Aquarium Lighting - Play a Benevolent God and Give Your Fish the Best Environment You Can!

Aquarium lighting isn't just lighting, its specialist lighting; more than that, the way you light your aquarium really is the difference between life and death for your fish.

The idea is that the lighting system in your aquarium replicates as closely as possible the light conditions that your fish would enjoy in their natural habitat. The closer you get the better. Move too far away from the habitat lighting and your fish will become stressed and fail to grow. From a purely selfish point of view, if you don't have the right light in your aquarium, your fish will lose their colours, and the chances are that is exactly what you bought them for.

The important thing to understand when you look at aquarium lighting is the Kelvin rating; which is what the K numbers you see on aquarium lights represent. The Kelvin rating gives you some idea of the temperature of the light, that is, how warm or cold looking it is. Cold, blue light has a 'high tech' clinical feel to it and is around 10,000K; this is the sort of temperature that would be used for a tank where you keep reefs and plants. The lowest Kelvin rated aquarium lighting is around 5,500K; the lower rated lamps are used for aquaria with freshwater fish and no plant life.

The best lamps, which are available in a wide range of Kelvin ratings, are metal halide lamps. They produce a shimmer, not unlike sunlight shining on water. Metal halide lamps range in intensity from 75 watts to 1,000 watts and their only disadvantage is that they generate heat - so do be careful.

If you are a new aquarist, you'll probably start your aquarium lighting career with fluorescent lighting, which are the type that are usually provided as part of a lighting kit. Fluorescent tubes for aquaria come in a range of colour temperatures and in three standard sizes. Sizes are indicated by a T number; T12, T8, and T5. You'll need at least a couple of lights, depending on the size of your tank, because fluorescent lamps are far lower in terms of intensity than metal halide. On the plus side though, they don't get hot!

The topic of aquarium lighting is complex and wide ranging, and you would be well advised to get a book on the subject, unless you have a well-informed friend. We've only touched on the subject here, and we haven't got as far as even mentioning marine aquarium lighting!

portable hammock stand hammock tent

Polar Express 4-D Experience

Polar Express 4-D Experience November 27, 2009 January 3, 2010 Youre invited on an extraordinary 4-D adventure this holiday season on THE POLAR EXPRESS! When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. THE POLAR EXPRESS 4-D Experience is based on the inspiring and beloved Caldecott Medal childrens book by Chris Van Allsburg. Based on THE POLAR EXPRESS book and characters TM & © 1985 by Chris Van Allsburg. Used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s09). More information: www.vanaqua.org About the 4D Experience If youve not yet paid a visit to our 4D Experience theatre, youre in for a cinematic adventure - filled with thrilling sensory effects such as wind, mist, scents and dramatic lighting! From the roaring rumble of the train to the heavenly scent of hot chocolate, youre sure to catch the holiday spirit from head to toe, when you join us for THE POLAR EXPRESS 4-D Experience.

hammock stand aquarium stand

Betta Fish - Essential Facts on How to Keep Them Alive and Well

The betta fish is a popular fish among fish hobbyists. As the betta is an attractive fish, many of them use this fish to add beauty to their aquarium. However, there are some people who prefer to keep their bettas in small containers as pets. Although rearing bettas are not difficult as these fishes are known for its physical hardiness, there are some points that we need to observe in order to keep these fishes well.

Due to its quality of physical toughness, the betta fish can survive well even if it is placed in small bowls or jars. The betta is a labyrinth fish and is able to breathe atmospheric air. Hence, give a small space, it will not suffer any oxygen deficiency because it can swim to the surface of the water to breathe air. Although the betta can thrive in small containers, it is important that the water in these containers be changed regularly. The smaller the water space, the more often is the need to change the water. If a betta is reared in a small living space with poor water conditions, it will not reach its full coloration and high activity levels.

Bettas should be kept in water with temperature between 74 degrees F and 84 degrees F. If the temperature is above 84 degrees F, the betta will display some discomfort and in the long run, they may age faster. When changing water, it should be ascertained that the temperature of the new water be similar to that of the old water. This is to ensure that the betta will not experience a sudden change of temperature and become sick. If small containers are used to keep the betta, the water in these containers need not be filtered. However, if larger containers are used, filtering is encouraged as it can lengthen the time needed for a water change.

