Guppies: Our Favorite Rainbow Fish
about 6 years ago
– Mon, Sep 24, 2018 at 07:53:18 PM
Hey EcoQube C backers!
Do you know why guppies are some of our favorite fish?
Aside from their wonderful colors which add great aesthetic appeal to your EcoQube C, guppies are pretty interesting tiny swimmers. They are mostly known as ‘’rainbow fish’’ because of the variety of colors they are seen in. But what makes these fancy fishes so special?
Here are three things you may want to know about these fish:
1. Guppies Have Originated in South American Waters
Discovered in Trinidad in 1866 by Robert John Lechmere Guppy, guppies are freshwater and tropical fish natives. You can actually guess where the name of this type of fish come from! There are around 300 different types of guppy fishes inhabitating the rivers of Amazon, Guyana, Barbados, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.
If you wanna keep your EcoQube C homely to these guppies, keep your tank in the mid 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 76 degrees would be the ideal temperature to mimic the tropical waters from the guppies' natural habitats.
2. Guppies Have Been Used To Combat Malaria
Yep, these little fish are ferocious eaters of mosquito larvae. Guppies are set free in Asian waters to combat the spread of Malaria. In fact, back in 2014, an anti-malaria guppy movement from a city in southern India released the guppies into their waters to fight the disease.
3. Guppies Give Live Birth
Nope, they don't lay eggs!
Guppies give birth to live fries (baby fish). The mother guppy's translucent skin reveals the eyes of the babies before she gives birth. But watch out! Guppies have evolved to eat their babies once their habitat becomes too overcrowded.
Experts recommend you fill the tank with natural plant materials to give the baby fish places to hide from its parents. Try decorating your EcoQube C with Anubias ferns and Marimo balls to hide these little ones should your guppies ever give birth (or transfer them safely to another tank!).
What's your favorite fish in your living ecosystem?
Happy Fish Parenting,
CK from EcoQube
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Have you heard of happy hormones?
about 6 years ago
– Tue, Aug 28, 2018 at 04:08:00 PM
Hey EcoQube C Backers!
How’s your August going?
There's something about indoor plants that make us feel a little lighter.
That’s why the EcoQube C is a great centerpiece on your living room - to help create good feelings throughout your living space.
Do you know want to know another reason why plants are an important element of the EcoQube C?
It's because these plants can boost your ''happy hormones''.
Here's what you need to know about them:
Serotonin
This hormone is mostly heard when talking about remedies for dysthymia, blues or depression. Further research conducted showed that serotonin appears to be boosted when an individual receives social validation. The acknowledgment received from a good job, or a feeling of pride after accomplishing your goals are when your serotonin levels peak.
Flowers and indoor plants can provide you with the same feeling that social importance does. Through growing them on your own, or spending time interacting with your EcoQube C - the feeling of self-pride can still be gained.
Dopamine
Dopamine is a hormone triggered whenever you are expecting a reward. If you are a risk-taker or a daredevil, then you might especially enjoy this hormone. Dopamine is responsible for your memory retention and your learning process. Dopamine, attached to your desire for a reward lets you look for and continue doing things you enjoy. If you hate math or you're forced to do something you're not interested in, your dopamine levels are reduced in your brain's prefrontal cortex.
Not convinced how plants can help you maintain your focus?
A research study conducted examined 34 participants that were randomly assigned to two rooms - one with indoor plants and one without them.
Their attention capacity was assessed three times, and participants assigned to rooms with plants performed the demanding cognitive tasks better than the other group.
Oxytocin
Did you know that when you hug someone for more than 10 seconds, oxytocin is released? That makes you trust the person even more. Oxytocin is the so-called ''trust hormone''.
This peculiar hormone lets you trust your friends, your partner, a colleague and comes first through maternal attachment. Basically, your instinct of who to trust also comes from oxytocin.
Brain oxytocin is also known to reduce stress. Plants also have these oddly-satisfying abilities. A 2010 study from the University of Technology, Sydney, showed how plants aid in relieving work stress.
Employees showed remarkably positive responses after plants were put on their workstation.
The result? 58% drop in dejection, 37% reduction in work tension and performance anxiety, and 38% reduction in fatigue.
So just keep in mind - the little things in life can make you happy, and it can start with watching your little ecosystem full of life!
That's all fam!
All the love,
CK from EcoQube
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3 myths about bettas, DEBUNKED
over 6 years ago
– Mon, Jul 30, 2018 at 09:42:45 AM
Hey EcoQube C backers!
How's your fish parenting going?
As you may know, Betta fish are our favorite aquarium stars. It's not only the betta's color that entices many tank owners to get them as a pet, but also the fact that these colorful fishes are quite intelligent.
Here are 3 myths about bettas, DEBUNKED.
Bettas are just ordinary fishes.
Nope, they're more than extraordinary.
In fact, these fishes are smarter than you may have thought.
Dr. Culum Brown, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Macquarie University, revealed how smart these species are from his statement published in the journal Animal Cognition.
Brown said these fishes can actually recognize their owners, remember their homes and learn tricks. Also, they possess Machiavellian traits, showing camaraderie (how's that for someone who loves history?)
Bettas are ferocious killers.
Well, these colorful beings are named Siamese Fighting Fish because they are naturally territorial and aggressive.
But, contrary to popular belief- these fishes do not intend to kill each other but show off their strength.
These fishes express their anger through nipping, chasing, bumping and charging against one another. However, we often see that it’s mainly male Bettas that exhibit this behavior. Interestingly, females can live together in large tanks without problems.
On the other hand, most pet bettas are male since they have brighter-colored and more accentuated fins than females, making females a bit harder to find.
