The good thing about starting up a tropical freshwater tank is that its the best system for a beginner, and Wholesale Tropical Fish because its relatively cheap and the fish are quite hardy. Saltwater fish are very expensive, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and you will need a lot of knowlegde and technique.

When you have bought a tank you must remember these points:

Wash the gravel: Put it in a bowl, and Wholesale Tropical Fish place it under a running tap and keep stirring the gravel until the water that flows from it becomes clean. Really get in there and nead that gravel, and Wholesale Tropical Fish get it as clean as possible.

Decorating material: Wash the rocks as well. If you have a background secure it firmly.

Clean the tank: Clean the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish check for leaks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then empty it.

Everything is correct: before you fill in the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish check that everything is right - filter, and Wholesale Tropical Fish heater, and Wholesale Tropical Fish light, and Wholesale Tropical Fish thermostat.

Knowledge: I bought several books when things started going wrong, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and I recommend that you look extensively around other Tropical Fish websites as well.

Now that you all ready to jump on the bandwagon, and Wholesale Tropical Fish these steps should help you:

Add the gravel: Make sure that theres enough, and Wholesale Tropical Fish because the plants will want to root. If you want an underground filter, and Wholesale Tropical Fish use at least a depth of 5 cm at the front and rising to double at the back.

Add the water half way: Now you can add any plants easily. Best to put the taller ones at the back, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but its all in the eye of the beholder. Make sure that the plants have enough gravel to root, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and cutting might be needed. Don't disturb the gravel, and Wholesale Tropical Fish use a plate or an object to weaken its force. It is probably best if you use a hose.

Install the filter: Attach it so no plants or rocks are in the way. Attach heater and thermostat firmly.

Add the rocks: If you use a large rock, and Wholesale Tropical Fish make sure that it is firmly bedded in so that it can never topple other.

Add the water all the way: Watch out as well, and Wholesale Tropical Fish because if you fill it right to the brim, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then later you want to change the arrangement and put your hands in - whoops!

Important!! Condition the water: Before adding any fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you must get rid of all the chlorine from the water. Chlorine/Chloramine can damage the fish , and Wholesale Tropical Fish and there are a lot of "tap water conditioners" on the market, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so buy one NOW!!

Turn it on: Set up you lighting system if you have one, and Wholesale Tropical Fish You should get a noise and a flow of bubbles when you turn the filter on, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and then to a more steady flow. Before adding any fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish let the filter run for 5-7 days, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so any last chlorine can escape. Also, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you may notice that there maybe a lot of bubbles clinging to the glass - this is because tap water is pressurised, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and as cold water is warmed and left in the aquarium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish gasses are released. Let these dissipate, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as they will disappear when aerated. Its not a bad idea to add a couple of flakes without the fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish to start off the Nitrogen Cycle before your fish arrive. Even better, and Wholesale Tropical Fish take some water from an established aquarium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and plonk it in. If you can "nick" some media (gravel, and Wholesale Tropical Fish decor, and Wholesale Tropical Fish plants) will all be helpful. There's no fixed limit there, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as this will get the cycle going. If there are sick fish in it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish obviously try to find different water. Also, and Wholesale Tropical Fish "running in" a new aquarium in an established tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish will colonise it with beneficial bacteria. There is always the option of a "fishless cycle", and Wholesale Tropical Fish where ammonia is added to the aquarium. Make sure that the temperature is correct, and Wholesale Tropical Fish at about 24C.

Add the fish!!: Add only a couple of fish to start off with. Use the Equalising method, and Wholesale Tropical Fish by floating the fish using their bag. Leave them there for 15 - 20 minutes. Then release them.

1. Soluble chemicals

OK, and Wholesale Tropical Fish we'll start at the top. Everything you're dealing with in a tank of water is to do with ions. Ions are either atoms or molecules of a chemical substance which have an imbalance of charge so that they're either positive or negative - how an individual 'species' (general term for an atom or molecule) behaves depends on what it's made of. Most chemical compounds split into ions in water and this is how they become dissolved - Intact species can't exist in solution but ions can quite happily interact with water molecules due to their charge.

1.1 Water ions

As well as the chemicals you put in, and Wholesale Tropical Fish water also does the same thing. At any one time, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a small proportion of a body of water will be split into H+ ions (positively charged hydrogen) and OH- ions (negatively charged oxygen with a hydrogen atom attached to it). These are what allow other chemicals to dissolve. Which leads us on to...

2. Acidity

First, and Wholesale Tropical Fish let's dispel a myth. There isn't really any such thing as alkalinity. The term alkalinity is an academic crutch for describing a substance that is less acidic than pure water. Everything should really be considered in terms of acidity.

Acidity is quite simply the proportion of H+ ions in a solution. Its common notation, and Wholesale Tropical Fish pH, and Wholesale Tropical Fish means just that - proportion of H. Water has a pH of 7, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which corresponds to 10-7 ppm, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or parts per million of H+ ions. This assumes that the water is at a fixed temperature and pressure and is completely pure - pH can vary enormously with even tiny changes. Even distilled water on standing in air will become slightly acidic as carbon dioxide dissolves into it.

Some, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or indeed most compounds when they dissolve in water will change its pH. What happens is that the positive ions of the compound will interact with the OH- and H+ ions from the water and so change the dynamic between H2O species and its ions. The upshot is that the body of water will produce more or less of its own ions to restore the balance.

2.1 Alkaline minerals (Bases)

Yes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish I know, and Wholesale Tropical Fish I know - I complain about something then adopt it myself in the same article. Still, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it's a convenient reference to materials which increase pH. This sounds like an odd contradiction as when pH increases, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the acidity decreases. In simple terms, and Wholesale Tropical Fish alkaline minerals, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or Basic minerals, and Wholesale Tropical Fish remove H+ ions from solution. The common ones, and Wholesale Tropical Fish carbonates, and Wholesale Tropical Fish react with the hydrogen ions to produce carbon dioxide, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which is released, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which returns to the system. As this happens continually it lowers the proportion of H+ ions in the solution and hence, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the pH rises - the solution is less acidic than water.

12.2 Acidic minerals (Acids)

And correspondingly, and Wholesale Tropical Fish we have acids. Acids release H+ ions into a solution. A good example of this is the nitrogen cycle, and Wholesale Tropical Fish explained in detail in the wonderful article by ParrotFishRule. Basically, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the chemical processes that convert the nitrogenous wastes release H+ ions due to the fact that they use oxygen ions from the water - leaving the rest of the molecule - H+ ions - behind.

3. Hardness

Hardness is a rather complicated area dealing with the quantities of different types of ions dissolved in the water. Of the two types, and Wholesale Tropical Fish there is General Hardness (GH), and Wholesale Tropical Fish which refers to the total quantities of ions dissolved in the water and Carbonate Hardness (KH - the standard adopted is German, and Wholesale Tropical Fish in which 'carbonate' is spelt with a K...) which deals with the proportion of Hydrogencarbonate ions, and Wholesale Tropical Fish HCO3-. General Hardness is also referred to as Permanent hardness because it's very difficult to change. For the purposes of aquaria, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it's best left alone as the only safe and reliable method of changing it is 'cutting' with pure water. Carbonate hardness however is extremely important...

3.1 Buffering

Carbonate hardness is important because it dictates your tank's Buffering Capacity. Buffering capacity is the ability of a given body of water to resist changes in pH. Because the hydrogencarbonate ions in the water are a base, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they can react with H+ ions and remove them from the system. With a given value of carbonate hardness, and Wholesale Tropical Fish your water will have a fixed pH, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but how much that pH will change when new chemicals are introduced depends on your buffering capacity. If the amount of new H+ ions released by the chemical is small compared to the amount of carbonate hardness, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the pH will remain relatively constant, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which is what you want. If the carbonate hardness is low, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a small amount of new acid will make a large change to the body's pH.

In general, and Wholesale Tropical Fish carbonate hardness is produced by your water coming from an area rich in chalk and/or limestone, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which releases Carbonate ions into your water. Such water will normally have a high GH and KH, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and will also tend to have a higher pH. Areas which take their water from reservoirs rather than groundwater, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or are on clay or peaty soils, and Wholesale Tropical Fish will tend to have a lower GH and KH, and Wholesale Tropical Fish though in this case GH may not change much while KH is reduced by reacting with the acids in the soils. This water will also tend to have a low pH and a low buffering capacity.

What do you need first??

Thats easy - its information, and Wholesale Tropical Fish get informed before a drop of water hits a tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish decide what you want to keep, and Wholesale Tropical Fish is it going to be fish only? or maybe coral only or possibly a full reef as this will decide what equipment/lighting you should be aiming for..

A marine tank cycles in different ways to a freshwater tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish we predominantly use live rock ( which is rock taken from the ocean) and live sand to help not only cycle the tank but also process waste products on a constant basis, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if the tank is stocked with approx 2lbs of live rock per gallon it should be able to cycle out most nitrate that the tank produces if the tank is stocked at a reasonable level.. plus a marine tank will go through many different cycles, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they usually come as ammonia-nitrite-nitrate, and Wholesale Tropical Fish diatoms-algae-hard algae( corraline algae).

This last stage of diatoms to algae can take some 6 months, and Wholesale Tropical Fish especially if water conditions are bad or cheap sand is used as the free scilicates in cheap sand will feed the diatom bloom for many months..likewise with the algae stages, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if water quality is less than perfect then algae will be a big problem possible for years until the source of the food is discovered.

Lastly we have hard algae, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this is desirable and a sign of a healthy tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish hard algae comes in a range of colours from pink to red and purple etc

F ish come in all different shapes and sizes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish nearly all marine fish are classed as delicate, and Wholesale Tropical Fish obviously there are a few that are hardier than others but they cannot and will not suffer bad water conditions or cycling tanks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish therefore just chucking in a few damsels and thinking that they will do ok isn't usually the case, and Wholesale Tropical Fish that's why we use live rock as a cycling agent.

T he general rule for stocking is about 1" of fish per 3 gallons for fish only systems and 1" of fish per 5 gallons of water for reef systems, and Wholesale Tropical Fish obviously this isn't a rule that's hard and fast, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if you have a thin bodied fish that's 3" long vs a fat fishthats also 3" long the fatter fish is going to produce more waste, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so a bit of common sense must be used when selecting fish or deciding on stocking levels.

Salt

once again a big section of your tank will be influenced by the salt you use, and Wholesale Tropical Fish there are many brands available, and Wholesale Tropical Fish i have tried some of the cheaper ones as well as the more expensive ones and there is very little difference in the top end of salts, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but a big difference in the budget end.

I would personally recommend either kent

instant ocean http://www.petdiscounters.com/small_animal/reptile/hermit/io_salt.jpg

or the best i have tried is reef crystals

obviously as with most things in life if you buy in bulk it will be cheaper, and Wholesale Tropical Fish i have found it better to go for the 55lb drums of salt and save about 40% on the cost of i bought it in small bags.

Mixing salt is done differently by everyone, and Wholesale Tropical Fish i like to mix my salt in a spare tank/waterdrum as when first mixed the salt is very caustic, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if you are just starting out and the tank is TOTALLY EMPTY then yes you may mix the salt you need in the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish get the temp of the water to 26c ( or the hydrometer wont work properly) then add salt till you hit about 1.015, and Wholesale Tropical Fish leave this mix for 24-36 hours as different compounds in the salt mix at different rates, and Wholesale Tropical Fish after 36 hours all the compounds should have mixed well and you can retest the sg.. normally it will stay the same but it may have increased in that time as all the salt mixes into the water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then slowly add salt til you read 1.022 and stop there, and Wholesale Tropical Fish wait another few days with a powerhead circulating the water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the ph will be quite high when the salt is first mixed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and it also can give a false reading for ammonia when just mixed as well so don't be alarmed if you notice this.

The tank should now be ready for rock and live sand.

mixing salt for water changes..

a little forward planning is usually needed for waterchanges on a saltwater tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish most keepers know when a water change is due and will plan a day or 2 ahead making ro water and pre mixing to prevent problems.

S alt mix for water changes are usually done in spare buckets/rubbermaid tubs or any food grade plastic containers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the salt is mixed in exactly the same way as the first time you did it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish get it to temp then add the salt, and Wholesale Tropical Fish check the salinity of the new water against the older water that's in the tank to check for compatibility, and Wholesale Tropical Fish once they are identical leave the new mixed water for a day or 2 and keep a eye on its ph, and Wholesale Tropical Fish once the ph of the new mixed water is stable its safe to use( usually 48 hours, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but maybe more for amounts of 50 gallons and above)

Lighting

Your lighting will determine what you can keep in the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and opposite what you want to keep will determine what lights you buy, and Wholesale Tropical Fish light is not only used to view the fish etc, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but its also used as a food source for corals, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so the lights must be powerful enough to supply the demand of what you wish to keep.

normal output tubes (n.o) will suffice for fish only systems, and Wholesale Tropical Fish soft corals will demand either a small bank of several n.o tubes or a few high output t5's as these deliver more light per watt than a n.o tube will do, and Wholesale Tropical Fish hard corals will demand either a large bank of t5's or the high end of lighting which is halide lighting.

tanks are calculated on depth for the amount of light needed to penetrate the water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish for every 100w of halide light supplied the penetration is approx 12" so a 15w light tube is really only going to penetrate about 3-4" as far as supplying lighting for food goes.

the spectrum of lighting is also important, and Wholesale Tropical Fish freshwater tanks use anything up to 6500 kelvins, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but a marine tank will suffer massive algae and look washed out with such a yellow light, and Wholesale Tropical Fish marine tubes are generally 10,000 kelvin's in temp which give a crisp but not yellow light, and Wholesale Tropical Fish for a deeper look to the tank then 14.000k or 20.000k tubes/halides are used( or a combination of all), and Wholesale Tropical Fish this isn't just for appearance the bluer end of the spectrum is used for corals to convert sugar into food more than the whiter end, and Wholesale Tropical Fish therefore if you do use 6500k tubes then you must supplement the tank with 50.000k dedicated blue tubes.

Other equipment needed are the same as any other fish tanks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a good stand, and Wholesale Tropical Fish heaters and testing equipment for salt water especially concentrating on high end ph, and Wholesale Tropical Fish nitrite, and Wholesale Tropical Fish nitrate, and Wholesale Tropical Fish ammonia are essential, and Wholesale Tropical Fish after that calcium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish magnesium and iodine aren't so essential but good to know where you are at...

Flow

Flow is mainly produced by means of power heads, and Wholesale Tropical Fish reef tanks have quite a bit of flow to not only stimulate the action of waves but the added flow also helps with water quality, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as the more water is pushed by and through the porous live rock the faster it will be able to process waste products.

this is a standard type of power head -

How many are needed??

this all really depends on what type of tank you have, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a fish only tank will have substantially less flow than a reef tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish especially if there is less rock in the tank as any structure will dissipate flow quite considerably so additional pumps may be needed to stop any dead spots from forming within the tank.

as a general rule of thumb its good to try to cycle the whole tank's gallonage every 10 mins through power heads..sometimes this will need to be increased depending on the structure and layout of the tank..

Mechanical Filtration

Marine tanks are usually very well filtered, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this is usually done by skimmers but some keepers like to use some form of mechanical filtration, and Wholesale Tropical Fish any type of filter can be used but its good to remember that any floss or filter material should be rinsed in TAP WATER every 3 or 4 days to kill the bacteria thats living on them, and Wholesale Tropical Fish otherwise they will become biologically active and start to produce nitrates in massive amounts, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with obvious results..

Chemical Filtration

T his form of filtration is used more often than any other, and Wholesale Tropical Fish products such as rowaphos or carbon are used to add a sparkle to the water and to remove impurities and phosphorus from the water.

products like rowaphos can be kept inthe water continuously and need only replacing when algae returns or traces of phosphorus are detected in tests.

carbon must not be used all the time but in blocks of 2 weeks every few months, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this is to stop it from releasing any impurities it has absorbed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and to stop it from releasing phosphorus as most carbon is produced from coconut husks which has a very high amount of algae producing phosphorus..

Live Rock

1 what is it ??

2 what does it do ??

well now for the bit that is totally different to freshwater systems, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a freshwater tank can only cycle ammo-nitrite-nitrate with water changes used for removal of the end stage, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a marine tank filtered with live rock will cycle ammo-nitrite-nitrate-nitrogen gas+consumption due to anaerobic bacteria in the cores of the rock, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this alone stands a marine tank alone from all others, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the ability to cycle nitrate is a massive boon and is something that most fish keepers will stock their tanks with rock for alone irrespective of all of the other benefits.

Live rock is large hunks of rock that have been taken from the ocean, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it is not only full of billions of bacteria spores, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but also home to thousands of small critters/hermits/sponges and tube worms..in fact the list of life on them is massive, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this is why we pay so much for hunks of rock that look dead.

there re 2 types of live rock available to you, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the first is uncured, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this has just been removed from the ocean and contains alot of life but also quite a bit of dead bacteria and critters that didn't make the flight over to this county, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so it is going to be quite raw and produce a bit of ammonia when added to the tank..

cured rock is the second type available and as the name says it has had time to sit in vats of water and get rid of the ammonia that its going to produce, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this rock is a little more expensive simply cos that lfs has had to keep it for longer and spend cash on salt etc for water changes..

if you use sufficient amounts of live rock ( up to 2lbs per uk gallon) then mechanical filtration isn't really going to be needed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the rock will do it for you as long as there is sufficient flow in the tank and it is cured to a high degree, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the bigger the pieces of rock the better its ability to denitrify, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but sadly the more expensive it is as well...

geographical types of live rock..

This is florida base rock -

its quite dense and liiks alot like concrete, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this rock is too dense to be useful for denitrification as the water cannot penetrate but its useful for building bases and saving cash if all live rock isn't wanted or if your stocking a very large system.

Fiji rock is one of the most common and best rocks to get, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its full of nooks and crannies where life can emerge and is great for filtration -

it can come usually as small cannonball shapes but sometimes is available as thinner flat pieces, and Wholesale Tropical Fish great for making caves.

Eco System Rock

This is the new craze, and Wholesale Tropical Fish when eco warriors complained about the amount of rock used in the aquatic trade thats taken directly from the ocean, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a new trade developed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and that was to make your own rock, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this is then shaped using a concrete base and cured for many months in varge vats. its available in some outlets but isn't considered live rock unless its been allowed to sit in a active system for some time, and Wholesale Tropical Fish useful again to use as a base rock -

Filtration

This is one of the biggest parts of the tank to get right, and Wholesale Tropical Fish filtration in a marine tank should make the water so clean that you could drink it( apart from the salt--dont try this at home lol) in a freshwater tank there is a definite cycle of ammonia-nitrite-nitrate, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but in a marine tank we are able to go another step and process nitrate to its gas form, and Wholesale Tropical Fish by using anaerobic bacteria and understanding what conditions this bacteria need to thrive will result in a virtually nitrate free system and its completely natural.

There are many styles of filtration, and Wholesale Tropical Fish here are the most common.

under gravel filtration.

Almost all of us are familiar with u/g plates etc and we all know how they work, and Wholesale Tropical Fish i used one in my freshwater tank for 6 years with no problems, and Wholesale Tropical Fish in a marine tank they do work but require more maintenance than normal..which due to human nature is sometimes missed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish water quality starts to spiral downwards and as we all know only bad things happen quickly.

Reverse flow u/g filters work a little better and tend not to gunk up too much, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the sand bed must still be kept well stirred to stop clumping etc for the normal amm-nitri-nitrate cycle the u/g filter does well, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but sadly its not capable of cycling the nitrate due to the high prescence of oxygen.

Deep Sand Beds

i wont write much on dsb's as i have a excellent article that explains it 1000 times better than i could ever cover.

just to say that they are a very efficient way to cycle nitrate and to some level phosphate, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and release trace elements back into the system through passive diffusion.

check here for more info.

