Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with aquarium

He's Not Nemo, but we still want him alive

HeyAllie — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:52:05 -0800

How do I set up this filtration system? It's an Aqua expert 600 filtration system for a 2.5 gallon mini-bow aquarium. Our office inherited Grover, a beta fish that came with a tank and a water filtration system. Whoever had it before said the tank stayed pretty clean, but since it came with no instructions, we're not sure if the filtration system is set up right now. Because after changing the water, the tank looks dirty again after 2 or 3 days.

I've taken the tubing apart, but I'm not sure if it's put back together correctly.

Help us keep Grover alive!

Looking for crafty suggestions for a huge glass bottle

primer_dimer — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:27:03 -0800

Looking for crafty suggestions for a big glass bottle I've just scored a big glass bottle that was being thrown away at work. I think technically it's a tapped demijohn - it's a big cylindrical bottle about 12" across and about 20" high, with a bung at the bottom. It looks a bit like this but with the tap. It's previously been used to contain 10% ethanol.

What crafty thing should I do with it? I'd love to have something living in it to look at - maybe one of those moss terraria that are so popular at the moment? How about turning it into a micro fish tank, but with just plants and maybe snails - I'm pretty sure it's not big enough for fish. Is this easy to do? Could I just scoop up a load of mud and algae from a local pond, fill 'er up, and see what happens? Would I need one of those air bubbler things? As you can see I'm pretty clueless about all things aquatic...

Before the aquarium

sleevener — Sun, 03 May 2009 15:30:15 -0800

I'm looking for quotations or citations about "the aquarium," from before it existed. What I'm looking for will probably have been written by naturalists or inventors, or really anyone who had the idea of housing underwater creatures in a clear tank, and/or observing them, before such a thing was commonplace. I'm interested in the idea in a nascent form, and in how it's worded. Bonus points for very ancient quotes (which could mean Da Vinci, Aristotle, or some Sumerian guy), and bonus points as always for links to online sources. Thanks!

I want to work here

urbanwhaleshark — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 07:47:45 -0800

Is this real and, if so, where is it? Does anyone know if the picture in this blog post is real and, if it is, where that office is?

One fish, two fish

Bakuun — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:42:41 -0800

I've finally equipped and decorated my new 55 gallon aquarium - and yet, I still don't know what kind of freshwater fish to populate it with. This was an awesome impulsive buy, without any sort of fish in mind. Now I'm thinking that I'd like to make it a community tank, with fish occupying as many levels of the water as possible. Having something moving along the bottom, middle, and top sounds very interesting, but I'm clueless when it comes to which species can make this possible.

What would you recommend, keeping in mind I'm a relative beginner?

Aquarium Pump Cat Fountain Surprise

quarterframer — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:49:20 -0800

Er, I mean supplies. Need pump advice from someone who knows their fish tank equipment. I am going to build something like this homemade cat fountain over the weekend.

I am overwhelmed with the choices available for pumps. Wish list:

1) An off/on switch (if possible).
2) Will either have a good gentle flow for this purpose or will be adjustable (not looking to build a water park, just a good trickle will suffice).
3) Will be quiet (don't want a loud electric pump hummmm that will deter the cats).
4) Easy to clean.

Thanks in advance for recommendations of specific pump models.

Why I am doing this (in case you are wondering): Cats like moving water. All the purpose built fountains I can find have plastic basins made in China. We want to minimize the risk of bad plastic stuff leaching into the water. I am aware that the pump will be plastic. Just minimizing.

Using multiple canister filters?

BritishGas — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:34:22 -0800

Is it possible to connect two external aquarium canister filters in the same closed loop? I have two eheim filters, with one being about 2x the lph of the other. If I put the more powerful filter after the less powerful one would this set up work?

How does one care for fancy goldfish?

team lowkey — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:02:28 -0800

I just rescued a couple of fancy goldfish, and I could use some advice on how to properly care for them. Is it normal for them to rest on the bottom of the tank? How much should I feed them? The marketing department at my girlfriend's office decided it would be a good idea to purchase 40 live goldfish to use as party decorations, with no plan for what to do with the fish once the party was over. I took two of them, and want to give them the best home I can.

