Many people that keep amateur fish tanks have come to love the cichlid varieties of fish. They are noted for their huge variety that display interesting and complex behaviors that are fascinating to watch. They are also noted for their beautiful markings and colors. One such species is the ever popular discus fish. This article will describe the typical nature of the discus fish and the ideal conditions and habitat for a discus fish tank.

Discus fish hail from the black water tributaries of the Amazon. The vegetation and substrate in these waters has a high level of humic acid that causes the water to be soft or have an acidic Ph level. The Ph level should be around 5.5 to 6.5 for Discus fish. The water temperatures range from around 26 degrees Celsius to 31 degrees Celsius. The water is generally slow moving.

Discus fish require very good water quality or they are likely to become stressed otherwise. Some people use Reverse Osmosis (R.O) water to get the quality right but as R.O. water is virtually distilled water it is not advised to use it without adding essential minerals and salts that all freshwater fish need. There are supplements that can be added to R.O. Water that will do this. Water should be changed regularly too.

The typical habitat of Discus fish is gentle water movement, a variety of plants and a diverse aqua scape of rocks, caves and bogwood. They prefer to live in a large tank.

Discus fish are generally placid fish but become very protective during breeding and nurturing of fry. It is sometimes a good idea to remove other fish during this time or partition them off.

They will eat most things from flake to live foods.

Discuss fish are some of the most beautiful cichlids you can keep however it can be a challenge to maintain the water quality to their liking. Soft water is often more difficult to maintain than hard water and discus fish are quite sensitive to this. This puts more responsibility on you to know how to maintain the fish tank and keep a regular schedule of maintenance.

Aquarium gravel can play an important role in maintaining the habitat that is your fish tank. It can be used as part of the filtration system, as a nutrient rich substrate for plants or to change the properties in the water. In most cases however it is there purely for decorative reasons. People like to see a gravel bottom because it makes the tank look better and often offsets the colors of the fish. It also provides the fish with more things to do which makes better viewing for the Aquarist and his/her friends.

The type of gravel you want in your fish tank is also determined by the type of animal and plant life that you want in your tank. If you are looking for gravel for soft water this is generally because you have fish that are suited to soft water. Common fish include South American Cichlids like Discus and Angel fish. You may also want to have plants in you tank to recreate the natural environment of these fish. Then the gravel must be rich in nutrients and be firm enough to allow roots to take hold.

The gravel commonly used for this purpose is titled lime free gravel. Lime or calcium carbonate is the principle component that causes hard water. If you were to put gravel that was composed of calcium carbonate in then the water it would turn the water alkaline over time and could cause stress or ill health to your fish.

Lime free gravel is usually quartz or man made. Quartz gravel is ideal for plants as it collects nutrients and allows roots to take hold. You can also layer the substrate so that the base is lime free material and the top levels are more nutrient rich to encourage plant growth. Another consideration if you have bottom dwelling fish is to have smooth edged gravel so that the fish don't get damaged.

Gold fish are usually a child's first pet and if you're thinking of keeping a gold fish tank, there are a few basic things you need to know. By understanding how to keep your gold fish tank in tip top condition will ensure you have happy fish.

The first thing to decide is how many fish you wish to have. If you only want a couple of small fish then a small gold fish tank or even a gold fish bowl is all you will need but if you require lots of fish or larger fish then you will need a large gold fish tank to ensure the fish remain healthy. A tank which holds 30 gallons of water will house up to 6 average gold fish. Gold fish tanks come in various sizes and can be made from either acrylic or glass.

To make the gold fish tank a nice place for the fish to live plants, rocks and other items can be purchased to place at the bottom of your gold fish tank for the fish to enjoy. All accessories, including the rocks, should be washed in water before they are placed into the tank. You will need to test the water when you first put it in the tank and you'll have to purchase a test kit to make sure the oxygen, nitrate and other chemical balances are in line.

Most gold fish tanks come with the filters and because gold fish can survive in water temperatures from 78 degrees to very cold waters, a heater is not needed and regular room temperature will do just fine for the water in your gold fish tank.

What Fish are best for Your Gold Fish Tank

When choosing a gold fish for your gold fish tank you need to ensure the fish you buy are healthy. Check the fins are upright and not droopy as fins which are down are a sign of a stressed fish. Another thing to look for is fish with foggy eyes, discoloration or other similar abnormalities. Gold fish are not just gold, and come in many sizes, shapes and colors. Most gold fish will grow up to 5 to 8 inches in length. Gold Fish tanks are an ideal starter pet in teaching your children how to look after their pets properly. The fish in your new gold fish tank if looked after correctly will provide hours of fun and is also proven to be a relaxing hobby.