Berlin System

The berlin system is what most people tent to opt for, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its the use of a skimmer and live rock to perform most if not all of the tanks filtration needs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a concentration of 1-2lbs of live rock is needed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and a good skimmer, and Wholesale Tropical Fish after that there is no real need to purchase expensive external filters.

The live rock will cycle a tank and carry out all stages of filtration, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the only thing that's really needed to make the berlin system work well is flow, and Wholesale Tropical Fish water needs to be pushed through the rocks in order for the bacteria to have access to it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it also lends itself to be combined with a deep sand bed for total coverage from all angles.

This author uses the berlin method on his tank and i have had a problem with nitrate..the problem is im needing to add it!! my algae/coral zooanthelle require about 2ppm nitrate to live and function so i have started to add more liquid food simply for the nitrate content...

Jaubert Style

The jaubert style of filtration uses a thick layer of live sand on top of a plenum to provide a small void under the sand, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this does a roughly similar job as the deep sand bed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish encouraging anoxic conditions to be developed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish anaerobic bacteria flourishes and nitrate is cycled at quite a fast rate

plenums have sometimes caused a few raised eyebrows from some of the more experienced keepers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its low on maintenance but may need replacing every 8-12 years..i personally wouldn't ant to rip out a 12 year old reef to repair a plenum... but others swear by them..

A full excert on the plenum and how to construct on is located

here

Cleanup Crew

The clean up crew does exactly what it says on the tin. they are there to eat any waste food and keep the tank clean, and Wholesale Tropical Fish plus they will happily eat the waste of other larger animals thus removing it from the water column and minimizing waste a real boon in keeping manual maintenance to a minimum and eradicating algae blooms that are fed by excessive waste, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they can come in all shapes and sizes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish from starfish to snails and hermits being the most common, and Wholesale Tropical Fish most people buy the usual turbo snails etc but also try to look out for the more unusual like cerith snails and Nassarius Snails, and Wholesale Tropical Fish these little beauties will not only eat wasted food and detritus, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but they like to burrow into the sand and are excellent in keeping d.s.b's healthy and well turned over. a real treasure if you can get hold of them.

Hermit crabs are comical with blue legs being a little better at cleaning up algae than reds but both are equally useful in keeping the tank maintained and clean, and Wholesale Tropical Fish other than cleaning the front glass every few weeks there should be no real human intervention, and Wholesale Tropical Fish your cleanup crew will do it all for you if in sufficient numbers... which leads nicely to clean up crew stocking, and Wholesale Tropical Fish general rules tend to vary but try to aim for 1 clean up species per 1-3 gallons of water and 1 starfish per 50 gallons or so.

A quick word of warning about mixing snails and hermits, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if the tank becomes very clean ahd the hermits get hungry they will opt for a nice snail takeaway so every few weeks feed them with a small piece of meaty food, and Wholesale Tropical Fish such as mussel or lance fish to keep them happy, and Wholesale Tropical Fish plus ask your lfs for a few empty shells so they wont also kill snails to steal shells as they grow.

Sumps

A sump is a smaller tank either kept to the side or the bottom of the main tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it allows a area to put all of the less attractive equipment such as heaters/skimmers etc etc out of sight, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and also if enclosed in a cabinet it reduces noise.

the main tank usually has to be drilled in the base with overflow weirs or at the sides/back at the required water line to accept pipes that will lead to the sump, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the sump itself can be just a box or it can be partitioned to allow a area for growing algae's to compete for nutrients or if lighting is sufficient a area that baby corals can be grown on in relative safety from fish etc.

The main reason for the sump however is it increases the gallonage of the system, and Wholesale Tropical Fish allowing you to have more fish in the main display without being overstocked.

a return pump is then used to return the water to the tank as required

refugiums, and Wholesale Tropical Fish i thought id tack this 1 onto sumps cos that are somewhat linked, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a refugium is a small area that is safe from fish/inverts etc that will eat them, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it can be as simple as a box under some small rocks made of eggcrate, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or as complex as a separate tank full of algae that allows them to breed and be safe, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they will swim into the tank in a few days and be eaten as they do, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but their numbers will always be high if well fed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they are the best live food available so if space allows a refugium is a excellent idea

When things go wrong

Ok this isn't a totally risk free hobby, and Wholesale Tropical Fish things do go awry and mistakes happen, and Wholesale Tropical Fish short of a tank rupture things usually can be recovered in time.

some general things that tend to happen are things like poor water maintenance, and Wholesale Tropical Fish not maintaining equipment or overfeeding usually are the root cause to much heartache.

water maintenance:

your water is the life of the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if its goo then you can almost bet that everything else will also be good, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if its bad then your in for a rough time, and Wholesale Tropical Fish in a new tank test every 3 days for main water parameters, and Wholesale Tropical Fish including ammonia, and Wholesale Tropical Fish nitrite, and Wholesale Tropical Fish nitrate, and Wholesale Tropical Fish ph and specific gravity( s/g).. as the tank ages you can drop ammonia and nitrite from the list.

Testing the water. most tests can be done at any time, and Wholesale Tropical Fish ph should be done just before the lights come on and just before they turn off at the end of the day, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as photosynthesis will raise ph ( also see algae control for methods in controlling ph swings)and knowing what the tanks swing is can be very useful, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the ph can drop if the tank is becoming acidic, and Wholesale Tropical Fish fish waste is acid based likewise so is the co2 they produce, and Wholesale Tropical Fish good surface movement will help these gas off naturally and is a main reason why tight fitting cover glasses aren't used.

water tests are the backbone to finding out what may be wrong, and Wholesale Tropical Fish many times people say "i have lost my fish" and i reply what are your test results? usually the reply is " umm i don't know" if something looks ill, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the tank looks different, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the corals or fish are acting strange or not showing that well you test test test!!!

Algae is a main reason for heartache in the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it can plague tanks for many years, and Wholesale Tropical Fish usually if they keeper is using tap water with residual nitrates or there is phosphate present in the water then algae can last forever.

Getting rid of algae

Most people overfeed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish resulting in excessive waste and bad water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish just cutting down on feeding can solve many problems, and Wholesale Tropical Fish incorrect lighting or bulbs that are a few years old will also feed enormous algae blooms as the light spectrum shifts to the redder end algae will thrive.

Increase the clean up crew, and Wholesale Tropical Fish make them scavenge for those leftovers that are missed and improve water quality, and Wholesale Tropical Fish make sure all filters/skimmers are working well, and Wholesale Tropical Fish some may need a clean out or a rinse in tank water.

manual vacuuming of the substrate shouldn't be needed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish that's the job of the clean up crew.

Algae blooms in one area of the tank would denote that something has died in that area, and Wholesale Tropical Fish releasing nutrients into the water and causing a local bloom, and Wholesale Tropical Fish sadly that the time to start looking under rocks to see what the unfortunate victim is and remove it if possible.

valonia is a bubble algae that some suffer from ( myself included) small porcelain crabs will eat it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but its best not to introduce it if possible, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if you purchase anything from a lfs that has small green bubbles of algae on it remove them outside the tank before introduction.

Slime algae. this usually plagues new tanks and new keepers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its a mat forming red/greed algae that smothers everything in a new tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish usually it will go away as it consumes whatever is feeding it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but sometimes its persistent, and Wholesale Tropical Fish 1 golden rule is slime algae hates flow, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if you have it increase flow to the whole tank as well as the general area, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it will peel off the substrate in mats and can be easily netted out of the tank once loose. it is one of the few algae's that is poisonous to both fish and humans, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if you have been handling cyno or any slime algae wash you hands well afterwards.

All nusciance algae's will go away if whatever is feeding them disappears, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you can also cut down on light and introduce competition for those nutrients in the form of macro algae's, and Wholesale Tropical Fish carlurpra is the most common algae that people use, and Wholesale Tropical Fish usually in the sump( as it can become a pain) a small light on the sump will be enough to grow this algae and because its such a fast grower it will soon out compete any other algae for food, and Wholesale Tropical Fish plus it gives the added benefit that if its lit in the sump at night when the main tank lights are off it will stabilize the tanks ph balance and stop really bad swings in ph during the nighttime a double plus!!!

Disease.

White spot (Cryptocaryon irritans)

white spot is one of the most common ailments that will strike marine fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish in a marine system if the fish cannot be netted and placed ina hospital tank then its very hard to treat, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as most medications contain copper which not only is toxic to all inverts it is also absorbed into the rock and re-released over long periods of time.

One of the best methods i have found to not only treat ich but also prevent it is the common clove of garlic, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it contains a compound called Allicin, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this compound produces the smell we all know as garlic, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its highly antibiotic and will also stimulate feeding in lethargic fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you can use it by taking 1 clove of garlic and after peeling stab all over with a fork, and Wholesale Tropical Fish let the clove sit with the food in some water for a good hour then remove it and feed as normal, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or for a more powerful punch take a small piece ( baby fingernail size) and pound it into a fine pulp, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the more the garilc is minced/liquidized the more allicin is released in the garlic oils, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this canthen be fed to the fish in the same way as above but you don't need to remove the small pieces of garlic, and Wholesale Tropical Fish most fish will eat them with relish. it has proven to be such a boon that kent now manufacture a product called garlic extreme which is just a liquidized garlic preparation.

here is a full article on the treatment of ich using this method

garlic research paper.

Velvet/rust (Amyloodinium ocellatum)

This is a not so common parasite that presents itself as a golden/rusty sheen on the gills and scales of a infected fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if left untreated it is usually fatal, and Wholesale Tropical Fish infected fish will either die for no reason or if seen early they will flick against rocks and also cough to flush water over their gills.

Treatment includes freshwater dips( very stressful and can cause ich) or chemical control in a isolated hospital tank here's a link on this disease VELVET

Lateral line disease

This problem condition affects certain species of marine fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and those almost entirely members of the family Acanthuridae, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Surgeon fish or Tangs. The appearance of the resulting damage from the disease is very similar to that of the Hole in the Head Disease seen in freshwater fish. But in Marine fish it will usually start off around the head area, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and progress along the lateral line of the fish back into the body, and Wholesale Tropical Fish scarring the fish as it develops. Neglect to feed the necessary elements of the food given to Surgeon fish is the primary cause of this condition, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and only restoration of an improved feeding regime will allow it to control, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and repair. The cure for this condition is not the complete answer, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the feeding routine must also be addressed as tangs have a very selective stomach and cannot tolerate algae free environments.

Osmotic shock.

Most fish regulate how "wet" their bodies are through active osmosis, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this basically means that they have the ability to pump water in or out of their bodies to match their current conditions, and Wholesale Tropical Fish most oceans are very similar in levels of salinity, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so normally this isn't a problem.

The problem starts when we as keepers neglect to inform ourselves of the chemical composition of our tanks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the salinity, and Wholesale Tropical Fish ph and hardness all play important roles, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this form of infection usually presents itself if a fish/invert is placed in a bag at a lfs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then carefully transported home, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the keeper then opens the bag and dumps the poor fish into the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the difference in ph and salinity between the 2 tanks may not be significant, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but it usually is enough to make the fish pump out so much internal water (in a attempt to become more salty)that it dies of dehydration( this would happen if your salinity was higher than the lfs) or the opposite if the salinity is lower than the lfs the fish would start to suck in water to become "less salty" and match its environment, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this usually causes internal haemmoraging and renal failure resulting in a slow and very painful death.

inverts are especially prone to osmotic shock due the the hard exoskelleton which means that water takes much longer to diffuse inside its body.

what can you do to prevent it??

This is the easy part.. try to match your lfs water parameters if possible, and Wholesale Tropical Fish make your tanks salinity,ph and hardness as close to theirs as you can to mimise shock, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and always acclimatize well, and Wholesale Tropical Fish float a bag with a new fish in for a few hours, and Wholesale Tropical Fish adding 10mls or so of tank water to the bag every 10-15mins so the animal/invert/coral slowly becomes used to the new water chemistry, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this may take a few hours of hassle, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but it reduces almost all chances of shock, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and stress induced disease like ich.

Right, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so you have decided to get a tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and stumped for Tropical Freshwater (If you havent decided, and Wholesale Tropical Fish there are also marine and coldwater forums to give you some ideas on this site). There are over 4000 species of tropical freshwater fish imported, and Wholesale Tropical Fish from the americas, and Wholesale Tropical Fish africa, and Wholesale Tropical Fish asia and the australian subcontinent. These raise from the tiny to the colosal, and Wholesale Tropical Fish timid to dangerous, and Wholesale Tropical Fish plain to colourful, and Wholesale Tropical Fish common to super rare, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and everything in between. This obviously can pose some difficulties in trying to understand and provide the best conditions. The hobby can be as complicated, and Wholesale Tropical Fish involving and expensive as you want to make it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish from za single small tank in the corner of the living room to hundreds of tanks as part of a small business.

Plus it can be quite fun along the way!

Choosing a Tank and Stand

OK, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so your choosing your first tank. As with everything else in the hobby, and Wholesale Tropical Fish there are lots of choices! Before commiting, and Wholesale Tropical Fish some things to consider

A) Are there any specific fish you want to keep that may require a tank of a certain size

B) How much space do you have in the proposed location of the tank

C) Do you want the tank to form a piece of furniture

D)What are you looking to spend

E) What shape of tank do you like (generally rectangle, and Wholesale Tropical Fish bow front, and Wholesale Tropical Fish corner, and Wholesale Tropical Fish cube)

Its generally best to get the biggest tank you can afford and sensibly accomodate, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as these give more stable conditions, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and allow for more fish. With increasing tank size, and Wholesale Tropical Fish there are things to consider

A) Bigger tanks cost more to set-up and run

B) They can take more time to maintain

C) Can you physically reach all parts of the tank

D) They are harder to move and transport

E) They weigh more! A Litre of water weighs 1kg, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and considering the tank and stand etc, and Wholesale Tropical Fish every litre of tank volume probably accounts for 1.3-1.5kg of weight. Tanks are heavy, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and need a very stable floor surface. With tanks over 250 litres its worth considering the strength of the floor

Right, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so you have chosen the tank type and size you want. There are basically two choices, and Wholesale Tropical Fish glass or acrylic. Acrylic is lighter, and Wholesale Tropical Fish easier to handle, and Wholesale Tropical Fish stronger, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and can have better optical qualities. It does scratch easier, and Wholesale Tropical Fish is harder to repair, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and in common sized tanks its more expensive. In common sized tanks 99% of people go for glass.

You will need something to sit the tank on. For small tanks (<100L) a sturdy piece of furniture may do it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but it must be strong and level. The other alternative is a stand or cabinet. A stand is just that, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a simple frame made of wood or metal to support the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and are sold in common sizes (or can be DIY). Cabinets are more pieces of furniture, and Wholesale Tropical Fish often incorperating handy cupboards to hide things in below. Cabinets can be very expenisve, and Wholesale Tropical Fish far outstripping the cost of the tank (although DIY is a possibility gain). Its just a case of weighing up what you want against the cost

What ever you choose to stand the tank on, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a layer of polystyrene or specialist matting is essential between the tank and what its stood on, and Wholesale Tropical Fish to even out any unevenness in the surface.

Its always worth shopping round, and Wholesale Tropical Fish seeing what different places offer (especially for cabinets), and Wholesale Tropical Fish and comparing prices. Some bargains can be found on second hand tanks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish buts a case of buyer beware, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if in doubt dont risk it!

Hoods and Tank Tops

In addition to something to site the tank on, and Wholesale Tropical Fish your probably going to need something to go over the top of it. Hoods and cover glasses keep fish in, and Wholesale Tropical Fish air bourne chemicals out, and Wholesale Tropical Fish provide somewhere to put lights (see later sections), and Wholesale Tropical Fish stop water and heat loss, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and improve the aesthetics of the tank.

Its generally reccomended to have a cover over the top of the tank itself (such as sliding cover glasses or a drip tray) and a hood. The first the tank may come with, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the second it almost certainly wont unless you buy a package. For hoods its worth considering looks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish tank access, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and the suitability for any special future lighting plans.

Locating the Tank

Once you have your tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its time to check the location before setting it up. Some points to consider are:

A) Is it near suitable power outlets? Tanks have a habit of using a lot of these, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and you always need more

B) Is it out of direct sunlight? Direct sunlight can cause problems with algea, and Wholesale Tropical Fish viewing and over heating.

C) Weight - is the floor strong enough and level? Checking with a spirit level might be a good idea, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as stands can be levelled up before the tanks filled with water

D) Is it in a good viewing position?

E) Is it away from things like washing machines, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or other equipment that may cause vibration, and Wholesale Tropical Fish noise or airbourne pollution

F)Is it sited where it wont be knocked or brushed past all the time? This can cause a risk to the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and annoy the fish

G) Is it in a area of stable temperature? Fluctuating temperatures can cause problems with tanks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and tanks in very cold areas will cost a fortune to heat

H) Whats its proximity like to sinks and drains for maintenance - trying to limit bucket carrying, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as this also minimises wet shouty moments!

Once the tank is set-up, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its best to take 5 minutes to think it over befoe getting water in it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as it can be quite difficult to change!

Choosing Equipment

OK, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so far we have a box to keep water in, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and something to stand it on. In theory fish could live in this, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but not for very long! As we are going to be maintaining a mini bit of aquatic biotope in our houses, and Wholesale Tropical Fish some equipment will be needed to keep our fishy friends alive.

This falls into three main catagories:- heating, and Wholesale Tropical Fish filtration, and Wholesale Tropical Fish lighting (more for us and plants and the fish), and Wholesale Tropical Fish and "other". There are two main choices, and Wholesale Tropical Fish either select individual bolt on items from different manufacturers to fullfil your needs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or buy systemised tank (such as the common Juwel brand). The second is easier, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but may prove more expensive, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and cut flexability. Its always worth shopping around for equipment, and Wholesale Tropical Fish including on line stores as these often have big selections at good prices.

When choosing equipment, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it helps if you have an idea about any specialist equirements fish you want may have. If you just going for community fish and a standard set-up, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then this shouldnt be too difficult.

The first stage in moving a tank is to plan and be prepared. Work out exactly what you have to move, and Wholesale Tropical Fish how far (and how long) you have to transport it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and where it will go at the other end. If you can work out a tank location before you actually move, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it saves a lot of messing around and time wasting at the destination. Things such as availability to water supplies and power points need to be considered. There is nothing worse than setting a tank up only to realise that you haven’t got anywhere to plug the filters in!

The next thing to consider is buckets for holding fish and water. Some people like to bag up fish for a move, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but personally, and Wholesale Tropical Fish I like to move them in as much water as possible. This allows more water to be taken to the new location and with a greater volume of water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the heat loss will be reduced. I would say the best tool for this is your standard black plastic dustbin (cleaned without detergents first). Another couple of buckets are also needed for gravel and plants.

About a week before, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its worth doing a slightly more thorough than usual gravel clean. This will save on having lots of gunk floating around when you uproot everything. As usual, and Wholesale Tropical Fish don’t clean all the gravel, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but maybe 50-70%. It will also allow your filters to compensate for any loss of bacteria due to having the gravel cleaned.

First stage of the move is to siphon some water into a smaller (10-15ltr) bucket. Carefully remove all the plants (if you have any) and put them in this bucket. This is also a good time to remove unwanted snails where possible. Having no plants will make catching fish way less stressful for both you and the fish. Once all the plants are in, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a bit more water (till the bucket is half full) can be added. I then recommend covering the bucket with a damp cloth or towel, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as this will stop any leaves from drying out and help prevent spillages. Leave the tank for a little while to allow the filter to clear any disturbed gunk from the water.