They are apparently calico telescope goldfish, about an inch and a half long. A lot of sites I've found say that you need 5-10 gallons of water per fish, but I can't do that. I'm not even supposed to have fish in my office, and having a full size aquarium would definitely get noticed. I've got a 2.5 gallon tank, but I've got a filter and a bubbler, and my plan is to exchange 25% of the water once a month. Is that sufficient to keep the water clean?

I've gotten a lot of varying advice on how often to feed them, from 3 times a day to once every other day. I've had them for a week, and I've been feeding them a small pinch of food once a day, and they seem to be doing pretty well.

The thing that concerns me is that one of the fish spends a lot of time laying practically motionless on the bottom of the tank. Is that normal? One of her gills is also very red, but I don't know if that's just her coloring.

I've never had fish before, so this is all new to me. Any advice you guys can give would be much appreciated. By me and by Grimy and Blush.

How do I increase alkalinity in my freshwater aquarium on the cheap?

chinston — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:04:17 -0800

How do I add alkalinity (i.e., buffering capacity) to my 6 gal. freshwater aquarium using something cheap, like baking soda? I have a small 6 gallon aquarium with four tetras. It's been running for about two months now, and the nitrogen cycle seems to have pretty much run its course. I saw a spike in ammonia, then a spike in nitrites, and now those are both near zero.

But my problem is persistently low pH levels - like near or even below 6.0. I cannot get them to rise, even with regular water changes. The test strip I use indicates that the alkalinity of the water is at the very lowest level, suggesting that there's no buffering available. Frankly, I don't understand why my water changes haven't made a difference - supposedly my tap water (treated to remove chlorine and chloromine) is slightly on the hard side, and my understanding is that regular water changes with tap water should be all that I need to keep the alkalinity at desired levels to prevent sudden severe pH drops.

Anyway, for whatever reason that doesn't seem to be working, and the fish don't seem happy. Can I put a tiny amount of baking soda (or some other cheap substance) into the water to give me the buffering capacity that I lack? I'd prefer a solution like this than buying a commercial product, but I'll do that if necessary.

Easiest pet fish?

bondgirl53001 — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:02:14 -0800

I want to get a small aquarium. What are the types of fish that are the cheapest and easiest -- read: low maintenance -- to take care of in terms of feeding, changing the water, etc, but at the same time, are pretty to look at? Any additional advice on tanks/filters is welcome too.

Heeere fishy fishy fishy

chihiro — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 15:57:25 -0800

How long can our fish live in the plastic bag from the pet store? I promised my 3-year-old a fish once she was potty trained, and today was the day. We brought home the tank, 4 guppies, and a blue mystery snail, who are waiting in the plastic bag from the pet store until their tank is ready. The instructions said to cycle the tank with the dechlorinating solution and filter for 48 hours, but it occurs to me that the fish might die in their bag before that time. How long can they live in the bag, and do we really need to let a 2 gallon tank cycle for 48 hours? Thanks!

How can I keep my carpet dry?

arnicae — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:37:42 -0800

Water is seeping out of my aquarium onto my rug. Is there anything I can use to absorb the water? We recently installed a sump into our marine saltwater system. More tubes, a bigger pump, and of course another separate aquarium were added to the system. We've been having a persistent problem with water leakage- usually several pints at a time, but up to a gallon. Obviously, the long-term solution is figuring out what is causing the leak, but for now I'm trying to find a way to keep the water from soaking my carpet. (It's low-quality, but aggravating to be walking to the bathroom in socks and step into soggy frigid water, and I know I'll be doing long-term damage to the carpet and/or the floor beneath it)

Any ideas? Would a chamois similar to what is used at a car wash work? Any thoughts on how to mitigate the damage to the floor beneath?

Thanks in advance.

