Tag Archives: Plants

Several Tips On Performing Proper And Effective Water Garden Landscaping

Perhaps, the gardens that appeal to the senses the best are those that we call water gardens that have a lot of appeal and which go beyond the usual plants because there are also fish and perhaps a few rocks that all help to create a most visually exciting water garden. If you want to create lively as well as unique water gardens, there are several water garden landscaping ideas worth trying out – some of which could be quite complex – but which will nevertheless will prove to be very exciting as well as enjoyable.

More Complex

Though water garden landscaping is not as simple as say rock garden landscaping, it can still be tried out even in spite of the fact that you will have to do quite a bit of excavating as well as water treatment. However, for those who don’t have the time, patience or money to indulge in water garden landscaping, there is also simple landscaping try, which will help to add beauty to any garden while at the same time will not cost you much money in the bargain.

Still, there are certain complexities involved when one tries out water garden landscaping and so you need to first of all properly plan everything in advance. To begin with, there is the design aspect that needs to be considered which means that you must first put things down on paper and which need to also include your garden’s dimensions as well as depth of the planned pond as too the general layout of the garden area.

Once you have finalized the design of your water garden landscaping, you then need to look at the form of your garden’s pond, after which you need to begin with excavation work which may be tedious and demanding, but is nevertheless important. In fact, if it is beyond your level of competence, the task may even be entrusted to professional excavators.

The next step in water garden landscaping is to start the installation of the plumbing, which should be done properly if you want your waterfall to look decorative and also in case you want to include a fountain. Following this, you need to use liner to cover the dug-up soil and this should be made from cement that is waterproof.

Other aspects to proper water garden landscaping include making the lip of the pond as sturdy as possible. Next, you can look at the decorative aspect to water garden landscaping and in this regard, use of boulders can prove to be a good idea. After this, you can plant the vegetation and use of plants that require less maintenance is recommended, and if plants are put in the soil then you would need to add some mulch as well.

Finally, you need to give your attention to the pond by arranging the rocks as well as aquatic plants, especially at the bottom of the newly created pond. All that then remains is to fill the pond with water, add some fish including carps and some goldfish and then you can enjoy the fruits of your labor.

If you love this article, you will also love another article written by this article’s author on tetra pond pumps and solar pond pumps.

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Before you Buy Fish

I am writing this article to tell you something about aquariums in general. However, not about those big aquariums which can be found in Zoo’s or museums, but about home fish tanks. Of course, if you have a castle, or really big house, your home aquarium can be as big as those public ones. On the other hand not everybody is Bill Gates, or Queen of the United Kingdom. For us, ordinary people, smaller versions are produced.

But from another point of view, small doesn’t immediately mean it’s small too much; It’s relative. Even in a small flat or house you can have aquarium with capacity of few hundred litres. Basically, you can have only 10 litres aquarium as well. Bear in mind that introducing any fish into such small tank would be crime. Small sized aquariums are more suitable for plants only.

Previous idea leads me to the first point: tanks division based upon living beings. You can have, as I just wrote, a plant of a fish tank. And you can have an aquarium, which contains fish and plants living together in peace and harmony. Especially the harmony aspect is very important. Some fish prefer green food, and we can say that healthy looking aquarium plants are irresistible for them, but some fish need plants for hiding purposes as well. If such species don’t have enough hiding places, they feel stressed and they can even die. On the other hand we know species which don’t require plants necessarily, but they love to lay on their leafs and they also appreciate smooth touches how leafs slide through their bodies when swimming around.

Now, when you know that there is a direct relation between fish and plants, you should know something about various fish species compatibility. Let’s take a quick look into the natural food chain; It’s not the rule every time, but almost every time that larger fish eat smaller ones. Naturally, there exist exceptions where some little aggressive fish can eat the a big one as well. Piranhas, Puffer species, etc., etc. And this is how it goes in home aquariums too. An aquarium with many peaceful fish is called community aquarium. An aquarium where you keep aggressive fish and small peaceful fish together can be called a dinner time. And the last type is characterised by many aggressive fish kept in one little tank; This is called “fight to the dead” or “fight until the end”. Generally, I recommend community tanks instead of second and third case.

Previous paragraph shows you that it’s important to know everything about fish you want to own. Focus on temperament primarily. If you are beginner, there are some species, you should start with. These species are not demanding, and they don’t require much care. I am talking about Guppies, Platies, Mollies, Swordtails, Neon tetras, etc. These species are very peaceful and harmless, sometimes shy. Bear in mind that they should be kept in shoals, what means you shouldn’t keep 1 or 2 of them in one tank, otherwise they will not feel happy. Plecos and many catfish species belong to this “not demanding” group. Unlike fish which do best in shoals, they don’t need to be kept with too many specimens of their family or genus. Plecos require driftwood which becomes their most favourite place as time goes by. They suck it all day long. Another good fish for beginners is betta fish. Especially males are beautiful. They exist in many colour variants and their big fins look like jewels in the tank. They don’t harass other species, but if you put two males into one aquarium, they will kill each other. Nobody knows why. Once scientist put two males into very big garden pond, but they found each other and started to fight immediately. So how they could survive the evolution? In Thailand where they live in lakes, there is an alpha male which is the boss and nobody is fighting when he’s in.

