Many in style aquarium fish species come back from brackish areas, like rivers feeding into an ocean. In these cases, adding salt to the aquarium serves to copy their natural habitat by creating a water quality that is between the standard freshwater and saltwater tank options. Referred to as “brackish,” attaining the optimum salt content for these sorts of fish requires information of your fish species’ natural environment, as the salt needs can vary widely even among brackish fish.

Many species of fish don’t seem to be brackish, but still profit from a little amount of salt in their water. Salt will scale back stress in goldfish, African Cichlids, and most live-bearers like Mollys, Platys, Guppies, and Swordtails. When using salt to cut back stress, the suggested dose is one to two tablespoons for ten gallons of water. This use of salt in a freshwater aquarium is very common with fish that have lost a ton of scales. A teaspoon per 10 gallons of water can support the healing of scales by serving to the fish maintain the right level of salt in its blood.

In addition to the current use, salt could be added to treat common ailments of freshwater aquarium fish, as well as ecoparasites, ich, and Costia. To kill these ailments, you’d would like to feature regarding one one/2 cups of salt for every ten gallons of aquarium water. If you have an aquarium hydrometer, that measures the salt content, it ought to scan between 1.005 and 1.009, or 7 to nineteen elements per million. This salt level must be maintained for several weeks. Not all species will tolerate this much salt. Whenever treating freshwater fish with salt, you want to monitor the fish closely for signs of stress, and come the fish to a totally freshwater surroundings if necessary.

A short-term dip in gently salted water is typically recommended as a treatment for fish that are exposed to water with a high level of nitrites. Add regarding four teaspoons of salt to a gallon of water, and place your fish in the bucket for regarding [*fr1] an hour, observing them closely for signs of distress during this time.

When should you avoid adding salt to an aquarium? If your tank is planted with live plants, avoid salt, as a result of plants are easily broken by relatively low salt levels. Scaleless fish are very sensitive to salt, as are some other fish species, including Tetras.

If you do decide to feature salt to your aquarium, avoid using standard table salt, that contains additives such as iodine and calcium silicate. Aquarium salt has no such additives, creating it safer for your fish. Checkout more other helpful info about dog weight, pregnant dogs and small puppies

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Fish live by absorbing oxygen and they give off carbon dioxide as a waste product. Plants in daylight do the opposite, so that what is poison to one species gives life to the other. So adding plants to your aquarium will assist in keeping your goldfish healthy and disease free.

Preventing disease is always easier than curing it, so by keeping your aquarium clean, feeding your fish properly, avoiding wide temperature fluctuations and performing partial water changes as necessary you will go a long way to keeping your fish healthy. However, no matter how well you maintain your tank, from time to time one or more of your goldfish may become ill or display signs of stress.

This article covers some of the more common goldfish diseases.

Anchor worms appear as a 1/4 to 3/8 inch piece of string with a forked tail. Large anchor worms can easily be seen. They appear as clear, greenish-white or brownish-red strings. Once the anchor worms have buried themselves into the flesh of the fish open sores may appear on the skin. The anchor worms may be visible in the sores. Frequently this parasite is introduced into the fish tank from aquarium plants ñ especially those taken from creeks or rivers, or from adding live food to the tank. Anchor worms attach beneath the fish’s scales and bury their anchor-shaped head under the skin causing ulceration and distress to the fish.

Anchor worms are highly contagious and must be treated immediately. Your local pet store can supply an appropriate treatment for anchor worm, usually in the form of a gyrase inhibitor that can be added to the tank water. This should be effective in killing the parasites within three to four days.

Swimbladder disease should be suspected when a fish has difficulty stabilizing itself in the tank. It is not uncommon in goldfish although fancy varieties appear more susceptible to this disease. It can be genetic in origin or caused by a variety of other factors including inadequate or improper diet, bacterial infection or even poor quality aquarium water.

Apart from improving the water condition if that is necessary, some fish keepers suggest feeding your goldfish thawed out frozen peas. It is also worth feeding the fish with sinking food instead of floating food to minimize the intake of air. It may also be worthwhile moving your sick goldfish to a smaller shallow tank while you treat it. This may reduce the stress on the fish. Swimbladder disease can often occur quite suddenly in previously healthy fish.

Dropsy isn’t a specific goldfish disease, but appears as a condition where the fish’s abdomen becomes swollen due to a concentration of fluids in the body tissues or cavities. The abdominal swelling can create a pinecone effect where the fishís scales protrude from the body. The cause of the swelling could be any of several conditions including cancer, internal parasites or bacterial infection, cancer, internal parasites. Depending on what has caused the condition dropsy may be contagious. There are no known successful treatments for dropsy and the condition usually proves fatal.

Frayed or torn fins are usually indications of fin or tail rot if the fish has not been fighting. This is a bacterial infection that first appears as a whitish edge on the fins, before the fins begin to rot away. It is easily treated with antibiotics available from your local pet store. Ensure the medication states that it treats fin or tail rot. In some cases a secondary fungal infection may occur. In this case, treat the fin rot before dealing with the fungal problem.

