http://local.firsttankguide.net/ First Tank Guide provide beginning aquariists with guidelines for getting started with fish and aquariums, moving with your fish and aquarium, or upgrading to a larger aquarium 120 en-us Articles@DirectoryM.com Articles@DirectoryM.com http://local.firsttankguide.net/ First Tank Guide provide beginning aquariists with guidelines for getting started with fish and aquariums, moving with your fish and aquarium, or upgrading to a larger aquarium http://local.firsttankguide.net/Images/Image.aspx?Site=customDarkBlueWAdSense_en-US Gravel vacuums and vacuuming the gravel in your home or office aquarium when you perform your weekly 10-15% water change as part of your routine aquarium maintenance. Read on to learn more. http://local.firsttankguide.net/The_Gravel_Vacuum_Boston_MA-r1417607-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/The_Gravel_Vacuum_Boston_MA-r1417607-Boston_MA.html At the same time, the water that made it over the high point in the siphon wants to just flow down the hill. The fact that this is flowing down also contributes a little to pulling more water over the high point, because, otherwise there'd be a vacuum, and nature abhors a vacuum. http://local.firsttankguide.net/A_Siphon_Boston_MA-r1417606-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/A_Siphon_Boston_MA-r1417606-Boston_MA.html Protein skimmers remove excess protein waste from salt water (marine) aquariums by pushing air through a moving column of water. The proteins are carried up to a catch of some sort (a cup or bowl), which can be removed and cleaned. Different varieties of protein skimmers can mount inside the tank, over the back of the tank, as part of a power filter, external to the tank, or even in the sump of a trickle filter. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Protein_Skimmer_for_Your_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1407639-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Protein_Skimmer_for_Your_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1407639-Boston_MA.html A thermostat is a device for monitoring temperatures and switching devices on or off based on changes in temperature. Your home heating and air conditioning will have a thermostat to turn the heat on when it gets too cold and to turn it off again when your home has warmed up. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Fish_Tank_Thermostats_Boston_MA-r1407638-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Fish_Tank_Thermostats_Boston_MA-r1407638-Boston_MA.html With the number of bulbs and fixtures available, aquarium lighting can be a confusing and frustrating subject. This information should help you to make the right decision about your aquarium lights. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Aquarium_Lighting_Boston_MA-r1407637-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Aquarium_Lighting_Boston_MA-r1407637-Boston_MA.html There are several types of aquarium heaters available, both internal and external. External heaters come in two varieties: in line heaters and in filter heaters, though there occasionally mention of in sump heaters. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Aquarium_Heaters_Boston_MA-r1407636-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Aquarium_Heaters_Boston_MA-r1407636-Boston_MA.html To set your heater, you will first want to have the heater set up in the aquarium as you will want it long term. Check with the manufacturer's recommendation s for installing your heater. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Setting_your_Aquarium_Heater_Boston_MA-r1407635-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Setting_your_Aquarium_Heater_Boston_MA-r1407635-Boston_MA.html While it is true that if you use more than one filter on a fish tank, it is likely that neither filter will perform as efficiently as it would alone, this is expected because of some of the restrictions placed on filtration systems by water volume. This parallels the rationale behind not using bacteria boosters. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Redundant_Aquarium_Filtration_Boston_MA-r1407634-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Redundant_Aquarium_Filtration_Boston_MA-r1407634-Boston_MA.html A rotating drum filter consists of a cylinder of highly porous material which is set to turn as a paddle wheel or water wheel with only one edge exposed to water at any time. This provides an oxygen rich filtration environment. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Rotating_Drum_Filters_for_Your_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1407633-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Rotating_Drum_Filters_for_Your_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1407633-Boston_MA.html Information about ultra violet sterilizers, a.k.a. UV sterilizers, for home aquarium use to prevent and treat fish diseases and control algae in fish tanks. Sterilizers are used to kill unwanted microorganisms by exposing them to lethal radiation. A sterilizer can help reduce chances of disease transmission in aquariums by killing off many of the disease organisms before they have a chance to infect fish or spread from one fish to another. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Ultraviolet_Sterilizers_for_Your_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1407632-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Ultraviolet_Sterilizers_for_Your_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1407632-Boston_MA.html Canister filters for filtering aquarium water and fish tanks for healthy fish. Information about the care and maintenance of your canister filter, and how canister filters work. Read on and know more. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Canister_Filters_for_Your_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1407631-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Canister_Filters_for_Your_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1407631-Boston_MA.html Fluidized bed, or suspended particulate, filters for your aquarium to provide biological filtration to your fish tank. Maintenance and care of fluidized bed filters for aquarium use. Read on and know more. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Fluidized_Bed_Filters_for_Your_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1407630-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Fluidized_Bed_Filters_for_Your_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1407630-Boston_MA.html Information on trickle filters or wet/dry filters for home fish tanks. How trickle filters work and how to take care of a trickle filter for your home aquarium. Read on and know more. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Trickle_or_WetDry_Filters_Boston_MA-r1407629-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Trickle_or_WetDry_Filters_Boston_MA-r1407629-Boston_MA.html The First Tank Guide is a beginner's guide to setting up a new aquarium. Information on aquarium systems, aquarium equipment, and how to get started with your new fish tank. Read on for details. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Information_on_Setting_Up_Your_New_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1379539-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Information_on_Setting_Up_Your_New_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1379539-Boston_MA.html The fish food you give your aquarium fish should be specific. The wrong food will cause problems. All aquarium fish enjoy brine shrimp. It’s a special treat for them. Large freshwater fish should get the occasional frozen bloodworms or small red mosquito larvae and of course you have tropical fish food, saltwater fish food, and freshwater fish food in pellets, granules, flakes, or wafers depending on the type and size of fish you have. Check with the personnel at the aquarium shops in Boston, MA listed below before buying your fish food. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Keeping_Healthy_Fish_Boston_MA-r1379538-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Keeping_Healthy_Fish_Boston_MA-r1379538-Boston_MA.html Information on fish growth and adult size in home or office fish tanks. How do you figure out how big your new pet fish will get? Read on to know more details. http://local.firsttankguide.net/How_Big_Will_My_Fish_Get_Boston_MA-r1379537-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/How_Big_Will_My_Fish_Get_Boston_MA-r1379537-Boston_MA.html Information on the cause of excessive bubbles on the surface of a home or office aquarium. If you are troubled by this problem and seeking solutions, this article is just for you. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Aquarium_Bubbles_Boston_MA-r1379536-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Aquarium_Bubbles_Boston_MA-r1379536-Boston_MA.html Information on and comparison of glass and acrylic fish tanks. What are the advantages of glass over acrylic tanks, and what advantages do acrylic tanks have. Do the advantages of acrylic tanks justify the additional expense? http://local.firsttankguide.net/Glass_vs_Acrylic_Boston_MA-r1378330-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Glass_vs_Acrylic_Boston_MA-r1378330-Boston_MA.html Power filters draw water up a lift tube and into a filter chamber where the water is pushed through a series of filter media (bottom-to-top or back-to-front, depending on filter model) which can provide chemical, biological, and/or mechanical filtration (depending on the media used). After the water has gone through the filter media, it flows over a spill-way or overflow and back into the tank. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Power_or_Hanging_Filters_Boston_MA-r1378329-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Power_or_Hanging_Filters_Boston_MA-r1378329-Boston_MA.html Corner filters are any aquarium filters where the water is drawn through filter media in a plastic or acrylic box, which sits inside the fish tank. Most of the time these filters are made of plastic and are powered by an external air pump. Read on for more information about the operation of and setting up corner or box filters for your fish tank or fish bowl. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Corner_or_Box_Filters_Boston_MA-r1378328-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Corner_or_Box_Filters_Boston_MA-r1378328-Boston_MA.html The argument against under gravel filters is that over time, the gravel gets clogged with debris and flow rates decrease, thereby decreasing filtration and allowing a buildup of waste in the water, reducing the water quality. But actually, if proper tank maintenance is performed, these are not issues for the under gravel filter, since proper tank maintenance will keep the gravel clean and clear and prevent these problems from occurring in the first place. http://local.firsttankguide.net/The_Under_Gravel_Filter_Controversy_Boston_MA-r1378327-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/The_Under_Gravel_Filter_Controversy_Boston_MA-r1378327-Boston_MA.html Sponge filters are any aquarium filters where the water is drawn through a sponge mounted or sitting inside the tank . Most of the time, these filters have a replaceable sponge and are powered by an external air pump . The sponge itself mounts to a core which, in turn, mounts to a lift tube and air line or a water pump. The sponge may rest on the bottom of the tank, in which case you can put it on, in, or under the gravel. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Sponge_or_Breeder_Filters_Boston_MA-r1378326-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Sponge_or_Breeder_Filters_Boston_MA-r1378326-Boston_MA.html Filtration for your home aquarium and office fish tank filters - biological, mechanical, and chemical filtration information. Read on and know more. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Fish_Tank_Filters_Boston_MA-r1362276-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Fish_Tank_Filters_Boston_MA-r1362276-Boston_MA.html Dechlorinators, chemicals used to remove chlorine, and sometimes other harmful chemicals or heavy metals from your tap water to make it safe for use in your aquarium. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Dechlorination_Boston_MA-r1360663-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Dechlorination_Boston_MA-r1360663-Boston_MA.html Information on ammonia removing chemicals, why they are neither necessary nor desirable in aquariums and why they can be dangerous in your fish tank. Read on to get the details. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Ammonia_and_Nitrite_Boston_MA-r1360662-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Ammonia_and_Nitrite_Boston_MA-r1360662-Boston_MA.html Information on the correct pH for an aquarium and adjusting that pH on the rare occasions when it is necessary. Read on and learn more. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Aquarium_pH_Boston_MA-r1355210-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Aquarium_pH_Boston_MA-r1355210-Boston_MA.html How can I figure out why my pH is changing in my fish tank, and, more importantly, how can I stop this change in aquarium pH? Read on and get the answer. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Troubleshooting_pH_Changes_in_Your_Fish_Tank_Boston_MA-r1355209-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Troubleshooting_pH_Changes_in_Your_Fish_Tank_Boston_MA-r1355209-Boston_MA.html Tips and tricks for caring for a fish bowl, goldfish bowl, Betta bowl, or other small fish tank, vase, urn, or bucket. Read on and know more. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Keeping_a_Fish_Bowl_Boston_MA-r1349523-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Keeping_a_Fish_Bowl_Boston_MA-r1349523-Boston_MA.html For beginners of aquarium setup, I recommend a selection of plastic plants and plastic, resin, wood, ceramic or stone decorations available from most pet shops. Most pet stores will have setups similar to this at a discounted price (decorations not included). http://local.firsttankguide.net/How_to_Set_up_Your_New_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1349522-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/How_to_Set_up_Your_New_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1349522-Boston_MA.html Fish keepers are often driven to seek expert advice when one of their beloved pets becomes ill. If your fish is sick, you need to consult a veterinarian for expert advice and accurate diagnosis, as well as to receive the correct treatment regimen for your sick fish. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Diseases_in_Tropical_Fish_Boston_MA-r1344175-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Diseases_in_Tropical_Fish_Boston_MA-r1344175-Boston_MA.html Your fish tank needs maintenance but it’s all worth it when you take the time to relax and enjoy your aquarium fish. Find a vast variety of saltwater and freshwater fish including exotic fishes such as clown fish, lionfish, angelfish, oscar, daniels, tiger barbs, tetra, and more. Also get water changes, live rock, corals, water plants, fish food and any other aquarium supplies you may need at competitive pricing at the aquarium shops in Boston, MA listed below. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Feeding_Your_Fish_Boston_MA-r1344174-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Feeding_Your_Fish_Boston_MA-r1344174-Boston_MA.html Feeder goldfish, as well as any other feeder fish, are really unsuitable for any purpose - whether as a pet or as food for your pet. Feeder fish really serve no legitimate purpose in the pet trade. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Feeder_Fish_Boston_MA-r1344173-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Feeder_Fish_Boston_MA-r1344173-Boston_MA.html Maintaining an aquarium in your home or office can be very rewarding and relaxing, but getting started on the wrong food can make the whole experience frustrating. Here are some step-by-step tips for getting started in the fastest growing hobby in the world, fish keeping. http://local.firsttankguide.net/How_to_Setup_an_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1344172-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/How_to_Setup_an_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1344172-Boston_MA.html The first thing you need to decide before getting a fish tank is if you want a saltwater fish tank or a freshwater fish tank. The saltwater fish tanks require more maintenance but are extremely rewarding. Here you will find all the aquarium supplies you may need including saltwater or freshwater aquarium fish, sump filter, bio ball filter, skimmer, power compact lighting, metal halide, hang on back filters, filter media, fluorescent lighting, gravel filters and more. Just click and contact the aquarium shops in Boston, MA listed below. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Routine_Fish_Tank_Maintenance_Boston_MA-r1344171-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Routine_Fish_Tank_Maintenance_Boston_MA-r1344171-Boston_MA.html Knowing what equipment you need for your new fish tank is important in getting the tank set up correctly. You hear about all kinds of products, additives, supplements, test kits, tools, gizmos, gadgets, and whats-its, but what are they all? http://local.firsttankguide.net/The_Aquarium_Equipment_List_Boston_MA-r1344170-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/The_Aquarium_Equipment_List_Boston_MA-r1344170-Boston_MA.html You've got a fish tank, and now you want to get fish. Hopefully, you thought about what kind of fish you want to get before getting the aquarium, since different fish have different care and environmental requirements. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Getting_Fish_Boston_MA-r1344169-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Getting_Fish_Boston_MA-r1344169-Boston_MA.html Keeping a healthy fish tank requires dedicated maintenance. Here you will get access to experienced aquarium shop personnel who understand the industry and can help educate you on maintenance and supplies needed for your aquarium fish and tank. They are also able to service your tanks if you aren’t able. Also get the aquarium supplies you need including saltwater or freshwater exotic fish, fish tanks, aquarium accessories, water plants, live rock, corals and more by contacting the aquarium shops in Boston, MA listed below. