Aquariums and Plants for Tropical Fish

tags: aquarium, aquariums, fish, tropicalfish

The home for your tropical fish should be as large as you can afford. Fish do better if they have plenty of space, besides, there are so many beautiful varieties that you’ll be sure to want to add more once you start. But remember that the bigger the tank, the heavier it will be when full of water. Most aquariums come with a warranty against cracking and leaking, but that usually only holds good if they are on the recommended stand. Since a stand of some sort is necessary to support the aquarium, so you must decide if you want it to be on a cupboard or table, or on a purpose built stand.

If the table or other furniture used to hold the aquarium is not completely flat, it will stress the glass which may then crack and leak, causing a great deal of damage to carpets and flooring, not to mention the fish. Make sure the floor is structurally strong enough to support the weight of the aquarium too. The neighbors won’t appreciate a fishy shower pouring through their ceiling. For optimum safety, be sure to read all the manufacturer’s instructions when setting up your aquarium.

Aquariums come in several different shapes. They can be hexagonal, square and many other shapes besides. You will need a filter, thermostat, heater, pump and lights for your aquarium. Lights are not strictly necessary, but greatly enhance the visual effect and also keep the plants happy. Be sure to thoroughly wash everything that’s to go in the aquarium first. But don’t use soapy water! Gravel needs to be washed under running water, then pour boiling water over it to kill any bacteria that may be lingering there. While thinking on aquarium hygiene, remember to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your fishy things, just as you would after handling other animals and reptiles.

Plants will enhance your tropical fish setting and some provide food for the fish as well. One of the most popular aquarium plants is called Amazon Sword (Echinodorus Bleheri). It grows from 20 to 50 cm, has fast growth and low light requirements and likes the water to be 20-30 degrees centigrade.

Anubias Augustifolia has long narrow leaves that herbivorous fish don’t seem to eat, which is handy. At least it won’t disappear overnight. It grows slowly, but is easy to grow. If you want to see underwater flowers, pick Anubias Coffeefolica, which is also easy to grow and has attractive new leaves of reddish-brown.

Moneywort or Bacopa Monnieri thrives in most conditions and you can propagate more simply by cutting a piece off and planting it. It needs moderate to high light, so won’t grow with those that prefer less.

An easy and fast-growing plant that absorbs nutrients from the water and helps to contain algae is Wisteria. Not the climber from the garden, but Hygrophila Difformis, a fast and easy grower. If the leaves turn pale add some more fertilizer.

Java moss is great because it attaches itself to rocks, roots or driftwood. You can’t go wrong with this easy to grow plant. It will grow in any kind of water at any temperature. There are many more varieties of plants available from fish nurseries and there are even online stores such as www.AquariumFish.net. that have great advice about aquariums, fish and plant species.

Tropical Fish Calendars

Tropical Fish 2008 Wall Calendar

More 2008 Calendars

Choosing Tropical Fish for Your Aquarium How To Potty Train Your New Puppy

Tropical Fish Aquariums News

• BAHAMAS: Nassau, Paradise Island (Miami Herald)
  Originally published Sunday, November 13, 2005
• Tropical fish draw fans (Courier-Post)
  A father and son hobby led a local man on a quest to fulfill his father's dream.
• Manatee returns today to East Dennis (Cape Cod Times)
  EAST DENNIS - The wayward manatee that drew public attention just over a week ago returned to the exact same spot with sightings yesterday and today in Sesuit Harbor.
• Czechs world leaders in export of tropical fish (Radio Prague)
  Czechs do not eat a great deal of fish. However for some reason or other a great number of them are enthusiastic fish breeders. The Czech Republic belongs among the worlds’ three largest aquarium fish exporters. In fact, exports of aquarium fish have exceeded the country’s traditional exports of carp. According to data published by the Czech Statistical Office, Czechs exported around 240 tonnes ...
• Remarks by the President on U.S. Ocean Action Plan (Christian News Wire)
  THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, all. Thank you, Secretary Clough, for the introduction. And congratulations on the opening of the Sant Ocean Hall -- which, by the way, opens tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. The Secretary and I just had a fabulous tour.