When you ready to move, and Wholesale Tropical Fish siphon some more water into the dustbin (or similar) until there is enough water to hold the fish in. Internal filters can be placed in here, and Wholesale Tropical Fish along with a heater stat. If these are fully covered by the water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they can be plugged in and turned on, and Wholesale Tropical Fish keeping the water moving through the filter. Now its time to catch the fish and place them in this bin too.

Once all the fish are caught, and Wholesale Tropical Fish some more water can be siphoned off to fill the bin to about ¾ full. Be careful to watch for jumping fish at this stage. With all the fish in the bin, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and with the filters still running, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the bin is OK to be covered and left while the rest of the tank is dismantled. I use a bin bag (or any other sheet plastic) taped tightly over the top to cover it. This will stop fish jumping out, and Wholesale Tropical Fish keep them in the dark (less stress) and stop spillages en route.

If more buckets are available, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then more water can be taken along. Just fill them up and cover them as before. If the tank has a fine gravel or sand substrate, and Wholesale Tropical Fish I siphon the gravel and more water into another bucket. If the gravel is too large to be siphoned, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then the gravel can be removed with a scoop or similar. The gravel bucket can have more water added to keep any bacteria present wet, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and with more of a chance of surviving.

The tank is now empty and can be cleaned (no detergents!) of any stubborn algae or dirt.

Now all that needs to be done is to unplug the filter and heater from the bin with the fish in (leave them in the bin) and the whole setup is now ready to move.

At the other end, and Wholesale Tropical Fish simply plug the filter and heater back in, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and fill the tank with gravel. Where any water was removed and thrown away, and Wholesale Tropical Fish an equal amount of warmed dechlorinated fresh water can be added to the tank. I then like to mix (by adding the fresh to the bin and bin to the fresh) some of this new tank water and the old water in the bin to ease the transition and any temperature differences. After both the tank and bin water have been mixed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish add much of the water from the bin to the tank. The fish can now be transferred over, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and the filter and heater added and turned on. All the other plants and décor can then be added.

Other variations:

External filter: This will just have to be turned off at the last minute and reconnected ASAP at the other end.

UGF: The gravel will need to be kept wet to preserve the bacteria for the biofilter.

Air powered sponge filters: Can be kept running in the bin with a battery powered air pump.

Long distance move: A battery powered air pump and stone would be useful to have running in the bin with the fish.

Filtration - whats the big fuss? Surely, and Wholesale Tropical Fish all you have to do is install your filter and off it goes? Well, and Wholesale Tropical Fish in essence that is correct, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but its not quite as simple as that. You shouldn't need any technical skill to operate a filter, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but it well help you if you understand how the processes work.

The purpose of the filter is to remove dirty materials from the aquarium. With so much crap going through the filter, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it is important to keep regular maintenance, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as a neglected filter becomes a box of concentrated dirt through which all the aquarium water is continuosly passed. Also a impeller chamber can become clogged, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and the fan will stop - hence no water will run. Eeek!! Don't panic just undo the cover and clean it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and it will work again smoothly.

Filters work in three ways:

Mechanical filtration: Removes suspended materials from the water.

Chemical filtration: Removes dissolved materials from the water.

Biological filtration: Uses beneficial bacteria to convert toxic substances into relatively harmless ones.

Ok, and Wholesale Tropical Fish three ways of filration, and Wholesale Tropical Fish thats not too bad. And if you want to know a bit more in detail, and Wholesale Tropical Fish read on....

Mechanical filtration: To strain suspended dirt from the water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a reasonably tightly packed material is required. This is a man-made substance like nylon floss or synthetic foam. i would recommend you to only buy foam designed for aquariums, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as others may be toxic.

Chemical filtration: The best material to remove dissolved solids is activated carbon. It has a large surface area, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which readily soaks up dissolved minerals and chemicals, and Wholesale Tropical Fish such as fish pee, and Wholesale Tropical Fish on its surface (that process is called adsorption - remember this word and its use, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you could impress you fellow tropical chum and its good to store this info). Also carbon will adsorb useful substances, and Wholesale Tropical Fish such as medications, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so it must be taken out when these chemicals are in use. After a peroid of time, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the carbon becomes ineffect. When this happens it must be replaced.

In the majority of systems, and Wholesale Tropical Fish more than one medium is used so that mechanical and chemical filtration can occur simultaneously.

Biological filtration: Is the most important, and Wholesale Tropical Fish because it uses the bacteria to change harmful fish waste products, and Wholesale Tropical Fish ammonia and nitrite, and Wholesale Tropical Fish into a less dangerous compound, and Wholesale Tropical Fish nitrate. Biological filtration requires a "running in" period while the bacteria establish themselves on the filter medium. This process takes a few weeks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and requires ammonia for the bacteria to eat, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which can be provided by adding one or two hardy, and Wholesale Tropical Fish robust fish until the nitrite and ammonia levels are stable. Low-maintenance, and Wholesale Tropical Fish in-tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish biological filtration can be used in all aquariums. For more information see the page about the Nitrogen Cycle

Well, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you might as well know about aeration and the uses of air pumps...

Aeration: Power filters will do most of the oxygen enrichment, and Wholesale Tropical Fish just as long there is sufficient agitation of the surface, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and this will promote the exchange of gasses (Oxygen is absorbed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and CO2 is eliminated). With planted tanks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and there is a small fish population, and Wholesale Tropical Fish even agitation is kept to the minimum, and Wholesale Tropical Fish to actually keep CO2 in.

Its best that the air stone is used for special reasons, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as it isn't particularly useful. The air pump itself provides aerotion by compressed air, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which is electrically driven (well I never). When choosing an airpump, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it's size needn't be related to the dimensions of your tank - even the smallest model will provide enough air for a 60 cm long aquarium.

Sorted? You know about aeration and filtration now? Good, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if you still need info look around my site.

Eheim Filter - Parts

Eheim filters have been around for a very long time now and have a very good reputation for quality and reliability. Perhaps that sounds like a sales ploy, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but it is true. Years ago I had what they now call Eheim Classic filters and they are still selling them.

So now on to the nitty bitty bit, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the problem solving part, and Wholesale Tropical Fish of cleaning them and priming them. Hopefully some of this info can be useful for any other fish keeper’s using these excellent filters.

First of all, and Wholesale Tropical Fish those seals around the top, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and where the pipes connect, and Wholesale Tropical Fish keep them well coated in ‘Vaseline’.

Next, and Wholesale Tropical Fish when you are cleaning out the impellor make sure that all the grot is removed from the bottom and inside of the body that the impellor sits in. This is essential so as to keep the impellor cool and smooth running.

When cleaning the head of the filter take great care to clean right down the little hole that is in the surrounding area. It is only small, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and a lot of people miss this one out. It is there to allow water down to the bottom of the impeller body to cool it and keep it running free, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but this hole clogs up in time.

Next is the priming of the filter, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which a lot of people have trouble with. Assuming that the filter is empty and clean, and Wholesale Tropical Fish make sure that the outlet pipe is completely free from any water as this will stop the priming of the filter. (Even if there is water in that bit of pipe that goes into the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you know the bit that has the U bend in). Now leave off the outlet pipe which comes off the filter box and with all taps on (if taps are fitted) give the outlet a good suck, and Wholesale Tropical Fish (a spare piece of pipe helps with this). Then when you hear that the water is flowing into the filter box, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you can put the outlet pipe back on. Depending on the size of the filter you should have plenty of time to get that pipe back on, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so don’t panic about it.

Another thing that could cause a problem, and Wholesale Tropical Fish is the gunk that builds up in the pipe. When you see that your green pipes are black inside, and Wholesale Tropical Fish pull them off when doing the next filter clean and pull a long pipe cleaner through them. Doing this will keep the flow rate up.

Keeping that Blue filter sponge clean also helps, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as when this gets clogged it draws air in and makes the filter hiss.

When you have started up your filter there will be, and Wholesale Tropical Fish for a while a hissing noise from the pump. To clear this, and Wholesale Tropical Fish give it a rock to and fro as this will allow the air to be released from the filter.

Hope this will help, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as all these things that I have written, and Wholesale Tropical Fish all work for me and others that I have told about them.

FAQ

Q. What type of media do I use for a long-term biological/mechanical filtration?

A. From the bottom of the filter box. Ehfimech, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then Ehfifix Pad, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then Ehfisubstrat and finally Ehfisynth Pad.

Q. Why is it that my filter is not working as well as it did when I first bought it?

A. Most probably likely to be a build up of algae/gunk in and around the impellor. This must be kept clean at all times, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as it will in time wear out the bearing shaft. As the bushing gets old, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it loses its grip on the shaft and allows the shaft to spin with the impellor. When this happens they both spin simultaneously and cause a reduction in flow.

Q. What is the difference between Biological, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Mechanical and Filtration?

A. Biological - A build up of toxic nitrogenous wastes is a natural result of all aquarium inhabitants. In nature the large body of water is enough to dilute these wastes to be used up by other organisms and then be converted to a less toxic chemical. In the aquarium however these poisonous toxins cannot be converted without the use of a powerful biological filtration. Without this conversion from toxic to less harmful waste the fish will slowly poison themselves.

If you use Ehfimech, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which is made of hollow ceramic material and holds back the solid dirt particles (at the same time) it provides an intensive stream of turbulence in the water and an even flow of water through all layers in the filter.

Then put the blue coarse filter pad in.

Use Ehfisubstrat in the top basket. This consists of highly porous sintered glass, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which is used as the main filter medium and has a huge surface area and allows lots of bacteria to colonise.

Then use the white fine filter pad on top.

Mechanical - This is where the filter works by trapping the particles of waste as they pass through.

Again we use Ehfimech in the bottom layer to trap the solids and to allow an even flow of water through out the filter.

Then in the next layer we use Ehfifix, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which is a medium mechanical filter. This is placed between the Ehfimech on the bottom and any subsequent biological or chemical filter layers. This traps debris, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which has passed through the bottom layer and acts as a divider.

On the top we use Ehfisynth, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this is a completely natural wool, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and will trap any fine particles of dirt. It can come loose or in a pad.

Filtration - Absorptive filtration is a process in which dissolved substances are captured by solid bodies such as carbon. These dissolved substances can be harmful to fish. They are generally of chemical origin such as chlorine in tap water. (Alkaline residues of aquarium medication and even some dissolved).

With all types of carbon the effectiveness is short lived and to stop the absorption being washed back into the tank they must be changed. Also remember that if you are using any medication the carbon must be removed before any treatment can start, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as the carbon will absorb the medication.

Recommend Ehfikarbon, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which is a high quality carbon is for short term use, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and is to be used in freshwater tanks only. You still have to use sponges to trap the waste.

The combination of materials is endless as you could make up your own if you like, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as long as it does the job of keeping the toxins down and keeping the water clear, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then that must be OK with us.

Here is a list of Eheim filters recommended to run, and Wholesale Tropical Fish XXXX size tanks

Recommended filter for XXXX size tank

2006 12 - US Gallons

2008 8 – 16

2010 16 – 42

2012 53

2048 26 – 53

2252 From 53

2003 16 – 26

2211 40

2213 66

2215 92

2217 159

2222 40

2224 66

2226 92

2227 92

2228 158

2229 158

2250 264

2260 396

So, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as these machines are so reliable please don’t just run them into the ground. Just remember to keep your Eheim filter clean on the inside, and Wholesale Tropical Fish keep the pipes clean and your Eheim will give you many years of reliable filtration.

AS I have said at the beginning that the priming of these filters can be tricky and is one of knack.

First make sure that the filter box is empty of water and also the outlet pipe is completely empty including the U bend that goes just in the tank.

Next make sure that the filter tap is turned on at the outlet pipe and remove the outlet pipe. Put a piece of pipe over the outlet hole and with the inlet tap turned on give it a good suck. When you here the water running into the filter box put the outlet pipe back on and clamp it up.

Then when the filter box is full then you can start the pump giving it a shake now and again to dispel any air that is in the filter box.

Keep those pipes clean, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as this will reduce the flow of water.

The Nitrogen Cycle.

Break-in period:

When you have just started a biosphere it takes time to perform, and Wholesale Tropical Fish unfortunately. Water placed in a new aquarium will be changed quite radically. It takes time for the aquarium to balance, and Wholesale Tropical Fish to be able to remove all of the waste material (ammonia) to a less toxic substance (Nitrate). New aquariums generally take about 5 - 7 weeks to able to sustain a full biological load. Thats why you shouldn't just shout "Weeehay!" and chuck in tons of fish at once, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it should be a gradual change.

The Nitrogen Cycle itself:

Fish go to the toilet, and Wholesale Tropical Fish well, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they don't really give a damn they just drop it anywhere, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so because of that they add a lot of Ammonia. Its not just fish excrement, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its fish respiration, and Wholesale Tropical Fish excess food, and Wholesale Tropical Fish plant remnants and even any dead fish that cannot be found. If you had a huge amount of water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the ammonia would dissipate quite well, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but where you have a new aquarium ammonia tends to concentrate. This is a vulnerable time as no fish will enjoy such high levels, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but some are tough (platys, and Wholesale Tropical Fish barbs) and can withstand these levels. But your ammonia level is just a stage, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as biological filtration and beneficial bacteria will reduce it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but it takes time to do this.

To remove ammonia altogether would be bloody hard: instead, and Wholesale Tropical Fish we use numerous bacteria that uses ammonia as a food source. The bacteria strain that is important is Nirosomonas. This strain needs time to colonise the aquarium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the desired population doesn't just happen overnight. This is useful as it absorbs ammonia, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and reduce it to Nitrite.

Once Nirosomonas have reduced ammonia to nitrite, and Wholesale Tropical Fish beneficial bacterias isn't finished yet. Nitrite can be reduced further to Nitrate. The next step is the bacteria strain of Nitrobacter. Nitrobacter takes even more time to adsorb nitrite, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and in this stage nitrite is prominent and it is another dangerous time for a fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish even a hardy one. But, and Wholesale Tropical Fish after a while, and Wholesale Tropical Fish nitrite levels have reduced and the less toxic compound nitrate is left. Although this toxin is far less dangerous than the earlier two, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you must not let it build up in your anquarium. Standard water changes are a chore, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but I would recommend you to do them as this reduces nitrate concentrations, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and your fish will then be more healthy and will appreciate you for it!! (Well, and Wholesale Tropical Fish maybe not but it can prolong the life of your fish). In technical terms, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the Nitrogen Cycle process is called Nitrification - the oxidation of nitrogen by bacteria.

This diagram shows the basic Nitrogen cycle in a tropical freshwater aquarium.

This graph shows how the ammonia concentration builds to a spike, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then rapidly falls. That is because Nitrosomonas has taken hold, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and reduces ammonia to Nitrite. Then Nitrobacter comes along and reduces it further to Nitrate.

These values are just what could happen in an aquarium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish your values will vary.

Also there is always the option of the Fishless cycle which will then prevent any fish going through the hazadous experience.

Choosing your fish

It is very important that you buy the correct tank or fish. For example, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it would be a mistake if 6, and Wholesale Tropical Fish small Angelfish was bought for your small tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish when a year later they are all whooping 110 MM !! You must always think ahead.

To start with, and Wholesale Tropical Fish get a good stock of fish. It does take some time for your tank and fish to settle down. I choose several Platies, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which are a very hardy fish. Don't be tempted by the more exotic species at first; you could be disappointed. Make sure that when you purchase you fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish get a healthy batch. In my local pet shop, and Wholesale Tropical Fish there is a quarantine tank where the unfortunate fish are having trouble. Look for those, and Wholesale Tropical Fish because if the dealer does not show a quarantine tank then it might look dodgy. Also examine the fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and point out the most healthy fish to the owner. Don't let the assistant get your a bad fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish make sure that you get the best fish you can get.

As I have already said, and Wholesale Tropical Fish look for the size of the fish. What a disappoinment when he becomes too large (I haven't made that mistake YET). Because when fish are juvenile, and Wholesale Tropical Fish there are all roughly the same size (juvenile with adults mixed could be misleading) and look around for an adult fish for certain.

When you have finally bought your fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you must equalise the water It is very important, and Wholesale Tropical Fish because if the fish are suddenly introduced to colder temperature it could be disastrous. Be careful, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and leave the fish in the bag in the tank for 15 - 20 minutes.

When you are thinking about purchasing your fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish watch out for these points:

Make sure that the fish are top notch material

Never buy a fish from a tank which contains a suspiciously unhealthy looking one

Don't buy a young fish without looking at the potential size

Use the equalise method

Requirements of the fish

Some fish are picky little souls. Although they are good at adapting to any enviroment, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its best if you get the right fish for the right aquarium:

Catfishes & Labyrinth fish: They generally would prefer a broad, and Wholesale Tropical Fish deep tank with plenty of water. Some fish love to hide every now and then, and Wholesale Tropical Fish try to give them small hiding places.

Angelfish: They are much happier if they are in tall tanks.

Tetras, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Danios: These fish generally like to school, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and they are fast swimmers and like to race around. Give them enough space.

Tank/Fish ratio

It happens so often - a beginner stocks a new aquarium with much too many fishes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the tank becomes very toxic and you fish are all kaput. I confess, and Wholesale Tropical Fish I did it as well, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but not too many fish to really affect the tank. Don't forget, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you can always add fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but its harder to take a fish out, and Wholesale Tropical Fish unless it is well and truly dead. This is a "Within the safe amount of fish in a tank"which will help to guide you on your first tank stocking foray. Its not the perfect formula - and water changes will be the dependant factor on whether there are high Nitrates in the end (see the "Nitrogen Cycle"). This is for any sized tank or fish:

Length of tank * Width = Water surface area / 40 cm (standard) Now, and Wholesale Tropical Fish divide the size, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or the average, and Wholesale Tropical Fish of the fish you want to add.

Example:

90(cm)* 35 (cm) = 3150(cm2) / 40 = 79 / 5(cm) = 15 fish.

The key is to always understock as well - less fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish less waste. Say you had 14 fish instead of 18, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then it obviously you won't get that extra waste in your tank. Always add fish sparingly when you start off your first aquarium (Nitrogen Cycle).

Starting Up With Aquatic Plants

More information on a DIY CO2 set-up

What about plant fertiler? Try the PMDD article

Question - Why do most of my plants die in around a months time? Why do I have to keep buying some more?!! Is it plastic fantastic for the rest of my life?

Hey, and Wholesale Tropical Fish calm down, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you can keep some of your plants alive even though your aquarium is low-tech. Yeah, and Wholesale Tropical Fish certainly some can fail, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and make no mistake, and Wholesale Tropical Fish plenty of mine have. I'm not saying that unless you have a degree in botany you will be successful, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but it's a whole lot helpful if you have some knowledge about aquatic plants. Plants need these basic few things:

A good substrate (Substrate?You what?): To start off with, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you've gone and bought some nice, and Wholesale Tropical Fish coarse, and Wholesale Tropical Fish gravel - no wonder your plants have problems rooting. A good substrate is really needed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and 2-3 mm, and Wholesale Tropical Fish low-calcium beach gravel available from your aquatic shop will be a good start. Using this sort of substrate, and Wholesale Tropical Fish allows the roots to penetrate easily, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and anchors the plant - a big no-no to coarse gravel, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as the plants will just give up and go home. Well, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they'll die to be precise.

Other types of substrate are:

Laterite: Iron-rich clays, and Wholesale Tropical Fish in a reddish colour, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you can buy some in your local pet shop. Why bother? You don't have to, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but this will add some iron into the substrate. You can get it in a pellet form, and Wholesale Tropical Fish where you just mix it with your normal gravel, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and then add a 100% gravel top layer. The roots can go directly into the substrate. By doing this, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you don't have to use so much fertiliser in the water column, and Wholesale Tropical Fish minimise the risk of algae breakouts. And doesn't everyone just love an algae breakout?

Sand: Using sand as a 100% substrate can be detrimental to the plants, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as it can compact quite tightly, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and therefore roots can rot away in dead patches.