If you aren’t a beginner any more, you can try for example Gouramies – bit aggressive, territorial and they eat everything small, what is or isn’t moving sometimes. Another nice species is the Angelfish. But they grow to big sizes, so they need a big tank. This category includes also Cichlids which come from America, Africa, and many species originating in Asia.

But if you don’t mind to spend a lot of time and and if you have enough experiences, you can choose a demanding fish, like the Discus fish – it needs special water conditions, or puffer fish. Fish from this group need special water, special feeding, or they breed unusually. Or they even need large aquarium, like Oscar fish, freshwater Sharks, or Koi carps. Sometimes it is better to keep them in garden ponds and not in the tank in the room.

Jan Hvizdak, the author of this article published many fish related articles on his web site. You’re welcomed to read about aquarium decoration and aquarium driftwood as well.

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Koi Carp Ponds – Essential Guide to Getting Started Part 2

A great way to begin planning for Koi carp ponds is to view how others of have successfully designed and built their ponds. Searching online is the fastest and easiest way to get started, as there is an endless resource of photos and information to be found there. Seeing how others have done things can spark wide imagination and creative ideas into how you would like your Koi pond to look, and the potential of how it could enhance the overall impression of your garden landscape. Decorations of plans, stones, statues, wooden ornaments and fixtures can have a dramatic and pleasant impact on the dynamics of your Koi garden. However, in regard to including any plants in your pond, be sure to take into consideration that Koi will eat certain plants as well as dig into the soil, which could lead to a potential messing of the pond water thus leading to more frequent cleaning and maintenance. There are plants that are suited well for Koi carp ponds, and covering the plant soil with stones or large gravel can alleviate much of this potential problem. Another great way to include plants in your pond development and keep them safe from your Koi is to put them in a floating island pond planter. Floating islands are great for decorating your Koi pond with beautiful plant life while at the same time providing needed shade and protection from predators for your Koi fish. Again, professional advice is golden.

When seeking the help of an expert, it is wise to do your research first. Get an understanding of the specific questions you should be asking as well as a general sense of the answers you should be getting. Talk to several specialists as apposed to only one or two. Visit your local pet stores to gain knowledge on Koi keeping, Koi supplies and pond equipment, along with construction and maintenance of Koi carp ponds. Get yourself familiar with why you need a Koi pond filter, a Koi pond pump and maybe an aerating device, and how these vital necessities work together to provide a natural, stable Koi fish environment while supplying healthy clean water for your Koi to live and thrive. Develop an awareness of the consistent routine work of Koi keeping and pond maintenance, including water pH level testing, pond and filter cleaning, Koi feeding and inspection of any parasites or diseases, along with any general garden maintenance such as weeding and algae removal.

Protection from predators is a factor to take into consideration at the planning stage of Koi carp ponds. Koi supplies such as overhangs or pond net covers could prove invaluable in keeping your Koi fish safe from other hungry animals. Also, ensuring that the pond water has enough depth for the Koi to submerge out of sight from predators, as well as shading themselves from direct sunlight when needed, is a necessary element in the planning of your Koi pond.

Budgeting for the costs of running and maintaining your pond should be well thought out before hand. Shop around by researching online, as well as visiting your local pet stores, for prices on all things necessary and get a clear idea of what Koi carp ponds entail in regards to buying Koi fish, Koi food, pond cleaning supplies, water testing and treatment supplies, pond filter media, the potential energy costs of running pond filters, pond pumps, fountains and waterfalls, along with the construction materials and tools required to do the job properly. Making a concise list sorted into categories with sub totals of each will allow you to develop a clearer idea of potential monthly and yearly running costs.

Get your FREE 10 day Koi Carp Fish Care mini course, today. Michael C. Harris is a Koi fish specialist. Get more great tips on Koi carp ponds today. His successful Koi care secrets e-Book “Koi Fish School”, is an inspiring guide of easy follow techniques for every Koi fish enthusiast.

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African Carp Care – How To Manage An Aquarium With African Carp

The Genus Aphyosemion African Tooth Carp which is not only a hot favorite among fish breeders but also the prettiest one to be found in the market is one species which can be bred in communities. This species has a short life span and it is advisable to keep them in separate tanks. The fish will start contracting their fins and hide themselves in the aquarium corners. The aggressive males of this species fight amongst themselves and therefore have a male put with only other females.
For those fish lovers who want to breed these carps in a tank would do well to have them bred under shade and among plants which float. Fill the tank bottom with overcooked peat and fill with water which is slightly hard or acidic. For one gallon of water, add a tea spoon of salt(table salt mind you!) to make the water alkaline in which certain fish love to breed in. Some fish are short lived have them placed in aquariums separately. They can be categorized as which breed at the surface, mid level and bottom. The eggs of the first spawn will attach themselves to the leaves of the floating plants. For the second spawn provide fine leaf plants for the eggs to stick to. The third should be allowed to stick to the peat at the bottom of the aquarium.

