the older water that's in
the tank to check for compatibility, Portsmouth Tropical Fish once they are identical leave the new
mixed water for a day or 2 and keep a eye on its ph, Portsmouth Tropical Fish once the ph of the new
mixed water is stable its safe to use( usually 48 hours, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but maybe more for
amounts of 50 gallons and above)
Your lighting will determine what you can keep in the tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and opposite what you want to keep will determine what lights you buy, Portsmouth Tropical Fish light is
not only used to view the fish etc, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but its also used as a food source for
corals, Portsmouth Tropical Fish so the lights must be powerful enough to supply the demand of what you
wish to keep.
normal output tubes (n.o) will suffice for fish only
systems, Portsmouth Tropical Fish soft corals will demand either a small bank of several n.o tubes or a
few high output t5's as these deliver more light per watt than a n.o tube will
do, Portsmouth Tropical Fish hard corals will demand either a large bank of t5's or the high end of
lighting which is halide lighting.
tanks are calculated on depth for the amount of light needed
to penetrate the water, Portsmouth Tropical Fish for every 100w of halide light supplied the penetration
is approx 12" so a 15w light tube is really only going to penetrate about
3-4" as far as supplying lighting for food goes.
the spectrum of lighting is also important, Portsmouth Tropical Fish freshwater tanks
use anything up to 6500 kelvins, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but a marine tank will suffer massive algae
and look washed out with such a yellow light, Portsmouth Tropical Fish marine tubes are generally 10,000
kelvin's in temp which give a crisp but not yellow light, Portsmouth Tropical Fish for a deeper look to
the tank then 14.000k or 20.000k tubes/halides are used( or a combination of
all), Portsmouth Tropical Fish this isn't just for appearance the bluer end of the spectrum is used for
corals to convert sugar into food more than the whiter end, Portsmouth Tropical Fish therefore if you do
use 6500k tubes then you must supplement the tank with 50.000k dedicated blue
tubes.
Other equipment needed are the same as any other fish tanks, Portsmouth Tropical Fish a good stand, Portsmouth Tropical Fish heaters and testing equipment for salt water especially
concentrating on high end ph, Portsmouth Tropical Fish nitrite, Portsmouth Tropical Fish nitrate, Portsmouth Tropical Fish ammonia are essential, Portsmouth Tropical Fish after
that calcium, Portsmouth Tropical Fish magnesium and iodine aren't so essential but good to know where
you are at...
Flow is mainly produced by means of power heads, Portsmouth Tropical Fish reef tanks
have quite a bit of flow to not only stimulate the action of waves but the
added flow also helps with water quality, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as the more water is pushed by and
through the porous live rock the faster it will be able to process waste
products.
this is a standard type of power
head -
this all really depends on what type of tank you have, Portsmouth Tropical Fish a
fish only tank will have substantially less flow than a reef tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish especially
if there is less rock in the tank as any structure will dissipate flow quite
considerably so additional pumps may be needed to stop any dead spots from
forming within the tank.
as a general rule of thumb its good
to try to cycle the whole tank's gallonage every 10 mins through power heads..sometimes this will need to be increased depending on the
structure and layout of the tank..
Marine tanks are usually very well filtered, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this is usually
done by skimmers but some keepers like to use some form of mechanical
filtration, Portsmouth Tropical Fish any type of filter can be used but its good to remember that any
floss or filter material should be rinsed in TAP WATER every 3 or 4 days to
kill the bacteria thats living on them, Portsmouth Tropical Fish otherwise they will become biologically
active and start to produce nitrates in massive amounts, Portsmouth Tropical Fish with obvious results..
T his form of filtration is used more often than any other, Portsmouth Tropical Fish products such as rowaphos or carbon are used to add a
sparkle to the water and to remove impurities and phosphorus from the water.
products like rowaphos can be kept
inthe water continuously and need only replacing when algae returns or traces
of phosphorus are detected in tests.
carbon must not be used all the time but in blocks of 2
weeks every few months, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this is to stop it from releasing any impurities it has
absorbed, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and to stop it from releasing phosphorus as most carbon is produced
from coconut husks which has a very high amount of algae producing phosphorus..
1 what is it ??
2 what does it do ??
well now for the bit that is totally different to freshwater
systems, Portsmouth Tropical Fish a freshwater tank can only cycle ammo-nitrite-nitrate with water
changes used for removal of the end stage, Portsmouth Tropical Fish a marine tank filtered with live
rock will cycle ammo-nitrite-nitrate-nitrogen gas+consumption due to anaerobic
bacteria in the cores of the rock, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this alone stands a marine tank alone from
all others, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the ability to cycle nitrate is a massive boon and is something
that most fish keepers will stock their tanks with rock for alone irrespective
of all of the other benefits.
Live rock is large hunks of rock that have been taken from
the ocean, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it is not only full of billions of bacteria spores, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but also home to
thousands of small critters/hermits/sponges and tube worms..in
fact the list of life on them is massive, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this is why we pay so much for hunks
of rock that look dead.
there re 2 types of live rock available to you, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the first is
uncured, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this has just been removed from the ocean and contains alot of life
but also quite a bit of dead bacteria and critters that didn't make the flight
over to this county, Portsmouth Tropical Fish so it is going to be quite raw and produce a bit of ammonia
when added to the tank..
cured rock is the second type
available and as the name says it has had time to sit in vats of water and get
rid of the ammonia that its going to produce, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this rock is a little more
expensive simply cos that lfs has had to keep it for longer and spend cash on
salt etc for water changes..
if you use sufficient amounts of live rock ( up to 2lbs per uk gallon) then mechanical filtration isn't
really going to be needed, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the rock will do it for you as long as there is
sufficient flow in the tank and it is cured to a high degree, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the bigger the
pieces of rock the better its ability to denitrify, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but sadly the more
expensive it is as well...
geographical types of live rock..
This is florida base rock -
its quite dense and liiks alot like
concrete, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this rock is too dense to be useful for denitrification as the water
cannot penetrate but its useful for building bases and saving cash if all live
rock isn't wanted or if your stocking a very large system.
Fiji
rock is one of the most common and best rocks to get, Portsmouth Tropical Fish its
full of nooks and crannies where life can emerge and is great for filtration -
it can come usually as small
cannonball shapes but sometimes is available as thinner flat pieces, Portsmouth Tropical Fish great for
making caves.
This is the new craze, Portsmouth Tropical Fish when eco warriors complained about
the amount of rock used in the aquatic trade thats taken directly from the
ocean, Portsmouth Tropical Fish a new trade developed, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and that was to make your own rock, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this is then
shaped using a concrete base and cured for many months in varge vats. its available in some outlets but isn't considered live rock
unless its been allowed to sit in a active system for some time, Portsmouth Tropical Fish useful again
to use as a base rock -
This is one of the biggest parts of the tank to get right, Portsmouth Tropical Fish filtration in a marine tank should make the water so clean that you could drink
it( apart from the salt--dont try this at home lol) in a freshwater tank there
is a definite cycle of ammonia-nitrite-nitrate, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but in a marine tank we are
able to go another step and process nitrate to its gas form, Portsmouth Tropical Fish by using anaerobic
bacteria and understanding what conditions this bacteria need to thrive will
result in a virtually nitrate free system and its completely natural.
