Got a tip to share with fellow aquarist? Send it to Fruitylicious at fruity@petfish.net
 
Choose a tip from the left

Quieten That Noisy Air Pump

There's 2 ways to make air pumps quieter.
 
1. Place the pump on a pad of foam rubber.
 
2. Put the whole air pump into the sock portion of a piece of pantyhose and susupend it from a nail or screw in the back of the aquarium stand.

Really Cheap Plastic Plants

Though I prefer live plants; I once saw a tank "planted" with pieces of green trash bags cut to resemble plants.
 
It might sound goofy, but the result was immpressive. The plastic naturally floats so you have to glue or attach the plastic to a rock or some other heavy object. But the wieghtlessness of the "plant" makes it move with the flow of the water and gives a nice upright stance and surprisingly lifelike appearance.
 
Try it, you've nothing to lose but a trash bag.

Plastic Plant Anchors

Soft drink bottle caps, rocks or pebbles, silicone. Super easy.
Submitted by Rich

Baby Fish Saver

I have a tip for tanks with baby fish or very small fish/inverts.
 
Put a piece of nylon sock over the intake tube and keep it held in place by a rubberband.
 
This keeps these kinds of fish from getting stuck in your filter. Also helps if you have a tank with sand in the bottom while using a power filter with a magnet impeller assembly. And it keeps the sand from getting intoyour filter. It also serves as a good prefilter. It keeps plants and other residue out of your filter.
 
You also don't have to change the mechanical media as often.
 
Submitted by Daniel

Quick Tips

• Use a timer for your aquarium lights, and you won't have to worry about them.
• Mix several different types of flakes and freeze dried foods into one large container, it wil give your fish a good mix of food at every feeding.
• If your aquarium water sometimes has that thin film on the surface you can get it out by laying a paper towel on the surface, wait a few seconds and lift it out.
• Join a local Aquarium Society, or if there's not one near you join a national organization that covers the fish that interest you the most.
• Swap aquarium books with a local Aquarist friend.
• Upload your tank pictures to Petfish.net for posting on the Tank Pictures From Around The World page, it's free and the whole world will be able to see your tanks.
• Look for slightly damaged merchandise at your LFS (local fish store) ask for a discount and you can probably get a deal on it.
• Most fish will jump out of uncovered aquariums, always use a cover.
• Acidic water loving fish will love a few dried oak leaves in their tank, it will slightly tint the water and release tanins that make these fish feel at home.
• Clay flower pots and/or boiled coconut shells make good caves for shy fish or spawning some cichlids.
• Try to let the fish adapt to your water instead of changing your water with chemicals. Fish are very adaptable to most water as long as it's unpolluted and the parameters are consistant.