The Best in Tropical Fish
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October 5, 2017
for the week of 10/20/99 Why do fish jump out? Without delving too far into fish psychology, it’s safe to say that some fish have learned to take to the air to avoid predators, and others have learned to slither across land to other bodies of water. They may simply resort to these behaviors whenever […]
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October 5, 2017
for the week of 10/13/99 Many hobbyists are under the mistaken impression that it is possible to have fish that are absolutely free of parasites, bacteria and other possible disease-causing organisms. However, that is no more possible in the aquatic world than it is in our human one. Every fish has a few parasites, and […]
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October 5, 2017
for the week of 5/20/99 Just as a bath in salty water can alleviate some freshwater diseases (see Salt As Medicine), a short-term dip in freshwater can address certain saltwater infections. What it treats. Freshwater baths can help rid the skin and gills of saltwater fish of several common microscopic parasites, including “Ich” (Cryptocaryon), “Velvet” […]
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October 5, 2017
for the week of 4/28/99 “Fin Rot” is used to describe any of a number of infections, illnesses or conditions that cause a fish’s fin(s) to appear frayed, torn or even missing. Aggression. The most obvious cause of damaged fins is aggression by other tankmates. Most often, the tail is affected first, and long, clean […]
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October 5, 2017
for the week of 4/15/99 An almost forgotten treatment for many common freshwater fish parasites is plain old aquarium salt. Used properly, a saltwater bath can be very effective in eliminating “ich,” velvet, Trichodina, Chilodonella, and a number of less common parasites. Advantages. Salt treatments are: Very cheap – especially for large tanks or ponds. […]
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October 5, 2017
for the week of 10/22/98 There are two basic warnings that even most beginning hobbyists have heard: don’t overfeed, and don’t overcrowd. And yet many aquarists, of all levels of experience, have a natural tendency to try to squeeze “just a couple more” fish into their already heavily stocked tanks. Overcrowding means more maintenance. Common […]
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October 5, 2017
for the week of 8/6/98 There is probably no single tip that improves the chance of success with tropical fish than, Avoid Stress.” When fish have to deal with stressful conditions, they can quickly lose vitality and become more susceptible to infection or other illness. Here are some common sources of stress: Changes in water […]
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October 5, 2017
for the week of 3/5/98 Who among us would snack from a bag of potato chips after it’s been sitting open in the cabinet for a couple of weeks? Probably, and hopefully, nobody. And yet, how many of of would give a second thought to feeding our prized fishes from a can of flakes we […]
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October 5, 2017
for the week of 2/5/98 “But don’t fish grow only to the size of their aquarium?” We hear this question on a seemingly daily basis, as we tell customers that certain fish are likely to outgrow their home aquarium. In a common scenario, a customer with a 10 or 20 gallon aquarium just can’t live […]
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October 5, 2017
for the week of 11/5/98 Isn’t Hardness the same thing as pH? No. While pH is a measure of acidity, hardness is a measure of how much calcium (and to a much lesser extent, magnesium) is in the water. On the other hand, it is true that hard water is naturally likely to also have […]
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October 5, 2017
for the week of 10/29/98 The one bit of aquarium chemistry that almost everyone has some familiarity with is pH, which basically is the measurement of how acid or base a given solution is. As most will recall, a pH value of 7.0 is neutral, while higher values indicate alkalinity and lower values acidity. In […]
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October 5, 2017
for the week of 1/29/98 Not to be confused with nitrite (NO2-), the very toxic ion common in aquariums during the break-in period, nitrate (NO3-) is the final product of fish waste decomposition. It is not in itself very toxic (although it may stimulate algae growth), but if it is accumulating, it is safe to […]
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October 5, 2017
for the week of 12/2/99 Many aquarists confuse nitrite (with an “i”) with nitrate (with an “a”). They are chemically quite similar (the difference being an extra oxygen atom in the nitrate ion), but nitrite is far more toxic in low concentrations than nitrate. Once absorbed by fish, nitrite combines with the hemoglobin in blood, […]
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October 5, 2017
for the week of 9/24/98 Though it’s not as commonplace as some people seem to think, sometimes an aquarium will show high ammonia levels when checked with a test kit. After ruling out the possibilities of New Tank Syndrome and False Ammonia Readings, it’s time to look into the possible causes of ammonia buildup as […]
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October 5, 2017
Why would an aquarist put salt in a freshwater aquarium? Aquarium salt has been used for decades as a sort of “tonic” for freshwater fish. While it’s hard to put a finger on just why salt is beneficial, many aquarists have noticed that certain fish simply do better with a small amount of aquarium salt […]
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October 5, 2017
