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Best HOB Protein Skimmer: AquaMaxx HOB-1.5 VS. CoralVue

John
The dissolution of organic compounds in the tank water for a long time would lead to the risk for your aquarium inhabitant and also some health problems for your fish. In order to maintain the water quality for the aquarium, you have to do some research and get the right tools. The best HOB protein skimmer is essential equipment that you should get to keep the healthy water condition and ensure your fish have a long happy life. To narrow your choices and make sure that you will get the right HOP skimmer for your tank, this post is the comparison between two HOB skimmer: AquaMaxx 1.5 VS. CoralVue BH-1000.

#1 Capacity and size

Capacity and size of the protein skimmer are the two factors that will determine whether it is thebest protein skimmers for your tank or not? Capacity is the most important specification to check for first to ensure the HOB protein skimmer will work as expected. AquaMaxx HOB comes with the rating range from 60 to 90 gallons tank, which makes it suitable for various aquarium sizes. And CoralVue is designed to serve for the tanks with capacities up to 100 gallons. Moreover, The size of the product is also important. You will not want to buy the skimmer and then realize that it is not fit with your tank. AquaMaxx dimensions are 7,5 x 3,5 x 17 inches. And CoralVue is a bit larger: 19,3 x 10,6 x 9,4 inches. Measure the space that you plan to place the new HOB skimmer and choosing the option will fit with this space.

#2 Efficient on cleaning process

The pump plays an important role that affects on how efficiency the HOB protein skimmer is. AquaMaxx is considered as one of the most useful model tanks to the powerful submersible Sicce pump. This pimp comes with a proprietary needle wheel impeller that makes it powerful and precise efficiency. If you are looking for the HOB protein skimmer that offers the great cleaning performance while still works quietly and does not bother you fish, the Coral Vue Octopus could be the ideal option for you. Moreover, it does not add heat to the aquarium and allow users can easily control the flow rate inside the tank.

#3 Durability and maintenance

AquaMaxx has designed that easy to clean due to the acrylic construction that is very lightweight. The weight makes it easy to handle and clean. However, there are some users complained that it is prone to leaks. CoralVue Octopus does allow heat to transfer to the tank so it removes the change to be overheated. Moreover, when it comes to cleaning, it allows you to separate a few parts and cleaning can proceed easily.

How often do crested geckos shed?

John
Shedding is an instinctive behavior of reptile life that needs to happen because it is constantly growing. Crested geckos are no exception. Normally, a crested gecko will shed their entire skin at once time. So how often do crested geckos shed? It depends on their age, when they are younger, they shed more frequently than when they get older. They also require some proper care during their shedding process since hydration and humidity are important factors for them to shed.

Why do crested geckos shed?

Crested geckos will shed their skin all their life. As mentions above, the aim of this process is to allow their bodies continuous growing. Besides, shedding also remove all the parasites and bacterial that have a risk to infest their old skin.

How often do crested geckos shed?

The younger crested geckos are growing faster, therefore they also shed their skin more frequency. The babies will shed about once a week or more. When they are juvenile, they can shed twice a month. And the times of shedding will decrease to once per month when they become adults.

How do you know when your geckos shed?

There is no defined schedule for crested geckos to shed. However, you can get to know the timing when your geckos prepare to shed their skin by some signal. Your gecko’s skin will dull and slowly turn to white before they shed. They also reduce activity levels and also may squint their eye because they will shed the eyelid skin.

How to help your geckos shed?

Although shedding skin is the natural part of gecko life and it is not a big problem for your pet. But this process also causes stress for them and also requires some care from their owner. You should give them a quiet, dark shelter place to her. Because creased geckos need to feel safe and secure during this time. Ensure that your pet does not be disturbed by the other environmental factors around them. Crested geckos also require high humidity levels during the shedding process. High humidity levels will help them shed easier and faster. Low humidity level makes their skin dry and adhere to the body. So investing in the best reptile humidifiers to make crested gecko shed easier is essential.

Should a beginner buying the best starter fish tank?

John
If you are starting your fishkeeping hobby, I’m sure there are many questions that appeared in your mind, they are getting hard to understand and became overwhelming: the aquarium size matters, the number of fish to keep, aquarium set-up cost, etc. The success of your fishkeeping hobby will depend mostly on your early choice. Buying the best starter fish tank will help you easier to maintain the aquatics environment.

What is the best starter fish tank?

The best aquarium starter kits are designed properly for the beginner set up their new aquarium easier. These tanks are completed install will all the equipment, tool, and accessories need for a basic tank and take you less of labor.  The starter fish tank usually made of glass or acrylic and come will the combo of filters, heaters, pumps, substrate, test strips, lighting, water conditioner. Different types of starter tanks vary slightly on their set up part such as some decoration stuff. But basically, these things are the most needed equipment in a starter fish tank. Including these entire things also mean that these tanks commonly come in costly price tags, much more than you buying a normal tank.

