The Importance Of Your Fish Tank Filters

Fish tank filters and heaters are two of the most important components of a successful aquarium setup. Filters are what keeps the water from becoming stagnant and lifeless. Filters have three purposes. Filters are the breeding ground for the special bacteria that works with the chemicals produced by the fish waste. This is crucial for the biological cycles of your tank. Filters also remove the debris from the water, and finally, some filters allow you to place active carbon and other chemicals when they are needed in the tank.

There are different kinds of filters: you have the external filters, and the internal filters, and either type can be used in salt water or freshwater aquariums.

In the category of internal filters, you will find the under gravel filters that are normally used in freshwater tanks. An under gravel filter is a raised grate on the bottom of the tank, under the gravel or any other substrate you want to use. This grate has two holes where you will attach a pair of vertical plastic tubes. These tubes work with either a power head or a bubbler inside them. The way it works, is that the water is forced to flow through the gravel to go under the grate, where it will go up the tube and into the tank. The gravel itself works as the filter media. It collects the leftover food and waste.

Another kind of internal filter is a sump tank placed below the main tank. This kind of filter is used for salt water tanks. It works like this: the water from the fish tank spills into an overflow, which has a pipe leading to the sump. The sump contains filter media and a pump, which sucks the water in and then pushes it through a tube back into the main tank. The disadvantage of this kind of filter is that it can be expensive and it can also be noisy.

The preferred kind of filter is the external kind. There is the kind that you can hang from the back of the tank, and the kind that goes underneath, in the stand. All the filtering happens there. The water gets sucked out into the filter, passes through the filter media and goes back into the tank. This type of filter can be expensive, but it is also the most effective and low maintenance. You just need to make sure that the filter is large enough for your tank size. It has to be able to circulate ten times the volume of water per hour. A 75 gallon fish tank needs a filter that can circulate 750 gallons per hour.

Most of these filters can be readily found in stores and online, but the more expensive external filters, since they need custom made tanks, are harder to find in a general pet store. It might be worth it to save that money and get a good quality external filter.

White Koi and Koi Pond Algae

A koi is a carp that is being bred because of its color. The whole breeding craze started in Japan during the 1800's. Back then only two colors were bred. A century later, more colors became available and continue to increase up to the present day. Koi eventually won the title for being the most beautiful fish in the world. The colors are red, white, black, yellow, blue, gray, and green. But the most famous of them is the white.

Growing kois is an expensive affair. The pond alone has to be wide and deep enough to cater to a certain number of koi population. Other requirements include location, security, and devices that regulate the environment of the pond to ensure the kois grow in the best way possible. Kois grow up to 3 ft so for serious growers, they need a serious pond to grow them in. A fish tank will not suffice unless it is big enough for the koi to swim and grow in. Even though kois don't school much, it's the size of each one that has to be taken into consideration. Necessary consideration with the location must be taken to avoid Koi Pond Algae from growing as well.

The white koi is known for its visibility in murky waters. It's body is attractive due to the trait of being quite reflective. Kois under this category are the: sanke, kohaku, beko, and ogon. The only kois considered to be true white kois are probably the sanke and the kohaku because of having colored markings against the white background. But the bekko and ogon are not totally white making them similar to other breeds.

As for kohakus, 50 to 70 percent of their bodies are covered in red markings while the sanke is covered in black and red markings against a white background. There is a set of standards that koi enthusiasts follow in order to determine the kind of koi and these are the criteria.

The markings have to be of a particular color. In the case of a kohaku, red. The sanke has to be red and black.

Again in case of a kohaku, its body has to have markings and these markings must cover at least half to 70% of its body. The rest should be pure white.
The colors must follow a symmetrical pattern. When being observed, the colors on one side should reflect at the opposite side.

The color should be as deep as possible. A light color hue means the fish has a defect.
Color edges have to be clear especially on edges where the colors meet with the white background.
Since it's a fish, it should be covered in scales.

A koi that does not meet these standards for a white koi is disqualified. They are considered defective and not pure in breed. Only a few breeders know this fact and this had resulted to the breeding of unqualified white kois. Since kois are popular, these fishes are expensive but they make excellent pets to decorate the yard. These also make as excellent food source as well as income source for fish farmers.

What You Can Tell From Koi Colors From Photos

If you are interested in buying a koi and plan on buying them from a grower located quite far, you need to see what he has in stock first before making a decision. So the grower sends you pictures of koi. Any breeder would expect any person interested in koi to know how to distinguish them apart from other fishes. If you have to look at the photos, you need to distinguish the type, this is your first stop.

Now for the koi types. There are a wide variety of koi, 15 of which are common. You need to check the characteristics, each variety has its own and if you are skilled enough, you can point and name a koi you come across. The first thing you will see is the color, followed by the pattern, and later the scales. The koi colors are yellow, black, blue, white, red, and green. The only exception to this is the ogon which is of pure color. The rest is a mixture of these colors. The pattern is the next thing you will observe from the photo. Again a koi type has its unique pattern. The next to check is the scale. There are only two types of koi when it comes to the scales. Those that are partially scaled and those that are not. Those without are called doitsu.

