Aquarium and Pond Care with EcoBio-Block

For novice aquarium hobbyists, cultivating a planted aquarium can be quite a challenge. Not only do you need to care for your fish, but you also have to worry about cultivating the ideal environment to support the health and growth of your aquarium fish. Maintaining live plants requires you to invest in special substrates, plant foods and tank equipment – if you are not prepared for the task, these things can be overwhelming. If you like the idea of adding live plants to your tank but aren’t sure you are ready to take on the challenge of a fully planted tank, you might want to consider adding some floating plants. Floating plants are generally easy to cultivate and they are a great way to ease yourself into cultivating a planted tank.

Benefits of Floating Plants

Floating plant

Floating aquarium plants provide a number of significant benefits. Perhaps the most important benefit is that they do not require planting – floating plants simply drift on the tank surface so they do not require any special substrate or planting medium. Floating aquarium plants play a particularly useful role in breeding tanks. The leaves and roots of floating plants may provide newly hatched fry with a place to hide from adult fish – the microorganisms living in and around the plants will also provide your fry with food. Another use for floating plants is to diffuse tank lighting – some species of fish prefer subdued lighting and adding floating plants to your tank is an easy way to accomplish this. Some floating plants, such as duck weed, can also be used as a supplementary food source for fish – it provides plant-based nutrition and grows very quickly so you do not have to keep replacing it.

Types of Floating Plants

There are a number of different species to choose from including:

Azolla
This plant is a type of floating fern and there are six different species. Though typically used in ponds, azolla may grow in tanks utilizing low water movement and high lighting. Azolla is unique in that it forms a symbiotic relationship with certain algae, boosting the nitrogen-fixing ability of tank algae.

Hornwort
These plants have feathery leaves and they tend to grow well in both high- and low-light conditions. Hornwort plants never produce roots, so there is no need to ever plant them in substrate. These plants grow quickly and are favored by fish that tend to feed on live plants.

Duckweed
There are several species of duckweed, many of which produce very small leaves. This plant is easy to grow in the aquarium and very popular among plant-eating fish.

Bladderwort
There are several species of bladderwort, some of which can be kept in the aquarium. These plants are unique because they are carnivorous, feeding on tiny insects and crustaceans. These plants are not recommended for breeding tanks because they are likely to eat newly hatched fry.

Crystalwort
This plant produce thick, bright green mats that looks similar to java moss. Crystalwort is ideal for diffusing tank lighting and providing shelter for newly hatched fry – it also grows very quickly under proper lighting conditions.

Tips for Floating Plants

Your floating plants are more likely to thrive if the water in your tank is kept clean. To achieve this, try adding an EcoBio-Stone to your freshwater tank. EcoBio-Stones are made from natural volcanic rock and they are infused both with beneficial bacteria and the nutrients they need to thrive. Once installed in your tank, EcoBio-Stones help to establish and maintain the nitrogen cycle, thus keeping your tank clean so your floating plants can thrive.

If you are used to keeping a freshwater tank, making the switch to a saltwater tank can be quite a challenge. Not only do you have to get used to new fish and tank equipment, but you also have to learn about a different set of water parameters. While many freshwater fish species can tolerate minor changes in water temperature or chemistry, some saltwater fish are highly sensitive to changes. Saltwater fish are also very sensitive to the mineral content of tank water. If there is not enough calcium, for example, your fish may not thrive. To prevent this from happening, consider using kalkwasser to maintain proper calcium levels in your tank.

What is Kalkwasser?

Kalkwasser is a solution of calcium hydroxide that has been dissolved in water. It is widely used by saltwater aquarium hobbyists to replenish depleted calcium stores in tank water. As water evaporates from the tank, the calcium level in your tank naturally declines. German for “lime water,” kalkwasser is effective in increasing calcium content in tank water without drastically affecting the pH or alkalinity of the water. This solution may provide additional benefits such as encouraging pink coralline algae growth and improving the buffering capacity of tank water.

Using Kalkwasser

You cannot simply add kalkwasser to your saltwater tank and hope that it has the desired effect. Adding too much kalkwasser to the tank at once can result in significant changes in water chemistry that would likely have a negative impact on your fish. Rather, it is best to add kalkwasser to the tank in small doses over time. To achieve this, saltwater aquarium hobbyists utilize one of two methods. The first method is to add kalkwasser when mixing the saltwater you use for water changes. This method can be effective as long as you mix the water within one day of using it – it may be difficult, however, to achieve the proper dosage.

A more exact method involves the use of a dosing pump or calcium reactor. These devices administer regulated doses of kalkwasser into the tank, often through a drip method, to replace the calcium store of tank water as it is depleted. If you are on a budget, a dosing pump is the more affordable option and you should be able to find them in a variety of sizes to accommodate your needs. If you have a very large or heavily stocked tank, a calcium reactor may be a better choice for you because it will be able to achieve more precise dosages. Regardless which device you choose, you must continue to test and monitor the calcium levels in your tank on a regular basis.

