Your Freshwater Aquarium Fish Tank Basics

You can get a great freshwater aquarium fish tank, but you are going to have to put in a little effort and take your time when shopping. Too small a house for a growing population of fish and you will have to upgrade quickly, and too large a tank for a small room or office, and you will have a space problem in the room that the tank will be in. Find practical solutions! The freshwater aquarium tank is a solid and well designed, self contained structure for keeping fish in a safe, controlled environment where you have or should have, total control over them. In choosing the best tank, there are many important points to consider such as the material the tank is made of, the size, the shape and the associated cost.

Each point has its advantages and disadvantages. Of course, innovations are not made for nothing and the long history of the hobby is a testament to its over all success. You may ask yourself: Can I handle a small or large fish tank? Can I have the classic look, or a rather contemporary one? Can I go with a cheap tank or an expensive one? The details below are basic information on a standard freshwater aquarium fish tank according to the type of material the tank is made of, its differing sizes and shapes, and its corresponding cost.

Watch Your Material

A fish tank can be made of glass or acrylic. Glass tanks are the classic type of aquarium tank. Since the introduction of glass in the year 500 of the Roman Empire, glass in general and the glass fish tank has undergone major changes and improvements. On the other hand, acrylic tanks became popular in the latter part of the nineteenth century and the tank itself has not gone through as many changes as the glass tanks have. Both are made of relatively good materials though they do differ in weight and performance.

A glass tank is heavier than an acrylic tank, and many people prefer the acrylic type for that reason, and also because it is not as fragile as the glass type which can break easily. Thus, acrylic tanks are easily shipped from one place to another. From the store or company where it is purchased to your home, or from one room in your home to another.

Also, acrylic tanks require a smaller heater than glass tanks and are proven as better insulators and are historically more stable in terms of temperature. However, many still prefer the glass tank because of its availability, its tendency not to get yellowish over time, and its strength against being scratched. The new glass tanks with laminated glass are a clever way to have the advantages of both glass and acrylic.

For really large aquariums such as those in museums and public aquariums, fiberglass is used.

Watch Your Size

Tanks can be small, medium or large. Some of the popular small aquarium sizes range from 1 gallon to 15 gallons and sometimes a little larger depending on the pets it will house. Mid-sized tanks range from twenty gallons to forty while large tanks range from fifty to one hundred eighty gallons. These may come in various length, width and height proportions.

you should remember that each gallon of water in your tank is going to weigh around 10 pounds. This calculation is needed when choosing your tank’s stand and a stable space to put your aquarium. It is not true that the smaller the tank, the easier it will be to manage. Another principle is that, the larger the tank, the better it is for the fish. The shorter but horizontally long tank is better than a thin and vertical tank in terms of swimming space for the fish and circulation of oxygen from the surface. Of course, it follows that with enough oxygen, fish become healthier and the stocking capacity increases but be aware that you should never overstock the tank with too many fish. This will help to avoid oxygen depletion.

Watch Your Shape

The most common type of shape for tanks is the rectangular and spherical (such as a fish bowl) types. Modern technology has made it possible for tanks especially the acrylic type to come in varied shapes such as cubic, hexagonal, L-shaped and bow-front where the front side is convalescent. acrylic fish tanks have smoother edges than glass tanks do. You can choose to be conventional or experimental when it comes to shape. Please be aware that the shape of your fish tank will have an effect on the circulation (or lack of circulation) of oxygen and nutrients needed by your fish.

Watch Your Cost

Glass tanks can cost two to three times more than the acrylic tanks. However, when it comes to very large tanks like 250 gallons and up, the price is neutralized because it will cost you plenty, no matter which type you choose. Choose your tank according to the type you can afford and maintain. Acrylic tanks have higher maintenance cost than glass tanks.

You should decide to choose the best tank based on the type of material the tank is made of, its size, its shape, its cost and your available space.

People should want the most tank that they can afford. While it is true that any type of tank can be considered reliable because they are manufactured for that reason, one still needs to keep in mind the costs associated with the fish tanks set up and ongoing maintenence. Like in any experience, there may be nuances in the beginning but as you take one step after another, you’ll discover everything that you need to know about your total costs to stay involved with this hobby. their are good and bad points to each model of fish tank. You may freely weigh and balance them according to your needs.

The information above is a general review but be aware that the fish tank itself will be your biggest expense, but not your only expence. Also, be patient. You can get a good deal on a nice tank by taking your time and shopping around for the best deal that you can afford instead of buying the first tank that your eyeballs see.

Which Red Sea Max Aquarium Is Right For You

There are now three models in the Red Sea Max range, but price and size aside, how do they differ and which one should you choose?

Red Sea Max 130D
The Red Sea Max 130D replaces the original 130 and, as the name suggests, holds around 130 litres of water. It features a long list of improvements over the original 130 and despite some minor annoyances it remains a solid, stylish tank that works well.

These tanks are designed with simplicity in mind and are very easy to set up and maintain, even if you have no prior experience with marine fish or reef keeping.

Like all models in the range, the 130D is solidly-built and has a quality feel to the plastic, glass and cabinet.

All of the electrics – various water pumps, heaters and the power compact lighting – is neatly hidden away and runs from a series of waterproof switches. There’s also a timer to turn the lights on and off.

There’s plenty of flow (though you might want to increase this if you keep corals) and the skimmer is OK, if a little on the fiddly side to adjust.

The only real drawback with this model are the hood cooling fans which require annual replacement to keep them quiet and the need to keep the tank regularly topped up with RO water to prevent tiny bubbles appearing in the water.

Red Sea Max 250
The Red Sea Max 250 is the middle-sized model and it’s a better bet if you want a fancier tank or larger fish. It’s really just a scaled up version of the 250, and packs in an extra 120 litres of water into a footprint that’s not too much larger.