Fungus is generally a secondary infection. A fish with a sore or an open wound caused through injury or disease may suffer from a lack of mucous around the area of the wound. Open wounds like this can often attract a secondary fungal infection. Look for patches of grey or white fuzzy puffs attached to the skin. There are several treatments available for fungal infections from the pet store. Fungus will respond well to quick treatment.

Perhaps the most common parasitic disease in goldfish is ick. It is frequently present in freshwater fish tanks and will infect fish that have suffered recent infection or those in poor general health. Ick is characterized by small white dots that look like sprinkled salt on the body. The fish may try to scratch the infected areas on the wall of the tank which can cause further damage. Cloudy eyes and rapid breathing can also be signs of ick. See your pet store for ick treatment. Badly infected fish should be moved to a quarantine tank for treatment but it is important to treat the main aquarium as well to ensure that the parasite has been removed.

Goldfish are actually hardy fish but there are many diseases that can cause them stress and discomfort. If you want your goldfish to live a long and healthy life you must ensure that you manage the aquarium properly and treat sick goldfish immediately that any symptoms appear.

There is a comprehensive and instantly downloadable e-book covering the entire topic of treating goldfish diseases that will help you identify and treat symptoms.

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Size of Your Aquarium

Even though a lot of people think that it is right to start with a small fish tank, this is not really the best choice because a smaller tank is harder to keep in good condition and require much more work to keep in a healthy condition. This is because the water in a smaller tank is rapidly affected by any disturbances, therefore if the room temperature drops or rises unexpectedly, for example, there will be an immediate change in the water conditions inside the tank. A much larger aquarium will be a lot more stable. Another thing to think about is that with a much larger aquarium the toxic wastes from the fish, are dispersed through a much larger volume of water and consequently will be less likely to affect your fish.  A 40 gallon tank is a good size to start with at a minimum.

Acrylic or Glass?

The next decision to make is between a traditional glass or an acrylic fish tank. This needs to be thought about with shape of the aquarium you prefer in mind because some shapes, cylindrical for example, can only be bought in acrylic. Glass tanks are usually much cheaper than acrylic tanks but are usually heavier. They also tend to leak as they get older but an aquarium sealant can easily fix this. They are not made in such a wide variety of shapes as acrylic tanks. If you are looking for an exotic shaped tank you will normally have to purchase acrylic.

Acrylic aquariums cost more than all-glass tanks but are lighter in weight and, as they are designed in only one piece, are not so prone to leaking. Care must be taken not to scratch the outside of the aquarium and keep away from using any abrasive cleaning materials on the acrylic as this will cause small scratches on the exterior which will make it less than clear.

The Shape of the Aquarium

The long-established rectangular tank is certainly the best shape for an aquarium because it has a high surface area to water ratio which allows the greatest gas exchange. On the other hand if you fancy a less common shape then you will need to ensure the tank is properly aerated in order for the fish to get enough oxygen. Acrylic aquariums are available in many different shapes including round, cylindrical, hexagon, octagon and also mounted as coffee tables or as wall aquariums.

What is the Best Location for Your Fish Tank?

When deciding on where to locate your aquarium ensure you have enough room and that the aquarium’s weight can be accommodated. A fifty gallon filled tank will weigh as much as 550  pounds so you must be careful that the flooring and stand are sturdy enough. You can place a wall aquarium on a dividing wall so that you can view the tank from two adjoining rooms and is a breathtaking centerpiece to any room.

For more information please visit us at Cheap Aquariums for Sale

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One of the most important things you can do for your goldfish is to choose the right tank. Goldfish need well oxygenated water so you’ll want to pick a tank that has a lot of surface area – or area where the water meets the air. It’s in your fish’s best interest to choose a tank that is shorter and longer as opposed to one that is taller and thinner. I know a lot of people keep their goldfish in a bowl, but this isn’t really a very good environment for a fish and it certainly won’t allow for you to expand and add other fish to your collection.

Another important piece of  advice for goldfish care is to make sure that the water is always clean. Goldfish, in general are actually pretty messy fish and they can pollute their own water pretty quickly. You also need to be careful not to feed them too much as the excess food will float to the bottom and start to decay. Plus they will eat too much and then poop more and their waste in the water will also start to decay. Both of these will add up to bad water quality leaving your goldfish stressed out and at risk for disease.

Doing partial water changes, about 25% of the total water changed out once a month, is a must to keep your goldfish happy and healthy.

Just like you,  your goldfish can get sick and part of caring for him is to keep an eye on them to make sure he doesn’t show any of the signs of disease. You want to look for little white spots that almost look like salt which is a disease called Ichtyopthirius and needs to be treated right away. Also, observe your fish every day and make sure that he doesn’t exhibit any unusual behavior that can indicate that he is sick. Make sure you keep the tank at a constant temperature and that the PH level remains within the preferred range.

Goldfish care is not that hard and merely requires that you provide him with an appropriate environment in which to live. Feeding him a varied diet consisting of flake foods, brine shrimp and blood worms will help keep them healthy. Make sure you have a good heater and filtration system on your aquarium and your goldfish should be happy and healthy for quite some time.

