Attach Java Fern To Driftwood

October 22, 2019

How to attach java fern to driftwood:

Java Fern can be attached to rock & other surfaces. It can grow when it is partially or completely submerged in water. It is a popular plant & hobbyists like to keep them in aquarium. It does not require fertilizers & too much lighting, & it is suitable for beginners. It looks beautiful when it is kept in aquarium. In fish tank, a hobbyist can tie or glue its rhizome to rock or driftwood.


How to attach java fern to driftwood
How to attach java fern to driftwood


Steps: Glue java fern plant to driftwood:

In this video tutorial I have provided step by step instructions about how to attach java fern to driftwood. I have attached java ferns to 2 driftwoods using glue & have added both driftwoods to the aquarium. If you want to see the video clip of every step, then I recommend watching the video tutorial added below:


Attach java fern to driftwood


Step 1: Buy java fern & driftwood:


Java fern & driftwood
Java fern & driftwood


I have stolen java fern plants from my guppy aquarium. Also I have bought 2 pieces of driftwoods from aquarium shop. The price of driftwoods is under 20 AUD.

It is strongly recommended to clean anything before adding it to the aquarium. So it is necessary to boil rock, driftwoods & other structures before adding them to the aquarium.


Step 2: Boil driftwood to remove germs & tannins:


Java fern is inside the bucket & driftwood is on the table
Java fern is inside the bucket & driftwood is on the table


First of all, I have boiled the driftwood to wipe out all the germs & tannins. Watch a tutorial about how to prepare driftwood for aquarium use.

Bucket contains java fern plants that I have stolen from my aquarium. I have allowed driftwood to dry before I can use them.


Step 3: Attach big java fern plants first:


Big plant & glue
Big plant is on the left side, & glue I have used is on the right side of above photo


My plan is to find 2 big java fern plants & attach it to driftwood using super glue (non-drip gel). Later I can attach small plants to fill the gaps & cover the complete top surface of driftwood with plants. Multiple ways are available to attach plants to driftwood. In my other video I have used super glue to attach java moss to rock.

In this tutorial I have used non drip gel to attach java fern to driftwood.


Step 4: Glue rhizome of java fern to driftwood:


I have attached java fern to the spot shown in left side photo
I have attached java fern to the spot shown in left side photo


I have discovered spot on driftwood where I can attach java fern. Attaching plants to driftwood can be done in multiple ways & the common method is to use non drip gel to attach java fern plant to driftwood. As long as rhizome is attached to driftwood, java fern can be more stable & can grow properly. The roots of the plants can absorb nutrients from the aquarium.


Step 5: Do not glue java fern roots to driftwood:


Do not glue java fern roots to driftwood
Do not glue java fern roots to driftwood


Do not glue java fern roots to the driftwood because they can absorb fish waste which acts as fertilizers or nutrients & it helps java fern to grow. Non drip gel is used to glue java fern to driftwood & it takes around 30 seconds to dry. I have used glue on java fern & driftwood for proper attachment.


Step 6: Attach all java ferns to both driftwoods:


Attach all java ferns to driftwood
Attach all java ferns to driftwood


I have attached one big java fern to the first driftwood & after successful attachment I have decided to attach another big java fern to the second driftwood. There is a hole in the second driftwood so I have pushed the roots through the hole so that it offers stability to the java fern. Again I have added non drip gel to the driftwood & then I have held the rhizome of the plant against the driftwood. After proper attachment I have begun adding small java fern.


Step 7: Spray on java ferns to keep it hydrated:


Spray on java ferns to keep it hydrated
Spray on java ferns to keep it hydrated


Use spray bottle to spray on the plant to keep it hydrated. Since java fern is outside of the aquarium for a while so I have sprayed water on the java fern so that it can absorb the moisture. I have attached the big java fern plants to driftwood so now it is time to attach the small java fern plants. The same procedure can be used to attach plant to any structure in fish tank. I have followed the same method to attach all java fern plants to driftwood so now it is time to add driftwood to the aquarium.


Step 8: Add driftwood to aquarium:


Add driftwood to aquarium
Add driftwood to aquarium


I am going to add driftwood in gold fish aquarium. Gold fish are messy & in my past I had a bad experience of keeping plants in gold fish aquarium. However, I have read on the internet that it is safe to add java fern in gold fish aquarium, because gold fish does not like the taste of java fern. I have added one driftwood on one end & another driftwood on the other end of the aquarium.


