Archive for October, 2009

Designing An Aquarium

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

When first designing an aquarium, there are unlimited numbers of possibilities for design. Designing is the fun part, but remember the fish have to also like the habitat they are in. Finding a balance of a habitat the fish and you like is key for raising fish.

The first step to decorating the tank is the needed fixtures needed in the tank. The tank first needs the filters, depending on your size of tank, depends on how many filters you have. Depending on your lid, most lids have a place cut out for the filters to conveniently fit into, and if not you can cut a make shift hole in the lid for the filters.

Depending on your lid, most lids have a place cut out for the filters to conveniently fit into, and if not you can cut a make shift hole in the lid for the filters.

Filters are very useful and needed to keep the tank clean. If you have a power or wheel filter, decorating can be a lot easier than if you have an under gravel filter. If you have a under gravel filter then I suggest investing in a power filter, they are inexpensive and get the job done.

Rocks, and fake caves and decor are also great for aquariums. A few hiding spots, for the fish to hide is good. When choosing rocks for the tank make sure they are suitable and do not dissolve or give off bad minerals to harm the fish.

Heaters are necessary to control the temperature of the tank so the fish stay alive. Placing submersible heaters in the back of the tank is preferred. Also it keeps them out of the way of the fish.

Rocks, fake caves and decor are also great for aquariums. A few hiding spots, for the fish to hide is good. When choosing rocks for the tank make sure they are suitable and do not dissolve or give off bad minerals to harm the fish.

When it comes to decorating your tank keep these tips in mind do make a tank a good living environment for the fish. The accessories and decor for the fish tank are great but keep in mind to not forget about the essentials such as filters and heaters.

Have a fish tank or thinking about buying one, check out Roshan Goodmans’ tricks and tips on fish tank and aquarium advice.

categories: fish tank,fish tanks,aquarium advice,aquarium tips,fish,pets,aquatic pets,advice,Home Garden,animal advice,animals,pets

Those Wily Pickerel Trophy Fish

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

No doubt about those Pickerel and Walleye fish are just plain wily. Say what you can, but even the dumbest Walleye seems to be a lot smarter at evading novice fishing sports people and most people that you may well encounter in your lifetime and on your travels. The early bird gets the worm, and that smart aquatic devil may well get your minnow or bait. Worse yet they get always seem to get away , evade you for the moment yet come back at future fishing expeditions to both annoy and bedevil you with their extreme skills and cunning. What a contest between two masters.

It is not your imagination. Although you may see lots of trophy sized and master angler Walleye and Pickeral fish, most of what you catch will be in the 1 to 3 lb ranges. Two pounds of highly packed weight seem to be the norm for this specie… Yet the average 2 lb weight fish can be said to more than tasty beyond belief. It is no accident that Pickeral fish are among the favorite and preferred prey of many avid out doors folk. Fried up on the spot - yummy. It can be held that in most cases that it is only the larger and master angler trophy sized, which seem to make it back home after the fishing trip and expedition to be off to the taxidermist and taxidermists. Professional taxidermists can attest to this fact.

Although Walleye fish have a range across North America - the upper USA, Canada to the deep northern areas of the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Northwestern Kenora Ontario regions, Walleye as a species have been introduced throughout the world. The fame and notoriety of these master game fish and trophy status has spread worldwide through fish stocking and aquatic husbandry practices and techniques.

Catch one Walleye, odds and experience will tell you that there are plenty more of these fish, waiting to be caught in adjacent waters. Why is this? Generally Walleye fish school and other fish from that same schooling group just loitering around waiting for you just to tease and taunt them with fresh bait or a bright colored lure or jig. Experienced anglers can well note and advise you’re that in the greatest amount of cases, Walleye and Pickerels hold near the bottom of the lake waters. Not unlike Goldeye fish and the patterns of landing trophy sized Goldeyes. When fishing at these depths watch your line (or lines if local fishing and game laws and regulations allow), for any lateral or unusual movements and strip. In these cases simply remove or retrieve your fishing line by hand. It seems that Walleye fish take their food very slowly, thus the hook must be set the very moment and second that a fish takes the fly or it will simply reject it.

