reef Archives - Seatech Aquariums

I thought I would pass along some interesting facts that fish tank owners may not be aware of or have any ideas about the ‘why’ or ‘why not.’

How do fish sleep?

I know that most tank owners create an ambience with lighting so that at some point, it is low and/or diffused, that allows fish to rest. Since fish do not have ‘eyelids’ like you and I, I often wondered if and how fish sleep especially during those low-light tank times. Sleep to a fish is when they reduce their activity and metabolic rates. Once this happens, they seem to ‘float’ or hover in place like dancing seaweed. Sometimes they seek out a ‘safe’ spot – like burrowing in mud or among corals. It’s like finding a suitable nest so they can perform restorative functions, similar to a human’s need for daydreaming. Just to be still and quiet for a time helps reduce stress and even in their quite times, they are always on the lookout and ready should danger or predators approach.

Do fish drink water?

My next thought is do fish drink the water that they are swimming in. Freshwater fish live in water that is less salty than what is found inside their bodies. So they need to intake small amounts of water by osmosis through their tissues. Saltwater fish live in water that contain larger amounts of salt than what is found inside their bodies. They must take in larger amounts in order to live. Both fish drink water in order to equalize their bodies to their surroundings.

Do fish have a hearing?

Now I begin to wonder if fish can hear or detect sounds. We’ve all tried to catch a fish with our bare hands at one time or another without success. Think about the mechanics of a school of fish. They act in mass by swimming in the same direction and when one changes, they all change. Why? They coordinate their movements using the flow of water across their lateral line system. Any change in direction changes the flow of water, and then passes on to the next fish, and the next, and the next.

Why do fish behave oddly?

Finally, have you ever seen fish act ‘funny’ or display some ‘odd’ behaviors? If a fish flutters its fins or quivers and shakes in front of another fish, they use that as a defensive behavior. Fish can show submission as well. They either lie on their sides when another fish comes towards them, or they float motionless in a heads-up position.

For those of you that have wrasse or parrotfish in your tanks, they often scratch or bank their heads on a piece of coral. It’s not serious – just a way to help remove clotted salt from their gills. If other fish species do this, then they may be showing signs of having parasites or your water pH levels are too low. Some fish, like Catfish, Gobies, Triggers and others dig ‘pits’ in your gravel. This is their natural instinct for building a home, just like they would do out in the open waters. Gnawing on your coral? Wild Parrotfish are known to eat corals, and Triggers may use corals to sharpen their teeth.

If you want more help in coming to know your fish and making sure they stay healthy, call Seatech Aquariums today! Seatech caters to all types of clients – from large corporations to individuals with home aquariums. Jimmie and Mike will be able to help you figure out a plan, get started and enjoy your aquarium for years to come.

Need an aquarium check-up? Then Jimmie is the go-to guy. He will come out, assess your aquarium, make suggestions, and get your tank clean, sparkling, and well-maintained.

Don’t let your aquarium suffer the blues!! Let Seatech create the beauty of the ocean right in your own home.

Aquariums are great creative outlets for you. You can design one small enough to fit into the corner of a room, or large enough to create a room’s focal point. The big decision comes when selecting the type of fish and invertebrates you want. Which means – either saltwater or freshwater.

Let’s look at freshwater tanks.

Easy to maintain
Less expensive to stock
Easier to take care of as freshwater fish are more tolerant of tank or environment deviations
Tank size can be smaller, so your initial output is more reasonable

Now to saltwater tanks.

Better looking – saltwater fish tend to be more colorful with more interesting behaviors
More costly because you cannot ‘breed’ saltwater fish – they still need to be ‘captured’ to meet the supply-and-demand needs
Saltwater is more time-consuming because you need to make sure their environment is stable
Saltwater fish need large tanks, so your initial output will be more than with freshwater tanks

Even though ‘beginners’ are told to stay away from saltwater tanks and go with freshwater tanks, it is really up to you and how much time and energy you want to invest into your tank. No matter which tank you decide on, you should be aware of a few tips.

1. Fish size

All fish start out small, but each one grows at a different rate. So you need to consider which will be better based on your budget as well as the size tank you decide on. It will be more costly if you have to get a larger tank each time your fish develops as well as making sure they have plenty of room to swim in.

2. Food

As everyone knows, goldfish require a container of food that you can just ‘tap’ into the tank, and then off you go. Whereas with saltwater fish, you will need to mimic what they would normally eat in the wild. This means extra types of food and some of those foods need to be refrigerated. If you have children, that is a major consideration in order to avoid them getting ‘into something’ that they should not be into and then get sick.

3. Compatibility

It won’t do your budget any good to buy fish and then come home to find one is dead or half-eaten!! You need to make sure your tank dwellers will be on good terms with each other as well as other fish dwellers in your tank.

4. Breeding

Some people have tanks in order to breed fish and make some extra cash. So when buying your fish, you need to make sure that they can be bred in ‘captivity’ (i.e. your tank), or that they are not shy around other fish.
One last thing to remember – some fish can live for up to ten years in a tank. That means a long-term commitment on your part and has to be something that you are willing to spend time on. So be careful on what fish to want, because it will almost be like a marriage contract!

Some of my favorite freshwater fish are Guppies (easy to take care of and feed), Betta (even though they need to be kept away from other fish, they have lovely colors and finnage), and the Oscar (after a while it is said that it will come to know its feeder). Looking at saltwater fish, I like Blue Devils, Clown Fish (like Nemo), and the Forceps Butterfly (its bright yellow color is stunning).

Want more information and help deciding on which fish tank is the best? Call Seatech Aquariums. Jimmie and Mike have many years of aquarium experience, and will help you decide on the size, where to put it, and what to put inside of it. Seatech offers a money-back guarantee on its livestock, and will also be there to set up your tank and get you going with regular, first-class maintenance.

Visit our website at http://seatechaquariums.com/ or give us a call at 602.628.7270. And if you are interested in getting a Nano Cube Tank, then Seatech is the ultimate expert!! We have several models to select from and again – we will help you get everything you need.
Don’t wait – get started today!

Tag Archives: reef

Some Cool Facts About Fish that You Didn’t Know