READ THIS ARTICLE! Setting up your aquarium You must understand this before you start. The Nitrogen Cycle The establishment of a well balanced nitrogen cycle is  paramount for the health and success of any aquarium. This balance must be maintained. Introducing fish, plants and food to your aquarium begins a natural process called the nitrogen cycle. Click below: The Nitrogen Cycle

Imagine living in a small room the rest of your life. You are fed wonderful food and you have a balanced diet. Your room is full of beautiful plants. The temperature is keep perfect. You have many friends living with you. Everything would be great if the room was kept clean and had a healthy atmosphere, however what if the room has no waste removal. You would  live in your own excretion. How long would you live? Healthy water is the most important factor to consider when you begin the hobby of fish collecting. The biofilter can be the sand in the aquarium if you use a Under Gravel  filter. Your filters, the canister or the biowheel filter will do the same thing if you leave the bacteria in the media, rinse the media, no chlorine or chemicals,using the water drained from the Aquarium only....... Bacteria live in the media and digest waste from the water as it passes through the media, then clean water is returned to the aquarium. The Nitrogen Cycle "nitrosomonas bacteria" This is the most important life in your aquarium!  Requiring oxygen to survive. Many bacteria must have a suitable supply of oxygen to be able to survive and thrive. Bacteria such as nitrosomonas and nitrobacter are aerobic and must be supplied with a constant flow of oxygen in the water to create suitable populations able to remove the ammonia and its by-products produced within the aquarium. In the making of the nature aquarium; it is probable that I follow a similar path of experimental creation as mother nature. An aquarium is a small enclosed world.  Filling sand into an empty tank, filling it with water, carefully considering where to plant individual species of aquatic plants. Imagine the micro-organism that live in the tank and the fish swimming and mingling among aquatic plants. While learning from the scenes and patterns of nature, I observed from both the minute and the wide scale aspects. In this way breathing life into the small universe of the nature aquarium, the pulse of the complex ecological system of the living creatures begins to beat, and the natural order of nature begins to take shape. The answers to all questions are to be found in nature. This is something that every one knows deep down inside oneself. It is probable that the limitless peace that nature aquariums give us, is felt from seeing the utopia-like existence of the living things inside. "AMANO" M

 LETS GET STARTED

Ask all your aquarium related questions. Setting up an Aquarium? Aquarium Plants? Sick Fish? Invertebrate Problem? Water Problems? Breeding? Propagating ? Aquarium Doctor Our club gives you individual attention and help!

THE first thing  you have to decide is, freshwater or marine fish.........? Most enthusiast will choose freshwater to start with.......Saltwater or marine fish are a much more expensive.  They are also much more difficult to maintain...They are better left to someone with more experience. ..................(later, ok) Ease of maintenance This is probably the most critical factor. Freshwater fish live in a variety of different environments and they must be able to adapt rapidly to varying conditions (like a rainstorm). Because they are so adaptable, they can stand minor mistakes by the beginning hobbyist. Saltwater fish come from very strictly defined conditions; in the wild, it would take a major crisis to change their natural environment in a meaningful way. Though saltwater conditions are easy to duplicate with modern seawater mixes, the fish do not adapt well to changes. The aquarium must be kept in good running order, and frequent partial water changes are needed to maintain stable water conditions. In addition, the daily feeding of marine fish requires more attention. You can't simply drop some food pellets into the tank and go on a week's vacation the way you can with some freshwater fish. Setting up and Maintaining a Salt Water Aquarium. There is also the Brackish water Aquarium if you would like to move into the Saltwater world slowly.