Other Tips and Considerations

Though it is not mandatory for saltwater aquarium hobbyists to use kalkwasser in their tanks, it is certainly an effective means of maintaining high water quality. If you are looking for other simple ways to keep your water quality high and your tank water clean, consider adding an EcoBio-Stone to your tank. These stones are made from natural volcanic rock, infused with beneficial bacteria and the nutrients needed to support them. Once you introduce an EcoBio-Stone into your tank, the bacteria will rapidly multiply and work to establish and maintain the nitrogen cycle resulting in cleaner, clearer tank water. In conjunction with the use of kalkwasser, an EcoBio-Stone is an easy way to maintain the water parameters in your tank.

Platies

One of the most popular groups of freshwater aquarium fish, particularly among novice aquarium hobbyists, is the livebearers. Included in this group are guppies, mollies, platies and swordtails – all of which are some of the most colorful species of freshwater aquarium fish. This group of fish was so named because, rather than laying eggs like many species, they produce live young. The fry produced by livebearers are often larger than the fry of egg-laying species just after birth and they tend to grow very quickly if fed properly. If you plan to breed the livebearers in your tank, take the time to read these tips and tricks.

Conditioning Tips for Fish

Before you can expect your livebearers to breed you need to properly condition them. The process of conditioning fish for breeding involves feeding them a healthy, varied diet – typically one that is high in protein. In addition to their traditional diet of commercial flakes or pellets, offer your fish small amounts of fresh, frozen and freeze-dried foods. Over time, you should notice the color of your fish becoming more vibrant. Males of livebearing species often develop intense color when they are ready for breeding and females may exhibit similar behavior. To increase your chances of success, condition the males and females in separate tanks and do not introduce them into the breeding tank until they are ready to spawn.

Tips for Encouraging Spawning

Once your fish are properly conditioned you can introduce them to the breeding tank. The breeding tank should be set up to match the conditions of the main tank, having the same water chemistry so your fish can make the transition seamlessly. You may also want to keep the bottom of the tank bare to facilitate easier cleanings and to make it easier to spot the fry once your fish have spawned. In many cases, fish that have been properly conditioned will mate very quickly after being introduced into the breeding tank. If your fish need a little encouragement, however, you might try raising the temperature in the tank by a degree or two. You may also find it helpful to provide two or three females for every male of a given species – this will reduce aggression between males and increase your chances of achieving a successful spawning.

Raising the Young

Once spawning has occurred it is wise to remove the parent fish from the tank so they do not eat their young. While some egg-laying species of fish exhibit parental care, livebearers typically do not so it is best to raise the fry on their own. Because fry are very small when they are first born they will not be able to accept traditional flake foods. Start your fry off on a diet of very small live foods like infusoria and brine shrimp nauplii. Offer the fry several small feedings per day to encourage quick growth during their first few days of life. After two weeks, begin performing weekly 25% water changes to keep the tank clean. As the fry grow you will be able to transition into larger foods like daphnia and eventually finely crushed flake foods.

Other Tips

One of the most important aspects of breeding aquarium fish is maintaining high water quality. If the water quality in your tank declines, not only are your fish likely to become stressed but they are also less likely to breed. In order to ensure success in breeding your livebearers, consider adding an EcoBio-Stone to your tank. EcoBio-Stones are made from porous volcanic cement and they are infused with beneficial bacteria. These bacteria will rapidly multiply in your tank, working to maintain the nitrogen cycle which will help to keep the water in your tank clean and clear. The cleaner the water is in your breeding tank, the more likely you are to be successful in breeding your livebearers.

planted nano tank

One of the most quickly-growing trends in the aquarium hobby is the nano tank. Nano tanks are simply small fish tanks, generally between 10 and 20 gallons in capacity. Not only are these tanks small enough that they do not take up a great deal of space but they are also less expensive than large tanks and offer the aquarium hobbyist a unique challenge. Before you make the decision to start a nano tank for yourself, take the time to learn the basics about cultivating this type of tank so you will be fully prepared when you embark on this exciting journey.

Equipping a Nano Tank

Choosing the equipment for a nano tank is not remarkably different from equipping a standard tank but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put a great deal of thought into it. The equipment you choose for your aquarium will have a significant impact on the overall health of the aquarium environment and the wellbeing of your fish. Because nano tanks are so much smaller than traditional tanks, they have a lesser capacity to dilute toxins which can have a negative effect on water quality. For this reason, it is imperative that you select a high-quality filtration system for your nano tank. Experienced aquarium hobbyists often advocate for natural filtration in nano tanks. That is, relying on live plants and eco-complete substrate to provide biological filtration rather than relying solely on external filtration to preserve water quality.