There are many styles of filtration, Portsmouth Tropical Fish here are the most
common.
under gravel filtration.
Almost all of us are familiar with u/g plates etc and we all
know how they work, Portsmouth Tropical Fish i used one in my freshwater tank for 6 years with no
problems, Portsmouth Tropical Fish in a marine tank they do work but require more maintenance than
normal..which due to human nature is sometimes missed, Portsmouth Tropical Fish water quality starts to spiral downwards and as we all know only bad things
happen quickly.
Reverse flow u/g filters work a little better and tend not
to gunk up too much, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the sand bed must still be kept well stirred to stop
clumping etc for the normal amm-nitri-nitrate cycle the u/g filter does well, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but sadly its not capable of cycling the nitrate due to the high prescence of
oxygen.
i wont write much on dsb's as i
have a excellent article that explains it 1000 times better than i could ever
cover.
just to say that they are a very
efficient way to cycle nitrate and to some level phosphate, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and release trace
elements back into the system through passive diffusion.
check here for more info.
Berlin System
The berlin system is what most people tent to opt for, Portsmouth Tropical Fish its
the use of a skimmer and live rock to perform most if not all of the tanks
filtration needs, Portsmouth Tropical Fish a concentration of 1-2lbs of live rock is needed, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and a good
skimmer, Portsmouth Tropical Fish after that there is no real need to purchase expensive external
filters.
The live rock will cycle a tank and carry out all stages of
filtration, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the only thing that's really needed to make the berlin system work
well is flow, Portsmouth Tropical Fish water needs to be pushed through the rocks in order for the
bacteria to have access to it, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it also lends itself to be combined with a deep
sand bed for total coverage from all angles.
This author uses the berlin method on his tank and i have
had a problem with nitrate..the problem is im needing
to add it!! my algae/coral zooanthelle require about
2ppm nitrate to live and function so i have started to add more liquid food
simply for the nitrate content...
The jaubert style of filtration uses a thick layer of live
sand on top of a plenum to provide a small void under the sand, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this does a
roughly similar job as the deep sand bed, Portsmouth Tropical Fish encouraging anoxic conditions to be
developed, Portsmouth Tropical Fish anaerobic bacteria flourishes and nitrate is cycled at quite a fast
rate
plenums have sometimes caused a few
raised eyebrows from some of the more experienced keepers, Portsmouth Tropical Fish its low on
maintenance but may need replacing every 8-12 years..i
personally wouldn't ant to rip out a 12 year old reef to repair a plenum... but
others swear by them..
A full excert on the plenum and how to construct on is
located
here
The clean up crew does exactly what it says on the tin. they
are there to eat any waste food and keep the tank clean, Portsmouth Tropical Fish plus they will happily
eat the waste of other larger animals thus removing it from the water column
and minimizing waste a real boon in keeping manual maintenance to a minimum and
eradicating algae blooms that are fed by excessive waste, Portsmouth Tropical Fish they can come in all shapes
and sizes, Portsmouth Tropical Fish from starfish to snails and hermits being the most common, Portsmouth Tropical Fish most
people buy the usual turbo snails etc but also try to look out for the more
unusual like cerith snails and Nassarius Snails, Portsmouth Tropical Fish these little beauties will not
only eat wasted food and detritus, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but they like to burrow into the sand and
are excellent in keeping d.s.b's healthy and well turned over. a real treasure if you can get hold of them.
Hermit crabs are comical with blue legs being a little
better at cleaning up algae than reds but both are equally useful in keeping
the tank maintained and clean, Portsmouth Tropical Fish other than cleaning the front glass every few
weeks there should be no real human intervention, Portsmouth Tropical Fish your cleanup crew will do it
all for you if in sufficient numbers... which leads nicely to clean up crew
stocking, Portsmouth Tropical Fish general rules tend to vary but try to aim for 1 clean up species per
1-3 gallons of water and 1 starfish per 50 gallons or so.
A quick word of warning about mixing snails and hermits, Portsmouth Tropical Fish if
the tank becomes very clean ahd the hermits get hungry they will opt for a nice
snail takeaway so every few weeks feed them with a small piece of meaty food, Portsmouth Tropical Fish such as mussel or lance fish to keep them happy, Portsmouth Tropical Fish plus ask your lfs for a few
empty shells so they wont also kill snails to steal shells as they grow.
A sump is a smaller tank either kept to the side or the
bottom of the main tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it allows a area to put all
of the less attractive equipment such as heaters/skimmers etc etc out of sight, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and also if enclosed in a cabinet it reduces noise.
the main tank usually has to be drilled in the base with
overflow weirs or at the sides/back at the required water line to accept pipes
that will lead to the sump, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the sump itself can be just a box or it can be
partitioned to allow a area for growing algae's to compete for nutrients or if
lighting is sufficient a area that baby corals can be grown on in relative
safety from fish etc.
The main reason for the sump however is it increases the
gallonage of the system, Portsmouth Tropical Fish allowing you to have more fish in the main display
without being overstocked.
a return pump is then used to
return the water to the tank as required
refugiums, Portsmouth Tropical Fish i thought id tack this 1 onto sumps cos that are
somewhat linked, Portsmouth Tropical Fish a refugium is a small area that is safe from fish/inverts etc
that will eat them, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it can be as simple as a box under some small rocks made of
eggcrate, Portsmouth Tropical Fish or as complex as a separate tank full of algae that allows them to
breed and be safe, Portsmouth Tropical Fish they will swim into the tank in a few days and be eaten as
they do, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but their numbers will always be high if well fed, Portsmouth Tropical Fish they are the best
live food available so if space allows a refugium is a excellent idea
Ok this isn't a totally risk free hobby, Portsmouth Tropical Fish things do go awry
and mistakes happen, Portsmouth Tropical Fish short of a tank rupture things usually can be recovered in
time.
some general things that tend to
happen are things like poor water maintenance, Portsmouth Tropical Fish not maintaining equipment or
overfeeding usually are the root cause to much heartache.
water maintenance:
your water is the life of the tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish if its goo then you can almost bet that everything else will also be good, Portsmouth Tropical Fish if
its bad then your in for a rough time, Portsmouth Tropical Fish in a new tank test every 3 days for main
water parameters, Portsmouth Tropical Fish including ammonia, Portsmouth Tropical Fish nitrite, Portsmouth Tropical Fish nitrate, Portsmouth Tropical Fish ph and specific gravity(
s/g).. as the tank ages you can drop ammonia and
nitrite from the list.
