Live And Artificial Freshwater Aquarium Decorations

How simple or weird would you like to get? The decor of a freshwater aquarium can come from many sources and often be strange. This can define your individual taste, history, cultural background and even one’s vision of a world. A major benefit of getting an aquarium is to decorate it over and over aqain until you are satisfied with your results. Your freshwater aquariums decor is the foundation of what makes our fish tanks a special place- or not!

Your pocket does not have to suffer from the possible expensive materials that you can get for your freshwater aquarium. You can find inexpensive items that will be just fine and a little creativity will go a long way. While there are lots of organic and inorganic fish tank decorations available online and at nearby shops, you can maximize your budget, by picking up some items present around you, or combine them with materials being sold in stores. Decorating an aquarium is a satisfying hobby and there is no shortage of things you can use to decorate as well as continue to redecorate, until you are happy with what you have created. It is a true do-It-yourself hobby.

The challenge for designing is to always come up with something new, something catchy or something unique. An aquarium hobbiest can always treat the designing part of the aquarium, as a rare chance to showcase their talents. Of course, the functional purpose of the design should be to both create a visual fantasy land of your liking, and a enviornment that is safe and productive for your fish.

Inorganic decor are fake or manufactured plants and rocks which are created to appear as real as possible. These are composed of plastic, silk, and clay. Organic decor on the other hand can be fossilised versions of the living objects like real rocks, driftwood, gravel, sand from rivers or beaches, and coral. Organic decor can also be living when you use them in your tank.

Some aquarists prefer manufactured decors because they do not wither, they ideally do not affect tank chemistry and that one can experiment more with varied colors. For others however, nothing beats the real thing. Choices in terms of colors and shapes are limited if one chooses to go for organic decor. Plus occasionally your fish might eat the live plants and you will need to replace them, which can be costly.

Of course, you can use a combination of live plants and manufactured plants or just go simple with only one or the other.

Here are a few ideas for your freshwater aquarium.

First, know your fish. For the fish, decorations can be a safe haven in the aquarium. If you want to create an atmosphere that is closest to real life with your decorations, study and learn about your fishs character, likes and dislikes. For example, a surgeonfish needs more swimming space while dottybacks are more used to having plenty of hiding places and african cichlids love rocks that contain limestone. Some species are more comfortable with plants than with rocks and vice-versa.

Second, define your theme. One can freely choose to be youthful, classic, absurd or playful with fantasy. You can make use of replicas of war ruins, sunken galleons, battle ships, treasure chests, underwater divers, mermaids, skulls, skeletons or mummies. There are also toys, doll and tv characters available for your aquarium and don’t forget the pirate paraphernalia and Navy decor.

Driftwood in its provincial shape and appearance can be your tank’s centrepiece. Make sure though that your wood is treated of unwanted elements. Wood usually affects water acidity which will affect your fish so make certain to check that the wood is cleared of any pests or diseases before use. Wood will provide a refuge, a spawning site, and nourishment for many of your aquariums fish. Swamp woods are best for the aquarium as they will not easily rot, but to be sure always ask someone you know, where you have seen a piece of wood in their fish tank. You can fing out how it is doing in their tank and if they had had any problems with it in the past along with any issues with their fish regarding it.

Live plants and live rocks are very beneficial to the fish and provide a realistic appeal, though adding live items does come with additional lighting and supplement requirements. Also in some live rocks, an aquarium silicon sealant has been discovered so that one can safely shape rocks according to their likes.

Third, befor you do anything else create a background for your aquarium. An aquarium is like a theater stage where its background can establish a tone of a stage drama. Popular colors such as black, dark green, deep blue and slate blue have different impacts. Pleasant pictures of nature, mangroves and reefs are some of the many tank backgrounds available. Some aquarists find it easier in terms of maintenance for the back of their tank to be covered with pictured tape which give a more full and plentiful look to the aquarium.

For many fish-keeping hobbyists, the most exciting part of the hobby is the part of planning out your design and working on it until you get the feel and look according to your desire. Aquascaping can complement and reflect an owners personal artistic sense or business atmosphere. A common problem in designing is to overcrowd the fish tank. It is good idea to first make a hand drawing, and draw in what you might want in the aquariun. You may also want get advice ideas from friends and family members.

With the popularity and advancement of the hobby, stores offer hundreds of items to choose from, both fake and real. It helps to be exposed to all of these to make sure you will not miss any item that may suit your plan and budget. A lot of designs are available in books and online, and also in magazines. You do not have to copy something really nice but you can get great ideas from them.

Do not be afraid to design your own. ‘Do it yourself’ is a fad that is fun and practical. In the end, decor for your freshwater aquarium should be fun , entertaining and visually stunning and you will find is well worth the effort .