Help me start my first marine aquarium

jeffmshaw — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:51:09 -0800

I'm thinking of buying a used saltwater aquarium, with fish included. What am I getting myself into that I should be aware of? What should I read to prepare myself for routine maintenance? I've always wanted a marine aquarium, but in my preliminary reading the set-up seems expensive and onerous, so I never pursued it. I've just moved into a new place, and in searching for furniture I find this on Craigslist. It comes with fish, including a clownfish, so the set-up would be minimal, and I'd just be looking at maintenance.

The price is right, and the timing seems right, too. I'm going out to look at the tank this week. What should I know before then? What specific issues, if any, are associated with buying a used tank? How does maintenance for a marine tank differ from the freshwater tanks I've had in the past?

Links to resources are welcomed, as are your own experiences. Thanks!

Can I keep native fish?

roaring beast — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:54:58 -0800

What are the potential challenges of starting a native fish aquarium? I am thinking of starting a new 30 gal tank with fish collected from a lake near my house. I am thinking of just catching small fish in a minnow trap or some other method.

I have kept tropical freshwater fish for many years, but looking for something a little different.

Some problems I could think of are aggressiveness, unknown size, feeding etc.

Any other tips or advice? Any good methods for collecting the fish?

What's the definitive resource for freshwater aquaria?

cowbellemoo — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 07:51:22 -0800

What is the most authoritative resource for finding the ideal water conditions and general care of freshwater aquarium fish? I've been using this guide in picking out species of fish that are suitable for my new aquarium (which is warmer than most species like at 80 deg. F). The book is very specific, listing ideal temp., pH, water hardness, behavioral information, breeding advice, compatible tankmates, feeding, etc. It's nice, but doesn't list all of the fish that I've seen in my local fish shop. Also, I've seen information that contradicts the book in online databases. I'm more apt to trust a print reference, but I'm still nagged by the idea that I'm not using the best resource possible.

Is there a book with scientific authority that offers comprehensive details on all freshwater aquarium species?

Help me eliminate frustrations involved in cleaning aquariums!

cowbellemoo — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 08:54:25 -0800

How do I make aquarium cleaning and water changes effortless? I'm interested in longer setups for each task that will make possible a graceful execution of the entire process. (skip ahead to bold part if you don't want to read background)

I'm considering the purchase of a new aquarium (50 gal+, freshwater) and I wanted to develop good routines for its maintenance. Halp!

In the past, the hardest part of maintenance for me has been adding fresh water back into the aquarium. I would fill a 3 gal bucket at the sink with a rubber hose, haul it up some stairs, and wait for the dechlorination drops to work and for the temperature to even out. Then, the excruciating part, suspending a heavy bucket at an odd angle while pouring the water gently and slowly into the tank. It's uncomfortable, graceless, and is just such an unpleasant experience that I'd rather neglect the tank than do it sometimes.

My only idea is to siphon it back into the tank from higher up, but I don't relish the idea of buying a shelf high enough and sturdy enough to support the weight. Plus, the room is fairly cramped and I don't think such a shelf will fit anywhere. I've also considered drilling a hook into a ceiling beam so I can just hang the bucket on a chain, but I don't have a drill or any confidence in being able to install such a hook. Is there an easy way to pump it into the tank from the floor? Any other way to transport the water into the tank? I'm not adverse to spending a bit at Home Depot or even a bioscience catalog if I need specialty apparatus.

I'm pretty confident I can be good about cleaning the gravel with a vaccum siphon. I read about using a turkey baster to start the water going, and this is just the sort of tip that makes it really painless and removes any frustration from a part of the process. I would appreciate any other such tips that will reduce any potential irritation I might have with the process. Maybe some ways to attach hose to the lip of the bucket so I don't have to juggle two things at once?

Just to be clear, I'm looking for technical advice and setup design on transferring water and aquarium cleaning that avoids having to carry water weight for long periods, intense concentration, messes, need for coordination, etc. More effort in the setup for less effort in execution. Take me through each step of a practical implementation.

Ideally, I picture myself turning valves on hoses and watching water fill or drain into receptacles like a scientist instead of the brutal Fantasia bucket nightmare it is for me now.