Testing the water. most tests can
be done at any time, Portsmouth Tropical Fish ph should be done just before the lights come on and just
before they turn off at the end of the day, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as photosynthesis will raise ph (
also see algae control for methods in controlling ph swings)and knowing what
the tanks swing is can be very useful, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the ph can drop if the tank is becoming
acidic, Portsmouth Tropical Fish fish waste is acid based likewise so is the co2 they produce, Portsmouth Tropical Fish good
surface movement will help these gas off naturally and is a main reason why
tight fitting cover glasses aren't used.
water tests are the backbone to
finding out what may be wrong, Portsmouth Tropical Fish many times people say "i have lost my
fish" and i reply what are your test results? usually the reply is "
umm i don't know" if something looks ill, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the tank looks different, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the
corals or fish are acting strange or not showing that well you test test
test!!!
Algae is a main reason for heartache in the tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it can
plague tanks for many years, Portsmouth Tropical Fish usually if they keeper is using tap water with
residual nitrates or there is phosphate present in the water then algae can
last forever.
Getting rid of algae
Most people overfeed, Portsmouth Tropical Fish resulting in excessive waste and bad
water, Portsmouth Tropical Fish just cutting down on feeding can solve many problems, Portsmouth Tropical Fish incorrect lighting
or bulbs that are a few years old will also feed enormous algae blooms as the
light spectrum shifts to the redder end algae will thrive.
Increase the clean up crew, Portsmouth Tropical Fish make
them scavenge for those leftovers that are missed and improve water quality, Portsmouth Tropical Fish make sure all filters/skimmers are working well, Portsmouth Tropical Fish some may need a clean out or a
rinse in tank water.
manual vacuuming of the substrate
shouldn't be needed, Portsmouth Tropical Fish that's the job of the clean up crew.
Algae blooms in one area of the tank would denote that
something has died in that area, Portsmouth Tropical Fish releasing nutrients into the water and causing
a local bloom, Portsmouth Tropical Fish sadly that the time to start looking under rocks to see what the
unfortunate victim is and remove it if possible.
valonia is a bubble algae that some suffer from ( myself
included) small porcelain crabs will eat it, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but its best not to introduce it
if possible, Portsmouth Tropical Fish if you purchase anything from a lfs that has small green bubbles
of algae on it remove them outside the tank before introduction.
Slime algae. this usually plagues new tanks and new keepers, Portsmouth Tropical Fish its a mat forming red/greed algae that smothers everything in a new tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish usually it will go away as it consumes whatever is feeding it, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but sometimes
its persistent, Portsmouth Tropical Fish 1 golden rule is slime algae hates flow, Portsmouth Tropical Fish if you have it
increase flow to the whole tank as well as the general area, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it will peel off
the substrate in mats and can be easily netted out of the tank once loose. it
is one of the few algae's that is poisonous to both fish and humans, Portsmouth Tropical Fish if you
have been handling cyno or any slime algae wash you hands well afterwards.
All nusciance algae's will go away if whatever is feeding
them disappears, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you can also cut down on light and introduce competition for
those nutrients in the form of macro algae's, Portsmouth Tropical Fish carlurpra is the most common
algae that people use, Portsmouth Tropical Fish usually in the sump( as it can become a pain) a small
light on the sump will be enough to grow this algae and because its such a fast
grower it will soon out compete any other algae for food, Portsmouth Tropical Fish plus it gives the
added benefit that if its lit in the sump at night when the main tank lights
are off it will stabilize the tanks ph balance and stop really bad swings in ph
during the nighttime a double plus!!!
Disease.
White spot (Cryptocaryon irritans)
white spot is one of the most common ailments that will
strike marine fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish in a marine system if the fish cannot be netted and placed
ina hospital tank then its very hard to treat, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as most medications contain
copper which not only is toxic to all inverts it is also absorbed into the rock
and re-released over long periods of time.
One of the best methods i have found to not only treat ich
but also prevent it is the common clove of garlic, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it contains a compound
called Allicin, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this compound produces the smell we all know as garlic, Portsmouth Tropical Fish its
highly antibiotic and will also stimulate feeding in lethargic fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you can
use it by taking 1 clove of garlic and after peeling stab all over with a fork, Portsmouth Tropical Fish let the clove sit with the food in some water for a good hour then remove it
and feed as normal, Portsmouth Tropical Fish or for a more powerful punch take a small piece ( baby
fingernail size) and pound it into a fine pulp, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the more the garilc is minced/liquidized
the more allicin is released in the garlic oils, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this canthen be fed to the
fish in the same way as above but you don't need to remove the small pieces of
garlic, Portsmouth Tropical Fish most fish will eat them with relish. it has
proven to be such a boon that kent now manufacture a product called garlic
extreme which is just a liquidized garlic preparation.
here is a full article on the
treatment of ich using this method
garlic research paper.
This is a not so common parasite that presents itself as a
golden/rusty sheen on the gills and scales of a infected fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish if left
untreated it is usually fatal, Portsmouth Tropical Fish infected fish will either die for no reason or
if seen early they will flick against rocks and also cough to flush water over
their gills.
Treatment includes freshwater dips(
very stressful and can cause ich) or chemical control in a isolated hospital
tank here's a link on this disease VELVET
This problem condition affects certain species of marine
fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and those almost entirely members of the family Acanthuridae, Portsmouth Tropical Fish Surgeon
fish or Tangs. The appearance of the resulting damage from the disease is very
similar to that of the Hole in the Head Disease seen in freshwater fish. But in
Marine fish it will usually start off around the head area, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and progress along
the lateral line of the fish back into the body, Portsmouth Tropical Fish scarring the fish as it
develops. Neglect to feed the necessary elements of the food given to Surgeon
fish is the primary cause of this condition, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and only restoration of an
improved feeding regime will allow it to control, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and repair. The cure for this
condition is not the complete answer, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the feeding
routine must also be addressed as tangs have a very selective stomach and
cannot tolerate algae free environments.
Osmotic shock.
Most fish regulate how "wet" their bodies are
through active osmosis, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this basically means that they have the ability to pump
water in or out of their bodies to match their current conditions, Portsmouth Tropical Fish most oceans
are very similar in levels of salinity, Portsmouth Tropical Fish so normally this isn't a problem.
The problem starts when we as keepers neglect to inform
ourselves of the chemical composition of our tanks, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the salinity, Portsmouth Tropical Fish ph and
hardness all play important roles, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this form of infection usually presents
itself if a fish/invert is placed in a bag at a lfs, Portsmouth Tropical Fish then carefully transported
home, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the keeper then opens the bag and dumps the poor fish into the tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the
difference in ph and salinity between the 2 tanks may not be significant, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but
it usually is enough to make the fish pump out so much internal water (in a
attempt to become more salty)that it dies of dehydration( this would happen if
your salinity was higher than the lfs) or the opposite if the salinity is lower
than the lfs the fish would start to suck in water to become "less
salty" and match its environment, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this usually causes internal
haemmoraging and renal failure resulting in a slow and very painful death.
inverts are especially prone to
osmotic shock due the the hard exoskelleton which means that water takes much
longer to diffuse inside its body.
what can you do to prevent it??