Inventive Ideas For Aquarium Backgrounds

Aquarium backgrounds can help to make your aquarium a unique piece of furniture in your living room, dining room, or wherever you decide to place it. The types of backgrounds available are limited only by your imagination. But in addition to their aesthetic qualities, they also have a few functional uses. If your aquarium is in the direct path of the sun, the right aquarium background can cut down on the amount of light filtering through the water and disturbing the fish. Aquarium backgrounds also help to add depth to your aquarium, making it appear more 3 dimensional to the naked eye.

Backgrounds are fantastic for exhibiting and showing off your fish to friends and visitors. But, in addition, backgrounds are also great for showing how fish look in their native environments. In many cases, the attempt to populate an aquarium with a fish’s native plants runs into one of two main problems. Either the specific plant is too hard to find in the standard fish or pet stores. Or, the delicacy of the plant causes you to continually have to replace your aquarium plants. The right horticultural background helps to give the illusion of a fish swimming in it’s native environment.

But plant backgrounds are only one of the many background types that you can choose from. One of the better selling background choices are colored rocks which when placed next to the flat monotone gravel in the tank, actually makes the scenery come alive. Those not interested in re-creating ocean or sea life can choose from esoteric categories such as musical instruments to cartoon characters on popular shows. You can also find these backgrounds in an endless varieties of colors and sizes that will fit any fish tank that you own.

If you have a bit of artistic talent, you can actually create your own background paintings. As mentioned above, however, if you plan on putting your mural on the inside of your aquarium, ensure that it contains no toxic materials that can leach into the water.

You can find aquarium backgrounds made for both the outside of the tank and for the tank insides. If buying one for the inside of the tank you have to ensure that it’s made of materials that are non-toxic to the fish. The best method of monitoring for this is to only deal with reputable fish or animal stores when making your purchase.

Most tank backgrounds sold in stores are made of vinyl. These are usually waterproof as well which means that they can be used in either the outside or inside of the tank.

Those not wanting to buy aquarium backgrounds or who think that they are too flashy can always buy a tank with the back painted or simply paint the back themselves. Painted fish tanks do not bring much added excitement to the tank and can actually make the fish tank seem less interesting. Nevertheless, as many people prefer a painted back for these very reasons.

Some of the best commercial tank backgrounds are so realistic that they actually fool the casual viewer. The best thing about them, however, is that they simply serve to add a bit of spice to your hobby.

Top Three Most Essential Applications Of Potassium Permanganate

Are you familiar with the deep purple solution your mother applies to your skin when you had a bad case of athletes foot? It did a great, didnt it?

That solution is made by dissolving potassium permanganate crystals in water. Potassium permanganate is an inorganic but water soluble compound. It is also known as Condys crystals and permanganate of potash.

This chemical has a strong oxidizing property that is why it is very useful in many applications. However, one of its more popular uses is in medicine, as an antiseptic and fungicide. It has also been used in water treatment by the army to render potable water. But this practice has been discontinued because it causes stains on the teeth.

Medicinal Uses

Potassium permanganate is dissolved in warm water to come up with a nice pink colored solution which is then ideal for treatment of skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, and fungal infections of the hands and feet.

Immersion in potassium permanganate has been proven to be effective for skin conditions but this is largely unpopular because of the stains and discolorations it leaves on the bathing materials such as towels and the bath tub. This can be addressed, however, with dissolving the right amount of crystals. A concentration of 1:10,000 will result to a pink color. Using too much and the water goes black and results to a rather nice but fake tan.

A weak solution of potassium permanganate has been formerly used as an antiseptic wash for vaginal thrush, vulvovaginitis as well as persistent urine infection in both children and adults. It has also been applied as a vaginal douche after childbirth way before the use of antibiotics.

Treatment of Fish Diseases

Potassium permanganate is an effective treatment for various fish diseases and parasites. It is helpful in treating bacterial gill infection and skin ulcers. It dramatically improves water quality by reducing the biological oxygen demand as a result of the oxidation of the dissolved organic matter in the water.

It is commercially used as an oxidizing agent in fish ponds to react with organic matter including bacteria, algae, particulates as well as organic sediments. It is very important to calculate the exact amount of needed chemical for the volume of water since it can cause extensive damage or even death of your fish. It can be used as a pest control for parasitic nudibranches in your aquarium.

However, frequent treatment can harm your fish so wait for a reasonable period before repeating treatment. Disperse the solution evenly throughout the pond and aerate your pond properly after treatment.

Water Treatment

Having a strong oxidizing capacity, potassium permanganate is ideal for use in water treatment. It removes from the water, iron and magnesium which give water its unpleasant color and unpalatable taste. It is added to the water for treatment especially those which come from sources deep into the ground. It also reduces rust in the pipes and other water equipment.

To prevent cholera and other water-borne diseases, wash fruits and vegetables with diluted potassium permanganate solution as well as your cooking utensils such as the chopping board.

There are other uses and applications for potassium permanganate primarily because of its excellent oxidizing property. And also as a result of this, proper handling and storage must be practiced. Always use gloves when handling this chemical since it quickly reacts with the skin leaving a dark brown stain.

