Month: March 2019

Planning a Trip to the Aquarium

Posted on by scott in Fish for Aquariums

Aquariums exist all over the world and are a choice place to visit for couples, 

families, friends and individuals. Aquariums can be a great place to visit to learn about marine life, different fish and beyond being fun, they can be a very educational experience for visitors of all ages. If you are planning a fun vacation near, or just a day trip, to an aquarium, there are some considerations to make it the best trip possible and to cover all your bases for a fun, safe and memorable trip:

    • Crowds; weekends, holidays and school breaks are typically the busiest days for aquariums, especially those in big cities and tourist destinations. Also, the hours of 11 am to 2 pm tend to be considered the peak times. If you would like to avoid crowds, try going first thing in the morning or in the evening or right before closing.
  • Weather and climate; consider the aquarium and the setting. Some aquariums offer outdoor exhibits or activities. If you are planning on partaking in something such as swimming with dolphins, check the weather before buying tickets. Also, make sure that you dress for the weather to make the day as enjoyable as it can be. For warmer days, be sure to bring sunscreen and a lot of water.
  • Tickets; be sure to check prices, requirements and availability of tickets. Some aquariums require pre-purchase of tickets, some offer discounts if you buy them before or if you go later in the day. Also, some places provide line skip packages, parking packages or food packages, etc. Check the website before heading out. In and Out privileges are also something to consider, especially if you have young kids or are planning on bringing your own food.
  • Safety and first aid; make sure that you are aware of the risks that can be associated with a trip to the aquarium. As a precaution, there are apps such as livi.co.uk which can be downloaded in case an injury or illness is incurred on a trip to the aquarium. There are also typically staff who are onsite and well trained and equipped to handle medical emergencies.
  • Photos; who wants to go to the aquarium and leave without some great photos of some cool fish, and so on? For the best photos, take pictures without flash for the best quality pictures. Also, avoid zooming for the sake of clarity.
  • The experience; check out the map and the different exhibits to make sure that you don’t leave without seeing everything you want to and that you came to see. Some aquariums are incredibly huge, and therefore it may be next to impossible to see everything, so prioritise and make a game plan.

Selecting The Right Aquarium Filter

Posted on by scott in Filters for Aquariums

Choosing the right filtration system is one of the most important decisions you will make. In most cases, the filtration system is the key factor that determines the success of your fish tank. This determines the type of livestock, size and quantity that you will be able to keep. This system will also keep the water clean, free from particles like food or waste, and toxins that may harm your precious pets.

In general, there are three different types of filtration that are important in a water system. You need mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration to ensure the success of your tank. During mechanical filtration, particles are removed from the water by forcing it through material that helps to catch all of these particles. The chemical process removes any toxic build up in the water through a chemical resin. Finally, biological filtration occurs when a variety of bacteria convert the byproduct produced by the tank inhabitants into less toxic chemicals. When this process occurs it is known as the nitrogen cycle where the organic waste created in your tank will be converted to ammonia. This is then processed further until it is converted into nitrates that are beneficial to your fish.

To ensure that your tank remains safe for your valuable fish you need to make sure that you have adequate filtration mechanisms in place that will facilitate the different types of filtration. There are a wide variety of systems available. However, the most common types are internal, under gravel, power, canister, or wet or dry. Each one of these has their own advantages and disadvantages. At the end of the day, the type of system you choose will depend entirely on the type of aquatic pets that you intend on keeping. Live planted freshwater tanks will most commonly require a mechanical and chemical filtration system. On the other hand, a heavily-stocked African Cichlid tank needs a combination of the three different types of cleaning systems.

Internal systems will often come in a wide variety of styles. They can be placed on the substrate or mounted to the side. As the name indicates under gravel systems are hidden beneath the substrate in your tank. Power filtration systems hang on the back of your tank and will generally use all three varieties of filtering the water. If you use a canister system you only need to place it at the bottom of your tank. Finally, a wet or dry system is placed at the bottom of a tank and requires an overflow system to clear the water.

Before you make a decision about the type of filtration you are going to install into your tank you need to do a little bit of thinking. Look at the type and quantity of livestock you plan on keeping before making a final decision.