BioFilter

It is not enough that your pets are given homes. It is likewise important that the conditions where they live are at optimum levels so they will be able to have a normal and healthy life. An important note to pet lovers, especially you fish owners, is to check the proper aquarium conditions for your fish. As they say, each individual is unique, and this holds true for your fish as well. Caring for them goes beyond just merely putting water in a bowl and placing them in it. You have to make sure that your beloved pets are in a safe environment. You will most likely have a more difficult time doing so if you don't have all the necessary information and paraphernalia, such as aquarium test kits...

for Good Fish Care Always inspect a fish before you buy it to check for any physical problems. It is important that you do not start off with a fish that is already injured. If you bring a new fish into your aquarium that already has a disease or infection, it is likely to spread it to your other fish as well. Ensure that fish you buy are compatible with each other. Putting incompatible fish together is a common mistake and will likely result in one eating another. Read as much as you can about fish care tips and the fish you wish to buy so you understand beforehand any necessary requirements. Temperature is also a major concern as tropical fish generally have low tolerances when it comes to water...

Technology used by Prodibio uses non pathogenic microorganisms designed for aquaculture. These microorganisms are natural based, avoiding the use of chemicals which so many hobbyists today are trying to avoid in their aquariums. The first Prodibio product recommended is their start up kit. This is a product made from desert plants. It is designed to limit the build up of non-ionized ammonia in your aquarium water. Prodibio also makes Safe Travel, a product that is designed to reduce pathogens in water. This means that you can safely transport your fish after water has been treated with this product. After a while, you are bound to get a build up of algae in your aquarium. Prodibio makes a product...

A UV aquarium sterilizer makes use of an ultraviolet bulb to kill algae, parasites, viruses and bacteria. This sterilizer does a great job at cleaning the aquarium water to pristine conditions. So effective is an ultraviolet sterilizer that many companies use this method to purify drinking water on a commercial scale and even to kill algae growth in outdoor ponds. If you have a fish tank at home, you would most likely use several fish tank filters cleaning the water. A UV aquarium sterilizer can be a great addition to any aquarium, but the point to remember is that you should be using a UV aquarium sterilizer as an add on with your normal fish tank filters and needs to be the last stage of the...

ou looking to purchase an aquarium for your fish? Whether this is your first-time purchasing an aquarium or if you have purchased an aquarium before, you will have a number of important decisions to make. One of those decisions involves the type of aquarium that you would like to purchase. Once you start searching for an aquarium to purchase, you will find that you, literally, have an unlimited number of options to choose from. In fact, you may have so many options that it may seem as if it is going to be difficult or impossible to make a decision! When purchasing an aquarium, there are three important factors that need to be taken into consideration. Those three factors include the type of fish...

Electric blue cichlids are extremely beautiful fishes and are stupendous in freshwater aquarium keeping. They possess the typical shape of the cichlidae family which is sleek and bullet shaped body. The other name of a blue cichlid is Sciaenochromis fryeri, which can be placed in the aquarium together with other Lake Malawi cichlids if given sufficient and capacious tank of about 70 gallons or even more if possible and decorate it with plenty of rockwork. Live plants are not very compatible with blue cichlids because of its excessive aggressiveness and agility. However, aquatic plants may be beneficial to other aquarium inhabitants. Electric blue cichlids larger than three inches have the tendency...

ou interested in having fish displayed in your home or your office? If so, you will have a number of important decisions to make. Those decisions tend to focus on the type of fish that you would like to own, as well as the type of fish tank that you would like to purchase. When it comes to choosing fish and a fish tank, it may be best to first decide on the type of fish that you would like to own. This is important because of the type of fish that you would like to own may have a direct impact on the type of fish tank that you need to purchase. For example, if you are interested in purchasing marine fish, sometimes referred to as saltwater fish, your fish tank will need to be different than if you...

Have you bought a fish tank lately? In that case you will be required to look after its maintenance and cleaning work. Now how are you going to do it? You need some accessories to work. So you should get used to the important accessories and cleaning supplies. The accessories would depend upon the type of tank you have. They will also depend on the type of fish you are keeping. So do you have saltwater fish or freshwater fish? There are numerous cleaning supplies and accessories available in the market but you should be able to pick up the right ones. There are some common supplies. Take the case of floating magnets. There are very useful and convenient to take out the debris and dirt from the tank...

