We were excited to receive a batch of shiny new fliers in the mail to distribute in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut communities. Imagine having something this colorful and lively in your home or office, in real life! Diamond Aquatics is the expert on custom aquariums in NYC, NJ, and CT.

This is an opportunity to remind our readers about the services we offer. Give us a call today to start the design process for your own custom aquarium!

Diamond Aquatics professional services:

• Aquarium Design
• Aquarium Installation
• Aquarium Maintenance
• Aquarium Moving

Click on the links above to learn more.

A smaller home aquarium we built-in

While we have crafted and installed many large-scale custom aquariums, it’s not a financial stretch for you to own one. If you are looking to have a custom fish tank in your home or apartment, but have a budget to consider, take a calculated approach to finding the right kind. First, look at filter and heater prices. On smaller aquariums, these tend to be the most expensive items and will give you an idea about the size of the aquarium you will be able to fit into your budget. Also keep in mind that filter manufacturers tend to overestimate their filters’ capabilities…so take their filtration advice with a grain of salt! The best way to choose a filter for your aquarium is to speak with experienced hobbyists or to the staff of your local fish store. Most times both groups of people will have good insight into the pros and cons of each filter on the market. Want to get some immediate help on figuring out what you need?  Call the experts at Diamond Aquatics at 973-356-4434 and we will be happy to help.

Don’t forget about maintenance. If you feel that upkeep of your tank is a daunting task, we provide scheduled aquarium maintenance services appropriate for your setup. Keeping things clean and fresh is essential to the health of your aquarium and the animals within it!

A beautiful and relaxing sight!

Are you a lover of art? How about a pet lover? Consider combining the two by keeping a beautiful custom aquarium in your home or office. Custom aquariums can be looked at as a little piece of nature enclosed in glass. There are endless colors, sizes, and shapes of tropical or freshwater fish and other marine animals and plant life. Instead of collecting art for your walls, become a fish hobbyist and custom design an aquarium setup for your family & friends, or clients/patients/customers to admire. You’ll have lots of tank, stand, and canopy options for your aquarium, and Diamond Aquatics can help you choose the right ones for your space and individual taste. Who needs landscaping, when you can have us “aquascape” for you?!

There are numerous benefits to owning a custom aquarium. Besides the beauty factor, aquariums offer you a source of relaxation. Spending time admiring swimming fish is a peaceful activity. Think about how many doctor’s offices, restaurant waiting areas, and hotel lobbies have a tropical fish tank…it’s a great idea for any business to keep it’s customers engaged and relaxed while enjoying the sight of graceful fish moving through the water.

In parallel with relaxation, is the reduced stress factor that a custom fish tank can provide. We guarantee that after a long day at work, you can sit down in front of an aquarium and melt away your stress. Children reduce their anxiety or anger as soon as you put them in front of little creatures swimming around. Research shows that watching an aquarium is proven to lower blood pressure. Our blog covered this in a past post “Owning An Aquarium is Good for Your Health”.

Many people are allergic to furry animals, but that is not a problem with fish and marine life! Plus, fish allow you to have a pet even if you do not have the time to care for a dog or a cat. Overall fish tank maintenance is low compared to other pets. Worried about aquarium maintenance?  We can take care of that for you. All of our professional aquarium maintenance services include a 20-30% water change, substrate “hydro-cleaning”, filter maintenance, and basic water testing.

You’ll love the new look a custom aquarium will give your living or working environment, and the feeling it will give your mind & body. Call us today to find out more about how you can experience owning a custom aquarium at your home or business.

The object of this medium is to grow bacteria. That’s right, some bacteria are actually good!

As you know, the health of the animals that live in your custom aquarium or fish tank relies on proper and consistent aquarium maintenance. So far we’ve reviewed mechanical filtration, we’ve reviewed chemical filtration…now it’s time to take a look at the third crucial piece of the puzzle: biological filtration.

Sample photo of bio balls

Biological filtration is the most important function of an aquarium filter. Biological filtration is facilitated in a filter with a coarse medium, usually a ceramic noodle or plastic, spiked ball called a “bio-ball”. The object of this medium is to grow bacteria. That’s right, some bacteria are actually good! The bacteria actually grow on all surfaces in the aquarium. The biological filter media simply creates a larger amount of surface area for the bacteria to grow on. Your gravel bed is also a great biological filter. These bacteria eat organic waste (fish urine, feces and leftover food) in your aquarium.

The Nitrogen Cycle

More specifically, bacteria in your fish tank facilitates the nitrogen cycle. The nitrogen cycle is the process by which organic matter is converted to gas and released from the water. In the first stage of the nitrogen cycle the bacteria begin to eat the organic waste and convert it into ammonia (NH₃). Ammonia lowers the pH of your aquarium and also burns the fishes’ skin and gills making it difficult for them to breathe.  It is also introduced directly into the aquarium in the form of urine by your fish.