Aquarium Accessories – What Fish Need by: Dr. Greg Lewbart Related Articles Fish have a better life if some items and ornaments are added to their aquariums Your pet fish require more than just clean water, good food and an adequately functioning filter and heater. Nearly all pet fish have a better life if some items and ornaments are added to their aquariums. With thousands of different types of pet fish, it would be impossible to list every specific tank need. However, certain generalizations are possible when it comes to “accessorizing” your aquarium. Here are some important do’s and don’ts of selecting aquarium accessories. Safety First All items placed in an aquarium must be safe for your fish and, if possible, make their life in captivity less stressful. You should avoid any items, such as rocks or driftwood, that could carry diseases from a natural body of water (ocean, lake, pond or stream); items that may give off a toxin, like garden or field stones exposed to fertilizers or pesticides; and objects that are sharp or that could trap your pet fish. Hideouts Are Important Items that provide a sense of security, breeding habitat and a resting place for your pet include plastic plants, PVC tubes, decontaminated coral, aquarium-safe driftwood and specially designed ceramic ornaments. For the Pet Owner Aesthetics are important to many people who keep pet fish. They want their aquariums to look nice. At the very least, aquarium items should “do no harm” to your fish. Once you’ve met this requirement, then decorating your aquarium can be fun, rewarding and beneficial to your pet fish. A knowledgeable pet store clerk can help you in selecting accessories that are appropriate for your particular pets. Examples of What Some Fish Need Black Ghost Knife fish. These South American freshwater fish only thrive if provided with a plastic or PVC tube within which to hide. Spiny Eels. These Asian fish feel secure when they can burrow in fine gravel or sand. African Cichlids. Fish belonging to this popular group tend to be rather territorial and do best when plants, flat rocks and other “structures” are provided so they can seek refuge from more dominant fish in the aquarium. Certain species in this group require cryptic areas where they can lay eggs and/or rear their young. Hagen Optima Air Pump The Hagen Optima Air Pump is recommended for aquariums over 30 gallons. 1 outlet. 5000 cm³/minute. 4.0 P.S.I. 4.5 Watts/hour. In order to maintain a tank of healthy fish, the water must contain extra oxygen. The process in which oxygen is introduced into the water is known as aeration. Fish "breathe" through their gills. They use their gills to extract oxygen from the water that's then used and converted into carbon dioxide (just like humans) and then discharged back into the water. To ensure that there is sufficient oxygen in the water for the fish to "breathe", the carbon dioxide needs to be replaced by oxygen. This process is commonly referred to as "gas exchange" and is generally done by aerating the water. This brings air from the surface. A good aeration system is essential to a healthy aquarium. Marineland Penguin Sponge Filter Kit converts any Penguin Power Head to Sponge Filter or reverse flow operation. Great for increasing oxygen or circulation. Ideal for deep gravel beds and undergravel filters. Marineland's 550 Powerhead! Undergravel filters perform best when water flow through the gravel bed is consistent and predictable, creating surface agitation for tank oxygenation. Air pumps and airstones can deteriorate or clog. As a result, they become noisy and ineffective... frequently requiring replacement and/or service.Penguin Power Heads deliver constant flow with fully adjustable aeration and increased surface agitation... and they remain silent at all times. The air valve regulates air flow, the air filter eliminates noise and dust and the intake strainer keeps debris from fouling the impeller... that's efficiency. And... Penguin Power Heads are absolutely safe in both fresh and saltwater. Flow Rate 145 G.P.H! Tank Of The Month Enter your Aquarium in our monthly contest and it could win $50.00 of merchandise For members only include your passwords The Aquarium Doctor The Aquarium Doctor is a Member of Andre's Aquarium Club. If you have any aquarium related questions and you are a member, check out the Aquarium Doctor. The Aquarium Doctor Establishing and controlling the nitrogen cycle is the most important and fundamental principal for maintaining life in a closed aquatic system, or aquarium. A beginning aquarist should fully understand what the nitrogen cycle is and how it works before attempting to set up an aquarium. Click HERE It is recommended to start off with only one or two hardy fish (no more than 2 total inches of fish) for every ten gallons of water and don't add more until the 6 to 8 weeks has gone by. (This is a good rule of thumb about the amount of fish in the aquarium. Always find out the size the fish will be when full grown to make the calculations. ) Hard to be patient, but it is worth it to keep your fish alive and healthy. As a matter of fact, the bacteria cannot develop without fish in the tank. You can let that tank sit forever without fish in it, but as soon as the first fish goes in the process begins. Avoid changing the filter pads during break-in. This removes the bacterial colonies that are essential to a balanced aquarium. You can rinse the filter pad out in a container of aquarium water. This will preserve most of the bacteria colonies while still allowing your filter to flow freely. Even using bacteria additives and water conditioners when you first set up the tank will not make a tank begin the cycle by itself. If there are no fish to provide food (fish waste) for the bacteria, the beneficial bacteria cultures will die and you will have to start the colonies all over again once fish are added to the tank. Once the tank has completed the initial cycle, you can rinse the filter pads every 4 weeks or so. Feed your new fish VERY lightly. Any excess food will cause additional waste your system cannot afford to have right now. If you see food floating around or lying on the plants and gravel after five minutes, too much food is going into the tank. Cut back a little each time you feed until it is ALL gone 5 minutes after you feed them. Feed them once a day. Most people do not realize the waste from an overfeed fish is a very big problem, as well as the food they eat. During this "break-in period" your tank may become cloudy and milky looking. You may have to tolerate this for the entire break-in period but it is only temporary. Changing 25% of the helps a great deal if this occurs. After testing, if you discover high ammonia, changing water reduces the ammonia and nitrites that rise while the bacteria continues to multiply. If ammonia and/or nitrites become too high, your fish will become stressed and possibly die. Use a good water dechlore when you replace the water and make sure it is the right temperature to avoid shocking your fish. When the break-in is over after 6 to 8 weeks and there are no nitrites or ammonia present in the water you can slowly add more fish. Add one or two every week until you reach the desired population. This allows the bacteria to adjust to the new population every time before adding more. Monitor the nitrites and ammonia to be sure they don't come up. If they do, make a 25% water change and check them again. Don't add the next fish until the levels are down again.

