It doesn't matter what kind of fish and marine life you have, it is your job to provide them

with the best and cleanest habitat possible. Even though you may not have a lot of time to
devote to the task, you should do your best to clean their home every chance you get. Even
though you don't need to spend a ton of money on equipment to handle your fish tank
duties, you do need to make sure that anything that is put into the water is completely safe
for your aquatic life. Regardless of your schedule, you may not feel confident enough to
handle your fish tank duties. Instead of waiting until things get out of control and your
marine life start dying off, find a good aquarium maintenance company for the job.
There is nothing wrong with trying to handle things all on your own. The sooner you realize
that you aren't able to handle cleaning and caring for your fish tank, the sooner you need to
start looking for an aquarium maintenance company. The longer you wait to find a credible
company to send someone out to care for your fish, the harder it will be for them to survive.
You shouldn't get used to looking at a dirty fish tank. By taking the time to hire a
professional aquarium maintenance service, you are giving your fish a new chance at life.
There are tons of people who enjoy having marine life in their homes and businesses, but for
one reason or another don't have the time to properly care for them. Just because they can't
find the time to keep things clean and environmentally suitable for their aquatic friends,
doesn't mean that they can't hire professionals to do it for them. Just think about it, when
you go out, you see some of the world's busiest professionals with pets and aquatic life and
you may wonder just how do they manage to do it. The answer is they hire a professional
service to take over when they aren't able too.
Did you know that it is much cheaper for you to hire an aquarium maintenance professional
to come out on a regular basis than it is for you to constantly keep starting your aquariums
from scratch? This means that you can go on vacation, travel around the world, or simply
take a break from your responsibilities, without having to worry about your fish and their
habitat while you are gone. Contact several credible companies and get a few estimates for
their services. As you start looking for the best one to take care of your fish, take your
personal and business schedule into consideration. You may want to try one on a trial basis
before you make any final decisions about which one to use on a regular basis.

For reliable aquarium maintenance in Central, North, and South Jersey, rely on Aquaridise in East Brunswick
Jersey, for professional service you can count on. We maintain aquariums in hospitals, senior residence hom
major international corporations, dentist offices, banks, and restaurants and of course many residential hom
list a few.

Maintain Your Aquarium

A beautiful, healthy aquarium starts with quality aquarium maintenance services. New Brunswick, Somerset
Brunswick, and all of Central New Jersey count on Aquaridise to provide them with the most reliable aquariu
cleaning in the area. At each visit, your service person will:

Clean Your Filter

Monitor, Evaluate, & Modify Your Water Chemistry
Ensure that Your Aquarium Is Running at Its Absolute
Best

Perform a Partial Water Change

Clean Your Glass and Decorations

Our Diverse Portfolio

Aquaridise maintains more than 100 fish tanks in Somerset, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Union, Mercer, a
Burlington Counties. Our diverse portfolio includes a 7-gallon fish tank in a dentist office as well as an 800-g
Shark Tank. Aquaridise has been providing aquarium service in New Brunswick, Somerset, Somerville, Red B

and dozens of other towns since 1985. We take pride in forming long-term relationships with our clients by m
your tank as important to us as it is to you.

Reliable Aquarium Maintenance

When you are ready to startup a new fresh or saltwater aquarium and you would like to have it professional
installed, give Aquaridise a call today. We'll schedule your personal consultation. If you have a fish tank and
just not looking up to par, we can take care of that as well.

