Fish to Avoid for Planted Freshwater Tanks. Cultivating a freshwater planted tank is hard work and the last thing you want is to have all of that hard work destroyed by adding the wrong fish to your tank. Aquatic Mosses for Freshwater Tanks. If you like the idea of a planted tank but aren't ready to take on the extra work load, start off small with some aquatic mosses.
The Top 6 Species for the Planted Tank. Some freshwater fish will eat their way through a planted tank in a matter of hours. Cultivating a thriving planted tank can be quite a challenge and if you do not follow the proper procedure, you may not be successful.
Introduction to Planted Aquariums. Maintaining a heavily planted tank may require more than special substrate -- you may also need to supplement your tank's supply of carbon dioxide. Freshwater Plant Article Database. Aquarium lighting systems come in all shapes and sizes - learn how to choose the right system for the tank size you have. Understanding the Basics of Freshwater Aquarium Lighting.
Selecting a lighting system for your aquarium can be a difficult task. Types of Freshwater Aquarium Lighting. Choosing the right lighting system for your freshwater tank is a very important decision.
Understanding the Lighting Spectrum. The key to finding the perfect lighting for your freshwater aquarium is to understand the basics of the lighting spectrum. Finding the Right Balance with Aquarium Lighting.
Installing the proper aquarium lighting system is essential in maintaining a thriving tank environment. Properly Aerating Your Aquarium.
Learn the basics of aeration and how to properly aerate your aquarium. Common Problems with Tank Filters. Having adequate filtration is the key to maintaining a healthy freshwater aquarium. Using Carbon in a Freshwater Aquarium. Learn about the differing points of view and guidelines on using carbon in your aquarium. Learn about the different types of filters for your freshwater aquarium.
Sponge filters are a great option for hospital and fry tanks but they can also be used as a source of supplemental filtration for community tanks. Overview of Filter Media Types.
Proper filtration is the key to keeping your freshwater aquarium healthy. How to Culture Infusoria for Baby Fish. The type of food you choose to feed your aquarium fish will have a major impact on their health. If plan to keep bottom feeders or algae eaters in your tank you may need to supplement their diet with algae wafers. The food you feed your freshwater fish will determine their health and vitality. The Nutritional Needs of Freshwater Fish. The key to keeping your aquarium fish healthy is to offer them a well-balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs.
How to Interpret Fish Food Labels. If you want to select a high-quality commercial food for your aquarium fish you should understand how to interpret a fish food label.
Cichlids are one of the largest families of freshwater fishes and they are prone to developing several aquarium fish diseases. When cultivating an aquarium, you are likely to run into a variety of freshwater aquarium fish diseases and conditions including dropsy. Behavioral Changes and Problems in Aquarium Fish. Unexpected behavioral changes are often a symptom of disease in aquarium fish. Improving Color in Aquarium Fish. The best part of keeping a freshwater aquarium is watching your tank inhabitants thrive and grow.
Betta fish are some of the most colorful and vibrant freshwater aquarium fish around. No matter how careful you are, your fish are likely to get sick at some point during your time as an aquarium hobbyist. Addressing the Shimmies in Live Bearers. Dealing with aquarium fish disease is a fact of life in the aquarium hobby.
Common Freshwater Tropical Fish Diseases. Adding wood and rocks to your aquarium can enhance its appearance and make it a better environment for your fish -- learn how in this article.
Choosing a Freshwater Aquarium Substrate. Learn about the factors you should consider when choosing a substrate for your freshwater aquarium. One of the most attractive ways you can decorate an aquarium involves a combination of driftwood and live plants. Selecting a Background for your Freshwater Tank. The way you decorate your tank makes a big difference in its appearance.
Aquarium Decorations. Algae Eaters for Freshwater Tanks. Cichlids are some of the most beautiful fish in the world, but they can also be the most aggressive.
The Ideal Tank Setup for Oscars. Oscars are a type of cichlid and they are a very amusing species of freshwater fish to keep in the home aquarium. The Top 5 Shrimp for the Freshwater Aquarium. Freshwater shrimp make an excellent addition to your cleanup crew - keep reading to learn more about the top 5 species!
Compatible Tank Mates for Freshwater Angels. Angelfish are one of the most popular species of freshwater aquarium fish. The Top 10 Worst Community Fish. If you are interested in cultivating a peaceful tank full of multiple species, don't choose these fish. Learn about the causes of cichlid aggression and methods for reducing it. Most of the gobies kept in the home aquarium are saltwater fish but there are still a few freshwater gobies that make excellent additions to the home tank.
There are many different types of aquarium algae and not all algae eaters will eat every type. Larger Tetras for the Community Tank. Many tetras are known for their small size and peaceful nature, but there are some larger tetras that can be a good choice for the community tank. Maintaining a thriving gallon tank can be a challenge but it will help if you are careful about how you stock it. Angelfish are a species of freshwater cichlid and they are one of the most popular species of tropical aquarium fish.
Keeping Dwarf Gouramis in the Freshwater Tank. The dwarf gourami is a small but brightly colored freshwater fish that makes an excellent addition to the community tank. South American Cichlid Species for Beginners. Cichlids are not for everyone, however, and certain species can be quite challenging to keep.
Stocking Fresh Water Fish Tanks. Learn how to select the right quantity and combination of fish for your freshwater aquarium. Catfish are an extremely diverse group of fishes and many of them fare well in the home aquarium. Jewel Cichlid Species Profile.
Spotlight on the Otocinclus Catfish. Also known as oto cats, otocinclus catfish are some of the smallest aquarium fish out there and also some of the best algae eaters. Choosing the Right Barbs for Your Tank. Barbs are incredibly popular among freshwater aquarium hobbyists and there are a number of species to choose from. This article will touch more on this below. Some species of apple snails Pomacea are voracious herbivores that will decimate a planted aquarium in short order.