Nutrients: A good mixture is needed if the plants are to thrive. Iron is one of the important elements, and Wholesale Tropical Fish for the green pigment of plants (chlorophyll). Other elements include: Manganese, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Zinc, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Magnesium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Copper, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Boron, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Potassium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Sulfur, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Phosphorous, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Calcium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Nitrogen. No mean list there - You may thinking, and Wholesale Tropical Fish "what am I meant to do? Go and buy a bloody laboratory to check the amount of nutrients in my water!!" No, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its not realistic is it. Many of those nutrients will be free in your tap water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and you can buy a liquid fertiliser, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or 2, and Wholesale Tropical Fish to make sure you are adding enough. Plants will also use the Nitrates in your aquarium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which is no bad thing at all. You have got to try to balance the fertiliser with the plants, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and it's a bit of a tricky old situation. If you go and drown your aquarium with fertiliser, and Wholesale Tropical Fish algae can come a' calling. For instance, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Iron content doesn't need to be anymore than 1ppm.

Now what about Photosynthesis - light/CO2? Do I need it in a aquarium? Of course you do!! Every plant needs this little bit of magic. And how much CO2 will be needed then? And light? Now its's getting a bit trickier, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you start delving into the more advanced side of the hobby. The fish in your aquarium will give off CO2 (respiration), and Wholesale Tropical Fish but it won't be that much. If you are really going for a heavily planted tank with some tough plants, and Wholesale Tropical Fish You could add some CO2, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and place some extra bulbs in your tank. And how much CO2 would be needed for the average plant? 15 - 30 ppm won't go too far off. A bit different from iron 1ppm hey!! And you could use a CO2 injection system. No,no, and Wholesale Tropical Fish don't all run away, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if you know what you are doing, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you wont kill all of your fish in one fell swoop. I'm not going to try explaining everything on this page, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as this can be quite complex. One thing is certain - don't go out and buy 100 lamps if you have no CO2 system, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as Photosynthesis will only occur if there is a balance between light/CO2.

Water conditions: Is every plant a hardy one? Unfortunately, and Wholesale Tropical Fish no. Some need quite specific conditions - say, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the "Isoetes Setacea", and Wholesale Tropical Fish needs these properties for it to thrive: KH: 2-5, and Wholesale Tropical Fish pH: 5.5-6, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and needs a lot of bright light. Now if I had a tank with the specs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish let us say - about 8KH; pH 7.5, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and one bulb, and Wholesale Tropical Fish theres not much chance of me keeping this plant alive for a very long time, and Wholesale Tropical Fish no matter how much fertiliser, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or good substrate I have.

Although plants will use Nitrates as a source of food, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and your tank has levels of 20-30ppm or over, and Wholesale Tropical Fish some plants can be affected badly. Only 20-30ppm? That's not right surely? I hear what you say, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but if you look around for pics for heavily planted tanks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish often there will be a smaller population of fish compared to the normal stocking level.

Here's some info on some tough, and Wholesale Tropical Fish low light plants, and Wholesale Tropical Fish that anyone should be able to keep alive:

Java Fern (Microsorium pteropus):

PH: 5.5 - 7.5

Temp: 20 - 25C

KH: 2 - 12

Java Fern is very popular, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you'll probably have bought some of this already. In the natural enviroment, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it creeps over logs and rockwork, and Wholesale Tropical Fish attaching itself by roots. Its often used to decorate bogword, and Wholesale Tropical Fish where the Rhizomes can be secured by wire or a nylon thread, and Wholesale Tropical Fish until they become firmly attached. It can grow in subdued light

Hygrophillia polsperma:

Substrate: Plain washed gravel

PH: 6.5 - 7.8

Temp: 15 - 30C

KH: 2 - 15

Specs look good eh? And it's a very attractive plant as well. It grows rapidly in a range of water conditions, and Wholesale Tropical Fish perfect to start off your aquarium with. It would like quite a bit of bright light, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but you can get by with 1.5 Watts per Gallon. When it actually hits the surface of the water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it will start to run horizontally, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and runners will pop out. You could cut the tops and re-plant it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it helps to rejuvinate it.

Vallisneria spiralis:

Substrate: Plain washed gravel

PH: 6.5 - 7.5

Temp: 15 - 30C

KH: 5 - 12

This is a linear, and Wholesale Tropical Fish grasslike plant, and Wholesale Tropical Fish perfect for a backgroud aquarium. They can grow quite rapidly, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and could reach up to 60cm. Its another plant that would do well in bright light, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but will tolerant light shade. It can be quite indifferent to water quality in your aquarium - buy it!!

Diseases Table

Probably one of the most distressing times of your aquarium with you and your fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish will be when your fish are ill. I mean, and Wholesale Tropical Fish there you are, and Wholesale Tropical Fish proud of your new fish and aquarium and - bam!! Your fish are covered in spots, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or wool-like, and Wholesale Tropical Fish small tufts on the body. Your mind will be racing, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and thinking things like: What the hell is that stuff? Is it incurable? Will it infect all the other fish? is this game over for all of my fish? Yes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its a worrying time, and Wholesale Tropical Fish thats for certain. So to help you to catch an illness quickly, and Wholesale Tropical Fish here are a few (only a few, and Wholesale Tropical Fish there are hundreds of diseases around) of the more common tropical freshwater fish diseases.

Examples of fish diseases

To see an example of a Healthy Fish.

Symptons of illness It could be... Treatment

Your new fish have died - there are no obvious signs of illness "New Tank Syndrome" Adding fish to a brand new aquarium stresses the fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and sometimes it can be fatal. For more info, and Wholesale Tropical Fish check out: The Nitrogen Cycle

Loss of appetite An enviromental problem, and Wholesale Tropical Fish newly-introduced fish can be slow to feed (stress), and Wholesale Tropical Fish certain fishes will refuse anything but live foods. Enviromental: inspect for any manifestations of disease, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and get a basic water tester (Ammonia etc). The same with stress. Be patient with them. Look for other signs of disease.

2,3) Cotton Wool effect on the body Fungus, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Columnarius (Mouth fungus) If you see this disease, and Wholesale Tropical Fish can use medication (ie "Anti Fungus") and a Salt bath (1 teaspoon per gallon)

1) Small, and Wholesale Tropical Fish white spots on the head, and Wholesale Tropical Fish body and fins. Whitespot (Ichthyophthirius) A very common disease (especially in a new aquarium). There are several formulas around, and Wholesale Tropical Fish dose the fish quickly before the parasite spreads. Salt could be used (1 teaspoon per galloon).

8) Fraying of the soft tissue (fin membrane) Fin Rot, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the disintegration of the fins Use medication before a secondary infection occurs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it will take several days before there is serious fin damage. Could use salt bath (1 teaspoon per gallon)

Appearance of a whitish film over the eye of the fish Poor water quality, and Wholesale Tropical Fish poisoning (Chlorine) or Eye Fluke Poor water: Water changes are required. Poisoning: Make sure to condition tap water. Eye Fluke: Use medication

4) Fish are gasping, and Wholesale Tropical Fish on the bottom of the aquarium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish red streaks around gills Most probably oxygen starvation, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or a Gill disease You have too many fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish an air punp may help. Gill diseases are quite rare, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you could actually see the gills rot away: use medication.

5) Worms are visibly seen hanging from the gills, and Wholesale Tropical Fish fish are gasping Gill Worm (Dactylogyrus) This is another parasite. Use anti-parasite drugs as directed.

7) Reddining of the skin, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or red streaks in the fins Virus, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Ulcers (Bacterial infection) Viruses can only be seen through microscopes - and its incurable. With a bacterial disease, and Wholesale Tropical Fish use a anti-bacteria or anti-internal treatment. A prolonged SALT bath (3-5 g/litre for several days) will alliviate osmoregulatory stress in the case of severe ulceration.

Scales seem to be raised, and Wholesale Tropical Fish fish are bloated. Dropsy (Ascites) Dropsy is more of a sympton than an actually disease yet, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and is quite common. Most associated with a bacterial infection (cause could be wide - poor water conditions are often the culprit. Meds can be used, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but dont always work.

Small, and Wholesale Tropical Fish worm like parasites attached to fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish fish scraping against rocks. Anchor worm (lernea) There are many Crustacean Parasites around, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and can be exported into your water. Meds are available.

6) Dull colour (mucus), and Wholesale Tropical Fish detached skin, and Wholesale Tropical Fish fraying of the fin. Mucus Hyperproduction. This called by caused by Slime disease (parasite, and Wholesale Tropical Fish meds available), and Wholesale Tropical Fish poor water conditioners (high Nitrogenous wastes), and Wholesale Tropical Fish fFukes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish stress.

A word of warning with using medication: Obviously people want to save their fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so they go and buy a product, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and sometimes these can be quite effective. But a word of warning - some meds can be very detrimental in the long term. Treatments whitch use Malachite Green and Methylene Blue can be useful treatments for parasites and Fungus, and Wholesale Tropical Fish unfortunately they can destroy our beneficial bacteria, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and then you can get a Ammoni/Nitrite peak for some time. Also some meds demand it that they remove Carbon/Zeolite for the duration of the treatment - this can effectively start up a mini-cycle as the Carbon/Zeolite have lost their bacteria.

Salt bath: So a salt bath is a good way of treating the fish without damaging the bacteria we need. It is a good antiseptic and fungicide. If you are using high doses, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its best to try to gradually raise the concentration, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so the fish don't become stressed. Sometimes it can be effective to use a short salt bath, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with higher salt concentration (such as fungal infection - 10G/Litre for 30 min).

Species Guide

Micah Gates.

I have seperated the fish into proper family names. Here you can inspect them for yourself, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and make decision on whether they are suitable for your aquarium or not. For each there is a small table of information: size at adulthood, and Wholesale Tropical Fish where they originated from, and Wholesale Tropical Fish ease of keeping, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which food they like, and Wholesale Tropical Fish are they friendly or aggresive and water temperature.

Cyprinids? Characins? These names just seperate the fish into a more organised way. Each page I have made gives a small description of each family.

Indepth articles -

Breeding Bolivian Rams

Breeding Harlequins

Guide To Breeding Angelfish

Guppy

Jaguar Cichlid

Firemouth Cichlid

Kribensis

Tiger Barbs - caring for and breeding them in captivity

The Bristlenose Catfish

The Convict Cichlid

The Blue Dolphin

The Red Top Zebra

Keeping & Breeding of the Egyptian Mouthbreeder

Lamprologus Leleupi

Labidochromis Caeruleus

Discus - Care and Breeding Basic Fact Sheet

Tanganyikan set-up

Cyprinids (Such as: Barbs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Danios)

Characins (Such as: Tetras, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Hatchetfish)

Cichlids (Such as: Angelfish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Discus)

Anabantoids (Such as: Gourami, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Siamses Fighters)

Livebearers (Such as: Platys, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Guppys)

Killifishes (Such as: 'Annaul fish')

Catfishes (Such as: Glass catfish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Suckermouth catfish)

Different Fish (Such as: Rope fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Puffers)

Breeding Bolivian Rams

Common Name: Bolivian Ram or Butterfly Cichlid

Scientific Name: Microgeophagus Altispinosa. (Haseman, and Wholesale Tropical Fish 1911)

Family: Cichlidae.

Explanation of the scientific name: Refers to the elongated first ray of he dorsal fin. Altus (L.) = high, and Wholesale Tropical Fish spinosus = spiny

Distribution: Rio Mamore above and below the junction with the Rio Guapore and around other place`s near the town of Trinidad, and Wholesale Tropical Fish river basin of the Rio Guapore at Santa Cruz (Bolivia), and Wholesale Tropical Fish Rio Quizer near San Ramon, and Wholesale Tropical Fish depression below Todos Santos (Boliva) and the mouth of the Igarape near Guajara-Mirim (Brazil)

Size: Males up to 9 ½ cm and females 8cm

Diet: These fish are omnivores and will accept most dry and live foods. Try to give them a variety of different foods live brine shrimp, and Wholesale Tropical Fish pellets, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Spirulina, and Wholesale Tropical Fish flakes etc.

Water Temperature: 25-28 degrees Centigrade (77-82 degrees Fahreheit).

Water Chemistry: A gh & kh of less than 10 is best.

pH: pH 6.8-7.0 is best, and Wholesale Tropical Fish although they can live happily in water with a pH 7.8.

Life Span: Approx 2-4 years.

Tank requirements: The tank should have a length of at least 80cm with lots of plants and other hiding places and an open front area to allow them space to swim. Sexing: There is little sexual dimorphism when young. Males are slimmer and not as stocky than females and also have extensions on the upper and inner rays of the dorsal and caudal fins. Another difference is the dorsal on the males is more pointed and elongated.

Breeding: These fish are open substrate spawners and will spawn on a rock or similar object, and Wholesale Tropical Fish I use red rocks as preferred by Microgeophagus Ramirezi. Once they have paired up, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which they often do for life, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they will select a spawning site and clear it of sand and debris. When they are doing this and during spawning the can get a little aggressive, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but is more for show than anything and they don't seem to actually do any damage to the other fish. At the start of spawning, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the female will lay a few eggs on the stone and will then move away a little to allow the male to come over them and fertilise them. They will do this until there are around 100-200 eggs. After spawning, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the female will fan the eggs whilst the male guards the eggs from any predators. Once they are free swimming, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the fry will be moved off the rock into a depression made by the parents and looked after there. If the fry wander too far from the depression, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the parents will collect them up in their mouth and take them back. It is known for them to be poor parents though and the best chance of fry survival is to remove them and put them in a separate tank.

Description: These colourful, and Wholesale Tropical Fish little fish are peaceful and can be kept in a community tank. They can show very nice coloration, and Wholesale Tropical Fish blue, and Wholesale Tropical Fish yellow, and Wholesale Tropical Fish gold, and Wholesale Tropical Fish orange, and Wholesale Tropical Fish bronze and black on them when settled. Both male and female have a dot in the middle of the body

Breeding Harlequins

Common Name: Harlequin Rasbora

Scientific Name: Rasbora Heteromorpa (Duncker, and Wholesale Tropical Fish 1904)

Family: Cyprinidae .

Distribution: Asia: Thailand (Narathiwat southwards) to Sumatra, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Indonesia.

Size: 6cm

Water Temperature: 22-25degrees Centigrade

Water Chemistry: A gh & kh of less than 10 is best.

pH: pH 5.0-7.5

Life Span: Approx 6 years.

Tank requirements: The tank should have a length of at least 60cm use a dark substrate and some covering provided with floating plants with dense planting along the back and sides of the tank.

Sexing: The males tend to be thinner than the females and males tend to have a straight black wedge whereas the females' wedge curves towards the front slightly

Breeding: Harlequins are one of the more difficult aquarium fish to breed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but if you have the right conditions they will spawn. When selecting fish to breed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish females should be 10-20 months old, and Wholesale Tropical Fish older than this and the females will often not spawn and two males should be kept for each female.

The depth of the water should be lowered to around 13-20cm, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the ph around 5.3-5.7 and a GH of less than 3, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the temperature should be 24.5-26.5 degrees celcius.

Once the tank has been set up and is running, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the fish should be introduced to the tank in the late ofthe day as spawning occurs in the early morning and is caused by the rising of the sun. The spawning process takes anything from 2-3 hours and as many as 100-250 eggs can be deposited on the underside of broad leaved plants and the fry should be free swimming within 24 hours.

Description: There are more than 5 dozen different species of Rasboras but the Harlequin is one of the most popular. The colour is a reddish copper body with a black wedge from below the dorsal fin back as to have a triangular shape with red fins

Guide To Breeding Angelfish

Getting Started

One of the most difficult aspects of breeding Angelfish is encountered at the very beginning of the endeavour – how to obtain a mated male/female pair in the first place. Since there is no truly reliable way to sex immature Angels just by looking at them, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the best way to obtain a pair is to buy a group of young fish and grow them on, and Wholesale Tropical Fish allowing a pair to form naturally. With only two fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the chances of having a male and female are only 50%, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but with a group of six, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the chance is nearer 95%. Allowing the fish to pair up naturally and choose their own partners also means the pair has a stronger bond.

Unless you have a sound knowledge of Angel genetics, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it is best to choose fish of the same colour variety so that the fry are of a good standard. “Mutt” fry may be harder to re-home.

Breeding Behaviour

Angelfish usually pair up and start showing spawning behaviour between the ages of 8 and 12 months, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but for more delicate, and Wholesale Tropical Fish slow-growing colour forms, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it may take longer. When a pair is beginning to form, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the two fish may take part in short jaw locking “battles, and Wholesale Tropical Fish ” but will soon turn their attentions to chasing away the other tank mates. Unlike many other cichlids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Angels rarely display to one another. Instead, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they spend a lot of time swimming side by side, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and defending “their” area of the tank from other fish. Either the pair or the tank mates may need to be removed at this point.

Tank Set Up

The breeding tank should be at least 18 inches in height, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and have a capacity not less than 20 gallons as an absolute minimum. 30 gallons is better, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as it allows space to start growing out the fry as well. The set up will vary from breeder to breeder, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but most find it preferable to leave the tank without substrate to allow for more sterile conditions. A mature sponge filter, and Wholesale Tropical Fish heater and some broad leaved live or plastic plants complete the set up. Since Angels usually choose vertical surfaces to lay their eggs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish some breeders use pieces of slate in the breeding tank as spawning sites.

Angels do best in warmer water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so the heater should be set for between 80 and 85 degrees F (27 – 29C). If the water is on the soft and acidic side, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so much the better, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but these days, and Wholesale Tropical Fish fancy Angels have been tank bred for so many generations that they will usually spawn easily enough in most tap water. The exception of course is wild caught fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or those not many generations removed from wild caught stock. They will still require soft and acidic water to spawn successfully.

Spawning

The pair will choose a spawning site and begin cleaning it with their teeth. Their ovipositors will be visible, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which means this is the earliest chance we have to reliably sex the pair. The males ovipositor is smaller and more pointed in shape than that of the female.

Two or three days after the cleaning commences, and Wholesale Tropical Fish spawning begins. The female lays rows of eggs on the spawning site, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and the male follows behind her, and Wholesale Tropical Fish fertilizing them. It is worth mentioning that two female Angels will sometimes form a false pair, and Wholesale Tropical Fish going through the pairing and spawning motions. Obviously, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the eggs will not be viable in cases such as these.

When spawning is complete, and Wholesale Tropical Fish there will usually be several hundred eggs there, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and there may be as many as 1,200 if the pair is mature and in good condition. The eggs are particularly delicate in the first 24 hours, and Wholesale Tropical Fish until the outer layer hardens. Any eggs which are infertile will turn white over the first day or two. Viable ones will be translucent.

Hatching

Once spawning is complete, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the breeder has two options:

• Leave the eggs with the parents and let them guard them. Angels, and Wholesale Tropical Fish like most Cichlids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish are good parents, and Wholesale Tropical Fish at least in theory. Many years of having been intensively tank bred has weakened the parental instinct, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so some pairs do not parent their own spawns at all. Young pairs may need several tries at spawning to get the eggs to hatch.

• Remove the eggs and hatch them artificially.

If the eggs are to be left with the parents, and Wholesale Tropical Fish try and minimize disturbance in and around the tank. Water changes should be carried out as usual, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but vacuum away from the spawning site and pour the clean water into the tank very gently.

If the parents seem to be eating the eggs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish don't worry about it at first. Good parents will clean the eggs and remove infertile ones, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so may appear to be eating them when they aren't.

If you wish to try hatching the eggs artificially, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you'll need some large jars and/or a hatching tank. Use clean, and Wholesale Tropical Fish dechlorinated tap water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and maintain the temperature at around 80 F (27C). In colder climates, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the temperature can be maintained by keeping the jars inside the hatching/grow out tank.