In the end it can be said that this valued trophy fish - is a boom, a triumph and a bust. Wonderful to catch, great to eat, yet more than amazingly smart and wily. The reputation of the Walleye or its Canadian namesake - the Pickerel is more than just and well earned.

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categories: sports,outdoors,fish,fishing,hunt,hunting,Walleye,lodges,travel,Canada,leisure,cuisine,Pickerel

North Sea Oil Insight

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

The North Sea is one of most frequently traversed seas of the world and two of the world’s largest ports are situated on its coasts. The North Sea is mostly renowned for its offshore oil industry; however it also supplies most of Northern Europe with fish, with over 230 different species living its waters. In particular Cod, Sole, Plaice, Mackerel and Haddock are fished commercially. These intensive and sometimes conflicting uses of the North Sea cause a number of challenges in maintaining a healthy and balanced eco system.

Many people imagine oil to have been discovered in the North Sea within the last 35 years; although it was way back in 1859 that the Germans made the first discovery after drilling for coal in the Southern North Sea Basin above North Germany. This find started the German oil industry, and up until 1890 a further 100 wells were drilled, of which 60 produced oil. Shortly after Natural Gas was discovered in the North Sea in 1910.

Then in August 1959 after five relatively quiet decades, a well drilled by Shell & Esso in Groningen, the Netherlands literally changed the Oil and Gas industry in Europe over night. The immense size of the Groningen field was soon realized. Geologists calculated it to be some twenty miles long with a capacity of 6 billion cubic feet per day, making it one of the largest gas fields in the world. After this huge discovery, commercial exploration in the North Sea truly got started.

Five further major discoveries totaling 20 trillium cubic feet were located in 1965, which was enough to completley saturate the UK market. By 1969 seismic ships were scouring the length and breadth of the North Sea in search of Oil and Gas. Then in the same year the Phillips Petroelum Company found the first billion barrel oil field, ‘Ekofisk Field’, in Norwegian waters.

Many imagine the North Sea to be a deep sea, however in actual fact it is relatively shallow. The North Sea is less than 30 meters in height in the Southern areas and rises to maximum of 200 meters in the Northern regions. The exception to this is the Norwegian trench which cuts through the North Western region, even though it is extremely narrow sometimes just meters wide in parts, it is 700 meters in depth in the region known as the Skagerrak

The popular view is that the UK’s share of North Sea oil is in decline, with energy reserves diminishing rapidly about 35 years after the oilfields were first exploited. There is however a growing body of opinion that suggests that proven oil reserves have been underestimated Consistently.

Up to 37 billion barrels of oil have now been extracted from the UK’s continental shelf, with an estimated 25.5 billion barrels remaining. Many Oil experts believe that the remaining reserves exceed current estimate by as much as one fifth. With the advent of new ’smart-drill’ technology, and the ever spiraling price of oil, it is now economically viable to drill fields, once considered too difficult or too remote.

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Advice For Buying Your First Aquarium

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

When starting a new fish tank, an important thing to consider is tank size. If your starting an aquarium for the first time a bigger tank is better. Starting with a bigger tank will save you a lot of trouble in the long run. Bigger fish tanks provide more room for the fish and error. With smaller fish tanks the pH is easier to maintain. Also once the tank is established the bigger fish tanks are easier to maintain. At least a twenty-gallon fish tank is suitable for a novice. Keep in mind the inch per gallon rule when buying fish. This rule insures that your fish have enough space in the tank and good to follow to avoid overcrowding. For every inch of fish there should be at least a gallon. If you have a twenty-gallon tank then you can have two ten inch fish, or five two inch fish, any combination of fish as long as the inches of fish do not exceed the gallons of water the fish tank holds.

