יום שבת, 14 בנובמבר 2009

How to Care for Live Aquarium Plants



Plants play an important role in aquarium life. They help to absorb nitrites that are toxic to the fish. In fact there are some plant only aquariums. There are many different varieties of aquatic plants. Tubers are a type of plant that needs to be anchored by the root to the bottom of the tank. They may be tied or simply buried underneath the substrate in the bottom of the aquarium. There are also floating plants. As their name suggests they simply float in the tank they do not need to be anchored and will not usually require fertilizer. The only regular care required is to make sure that water droplets are not regularly deposited on the leaves, as this will cause decay.

Water lettuce and Lily pads are examples of floating plants. Rooted plants, like tubers need to be anchored to the bottom of the tank. It is suggested that the roots be tied to pieces of rock or wood. These species usually grow to be fairly tall and will add length to an aquarium. When planting these, remember to allow plenty of room for growth. The roots will grow outwards and require additional space. Another type of aquatic plant is known as cuttings. These plants may be transplanted from other thriving plants, without have to root them. Cuttings should be planted individually. They will grow vertically and sprout shoots at the joints of the leaves. When these shoots grow to be a couple of inches, it is time to cut them and plant them individually.

Live plants may be kept in aquariums alone or with fish. The plants may even be used as a food source for some species of omnivorous fish. At the very least, they will provide shelter and a feeling of refuge for the fish. All plants require some form of light in order to thrive through photosynthesis. Check the specifics on the types of plants with your local retailer. Some plants will thrive on the waste put out by the fish in the aquarium, while others will require regular fertilization. Again check with your supplier for compatibility and feeding requirements. When purchasing plants, make sure that they are true aquatic plants. Live plants should be pruned weekly. Dead or broken leaves should be removed daily.

A live plant aquarium will require the same basic equipment needed for an aquarium containing fish. The basics are as follows. You will need a tank, some sort of filtration system, lighting and some basic cleaning tools. The plants are fairly easy to care for, but you do have to keep up with your regular maintenance. Synthetic plants may be a good alternative to live plants, if you are not willing to make the investment in live plants. Faux plants have come a long way in recent years. So much so, that your fish may not even notice the difference. Whether you choose live or synthetic plants, they will add interest and life to any aquarium

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יום שני, 2 בנובמבר 2009

Comparison Between Salt water and Fresh water Aquarium


Having an aquarium in your home or office is always a fun. Essentially, two types of aquariums exist: Salt water and Fresh water. Each type has its unique requirements, benefits and difficulties. It is important to consider the following factors before making a decision on the kind of aquarium:

1. Maintenance: Salt water aquarium is a lot more difficult to maintain than a fresh water aquarium. The fresh water aquarium is easier to clean.

2. Cost of acquisition: The cost of acquisition includes the cost of aquarium plus the cost of fishes and other accessories. This cost is higher in case of salt water aquariums. Salt water aquariums require live rock, which is a type of natural filter obtained from coral reefs. It is difficult to procure and is very costly.

3. Size: A fresh water aquarium can be started with 10 gallons of water, but the salt water aquarium requires at least 55 gallons of water.

4. Variety of fish: You can stock wide varieties of fishes in a salt water aquarium. Apart from the fish, you can also add other marine animal and plant life. It enables you to have an ocean in your home. Marine fishes are colorful and look great, but they are very expensive.

5. Time: Due to heavy maintenance issues of salt water aquariums, they require more time and attention. You need good filters and quality testing kits. Maintaining the right pH level and right amount of salt in the tank is imperative for the survival of the fishes. The tank has to be run without any fish for about 2 months to get the cycle of nitrates and nitrites going. Meanwhile, 1/3 of the tank water needs to be changed every week. The entire set up requires a lot of patience.

6. Lighting: Presence of coral reefs and live rock make it very essential to have lighting in your salt water tank, because they can die in absence of adequate light. The balance of light is not that delicate in fresh water tanks.

Salt water aquariums require more money, time, experience and patience to be successful when compared to fresh water aquariums.

If you are a beginner and looking for casual hobby. It is a good idea to start with a fresh water aquarium. After you have learnt the basic rules, you can start a salt water aquarium.

In the end, what really matters is, the kind of fish that you want and the kind of right environment that can provide. It is heart breaking to see dead fishes in your aquarium. Therefore, the decision about the type of aquarium should be taken after much deliberation.