Mollies Are Great Freshwater Tropical Fish For The Home Aquarium

Mollies are part of the livebearers collection of fish, including Guppies, Platies and Swordtails. They are very easy to breed and it is fairly easy to distinguish the males from the females.

Most of the colors of Mollies are a result of specialized breeding practices from the people who raise them.

It is recommended that Mollies be placed in aquariums containing at least 15 gallons of water, a maximum of ?? inch of gravel, and a heater that keeps the temperature of the water between 78 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. As with Guppies and other livebearers, you should put 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt per 5 gallons of water to help them survive better in fresh water environments. Unique to the Mollies species of fish, they can actually live quite well in complete salt water aquariums as well. Since Mollies have this flexibility, they are a versatile fish that could be compatible in many different aquarium set ups.

Once considered a difficult fish to care for, the Mollies are now being seen as indicator fish as they will be the first fish to provide signs that the aquarium is unbalanced or the water is contaminated. Mollies kept in freshwater tanks require frequent water changes to remain healthy, while Mollies in reef aquariums rarely need a water change.

The best diet for Mollies includes feeding them floating flake food and freeze dried bloodworms on a daily basis, with a few Black Worms fed every other day.

Keep more female Mollies than male Mollies for the best results. The list of compatible fish is fairly long and Mollies can share the tank with several varieties of fish. The best tank mates include Platies and Swordtails, Angel Fish, a single Plecostomus, Corydoras Catfish, or larger Tetras including Red Serpaes, Silver Tips and Black Skirts.

As with any fish, you will need to have adequate room in the tank as well as a good filtration system. Proper lighting is also important for the health of your fish. When introducing Mollies to your tank, be sure you keep them in the bag that you received them and and float that in the fish tank for about 20 minutes to let the water temperature slowly match that of the tank. Then open the bag and mix a small amount of tank water in - let that sit for about 5 minutes. Repeat this last step a few times so that your fish can become acclimate to the water in it's new home before you release them into the tank.

Mollies tend to live an average of 4 or 5 years and reach a size of 5" in length.

Tropical Fish Aquarium

Setting Up A Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium

A freshwater tropical fish aquarium can be a wonderfully peaceful and ever-changing decorative item in any room but many people never get to experience them because they simply are afraid that it is too much work to set them up and maintain them properly. But this could not be further from the truth, in fact, an aquarium and can be very easy to set up and maintain if you simply follow two basic rules and those are making sure that tank cycles through its nitrogen cycle probably and never overloading it with tropical fish.

The size of your tropical fish aquarium is also important. If you think you're going to want to keep a lot of fish you better get a big fish tank. Generally, the larger the tank the easier it will be for you to maintain. The size of your aquarium directly relates to how many tropical fish you can keep in it and the more water you have the more of a chance will have to react and fix your water quality should start to go downhill.

In addition to the aquarium, you will need a heater, lighting, the filtration system, substrate (gravel), and a hood. Sometimes you can find these in kits at the aquarium store. Always try to buy the best that you can afford in if you're not sure then asked the store clerk and they'll be a will to explain everything to you.

The first step and setting up your tropical fish aquarium is to wash off all the decorations and the substrate that you be putting in the tank. You can just rinse them off with hot water but if you use soap to be sure to get all the soap off before you put them in the aquarium. Now you are ready to fill up the tank, making sure that it is in its new home and then all the cords can be plugged in and there is a dip in the cord before it reaches the electrical outlet which will ensure that water drips off and not Into your outlet in case of the spill. Make sure all the equipment - the filtering system and heater etc. fit into the tank and that the hood fits tightly on top. Make any cutouts in the hood for equipment that hangs on the side with as little air space as possible.

Fill the aquarium with water that is room temperature and use in aquarium water conditioner. Once it is full, you can do a test run on the filter and heater to make sure everything is working. Now you might be tempted to run right out and buy your first fish, but you must be cautious at this point as you need to cycle your tank in order to get a good bacteria bed growing so that the water will make a nice home for your fish.

Cycling the tank is a critical stage in setting up your freshwater aquarium because this is where the bacteria bed, which filters out the ammonia produced by decaying food fish waste, will be established. if you do not do this step properly, your water will not be at healthy levels to support your fish. during the cycling step, ammonia Is introduced into the tank which causes bacteria to take hold in your substrate and filter. This bacteria will eat the ammonia, making the water quality more hospitable for your freshwater fish but also at the same time it will produce nitrite which is toxic to the fish. Thankfully, at this stage, another bacteria will start to grow which eats the nitrite and releases nitrate. The nitrate is not as harmful and fish tolerate it well and less it gets to very high levels. So, you see, letting your aquarium cycle all the way through to where it is producing nitrate is very important for the water quality and key in setting up your tank properly.

