Month: April 2019

Soft Water V. Hard Water In Plumbing, Pools And Hot Tubs Spas

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Soft water is a funny thing, because it is really water in its purest form. All of the mineral (namely calcium and magnesium) ions are missing, making the water as close to two H”s and an O as possible. But we as humans are not accustomed to it, and it makes us realize the primary beneficial aspect the minerals give to the water “” they reduce water”s natural corrosiveness. Without those minerals, soft water will corrode the metal parts associated with the plumbing of a pool, jacuzzi hot tub or kitchen or bathroom faucet much more rapidly, making the problems associated with hard water seem benign by comparison.

Who would have thought that water, the element responsible for life on Earth, was such a dangerous thing when not properly tempered by the earth element?!

Most people don”t have to worry about soft water, since balanced and hard water are much more common, in nature as well as in urban and suburban reservoirs and facilities, but there are those places that have either naturally occurring soft water or where the water has been softened to a certain extent by people.

In swimming pools, hot tubs spas, or when taking showers in soft water you may feel like the sterilizer, soap or shampoo you are using is especially slimy or filmy, and it will lather up much more than usual. A normal portion of such a product could surprise you with the amount of foam is creates, and the feeling that it doesn”t want to wash off.

Using less of the cleanser may be a sufficient way to respond to the soft water situation, or perhaps getting a showerhead filter that hardens the water. In the case of swimming pools and hot tubs spas, however, using less chlorine or bromine sanitizer could raise concerns about bacteria growth not being prevented as it should be.

Baking soda can be added to harden the water, which is a fairly common practice with laundry, and you should be aware that some water softening agents are sometimes added to laundry detergents, so if this is the case with your detergent you may want to add the baking soda even if your water is not already soft. A washing machine (or a jacuzzi hot tub) will be the perfect place to discover the presence of soft water, because the presence of a mountain of suds will be unmistakable.

If the water to the house is soft, it could be causing corrosive damage to various parts of the plumbing and it is advisable to invest in a water hardening system that can balance the water to the whole house. Of course, hard water is problematic for plumbing as well, and leaves behind the tell tale calcium deposits.

Many aquarium owners are already familiar with the necessity of hardening water for the sake of fine tuning the habitat for certain marine life (namely corals, snails and tube worms), putting specialized commercially available materials like calcium chloride pellets and magnesium sulfate (commonly found in Epsom salt) directly into the tanks. They must be careful to follow the formula carefully to prevent creating a toxic underwater environment.

People are much more resilient, of course, but it is true that hard water can cause skin and eye irritation, and can create a solid soap scum that covers the hair and skin and clogs the pores. Here it becomes evident that one of the best ways to tell if your water is not balanced is to ask yourself whether your skin truly feels clean after washing. If there is a residue, the frothiness of the soap will tell you that the water is soft, and the appearance of stains or scales will signify hard water.

Goldfish Details And Information

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Goldfish have been around for generations now. They’ve been an integral part of the popular human consciousness and are amongst the preferred pet fish. Goldfish are fantastic starter fish for anyone aiming to start an aquarium. As a result of their long history, they are available in various shapes, sizes and body types. Members of the Carp family, Goldfish make wonderful pets as they are hardy and simple to keep as well as reasonably cheap. It is easy to keep Goldfish in a simple fish bowl as well as in large aquariums. Goldfish are incredible and delightful fish.

Varieties of Goldfish

Common Goldfish: As the name suggests, these are the most typical kind of goldfish and vary in color with their cousins, the Carp. They come in an assortment of colors including Crimson, Orange, White, Yellow and Black.

Black Moor: The eyes are by far the most remarkable part about this Goldfish. They’ve got extraordinary eyes that protrude from their faces. These are also named Dragon Eyes in China

Bubble Eye: This type of fish has eyes that point upward and unusual fluid filled sacks.

Celestial Eye: Very unusual looking fish that nearly looks as if wearing glasses of some sort. Its eyes bulge out and it has an extended swishy tail.

Comet: This fish has a good deal in common with the common Goldfish and is a cute and small variety of fish. Incredibly interesting tail.

Fantail: This sort of Goldfish seems like a Dorito chip. it is triangular and has a large dorsal fin. Very interesting looking critter.

Lionhead: The Lionhead looks gorgeous. It has a fantastic hood and is a very ornamental looking fish.

Oranda: Like the Lionhead, the Oranda also has a large hood that encircles its entire face. Not as pretty as the Lionhead in my opinion.

Telescope Eyed: A much darker color of Goldfish, the Telescope Eyed Goldfish has protruding eyes that make it very unusual looking to say the least.

Panda Moor: This one does’nt even look like your usual Goldfish. A very unusual looking fish in general which has a large split fantail and protruding eyes.

Veiltail: This is a gorgeous fish that has a long swishy tail.

The coolest thing concerning Goldfish is their versatility. They can be kept in small fish bowls, larger tanks as well as ponds and small lakes. There has been some confusion in relation to Goldfish memory spans. They’ve got a memory span of a few months instead of a small number of seconds as originally thought. They will get used to their feeders and will eventually come and feed from your hand.