It is not advisable to place more than one male betta fish in an aquarium. If this happens, the bettas will become aggressive and attempt to defend their territory within the small space. Hence, they may cause harm to each other. It is very rare that two female bettas will fight against each other, though sometimes there may be a little fin nipping between the two. As such, most of the time, there is no serious injury. Placing a male and female betta together with other fishes in a community aquarium can create problems. This is because there is a possibility that these two bettas may start spawning and this may affect other fishes in the tank. When you place a betta in a community aquarium, you should ensure that the other fishes in the aquarium are not the aggressive type. This is to prevent attacks from these fishes which can result in damage and injury.

Bettas have a rapid metabolic rate, hence, it is advisable that these fishes be fed with small, frequent meals. If too much food is given in one feeding, the betta may not consume all the food and the remaining food may cause pollution of water.

The above are some points we need to note if we want to keep our bettas well. Keeping the betta is an interesting, enriching and rewarding hobby. You can choose to keep it in an aquarium or in a small container. As there are many types of bettas available, you can have more choices to select the type you like. Once you have started this hobby, your passion will grow and eventually you will want to learn more about this remarkable fish and hope to keep more of them. For more information on care for Betta fish, please visit Betta Fish Care.

aquarium plants portable hammock stand

Wall Mounted Fish Tanks - Are They Right For You?

Have you ever seen the beautiful sight of a wall mounted fish tank? Maybe not in your neck of the woods, but you have probably seen them in the movies or inside some place like the Rainforest Café. These types of wall tanks are usually longer in length and only about 6 inches thick. Mounted into a wall or not, they definitely provide a sufficient living environment for any type of tropical or fresh water fish. Of course a mounted fish tank costs way more than a standard glass tank. On average they cost about $1,500.

Though they are a but costly, mounted tanks are advantageous in a number of ways. The best thing about a mounted tank is that they don't take up any extra space in your room. Better yet, you have literally no risk of knocking the fish tank over. Now that is a pain! These mounted aquariums are also great for smaller rooms and office type settings because they take up wall space and not floor space. You have probably seen these types of tanks at the dentist's office at some point in your life. They are very practical. And they are extremely popular in public spaces and environments around the cities. Wall mounted fish tanks can sometimes extend the entire length of a wall and sometimes the make up the entire wall, making it a great fixture to walk around. They really are visual masterpieces. Accessing the tank from both sides makes for a very lively, and exciting decoration.

Though mounted fish tanks are great for some reasons, there are also some downsides to owning one. For example if you have a smaller, maybe run down apartment, you take the risk of shattering your tank if you slam your doors too hard. You really need to preplan where you want your tank to be hung so that it's in the safest place possible. You also want to be sure that you have a helper to assist you in installing. They can be very difficult to mount up no matter how strong you think you are. Lastly, the biggest disadvantage to owning a wall mounted fish tank is the fact that it is a lot harder to clean. It can be a very difficult process to even attempt cleaning a tank that is 6 inches away from the wall and higher than 5 feet off the ground. It is almost impossible, but you can get the hang of it I'm sure.

acrylic aquarium hammock stand

Why The Fish Tank Coffee Table is Dreaded By Fish

If I were a fish I would hope and prey I did not go to a modern trendy home where the owners liked the latest craze. At the moment the latest trend is the fish tank coffee table. Although this type of aquarium looks stunning it is a death trap for fish. They are beautiful looking items of furniture and become the centre of attraction since you cannot fail to see and admire it.

Why the Fish Tank Coffee Table are Called Death Traps for the Fish?

The fish tank coffee table is a great piece of interior home décor; however, the same fish tank coffee table is actually murdering the fish. The reason they are cruel to marine life is because this type of aquarium gives very little place for installing proper filters, and it allows very little maintenance. The fish have height but they need the width as well in order to feel comfortable. The fish actually feel very uncomfortable if they have to swim between the different heights that make the fish tank coffee table.A solution to this problem would be mechanical fish.

If you do not want your fish in this type of aquarium to die a slow and very painful death then the best solution is to replace your live fish with mechanical fish. This way your fish tank coffee table stays as a splendid interior decoration piece without harming anyone or anything.

A Modern Looking Fish Tank Coffee Table

If you must have live fish in your fish tank coffee table then a large rectangular one would be best. This would also enable you to install adequate filters underneath the base of the table. This type of aquarium will be better for fish to live. So in order for the fish to be comfortable, they will need to be accommodated in a rectangular and long aquarium. The larger the surface the more fish can live in there.

