Live Freshwater Aquarium Plants

Fish that thrive in freshwater will require freshwater plants in the tank. Keep in mind that fish are sourced from varied environments, with both warm and cold water temperatures. This goes for plants as well. Before you purchase, make sure you keep these requirements in mind and ensure you are buying the right species of plants to adapt to the conditions your fish will need.

There are four primary types of freshwater plants: Ferns, Mosses, Rosette Plants and Stem Plants. There are pros and cons to each. Ferns & Mosses are easy to propagate and are both non-flowering but add lots of green to your tank. The mosses will like to attach to something like a rock or an ornament; it will help if you can loosely tie them to something to help them along.

Stem plants and Rosettes are flowering plants. Stem plants are easy to grow and easier to propagate than Rosettes; however, Rosettes are those beautiful flowering plants that will be the centrepiece of your aquarium. Keep in mind that although beautiful, these Rosette plants will require a bit more attention and care.

The amount of energy and time you are willing to spend on caring for your live aquarium plants will dictate the type of plant you'll want to invest in. If you are planning to spend a lot of time on your aquarium, spring for the Rosettes and make your aquarium shine! If you don't have a lot of time, go for a steam plant or fern or moss instead. Another key consideration is the size of your tank; some plants will grow quite large. You'll also want to plan out how many plants you need based on the size.

READ NEXT: Christmas moss

Once you've decided on what type of plant you wish to introduce to your tank, you'll want to find a reliable place to buy from. The best option is a cutting from someone you know or a pet or fish store that you trust. Plants can carry disease and parasites so you want to make sure you can trust the person or place you are buying from. As a general rule, it's a good idea to keep the plants you purchase in a separate container for a day or two for observation before putting them in the tank. Make sure to keep an eye out for tiny snails, these are somewhat common and are not something you'll want in your tank!

Live aquarium plants provide many benefits, including aeration and filtration; however, plants need light in order to produce these great benefits and others through photosynthesis. As with land plants, aquatic plants require different amounts of light depending on the species. Make sure you know how much light your plants need and purchase a lighting system in line with those requirements.

Finally, your plants will require upkeep. As the plants grow bigger, they will need to prune back, and brown leaves need to be removed. You will also need to clear the algae off the glass as this blocks the light from getting through to your plants. Not really a big job for all the benefits your live plants will bring.

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Tips For Choosing And Maintaining A Freshwater Aquarium

Aquarium fish are wonderful pets and it's an absolute joy to have them in your freshwater aquarium. It's really important to choose the right aquarium, setting it up and maintaining it to ensure you give the fishes a healthy clean environment to live. There are many types of aquariums you can choose from but freshwater aquariums are certainly the most popular one among most aquarium enthusiasts.

Here are a few factors to keep in mind to choose the right aquarium for your fish:

1) Size

Selecting the right tank size is an important determinant when purchasing an aquarium. For example, if you just have a small area in your home where you can set up the aquarium you would like to buy an aquarium with a smaller tank size rather than a larger one. The size of your aquarium will also determine the number and size of fishes you can keep in it.

Freshwater aquariums are available in several sizes like:

Small Tank

This type of tank is ideal if you don't have much space at home to accommodate a large aquarium. These tanks come in various capacities which are within 10 gallons. You will not need any electrical accessories and filter for these aquariums if you want to raise hardy fish such as goldfish in them.

Medium Tank

A medium tank is one which is available in capacities between 10 gallons and 45 gallons. These tanks are heavier in weight in comparison to small tanks and should have an access to an outlet. You should make sure that you have sufficient available space to accommodate a medium tank as they may weigh up to 200 pounds when full of water and without sufficient space it may be inconvenient to clean and maintain them.

Large Tank

Large tanks have a capacity of more than 45 gallons and are available with special cabinets that help to support the heavyweight of these types of tanks.

READ NEXT: Sakura Shrimp

2) Location of Tank

Location of the tank is another important factor that needs to be taken into account before purchasing an aquarium. If you planning to purchase a medium-sized or large tank you should ensure you have sufficient available space to set them up and have enough space to easily clean them from time to time. You should never place your aquariums near any electrical appliances as the area near the aquarium can easily get wet especially while cleaning or filling water in it. You should also ensure that you place your aquarium in a place where the temperature is stable so that you provide a healthy environment for your pet fishes.

3) Shape

Freshwater aquariums are available is various shapes but the most popular ones are a rectangular shaped and small round shaped aquariums. Large tanks are generally made of glass while smaller tanks are available in plastic and acrylic models.

Take some time in choosing the right aquarium as this will help you take proper care of your fish. Most people fail to keep fish in good health because they select the wrong aquarium for them.