Now that you have decided to start with freshwater, you must decide on the size of aquarium. We recommend a 55 gallon tank,(aquarium) If you do not have the space for a large tank, you can get a 10 gallon tank to start with. There are many sizes of tanks to choose from if you feel that a 10 gallon tank is to small. ( Be sure to get the stand for the larger tanks.) The Aquarium A self contained 55 gallon acrylic Aquarium....    You now must decide on a glass tank or a plexiglas ( acrylic ) tank. The acrylic tank will cost more but it is stronger and less inclined to leak. (Be very careful not to scratch it.) You also have a choice of either a self contained tank or to buy your equipment separately. The self contained tank has a hood, (florescent light) a heater thermostat, a wet dry filter and a pump for aeration. (A under gravel filter system is also recommended, Facts About Under-Gravel Filters and Gravel A PETsMART Staff Report An undergravel filter is a basic method of performing biological filtration and some mechanical filtration. An undergravel filter is simply a slotted piece of plastic (undergravel plate) that sits on the bottom of the aquarium and lets water flow between the plate and the bottom of the tank. There is a tube that is attached to this bottom piece, known as the lift tube. Gravel is placed on top of the filter, and the filter, lift tube and gravel work together to provide filtration. Water is pulled down to the bottom of the tank, through the gravel. And then the undergravel plate, then flows back up to the top through the lift tube. The water is again pulled down through the gravel. This allows beneficial bacteria to thrive on the oxygen laden water flowing through the gravel. When using an undergravel filter you should purchase at least 1.5 pounds of gravel for each gallon your aquarium holds (a little less than that for tall hexagon-shaped aquariums). If you are using a power filter or some other type of filtration and no undergravel filter, you may purchase slightly less gravel. One pound of gravel per gallon in your aquarium should be enough Air Pump Water is cycled through the aquarium with either a powerhead or an air pump. With an air pump, the air is pumped through plastic or silicon airline tubing to an air stone, which is suspended in the undergravel filter lift tube. The air forced through the air stone creates uniform bubbles in the tube, which changes the air pressure in the tube. This change in air pressure creates a vacuum that pulls water up and out of the tube, thus creating the suction underneath the gravel bed. It's kind of like drinking out of a glass with a straw. Powerhead  ( Check the reverse flow below) Water can also be cycled using a powerhead. In this case, a powerhead is placed on the top of the undergravel lift tube. It "powers" the undergravel filter by pulling the water down through the undergravel filter and up the lift tube where it is expelled onto the surface of the water. A powerhead can be used to increase the water circulation and improve the biological filtration of an underground filter. Gravel helps in filtration in several different ways. First, it collects loose debris as it's pulled down through the gravel. Second, it provides a breeding ground for beneficial bacteria in an aquarium since there's so much surface area for bacteria to grow on. Gravel also adds decoration to the aquarium. Too much gravel will cause a problem with the water flow through the undergravel filter and can result in anaerobic bacteria, which is actually detrimental to the environment. An insufficient amount of gravel will not create a proper biological filtration bed. There needs to be enough gravel for the good bacteria to grow, and to make enough of a "filter" for waste to settle in. Sand, Crushed Coral, Outdoor Gravel Do not use sand, crushed coral, or regular outdoor gravel in your aquarium. Use only gravel specially sold for use in freshwater aquariums. Other types of gravel may release poisonous chemicals into the water. Sand and coral should be used only in marine aquariums (saltwater). Lift Tube Algae Scrubber . To remove the algae from the undergravel lift tubes, a lift tube algae scrubber is shaped to work best. A standard bottle scrubber works also, but it must be used exclusively for the aquarium. Reverse Flow Powerhead: We like the powerhead with the reverse flow) In the closed confines of an aquarium, fish depend on the aquarist to provide an efficient system to purify the water.  We suggest a under gravel filter with a reverse flow setup on one end and have used it very successfully.  