Petsmu

When we first started keeping tropical fish - we did have one major disaster which wiped out the whole tank. It was a particularly gruesome situation which we could have avoided but I didn’t count as “our fault”…

We had gone away for a long weekend and yes, you’ve guessed it, the thermostat on the tank heater broke, the temperature of the water soared - fish tank extinction ensued…and my family and I were in tears on our return…

I was so shaken by the experience that for a while we kept only plants in our aquarium as we didn’t have the heart to start again.

Slowly over time we realised how wonderful a properly planted tank can be and how exotic the plants can make the whole aquarium look, a properly landscape tank adds enormous visual impact. And of course, when you add fish, plants play an important role in aquarium life as they add oxygen to the water and help to absorb nitrites that are toxic to the fish.

The sun is the most significant factor in the life of a plant, and in an aquarium, lighting is equally as central to maintain the health and beauty of the plants.

Wayne Vandre, Horticulture Specialist, comments that light is the all-important source of energy used by plants in photosynthesis. But light is not just one simple, well-defined entity. The plant response is influenced by light quality, intensity and duration. Experiments show that maximum growth of most plants is under cool white fluorescent light.

It is important to realize that skimping on the quality of lighting will affect the quality of plant growth that you get and therefore the overall quality of tank life.

Landscaping a tank can be fun and it is essential to get different types of plants to give the tank that exotic look. There are many diverse ranges of aquatic plants. Tubers need to be anchored by the root to the bottom of the tank. Floating plants plainly float in the tank do not need to be anchored and will not usually require fertilizer. Rooted plants, like tubers need to be anchored to the bottom of the tank normally tied to pieces of rock or wood. These species usually grow to be fairly tall and will help to fill the aquarium.

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Setting up an aquarium may not be a hard as what everybody thinks. It can be really easy if you are well prepared with knowledge and learn how to react to problems. Do bear in mind that patience and having the sense of tediousness are very important. There is no such thing as shortcut and people who think in such a way often fails. If you intend to successfully set up an aquarium, have it done to the best of your ability.

Finding the right location for your aquarium
Let’s begin by first choosing the right location to place your tank. I feel, this is the first step to start and novices often make a mistake by heading to your local fish shop only to discover that the purchased aquarium does not fit into any location. Believe me, most people often overlook on this issue.

You might want to consider these few important facts when finding the perfect spot.

* Access to electricity supply - This is important to ensure that air pumps, heaters, filters and lighting have reachable power supply. The shorter the distance, the better it is and ideally power point should be at higher location compared to the aquarium height for safety purposes.

* Source of lighting - Natural sunbeam although will ensure proper propagation of aquarium plants, it is not needed if you can stimulate artificial lighting. Placing aquarium too close to windows is actually not a good idea, as the high intensity of the sunbeam could cause unhealthy growth of algae. Instead, use artificial lighting whereby you can actually control light intensity and stimulate the day and night cycle.

* Make sure that the surrounding space is wide enough - This is important to ensure that no untoward incident such as accidental knocking could take place especially if you have to move between tight areas. Place it on a location whereby there are wide-open spaces around the aquarium left available. It is a good idea to have gaps between 12- 15 inches apart from the nearest object. This is also important to ensure that daily routines such water changing could be done easily without bumping into objects. Continue Reading »

Looking for the perfect pony? Who isn’t? Good ponies-those who can teach kids the ropes when it comes to horsemanship-are said to be worth their weight in gold.

What exactly is a pony, by definition? How does it differ from what we call a horse? Well, a pony is, in fact, a horse. Ponies are a sub-classification of light horses, which are those used for riding. The main difference between a pony and a horse is that a pony is under 14.2 hands. To this end, just about any horse who meets the height requirement can be shown in pony classes. However, there are certain breeds where all the individuals registered must meet pony requirements. These are called pony breeds.

Like other horse breeds, pony breeds vary in size, color, and gait.

Shetland

While this breed originated in the British Isles, it is now quite popular here in the United States. The Shetland has the distinction of being the smallest of the ponies. While it is certainly possible to learn to ride on a well-trained Shetland pony, their small stature means they are quickly outgrown. They also have a fairly bumpy gait, which makes them not so ideal for riding. But don’t worry, American Shetland ponies have certainly found their niche! As very fancy driving ponies, you can usually find them pulling carts, carriages and buggies. One of the best things about Shetland ponies is that they are able to grow really thick winter coats. To this end, they are ideal ponies for people in cold climates. According to breed standards, Shetlands can be any color, including multicolored patterns such as the Paint horse.

Welsh

Welsh ponies originated in a part of Great Britain known as Wales. Welsh ponies are considered among the best of the riding ponies, and are known for their smooth gaits and tractable, willing natures. According to breed rules they come in four sizes, which range from 12 to 15 hands. But wait, you say, doesn’t a pony have to be under 14.2 hands in order to be classified as a pony? Good catch! In fact, three of the sizes are actually pony sizes. Horses of the largest Welsh size are considered “cobs,” or small horses. A cob can be just about perfect for a rider who has outgrown their pony, but is still too small for a horse. Because of this the versatile Welsh pony breed is not only ideal for children, but many adults on the small side have enjoyed Welsh cobs as well!

POA

POA stands for Pony of the Americas. This breed was founded in the United States in 1956. Original POAs were developed by cross-breeding Shetland Ponies with Appaloosa horses, as well as Quarter Horses and Arabians. POAs share the breed characteristics of their founding stock, and range in height from 11.2 hands to 13.2 hands. Because of their Appaloosa heritage, they come in a wide variety of coat patterns. POAs work well for both riding and driving.

Connemara

The Connemara is an Irish pony that has Arabian horses in its ancestry. Connemaras are known for being one of the taller pony breeds, as many of them stand in the 14.2-hand range. Connemaras are often gray or black, although registry rules also allow them to be brown, bay, or dun. Connemaras have very smooth gaits, are willing learners, and are often very athletic. They excel in a wide variety of disciplines, from riding to driving, and are well-suited to both children and driving adults. Continue Reading »