Go to the HOME PAGE for the Index Directory   To Find Your Way Around the rest of our site. Calendar provided by Website Abstraction PDT Our purpose is to promote the interest, keeping, study,  and breeding of freshwater and marine life. Additionally, the exchange of ideas,  conservation and distribution of information concerning aquatic life is our primary interest. the Aquarium Doctor If  we understand the basic physiological requirements and assume the very serious responsibility of caring and maintaining these delicate creatures,  it is possible to enjoy a very interesting and rewarding hobby. When you think of your fish as a pet you'll agree, they deserve the best care and attention you can provide. A healthy aquarium is relatively easy to achieve and maintain, but it will not happen by itself... it depends on you.

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ANDRE'S AQUARIUM CLUB WORLD WIDE We are working hard to deliver the most content and feature extensive aquatic information on the Internet. After all, we all have different interests and by catering to as many of them as possible we not only ensure that Andre's Aquarium Club appeals to just about everyone, but also opens up as many learning doors as possible. Each member enjoys individual attention and help. Andre's Aquarium Club is dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of information relating to all aspects of the biology of aquatic life.   M Andre's Aquarium Club    To Check The Club Benefits  Click Here M MEMBER OF THE MONTH m I recommend a Lifetime Membership for anyone who is serious and committed to having happy and healthy fish. Wendy Burch M Click here to stop or start music! M

ANDRE'S AQUARIUM CLUB

* Members World Wide *

THE JOY OF FISH KEEPING

Wendy Jeanne Burch

Water... water beings, fish! I am a poet and musician as well as an owner of a flourishing and satisfying professional pet care and consultation business. But I had never before been a fish keeper! Sure, as a child we had gold fish; didn't everybody? But they died soon after they were adopted, and no one really asked why...and assumed that goldfish just die. Well, that's just not true. Fish fulfill the poetic, mystical, and pet loving part of me, and are a beautiful and important part of my life.

Now I am a fancy gold fish fanatic and also have a 2 - male Betta family (in separate bowls of course), four small gold fish and 8 White Clouds in a 25 gallon tank, and 2 goldfish in a deck container pond who are all prospering. I plan, when my gold fish become a certain size, to put them in a pond, but I am so in love with them that I am going the extra mile to keep them in our aquarium until it's time to place them in their dream pond. I am hoping that by next summer I will have a full-blown below ground pond... at that point I may start a warm water aquarium with warm water fish, with the fully cycled tank I now have as my success story and my point of reference. I do know this.... I am hooked on my fish!

I have had wonderful dogs and a gentle Gold Ball Python, but after buying my first male Betta when picking up my dog from the groomers at a pet shop, I started listening to a radio talk show about fish keeping and became a regular caller at: www.petfishtalk.com . I just hadn't realized how much extreme attention to WATER QUALITY is necessary...how fish stress factors in, as well as other important concerns. But I learned quickly after losing a couple of Bettas. I didn't learn quickly enough to save the first few fancy gold fish from "new tank syndrome" I had in my 25 gallon tank, but as the water improved and I realized how important fully cycled water was to a successful fish environment, I became very serious about researching every problem I ran into. That is when I joined Andre's Aquarium Club.

Unfortunately, every expert has a different opinion when you are a beginner and it can be confusing. My first fish gurus told me one thing; the aquarium store in my neighborhood I found had another opinion and were appalled at the first opinion. I got one opinion after another, and finally came across Andre's. I feel that if you can find your question on Andre's web site, or join Andre's and ask the Aquarium Doctor for advice, they really have information you can rely upon. But you must ask!! Even if you think your question is ridiculous. No question goes unnoticed and all are important and answered quickly.

I do suggest collecting all the information you get from anyone--web sites, local stores, and friends who have aquarium experience, and using your own educated intuition in the long run.... if you are a pet lover like I am, losing your first few fish (and I think this may be part of the cycling process, unfortunately) you will pay the utmost attention to every detail that comes up in your aquarium.

http://www.ourpetsitter.com/

I Live in Oakland California,

across the bay from San Francisco

THE FISH SHOP

By Andre's Aquarium Club

Recommended Products

Always provide the correct water parameters. pH should be between 6.0 and 7.5, every plant or fish has a preference. Hardness should be between 40ppm and 150ppm. Salinity should be below 440ppm. Temperature 75-76 degrees.

Perform regular water changes, the minimum is 25% per month, twice a month is best.

Substrate (gravel) size should be around 2mm size and some slow movement of water through the gravel is beneficial. If using substrate (under gravel) filters, moderate the flow.

Aeration with a air stone is very important.

There are few things as frustrating to the aquarist interested in a beautiful aquarium as algae. After spending a small fortune the aquarist is often rewarded with a lush carpet of algae. Unsightly and stubbornly resistant to eradication, the algae destroys the aesthetics of the tank while limiting plant growth by competing with them for light and nutrients.

In desperation, the aquarist experiments with various forms of algae control, including algicides, bleach dips, antibiotics (for cyanobacteria), physical removal, and the introduction of an assortment of algae-eating fish and invertebrates. Feed levels are reduced, light duration is decreased, until through trial and error an uneasy truce is sometime reached.

I have found that regular water changes of 25% of the aquarium water at least twice a month will help reduce the growth of algae.

If one has a extreme problem with their water supply, RO water will solve the problem.

