biOrb Aquarium Kit with Light Fixture

The Baby biOrb is a sophisticated aquarium that bestows the soothing sensation of swimming fish at home or at the office. It requires very little maintenance, and all supplies, including a halogen light and a comprehensive instruction guide, are provided. The unique, built-in 5-stage filtration system combines biological, chemical, and mechanical filtration to keep the water healthy and crystal-clear for months between simple filter changes. The filter cartridge conveniently lasts up to 8 weeks, so cleaning the BiOrb is quite easy. Since the filter is barely visible at the bottom of the globe, it causes no obstruction of the underwater view when the biOrb is filled. The durable, bowl-shaped Plexiglass allows a perfect 360-degree viewing angle, and the built-in halogen light provides full observation of the swimming fish any time of day. The compact size and silver trim allow it to blend into any desk, counter, table, shelf, or mantel. The Baby biOrb measures 13 x 13 x 13 inches and is covered by a manufacturer’s warranty.

The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums

First published in 2001, The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums has become the bestselling reference in its category, offering an easy-to-understand look at setting up and maintaining a successful first freshwater aquarium.

Now in a completely revised second edition, The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums offers comprehensive and authoritative information that will guide new hobbyists to guaranteed success. Written by a renowned aquarium hobby expert, this indispensable guide contains many ideas for tank setups and stocking schemes—with brand new text that makes the subject material even easier to access and understand for the beginner hobbyist. An all-new preface reflects changes in the hobby since the first edition, while two brand new chapters discuss the benefits of routine large water changes as well as what to expect when progressing further into aquarium keeping. The book also adds mention of all new species that are especially recommended for beginners, plus over 150 full-color photos, captions,


About the Author
DAVID E. BORUCHOWITZ is in his sixth decade of fishkeeping. He has been writing and editing for TFH Publications for more than 10 years and has authored a large number of books on a variety of topics. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine. He lives in Upstate New York.

Mini-Aquariums

Fishkeeping can be a relaxing and enjoyable hobby. But what if you don't have room for a 75-gallon tank? Or even a 40-gallon tank?

The popularity of mini-aquariums (defined as water features that contain less than 40 gallons of water) is on the rise. These systems can be freshwater or saltwater, can be filled with a wide variety of species, and generally take up a very small amount of space. Mini-Aquariums offers detailed information on all aspects of setting up and maintaining a mini aquarium. It includes sections on fish health and water quality management, explains the differences between aqua-terrariums, terrariums and vivariums, details how to use common species of terrestrial plants in container ponds, and provides extensive information on many other topics.

If you live in a small apartment, want to set up a mini-pond at the office, or just prefer the look of a tiny tank, a mini aquarium may be the perfect choice for you!

JBJ 12 Gallon Nano Cube Deluxe Aquarium with (2) Nite-Vu LED Moonlights

The Ultimate Reef Ready Biotope!The newly redesigned Nano Cube is now offered in a Deluxe version to meet the needs of the serious reef enthusiast. The New Nano Cube Deluxe offers double the light output of the original model, giving your corals and invertebrates 48 total watts of intense JBJ compact fluorescent illumination. All models come standard with (2) built-in cooling fans to dissipate excess heat, a new highly efficient (Fulham, UL Approved) remote electronic ballast with disconnect cable, and return nozzle for directional flow output.Advanced Features:12 Gallon Glass CubeOffers Panoramic viewing with smooth rounded corners. The Nano Cube Deluxe offers the ideal dimensions for a mini-reef tank that requires depth for proper rock stacking.Built-in 3-Stage FiltrationNewly redesigned filtration system allows for better surface skimming and more room in the rear for larger pumps for DIY customers. The filtration compartment is hidden in the rear and provides maximum space for tank inhabitants. All models now include an output return nozzle for directional flow control.JBJ Compact Fluorescent Bulb LightingIncludes (2) 24 watt CF lamps with a durable (Fulham, UL Approved) remote electronic ballast w/ disconnect cable. Offered with our powerful 50/50 lamps for marine tanks and 6500K daylight for plant tanks. Both lamps include UL Approved German "Snap-In" lamp sockets for easy bulb install and removals. Installed with splash guard lens for lamp protection.CE ApprovedManufactured with the highest quality components for trouble free performance. Dimensions: 15.8" (L) x 13.8" (W) x 14.8" (H) Capacity: 12 gallons Power Supply: AC110V-60Hz Pump (included): 106 GPH Lift: 0.8m Lighting: (2) 24 Watt 50/50 CF Lamp + Remote Ballast, (2) Nite Vu LED Moonlights

The Simple Guide To Mini-reef Aquariums

Many hobbyists strive to eventually be able to care for a successful reef aquarium. A mini-reef aquarium is the ideal solution, providing the challenge of a larger setup with the reward of cultivating a mini-ecosystem in your own home. The Simple Guide to Mini-Reef Aquariums includes easy-to-understand information on: -The most common and easiest-to-care-for species of reef inhabitants. -How and where to set up your tank. -Routine and special-needs maintenance. -Identifying and solving problems. -How to nurture, sustain, and grow your mini-reef.