Oddly enough, to get the cycling started you need to put a few freshwater fish in the aquarium. You'll want to choose very hearty fish (like Zebra Danios) so that they can withstand the harsh water conditions present before the cycling. the waste from the flesh will start to introduce the ammonia into the tank and the cycling process will begin. You want to buy a good test kit so you can test the nitrate, nitrite and ammonia levels in the tank which will tell you when the tank is fully cycled and you can add more expensive and prettier fish. your freshwater aquarium will be cycled when the ammonia and nitrite levels are at zero.

Once you have a completed this, you've gone through the first step of successful freshwater aquarium keeping and now you only need to perform regular maintenance and not over load your tank in order to keep the fish tank looking great in your tropical fish healthy.

When adding fish, you want to be sure not to add too many at once or you will upset the delicate balance of water quality in the tank. Try buying one new tropical fish a week until you have as many fish as your aquarium will hold. For best water quality, you want to stick to about 1 inch of fish per gallon of water so a 20 gallon tank could hold about 20 inches of fish which would be probably around 15 fish depending on how big they are.

The maintenance of your tropical fish aquarium should be easy if you stick to a schedule. Obviously, you should be looking at the fish daily to see that they are in good health and you want to be sure that the filter is in heaters are functioning properly. Then once a week, you should try to scrape off any algae that is accumulated. Once a month you should do a partial water change changing out about 25% of the water and adding new water at room temperature with water conditioner in it.

Tropical Fish Aquarium

Tropical Fish and its Aquarium Maintenance

Tropical fish includes fish around the world living in tropical environments including salt water and fresh water species. They are popular fish in aquariums because of their bright colors. Tropical also refers to tropical climate wherein the climate is warm or moist all throughout the year integrated by abundant vegetation.

Aquarium is an enclosed clear-sided container made of high strength plastic or constructed glass for keeping or raising animals and plants for research and observation. The ecosystem of the species is copied on smaller scale controlling environmental factors.

Tropical fish being put in the aquarium should be properly taken care of by regular monitoring of the fish and aquarium conditions by checking the waters for bacteria, parasite or fungi occurrences. There are ways on how to determine if the tropical fish are sick.

- Fish scales inspection. Examine for any discoloration, growths or wounds. Scales that is missing is a fighting indication.

- Observation of the fish respiratory rates. Slower or faster rate than normal is a sign of problem.

- Fish eyes clarity checking. Blood or cloudiness should not be present.

- Observation of the fish abnormal behavior such as unusual swimming pattern or sluggishness.

- Veterinarian consultation for any fish abnormalities being observed.

Aquarium serves as the new habitat of your tropical fish so it should be maintained regularly. The procedures are easy protecting the fish and plants lives.

- Regular checking of the tank to ensure that dying or dead fish is not present.

- Observation of all the fish individually for behavioral patterns familiarization so that it is easier to determine a sick fish in the future.

- Feed your fish with one-day intervals using diet variations.

- Replace the evaporated water on the tank with dechlorinated water.
- Once a week, removed 5 to 10 percent of the tank water replacing it fresh dechlorinated water. Unwanted chemicals in the tank are diluted helping the tanks internal environment similar to tap water.

- Algae scraping from the walls of the tank done once a week.

- Filter pads checking every two weeks cleaning or replacing them if necessary.

- Water testing done every two weeks. Water change is done after one day.

- Ammonia, nitrate, pH levels or nitrite checking done every two weeks.

- Drain off the debris from the gravel done once a month.

Always keep track the chemical contents of your aquarium and schedule maintenance. Most people think that having an aquarium inside the house requires a lot of task and maintenance but it is actually easy and very handy. If you are a beginner, you can easily learn a lot from it and you can get a lot of helpful tips to keep your fishes in good condition.

The first thing you need to decide on is the size of the fish tank. If you are a beginner, you can start off with a small aquarium. This will not be a burden or a problem because maintaining a small aquarium is not a heavy task. If you have learned the basics of taking care of your aquarium, you can just upgrade your present aquarium to a larger one.

Only that, you will need extra materials and extra amounts of water. You need to choose a good location or spot for your tank. Make sure that the table can hold the weight of your tank. The next thing to consider is the type of equipment that you need for your aquarium.

Choose the kind of water you want to feed in your aquarium. Choosing tap water can be a good option because it is cheaper than distilled water. Distilled water is a very good water option because it is sure to be safe and clean. If you choose tap water for your aquarium, you need to buy a product which can remove the chlorine in the water so that the fishes will not be harmed.

You need to add water very slowly especially there are a lot of fishes in the tank. You can also provide a heater for your aquarium so that the fishes will be in good condition and the water is also good. You will also need to have a good lighting for your aquarium so that the fishes can see clearly the surroundings.

Fishes need light in order to see the food. You will also need a hood to keep the fishes secured in the tank also by giving them proper lighting. Fishes need extra care and love just like humans do. So, if you can provide them with the best aquarium that you can, they will surely appreciate it.

Now that you know the basic requirements for putting up your own aquarium, you can gather all the materials and start choosing the fishes that you want.

Tropical Fish Aquarium

Do They Need To Be Different?