If your Angels have chosen a plant leaf or piece of slate on which to spawn, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you'll be able to transfer the eggs quickly and easily to the jar. Don't allow them to be exposed to the air for more than a few seconds. Angel eggs are light sensitive, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so it's better to keep them in the dark for a greater success rate. The best way to achieve this is to use methylene blue solution to darken the water in the jar. The water should be tinted very dark blue, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and this will not cause harm to the eggs. In fact, and Wholesale Tropical Fish although methylene blue will not stop fungus, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it seems to slow the spread of it if it does occur. The final addition should be an air stone, and Wholesale Tropical Fish placed underneath the eggs to create a strong water flow. This replaces the fanning actions normally carried out by the parents.

Raising The Fry

All being well, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the first fry will be free swimming on day 6, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and all of the spawn be free swimming by day 7, and Wholesale Tropical Fish when feeding should begin. It is important not to start feeding until the fry are free swimming. If live baby brine shrimp is to be used as the first food, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the culture should be started on day 5.

Live baby brine shrimp is the best food for newly hatched Angel fry. Microworms also make a good supplement to their diet. Frozen brine shrimp is a decent substitute for the live version. At a push, and Wholesale Tropical Fish commercial dried fry foods can be used, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but they aren't really comparable to baby brine shrimp as a first food. The fry should be fed several times a day, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if possible.

Exceptionally clean water is of great importance for Angel fry, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and since feeding should be frequent, and Wholesale Tropical Fish water can become polluted easily. When raising my own fry, and Wholesale Tropical Fish I do daily partial water changes of about 30%, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but 50% a week should be about the minimum considered. Some breeders raising vast quantities of fry will carry out daily water changes of up to 200%!

After about three weeks or so, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the fry can be weaned onto frozen adult brine shrimp and crushed flake food. By this time, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they should look like real, and Wholesale Tropical Fish miniature Angelfish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and it may be a good idea to separate them according to size so that the smaller ones don't find it so difficult to compete for food.

It should be noted that some colour forms of Angel are more delicate than others. These strains include Blushers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish German Reds, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Double Blacks and Albinos, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and the mortality rates will be higher among these spawns. Silver, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Gold and heterozygous Marbles are the hardiest and quickest growing of the colour forms.

Guppy

Common Names: Guppy, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Millions Fish

Scientific Name: Poecilia reticulata

Family: Poeciliidae

Subfmaily: Poeciliinae

Discovered: Known under its current scientific name since 1963, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but was originally scientifically described in 1859 by W. Peters.

Geographical distribution: This fish is originally South America, and Wholesale Tropical Fish including northern Brazil, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Venezuela, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Barbados and Trinidad. However, and Wholesale Tropical Fish feral populations occur in many parts of the world. Some of these are from introductions to try control mosquito populations; unfortunately, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they had little or no effect on the mosquitos, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and sometimes a negative effect on native fish populations. Feral populations have been reported in Africa, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Australia and Singapore.

Habitat: This fish occurs in a massive variety of habitats, and Wholesale Tropical Fish from mountain streams to brackish river tributaries.

Sexing: Guppies can be sexed from about 4-5 weeks. The males have a modified anal fin, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this is called the gonopodium.

Suitable Setup: Guppies are a very popular aquarium fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and don’t require anything special. They are perfectly at home in a peaceful community aquarium. At least 2 females should be kept to each male, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so they aren’t continually harassed. Also for the same reason, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a tank housing both male and female guppies would ideally contain plants so the females can get out of the way of the mal. Although water chemistry is not critical for these fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they prefer slightly acidic water. Salt is optional, and Wholesale Tropical Fish only some, and Wholesale Tropical Fish not all wild guppies live in brackish conditions.

Size: Males grow up to 3cm and females up to 5cm, and Wholesale Tropical Fish although captive species may grow larger.

Temperature: The ideal temperature for this fish is 21 – 28°C.

Breeding: This fish is amongst the easiest to breed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish in fact, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it can be difficult to stop them! The females are nearly always pregnant, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and can store sperm for up to 6 months. She will also give birth to between 10 and 40 fry every 4 to 6 weeks.

One of the best methods for getting plenty of healthy strong fry is to set up a breeding tank. A 10 Gallon tank is easily large enough, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with plenty of plants for fry to hide in, and Wholesale Tropical Fish such as Java Fern or Java Moss. Many people use breeding traps or nets in their community tanks. These are small plastic or net containers that float in the tank. These can easily stress adult fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and lead to aborted pregnancies or even death. If you must use them, and Wholesale Tropical Fish please only put the female in just before she is due to give birth, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or even better, and Wholesale Tropical Fish wait until the fry have been born and then catch and add them the trap. If you are using a plastic trap, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then remember to change the water in it regularly.

Rearing of the fry: Guppy fry are easy to raise. At least a couple per brood would probably survive in a planted community tank. But if you want to save more of them, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then you could use a separate “growing on” tank. A bare 10 gallon tank again would be enough. Just use an air powered sponge filter so the fry don’t get sucked in. You can feed them a variety of things such as liquifry for the first couple of days, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then move up to fine crushed flake foods. Baby brine shrimp would also be a welcome addition. Remember to keep these tanks very clean as fry are more susceptible to pollutants than adult fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so a small water change every day will be necessary, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and also remove any faeces or dead fry.

Extra Notes: These fish are undoubtedly one of the most popular in the aquaria hobby. They come in a massive variety of spectacularly coloured strains. Many fish or pet stores recommend these fish as suitable for first time fish owners. They are easy to look after, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but will usually struggle with a cycling tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and would probably die, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so they should not be added to a tank until the cycle has been completed.

FIREMOUTH CICHLID

Male Female

Common Name: Firemouth Cichlid

Scientific Name: Thorichthys Meeki

Family: Cichlidae

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

Order: Perciformes (perch-like fish)

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Max Size in Aquaria: Up to 6.7”, and Wholesale Tropical Fish females usually smaller.

Geographical Distribution: Mexico, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Guatemala, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Merida, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Progresso, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Yucatan Peninsula, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and Central America.

Natural Habitat: Slow moving rivers throughout Central America and Mexico.

Suitable Tank Setup: A large tank of at least 30 gallons with lots of “hardy” plants, and Wholesale Tropical Fish rocks and wood for cover. May be too aggressive for the everyday community tank but can be kept with robust fish of the same size.

Water Chemistry: Temperature 26-30 C (79-86 F), and Wholesale Tropical Fish pH 7.0-7.5, and Wholesale Tropical Fish gH 4-10.

Sexing: The males are larger, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and have more coloration and red on the throat, and Wholesale Tropical Fish along with elongated, and Wholesale Tropical Fish pointed dorsal and anal fins. Females are smaller with less coloration and rounder fins.

Breeding: Use a pH of 7.0 or higher. The Breeding pair will clean a rock or large leafed plant. The female will then deposit 100-500 eggs (depending on size and time since last spawning). The male will begin to dig pits/holes in the substrate that the fry will be hid in until they are free swimming. The fry are tended to by both of the parents, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and may be moved from pit to pit several times by them. The new fry can be fed newly hatched brine shrimp and/or finely crushed flakes.

Extra Information: The Firemouth cichlid can be quite territorial during spawning, and Wholesale Tropical Fish otherwise quite peaceful. They can flare their gills in aggression much like the Siamese Fighting Fish.

Kribensis

Common Names:

Krib, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Kribensis, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Purple cichlid

Scientific Name:

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Family:

Cichlidae

Geographical distribution:

Lower Nigeria, and Wholesale Tropical Fish often in brackish waters

Sexing:

Female; is more better coloured and develops a purple belly, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the male is bigger and less colorful although can be quite colorful is conditions and settings are right, and Wholesale Tropical Fish some develop a pinkish belly and a slight speck of colour on the top of the rear fin.

Suitable Setup-Tank Conditions:

Kribs like a heavily planted aquarium that also offers shelter in the form of caves, and Wholesale Tropical Fish rocks etc. In addition an open swimming space should be provided at the front to view the fish in their entire splendor. Water chemistry is not critical, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as long as the overall quality is good, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but slightly acidic, and Wholesale Tropical Fish medium-hard water. Terra cotta vases are also a good way for them to make a territory and possibly a breeding site are to are small PVC plastic pipes.

Size:

Up to 10cm (4in) for males, and Wholesale Tropical Fish females are considerably smaller

- Temperature: 24-28 o C (75 - 82o F)

- Breeding: This is quite an easy species to breed. Adhesive eggs are usually laid on the roof of a cave and are guarded mostly by the female, and Wholesale Tropical Fish while the male tends to defend the pairs territory. Once the fry are free-swimming, and Wholesale Tropical Fish both parents undertake guard duties. As many 80 eggs can be laid.

Personal Experiences:

Kribensis are one of the most colorful dwarf cichlids available to aquarists. To get a pair can be difficult as the female takes everything into account size, and Wholesale Tropical Fish colour and health. The best way to get a pair is to take out a group of six and let them pair off naturally. Although small they can be quite aggressive and are not generally suitable to small community aquariums housing small delicate species. They also do not tolerate other bottom dwellers and will chase them off. Corydoras are especially vulnerable to being fin nipped by them as I have experienced. Although they are recommended as a beginners cichlid

Tiger Barbs

caring for and breeding them in captivity

Common Name: Tiger Barb

Scientific Name: BarbusTetrazona

Family: Cyprinids

Subfamily: Capoeta

Origin: Indonesia, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Borneo, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Thailand and Sumatra.

Habitat: Warm, and Wholesale Tropical Fish shallow, and Wholesale Tropical Fish fast flowing rivers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which are well planted.

Diet: Omnivorous, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they will accept most aquarium foods. But try to vary their diet like you would any other fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish to keep them looking their best.

General Information: Tiger barbs are egg scatterers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which means they will scatter their eggs all over the aquarium and have no specific breeding site. Tiger barbs are a pale yellow colour with 4 black stripes running down their bodies. They have a slight “bump” behind the snout leading up to the base of the dorsal fin. There is another species of barb, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the Pentazona Barb, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which looks very similar to the tiger barb but has a fifth stripe running down its body. There are two other types of the tiger barb, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the green tiger barb and the golden/albino tiger barb. Over the years there has been some debate to whether green tiger barbs are dyed. Although, and Wholesale Tropical Fish there is a natural colour green tiger barb which is a metallic green colour. The better the water quality, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the better the colour. My green tiger barbs when I purchased them six moths ago were a dull, and Wholesale Tropical Fish light metallic green, and Wholesale Tropical Fish now they are very dark blue. In some tiger barbs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the fish may show blotches of black scales as well as its vertical stripes.

Sexing: When mature, and Wholesale Tropical Fish male tiger barbs will show bright red noses, and Wholesale Tropical Fish his dorsal fin will have a red line above the mainly black fin and his ventral fins will turn bright red. When in spawning condition or fighting for a higher “rank” in the shoal, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the males stripes turn a slight metallic green colour. And the tips to his upper body scales turn almost black and shine bright orange in certain light.

The females however, and Wholesale Tropical Fish keep their pale yellow noses (may turn slightly pale red at times, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which makes it tricky to determine their sex in store). They only show a small area of red at the tip of the dorsal fins, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and ventral fins will stay pale red. In females, and Wholesale Tropical Fish their stripes stay black.

Ideal Tank: Tiger barbs have a notorious reputation as “fin nippers”. However, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this can be overcome when kept in its ideal tank setup. I wouldn’t recommend anything smaller than a 20 gallon tank for a shoal of at least 8 tiger barbs (this shoal can be divided into the 3 colour varieties stated above, and Wholesale Tropical Fish therefore you do not need to keep just 8 normal tiger barbs). Its best to keep them in a shoal of at least 8 so they will not harass other fish species as much and will concentrate their aggression within their own shoal. The bigger the shoal the better, and Wholesale Tropical Fish And do not keep them with highly territorial fish like African cichlids.

I have a shoal of 8 in a 20 gallon tiger barb species setup, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with 5 normal tiger barbs and 3 green tiger barbs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish soon to add 3 of the albino variety J

The tank should be well planted at the back of the aquarium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with plenty of open swimming space, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as tiger barbs are constantly fast swimming fish.

As they have a reputation as fin nippers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish even when kept in a large shoal, and Wholesale Tropical Fish should not be kept with long finned fish like bettas (fighters) and guppies. But kept in a shoal of at least 8 tiger barbs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they will do great in a community tank (without long fins).

Size of fish: In the wild, and Wholesale Tropical Fish tiger barbs can grow to three inches, and Wholesale Tropical Fish although it is much smaller in aquaria, and Wholesale Tropical Fish often no bigger than two inches.

Temperature: Anything between 24 – 28 degrees Celsius. 27-28 for breeding.

Breeding: Spawning and raising the fry is a relatively simple task. Set up a breeding tank of at least 20 gallons. Keep the water slightly acidic for breeding. The tank should have a heater, and Wholesale Tropical Fish sponge filter, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a layer or two of marbles on the tank bottom to hide and protect the eggs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and a few live plants. Lower the temperature to 25 degrees Celsius. Introduce the female first and condition on a variety of live, and Wholesale Tropical Fish frozen or freeze dried foods like brine shrimp, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the same goes for the male, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but keep them separate for two days before introducing the male. When the female has filled with eggs put the male in the breeding tank in the afternoon. You will/should notice them instantly start to swim around each other and the male will “head stand” and spread all his fins right out and display to her, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this will excite the female.

The actual spawning will take place the following morning. The male will franticly chase her through plants, and Wholesale Tropical Fish nipping at her anal and ventral fins, and Wholesale Tropical Fish soon the female will allow him to catch up with her, and Wholesale Tropical Fish he will force her against the plants and she will release 1 – 3 eggs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which the male will instantly fertilize. Then the eggs will fall into plants and in between the marbles. Sometimes marbles can be a bad choice as some fry may become stuck in between them. The marbles also mean that you cannot tell whether you have any eggs unless you can see under the tank. Feed the pair white worms or bloodworms to reduce the amount of falling eggs they eat. Females can hold 200-700 eggs and will release them 1-3 eggs at a time. They will keep this up until all her eggs have been released. After she has released all of her eggs the pair will simply loose interest with each other, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it is time to remove the pair. Put the male back in the community tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the female can be added to the community tank or you can put her in a recovery tank for 2 weeks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then add her to the community aquarium.

You can carefully take the marbles out of the breeding tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish checking to make sure there are no eggs attached to them, and Wholesale Tropical Fish leave the plants, and Wholesale Tropical Fish heater and sponge filter in. Eggs that turn white can be removed as these are infertile and the fungus will spread to fertile eggs killing them! The eggs will hatch in around 48 hours.

Raising the fry: Once the eggs have hatched, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you will notice tiny fry stuck to plants and the tank sides. They look like tiny shards of glass with 2 black dots, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the eyes.

Do not feed the fry until they are free swimming as the fry are absorbing their egg sacs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this usually takes around 5 days. Use this time to culture infusoria (tiny microscopic organisms that the fry can eat) and baby brine shrimp. As soon as the fry are free swimming they will be looking for food, and Wholesale Tropical Fish now is the time to start feeding, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they will eat anything that can fit into their tiny mouths, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so start with infusoria. You can buy commercial fry food, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but not as many fry can find that food, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they prefer the food to swim to them. After a further 5 days, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you can start to feed them newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this will sometimes turn their stomachs orange, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it won’t harm them, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this is just the colour of the food. When the fry get a little bigger, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you can start to feed them finely crushed tropical flakes (which you can make by crushing some flakes to powder). Then when a little older, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you can move on to feed them a little older brine shrimp (juvenile) or daphnia, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or crushed freeze-dried foods. When the fry reach a size of 11mm, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you don’t need to crush up their food as much. Carry that on until they reach 2-2.5cm, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then you can feed them regular sized flakes and foods. Fry will need to be fed no more than 3 times a day, and Wholesale Tropical Fish when feeding infusoria, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a small amount in the morning can last all day!

When the fish reach 2.5-3cm, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you may add them to your community tank or sell them to your LFS (although phone them up first)

My comments: Tiger barbs make an excellent addition to the community aquarium. One of my tanks is dedicated to the tiger barb and contains 27 of these lively beauties, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they are a mixture of all 3 colourations of the species and look their best when in a well planted aquarium. This fish is for the intermediate hobbyist

The Bristlenose Catfish.

Male Bristlenose

Female

Family: Loricariidae.

Genera include: Ancistrus Dolichopterus, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Ancistrus temminckii, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Ancistrus cirrhosus

If you are looking for a small, and Wholesale Tropical Fish relatively peaceful algae eater, and Wholesale Tropical Fish look no further than the Bristlenose Catfish. It is hardy, and Wholesale Tropical Fish will tolerate a range of environments and will surprise you with its breeding habits. This fish will not get much bigger than 8-10cm. The male will display the characteristic bristles on his snout and round his mouth. The female (depending on type) may have one or two just around the top edge of her snout or none at all. Both fish have bristles on what can only be described as cheek extensions which they will flare occasionally!

Tank and water requirements:

Having being imported to the UK since the early 70's, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this delightful little catfish originates from the fast flowing rivers of South America, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and so it likes well oxygenated water. Literature has it that a 60cm length tank will be enough for one of these fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but for breeding it is probably preferable to have at least 90cm. The ph can be anything from 5.8 to 7.5, and Wholesale Tropical Fish temperature from 22-28c and the hardness range from 2-20dGH. As with all tropicals, and Wholesale Tropical Fish ammonia and nitrite must be 0, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and nitrate kept below 20ppm. The ancistrus also requires some bogwood or mopani wood in the tank and it will rasp away at it to obtain lignin, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a substance that it requires to aid digestion. You will find that a lot of gravel cleaning is required under the usual resting place of your Bristlenose cat....

Feeding:

You may find if you read up on the Bristlenose Catfish that it is an algae eater, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and yes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it will clean up your tank for you. However, and Wholesale Tropical Fish please do not ignore the fish's dietary needs. Many people relegate this fish to the role of tank cleaner/scavenger and do not provide a range of food for it.

The Bristlenose will eat all of the following lightly blanched: peas (squeezed out of their skins); courgette (zucchini for those in the USA); lettuce; spinach; broccoli and cucumber. It is not by any means vegetarian and will eat bloodworm, and Wholesale Tropical Fish sinking tablets and other protein rich foods. Like all fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it is not averse to grazing on dead tankmates.

Breeding:

The breeding pair can be brought into condition with a mixed diet, and Wholesale Tropical Fish good water conditions (raise the frequency of waterchanges) and a slight upswing in temperature. It is thought that slightly more acidic than alkaline conditions will also promote breeding. The male will find himself a niche under the bogwood, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or in a small clay pot if you provide one for him. He will spend several days cleaning it and fussing around in and out of it. When he is happy with the nest, and Wholesale Tropical Fish he will swim around the female, and Wholesale Tropical Fish flirt up and down the tank with her, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and try to entice her back to his lair. Eventually she will go into his cave and he will follow her in.

The male assumes a position over her, and Wholesale Tropical Fish his stomach to her back, and Wholesale Tropical Fish both heads pointing the same way, and Wholesale Tropical Fish his body half a length forward of hers. She lays large amber coloured eggs. (approx 3mm) and the male fertilizes them immediately. The eggs stick to the sides of the cave. She may leave the cave but return several times to lay more eggs over a few hours. Eventually there will be around 30-60 eggs and the female will swim away to find something to eat!

Meanwhile, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the male will begin his long vigil. He will tirelessly tend the eggs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish mouthing and fanning them to keep them constantly aerated. He will fend off any intruders to the fry by either fanning his tail furiously at them or physically chasing them off. During all the time he tends the eggs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish he will only leave for the shortest time possible to eat, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and will quickly return to the nest as soon as possible. After two days eye spots will begin to show on the amber eggs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and after around five to six days, and Wholesale Tropical Fish (depending on tank temperature) the eggs will hatch. It is quite safe to leave the male with the fry, and Wholesale Tropical Fish he will continue to be a good father and look after them until, and Wholesale Tropical Fish at around a week to ten days after hatching, and Wholesale Tropical Fish when they have absorbed their very large egg sacs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they will leave the cave and venture out to look for food. Eventually the male will realise that the young have moved out and he will leave the nest.