Bottom and surface spawners love to live in glass tanks. Since carps eat their own eggs, have them removed to another tank. Maintain the temperature at 25 degrees Fahrenheit. If the peat dries up the eggs won’t survive so maintain the temperature at 65 degrees. Keep shaking the peat while refreshing with soft water and have the temperature kept at 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fish that breed at the bottom love to move around floating plants and can be bred in smaller tanks. After the female carps have delivered have them separated and clear the water. Carefully remove the water using a small tube to keep the eggs and peat safe. Keep the temperature at a constant of 70 degrees Fahrenheit for the required period. Finally, have the peat broken up but maintain the temperature at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. While you transfer the eggs keep adjusting the temp. to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

This species is for people with lots of experience at fish breeding so it is advisable that first timers avoid this species. There are other simpler carps like the Brachydanio Rerio or Zebra Danio found in the eastern waters of India, which first timers can have in their aquariums. This variety which is small can grow up to a length of 1 ¾ inches and comes not only in attractive colors like silver, gold, blue and black but it also has a cylindrical body shape. The Reiro species are the best type for people new to keeping fish as these are undemanding as the eat everything provided and can adjust in all types of water conditions.

Abhishek is an avid Fish Lover and he has got some great Aquarium Care Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 105 Pages Ebook, “Aquarium Care Made Easy!” from his website http://www.Wonder-Homes.com/636/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.

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Upkeep Of The Loach Fish

Loach fish come from the family of Cobitidae, Acanthophthalmus Semicinctus, and the Botia Macracantha group. Online you will find helpful information that will inform you about the different types of fish, which in this article we will cover, a small selection.

Acanthophthalmus Semicinctus

Acanthophthalmus Semicinctus includes the various Loach families. Loach fish such as the Acanthophthalmus Semicinctus breeds come from India. The fish mature to 3 ½ inches in size. Acanthophthalmus Semicinctus is commonly known as the Half Band Coolie fish, which the off breeds include the European group. Half Band Coolie Loaches has a body like a snake. The body resembles an Eastern Coral Snake, in that the yellow and black shades offset a pinkish colored belly. Acanthophthalmus Semicinctus includes the sub-species and distinct species. Acanthophthalmus Semicinctus are generally communal fish, which have a calming nature. The tanks however should have minimal plants, as well as deposits of debris. (Peat) These breeds of Half Band Coolies tend to hide. The fish enjoy feasting on photosynthetic organisms, as well as Tubifex. The fish will eat all sorts of food, yet they require a clean water system. Half Band Coolie fish often do not stress water condition, yet the fish are inclined to moderate or neutral waters. The water temperature should remain at 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
Botia Macracantha is commonly known as the Tiger Botia or the Clown Loach fish. The fish grow around 4 ½ inches and size and come from Borneo and Sumatra. The fish have similar colors compared to the Tiger Barbs. The body color is golden yellow, which is offset by 3-shadowy bluish black stripes. The Botia Macracantha of this breed makes a nice friendly communal tank resident. However, these fish are skirmish to light and demands a place to hide. If you are looking for a hunter, thus the Botia Macracantha Tiger of Clown fish is your choice.

Water conditions

Botias enjoy moderate hard water, or alkalinity based water. It is recommended that you avoid acidity waters. In addition, the water temperature should remain at 70 degrees Fahrenheit and no higher than 75 degrees Fahrenheit. This is not a breeding fish.

Siluridae comes from the family group of fish known as the Asiatic. The fish is also akin to the European catfish. These particular species is now one of the popular fish sold for aquarists’ usage.

In fact, the Siluridae rests more along the family side of the naked skin European catfish. The fish family from Asia typically enjoy climatic conditions, including flora, and faunas.

Into the bargain are the algae gnawers. The gnawers include the family group of Loach fish known as the European freshwater Cyprinids off breeds, such as the Cobitidae. The fish hunters are comparable to the Carp group, in that the fish have teeth. Cyprinids sometimes have four barbels, which is located around its upper jaw. Cyprinids are also kin to the minnows. The Minnows, Carps and sometimes the Loach fish have rounded scales, soft fins, and toothless jaws. The Spiny Loach compiles bifid spines, which is positioned just under the eyes. Spiny Loach’s bifid erects from a flat folded position when threatened. The Spiny Loaches request an area to surface, since the fish naturally live in murky, mud-spattered waters. The murkiness and mucky waters sets boundaries for oxygen intake. Amongst the spiny loach is the weather fish. These fish, like other types of loach fish do not take kindly to stressful waters.

In addition to the Loach, fish is the body of Glass Catfish. This group of fish is listed under the family of Kryptopterus Bicirrhis.

To read about dangerous sharks and freshwater sharks, visit the Types Of Sharks site.