Run the powerhead in reverse, sending water up through the gravel. This technique is known as Reverse-flow Undergravel Filtration (RUGF); conversion kits or special powerheads can be purchased to accomplish this. The intake of the powerhead is covered with a porous sponge which serves to "prefilter" out some of the waste that can clog the gravel. In reverse flow, water is pumped down the undergravel system and forced back through the substrate. This allows bacterial growth from the bottom up. Reverse flow also keeps the substrate cleaner by keeping debris nearer the top of the layer, rather than drawing through the gravel, as in standard filtration. This is especially important for digging fish such as cichlids and marine gobies. Their excavations may cause channeling of water through the plate without passing through most of the gravel layer. Corals and live rock also create areas in conventional undergravel systems where water cannot pass. Since water is forced evenly through the unobstructed plate, the possibility of dead spots becoming anaerobic is reduced. If you choose to use an UGF/RUGF, you must regularly vacuum your gravel. Fish stores sell siphon hoses with a `"wide mouth gravel vacuum tube'' attachment that "washes'' the gravel during your regular water changes. IF you clean your gravel regularly, and maintain a regular and frequent partial water routine, UGF's and RUGF's are an economical and effective aquarium filter in freshwater aquariums, and in lightly stocked saltwater fish-only aquariums.  Biological filtration is a natural means of removing toxic ammonia based wastes from the aquarium. For Freshwater Ich Remedy Order Here AquariSol OR AquariSol WE HAVE FOUND THAT A GREAT DEAL OF  MONEY MAY BE SAVED BY ORDERING YOUR SUPPLIES ON THE INTERNET Our members have located suppliers for you to choose from, our purpose is to obtain the best prices and service. We are working with the industry leaders in online aquarium supplies retailing and they are providing our members and viewers with outstanding selection, coupled with world-class customer service. Andre's Choices We have partnered with the nation's #1 Pet Supply Retailers and Internet Superstores to provide our viewers and members with everything they need to keep their pets happy and healthy.  Aquarium Supplies   THE FISH SHOP Recommended Products Click HERE M The establishment of a well balanced nitrogen cycle is paramount for the health and success of any aquarium. Read our page on the nitrogen cycle. The Nitrogen Cycle It is the most important thing you can read and understand about caring for tropical fish.

Prevent the loss of your fish by being prepared. Click HERE Our next purchase is the gravel, not sand, you want to get enough to be one and a half inches deep. This will include the under gravel filter with a reverse flow. First you must put the gravel in a bucket or pail and rinse it with a hose(force the water through the gravel ).  Rinse until the water becomes clear.....this may take some time. After the gravel is clean, put it into the aquarium....Fill the aquarium with tippet warm water, let it set for about twenty minutes, then adjust the heater to 75 degrees Fahr.(24C) This is a good average temperature. You may change it later depending on which fish you choose to collect. (ALWAYS remove the chlorine from the water) Purchase a bottle of dechlore >>>> (to remove the chlorine from the water), The aquarium must be set up and cycled two to three weeks before the main fish are chosen. Add a few small hardy fish to the tank. (guppies or platies) The aquarium should stand for about three weeks,  This is done to begin The Nitrogen Cycle The most important thing you should know.  Commercial bacterial products are also available that can be used in conjunction with adding fish.    A product I recommend is BIOZYME by AQUARIUM Products........Typical Break in cycle.                     Click HERE   New Tank Syndrome                     Click HERE ALGAE? You can now have a beautiful aquarium with minimum effort. There is nothing you can do on a continual basis to help minimize algae and promote plant health as well as fish health as the simple water change. This is one area where there is no such thing as too much too often. A stream or river may change water thousands of times a day. Best of all worlds would be a tank that is set up to allow for a constant replacement of water on a daily basis. Unfortunately it isn't practical. Change at the least 25% on a bi-weekly. You'll find fish and plants will do better and the algae will be none existent. There is no better prevention for a algae build up than this, water changes. Compare that to the alternative of constantly fighting algae it becomes time  well worth spending.       Here to page 2 To continue Setting up The New Aquarium With Fish and Plants l l There are few things as frustrating to the aquarist interested in a beautiful aquarium as algae. After spending a small fortune the aquarist is often rewarded with a lush carpet of algae. Unsightly and stubbornly resistant to eradication, the algae destroys the aesthetics of the tank while limiting plant growth by competing with them for light and nutrients. In desperation, the aquarist experiments with various forms of algae control, including algicides, bleach dips, antibiotics (for cyanobacteria), physical removal, and the introduction of an assortment of algae-eating fish and invertebrates. Feed levels are reduced, light duration is decreased, until through trial and error an uneasy truce is sometime reached.   