There are a lot of gift ideas for fish-keepers and they are not expensive. You can gift aquarium accessories, novel decorations, everyday consumables and many more things. Here are my suggestions for giving a great gift to pet fish lovers - 1. The sheets of paper or plastic for the background of the aquarium are available in every pet shop. They are to be pasted at the back of the aquarium from outside. You can print them in any design you like. You can also go for three-dimensional designs which are very popular these days. 2. An air pump which is operated on batteries can be an excellent gift for taking care of the aquarium in the incidences of power failure. 3. You can gift activated charcoal...

Yup, you heard me right. Piranhas are the same kind of fish that are routinely shown in scary movies and Animal Planet programs as carnivorous fish that live in South American Rivers. These fish are members of the Tetra group of fish and for anyone who has ever seen a Piranha move, they can be quite dangerous. They are also closely related to Pacu. Piranhas are illegal in a lot of countries and most states in North America. When I was in college, one of my friends had a huge Piranha tank. I remember thinking that it was really cool especially when he would catch insects and just drop them in the tank and watch the Piranha swim up and snatch up the tiny morsel. Pygocentrus Nattereri or the "Red...

Live aquarium plants have a range of needs which can only be met through continued maintenance and an understanding of what is necessary to keep them healthy. There are a couple of important things to consider if you are keeping aquatic plants. 1. Choose a good substrate - This in itself will save you a lot of trouble further down the line. Different plants have different need for nutrients and the more demanding your plants, the more important a good quality becomes to keep them in top health. 2. Understand basic water chemistry - When things begin to go wrong in the aquarium environment, the better you understand what makes up the water, the easier it is to respond to in-balances. There are a wide...

Custom fish tanks allow you to show off your colorful fish in all their glory. Have you ever wondered why these beautiful creatures come in so many different colors and patterns? Usually the color is there to protect the fish from their predators. They are designed to blend into the background so although a clown fish looks amazing in a custom aquarium, in the wild they probably go largely unnoticed as they blend into the coral background. This protects them from attack by predators looking for food. If you have a Sargassum fish (its proper name is Histrio histrio) in your custom fish tanks, be careful with your choice of other inhabitants in your growing community. This fish and its cousins the...

QUESTION: I hope you don't mind my writing to you. I saw on a board that you had answered some fish questions very intelligently and was desperately hoping you might be able to shed some light on my situation. About a month ago, we bought a healthy goldfish for my 7 year old son. Within a week he came down with a severe case of ich. We treated with the salt treatment and he recovered after about a week. Almost immediately, his fins turned raggedy white and ripped-looking - then they turned black at the edges (he is a gold fantail). We treated this with Maracyn-2 but it did not get better, so we did another round. During this time the fish became listless and started just hanging at the bottom...

If you are using an Eheim filter for aquarium filtration, you are not going to go wrong, because this company has been producing aquarium filtration products for quite a long while now. Not only are you going to get healthy and crystal-clear water in your aquarium, but also the Eheim filter is so correctly adjusted that it is going to clean up the water through layer filtering, so that there is no suggestion of any sediment or any harmful product left in the water to harm your fishes. An Eheim filter is specially developed in a Lab where the right high quality raw filter material is placed in every filter to get a top-quality, long-lasting and effective aquarium filtration product. Working Of an...

ign="center"> Protein Skimmer is used widely in saltwater aquarium or fish tank to remove any organic compounds before they break down into nitrogenous waste and pollute the water. Basically, you can say that protein skimmer device is the form of aquarium filtration that removes organic compounds just before they start to decompose. Protein skimming works by releasing thousands of micro bubbles from mixing water and air, the smaller the bubbles the more effective the protein skimming is. To produce these bubbles, protein skimmer needs needle wheel, venture pump, counter current, and air stone. These micro bubbles will attract different wastes and force them to reach the skimmer’s chamber. As...

When you search for aquarium fish online you are also thinking about aquarium decorations and other utilities. You know that you can order live fish online after deciding on the species you need. Of course, you can look for decorations once you decide on the species, but it is tempting to know a bit more about decorating options before choosing the species.   Gravel color, sand, and live plants are many things that come to mind, when we think of decoration; however, reef is a separate subject in itself.  Reef decorations provide a rich natural home for your pet.  Remember, if you go for a coral reef aquarium, you also need to check for appropriate aquarium lighting. What is a reef? Per Wikipedia...

