What Type of Fish Tank Light is Best for You?

There are a variety of different types of fish tank light options available for the aquarium enthusiast, and each one has its own uses, bulb life, and yes, even limitations. Choosing the correct lighting system can go a long way to helping to make your tank look great.

A common fish tank light that may be a great choice for your tank is an incandescent light. This bulb type has an average wattage of seven to twenty-five watts and can last between two and four months. Some of the advantages of this type of fish tank light is that it is truly inexpensive, and can come in multiple colors, making it a great fit for just about any spectrum situation that may be necessary for your tank. An incandescent light is often use for small fish only, or a beginner’s start up kit. Its limitations include a high amount of heat output, and a narrow spectrum light.

Another fish tank light that is becoming more and more popular is that of the standard fluorescent light. This type of bulb has a lower wattage amount than the incandescent light, and also has a wide range of colors, sizes, making it an easy aesthetic choice. In addition it is perhaps one of the most cost effective choices out there. The typical use of a standard florescent bulb includes both freshwater and saltwater communities, and even mini or micro reef. This fish tank light is perhaps the one most often used in the aquarium community.

Another variation on the standard fluorescent fish tank light is the T-5 HO Fluorescent light. Its wattage is comparable to the standard light, but it can last much longer, as much as two years total shine time. Needless to say if you don’t want to change your bulbs frequently, and your reef tank is less than twenty four inches deep, this choice could very well be the best one for you.

If your fish tank or reef tank is deeper than 24 inches, perhaps the easiest and best choice for a fish tank light available to you is that of a metal halide light. The wattage is one of the highest available, mainly between 70 and 1000 watts, and can last a surprising six to eighteen months if used correctly. A fish tank light this powerful though, does have a few drawbacks that should be considered. It can, and often does produce a higher overall heat and can require a chiller to keep the temperature of your tank at an optimal level. In addition, the amount of UV radiation emitted by the light is definitely something any good aquarium enthusiast should consider.

No matter which fish tank light you choose make sure it’s one that will fit your tank and you needs best. Be sure to weigh all your options, and talk with the professionals at the aquarium store. They’re definitely there to help you.

The Fish Tank Filter

One of the best ways to keep the water clean, aerated and flowing freely is to purchase a fish tank filter. The job of the filter is to remove fish waste and to keep the water as free from sediment as possible. There are two types of filters commonly used: Under gravel systems, and canister systems that attach to the side of the tank. Both require some maintenance and upkeep such as pad changing.

While the physical fish tank filter is sometimes considered the most important part of maintaining an aquarium, the fish tank filter combined with other forms of filtration such as chemical and biological filtration can help keep your aquarium. The chemical filtration system works with the proteins, pH and chemicals in the water while biological filtration uses helpful bacterial growth to scrub the water cleaner for your fish.

Snails in the Fish Tank

In addition to a fish tank filter, other methods you can utilize while growing your aquarium environment are snails. Snails do a great job of keeping the gravel clean and feeding off the algae that grows on the side of the tank. Snails do, however, have a tendency to overpopulate. Watch for jelly-like masses that form on the side of the tank or on the decorative aquatic plants and remove them by scraping away.

Changing the Water

Regardless of which fish tank filter you choose or how many snails you have in the water, you are still going to clean the tank once in a while. On a weekly basis, you should change 10 to 15 percent of the volume of water in your tank. Even though this takes a bit of time and exertion, it is incredibly important in keeping your fish healthy.

Shapes and Sizes

One of the most important things to consider is the way your fish tank stand will look in your space. Two options that are going to impact the look of the tank your space are the shape and size of the fish tank stand. There are a variety of fish tank stand shapes available. These include semicircular, hexagonal, rectangular, pentagonal, cube-shaped, etc. Some stands are angled so that they can be situated into the corner of a room.

Also, you will want figure out exactly what size fish tank stand you need. This is going depend not only on the dimensions of the fish tank stand, but also n the weight the stand will need to support.

Materials

Like shapes and sizes, there are a plethora of fish tank stand materials available. Fish tank stands are often made out of metal, wood, or MDF/particle board and laminate. There is a price variation among these different materials, and you will want to shop around to determine the best deal for you.

In addition to the price factor, the material you use is going to depend on how much weight the stand needs to support and thus how strong you need the stand to be. Also, the fish tank stand material you choose will depend on the style of your home.

Custom Designs

If you just can’t find a fish tank stand that is right for you, one of the best ways to get the stand you want is having a company custom design your fish tank. Perhaps the most expensive option, custom designing your fish tank stand allows you the option to build cabinets and tables that fit in to your home décor perfectly.

