ICA 2013/2014 Autumn – Winter Fashion

After the well-deserved holidays, we’re getting the new season off to a strong start with the new ICA sweaters and raincoats.In pretty designs and available in 6 different sizes, you can choose from among 7 different models for sweaters. The raincoats have reflective parts that are very useful for evening walks. 

Bowl for anxious dogs

They correct anxious eating in dogs, reducing the risk of gastric torsion and other serious problems such as obesity, flatulence and vomiting. Thanks to their design, these bowls will reduce the speed at which dogs eat by up to 10 times (from 30 seconds to 5 minutes) improving digestion and making them feel full with less food.

A new variety of Betta that is very popular with the general public in Europe and the US due to their colours and spectacular shapes, which are also very easy to keep and to feed. Design or grade A Betta are a new variety of Betta recently becoming extremely popular in Europe and the United State because their colours and shapes, as can be seen in the photos at the bottom of this page, are as spectacular as those of marine fish.  

A growing market with strong demand in Europe and the United States

 

Maintenance tasks

Their maintenance is very simple, as all you need is a small plastic Betta tank in which part of the water is replaced every week with previously dechlorinated water. These Betta are not very demanding insofar as temperature is concerned and, therefore, can be kept in any home at room temperature, without a thermo-heater. Of course, for them to unfold all of their fins and show their true beauty, another Betta should be placed alongside in a similar container. If an internal Betta tank for aquariums is used, you can keep up to four specimens for owners to enjoy their permanent display of tails and fins that are used to intimidate their fellow fish. The most suitable with regards food are freeze-dried red mosquito larvae that float on the water and do not pollute the aquarium, as most Bettas do not tolerate flake food very well.  

New for your shop

Thanks to their spectacular beauty, these design Betta are an opportunity to attract new customers because the investment required in keeping them in a simple Betta tank is within reach of everyone.

A substrate that extraordinarily increases plant growth and, by maintaining 
a slightly acidic pH, also provides ideal water for fish such as cardinals, 
neons, discus, rasboras and shrimp.

This water, as well as being ideal for plant growth, is actually the most suitable for the vast majority of fish, as no ammonia is formed in it for the reasons indicated below.

A brief, simple review of some of the basic concepts of water in aquariums is given below to provide you with an understanding as to which a slightly acidic pH is most suitable for plant growth and the wellbeing of fish.

Basic concepts

As you well know, water is neutral at pH 7.0, alkaline at a high pH and acidic at a lower pH. The pH is very closely related to the KH, also known as temporary or carbonate hardness – not to be confused with the GH, which is total hardness that includes the hardness produced by carbonates and bicarbonates (KH) as well as other salts such as sulphates. Remember that hardness is the calcium and magnesium content in water and both calcium and magnesium are combined in the form of carbonates and bicarbonates, as well as other salts such as sulphates.

How the Aqua Gro substrate works

The importance of carbonates and bicarbonates lies in the fact that they alkalinise the water. We all know that a very effective way of neutralising acidity after a heavy meal involves eating a spoonful of sodium bicarbonate. Well, the Aqua Gro substrate moves all of the carbonates and bicarbonates in the water in a few hours and, given that these alkalinise the water, the pH stabilises at between 6.0 and 6.5. This effect of the substrate lasts for over a year, although this may vary according to the carbonate hardness of the water in each city.

Aqua Gro maintains a slightly acidic pH for the wellbeing of plants

As you well know, one of the methods to help plants to grow is to add carbon dioxide (CO2) to the water in the aquarium, which is a basic element because the chlorophyll function consists of converting carbonic anhydride (CO₂) and water into glucose (sugar) through the action of the light on the chloroplasts in plants. In an alkaline medium containing carbonates and bicarbonates, these react with the carbonic anhydride to eliminate most of the main nutrient of plants: CO₂.

Ensure the ideal water for plants and fish

  The Aqua Gro substrate eliminates all carbonates and bicarbonates from the water, which is very easy to prove as the carbonate content of the water KH falls to zero. When this occurs, the carbonic anhydride that fish expel when they breathe (as well as plants at night time) remains dissolved in the water and can be used by plants. This is why plants flourish in aquariums using Aqua Gro as their substrate. An additional advantage is that, as well as encouraging optimum plant growth, it reduces the pH of the water to a value below 7.0. This means that all of the ammonia NH3, which is a toxic gas that enters fish through their gills, is converted into the ammonium ion (NH4+) that is liquid and non-toxic, as it is unable to pass through the gills of fish. Therefore, shrimp, cardinals, neons, discus and, in general, most fish feel much better in aquarium water of the characteristics produced by Aqua Gro. For all of the reasons explained and after having performed many tests in our aquariums, we do not hesitate to recommend Aqua Gro, a product that will offer great benefits to our customers: an explosive growth of their water plants and the unbeatable health of their fish.

Es una betera con un concepto diferente. Diseñada para que pueda ser apilada y así tener varios bettas por separado ya que como muchos saben cuando dos machos se enfrentan, abren sus aletas desplegando toda su belleza, preparándose para luchar.

A versatile aquarium

Many types of customer like this aquarium thanks to its versatility, low price and the fact that it is especially designed for fresh plants. Aqualed Garden aquariums are especially designed to hold fresh plants. One of its main features is its top opening, which encourages plant growth…

It’s like having a small water garden at home

Low consumption LED lamp

The top lamp is low consumption thanks to its LED technology and is also equipped with “Dual Light” – white LEDs and blue LEDs – with independent switches. The hinges on the lamp fold for more convenient, easier access to the aquarium for maintenance tasks.

 

Ideal for marine aquariums

Many fishkeeping enthusiasts use these aquariums for coldwater fish such as comets and carassius, etc. because their top opening makes them ideal for this type of fish. However, they are also suitable as marine aquariums and even reef aquariums with corals and invertebrates.