Freshwater aquarium fish are some of the most popular pet fish around. They are particularly well suited for the beginner fish-owner who wouldn't be able to quite handle a saltwater tank. But, what makes freshwater? What kinds of freshwater aquarium fish can you add to your new aquarium? All wonderful questions that will be answered! Freshwater is basically any water that is naturally occurring in the earth's surface such as bogs, ponds, rivers, lakes, and streams. Some fish that thrive in groundwater will also be considered freshwater fish as well. This freshwater is usually known to have low concentrations of salts and other dissolved solids. Making freshwater tanks far easier for people to...

29 gallon aquariums, just like any other, need to be regularly cleaned and maintained. If they aren't, then the buildup of harmful elements within the tank, can be extremely detrimental to the health of the fish and marine life being kept in them. By ensuring that your aquarium remains clean, you help to keep the nutrient levels in the water at good levels. The more well balanced the environment within the aquarium is, then the much healthier and happier the fish and aquatic life in the tank will be. Why Should You Clean A 29 Gallon Aquarium? Cleaning your 29 gallon aquarium on a regular basis helps to remove harmful elements from the water. Certainly there are numerous and different ways that...

ign="center"> Currently there is more than 20,000 fish, which to instruct you on care would be time consuming. Therefore, we will cover the basics in tank management to provide you a bit of help. Unlike furry critters on land, fish do not have coats that protect them. Therefore, water temperature is important. If the water temperature is too high, oxygen supply is minimized. On the other hand if the water temperature is too low, it can affect the health of your fish. Along with your aquarium purchase, you should have received a manual, or instruction brochure. It is important to read the material so that you know exactly what temperature and gravity is required to maintain healthy fish. If you have...

Several studies have shown from time to time one important fact about fish-keeping -people who have a tropical fish aquarium at their home are cool in the behavior and they will have better health than those who do not have such tank of pleasure at their home. Some people will argue that even dogs and cats can give such benefits. But then just sitting down quietly and observing the happy fish is much more convenient! If you have a freshwater fish aquarium, it will bring improvement in health as well as a big relaxation. You must have observed that there is a sudden change in the behavior of your kids if you take them to a public aquarium. Even if you take them to another house where there is a well...

If you want a fish tank aquarium but the sheer size and look of it is intimidating your sense of interior design, then there are some great alternatives that can change your mind completely. Aquarium tanks can be big and heavy and not always that clean and attractive in a room. Although many of the latest aquarium kits are much cleaner looking, it still takes up a lot of space in any room. Thanks to much more efficient designs, fish tank aquariums are getting much cleaner in design and many of the pumps and filters are much more compact these days. There are 2 type of tanks that you can look into to help you save on space and to actually add to the room. 1. Wall Mounted Tanks Wall mounted aquarium...

Fish eat all sorts of foods and the majority of fish are omnivores. The foods most readily available on the market come in a few forms. - Flake food - Pellet food - Frozen food - Wafers - Live foodThere are other kinds of food of course, but these are what you're going to see at your local pet store. Flake food Flake food is the most common fish food on the market. It comes in high and low quality and most flake food is good for all types of fish, including tropical and goldfish. It is generally made of fish meal and other additives. If you're looking for a higher quality fish food, I suggest you look on the back for a higher protein count. Flake food can be fed to many types of fish. Pellet food...

I often see hundreds of threads across dozens of on-line community sites every month regarding water source. What filter type if any, is home supplied tap water safe to use, and a lot more questions on this very important subject as well. I am not an expert on water quality in the home marine aquarium, far from it, I'm still learning myself. Even after more than 2 years concentrating purely on reefs and nothing else, experimenting and getting through dozens of test kits, I still feel I need to know more about water quality. I have learned a lot, but crave far more knowledge. Here is some information for newcomers to the hobby, and this may be the difference between success and failure in my view...

Just recently I have won the battle against nuisance algae in my saltwater aquarium. I was dealing with outbreaks of diatoms and other algae that I did not want in the aquarium. One major thing that I've learned is that good water quality equals less algae. How did I improve my aquarium water quality? Lots of testing. I would test the water parameters, tweak my filtration and change the water, and then test some more. I'm now completely used to testing my water parameters frequently, sometimes every couple of days. I wasn't always this way. I used to slack on testing my aquarium water and didn't really know exactly what I should be testing or why. I would check the basics from time to time, such as...

A salt water tank can be a centerpiece of your home. It will bring beauty, entertainment and relaxation. The question to consider is, Is it right for you? Do you have the time to commit to maintaining a tank, what experience do you have? And do you have financial and time resources to commit to the salt water hobby. I have learned my salt water tank flows much more smoothly when I take the time to learn. It is so hard to be patient when you just want to get started. One of the most important things you will need to do prior to starting a salt water aquarium is research. Some of the research is common sense, like assessing how much space you have for your tank, will you have access to a power supply...