If you plan to cultivate live plants in your nano tank, choosing the right lighting system will also be very important. To make equipping your nano tank easier you may want to think about purchasing a nano tank kit. Some kits come with all the equipment you need to fulfill the needs of your nano tank in regard to heating, filtration and lighting. If you are an experienced aquarium hobbyist, however, you may already have preferences for certain types of equipment and may prefer to equip your nano tank yourself.

Stocking a Nano Tank

Stocking your nano tank can be tricky because you have such limited space to work with. Not only do you have to worry about the size of the fish you choose but you also need to think about compatibility issues – species that have territorial or aggressive tendencies may not do well in a nano tank. For the best results, stick to schools of community fish such as danios, rasboras and small tetras. You should also strive to achieve a balance among the species you choose in terms of activity level and swimming area so that your fish are spread evenly throughout the tank rather than crowding the area near the surface or the middle level of the tank.

While it is a good idea to stock your tank with schooling species, there is no reason you can’t also add one or two showcase fish – species that will get along with the other fish in your tank but that will also stand out in terms of appearance or behavior. It is also a good idea to add one or two bottom feeders or algae eaters to your tank to help keep detritus buildup under control. Species like Otocinclus catfish are a great choice for nano tanks because they remain fairly small and corydoras catfish may also be a good fit.

Other Tips

In addition to equipping and stocking your nano tank properly, you also need to be concerned with proper maintenance. Because the water volume in a nano tank is comparatively small, you may need to perform more frequent water changes than you would in a large tank just to maintain high water quality. To help keep the water quality in your nano tank high, consider installing an EcoBio-Stone S or –Planter in your tank. EcoBio-Block products are infused with beneficial bacteria that, once added to the aquarium, will rapidly multiply and work to maintain the nitrogen cycle. These bacteria will help to keep ammonia and nitrite levels low while also keeping your tank water clean and clear for about 2 years.

If you want to achieve an authentic look with your freshwater tank you should consider adding live aquarium plants. Not only will live plants transform the appearance of your tank but they will also provide numerous benefits such as increasing the oxygen level in your tank and helping to combat algae growth. While cultivating a planted tank is a rewarding experience it can also be a challenge and you may run into problems with your plants at one time or another. Luckily, many problems with aquarium plants are easily solved.

Plants Losing Color

One of the most common problems aquarium hobbyists encounter when cultivating a planted tank is having their live plants turn yellow. This problem is likely due to a lack of light but it could also be the result of nutrient deficiency. To deal with this problem, try upgrading to a more powerful full-spectrum bulb or replace your lighting system entirely. A planted tank requires at least 3 to 5 watts of light per gallon in order to thrive because plants are photosynthetic organisms and they use light as energy. Another possibility is that your plants are not receiving enough nutrients to foster healthy growth. In this case, all you need to do is fertilize your plants with root tabs or put down a layer of laterite or some other fertilizer beneath your aquarium substrate.

Weak Plant Growth

Another problem you might encounter when cultivating live plants is that your plants are weak or spindly – this problem may coincide with yellowing of the leaves or stems. The most common cause for this problem is insufficient lighting. If your plants look healthy when you first install them in the tank but they slowly become weak or spindly in their growth, the chances are good that the tank they were kept in previously had better lighting. Simply increase the lighting in your tank and this problem should go away.

Black Algae on Plants

If you do not maintain your tank properly, you may notice the leaves of live plants slowly turning black – this is not some kind of disease but rather a type of algae that has begun to grow due to poor tank conditions. The most common cause for this problem is excess phosphate in the tank which is generally caused by inadequate tank maintenance. Live plants require certain nutrients including nitrogen, potassium and phosphate to grow but when nutrient levels in the tank get too high, it could end up causing problems. Live plants are not the only things that require these nutrients to grow – algae will also thrive in tanks where nutrient levels are high. You may not be able to solve this problem by just scrubbing the algae away. You will have to perform a large water change to improve the water quality in your tank and then keep up a regular maintenance schedule, performing 15% water changes on a weekly basis.

Live aquarium plants make an excellent addition to any freshwater tank and, with a few basic preparations, they are fairly easy to maintain. A simple way to ensure that your live plants thrive is to incorporate an EcoBio-Planter or two in your tank. EcoBio-Planters are made from natural zeolite and crushed stone, formed in the shape of a planter to accommodate rooted plants. This planter is infused with beneficial bacteria which, upon being introduced into your tank, will help to establish and maintain the nitrogen cycle. Not only will these bacteria maintain the nitrogen cycle, but they will also help to control nutrient levels and to improve water quality, thus making your tank a healthier environment for live plants. If you want to cultivate a healthy and thriving planted tank, consider adding an EcoBio-Planter to your tank!