Freshwater Aquarium Maintenance

It is extremely important to maintain your aquarium to ensure that your fish stay healthy and you enjoy keeping them as a pet. It is vital to maintain your aquarium but contrary to common belief it's really easy to maintain an aquarium and keep it in good working condition. You should never neglect the maintenance of your aquarium as it helps to keep your fish healthy and in good condition.

Here are a few useful tips maintenance and care of your aquarium:

1) Check the water conditions of the aquarium

You should check the water condition of your aquarium as this is one of the vital aspects of aquarium maintenance. It is mandatory to maintain the right pH level for water in the aquarium. You can consult local pet shop suppliers about the appropriate pH levels ideal for your fish. when you first set up the aquarium it is important to monitor the pH level regularly once every few days for at least the first two to three months. After the first few months, you can check once in a month and over time the pH level will stabilize and you don't need to check on it too often.

2) Organic Waste Elimination

It is extremely important to clean the freshwater aquarium regularly. The aquarium can easily get polluted by organic waste generated from various sources like unconsumed food fragments, waste from the freshwater fishes in the aquarium. If the aquarium is not cleaned regularly it can lead to a contamination level of water in it to rise causing and unhealthy living environment for the fishes.

You should clean the aquarium from time to time and remove these organic waste pollutants and keep the aquarium water clean. You can get an aquarium vacuum or siphon as this makes it a lot easier to clean your aquarium with little time and effort. It is vital to clean and maintain your aquarium if you want to keep your fish in good and healthy condition.

3) Periodically change the water

This is another great tip for maintaining your freshwater aquarium. You should periodically change the water of the aquarium to provide a clean and fresh living condition for your pet fishes. You should change some part of the water in the aquarium every week which will ensure that the aquarium stays clean and well maintained. You should never replace all the water in the aquarium as this may disturb the biological environment inside thereby causing problems for fish health and well being. Changing the water in your aquarium is easy and an effective way to maintain your freshwater aquarium.

READ NEXT: Sulawesi shrimp

4) Check for the tank's filtration

It is vital to check your aquarium tank's filtration system from time to time. There are various techniques that can be applied for effective filtration of an aquarium. You generally get all the essential kits to ensure that your aquarium has an effective filtration system to keep it clean and well maintained. Filters can be of various types but they work towards a common goal to maintain the aquarium water and keep it clean and fresh. For example, biological filters let microorganisms like bacteria to remove contaminants from your aquarium while chemical filters are effective against various pollutants and help remove unwanted colours and odours. You should check your aquarium filters regularly to ensure that they are working efficiently to keep your freshwater aquarium clean and well maintained.

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Chili Rasbora Complete Care Guide

 

info

The chili rasbora (Boraras Brigitte) is a freshwater fish from the Cyprinidae family. The chili rasbora comes from the south of Borneo and can reach a maximum length of approx. 3 cm.

features

essential characteristics of the chili rasbora:

• the body of the chili rasbora is elongated and laterally flattened
• the basic colour of the chili rasbora is a bright red
• A rhombic, blackish longitudinal band extends from the gill cover to behind the dorsal fin. This is wider at the beginning and becomes narrower and narrower towards the caudal fin, whereby it dissolves into individual spots towards the end
• above and below this black longitudinal band an orange-reddish line runs from the pectoral fins to the beginning of the anal fin
• On the tail fin root sits a dark spot, which also has an orange-reddish border. The caudal fin is red and partly has large black areas
• the other fins of the chili rasbora are also coloured red and show black markings
• the mouth of the chili rasbora is terminal. The crack in his mouth points upwards at an angle
• the males are slimmer and more intensely coloured than the females.

size

The chili rasbora (Boraras Brigitte) becomes a maximum of approx. 3 cm long.

Maximum age

The chili rasbora (Boraras Brigitte) is a maximum of about 7 years old.

Way of life, habitat, occurrence

The mosquito harlequin (Boraras Brigitte) comes from southern Borneo. Its habitat is slowly flowing, shaded blackwater streams and swamps.

Aquaristic info

Temperature: 24 ° C - 28 ° C

pH value : 6.0-7.2

Total hardness: 2-12 ° DH

Aquarium: from 50-60 litres

Water Region: Middle

Difficulty: not suitable for beginners

Feeding:

Omnivores: preferably small live food (e.g. Tubifex, mosquito larvae, water fleas), also flake food

Husbandry:

The chili rasbora is a sociable fish and should therefore be kept in a school of at least 8-10 animals in a species tank, but it can also be kept with other peaceful species ( e.g. danishes ).

The basin should contain (not too dense) border planting, plenty of free-swimming space and some hiding places. Floating plants should shade the pool lighting; the pool floor should be dark. The water should always be soft and slightly acidic (pH value <7).

Breeding:

The mosquito harlequin is a free-spawner, the females lay their approx. Fifty eggs between fine-leaved aquatic plants, where the males then fertilize these. The parent fish do not care for the brood.

