If you decide to take the step and get a fish tank around this size, there are a lot of pre-installation requirements. This is a big tank that will host your pet so attention to details is crucial, so if you’re the type of person that is really independent and patient with new items then you won’t need any external support. On the contrary if your not that type of person then maybe you could refer to a professional person to handle the installation as it would have a direct impact on maintaining and cleaning the tank.

Since these tanks are so big, substantial space must be designated to their display. Select a level spot that is not in direct sunlight and can easily be viewed by everyone in the room. When determining which room to use for display, be sure the aquarium does not overwhelm the area. A wide version measures 96 inches wide, 25 inches deep, and 20 inches tall. Most likely, a cabinet style stand will be used, adding to the height.

The tank will nearly weigh two tons after adding water, coral, sand and rocks. It has a capacity of 1,000 pounds of water along with salt water weighing 8.6 pounds and fresh water weighing 8.35 pounds per gallon. Select a place in your house that can stand such mass like the main floor in a multiple story house.

The best thing to do is to supplement the tank with water lines to minimize the hassles related to saturating the water tank or even controlling the water level inside it. When owning such a tank, you can use containers that mix salt water to limit salt water transformation.

Here we come to the controversial point pertaining to whether buy an acrylic or a glass 200 gallon fish tank. Normally, big customized tanks are acrylic by and large thanks to the transparency and lightweight of its material, despite its high cost. On the other hand, there is a brand new type of glass called Starphire that owns an immaculate vision akin to that of acrylic.

Learn more about Fish Tanks. Stop by my site where you can find out all about 200 Gallon Fish Tank and what it can do for you.

The South American Cichlids make up about 400 to 600 known species with 311 of them being scientifically described. These Cichlids are a very adaptable species allowing them to exist in a wide array of environments and ecologies. Most of the South American Cichlids are known to be carnivores but, some of them feed on planktons, mollusks and other plant materials. You can find Cichlids from 2.5 centimeters to the larger ones that can become as large as 65 centimeters.

It’s the general consensus that Cichlids are difficult to handle however, this is far from the truth if you simply know what you’re doing. Cichlids are generally very sensitive and improper PH levels along with feeding them the wrong foods can make them overly aggressive towards their fellow fish mates. Once you’ve learned what to feed your Cichlids and how often, you will have stress free Cichlids without any effort.

Because they can be very sensitive, in order to properly maintain Cichlids, you will need to know some important stats….What size aquariums is needed to allow them the freedom they need, the proper filters to use, cycling the aquarium, the correct water temperature, water testing, the best type of rocks and wood to use and how to prepare them, the best way to have life plants and how often to feed them.

In reference to the South American species, they make up between 250 to 450 known Cichlids and 310 of them are scientifically described. Opposed to the other species, the South American Cichlids can be very adaptable allowing them to exist in a wide array of environments and ecologies. You will find that a great number of them are known to be carnivores. But, there are plenty to choose from who feed primarily plant materials. You can find Cichlids ranging from 2.1 centimeters to the larger ones that can become as large as 58 centimeters.

In reference to the African species, they are known for having even beautiful patterns and array of colors that are not outside of other freshwater fish. They are quite fascinating to observe and exhibit very friendly social behavior with a high degree of intelligence.

In reference to the Jack Dempsey species, it’s very interesting in how they choose their mates based on a process of chasing one another around the tank and lip locking. This is primarily a test they perform to determine strength and durability in selecting their potential mate. In your tank, it’s a good idea to have pairs of equal size because the males tend to be larger and more aggressive and can therefore do some serious damage to a female that is much smaller.

If you have chosen to go for the fresh water option, then, going with Cichlids fish is your best choice. They offer the greatest variety of color, shapes and sizes that will impress anyone who comes to visit. So, unleash your creativity and let your fish aquarium liven up your home or office and enjoy your Cichlids for a lifetime.

Whether you’re a long time Cichlid’s enthusiasts or just starting your first fish find out, you will find out great deal from a zealous authority in maintaining and breeding cichlids fish that you will be proud to show off.

Daily maintenance

The daily tasks involved in taking care of tropical fish tanks are simple. These are checking if your fish are complete and healthy, spotting and removing dead fish and dead plant matter, and examining the temperature readings of your heater and thermometer. The temperature readings should match. Otherwise, it could mean that there is something wrong with your heater.

You should also check the water level. If it has dropped, replace the evaporated water to prevent salinity and pH levels from fluctuating.

