Category: Hygger Aquarium Official Blog

Excessive ammonia level is detrimental to fish skin, gills, and fins. Seriously, it can be fatal to your fish. So what can you do in the face of excessive ammonia in fish tanks? If you have no idea now, just read on. After reading, you will walk away with a much better understanding of ammonia in fish tanks. And you will learn ways to deal with excessive ammonia in fish tanks.

What is ammonia in fish tanks

Ammonia is a chemical compound, which is commonly composed of unionized ammonia (NH3) and ionized ammonia (NH4+). It is a result of the build-up and decomposing of fish waste, uneaten fish feces, and rotten organic substances. Also, fish release ammonia through their gills.

A high ammonia level in a fish tank makes ammonia release hard for fish, which causes stress on fish. As fish take in water rich in ammonia and release it through their gills, their gills will be damaged. Then fish would become hard to breathe. Furthermore, with a high ammonia level, all aquatic pets may suffer ammonia poisoning or death. Aside from that, ammonia can be a nutrient source for aquatic plants. However, excessive ammonia will also damage plants.

In short, ammonia is fatal to fish. Hence, it is essential to reduce ammonia in fish tanks, and the ammonia level should be approached zero. In this case, building a biological filter and cycling your new aquarium can be critically crucial. The biological filter provides places for nitrifying bacteria to grow, which helps to remove ammonia.

Ammonia cycle in fish tanks

Actually, the ammonia cycle can be one part of the nitrogen cycle. In other words, ammonia is the start of the nitrogen cycle. As fish waste and rotten organic matter accumulate and decompose, ammonia will be formed in a fish tank. Next, the ammonia will be converted to nitrite, and then to nitrate and nitrogen gas.

Generally, you should fully cycle your new fish tanks. Otherwise, the New Tank Syndrome will appear, which will lead to color fading and inactive fish.

What causes high ammonia levels in fish tanks

Before taking action to tackle high ammonia levels in fish tanks, you’d better know the causes first. In this segment, we will cover the causes of high ammonia levels in fish tanks.

• The build-up and decomposition of fish waste, uneaten fish feces, dead fish and plants, plus rotten organic substance.
• Fish breathing: Fish can release ammonia formed in their body through their gills.
• Overfeeding. Overfeeding will result in more uneaten food in fish tanks.
• Overstock. Overstock means more waste.
• Improper tank maintenance. It will lead to poor water quality and unhealthy living conditions.

How to remove ammonia from fish tanks naturally

Water changes and tank cleaning

Doing water changes can be effective. To reduce stress on aquatic pets, you can change 50 percent of the water first. After the water changes, test the water parameters. If the ammonia level remains high, it is feasible to change 15-30 percent of the water and retest the water. Additionally, during the water changes process, you can also remove fish feces and dirt, plus clean your fish tank.

In this case, a siphon gravel cleaner will help you a lot. It makes sense in tank gravel and sand cleaning, dirt removing, and water changing. With the help of a gravel cleaner, daily fish tank maintenance will be easier and time-saving.

Beneficial bacteria

Growing beneficial bacteria is not the most effective way to remove ammonia from fish tanks. The two beneficial bacteria, nitrifying bacteria and denitrifying bacteria, help to convert ammonia to nitrite, and then to nitrate and nitrogen gas. After that, the nitrate will be absorbed by aquatic plants or algae.

Aquarium filter media

Filter media provide room for beneficial bacteria to grow. But, if the filter media are trapped in fish waste and unnecessary debris or substances, you should clean the media gently with water in your tank. By the way, if necessary, you can replace the filter media.

Aquatic live plants

Adding more aquatic live plants is helpful to reduce and control ammonia levels. Because the live plants can consume ammonia in your tank. As the plants absorb ammonia in the tank, the ammonia level will be relatively reduced.

How to lower ammonia in saltwater tanks

Change aquarium water

In saltwater tanks, partial water changes may not be effective. As the ammonia level decreases slightly, the pH level will increase because of the buffering effect of the new water, then the remaining ammonia will be more harmful. Hence, you’d better change the water with ammonia-neutralizing products. For instance, change 50 percent of aquarium water. The ammonia-neutralizing products can transform ammonia into a non-toxic form, then it can be broken down by beneficial bacteria or be removed by doing water changes.

Remove dead fish

If you find dead fish in saltwater tanks, especially large dead fish, you’d better remove them. Because it takes time to decompose, which will improve ammonia levels. Exactly, ammonia increasing is harmful to other aquatic pets in the tank.

Reduce or stop feeding

Stop-feeding can be an excellent choice. Because feeding means more waste, which will raise the ammonia level. Besides that, you can also remove some fish from another aquarium.

Grow beneficial bacteria

In saltwater aquariums, growing beneficial bacteria, like nitrifying bacteria, are helpful to transform ammonia into nitrite, and then to nitrate. As a result, the ammonia level will be greatly reduced.

The bottom line

To conclude, ammonia is detrimental to fish. In daily maintenance, you can observe the ornamental fish. You’d better test your water immediately and find the root cause once you find something abnormal, like inactive, lethargy, loss of diet, color fading, gasping for air on the water surface, etc. By the way, each time you want to introduce fish to a new tank, it is better to cycle the tank first. It can greatly lower the risk of facing health issues exactly.

For more about ammonia in fish tanks, you can read:

Except for piranhas and common ornamental fish, like neon tetras, cichlids, and guppies, there are mosquito fish. They are fish famous for controlling the population of mosquitoes. If you know little about mosquito fish, it does not matter. In today’s article, we will get into the mosquito fish. And we will share a short but interesting aquarium story about mosquito fish. After reading, you will have a much better understanding of mosquito fish. Rant over, let’s dig in.

What are mosquito fish

Mosquito fish are freshwater fish native to North America. They consume mosquito larvae and hence can be used to control mosquitoes at home. It is said that adult mosquito fish can consume up to two thousand mosquito larvae per day. Considering the contribution to mosquito control, some people give mosquito fish the title – the hero of mosquito control.

Compared with other freshwater fish, mosquito fish are small. Commonly, females are larger than males. The females can grow up to 2.8 inches (7 cm), while the males reach 1.6 inches (4 cm).

Also, mosquito fish come in gray, featuring a large and white abdomen, an upturned mouth, plus rounded dorsal and caudal fins. Besides the pelvic fin, there are small black spots on other fins. Furthermore, there are black strips along the back and the end of the tail.

Next, let’s know more about mosquito fish in the table below.

Family	Poeciliidae	Size	Female: 2-2.8 inches Male: 1-1.6 inches
Scientific name	Gambusia affinis	Lifespan	1.5-3 years
Common name	Mosquito fish /Western Mosquitofish /Live-bearing Tooth-carp /Gambusia /Gambezi	Diet	Omnivore (e.g. zooplankton, mosquito larvae, and other invertebrates)

Features of mosquito fish

Mosquito fish can be found in shallow water. It possesses great adaptability and can survive in living environments with a low oxygen level, saline water, and a high temperature approaching 108 ℉ (42 ℃) for a short period. Nonetheless, mosquito fish prefer living in tanks with a water temp ranging from 77 ℉ to 86 ℉. In this case, to provide a habitable living environment and make your fish live longer, adding an aquarium heater can be a great choice.

Aside from that, mosquito fish are aggressive and predatory. They would nip other fish’s fins and injure or consume small fish. So, when you set up a mosquito fish aquarium, be cautious about tank mates. For instance, slow-moving fish may not be an excellent option.