Thank you so much in advance. I want to be a great caretaker for my fishies and I know I can be if I find ways around the many frustrations that I've encountered.

I don't want to get up at 2am to change the thermostat...

WinnipegDragon — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 18:47:23 -0800

Can someone help me find a thermostat without a manual heat/cool selection switch? I want to set a temperature on my thermostat, and have it automatically engage the heat or cooling system to keep the house within a few degrees of this temp.

All the thermostats that I can find have a manual or digital switch to be set to run either the heating system or cooling system, so if the temp starts rising or falling, you need to manually switch it to the cool or heat setting.

I need to keep the ambient temperature stable for several aquariums that I have, and sometimes in the fall and winter, it's a pain to switch the system back and forth depending on time of day and if it's cooler or warmer than usual. Why can't the thermostat just get a temperature range (let's say 21 to 23 degrees Celsius) and engage the system it needs to run?

If it matters, I have forced air heating via a natural gas furnace, and central A/C.

How to set up a cold saltwater Pacific NW tank for my school?

arnicae — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 13:29:28 -0800

Since it sounds like we have some aquarists in our midst, can anyone make any suggestions about a cold marine tank I'm interested in setting up for my class?? I live in the Pacific NW, and dive there when I can't get anywhere warmer (brr! not for the faint-hearted). The specimens I see there are pretty fantastic, not as colorful but just as interesting as their tropical brethren.

There is one heck of a lot of information on the net about people setting up tropical saltwater tanks, and not so much about people interested in setting up coldwater tanks, though everyone seems to agree that I'm crazy to consider it.

I'm interested in a tank that would contain tidepool specimens (collecting only legal ones, of course), that is, animals that do well in the more moderate temperatures and have survived exposure to sun, etc. I'm hoping that might mean I could omit a chiller, which is more than this teacher can afford. Any thoughts on that?

Would the various inverts do ok with that- hermit crabs, starfish, anenomes? (I know the stars might go after the hermits, but I'm hoping that feeding them well will make them lazy enough to leave them alone)

Any recommendations on how to stock the tank? The pet store keeps trying to sell me live sand and rock, sourced from the tropics. Won't sticking that in a coolish tank kill it? Any reason to use live rock/sand regardless?

I'm on a real budget here, at least until I can show the school how beneficial this will be. Any recommendations on what I need, what I can do without, etc? Thanks in advance!

Starfish Aquarium

stewiethegreat — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 20:13:12 -0800

What animals are needed in an aquarium to keep sea stars? What size tank? We'd like to start a saltwater aquarium (I have c. 15 years freshwater experience with larger tanks) for the purpose of keeping sea stars. We were thinking:

-acrylic tank
-live rock, live sand
-protein skimmer
-refrigeration unit
-hood/light/etc...

Our question is: what animals do we need to cohabitate with the sea stars to keep them healthy and happy? At the local Aquarium of the Bay, they feed them daily by hand - chopped up fish and squid - with only a few sea cucumbers living with the many sea stars.

Are other invertebrates/fish are necessary to keep them happy? They appear to eat snails, corals and urchins, so we should probably stay away from those (except for supplying prey). Do sea stars even need fish?

How large should the tank be to accommodate a few hand-sized sea stars?

Thanks!

finding nemo

xo — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:14:01 -0800

I need a recommendation for a freshwater aquarium fish that meets certain criteria. musts:
- freshwater
- not prone to jumping out
- not prone to startling and wrecking the stuff in the tank (i.e. I want a lazy, laid-back fish)
- does not grow to be any larger than 4" (10 cm) long or so, even in a big tank
- if it's an easy breeder, the gender must be clear to me so I can prevent that
- does not require live or frozen foods
- not a voracious vegetarian that will destroy the live plants
- does not require a whole schools' worth of companions to be healthy

would be nice if:
- it came in solid black, solid silver, red tones, or rainbowy
- it tolerates being with 2 others of its own kind

does not matter:
- what temperature it needs -- I can customize the tank for whatever species I choose.
- whether it gets along with other fish; there will be only one species in the tank.