Care of the fry:

If the fry have been spawned in a barebottomed rearing tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish (as opposed to a mixed community tank) then daily small waterchanges (10% is adequate) and small meals of the same food types as the adults, and Wholesale Tropical Fish (but bloodworm etc. needs to be chopped up small), and Wholesale Tropical Fish will promote quick growth. The bottom of the tank should be kept clean, and Wholesale Tropical Fish uneaten protein foods being removed. The rate of fry survival is generally high and provided the tank is maintained correctly, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then there should be no real problems in raising the fry to a saleable size within three months. Most tropical fish shops will take them from around three cms long.

If the fry have been spawned in a community tank; depending on where the male made his nest, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it is perfectly possible to move the entire nest to a seperate rearing tank (to protect the small fry from predators); however this must not be done until the fry have hatched as if the male leaves them before then, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the eggs will not be sufficiently fanned and aerated and may become fungussed. In the past, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this author has moved clay pots full of fry, and Wholesale Tropical Fish (with the male still hanging on for dear life) by means of immersing a deep container inside the main tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish moving the nesting pot gently into it within the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and carefully lifting the whole container out and into the rearing tank. If the male leaves them at this point, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it will not matter, and Wholesale Tropical Fish his main job has been done.

Bristlenose Catfish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with care, and Wholesale Tropical Fish will live long and useful lives in the aquarium. Given optimum conditions they may breed as often as every five or six weeks and will continue to do so for many years. Sources in Australia have had these great fish living up to twelve years and over in tanks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish continuing to produce young for the entirety. Here in the south west of the UK, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they are in demand in tropical fish shops because of their small size, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and home breeders will find a ready market for them.

The Convict Cichlid

Scientific name: Archocentrus nigrofasciatus

Introduction: This cichlid is from Central America, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it is a well known cichlid in Central America for its ease to reproduce and is quite a prolific breeder, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and also, and Wholesale Tropical Fish demand for exact water quality is not needed with Convicts, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as they can tolerate vast amounts of pH levels and water hardness. They are white with black stripes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and they have a black area around the head. There relatively small size does not call for a large aquarium.

Living conditions:

pH: Not important but avoid extremes.

Water hardness: As above, and Wholesale Tropical Fish no extremes.

Temperature: 26-28 Degrees Celsius.

Water changes: 25% every two weeks.

Food: Brine shrimp nauplii, and Wholesale Tropical Fish bloodworms, and Wholesale Tropical Fish water fleas, and Wholesale Tropical Fish flakes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish mussels, and Wholesale Tropical Fish shrimps

Compatibility: Avoid submissive species.

Comments: The convict’s colours are not as colourful as they are in the wild.

Life in the aquarium: The convict is very easy to keep; it adapts very easily to water changes and is not as prone to disease as other fish. To keep it happy, and Wholesale Tropical Fish decorate the aquarium with rocks and roots to provide hiding places. A tank of 100 liters is enough to keep a pair of convicts. You will need an aquarium of around 250 liters if you plan on having other fish in with it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as it can be a very aggressive species at times.

Breeding: The reproduction of this fish is very easy, and Wholesale Tropical Fish have a pair in a tank of around 80 liters; you will not need any plants but have some rocks and some caves. Feed the parents on frozen, and Wholesale Tropical Fish freeze dried and live food such as blood worms and brine shrimps.

The female will pick a dark cave, and Wholesale Tropical Fish after she has picked a cave she will court the male, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the eggs will be laid on a clean rock and the couple will carefully guard the eggs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this is when they can get very aggressive, and Wholesale Tropical Fish any intruder will be chased off and they can cause serious injury to the intruders, and Wholesale Tropical Fish that’s why its better to keep them by themselves when they breed. The eggs will hatch after three days, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but the fry will have a few more days to absorb the yolk sac which contains food for them, and Wholesale Tropical Fish after they have finished it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they will start free swimming in huge numbers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the parents still keep a close eye for any predators. Spawns can be anywhere from 100 to 200 fry, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and the parents will most likely have another batch two weeks after. If they are kept in a community tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the young will search for food, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but will most likely get eaten by the other fish in the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this can’t be stopped, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and only a few will live to mature.

Feeding the babies: Feed the babies brine shrimp nauplii during the first few weeks and gradually switch to flakes or finely crushed food, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with a blend of finely shrimps, and Wholesale Tropical Fish mussels and spinach.

The Blue Dolphin

Scientific name: Cyrtocara moorii

Introduction:

This species is found in all parts of Lake Malawi, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it has always been a favourite with enthusiasts that keep Malawi cichlids. They are known for there peaceful behaviour, and Wholesale Tropical Fish stunning blue colouring, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and the hump on the males head adds to its appeal. They live in large sandy areas and are part of a small group of Haplochromis know as ‘blue imitators’ These fish are now becoming very rare and highly priced, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but don’t let that stop you from getting one of these truly fantastic species.

Living Conditions:

pH: Above 8.

Water hardness: 10-18 dH..

Temperature: 25-27 Degrees celcius.

Water changes: 20% once a week.

Food: shrimps, and Wholesale Tropical Fish mussels, and Wholesale Tropical Fish flakes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and shrimp nauplii. It’s important to avoid bloodworms, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and meat based food containing beef and heart, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it can cause fatal intestinal disease.

Compatability: Put in with calm species. Avoid putting them with species that are too big or over-aggressive.

Life expectancy: Ten years +

Comments: One of the most popular fish in years.

Sexing: The male develops a hump on his head

Life in the aquarium: The aquarium must be spacious, and Wholesale Tropical Fish at least 200 litres, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and offer large sandy or gravel areas, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you need many rocks and some plants (Plants such as Anubius and Java fern, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they are tough and have a bad taste, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so the fish don’t destroy them) These will make hiding places for the fish to feel safe, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and fish to mark their own territory.

Breeding: The Blue dolphin is a mouth brooder, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which means the female will keep her fry in her mouth. They need to be around 18 months old before they breed. The male will choose a flat rock or slate, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the male will show off to the the female until he gets noticed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the female will deposit her eggs and the male will then fertilize the eggs. The female will scoop them up soon after into her mouth for 3-4 weeks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the male does not protect the female in any way, and Wholesale Tropical Fish he has finished his job and won’t have anything to do with her. If you have a separate tank remove the female and put her in there, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it will make it easier for her because she will not get harassed by the other fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and also you can fatten her up easily after she has released the fry because no one is around to take the food, and Wholesale Tropical Fish keep in mind she will be weak from not having food for so long, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they usually take 3 and a half weeks to release fry if left un-disturbed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish some can take much longer if they are in a main tank getting harassed. After she has recovered release her back into the main tank.

The Red Top Zebra

Scientific name: Pseudotropheus Sandraracinos.

Introduction: This fish is from Lake Malawi, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the male is colourful with a yellow dorsal fin with a light blue streak up the top, and Wholesale Tropical Fish while the female is a dull cream/yellow colour with a dull yellow fin. There aggression is mild but not over the top. They grow to around 5 inches and like lots of rocks so they can mark their territory and also feel safe.

Living conditions:

pH: 7.5-8.5

Water hardness: 10-20 dH

Temperature: 24-26 Degrees Celsius.

Water changes: 15% once a week

Food: Flakes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Granules, and Wholesale Tropical Fish shrimps, and Wholesale Tropical Fish mussels and frozen artemia, and Wholesale Tropical Fish avoid bloodworms, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this will cause digestive problems.

Compatibility: Keep with cichlids that can cope with their mild aggression.

Life expectancy: 8-10 years.

Comments: Very cheap and colorful fish.

Sexing: Males are much more colourful than the females.

Life in the aquarium: You need an aquarium 4 around 4 feet long because cichlids prefer length rather than height. You need many rocks to resemble the cichlids natural environment and maybe add some plants such as Anbubias to add a bit of colour. You can keep a trio 1 male 2 females in a 4 foot tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and you will most likely get babies soon after. They prefer a sandy substrate but gravel is adequate. They are generally calm among other species.

Breeding: You will need 1 male and 2 females, and Wholesale Tropical Fish feed them on live and frozen food beforehand, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this will get them stimulated, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the male will then choose and a female and spawn with her. The male will show off and get noticed and the female will deposit the eggs on a rock or slate. The male will then fertilize the eggs. The male will not form a bond with the female and will not take care of her after this has taken place. It is a good idea to have 2 or 3 females in the tank so if you leave the female in the tank the agression will be spread, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and will not always be on her. It is a good idea to move her into a sepeate tank so she will no get harassed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish she will take 3 weeks to 3 and a half weeks to release the babies. While they are in her mouth she tumbles them. She will be exhausted after not eating for so long, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so feed her after she has released the fry, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and once she is healthy release her back into the main tank.

Keeping & Breeding of the Egyptian Mouthbreeder

Introduction

This cichlid is one of few, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which truly fascinate me. I have longed for ages to keep this species, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but unfortunately they appears to be fading out of the hobby. They has some of the most amazing breeding habits I have ever seen.

Keeping

The Egyptian Mouthbreeder can be quite unpredictable at times. One moment they can be fine and very peaceful, and Wholesale Tropical Fish then suddenly they can wreak havoc. They are commonly found in the River Nile, and Wholesale Tropical Fish where they are found in there hundreds.

Feeding & Diet

Luckily for you they feed exceptionally well on a wide range of frozen, and Wholesale Tropical Fish freeze-dried foods. I have noticed that they need quite a bit of bloodworm in their diet to keep them healthy. They also adapt very well to newly introduced foods. It is very rare that they will refuse to eat, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which only happens when a female is brooding.

Preparation for Breeding

The only preparation spawning that is required is a very good diet before hand. You can tell when a female is ready to spawn because her abdomen will swell tremendously. The male really won’t need any conditioning, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as they are very easy to induce.

Breeding

When you have completed the beginning stages place both male and female into an 18” x 10” x 10” tank. It is best not to have any gravel as the eggs can easily get lost, and Wholesale Tropical Fish meaning you have very few resulting fry. Simple filtration such as a sponge filter will be adequate. A heater placed at a temperature of 28 degrees will bring them up to breeding temperature.

Continue to feed them on black mosquito larvae, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and roughly a week to ten days spawning should begin. The male will deepen a lot in colour. Reds and blues will become extremely vivid. You will soon notice him ‘shimmying’. This is a common characteristic practiced by most male cichlids to attract a mate. This can go on for several hours, and Wholesale Tropical Fish even days before the female feels comfortable with the male. When she has accepted him. they will both join in a mating ritual, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which involves circling each other.

They soon begin what is known as ‘dummy runs’. This is when they practice laying and fertilisation of eggs. This can often occur a number of times; eventually you will see approximately 5-6 eggs laid on the tank floor. The male will hover above them, and Wholesale Tropical Fish fertilise them and move away. The female will then pick these eggs up in her mouth and so the process continues. After spawning is complete you will have a very tired female, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so it is advisable to remove the male from the tank. Try to do this in the dark, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as this is less disturbing for the female.

Incubation time of the eggs depending on temperature is roughly 10 days. During this time the female will move her mouth in a ‘chewing’ action. This is to try and make sure that the eggs receive plenty of oxygen and circulation. After 5-6 days you will see her mouth jerking a bit - this is the developing fry ‘jumping’ around in her mouth. You will actually see the fry eyes through the buccal cavity. After 10 to 14 days the female will gradually begin releasing fry. At first they may not swim properly, and Wholesale Tropical Fish after all there are about 100 of them crammed in there. After a couple of hours they will begin exploring. During this time the female will keep an eye on them and any sudden movements she will signal the fry to return to her mouth. You can safely leave the fry with the mother for 4 days, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as she can be very unpredictable.

Feeding of Fry

These fry are very delicate for the first few weeks of there life. To start with I feed them BBS (Baby Brine Shrimp). Their bellies will swell and go red when they have eaten. Clean up any uneaten food, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as they can die fairly easy during this stage. When refilling the tank use mature water from parent’s tanks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as fresh water is harmful to these little guys. On average I try to do at least a water change per day taking 20% of the water out.

Continuing this fry should grow rapidly. It will not belong before you can introduce daphnia, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and begin to wean them onto freeze-dried foods such as brine shrimp. One word of warning the fry reaches a period roughly 7-8 weeks where they are extremely susceptible to disease. Just be extra cautious and everything will be great.

Lamprologus Leleupi

Background:

This species was first discovered (and named) after an entomologist called leleup working at the IRSAC station in Uvira, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Zaire in 1958.

The Ornamental fish trade soon started collecting these fish from northern Zaire whilst working in what was then called the Belgian congo. Unfortunately the majority of fish collected from these parts lived in soft acidic waters and it was presumed that L. Leleupi had similar requirements, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as a consequence, and Wholesale Tropical Fish these highly expensive fish were kept in the purest rainwater that aquarists could get their hands on. and the fish soon died.

Now thankfully Every cichlid fancier knows, and Wholesale Tropical Fish (or should know, and Wholesale Tropical Fish ) that these fish thrive in the hard alkaline waters which are the norm. in Lake Tanganyika.

Typical values are.

Ph 7.8 - 9.0

Total hardness 11-17dh

Carbonate Hardness 16-19

In the mid 1970s a further subspecies was discovered by M. Fainzilber.

it was named L. Leleupi longoir in 1980 by Staeck.

L. lelupi longoir (meaning the longer leleupi) has only been discovered along a rather short stretch of the east coast of Tanzania. and is easily recognisable by its extended body length which is due to its higher vertebral count.

Description:

L. leleupi is a rock dwelling cichlid with a bright yellow to orange body and gorgeous light blue eyes which is rarely found above depths of 40 meters.

Males of the species can attain a length of 4 inches whereas the females stay slightly smaller at about 3-3.5 inches

Sexing the species is not an easy thing to do, and Wholesale Tropical Fish males are larger and quite often possess the cranial hump typical of cichlids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish whereas the forehead of the females is steeper. and she has a shorter pelvic fin.

Set-up:

Rockwork is a must when housing this cichlid, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the more caves created, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the happier this fish will feel.

As already discussed Hard alkaline water is required to keep this fish at its best, and Wholesale Tropical Fish A base of coral sand and/or calciferous rocks such as limestone, and Wholesale Tropical Fish sandstone or tuffa rock will ensure that the ph and hardness do not stray out of the recommended values, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as any deviation will be detrimental to the fishes health. possibly resulting in death.

Plants which can tolerate the water chemistry can be added to the tank as this fish will not disturb them, and Wholesale Tropical Fish recommended plants are Java fern, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Anubias nana and Certain vallis, and Wholesale Tropical Fish although it must be stressed that plants are very rare in the fishes natural habitat and of the 3 species mentioned Vallis is the only native.

A tank of 2 foot is suitable for a breeding pair, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but 4 foot plus is recommended when keeping these fish as part of a community. Species which can be kept with this fish are any of the smaller rockdwelling cichlids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish shelldwelling cichlids or (set up permitting) open water species. Be careful of adding similar looking fish though as the Leleupi may view them as a threat.

Also remember when stocking a Tanganyikan tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the key is not to crowd them in, and Wholesale Tropical Fish provide your fish with ample swimming room and space for territory and they will reward you thus.

Feeding:

Feeding the Leleupi is relatively simple. Being a micropredator it will readily take anything small enough to fit in its mouth, and Wholesale Tropical Fish foods such as small shrimps, and Wholesale Tropical Fish insect larvae and even snails are typical of its diet in the wild. In the home aquarium it will quite readily adapt to flake, and Wholesale Tropical Fish pellet foods and frozen foods.

Breeding:

The fish forms pairs and after the initial courtship the female will lay between 50 and 250 eggs on the roof of a cave, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which she will then guard, and Wholesale Tropical Fish whilst the male does his duty protecting the greater territory, and Wholesale Tropical Fish when the fry hatch and are free swimming they can be fed a diet of Brine shrimp naupali or crushed flakes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and as they grow, and Wholesale Tropical Fish can be introduced to more choice in their diet (pellets flake frozen etc.)

Notes:

I have a trio of these fish in a 260L tank (approx 57 gallons) they share this tank with 3 Julidochromis, and Wholesale Tropical Fish 2 Altolamprologus and 2 Synodontis. They are a stunning fish and I find myself spending many hours with my head up close to the glass watching them as they forage for food amongst the rocks.

They do not appear to be overly aggressive amongst themselves or to the other inhabitants of the aquarium which I attribute to the fact that I have 3 females, and Wholesale Tropical Fish (no male) extensive rockwork and low stocking levels.

LABIDOCHROMIS CAERULEUS

(Yellow lab, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Yellow Labido, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Electric Yellow, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Labidochromis Nkali, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Labidochromis white, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Golden.)

Female

Dominant Male

This is one of the most commonly kept African Cichlids and is THE most common Malawi Cichlid to be kept in home aquariums. It is a Rock dwelling Mbuna and is a maternal mouthbrooder. The reasons for its popularity are primarily its looks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish size and temperament but, and Wholesale Tropical Fish fairly obvious sexing, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and ease of breeding contribute to keep this in the Top Ten of African Cichlids!

Appearance:

The most popular and widespread form of Labidochromis Caeruleus is a Bright Yellow - hence its common names (Both Males and Females are Yellow with the Males having black pigment in their finnage). In fact it exists in Blue and White and in the wild the Yellow version is only to be found in the Northeast part of the lake between Charo and Lions Cove.

Size:

Yellow Labs are a dwarf species and can reach a length of 10-13 cm (4-5 in.). The females are commonly smaller than the male (2-3 in).

Temperament:

Lab. Caeruleus is a quiet and peaceful Mbuna, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and is a perfect cichlid for Aquarists moving from Community fishkeeping to the colourful world of Cichlids. However, and Wholesale Tropical Fish be warned, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a quiet and peaceful Cichlid is still a Cichlid, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Yellow labs are not suitable for adding to your community tank and doing so may well result in not only, and Wholesale Tropical Fish rather fewer fish than you start with but also unhappy fish all around.

Sexing:

Adult dominant males are extremely easy to sex - They have Black Anal and Ventral Fins and a Black Dorsal Fin with a bright yellow top stripe, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as they age they also develop more Black pigment leading to a jet black underside and Charcoal Stripes on its body, and Wholesale Tropical Fish from the front they look as though they are wearing a Mask . Sub dominant males are harder to sex in that whilst they will usually also have black Anal/Ventral fins the black pigment is far less pronounced leading to easy confusion between sub dominant Males and Females.

Female Yellow Labs are a paler/pastel version of the Males - They tend not to have any black Anal/Ventral fins these instead being a pale yellow, and Wholesale Tropical Fish The Females tend to be much smaller than the Males although this difference is not obvious as Juveniles when all the Fish are the same size.

Breeding/Reproduction:

Labidochromis caeruleus is one of the easiest mouthbrooders to breed. Either buy five or six juvenile fish (try for a ratio of at least two females to each male) and grow them on. They will breed from around six months of age or about 1-1/2 inches in length. Or buy Trios of Adults in the same ratio. Breeding occurs as for many mbuna. The Male will select a spawning site, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it could be on a piece of Slate or on the bare bottom. He will flirt with all the females until one responds and follows him. The female deposits the eggs in the immediate area, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and the male follows fertilizing the eggs. The female returns and picks up the eggs holding them in her buccal cavity (beneath lower Jaw/throat) and also deposits more eggs. This can go on for about an hour. The female will then hide out and begin to brood. (The male starts looking for the next female - his involvement at an end).

