Fresh Water Aquarium Filter Setup

Easily mistaken for Florida spotted gar.

Shortnosed gar, Lepisosteus platostomus
The shortnosed gar can be identified by its short snout, and by the lack of teeth rows in the upper jaw like the alligator gar, and the lack of spots on its body.

Long-nosed gar, Lepisosteus osseus
The long-nosed gar is, as the name suggests, identified by its long slender snout, and also by its slender body.

Alligator gar, Atractosteus spatula
The alligator gar has

fresh water aquarium filter setup

As promoters of ideas to general audiences, there are reasons for forwarding generalizations about how big is big enough and hence I have oft-stated (and stand by) my suggestion that forty gallons is a good minimum for a beginner marine system. This is large enough to provide living space, allow for landscaping and grants enough leeway should the "power go out", something die, overfeeding occur

Smaller systems are inherently less stable, more prone to crash, less flexible functionally and esthetically. Plus, surprising to some, no real cost-savings per gallon

They are by far, the filters most capable of producing and maintaining high water quality. Their costs of acquisition and operation are commensurate with the enhanced and stable environment they produce.

My Pitch on Installing Filters:

Do it now, as the next step in setting up your system. Thats right, Im encouraging you to fill the tank (and filters) up as is and fire the biological and mechanical

Any concerns about its limitations are easily remedied with back up generators, pumps and alarms that are well worth the investment for dream aquaria.

For resourceful aquarists, there are excellent pond and DIY designs for large aquatic filtration systems that can be constructed with inexpensive materi

Please thoroughly cleanse these items and gravel now, before putting them into the system.

Unplug everything, drain the system down, and carefully place the substrate over the sub-gravel filter (if youre using them) and the rest of you CC (chemically-correct) decor.

Have you set up a "mixing tank" for blending synthetic seawater? This is better than just pouring it into a bucket and trying to "make it on the run". Dont mix it in the system.

Whether youre using natural or fabricated saltwater, this is

Fish Across The World
Aquarium fish are popular the world over. Ever wonder where the most fish are kept as pets? Here are the top ten as of the year 2005: 1. USA....