Weekly maintenance

Every week, tropical fish tanks need to be cleaned and its water changed. Dirty decorations should be removed and cleaned, while live plants should be pruned and re-anchored. The tank walls should also be cleaned, and floating particles and gravel dirt should be siphoned out. After cleaning, remove 25% of the aquarium water. Replace it with new water but make sure that it is filtered, aerated, and dechlorinated first. The temperature of the new water should also be the same as with the water in the tank.

Monthly maintenance tasks

Tropical fish tanks need a more thorough cleaning every month. Aside from cleaning the tanks’ insides and the other weekly tasks, you will also need to clean the filter media and refill filter cartridges. You should test all aquarium equipment during this time. Do your monthly cleaning the same time as the water change. This way, you will be able to use the discarded water in cleaning the filter media. You do not have to clean the biological media. Only the mechanical and chemical filter media need to be cleaned. To finish your monthly maintenance, do some testing on the pH levels, ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites levels.

More importantly, check and monitor the pH levels, along with the nitrates, ammonia, and nitrites in the fish tank. Making sure that they are at their proper level will keep the fish healthy and thriving. Make it a habit to jut down all your observations so you can use them as reference for any problem you might have with tropical fish tanks.

Bi-annual maintenance

The pumps, light bulbs, protein skimmers, filters, and pipes of tropical fish tanks are to be checked, cleaned and/or replaced twice a year. Check the impeller of the pumps if there are missing blades or if it has cracks. Be sure to clean the inside of the pipes. When you change the light bulbs, do so at night when they are cool enough to be handled. If you need to change two bulbs or more, replace the bulbs one day at a time. When removing, reassembling, and reinstalling these equipment, follow the manufacturers instructions.

Cleaning tools

To complete the task diligently, arm yourself with the needed tools for maintenance. Among them are the algae pads, gravel vacuums, scrapers, tongs, gloves, tongs, and magnetic cleaners. Also use cleaning fluids such as salt creep removers, lime dissolvers, and glass polishers.

Greg Simms is a pet store owner and an aquarium enthusiast who likes to help others succeed in growing their fish as well. He is a featured associate and invited speaker at many aquarium organizations. He knows also of tropical fish tanks and acrylic reef aquariums.

Before you go out and start buying aquarium equipment determine what kind of fish that you will want to put in there and how many. This is necessary as you will need to know what size tank to get, if you are on a budget you will have to work with it. The general rule is for small to medium fish is 1 inch per one gallon of water.

The items that you will need to set up a fish tank are the aquarium, filter pump, heat pump. Optional items that you should get also are gravel, thermometer, lamp, decorations, and a back up filter pump in case the main one goes bad.

Once you have all of the necessary items to set up the fish tank find spot in your home where you will be keeping it. Make sure it is not somewhere that is going to be in the way, and that it is not blocking anything you might need to get to later.

The next thing that I would do is make sure that there are no leaks in the fish tank. Fill up the tank with water to the top, and just let it sit there for about a day, more if you want. Once that day is up check the surrounding area for any signs of water, once you know your tank is not leaking you can empty it.

When you are waiting to find out if your aquarium had any leaks or not you can start pre-treating gallons of tap water in jugs with water conditioner. One thing I do to speed up the process is add bacteria supplement to the water also, to get the perfect mixture ratio make sure to pay attention to the instructions on the bottle of water conditioner.

Now the tank is still empty so this would be the best time to add all of your decorations and gravel if necessary. Before you add gravel to the fish tank make sure that it is absolutely clean and free of dirt, this is very important. Wash the gravel and decorations with running water multiple times.

Once you have it decorated set up the rest of the equipment, the filter pump, the heater, overhead light, etc. Start adding all of the pre-treated water into the tank, once you have it to the top turn on your filter pump and heater. Let the water cycle for about a week before adding fish, make sure the water temperature supports the fish you want.

After a week of the water cycling you can add a few starter fish, this will help the conditions for future fish a lot better. Once you select a couple of starter fish, keep a close eye on them. I would not recommend added any more fish into the tank for about 4 to 6 weeks.

The author has been putting together aquariums of all kinds for many years and has great knowledge on fish tanks. You can visit his site if you need to purchase a home aquarium. Fish Tanks For Sale

One of the easiest ways to spruce up the look of your aquarium is to use a decorative background. A fish tank background often comes in different plain colors, designs, or landscapes. You can choose the design you want according to theme, your personal preferences, and, of course, according to your budget.

An aquarium substrate is often chosen for its decorative purpose, as it lends a more natural look to the fish tank. But more than this, choosing the right substrate can make the entire fish tank environment more comfortable for your fish. When light is reflected from overhead into the glass bottom, this can be very uncomfortable for the fish. For fish-only aquariums, the right substrate can also encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria.