Step 9: Elastic thread is another option for attaching plant to surface:


Elastic thread can also be used to attach java fern to driftwood
Elastic thread can also be used to attach java fern to driftwood


Elastic thread is another option for attaching java fern to driftwood. The thread becomes invisible when it is submerged. I use thread when there is not enough surface to attach java fern to tank structure. Thread can help tie plant to driftwood. There is no need to add fertilizers & light in java fern aquarium. It can do great in most of the conditions.


Step 10: Ask question or give feedback:

It is the end of this tutorial. I hope you have enjoyed it & if you have any question regarding this tutorial then you can ask in the comment section below. We will provide answer as soon as possible. Watch the complete video at the top of this tutorial as every step is thoroughly explained. Also provide your feedback & don’t forget to visit our Youtube channel Fishaholic
Attach Java Fern To Driftwood Attach Java Fern To Driftwood Reviewed by Fishaholic on October 22, 2019 Rating: 5

Will cheap Ebay Aquarium Carpet Seeds Grow?

October 01, 2019

Will cheap Ebay Aquarium Carpet Seeds Really Grow?

I have been thinking to grow carpet seeds so that I can have a beautiful carpet in my fish tank. You can find cheap aquarium carpet seeds on Ebay. I read on the internet that hobbyists have grown aquarium carpet seeds & within 2 weeks the seeds have grown to form a beautiful grass carpet. I want to check whether they grow in aquarium or not.

 I have set up a new tank. I have purchased good quality seeds from Ebay & I have followed complete instructions offered by the seed supplier. The seeds have high quality. I have added 2 bags of seeds for this experiment & a single bag has 200 seeds. For moistening soil & seed I have sprayed fresh water. For lightning, I have also purchased aquarium lights.


Steps: Will cheap Ebay Aquarium Carpet Seeds Grow:

Watch whether high quality Aquarium Carpet Seeds really grow in aquarium in the video below:


Does high quality Aquarium Carpet Seeds really grow


Step 1: Buy Amazonia soil & spray the bottom of aquarium:


Step 1: Buy Amazonia soil & spray the bottom of aquarium
Step 1: Buy amazonia soil & spray the bottom of aquarium


For this project I have purchased a nano aquarium that has a capacity of storing 20 liters of water. I am using a good quality soil for this experiment. The soil is named Amazonia. Before adding soil to the aquarium, I choose to spray the bottom of fish tank so that after adding the soil, the bottom layer of the soil can absorb moisture.


Step 2: Open Amazonia soil bag:


Step 2: Add amazonia soil & examine soil
Step 2: Add amazonia soil & examine soil


It is very simple to add soil to the aquarium. Just make a hole in the bag & add soil evenly in the aquarium. The soil looks like round or oval shape with a round & soft corner so it will not hurt the plant roots.


Step 3: Add soil to the aquarium:


Step 3: Decorate soil in aquarium & open package
Step 3: Decorate soil in aquarium & open package


It is your choice to decorate the soil. I choose to keep them very simple. I have spread soil evenly in fish tank & have raised one corner. The initial setup is finished & now I am going to add seeds to the aquarium. I have purchased six unique kinds of aquarium carpet seeds from Ebay.


Step 4: Add seeds to the aquarium:


Step 4: Add seeds to the aquarium
Step 4: Add seeds to the aquarium


I have opened the package & there are six small plastic bags. Each bag has two hundred seeds. They are not labeled so I don’t know which seed I am going to add to my fish tank. I have cut the corner of one plastic bag & I am trying my best to add seeds to tank as evenly as I can. I have added 400 seeds from 2 bags.


Step 5: Add water for moistening & seal the aquarium:


Step 5: Spray water, seal aquarium & add light
Step 5: Spray water, seal aquarium & add light


After adding all the seeds, I am adding water to moist the substrate & seeds. I am going to seal the aquarium top with cling wrap so it can hold the moisture. I have covered the top of aquarium by placing a lid. I have bought tank lights which need to be turned on for six to eight hours a day that will help in growing the seeds & plants.