The breeding tank should contain dense planting and soft, slightly acidic water. The water level should be approx. 15-20 cm, the substrate should be dark. To initiate spawning, cold water should be added every few hours so that the water level rises gradually. Additional feedings of high-quality live food also stimulate the willingness to spawn.

After spawning, the parent fish should be removed from the breeding tank (spawning predators). The hatching of the fish larvae takes place after approx. 36-48 hours, depending on the temperature. After the yolk sac has been used up, the young fish can first be fed with infusoria and fine pool food (also powdered food) and Artemia nauplii.

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bloody mary shrimp Complete Care Guide

 

Bloody Mary Shrimp - Neocaridina davidi

" The Bloody Mary shrimp looks like it has been freshly painted. Its intense coloring makes it a very attractive shrimp for plant tanks and aquascapes, where it not only clears up the algae growth but also creates a very nice contrast to the green of the plants. Its easy reproduction and their modesty makes them a very good prawn for beginners. " - Garnelio

features

Water values:	soft to hard
Difficulty level:	for beginners
Propagation:	possible in freshwater
Coloring:	red
Origin:	Offspring abroad

description

The Bloody Mary shrimp belongs to the species Neocaridina davidi. It is characterized by a particularly intense, opaque wine-red color and often also by a rather short rostrum. The new color morph, also known as Red Wine Sakura Shrimp was first bred from the chocolate sakura in Taiwan. This color form does not occur in nature. The females reach a size of up to three centimeters, the males remain slightly smaller.

As all species and color forms of the genus Neocaridina, the Bloody Mary is not particularly demanding in terms of water values. She is very adaptable and is comfortable in many different environments. Basically, however, nicely planted aquariums offer a good habitat for the animals, because they have so many surfaces to graze on and can hide there better. This is especially important for the young of the Bloody Mary shrimp.

As omnivores, Bloody Mary shrimp are good consumers of leftovers. They are not particularly picky about food. Nevertheless, it is important to give the animals a varied diet and to give them a suitable protein feed twice a week. Otherwise, they like to eat plant-based food and also shrimp staple food that is rather low in protein. Brown autumn leaves should always be present in the invertebrate aquarium and are therefore also highly recommended in a tank with Bloody Mary shrimp.

Like all Neocaridina, Bloody Mary shrimp are peaceful group animals that socialize well with other aquatic creatures such as fish, crabs, freshwater crabs, snails, and mussels, provided they are peaceful and not too hectic. They can also be kept in an aquarium with other dwarf shrimp, provided the animals need similar water parameters. Bloody Mary shrimp can mix with other color forms of the genus Neocaridina, which leads to offspring that are no longer hereditary. Our intersection table provides a good overview.

Bloody Marys breed very well when they like their surroundings. The females carry 20 to 40 eggs under their abdomen for three to four weeks. After this time, fully developed young hatch. Under certain circumstances, the offspring may have weaker colored or differently colored animals, which should be separated in order to keep the trunk of Bloody Mary shrimp inherited and color-pure.

Our recommendation:  Use NatureHolic InVitros for planting. These are free from snails, planarians and other unwanted roommates. Also free from algae spores, bacteria, and fungi.

Expert tip :  We recommend the NatureHolic 3 phase liquid for invertebrate husbandry. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your invertebrates. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.

Characteristics

Scientific name:	Neocaridina davidi Bouvier, 1904
German name:	Bloody Mary Shrimp, Bloody Mary Sakura Shrimp, Red Wine Sakura
Difficulty level:	suitable for beginners
Origin / Distribution:	originally from Taiwan
Coloring:	intense and opaque wine red, as if painted
Age expectation:	18 to 24 months
Water parameters:	GH 3 to 30, KH 3 to 30, pH 6.5 to 8.5, temperature 5 to 30 ° C
Pool size:	from 10 l, but we recommend a size of at least 20 l, especially for beginners
Lining:	Protein feed 1 to 2 times a week, otherwise more vegetable ( Natureholic Mainfeed )
Propagation:	easy, after four to six weeks, 20 to 40 young hatch
Behavior:	peaceful
Socialization:	with small peaceful fish, crabs, other dwarf shrimp, crabs, snails and clams

 

Denison Barb - Denison Barb: Tropical Fish for Freshwater Aquariums

The Roseline shark is a handsome, active fish native to South India. However, its sudden popularity resulted in over-harvests; Hence, it is now on the list at risk. If you choose Denison Barbs, you will need to purchase several - and you will need a fairly large freshwater tank. 

characteristics

Scientific name: Puntius denisonii

Synonyms Barbus denisonii, Barbus denisoni, Puntius denisoni, Crossocheilus denisonii, Labeo denisonii

