Time to Clean the Fish Tank? Here Are Some Tips

By Greg Trefter

So, you have an aquarium that is in need of a good spring cleaning, but you don't know exactly how to go about it? Should you simply scrap the mess and start over? Should you try cleaning is without emptying it first? The answer is that tearing it down and completely starting over will remove the bacterial colonies produced in the aquarium that are beneficial to helping eliminate wastes. Unless the tank is extremely terrible, starting over should not be your first option; it should be a last resort.
 
You will need to have an algae scraper or pad, a razor blade (plastic for an acrylic tank), some bleach, a water siphon, a bucket, some lime remover and glass cleaner made specifically for aquariums, a filter media and a filter brush, some old bath towels and paper towels.

You should start with the glass, move to the decorations such as rocks and plants and then clean the gravel. You should then move on to the outside of the glass and the fixtures and finish by cleaning or replacing the filter.

Give the glass a thorough cleaning on the inside using the algae pad. You can find a large selection of scrapers and pads for algae; from a scrubber with a long handle to magnetic scrubs. The small magnetic scrubs are a personal favorite, but just about any algae pad will do the job. You must purchase the algae pads at a pet store as opposed to buying one from the house wares department of your local store. They look just about the same, but the house wares pads can contain harmful chemicals or soap which could be lethal to fish. If the algae is really stubborn you will need to scrape it with the razor blade or plastic blade.

After you have thoroughly cleaned the glass, remove the decorations, artificial plants and rocks that have a significant build-up of algae on them. Do not use detergents or soaps when cleaning them. Although you might think you've completely removed the soap, there could and most probably would still be some residue. You can scrub them with the algae scrubber or scrape them clean, but for really tough problems you can use a 10% solution of bleach. Soak them for about 15 minutes and then scrub off the remaining residue. Rinse them well in running water and allow them to dry fully. Make sure the bucket you use has never held any type of detergent or soap. Vacuum the gravel while the other decorations are out of the tank.

Use a water siphon to vacuum away any debris in the gravel. You can choose from a variety of siphons and all of them work in very much the same manner. If you want to eliminate the need for a bucket, try the Python. There are also adapters that will allow you to filter the siphoned water back into the tank.

Be careful when using glass and lime cleaners as they may contain ammonia which is toxic to the fish. A standard lime cleaner is even worse. Use vinegar whenever possible or cleaners that have been specifically designed for aquarium cleaning. Always rinse thoroughly and leave nothing to chance.

If you want to clean the filter, you must wait a couple of weeks to do it. From the cleaning you already completed you have disturbed the beneficial algae and bacteria colonies on the decorations, gravel and plants. You haven't completely destroyed the eco system because the filter will still contain some of these beneficial bacteria. Simply allow the filter to run for a couple of weeks to restore the balance. Then you can clean it. If the filter is older than three weeks, replace it.

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5 Betta Fish Facts For the Successful Owner

By T L Gallamore

Betta fish are becoming a growing popular pet in America. With their vibrant colors, uniquely shaped fins, and interactive personalities, it isn't much of a surprise why. Welcome, inquisitive Betta owner, to five fun Betta fish facts. This article should serve as a useful mini guide you raising a thriving pet.
 
1) Personality: interaction is one of the most commonly overlooked aspects to owning a Betta fish. You may not know, but this species is particularly renowned for the fact that each individual fish can develop its own personality.

Some let you pet them, some jump up for food, most will flip out when they see you going for the food container, others can be trained to do small tricks such as jumping through a ring, others all of the above.

2) Bettas need lots of space: Despite the inhumane keeping of these fish in small flower vases, they are like any other creature and that they need space to exercise and thrive. My advice is to buy the largest fish tank or container that your budget and living conditions will allow for. A single Betta fish seems to do especially well if given a 5 to 10 gallon tank to live in.

3) What to feed your Betta: When it comes to Betta fish facts regarding food you've got a few options. First up are live foods, these are generally tasty and your Betta will gobble them down, but really should only be given as a snack. This is because live foods are high in protein and fats, but low in other nutrients essential to a balanced diet. I recommend using pellets for two reasons. First of all, they offer an all-around healthy meal. Second, they are easy to measure out because each pellet is around the same size.

4) How much to feed: When it comes to feeding time, most companies put out some different "Betta fish facts" than the ones you should really be following. In the interest of selling as many bottles of food as possible, most companies are going to give you recommendations that are actually overfeeding your pet. The best scene schedule I've found is to give two pellets in the morning and two at night.

5) Sick Betta fish: Because they are very susceptible to imbalances in water chemical levels and parasite borne illnesses, is important to know the warning signs of a sick fish. The most common symptoms involve discoloration, streets around the gills, white spots on the fins or body, and extreme lethargy.

When becoming a Betta fish owner is important to have all the information you need to succeed.

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3 Essential Fish Tank Supplies That You Need

By Helen Silva

If you have decided that you need to have a brand-new fish tank in your home, you are going to soon realize that you will need a vast amounts of supplies. These are things that you simply need to have the keep your aquarium running at optimal levels. Here are a few suggestions on what you should have in order to make your fish, and your life, as easy as possible.
 
People just starting out you not realize that owning an aquarium can be quite a chore.

People will go to the store thinking that they will simply pick up one of those cute little bowls, throw their fish and it, and that they are done. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The first supplies that you will need for your brand-new fish tank are lighting systems, water pumps, air pumps, water filters, and an assortment of cleaning equipment. Depending upon the size and shape of the tank issue have purchased, you may need to buy additional cleaning utilities to get the job done right.

The size of your fish tank is also an important consideration. More than likely, you will want to put this on top of a stand. There are many varieties that are available including those that are made of metal and wood. Plastic is usually not the material of choice because of the enormous amount of weight that tanks can typically hold due to the water.

When choosing fish, whether they are saltwater or freshwater, you need to also have a fish tank hood on top of this water vessel. The reason is that some of the fish that you purchase will like to jump. Until they are conditioned properly by having a lid over their container, they may jump out onto the floor and die.

One of the most important things that you can purchase is a quality water filter and pump. This will make sure that the waste that the fish create on a regular basis is filtered out and that they are not constantly inundated with their own sewage. It is also a good idea to use a water testing kit to make sure that the ionization level within your tank is at optimal levels.

Finally, once all of your aquatic buddies are in the water, you will want to turn on the tank light and see what you are new and amazing fish container now displays. Aquariums are one of the most beautiful additions that anyone can make to their home, however, without the right fish tank supplies, it may become problematic.

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