Alternative Fish Tank Coffee Tables That Do Not Have Live Fish!

There is another choice for people who really must have a fish tank coffee table and do not like the idea of mechanical fish. You can fill a tank with colorful decorations and plants and add to it oxygen pumps which let out small and big bubbles. This, in combination with good lighting, can be as beautiful as an aquarium, without making you guilty of any cruelty. There are some lovely looking plants and colored stones and ornaments which are available to buy at very cheap prices and would really make your display the centre of attention.

aquariums glass

Tropical Aquarium Plants for Beginners

It is not hard to understand why plants are present in so many aquariums. Lush and healthy plants are stunning to look at and will create a much more natural environment in the aquarium. Most fish species feel safer and less stressed when they have plants to hide among, and many species will never thrive in an unplanted aquarium. If your fish species inhabit densely grown waters in the wild, they will feel very insecure in a plant without any vegetation. A lot of fish species are however rock dwellers and can get the same sense of security from caves and rocky formations in the aquarium. If your fish disturb the plants and damage them by nibbling of the leaves or digging up the roots, caves and wood can be a better solution than plants. If uprooting is the main problem, you can choose plants that float and do not require any anchorage in the substrate. If your fish are vigorous plant eaters, artificial plants can be used instead of live plants. It can also be possible to find a few live plant species that your fish do not like the taste of. If your fish only nibble on the plants, you can choose strong and fast growing live plants that can tolerate some snacking.

Plants will not only provide your fish with valuable shelters and make your aquarium look beautiful; they will also help you to keep the water quality up. Fish and plants coexist in the wild and will complement each other well in the aquarium. The waste products released by fish will contain compounds that the plants can use as nutrition. Organic waste will therefore be contained within the plant instead of floating around in the water where it can harm the fish. You should however keep in mind that these compounds will not "disappear", they will just be confined within the plant. If you allow dead and decaying plant material to stay in the aquarium, the organic compounds will be released again and begin to pollute the water. Plants must therefore be regularly pruned and unhealthy parts must be removed from the water as soon as possible. In return for the organic compounds that they receive from the fish, the plants will produce oxygen which is essential to the fish. The plants will also use dissolved carbon dioxide and thereby lower the levels of carbon dioxide in the aquarium.

The direct exchange between fish and plants is important, but it is not the only thing that help keeping the water quality up. The plants will also provide a home for a wide range of micro organisms that are beneficial for the ecosystem in the aquarium. Plants are also capable of inhibiting ugly algae growth since plants and algae compete over the same nutrients.

Many fish species will never spawn in an unplanted aquarium. Some species need the plants to feel safe enough to spawn, while others need leaves to attach their eggs on. A densely planted aquarium will also increase the fry survival growth if you wish to raise fry in the same aquarium as adult fish, since the fry will hide among the plants. Busy plants with a lot of smaller leaves are ideal for this purpose. It should however be noted that there are other ways to provide fry with good shelters. Newly hatched fry can for instance hide among larger marbles on the bottom of the aquarium. Caves, roots, stones and artificial aquarium decoration will also give the fry hiding places where they can stay out of harms way.

A plant relies on photosynthesis and light is therefore essential to it. A fish only aquarium requires little light, but if you wish to keep a densely planted aquarium you might be forced to install new lights. Fluorescent light is better than the standard incandescent light in planted aquarium. Some plant species are very demanding in require even stronger light than the fluorescent, but these species are not recommended for beginners. Fluorescent lights are more expensive than incandescent lights, but fluorescent lights will on the other hand burn cooler and use less electricity. Java Fern and Java Moss are two examples of suitable beginner species. They are tough plants that can survive in a wide range of pH-values and water hardiness. They can even be kept in a slightly brackish aquarium, such as a Molly aquarium.

Unlike many other aquatic plants, Java Fern should not be planted in the substrate in the aquarium. Java Fern should instead be attached to rock, wood or aquarium decorations where it will form roots. Once your have purchased your first Java Fern or Java Moss, the plants will propagate themselves. New plants will develop on the old plants, and eventually break off. You can attach these tiny plants to some type of decoration in the aquarium and wait for them to grow large.

aquarium ornaments hammock chairs

Marine Ich - Copper Medication

Marine ich (Cryptocaryon Irritans) is a very common problem that has been dealt with by most of us in the marine aquarium hobby time and time again. These parasites can spread quickly, breed readily and pose a huge threat to our marine aquarium fish. While such parasites are not lethal in the wild, they can easily wipe out our livestock within weeks.