Bettas can only breathe underwater.
You might see your Betta fish seemingly gasp for air atop the water’s surface. Don't worry, it's perfectly normal.
These fishes have a so-called labyrinth organ, giving them the ability to survive out of water for a short period of time. This gives them the ability of living in shallow water environments without feeling anxious or suffocated.
Pretty awesome, right?
On the decor side, be sure to provide a homely environment by decorating your tanks with fine hammocks, anubias ferns, marimo balls and frogbits. And if you keep their water temperature heated between 72-82°F, they’ll love you that much more.
Wanna learn more about how you can transform your EcoQube C into your betta's home sweet home?
Visit our blog here to learn more: https://getecoqube.com/blogs/blog
That's all folks!
All the love,
CK from EcoQube
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Four Amazing Plants You Can Use With Your EcoQube C
over 6 years ago
– Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 08:29:00 PM
Hey EcoQube C backers!
How are you all doing?
Wondering what could be the best plant to decorate your tanks with?
Selecting plants that can adapt to their new environment requires research as most plants may have a little difficulty getting carbon dioxide under water.
Putting these plants underwater can ''suffocate'' them and cause them to shed old leaves to adapt underwater. This could be a problem as decaying leaves can add nutrition to your water, increasing chances of algal bloom.
The good thing is that there are actually plants that can live underwater and blend in perfectly.
Here are four sure-fire plants that go well with your EcoQube C.
Anubias Nana
Anubias species originated from tropical parts of Africa. Anubias Nana is our favorite as it's highly adaptable even underwater.
Anubias nana can grow up to 8 inches in length. Its intricate dark leaves have stunning diagonal lines that increase the accent of your aquarium. These rosette plants create a rhizome division and can grow with moderate light.
Marimo Balls
Yep, it does look like a green marzipan.
These balls are indestructible!
Your fish can nudge and wrestle around and it still stays there. Also known as Cladophora balls, Marimo is its Japanese name. These balls effectively consume nitrates and act as a filter to balance phosphates and particulates.
Having these lovely moss balls in your tank can help you balance your water's nutrient levels and avoid algal blooms.
Plus, it oxygenates your tank!
Amazon Frogbit
Just like Anubias Nana, this plant is mostly found in Africa.
Frogbit's leaves grow flat in the water while small white flowers form on its surface once it's matured. This cymbal-looking leaves can grow up to 50cm obtaining enough carbon dioxide from the surface while soaking up all the nitrates it needs from the tank.
Salvinia
Originating from South America, these plants are ferns without flowers and suck up a good amount of carbon dioxide as they float from the water's surface.
Underwater, the salvinia roots spread in search of nitrates and can only reach up to 1 inch in depth. Its size ranges from 1-3 cm and has distinctive hairy leaves making them seem waterproof. If your room is well-lit, these can effectively shield your tank from excess light preventing algal blooms.
We’re excited to know what works best for you and your tank!
Share with us your favorite aquaponics plant and get in touch with our community.
As always, if you have ANY questions at all, please feel free to shoot MJ an email at [email protected] and she’ll be more than happy to help you out!
All the love,
CK from ADI
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Taking care of your fish
over 6 years ago
– Fri, Apr 20, 2018 at 01:19:08 AM
Hey EcoQube C backers!
Fish food is delicious. For fish. But before we get to that it’s important to know the nitrogen cycle for successful fish keeping.
Get ready for some chemistry.
The nitrogen cycle is important for the establishment of beneficial bacteria that helps in the conversion of ammonia to nitrite and then the conversion of nitrite to nitrate. This process can take from 2 weeks to 2 months or longer to complete. The best way to monitor the nitrogen cycle is to purchase an aquarium test kit that tests for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and pH levels. Aquarium test kits are great but that’s a blog for another day. For now, here’s the nitrogen cycle.
Step 1
Ammonia is introduced into the aquarium through fish waste and uneaten food. The waste and excess food will break down into either ionized ammonium or un-ionized ammonia. Ammonium is not harmful to fish, but ammonia is. Whether the material turns into ammonium or ammonia depends on the pH level of the water. If the pH is under 7, you will have ammonium. If the pH is 7 or higher, you will have ammonia.
Step 2
Bacteria called nitrosomonas will develop and oxidize the ammonia in the water, essentially eliminating it. The byproduct of this chemical reaction is nitrites. While we no longer have to worry about ammonia anymore, we have to worry about nitrites because they are just as toxic to fish.
Bacteria called nitrobacter will develop and convert the nitrites to nitrates. Luckily, nitrates are not as harmful to fish as nitrites and ammonia, but nitrates are still harmful in large amounts.
Step 3 and Step 4
This is where the plant in the EcoQube is crucial. Water gets filtered through the plant medium and the plant absorbs the nitrates as nutrients for growth. In a conventional aquarium, the nitrates get returned to the water, causing algae growth, and the pH level increases, creating a harmful environment for the fish.
Step 5
Clean, ammonia-free water gets transferred back to the aquarium and the cycle repeats!
The nitrogen cycle is important to know because it plays a core role in what you feed your fish and how you feed them. Feed them low nutrient, fish meal-based and there will be excess ammonia. Feed them too often and there will be excess ammonia in the aquarium again. High nutrient food generally produces less waste, hence less pollution. Excess undigested protein, fiber, and minerals get expelled through the gills and feces, creating more ammonia.
Fish owners through generations have often asked how often should they feed their fish. The answer: feed only what the fish can eat in 10 seconds 1-2 times a day. It’s as simple as that! So remember to feed, but not overfeed your fishies. And feed them well.
XoXo.
Team ADI
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