In just one or two visits, we can transform your tanks into a masterpiece. In addition, if you currently have a
service plan with another company and they are not living up to your expectations, give Aquaridise a call an
guarantee that you will not be disappointed.
All fish owners want their tanks to run efficiently and look their best. In order to ensure that
the aquarium setup looks beautiful and its residents stay healthy, it's important to stay on
top of aquarium maintenance. Some tasks are simple enough and can be taken on by just
about anyone. For example, those who have a simple freshwater setup can probably handle
weekly cleanings on their own. It's important to clean regularly so that the water not only
looks good but also has the proper balance of chemicals. Fish are delicate creatures, and one
wrong move could lead to their sickness or even death.
Professional companies now offer a number of aquarium maintenance services to help
owners of more complex setups stay on top of things. Large freshwater tanks and most
saltwater setups require the service and attention of a professional, at least occasionally.
Professionals in the industry can help keep the system clean and ensure that the fish are
living in a healthy environment where they're sure to thrive.
Aquarium maintenance is one of the things individuals and businesses need to consider
when having a tank installed at their home or place of business. Many businesses, such as
banks, dentists, hospitals, and restaurants, enjoy the benefits of having an aquatic setup. A
beautiful aquarium is basically a breathing, moving piece of art. It entertains customers
waiting for appointments and relieves stress for patients.
There are a few different types of aquarium maintenance that need to be carried out on a
daily, weekly, or monthly basis. When it comes to a saltwater setup, it is generally advisable
to complete a thorough review of all the aquarium's components approximately four times
per year, including the lighting and heating systems, aeration pumps, filters, and all tubes.
Just a few examples of the work that is needed on a bi-weekly or monthly basis include
cleaning the glass, removing mineral build-up, conducting water quality tests, and cleaning
the protein skimmer. Testing water quality and adding the appropriate minerals or chemicals
is one of the most important aspects of fish ownership. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH will
all need to be tested and monitored closely.
In between aquarium maintenance visits, there are plenty of tips that fish owners can follow
in order to keep their tank in optimum condition. First, it's important not to place too many
plants and animals in the tank. Secondly, avoid overfeeding. Ask a professional if in doubt
about how frequently your fish need to be fed and what types of food they should be given.
When setting up the tank, it's also smart to invest in a high-quality filter system. Algaeeating fish are often a smart addition to the aquatic community and can make a real
difference in how clean the tank is kept in between professional cleanings. It is generally
considered a good idea to avoid putting a tank in direct sunlight since that can result in
overheated water -- and fish -- plus an increased algae growth rate.
The groups of fishes commonly referred to as Cichlids, comprise a vast group of, generally
larger and more aggressive fishes from Africa and South and Central America with a few
species being found in Asia. They offer such a large variety of bright colors, shapes and
habits that they have become one of the most popular fishes kept by hobbyist's world wide.

Such is the diversity of species, breeding habits and feeding that it becomes necessary to
set up different groups of Cichlids in different tanks. Some of these include African Cichlids,
American Cichlids, Dwarf Cichlids or Discus. It is usually recommended that you keep these
like minded fishes together and don't mix them in general.
Selecting and Positioning Your Tank
Always try to choose a tank with the largest possible surface area and volume as most
cichlids grow quite large. Make sure you always have a glass cover to stop your fish jumping
out.
Position your new aquarium so that you avoid direct sunlight hitting the aquarium for too
long as this can cause excessive algae problems.
Choosing Gravel, Decor and Setting Up
Cichlids are quite territorial and the more holes, refuges and interesting "zones" you can
create make for a much harmonized community.
A good starting point is to place in your tank a background that can offer the realism and
natural environment that these fish will feel very relaxed and unstressed in. Check out the
cichlid mansion range from Aquarium + Reptile Rocks Inc if you want something
extraordinary.
Next is the gravel we advise a fine blended gravel as too coarse a gravel size allows uneaten
food and waste to accumulate in the pockets between pebbles away from water flow that
break it down. There are several varieties to choose from. Clean your gravel in small
quantities in a bucket. Three or four rinses should be sufficient. Place the cleaned gravel into
your tank along with a little water.
Next to add some more "zones" you can add cleaned rocks and driftwood and position them.
Triangulate your decorations to create a greater depth of field and provide an amphitheatre
where the fish can congregate in a community setting. Try to slope your gravel slightly
towards the rear and sides using rocks and logs to create tiers and depth. The lightweight
rocks from A+RR Inc like quartz rocks, north head ridge, barnacle, rock pool and charred
wood make this fun and easy to do. When you have the major decorations in place, add a
little water, if this is a little dirty from the gravel siphon this dirty water out again into your
bucket.
Next fill your tank. Avoid disturbing the gravel by using a plate or newspaper onto which you
can direct the water flow. Some coral sand is a good addition to an African tank, while white
Rift Lake Sand looks great for Africans also but can show up detritus badly. These aspects
will be discussed further later.
Preparing your Tap Water
Next we must treat our tap water to remove harmful chlorine and ammonia. There are
several products that will remove both, the best value is Amquel Instant water Detoxifier.
It is also necessary to replace electrolytes like, magnesium, and potassium making in tap
water.
The electrolytic aquarium salts are essential to fishes well being. Not only provide an antibacterial effect, but help fishes produce body slime to protect themselves from infection and
create an essential osmotic barrier so they do not dehydrate. Make sure it is dissolved
before adding to your aquarium.
There are also several products we can use to specific water conditions for African and
Discus. To calculate water volume: consider 10cm x 10cm x 10cm = 1 liter. So length (cm) x
Width (cm) x Height (cm) divided by 1000 = Volume (liters).
Biological Filter Supplementation
The Best way to get crystal clear water is to pro-actively provide bacteria cultures as
biological filter supplement. In our opinion WASTE CONTROL and CYCLE used in conjunction
with one another or HBH TERMINITE are the best way to enhance your filtration and stay
ahead of the game. People using these products simply do not encounter the same problems
as people who take a minimalist approach (don't use a filter supplement) and end up
constantly reacting to problems. These bacteria cultures help convert all organic wastes to
ammonia then further to nitrite and finally to nitrate. To establish your tanks bacteria

