What do I do about cloudy aquarium water created by new substrate?
With most substrates, not just fine sand, you are almost guaranteed to end up with sediment floating around the water when you fill up your tank. There are a few things you can try to do to prevent this (rinsing the substrate first, using something to minimize the impact of the water on the substrate such as a bowl/plate/piece of plastic), but I've rarely seen a new tank start up without getting at least a little bit cloudy.The good news is that this cloudiness is 100% the result of substrate sediment that has been stirred up into the water column, and it will settle back down eventually. How quickly depends on a few different variables. If you have something creating some current such as a filter, water pump, or air pump that will help it clear up faster. Obviously, how much sediment is stirred up will affect how quickly it clears up. Also, exactly what the sediment is will affect the rate it settles (smaller, lighter particles will be more likely to stay suspended while larger, heavier particles will settle faster).Generally speaking, it should clear up in a day or two, but it may take longer. If it goes more than a week or so I would start looking into other issues.
What is the easiest way to sell an aquarium?
You've had good answers to this, but there is one more avenue you may be able to try. If there is a local aquarium club, they may run a fund raising auction and typically, anyone can sell or buy things at these auctions. Each club has its own rules you have to check on, but it is worth looking for one of these.I get the best prices by making sure anything I offer for sale is clean! Clean anything sells so much easier than the same item that’s dirty. No, you won’t be repaid an hourly wage for your time spent cleaning up, but you will get more for clean gear than filthy gear.I had the top price paid for a used aquarium at an auction three years in row because I made sure every tank was clean and shiny and leak tested before I sold it. I put a note on each one, giving the exact dimensions of the tank in inches, centimetres and gallons, and that it had passed a 24 hour leak test. And I DID the leak test!If you are listing them on a sale site, include all this information and take the best possible pictures of the items too. Close up. Clear. I could not tell you how many ads I’ve seen without ANY basic info and pictures so bad you could barely guess what was in each pic. Nobody responds to ads like that. List a price too, many will simply not take the time to ask a price if it’s not there.If anything does not work, toss it. If you get a rep for selling junk, it will come back to haunt you.I live near Toronto, Ontario. Largest city in Canada. Used fish tanks in this area sell for about one dollar per gallon, in good condition. Even less if they are beat up or painted. Might be even less in the USA, given they cost less when new. than they do here.If it was an expensive custom size item, like some of the Fluval tanks, then you may get a bit more for it, but do not expect to recoup your retail costs. It’s not going to happen. Used cars don’t sell for what new cars do, nor do fish tanks.
Fish aquarium smells..what do I do...cleaned out after a week and now two days later it smells worse!?
Do you have a filter for your tank? That is very important, as it cleans the water and you can easily clean the filter, rather than always changing the water. If you don't have yet, buy one as soon as you can, and I hope this solves your problems. You also need a air pump, to have enough oxygen in the tank. There are filters that are both air pumps and filters, 2 in one, the best solution to solve 2 problems. Try not to overfeed the fish, give only a small amount of food and observe for few minutes if they are eating all or they let it there, so next time you can give the right amount. If you use tap water, treat the water with special solutions, that improve water condition, block chlorine's and metals, and kills bacterias. If you have a new tank, you have to wait till it is settled, so don't change all the time the water, just refill the tank, if some are evaporated.
How do I clean an acrylic aquarium?
Sand substrates are fine, dont worry about it.Use a light handed stroke to rub the acrylic surface.Look for the finest and softest piece of foam you could find to clean it. You could also use a microfiber cloth they supply with lenses or TV's. Use a brand new one and soak it for an hour and squeeze to drain before use.
My plants are dying in my aquarium. What should I do?
If you find your aquarium plants are dying; here is a quick guide that you can easily follow –• Select the right plants – Caring for your aquarium plant begins with the selection of right plants. While choosing plants for your fish tank, make sure that you are picking up underwater plants and they can survive immersed in water easily. • Provide the right substrate – Your fish tank requires substrate. Supply the right materials to cover the aquarium base surface and help the plants grow healthy. • Supply the right light – You must be aware of the term photosynthesis and its immense benefits. This, to happen, needs proper supply of light and help the plants generate energy for growth in the process. • Prevent algae production – While you grow plants in an aquarium, make sure that they are not competing with algae for light and nutrients. Continuous production of algae on the surface and sides of your fish tank may leave your plants to die. Thus, to offer a healthy life to the plants, make a regular and proper use of algae control chemical. • Supply fertilizer properly – Avoid phosphate fertilizer in order to stop potential algae production and use fish-safe, iron-based fertilizer rather to help the plants grow healthy. • Maintain a balance – Aquatic life is really very beautiful and to keep it safe and healthy, you have to take care of its plants. Make sure your aquarium water quality is hale and hearty and the environment around them is more natural and well-sheltered. Visit Aquaria Australia Warehouse. It is one of the largest e-stores for aquarium supplies in Australia. Checking through their collections, you will definitely find suitable aquarium plants to adorn your small aquatic world.