Additionally, the minimum tank size of mosquito fish should be 10 gallons. But, mosquito fish are fond of living in groups. Therefore, a fish tank keeping schooling of mosquito fish can be larger than 10 gallons. So they can have plenty of room to swim and explore around the tank.

Given below are some requirements for a mosquito fish aquarium.

Ideal water temperature	77-86℉	Nitrate level	Less than 20 ppm
pH level	6.5-8.0	Reproduction	Viviparous
Ammonia level	0 ppm	Temperament	Aggressive
Nitrite level	Nitrite level	Minimum tank size	10 gallons

Aquarium story of mosquito fish

Seeing that introducing mosquito fish is effective in dealing with mosquitoes. As a result, mosquito fish are introduced to reduce the population of mosquitoes, during the 1920s-1950s, mosquito fish were used to eliminate malaria in Sochi, Russia. Then a monument was constructed in Sochi to commemorate it. Until now, mosquito fish are still a biological control method to deal with mosquitoes in some places.

Key takeaways

Actually, mosquito fish do make sense in reducing the population of mosquitoes. However, mosquito fish thriving will cause ecological impacts. As mosquito fish flood in, it can be a threat to indigenous fish, leading to the reduction or even disappearance of indigenous species. Thus, though mosquito fish are beneficial in eliminating malaria, it also threatens the ecosystem. By the way, never introduce the mosquito to the wild. Otherwise, the local ecological environment will suffer destroyed.

That is it. For additional ideas about mosquito fish, welcome to share with us in the comment, we are happy to receive your sharing. Plus, if you want to know more amusing aquarium anecdotes, just stay tuned to hygger aquarium anecdote. We will share more in later blogs. Finally, thank you for taking the time and we hope this article helps.

An imbalanced aquarium can be a nightmare. But what does the balance in aquariums mean? Or how to balance fish tank at home? If you are strange with the questions, just read on, you will get more ideas in this article. Now, let’s dive in.

What’s the balance in aquariums

In fact, a balanced aquarium should be a healthy aquarium. Everything in the aquarium remains stable and all pets and plants live peacefully. However, once your aquarium is out of balance, there will be two scenarios – fish take over the aquarium or plants dominate the aquarium. If fish take over the aquarium, they will produce excess waste or toxins, which will limit plant growth or even lead to poor water quality.

On the contrary, in the face of plants dominating the aquarium, they will consume carbon dioxide causing the raise of carbonate compounds. While the nutrients for fish and beneficial bacteria will be greatly diminished. As a result, the aquarium will be trapped and the ecology will be put out of action.

However, if you take no action until your aquarium is trapped in the imbalanced status mentioned above, you will be powerless to save the desperate situation. So, observe and monitor your aquarium regularly. Once you find something abnormal, try to find the root cause, and then make adjustments. For example, if your tank lacks oxygen, fish will gasp for air on the water surface.

How to balance planted aquariums

Get to know the balance in planted aquariums

Before getting into how to balance a planted aquarium, let’s learn what is balance in planted aquariums. Actually, to keep plants healthy and live happily in aquariums, there are three key points, including light, nutrients, and carbon dioxide. And the balance in planted aquariums is to keep peace among the three points.

Key points to keep balance in planted aquariums

For keeping a healthy aquarium, we will share how to keep balance in planted aquariums.

Light

Factors, including light intensity, temperature, and carbon dioxide concentration, will affect the rate of photosynthesis. Nonetheless, although there are suitable levels of temperature and carbon dioxide, photosynthesis still can not be fast because of light intensity deficiency.

As for planted tanks, higher light intensity brings more light to the leaves. When you adjust the light intensity from dim to intense, the rate of photosynthesis will get improved, since more light is available to push the photosynthesis. Nevertheless, the rate of photosynthesis will keep stagnant once the light intensity gets optimal. The number of chlorophyll molecules will limit the rate. The light begins to damage your plants at an extremely high light intensity, then the rate will relatively drop. Moreover, intense light will lead to the thriving of algae, which will limit the growth of aquatic plants. If the plants are covered with algae, they are unable to photosynthesize and will stop growing.

On the contrary, facing unreasonable low light, plants are usually eager to gain more light by growing taller or changing the morphology of leaves. However, if so, some plants may not show their original bright colors.

Definitely, everything has two sides. It is necessary to keep suitable and stable light for various plants. But how to set the light? You can set the light according to the tank size and types of plants. The table below gives you some ideas.

Types of aquatic plants	Lighting hours	Light intensity	Light intensity
Low light plants (e.g. Moss, Java fern, Anubias)	8-10 hours	10-20 lumens/liter	15-30 PAR (10-50 μmol/s)
Medium-light plants (e.g. Red flame sword, Micro sword, Pearl weed)	10 hours	20-40 lumens/liter	30-80 PAR (50-120 μmol/s)
High light plants (e.g. Red or colored aquatic plants)	10-12 hours	More than 40 lumens/liter	More than 80 PAR (120-200 μmol/s, or higher)

If you want to learn more about light settings for planted aquariums, you can go to:

Nutrients
Generally, the nutrients consist of macronutrients and micronutrients. Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus can be macronutrients. While micronutrients include calcium, iron, magnesium, etc. You can add fertilizer tablets or liquid fertilizers regularly to avoid nutrient deficiency.

Here are some symptoms of nutrient deficiency in aquatic live plants.

Types of nutrient deficiency	Symptoms of aquatic live plants
Nitrogen deficiency	Yellow or translucent leaves & Stunted growth
Potassium deficiency	Yellow margins or distinct pinholes on leaves & Shrink leaves
Phosphorus deficiency	Leaves close to the base of the stem turn brown or red
Phosphate deficiency	Yellow leaves with brown patches
Calcium deficiency	Twisted growth & Malformed leaves
Magnesium deficiency	Magnesium deficiency
Iron deficiency	Yellow leaves with dark veins

However, sometimes you still can not determine the nutrient deficiency types according to the symptoms of plants mentioned above. In this case, you can ask for a water test kit for help. Then you can find the root cause.

Then, how to keep sufficient and balanced nutrients for plants? Commonly, you should know the nutrient requirements of your plants. Also, you’d better not keep fast-growing and slow-growing plants in one tank. Because fast-growing plants will consume more nutrients, leading to the risk of nutrient deficiency for slow-growing plants. Furthermore, do not add too much fertilizer. Otherwise, algae will thrive in your tank.

Carbon dioxide

In addition to great living conditions and necessary nutrients, adding carbon dioxide sometimes can be crucial. Commonly, plants will consume carbon dioxide during the photosynthesis process. Hence, in aquariums with fast-growing plants, carbon dioxide injection may be vital. However, as the carbon dioxide level increases, the oxygen level will relatively decrease. In this case, you should make sure of great water surface agitation and gas exchange. Otherwise, your fish may face oxygen deficiency and hard breathing, which would lead to suffocation.

How do keep the fish tank balanced?

Then, how to balance fish tank?

Light

Fish need light to determine the time (day or night), as well as find food and interact with their partners. Also, light helps enhance fish’s color and provides a more natural habitat for fish. Different fish species possess diverse light requirements. Some fish prefer bright light, and others are fond of dim light. Given below are some references.