Are you interested in adding a collection of fish to your home or your office? If so, have you decided which type of fish you would like to have displayed? When it comes to fish keeping, there are a relatively large number of individuals who are interested in owning tropical fish. Are you one of those individuals? If so, you may be wondering what type of aquarium you need to purchase. Better yet, you may be wondering if you can use a traditional aquarium or if you need to have a tropical fish aquarium.

What type of aquarium you need to use for tropical fish is one of the most commonly asked questions, especially among first-time tropical fish owners. When searching for aquariums, you may come across fish tanks that are labeled or described as being tropical fish aquariums. This leads many individuals to believe that they need to have a special tropical fish aquarium to own a set of tropic fish. Honestly, that isn't always the case. After a close examination, you will likely see that tropical fish aquariums are like any other type of aquariums, including saltwater aquariums and freshwater aquariums. Many times, the only difference between these aquariums is the way that they are set up.

When it comes to setting up a tropical fish aquarium, there are a number of important factors that should be taken into consideration. One of those factors is the tropical aquarium fish that you would like to purchase. This is important because there are some tropical aquarium fish that require special care and have special needs. Familiarizing yourself with the specific type of tropical aquarium fish you have or are about to have is one of the best ways to ensure that you go about setting up your tropical fish aquarium correctly. To do this research, you can either perform a standard interenet search or speak with the individual who sold you or is about to sell you your tropical fish. Doing this research ahead of time will help to ensure that your tropical fish are placed in an aquarium that will allow them to live long and healthy lives.

When setting up your tropical fish tank, it is extremely important that your water is in optimal condition for the fish. One mistake that many first time tropical aquarium fish owners make is using tap water. While it is possible to use tap water, will you not want to place your fish into the aquarium right away. In fact, you will need cycle the aquarium water and test your water and make sure that it is chlorine free. This is important because certain levels of chlorine can be dangerous to many fish, including tropical aquarium fish. It may be best to fish tank water test supplies to determine the exact condition of your aquarium water. These supplies may include a tap water conditioner. It is also advised that you allow your aquarium to run or cycle, once the filtration system has been set up. This will help to clear your tropical fish tank of harmful chemicals.

Since, as previously mentioned, the aquarium that you use isn't necessarily as important as how you set it up, you are advised to examine your wants and needs when it comes to purchasing an aquarium for your tropical fish. You will want to keep your preference in mind, appearance wise, as well as the space that you have available for an aquarium. When it comes to purchasing tropical fish tank supplies, such as a filtration system or a heater, you may want to seek the assistance of a professional for more information. This assistance can come from a professional tropical fish keeper or from a fish tank supplier or manufacturer, such as Tenecor, who is willing to assist you with buying one or more of their products.

By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, you should easily be able to go about finding, purchasing, and setting up a tropical fish aquarium. If you would like to learn more about tropical fish, you are encouraged to perform a standard internet search and review the numerous tropical fish websites that can be found online. It might also be a good idea to invest in a topical fish keeping book or resource guide. The information that you may learn may help you for years to come.


Tropical Fish Aquarium

Getting The Right Aquarium Heater For Your Tropical Fish Tank

A key piece of equipment necessary in every tropical fish tank is the aquarium heater. Tropical fish are used to warm temperatures in many species will not survive unless a heater is president in the aquarium to warm the water up to their native temperatures.

When choosing a heater for your fish tank, it's important to get a good reliable unit since fluctuations in temperature can be fatal to fish. You'll need to about 5 Watts of heater or for each gallon of aquarium water so a 20 gallon aquarium would need a 100 Watt heater. for large aquariums it's better to divide up the load and have a heater on each side of the tank so that the water heats up evenly. If you keep your room really cold, you might want a higher wattage heater since it will have to do more work to keep the water temperature between the 75 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit that most tropical fish prefer.

There are two kinds of aquarium heaters to consider, the submersible heaters and the hang on heaters. to hang on heaters are named such because they hang on the side of the tank. The entire heating unit does not go underwater and the controls stick up with the glass part going under the water This is not as efficient or as precise as the fully submersible heater which can be fully submerged under the water. The submersible heater sticks to the side of the tank with section and gives you more precise heating and also the option of hiding it below plants or decorations.

When buying an aquarium heater, you want to also make sure that you have a thermometer either built into the heater a separate so that you'll know the temperature of your tank. This temperature should always be monitored as if the water is too hot or too cold this can be very detrimental to your tropical fish. If you notice large fluctuations, it could be time to get a new heater. Another thing you might want to consider is having two heaters and keeping one in reserve in case the one you are using breaks. This way your fish will not have to suffer until you can get out to the pet store to get them a new heater.

Since tropical fish are cold-blooded, they cannot maintain a body temperature and must depend on you to heat up their water for them. Making sure you have a good functioning aquarium heater will help keep your fishes environment as close to that which they are used to in nature and reward you with happy healthy fish that look great in your aquarium!


Tropical Fish Aquarium