

Make sure that you have already cleaned the rocks - usually a rinse with hot water is fine. Now that my fish is in the tank, can put more rocks in it?Īnswer: When adding rocks to an established tank, you'll need to be careful. Question: I just got a fish tank and put everything in it. If you notice they get soft spots or start to discolor, I'd remove them. Legos don't really have any issues with being in the water. Question: Are Legos safe as fish tank decor?Īnswer: I don't see why not. Is it ok for her to keep doing this, or should we leave the stuff alone? It seems to make one of our African Cichlids a little more aggressive. Question: My wife likes to rearrange the layout of our aquarium every week. At some point, no matter how careful you are, you are going to get water on the background. But, if you happen to have a picture (and if you don't, the Internet is a lovely place), you can simple have a picture printed to the correct size and laminated. On a side note: I have never seen the Disneyland castle as a background option at a pet store. I can't stand being able to see the tape I feel it makes my beautiful tank look tacky. Personally, it doesn't bother me to see the wall behind my tank, but when I do use backgrounds I make sure that I hide the tape well. It is really a matter of personal choice. Some people just don't like the look of the wall behind the back being visible from the front of the tank. If you don't want a background, you don't need to have one. However, the glass pebbles will have sharper edges whereas the gravel will just become finer. Glass pebbles over time will break down, as is natural, and gravel will erode as well. You need good bacteria to keep the nitrogen levels in your tank in check. Glass pebbles aren't necessarily bad for your fish, they simply do not provide as much surface area for good bacteria to colonize. They are a better alternative to colored glass pebbles which, however pretty, are not always the best choice for a large fish tank. They create a natural look for the tank and they are easy to clean. Gravel and stones are popular choices for freshwater tanks. This means that you will need to replace sand more often than you would have to replace gravel. It also tends to end up in whatever you are using to collect your waste water. Since the sand is smaller and lighter than gravel, it tends to travel higher up the tube. If you plan on doing gravel washes, which you should strongly consider, sand can make them more annoying. Sand will also give your tank more of a saltwater feel, which many people desire. They will bury themselves in the sand, which would be nearly impossible for them to do safely in a tank with gravel as the substrate. If you are considering a freshwater ray, then you need to have a large bottom with sand. Eels will spend most of their time on the bottom, and if you have a rocky substrate, they will rub their bodies raw, which is bad for them. If you want fish like eels or knifefish, you need to have a sandy bottom. Sometimes the type of fish you want will dictate what kinds of substrate you have to use. Do you want to use glass pebbles? Do you want the tank to be colorful or more natural? The most important thing to consider when choosing a substrate is your fish. Do you want a sandy bottom? What about small gravel, or large? You can even use small stones. The first thing you want to consider is what kind of substrate to use.
