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March 19, 2013 in DIY Tips

Clean, Don’t Scratch Your Aquarium Walls

by Aletha Lang

One surefire way to scratch your saltwater or freshwater aquarium’s glass or acrylic panels is to leave your magnetic cleaner in the tank.

Sure, the various models on the market can be effective at removing unwanted algae from the interior surfaces of your aquarium, (and they can even be fun to swish back and forth as the dry side on the outside moves the wet side almost like magic through the tank walls!) but it is very important to remove them from the aquarium after each use.

This little step will prevent tiny critters such as barnacles (shown in the photo above), limpets, calcareous tube worms and other naturally-occurring saltwater reef aquarium organisms from taking up residence among the soft bristles of the wet side of the cleaner. Even in freshwater, tiny snails may do the same. If the cleaner is left in the water, these animals will surely move in as if you rolled out a red carpet and posted a “Free Rent” sign. When they do, they will attach to the cleaner with the strength of super glue and every time you move it (and them!) across your glass or acrylic, their hard shells will gouge into your aquarium walls.

Taking an extra 15 seconds after using your magnetic cleaner to remove both wet and dry sides from the tank and placing them separately in a dry spot until they are needed again will prolong the beauty of your aquarium and greatly minimize the scratching that inevitably occurs when cleaning algae. But be careful, some magnets are so powerful they can pinch your fingers and are even more prone to do so outside of water.

Keeping your aquarium walls clean is one of the many services we offer at Aquarius Aquarium, Inc. – be sure to contact us and we’ll be there to help!

 

February 21, 2013 in Blog, DIY Tips

Summer to Winter in Fresno

by Aletha Lang

An aquarium heater should be considered a critical piece of equipment for your aquarium, just like a filter that is essential to the lives of your tank inhabitants.

As we who live in Fresno and in the San Joaquin Valley well know, our seasonal temperatures vary from summers at 105 degrees Fahrenheit or more to winter temperatures as low as 32 degrees. So winter is a great time to check your heater to be sure it is operating as you expect it to. Heaters do go bad and rather than assuming yours is working because the light’s on or because its dial is set at the right temperature, be sure to verify that it’s working properly by checking the actual temperature of your aquarium water with a trusted thermometer. Tropical fish (both freshwater and saltwater) require water temperatures to remain very stable in order to survive. A narrow range from 77 to 82 degrees is ideal for most.

Perhaps you’re already aware of the stresses extreme temperature swings can cause your fish: parasitic outbreaks, lethargy, uneaten fish food sitting on the bottom of the tank. The latter is not a direct, but rather an indirect result of the fish not feeding normally in cold water, and we all know that rotting food leads to degrading water quality.

So before you lose any fish, check your heater today. And please contact us if you need a replacement!