This is the easy part.. try to
match your lfs water parameters if possible, Portsmouth Tropical Fish make your tanks salinity,ph and
hardness as close to theirs as you can to mimise shock, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and always acclimatize well, Portsmouth Tropical Fish float a bag with a new fish in for a few hours, Portsmouth Tropical Fish adding 10mls or so of tank
water to the bag every 10-15mins so the animal/invert/coral slowly becomes used
to the new water chemistry, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this may take a few hours of hassle, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but it reduces
almost all chances of shock, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and stress induced disease like ich.
Right, Portsmouth Tropical Fish so you have decided to get a tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and stumped for
Tropical Freshwater (If you havent decided, Portsmouth Tropical Fish there are also marine and coldwater
forums to give you some ideas on this site). There are over 4000 species of
tropical freshwater fish imported, Portsmouth Tropical Fish from the americas, Portsmouth Tropical Fish africa, Portsmouth Tropical Fish asia
and the australian subcontinent. These raise from the tiny to the colosal, Portsmouth Tropical Fish timid to dangerous, Portsmouth Tropical Fish plain to colourful, Portsmouth Tropical Fish common to super rare, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and everything in
between. This obviously can pose some difficulties in trying to understand and
provide the best conditions. The hobby can be as complicated, Portsmouth Tropical Fish involving and
expensive as you want to make it, Portsmouth Tropical Fish from za single small tank in the corner of
the living room to hundreds of tanks as part of a small business.
Plus it can be quite fun along the way!
Choosing a Tank and Stand
OK, Portsmouth Tropical Fish so your choosing your first
tank. As with everything else in the hobby, Portsmouth Tropical Fish there are lots of choices! Before
commiting, Portsmouth Tropical Fish some things to consider
A) Are there any specific fish you want to keep that may
require a tank of a certain size
B) How much space do you have in the proposed location of
the tank
C) Do you want the tank to form a piece of furniture
D)What are you looking to spend
E) What shape of tank do you like
(generally rectangle, Portsmouth Tropical Fish bow front, Portsmouth Tropical Fish corner, Portsmouth Tropical Fish cube)
Its generally best to get the
biggest tank you can afford and sensibly accomodate, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as these give more stable
conditions, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and allow for more fish. With increasing tank size, Portsmouth Tropical Fish there are
things to consider
A) Bigger tanks cost more to set-up and run
B) They can take more time to maintain
C) Can you physically reach all parts of the tank
D) They are harder to move and transport
E) They weigh more! A Litre of water weighs 1kg, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and
considering the tank and stand etc, Portsmouth Tropical Fish every litre of tank volume probably
accounts for 1.3-1.5kg of weight. Tanks are heavy, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and need a
very stable floor surface. With tanks over 250 litres its worth
considering the strength of the floor
Right, Portsmouth Tropical Fish so you have chosen the tank type and size you want.
There are basically two choices, Portsmouth Tropical Fish glass or acrylic. Acrylic is lighter, Portsmouth Tropical Fish easier
to handle, Portsmouth Tropical Fish stronger, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and can have better optical qualities. It does scratch
easier, Portsmouth Tropical Fish is harder to repair, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and in common sized tanks its
more expensive. In common sized tanks 99% of people go for glass.
You will need something to sit the tank on. For small tanks
(<100L) a sturdy piece of furniture may do it, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but it must be strong and
level. The other alternative is a stand or cabinet. A stand is just that, Portsmouth Tropical Fish a simple frame made of wood or metal to support the tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and are
sold in common sizes (or can be DIY). Cabinets are more pieces of furniture, Portsmouth Tropical Fish often incorperating handy cupboards to hide things in below. Cabinets can be
very expenisve, Portsmouth Tropical Fish far outstripping the cost of the tank
(although DIY is a possibility gain). Its just a case
of weighing up what you want against the cost
What ever you choose to stand the tank on, Portsmouth Tropical Fish a layer of
polystyrene or specialist matting is essential between the tank and what its stood on, Portsmouth Tropical Fish to even out any unevenness in the surface.
Its always worth shopping round, Portsmouth Tropical Fish seeing what different places offer (especially for cabinets), Portsmouth Tropical Fish and comparing
prices. Some bargains can be found on second hand tanks, Portsmouth Tropical Fish buts a case of buyer
beware, Portsmouth Tropical Fish if in doubt dont risk it!
In addition to something to site the tank on, Portsmouth Tropical Fish your probably going to need something to go over the top of
it. Hoods and cover glasses keep fish in, Portsmouth Tropical Fish air bourne chemicals out, Portsmouth Tropical Fish provide
somewhere to put lights (see later sections), Portsmouth Tropical Fish stop water and heat loss, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and
improve the aesthetics of the tank.
Its generally reccomended to have a
cover over the top of the tank itself (such as sliding cover glasses or a drip
tray) and a hood. The first the tank may come with, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the second it almost
certainly wont unless you buy a package. For hoods its worth considering looks, Portsmouth Tropical Fish tank access, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and the suitability for any special future lighting plans.
Once you have your tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish its time to check the location
before setting it up. Some points to consider are:
A) Is it near suitable power outlets? Tanks have a habit of
using a lot of these, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and you always need more
B) Is it out of direct sunlight? Direct sunlight can cause
problems with algea, Portsmouth Tropical Fish viewing and over heating.
C) Weight - is the floor strong enough and level? Checking
with a spirit level might be a good idea, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as stands can be levelled up before
the tanks filled with water
D) Is it in a good viewing position?
E) Is it away from things like washing machines, Portsmouth Tropical Fish or other
equipment that may cause vibration, Portsmouth Tropical Fish noise or airbourne pollution
F)Is it sited where it wont be
knocked or brushed past all the time? This can cause a risk to the tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and
annoy the fish
G) Is it in a area of stable
temperature? Fluctuating temperatures can cause problems with tanks, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and tanks
in very cold areas will cost a fortune to heat
H) Whats its proximity like to sinks and drains for
maintenance - trying to limit bucket carrying, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as this also minimises wet
shouty moments!
Once the tank is set-up, Portsmouth Tropical Fish its best to take 5 minutes to think
it over befoe getting water in it, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as it can be quite difficult to change!
OK, Portsmouth Tropical Fish so far we have a box to keep water in, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and something to
stand it on. In theory fish could live in this, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but not for very long! As we
are going to be maintaining a mini bit of aquatic biotope in our houses, Portsmouth Tropical Fish some
equipment will be needed to keep our fishy friends alive.