• Photophobic fish: Glass catfish, Notopterus chitala, Black ghost fish, Aba knifefish
• Highlight fish: Red swordtail, Molly fish, Tiger barb, Harlequin rasbora
• Dim light fish: Tetras or Angelfish native to jungles or wetlands
• Nocturnal fish: Corydoras, Amur catfish, Loaches

But in general, you should keep your aquarium light on for about 8-10 hours each day. If fish do not receive sufficient light, they will face poor metabolism, stunted growth, lethargy, and loss of color.

For more about light settings in fish tanks, you can read:

Filtration

Building a great filtration system can be the key point. As a waste, fish feces, uneaten food, decaying plants’ leaves, or other unnecessary debris build-up, your aquarium will be trapped in poor water quality. A great filtration system helps to filter unnecessary debris and convert harmful substances into harmless ones. Besides that, the filter media provide places for nitrifying bacteria to grow.

Water temperature

Most fish require a constant water temperature. Sudden changes in water temp will threaten their survival. In this case, you’d better research the ideal range of water temperature for your fish. Then you can determine whether to add an aquarium heater or not.

Maintain pH balance in a tank

In addition to the ways to keep balance in planted or fish tanks, this segment will share something about how to keep the water parameters balanced. For example, pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, silicate, chlorine, water hardness, etc. Let’s have a look at some of them.

pH level

The pH fluctuation may result in fish death. So keep in mind – check the pH level regularly. Actually, you can control the pH level in many ways. For instance, control pH naturally. It is a long-term remedy and is less harmful to fish. Just add something that can slowly release acid or alkaline elements, like Indian almond leaves, wood, and coral sand. While some can also make your tank more aesthetic.

Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate level

As nitrifying bacteria break down the waste, the ammonia level will correspondingly improve in your tank. Also, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate formations are parts of the nitrogen cycle. But once the nitrogen cycle is finished in a new tank, the ammonia and nitrite levels should be maintained at zero. Furthermore, though nitrate is less harmful, excessive nitrate is damaging to fish. Consequently, in the face of high levels of ammonia or nitrite, growing nitrifying bacteria or changing water can be excellent choices. Plus, you can know more about ammonia control in What to do if Ammonia is High in Fish Tanks.

Phosphate level

Phosphate formation can be the result of the mineralization of waste, like fish feces, uneaten food, rotted plants, etc. Facing an imbalanced phosphate level, it is feasible to clean your tank and rinse the aquarium supplies, such as aquarium substrate, decors, and filter media.

How long does it take to balance a fish tank?

In general, it takes 6-7 weeks to balance a fish tank. It takes time to grow beneficial bacteria and finish the tank cycle. Take new aquariums as an example, you’d better finish the nitrogen cycle first. Then you can gradually introduce fish. Without the nitrogen cycle, New Tank Syndrome, ammonia stress, or nitrite poisoning will appear.

Reminder

Aside from the methods to keep aquariums balanced mentioned above, daily and proper tank maintenance is significantly critical. For example, regular water changes, water testing, water temp monitoring, cleaning, etc.

That’s it. Thanks for taking the time. Hope you will have an enjoyable aquarium experience.

In freshwater aquariums, except for aquarium decors, various freshwater crustaceans can be a great addition, featuring unique characteristics. So here in this article, we are going to discuss something about freshwater crustaceans, like their characteristics, classification, and diet. Without wasting much time, let’s dive into the topic.

What are crustaceans

Get into freshwater crustaceans

Freshwater crustaceans can be found in streams. Featuring a hard and jointed exoskeleton, crustaceans come in various colors and patterns. Also, they have gills for breathing.

Actually, crustaceans can be great tank cleaners. Some are scavengers, which consume uneaten fish food to keep clean aquariums. While some do well in algae control. They consume algae in aquariums. For instance, ghost shrimp, Amano shrimp, and Cherry shrimp.

Besides that, crustaceans will molt as they grow up. During the molting period, they will burrow or hide. The molting process commonly takes a few minutes or a few hours. Hence, the substrate should not be sharp. Otherwise, crustaceans may be injured. Also, you’d better keep crustaceans in tanks with plenty of hiding places.

Most freshwater crustaceans are omnivorous. The adult size and average lifespan can be varied from diverse species. But most of them prefer a water temperature ranging from 72 ℉ to 82 ℉. And the minimum tank size should not be less than 5 gallons. Just determine it according to the crustacean species. For example, many shrimp prefer living in groups. Accordingly, the tank should be larger to avoid overcrowding.

A list of freshwater crustaceans

Next, we will give a brief list of popular freshwater crustaceans.

Algae shrimp	Amano shrimp	Hermit crab
Bamboo shrimp	Cherry shrimp	Freshwater lobsters (e.g. Blue lobsters, Vanilla lobsters, Tangerine lobsters)
Ghost shrimp	Crystal shrimp	Crayfish (e.g. Red swamp crayfish, Dwarf orange crayfish)

Compatible tank mates for freshwater crustaceans

Among freshwater crustaceans, some species are territorial, like freshwater lobsters and crayfish. Thus, to keep your tank balanced and peaceful, you’d better keep them with compatible tank mates. Given below are some excellent choices.

Small tetras	Platy fish	Hatchet fish
Dwarf gouramis	Rainbow fish	Killifish
Guppy fish	Rasbora	Small danios

What do crustaceans eat

A balanced diet is undisputed. Generally, the available foods include uneaten fish food, debris in your tank, fallen leaves of live plants, algae, organic matter, sinking pellets, wafers, flakes, frozen food, etc. In molting crustaceans, they require extra food to form new exoskeletons.

Let’s give you some examples. Take a look at lobsters first. In captivity, algae, plants, dead aquatic pets, worms, and some commercial food can be their diet. On the other side, hermit crabs eat vegetables and fruits. Also, hermit crabs need to drink water. Therefore, you should provide clean freshwater or saltwater. But do not use tap water. Since the chlorine and minerals in tap water are harmful to hermit crabs. By the way, most hermit crabs are nocturnal. Consequently, it is best to feed them at night.

Aside from that, ghost shrimp are great scavengers. The leftover on the bottom of the fish tank can be a food source for them. Also, algae, aquatic plants, larvae, and pellets are available foods. Actually, as omnivorous pets, you can feed ghost shrimp varieties of foods.

Are shrimp crustaceans

Definitely, shrimp are crustaceans. As one of crustacean, shrimp are also easy to keep. They are not picky eaters and eat almost everything. So, as for the cost of food, they are lower cost. In this segment, let’s take a look at freshwater aquarium shrimp.

• The available food sources include aquatic plant leaves, vegetables (e.g. Cucumber, Zucchini, Spinach), algae, biofilm, cuttlebone, bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and pellets.
• Some shrimp are nocturnal. They will hide in aquariums, while they will be active and eat at night. For example, the Peppermint shrimp, Amano shrimp, and Ghost shrimp.
• Introducing shrimp is beneficial to keep fish tanks clean. Aside from removing algae, some shrimp also make sense in cleaning aquarium glass by stripping algae from the aquarium walls.
• Shrimp are easy to breed. Because they can carry the eggs underneath the body.
• The same as most crustaceans, freshwater shrimp can molt. You may be surprised about it. Definitely, they often molt at young ages. Actually, it is common for shrimp to melt once a week.
• Shrimp are great swimmers, and they usually walk around aquariums.

If you want to know more about shrimp in aquariums, you can go to:

Signs of a healthy crustacean

Unhealthy crustaceans can pose threats to your tank. Then, how can you tell whether they are healthy or not? Here are some signs of healthy and unhealthy crustaceans.