Goldfish are known to like small shrimp and other crustaceans. They can be given especially formulated food that you can get from your pet store. Try to not overfeed your fish. Kids especially need to be intructed on exactly how much to feed their fish as they can easily become bloated.

Remember to hold a close watch on the vigor of your fish. Watch out for signs of overfeeding or listless behavior and try to find problems before they get bad. Keep the fish tank away from direct sunlight as modifications in temperature may adversely affect the healh of the fish. Goldfish make excellent pets.

Gallon Aquarium Dcor

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Gallon Aquarium Dcor

Decorating your 55 Gallon Aquarium is always a fun, thought out process with lots of different options. Depending on the different aquatic life you have in your aquarium can help you decide what dcor best fits your 55 gallon aquarium. As shown in the compatibility chart certain aquatic life cannot coexist with live plants. In this case your best option would be artificial plants. Plants provide a great living environment for the fish, as most fish love to hide within the plants, making the fish happier and more secure in your aquarium. Artificial plants are much easier to maintain in your 55 gallon aquarium, however they will not produce oxygen that real plants do to help with using up the nitrogenous waste fish give out. Real plants are harder to maintain and need as much focus as your fish do. They require certain types of nutrients and need to be trimmed of dead or decayed parts. Most real plants will need certain lighting requirements. Artificial plants hardly ever have to be replaced and if dirty you can easily take them out and clean them. They dont need nutrients or to be trimmed which make them the easier choice in your 55 gallon aquarium, as they already have a close resemblance to real plants. There are two kinds of artificial plants: Silk and Plastic. Both come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. All fish can go with artificial plants but if you do choose to go the route of real plants, just remember certain fish as stated in the compatibility chart cannot coexist with real plants.

A good way to decorate your 55 gallon aquariums is by adding rocks and wood, however it serves a bigger purpose than just being decorative. It helps make the fish feel more at home since it resembles the environment fish come from. It provides a safe place for fish to breed, spawn, and hide. Wood can help lower the PH levels in your 55 gallon aquarium and aids in anchoring certain plants and ornaments. When choosing your rocks and wood keep in mind the size of your fish, you dont want to overcrowd the tank. If you have bigger fish in your tank you might want to get bigger wood and/or rocks but not as much of it, so they will be able to hide within the decor. There are a few different types of wood you can choose from to help decorate your 55 gallon aquarium. Recommended wood for your aquarium include: Driftwood (make sure its aquarium safe and not just for reptile tanks), Bogwood, Mopani Wood, and Malaysian wood. Recommended rocks include: Lace rock, Slate, Lava rock, Limestone, Sandstone, and Quartz.

Aquarium Ornaments are the most commonly used decorations for a tank. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and can really make an aquarium look amazing. Different types of ornaments range from castles to different multi colored coral. A commonly used ornament is ancient ruins or my personal favorite, ships. If your this is an aquarium for your kids or your letting your kid help you decorate it there a plenty of different ornaments that they would love. Disney characters such as Ariel and Nemo are adorable and a great idea for a childrens aquarium. With ornaments for your 55 gallon aquarium it all depends on what you like and its a lot fun to be creative and decorate.

Backgrounds for your 55 gallon aquarium can drastically change the way your aquarium looks. They colorful ones that really make the aquarium look whimsical. For a more natural look they have ones with the ocean, coral, rocks, and fish. If your going for the natural look they really do have some beautiful backgrounds you can put in your 55 gallon aquariums. Just keep in mind which fish you have in the tank because if you put a coral background in a tank with goldfish or non tropical fish it would look kind of out of place and funny. Before purchasing your 55 gallon aquarium background be sure to remember to measure the width and length of your tank. Some backgrounds come with some kind of adhesive or suction to attach your background to your aquarium. Either way, backgrounds are a good way to make your 55 gallon aquariums look amazing and really stand out.

Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium Hobbyists Add Blue Bee Shrimp

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How Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium Hobbyists Are Adding The Blue Bee Shrimp

According to wholesale tropical fish supplier Gary Smith, of East Coast Tranship, the Blue Bee shrimp is a species that is becoming quite popular with owners of small aquariums. The Blue Bee Shrimp is comparatively new to the shrimp hobby, having first been introduced around March 2008.

This shrimp can be many colors and is occasionally hard to get because it is caught in the wild and is just recently starting to be bred by hobbyists in significant numbers. The Blue Bee is a species found in freshwater streams in China. So far most all of the Blue Bee Shrimp obtained by hobbyists from the pet store trade are wild caught. However, since breeding has begun, captive bred specimens should not take long to hit the hobby shelves.

Breeding the Blue Bee Shrimp

Successful breeding has been reported in a pH range of 6.5 to 6.8 with a temperature of 74 Fahrenheit. These parameters are very similar to the factors required for the Crystal Red Shrimp or Bee Shrimp. Since this is a close relative of those two species, Gary recommends that the same care should be applied to the Blue Bee Shrimp.