If you are a fresh water fish lover, this information with regard to how to maintain an aquarium can be the very valuable. If you want to have a tank full of happy fish, avoid the frustrations of losing your favorite fish, take some time out and read this article in its entirety, it will only take a few minutes; it could save you a ton of money. The trap that many fish lovers don't take onto consideration is fresh water aquarium maintenance. The fact is fresh water fish are not happy in dirty water. It may seem obvious however, so many people neglect this part of aquarium maintenance. The simple way to resolve this problem in to invest in a power filter, this is not a massive investment, in the long...

you recently decided that you would like to take up fish keeping as a hobby? If so, have you already developed of collection of fish to display in your home or in your office? Regardless of which type of fish you would like to purchase, you will need to buy an aquarium, if you haven’t already done so. Unfortunately, when it comes to purchasing a fish tank, there are many individuals who make a costly mistake. That mistake is purchasing a fish tank that it is too small. In addition to wasting money, by purchasing a fish tank that isn’t want you need, you may also be endangering the lives of your fish. That is why it is extremely important that you choose the right fish tank for your fish...

It is amazing how many people start a hobby the wrong way, become deflated and then speak ill of that hobby all because they didn't carry out any research in the first place. Anything is almost impossible if you don't know what you're doing. Starting a tropical freshwater fish aquarium is no exception. Yes I know we all want to cut corners if we can to save time and money but with some things in life you just can't do that. And you definitely can't do that where a tropical freshwater fish aquarium is concerned. You ain't gonna believe this but some folk have started their tropical aquarium without a water heater on the reasoning that their house is naturally warm anyway! Now I know in parts of the...

I suppose the short answer to that is a resounding no. The long answer probably revolves around watts per gallon and light spectrums and uses words like halogen and fluorescent and daylight, blue light, white light etc. If you are keeping freshwater tropical fish in a tank that has artificial plants in then all you need is the standard fluorescent tubes that most aquarium manufacturers put in at the factory. After all they are hardly likely to sell you something that doesn't do the job for the simple reason that they rely heavily on their reputation as experts in the field. Do you need extra lights to grow plants? Well that all depends on what plants you intend to grow. Most of the plants that you...

For decorating your aquarium you can make yourself pieces of driftwood and it will save you a lot of money. If you go to the market, driftwood is very expensive. A small piece can cost around $25. In addition, driftwood bought from the store may not be suitable. Sometimes it is not cleaned and it is not soaked. It may leak toxins in your aquarium. If you have to prepare nicely shaped pieces of driftwood for decorating your aquarium, it is not difficult. The pieces of driftwood are available anywhere in the market. They need not come from the water. The only thing you have to ensure is - whatever pieces you have bought are not rotting. You can 'season' that driftwood to look unique. First procure a...

> Next to sharks, eels have to be the most feared and misunderstood fish. Eels invoke thoughts of terror and wanton destruction. This may be because eels are similar to snakes, which also get little love and sympathy. Or perhaps this is another result of Hollywood's simplistic portrayal of this fascinating group of animals. In either case, the fear is unwarranted and one can successfully and safely keep eels in a home aquarium with a little planning and research. While many people associate eels with saltwater aquariums, there are also freshwater eels, which means customers on both sides of the hobby can enjoy owning an eel.   Saltwater Eels Eels for saltwater aquarium come from three...

Freshwater Tropical Fish and Shrimp Wholesale Supplier Adds Color and Interest to Small Aquariums: East Coast Tranship makes the following information available to pet store trade and consumers to help you give give your fish and shrimp friends a better home to live! For more information, call us at (301) 782-1025 or visit the links at the bottom of this article. Red Crystal Shrimp (Indonesia code 4450) Average length 0.5" - 1" Red Crystal Shrimp Most shrimp varieties have a relatively large tolerance range with regard to water values. A good supply of oxygen is particularly important. If the oxygen level drops too low, this will have an adverse effect on their health. Many varieties thrive at a...

Want to take a good care of your goldfish? The very first thing you should remember is to treat them especially as this species demand and don't give it a treatment of tropical fish. A number of reasons lead to this conclusion. First, because their foods are different; second, the goldfish loves to stay in colder waters than tropical fish. And third, the goldfish feel threatened by the tropical fish. The goldfish possess beautiful, long and flowing fins and move in a slow motioned which make them a tempting targets for the fast fin tropical fish. Such stress in these little creatures may prove to be very distressing in future. Starting accurately Start your gold fish care at once. Take a goldfish...