It is a strong oxidizer therefore proper storage is necessary and must be kept away from other highly oxidizable substances. It should be separated well away from concentrated sulfuric acid because reaction with these two chemicals can be explosive.

What Products Should I Use To Keep My Aquarium Clean

There is no doubt that aquariums can beautify your house but since fish are living organisms the aquarium is bound to get dirty. If you are wondering what products should I use to keep my aquarium clean then I recommended you make a note of the following products that can help you keep your aquarium crystal clear.

The first product that can help you keep your aquarium clean is an aquarium python. This product is very beneficial during water changes. It can help you clean the water of your aquarium without any hassle.

Aquarium pythons allow you to clean the gravel in the aquarium while doing a water change without disturbing the fish. The aquarium python is a long pipe that allows you to directly fill water from the tap and also let the water out the aquarium directly into the sink. Most aquarium pythons allow you to adjust the water flow and some of these devices come with extra fittings such as a splash proof outlets to prevent water splashing when you are letting the water out of the aquarium.

It is also possible to get battery operated siphons that can help you clean the gravel and water of an aquarium. Battery operated siphons are beneficial if you have aquariums that hold less than 15 gallons water.

The second product that can help you keep your aquarium clean is a magnetic glass cleaner. Magnetic glass cleaners allow you to clean algae from the insides of the glass without putting your hand inside the aquarium. It is important to note that special magnetic cleaners are available for acrylic aquariums and regular magnetic cleaners should not be used on acrylic aquariums since they can cause permanent scratches. It is also possible to get aquarium cloth mops or other algae cleaning accessories that are suspended on a stick and help you clean those hard to reach spots.

The third and most important product that can help you keep your aquarium is an aquarium filter. Sponge filters are beneficial for aquariums that are can hold less than 10 gallons water and internal filters or hang on back filters are beneficial for aquariums that can hold up to 40 gallons water. External canister filters are recommended for larger aquariums since these filters are apt for cleaning larger aquariums with more fish. An under gravel filter is not recommended for large aquariums since large aquariums generally have a bigger fish load which can cause the plates of the under gravel filter to clog. Under gravel filters require regular maintenance and siphoning the gravel is an important part of maintaining an under gravel filter.

Glass cleaners are required to clean the external glass of the aquarium and care should be taken that the glass cleaning liquid does not mix with the aquarium water while cleaning since this can prove toxic to the fish.

Indian Vastu Shastra Tips Bring You Wealth & Peace

All of us pass through financial hardships at least once in our life. The steady flow of finance comes to a stop or just to a trickle. It may be one of the worst phases in your life. But good and bad just like day and night – always alternate in our life. So, you can expect these bad days to pass by sooner or later. However, it is possible to tide over the crisis quickly and brighten up the things with the help of Indian Vastu Shastra Tips.

Vastu is an ancient science originated in India and still practiced worldwide. If used properly, it can bring you fortune in every aspect of your life. However, here we will only focus on how Indian vastu shastra can help you overcome the financial issues and bring you wealth and happiness.

Indian vastu shastra tips:

According to vastu shastra, fish aquarium is just like a magic touch in your financial life. The healthy and colorful fishes are not only charming to look at but also invite prosperity in your life. The energetic fishes keep the flow of money on steady move. Make it sure to clean water after regular period of time. It is also important to ensure that enough of air passes through the aquarium.

If you have a long corridor in front of your entrance door, then there will be fierce flow of energy that inflicts detrimental effect on your money matter. According to Indian Vastu Shastra Tips, place a plant halfway along your corridor. This will eliminate or at least, lessen the hard effect on your financial plan and investment.

Your front door must be unique in design so as to welcome wealth within. The door color must also be different from that on the neighboring walls or other doors in your apartment.

If your business is running through a tumultuous period, then to bring back the phase of smooth sailing, place the beautifully decorated boulders or curvy pebbles around the structure. This way, you can force the financial energy to stay within your business structure.

Are your window glass dirty? Then clean it as early as possible. In fact, you must keep your house tidy now and always and the result will immediately reflect in your balance sheet. Dirty object prevents the money flow from coming within.

To attract more energy into your house, hang crystal balls in your window. They become sort of kaleidoscope while being heat by the sun beams. The light they produce and spread throughout the room drives the energy from all directions, thereby opening up multiple avenues for your career growth and monetary prospect. So, hang the crystal balls in the window that is directly flooded by sunlight.

To ensure a good financial condition, it is important to restrict the financial expenses. For that purpose, you can place the live plants in toilet. The reason is to restrict the money from getting drained out through the toilet.

The useful vastu shastra tips can be gained from the specialists in this regard. You can always get instant knowledge from the Online Astrology Services India at free of cost. However, meeting a vastu specialist in person gives you some solace that your problem will be solved with immediacy.