Feeding the Blue Bee Shrimp

It is best to do feeding once per day. Only feed an amount of food that the shrimp can finish within 2-3 hours maximum. It is not good to feed in excess and have food sitting for too long. Overfeeding is a known cause of death and can also cause water quality issues. Because shrimp are scavengers in the wild, they will eat anything they can find and are not accustomed to a constant food source.

Most freshwater tropical shrimps are undemanding in their care requirements. They should be kept in a well-established aquarium with no predators. The most important factor for water parameter is stability and as long as none of the water parameters are in the extremes they should be happy and healthy.

Because of the shrimps non-aggressive manner and their algae-eating habits, they are also widely popular in natural/planted aquariums. If there is not enough algae present, foods intended for aquarium fish and invertebrates can be used as a supplement to their diet. Another fine supplement is vegetables that have been boiled just until they are soft.

There are a good number of other distinct and colorful species of shrimps that can bring interest to small aquariums such as the Black Crystal Shrimp, Red Cherry Shrimp and the White Spot Shrimp.

Is Your Freshwater Aquariums Grass Real

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Can you imagine an aquarium without the green element? Indeed, an aquarium cannot be complete without plants. They provide the natural ‘green’ for the fish tank and create a pleasant backdrop with their beauty. Most importantly, they are part of the perfect balance in your aquarium because your fish like them and need the nutrients that they can provide. They can be in the form of grass, and serve as both food and shelter for your fish. From the thousands of species of plants, there are now hundred of types of grass that are popular and used in aquariums.

Plenty of folks would rather have manufactured plants or artificial grass made in various different materials. A lot of others prefer real grass, transplanted from a lake, river, pond or sea or even from an aquarium plantation. There are advantages and disadvantages in choosing either the live version or the imitation. Of course, nothing beats real grass and that is why many aquarium owners who love the hobby, always aim to get the real grass for their aquariums.

Artificial grass is easier to maintain than the real grass simply because it does not need light like real plants do, and it does not decay over time nor contribute to fish tank problems like ammonia build up. The fake grass is not subject to change in color, size and general appearance.

Give your new artificial grass a light bath in slightly salty water before you put them in your aquarium. It functions as a major decoration in the tank while the fish can use it as a playing field and a nice hiding place, but not as food. You will have problems with your tank water if you use any imitation grasses or plants made with metal wires or toxic elements, so beware of what the fake stuff is made out of. Make sure that the grass is especially manufactured for use in an aquarium and no other application.

Real grass on the other hand requires patient hands and eyes to maintain. It reacts to light, water temperature and the general activity of the aquarium. the live organisms in the tank like the rocks and coral as well as the other plants and the fish contantly interact with real grass in your aquarium. Your aquariums entire ecosystem benefits because it produces oxygen and soaks up carbon dioxide which helps stabilize your fish tank.

Being active, live grass can help break down bacteria and make the removal of waste more efficient, thus chemical filtration in your fish tank becomes almost unnecessary.

Real grass also provides organic food to fish especially the herbivore species that normally feed more often than the carnivore types. The grass needs special monitoring, care and maintenance as they may decay with time and that invites algae to grow, which can be toxic to your fish.

Live plants are also known to be carriers of possible pests and parasites in the tank, but for the benefit of the fish and for a healthier environment, let the grass grow and live. Once nibbled on by the fish, the grass may sometimes lose some of its beauty, but will still provide natural nutrients to the tank water. This is something not to worry about with fish tanks because even in their natural habitat in the wild, fish have always loved real grass for the nutrition it brings, the benefit of protection from predators and for spawning. Aquarium grasses like Willow Moss, Foxtail, Stonewort and Crystalwort are among the favourite plants for fish eggs, young live-bearers and baby fish.

As a decor, the grass can be the centrepiece. It may also serve as a foreground or background. The Four-Leaf Clover usually grows up to two inches high that it makes a pretty front grass, while the flowering Eel Grass and the Corkscrew are highly recommended as background grasses.

Grasses like the Salvinia and Duckweed are good top cover while the Micro-Sword Grass makes a magnificent foreground especially when coupled with a high intensity of light. In the same manner where light is a factor in enhancing the shape and color of the plant, varieties of Udwigia and Cryptocoryne are excellent choices. For Goldfish bowls, the Anacharis plant is a wonderful treat.

Using grass in your freshwater aquarium will add a nice look to your aquarium and provide your fish or whatever pets you have in your tank, with a pleasant and safe environment in which to live and breed in comfort.

Grass is grown from a few sources that are transferable to an aquarium thru a store which are, from the ground on grass farms or in pots or floats and also can come in solo blades or in bunches. With artificial grass, you only have to consider the shape and color in selecting the type that you will add. With real grass, you have to anticipate the size and appearance of the plant as it matures.

While both artificial grass and real grass have unique beauty, they have their pros and cons. The bottom-line is that it is still better to invest your money, effort and time for something that is real and is capable of completing the biological function of your aquariums mini-ecosystem.

Its a sound idea to get grass for your tank for the benefit of helping create an ecosystem in your aquarium but also , it gives a nice thick and rich look to your fish tank which will keep eyes locked on the scene and maybe make you a hero.

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