The benefits that a starter fish tank brings to beginner

Investing in starter fish tanks will be the better choice than the other options of fish tanks. Because they are plays the role of a manager for your fish. Instead of buying one by one fish tank equipment, you will need researching about each of them to choose the best, how do they work, how to install them, are these things matching with your tanks or not, etc. The best starter fish tanks will solve all this matter for you. Moreover, some starter tanks are pre-assembled already, mean that you will not lean to install them, take you a lot of them and may lead to some mistakes that should not have been made. Besides, the starter fish tank usually made by reliable manufacturers, who have many years of experience in producing fish tanks. Fish tanks produced by them will have high-quality materials and do not need high maintenance. They also give you a good warranty for a longer time. 

Best Aquarium Heaters: Fluval E VS. Cobalt Aquatics heater

John
Keeping an aquarium is a unique challenge and requires lots of research in comparison to owning a cat or a dog. There are some certain things you need to think about when deciding to keep an aquarium. One of these things is hoe to maintain consistent water temperature in your aquarium? This is when the heater comes in the handle. In order to narrow your choice and help you get the best aquarium heaters, this post is going for detail of two heaters: Fluval E Electronic Heater VS. Cobalt Aquatics Neo-Therm Heater.

#1 Capability and Power

People often use the best aquarium thermometers combine with a heater. The heater capability will determine the ability of heating and maintaining the desired temperature in your aquarium. In the general rule, you will need 3-5 watts for a gallon of water. Make sure that you do not choose the heater with too much or too low power for your tank. Fluval E is available at some different wattage: 50,100,200 and 300 watts. You can choose the appreciated device for your tank. It can accommodate temperature within the range of 68F to 93F. While the Cobalt heater is available at 25,50,75,150,200 and 300 watts. And the temperature range is from 66F to 96F.

#2 High accuracy temperature

Fluval F allows the user to set the temperature accuracy in 0,5F degrees. It uses the microprocessor with the dual sensors and shows the temperature in real-time in the LCD display. It also comes with the alert system, which will warn you if the temperature rises up or go down for +/-2F from the temperature range that you set before. Cobalt also has the ability to maintain water temperature within 0,5F. The display will show both the current temperature and temperature range that you set.

#3 Safety Features

The safety features are what should be contained in the heater, you will want to know if the heater is perfectly doing its job or not. The safety features will allow you not need to constantly monitor the heater or keep an eye on it all day. Fluval E comes with safety shut off functions, which will automatically turn the heat off when the water level gets too low and alarm you if the water flow is to low. Cobalt heater has integrated thermal protection, which will turn the heater off if the temperature goes out of the safety levels. Beside, Cobalt heater is also completely submersible and shatterproof.

How to care for your chickens in winter

John

They Don’t Need a Heater

People keep asking if they need to put in a heater in the chicken coop for winter warmth. The answer is simply no. They group together for warmth. Furthermore, don’t seal up the coop totally. Ventilation is vital to avoid moisture development.

Utilize Deep Litter to Keep Them Warm

A profound litter method is to simply allow chicken poop and bedding material to build up in the coop over the spring, summer, and fall so that by winter you have approximately a foot of all that material on the floor of the coop. This, in turn, will radiate its very own warmth, thereby keeping the coop warm.

They May Not Lay Unless You Supplement Light

Generally, supplemental light is required in the event that you need to keep your customers or family eggs throughout the entire winter. Nonetheless, there are a few drawbacks to supplementing light – it can get the birds stressed up and affect their laying life. Before doing this, consider the pros and cons.

Feed Them Corn in the Evening to Keep Them Warm All Night

Treating your chickens to a meal of cracked corn before bed gives them something to process all through the night and this keeps them warm. ?

Hang a Head of Cabbage for a Chicken Play Toy

Much the same as people, chickens can get somewhat exhausted and stir-crazy in the winter. My chickens seem to get a bunch of joy when I hang a head of cabbage on a string in the coop. It gives them something to peck at while it flies around.

Make Them a Nice Sunroom

In case you’re stressed over your female birds not having enough space in the coop, you can construct a sort of clear plastic cold frame or nursery style expansion to your coop. They will move into it and have more space on pleasant days, and you can sit back and relax realizing they aren’t too stressed and having a nice time.

Petroleum Jelly on Combs and Wattles Protects from Frostbite

In very cold regions, you may find that breeds with vast wattles and combs are inclined to frostbite. You can cover their wattles and combs with petroleum jelly to protect them.