This falls into three main catagories:-
heating, Portsmouth Tropical Fish filtration, Portsmouth Tropical Fish lighting (more for us and plants and the fish), Portsmouth Tropical Fish and
"other". There are two main choices, Portsmouth Tropical Fish either select individual bolt on
items from different manufacturers to fullfil your needs, Portsmouth Tropical Fish or buy systemised
tank (such as the common Juwel brand). The second is easier, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but may prove more
expensive, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and cut flexability. Its always worth
shopping around for equipment, Portsmouth Tropical Fish including on line stores as these often have big
selections at good prices.
When choosing equipment, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it helps if you have an idea about
any specialist equirements fish you want may have. If you just going for
community fish and a standard set-up, Portsmouth Tropical Fish then this shouldnt be too difficult.
The first stage in
moving a tank is to plan and be prepared. Work out exactly what you have to
move, Portsmouth Tropical Fish how far (and how long) you have to transport it, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and where it will go at
the other end. If you can work out a tank location before you actually move, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it
saves a lot of messing around and time wasting at the destination. Things such
as availability to water supplies and power points need to be considered. There
is nothing worse than setting a tank up only to realise that you haven’t got
anywhere to plug the filters in!
The next thing to consider is buckets for holding fish and
water. Some people like to bag up fish for a move, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but
personally, Portsmouth Tropical Fish I like to move them in as much water as possible. This allows more
water to be taken to the new location and with a greater volume of water, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the heat loss will be reduced. I would say the best
tool for this is your standard black plastic dustbin (cleaned without
detergents first). Another couple of buckets are also needed for gravel and
plants.
About a week before, Portsmouth Tropical Fish its worth doing a slightly more
thorough than usual gravel clean. This will save on having lots of gunk
floating around when you uproot everything. As usual, Portsmouth Tropical Fish don’t clean all the
gravel, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but maybe 50-70%. It will also allow your filters to compensate for any
loss of bacteria due to having the gravel cleaned.
First stage of the move is to siphon some water into a
smaller (10-15ltr) bucket. Carefully remove all the plants (if you have any)
and put them in this bucket. This is also a good time to remove unwanted snails
where possible. Having no plants will make catching fish way less stressful for
both you and the fish. Once all the plants are in, Portsmouth Tropical Fish a bit more water (till the
bucket is half full) can be added. I then recommend covering the bucket with a
damp cloth or towel, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as this will stop any leaves from drying out and help
prevent spillages. Leave the tank for a little while to allow the filter to
clear any disturbed gunk from the water.
When you ready to move, Portsmouth Tropical Fish siphon some more water into the
dustbin (or similar) until there is enough water to hold the fish in. Internal
filters can be placed in here, Portsmouth Tropical Fish along with a heater stat. If these are fully
covered by the water, Portsmouth Tropical Fish they can be plugged in and turned on, Portsmouth Tropical Fish keeping the water
moving through the filter. Now its time to catch the fish and
place them in this bin too.
Once all the fish are caught, Portsmouth Tropical Fish some more water can be
siphoned off to fill the bin to about ¾ full. Be careful to watch for jumping
fish at this stage. With all the fish in the bin, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and with the filters still
running, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the bin is OK to be covered and left while the rest of the tank is
dismantled. I use a bin bag (or any other sheet plastic) taped tightly over the
top to cover it. This will stop fish jumping out, Portsmouth Tropical Fish keep them in the dark (less
stress) and stop spillages en route.
If more buckets are available, Portsmouth Tropical Fish then more water can be taken
along. Just fill them up and cover them as before. If the tank has a fine
gravel or sand substrate, Portsmouth Tropical Fish I siphon the gravel and more water into another
bucket. If the gravel is too large to be siphoned, Portsmouth Tropical Fish then the gravel can be
removed with a scoop or similar. The gravel bucket can have more water added to
keep any bacteria present wet, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and with more of a chance of surviving.
The tank is now empty and can be cleaned (no detergents!) of
any stubborn algae or dirt.
Now all that needs to be done is to unplug the filter and
heater from the bin with the fish in (leave them in the bin) and the whole
setup is now ready to move.
At the other end, Portsmouth Tropical Fish simply plug the filter and heater back in, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and fill the tank with gravel. Where any water was removed and thrown away, Portsmouth Tropical Fish an
equal amount of warmed dechlorinated fresh water can be added to the tank. I
then like to mix (by adding the fresh to the bin and bin to the fresh) some of
this new tank water and the old water in the bin to ease the transition and any
temperature differences. After both the tank and bin water have been mixed, Portsmouth Tropical Fish add
much of the water from the bin to the tank. The fish can now be transferred
over, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and the filter and heater added and turned on. All the other plants and
décor can then be added.
Other variations:
External filter: This will just have to be turned off at the
last minute and reconnected ASAP at the other end.
UGF: The gravel will need to be kept wet to preserve the
bacteria for the biofilter.
Air powered sponge filters: Can be kept running in the bin
with a battery powered air pump.
Long distance move: A battery powered air pump and stone
would be useful to have running in the bin with the fish.
Filtration - whats the big fuss? Surely, Portsmouth Tropical Fish all you have to do
is install your filter and off it goes? Well, Portsmouth Tropical Fish in
essence that is correct, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but its not quite as simple
as that. You shouldn't need any technical skill to operate a filter, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but it
well help you if you understand how the processes
work.
The purpose of the filter is to remove dirty materials from
the aquarium. With so much crap going through the filter, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it is important to
keep regular maintenance, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as a neglected filter becomes a box of concentrated
dirt through which all the aquarium water is continuosly passed. Also a impeller chamber can become clogged, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and the fan will stop
- hence no water will run. Eeek!! Don't panic just
undo the cover and clean it, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and it will work again smoothly.
Mechanical filtration: Removes suspended materials from the
water.
Chemical filtration: Removes dissolved materials from the
water.
Biological filtration: Uses beneficial bacteria to convert
toxic substances into relatively harmless ones.
Ok, Portsmouth Tropical Fish three ways of filration, Portsmouth Tropical Fish thats
not too bad. And if you want to know a bit more in detail, Portsmouth Tropical Fish read on....
Mechanical filtration: To strain suspended dirt from the
water, Portsmouth Tropical Fish a reasonably tightly packed material is required. This is a man-made
substance like nylon floss or synthetic foam. i would
recommend you to only buy foam designed for aquariums, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as others may be toxic.
Chemical filtration: The best material to remove dissolved
solids is activated carbon. It has a large surface area, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which readily soaks up
dissolved minerals and chemicals, Portsmouth Tropical Fish such as fish pee, Portsmouth Tropical Fish on its surface (that
process is called adsorption - remember this word and its use, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you could
impress you fellow tropical chum and its good to store this info). Also carbon
will adsorb useful substances, Portsmouth Tropical Fish such as medications, Portsmouth Tropical Fish so it must be taken out
when these chemicals are in use. After a peroid of time, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the carbon becomes
ineffect. When this happens it must be replaced.
In the majority of systems, Portsmouth Tropical Fish more than one medium is used so
that mechanical and chemical filtration can occur simultaneously.