Step 6: After 2 weeks of nurturing seeds:


Step 6: After 2 weeks of nurturing seeds
Step 6: After 2 weeks of nurturing seeds


Now according to instructions it is time to wait for a couple of weeks to see the results. After 2 weeks just 18 plants have grown up out of 400 seeds. In those 2 weeks I have been spraying water twice a day. I have been sealing the tank with wrap. Also I have been leaving it open so that fresh air can enter the tank. The results are not satisfactory even after following the instructions correctly.


Your Feedback:

If you have succeeded to grow these magic carpet seeds, then please share your experience with us in the comment section.


Update:

I am working on another tutorial about growing carpet seeds in aquarium so please visit this website later.
Will cheap Ebay Aquarium Carpet Seeds Grow? Will cheap Ebay Aquarium Carpet Seeds Grow? Reviewed by Fishaholic on October 01, 2019 Rating: 5

How To Maintain An Overhead Fish Tank Filter

September 23, 2019

How to maintain an aquarium overhead SUMP filter:

You can rely on a filter which can clean your aquarium by removing solid waste particles & stabilizes the water conditions by removing toxic components. SUMP filter is a type of filter which has a container that can hold mechanical & biological filtration media.


How to maintain an overhead fish tank filter
How to maintain an overhead fish tank filter


In this tutorial I will show you how to do maintenance of aquarium top filter also called SUMP filter. I have built an overhead SUMP filter in my previous tutorial & if you want to know how to build it then you can read my other article.


Also in this tutorial I will talk about how to do maintenance of internal SUMP filter. If you want to know how to build an internal SUMP filter then check out my other article.


If you want to know how to clean an aquarium SUMP filter then watch all the steps in a video below:


How to clean a SUMP filter


Steps: How to maintain an overhead fish tank filter: 

In this article I will show you how I maintain the overhead sump filter of fish tank.


How to maintain an overhead aquarium filter
How to maintain an overhead aquarium filter


I have been away for more than 4 weeks & in between this period only my family members have fed my fish & no other maintenance have been done which means water has not been changed, & also the filter media of aquarium SUMP filter has not been changed & it is now very important to change the filter media. In today’s tutorial I am going to clean my aquariums & change the water, & also do some maintenance of tank filter.


Step 1: Scrub the internal glass:


Step 1: Scrub the internal glass
Step 1: Scrub the internal glass


Before changing water, I scrub the internal tank glass. However, the glass looks clean & no algae is visible but there is some that you might not see on the camera. So it is very important to scrub the glass before changing water. Cleaning is important but you should also observe the amount of good bacteria present in your filter. If your filter has enough good bacteria, then it can break down all the toxic components so there is no need to change water every 2 weeks.


Step 2: Clean the sponge:


Step 2: Clean the sponge
Step 2: Clean the sponge


I use a sponge as a filter sock & it looks dirty as it has collected fish waste & other debris. The filter pads need to be changed because they are really dirty. In my aquarium filter media setup, I usually use a medium & fine foam. After cleaning the sponge, I am not throwing it in the bin as it looks really clean now. I am going to use the same sponge in my aquarium filter. I am going to use a new fine foam because it is very cheap.


Step 3: Use new foam & put the media back in filter:


Use new foam & put media back in filter
Cut new foam & put media back in filter


Open the pack of fine foam & use a sharp scissor to cut the foam. I lay down fine foam on my filter tray. I am using 2 layers of fine foam & this time I am not going to use a medium foam. Water from the pump passes through sponge filter sock first then it flows through the fine foam. The maintenance is very simple because I only clean the sponge.


Step 4: Maintenance of top aquarium is over:


Step 4: Maintenance of top aquarium is finished
Step 4: Maintenance of top aquarium is finished


It takes around twenty minutes to scrub the glass, clean the filter media, & change the water. I turn on my filter so that it starts building up good bacteria again. My top aquarium maintenance is over. In my top aquarium I have five gold fish. In my bottom aquarium I have over 35 guppies & now I am going to start maintenance in my bottom aquarium.


Step 5: Maintenance of bottom aquarium begins:


Step 5: Clean the bottom of aquarium using hose
Step 5: Clean the bottom of aquarium using hose


There is too much waste at the bottom of my aquarium. The waste is produced mostly by the dead leaves of aquarium plants I have. The reason behind keeping my aquarium bare bottom is because it is very easy to clean them. I am using a hose to suck all the waste at the bottom of fish tank. If my aquarium had gravels or other material at the bottom, then it would be difficult to clean the mess. When I have more fish in aquarium, then I keep the aquarium bare bottom because it is easy to clean water & do maintenance which keeps my fish healthy.


