Moving for any individual can be stressful.  Whether it is a move to a new apartment, or a move to a new home, proper planning and preparation will ensure that it goes smoothly.  The same goes for custom fish tank or aquarium moving: your aquatics residents will be stressed as well!

The size of your tank and distance of the move will determine the difficulty, and how it will affect your fish.  There are many things to think about before attempting this yourself. The experts at Diamond Aquatics can provide you with professional, affordable aquarium moving services in NY and NJ if you are looking for help.

Before you start planning, consider these things:

1-Moving needs to happen as quickly as possible. The habitat in which your fish live must be duplicated as much as it can in a temporary enclosure.  Using water from the custom fish tank will help. The quicker the aquarium moving occurs, the faster the balance in the new setup adjusts for the fish to move right back in.

2-It’s difficult to physically move a fish tank! They are fragile and heavy at the same time. If the tank is large, it needs to be securely carried and handled, and kept as level as possible so that the panels stay together.

3-Aquarium moving can be messy. Most, if not all of the water needs to be drained, and then put back in once moved. Water is fluid, so all the movement of it can cause spills and splashes everywhere, if not done properly.

Even when it is simply from one room to another, moving an aquarium can be a daunting task. With time being a factor in the health of the aquarium inhabitants, experience is critical in making sure everything is done as quickly as possible. Whether you are temporarily shifting furniture or moving to a new residence in the New York or New Jersey areas, contact Diamond Aquatics to help move your aquarium to it’s new location safely. For longer distance moves, please inquire by calling 973-356-4434.

There are tons of different types of fish that one is able to acquire for their custom aquarium today. A budding aquarist can do research on Google and be overwhelmed at all the types of aquatic life to keep as pets in a custom fish tank.

We wanted to share some suggestions for fish to support your aquarium hobby….

Black Tetras
These are school fish, and should be kept in a group of 4 or more so that one does not dominate and tire out the others. They easily adapt to a new setup, and have big appetites.

White Cloud Mountain Fish
These fish are good for smaller tanks. They are very peaceful and make an pretty display against a dark background in your tank.

Platies
These fish are fascinating and captivating to watch. They are classified as livebearers, meaning they are easily bred and the lifecycle of breeding from courting to hatching can be observed in your tank. They come in an assortment of colors.

Clown Fish
Remember Finding Nemo? Then you will recognize this fish. Tank-raised “Percula” Clown fish are much easier aquarium maintenance than the wild ones. They are saltwater fish with bright markings, and a seahorse like rocking motion which looks playful and fun.

What are some of your favorite fish?

Of course, this is just a short list of fish to consider for your aquarium. Call Diamond Aquatics today at 973-356-4434 so that we can help you find the best pets for your tank!

The holidays are over, and we have all stuffed ourselves with goodies and treats. Time to get back to the regular diet (or a new diet, for those with resolutions!). Let’s take a few minutes to review a few key things to remember about the diets and feeding of your custom aquarium fish.

#1- What if you had to eat one certain kind of food every single day? It’s important to remember that our animal friends enjoy variety as well. Feeding flake food only, will not prolong the life of your aquarium fish. Try giving them a treat once in a while of freeze dried, frozen, or fresh food.  Do some research on your fish and the type of food that they will do best with in your custom aquarium. You can use this list for reference http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/feedingfis1/a/dietarytypes.htm

#2- Be careful when feeding your fish. Fish, in fact, could go several days without food. And, more aquarium fish often die from overfeeding, rather than underfeeding.  The rule is: make sure they eat everything you feed them. Watch to see if they can eat all their food in about half a minute. If this can happen, it is alright to feed them again at some point later in the day.

#3- You may have returned from visiting family or vacation, but if you will be traveling away from your home or business which contains a custom fish tank again, make sure that the feeding of your animals is taken care of. There are several options for this. The first is hiring a pet sitter. Make sure that they know not to overfeed the fish. One idea is to portion out your pet’s meals into baggies, and have them come to feed every 2-3 days. Another option is to use a mechanical feeding device. This is a battery or electric powered device which will release food into your tank on a scheduled basis with a timer. A third option is to use a feeding block. It releases food slowly for continual feeding.

Need help with fish and aquarium maintenance? Call Diamond Aquatics at 973-356-4434 today, and we will be happy to help.

Sunlight is a big asset to any home or office environment space, so why not use natural daylight to light your custom aquarium? After all, the sun is good enough to support aquatic life in oceans and reefs, right?  Well, your custom fish tank is a very different environment than in the wild, so consider your lighting carefully. Natural daylight can only work if you have an excellent cooling system, and don’t care to view your display at night (which is no fun)!  Because chillers for your tank can get expensive, and looking at a tank all lit up in the dark is pretty darn cool, we recommend you always turn to artificial lighting for your custom aquarium.

There are a few types of lighting that you can consider:

• Fluorescent Light
• Metal Halide (MH) and Hydrargyrum Quartz Iodide (HQI) Lighting
• LED Lights

The most commonly used lighting in aquarium design is fluorescent. They are the most cost-effective and release lower levels of heat. But any of the three options could be the right kind for your tank.  Whatever you choose, set your lights on a timer. You can set these up to come on at night, or even mimic phases of the moon…just make sure to keep it consistent on a daily basis.

Lighting is very important for your custom aquarium, treat it as an investment.  We can help you choose the right kind. Call Diamond Aquatics today at 973-356-4434 to get started!

Can you just imagine the look on your loved one’s face with the gift of a custom aquarium this holiday season? There are a few things that you should take into consideration when purchasing an aquarium for a friend or family member.

Giving an aquarium or fish for an existing aquarium, is giving a gift of living things.  The aquarium will require aquarium maintenance such as cycling and regular water changes to remain healthy and sustainable. Fish and other aquatic life will also need to be fed and monitored for illness, aggression, stress, or diseases.

Prior to giving a gift of an aquarium, be sure that the recipient is ready to take on the care of these living animals, or that you are ready to take on this responsibility for them. An aquarium in your home is a great source of joy and relaxation.  Read our article “Custom Aquariums Enhance your Home and Health” for more reasons to give someone an aquarium.

Consider the size of the aquarium you are purchasing. Make sure that you get a large enough aquarium that the tank can reasonably be expected to stabilize and that you can get a few fish of the varieties they are interested in. Read more about aquariums in a small space if you are concerned with a smaller space.

You may also want to give a gift certificate for the purchase of an aquarium, decorative elements or plant life, supplemental equipment, or the extra expense of maintenance. Diamond Aquatics can help you with your holiday gift giving and recommend the best thing for your friend or family member.  Contact us today!

Gravel is primarily used to make your custom aquarium more beautiful, but can also change the pH balance of the water by introducing chemicals, minerals or particles into the environment that your fish live in. A more technical term for gravel, or the substance at the bottom of your custom fish tank, is called a substrate.  This substance can both benefit or harm fish and other aquatic dwellers in the tank, so it must be chosen carefully because it creates a natural environment for fish and other tank mates.

Proper aquarium maintenance is crucial, and this can include cleaning the gravel in your tank. Remember this tip: removing old gravel from an aquarium and replacing it with new gravel can be catastrophic if done too quickly. When you remove the old gravel you are also removing a tremendous amount of good bacteria, which can upset the biological filter balance in your aquarium. If you choose to change your gravel, remove the old gravel slowly, over the course of a few days or even weeks.

Think this may be too difficult? We are here to help, and can provide you with effective and affordable aquarium maintenance services. Give Diamond Aquatics a call today with your questions, or to set up a free in-home aquarium maintenance consultation in any New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut areas.