Mr Fish Aquarium Info

THE TEN-HOUR LIGHTS RULE If your aquatic plants are refusing to stay rooted or simply aren't thriving, this guide is for you. THE PROBLEM: UPROOTED PLANTS AND STUNTED GROWTH A reader described a common frustration: plants like Hygrophila , Elodea Densa , and Myriophyllum Spicatum  were floating to the surface before they could root, and those that stayed put weren't growing well. The aquarium had a single 15W fluorescent bulb running for just eight hours a day. The Expert's Diagnosis: It’s All About the Light The core of the problem is identified immediately. Your problem certainly lies in the fact that you have only one low-wattage Tube. The prescription was clear: * You will need at least 20 Watts of fluorescent light per square foot of surface area. * The light should be kept on for at least 10 hours per day. * The simple advice: At this stage, you need all the light you can get. This "ten-hour rule" is a foundational principle for providing plants with the ene...

FISH QUARANTINE, A MUST FOR SURVIVAL   In the world of fishkeeping, some advice remains timeless. The central message is as crucial today as it was then: quarantine your new fish. For both aquarists and pond keepers, this practice is the single most effective way to prevent disaster. WHAT IS FISH QUARANTINE? Quarantine in the fish world refers to "the physical and chemical treatment of new fishes (either imported or caught from the wild) to rid them of diseases and restlessness before introduction into a new environment." Source: Fluvalaquatics Think of it as a mandatory health screening and acclimation period. Introducing a new fish directly into your established tank or pond is a gamble with very high stakes. That new arrival could be an "apostle of doom for the other inmates." THE QUARANTINE SETUP AND CHALLENGE A serious aquarist is advised to have a small, separate quarantine tank. The alternative is to patronize a pet shop that has a "functional quarantine...

CONSTANT FISH DEATHS There's nothing more disheartening for an aquarist than experiencing constant fish deaths. You've set up the tank, you care for it diligently, but still, your fish don't seem to thrive. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. The bond of love for your aquatic pets can feel strained when you can't figure out what's going wrong. The question lingers: Can they still not find a healthy equilibrium in your tank? The good news is that many common causes of fish mortality are preventable. Based on expert advice from aquarist Muyiwa Adediran, let's explore the critical factors that could be responsible for the deaths you've experienced. THE CRITICAL STAGES OF NEW FISH INTRODUCTION A fish's journey from the pet shop to your home aquarium is a stressful one. Its survival hinges on how this process is managed. Key factors include: Source: Cheap Planted Aquarium 1. The Aquarist's Selection of Fish:  Your choices at the store set the s...

POISONOUS SUBSTANCES IN AQUARIUM WATER  As we are all aware, atmospheric air is made up of about 23 per cent oxygen and 76 per cent Nitrogen, together with a host of other gases in very minute quantities. It follows that when we put on the air-flow system of our aquarium, the air pumped in contains a little oxygen and a lot of nitrogen. This atmospheric nitrogen can be lethal to fish when the water is oversaturated (over 100 per cent saturation) with this gas. Research has shown that nitrogen embolism, otherwise known as NITROGEN GAS BUBBLE DISEASE, can occur with 103-118 per cent nitrogen saturation and cause a lot of fish casualties. Source: The Spruce Pets This condition can affect an aquarium fish when one is replacing the old aquarium water with slightly warm fresh water. The infection is characterised by the presence of small bubbles of nitrogen beneath the skin, in the fins, tail, or mouth, behind the eyes, and in the blood vessels. Source: Fish Pathology One can prevent the...

HOW DO I HATCH FISH EGGS?   Reader's Letter I have a pair of Hemichromis Fasciatus, which I previously kept in a two-foot aquarium with an Oranda Goldfish and two Costello Tetras, but they became too aggressive, so I moved them to an 18"x12"x12" tank on their own. Since I bought them from a friend 4 months ago, they have spawned relentlessly every 14 days or so. However, they eat their eggs within 48 hours. I once tried to raise the eggs myself by removing the pair into a bucket after spawning, and then aerating the eggs with an air stone, but a white cotton mass soon covered them up. Can you tell me what I am doing wrong? Expert's Letter It could well be that both of your Hemichromis are females; pairs of females will spawn together. This species is reasonably easy to sex; however, the difference in body shape is that males are flat underneath, and females are more rounded. The males tend to develop a heavier head profile and have a well-developed finnage as the...

Aquarium Care VISIT: www.mrfishmart.com Once an illuminated aquarium is installed, it becomes the focal point of the room. You will probably find that you actually spend a lot of your time just looking at your fish. It is usually fascinating to watch the brilliantly coloured exotic fishes weaving in and out among the rocks and aquatic plants. There is something intriguing in this LIVING PICTURE which gives a glimpse of the mysteries of the underwater world and brings nature right into the home.   As an expression of individuality, the arrangement of a tank normally gives the aquarist ample opportunities for personal artistic expression, hence no two aquariums are likely to be identical. The same situation holds for fishes. While some prefer to keep fish of one species only, others like diversity, and their tanks may harbor fishes from many parts of the world. As an aid to education, possession of an aquarium affords the owner the opportunity to study the habits of fi...