Step 6: Clean the sponge of internal SUMP filter:


Step 6: Clean the sponge of internal filter
Step 6: Leave the pad but clean the sponge of internal filter


My internal SUMP filter is working fine. Filter pad does not look that dirty & it has tons of good bacteria so I am not going to change it because I might lose lots of beneficial bacteria. The internal SUMP filter is operated by a sponge filter. I am going to clean one of the sponges of my double sponge filter. 


Conclusion:

In both of my aquariums the level of water was low. My aquarium inhabitants are happy with the setup & I like my filters because they are doing a great job. I clean the filter & make a thirty percent water change & I have plants in my fish tank that can help me in removing nitrates.
How To Maintain An Overhead Fish Tank Filter How To Maintain An Overhead Fish Tank Filter Reviewed by Fishaholic on September 23, 2019 Rating: 5

How To Grow Sweet Potato In Fish Tank

September 18, 2019

How to grow sweet potato in aquarium:

In this tutorial I will show you how to grow a sweet potato plant in fish tank which can be used as a free of cost nitrates filter. The byproducts of ammonia can create a big problem which could be due to the outcome of aquarium debris, leftover food, & dead plants. I want to grow a sweet potato plant in aquarium which can be half submerged in water. It won’t be a stress to clean dead leaves in this case as it could be removed easily from sweet potato plant & the roots will absorb lots of nitrates to keep aquarium water clean & sweet potato plant can offer shelter to fish & provide hiding places for fish fry so that they can avoid adult fish.


How to grow sweet potato in aquarium
How to grow sweet potato in aquarium


I choose sweet potato plant because this plant can make a healthy root system very quickly which can help in water filtration & can offer hiding spots to the inhabitants. If sweet potato stem is submerged in water, then it will grow roots which can help in the filtration. This plant is suitable for beginners & it does not need too much light & it can survive for long.

I purchased sweet potato for this project from market. Instead of adding sweet potato to the aquarium directly, I allowed sweet potato to grow in a plastic cup. After 1 week, sweet potato develops roots & leaves, & one month later I choose to add it to the fish tank. A little container is made for holding sweet potato plant & I attach the container to fish tank glass using a suction cup. You don’t need to use any special equipment & you can simply make it at home.

The plants in aquarium can offer a better source of filtration but it is hard to manage them. However, sweet potato plant does not need that much maintenance & it can help you in nitrates filtration. You will not require adding carbon dioxide or fertilizer to this plant as it can absorb carbon dioxide from the air & the byproducts of ammonia can help as a fertilizer.

Nitrates will be consumed by sweet potato & if you do not know about it then it is a toxic byproduct of nitrogen cycle. Learn more about nitrogen cycle.


Steps: How to grow sweet potato plant inside aquarium:

In this video I will show you how to grow sweet potato plant inside aquarium & you can make a container to hold the sweet potato by attaching it to the aquarium glass.


How to grow sweet potato in fish tank

Step 1: Buy sweet potato from supermarket: 


Buy gold sweet potatoes from supermarket
Buy gold sweet potatoes from supermarket


On day one of DIY sweet potato project, I bought some sweet potatoes from supermarket. Then I half-fill disposable cup with tap water & I add a sweet potato in the disposable cup. I am not adding sweet potato directly to the fish tank because I have been busy so I will leave sweet potato in the disposable cup for a month so that it grows roots & leaves, & when sweet potato becomes more stable then I will add it to the aquarium.


Step 2: Add sweet potato in disposable cup & half fill it with water:


Sweet potato after 1 & a half week
Sweet potato after 1 & a half week


On day one when I half-fill the cup with water, I add a sweet potato & place it next to the window so that it can get some sun light which speeds up its growing process. After one & a half week, the sweet potato begins to grow roots & leaves. I change the water in the cup with tank water & also I add fish food to the cup which can offer nutrient for sweet potato to grow. If you want to avoid this step, then you can because there is a lot of nutrient inside the sweet potato that can help in growing of the plant.  


