Top 5 Famous Fish

Searching for fish online, here is a selection of the most Famous Fish that have featured in Hollywood films. 

1. "Sebastian"

From the film "The Little Mermaid," Sebastian is a lobster.

Lobsters like Sebastian tend to live in rocky and muddy waters submerged under a rock. Their diet consists of mollusks and the remains of dead animals, however they can also catch fish as well as consume algae.

2. "Dora"

Hailing from from the 2003 smash hit film "Finding Nemo" Nemo is a regal tang fish.  Regal tangs survive in warm tropical waters and eat a diet of live fish and vegetation. A real life regal can grow up to ten feet long.

3. "Flipper"

Is a bottle-nosed dolphin that featuresd in the highly successful series entitled, "Flipper". The series was later made into a film starring actor Paul Hogan better known as Mick Dundee.  Living in warm coastal waters these types of dolphins are noted for their playfulness, friendliness and intelligence. They live off a combination of fish and squid, and can live upto 25 years

4. "Keico"

Originating from Iceland "Willy" was the star of the "Free Willy" trilogy of movies. Weighing over six-tons, Willy was an orca whale which lived in various Aquariums across North America before returning home to his native Iceland. Orca whales have a varied diet ranging from fish, squid, seals other whales and even sharks!

5. "Nemo"

The main protagonist from the film "Finding Nemo" - Nemo is a clownfish.  They can also be known as a anemonefish, these creatures habitat is the warm waters of the South pacific. The anemone are, for some unexplained reason, friendly towards the clownfish and actually provide shelter and refuge.  Their bright colour and weak swimming skills make them an easy target for predators. They live on a staple diet of mysids and copepods but can grow over 5 inches long.

Pump Up The Health of Your Pond

Oh, the joys of building your first pond. Yes, they are wonderful additions to any backyard. Yet, there are many considerations before you begin. One of those considerations is the pond pump. The health of your pond is all about keeping that water flowing, clean and aerated with fresh oxygen driven in by the constant flow of water. For the man-made pond, that’s only going to happen with the addition of a good pond pump. 

There are several things you’ll want to think about before you get a new pond pump. And you ARE going to be getting a NEW pond pump, yes? Well, let’s hope so.. The fact is, when it comes to the job taken on by those pumps, it’s one that never stops, because the pump is never shut off. They need to run 24/7. So no resting for these mechanical necessities. You’ll want to be sure you get a reliable pump. If at any time your pond pump fails, it’s going to create a huge mess. The bacteria are going to start to party hardy and whoops, there goes the neighborhood. 

Bad bacteria has difficulty growing in a flowing stream of water. For some reason many people are under the misconception that green, gunky, murky, muddy water is ok for ponds. Well, let me say right now, it’s not. Yes, there are lots of things that can survive in that sort of environment, but they are not pretty and peace-enhancing creatures. Not all bacteria is bad, you’ll want to encourage good bacteria to grow and that also requires good flowing water.   

Now that you’re convinced you need a good pump, it’s time to think of buying a quality made pump. One that has a nice 2 year warranty.  

What’s keeps those pumps alive and running? Electricity of course. Remember that these babies never shut off so they are munching on your electricity constantly. You don’t want a pump that sucks up a lot of energy as that’s going to hurt when the electric bill shows up. Check out the statistics regarding power consumption and select a pond pump with a low power consumption.   

Without any further ado, we’d like to take a moment to plug in our favorite brand, that of the Beckett pond pump brand. It’s a good quality pump, one that has that warranty and low electrical consumption. This brand also offers a nice variety by way of different types to suit your particular pond needs. There, we said it. That’s our two sents worth.   

There are of course other brands that you can choose from. Talk to your local pond supply dealer or an experienced pond hobbyist for other brand recommendations. Just remember to consider the warranty and electrical consumption of the pump your thinking of buying as well as the personal needs of your specific pond by way of the amount of water it will need to work with. If you consider these things before you buy, you’ll be on the right track for an awesome adventure in the world of ponds. 

Check out our www.ezpondideas.com for great pond loving tips and ideas.

Which is Better for a Beginner, A Saltwater or Freshwater Aquarium?

A freshwater tank may be the best choice if you are new to keeping an aquarium. A saltwater tank has more options for interesting kinds of fish, but the care and maintenance of saltwater aquariums is more difficult than a freshwater tank. It can take a few months to get used to keeping a saltwater tank going - for sure, there is a learning curve here. If you’re up for a challenge, you can of course choose to start with a saltwater tank.

One reason is the ease in set up and maintenance of a freshwater over a saltwater tank. It is also less expensive to purchase the equipment you need. Marine fish needed for a saltwater tank are quite expensive when compared to the price of freshwater fish. You will probably use live rock, which is also fairly costly, as a natural biological filter, as this makes setting up a saltwater tank easier.

For your saltwater fish, the live rock is a section of live coral reef including marine wildlife like sponges, sea urchins, worms and algae to help provide a natural ecosystem. There is a reduction in waste products with this live rock environment. It is necessary that you create conditions in the home aquarium that will provide your fish with the oxygen and food that it needs to survive, as well as the continuous cleaning provided in its natural habitat. However, you’ll also need a protein skimmer for a saltwater tank; this will keep organic waste out of the water.

Lighting for a saltwater tank also costs more than lighting a freshwater tank. Getting the lighting right is extremely important; this will keep the growth and behavior of all of the tank’s inhabitants natural. Your lighting will also be essential in helping proper oxygenation through photosynthesis.

Unlike a freshwater tank, you have to create a complete, working ecosystem for your fish with a saltwater tank. Each element is important and dependent on the others to maintain balance, which is a necessity to the survival of all the organisms in the tank. If you want your fish to survive, you will need the right plants and animals so that the environment is healthy for your fish.

You might want to think long and hard about that saltwater tank - there are a lot of costs involved and the maintenance is much more complicated; by comparison, freshwater aquariums are great for beginners. You’ll learn a lot about keeping your freshwater tank as you go along and build the skills and knowledge base which will eventually ready you for a saltwater tank.