Biological filtration: Is the most important, Portsmouth Tropical Fish because it
uses the bacteria to change harmful fish waste products, Portsmouth Tropical Fish ammonia and nitrite, Portsmouth Tropical Fish into a less dangerous compound, Portsmouth Tropical Fish nitrate. Biological filtration requires a
"running in" period while the bacteria establish themselves on the
filter medium. This process takes a few weeks, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and requires ammonia for the
bacteria to eat, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which can be provided by adding one or two hardy, Portsmouth Tropical Fish robust fish
until the nitrite and ammonia levels are stable. Low-maintenance, Portsmouth Tropical Fish in-tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish biological filtration can be used in all aquariums. For more information see
the page about the Nitrogen Cycle
Well, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you might as well know about aeration and the uses of
air pumps...
Aeration: Power filters will do most of the oxygen
enrichment, Portsmouth Tropical Fish just as long there is sufficient agitation of the surface, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and this
will promote the exchange of gasses (Oxygen is absorbed, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and CO2 is
eliminated). With planted tanks, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and there is a small fish population, Portsmouth Tropical Fish even
agitation is kept to the minimum, Portsmouth Tropical Fish to actually keep CO2 in.
Its best that the air stone is used for special reasons, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as
it isn't particularly useful. The air pump itself provides aerotion by
compressed air, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which is electrically driven (well I never). When choosing an
airpump, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it's size needn't be related to the
dimensions of your tank - even the smallest model will provide enough air for a
60 cm long aquarium.
Sorted? You know about aeration and filtration now? Good, Portsmouth Tropical Fish if
you still need info look around my site.
Eheim filters have been around for a very long time now and
have a very good reputation for quality and reliability. Perhaps that sounds
like a sales ploy, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but it is true. Years ago I had what they now call Eheim
Classic filters and they are still selling them.
So now on to the nitty bitty bit, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the
problem solving part, Portsmouth Tropical Fish of cleaning them and priming them. Hopefully some
of this info can be useful for any other fish keeper’s using these excellent
filters.
First of all, Portsmouth Tropical Fish those seals around the top, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and where the
pipes connect, Portsmouth Tropical Fish keep them well coated in ‘Vaseline’.
Next, Portsmouth Tropical Fish when you are cleaning out the impellor make sure that
all the grot is removed from the bottom and inside of the body that the
impellor sits in. This is essential so as to keep the impellor cool and smooth
running.
When cleaning the head of the filter take great care to
clean right down the little hole that is in the surrounding area. It is only
small, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and a lot of people miss this one out. It is there to allow water down
to the bottom of the impeller body to cool it and keep it running free, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but
this hole clogs up in time.
Next is the priming of the filter, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which a lot of people
have trouble with. Assuming that the filter is empty and clean, Portsmouth Tropical Fish make sure that
the outlet pipe is completely free from any water as this will stop the priming
of the filter. (Even if there is water in that bit of pipe that goes into the
tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you know the bit that has the U bend in). Now leave off the outlet pipe
which comes off the filter box and with all taps on (if taps are fitted) give
the outlet a good suck, Portsmouth Tropical Fish (a spare piece of pipe helps with this). Then when you
hear that the water is flowing into the filter box, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you can put the outlet pipe
back on. Depending on the size of the filter you should have plenty of time to
get that pipe back on, Portsmouth Tropical Fish so don’t panic about it.
Another thing that could cause a problem, Portsmouth Tropical Fish is the gunk that builds up in the pipe. When you see that your green pipes are
black inside, Portsmouth Tropical Fish pull them off when doing the next filter clean and pull a long
pipe cleaner through them. Doing this will keep the flow rate
up.
Keeping that Blue filter sponge clean also helps, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as when
this gets clogged it draws air in and makes the filter hiss.
When you have started up your filter there will be, Portsmouth Tropical Fish for a while
a hissing noise from the pump. To clear this, Portsmouth Tropical Fish give it a rock to and fro as this
will allow the air to be released from the filter.
Hope this will help, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as all these things that I have
written, Portsmouth Tropical Fish all work for me and others that I have told about them.
Q. What type of media do I use for a long-term
biological/mechanical filtration?
A. From the bottom of the filter box. Ehfimech, Portsmouth Tropical Fish then Ehfifix Pad, Portsmouth Tropical Fish then Ehfisubstrat and finally Ehfisynth Pad.
Q. Why is it that my filter is not working as well as it did when I first bought it?
A. Most probably likely to be a build up of algae/gunk in
and around the impellor. This must be kept clean at all times, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as it will in
time wear out the bearing shaft. As the bushing gets old, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it loses its grip on
the shaft and allows the shaft to spin with the impellor. When this happens
they both spin simultaneously and cause a reduction in flow.
Q. What is the difference between Biological, Portsmouth Tropical Fish Mechanical and
Filtration?
A. Biological - A build up of toxic nitrogenous wastes is a
natural result of all aquarium inhabitants. In nature the large body of water
is enough to dilute these wastes to be used up by other organisms and then be
converted to a less toxic chemical. In the aquarium however these poisonous
toxins cannot be converted without the use of a powerful biological filtration.
Without this conversion from toxic to less harmful waste the fish will slowly
poison themselves.
If you use Ehfimech, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which is made of hollow ceramic
material and holds back the solid dirt particles (at the same time) it provides
an intensive stream of turbulence in the water and an even flow of water
through all layers in the filter.
Then put the blue coarse filter pad in.
Use Ehfisubstrat in the top basket. This consists of highly
porous sintered glass, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which is used as the main filter medium and has a huge
surface area and allows lots of bacteria to colonise.
Then use the white fine filter pad on top.
Mechanical - This is where the filter works by trapping the
particles of waste as they pass through.
Again we use Ehfimech in the bottom layer to trap the solids
and to allow an even flow of water through out the filter.
Then in the next layer we use Ehfifix, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which is a medium
mechanical filter. This is placed between the Ehfimech on the bottom and any
subsequent biological or chemical filter layers. This traps debris, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which has
passed through the bottom layer and acts as a divider.
On the top we use Ehfisynth, Portsmouth Tropical Fish this is a completely natural
wool, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and will trap any fine particles of dirt. It can come loose or in a pad.
Filtration - Absorptive filtration is a process in which
dissolved substances are captured by solid bodies such as carbon. These
dissolved substances can be harmful to fish. They are generally of chemical
origin such as chlorine in tap water. (Alkaline residues of aquarium medication
and even some dissolved).
With all types of carbon the effectiveness is short lived
and to stop the absorption being washed back into the tank they must be
changed. Also remember that if you are using any medication the carbon must be
removed before any treatment can start, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as the carbon will absorb the
medication.
Recommend Ehfikarbon, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which is a high quality carbon is for short term use, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and is to be used in
freshwater tanks only. You still have to use sponges to trap the waste.
The combination of materials is endless as you could make up
your own if you like, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as long as it does the job of keeping the toxins down and
keeping the water clear, Portsmouth Tropical Fish then that must be OK with us.
