Search Results for: blog what does your gravel say about you

Live Plants for Your Aquarium

Live plants look great in the tank and give your fish places to hide and explore. There are different types of plant you can include: stem plants, rooted plants, floating plants, and specialty plants. Tank plants will generally do well if you have a nutrient-rich substrate at the bottom of your tank and a layer of gravel to keep debris away. And don’t forget a light source! Plants need sunlight in order to survive. Place large, heavy objects like rock and driftwood before you plant your plants — if you try to add heavy objects last, you may damage your … Continue reading →

What Does Your Gravel Say About You?

Most fish tanks have something on the bottom — often gravel in freshwater tanks, but sometimes sand or other materials. What substrate is best for your tank? Colored gravel is popular among casual fish keepers, but not often seen in a serious hobbyist’s tank. Why? If the fish should be the main focus of the tank, brightly colored gravel can be distracting from the living creatures. Colored gravel doesn’t look at all natural, and many serious hobbyists want their tanks to look like a little piece of nature. Light colored gravel can make fish nervous or anxious — the fish … Continue reading →

Decorating Your Outdoor Space with Found Objects

Want to create a great outdoor space for free? Why not use found objects to create a backyard or garden that is truly unique. One of our Families.com members, misskitty is an expert at using found objects to their full advantage. I have see her creativity in action first hand. In this blog, I’ve asked her to share her experience and advice. Get ready for some creative and practical ideas for using found objects to create a backyard oasis for ourselves and our families. Question: How can you improve your backyard with found objects? “Found objects can improve the backyard … Continue reading →

Summer Deals From PetCo

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PetCo is a nationwide chain that sells pet food, pet supplies, and, of course, the pets that use them. Pet owners can go here to stock up on supplies whether they have a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a bird, or a goldfish. This Summer, PetCo has two really interesting deals going on. One involves aquariums, and the other could win you a some nice, big, gift cards. Right now, PetCo has an awesome sale on fish tanks. If I remember correctly, they had a sale like this one going on last Summer, too. Purchase a brand new fish tank, … Continue reading →

Building a Paludarium

If you want to combine land and water habitats in your tank — create a paludarium — the best bet for a beginner may be a paludarium kit. However, after poking around various shopping and search sites, it seems like it might be difficult to find one! Terrarium kits are far easier to find. Educational suppliers like Carolina do offer “river tank” ecosystems for classrooms that can support aquatic and land animals and plants. Don’t be put off by the lack of kits available at the moment — you can still make your own paludarium! The first think you need … Continue reading →

How to Do a Partial Water Change

Aquarium cleaning can be a messy chore — despite all the water involved! A partial water change is a good way to clear the water in your tank without destroying all the good bacteria that keep your fish healthy and happy. When doing a partial water change, you only want to remove twenty-five to thirty percent of the water. This leaves enough good bacteria behind to help repopulate the tank and keep harmful chemicals out of the water. Take too much water away and you run the risk of having to start the nitrogen cycle all over again. There’s no … Continue reading →

Diary of a Cat Care B&B: Many Voices

We have a guest at the cats-only boarding facility who has the cutest little voice. He sounds kind of like a cross between a frog and a little old man who smoked a lot. His meow is kind of gravelly — it almost sounds like he’s saying “hello” instead of “meow”. There are definitely some guests who are talkers. We have one infamous visitor who hardly shuts up the entire time he’s with us. Personally, I think he’s good company… although he is VERY loud. I’m surprised they can’t hear him over on the vet side of the building. We … Continue reading →

Dusty Art

If you have ever had the words “WASH ME” smeared in the layers of dust coating your car take heart this story may give you new perspective on your cleaning habits. If the test of a true artist comes from seeing art in everything then Scott Wade is well on his way to becoming the Picasso of dust art. Every few weeks Wade drives his Mini Cooper up and down a gravelly road near his Texas home until it is well coated in limestone dust. Then the self-proclaimed “dirty-car artist” goes to work. His car’s dusty windows become his canvas … Continue reading →