Chickens Don’t Like Snow

When the temperature drops down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit range, I noticed chickens don’t usually go out in the snow. You can dissipate roughage or straw on the ground and this will make it more tasteful for them. I also found out that when the temperature is in the 30s, they don’t seem to have a problem going out.

Chickens Don’t Have to Be Put Inside in Bad Weather

Chickens are smart enough to know when they ought to be outside and when they don’t want to. Let it be their choice.

Roosts Are Key

Chickens gave the tendency to perch together and fluff themselves out. This also helps them to keep warm. It likewise keeps them off the ground if it is cold. Ensure you provide them with enough space to roost comfortably.
 

What Are The Common Types Of Filter For Fish Tank?

John
In order to take care of fish and ensure them live a healthy happy life, you have to feed them and clean up the mess that they left behind include their waste, leftover food, algae and dirt built up in the fish tank. But you cannot completely clean the tank without a best filter for fish tank. Choosing the right fish tank filter can be difficult if you do not understand anything about the different types of them, what are the features of each type, their advantages and disadvantages. So in this post, you will learn all you need to know about types of best fish tank filters that most common and available on the market:

Canister filters

The canister filter provides on all fronts of functions: mechanical, chemical and biological. Canister filter is kept at the outside of the tank make it easier when cleaning but there is also a problem if you do not have space outside since Canister filter is much larger than other filters. This type of filter is one of the most effective and powerful devices in comparison with the other types. However, great power and flexibility also come with lots of complications when install and maintain. It is also quite expensive.

Hang on back filter (HOB)

This type of filer is very common due to its reasonable price. As the name suggests, HOB filter usually hangs on the back of the tank. They are external but less bulky than Canister filters so it does not tank you much space to set up. It also does not tank the space inside where your fish live. There is the down point that this HOB filter might be the poor chemical filtration and less efficient than other devices.

Sponge filter

This type of filter is mechanical and biological filter. Air pumps or power heads can power it. Sponge filter very effective will the small tank. It does not produce strong current and safe for your fish. But the drawback is that you have to replace or clean the sponge to remove the bacteria. It is not difficult tank to clean but you need to do this work regularly.

Wet/dry filter

It is known as the best biological filtration. If you are keeping a large tank or a saltwater fish tank, this filter is absolutely suitable for your tank. It increases the amount of beneficial bacteria and effective to waste treatment.  But it is not easy to install and take more cost to setup this filter

What are the different types of the best chicken feed? 

John
Whether you are the owner of a poultry farm or you are just a beginner in this business, it is not an easy task to know about the meaning of the different varieties of chicken feed. If your chickens are eating the best chicken feed, they will be healthy and lay lots of eggs. Otherwise, eating the wrong feed has a big effect on their health and the quality of the eggs. This article will show you some basic information in order to help you find out the perfect feed for your flock.

 #1 Mash

Basically, the mash can know as a loose and unprocessed feed. By its texture, the mask is usually used for chicks because it is easy to digest, however, adult chickens can eat mash as well. The down point is that using these types of chicken fees can lead to an increase in incidental waste.

#2 Pellets

Pallets are the most common types of chicken feed on the marketplace because of some reasons: they are easy to manage, store and serve. They are produced by crush up ingredients into small pieces than make them into pelletized form. They hold their shape so they easy to use and decreased waste. Compare the prices of a common seed to compare prices between seed banks.

#3 Crumbles

Crumbles are not as compact as pallets, they are pallets that have been reducing to a smaller size. They are also not as loose as mash, so they are easier to manage than mash. But using crumbles instead of mash or pallets not make a big difference to your chicken’s health.

#4 Fermented

In order to improve the content of vitamin and enzyme in your chicken’s food, using fermented is the good ideal. You can ferment your own chicken feed by mix any type of chicken feed with water and allowed them to ferment naturally. This method will help the feed easier to digest and also neutralizing toxicity in food as well. Note: Whatever type of chicken feed you choose, it is ideal if you use the best chicken feeders to store chicken food. This tool will help you not to clean up many chicken feed leftovers and it also helps chickens reduce the number of diseases caused by soil-borne infections.

Common turkey problems and diseases

John
Turkeys can be really nice to raise for meat and to keep as a reproducing flock, however, there are a few issues and illnesses you ought to know about as a small time farmer, so you can avoid the heartbreak of losing them all.

Preventing Turkey Diseases

The easiest approach to preventing turkey illnesses is to graze them in natural air and range in a large pen with roosts and to move the turkey house or perches every now and again to a fresh ground so poop doesn't heap up in one area. Blackhead is a disease common in chickens can affect turkeys as well. Hence, it is recommended that you don't begin infant chicks and turkey poults together and that you house mature turkeys and chickens independently. Also, when you make your turkey house, put it in an area where that chickens have not been previously. There are a few medications you can feed your turkeys to prevent blackhead if it is impossible to keep them away from the chickens.