Step 3: Sweet potato will grow quickly & you will see progress very soon:


Sweet potato after 2 & a half week
Sweet potato after 2 & a half week


After two & a half week there is a big progress in the growing of the plant because it has grown more roots & it has more leaves & the leaves have grown bigger. The sweet potato is getting stable but I will wait for more days before I can add it to the aquarium & the reason behind is I want to see more progress.


Step 4: Add sweet potato to aquarium but first make a container for holding it:


Sweet potato after 1 month
Sweet potato after 1 month


After a month you can see in the picture that sweet potato has very beautiful leaves & it has grown very well so I think it would be the perfect time to add it to the fish tank but I do not want to add it directly to the aquarium & instead I want to make a container for the sweet potato which will let 60 percent of the potato to sit in the water & some part will be out of the water surface.


Step 5: Use bottle lid for building container to hold sweet potato inside aquarium:


Bottle lid & suction cup that will be used for holding sweet potato
Bottle lid & suction cup that will be used for holding sweet potato


I decide to make a container for the plant using a normal bottle lid & for attaching the container to the tank glass I am using a suction cup. I cut a hole in the lid & I decide to push the sweet potato through the hole. 60 to 65 percent of the sweet potato will sit in the water & remaining part will be outside. The part inside water will develop roots & the part outside can grow leaves.


Step 6: Cut a hole in the lid & push the sweet potato through the hole:


Cut a hole in the lid & Styrofoam
Cut a hole in the lid & Styrofoam


I use scissor & knife to cut a hole in the lid. A sharp blade allows me to make a clean cut. The hole in the lid has sharp edges so I think may be over time it might hurt the sweet potato so I chose to cut Styrofoam & add it inside that would hold the sweet potato. Be prepare to clean the mess when you cut the Styrofoam. Also you need to use a suction cup to attach the container to the aquarium glass.


Step 7: Finally add sweet potato to the aquarium:


Attach suction cup to the lid
Attach suction cup to the lid


Attaching the suction cup to the container is simple because I have to make a hole in the lid by heating a nail & use the hot end of the nail to pierce a hole in the lid. Then I attach the suction cup to the lid. I insert the Styrofoam inside the lid & push the sweet potato through the hole. I attach the lid to the aquarium glass & about 60 percent of the sweet potato is inside water & it starts growing roots.


Conclusion:


Sweet potato plant pictures
Sweet potato plant pictures


After adding sweet potato plant to the aquarium, I have taken multiple snapshots from time to time to see how it grows. I have added few snapshots of sweet potato plant growing in my aquarium. You can check out those pictures above & ask any question or don't forget to leave your feedback in the comment section of this post below.

Below is an update of sweet potato plant. Watch episode 2 of sweet potato plant which works as a free nitrate filter.


Sweet Potato Plant Episode 2
How To Grow Sweet Potato In Fish Tank How To Grow Sweet Potato In Fish Tank Reviewed by Fishaholic on September 18, 2019 Rating: 5

How To Clean Sponge Filter In Fish Tank

September 01, 2019

How To Clean Sponge Filter In Aquarium:

It is very important to know how to clean a sponge filter & how often you need to clean it. Sponge filters are very good when it comes to cleaning & you can use them in fry tanks & in aquariums that are too dirty. Maintenance of such filter is very simple as long as you follow the tips that have been discussed in this tutorial.


How to clean sponge filter in aquarium
How to clean sponge filter in aquarium


I have introduced my cat Kitty to you & my dog too in the video. I have also discussed how I use this dirty water to water my plants because dirty water can act as fertilizer for them. All the fish waste & leftover food are the fertilizers my plants need. I have too many guppies in my aquarium but most of them are babies. Sponge filters can be used in fry tank because they can suck fish food & fry can eat the leftover food attached to sponge. I have used a double sponge filter in my aquarium.


Steps: How to clean sponge filter:

In this video I will show you how to clean sponge filter. You can read all the steps explained in this article but it is very important to watch video as well as I have covered the complete procedure of cleaning a sponge filter.


How to clean sponge filter in my fish tank


Step 1: Fill bucket with aquarium water:



 Step 1: Fill bucket with aquarium water


The best time to clean the filter is during or after changing water. When you remove the sponge filter, the aquarium water might become bit cloudy but don’t worry about it. It will be clear within an hour or 2. Use a clean bucket & fill it up with aquarium water & do not use tap water in this bucket. Tap water contains chlorine which can destroy good bacteria so avoid using them & take water from aquarium & squeeze sponge in it. Keep separate accessories for aquarium & do not use them for other purposes as they may contain some chemicals which can be toxic to fish.