	Signs
Healthy crustaceans	1. Even color 2. Great appetite 3. Active in the aquarium 4.No missing appendages or antennas
Unhealthy crustaceans	1. Color fading 2. Loss of appetite 3. Spots or fungus on the body 4. Inactive 5. Missing appendages or antennas 6. Body or surface erosion 7. White growth on the head

The bottom line

Crustaceans are not picky eaters, making them an excellent alternative in aquariums. To keep crustaceans healthy, here are some pointers for you.

• Provide an appropriate tank size and make sure plenty of hiding places and space. Overcrowded tanks will cause stress or even disease to crustaceans.
• Maintaining great water quality and stable water parameters is vital for crustaceans.
• Do regular water changes. For instance, change 10-25 percent of water every two weeks.
• Build a great filtration system. And change the filter media once each month.
• Monitor water temperature daily and test the water once each week.
• To grow crustaceans’ shells, you’d better provide sufficient calcium.
• Never apply copper-based medications, which are toxic to crustaceans.
• Introduce new aquatic pets gradually.

That’s all for today. For additional information about freshwater crustaceans, welcome to share with us in the comment. We are happy to receive your sharing. Finally, thanks for your time and we hope this article helps. Best wishes for your aquarium journey.

If you have ever kept a fish tank, you should know that most fish can not leave from water for a long time. But do you know how long can different fish live out of water? If you know little about it. Just read on. This article will discuss how fish breathe and how long can fish live outside of water, including aquarium fish live out of water. You will walk away with a better understanding of fish.

Aquarium fish breathe in the water

Fish breathe through gills

Most fish can breathe in the water with the help of their gills. As fish open their mouth, water will pass through their gills, which absorb the dissolved oxygen in the water. And the tiny blood vessels on their gills enable the oxygen to get into the fish’s bloodstream.

While fish take in oxygen, they will produce carbon dioxide. To prevent fish from getting trapped in hard breathing, sometimes you need to add an air pump to aerate the water and improve the oxygen level in your tank. It is a mechanical device to circulate water with electricity. And it makes sense in oxygenating aquarium water, expelling excess carbon dioxide, and increasing water pressure.

Fish breathe through labyrinth organ

Aside from fish breathing with gills, some fish can take in oxygen directly and absorb oxygen into the bloodstream with the help of the labyrinth organ. Similar to the lungs, the organ is behind fish’s gills. However, the labyrinth fish is not born with a fully formed labyrinth organ. It is gradually formed as the fish grow up. And the organ is finally fully formed until the fish becomes mature.

Furthermore, the oxygen concentration of the water around the fish’s growth environment determines the size of the organ. And the two are negatively correlated. For example, if the labyrinth fish is in low oxygen areas, its labyrinth organ tends to be larger and more complex than that of those in rich oxygen areas. Nevertheless, although labyrinth fish can breathe via gills and labyrinth organs, the fish will breathe via the organ most of the time after it is fully formed.

Fish breathe through respiratory systems

Additionally, amphibious fish are named air-breathing fish. They can breathe through gills or modified air bladder respiratory systems. Moreover, some fish have lungs to take in oxygen.

How long can a fish live out of water?

If fish are out of the water, how long can they live depends on whether their gills are wet or not. If the gills are dry, they will die quickly. Also, how long aquarium fish can survive out of water is determined by fish species, varying from a few minutes to a few months. Generally, once fish are taken out of the water, brackish water, saltwater, amphibious fish can live longer in comparison with freshwater fish. Because freshwater fish are commonly smaller and possess fragile gills.

Brackish water fish

Fish	Out-of-water survival time
Mangrove killifish	Several weeks or months
Archerfish	A few minutes
Scats	A few minutes
Pufferfish	A few minutes

If you are interested in brackish water fish, you can learn more in Brackish Water Fish And Aquarium and How to Care for Brackish Water Fish.

Freshwater fish

Fish	Out-of-water survival time
Snakehead fish	A few days
Tetras	About 10 minutes
Goldfish	Over a few minutes
Betta fish	About one hour

Generally, freshwater fish can live outside of water for about 10–60 minutes. It depends on the fish species. Specifically, given below are examples.

• Goldfish: They can live up to approximately ten minutes outside of water. However, sometimes they may die within one minute because of stress and panic.
• Walking catfish: As they have an organ allowing gills to absorb oxygen from the air, they can live longer out of water, nearly 18 hours. The pectoral fins enable them to move on land.

Saltwater fish

Most saltwater fish can survive for about a few minutes or hours outside of water. Clownfish can live a few hours out of water. Furthermore, large saltwater fish can live several hours out of water. Because the large body size enables them to keep oxygen levels for a longer time. Blue whales, for example. They can live for a few hours outside of water.

How long can amphibious fish live outside of water?

Amphibious fish can live longest outside of water. In general, amphibious animals can live both on land and in water. The common amphibious fish include Mudskippers, Lungfish, Bluespotted mudhopper, Shuttles hoppfish, etc. For instance, some freshwater snakehead fish are amphibious. They can survive in low-oxygen rivers and can live a few days outside of water.

Conclusion

Until now, have you known more about fish breathing? Some fish can not live longer outside of water. Thus, you should be cautious during the process of water changes, tank cleaning, and transportation. You can prepare another container to stock fish temporarily during the water changes process. By the way, oxygen deficiency, excess ammonia or nitrates, stress, polluted water, and illness will result in labored breathing fish. If you want to learn how to prevent fish from heavy breathing, you can read How to Treat a Fish with Heavy Breathing.

To conclude, the following factors affect the out-of-water survival time, including fish species, fish size, and environmental conditions. Freshwater fish can not survive for a long time outside of water. Plus, small fish live shorter than large fish out of water. Moreover, if your fish live on substances with great water-absorbing quality, they will not live longer outside of water. No matter what fish species are, they will die soon.

That’s it. If you have more ideas about this topic, welcome to share with us in the comment. We are happy to receive your sharing. Finally, thank you for reading. And we hope this article helps.

-Lighting color you should know

Hey, dear friends! We have mentioned something about light settings for aquariums in previous blogs. But do you know what light color is best for the growth of fish, plants, or algae? If the answer is negative, just read on. In today’s article, we are going to talk about light colors for your aquariums. You will walk away with a much better understanding of light color settings in tanks.

Color light do fish not like

Fish have poor color versions and they can not see all color spectrum that humans can see. They can see light with short wavelengths, like blue and green. However, they are unable to see light with long wavelengths, like orange and yellow. Also, most fish can not see UV light. In captivity, providing a proper light spectrum is critically crucial. White and blue lights are excellent options for both fish tanks and planted aquariums.

Furthermore, orange and yellow lights may not make sense in enhancing fish colors. Also, lights with lower intensity may be the same. By the way, aside from light, there are other factors. For example, genetics, diet, living conditions, etc.

However, no matter what light colors, never set prolonged and intense light. Otherwise, fish will not like it. And fish may feel stressed.

What color light is best for fish

To make fish brilliant and brighter, you can set the following light colors.

Light colors	Light colors
Blue light	1. Enhance fish color 2. Promote feeding behavior in some fish species 3. Be helpful to calcium absorption (e.g. shrimp, duckbill fish, corals)
Green light	1. Attract fish 2. Reduce stress and aggression in some fish species
White light	1. Attract fish 2. Enhance fish color
Red light	Make fish’s colors more vibrant (e.g. discus fish, blood parrots, red goldfish)

Nonetheless, fish do not need light at night, they need time to rest. Commonly, the light you set for your fish tank should mimic the day and night cycle. Except for enhancing fish color, the light also enables fish to know the time (day and night).