There are many styles of tanks such as hexagonal, pentagonal, cylinders and even in the wall aquariums. The easiest to maintain is the rectangular style since the edges are minimal. If you have a bigger tank you may need more maintenance items such as filters, heaters and lights.

Filters are very important for a healthy tank, there are many types of filters and all get the same job done. Some common styles are: power filters, Bio wheel filters, internal filters, and under gravel filters. Power and bio wheel filters are probably the most efficient and easiest filters to maintain. They hang over the side into the tank and have cartridges that have to be changed about one a month. The under gravel filters have their benefits and drawbacks. They are an older style filter and are placed at the bottom of the tank under the gravel. They do not have cartridges that have to be changes monthly but can get gummed up and have to be taken completely out to clean. They also usually will not clean as well as a power or bio wheel filter but can be made at home and are cheaper.

Usually heaters are fairly the same, submersible heaters are the way to go. Usually it’s a good idea to have two heaters in the tank so that if one breaks you have another going so the fish have a temperature that they can survive in.

Lighting is important if you have live plants in your aquarium so they can flourish. Most lids for the tanks come with a standard fluorescent bulb, but brighter bulbs are advised for optimal lighting for aquarium plants.

Lastly, any decor and extra utilities like bubblers can be added for look and to help the fish have a happy and secure habitat. The more plants and rocks you have the better the fish will feel because they can hide if they wish.

Roshan Goodman writes articles with advice on buying a fish tank and also on starting fish tanks.

5 Key Factors In Helping You Buy the Best Sea Fishing Rods

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Are you currently researching the bewildering range of available sea fishing rods? I know as well as most how complicated and confusing it can be!

Follow my simple pointers below and you’ll be on your way to catching bigger sea fish with the least effort.

These are my 5 valuable tips for choosing the best sea fishing rods:

1. Think about where you’re going to be fishing.

Will you be fishing primarily from the beach, or mainly from a boat in the deep sea?

The type of rod depends on the type of catch, which in turn depends on the setting.

If you’ve only fished in freshwater before now, you’ll certainly need a stronger rod for sea fishing. Sea fish such as marlin and shark are stronger than fish that live in rivers, lakes, or even estuaries.

The type of fish you intend to catch should inform the decision about the type of rod you buy.

2. Think about the right material for the job.

The preferred materials for sea fishing rods are either fiberglass or graphite.

Both graphite and fiberglass are strong enough for sea fishing but also light enough to handle for long periods of time. They aren’t prone to rusting in salt water like other metals.

Whilst graphite may not be pliable it has durability and is not too heavy to handle.

You’ll find that the length, width and general density of sea fishing rods made from graphite is different from other types of graphite rods.

Fiberglass is also an effective material for sea fishing rods. It allows for longer fishing time and greater flexibility.

It’s true that fiberglass generally doesn’t last as long as graphite, but as long as you get some good solid use out of your rod you won’t find it a problem.

3. What tackle do you intend to use?

No type of fishing rod is worth a dime without tackle, and sea fishing rods are no exception. Certain rods work well with certain kinds of tackle, and certain types of tackle work well with certain kinds of fishing rods.

As with the choice of rod, the choice of tackle is very much dependent on the type of catch you’re going for and where you intend fish.

4. What techniques will you use?

The technique depends on which fish you are going for and where you intend to do your fishing. For instance: shallow drop, deep drop or bottom drop are all techniques you might be using.

It’s important to take the techniques you’ll be using into account before making a purchase.

5. Do your research.

For the beginner, the sheer range of available sea fishing rods can be simply mind-blowing! There are a huge number of brands to consider, as well as the different materials, related tackle and accessories.

My advice: don’t skimp on your research.

There are many fantastic online fishing stores which you should spend time browsing. These will at the very least give you an idea of what’s available in the price range you’re looking for.

Don’t forget there are also loads of magazines in real-life magazine and book stores dedicated solely to sea fishing, which are full of articles, hints, tips, reviews and advice. These also have adverts for rod manufacturers and suppliers which are worth checking out too.