The Nano-Reef Handbook

Any reef aquarium that contains less than 15 gallons of water is considered a nano-reef aquarium. These tiny ecosystems are almost as popular in the fishkeeping community as full-size marine aquarium setups, and with the proper information and tools, they can be set up and maintained by aquarists at any level of the hobby.

The wide range of topics covered in this guide include the importance of water quality and tips on maintaining stable water parameters; components of a nano-reef and how to choose the appropriate aquarium, lighting, and accessories for a tank; which fish and invertebrates are best for these types of tanks; and much, much more.

For a reef enthusiast looking for a new challenge or any up-and-coming fish hobbyist, nano-reef aquarium are a stunningly beautiful option. The Nano-Reef Handbook contains all the information necessary to get started.

Starting a Marine Aquarium - the Very First Considerations

Author: Peter Cunningham

Seeing pictures of a healthy marine fish only or reef aquarium in books or on the internet, or even better, in reality at a public aquarium will cause just about anyone to appreciate the beauty and general fascination of them. Some people will wonder if they could have one, and the thought will shortly disappear. Others, however, will not forget so easily and will want to delve further into the possibility of having their own home aquarium.





If the potential aquarist knows a friend who already has a healthy marine aquarium, then there is a source of advice available already. The friend will already have been through all the research and considerations. Often, however, the potential aquarist will want to find out for him/herself. That is very good, as the aquarium system will be understood thoroughly. Then there may not be a known marine aquarist available, so what is the first move? Dashing to the local shop and buying an aquarium and a few bits of equipment that the shop says is needed is totally incorrect.





The first move is to follow a planning scaffold. This scaffold will be the foundation for all the decisions that need to be made in building the system. There are quite a few decisions along the way and things can get a little confusing, even to someone who is experienced in the freshwater aquarium field. The scaffold will help.





The scaffold has to prepare the budding marine aquarist so that indicative costing on basic equipment provision can be made. Often marine aquarists have equipment laying about. This could have been caused by upgrading because the original equipment was not adequate and needed to be replaced. Money expended that perhaps need not have been.





So, the scaffold then. The following is a list of headings and basic notes. It does not attempt and is not intended to open a comprehensive path from zero to a fantastic fish only or reef tank. What it does do is give a lead to follow on the way towards a successful aquarium. No doubt extra considerations will arise on the way, and that2019s as it should be, it means the planning is working. Each stage of planning needs individual consideration, and there will often be more than one decision to make. On the way, research using books and/or the internet is useful or necessary.





Where is it practical to site the aquarium?


Try to choose a location away from direct sunlight, to assist with proper lighting control. There should not be heavy and/or noisy household traffic passing (reasonable traffic is acceptable). There needs to be a reliable power supply available, ie. power outlets. Generally easy access to the aquarium is required. If floors are suspended, consider floor strength - aquariums full of seawater are heavy!





What size aquarium?


The aquarium should not stand on ordinary furniture, but on a properly designed stand. The aquarium may need a hood. These need to be taken into account. Then the available space for the aquarium can be considered.





What type of system?


The system can be fish only or reef. This decision affects other later decisions. Most will opt for a reef.





Sump or no sump?


A sump is a small aquarium that is attached to the main one. It supplies extra water capacity to the system, and allows heaters, sand beds and protein skimmers to be kept away from the display aquarium. The sump can be beside or underneath the display aquarium. A sump on any type system is highly recommended. (If a sump is to be used, the main aquarium will need to be drilled to allow plumbing to take water from the aquarium to the sump. It is then pumped back again.) Note: if a DSB (deep sand bed) or plenum (a raised DSB) is to be employed, the sand bed area should be at least 2/3rds of the base area of the main aquarium. The sand bed should be at least 42033 deep. Consider the cost for the fine sand for the DSB. A DSB in the sump is highly recommended. Leave enough room for a partitioned area for the seawater return pump.





Lighting?


Is the system to be fish only or a reef? If fish only, then two marine fluorescents are sufficient. If reef then:





Hard corals.


Best lighting is halide, supplemented by actinic fluorescent tubes. T5 fluorescent tubes can be used (marine white and actinic equally mixed) but they do not penetrate the seawater as deeply.





Soft corals.