Consequently, you’d better keep the light off at night. Besides, keeping the light on all day and night would cause stress on fish, while it also leads to algae thriving, making cloudy water and dirty aquarium. Once fish get stressed, they may become inactive and lose desire of appetite. Furthermore, if there are algae in your tank, reducing the light is necessary.

In short, the great light colors are blue, white, and red. The ideal light colors for freshwater tanks are a combination of red and blue light. And you should keep the light on for about 6–10 hours each day.

But for saltwater tanks, the combination of blue, red, and white light is a better choice. Blue lights are good for corals, shrimp, and fish. It makes sense to absorb calcium and strengthen health. On the other hand, red light plays a role in helping fish grow and forming bright colors. For saltwater reef tanks, you should keep the light on for 8–12 hours per day. Without plenty of light, corals may suffer death.

What color light helps plants grow

Proper light color for aquatic plants

Compared with fish, aquatic plants highly demand light spectrum. They need a specific range of light wavelengths to grow and bring out the colors. In planted aquariums, the best combination of light colors should be red, blue, and green.

Light colors	Impacts on aquatic plants
Red light	1. Be helpful to promote the production of chlorophyll and photosynthesize 2. Be crucial for flowering and fruiting
Blue light	1. Be helpful to photosynthesize 2. Make the colors of plants’ leaves darker 3. Be good for stem growth
Green light	Maximizes plants’ exposure to light and makes sense for plant growth

Other factors affecting plant growth

Additionally, light intensity and lighting time are other factors affecting the growth of aquatic plants.

Only with suitable light intensity, plants of red or chromatic colors can possess brilliant colors. On the other hand, except for chlorophyll, plants also contain other pigments, such as anthocyanin and carotene. If there is subdued light, the proportion of chlorophyll will be promoted. And it enhances photosynthesis efficiency. On the contrary, in the case of extremely intensive light, the chlorophyll would be damaged by too much light. Since then, the production of photopigments, such as carotenoids, will increase, which will lead to bright colors of leaves, red leaves, for instance.

Moreover, the same as fish, live plants also require time to rest. It is recommended to turn off your light at night. Then plants will stop photosynthesizing.

Light requirements of different aquatic plants

As the light requirements vary from diverse plant species. Given below are some references.

Types of aquatic plants	Lighting hours	Light intensity	PAR values
Low light plants (e.g. Moss, Java fern, Anubias)	8–10 hours	10-20 lumens/liter	15-30 PAR (10-50 μmol/s)
Medium-light plants (e.g. Red flame sword, Micro sword, Pearl weed)	10 hours	20-40 lumens/liter	30-80 PAR (50-120 μmol/s)
High light plants (e.g. red or colored aquatic plants)	10–12 hours	More than 40 lumens/liter	More than 80 PAR (120-200 μmol/s, or higher)

What color light makes algae grow

As we have mentioned above, excess light will promote algae growth. So, what light color contributes to algae growth? A high blue and green light will result in algae thriving.

On the other side, though there is no specific light to completely stop algae thriving, warm light with lower intensity is helpful to limit or reduce algae growth. For example, orange and yellow light.

Additionally, if you want to limit algae growth in aquariums. Maintaining great water quality and keeping proper nutrient levels are critically crucial. Because poor water quality and excessive nutrients can be reasons for algae growth.

For more about aquarium algae or algae controlling in aquariums, you can go to:

Finally, there is a summary of the best light colors for different tank types.

Tank types	The best light colors
Freshwater tanks	red and blue
Saltwater tanks	blue, red, and white
Planted tanks	red, blue, and green

Tetras, belonging to the Characidae family, come in diverse species. Featuring a bright orange-red color, ember tetras are one popular species of them. Before getting into the care guides of ember tetras, let’s take a brief look at ember tetras.

Scientific name	Hyphessobrycon amandae	Care Level	Easy
Family	Characidae	Temperament	Peaceful
Origin	the Araguaia River basin in Brazil	Diet	Omnivore
Adult size	About 1 inch	Swimming level	Middle
Lifespan	2–4 years	Minimum tank size	10 gallons

What do ember tetras eat

In fact, ember tetras are small and peaceful fish. They are omnivores. In their natural habitat, they primarily consume small insects, crustaceans, and plant matter. However, in captivity, you can feed them daphnia, bloodworms, brine shrimp, small insects, flakes, pellets, and frozen or live foods. Just keep in mind – a balanced diet rich in protein is necessary. It ensures sufficient nutrients for ember tetras.

Besides that, never overfeed. As it can lead to health problems and poor water quality in your aquarium. Just offer small amounts of food 2–3 times each day, and only feed as much as the fish can consume in 2–3 minutes.

Can Ember Tetra live without a filter and heater

Can Ember tetra live without a filter in aquariums

Technically, ember tetras can survive without a filter in aquariums. Nonetheless, it is not recommended. Because an aquarium filter plays a vital part in maintaining great water quality. It helps to filter aquarium water and remove waste, excess nutrients, plus harmful substances.

Without an aquarium filter, your aquarium would be polluted quickly and suffer poor water quality, which poses threats to fish health. By the way, for more about aquarium filters, you can read:

Can Ember tetra live without a heater in aquariums

Ember tetras are tropical fish. They need a stable and consistent water temperature. Consequently, you’d better add an aquarium heater in ember tetra aquariums. Ember tetras prefer a water temp ranging from 73 ℉ to 84 ℉. If the water temperature is out of the preferred ranges, ember tetras will face stress and the risk of suffering disease.

Thus, it is generally not recommended to keep ember tetras in an aquarium without a heater, especially in cooler environments. An aquarium heater makes sense in maintaining a stable water temperature and keeping the water temperature within the appropriate range.

If you want to learn more about aquarium heaters, you can go to:

Ember tetra care

Monitor the aquarium water

It includes the water temperature and water quality. Below are some references. You can test the water once a week with the help of aquarium water test strips.

Regular water changes and tank cleaning

To maintain great water quality, regular water changes are necessary. It is feasible to change 15-30 percent of water once each week. During the process of water changes, you can also clean your tank. Just determine according to your tank status. Furthermore, it is better to wash the filter media once per month. Indeed, you can have the help of a gravel cleaner to do water changes and tank cleaning quickly.

Tank mates

Ember tetras are peaceful and get along well with small and non-aggressive fish. For instance, guppy fish, cherry barbs, and corydoras. And it is better not to keep ember tetras with large and aggressive fish, which may cause fights and injury.

Aquarium decor

Ember tetras fancy an aquarium with plenty of aquatic plants. Also, you should provide adequate hiding places and open swimming areas. Definitely, aquatic live plants and other decor create a natural and comfortable environment.

How many ember tetras are in a 10-gallon tank

Ember tetras are schooling fish. Accordingly, they are in groups of at least 6 individuals in a tank, which helps to reduce stress. They are peaceful and non-aggressive and can be kept with other small, non-aggressive fish. Featuring a small size, ember tetras can be a great addition to small aquariums or peaceful community aquariums. Generally, they can grow up to about 1 inch and can be kept in a minimum tank size of 10 gallons.