populations can take several weeks but is accelerated greatly by adding supplements. Do
not overstock your new aquarium during this run in period.
Filtration
All good filters provide ample filter media surface areas for the colonization of aerobic
(oxygen breathing) denitrifying bacteria which break down fish waste. The greater the
volume of the filter and the greater the flow rate, the bigger the population of bacteria to
keep your tank clean. This is Biological filtration. All good filters should provide some sponge
as Mechanical filtration. Chemical filtration is also important. We always use ammonia
remover as a safeguard. Carbon is also beneficial but Purigen is superior. It is rechargeable
and will also remove log stains from your tank (That is if you did not use the Charred wood
from A+RR Inc). Remember to rinse loose particles out before adding to your filter.
Filter Types
Freshwater Trickle filters offer the most filtration for large seriously stocked tanks.
External Canister filers like the PRIME, EHEIM, FLUVAL or VIA AQUA are the best of the
commercially available filters. They offer the largest volume of media and can be concealed
from view. All these brands have a simple priming system and excellent taps to isolate water
in the tubing while the filter is cleaned.
Hang On styles like the AQUACLEAR and AQUAONE are also very good. They possibly provide
the best value if your budget does not permit an external canister. Simple fill the filter box
with water and turn on. Water is pumped through the filter and gravity flows back into your
tank.
Internal motorized filters like the CRYSTAL , RIO , and EIHEM are popular for smaller tanks or
as a secondary filter for extra circulation in a large tank. Internals usually do not interfere
with top glass or hoods. These can be placed under one of your lightweight rocks.
Air Operated filtration is often not sufficient for cichlids. We do highly recommend air
bubbling in Cichlid tanks. Be sure to use a Check Valve so that water cannot flow back into
your pump if power goes off.
If you have a Cichlid Mansions or Amazon background from A+RR Inc you can conceal a lot
of the plumbing from view which makes for a very attractive set up.
Water Changing
Although nitrate (residual waste) is relatively harmless, the levels will accumulate and
become dangerous if regular partial water changes are not performed to dilute nitrates.
Cichlids are large fish that eat a lot, so nitrates accumulate quickly. PH is also pulled
dangerously lower by organic waste accumulation. Therefore, no matter how good your
filtration is, you still must water change regularly. We recommend a 1/3 - water change
fortnightly to keep pH above neutral and nitrates low.
The best tool to assist you with water changes is a Lee's Gravel Vacuum. They allow you to
remove the dirtiestwater from around the gravel and replace it with clean, treated tap water.
This task is easier to do and a better job done if you have lightweight rocks and dcor. We
recommend you test pH and nitrate weekly to ensure your water changing maintenance is
sufficient to maintain this balance. PH can be maintained using PH UP, but the only easy way
to remove nitrate is by water changing.
An important tip when changing. Rinse your filter media in your old aquarium water rather
than under a tap as the chlorine in tap water will kill off the precious filter bacteria living in
the foam and other media. If you follow these procedures you should never have to
completely break your tank down to clean it out.
Heating
If you want to keep Cichlids you will need to heat them. A good guide is approximately 1
watt of heating per liter of water. A higher wattage heater than necessary is often a good
choice though because they can be used on larger aquariums. Position your heater in a back
corner at a 45 degree angle so that heat does not rise directly onto the thermostat. Make
sure that there is good water movement around the heater to ensure that the element is
heating. Large cichlids can get quite boisterous, so a heater guard will stop your heater
being broken. We believe it necessary to also install a thermostat to check the heater. The