One of the most popular substrates used by many aquarists nowadays is gravel. Many pet stores sell gravel in various types, making it a convenient choice. Gravel is also easy to maintain, easy to clean, and does not affect the quality of the water as well.

There are actually many themes to choose from. You can recreate a fantasy land, an Asian-inspired landscape, a pirate cove, or an outdoor garden landscape. If you have an aquarium, you can easily experiment with your creative and decorative skills by using the right accessories and tank decorations.

Colored aquarium gravel has risen in popularity especially for decorative means. It is best to choose plain gravel, however, as painted ones tend to lose their color over time. If the gravel is clear-colored, you can easily check if some rotten food particles have been left underneath.

Make sure that you maintain the ideal height or depth when placing gravel in your fish tank. Two inches to three inches is enough, since a depth of more than three inches may increase the appearance of hydrogen sulfite due to rotten food particles and other impurities.

Fine gravel is more ideal for bottom dwellers or bottom feeders. If you have a planted aquarium, you will need to use a nutrient-rich layer as the base. Gravel may be used for the upper layer. For fish tanks with crustaceans such as crabs, aquarium gravel is also recommended.

Sean Kerring is an aquarium enthusiast and breeder who has been working with fish for over twenty years, when his parents gave him his very first fish tanks. He always uses innovative and differently colored aquarium lights to change the themes of each of his tanks, including different aquarium substrate materials.

Which substrate types does your aquarium require?

Different types of aquariums require different types of substrates. For fish-only aquariums, tropical fish tanks and planted aquariums, aquarium gravel may be suitable. However, gravel is not ideal for marine tanks, since marine environments require higher PH levels. Aragonite and crushed corals are better suited to marine and reef aquariums.

The importance of aquarium substrate

Some people prefer having a plain glass bottom for their fish tanks. But if you want a more natural look, adding the right substrate can improve the look of your tank successfully. The substrate also protects your fish from the irritating glare of the aquarium lights, especially when reflected from the glass bottom.

Aquarium gravel use and maintenance

Many aquarium owners prefer using gravel since this is one of most commonly used fish tank substrate nowadays. You can find gravel in most aquarium and pet stores. Also, gravel does not require heavy maintenance, although you will still need to check them regularly for any trapped food or other impurities.

Aquarium gravel is ideal for fish only aquariums, as they provide an excellent environment for beneficial bacteria to thrive. Many aquarium shops sell gravel in coarse and fine varieties, and in different sizes from 3 mm to 4mm.

If you want to add more spice into your fish tank, you may also go for colored gravel. Nonetheless, painted gravel may lose color eventually. If you use colored gravel, it may difficult for you to recognize if any food particles have been trapped in-between the rocks.

Guide in using aquarium gravel substrate

Make sure that you maintain the ideal height or depth when placing gravel in your fish tank. Two inches to three inches is enough, since a depth of more than three inches may increase the appearance of hydrogen sulfite due to rotten food particles and other impurities.

Fine gravel is more ideal for bottom dwellers or bottom feeders. If you have a planted aquarium, you will need to use a nutrient-rich layer as the base. Gravel may be used for the upper layer. For fish tanks with crustaceans such as crabs, aquarium gravel is also recommended.

Sean Kerring is an aquarium expert and breeder who has been wirking with and raising fish for over twenty years, when his parents gave him his very first fish tanks. He always uses new and changingly colored aquarium lights to change the themes of each of his tanks, including changing aquarium substrate materials.

Raising fish to breed is a fun and most common way for raising fish. If you want to raise fish for breeding, I would suggest a bigger tank with lots of hiding places. The fish that I would first choose would be some Mollies and Guppies. Mollies and Guppies are very nonviolent fish and have many offspring. For bottom feeders I would suggest some Cory Cats and Bristlenose Plecostomus. Breeding tanks must be very peaceful for the offspring to survive.

Community tanks are, in my opinion, the funniest type of tank to own. With a community tank, you can have many types and varieties of fish corresponding peacefully. For a good community tank, there are many possibilities. I would suggest colorful fish that actively swim around the tank. Barbs, Angel Fish, Kribensis are my favorites. For bottom feeders, Loaches, Cory Cats and Plecostomus are my favorite.

If you just like a certain type of fish, or would like interesting fish to own I would suggest Cichlids. African Cichlids are very fun fish to rise, but can be very difficult. Finding the right type of Cichlids can be difficult and the wrong kind can cause fighting. Only get the same species of Cichlids in a tank, and you will be fine. Cichlids are egg layers and very protective of their young.

There are some fish that can be very hard to raise no matter the circumstance. I have had experience with certain types of fish that are impossible to raise. Jack Dempsies eat other smaller fish and I would not suggest owning one to begin with. Chinese Algae Eaters are very good at eating algae, but have one problem, they suck the slime off other fish and can kill them.