If you’re lucky enough to know someone with lots of sea fishing experience, don’t hesitate to ask him/her for his/her advice.

Follow my pointers above to make a good, informed choice.

Enjoy your research and enjoy fishing!

Looking to find the best advice on sea fishing rods, then visit seafishingrodsblog.com, Lori Rocha’s blog about all aspects of sea fishing.

Muscle Building Foods

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Choosing the best high-protein foods is the most important aspect of your muscle-building diet. Not only will high protein foods contribute to increased muscle, but they will also lead to better overall health. The best high protein foods are low in saturated fat, and contain “complete proteins.? Complete proteins contain the amino acids that the body needs to build muscle.

It is possible that eggs are the best natural protein source. Eggs are delicious and there are hundreds of ways to prepare them. It is very important to eat the yolk. Egg yolks are packed with protein and vitamin B12, which aids in breaking down fat stores in the body and assists with muscle contraction. Eggs are not only an excellent source of protein, they are also full of the vitamins riboflavin, folate, vitamins B6, B12, D, and E, as well as the minerals iodine, phosphorus, zinc, selenium, calcium and iron.

Fish is a flavorful, high protein source that contains very little carbohydrates and saturated fat. Cold water fish varieties like salmon, trout, or sardines contain high quality protein. Fish is also a chief source of omega 3 fatty acids, iron, zinc and calcium. Salmon is a popular and delicious protein that is overflowing with omega-3 fatty acids, which is vital in reducing muscle-protein breakdown following workouts and also improves insulin resistance.

Beans are often overlooked in the search for high protein foods. Kidney beans are a low-fat and very nutritious food that plays a large part in building muscle. Not only are beans are a major source of high quality protein, they are also high in fiber, folate, manganese, iron, phosphorus, copper and potassium.? Kidney beans contain an incredible 14 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber per one cup serving.

An excellent source of iron and zinc, two essential minerals for muscle building and cancer-fighting selenium, beef is also the best source of creatine, which supplies your body with the energy it needs to create muscle. Extra-lean cuts of like round, loin, or flat iron varieties are among the best choices.

A muscle-building diet is incomplete without the vital addition of unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats support nerve transmission and support the body?s ability to absorb nutrients, foster proper hormone function and advances overall cell health. Choose plant whole food sources of unsaturated fats in the form of fresh avocado, olives, flaxseed, almonds and peanuts.

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In Search of the Right Aquarium Plants

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

A cleverly decorated aquarium has the ability to enhance the attractiveness of any room in your home or office. Your choice of decorations doesn’t just depend on aesthetic values but also on its effect on your fish. Aquarium plants would be a good choice because not only do they add color to your aquarium, they also bring comfort to the fish by providing hiding spots for them.

There are two types of aquariums plants that you can put in your aquarium- real plants or fake plants. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. A careful study of both types will help you decide which is better for your aquarium.

Plastic plants are long lasting and very easy to clean. You only need to take them out of the aquarium and wash with soap and water. The colors are varied and sometimes even more vivid than real plants. Although you have to be careful about the too bright colors or it might stress your fish. Some of them will adjust their colors to a less vibrant color in order to be less conspicuous to predators. Better stick to the more natural marine tones to bring out the natural bright colors of your fish.

Another kind of fake plant that you can buy is the silk plant. They are more realistic but admittedly, more expensive than plastic plants. Just be sure to buy those designed for aquarium use and not the ordinary craft store variety, which might be unsafe to put in aquariums.

Fresh plants will give your aquarium a more realistic environment. However, like some of your fish, they survive only in specific pH levels or water temperatures. Determine first the needs of your fish, and then find the plant that will thrive in the same environment.

There are other more noteworthy benefits in choosing real plants over fake ones. They give out oxygen and use up nitrates in the water thereby maintaining some balance in the nitrogen cycle. They also provide for breeding grounds for some fish and can be the natural food source to some others.

