Choosing the Right Size Aquarium For Your Betta

In this article, I want to talk about choosing the right size aquarium to house your betta fish.

There are a lot of different vases, bowls, and small tanks on the market made to house your betta. In my opinion, some of these containers serve more as a decoration or a piece of art than a place for your betta to live. I have seen some bowls that will only hold 12-16 oz of water...before adding decorations.

The main problem with these super small containers is two fold. First, the smaller the housing, the more frequently you will need to change the water and do maintenance. Second, your fish actually needs room to swim around. In the wild, a betta thrives in shallow water. So the bigger shallow tank you have, the happier the fish will be. And the longer he will live in a stress-free environment.

So now you are probably wondering...does this mean I need to spend a lot of money by purchasing a 150-gallon aquarium with all the bells and whistles to house my betta? No, I would recommend you buy an actual fish tank that is between 2.5 and 10 gallons to house your betta fish. If you plan on trying to breed or add other fish, I would suggest that you start with a 10-gallon aquarium.

If you plan to house your betta by himself, a 2.5 gallon aquarium will work just fine. That should give your betta plenty of room to swim around. If you plan to add more fish, then go with the 10 gallon aquarium

Why Use Reef Aquarium Filtration to Purify Water

Building a reef aquarium takes a sizeable investment, and it needs adequate care. Pure water is essential to a healthy aquarium, and can be achieved with a reef aquarium filtration unit. You cannot have an aquarium without water, but not just any water will do. Water that is not purified can be harmful to the coral and other organisms in the aquarium.

Aquarists who live in the city have limited choices of water supply. The most easily available source of water is the tap. However, tap water that will be used to fill an aquarium needs to be filtered. Even though city tap water goes through a purification process to make it safe for drinking, it may still contain chemicals and impurities that are harmful to the living organisms inside a reef aquarium. In areas where only well water is available, or where tap water is not clean, investing in a reverse osmosis filter, or a combination reverse osmosis/deionization water filter, may be needed.

A reef aquarium filtration unit such as a reverse osmosis/deionization unit works to remove almost all of the impurities and contaminants present in water. Using water filtered with this method in the tank not only gives the reef a contaminant-free environment, it can also protect the aquarium from hair algae because the water has reduced phosphate levels.

Investing in building and caring for a reef tank can take a lot of time and money. But the investment pays for itself. Using clean, purified water goes a long way toward maintaining a beautiful, colorful and healthy reef

Reef Aquarium Supplements Make Water Better For Aquarium Keepers

Reef aquarium supplements help to ensure that conditions of water in the tank are at the optimum levels to be viable for sustaining marine life. These reef aquarium supplies include, but are not limited to, ionic additives in water such as magnesium chloride additives, sodium carbonate soda ash, and marine salt. These chemicals all go a long way in maintaining a healthy, vibrant example of underwater life.

In order to properly raise coral and undersea fish, one must understand the very specific features of sea water. Sea water is composed of 96.5 percent pure water, and some 3.5 percent dissolved salts. Contrary to popular belief, these salts are not all table salt, or sodium chloride. Different combinations of different kinds of chemicals all come together there. There is magnesium, potassium, calcium and even trace amounts of gold, uranium, and inorganic carbon in water. These chemicals all add up to creating the unique cocktail that is ocean water, which millions of organisms call home.

As such, suppliers for reef tanks offer a diverse set of reef aquarium supplies to enrich the otherwise unsuitable freshwater that is readily available to most people. These chemical additives, such as magnesium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate and calcium chloride are all sold as part of the aquarium keeper's arsenal of tools. These reef aquarium supplements play their roles in keeping the chemical balance of water at the right levels, allowing for optimal conditions for coral, fish, sponges and other organisms to thrive and grow inside the tank.

Aquarium Carbon and Organic Waste

Reef aquariums are beautiful structures teeming with life and color. However, they require a lot of care. One of the ways to care for them is to use aquarium carbon to keep the water clean.

In the vastness of the ocean, there is a natural system of waste recycling which involves organisms that process waste. Underwater movement ensures that waste is washed away from the fish and coral that produce them and toward the organisms that process them. Essentially, the water in the ocean is constantly cleaned and refreshed.

But a reef aquarium is a contained environment. It houses a lot of living organisms like fish and coral, but not enough organisms that process waste and keep the water clean. Over time, the water can develop an odor and turn yellow, which not only affects the beauty of the aquarium but can be harmful to its living organisms as well. The yellow color is a result of the buildup of metabolic waste released by the organisms inside the reef aquarium. Even with simulated water movement, the waste is not washed away from the fish and coral because it has nowhere to go.

Aquarium carbon takes care of removing odor and color. It does this by attracting organic waste matter into its porous surface. Thus, it keeps the water in the tank clear. It also removes any medication, which should not be left in the water for too long, and contaminants such as the chemicals corals release to fight each other. This results in healthier-looking coral.

A small amount of carbon can do the job of removing waste and color pigments. As the carbon's pores fill up with organic waste, its effectiveness begins to diminish, so it needs to be replaced every two weeks or when the water begins to turn yellow.

Bulk Aquarium Supplies Best Found Online

Reef aquarium enthusiasts seek bulk aquarium supplies continually. They require goods such as fish food, protein skimmers and even chemical calcium and magnesium in a constantly ready supply. These all contribute to keeping reef coral and fish healthy and thriving.

Every little detail must be taken into consideration with a reef aquarium. Water must be kept at an average pH acidity of 8.0 to 8.5, and water temperatures at about 72 - 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The magnesium and strontium levels of the water also have to be monitored - any amount outside the range of 8 to 14 parts per million (ppm) is harmful for these creatures.

These are some of the concerns that must come into play. Great care is needed because the aquarium enthusiast is trying to recreate the natural balance of things that is found under the sea.

One of the ways to ensure that requirements are consistently met is to search for these reef aquarium supplies through the Internet. Online shopping has allowed reef aquarium enthusiasts worldwide to be able to share not just their completed projects and work, but also to find great deals on different products. Items like water pumps, plumbing equipment and even fish to help beautify the reef aquarium are now much easier to find, and they can be delivered straight to one's doorstep in conditions that guarantee optimal freshness and viability.

There are even some companies that encourage the purchase of goods in bulk. Aquarium supplies from these online establishments go for significantly lower when purchased in sizeable volumes, and companies may even offer special rewards for such purchases. This affords the buyer maximum value for money, and the needed volume for their desired products.