Step 2: Clean sponge by squeezing it in bucket water:



 Step 2: Clean sponge by squeezing it in bucket water


Clean the sponge by squeezing it till it stops releasing that yucky water. It takes around 30 – 45 seconds when I clean sponge but that time can vary based on the size of the sponge & how dirty it is after sucking fish waste & food. If sponge filter is very dirty then you can use 2 buckets of water. Squeeze sponge in first bucket & when it makes water very dirty then use another bucket & begin squeezing it in this second bucket as well. After sponge is clean put it back as quickly as possible & turn on the filter. Clean sponge filter every 2-3 weeks, & I clean 1 sponge at a time only so that aquarium do not loose significant amount of good bacteria.


Tips for cleaning sponge filter:

  • Turn off the power to Air pump.
  • Only clean 1 filter at a time if it is a double sponge filter.
  • Do not squeeze the sponge for too long & spend around 30 – 45 seconds while cleaning the sponge filter. This time may vary based on how dirty the sponge is & also time may vary based on the size of the sponge.
  • Use 2 buckets if the sponge filter is very dirty.


My Naughty Cat:

In the above video you can watch Kitty. She is very curious & sometimes she is annoying too because she keeps getting in my way.  


My Cat "Kitty"

 My Cat "Kitty"


My Pet Dog:

You can hear my dog’s voice in the background of the video tutorial. She is a Siberian husky with blue eyes & she is a medium size dog breed. My dog is responding to the instructions I give her that you can watch in the video.


My Pet Dog

 My Pet Dog
How To Clean Sponge Filter In Fish Tank How To Clean Sponge Filter In Fish Tank Reviewed by Fishaholic on September 01, 2019 Rating: 5

What are Different Types Of Aquatic Plants

August 29, 2019

What are the different types of aquatic plants?

Aquatic plants are categorized into four different types based on their habitat & tolerance to water such as some plants lives under water through out their entire life while others stay on top of water surface with their roots only submerged in water. In this article we will discuss in detail the four categories of aquatic plants with some examples.


Types of aquatic plants
Types of aquatic plants


1. Emergent Aquatic Plants
2. Submerged Aquatic Plants
3. Floating Leaved Aquatic Plants
4. Free Floating Aquatic Plants


1. Emergent Aquatic Plant:


Emergent Aquatic Plant: Flowering Rush
Emergent Aquatic Plant: Flowering Rush


Emergent plant can grow in water but their upper part needs to be kept outside water. Emergent plant leaves can photosynthesize efficiently when they are kept outside water. People keep this plant in aquarium because they are able to grow in more water. Examples of emergent plants include The reed, Cyperus papyrus, flowering rush & wild rice.


2. Submerged Aquatic Plant:


Submerged Aquatic Plant: Myriophyllum Spicatum
Submerged Aquatic Plant: Myriophyllum Spicatum


This plant can grow when fully submerged in water. It is a rooted plant with flaccid or limp stems & majority of the vegetable mass is submerged in water, although some parts of this plant may be outside water level. Examples of submerged aquatic plants include Myriophyllum spicatum & Ceratophyllum demersum.


3. Floating Leaved Aquatic Plant:


Floating Leaved Aquatic Plant: Water Lily
Floating Leaved Aquatic Plant: Water Lily


Such plant is floating on the water surface. Floating leaved aquatic plant has its root attached to the substrate or bottom of water body with leaves that float on the surface of water. Water lily & pondweed are common floating leaves plant.


4. Free Floating Aquatic Plant:


Free Floating Aquatic Plant: Water Cabbage
Free Floating Aquatic Plant: Water Cabbage


Free floating is an aquarium plant that is suspended on the surface of water with its root not attached to water substrate or sediment or bottom of the body of water. Such plants have low requirements & they are pretty easy to grow in aquarium. Examples of free floating aquatic plants include water cabbage & water lettuce.
What are Different Types Of Aquatic Plants What are Different Types Of Aquatic Plants Reviewed by Fishaholic on August 29, 2019 Rating: 5
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