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Various Aquarium Meters
If you go online and browse through all the aquarium supplies, you’ll certainly find a lot of measuring devices. Aquarium meters come in a variety of forms. There’s the usual thermometer. There are also other items like hydrometer and refractometer.
All these aquarium supplies wouldn’t be put up for sale if they’re not needed. They must have specific functions that can make the life of the aquarium hobbyist a lot easier. But what exactly do they do? Let’s take a closer look at all these items.
Thermometers are used to monitor the correct water temperature in the aquarium. This is important because different varieties of fish prefer different water temperatures. Fish are also sensitive to changes and sudden fluctuations in water temperature and it can give them undue stress. If unmonitored with thermometers, a huge drop or increase in temperature can even result to fish death. Consequently, it is important to maintain a stable temperature in the tank.
Hydrometers and refractometers are used to measure the salinity and specific gravity of aquarium water. Salinity is the measure of the dissolve salt concentration in the tank water. Salinity and specific gravity are almost treated the same except that specific gravity is temperature dependent while salinity is not. They are measured especially in marine and reef aquariums to maintain appropriate salt concentrations which are essential to the health of the fish. Hydrometers are good and easy to use. However, serious aquarium hobbyists prefer refractometers. The refractometer devices provide accurate and reliable readings of salt levels.
Three Fish Care Options While You’re On Vacation
Fish need to be cared for on a regular basis. But what if homeowners go on vacation? Should they just leave their fish behind and cross their fingers hoping not one will die? Or, should they just cancel their plans at all?
This is the dilemma every fish keepers have to face. Aquariums are big investments. Certainly, they don’t want anything to happen to their fish. But they want to enjoy some leisure time for a few days or so. Well, here are three simple options that you can choose to care for your fish while you’re on vacation.
First option, prepare the aquarium tank the day before you go. Perform routine maintenance and make partial water change so that you have a clean tank to start with. Feed your fish the day of your flight and off you go. Before you say that’s not caring at all, here’s one fact you should know. Fish can survive without food for a week or two. So, don’t fret and enjoy your vacation.
Second option is to go high tech. If you’re not comfortable leaving your fish without food for days then you can buy some gadgets from aquarium supplies store. There are timers and fish feeders that you can program to turn on lighting and dispense food to the fish on certain hours each day.
Last and probably the best option is to get a fish sitter. It can be a relative or friend who can come and tend to your fish. Make sure you introduce them to all the aquarium supplies that you have and jot down detailed instructions so they’ll know what to do.
Fish Do Need Vitamins and Supplements
Fish, like humans, need vitamins. They are dependent on us to provide them the proper food and nourishment that they need. Fish get their usual dose of vitamins from the food we feed them like flakes, shrimps, worms and greens. Vitamins are very important because it will keep the fish healthy and more resistant to disease and infection. They also give off intense and natural colors. They have added vitality and will swim more actively. More importantly, they tend to live longer.
The fish foods purchased from aquarium supplies store that we give to the fish are initially packed with vitamins. However, the vitamin content deteriorates quickly. By the time they are fed to the fish, the fish don’t get the full benefits that they bring. Henceforth, it is necessary to buy aquarium vitamins and supplements that can be given to the inhabitants of the aquarium.
Aquarium vitamins and supplements can also be purchased from aquarium supplies stores. They are mostly soluble substances that can be added directly to the aquarium water. A few drops can also be added to dry foods to fortify their vitamin contents. We know how essential vitamins are. They play an important role. Vitamin A is needed for normal growth and development, B-complex is for proper nervous system function and vitamin C is needed to boost the fish immune system. Vitamins D and K are necessary for normal bone development and proper blood clotting, respectively. The use of aquarium vitamins and supplements is really beneficial to the fish.
Aquarium Backgrounds and Floors
Like the dedication you provide to beautify your home, your fish home deserve to look good too. Care should be taken to create a visually-appealing aquarium. After getting all the necessary aquarium supplies and equipment and have them functioning, decorations should be in order. The first two items that should be focused on are the background walls and floors.
No matter how many decors and ornaments you put in the tank, it will never look good if there are multiple wires that are seen hanging at the back. The wires can distract the attention of people viewing your aquarium. Aquarium backgrounds create instant beautiful scenery for your tank. Small tanks can benefit from using these aquarium supplies as it makes them look bigger. Aquarium backgrounds are self-adhesive and can easily be installed. The most common backgrounds are plain black and blue solid colors. There are newer designs with colorful underwater scenes and planted scenes. There are even 3D ones but are very expensive.
Once the background is chosen, attention should be shifted to the floor. Substrate has specific purposes inside the aquarium but let’s just focus on their decorative uses. Substrates can either be sand or gravel. These items come in a wide variety of colors. Light-colored substrate will greatly enhance the intensely dark-colored fish. On the hand, it will tend to wash out fish of the same color. Many people choose light colored substrate, though, because it makes the aquarium look big and bright. Darker-colored substrate will enhance the lightly colored fish and are perfect for hiding fish waste.
DROWNED IN TOO MUCH AQUARIUM SUPPLIES
Imagine your aquarium as your home and yourself as a fish. Do you feel like suffocating when your home is dirty? Do you feel like you just want to go out and leave your place? If you feel that way, then certainly the fishes feel that way too when their home (tank) is very dirty.
A lot of aquarium supplies are available in the market nowadays to keep your tank clean and fresh all the time. Not only that; they also keep your aquarium functioning for quite a long period of time. Just like what other people would say, before you receive something great or receive the best results, you need to go through it the hard way. Going through it the hard way means that you need to pick out the best aquarium supplies in the market, do some research, canvass the prices and read some reviews about it. With these preparations on hand, I’m sure you’re on your way to success in having the fresh and best aquarium you really want.
Owning an aquarium, maintaining it and making it a hobby is easy as long as you know what you need to do and what you’re doing. It will certainly liven up your mood whenever you look at your clean and neat aquarium with your fishes swimming gaily in there.
Before proceeding with the rest of aquarium stuffs, choose the right tank first. Pick out the one that will surely fit the number of fishes that you want to keep. An aquarium is not an aquarium if you lack the tank. Next, consider the types of fishes you want, because some fish may tend to attack and eat each other and because of this you can determine what type of an aquarium you need to have, whether it is with salt, fresh or warm water. Then, the heater, the filter (whether it is able to filter small & large particles or not), the gravel and rock, the pump, the water testing kit (PH measurement) and the lighting since fishes and plants need a good amount of light for them to survive.