Although, fresh plants may appear to have many benefits, most varieties have special requirements that may discourage some people from using them. Many of them need lighting and special fertilizers. All fresh plants need light for photosynthesis. The amount of light required by these plants may vary depending on their kind. A special aquarium fertilizer is also a requirement for most plants. You cannot use your ordinary garden fertilizer. This will most likely kill your aquarium.

Unlike fake plants, cleaning fresh plants must be done in the aquarium where they are planted. Over time, dead and decaying leaves will accumulate on the bottom of your tank and will reduce water quality. You can prevent this by pruning the dying parts of your plant and by using a special product like EcoBio-Block. This product can provide the beneficial bacteria needed to convert the organic wastes, such as decaying plants, into safer by-products that will keep your water clean and healthy. With proper care and maintenance, real live plants will really give your aquarium the ideal natural habitat that your fish need.

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Factors to Consider When Purchasing an Aquarium

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

Aquariums are known to give people a perfect opportunity to beautify their houses or offices with fish. There are several varieties of aquariums available but this mainly depends on the size and shape. The styles of aquariums are also known to largely depend on materials that are used during their production. For example, types of aquariums available can either be glass or acrylic. Since there are so many aquariums that are being sold, it is a hard task to decide on a perfect one. The following are a few factors that an individual should consider when purchasing aquariums.

Placing the Aquarium

The first thing that should be considered before purchasing an aquarium is the location where this aquarium is to be placed. Consider the aquarium’s weight after it is full of water. Without any doubt the aquarium will be very heavy once it is filled with water. Therefore, make sure to place the aquarium in a table or stand that is strong enough to hold it. The aquarium should not be placed in a spot, which is directly exposed to the sunlight. In addition, the dcor of the room is also considered. Determine whether the existing dcor will complement the presence of the aquarium.

Aquarium Size

Once the perfect location has been identified, the next step is to choose the appropriate size of the aquarium. The aquarium size will depend on the number of fish the individual intends to have. To be able to obtain the size of the aquarium, measure the location where the tank will be placed. The larger the fish aquarium the easier the maintenance will be. It will also be much easier for the person to maintain the correct water balance for the large aquarium than with smaller aquariums. Large aquariums also prevent the fish from overcrowding. Lastly, the size bought will depend on the finances available.

Aquarium’s Shape

The most common types of tanks are rectangular, though one is able to find other aquarium shapes such as cylindrical, hexagon or round aquariums. When deciding on the shape, choose tanks that have a large surface area since oxygen enters the tank through the surface. When choosing the tank buy long tanks instead of tall ones to enable the fish move easily in the tanks.

Aquarium Material

The material used to make an aquarium is another very important consideration. Many aquariums are mostly made from glass or acrylic. Aquariums made from acrylic are not very heavy as compared to the ones made from glass tanks. The advantages of having an acrylic fish tank is that it offers an ability to view the fish images very clearly without distortions as compared to the glass tanks. However, glass tanks also have their advantages; these tanks can be cleaned easily because they are not scratched easily. On the other hand, acrylic tanks are hard to clean since they scratch easily.

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Easier Fish Tank Cleaning and Maintenance

Friday, October 9th, 2009

An aquarium is a delicate ecosystem that can become toxic if not properly taken care of. Keeping a clean tank is important, but not cleaning it the right way can have a serious negative impact on that ecosystem. Here are a few products and tips that make cleaning easier and more effective.

First, it is important that your fish enjoy some fresh water. You should be replacing about 15 to 20 percent of the water with fresh water about twice each month. One of the easiest ways to do this is to combine gravel cleaning and water removal. Using a plastic gravel cleaner with an attached hose while you are cleaning the rocks, allows you suck up an appropriate amount of water and place it into a bucket.

Here’s a tip: Don’t throw out that drained water yet. Use it to clean some of the items in your tank like your filter. You don’t want to clean your filter under tap water as this will kill the beneficial bacteria in it that processes the fish waste. Use that drained water to keep the beneficial bacteria alive.