#1 Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is an illness that can cause absence of "thrift" or great growth and cause diarrhea in poults. Medicated feed contains drugs that can get rid of coccidiosis. Keeping litter dry is additionally vital, as this parasite spreads and develops in wet, filthy litter. Likewise getting poults out onto field by about two months of age, and moving roosts to new ground as often as possible, will help avert coccidiosis. You can also get vaccination shots for your chick against coccidiosis for a little expense. For this situation, try not to feed them medicated feed as it will deactivate the immunization.

#2 Airsacculitis

This is a respiratory disease that attacks the turkeys' air sacs. Airsacculitis cannot be treated. The disease, however, can be prevented by purchasing poults from an incubation facility that tests for the disease in their hens and toms. The disease is transmitted via the egg, so the poults get it before they even hatch.

#3 Cannibalism

This may not be classified as a disease but it is very common in turkeys. Giving them enough space for them to graze freely can fix this issue. Additionally, ensure they generally have adequate water and feed. Guarantee that they have enough ventilation if their house is indoors because overheating can also prompt cannibalism.

#4 Predators

Everyone craves a delicious meal of free-range turkey, any day. You'll see that pretty much every wild critter - and some trained ones, as well - wants to take a swipe at your turkeys. Keeping them safe is quite a task. Making roost available for your turkeys makes them happy and also discourages predators who cannot climb to get to the birds. In the wild, turkeys perch securely, high in trees. The higher you can make the roosts, the more secure your turkeys will feel. Ensuring that the fencing around your turkey pen is secure will help stop predators too. If you are breeding your turkeys in a permanent turkey house, then it is a good idea to run a single strand of electric wire along bottom of the outside of the fence to prevent burrowing from predators.

Angora rabbits for wool production

John
The Angora rabbit was first sighted in Ankara, Turkey, or at least that is what we have come to believe. What is certain is that Europe has raised angora rabbits for their fiber for a considerable length of time and the French are known for making their wool; famous around 1790 – although it was up till 1920 before North America saw luxury fiber.

#1 Angora Rabbit Breeds

There are five Angora rabbit breeds that rule in fiber generation: German Angora Giant Angora, Satin Angora, French Angora and English Angora. Different breeds, for example, the Jersey Wooly and the American Fuzzy Lop additionally create wool. In spite of the fact that hand-spinners are glad to spin with these fibers, these two breeds produce significantly less wool due to their small stature. The wooled breeds are quiet natured and are known for their compliant demeanor. They make brilliant pets and are delicate with kids. All things considered, day to day care for this rabbit regularly falls onto the grown-up as the grooming can be tedious.

#2 About Angora Rabbit Wool

Angora rabbit wool is very popular and considered top notch in the fiber producing world. Angora fiber can be sold raw as it is gotten off the rabbit either left in their regular color, dyed or spun. Its fiber so fine, that it is typically mixed with different fibers, for example, cashmere, silk, mohair and sheep‘s wool. The surface of Angora wool alone is viewed as too fine to even consider holding the thick lines of knitting. Angora is considered to be multiple times hotter than sheep‘s wool and considered unreasonably warm for a piece of clothing. Mixing others with angora wool will add a ‘halo’ effect, warmth and softness to a piece of clothing.

#3 Harvesting Angora Wool

Wool can be harvested from the rabbit from means of either shearing or plucking. A few breeds, for example, the English Angora, normally shed (or otherwise regarded as “blowing their jacket”) a few times a year. In any case, natural molting varies from breed to breed. Raisers that have naturally molting rabbits can exploit this by relentlessly culling the slackened fiber while they’re in a molt. In other cases, the wool harvesting can be done by means of clippers or scissors. For the record, the process of harvesting should never harm or bring pain to the rabbit.

#4 Advantages of Raising Angora Rabbits

  • They’re a no-kill domesticated animal (as producers of wool), which is beneficial to rabbit farmers or prospective rabbit farmers.
  • Easy to feed.
  • Breeding is straightforward and reproduction is quick.
  • Harvesting the wool is unwinding and pleasurable.
  • Rabbits can likewise be entered in shows, move toward becoming 4H undertakings, and make incredible pets – making them a family venture.
  • Fiber can be sold for a benefit or kept close by for hand-spinning for the breeder.

#5 Angora Raising Considerations

  • Angora rabbits require extraordinary husbandry practices that are essential to their wellbeing and in addition fiber production.
  • Animal hypersensitivities in the family.
  • Coat upkeep.
  • Daily care as it is with other animals.