Thank you to all of our clients for staying with us over the past few months.
Hopefully, we will be able to see you all very soon.
We have been working hard behind the scenes to get new Covid-19 protocols in place so that we can visit our clients safely. We also wear PPE on all visits.
If any of our clients require copies of our COVID protocols please click here
Some algae growth is normal and healthy, but excess algae growth is unsightly and can be hazardous to fish. Like any plant life, algae thrive on water, excess sunlight and nutrients (nitrates and phosphates).
If you need any help with looking after your fish, please get in touch
Aquamacs, Moorgrove Tolgullow Redruth Cornwall TR16 5PD
T: 0300 365 1250
Mobile: 07761 650932
Examples:
Keep your fish tank away from bright sunlight. Too much sunlight can cause algae growth. If you are installing a new fish tank, place it away from a window – a conservatory is not the ideal place for a fish tank. If your existing fish tank is near a window, use a shade to reduce the amount of ambient light.
To make temperature reading easy, consider buying a small adhesive temperature strip that can be put on the outside of your aquarium glass. Small floating thermometers are also handy, and some filters have separate temperature probes attached.
Avoid heat – Never place your fish tank above or near a source of heat or an air conditioner. The temperature around the outside of the fish tank should be kept as stable as possible.
Submersible heaters are the most popular. Some are adjustable and others are pre-set at 78° F. Always check and alter if necessary.
Be sure to purchase a heater that is properly rated wattage-wise for your tank – always check the manufacturer’s instructions.
Never remove a heater from the water if it is still turned on – otherwise, it will shatter. Unplug it first, let it cool and then remove it.
If you need any advice, please get in touch.
Aquamacs have had a fish tank placed in our Dementia Nursing home for more than nine years now, it gives so much pleasure to everyone Residents , visitors and staff.
We have also used it as a fundraiser for Charity purposes with people naming a fish and then being their sponsor for a year, having a photo of their chosen fish to take home for a bit of fun.
Aquamacs look after the tank, all we do is feed the fish daily with the food that Aquamax provide for us, it is a great service that they provide and if there should ever be a problem they are always on the end of the phone to give advice or they come out.
Stuart and his Team are friendly and unobtrusive when doing there monthly service on the tank and checking the fish.
After an early morning start on a miserable day, Stuart and I set off for a busy day up to Birmingham with three jobs on route. After a quick pit stop at Taunton Deane, we were nearing our first job in Bristol. As my first experience of working with Aquamacs, I was unsure of the procedure, but Stuart was well known to all the staff at Bristol, and I soon felt part of the Aquamacs family!
We carried our buckets and brushes, maintenance kit, fish food and headed off to the first aquarium. After a thorough clean, the tank was up to standard and looking a great asset within their office!
Paperwork completed, we were back on the road again… before heading to our next jobs we had another food stop (starving!) and chatted until before we knew…we hit Coventry!
As you can see from the pictures – the weather left much to be desired! At a local fish supplier we bought some new additions to add to the tanks which were well welcomed. ( Aquamacs are SVS authorised animal transporter Type 2 (EC) No 1/2005 – as licensed by DEFRA)
Particularly at the nursing home it was lovely to observe how the tanks were special to the residents and their enjoyment of the aquariums made the day so much better!
I thoroughly enjoyed my days work experience at Aquamacs, and felt as though I had learnt a lot, but boy was I tired at the end! A well-earned meal and sleep that night I reckon!
Jennifer
Stage 1 : Start by taking down the aquarium last when packing, and putting it up first on arrival. This will minimise the time your fish have to spend in overcrowded containers and poor water conditions.
Hopefully, you will have an opportunity to inspect your new home and select a good location for the aquarium prior to actually having to move.
Remember, when you are looking at the new location, to keep in mind that you will want access to electrical outlets, you will want to be close to a source of water, you will want to minimise or eliminate the exposure to direct sunlight, you will want to provide sufficient space for the tank and all of its accessories, and you will want to be sure that the floor you are setting the tank on will support the weight nicely.
Stage 2: Take as much of the water from your fish tank as reasonably possible with you. This will minimise the stress on your fish, as they will be able to get used to the new water chemistry slowly over the course of several weeks as you do your regular 10-15% weekly water changes. An easy way to do this is to get several clean five gallon buckets or containers.
Drain water from the tank into these buckets until the buckets are about two-thirds full. If you do not have lids for your buckets, plastic grocery bags often will fit snugly and prevent your water from splashing while still allowing air to get in so that your fish and plants can breathe.
Stage 3 : Pull out all of your decorations and place them in spare buckets or boxes for the trip. Carefully inspect each piece to make sure you do not have any fish or animals hiding inside a hole in a rock or a hollow in a castle.
Remove live plants from the tank and place them in a bucket or two of water for the trip.
Catch the fish from your tank, and place them in one of the buckets (if you have a lot of fish or if your fish are large or particularly aggressive, you may need to split them between buckets). Take an inventory of your fish to make sure you have caught everyone and aren’t leaving any behind in the aquarium.
Stage 4 : Be sure to drain as much of the water from your tank as you can – even a small volume of water in your tank can cause the bottom to crack or shatter when the tank is tipped or twisted. With larger tanks, you may also want to remove the gravel from the tank to prevent its weight from breaking your tank bottom when you move the tank. Five gallon buckets also work well for hauling gravel.