Females are generally good "holders" and will refuse food for up to four weeks. Because going for food for so long weakens the female it is a good idea to remove her from the Main tank into a separate tank anytime after you see her obviously "Holding". This means that after she has released the Fry you can feed her up before returning her to her often boisterous tankmates. Upon release of the Fry she will continue to care for them for about a week given the opportunity and providing she has plenty of food the fry should be in no danger. The actual time she will hold depends on a number of factors and Temperature plays a significant part with release times recorded of 25 days at 27-28° C (81-82° F) or 40 days at 23-24° C (73-75° F) so somewhere between these would be the average. The number of Fry is generally quite small with Young females producing 5-8 Fry and older more experienced fish producing up to 15.

Keeping Labidochromis Caeruleus in the home Aquarium

pH: 7.7 - 8.6 (This is the variation found in Lake Malawi) Aim for midpoint.

Hardness: Aim for 8-10 KH and a little higher ideally for GH (Most aquarists think all Rift lakes are extremely hard water-This is not necessarily so) Aim for Harder end of scale to achieve regular spawning.

Temperature: 73-82 F (23-28 C)

Minimum Aquarium size 120 Litres, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Ideal size from 300 Litres upwards.

Décor: Provide Lots of Rock work/Caves and fine Gravel or Sand as substrate. Whilst they do not dig up plants they will often eat them so Plants happy in their environment would be those such as Java Fern.

Filtration: Lake Malawi is a lake so vast that there is no measurable pollution, and Wholesale Tropical Fish in the wild, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Malawi fish would never have to cope with Ammonia or Nitrite OR Nitrate, and Wholesale Tropical Fish therefore you should aim at keeping your water conditions as close to perfect as possible. The only way to do this is via Efficient Filtration and regular water changes. Undergravel filters are not really suitable for any Mbuna due to their digging habits so I would recommend a Good quality External or Internal Power filter or two. Malawi fish require well oxygenated water achieved by good surface movement and are high waste producing fish. Therefore your filter should ideally turn tank water over at least 5 times an hour but bear in mind that it is not necessary to have white water rapids at the surface.

Feeding:

Labidochromis Caeruleus are Mbuna and Mbuna need vegetables (herbivores) while other Cichlids mainly feed in high protein, and Wholesale Tropical Fish frozen and even live foods (omnivores, and Wholesale Tropical Fish carnivores or piscivores). Providing Yellow Labs with too much protein may cause the Malawi bloat disease which is extremely difficult to be treated and usually fatal. Restrict food stuffs to good quality Flake food with a high vegetable content and pellets and alternate these with High vegetable content frozen food, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Lettuce on a clip (Labs love Lettuce!), and Wholesale Tropical Fish shelled peas and once a week or so Live brine shrimp. Avoid Tubifex and blood worms because although they will eat it with relish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish tubifex worms should be avoided since they are reported to carry many microorganisms which may harm your fish. Leave them without any food at least once a week.

Care and Breeding Basic Fact Sheet

BACKGROUND:

More has been written about the Discus than any other tropical fish in the last 50 years, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and it is now one of the most popular cichlids in the hobby, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with many books devoted to it. This is intended to be a very brief general guide to its keeping and breeding within the aquarium.

When wild caught discus were first introduced into the hobby many years ago, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they were a rare site, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and thought very hard to keep. With time, and Wholesale Tropical Fish experienced hobbyists mastered this aspect and the next step was breeding. Slowly people managed to get eggs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but they would never get successful fry. They key was leaving the fry with the parents, and Wholesale Tropical Fish from whom they graze, and Wholesale Tropical Fish eating their highly nutritious slime coating. Now discus breeding is common place, and Wholesale Tropical Fish any thousands of colour strains have been produced, and Wholesale Tropical Fish in addition to the many wild colour forms.

HABITAT :

Discus are most commonly found in dense planting and wooded areas in slow moving rivers and backwaters in the Amazon river system. These waters are soft, and Wholesale Tropical Fish warm and acidic, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with little current. Their natural flat shape and colour pattern is designed to give camouflage in their natural home. They can usually be found in large groups, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and when not spawning are mostly a social cichlids. Their natural food is comprised of aquatic inverts, and Wholesale Tropical Fish insects, and Wholesale Tropical Fish small fish and fry and any other naturally occurring food that may be available. Many other commonly kept south American tetras and cichlids can be found in these waters.

TEMPRAMENT, and Wholesale Tropical Fish BEHAVIOR AND SIZE:

In case you need reminding, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Discus are Cichlids! In the real world this means they are fishes of changeable behaviour, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but also of character and personality. They can on occasion be aggressive towards their own kind and others, and Wholesale Tropical Fish mainly when pair bonds are formed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or when territory of fry are involved. If some consideration is paid to this, and Wholesale Tropical Fish in cichlid terms they are generally quite mild in behaviour.

The main problem is with bullying within themselves. Often, and Wholesale Tropical Fish in small groups of fish the individual at the bottom of the pecking order is on the receiving end of a great deal of bullying, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which can result in death. To avoid this, and Wholesale Tropical Fish I would advocate not keeping the fish in groups of less than 4, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with 6+ being an optimum, and Wholesale Tropical Fish especially when young. This seems to spread the bullying out, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and also increase the confidence of the fish.

Size wise, and Wholesale Tropical Fish roughly 6-8" round is a good side for an adult discus.

AQUARIUM REQUIREMENTS:

This is one of the areas that gives rise to the greatest amount of arguments between discus keepers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but this is what I feel is a good basic guide

Water conditions for general keeping : pH 5.8-7.4 with 6.3-6.9 an optimum for most varieties. Water hardness is just as important as pH, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a kH of 1-6 and gH of 2-11 being generally suitable. The fish may live in harder water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but for long term they need soft to medium water to thrive.

Temperature : a range of 80-84 is acceptable, and Wholesale Tropical Fish although many fish keepers use higher temperatures of up to 90f.

Water quality : The higher the quality, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the better! Tanks must be mature and stable, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with 0 ammonia / nitrite, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and nitrates and DOC's as low as possible, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with 20ppm an upper limit. Trying to keep the water as free of metals, and Wholesale Tropical Fish phosphates and other contaminants will also help. Large weekly water changes are probably the order of the day.

Filtration: Being big messy cichlids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish efficient biological filtration is needed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but filtration that doesn't produce too much current.

Tank size : There are 2 main requirements, and Wholesale Tropical Fish tank depth and volume. Because of their size and swimming habits, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a minimum of 18" is needed for tank depth, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with deeper being better. Volume wise, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a rough guide is that each adult discus will need 10 gallons of water. Larger tanks will also give more stable water conditions, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and taking into account other considerations the minimum size for a discus display tank should be roughly 40 gallons.

Feeding : A varied diet is the order of the day, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this may include a high quality dried food up to about 50-60% maximum, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which the discus will take with greed. Other foods should be insect fish based, and Wholesale Tropical Fish such as frozen brine shrimp, and Wholesale Tropical Fish blood worm, and Wholesale Tropical Fish mysis shrimp, and Wholesale Tropical Fish black mosquito larvae, and Wholesale Tropical Fish chopped earth worm, and Wholesale Tropical Fish prawns, and Wholesale Tropical Fish chopped cockle etc. Discus can be susceptible to internal parasitic infections, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so take care with live foods, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and due to the fats / proteins its perhaps best to feed animal meant sparingly if at all.

Tank mates : tank mates should be none aggressive fish that are not too active or skittish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and will tolerate warm soft acidic water. Dwarf south American cichlids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish sucker mouth catfish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish cory's, and Wholesale Tropical Fish tetras, and Wholesale Tropical Fish rasboras, and Wholesale Tropical Fish pencil fish among others will provide good friends for discus. Shoals of tetras or similar will act as dither fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish making the discus feel more safe in their surroundings

Tank Set-up : Discus certainly don't require bare tanks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and furnished display aquarium may even be advantageous. Tall planting round the back and sides of the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish together with an inert substrate will limit the skittish behaviour of the fish. Bog wood and perhaps a little inert rock work will also be accepted, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but the fish should be left large open swimming areas in the tank centre

BREEDING:

Once many keepers have mastered keeping discus, and Wholesale Tropical Fish their attentions often turn to breeding. While not being impossible, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it can be hard work, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but is also greatly rewarding. Like all cichlids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish discus choose a spawning site then guard and rear the eggs and resulting fry.

Sexing : Discus can be very hard to sex other than when spawning, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and no reliable methods exist. A guide may be that males have longer fin extensions and a wider fore head.

Pairing: Discus don't take well to arranged marriages, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so the best way to get a breeding pair in general is to by a group of young unrelated fish of the same colour type and let them pair up themselves. This may happen from when the fish are half grown, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but generally spawning doesn't start until the fish are roughly ¾ of their adult size. Once a pair is formed it will often remain for the life of the fish

Spawning : Discus choose a near vertical smooth spawning site, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which is cleaned before 80-400 eggs are laid by the female, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and fertilised by the male. It takes 50-60 hours for the eggs to hatch, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and another 36-48 hours for them to become free swimming, and Wholesale Tropical Fish at which point the fry will start to graze of their parents. It may often take a few attempts for the pair to get it right, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but two females can lay eggs and appear to be a pair.

Breeding Tank : Breeding tanks are best kept simple, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with simple air powered filtration, and Wholesale Tropical Fish spawning sites (terracotta cones, and Wholesale Tropical Fish broad leafed plants or slate) and no substrate. Water should be very soft to allow the eggs to develop properly, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with excellent water quality and a temperature of about 84-88f. The tank need not be as large as the display tanks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but something of the order of 24x18x18 is certainly suitable.

Feeding and conditioning : The parents will need a good and varied diet not just to condition them to spawn, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but to provide nutrition when they are feeding their fry. Large water changes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a temperature rise and heavy feeding is often a good spawning trigger.

Fry rearing: The fry do best when given additional feedings of small foods whilst with the parents, and Wholesale Tropical Fish such as baby brine shrimp. After 3-6 weeks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the parents will be exhausted, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and the fry growing fast so it is best to remove them. This is where lots of tanks and water changes are needed to achieve a decent growth rate. I used to grow circa. 40 fry to just under 2" in a 55G tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and this required heavy water changing. The discus market is saturated with fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so it best to grow 20-50 excellent fry than 80 runts. Growth is reasonable, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but not spectacular.

Although this is just a fraction of the information available, and Wholesale Tropical Fish I hope it of help in some way. Enjoy the King of the Aquarium!

My First Tanganyikan set-up

I first became interested in these fish late in 1999, and Wholesale Tropical Fish when I saw an article about breeding Neolamprologus Multifasciatus.

I quickly became fascinated by these and other Cichlids from Lake Tanganyika, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and soon made up my mind to own a tank of them. Before starting on the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish I began reading about the Rift Lake to discover what conditions I would need if I was to give my fish a good home. I discovered that Lake Tanganyika is 80km wide and 670km long and has the largest volume of all the East African Lakes. Its Ph. has been recorded at between 7.5 and 9.3. It has a carbonate hardness of 15-18 degrees. Total hardness of 10-12 degrees, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and a relatively constant temperature of 26 degrees Celsius.

Lake Tanganyika water statistics:

Area 12700 sq. miles

Maximum depth over 4700 feet

Clarity up to 70 feet

pH 7.5 - 9.3

Total hardness 10 - 12 dH

Carbonate hardness 16 - 19 dH

Surface temperature 76 to 85 dF

Deep water temperature about 70 dF

Conductivity at 68 dF 570-640 micro-Siemens/cm

I also discovered that the lakes various coastlines alternated between Rocky shorelines and Sandy banks, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and that the Cichlids that are of most interest to fishkeepers can be found here in the littoral zone, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with the Rocky zone being the more densely populated. Cichlids of the rocky zone include mouthbrooders such as Tropheus, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Simochromis and Petrochromis as well as cave dwellers like Neolamprologus Altolamprologus and Julidochromis. In the sandy zone live species of 'sand fish' such as Callochromis and Aulonocranus, and Wholesale Tropical Fish here we also find many small species of Neolamprologus, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the shell dwelling cichlid, and Wholesale Tropical Fish who get their name by using empty Neothauma shells as caves and breeding sites. In deeper water at a depth of between 10-20m we find larger more predatory fish such a C. Frontosa, and Wholesale Tropical Fish although these fish live in open water they never stray far from the rocky 'reefs' which proliferate this zone.

After reading about the various habitats I decided to set up my tank so that I would be able to keep some of the rock dwelling species. To start with however I had to empty my tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a 4 foot Jewel vision 260L, and Wholesale Tropical Fish of its existing stock of South American fish and redecorate it so that it was more suitable for the intended fish. I removed the decor plants and animals from my tank and decided not to keep any of it and instead make a completely fresh start, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so when t he tank had been cleared and the fish sold to my local aquatic dealer I got to work. First I placed a layer of polystyrene tiles along the base of the tank and on top of this I put two whole boxes worth of freshly cleaned Lava rock, and Wholesale Tropical Fish spreading it out along the full length of the tank and creating as many caves and crevices as I could. When I had done this and secured it in place using tank safe Epoxy resin I spread a thin layer of coral sand over the base to cover the polystyrene and to finish it off added a couple of heads of Anubias barteri var nana which I knew would quickly attach to the rockwork. To fill the tank I first ran my tap water through a commercial de-ioniser and added cichlid buffers to bring it up to recommended levels and then after checking my temperature was stable at 26'C It was time for me to add the fish.

For this tank I decided not to stock to heavily and chose the following fish

3 Neolamprologus Leleupi

3 Julidochromis Ornatus

2 Altolamprologus Calvus (white)

1 Altolamprologus Compressiceps

A single Synodontis to clean up after the Cichlids.

My Cichlids Have now been in the tank for a year, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and appear to have settled in fine. There is no serious aggression and even the leleupi are tolerant of each other. The fish are fed once a day on a diet of live frozen and dried foods and the water is changed at a rate of 10-20% each fortnight, and Wholesale Tropical Fish using my De-ioniser and the appropriate cichlid buffers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish doing this my pH remains fairly constant at 8.5 None of the fish have paired up yet but two of the Julidochromis appear to be spending more and more time in each others company so hopefully I may yet get a breeding pair, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Although I do not hold out much hope of raising young in the tank as my synodontis will make short work of any eggs which are laid.

Cyprinids

Originating in Europe, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Asia, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Africa and America this family has a wide choice of hardy, and Wholesale Tropical Fish colourful and moderately fish. These are some of my favourite fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish in particular the Barbs. Barbs are very active fish and are very tough creatures. Cyprinids have one unique feature: they have no teeth in their jaws, and Wholesale Tropical Fish instead they grind up their food using teeth in their necks.

Bala/Silver Shark (Balantiocheilus melanopterus): The bala shark is a very popular fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but they can be a problem, and Wholesale Tropical Fish simply because they can become very large. Its a peaceful fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which can be kept with smaller tankmates. The species can be a jumper, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so make sure the tank has a lid, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and the fish can make audible sounds.

Food Temp Type

130 mm Asia Moderate All foods 24 C Friendly

Checkered Barb (Barbus oligolepis): Nice looking fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a sort of orange/brown colour. Males tend to be larger, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and the colours can be more intense. Would do best in a school.

Food Temp Type

50 mm Indonesia Easy All foods 24 C Friendly

Red Tailed Black Shark (Epalzeorhynchus bicolor): A popular fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with a striking red/black contrast, and Wholesale Tropical Fish very attractive. It tends to be a loner, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as its territorial and could be aggresive especially with its own specie. Needs a lot of space to tolerate other tankmates.

Food Temp Type

120 mm Thailand Moderate All foods 24 C Tolerant

Black Ruby Barb* (Barbus nigrofasciati): The Ruby Barb makes a dramatic change in colour when its breeding time. Of course I didn't know of it at the time, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it was a worrying sight. The body becomes very black-red colour, and Wholesale Tropical Fish where the head looks more of a deep purple hue. It has stripes across its body.

Food Temp Type

60 mm Sri Lanka Easy All foods 24 C Friendly

Green Tiger Barb* (): A variation from the original Tiger barb, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it has a dark green body, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with splashes of orange on the face and on fins. The females are less colourful. * Although many Barbs will mix well with other fast swimming fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish any other slow moving and long tailed fish may well be nipped constantly. Watch out!!

Food Temp Type

50 mm Sumatra Easy All foods 24 C Friendly

Pearl Danio (Brachydanio albolineatus): The Pearl Danio usually keeps to the upper levels, and Wholesale Tropical Fish where it is constantly looking for food. It is therefore a good idea to keep the lid firmly closed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so it can't jump out.

Food Temp Type

55 mm S.E.Asia Easyy All foods 24 C Friendly

Rosy Barb (Barbus conchonius): The Rosy Barb is a hardy and colourful fish. Its very ready to breed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and mature males change to a deep pink colour when they get a bit randy.

Food Temp Type

100 mm N.India Easy All foods 24 C Friendly

Zebra Danio (Brachydanio rerio): This fish is covered in alternative horizontal stripes of dark blue and silver. The fish is very hardy, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and is often a exciting fish as they are very active.

Food Temp Type

45 mm Eastern India Easy All foods 24 C Friendly

Scissortail (Rasbora trilineata): This is a mostly silver fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with black patches on the caudal fin. It can grow to a very big size, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so it should have plenty of space in which to swim around. It is a an very active fish.

Food Temp Type

110 mm Malaysia Easy All foods 20-5 C Friendly

Flying Fox (Epalzeorhynchus kallopterus): This is a peaceful fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but is territorial and will defend its space. Its a good algae eater, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but do not eat Thread algae.

Food Temp Type

150 mm Thailand Moderate Algae, and Wholesale Tropical Fish lettuce 24 C Tolerant

See even more fish: Anabantoids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Characins, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Cichlids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Livebearers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Killifishes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Catfishes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Different fish

Characins

These fish originate in South America and Africa. They are very suitable fish for any aquarium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and their sizes vary. Tetras are probably the most famous of this family, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Neon Tetras are always popular. Don't forget about the Piranha, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a fearsome fish with a taste for flesh.

Silver Dollar (Metynnis argenteus): Quite a popular fish. Peaceful, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and is a schooler. Although you can only see the fins with a few spots, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this fish can get quite a few "pimples" on their body. Small, and Wholesale Tropical Fish black spots so dont worry straight away!!!

Food Temp Type

130 mm Amazon Moderate Herbivore 26 C Friendly

Buenos Aires Tetra (Hemigrammus caudovittatus): This Tetra is a silver coloured bodied fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with a black stripe toward the lower area. The fins are dark orange. These fish tend to schoal.

Food Temp Type

65 mm S.America Moderate All foods 24 C Friendly

Serpea Tetra (): This is a very colourful Tetra, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and I have 4 of these in one of my aquariums. They are a very fast swimming fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish very hard to catch with a net. They can behave aggresively to a weaker fish of there species when there is insufficient food.

Food Temp Type

30 mm S.America Moderate All foods 24 C Friendly

Black-Winged Hatchfish (Carnegiella marthae): This has a unusual shaped fish. It is basically brown, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with a black rim across the body, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which has many spots. It can also "fly" above the water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish by flapping its pectoral fins, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so make sure that the cover is closed.

Food Temp Type

35 mm S.America Moderate Floating foods 24 C Friendly

Diamond Tetra (Moenkhausia pittieri): This is a attractive fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with violet and green scales. The fins are grey-violet with white edges.

Food Temp Type

60 mm S.America Medium All foods 24 C Friendly

Rummy-nosed Tetra (Hemigrammus rhodostomus): This fish has a silver coloured body, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a black and white caudal fin and a very red face. It is avery shy fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and very sensetive to changes in water conditions.

Food Temp Type

55 mm S.America Difficult All foods 24 C Friendly

Lemon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis): The body colouring is a very pale yellow, and Wholesale Tropical Fish although the leading edge of the anal fin is bright yellow. There are "albino" forms now.