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Selecting_a_Good_Pet_Store_Boston_MA-r1344168-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Selecting_a_Good_Pet_Store_Boston_MA-r1344168-Boston_MA.html What kind of water should you use in your fish tank? With all the choices available, the variety of options can seem quite daunting but this article will help you make an education decision. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Aquarium_Water_Boston_MA-r1344167-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Aquarium_Water_Boston_MA-r1344167-Boston_MA.html A common recommendation from uneducated or poorly informed fish keepers or pet shop employees is to cycle your new aquarium with a large number of feeder goldfish. At least these shops are telling you about cycling your new fish tank, but they are making a very bad recommendation on how to do it. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Reasons_Not_to_Use_Goldfish_to_Cycle_Your_Tank_Boston_MA-r1344166-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Reasons_Not_to_Use_Goldfish_to_Cycle_Your_Tank_Boston_MA-r1344166-Boston_MA.html Water changes are an absolutely essential part of the process of cycling your new aquarium filter , a process which establishes the beneficial bacteria bed (or bacteria colony) in the biological filter. Water changes in the cycling aquarium keep the ammonia and nitrite levels from getting very high when the tank is cycling. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Water_Changes_in_the_Cycling_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1344165-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Water_Changes_in_the_Cycling_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1344165-Boston_MA.html Ammonia stress is a very real threat to the inhabitants of your home or office aquarium. What starts out as mild stress can turn into deadly ammonia poisoning. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Ammonia_Stress_and_Ammonia_Poisoning_Boston_MA-r1344164-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Ammonia_Stress_and_Ammonia_Poisoning_Boston_MA-r1344164-Boston_MA.html "New Tank Syndrome" is a generic term for supposedly mysterious deaths in newly set up or newly moved fish tanks. New tank syndrome most commonly takes on the form of apparently mysterious (to the untrained eye of the new fish keeper) deaths, repeated or recurring outbreaks of various kinds of diseases, or unexplained outbreaks of aggression. http://local.firsttankguide.net/New_Tank_Syndrome_Boston_MA-r1344163-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/New_Tank_Syndrome_Boston_MA-r1344163-Boston_MA.html Controlling algae in fish tanks can be a chore for some aquarium owners, but algae control in your aquarium can be relatively simple. Here are the basic tips for keeping algae growth under control in your aquarium. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Dealing_with_Algae_Boston_MA-r1344162-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Dealing_with_Algae_Boston_MA-r1344162-Boston_MA.html Many people who have fish tanks have a problem with water clarity at one point or another. There are a number of things that can make your aquarium water cloudy, milky or murky. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Cloudy_Water_Boston_MA-r1344161-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Cloudy_Water_Boston_MA-r1344161-Boston_MA.html Most often, an odor from a fish tank is an indication that something is rotting in the tank. Read the following article to help youself figure out why your fish tank may smell bad. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Stinky_Fish_Tanks_Boston_MA-r1344160-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Stinky_Fish_Tanks_Boston_MA-r1344160-Boston_MA.html Part of maintaining a fish tank includes vacuuming the gravel in the aquarium. Read this article to learn how to vacuum and clean your fish tank gravel. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Vacuuming_Aquarium_Gravel_Boston_MA-r1344159-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Vacuuming_Aquarium_Gravel_Boston_MA-r1344159-Boston_MA.html First, place a bucket on a low stool or on the floor in front of the fish tank. You will use this bucket to catch the water you are draining out of the fish tank through the siphon . http://local.firsttankguide.net/Starting_a_Siphon_Boston_MA-r1344158-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Starting_a_Siphon_Boston_MA-r1344158-Boston_MA.html Why do water changes on a regular basis, instead of waiting until the fish tank needs one? Read this article to get information on the benefits of small, frequent water change in your home aquarium over large, infrequent water changes. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Frequent_Water_Changes_Boston_MA-r1344157-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Frequent_Water_Changes_Boston_MA-r1344157-Boston_MA.html Pest snails may seem cute and innocent at first, however they can reproduce with such vigor that they can quickly overpopulate a fish tank, causing all the problems that having too many fish in the tank will cause. This article provides useful tips on controlling the population of unwanted pest snails in your home fish tank or office aquarium. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Pest_Snails_and_Controlling_Snail_Populations_Boston_MA-r1344156-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Pest_Snails_and_Controlling_Snail_Populations_Boston_MA-r1344156-Boston_MA.html When you do your regular weekly water change, you do not want to take all the stuff out of your fish tank, and you do not want to remove the fish from the tank. Doing either of these will be a lot more work on your part, and will be unnecessarily stressful to your pet fish. http://local.firsttankguide.net/Cleaning_Your_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1344155-Boston_MA.html http://local.firsttankguide.net/Cleaning_Your_Aquarium_Boston_MA-r1344155-Boston_MA.html