stick on types are the best in our opinion as the suction cup type soon do not stick and
require replacement.
Lighting
Lighting is necessary to view your fish at night time. To achieve this we find it better to
illuminate your tank from afternoon until bed time when people can more easily enjoy their
tanks. Lighting left on all day will undoubtedly cause excessive algae problems. For best
results with plants we recommend high intensity full spectrum white lighting. We like to use
Aquastars, Arcadia 's or Power Glo's.
The African Cichlid Tank
The African Rift lake Cichlids from Lakes Malaqi, Tanganyika and Victoria have become a
popular variety of fish for people who desire dramatic color, size and movement in their
tanks. African cichlids are quite aggressive and fast moving and should be kept in tanks set
up for a community of African cichlids.
Natural Habitat
African Cichlids inhabit the rocky shorelines of the rift lakes of Africa . The water in these
lakes is quite hard and alkaline. Large schools of fish graze algae from the rocky outcrop
reefs. Amongst the algae live small crustaceans which also constitute part of the diet of
African cichlids.
The bottom of the lakes is sandy. Innumerable caves formed between the boulders offer
protection to young fish and brooding females. Check out the Cichlid mansion and Amazon
range of backgrounds if you want realism and something special. Most species from Lake
Malawi are mouth brooders and constitute a large proportion of the species available in the
hobby. A lot of the Tanganyikan species form lifetime pair bonds and protect their young,
while others are also mouth brooders.
Rift Lake Water Conditioning
To recreate the hard alkaline water required by these fish, shell grit or coral sand should be
added to your gravel or used exclusively for the bottom. African Rift lake sand is also
becoming popular, but can show up detritus badly. Good quality African Cichlid water
conditioners like the Seachem Rift Lake Salt and Buffers are a real advantage in creating the
right water conditions.
There are several products that will remove both chlorine and ammonia, but the best value
is....Amquel Instant water Detoxifier.
Setting up African Rift Lake Cichlids
As African cichlids come from rocky shoreline areas of the lakes, we suggest that intricate
rockwork form the basis of your set-up arranged to form area's with numerous caves. The
rockwork should be predominantly built up around the back and sides to leave a communal
amphitheatre where all the interaction and displays take place. A+RR Inc has a large range
of rocks which are extremely attractive and offer plenty of hiding places. Plants are not
essential to your African community tank because African Cichlids, being omnivorous, will
eat your plants except for something such as Anubias. One option here is to cut some holes
in barnacle rock which allows the greenery to be seen but protects the base in the gravel
from the fish. Plastic plants instead make a good addition.
Adding African Rift Lake Cichlids
Try to crowd your African cichlids without taxing your filtration and water change
management. This stops individuals from becoming too dominant and harassing others.
We find it best to start with small to medium sizes of fishes of several species in groups of
four.
(4 Electric Blue, 4 Electric Yellows, 4 Venustus, 4 Red Empress)
Of the Lake Malawi fishes, the most common species are Zebras, Pindani, Lombardoi and
others. People often start with these species as they are cheaper and show color while still
young. Many hobbyists progress to the slightly more expensive and spectacular
'Haplochromis' group, like Electric Blues, Red Empress and the Peacocks where only the
males exhibit the most amazing color as they mature. In general Take Tanganyika fishes are
a bit more expensive and comprise some of the most sought after species like Frontosa,
"Lanprologus" and Trheus.