Apple snails have also caused damage to crops in certain parts of the world after being inadvertently introduced into the wild. However, the majority of apple snails in the aquarium industry make great aquarium scavengers and usually leave plants alone. There is only one way snails get into our aquariums — we put them there. But, you might say, I've never purchased a snail in my life and suddenly they are showing up!
The most common ways unwanted snails enter our aquariums accidentally are via eggs or juveniles hitchhiking on plants or decorations, or in gravel cultures transferred from one tank to another. Many snail eggs are transparent and are often attached to the undersides of plant leaves, making them difficult to see.
Juveniles of red ramshorns and pond snails can be very tiny and hide easily, especially in fine-leaved plants. There are ways of eliminating snails and their eggs which will also be discussed below.
Malaysian Trumpet snails are often transferred in used gravel intended to help start the biological cycle in a new aquarium, but they can come in on rocks, plants, driftwood and decorations, as well. MTS are known to live in buckets of used gravel for over a year! Even after rinsing the gravel thoroughly, they can still be alive and well, ready to start reproducing in their new home. Sometimes called Inca snails, Mystery snails Pomacea spp. Bodies are usually black or pinkish-orange with neon orange spots around the head area.
Shells can be tan or olive with dark stripes, maroon, white, golden yellow or blue. They eat soft algae, dead plant matter and make great scavengers in peaceful community tanks.
There are several theories about how Mystery snails got their name, but a popular one is that when they were first introduced into the hobby, no one knew what kind of snail they were; it was a mystery. Scientists have described two species popular in the aquarium industry — Pomacea bridgesii and Pomacea diffusa , with P.
Mystery snails have gills as well as a lung, with a sort of siphon tube that allows them to breathe air by coming to the surface. A secure lid should be used to prevent them from climbing out of the tank.
Breeding is not difficult; mystery snails are gonochoristic, meaning you need a boy and a girl for it to happen. In addition, the female must be able to leave the water to deposit her eggs, which appear as a honeycomb-like cluster on the tank wall above the water line or attached to the underside of the lid. Babies hatch out in 2 to 3 weeks, depending on temperature, and drop into the water. Nerites Neritina spp.
They come in different colors and patterns, including one with horns! They are among the most beautiful of all aquarium snails. They are relatively small, they don't eat plants and their waste contains bacteria that is beneficial to the digestive tracts of shrimp, making them perfect for planted aquariums and shrimp tanks. Nerite snails are not difficult to breed, but the larvae require brackish or saltwater to develop, so there is little risk of them overrunning an aquarium.
They are thought to live at least 3 years, but there are reports of 5 years from hobbyists. They love to crawl out of the water, so make sure you have a secure lid on your tank! A relatively recent addition to the hobby, Rabbit snails Tylomelania spp. Native to Sulawesi, Indonesia, some species can grow up to 4 inches in length, and they are thought to live up to 3 years.
Some aquarists mix crushed coral into the gravel or place coral in their filters to achieve the correct water chemistry. Rabbit snails feed on soft algae, dead plant matter and other detritus, but they will also eat sinking pellets, algae wafers and other fish foods that fall to the bottom. They do not bother plants, however, there are anecdotal reports of them nibbling on Java Fern.
Rabbit snails are gonochoristic and give birth to live, fully developed young, that are enclosed in a milky white egg pod. Babies are usually born one at a time, although occasionally two or even three are encased. Egg pods are produced once every 4 to 6 weeks, so their reproductive rate is very slow, even if you have several of them. Assassin snails Clea helena are native to southeast Asia.
They have become popular in the. They grow to about 1 inch in length and have alternating yellow and dark brown "bumble bee" stripes. They like to burrow in the substrate but quickly come out for food. Unlike most aquarium snails, which are largely herbivorous or at least omnivorous, Assassin snails are carnivores, feeding largely on other snails or carrion. However, they will not eat their own kind even when other food is in short supply.
A few shrimp breeders have reported seeing Assassin snails eating their valuable shrimp, but experts believe that this happens very rarely, and the victims are most likely weak or sickly. Assassin snails are known to breed in captivity. You might also end up killing off your beneficial bacteria. These chemical solutions are far too unpredictable and unsafe for most home aquariums. Your best bet is to add some fish to your tank that feed on snails. However, if adding more fish will disrupt the balance of your tank in any way, your next best option is to remove the snails manually.
To do so you can simply pick them out by hand or add a piece of blanched lettuce to your tank before bed each night. Why blanched lettuce? Because snails love it! The snails will flock to the lettuce and feed on it so you can just remove and throw away the piece of lettuce along with all the snails in the morning. One way to get rid of unwanted aquarium snails is by introducing fish that will make a meal of those snails.
Before you head out to buy these fish, however, there are a few things that you should think about. Or they may not eat all of the snails. Fish have a mind of their own, after all, and they might decide that they are content with only eating the food that you give them. Secondly, when choosing fish that you will add to your tank, for whatever reason, you should also do your research to ensure that they will get along well with the other fish in your aquarium, as well as any other species you have living in your tank.
That will be an even worse problem than anything that could be caused by the snails. When it comes to the types of fish that are well-known for eating snails, loaches are at the top of the list. Several types of loaches are a good choice when you want to get your snail situation under control. On top of that, they do prefer to be in schools, so getting several of them will be necessary as well.
Another example is the yoyo loach. Again, it is best to keep a few of them so that they can school. And other smaller loaches include dojo loaches and skunk loaches, so those might be good options for your aquarium as well.
0コメント