If you are new to fish raising, I would suggest using a few of these combinations to start with, you can add more fish and experiment as your tank grows. I would not start out with aggressive fish, these fish can be very difficult to own even if you are experienced. Trying new combinations of fish is good, but after you add a new fish, watch the fish to for a while to make sure they fit in.

Roshan Goodman gives help on aquariums and on buy a fish tank.

First, you need to figure out how far you are moving the tank. The size of the tank also needs to be taken in account for. If you are renovation or need to move the tank from one part of the house to another, the distance is a big factor in moving your tank.

If your tank is smaller than ten gallons then you will need to empty the water out of the tank to move it safely. To drain the water from the tank, vacuum the water from the tank like cleaning the tank, Leave about an inch of water in the tank so some minerals are left in the tank.

Third, move the tank with the small amount of water, and gravel to the new location. Set up the tank in the now location. Make sure you replace all the water with the correct type. Let the tank re adjust to its normal temperature, the heater s should tank a little while to heat the tank. When the tank is at the right temperature float the fish in the tank for thirty minutes,

Third, move the tank with the small amount of water, and gravel to the new location. Set up the tank in the now location. Make sure you replace all the water with the correct type. Let the tank re adjust to its normal temperature, the heater s should tank a little while to heat the tank. When the tank is at the right temperature float the fish in the tank for thirty minutes.

When you are ready to re fill the tank, fill it with the right type if water for the fish. Put all the accessories and plants back before the fish, Make sure the heaters have been going for awhile, so that the tank is to the warmth the fish need. If the water is too cold or hot the fish will go into shock. Float the fish in the water, just like when you purchase new fish, to prevent shock. If you follow these steps then your tank will be happy and healthy.

Roshan Goodman gives tips on fish tank advice and on fish keeping.

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If the gravel is too big, then the food debris will get stuck in the gravel. When the debris gets stuck in the gravel then it makes it difficult to clean the tank. Also if you have fish such as cichlids, then smaller gravel is highly un-suggested. Cichlids move the gravel consistently, and if the gravel is smaller, the easier it is to move. The bigger gravel makes it a lot harder for the cichlids to dig in.

Next, you need to Asses the tank. Do you have trouble cleaning the tank? If you have trouble cleaning the tank then bigger rocks are better. The bigger rocks can be hard to clean because the debris get things stuck under them. Smaller rocks can be vacuumed easily. Bigger rocks have more surface area so algae grow on them faster.

If you have a highly decorated tank then smaller is suggested. The bigger rocks do not hold up decor very well. If you have live plants then smaller gravel is also suggested. Smaller gravel holds the plants upright well. Smaller gravel holds the nutrients for the plants better than big gravel.

If you have trouble with algae then go with small gravel. The cleaning might be harder with small gravel, but the algae will stay at bay. If you have plants or decor than smaller gravel will make the things stay up well than the bigger gravel.

Gravel sizing is simple; a few steps can save you a lot of effort. You only need to ask yourself a few questions. What kind of fish do I have? What size of fish do I have? What kind of algae problems do I have? Is cleaning a tank hard for me? What kind of decor do I have? If you ask all these questions then the gravel you purchase will be perfect for your tank

Roshan Goodman shows you how to maintain a fish tank an also gives tips on fish tank help.

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Many fish such as Cory cats and neon tetras can only live in a certain range of hard water. Hard water is water with more minerals and can harm some fish. There is a solution that can be purchased to clean the water if it is hard, but is best used only when first filling your aquarium for the first time.

Before you regularly change your tank’s water they type of fish your own should be assessed. If you have a variety of fish that cannot live in hard water it is best if you fill your tank with just soft water. Having a little bit of soft water can be good for the fish. Fill the tank with a fifth of hard water and the rest soft.

Not everyone may know how to find out how to get water that is soft and water that is hard. The trick is knowing where you can find it. If you have tap water or a water purifier then that type of water is soft. Also any bottled water is also soft. Hard water is any faucet water usually. Also hard water is from your hose or outside faucet.

When filling your tank, most fish can handle a little of hard water. A little hard water is good for the fish. When you fill your tank I would suggest filling it with one-fifth hard water and the rest with soft water. If you have fish that like hard water I would suggest some hard water but never more than half hard water.

Being able to tell the type of water that you fill your rank with can highly impact owning a fish tank. Also finding the type of fish that can live in different types of water can help you avoid death. Filling your tank regularly can help your fish live a healthy and happy life.

Roshan Goodman will help you with how to start an aquarium and starting a fish tank.

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