|
Over 60 million people have an aquarium. And it's easy to see why this hobby is still growing fast. It can be as simple as a goldfish in a bowl on a child's dresser, or as complex as a huge saltwater tank built inot the wall in the living room. It can be as relaxing or as challenging and rewarding as you want it to be. Advances in filtration, lighting, and tank design have made it easier than ever to have an awe-inspiring tank that will astonish your friends and family.
There is not much that is more relaxing than watching a beautiful aquarium full of fish as they float across the tank. The sound of the bubbles, the soft light and slow moving brightly-colored fish add to the enchantment of this stimulating hobby.
No matter what level an aquarium you have or want to create, the basics are pretty much the same...
Your aquarium will consist of a tank that holds water, a method to filter impurities out of the water, a heater and maybe a chiller, lights, some kind of decor, and, of course, freshwater or saltwater fish, depending on the kind of tank you put together.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
mini-critters always has a nice selection of tanks and stands
More tanks and stands ready
for you to take home today
Aquariums come in all sizes and shapes, from small glass bowls to huge builts ins. After you get past the small bowls, traditional aquariums come in square, hexagon, corner, bowed shapes and much more. Tanks come from 5 gallons all the way up to 200 gallons or more. They can be tall and narrow or short and long and anywhere in between.
Aquariums are usually made of glass, although new plastics are available. The plastic tanks are stronger, but are easier to scratch. Innovation in plastic tanks is leading to entirely new shapes and if you're interested in something completely unusual, mini-critters can have it custom made for you!
|
|
Read more...
|
|
We have everything you need to create near-perfect sea water
Aquariums come in two basic kinds: Freshwater and Saltwater.
In years past, when setting up a freshwater aquarium you would add tap water to an aquarium and put in drops to neutralize the chlorine that is added to drinking water. Today, mini-critters has a large reverse-osmosis system (it's called R-O Water by hobbyists) to purify the water we use in our in-store aquariums. Using R-O water makes setting up your aquarium a snap, and you can get it directly from us.
The same thing has happened with saltwater...
|
|
Read more...
|
|
mini-critters has a variety of filters along with the media they use
Aquariums are small self-contained environments. As you add fish and food and light and plants, you begin to change that environment. Filtering systems are how we add the stability that enables your fish to thrive.
There are three types of filtering needed to keep your aquarium healthy:
-
Mechanical Filtering
-
Biological Filtering
-
Chemical Filtering
All three types of filtering are necessary...
|
|
Read more...
|
|
mini-critters has the right
heater for your aquarium
Most aquarium fish are tropical fish. They come from warm waters in various parts of the world, and require water within the same temperature range to survive. The best temperature for your tropical fish is somewhere around 75-82 degrees.
The water in your aquarium, if not controlled, will gradually cool off or warm up to match the average temperature in your home...somewhere around 70 degrees for most of us around Sioux Falls.
While mini-critters does carry coats for your dog, we haven't yet found a supplier for fish coats.
That means you'll have to add a heater to your aquarium...
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Different aquariums require different lights. mini-critters carries one that is right for your aquarium
Lighting is one of the most overlooked issues in aquariums. Many beginners think that lights are only for making it easier to see their fish.
While that's true in a simple tank with just a couple of fish, it can get much more complicated as your aquarium gets more complex.
Beginner aquariums usually come with regular fluorescent bulbs - just like an under-counter light would contain. This is adequate for a simple aquarium with just fish.
If you add any plants, though, the light won't be enough for them to thrive. Saltwater aquariums require even more light and reef tanks with live coral and anemones require incredibly bright lights...
|
|
Read more...
|
|
We have a wide variety of items to dress up your aquarium
You can create any kind of look you want with mini-critters help
Your aquarium can look any way you want it to!
There are two types of looks for an aquarium: Fun, and Natural.
Fun decor is just that...you can use any color sand you want (and we've got just about any shade you can imagine), put a fancy background on the tank and put in that sunken treasure chest that opens and closes with the bubbles. Or you can design your tank to match your room's decor...
|
|
Read more...
|
|
mini-critters has a huge selection
of fish food and chemicals
We even have frozen fish food that will ignite a feeding frenzy in your tank
Fish food comes in many varieties, each designed for the type of fish you are feeding. The most common type of food is freeze dried flakes. There are different formulations for different types of fish and for different purposes like brightening colors or support during breeding. Goldfish food is different than Beta food. If you have a mixed tank, chose a general purpose food. Bottom dwelling fish, like cory cats, will require a food that sinks to their level instead of staying on top, so you might explore pelleted food for them.
Don't buy the biggest bottle of food on the shelf if you don't need it. Overfeeding is the most common problem affecting aquariums, and feeding just enough to allow your fish to eat for about two minutres is more than enough. Do that once or maybe twice a day and your fish will do well. The problem with the great big bottle is that it will go bad. Imagine eating cereal that's 6 months old! Get the smaller bottle and pick up a new one two or three times a year....
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Freshwater aquariums can
add an interesting focal point
to your home or office
Freshwater aquariums is where everyone starts when it comes to starting their first aquarium...and the vast majority of fishkeepers are perfectly happy to stay in freshwater. It can be every bit as rewarding as saltwater and reef aquariums and is considerably less expensive.
And it can almost as colorful, too.
mini-critters has thousands of fish in stock and ready to take home to your tank today. Our freshwater aquariums total of 1640 gallons (that's actual aquarium space..not the water in filters and sumps) and are full of just about every kind of fish you could imagine. We have an amazing selection of fish that are suitable for first time aquarium owners. If you're looking for something unusual, we have the largest selection of exotic tropical fish in the whole state! Our selection of African and South American Cichlids is great, too.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Saltwater aquariums are known
for their eye-popping color
Saltwater aquariums. They used to be out of reach for anyone but the most experienced hobbyists. New products have made it easier to keep the environment right, and this has lead to phenomenal growth in this area of the hobby. That means that the variety of fish available today is outstanding.
Outstanding is a good way to describe the selection we have at mini-critters, too. But it's still hard some days to keep up with the demand of the growing number of saltwater enthusiasts in our area. Because of that, we get new shipments every week to keep our 700+ gallons of saltwater fish aquariums stocked and ready for you.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Saltwater reef systems are incredible - and amaze
friends and family!
Most people who create reef tanks think of the fish as just a small bonus in a tank that is teaming with life that is nothing short of incredible! When you first start your reef, it's just a tank full of water and some "live rock." But within a week or so, you'll discover that this bare looking tank has hundreds of very small inhabitants - small crawling animals and tiny little plants that are starting to pop up.
Soon you're introducing a feather duster and some other simple corals, and things start to kick into high gear. You still don't have any fish, but your tank is already alive with subtle action. Many people tell us that they put their tank in their living room, and soon forget to turn on the TV!
We understand the excitement!
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
