Premium freshwater fish diet recommendations? This vibrantly colored fish are tough and friendly but have a tendency to be territorial and hostile during mating season. Rivers are their natural habitat, so they are adept in swimming through currents. Male Cichlids are larger than females, growing to be 6 inches compared to females who only grow up to 5 inches. They will eat all types of fish food. In time you will realize that caring for a pet fish is not any easier than caring for any other pets. They also require attention, cleaning, proper nutrition, and a stable environment. If this is your first time to own a fish, do plenty of research about the fish of your choice, and be prepared to shell out some cash because their tank and accessories can be quite expensive. All efforts become worth it once you see them all set up and swimming peacefully in a tank.

Pour the remaining old water from the aquarium into a large bucket prepared in advance. Be careful that there are no cleaning products in the bucket. If possible, do not use it for other purposes. Pass the gray water through the siphon when you pour it into the bucket. Clean the aquarium gravel. A device for water “blowing” gravel can also be purchased for the siphon. This is a small solid tube, about five centimeters in diameter attached to the siphon. A stream of water that comes out of the siphon washes the dirt from the gravel. This can be done while the water is being poured into the bucket from the aquarium. Gravel can also be washed separately, but it usually grows useful for the life of fish microorganisms. Therefore, it is better to use a siphon. The final stage is wiping the outer glass of the aquarium. Shops sell individual cleaning products for aquarium glasses. It is also fashionable to wipe the aquarium wall with water-vinegar solutions in a ratio of 2 parts to 1. After washing, wipe the glass with a clean, dry towel.

In addition to keeping aquarium fish, many aquarium hobbyists also stock their tanks with live plants and other organisms. Marine tanks can be stocked with live rock and/or coral which are more than just decoration – they are living organisms that must be cared for properly. An in-between tank (in between fish-only (FO) and the reef) is called the FOWLR (Fish Only with Live Rock). Keeping reef tanks alive and thriving can be very difficult and therefore are the bane of novice fish hobbyists but the holy grail for those up to a challenge. Find even more information at fish pets advices.

Regular maintenance on your powerheads and pumps, including return pumps, every 3 to 6 months will keep your equipment running more efficiently and may even allow the equipment to have a longer lifespan, saving you money in the long run. This process can be time consuming, but the rewards are well worth the work! Regular maintenance will keep the highest amount of flow and lowest stress on your equipment, meaning a healthier aquarium and lower expenses. Another important reef aquarium maintenance technique is to remember to clean your aquarium filtration and replace the filter media. Every other week you should open the filter, replace the filter media, including carbon and GFO, and rinse the filter itself to remove any algae or other buildup within the filter itself. This will keep your aquarium water quality pristine and reduce the excess nutrients in your reef tank.