The Red Sea Max 250, like the other models, comes in silver, black and white and it’s a doddle to maintain and really easy to set up and get looking good.

This one in particular makes a great first tank for the fishkeeper who wants to get stuck into marines – and it’s much more upgradeable and future-proof than the smaller, more restricting 130 or 130D.

This model has a recommended retail price of 1599.99, but you can pick them up for 1299.99 or less from online retailer Swell UK at www.swelluk.com.

Red Sea Max 500
The Red Sea Max 500 is the latest addition to the range and was first shown off at the Interzoo trade show in Germany in 2010.

This model has not yet gone on sale, but if the design remains unchanged from the model exhibited at Interzoo it will hold 500 litres and be lit by a luminaire containing 10 54 watt T5 bulbs. Sadly, there don’t look like there will be any LEDs here…

Turnover is expected to be around 12,000 lph and the tank will include an integrated multi-chamber sump housing a Red Sea C-Skim protein skimmer and a 300w heater thermostat.
It’s expected to have a recommended retail price of around 3000 when it finally goes on sale.

Yellow Grow LED Display 3w

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Some light emitting diode bulbs feature a certain amount of heat-sink that can help dissipate excess thermal energy. It is useful to leave them on permanently because they use little electricity. An electricity efficient lighting system that employs LED Retrofit technology may be good at cutting lighting operational costs without compromising on lighting quality or productivity. Another feature that come in real handy may be the plug and play system which might be readily set up in jut mere minutes.

Game Review – Fishdom Spooky Splash

The goal of this game is exactly that of the original, namely to develop a virtual aquarium. This is accomplished just as one would do in real life. Players simply buy fish, accessories, and various creature comforts for the tank. The keyword here is buy as players need cash in order to buy all of this stuff. Cash is earned by completing match-3 levels before time runs out. In these game levels, players must match three identical pieces in a row by clicking on two adjacent pieces to swap them around. A swap is only successful if it creates a match. Tiles contain various pieces like ghosts, pumpkins, wizard hats, starfish, crabs, and even seashells.

Some of these pieces sit atop golden tiles. Every level contains a specific amount of these golden tiles that the player must collect in order to proceed to the next level. The level ends once the player collects all the golden tiles or runs out of time. In some levels, these special tiles are silver and not gold. These tiles must be matched twice in order to clear them. Some tiles are locked, meaning their corresponding pieces can only be freed by matching them with other tiles. Various power-ups like bombs, dynamite charges, warheads, and lightning bolts are offered throughout the levels. These items can destroy multiple pieces in one go.

Fishdom: Spooky Splash lets players choose from about 200 different types of fish and accessories. This variety provides a virtually unlimited number of aquariums one may create and design. Clicking on the eye button at the top of the screen pauses game-play, hides the playing board, and allows you to view the aquarium while listening to the game theme song. A bonus screen-saver featuring your very own personalised aquarium awaits should you successfully complete the entire game. As a result, the titles publisher claims this virtual aquarium provides a fully interactive, customisable environment for players to enjoy.

It is hard to say who the mixed aquatic/haunted house theme will appeal to. One doesnt generally think about ghosts and goblins while making a fish tank. Adding lighting and accessories to this virtual fish tank doesnt seem to be as spooky as the developers would like players to think. While the original title lays claim to several gaming awards, it is not clear whether or not this title will bring anything new to the table in order to gain awards of its own. The titles publisher claims the game provides endless replay value to gamers. While this may be so for casual players and match-3 enthusiasts, hardcore gamers will quickly grow bored with this title despite its playability, graphics, and overall appeal. Matching tiles will get old for this type of player regardless of how well the graphics and sound are made. When it comes to making electronic fish tanks, lets just say that the hardcore crowd would rather not.

Fishdom: Spooky Splash is suitable for all gaming audiences. It is available for play on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Nintendo DS platforms, as well as an online browser-based edition through games.com.

The Purpose Of A Wave Maker Is An Aquarium

If you are planning to start a marine aquarium then you must be aware that there are a few things such as protein skimmers and wave makers which are absolutely necessary for your aquarium. This article is going to elaborate on the purpose of a wave maker in an aquarium. As well as provide some tips that can help you choose a wave maker for your aquarium.

Wave makers are basically water surge devices that are used in aquariums to produce waves that are similar to that of seas and oceans. These devices stimulate the water and allow water to be circulated in the aquarium which helps provide oxygen to the fish and invertebrates. Wave makers are especially helpful in a marine aquarium since lack of circulation can cause poisonous substances to grow in marine aquariums and wave makers eliminate any such problems. Wave makers also help deliver food to corals and other invertebrates that cannot search for food on their own.

Wave makers are units that allow you to connect power heads and pumps to the control unit. These control units provide options to control the speed and height of the wave. Good wave makers have features that can prevent damage to power heads and pumps and allow you to stimulate both day and night waves in order to mimic a natural environment. Features that allow you to choose from rolling, smooth and turbulent waves are required options in good wave makers. A good wave maker will also provide feeding modes that can help you feed your invertebrates. The cycle time for waves is adjustable in a good wave maker and this feature can help circulate water while removing dead spots that accumulate wastes inside your marine aquarium. Other advanced features may be available in wave makers that can prove beneficial if there is a requirement for those features in your marine aquarium.

Another type of device that is used to create waves is a switching current water director also known as SCWD. Switching current water directors use existing pumps to generate double directional movement in your marine aquarium. These units are beneficial to reef aquariums. A good SCWD will direct water incoming water flow to two alternative outputs and the device will switch alternatively depending on the incoming pressure of the water.

Power heads, timers and pumps are usually sold separately but it may be possible to get a package deal that has all the necessary components to make a wave maker fully functional.