Because betta fish can be kept in relatively simple containers as opposed to large aquariums with complicated filtration systems, many people are attracted to them as easy to care for, yet beautiful tropical fish. But betta fish care does require some frequent work to keep the fish happy and healthy. One important factor in betta fish care is to use a container that allows the fish to swim around a bit. Bettas can of course survive in the little jars they are often sold in, but this is far from a healthy environment and bettas in such tight quarters may fade in color and become sluggish. Bettas don't need a huge amount of space, but a little room to swim, and a decent amount of surface area for...

Colorful exotic betta fish swimming around decorative glass bowls have become a very fashionable choice of pet for the home. It can be argued that they rival even the humble goldfish in popularity. People's curiosity for these unusual fish doesn't stop with the family home, but you'll also find betta fish bowls on display in restaurants, company offices and even on tabletops at wedding receptions. Betta fish are truly a resilient fish that can stand water and tank conditions that many other fish cannot. However, keeping bettas in undersized bowls or glass jars will not allow them to flourish, nor will they be happy fish. Unless special consideration is given to their environment and requirements...

Most of the hobbyists observe a mishap to their fish. One may say that it's an disadvantage of fish keeping. They usually find that their fish become ill at some point in time. Most of the responsible fish keepers do take pain of what happen. They keep a sharp eye on their fish and keep checking for signs of disease regularly. Although this system is better than deserving the worst which may be the fatal fate of the fish, one should be a step ahead. As it's a common saying, "precautions are better than treatments", the law applies well in case of fish at home. Better care will save future complexes. It is not a difficult task to keep diseases away from fish. If you feel like you are really going to...

Cryptocoryne Wendtii is one of many species of aquatic plant which belongs to the Cryptocoryne family. The Wendtii species if favoured by many aquarists because it is relatively easy to keep and can grow in a range of conditions. Cryptocoryne Wendtii is an ideal plant for someone who is new to growing aquarium plants and does not wish to try their hand at anything harder. It originated in Sri Lanka but has now spread to parts of America, notably Florida and is generally popular in planted tanks. They are hardy plants and do well under a range of lighting conditions. Under high light it has been reported that Cryptocoryne Wendtii will become more compact, spreading horizontally over the substrate...

Marine life is regarded as the most beautiful of all life forms in the universe. An aquarium helps us to display marine life to capture a portion of this amazing splendid state. A reef aquarium or planted aquarium decorated with fish, invertebrates and plants is a glimpse of the astonishing beauty of a world thousands of miles away from our sight and imaginations. Having the proper lighting is one of the major key components to bringing it all together. Our goal in providing sufficient aquarium lighting includes replicating the natural lighting conditions, to provide an innate habitat. Several notable factors determine the lighting scheme for a given aquarium. We will discuss some of the basic...

Usually freshwater fish are considered to be good companions for "lazy people" or are "no-maintenance pets." They may like the idea of a pet but perhaps one that you don't have to interact with as often as others, underestimating the responsibility of freshwater fish care. Well, fish can be the pet for you but it is imperative that you understand that fish do require a little bit of maintenance, although not as much as a cat or dog. First before you buy any fish make sure that you do adequate research concerning the fish of your choice; but take your time, as there are many types of freshwater fish. Make sure you don't put various types of aggressive fish in the same tank. This will lead to an early...

If you are looking to make money online, an excellent way to do so is through blogging. A blog is an online diary and you can make entries to it and include pictures, videos, etc. Here are some effective ways to make money from blogging. Perhaps you have a special hobby or interest. There may be many other people who share that interest. If you create a blog which focuses on that topic, you can attract other people who share the same interest. For example suppose you enjoy raising salt water tropical fish. You can create a blog which provides a lot of useful information pertaining to the proper care or salt water tropical fish. You can add many relevant articles or have your followers submit some of...

The number one mistake people make when buying a salt water fish tank is to buy one that is too small. Marine fish are used to a lot of space and deep water so you need to buy as large a tank as possible. Don't worry about filling the tank with sea water, this is not recommended. You should use one of the commercial preparation packs on sale and make up a solution following the exact instructions. If you are wondering what fish to populate your salt water fish tanks with, you need to speak to an expert. Just as you wouldn't keep a cat and a mouse in the same compartment, there are certain fish that do not co-habitate very well. How many fish you buy will depend on the species i.e. what size they...