Here is a list of Eheim filters recommended to run, Portsmouth Tropical Fish XXXX
size tanks
Recommended filter for XXXX size tank
2006 12 - US Gallons
2008 8 – 16
2010 16 – 42
2012 53
2048 26 – 53
2252 From 53
2003 16 – 26
2211 40
2213 66
2215 92
2217 159
2222 40
2224 66
2226 92
2227 92
2228 158
2229 158
2250 264
2260 396
So, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as these machines are so reliable please don’t just run
them into the ground. Just remember to keep your Eheim filter clean on the
inside, Portsmouth Tropical Fish keep the pipes clean and your Eheim will give you many years of
reliable filtration.
AS I have said at the beginning that the priming of these
filters can be tricky and is one of knack.
First make sure that the filter box is empty of water and
also the outlet pipe is completely empty including the U bend that goes just in
the tank.
Next make sure that the filter tap is turned on at the
outlet pipe and remove the outlet pipe. Put a piece of pipe over the outlet
hole and with the inlet tap turned on give it a good suck. When you here the
water running into the filter box put the outlet pipe back on and clamp it up.
Then when the filter box is full then you can start the pump
giving it a shake now and again to dispel any air that is in the filter box.
Keep those pipes clean, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as this will reduce the flow of
water.
The Nitrogen Cycle.
Break-in period:
When you have just started a biosphere it takes time to
perform, Portsmouth Tropical Fish unfortunately. Water placed in a new aquarium will be changed quite
radically. It takes time for the aquarium to balance, Portsmouth Tropical Fish to be able to remove all
of the waste material (ammonia) to a less toxic substance (Nitrate). New
aquariums generally take about 5 - 7 weeks to able to sustain a full biological
load. Thats why you shouldn't just shout
"Weeehay!" and chuck in tons of fish at once, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it should be a gradual
change.
Fish go to the toilet, Portsmouth Tropical Fish well, Portsmouth Tropical Fish they don't really give a damn
they just drop it anywhere, Portsmouth Tropical Fish so because of that they add a lot of Ammonia. Its
not just fish excrement, Portsmouth Tropical Fish its fish respiration, Portsmouth Tropical Fish excess food, Portsmouth Tropical Fish plant remnants and
even any dead fish that cannot be found. If you had a huge amount of water, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the
ammonia would dissipate quite well, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but where you have a new
aquarium ammonia tends to concentrate. This is a vulnerable time as no fish
will enjoy such high levels, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but some are tough (platys, Portsmouth Tropical Fish barbs) and can
withstand these levels. But your ammonia level is just a stage, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as biological
filtration and beneficial bacteria will reduce it, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but it takes time to do
this.
To remove ammonia altogether would be bloody hard: instead, Portsmouth Tropical Fish we use numerous bacteria that uses ammonia as a food
source. The bacteria strain that is important is Nirosomonas. This strain needs
time to colonise the aquarium, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the desired population doesn't just happen
overnight. This is useful as it absorbs ammonia, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and reduce
it to Nitrite.
Once Nirosomonas have reduced ammonia to nitrite, Portsmouth Tropical Fish beneficial
bacterias isn't finished yet. Nitrite can be reduced further to Nitrate. The
next step is the bacteria strain of Nitrobacter. Nitrobacter takes even more
time to adsorb nitrite, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and in this stage nitrite is prominent and it is another
dangerous time for a fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish even a hardy one. But, Portsmouth Tropical Fish after a while, Portsmouth Tropical Fish nitrite levels
have reduced and the less toxic compound nitrate is left. Although this toxin
is far less dangerous than the earlier two, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you must not let it build up in
your anquarium. Standard water changes are a chore, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but I would recommend you
to do them as this reduces nitrate concentrations, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and your fish will then be more healthy and will appreciate you for it!! (Well, Portsmouth Tropical Fish maybe
not but it can prolong the life of your fish). In technical terms, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the Nitrogen
Cycle process is called Nitrification - the oxidation of nitrogen by bacteria.
This diagram shows the basic Nitrogen cycle in a tropical
freshwater aquarium.
This graph shows how the ammonia
concentration builds to a spike, Portsmouth Tropical Fish then rapidly falls. That is because
Nitrosomonas has taken hold, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and reduces ammonia to Nitrite. Then Nitrobacter
comes along and reduces it further to Nitrate.
These values are just what could happen in an aquarium, Portsmouth Tropical Fish your
values will vary.
Also there is always the option of the Fishless cycle which
will then prevent any fish going through the hazadous experience.
Choosing your fish
It is very important that you buy the correct tank or fish.
For example, Portsmouth Tropical Fish it would be a mistake if 6, Portsmouth Tropical Fish small Angelfish was bought for your
small tank, Portsmouth Tropical Fish when a year later they are all whooping 110 MM !!
You must always think ahead.
To start with, Portsmouth Tropical Fish get a good stock of fish. It does take some
time for your tank and fish to settle down. I choose several Platies, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which are
a very hardy fish. Don't be tempted by the more exotic species at first; you
could be disappointed. Make sure that when you purchase you fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish get a healthy
batch. In my local pet shop, Portsmouth Tropical Fish there is a quarantine tank where the unfortunate
fish are having trouble. Look for those, Portsmouth Tropical Fish because if the dealer does not show a
quarantine tank then it might look dodgy. Also examine the fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and point out
the most healthy fish to the owner. Don't let the assistant
get your a bad fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish make sure that you get the best
fish you can get.
As I have already said, Portsmouth Tropical Fish look for the size of the fish. What
a disappoinment when he becomes too large (I haven't made that mistake YET).
Because when fish are juvenile, Portsmouth Tropical Fish there are all roughly the same size (juvenile
with adults mixed could be misleading) and look around for an adult fish for
certain.
When you have finally bought your fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you must equalise
the water It is very important, Portsmouth Tropical Fish because if the fish
are suddenly introduced to colder temperature it could be disastrous. Be
careful, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and leave the fish in the bag in the tank for 15 - 20 minutes.
When you are thinking about purchasing your fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish watch out
for these points:
Make sure that the fish are top notch material
Never buy a fish from a tank which contains a suspiciously
unhealthy looking one
Don't buy a young fish without looking at the potential size
Use the equalise method
Requirements of the fish
Some fish are picky little souls. Although they are good at
adapting to any enviroment, Portsmouth Tropical Fish its best if you get the right fish for the right
aquarium:
Catfishes & Labyrinth fish: They generally would prefer
a broad, Portsmouth Tropical Fish deep tank with plenty of water. Some fish love to hide every now and
then, Portsmouth Tropical Fish try to give them small hiding places.
Angelfish: They are much happier if they are in tall tanks.
Tetras, Portsmouth Tropical Fish Danios: These fish generally like to school, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and
they are fast swimmers and like to race around. Give them enough space.
