Archive for the ‘fish’ Category

Aquaculture

Sunday, February 8th, 2009

Living systems of aquatic plants and animals for exhibition, scientific analysis or decoration, aquariums are balanced when aquatic plants and animals exist in respiratory cooperation. Fish exhale carbon dioxide and eliminate wastes which the plants absorb as fertilizer. Plants use the carbon dioxide and emit oxygen during photosynthesis which the fish inhale. Cooperation exists in this sense. Sufficient daylight, uniform water temperature and prepared fish foods are all that are needed to support most freshwater fish. A large variety of aquatic plants is good for aquariums.

Fish convert approximately 85 percent of what they eat into protein food as contrasted with approximately 10 percent converted by beef cattle.

There are two types of pond construction the dug pond formed by digging a sunken shape out of the earth, and the levee pond made by natural levees or by mechanically digging out a level pond bottom. Levee ponds allow for drainage naturally since they are higher than ground level.

When the pond is fully constructed and the clear water allowed to stand for a week or two, it is time for fish body weight per day; with kitchen wastes, percent of body weight. This formula is designed to produce a 3 percent weight gain per day.

Get To Know The Black Koi!

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

If you already have a pond on your property, or you are looking to build one, one way to make it extra special is to add some Black Koi. Black Koi are as versatile as they are beautiful, and make a great addition to any pond.

However, before getting any type of live animal, it is a good idea to do a little background research. This is to ensure you will be able to handle the care and maintenance of the animal, and that you will be a good fit for each other.

If you didn’t already know, Koi is just another name for carp, which is a large species of fish that originated somewhere around Asia and Central Europe. There were several species of carp even in the beginning, and this led them to be easily domesticated throughout South East Asia and China. They were even used as a food source in and around Asia. By the time the fish made it to Japan, they became known as Koi. This creature is extremely hardy, and can withstand many different climates and water types and conditions. This hardiness is what allowed Koi to spread throughout Japan and many other new locations.

How to Feed Your Koi throughout the Seasons

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

The season is going to determine how you feed your Koi. Since Koi are cold blooded, their metabolism changes based on the temperature of the water where they reside. Feeding Koi too much food during cold weather and not enough during hot weather can be quite hazardous to them. Luckily, though, Koi feeding is not a science, but does require that you use some care. As long as you follow the correct Koi feeding instructions, there should be no issues with having healthy Koi for years to come.

One really great way to ensure that you are feeding your Koi in the right way is to have a pond thermometer provide you an accurate temperature reading of your pond water all year round. When the weather is cold, their metabolism slows down, so you definitely don?t want to overfeed. They will not be able to process the food they eat and it is important to realize that fish don?t really know when to stop eating. That is why they are easily overfed. In the summer, their metabolism speeds up and this is when they tend to grow, so daily feedings are a good idea.

Keep Your Koi Pond or Garden Spic and Span with a Koi Filter

Saturday, November 22nd, 2008

When you have a Koi garden or pond, it is important that it stays clean and the best way to do that is by using a Koi filter. But there are various types of filters that you can purchase, so it is very important that you understand what is available. Having the right filter means that you will have a system that works for you when it comes to your budget and the size of your pond.

The filter you want to look at is the biological filter. This is a filter that is made to get rid of particulate and organic substances. These filters use what is called anaerobic bacteria-laden filter media. A biological filter breaks down the harmful substances that can damage your fish and your pond. It removes decaying pond creatures, fish waste, leaves, and other decaying debris that sits at the bottom of the pond.

Bacteria is used in the breakdown process because it is a special bacteria that can take substances that are harmful and break them down into something that is not as harmful. For example, ammonia is broken down in two stages. Each stage also involves a different type of bacteria. The first stage is the nitrifying of the bacteria and the second stage involves converting the nitrite to nitrate.

The Basics of Building a Koi Pond

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

If you have been thinking about a Koi pond but are afraid it may be too difficult to consider, think again it really is not as difficult as you think. A Koi pond can be a beautiful enhancement to your garden and if you build and maintain it properly you will have a pond to be proud of for many years.

Choose an area where you can build a pond large enough to allow your fish to reproduce ant grow in size. They like elbow room so be sure you have plenty of room for them to swim easily. It is not a good idea to have the fish so crowded that they are bumping into each other at every turn. Of course you will want to be sure that you do not have more room than you need. Filtering the water and adding medication if you need it can be very expensive, especially if you are working with more water than you actually need.