Freshwater aquariums can be considered as twice as sensitive compared to the natural habitat they are trying to simulate. For example, the lighting, the substrate, and even the plants can affect the fishes living inside it if not patterned from that of an original freshwater environment. One very important feature that should be strictly considered is the Freshwater aquarium pH perfect for the simulated tanks. Generally, pH is the defining factor for the basic or acidic level of the aquarium's water. It also describes the amount of dissolved ions of hydroxide and hydrogen dissolved in the solution that can perfectly support the lives of the marine animals in the tank. Greater amounts of hydrogen...

Many people think travelling to Las Vegas involves spending a lot of money. This is part one of my collection of articles centred on free things to do in Las Vegas. This article will discuss free things to do in Las Vegas all centred around free Las Vegas hotel attractions that you can enjoy without affecting your holiday budget. If you can't afford to travel the world then a trip to Las Vegas is the next best thing. The reason for that is that Las Vegas hotels are like a mini trip around the world. If you feel like a mini trip to Egypt, visit the Aladdin and Luxor; if your taste is Italy then visit Bellagio and the Venetian; if you want to see a bit of Rome head over to Caesars Palace; if you have...

From award-winning attractions to lesser-known exhibits, the Detroit Zoo has a number of venues to enjoy all the animals in their habitats. Here are just some of the dozens of exhibits to visit by limo or luxury sedan: The Arctic Ring of Life Given the Significant Achievement Award by the AZA, the Arctic Ring of Life will take you on a trek to the North Pole. You can experience the tundra, open sea and pack ice of the Arctic environment, and the animals that are distinctively adapted to life there. Amphibiville At this Winner of the AZA Exhibit Award, Amphibiville you can see amphibians in their natural habitat. The exhibit includes a 2-acre wetland teeming with bullfrogs and other wildlife, and it...

Are your aware that discus fish can be found in nature in only one location in the world? Did you understand that there are only 4 types of the discus? Many cool things about these fascinating creatures are revealed right here. Most folks are much more observant than yours truly . But, "observe, I did" when I noticed my first discus aquarium fish at my physician's office. This life changing event happened when I was in for my yearly physical. I was somewhat familiar with aquarium setups. And I knew that the more attractive, colorful fish resided in saltwater tanks. Freshwater aquariums were more dull and drab. On this occasions, I found out that freshwater fish can be...

Aquariums are complicated equipment that needs to be maintained properly in order for them to be fully effective. Many aquarists maintain aquariums in their houses and office domains to fulfill their hobbies or just as an added attraction to the place. Regardless of the reason, the presence of living fishes demands that these tanks be cleaned regularly and properly in order for the fishes to live for a longer period of time. However, without access to the right aquarium supplies and other equipment like protein skimmers, this task would be very difficult to accomplish. This is the reason why it is necessary for owners to understand and learn about the equipment available in the market before...

Are you making plans to set up a fish tank or aquarium at your home?  You may be interested in enhancing the appearance of home or business.  So you want to go ahead with your fish-keeping hobby. Now you want a nice aquarium.  You will find different options available in the market. When you visit a shop for buying an aquarium, you will be surprised to see the several varieties available.  Your decision should be based on the type of fish you would like to keep. There are two main options available.  You can either go for an acrylic aquarium or for a glass one.  In modern times, a lot of people go for acrylic aquariums.  There are a number of benefits available including durability, strength...

Touchy, temperamental, beautiful, brilliant. All of these adjectives can be used to describe the African Cichlid. Some of the most beautiful freshwater fish in the world, they are also some of the most fickle. However, if you follow some basic rules, you wont be left saying "Why did my African Cichlid die?" There are four basic things you need to watch and plan for when raising African Cichlids: water hardness (mineral content), pH, temperature, and space. Water hardness African Cichlids are native to lakes that have extraordinarily high levels of minerals. Because of this, aquariums often have to be supplemented with minerals, especially if you want the bright colors that Cichlids are known for...

For a while back in England I worked as a drainage engineer and I installed big plantation such as sewage treatment plants and septic tanks. I often wondered about making a holding tank after the sewage treatment plant to use for water irrigation. Fast forward a year and I'm living in sunny Orange County where water droughts are a common problem. This area would be the perfect place for grey water systems. If it is not acceptable to take water straight from the sewage treatment plant then it might be ok to take all house waste except for the toilets and reuse it. Sure enough it is reasonably popular. I'm not sure how many people have these systems installed in their homes and gardens but I'm sure if...