Now, how would you know if it is a real koi? Other fishes may share the same trait so a really good inspection is needed to confirm if it is a koi or not. Perhaps one obvious thing to check is the size. Try to make estimates in the photograph. You are lucky if it is a fully grown one since an adult koi would reach up to 3 feet in length. This should make it easier to distinguish from regular fish. Try to also check the colors and pattern that the fish has.

So, if you confirm that the koi in the photo is a koi, you need to know now if it meets the standards to be called a koi. A koi can be bred and be called as such but that does not necessarily mean it is a true koi. The colors have to be deep in hue, a light hue will give it away as a disqualified koi. Check also the definition of the color edges if these are clear. The standard koi would have color markings that are patterned symmetrically.

In relation to the deepness of the color, a light color indicates that the koi is in pure health. The colors will have to be dark especially for dark colors. The last thing to check is the age of the koi. As the fish ages, the patterns begin to fade. A koi that has been properly grown would meet all the standards of a true koi but these standards begin to fade away with age.

So, now that you know the basics, you can try them out. And at least now, you know what information to ask for when buying a koi.

Answers To Your Queries On Aquarium Thermometer Gadgets

Keeping aquariums in the house is a trend and a hobby as well. People enjoy keeping fish since fish always portray sign of life in a house. Fish are colorful beings and their movement in the aquarium causes a lovely oxygen bubbles scene. They give such lively effects that one can hardly get his or her eyes off their tank. Fish swimming without any noise in the house gives a soothing effect too. Well, the fish-tank management is no doubt the best hobby and activity, but it is not that easy at all. You have to ensure the safety of your animals by buying an Aquarium Thermometer.

Otherwise they may die of extreme heat after sometime. Managing tank temperatures in an aquarium is as important as feeding the animals properly. If the temperature in the aquarium does not suit to that of fish body, they will immediately die. This seems to be a difficult task when it comes to checking heat levels again and again.

Well, to make life easier for these cold-blooded pets, aquarium thermometer has been introduced in the market. This is a digital thermometer that helps you control the temperature inside an aquarium. The following questions and answers guide could help you.

How does it work? - Well it is one of the easiest and simplest scales to read out the accurate temperature of your aquarium. You can install the gadget and remove it when you want. You need to buy one and then figure out at what place you need it located. Try to keep that away from any other filter or anything in the aquarium. In addition, try to place it where it can provide quick view. Then, check the instructions of the thermometer that you have bought since all the models have been designed differently. For a digital one, install its batteries or charger.

Are digital thermometers and heaters the same thing? - Well these are not the same things. Thermometer only tells you the temperature count in the aquarium.

Are digital thermometers accurate? - Digital thermometers provide you a high degree of accuracy. These are accurate to one tenth of a degree.

Do I need to check it regularly or it is not that important to stay updated with the reading? - Well, it would be good to check the readings regularly in order to maintain the temperature inside. Many brands are offering their thermometers with alarm as well, which would sound when the temperature crosses the set degree.

Is it technical in reading the temperature on aquarium thermometer? - The aquarium thermometers are designed easy-to-read appliances. These gadgets have the reading straight written, and you only have to place them at a point where you can read easily and accurately. Nevertheless, as far as a regular thermometer is concerned, you have to check if the reading is in green area or not. The green area symbolizes the out-of-danger situation.

Can the heater and aquarium thermometer be placed together? - Yes you can safely place them together. Both of these devices are to be placed inside the aquarium together or far apart.

Arowana Care Effective Tips for Your Arowana Tank

If you want to know how to properly care for your arowana, then you have to consider its tank. Tanks or aquariums for arowana play a very vital role in the life of your fish. It is important that you choose one which fits the requirements of your fish so you will be able to care for it very effectively. The tanks are essential to sustain the life of your fish and to make sure that proper arowana care has been established.

Finding the right aquarium or tank for your arowana is dependent on some factors. The first factor is the size of the tank. If you want to have a guarantee that effective arowana care is established for your fish, you have to choose a tank or aquarium which is suitable for the different sizes of arowana. The recommended size for arowana tanks is that which can contain water for up to 200 gallons or 750 liters. However, this can be reduced if your fish is small. The cover of your tank is also very important. Since arowanas are able to jump for as high as 6 feet, the cover of your tank must be strong enough to prevent the fish from jumping out. This will also add to the security of your arowana fish.

The water temperature of the tank should also be considered in your choice. The temperature must give enough comfort for your arowana fish. Since arowanas are considered to be tropical by nature, it is also important that you give them a habitat that gives them complete tropical comfort. This can be done by checking the water temperature of your tank and make sure that it is always between the range of 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want to establish the most accurate arowana care for your fish, the tank or aquarium should be included among your primary considerations. This will allow your fish to live and stay with you longer than expected.