The number of ember tetras that can be kept in a 10-gallon tank depends on several factors, including the size of the fish, the filtration and aeration of the tank, and the presence of other fish or aquatic creatures. But in general, a 10-gallon tank can stock 6-8 ember tetras.

In closing

In summary, ember tetras are peaceful and easy to care for. So, they are an excellent option for beginners. Finally, there are some interesting facts about ember tetras.

• Ember tetras are hardy. As long as they are kept in suitable ranges of water temperatures, they can tolerate a wide range of water conditions.
• Ember tetras are famous for their bright orange-red coloration, which is caused by the presence of carotenoid pigments in their scales.
• In captivity, the average lifespan of ember tetras approaches 2–4 years. But they may live longer with proper maintenance and a healthy environment.
• In the wild, Ember tetras are preyed upon by a variety of larger fish and aquatic predators. Hence, to avoid being eaten, they rely on their schooling behavior and fast swimming ability.

South American Cichlids can be found in rivers, lakes, streams, or swamps in South America. Some species can also be found in Central America. As they get popular in the aquarium trade, South American Cichlids have a wide distribution throughout the world. Actually, South American Cichlids are fascinating fish, coming in various colors and patterns. The sizes range from small dwarf to large.

Also, there are diverse South American Cichlids. Some popular species include Oscar Cichlid, Peacock Bass, Angel Fish, and Apistogramma Cichlids. Generally, South American Cichlids are easy to care for. However, it is vital to keep them in a comfortable living environment.

To learn more about South American Cichlids, just read on. This article will dive deep into South American Cichlids.

Large South American Cichlid

Some popular large South American Cichlids

Large South American Cichlids are aggressive, coming in size ranging from 10 to 30 inches (25-75 cm). In this part, we will cover some popular large South American Cichlids.

• Oscar Cichlid (Astronotus ocellatus)

As one of the popular and well-known cichlid species, Oscar Cichlids feature bold coloration and active behavior. They can grow up to 12–14 inches (30-35 cm) and require a large aquarium.

• Red Devil (Amphilophus labiatus)

Being famous for striking red coloration and territorial behavior, Red Devils are a large and aggressive cichlid species. They can grow up to 15–18 inches (38-46 cm). And they prefer large aquariums with plenty of hiding places.

• Peacock Bass (Cichla species)

Peacock Bass are a group of large predatory cichlids that are known for their impressive size and predatory behavior. They can grow up to 24–30 inches (60-75 cm). Plus, they need large aquariums with plenty of swimming space.

Care guides for large South American Cichlids

• Requirements of tank conditions

Water temperature	78-82℉ (25-27℃)	Nitrate level	Less than 40 ppm
pH level	6.5-8.0	Substrate	Natural gravel
Ammonia level	0 ppm	Ammonia level	A few ornaments or rocks
Nitrite level	0 ppm	Tank size	Over 125 gallons

• Compatible tank mates

Large South American cichlids are typically aggressive and territorial. Thus, incompatible tank mates would cause fights and injury. Some compatible tank mates for large South American cichlids can be other large South American or Central cichlids of similar size and temperament, large catfish, Silver Dollars, Black Skirt Tetras, and Australian Rainbowfish.

Furthermore, to prevent small or timid fish from being bullied or eaten, you’d better not keep them with large South American cichlids. Additionally, aggressive and larger cichlid species should also be avoided, as it can lead to territorial disputes and fighting.

• Provide proper diet

Large South American cichlids are omnivorous. In the natural environment, large South American Cichlids consume small fish, insects, and crustaceans. In captivity, a balanced and varied diet rich in protein is important for their health and well-being. You can feed high-quality pellets or flakes specially formulated for cichlids, brine shrimp, bloodworms, earthworms, krill, and other live or frozen foods. Plus, vegetables can be another food resource, like peas and zucchini.

Generally, just feed them once or twice each day. And you should only feed the food quantity that they can finish eating in 2–3 minutes. Never overfeed. Or it will lead to health problems and poor water quality.

Medium South American Cichlid

Some popular medium South American Cichlids

Medium South American Cichlids can grow up to 4–10 inches (10-25 cm). Given below are some popular medium South American Cichlids.

• Angel Fish (Pterophyllum scalare)

Angel Fish are a popular cichlid species that are known for their unique shape and graceful swimming behavior. They are relatively peaceful and can be kept with other peaceful community fish.

• Severum (Heros severus)

Featuring vibrant coloration and peaceful temperament, Severum can be kept in pairs or small groups, and are generally compatible with other peaceful community fish.

• Festivum (Mesonauta festivus)

Festivum cichlids come in striking coloration and peaceful temperament. They can be kept in pairs or small groups and are a great addition to other peaceful community fish.

Care guides for medium South American Cichlids

• Requirements of tank conditions

Water temperature	78-82℉ (25-27℃)	Nitrate level	Less than 40 ppm
pH level	6.5-8.0	Substrate	Natural gravel
Ammonia level	0 ppm	Ammonia level	Heavily planted
Nitrite level	0 ppm	Tank size	Over 20 gallon

• Compatible tank mates

Medium South American Cichlids are semi-aggressive. They can get along well with other similarly sized fish. Here, we will list some good tank mates for medium-sized South American cichlids, including Cardinal Tetras, Rummy Nose Tetras, Corydoras, Honey Gouramis, and Rubber Lip Plecos.

To prevent stress and aggression caused by incompatible tank mates, you should not keep medium South American Cichlids with large or aggressive cichlid species. Additionally, it is necessary to provide plenty of hiding places and visual barriers to help reduce aggression and provide a sense of security for all tank mates.

• Provide proper diet

A balanced and varied diet is necessary. High-quality pellets or flakes, live or frozen food, and vegetables are great food sources. To ensure your medium South American cichlids stay healthy and happy, you should feed them appropriately. For instance, once or twice per day, and make sure they can finish eating within 2–3 minutes.

By the way, medium South American Cichlids are active feeders. So it is crucial to ensure that all fish in the tank have access to food. Feeding at different locations or using feeding rings can help prevent food from being monopolized by one or a few dominant fish.

Dwarf South American Cichlid

Some popular dwarf South American Cichlids

Dwarf South American Cichlids can live up to about 3–10 years and grow up to 3 inches. In this segment, we will share some popular species of Dwarf South American Cichlids.

• Apistogramma

This genus includes many different species of Dwarf Cichlids, each with its unique coloration and behavior. Apistogramma cichlids are known for their stunning coloration and intricate fin patterns.

• Mikrogeophagus

Also known as the “German Blue Ram”, the species come in bright blue coloration and a peaceful temperament. They are relatively easy to care for and are a great choice for beginners.

• Nannacara

This genus includes several species of small cichlids featuring interesting behavior and bright coloration. They are relatively peaceful and can be kept in small groups.

• Laetacara

This genus includes several species of small, peaceful cichlids that are known for their vibrant coloration and intricate fin patterns.

Care guides for dwarf South American Cichlids

• Requirements of tank conditions

Water temperature	78-82℉ (25-27℃)	Nitrate level	Less than 20 ppm
pH level	6.0-7.5	Substrate	Natural gravel
Ammonia level	0 ppm	Ammonia level	Heavily planted
Nitrite level	0 ppm	Tank size	20 gallon

• Compatible tank mates

Dwarf South American Cichlids fancy aquariums with plenty of hiding places and room to explore and swim around. Also, they are peaceful. And it is feasible to keep them with peaceful community fish or fish of similar size. But never hold them with large or aggressive cichlids. For instance, Ember tetras, Guppy fish, Corydoras catfish, Harlequin Rasboras, and Nerite Snails are great tank mates for Dwarf South American Cichlids.