Speaking of beneficial bacteria, another way to keep your tank clean is by using Bioverse’s All-Natural Fish Tank cleaner. This is a chemical free product that uses beneficial bacteria to improve water clarity and reduce excess nutrients and ammonia. One bacteria packet lasts 30 days. Simply place the dispenser in the tank and it will work with your existing filtration system. It is vital that you maintain healthy bacteria levels in your tank.

In addition to using the Bioverse bacteria packet, consider purchasing a magnetic algae scraper. These can be used on any aquarium with a thickness of an inch-and-a-half or less. Magnets are attached to the outside of the aquarium glass and from the outside of the tank you can move the scraper easily around the inside of your fish tank without harming your fish or making a mess. These magnetic scrapers also work on acrylic aquariums.

Keeping an aquarium clean and with proper bacteria levels is easier than ever with the right products.

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Things You Should Know About Aquarium Canister Filters

Friday, October 9th, 2009

If you are new to taking care of an aquarium, you have probably heard of the benefits of using a canister filter. This filter has a variety of uses that many aquarium owners prefer using these to hang-on type filters. Although the canister filter has a compact design, it is capable of performing mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration.

Canister filters are usually compared with the conventional “hang on” filters that are placed above the aquarium. Although the canister filter looks quite similar to the latter and may also be hanged on top of the aquarium, the canister filter is preferred due to its improved mechanical filtration device. Thus, this type of filter is usually recommended to those who own fish types that tend to leave a lot of waste material. Another difference of the canister filter from the conventional aquarium filter types is that you can also place them below the aquarium. This is best for you if you would like to get the filters away from the sight of the aquarium viewers. Canister filters may also be placed inside the aquarium. These are then called “submersible filters.”

Canister filters boast of their large water filtering capacity. Therefore, they can filter greater amounts of water than the power filters in the market. Canister filters also saves you space since you can hide it under your aquarium. These are also easy to customize so that you can have a combination of mechanical, chemical, and biological filter devices.

The most noteworthy disadvantage of having a canister filter is the need to clean it frequently. Because this functions mainly as a mechanical filter, the debris from the water can easily clog it up. If you decide to submerge the water filter, clean up will get even more tedious than if the filter is located outside the aquarium. Despite the trouble in cleaning the filter, you have to do this often to prevent the decaying and toxic waste from coming back into the aquarium’s water.

There are three types of filtration media found in the canister filter. These are the mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration media. The first level of filtration takes place when the water is allowed to pass through the glass wool layer that traps the solid wastes from the water. This is the part of the filter that gets clogged up, that you have to clean it regularly. The filtered water is then passed through the charcoal layer. Charcoal acts as an absorbent that traps the odor and some chemicals from the water. This procedure gets rid of ammonia and chlorine, which can cause the water to smell. The last filtration stage is the biological filtration in which bacteria are used to clean the water. Not all chemicals are trapped in the charcoal layer. Toxic nitrites have to be acted on by the bacteria in order to convert them into less toxic nitrate compounds.

What are the things to consider when choosing filters?

1. Availability of replacement parts

When shopping for a canister filter, you have to inquire if the store also carries replacement parts for the filter. Although the filter is durable and is guaranteed to last for a long time, there will be a time that you will have to change the parts of the canister filter as part of maintenance. It is best if you have spare o-rings, impellers, and rubber gaskets. You can?t be sure when you will need to replace them.

2. Are these the right ones for your aquarium type?

While there are canister filters that will work for both freshwater and saltwater, there are some that are not recommended for saltwater. Inform the seller what type of aquarium you have before buying one.

3. Are these easy to use?

While someone can help you with installing the filter, most of the maintenance will be done by you. Check if you will be able to clean the device without help from an expert. The water filter is an important component of the aquarium. Once you have chosen a canister filter, learn the proper way to maintain it in order to prevent any danger from happening to your pets.

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