Feeding Africans
Feeding African Cichlids the right type of foods is very important. African Cichlids have
extremely long intestinal tracts, like omnivores, which means that foods (meat, worms etc.)
will take a long time to digest. Inappropriate foods will rot in their stomachs causing
bloating, sickness and sometimes death. For this reason foods with a large proportion of
spirulina and vegetables are best. Our favourites, HBH VEGE or Cichlid Flakes and Pellets are
perfect. Super Bits are also eagerly taken but we do not like to feed Super Bits exclusively,
but rather combined with Spirulina based foods. Frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp are also
good for most species, but meats and live blackworm are definitely no-no's.
The American Cichlid Tank
American Cichlids are larger growing and slower moving than their African cousins. They are
also far more predatory and are happy with a higher protein than Africans. For these reasons
we do not recommend keeping American and African Cichlids together. Of course there is
always the odd exception.
Natural Habitat
The natural habitat of the Central and South American cichlids is quite different to that of
Africans. Logs and branches in general replace rocky outcrops still having a background that
can provide safe secure retreats are important. We feel darker gravel such as the Red Gravel
blend suits the reflective colors of Americans, compared to lighter substrates spawners who
will form a pair bond. Spawns can produce hundreds of fry, the parents will try to protect and
nurture their babies instinctively. It is not uncommon for pairs of fish to spawn in the
community tank, although it is unlikely that the parents will be able to protect babies from
the hordes. Most American cichlids have also been in the hobby for a lot longer than
Africans. Species like Oscars and Red Devils have become household names.
Water Conditioning
American Cichlids are quite tolerant of water conditions, but a pH close to neutral and low
nitrates (regular water changes) provide a comfortable environment. Always treat new tap
water well with XXXXXX and XXXXX as with all fish.
Setting Up for American Cichlids
Use plenty of logs. Submerge some rocks into the substrate and add more structure on top...
Do not be concerned by excessive color from new logs as this will become less with regular
water changing. You could use charred wood from A+RR Inc here as well. Plastic plants
attached to small crevice rock will provide a splash of color. Of course you can use one of the
Amazon or Cichlid mansion backgrounds that will create a stunning base for you to expand
on.
Adding American Cichlids
Try to set up a large variety of young fish to grow up together. That way you will have far
more compatible large fish when they grow up. Our favourite species are Oscars, Red Devils,
Texas , Firemouths, Severums etc. Give them plenty of room to grow. Often people will ask,
"What can I put with my large Oscar who has lived alone for a year?" if you put another
single fish in, there is every chance that the new inhabitant will be killed. We advised it is
better to trade in large fish and start with a community of smaller Americans.
Feeding Americans
American cichlids will consume a large variety of foods. HBH make a range of American
specific cichlid foods. Advance the size of the pellets as your young fish grow. A wide variety
of frozen foods are recommended in conjunction with live foods including feeder fish. Only
offer feeder fish as a treat, otherwise they will become fussy about accepting prepared
foods.
Dwarf Cichlids
The most popular dwarf cichlids are the Apistogrammas and Microgeophagus (Rams) from
South America and the Pelvicachromis (Kribensis) from the Congo River system of Africa .
These dwarf cichlids are popular community fish that may spawn in a community tank and
exercise parental care over their young if there is enough cover. They prefer a good varied
diet of prepared frozen and live foods.
Discus

Discuses are a popular group of cichlids kept by enthusiasts all over the world. Many claim
Discus are the "King of Fishes". Discus are definitely a fish that require some experience,
although they may be kept in a community tank. The major requirement to keeping Discus
well is good water management and the best foods. Discuses seem to metabolize quickly
and need to be fed often with high quality prepared and frozen foods. The best are Tetra Bits
with daily frozen food like Beef Heart and Liver and Discus Dinner. Once Discus are feeding
well they are competitive and hardy.
Discus are usually happy in low nitrate water with pH slightly acidic and soft water which is
very warm 29-32 Degrees Celsius. For breeding Discus, the fish need to be well conditioned
on the best foods. The best range of water conditioners for Discus are the Seachem range of
Discus Buffers.
The major problem with Discus is their susceptibility to parasites like gill flakes as well as
intestinal worms and flagellates. We advise regular treatments for parasites with General
Cure or Worm-Rid, especially after Discus are newly purchased or moved. Intestinal worms
are best treated with Worm-Rid and flagellates with Octozin. An inexpensive, yet very good
book is the Barron's Discus Fishes.
Enjoy setting up your tank and we love receiving your pictures of the products from A+RR
Inc (Aquarium + Reptile Rocks Inc).