• Provide proper diet

Dwarf South American Cichlids are omnivorous. Vegetables, pellets, flakes, brine shrimp, bloodworms, krill, daphnia, or other live and frozen foods are available for the cichlids.

Plus, the same as medium South American Cichlids, and dwarf South American cichlids are also active feeders. Hence, it is necessary to make sure all fish have access to food.

Can African cichlids live with South American cichlids

Actually, it is not recommended to keep African Cichlids and South American Cichlids in one tank. Because they are native to different regions and have different behavioral, as well as tank requirements.

	African Cichlids	South American Cichlids
Temperament	Aggressive & Territorial	1. Large South American cichlids: aggressive & territorial 2. Medium South American Cichlids: semi-aggressive 3. Dwarf South American Cichlids: peaceful
Tank requirements	Hard and alkaline water with a high pH level	Soft and acidic water

African Cichlids and South American Cichlids demand different tank conditions. Keeping the two together will lead to stress, aggression, or even death. But if you are interested in keeping the two fish species, you can hold them in separate aquariums with appropriate water conditions and compatible tank mates.

Rare South American cichlids

In addition to common South American Cichlids, there are some unique and rare South American Cichlids. Let’s look at some examples.

Related Topics

Exciting news for all aquarium enthusiasts and hygger fans. To elevate your aquarium experience, hygger aquarium’s new products are coming soon. So are you getting ready to be the envy of your friends and family with hygger new products? If you want to be the first one to know about new product updates from hygger trends aquarium, just stay tuned to new releases.

About hygger

Hygger is committed to providing professional aquarium products, including aquarium lights, water pumps, fish tanks, aquarium filters, air pumps, aquarium heaters, aquarium decorations, protein skimmers, fish feeders, air stones, etc. To ensure that the products are efficient, reliable, and long-lasting, the hygger team has mastered the PID Variable Frequency Drive Technology. Now, hygger is actively developing the market worldwide and try to lead the aquarium trends.

Forthcoming hygger new products

1. hygger 079 LCD screen quartz heater

1)Get into the 079 heater

Suitable aquarium types	Freshwater & Marine aquariums
Available power	100W /200W /300W /500W /800W
Appropriate tank size	30-260 gallon (100-980L)
LCD screen	A high-quality LCD screen with a marquee display makes water temperature monitoring easier.
External controller	A reliable and safe external controller makes operation convenient.
Faster heat conduction	079 heater is made of durable and explosion-proof quartz glass.
Temp control range	59-93℉ (15-34℃)
Temp accuracy	0.1℉ (0.1℃)
Temp tolerance range	±1℉ (±1℃)
Memory function & Dry burning-resistant protection	Intelligent IC provides dry-burning-resistant protection to ensure safety.

2)What does a heater do in aquariums

Fish rely on the surrounding environment to adjust their body temp. If the water temp rises out of the ideal range, the fish’s metabolism will speed up. A heater is essential for aquariums because of two main benefits, including maintaining stable water temp and keeping fish free from injury in extreme weather.

2. hygger 073 external aquarium LCD thermometer

1)Get into the 073 thermometer

Suitable aquarium types	Freshwater, Saltwater, Reptile, and Amphibian Aquariums
Available size	S /L
LCD screen	The thermometer features an aluminum alloy sensor and a cordless design with a touchscreen interface.
Temp measurement range	32-158℉ (0-70℃)
Temp accuracy	0.1℉ (0.1℃)
Temp measurement tolerance accuracy	±0.5℉ (±0.5℃)

2)What does a thermometer do in aquariums

With a thermometer, you can monitor real-time water temperature. Once you find the temp is out of the ideal range, you can make adjustments soon.

3. hygger 075 planted 24/7 aquarium LED light

1)Get into 075 light

Suitable aquarium types	Freshwater & Planted aquariums
Available power	14W /20W /26W /32W /40W /48W
Appropriate tank size	12-54 inches
Light modes	24/7 mode & Default program mode
Super bright	Premium 5050 and 2835 energy-efficient LEDs provide vibrant illumination for plants and fish, plus enhance the aesthetic appeal of the tank.
Built-in timer	Lighting time can be programmed for 6H, 10H, and 12H.
Available colors	7 colors (red /green /blue /orange /yellow /cyan /purple)
Adjustable brightness	5-stages brightness levels (10% /25% /50% /75% /100%)
Extendable bracket	The extendable bracket makes the light fit aquariums of different sizes within the adjustable range.

2)What does an aquarium light do in tanks

Aquarium light mimics the natural environment to provide comfortable living conditions for fish and plants. Aside from lighting and decorating your tank, an aquarium light is beneficial to the growth and color enhancement of fish, plants, or other aquatic pets.

4. hygger 077 aquarium exquisite submersible water pump

1)Get into the 077 water pump

Suitable aquarium types	Freshwater and saltwater aquariums, ponds, fountains, waterfalls, hydroponic systems, irrigation systems and water features.
Available power	12W /28W
Max head (ft)	3.2 /5.4
Max flow (GPH)	158 /395
Powerful and super quiet	The pump runs quietly. It does not disturb the user’s rest or the tranquility of the aquarium.
Dual functions of pumping and oxygenation	In addition to circulating water, the pump also provides essential oxygen to fish.
Adjustable water flow speed	Water flow speed can be adjusted with a button.
Versatile outlet compatibility	The screw-type outlet supports different sizes of pipes, offering flexibility in connecting the pump to various plumbing configurations.

2)What does a water pump do in aquariums

A water pump helps to improve oxygen levels and keep good water quality by circulating and filtering the water. Plus, it decreases the risk of fish suffering from disease.

5. hygger 078 circular air pump

1)Get into the 078 air pump

Suitable application	Aquariums /Pet stores /Seafood restaurants /Living rooms
Available power	3W /8W
Airflow	50 GPH /140 GPH
Appropriate tank size	Up to 300 /600 Gallon (1100 /2200 L)
Energy- efficient	With the latest energy-saving technology, the pump operates efficiently, while consuming less power.
Whisper-quiet operation	The sound is less than 35 dB. Featuring a double-layer sound insulation design, the pump minimizes vibrations and ensures an ultra-quiet operation. Additionally, the built-in noise suppression system further reduces vibrations, making it a perfect choice for maintaining a peaceful aquarium environment.
Adjustable airflow	Equipped with a convenient adjustable valve, this air pump allows you to easily regulate the air output.
More durable	The pump is crafted from durable materials and engineered with precision.

2)What does an air pump do in aquariums

Simply, an air pump makes sense in oxygenating the aquarium water, expelling excess carbon dioxide, and increasing the water pressure.

6. hygger 086 6 in 1 aquarium electric cleaning brush

1)Get into 086 electric cleaning brush

• A spin scrubber is suitable for different brush heads for different functions.
• Long-lasting brush: The main body of the brush is made of durable and eco-friendly plastic material. The telescopic tube is made of stainless steel.
• Multiple brushes: Different brush heads are suitable for all kinds of cleaning tasks, such as glass tank cleaning and household use.

