Captive Aquatics: An Aquarium and Ecology Blog

CO2 Injection for Planted Aquariums [Part II]

Part 2 of 2 of CO2 Injection for Planted Aquariums.  To read the first part, click here.

 How do I administer CO2 to an aquarium?

A typical CO2 setup consists of a pollen glass atomizer, CO2 bubble counter, CO2 regulator, and a container of liquid carbon dioxide.  Theses items are made out of glass to give the nature aquarium a clean look without the extra components, and makes the equipment easier to clean.  Plastic equipment is also available as a cheaper alternative. 

Sand as a substrate

If you're like me, then you've longed for some form of substrate that seems a little more natural than the bright blue and pink gravel offered at most pet stores.  I can't seem to dig up any memories of visiting lakes, rivers or ponds that offered any such from of brightly hued gravel.  Therefore, I set out on an adventure to find a type of sand that might offer a more pleasant and natural tone for my freshwater fish tanks.  There are multiple choices out there but I decided upon Playsand by Quikrete. 

Aquarium Sale!

Captive Aquatics, a certified Tenacor acrylic tank reseller, is holding a 25% off sale on all acrylic aquariums until midnight, May 1st.  Click here for the models and price list (take 25% off the listed price!) and contact us for more information. 

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5 tips for picking healthy fish

No one wants to buy a sick fish, but how can you tell for sure if the fish you want is healthy, and has a good chance of survival?  Here are five ways to help you choose a healthy animal that will stay healthy, the first time!

1)  Check for healthy fins that aren't torn or bitten, and make sure the body of the fish is smooth, with no missing scales, bite marks, or injury
2)  Look for obvious signs of disease, including white spots (ich or crypt, more on curing this annoying parasite soon to be posted!), gold 'dusting' (Oodinium, aka velvet disease), white or black "mold" indicative of a bacterial or fungal infection
3) Less obvious signs of disease, such as breathing hard and/or fast, 'flashing' (quick scratching against the rock or tank), general listlessness, fin clamping, or unusual behavior for the species you're observing
4) Make sure the fish you're interested in is eating!  If you're buying a known finicky fish online, ask the reseller if it is eating.  If you're buying it from an LFS, ask an employee to feed it. 
5)  Quarantine the new fish for at least two weeks!  Introducing diseases into your display tank is a nightmare no one wants!

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An Introduction to Freshwater Puffers

One of my favorite fish of both the saltwater and freshwater hobby of aquariums are the puffer fish.  Their dog-like personalities and their cute faces have caught my heart since I started in the hobby.  Many new hobbyists can identify a puffer fish fairly quickly, and this has cause the group to rise in popularity.  Here is a list of some freshwater puffers and some brackish water puffers that are found commonly in pet stores.

 

Why you should be involved in the aquarium hobby!

Editor's Note: this post introduces Dennis Wallace, our newest contributing author.  Dennis will be writing about freshwater & marine aquariums. 

Interested in shiny things? Spend hours staring at a wall and hoping the dots in your eyes aren't in fact caused by a brain tumor?  Answer yes to either of these questions?  If so, you could be the ideal aquarist!

Protein Skimmers: 3 reasons why you need one today!

Protein skimmers (also know as Foam Fractionators) are virtually essential pieces of hardware for saltwater aquariums, and here are three reasons you shouldn't be without one:

1)  Protein skimmers remove 1/3rd of all organic waste from the water column

2)  Protein skimmers are very effective at adding O2 and improving water quality

3)  Protein skimmers reduce nuisance microalgae

Stay tuned for Captive Aquatics Blog's skimmer reviews!

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CO2 Injection for Planted Aquariums [Part 1]

When it comes to water chemistry, pH, ammonia, and nitrates/nitrites are my usual main concerns, and I really do not pay much attention to the other chemical aspects of a freshwater tank.  However, there is another chemical that needs to be monitored in planted tanks: CO2.  To achieve a lush, planted aquarium, CO2 injection is a must. 

Mike Maddox Interviewed by Blue Zoo Aquatics!

Captive Aquatics is proud to announce that Captive Aquatics' Mike Maddox was interviewed by Blue Zoo Aquatics regarding his expert opinion on keeping saltwater nano reef aquariums.  The interview highlights the controversy regarding nano reef aquariums and specifics regarding nano reef upkeep.  Click here for the exclusive interview!

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Nano Reef Aquariums, as easy as 1, 2, 3! [Part 3]

 Part 3 of 3 of April's feature: Nano Reef Aquariums.  If you haven't already, read part one and part two first!

Part 3:  Water Quality

Water quality is an important issue in the nano reef aquarium.  With such a small water volume, you're going to have to keep on top of your maintenance if you want to keep a healthy reef. 

Large weekly water changes of at least 1/3rd of the volume of the tank (preferably 1/2 to all of it!) should be performed weekly (ensure the replacement water is the same temp/salinity).  When I first started keeping nano aquariums, I was having a lot of trouble maintaining proper water quality. I was using various additives, which would cause my water chemistry to go out of whack because of the small water volume, which would lead to more water chemistry problems, causing a never ending cycle!  I finally realized something so simple it should have occurred to me sooner: stop using additives, and just stick to water changes! Weekly water changes of 50-75% are highly recommended to remove wastes and replace trace elements and calcium.  Chemical supplements/additives are both not recommended and not necessary in a nano reef. 

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