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F.A.Q

Q: Are plants necessary in an aquarium?
A: No, plants are not necessary in an aquarium. Some fish species should not be kept with plants, since they will only uproot them or eat them. Plants are however a nice addition to most aquariums and they will help you keep the water quality up. An aquarium with plants is more similar to a true ecosystem. If your fish species hail from densely grown waters, they will feel more at home in a planted tank. Many fish species must be kept with plants to induce spawning. If keeping plants is a problem for you, you should try to create hiding spots using other forms of aquarium decorations, such as stones, roots, caves or artificial plants. You can also choose very sturdy plant species, such as Java fern and Anubias. These plants will do well in most environments and will usually survive even if your fish like to nibble on the leaves. They do not require extra light, extra carbon dioxide or fertilizers. 

Q: How much light do plants need?
This varies a lot from species to species. The plants mentioned above – Java Fern and Anubias – will usually do well with normal aquarium lighting used for fish-only tanks. Plants that live close to the surface in tropical regions of the world can on the other hand require very intense lighting and will need fluorescent light bulbs or even stronger forms of light in the aquarium. The only way to find out is to research the particular species that you are interested in. The water depth and the amount of daylight will also affect the need for artificial light. If your aquarium is very deep, a standard incandescent light bulb might be unable to penetrate all the way down to the bottom. Plants will always need a balance between light, nutrients and carbon dioxide. If you increase the amount of nutrients and carbon dioxide, you must therefore also increase the amount of light and vice versa.

Q: What type of filter is best for beginner?
A:  If you are a beginner aquarists, you usually wish to keep your costs down since you do not know if you will like your new hobby or not. Advanced filter systems can of course help you to keep the water quality at supreme levels, but they are expensive and can be difficult to maintain. Most beginner aquarists therefore opt for a small corner filter with a water pump. This type of filter will force the water through a filter media, and simultaneously create water movement in the aquarium and keep the oxygen level up.   

Q: For how long is a livebearer pregnant?
A: This varies from species to species, and can also vary from spawning to spawning, but 20-40 days are common.

Q: What should I feed my Angelfish?
A: An Angelfish should be given a varied diet. You can use a high-quality prepared food suitable for Angelfish as a base, and supplement it with meaty foods. Meaty foods can also be used to induce spawning. Daphnia, mosquito larvae and brine shrimp are all good choices. Beef hart is also popular. If your Angelfish stops eating, the water quality is probably poor. Check the water quality and perform water changes. Over feeding your Angelfish can cause health problems and prevent spawning. Never give your Angelfish more food than what it can eat in 5 minutes.

Q: What should I feed my Angelfish fry?
A: Micro worms and brine shrimp are both good choices. When your Angelfish fry are very small, newly hatched brine shrimp is ideal. As they grow larger, you can introduce daphnia, cyclops and mosquito larvae.