Tag Archives: aquarium

Dealing with Aquarium Surface Scum

Keeping aquarium pets is a lot more work than some people expect. There’s a lot of cleaning that goes into keeping your tank-dwellers happy and healthy! So what happens if you start to get a weird scum on the surface of your tank water? Before you can fix the problem, it helps to know the cause. An oily film on the surface of the water could come from: Oily fish food. Some frozen fish foods are very oily, and can leave a residue on the water’s surface. Changing fish food brands may make a big difference! Oily people food. If … Continue reading →

Aquarium Maintenance

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Very few pets are of the “set it and forget it” variety. They need constant care to stay happy and healthy! Keeping an aquarium clean and safe for your fish can take quite a bit of work… but it’s worth it! Daily checks should include: Observing the fish. Watch for signs of illness, including breathing difficulty, discoloration, and weird growths. Watch how your fish interact with each other. Check temperature and filtration system. A thermometer stuck to the glass or hanging from the top of the tank is a quick and easy way to make sure the water is comfortable … Continue reading →

How to Do a Partial Water Change

Aquarium cleaning can be a messy chore — despite all the water involved! A partial water change is a good way to clear the water in your tank without destroying all the good bacteria that keep your fish healthy and happy. When doing a partial water change, you only want to remove twenty-five to thirty percent of the water. This leaves enough good bacteria behind to help repopulate the tank and keep harmful chemicals out of the water. Take too much water away and you run the risk of having to start the nitrogen cycle all over again. There’s no … Continue reading →

Summer Family Road Trip—-Indiana and Georgia

If your family road trip takes you to Indiana or Atlanta this summer here are a few attractions you might want to make a pit stop at: INDIANA People are going bananas at Michigan City’s zoo… and now you can get in on the action too. As you might have guessed the hoopla centers around the zoo’s monkey exhibit. According to zoo officials, a spider monkey recently used a garden hose to scale the wall of a moat at the facility and took off for town. However, the agile animal’s escape was short-lived as he got caught at a nearby … Continue reading →

Under-Gravel Filtration for Your Aquarium

The purpose of your aquarium filter is to establish and maintain beneficial bacteria colonies. If you’re wondering why there needs to be bacteria in your aquarium, take a moment to learn about the nitrogen cycle: The basics Stages of the nitrogen cycle Starting fishless An under-gravel filtration system is a popular choice for aquarium filtration. Here’s how they work: a plastic grid or plate sits underneath several inches of gravel. The filter draws water down through the gravel (through colonies of healthy bacteria). Lift tubes and airstones at the corners of the plate create suction and keep the water cycling. … Continue reading →

Aquarium Airstone Cleaning

If you’re using an airstone to keep the water moving in your aquarium, you may want to clean it — rather than spend money on a new one when it gets clogged. Cleaning your airstone is relatively easy! What is an airstone? It is any porous material (ceramic, stone, wood, plastic) that is used to diffuse air in your aquarium. Running your air pump through an airstone creates lots of tiny bubbles, rather than a few big bubbles. This can make your filter run more efficiently. Using an airstone also helps improve water circulation through your tank. But fish (as … Continue reading →

Hot Hawaiian Happenings

If the latest round of winter weather has inspired you to book a ticket to Hawaii then you are in luck. The state is gearing up to host a bevy of family friendly events from the Pro Bowl to a massive underwater celebration. Now is also a great time to take advantage of some spectacular deals featuring some of Hawaii’s greatest natural resources. The first deal is a Tri-Park pass that allows visitors to explore the natural wonders on the Big Island of Hawaii and Maui. For $25 your pass will get you into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (which is … Continue reading →

How Water Woes In Georgia May Affect Your Travel Plans

If you are planning to visit the Southeast region of the United States be warned—-much of the area is experiencing severe drought conditions, especially the state of Georgia. Which means your travel plans could be affected by the state’s efforts to conserve water. Visitors to the area will notice water conservation efforts at a variety of popular tourist attractions including the Georgia Aquarium, home of the world’s largest fish tank. Because of the drought, staff members at the always-crowded Atlanta attraction have been forced to empty some of its water displays. For example, a lake in the atrium is now … Continue reading →

More Tropical Aquarium Tips

Keeping an aquarium can be a rewarding hobby — but it isn’t easy! These tips can help your fish stay happy and healthy in your tank. Caring for your fish starts BEFORE they enter the tank. You need to acclimate your fish before they enter your aquarium. Place the fish and the water from the bag into an empty and clean five gallon bucket. Add one cup of water from your aquarium every ten minutes for an hour. After an hour or so, the fish will be acclimated to your tank water and ready to move into the aquarium. Add … Continue reading →

Tropical Aquarium Tips

Here are some tips to help keep your aquarium running smoothly from start to finish. Starting an aquarium hobby isn’t easy — and it doesn’t happen quickly. You’ll need to take a few weeks to prepare the tank and water before you add any fish. Get the biggest tank you can afford — and the biggest tank that can fit in your space. A larger aquarium usually means the water parameters will be more stable. Water temperature also stays more stable in a bigger tank. Make sure you know and understand the nitrogen cycle. Always use your water test kit … Continue reading →