Another solution is to purchase:

BI-AQUACULTURE

Eliminate algae Growth,

Safe for fish, plants, animals and humans

Degrades and dissolves organic bottom solids and scum. End result is carbon dioxide releasing through the top of the water

after BI- AQUACULTURE consumes the nitrates & phosphates. Other products require the tank or pond to be vacuumed

creating excess maintenance

Improves water clarity and quality; no more green water

Will work in fresh and salt water

Cuts and eliminates odors

Converts nitrites to nitrates

Oxidizes Ammonia to nitrite

BI-AQUACULTURE

"The Aquarium Doctor"

M

The Technology of the Aquarium

Aquarium Technology for the Very, Very Budget Minded

Here is what I've learned so far:

1) I cannot stress WATER QUALITY or PATIENCE enough. If you can't wait, don't take up fish. I read this when I started and didn't get it; please listen: you must be patient and wait for water to cycle. My one fantail, "Shorty," who remained with me and healed from the fish rot or ick the rest of the first fish contracted, always reminds me of the PROCESS, the whole cycling process. Keeping fish makes you painfully aware, too, of our environment and how one thing can upturn the whole system, in our fragile world and in the water world. "Shorty" my survivor, was inflicted with the same fin rot his 3 other fish tank mates died from. Somehow this feisty guy/girl survived. I knew he was healing when I read up on black spots on goldfish.... did you know black spots on a gold fish is often the sign that they are getting well, healing? I learned to value those black spots, and "Shorty" survived...last week his last large black spot on his side disappeared and I knew he was completely healed. He now has three new fish tank friends, 2 lovely fantails and one black Moor, as well as 8 white clouds.... we have a live plant and two real looking plastic plants, a big beautiful aquarium rock in the middle with a small cave like decoration we bought at Pet Food Express, for ghost shrimp to hide in, and from 1/4" to 1.5" in places of gravel. We have a 25 gallon tall SeaClear Aquarium with an Eclipse filter and lighting system, with a bio-wheel. And our water has fully cycled.... I am a happy camper and so are my fish! But still, I am always watching; you must be a vigilant, loving pet owner, as you would be with any dog, cat, or other pet.

I attribute several factors to my final (well, it's never final, you have to keep working at it) success with this first tank. One, I researched obsessively. I listened to those who had gone before me. I took notes on tips that were universal.

Two), I started to use only treated (with a water conditioner found in any pet store) water for my water changes. In my part of the Universe, I think that is essential, even if the water changes are small. I also went the extra mile and used only filtered tap water even before I treated it with a WATER CONDITIONER. I have a PUR filter right on my tap. Even though it seems like a lot of work and/or expense to others, I just love filling up my 5 gallon bucket with filtered water, and letting it sit with its added water conditioner for my next water change, and seeing the success that being this careful, creates.

1) Water changes seem essential. I change my water frequently and my water is now testing perfectly. Now that my water is completely cycled, and it took a couple of months or more, I think I will do a water change of 20% only once every two weeks or 25% every month. But don't let it go more than one month.... the fish will appreciate it. Do not go over 20 - 25% of water change.

2) Don't overfeed your fish. For my four gold fish and white clouds and other friends now, I give them maybe a half teaspoon total twice per day of flake food and dried bloodworms, not even that. I am still not sure how much exactly to feed them, but I go by my intuition and how much they can eat together in a few minutes at a time.

3) Test your water, even if some tell you it is not necessary. It's an easy process, and I find it fun. I feel like a chemist when I do it, and it is so reassuring or enlightening when you are sure of your water quality and percentages. Curiosity will compel you to test your water.

4) Don't overuse the products available to correct your water quality, but do use some of them which add needed bacteria to new unrecycled tanks, to cure fish ick or other diseases, and to change the PH of the water to an acceptable level. I found that adding a small amount of aquarium salt really helped my fish who were stressed or sick (don't overdo and read directions). I really like Quick Cure for typical health problems usually related to new tank syndrome and ick. In my experience, and contrary to some advice I've received, in my area in CA I would never again use straight tap water for my small water changes... always treat the water, just in case.

5) Cultured Gravel. When you buy your first fish, ask them for a handful of gravel from their cultured tanks to add to your own tank. One handful can change a whole tank, as the handful of cultured gravel spreads good bacteria to the rest of the gravel, more quickly creating a cycled tank. They usually don't even charge you for it.

6) Get the right filter. I have an Eclipse hood with a Bio Wheel for my tank... I feel it is the best you can get. And, not that expensive if you are taking this seriously.

7) On a personal level, please realize that your fish are living creatures. Give them names, after you know they are going to live, and not before.... but name them. You will start to see traits that are individualized. You will start to really love them as you would any pet. They may even start to recognize you when you feed them or visit with them.

Thank You, Andre's Aquarium Club, for helping me get through starting a new fish tank and beyond... I will continue to ask you questions, as I now have a lifetime membership!! I recommend a Lifetime Membership for anyone who is serious and committed to having happy and healthy fish.

Wendy Burch

Oakland, CA

WELCOME SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP Andre's Aquarium Club Ask all your Aquarium related questions now.

Aquarium water should contain all the essential nutrients in a form that is usable by aquatic plants.

A constant supply of critical nutrients should be available.

Provide adequate light, perhaps multiple light tubes are required.

Light on and off times need to be regular and represent a full day.

Circulation is a big advantage,

Proper aeration is necessary

Purchase aquatic plants that grow only underwater, many plants are sold as aquatic, spend much more of their life out of water and the home aquarium does not supply conditions suitable for their survival.