Most of us in the hobby are very used to seeing a variety of test kits by now. We have the basic Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite test kits along with others including Magnesium and Calcium. Perhaps some of you have been wondering why there are copper test kits available as well. Here is why.

Copper is commonly used as an anti parasite medication in the marine aquarium hobby. It is extremely effective against all invertebrates including marine ich and marine velvet parasites that we deal with from time to time. It is also very toxic to all life forms. In the pond industry, they are commonly used as algaecides where they not only destroy their intended target (phytoplankton) but they wipe out the flora and fauna associated with a thriving pond ecosystem.

This is exactly why copper treatments should only take place in a quarantine tank of your choice. Ensure the water quality is similar with regards to temperatures and PH to lessen stress to the treated fish as much as possible. Copper is never treated in the main display tank as it lethal to any corals, crustaceans along with the tiny organisms (copepods, amphipods, worms etc) commonly found in an established reef tank.

To use copper effectively, we need to get the dosage right. If we use too much, the fish may begin to suffer. But if too little is used, its effectiveness is lessened as well. Maintain a level of 0.3 ppm in the quarantine tank when treating for marine ich. Any higher and it may be dangerous for the fish. Generally a range of about 0.25 to 0.3 ppm should be alright. Below 0.2 ppm and the treatment may not work.

cheap aquariums

Saltwater Aquarium - Lighting

To view the next video in this series click: www.monkeysee.com This video will show how to set up a saltwater aquarium and discusses lighting.

BIORB Aquariums

Yellow Tangs - Guide to Keeping This Beautiful Fish in a Marine Aquarium

The Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma Flavescens) is one of the most recognizable fishes in the marine aquarium industry along with the blue tang, percula clownfish and the flame angelfish. It is also the most popular tang in the surgeon fish family and its very easy to see why. Its entire body is a stunning pastel like yellow.

The yellow tang is commonly collected from Hawaii and the nearby islands. Once acclimated the yellow tang is a hardy fish that is peaceful with other fishes (Outside of the tang family) which makes it a popular choice for community aquariums.

Care should be taken when choosing specimens as most tangs and surgeon fish are itch magnets and also susceptible to lateral line erosion.

The yellow tang is heavily traded in the live fish market, with juveniles going for about $30 to $40 while adults retail for about $60 to $70 per specimen.

A peaceful fish, the yellow tang does not normally bully larger or smaller tank mates. Making it an attractive candidate for all aquariums.

When keeping multiple tangs it is important to provide enough space for all of them or there might be aggression between them.

In they wild they are a schooling fish and such behavior can be witnessed in captivity.

If more than one is desired they should be introduced into the tank at the same time.

The Yellow Tang can reach up to 8 inches in length so its best to stick with larger tanks. Nothing smaller than a 100 gallons should be used, 150 gallon or bigger is recommended.

This popular fish is all too often bought when they're 2 to 3 inches and kept in tanks as small as 30 gallons. They will quickly outgrow such tanks, leaving the owner with the headache of finding a buyer for it, or finding a larger aquarium to house it.

Live rock is needed for shelter despite the fact that are a brave "open" swimmer.

The yellow tang grazes on live rock throughout the day as it forms huge shoals in the wild. They feed mainly on algae so such foods should be offered frequently. {Ensure they get enough algae based foods in captivity as algae makes up the bulk of their diet in the wild}. Unlike marine angelfish, they are completely reef safe and do not bother corals, one of the reasons why they're so popular in marine reef aquariums.

Seaweed/Nori sheets are a great food for tangs. You can either buy seaweed produced and packaged specifically for marine fishes (Julian sprungs sea veggies) or you can go to your local supermarket and buy some nori sheets there. Be sure to get unflavoured nori.

They will normally consume anything that is offered in captivity despite being strict herbivores in the wild. So they should be fed not just greens but a wide variety of items.

They should be fed good alga and seafood mixes like Formula One and Formula Two by Ocean Nutrition as well as a good pellet. New Life Spectrum produces some excellent pellets for all marine fishes.

Many fish stores can be seen giving their tangs lettuce to nibble on. Never feed your tangs lettuce. Nutritionally they do not offer much to the tang (Iceberg or Romaine lettuce).

cheap aquariums acrylic aquarium