Know Your Pond Fish All photos taken in June of 2005 at Aquatics Unlimited. Comet Goldfish: THE classic pond fish, nice golden/orange color and very hardy. True “comets” have long, flowing tail fins, but faster-moving “commons” with standard fins are usually also present in these batches. Comet goldfish typically can get up to about 12″ […]
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October 5, 2017
Pond netting is often used to help keep leaves and other debris from falling into the water garden. Such debris is not only unsightly, but as it decomposes, it releases various compounds that stimulate algae growth or threaten fish health. Large accumulations of dead leaves are often associated with ponds that experience significant “winter kill.” […]
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October 5, 2017
Part I: Winter Care of Pond Plants Overall Guidelines. Fertilizing should stop about six weeks before first frost. “Hardy” plants should generally be allowed to go dormant for the winter. Wait until cold weather starts turning the plant’s leaves from green to yellow or brown, then trim off all the foliage, and follow one of […]
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October 5, 2017
As most terrestrial gardeners know, autumn is not only the time to wrap things up from this year’s endeavors, but also the time to set things up to get a great start on next year’s. An hour or two of preventive maintenance in October can make a lot of difference in what a pond will […]
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October 5, 2017
Summer is a great time for the pond enthusiast. For the most part, he can pull up a lawn chair, sip a cup of ice cold lemonade, and just sit back and enjoy the fruits of his labor. There are, however, a couple of items to consider. Give ‘Em Air The warmer that water gets, […]
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October 5, 2017
A little effort now can result in a summer full of healthy, beautiful fish and plants. A partial water change is highly recommended as soon as weather – and the thickness of the pondkeeper’s skin – permits. The amount of water removed may be as little as 20% if the pond was well prepared for […]
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October 5, 2017
Algae are the “weeds” of the water garden. Whether the problem is pea-soup colored water, thick carpets of green hair, or floating gobs of olive-drab slime, algae are as unsightly and aggravating as their terrestrial counterparts. Wherever there is standing water, light, warmth and nutrients, algae will soon gain a foothold. Fortunately, though a small […]
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October 5, 2017
Maximum Output. This is the feature we are all most familiar with, and is usually listed in quaint old gallons per hour (gph) here in the US. In order to achieve the biggest number possible, the pump rating is generally given as the maximum output that pump could have with no restrictions, and without lifting […]
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October 5, 2017
What materials are can be used to make a pond? 45 mil EPDM liners have quickly become the industry standard; they are affordable, flexible enough to allow better fit, fairly resistant to UV, and often carry a 20 year manufacturer’s warranty. Other liner materials, including butyl rubber and PVC may be less expensive, but are […]
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October 4, 2017
for the week of 7/29/99 Many saltwater novices look twice when they see a sign for “Live Rock” – and then look a third time when they see how much it costs! Live rock has become the heart of many marine systems, including both reef and fish-only setups. Live? – The rock itself isn’t alive, […]
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October 4, 2017
for the week of 10/15/98 Unlike freshwater aquarium fish, many of which are bred and reared in captivity, the vast majority of saltwater fish are captured in the wild. However, a few species of marine fish, notably many of the Clowns, Dottybacks, and a few Gobies are currently being produced in commercial hatcheries and sold […]
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October 4, 2017
Saltwater ich is a disease caused by tiny parasites of either Cryptocaryon or Oodinium. These parasites imbed themselves in the fish’s skin and gills, causing great irritation. Initial symptoms usually include loss of appetite, rapid breathing and scratching. The parasites feed and grow for a few days, then drop off the fish in preparation for […]
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October 4, 2017
Many people consider setting up a marine aquarium but are nervous because they have been told that saltwater is “difficult to maintain.” This hand out is designed to give you an idea of just what is “difficult” about saltwater, what isn’t, and how you can prevent costly mistakes, ultimately leaving you with enough essential information […]
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October 4, 2017
for the week of 10/27/99 Some aquarists occasionally notice what appears to be an oily film on the surface of the water in their tanks. This is especially common in heavily planted “natural” aquariums, where surface agitation is purposely minimized to help keep carbon dioxide levels up. What causes it? Many of the organic compounds […]
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October 4, 2017
for the week of 10/6/99 On (hopefully very rare) occasion, the aquarium hobbyist will find a need to “nuke” an aquarium – that is, to remove all fish, then thoroughly clean the tank and hopefully remove most of the parasites and parasites it may have contained. Such drastic measures are of course most often undertaken […]
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