It is sufficient to use T5 fluorescent lighting (actinic and white mixed). Halide lighting can be used, however, and will not be detrimental (ensure corals exposed are light demanding varieties).





Net seawater capacity of aquarium and sump (if used)? This is easily calculated once the aquarium size and sump have been decided. This gallonage will be excessive as, when rocks and sand are added, it will decrease. Therefore, reduce the amount by 10%. This will still not be correct, but does give a reasonable allowance for displacement.





Seawater circulation?


The seawater in the display aquarium will need to be circulated for the health of the inhabitants whatever they are, but particularly in a reef system. It is recommended that a minimum of two powerheads are used to achieve this. The turnover of seawater in a reef needs to be around ten to twenty times the net capacity of the display aquarium (exclude the sump) per hour, depending on coral occupants.. In fish only systems, it can be less.





Protein skimmer?


A protein skimmer is essential for most systems(*), in particular where there is inexperience. The device is very useful as it helps significantly towards high water quality. The protein skimmer should be sized for around twice the net seawater capacity of the aquarium plus sump (if used). Now that the use of a sump (or not) has been decided, consider whether to use a hang-on or stand alone skimmer.


(* some mud based system designs do not require a skimmer.)





Heating?


The net gallonage of the system is known, so the heating need can be considered. (Note: it is best to purchase two heaters as this is a good safety feature for the aquarium inhabitants. Each heater should be one half of the total heating requirement.) In warm areas where temperatures are always above 80 deg F, the use of a seawater cooler (chiller) will replace heaters.





Return pump?


This only applies if using a sump. Seawater, once it has flowed to the sump, needs to be returned to the main aquarium. A pump is required for this. As a guide, the flow through the sump should be two or three times the net capacity of the system per hour. When considering the pump, remember to factor in the lift, that is the height from the pump level to the highest point that the returning seawater reaches before it enters the main aquarium.





2018Live2019 rock.


This is used for filtration purposes (it is excellent for this) and for the construction of the reef. It can also be used in a fish only system. Allow 1½ lbs for each gallon that is in the entire system. There are other filtration methods, but 2018live2019 rock coupled with a DSB in a sump is highly recommended.





Reverse osmosis (R/O) unit?


The R/O unit is a tap water filtration device that removes nearly all (around 95 to 98%) unwanted contaminants. Therefore the seawater mix is at its best from the start. It is highly recommended that R/O water is always used, including the first fill of the aquarium. R/O units come in different gallons per day outputs. Remember that usually the aquarium is filled completely only once. The normal routine water change amount is 10% of the net system gallonage weekly.





Dry salt mix?


There are several makes on the market. If keeping a reef system, obtain one that is 2018designed2019 for reefs, as additional attention has been given to calcium content etc. Fish only systems can use 2018standard2019 mixes or as described above.





Make a list.


As each item is gone through, find out and write down the likely cost. If it is electrical, also write down the wattage (W).





The evidence. When all items are priced, add them up. This represents a general guideline to the cost of setting up. If electrical, add up the wattage. Divide the total wattage by 1000, this will give kilowatts. The cost of electricity per kilowatt will be known. Multiply the number of kilowatts, including any fraction, by the cost per kilowatt, this is the approximate electrical running cost of the system per day. To get weekly, multiply by seven. Monthly, multiply by four. Etc. (Note: lights can be considered as being on 50% of the day. Heaters/coolers will not be on all the time, but it is difficult to determine a guideline percentage.)





OK. The list is there and it indicates the guideline aquarium equipment cost and electrical running cost of the system. These will not be completely accurate but near enough to either dissuade the desire to have an aquarium or to go ahead. There are other costs, of course. For example, no account has been taken of the fish and/or corals that are to inhabit the aquarium. Then additional equipment, often considered later, might be obtained, such as a calcium reactor, a de-nitrator, or a canister filter etc. Maybe coarse coral sand, ½ to 12033 deep, will be used as a decoration in the display aquarium.





Nevertheless, the scaffold will have achieved its purpose, which is to generally guide the new aquarist down a path that cuts its way through what can be a confusing beginning.





After the scaffold, there is still plenty to be done. Many answers can be found in the listed articles on this site (http://www.aquaristsonline.com).





Appropriate articles can be worked through one by one. Any remaining questions can go on the forum. The internet is an excellent resource for knowledge. Typing in a name, eg, marine aquarium lighting etc, into a search engine should produce a good response. Then, of course, there are books. Nothing like an hour of bedtime reading!

About the Author:

Peter Cunningham and John Cunningham combined have been keeping salt water aquarium's for nearly 35 years. Visit their site 'Aquarists Online' if you are interested in the saltwater aquarium hobby.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/starting-a-marine-aquarium-the-very-first-considerations-200638.html