Here to page 2 To continue Setting up The New Aquarium With Fish and Plants Continued 1 | 2 | Next The Nitrogen Cycle Please read these articles! Aquariumwater The Worlds Largest and Fastest Growing Hobby!!! Antichlorine and Antichloramine Safe for use in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Marine Antichlorine and Antichloramine by Marine Enterprises International is economical and is buffered and safe for use in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Marine Antichlorine and Antichloramine uses only one drop per gallon to removes chlorine instantly, and uses only two drops per gallon to breaks down chloramine so the ammonia may be removed by a carbon system. # Safe for Use in Both Freshwater and Saltwater Aquariums # Buffered for Safety and Stability Cascade 1500 Canister Filter Cascade 1500 Canister Filter by Penn-Plax combines all the best features of the most popular canister filters in a sturdy, simple to use filter...at a very affordable price. The Cascade 1500 Canister Filter will make any fresh or marine aquarium sparkle with crystal clear water. Cascade 1500 Canister Filter is good for aquariums up to 150 gallons and pumps 315 gph. Cascade Canister Filters have a quick, easy push button self primer. Easy lift alignment clamps make it fast to change filter media. Two independent directional 360 degree rotating valve taps makes the inlet and outlet tubes go anywhere you want with no kinks. It's sturdy tip proof base is permanently mounted on rubber feet. Cascade Canister Filter 1500 has extra large capacity stackable filter medium containers with lift-up handles. # 3-Year Warranty from the Manufacturer # Swimming pool style hose clamps # Adjustable water flow # Flow rate control # Cut-off valves Your BEST Method is the slow Method . Everything depends on your patience. We recommend you GET THIS BOOK! Today............       Most of us are very anxious to get our new hobby started........ One of the best reference books available is,                SIMON SCHUSTER'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO..........                      FRESHWATER AND   MARINE AQUARIUM FISHES A guide for beginners and experts alike, Simon & Schuster's Guide to Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Fishes is the most useful book an aquarium enthusiast can own. Whether you are interested in goldfish, guppies, or the most exotic marine species, the opening section on starting an aquarium covers everything you need to know. Illustrated in color throughout, the 295 entries cover plants, amphibia, reptiles, and invertebrates as well as aquarium fishes. Each entry provides the common name, scientific name, and family; distribution of the species in the wild; a description of shape, color, and size; information about sexual differences, feeding habits, reproduction, compatibility with other species, and much more. Next to each entry are easy-to-read symbols that indicate the proper water temperature, pH, and illumination. This comprehensive guide gives you all the information you need to maintain a beautiful, balanced, and thriving aquarium. ORDER HERE Search: Books Popular Music Classical Music Video Enter keywords... Check our great Aquarium supply store, recommended products by our members, (Eliminate algae growth with Algae Magic) order it today!! Tropical Aquarium - More Setup Information http://jpsweb.net/aquarium.html

marineandreef.com Toll Free Phone Number: 877-878-9349 Members will receive a 5% discount on all orders when they mention that they are members... Toll Free Phone Number: 877-878-9349 Hours for Telephone Orders & Telephone Customer Service: M-F 8AM-4PM (Mountain Time--Note: we do not have daylight savings time in Arizona) ú Gina's Aquarium Supply and marineandreef.com is owned and operated by The Aquatic Group Toll Free Phone Number: 877-878-9349 Saltwater supplies Marc Weiss: Algae Magic 6 Oz Enhances clarity of the tank by eliminating the food sources for nuisance algae blooms (including green hair, brown diatom and red slime) Not harmful to fish, plants, corals, rocks and other living organisms in the aquarium Does not contain copper sulfate Algae MagicTM is 100% organic. It takes the natural chemistry of the past and transforms it to the present. Clarity of the water relates directly to a water-balanced tank. Algae MagicTM provides the ability to lower the food supply of the nuisance algae. This event can take a short amount of time but it is not instantaneous. The objective of the formulation allows the desired plant growth to deal with wastes in the tank to more efficiently maintain better oxygenation. As the increased aerobic conditions of the tank predominate, nuisance algae will still exist (because this is the natural state of the life cycle), however, they will not predominate and cause displeasing aesthetics. Algae MagicTM when added to your tank will fortify your plants' leaf structure. The by-product of this effect enhances oxygenation within the tank and adds an additional food source for animal life. As the plants and microscopic creatures respond to the enhanced environment, the tank naturally clears of visible wastes and nuisance algae ? creating an awesome view. $11.99 Check out all the other great discounted aquarium products Freshwater and Saltwater