Next the bacteria begin to convert the ammonia into nitrite (NO₂-). Nitrite is also highly toxic to fish and both ammonia and nitrate levels should be monitored on a routine basis in order to ensure proper filter functionality. Both compounds are measured in ppm (parts per million) and both should always read  zero (0) ppm in a properly maintained aquarium.

The third stage of the nitrogen cycle consists of the bacteria converting the nitrite into nitrate (NO₃-). This compound is relatively non-toxic to fish as long as it does not reach excessive levels. Also measured in ppm, nitrates should be kept under 100-150 ppm in a freshwater or marine “fish-only”(no corals or live plants) aquarium and under 10 ppm in a marine reef aquarium. This is not the final stage of the nitrogen cycle but, in an aquarium, it is where nature stops (or slows drastically) and the hobbyist must pick up the slack.

Too much weird science for you? Give Diamond Aquatics a call and we’d be happy to help you maintain your aquarium, or answer any questions you may have.

A couple of posts back we talked about aquarium filtration, and how important it is for the health of the animals that live in your custom aquarium or fish tank. As a reminder, proper aquarium maintenance will not only prolong the life of your favorite aquatic pets, but also help save you money in the long run (by reducing the number of animals you will have to purchase).

A good filtration system is an important part of aquarium service. As we mentioned already, there are three main functions to most common filters:

• Mechanical filtration
• Chemical filtration
• Biological filtration

Read our previous post to find out about mechanical filtration. This time we dive into chemical filtration (no pun intended!). Chemical filtration comes in many forms to remove many different dissolved elements from the water; but they all work in a similar fashion. Each one absorbs a harmful/unwanted element from the water, like a sponge absorbing a liquid. For example, activated carbon or charcoal, possibly the most common chemical filter medium, absorbs dissolved organic material from the water like a sponge. Dissolved organics are what lead to foul odors and cloudy water when left unchecked. So you want to reduce the proliferation of them within your tank, or they can lead to larger issues including excessive algae growth and ammonia build-up.

Just as a sponge can only hold a certain amount of liquid, carbon can only hold a certain amount of dissolved organics. This medium should be replaced frequently! In most cases once per month is adequate. Some aquariums may produce excessive dissolved organics requiring more frequent carbon replacement. There are products on the market that have been manufactured to last longer than one month. These are usually carbon resins mixed with other chemical filter media and are generally more expensive than plain activated carbon.

Feel like this is a daunting task? For those who would rather not take it on, but would still love an aquarium, DiamondAquatics provides maintenance services to fit your needs. We can answer your questions and guide you towards the right aquarium maintenance solution. Give us a call at 973-356-4434 today!

Stay tuned, in our next blog post we’ll outline biological filtration.

Check out our aquarium installation at the New Museum of New York City.

German artist Carsten Höller designed this temporary installation for his exhibit, and Diamond Aquatics did the installation. The clear custom aquarium is constructed from acrylic while the base and surrounding benches are comprised of molded PVC. The approximate volume is 400 gallons.

The aquarium design was intended to allow museum guests an opportunity to lie down on the radiating benches and insert their heads into the corresponding notches in the aquarium. The effect is similar to lying on the bottom of a lake or river looking up while fish swim about above you.

Aquarium Installation in progress

Aquarium installation complete

Carsten Holler’s Aquarium, 1996, as part of “Experience” at the New Museum. Image courtesy New Museum, New York. Photo: Benoit Pailley.

Understanding how aquarium filters actually work will help you make the right purchase the first time and also help you fully appreciate the need to properly maintain an aquarium.

It’s important to remember that proper aquarium maintenance is a crucial part of your aquatic pets’ health, and will help save you money over time by reducing the number of animals you will purchase.

Just like cats and dogs need to be bathed and kept after, all aquariums require regular maintenance. This fact eludes most people who have never had an aquarium before. It’s called maintenance, and not simply cleaning, because you are not just making it look nice, you are actually removing potential harmful compounds! For some hobbyists this aquarium maintenance process is an enjoyable, stress-relieving aspect of the hobby. For those who would rather not take on the chore, yet still want to have an aquarium, DiamondAquatics provides maintenance services to fit the needs of your custom aquarium.

A good filtration system is an important part of aquarium service. Many people purchase inadequate filters for their first aquarium and eventually have to purchase a more advanced filter later. Avoid this expense by researching before you buy. Understanding how aquarium filters actually work will help you make the right purchase the first time and also help you fully appreciate the need to properly maintain an aquarium. There are three main functions to most common filters:

• Mechanical filtration
• Chemical filtration
• Biological filtration

This article explains the mechanical filtration function.

Mechanical filtration usually appears in the form of a piece of foam or polyester floss. The sole function of this medium is to physically “catch” large particles of waste that are pulled into the filter. Rinse or replace the foam or polyester floss regularly, as this will remove a substantial amount of solid waste from the aquarium. Rinsing should generally be done every 2 to 4 weeks but, in some aquariums, may require more frequent attention.

In our next blog post, we’ll outline chemical filtration.