Common names: Bleeding Eye Barb, , Denison's Flying Fox, Denison Barb, Red Comet Barb, Red Line Barb, Red Drawn Torpedo Fish, Roseline Shark, Torpedo Barb, Miss Kerala

family: Cyprinidae

origin: South india

Adult size: 6 inches (15 cm)

Social Peaceful with similar sized fish

lifespan: 5+ years

Fuel level: Medium level

Minimum size of the tank 55 gallons

diet Omnivorous, eats most foods

breed Egg layer

maintenance Easy

PH value 6.8-7.8

hardness 5-25 dGH

temperature 60-77 degrees Fahrenheit (15-25 degrees Celsius)

Origin and distribution

This species was first described in 1865 and is endemic to Kerala and southern Carnataka in southern India and is often referred to as the Malabar Coast. They are found in large schools in pools, creeks, and rivers that are generally heavily overgrown and rocky, with the water heavily oxygenated.

Like many species, the Denison Barb has been given several scientific names as well as a variety of generic names. Currently the recognized scientific name for this species is Puntius denisonii . Previous scientific names include Barbus denisonii, Barbus denisoni, Crossocheilus denisonii, and Labeo denisonii . In their home country, India, they are often referred to as "Miss Kerala". Other common names are Bleeding Eye Barb, Denison Barb, Denison's Flying Fox, Roter Kometenbock, Red Line Barb, Roter Torpedofisch, Roseline Shark and Torpedo Barb.

This barb is an example of what can happen to a species that is caught wild and suddenly in high demand.

After being named one of the best new fish species by Aquarama, the international ornamental fish exhibition, this fish quickly became very popular. Within a decade, a good half of all ornamental fish exports from India were Denison Barbs. Unfortunately, the result has been a significant decline in game stocks, largely due to overfishing.

The loss of natural habitat as a result of pollution and deforestation has also contributed to the reduction of these species in the wild. Efforts have been made to address this by introducing no-pickup periods and commercial breeding programs in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. However, this fish remains endangered and is on the IUCN red list.

Dyes and markings

Long and torpedo-shaped, it's easy to see why many call this the Red Lined Torpedo Barb. The silvery body of this fish is marked by a black line that runs the length of the body from the snout to the tail. Opposite this is a glowing red line that runs just above the black line and runs from the nose through the eye to the center of the body. The dorsal fin is also bordered in light red, while the caudal fin is striped with black and yellow stripes. Older specimens are known to develop a greenish tinge on the head. This species grows to six inches and has two barbels to help them find prey. They are an active species that need lots of space to swim.In recent years, a gold variant has been bred that has the red stripe but does not have the black stripe of the standard variety.

 

Tank mates

Denison barbs are generally peaceful, but they can be aggressive and care should be taken to keep them with similar or larger species. They should be kept in schools of half a dozen or more. Hence, they're best kept only in larger tanks of 55 gallons or more. Other barbs, danios, larger members of the Tetra family, rainbows, and most cichlids are suitable tankmates. The key is to put them in a school and give them plenty of space.

Denison Barb Habitat and Care

Because this species is large and is best kept in groups, they'll make for larger tanks of 55 gallons or more. The tank should have enough space to swim as it is an active fish that needs to move. Some hiding places are also recommended. Rock caves or driftwood can be used.

Live plants are problematic as they can be uprooted. However, sturdy species like Anubias can be used if they are well anchored.

Water conditions are important as this species is used to high oxygen levels and pristine water. Large amounts of organic material are not well tolerated. Therefore, regular water changes and tank cleaning are key to keeping this species healthy. Some water agitation is also required, which can be provided with a spray bar or drive head. Water temperatures can be lower than other tropical fish. however, sudden drops in temperature should be avoided. The pH value can range from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline and the hardness can be up to 25 dGH.

Denison Barb Diet

Denison barbs are omnivorous and accept many foods. For optimal health, they should be fed a variety of foods, including meaty foods as well as plant-based foods. Live foods are readily accepted, including blood worms, daphnia, cyclops, and shrimp. Algae, spirolina and even fresh vegetables are also gladly accepted.

Sex

There are few clear differences between the sexes. However, adult women grow slightly taller, heavier, and sometimes less colored than men.

Breed Denison Barb

Currently, only limited spawnings have been reported in domestic aquariums. These cases were accidental and little is known about the conditions under which spawning occurred. However, there are successful commercial spawning operations that have used hormones to stimulate spawning in this species. These successful spawnings took place in soft acidic water with the eggs scattered on plants

.

More pet fish breeds and further research

If you are interested in similar breeds, visit:

• Black Ruby Barb Fish Breed Profile
• Gold Barb Fish Breed Profile
• Tiger Barb Fish Breed Profile
• 
  

Otherwise you can also look at all other freshwater farmed fish profiles.