How often I need to change the aquarium filter?
This depends on 2 things, the Type of fish & the size of the tank. People who are new to fishkeeping think a small tank is easier but that's not the case. If poisons build up quickly in a tank due to fish waste, fish death will happen more suddenly in a 20 litre tank than 200 litre. Imagine trying to breath air yourself in a tiny enclosure instead of a giant hall. When fish excrete waste in the wild it's taken away in streams and rivers, in a tank it just sits there.Also, certain fish are “messy" when it comes to excrement, a Goldfish needs a large tank, 60 litres for each fish at least & some breeds should only be kept in ponds.Speak to your local professional Aquarist retailer about your tank, what fish you have, & how big they will grow. Take his advice to avoid fish death. Good luck.
Fish: Kitchen Sponge in Aquarium?
It's risky. Many kitchen sponges have one or more chemicals added to retard mold or mildew, and these mildewcides will kill your fish. Also, the most common kitchen sponges I see for sale are made of cellulose, which will (eventually) rot and/or fall apart in water. Your basic idea, though, of speeding up (in fact, almost entirely avoiding) the "cycling" of a new tank by using bacteria from your old tank, is a sound one. The easiest, and probably most effective, way to do this is simply to run the new filter on the old tank (along with the old filter) for a while before you set up the new tank. A couple of weeks is usually enough, but if you can let it run on the old tank longer, this is, of course better. Or, for a variation of this method, just use the old filter, or media from the old filter on the new tank, and put the new filter on the old tank. The gravel and other items in the old tank will have enough of a bacterial colony to re-establish the biofiltration quickly. It also helps if you add some gravel from the established tank to the new tank.
Why does my aquarium smell like cat pee?
What you are smelling is ammonia. It's normal for a new tank to have lots of ammonia in it, but rarely so much that you can smell it. Instead of completely cleaning it, do large water changnes instead. A 50% water change should correct the oder problem and lower the ammonia to a point the fish will be ok. Your tank is new and therefore isn't cycled yet. This is something pet shops all too often fail to explain to new customers. It doesn't last forever, but certain things need to happen in the tank for it to become stable and clean. Here's a link that will help you understand what's going on in your tank, how to make the process work and details on what will go on next. Hope this helps http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php MM
Will foggy water from a sand bottom kill fish in an aquarium?
That is definitely a fog that you do not want your fish in.2 things that you should do when starting your aquarium with any substrate:Rinse your substrate thoroughly. Run it through water a few times, stirring it as you go, and if time permits, leave it to soak overnight.The most important part that most people miss out: fill the tank WITHOUT disturbing the substrate too much. No matter how many times you wash your sand, pouring water from a height directly into the tank will stir the sand around and almost definitely cause the water to fog up. This doesn't mean that your sand isn't cleaning enough, but it will always contain particles or dust which will cloud up the water - and it is okay for it to do that. But when you're pouring water into the tank, what you should be doing is breaking the fall of the water so it doesn't impact and stir the sand. You can do this by laying one of those transparent plastic bags (that your fish come in) over a part of the surface of your sand and pouring water onto that bag instead of directly onto the sand, so that water flows smoothly into the tank instead of splashing about. An alternative is to lay your hand flat on the substrate and pour water onto your hand to break the impact and flow smoothly into the sand.Step 2 should make your water much clearer. If there's still a slight bit of clouding, just install your filter with activated carbon and let it run overnight - should do the trick.Even sand in rivers and natural environments will cause a clouding of the water when stirred, and it is okay. But in order to prevent clouding in an aquarium setting, care should be taken in cleaning and setting up.
What kind of soap is safe to clean a fish tank with?
Soap is anti-bacterial and the LAST thing you want to add to any established fish tank is something that kills bacteria - no bacteria means fluctuating water chemistry means dead fish. If you're disinfecting a tank BEFORE stocking and cycling don't use soap. You can either use a weak white vinegar solution or very weak bleach solution - both need to be rinsed and rinsed and rinsed until all smell is gone and left to sun dry before it's any kind of safe for fish.