It happens so often - a beginner stocks a new aquarium with
much too many fishes, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the tank becomes very toxic and you fish are all kaput. I
confess, Portsmouth Tropical Fish I did it as well, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but not too many fish to
really affect the tank. Don't forget, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you can always add fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but its harder to take a fish out, Portsmouth Tropical Fish unless it is well and truly
dead. This is a "Within the safe amount of fish in a tank"which will
help to guide you on your first tank stocking foray. Its
not the perfect formula - and water changes will be the dependant factor on
whether there are high Nitrates in the end (see the "Nitrogen
Cycle"). This is for any sized tank or fish:
Length of tank * Width = Water surface area / 40 cm
(standard) Now, Portsmouth Tropical Fish divide the size, Portsmouth Tropical Fish or the average, Portsmouth Tropical Fish of the fish you want to add.
Example:
90(cm)* 35 (cm) = 3150(cm2) / 40 = 79 / 5(cm) = 15 fish.
The key is to always understock as well - less fish, Portsmouth Tropical Fish less
waste. Say you had 14 fish instead of 18, Portsmouth Tropical Fish then it obviously you won't get that
extra waste in your tank. Always add fish sparingly when you start off your
first aquarium (Nitrogen Cycle).
More information on a DIY CO2 set-up
What about plant fertiler? Try the PMDD article
Question - Why do most of my plants die in around a months time? Why do I have to keep buying some more?!! Is it
plastic fantastic for the rest of my life?
Hey, Portsmouth Tropical Fish calm down, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you can keep some of your plants alive even
though your aquarium is low-tech. Yeah, Portsmouth Tropical Fish certainly some can fail, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and make no
mistake, Portsmouth Tropical Fish plenty of mine have. I'm not saying that unless you have a degree in
botany you will be successful, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but it's a whole lot helpful if you have some
knowledge about aquatic plants. Plants need these basic few things:
A good substrate (Substrate?You
what?): To start off with, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you've gone and bought some nice, Portsmouth Tropical Fish coarse, Portsmouth Tropical Fish gravel -
no wonder your plants have problems rooting. A good substrate is really needed, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and 2-3 mm, Portsmouth Tropical Fish low-calcium beach gravel available from your aquatic shop will be a
good start. Using this sort of substrate, Portsmouth Tropical Fish allows the roots to penetrate easily, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and anchors the plant - a big no-no to coarse gravel, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as the plants will just
give up and go home. Well, Portsmouth Tropical Fish they'll die to be precise.
Other types of substrate are:
Laterite: Iron-rich clays, Portsmouth Tropical Fish in a reddish colour, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you can buy
some in your local pet shop. Why bother? You don't have to, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but this will add
some iron into the substrate. You can get it in a pellet form, Portsmouth Tropical Fish where you just
mix it with your normal gravel, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and then add a 100% gravel top layer. The roots
can go directly into the substrate. By doing this, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you don't have to use so
much fertiliser in the water column, Portsmouth Tropical Fish minimise the risk of algae breakouts. And
doesn't everyone just love an algae breakout?
Sand: Using sand as a 100% substrate can be detrimental to
the plants, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as it can compact quite tightly, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and therefore roots can rot away
in dead patches.
Nutrients: A good mixture is needed if the plants are to
thrive. Iron is one of the important elements, Portsmouth Tropical Fish for the green pigment of plants
(chlorophyll). Other elements include: Manganese, Portsmouth Tropical Fish Zinc, Portsmouth Tropical Fish Magnesium, Portsmouth Tropical Fish Copper, Portsmouth Tropical Fish Boron, Portsmouth Tropical Fish Potassium, Portsmouth Tropical Fish Sulfur, Portsmouth Tropical Fish Phosphorous, Portsmouth Tropical Fish Calcium, Portsmouth Tropical Fish Nitrogen.
No mean list there - You may thinking, Portsmouth Tropical Fish "what am I
meant to do? Go and buy a bloody laboratory to check the amount of nutrients in
my water!!" No, Portsmouth Tropical Fish its not realistic is it. Many of
those nutrients will be free in your tap water, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and you can buy a liquid
fertiliser, Portsmouth Tropical Fish or 2, Portsmouth Tropical Fish to make sure you are adding enough. Plants will also use the
Nitrates in your aquarium, Portsmouth Tropical Fish which is no bad thing at all. You have got to try to
balance the fertiliser with the plants, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and it's a bit of a tricky old
situation. If you go and drown your aquarium with fertiliser, Portsmouth Tropical Fish algae can come a'
calling. For instance, Portsmouth Tropical Fish Iron content doesn't need to be anymore than 1ppm.
Now what about Photosynthesis - light/CO2? Do I need it in a aquarium? Of course you do!! Every plant needs this little
bit of magic. And how much CO2 will be needed then? And light? Now its's getting a bit trickier, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you start delving into the
more advanced side of the hobby. The fish in your aquarium will give off CO2
(respiration), Portsmouth Tropical Fish but it won't be that much. If you are really going for a heavily
planted tank with some tough plants, Portsmouth Tropical Fish You could add
some CO2, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and place some extra bulbs in your tank. And how much CO2 would be
needed for the average plant? 15 - 30 ppm won't go too far off. A bit different
from iron 1ppm hey!! And you could use a CO2 injection system. No,no, Portsmouth Tropical Fish don't all run away, Portsmouth Tropical Fish if you know what you are doing, Portsmouth Tropical Fish you
wont kill all of your fish in one fell swoop. I'm not going to try explaining
everything on this page, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as this can be quite complex. One thing is certain -
don't go out and buy 100 lamps if you have no CO2 system, Portsmouth Tropical Fish as Photosynthesis
will only occur if there is a balance between light/CO2.
Water conditions: Is every plant a hardy one? Unfortunately, Portsmouth Tropical Fish no. Some need quite specific conditions -
say, Portsmouth Tropical Fish the "Isoetes Setacea", Portsmouth Tropical Fish needs these properties for it to thrive:
KH: 2-5, Portsmouth Tropical Fish pH: 5.5-6, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and needs a lot of bright light. Now if I had a tank with
the specs, Portsmouth Tropical Fish let us say - about 8KH; pH 7.5, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and one bulb, Portsmouth Tropical Fish theres not much chance
of me keeping this plant alive for a very long time, Portsmouth Tropical Fish no matter how much
fertiliser, Portsmouth Tropical Fish or good substrate I have.
Although plants will use Nitrates as a source of food, Portsmouth Tropical Fish and your tank has levels of 20-30ppm or over, Portsmouth Tropical Fish some
plants can be affected badly. Only 20-30ppm? That's
not right surely? I hear what you say, Portsmouth Tropical Fish but if you look around for pics for
heavily planted tanks, Portsmouth Tropical Fish often there will be a smaller population of fish
compared to the normal stocking level.
Here's some info on some tough, Portsmouth Tropical Fish low light plants, Portsmouth Tropical Fish that
anyone sho
