Fluval Flex Aquariums

These great new small aquariums from Fluval are in stock here at J&M Aquatics and Pet Center.  We’ve included a video from Fluval, below, but here are 5 great facts about these aquariums:

1. The elegant vertical bow front
2. The easy feed port on the front
3. The LED lighting remote
4. The honeycomb wrap to conceal the water line and integrated filter system
5. Oh, right, the integrated filter system!
6. BONUS: the 7500K white LED lighting system that is INCLUDED! It will support live aquatic plants requiring mid to low light and, by using the remote, you can create over 80 different color variations!

Watch this video from Fluval to learn more about the Fluval Flex aquarium, in stock now at J&M Aquatics and Pet Center in Grand Junction, Colorado:

Fluval Tips on Decorating your Aquarium

We really enjoy the videos that Fluval puts out with various aquarium tips.  This one is all about aquarium decorations!

Frozen Food for your aquarium

Recently the folks at Marine Depot put together a video on feeding fish frozen foods.  Quick! Say that 5 times fast.  Click the link to watch the full video or read on for a few of the highlights.

Frozen foods, according to the article, provide the most nutritional value when compared to dried foods.  They taste better and that great taste will cause your fish to be more interested in eating.

In fact, some more delicate fish like Angelfish, Anthias and Butterflies, require a certain amount of frozen foods to successfully survive in an aquarium.

Ideally fish need a variety of foods to stay healthy, including both dry and frozen. According to the article, “Healthy fish with balanced diets will be more colorful, more active and more resistant to disease. They will live longer than malnourished fish that only receive the same old flake food every day throughout their lifetime.”  It’s recommended that frozen foods be offered at least 3 times a week.

To use the frozen foods, you should thaw them first using either a kitchen strainer or a special frozen food fish strainer.  This allows you to avoid problems with algae from leftover food particles in your tank. It also means you can add any vitamins or supplements before offering the food to your fish.

If you have any questions about frozen fish foods stop by and see us at 2851 North Avenue in Grand Junction, CO.

frozen fish foods are an important part of the fish diet

From Tetra: All about GloFish

Did you know GloFish weren’t created just to be colorful additions to you aquarium? According to Tetra’s April newsletter, “Originally, GloFish® were bred to help detect polluted waters in water systems to prevent the public from getting sick. The first step in developing a pollution-detecting fish was to create fish that would be fluorescent all the time. By adding a naturally derived protein gene to give them their fluorescent color, scientists hoped to use GloFish® to make it easier to quickly identify contaminated waterways.”

Glofish were originally bred to help detect polluted waters.

Want to know how to best show off your Glofish? Click here to continue reading!

What is a sump pump and how can it help your reef aquarium?

Sump systems help to declutter your reef aquarium while protecting the fish and other aquatic lifeforms living in it.

Sump systems can be a great way to declutter your reef aquarium while also providing a great filtration system. A sump system exists below your aquarium (underneath the aquarium in a cabinet or even beside the aquarium) and can house all of your filtration equipment.  Other benefits of a sump system include:

Water aeration

Waste dilution

Healthy water

Keeping the surface clean of contaminates

Creating less clutter

Water level stability

For more information on sumps and how they work, stop by and see us at 2851 North Avenue in Grand Junction OR check out the links below:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/gt/

http://www.reefaquarium.com/2012/some-sump-basics/

http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-exclusives/fama/reef-aquarium-sump.aspx

From Tetra: Spring Pond Cleaning

Spring Cleaning Checklist

This winter has been absolutely brutal in most of these United States. So, let’s shift our thoughts to warmer things, like that pond of yours. Now is a good time to go through your spring cleaning checklist so you can hit the ground running come that first break of warm weather.

Remember these important steps:

• Check your pond for any areas that may require repairs, such as rocks that have displaced, a tear in the liner, and broken piping or valves.
• Remove any accumulated debris from the pond bottom and surface.
• Remove and dry your de-icer (if applicable), inspect it, then store properly for next season.
• Inspect and replace hoses, and tighten any fittings that are leaking.
• Start up your pump and filter in shallow water to ensure everything is working properly (there’s nothing worse than putting it the bottom of the pond only to discover you need to take it out again).
• Replace up to 25% of the pond water with tap water. Remember to add a water conditioner to remove chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals found in most tap water.
• Take a good look at your fish. Examine their activity, ensure they are not struggling or swimming oddly, and inspect their fins and scales to ensure they are healthy. Begin feeding according to seasonal feeding cycle.