A custom design option that is available are in-wall aquariums. Offering the dramatic beauty of the built-in aquarium as well as offering tons of storage. One drawback of this option is the price as well as the permanence of the investment.

While you can have a fun aquarium without breaking the bank, you can’t do it without plenty of research and the right equipment. Sometimes a book or website does not really illuminate a point like talking to real person would. This is where a good fish tank supply shop comes in.

The Megastore

Most towns today have at least one big-box retailer, and maybe even a specialty big-box pet supply retailer. These places are fine to pick up a can of food, some new gravel and some such standard supplies. However, generally the staff there has only cursory knowledge of aquaculture, of fish tank water chemistry, and troubleshooting. So find a more specialized store for your specialized inquiries.

The Expert Fish Tank Supply Store

Walking into a good fish tank supply store is something like walking into a city aquarium. It tends to be a cool, blue place with a background of running water and plenty of “exhibits” along the walls.

A local fish tank supply shop will carry a much wider variety of healthier fish, interesting tanks, books, and even kitschy decorations than the most mega big-box store. Even if the floor staff didn’t start out as fish experts, they have learned something by being in a specialized shop, or if the store is staffed by the fish-aficionado owner, even better.

Especially for advanced aqua culturists, the fish tank supply shop staff is a great troubleshooting resource. They can tell you the pros and cons of many products, generally from experience in the shop. Tank getting cloudy? Not sure how to interpret the results of your last water chemistry test? These people are the ones to ask.

So to find the right shop start with the phone book, online, or paper variety and pick a few close to home. Then use the Internet to look for reviews or web pages of each shop. A website for a mom-and-pop fish tank supply shop may lack the finesse of a corporate site, but if it shows expertise and enthusiasm about aquaculture, that’s a good sign. Finally, check for websites by local aquaculture clubs; or join one yourself. If you hear good news about a shop from other hobbyists, check it out.

The Importance of the Fish Tank Table

It does not matter what type of fish tank you buy if you do not have a good stand under it, because the whole endeavor will be a waste of effort and money. A good fish tank table complements the aquarium and enhances its beauty. If the stand does not match, the artistic impact will be lessened, and there is always the risk of having the table break under the weight of the tank.

There are many materials to choose from for your fish tank table, such as wood, wrought iron, and molded plastic. Depending upon the interior décor of your home you can choose the color, the material and the type of the fish tank table that is most suitable for you. The type should be decided by the size of the aquarium you are planning to have. You will also need to be careful about how you match the fish tank table with the rest of the furniture so that each complements the other.

The fish tank table costs are as varied as the size and material they come in. You can get a beautiful fish tank table on any budget if you look enough. Check out the local flea markets as well as neighboring garage sales and other type of secondhand sale places. You can always get some wonderful bargains there. However, if you have financial room go for the latest designs in furniture or even order a tank table you’ve customized.

Another place to get competitive prices and good deals is the internet. Try the Internet before you make up your mind about what type of fish tank table you want to buy, because the world wide web is full of online shops which can give high quality at low cost — but you will need, however, to spend some time researching the company’s credentials after finding your best bargain so that you do not fall prey to any scams.

1. The first thing you will need is the bottom material, most commonly gravel and sand. You should ensure that this does not have any calcium in it, or it will kill the fish. The gravel is fine and gives a lot of ruggedness to the tank; however, there should be sufficient hiding space for the fish that loves to hide in the sand.

2. The second on the list of the fish tank decoration is rocks. The rocks give the fish place to hide and play. The more rocks you have the more the fish will feel comfortable, as they mark their territories around these rocks.

3. Then come the aquatic plants – this can be an extremely colorful fish tank decoration and can add as much life to the tank as the fish themselves. There are a many types of plants from hairy to ones with long leaves, and there are many other colors, like red and yellow. Use the plants to create a beautiful landscape for the fish and at the same time match with the house décor.

4. Many fish need real hiding places like caves or plant bushes. It is good to add this type of fish tank decoration if you plan to have the shy type of fish in your tank.

5. Color gravel – it is beautiful to see color gravel in a fish tank. Along the sand and normal gravel, the colorful stones can be stunning. If you arrange to have this, ensure that you use bright colors such as yellow, orange, and red more than darker colors. This will make the tank look more spacious.

The above are just a few suggestions that can help you in setting up a beautiful aquarium for yourself. However, if you are not sure of yourself, call home a professional and allow him/her to set up your aquarium for the first time. These professionals will be able to arrange your aquarium, while at the same time educating you about what goes where and what are their uses. Once you get to know the basics of the fish tank decorating, you can do it yourself.