What kind of conditions would be good for a betta?

booksandlibretti — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:54:00 -0800

I got, as a Christmas surprise, a betta (Siamese fighting fish) and the accompanying pet-store setup. I'd really like to keep it in conditions that are not just horrible-but-minimally-survivable -- but Wikipedia's standards seem amazingly high. What should I do? I checked the "betta," "beta," "aquarium," and "fish" tags. I've read Is it cruel to keep fish in an aquarium? and What are your personal suggestions for starting a beginner aquarium?, but I'm looking for something much more specific. I also checked out a thread on basic goldfish care, but I know different kinds of fish have very different needs. I did find some stuff on what bettas want to eat.

The betta is reddish-brown and not very big. Its fins have no visible tatters, holes, or grunge. It's been making some bubbles that stay on the surface, which (according to the internet) might hint that it's male. It doesn't have a name.

Right now it's in a five-quart (1.25-gallon) bowl with some glass "pebbles" and a plastic plant. We have well water, which was treated with the appropriate dose of the pet store's water-treater for bettas. I plan to change 100% of the tank weekly. In mid-January, the betta will be moving to Manhattan, and I'm hoping to use tap water there, too. There's no aerator. It has no heater, and is kept at room temperature, which is in the low 60s (at college, probably somewhere in the 70s). Every day, it gets a total of eight betta pellets, separated into two feedings.

Wikipedia says that the above, the pet-store setup, is the equivalent of a POW camp where they aren't all that picky about the Geneva Conventions. But I just can't believe those recommendations are right -- I mean, a ten-gallon tank as the minimum acceptable amount for one small fish? The fish was a gift, a surprise, and not really something I wanted. Should I really buy an aerator, a heater, a twenty-gallon tank...? Go through all kinds of processes to prepare water to be changed so frequently?

I'm a college student -- I don't have too much time in the average week, and my budget doesn't allow for much spending money. But I don't want to keep the fish if its conditions are miserable, torturous, or barely enough to sustain life. What do I need to do to keep the fish reasonably "happy" -- not just alive, but in conditions it would consider pleasant? And if I can't do that, how do I get the fish to someone who can and will?

Please don't tell me I'm anthropomorphizing too much. I don't think it's self-aware or will love me or anything. I just feel obligated to treat it humanely.

Are Plastic Pots in Aquarium toxic to fish?

rsol44 — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 09:44:19 -0800

Instead of planting my plants directly in the gravel of my aquarium, I was thinking of putting them in pots. Clay pots are fine, I think, but I was curious about plastic pots. Anyone out there know if those are safe to use? No toxins leaking into the water? I wouldn't even know what to test for. Home Depot sells a lot of these cheap.

Should I just get a screensaver?

backOfYourMind — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 21:03:51 -0800

Is it cruel to keep fish in an aquarium? I have been thinking about keeping some fish in a tank, but it would be hard for me to enjoy them if I thought the fish were unhappy or frustrated.

I'm talking about a properly sized tank with filtration and plants and whatnot, not keeping a siamese fighting fish in a vase or anything.

PETA seem to think keeping fish at all is a bad move, but I'm not prepared to take everything PETA says at face value.

On the other hand, if you're thinking of letting me know that fish only have a three second memory so you can do what you like - don't bother :)

So, can fish be happy in a tank?

Creative ideas for an empty fish tank?

catfood — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 11:13:17 -0800

I need some creative ideas with regards to what to do with our little aquarium? Our pet fish just died (after a full and happy life...for a fish) and I don't think we want another one. I do like having our little 10 gallon aquarium though - does anyone have any creative ideas for what to use the aquarium for that does not involve getting a new fish?

I'm not opposed to other types of pets as long as they don't smell or make noise. We already have 2 cats who take care of the making noise part anyway.

Do they need shade?

rtimmel — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 12:43:52 -0800

So, I am thinking about putting together an aquarium for keeping octopuses. I have never had an aquarium before. Is this just a hare-brained idea with no chance of success?