Remember, the more water you can bring with you when you move, the easier the trip will be on your finned friends.
Get the fish in their tank promptly when you arrive.
Stage 5 : Set up the heater, filters, and pumps. Remember, don’t plug in or turn on heaters or pumps when they do not have water to cool them, or you may cause damage or injury to yourself or your fish.
Then return the gravel to the tank if you removed it. After you have replaced the gravel , you should begin filling the tank with the water from your buckets. As you fill the tank, place your decorations carefully into the aquarium and plant your plants.
Get as much water as you can back into the tank, then net the fish out of their bucket and gently release them into your tank. Once the fish are in the aquarium, add that water to the tank. You may have to top off your tank with dechlorinated tap water from your new home.
Stage 6 : Once the tank is filled and the fish and decorations have been introduced, let the tank sit for at least half an hour so that temperature can equalize before you turn on the heater.
Once everything is up and running, remember to check the aquarium frequently over the next couple of days to make sure it is running smoothly.
This is for a nursery in London and is one of our very popular column acrylic aquariums.
As you can see the nursery has put on extra stickers and information so that the aquarium is educational as well as fun for the children to look at.
We love it!
We were first approached by the Mahiki Bar in Mayfair London in late September 2016. They wanted us to build an aquarium for them between the entrance stairs and bar area of the club, as this was a very dark area and need a complete overhaul.
After visiting and discussing their plans, we agreed on a design that was in keeping with their existing decor, as well as making a statement to the entrance of the club.
The installation went without any problems and took two days – the biggest drawback being lack of parking in Central London!
The aquarium is 6` in length with a dark bamboo surround. It has LED lighting, and because it is in a club, we are putting in large, bright African Cichlids as these are relatively hardy fish.
All feedback about the install has been very positive and we look forward to keeping the tank looking fabulous.
We were approached by an events company in London. The brief consisted of;
“we are holding an event in March in Central London and it is Little Mermaid themed, we are looking to hire for one day 4 x column aquariums and two at one height and two a bit smaller – please could we have some rough costings?”
So not a lot to go on!!
We sent off our quote immediately , but it was the end of February before we got the go ahead and the exact location of the event – The Savoy Hotel in London – the specs of the aquariums had changed as well – they now wanted 3 x taller columns and 1 x smaller one. This was fine – as we have a large stock of aquariums.
We had to research and source decor and fish that would be suitable for the theme of the Little Mermaid, with help from our daughter who is a Disney Fanatic this was no problem.
The spec changed again in March – all very last minute – they now wanted 4 x 6` column aquariums! – again this was fine as we had them already. The aquariums were to stand on plinths, so we had to get the weight when full of water, fish and decor of the aquariums. We finally got some final details through a week before the event – we didn’t know who the event was for until we arrived on the Saturday. We were then told it was for Tamara Ecclestone’s daughter’s Birthday.
Saturday – Arrival on site at 15.00 hrs
Set by approx – 21.00 hrs
Sunday – event 14.00 – 18.00 hrs
Derig – straight away
The main concerns were parking, access and would there be enough water pressure to fill the aquariums in time. Luckily all this was OK, but until we were actually on site – this was an unknown factor.
On arrival to the SavoyHotel on the Saturday afternoon – we were shown to the ballroom, given the floor plan and just left to get on with it!! – there was a large number of contractors present building all the sets for this event, but everything from our point of view went very smoothly with no hitches. It was important to get the water conditions right in the aquariums so that the fish have time to acclimatise before the event – and we had over 60 large fish to deal with. All the fish were happy and they were all swimming around and they are all still healthy after their `celeb event`.
The aquariums were checked again on Sunday prior to the party – everything was perfect and we had really positive feedback from the event organisers.
Client Feedback
`Better than expected` and `very straightforward to deal with you` and `pleased about the number and size of fish`
Children always love fish especially the more quirky type, so our aquariums are very popular with children of all ages. We are always `on call` for these type of events should we be needed.
We have been doing these type of events and short term hires for a long time now and we always exceed the expectations of the brief – our staff are very experienced and love this type of job.
Gold fish can be a great starter fish for cold water set ups – however for the fish keeper who would like to try to vary their stock, there is an alternative – temperate fish.
These fish can happily survive in an unheated aquarium when kept at room temperature in a house with central heating.
Available in a range of shapes and colours – here are a few of the more popular fish.
VARIATUS PLATYS
The Variatus Platy or Xiphophorus variatus is a freshwater fish native to Northeastern Mexico.
It comes in a range of different colours and is livebearing – which makes them prolific breeders.
They are omnivorous and their diet should include both plants and commercial fish food.
They need plenty of hiding spaces in the aquarium to prevent them becoming stressed.
DANIOS
These boisterous fish are native to freshwater rivers in Asia, and there are 25 different varieties available. The most common are characterised by patterning of spots and vertical or horizontal stripes.
They grow to about 6cm and are surface feeders – they are very lively and will frenzy around food.
WHITE CLOUD MINNOWS
The White Cloud Mountain Minnow or Tanichthys albonubes are a member of the carp family. They are native to China and grow to about 4cm long.
They are a shoaling fish and thrive when in a small group.
As always – remember the golden rule – SMALL FISH CAN BE EASILY EATEN BY LARGER FISH – so be aware of this when adding community fish to your aquariums.