For more tips and advice, Diamond Aquatics can answer your questions or guide you towards the right aquarium maintenance solution. Give us a call at 973-356-4434 today!

Lighting is a very important part of any custom aquarium system. However, each type of aquarium setup has specific lighting requirements. There are 3 common groups of setups to be considered: fish only (freshwater or marine), live-plants (freshwater only), and reef (marine only).

Regardless of the type of setup you have, it is important aquarium maintenance to replace ALL of your light bulbs every 9-12 months. As a bulb is used over long periods of time, its output spectrum deteriorates. After approximately 9-12 months, the remaining spectrum will promote unwanted and excessive algae growth. Another important lighting fact is the need to have them on an appropriate time cycle. Every aquarium needs to have a “day” and a “night” cycle. Fish do not have eyelids so, in order to rest, they require a period of darkness in the aquarium. This cycle can be manipulated to suit your schedule but it needs to be relatively consistent.

Plants and some corals use light for energy but, make no mistake, corals are NOT plants. Corals are invertebrate animals, some of which have algae living in their outer tissue. This is called a commensal relationship. The coral protects the algae by allowing it to live inside its skin and the algae uses light to produce sugars through photosynthesis. The coral then uses those sugars for energy. Plants and alga perform different functions in light then they do in darkness and these functions are important to their health, therefore it is important to provide plants and corals with an appropriate light cycle.

Most reef and live-plant hobbyists know the inhabitants of their aquariums require light as a source of energy. Most of these hobbyists are also aware that they are recommended to use 2-4 watts per gallon for a live-plant setup and 3-5 watts per gallon for a reef setup. What some of these hobbyists do NOT know is what type of lighting to use or what spectrum will be most beneficial for their specific setup.

In a reef aquarium, a high-intensity bulb, such as a metal halide bulb, will give the best coral growth rates and deepest light penetration to the lower parts of the aquarium (water filters out light intensity very quickly). The downside to these high-intensity bulbs is cost. They are expensive to purchase and draw a tremendous amount of electricity so they are expensive to operate as well. They will also generate excessive amounts of heat and may necessitate the use of a chiller to keep the aquarium at the right temperature. Chillers are also expensive to purchase and operate.

Some alternatives to metal-halide bulbs include a range of florescent bulbs:

• Very-High-Output (VHO)
• T5-VHO
• Power-Compact (PC)

Yet another alternative is the use of LED bulbs although these are expensive to purchase. Most hobbyists choose the fluorescent bulbs since they are the least expensive to purchase and operate yet still yield acceptable results.

For more information on aquarium lighting, contact Diamond Aquatics and we will be happy to answer any questions you have.

Over the last 30 years it has become evident that keeping an aquarium may actually be good for your health. Most hobbyists will tell you their custom aquarium is an “escape” from the monotony of their daily routines. What these hobbyists are telling you is, their aquariums help to reduce their stress levels. Research shows that watching an aquarium is proven to lower blood pressure. It is believed that the random movements of fish have a similar affect as hypnosis on the human brain.

Not only does fish-keeping reduce stress, but it may also save your life! Or, at least, prolong it. Since the hobby is proven to reduce blood pressure, another study was done using people who have suffered heart attacks. This study showed a reduced risk of future attacks for those people who kept aquariums in comparison to those who did not. For some hobbyists, the aquarium maintenance process is an enjoyable, stress-relieving aspect of the hobby.

Yet another study observed Alzheimer’s patients in assisted living environments. Patients exposed to an aquarium on a routine basis showed improvements in attention span, a greater desire to eat and a decrease in aggressive outbursts. Patients who were normally lethargic and antisocial became more active and began engaging with others more frequently. The increased attention span is believed to have aided in improved eating habits. Patients would stay in dining rooms with aquariums longer and therefore eat more food. This has a cost savings effect for the facilities as well. Patients who eat more food require less nutritional supplements. Nutritional supplements are more costly than real food so by reducing the requirement of the supplements, the facility will reduce the cost of feeding its patients. Real food is also more nutritionally valuable so the patients will benefit from this as well.

The aquarium hobby is one that fills its participants with joy. Most hobbyists are not even aware of the underlying benefits they are receiving from their aquatic companions. For more information about the benefits of owning an aquarium, contact Diamond Aquatics for a free consultation.

Some of the most common expenses custom aquarium hobbyists face can be avoided with some simple research before picking out and purchasing an aquarium and its accessories. Establishing your specific needs or wants and then researching the requirements for your ideal aquarium, before you make a purchase will help you avoid unforeseen catastrophes and unneeded expenses. Picking the proper aquarium size and choosing the right filter equipment are integral parts of any new hobbyist’s decision to start an aquarium. Proper aquarium maintenance is also a crucial part of your aquatic pets’ health and will help save you money over time by reducing the number of animals you will purchase. Visit us at Diamond Aquatics and use the “Opt-in” box at the bottom, right-hand side of the home page to download our full report containing money-saving tips for setting up your first aquarium.