Thursday, December 29, 2011

Basic Information On Aquarium Upkeep And Caring For Piranha

By Brandon Ralperence


Keeping fish as pets has turned into a well-liked activity as many individuals strive to have a piece of the natural world in their households. The primary objective of fishkeeping enthusiasts is to reproduce the natural ecosystem of the fish species they intend to have. To accomplish that, they have to purchase the correct aquarium supplies and tools, be familiar with basic caring requisites of the fish they wish to keep, as well as perform regular maintenance on the system.

An essential lesson that fishkeeping enthusiasts have to understand is the nitrogen cycle which pertains to the introduction of nitrogen into the aquaria usually through food and taking out nitrates from fish waste and decomposing plant matter. Aquariums often do not have sufficient bacteria population to adequately denitrify wastes. This problem is addressed through filtration using activated carbon and biological filters which remove nitrogen compounds and toxins and enhance bacterial colonization.

The Fluval 405 is an example of a trusted aquarium filter system sold in the market these days. Fluval 405 reviews are generally positive because for one, it can hold various filter media which includes carbon and biological filters. They are also user-friendly, and don't require much from the hobbyist in terms of installation and upkeep. Its aqua-stop feature makes it an even more desirable product as it reduces the likelihood of water leaks and mess. Many consumers who sent in Fluval 405 reviews mention that this product is best suited for piranha hobbyists since it is designed for large volume of water which these exotic pets need. Aquatic industry professionals recommend two gallons/inch of fully developed fish length. Keeping piranhas necessitate installation of additional filtration, and majority of tanks that hold such exotic pets have submerged as well as external filters. With regards to aquarium supplies, filter media would have to be the main recurring cost given that they have to be changed from time to time. Carbon filters are replaced regularly at least once a month, while biological filters need to be replenished half at one time to allow proper seeding from older media to the new ones.

For fish to thrive in hobbyist aquaria, it should receive the right amount of oxygen, light, and temperature. To regulate these aspects, numerous aquarium equipment are available. These tools attempt to simulate oxygenation, temperature, and lighting conditions of the fish's natural setting and thus minimize stress. Using our example earlier, piranhas do not like bright tanks and will thrive more if the water temperature is kept at 80 Fahrenheit. Lighting is usually installed onto canopies.

These canopies will also decrease the amount of water leaving the system through evaporation which can contribute to excessive water hardness as well as keep contaminants from getting into the aquarium. It will also stop fish from jumping out of the tank. To introduce oxygen into the system you can install air pumps and powerheads which move and agitate the surface water. Hobbyists who keep piranha usually opt for planted aquariums and thus select air pumps or powerheads that provide gentle surface movement so that carbon dioxide loss is minimized.

Fishkeeping enthusiasts have to have testing kits too as these products enable them to analyze various aspects of the aquarium water like pH levels and hardness so that they can adjust these to better suit the tank's inhabitants. Tests should be done weekly. To add visual interest to your aquarium and to provide a playground for your fish, it would be great to put in decors as well. Always put into consideration the species of fish that will be kept when choosing them. Piranhas for instance love decors where they can hide in.




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