For more from Tetra’s latest newsletter, click here!

From Tetra: The Greener Side of Ponds

The ‘Greener’ Side of Ponds:
Environmental Benefits of Owning a Pond

There’s no doubt the primary driver for homeowners to add a pond to their landscape is to create a place of beauty and relaxation where they can escape this hectic world. Another benefit is increasing their home’s living space by adding an outdoor living room around the water garden.

There also seems to be a constant change in energy costs, as well as huge shifts in our nation’s weather patterns. More and more areas of the country are being affected by extended drought conditions, primarily in the western half of the United States.

By replacing some or all of your lawn with a pond or water feature, you can conserve energy, save money, support the environment and have a beautiful place to relax!

Here are TetraPond’s seven environmental benefits of owning a pond:

1. Lawns require watering; whereas, ponds can be re-filled with rainwater.
2. Ponds are a self-sustaining cycle of hydration that keeps plants alive without having to water them.
3. Less mowing means less use of gas and carbon monoxide emissions.
4. Pesticides and fertilizers for the lawn can be harmful, creating run-off that ends up in groundwater, streams and rivers.
5. Sludge collected by your pond filter can be used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer for your flowerbed and garden.
6. Ponds attract and create a haven for beautiful fish, dragonflies, frogs and birds, adding to wildlife propagation.
7. Water gardens influence the young to help create a better future for the planet.

Remember, every little bit helps, especially when it comes to water conservation. And these are just a few things you can easily affect, right in your own back yard.
For more from Tetra’s latest newsletter, click here!

From Fluval: Discus Fish Care 101

The discus, also known as the king of aquarium fish, have been so intensively bred that the vast array of colours available has become almost dizzying. I have had the great privilege of visiting some of the most impressive discus breeding facilities around, namely Jeffrey and Tony Tan’s Malaysian discus breeding facility. Here, I saw not only a surgically clean breeding facility, but discus of quality that I had only ever dreamed about. For those of us who have some knowledge of the wonderful world of discus, the mere mention of the Aquarama Show in Singapore would quickly equate to the Tan brothers to absolutely perfect, show-quality discus entries with a winning history.  Read more…

Planted Tanks

It seems these days that planted tanks are becoming more popular.  What’s a planted tank, you ask? Exactly what it sounds like. Instead of plastic plants a planted tank has real plants growing in it.  For example:

taken from: http://www.imod.co.za/2014/01/27/planted-aquarium-inspiration-fresh-year/

To start and keep a successful planted tank, you’ll need several things.

1. Appropriate lighting.  Full-spectrum LED lights work well for planted tanks and allow for photosynthesis to occur.  You can find Fluval and Marineland LED lighting at J&M Aquatics.

2. Food (fertilizers, substrates, etc) – Seachem’s Aquavitro line of planted tank products is perfect for providing additives and other benefits for your plants.  Our experts at J&M Aquatics can help you determine which product is right for your tank.

3. Extra Tools – Again, you can find small tools, forceps and even a plant-friendly glue for keeping plants in place from Seachem’s Aquavitro Aquarium Tool line.  These can help with grooming those ever-growing plants and keeping your tank neat and tidy.

4. Plants! – What would a planted aquarium be without plants? We have a wide variety of plants from those that are easy to grow to ones that require a little more skill and finesse. We stock: Anubias, hairgrass, Java fren, Ludwigia, cryptocorynes, Vallisneria, Java Moss and more!

Stop in to J&M Aquatics today at 2851 North Avenue in Grand Junction and get started with your planted tank!

Latest news from Tetra – Free Water care apps and more

Here’s the latest news from Tetra:

Check out their new water care app by visiting this spot on their website: http://www.tetra-fish.com/care-app.aspx It’s free and works with their pH strips to help you better understand and evaluate the pH of your pond water.

Tetra’s Water Care App – photo from Tetra

In other news, make sure you check out the TetraPRO Nutrition Line. It provides better nutrition for your fish because it’s made using a low heat process that allows it to lock in all those great vitamins and minerals!

Photo from Tetra