The Advantages of Having Fish Tank Hoods

The fish tank hoods can be bought with the tank or separately. When you shop for it separately, you will need to have the right measurements so that the hoods will fit perfectly. There are a lot of advantages in using these accessories. These are:

1. They keep the fish safe from jumping out; many times the fish get nervous or sometimes just a little playful and they jump up in the water; if the hood would not be there, they would most likely, land outside the aquarium and die.
2. They provide support for lighting – the aquarium without lights looks neglected and dull; the light is what it makes it look interesting. The fish tank hoods provide the place to hang on the lights.
3. Keeps the children form meddling with the fish – kids are fascinated as the adults with the fish. However, kids are more curious and tend to investigate what they like. Hence, there is all the possibilities that the children would be tempted to touch the fish or even catch them, if the fish tank hoods are not fixed.
4. Place for other accessories such as pump motors and/or filters – there are some models of fish tank hoods where the oxygen pumps can be fixed from the hood as well as the filters.

The above are five main reasons why fish tank hoods are indeed useful; but besides the above, having your aquarium covered with a wooden hood can make a statement on its own. The stand of the aquarium along with its accessories such as the fish tank hoods have to be properly coordinated with the rest of the furniture that is to be brought.

Whether it is for the beauty of the accessory or for its uses, the aquarium is not complete without its hood. Among the many uses, the most important is protection of the fish from harm and from pollution. It is also the best place to hang on to the light. Hence, fish tank hoods are a must for any aquarium.

Why the Fish Tank Coffee Table are Called Death Traps for the Fish?

The fish tank coffee table is indeed extremely beautiful and a great piece of interior home décor; however, the same fish tank coffee table is actually murder for the fish. This is because this type of aquarium gives very little place for installing proper filters, and it allows very little maintenance. The fish have height (depth) but they need breadth in order to feel comfortable. The fish actually feel very uncomfortable if they have to oscillate between the different heights of the towers that make the fish tank coffee table.

The fish in this type of aquarium die a slow and very painful death while you appreciate the beauty of the aquarium. This is why the fish tank coffee table is also called a death trap for the fish. The tables are indeed splendid interior decoration pieces; however, they are also fish-killers.

The wider the aquarium the better it will be for fish to live. Hence, in order for the fish to be comfortable, they will need to be accommodated in a rectangular and long aquarium. The larger the surface the more fish the aquarium can accommodate. The same size tower aquarium will hold half the amount of fish that would be accommodated in a wide mouth tank.

What Else to Use

Hence, if you decide to have a fish tank coffee table it is better to have mechanical fish in it rather than live fish. These are just as beautiful as the live fish, but there is no danger to them when they are placed inside this type of aquarium. In this way you can have your beauty without risking the lives of the fish.

There is still another choice for those who love to show off the fish tank coffee table. You can have the tank filled with colorful decorations and plants and add to it oxygen pumps which let out small and big bubbles for an exceptional show. This, in combination with good lighting, can be as beautiful as an aquarium, without making you guilty of any cruelty.

How Do You Choose the Most Suitable Fish Tank Pump for Your Aquarium?

It is actually difficult for a novice to decide what fish tank pump is the most suitable for their tank. The best way is to buy the fish tank pump along with the tank itself. However, in case you bought the tank without it and you do not know what size and type is the best for you, you will need to get the dimensions of your aquarium and visit your pet store for advice.

You will understand the importance of buying the right fish tank pump when you will set up your aquarium. In case the fish do not get sufficient oxygen, they will tend to swim on the top searching for air. Many will die due to asphyxiation. When you notice that your fish are dying all of a sudden, without any particular reason, then you will need to check out your fish tank pump for correct capacity.

The fish tank pump may malfunction not only because it is smaller than required, but also if it is not serviced regularly. Hence, you should ensure that it is definitely serviced well and checked for efficiency at regular intervals.

What to Do if the Pump Malfunctions

Many times the pump gets choked and stops working; it is good then to have an immediate replacement at hand so that the fish do not suffer any inconvenience by the sudden lack of oxygen. If not, you will have to replace the pump as soon as possible. Once the pump if off the fish may have about 24 hours air left in the water, after which they are likely to suffocate.

Whatever you do, you should always ensure that your fish tank pump works well and that it is adequate for your aquarium. None of the accessories of your aquarium is as important at this piece if you look from the point of view of the health of your fish. Hence, you should always ensure that your tank is equipped with a suitable fish tank pump.