By: Lee Dobbins

Caring for A Goldfish Aquarium

If you care for your aquarium properly, you will be sure to have happy and healthy Goldfish for many years. Goldfish have a life expectancy of five to ten years. If you do a good job maintaining their fish tank, you should have fun.

Goldfish: Caring For Them  Some Common Myths

Now, let’s talk about setting up a goldfish tank. Goldfish need much larger tanks than other common fish because of their adult size. If you take good care of your goldfish, it can be with you for over 20 years! 

Freshwater Aquarium: Is Goldfish A lucky fish?

Some people believes that to raise a fish could give some luck. 

Demon Goldfish?

These fish have some bright colors and have some very fancy fins, but they are mostly large goldfish, and eventually switch to tropical fish to get a larger selection of fish. But keeping tropical fish can be a … There is always the possibility that some of your fish will get eaten, but the only way to make keeping fish not a gamble is to keep each fish in their own separate fish tank 

Does A Bigger Tank Promote Faster Growth In Fish?

With a bigger tank, fish will have more space to move around. Naturally, they will tend to “exercise” more, thus eat more which in turn grow faster than in a constraint environment. 

Aquarium Care for Freshwater Fish

Freshwater fish are perhaps the easiest & fef lt;b>fish to care for in comparison to saltwater species because they are usually hardier fish. A basic aquarium set up will be required. You will need a tank, some rocks or substrate to line the bottom.

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Lee Dobbins writes for Fish Tank Guide where you can learn more about fish tank care and maintenance as well as how to care for your goldfish.

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South American Cichlid, wolf, convict, flowerhorn, firemouth and jewel cichlids – so many beautiful names for such a pretty species.

The cichlid fish has a very colorful appearance which makes them one of the most popular fish to own. Their care is not that difficult but they do have requirements that must be adhered to in order for them to be healthy.

Most cichlids come from Africa, but they are also found in Central and South America. They are found in many different kinds of waters, such as rivers, lakes and ponds. There are many different cichlid species and many different color variations.

In your cichlid tank, you must provide places for them to hide, such as large pieces of driftwood or rock caves. If you have a large species of cichlids, it is best not to put plants in their aquarium because they tend to dig up substrate materials. Other species, like the angelfish and discus prefer a planted tank.

Most cichlids like to be in water temperatures in the mid seventies. The Discus species prefers slightly higher temperatures. The staple food of your cichlid’s diet should be a large flake food, but you should also feed many different types of live and frozen foods. It’s good to have variety in their diet. If you have a large cichlid, it can even be fed earthworms and crickets.

Cichlids are very territorial which makes them aggressive. You must watch out for this aggression. If you have a mating pair, the male will usually drive away the female after mating. There needs to be somewhere for her to hide or else she can be killed. Because they are so aggressive, you should only keep them with other large fish that can stand up against them.

If you carefully select the fish, cichlids can be kept in a community tank. Dwarf cichlids work extremely well for this. They can be kept together pretty easily with schooling fish like Characins. If you keep cichlids in a tank together just make sure there is enough room for them to claim their own territory.

Large cichlids should only be kept with fish of the same size and temperament as themselves. Do not keep any large cichlid with a small fish because they will probably make them a meal.

If you decide to breed cichlids, you need to realize that there are two different types of breeders. Substrate brooders lay eggs out in the open on a surface or hidden in a cavity. They will fan the eggs to increase oxygen supply and after they hatch, the fish will look after the young until they are eating on their own and free swimming. After that, the parents will still protect the young against predators. The parents will be extremely aggressive during this time.

The other type of breeder is called a mouthbrooder. They put the eggs and larvae in their mouths. They keep them in their mouths until the young are free swimming. Most mouthbrooders stop looking after the young once they are free swimming, but others do continue to care for them by letting them go back into their mouths when there is danger.

Cichlids are really fun fish to own. There are so many different kinds of cichlids and some of the colors are truly stunning. Before you get cichlids, just try to do as much research about them as you can.

Michael Russell      Your Independent guide to Aquariums

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Sick Cichlids

Ok those of you that helped me out last week know that I just got a 40 gallon up and going. All readings are normal. Temp is about 79 degrees..

Cichlids

Pictures Tank examples Library Cichlid Forum Natural habitats. New cichlid. Also got this 1 yesterday can anyone id for me.

Cichlids on Flickr – Photo Sharing!

Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration Mystic, CT If you know the species, leave a comment.

Cichlids Digging Nests

It’s always fascinating to watch my African Cichlids rebuild after a tank cleaning. They’re very territorial fish, and they build nests by moving around the gravel in the tank. We captured on video one of the fish building his nest.

Freshwater Aquarium: Lyretail Cichlid

Same like most cichlids, they have bad characters. Lyretail Cichlids will defend their territory. It could attack any fish, which disturb their territory. Therefore, we cannot put Lyretail Cichlids in community tanks.

Freshwater Aquarium: Convict Julie Cichlids Profile

The Convict Julie color is gold and black strip like Golden Julie cichlids. The pattern color is different with convict cichlids. Golden Julie has Kipili variety too that  has more yellow color. The pattern could different 

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