Brush types	Functions of the brush
Pointed brush	Clean glass corners, gaps, and other hard-to-reach corners
Flat brush	Clean glass walls, tops, bottoms, and other surfaces
Arc brush	Clean curved surfaces, such as rocks and aquarium decors
Large sponge brush	Clean glass walls, tops, bottoms, and other surfaces

2)What does the electric cleaning brush do in aquariums

It helps to clean every corner of your tank, making the tank cleaning process easier and more convenient. Also, the electric cleaning brush is time-saving. With regular tank cleaning, you can keep aquariums clean.

For more of hygger new products, you can go to hygger official website.

The diet and feeding requirements can vary for different fish species. So, it is necessary to choose proper food and feed the appropriate amount. Because overfeeding will lead to poor water quality and pose threats to fish health. Following the article, we will share more about what and how to feed and grow aquatic pets including fish feed and grow. Now, let’s dive in.

Aquatic pet group

Generally, an aquatic pet group refers to a group of pets that live in water, such as fish, turtles, and frogs. Next, we will list some common aquatic pet groups.

Fish

Actually, there are various aquarium ornamental pet fish. Now, we will show you some of them.

Betta Bettas are freshwater tropical fish. They are also called Beta, Betta spledens, Chinese fighting fish, Japanese fighting fish, or Siamese fighting fish. Bettas are aggressive and instinctively territorial. You can keep them with nerite snails, otocinclus catfish, and kuhli loaches, etc.
	American Cichlid Definitely, there are many American Cichlid species. For example, large South American Cichlid, medium Central American Cichlid, and dwarf South American Cichlid. Some of them are aggressive, while some are peaceful.
Tetras Tetras are one kind of popular freshwater fish, coming from South America, Central America, and Africa. Most of them are easy to keep. Tetras fish are small in size – generally, 1.5-2 inches and one tetra can produce 50 tetra fry on average.
	Dwarf Gourami Dwarf Gourami is a small and colorful freshwater fish. Commonly, they grow to be around 2-3 inches. Dwarf Gourami is generally peaceful and can be kept with other peaceful fish of a similar size. They are active swimmers and enjoy having plenty of hiding places and open swimming areas.
Algae Eater Algae eaters are one type of fish or shrimp that helps to control algae growth in an aquarium or pond. For instance, Siamese Algae Eater, Plecostomus, Otocinclus Catfish, Chinese Algae Eater, and Amano Shrimp.
	Fancy Koi Fancy Koi is often kept in outdoor ponds or large indoor aquariums. Because they can grow quite large, with some individuals reaching lengths of up to 2 feet or more. Also, Fancy Koi prefers outdoor ponds or aquariums with ample filtration and aeration.

Turtles

Pet turtles are reptiles with large shells. In fact, there are many turtle species around the world. But turtles can be divided into three main types – Aquatic pet turtles, Semi-aquatic pet turtles, and Terrestrial pet turtles

Generally, terrestrial turtles are easy to keep, because you do not need to pay attention to the light, water parameters, water quality, filtration system, or something like this. However, aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles may demand lighting, a filtration system, as well as water quality and temperature.

Crustaceans

Crustaceans can be great tank cleaners. Some are scavengers, which consume uneaten fish food to keep clean aquariums. While some do well in algae control. They consume algae in aquariums. Freshwater shrimp (e.g. Amano shrimp), Hermit crab, and crayfish are common crustaceans.

Invertebrates

Invertebrates are animals without backbones. For instance, snails, corals, clams, and jellyfish. Take corals as an example, they are commonly kept in saltwater aquariums. They are known for their intricate shapes and vibrant colors. However, keeping corals requires specialized equipment and careful attention to water quality.

How often to feed and grow fish

The frequency and amount of food you should feed your fish can be determined by several factors, including the species of fish, their age and size, and the temperature of the water. But, there are general rules for feeding fish and growing.

• Young fish and fry: Frequent feeding is feasible. For example, 3–4 times per day.
• Adult fish: Feed once or twice each day, depending on their activity level and metabolism.

Additionally, given below are some specific examples of feeding for different fish species. Just take it as a reference.

Fish name	Feeding frequency
Betta fish	1. Flakes: once each day 2. Pellets: once each day 3. Frozen brine shrimp & worms: once or twice each week
Tetras	1. Flakes: once each day 2. Pellets: once each day 3. Frozen brine shrimp & worms: once each week (Optional)
Dwarf Gourami	1. Flakes: once per day 2. Frozen brine shrimp & worms: once each week (Optional)
Algae Eater	1. Pellets: three times each week 2. Dried seaweed & kelp: once per week (Optional)
Fancy Koi	1. Flakes: for juveniles, once each day 2. Pellets: for adults, once per day 3. Dried seaweed & kelp: once or twice each week (Optional)

Other aquatic pets feed and grow

Turtles

The diet requirements vary from turtle species. Some turtles are carnivores or herbivores, but most turtles are omnivores. However, keeping a balanced diet is crucial. Insects, feeder fish, or vegetation are available food sources. Actually, turtles need various diets to meet their nutrient requirements.

Basically, the pet turtles’ food should be:

• No artificial additives: if you feed commercial food, you should make sure that the food does not contain any artificial additives, flavoring, or color for instance.
• Sufficient protein and calcium: pet turtles do require protein, especially young pet turtles. Also, calcium is crucial for their shell growth.

In general, meats are the main food for baby turtles, while they may eat both meat and vegetation after becoming an adult. You can feed them once or twice a day, and make sure they can finish eating within 5 minutes. Furthermore, you should add calcium powder to the turtle’s food 1–2 times each week.

Crustaceans

A balanced diet is undisputed. Generally, the available foods include uneaten fish food, debris in your tank, fallen leaves of live plants, algae, organic matter, sinking pellets, wafers, flakes, frozen food, etc. In molting crustaceans, they require extra food to form new exoskeletons.

Let’s give you some examples. Take a look at lobsters first. In captivity, algae, plants, dead aquatic pets, worms, and some commercial food can be their diet. On the other side, hermit crabs eat vegetables and fruits. Also, hermit crabs need to drink water. Therefore, you should provide clean freshwater or saltwater. But do not use tap water. Since the chlorine and minerals in tap water are harmful to hermit crabs. By the way, most hermit crabs are nocturnal. Consequently, it is best to feed them at night.

Invertebrates

Feeding invertebrates in aquariums can vary depending on the specific species of invertebrates you are keeping. As for snails, the available foods include algae (e.g. brown algae, green algae, and green spot algae), decaying or dead leaves and plants, fish feces, uneaten fish food, vegetables (e.g. zucchini, cucumber, and squash), fruits (e.g. watermelon and apple), blood worms, brine shrimp, pellets, and algae wafers.

In addition, how to feed corals in saltwater aquariums? Plankton, zooplankton, bacterioplankton, debris, dissolved organic matter, small crustaceans, small fish, invertebrate larvae, and byproducts of photosynthesis are available options. Plus, you can feed pet corals commercial pellets, flakes, and freeze-dried foods. By the way, feeding some meaty food a few times each week, like mysis shrimp and brine shrimp, is beneficial to grow corals fast.

Final thoughts

In summary, no matter what aquatic pets you keep. Just keep in mind – never overfeed. A varied and balanced diet is recommended. You can follow ‘feed small amounts of food multiple times a day rather than one large feeding’. Moreover, it is better to make sure your pets finish eating within a few minutes (e.g. 2–3 minutes). To maintain excellent water quality, you can remove uneaten food after feeding. Additionally, feeding nocturnal pets at night is the best option.