Food Temp Type

55 mm S.America Easy All foods 24 C Friendly

Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi): With a red colouration topped by an electric-blue flash, and Wholesale Tropical Fish this is a very popular little fish. Occasionaly it falls victim to the incurable Neon Disease.

Food Temp Type

45 mm S.America Easy All foods 24 C Friendly

Red Piranha (Serrasalmus nattereri): The "Jaws" of the freshwater tropical aquarium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish I'm sure that everyone has heard of this fish. Its teeth-filled mouth and aggresive nature makes it suitable only for a piranha only tank.

Food Temp Type

300 mm S.America Moderately easy Meat 24 C Species

See even more fish: Anabantoids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Cyprinids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Cichlids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Livebearers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Killifishes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Catfishes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Different fish

Cichlids

This family is unique to its diversity, and Wholesale Tropical Fish for size, and Wholesale Tropical Fish shape, and Wholesale Tropical Fish swimming levels and even behaviour. Body shapes range from the disc-like Discus, and Wholesale Tropical Fish to the long and pointy Checkerboard. These fish can be very colourful, and Wholesale Tropical Fish although many fish in this family get to a very big proportion. One of the most frustrating things about cichlids - although you can get them to breed, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they can be very, and Wholesale Tropical Fish very territorial wjen spawning.

Keyhole Cichlid (Aequidens maronii): The Keyhole is reported to be one of the most peaceful of cichlids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and don't burrow often and shouldn't damage plants. They form a nuclear family and can care for the fry up to 6 months.

Food Temp Type

120 mm Guyana Medium Carnivore 24 C Friendly

Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus): These are a very popular fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish although too many new aquarists buy them, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and then find out that they will eventually grow too large in their aquariums. Best to keep them in a very large tanks (roughly 100 gallons). They are carnivores, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so any smaller fish may become victim to their diet. They are open breeder, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and the brood should be cared for well.

Food Temp Type

330 mm S.America Difficult Carnivore 24 C No small fish

Kribensis (Pelvicachromis pulcher): A very attractive Cichlid, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and a very popular fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as it only grows up to 3-4". It would form pairs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and then into a close-knit family, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which would then defend its territory/eggs.

Food Temp Type

90 mm Africa Easy All foods 24 C Tolerant

Angelfish (pterophyllum scalare): Angelfish has black bars on a silver-coloured body. However many new varieties have been developed. They are very graceful, and Wholesale Tropical Fish slow moving, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and are quite aggresive at breeding times.

Food Temp Type

120 mm C.America Moderately easy All foods 24 C friendly

Atlum Angel (pterophyllum atlum): Of course, and Wholesale Tropical Fish very similar to the Scalare. It can be a more of a difficult fish to keep, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as it demands correct good water conditions (acid, and Wholesale Tropical Fish clean) , and Wholesale Tropical Fish They aremostly wild caught, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and are quite rare. Would be territorial if were breeding.

Food Temp Type

180 mm S.America Moderate All foods 28 C Friendly

Frontosa Cichlid (Cyphotilapia frontosa): Very attractive fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish classic white and black striped colour on the body. They are territorial, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but given enough space they can tolerate others, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and shouldn't harm plants. You can distinquish females/males, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as males can have a pronounced bump on the forehead.

Food Temp Type

350 mm Africa Moderate Live foods 24 C Tolerant

Electric Yellow (): A very attractive fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish bright yellow body colour, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Dorsal fin has a black streak giving it a good look. This is a peaceful fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and is not territorial. They live in pairs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and form a matriach family.

Food Temp Type

150 mm Lake Malawi Moderate Flakes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Live foods 24 C Friendly

Ram (Apistogramma ramirezi): This is a colourful fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with blue spots across its body. It also has orange, and Wholesale Tropical Fish yellow and purple hues. They are sensitive to change in the tanks water conditions

Food Temp Type

60 mm S.America Moderate All foods 24 C Friendly

Checkerboard Cichlid (crenicara filamentosa): The fish is brown, and Wholesale Tropical Fish covered in checkerboard pattern of deep blue and orange. The fins are red and blue. This fish tends to lurk around the bottom of the aquarium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and likes hiding places.

Food Temp Type

75 mm S.America Moderate All foods 24 C Friendly

Discus (Symphysodon discus): The Discus is a very attractive fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but it is very delicate so I would not recommend for the beginner. It needs the water temperature of 28C.

Food Temp Type

150 mm S. America Difficult Meat 28 C Species

Firemouth cichlid (Cichlasoma meeki): The Firemouth Cichlid has an red colour on its underbelly, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which can be quite intense. The fish can be very territorial during spawning, and Wholesale Tropical Fish otherwise they will be peaceful to other tank mates. They are great parents, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and make a nuclear famaly.

Food Temp Type

150 mm Guatemala Moderately easy All foods 23 C friendly

Lemon Cichlid (Neolamprologus leleupi): True to its name, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it is has a pure lemon colour all over its body. It is normally a peaceful fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish although it can be quite aggresive if there are too many fish in the tank. They are cave breeders, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and the male will defend the territory during spawning.

Food Temp Type

10 mm L.Tanganyika Difficult Live foods 24 C friendly

See even more fish: Anabantoids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Cyprinids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Characins, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Livebearers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Killifishes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Catfishes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Different fish

Anabantoids

These fish originate in Africa and parts of Asia. The Anabantoids tend to be in the medium sized range. The most famous of this family has got ot be the Siamese Fighting Fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish because if a rivel male is introduced to the aquarium only one will survive. Gouramis on the other hand are very peaceful, and Wholesale Tropical Fish although as soon as its breeding time they can get a bit fearsome.

Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens): This fish is my favourite. You can see it is blue and red in colour, and Wholesale Tropical Fish where there are many strains now. It is renowned for its aggresive rivalry with males of the same species, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so it must be seperated.

Food Temp Type

60mm Thailand Easy all foods 24 C One male only

Dwarf Gourami (Colisa lalia): It has a brilliant colours around its body, and Wholesale Tropical Fish probably the most colourful freshwater fish. At breeding times the colours intensify in the male.

Food Temp Type

55 mm N.E. India Easy All foods 24 C Friendly

Kissing Gourami (Helostoma temmincki): There are two variations of the Kissing Gourami - one is olive-green, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and (shown here) is pink. It has the unusual habit of "kissing" members of its own species - randy fish.

Food Temp Type

200 mm far East Moderately easy All foods 24 C Friendly

Honey Gourami (Colisa chuna): Quite a small fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the Honey Gourami has a golden-brown colour with bright yellow dorsal fins. The females tend to be duller.

Food Temp Type

40 mm India Easy All foods 24 C Friendly

Paradise fish (macroodus opercularis): This is another colourful fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with red, and Wholesale Tropical Fish brown and blue bands running across its body. The fish can be quite aggresive.

Food Temp Type

75 mm Far East Moderate All foods 24 C Species

Livebearers

Mostly native to Central America, and Wholesale Tropical Fish these small, and Wholesale Tropical Fish colourful fish are very popular because they are very hardy and inhabit all levels of the aquarium. Platys are probably the best example, and Wholesale Tropical Fish a very good choice for a aquarium which has just started. The name livebearers is quite simple: fishes whose eggs are fertilized and hatched internally in the females body.

Black Molly (Poecilia sphenops): This is a jet-black fish with quite unusual dorsal fins (in males). With enough space the dorsal fin can become very big. This is normally a very active fish.

Food Temp Type

80 mm Mexico Moderate All foods; algae 24 C Friendly

Sailfin Molly (Poecilia velifera): Another impressive looking Molly, and Wholesale Tropical Fish gets its name from its dorsal fin. The body is normally dark green, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but in this it the albino/gold variety. Can get very big.

Food Temp Type

120 mm C.America Moderate All foods; algae 24 C Friendly

Guppy (Poecilia reticulata): This is a very popular fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish probably because each Guppy's colour is unique. Females tend to be larger and more duller.

Food Temp Type

30 mm Trinidad Easy All foods 24 C Friendly

Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri): Many colour varieties of Swordtails, and Wholesale Tropical Fish mine are very black. It isn't unknown for a female to change into a male, and Wholesale Tropical Fish especially when affected by parasites.

Food Temp Type

70 mm C. America Easy All foods 24 C Friendly

Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus): There are large numbers of colour strains of the Platy. In some cases the body and fins are single colour; in other the body is unicolour. The platy is a peaceful, and Wholesale Tropical Fish hardy fish and was my first fish.

Food Temp Type

50 mm C. America Easy All foods 24 C Friendly

See even more fish: Characins, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Cyprinids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Cichlids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Anabantoids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Killifishes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Catfishes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Different fish

Killifishes

Killifishes are normally found in Africa, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Asia and South America. I said that the family are "Annual fish" meaning that the fish are relatively short-lived. Its typical that they are very attractive and colourful, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and they also tend to be aggresive.

Steel-blue Aphyosemion: This fish is a impressive sight. You can blue body colours, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with bright red vertical marks. Although I very nice looking fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it is a very aggresive species.

Food Temp Type

70 mm Africa Easy All foods 24 C Species

Aphyosemion australe: A great looking Killifishes. Quite a bright fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and is a lively fish and is tolerate to most other tankmates.

Food Temp Type

50 mm Africa Moderate All foods 21-25 C Friendly

Aphyosemion striatum: This fish needs plenty of vegetation, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and with subdued light. Likes to hide, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and would prefer theb water to be slightly acid, and Wholesale Tropical Fish about 6.0 - 6.5

Food Temp Type

50 mm Africa Moderate Live foods 22 C friendly

Aphyosemion gardneri: Brightly coloured, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with many red spots around the body. This is a aggresive fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and will try to fin-nip at others.

Food Temp Type

60 mm Africa Moderate All foods 22-25 C Species

Rachov's Nothbrand (Nothobranchius rachovi): This is another good looking fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish almost can be mistaken for a tropical marine species. Unfortunately the Rachov's Nothbrands are inclind to be very aggresively.

Food Temp Type

50 mm Africa Moderate Dried/live foods 22-6 C Species

Playfairs Panchax (Pachypanchax playfairi): This fish has a brown back, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with a yellow underside with green flanks.

Food Temp Type

75 mm E.Africa Moderate All foods 24 C Friendly

See even more fish: Characins, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Cyprinids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Cichlids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Anabantoids, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Livebearers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Catfishes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Different fish

Catfishes

Catfish are normally native to South America and Africa. Most Catfish are suitable to any aquarium. They forage for food at the bottom of the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and others will be very happy eating the algae off the window.

Sailfin Plec (Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps): This catfish is very similar to other cats - especially the Hypostomus plecostomus, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but is certainly not, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and is in the Loricariid family. It can be very large, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and should be fine with other bottom feeders, and Wholesale Tropical Fish although it may fight its own species.

Food Temp Type

300 mm Peru Medium Algae, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Vegetation 24 C Friendly

Otos (Otocinclus flexilis): These catfish are becoming very popular, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as they graze on the top of any leave, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and remove algae. They are very peaceful, and Wholesale Tropical Fish small and a good acquisition for any fishkeeper.

Food Temp Type

50 mm S.America Easy Algae, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Tab 24 C Friendly

Leopard Catfish (Corydoras aeneus): The body colouring of this fish has a grey - brown sheen, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with black spots allover. It is very similar to other Corydoras.

Food Temp Type

60 mm S.America Easy All foods 24 C Friendly

Bristlenose Catfish (Ancistrus cirrhosus): This is a peaceful fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which would prefer a large tank. Its a funny looking fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with many thin tentacles on its face. Would need clean water with plenty of oxygen.

Food Temp Type

13 mm S.America Moderate Algae; flakes 25 C friendly

Suckermouth Catfish (Hypostomus punctatus): The very large fish is elongated, and Wholesale Tropical Fish spotted with a green body colour. It has a distnctive ventral sucking mouth. It does a good job of keeping the algae growth down in the aquarium. There is a smaller version of this fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which I have and gets to no bigger than 100 MM.

Food Temp Type

250 mm S.America Moderately easy green foods 24 C friendly

Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus bicirrhus): These things are strange-almost totally transparent, and Wholesale Tropical Fish where obviously where they got their name from.

Food Temp Type

90 mm S.E.Asia Moderate All foods 24 C Friendly

Different fish

There are many "odd-ball" fish around, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and sometimes people want something a bit different.

Clown Loach (Botia macracantha): A very popular fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish an attractive one. It has some distinctive black stripes across the body, and Wholesale Tropical Fish always with one through the forehead and eyes. It can be quite an active fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and can tolerate other species, and Wholesale Tropical Fish seems to do well with other Clown Loaches.

Food Temp Type

130 mm Sumatra Moderate All foods, and Wholesale Tropical Fish algae 26 C Tolerant

Coolie Loach (Acathophthalmus kuhli): These worm like things have black bodys, and Wholesale Tropical Fish with golden -brown bands across them. They spent most of their time wriggling across the floor foraging for food.

Food Temp Type

110 mm S.E. Asia Moderate All foods, and Wholesale Tropical Fish worms 24 C Friendly

Rope Fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish Snakefish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus): This is certainly a fish from the norm, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and would need a very big tank. This fish is a lobe-finned pike, and Wholesale Tropical Fish from the family of Polypteridae.

Food Temp Type

400 mm West Africa Moderate Live fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish worms 24 C Species

Pufferfish (Tetraodon steindachneri): This is actually 'Tetradon steindachneri', and Wholesale Tropical Fish of the Tetradonae family. A fantastic looking fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish although i have never had one personally. This fish is very intolerant and aggresive, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and often attacks plants - one good thing though, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they go for snails as well.

Food Temp Type

60 mm S.Asia Moderate Live fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish lettuce 24 C Species

Freshwater Stingray (Potamotrygon laticeps): Eh? I could actually have a freshwater stingray, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you are thinking, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and you would be right in that assumption - but they are very rare and many have had difficulty in breeding them in captivity. Of course, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they can get very large as well.

Food Temp Type

700 mm S.America Difficult Live, and Wholesale Tropical Fish frozen food 24 C Community

Feeding and Diet

The fish can't feed themselves, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and it up to you to give them a balanced diet for each one of them. You will probably want to have several species at once, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so it's important to give them the right food. Give them too much, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they don't eat all the food and the tank becomes unhealthy. Give them too little and the fish can obviously die.

A freshwater, and Wholesale Tropical Fish tropical fishes diet can include: aquatics worms, and Wholesale Tropical Fish crustaceans and insect larvae, and Wholesale Tropical Fish to green plant matter, and Wholesale Tropical Fish algae and small fishes. So to give your fish a healthy life, and Wholesale Tropical Fish try to include the proper food. I use several flake product, and Wholesale Tropical Fish dried worms and brime shrimps to give them a bit of variety and extra nurishment. I also include granules for my mid-water fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and some algae wafers and peices of cucumber for the catfish. The major foods are:

Type How to feed them Value Useful comments

Manufactured foods (pellets, and Wholesale Tropical Fish flakes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish tablets) Ready-to-serve Made to provide a balance diet Easy to use

Red Meat Thin slice of raw meat High in protein Amounts should be small

White Meat Should be cooked High in protein Amounts should be small

Live Fish Small live fishes can be fed High in protein Some fishes are cannibals

Worms Buy live or freeze-dried, and Wholesale Tropical Fish can breed them High in protein Can carry diseases

Green Food Chop up large peices finely Provides vitamins Some fishes are vegetarian

Starchy Foods(Potato, and Wholesale Tropical Fish cereal) Chop up large peices finely Provides carbohydrate Useful for vegetarians

Brine Shrimp Can buy small tubs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish can breed them High in protein Amounts should be small, and Wholesale Tropical Fish don't feed after sell by date.

Feeding level: Depending on the size and the shape of the mouth, and Wholesale Tropical Fish fish will feed on three levels: On the surface of the water; mid-water, and Wholesale Tropical Fish where they wait for smaller morsel to drop down; and bottom feeding fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish where the fish digs around. Try to provide with the appropriate food with the respected levels.

Helpful hint: Don't overfeed your fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they often can't ignore a free meal, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its in their genes. So watch out, and Wholesale Tropical Fish if a fish is constantly overfed it can lead to digestive problems. If your fish are looking like a small footballs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish its OK to not feed them for a day every 2 weeks. Here, and Wholesale Tropical Fish they can flush out their stomachs, and Wholesale Tropical Fish ready for the next days munching. Do not do that with fry, and Wholesale Tropical Fish as they need nourishment daily.

Health care

As soon as the fish are introduced to your tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish you must be alert straight away to prevent any illnesses. You will probably be looking in you new aquarium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish thinking how good it is, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but make sure that there are no problems as well .

Check and observe the fish: Look for problems with the skin, and Wholesale Tropical Fish which are obviously the most important, and Wholesale Tropical Fish where an infection can arise. Make a roll call for all of your fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish because if a fish is ill he will more than likely hide. He may then die there, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and if the tank has a lot of hiding places, and Wholesale Tropical Fish may never be found. Then he will just be polluting the tank, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and get him as soon as possible.

Prevent any diseases: Its not always easy to cure an illness, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so its better to prevent the whole thing. Tough, and Wholesale Tropical Fish but if you keep a vigil you may find a small problem with a fish, and Wholesale Tropical Fish diagnose it and then treat it, and Wholesale Tropical Fish the problem is prevented.

The good health of your fish is very dependant on their enviroment - poor water condition (and I can tell you to start with my water was toxic to say the least), and Wholesale Tropical Fish stress or incorrect feeding can lead to illness.

A Healthy Fish

To see an example of a Diseased Fish

1) No fungal infection around the mouth, and Wholesale Tropical Fish no erosion.

2) No "Pop-eye" (no bulging) eyes are clear.

3) Scales are in good condition; scales are flat aqainst the body.

4) No signs of erosion; fins are not clamped against the body.

5) No signs of disease; no spots, and Wholesale Tropical Fish ulcers, and Wholesale Tropical Fish haemorrhaging, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or any mucus/slime around the body.

6) Faeces is in good conditions; not stringy, and Wholesale Tropical Fish good in terms of recent diet.

7) Belly is not bloated; it is slightly convex, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or flat.

8) Gills are not flared; (Unless the fish is diplaying for breeding or aggresion purposes). No worms, and Wholesale Tropical Fish or mucus around the gills. Normal respiration rate.

Maintaining a healthy aquarium is a key factor in prevention of illness to the fish. These points should be considered:

Quarantine:All fishes must travel quite a bit before they reach your tank. And the longest "stopover" will be the pet shop. There should be a quarantine area there, and Wholesale Tropical Fish and I would be suprised if there wasn't one. So I if you can (if you've got enough funds) use a quarantine tank to hold suspect fish there for a while, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it could save the others.

Stress:Stress is a big factor if you want to keep your fish healthy. I mean I used to get stressed with my aquarium, and Wholesale Tropical Fish let alone the poor fish themselves. The fish may well fall victim to a disease to which it is normally immunune. So you have got to reduce stress whenever you can, and Wholesale Tropical Fish like handling the fish etc.

Vibration:Fishes will get stressed if the tank is tapped on the window, and Wholesale Tropical Fish so don't encourage any kids to do so. Watch out for your Hi-fi as well, and Wholesale Tropical Fish because I dont think fish will appreciate any Drum 'n bass.

Water quality: Try to keep the water clean and fresh. Don't forget to clean the filter, and Wholesale Tropical Fish because it will clog up. Make water changes, and Wholesale Tropical Fish conditioned fresh water will help the fish and the overall toxicity in the tank. I use a 20% partial change, and Wholesale Tropical Fish because the nitrate levels are within the safety limits of my tank. It will be much better if you have a hose (I use a gravel vacuum cleaner) and a marked bucket, and Wholesale Tropical Fish it's much easier for you and your fish.