Transcript Aquarium Ecosystem Lab

Aquarium
Lab
Setting up and maintaining
a healthy aquarium
Electrical Safety

Do not handle power cords
with wet hands.

Create drip loops on cords to
prevent water from travelling
to plug.

Use outlets with GFCI’s that
will “trip” to prevent
electrocution.

Do not overload outlets.
General Aquarium Safety
 Spilt
water is a slipping hazard.
 Always
supervise children
around tanks and equipment to
prevent accidents and injury.
 Never
lift / carry aquariums by
the rim or sides.
 Wash
your hands after contact
with your tank.
Cleaning
Do not use chemicals (soap, Windex)
to clean the inside or outside of a
tank. Residues can remain in
scratches.
 Dedicate cleaning supplies (bucket,
sponges, etc.) for aquarium use only.
 Rinse anything added to the tank
(gravel, decorations).

Maintaining Cleanliness
Don’t overfeed your fish!
(Food should be consumed
and not sinking to the gravel.)
 Make a 25% water change
once a month.
 Vacuum gravel periodically.

Tank Set-up

Situate tank where it will stay
before adding anything! Make
sure the stand can support the
enormous weight of the water.

Add in gravel, water, decor,
then fish. Add water to within
1” of the top.

ALWAYS add water conditioner
to remove chlorine &
chloramine from tap water.
Tank Set-up

Always use gravel / décor
designed for aquarium use!

Rocks or wood from outside can
be contaminated with
pesticides, chemicals or
microorganisms.

Decorations not specifically for
aquarium use can have paints /
chemicals toxic to fish.
Light

Natural lighting is best for fish.

Florescent/UV/LED lights are
also acceptable.

Black lights can be harmful.

Lights should not be left on 24
hours; it will encourage algae
growth.
Hood/Cover

Aquariums must be covered so that
 fish
don’t leap out
 water doesn’t evaporate as quickly
 objects/other pets don’t fall in!

A hood can also house the lighting.
Be careful not to get the light
in the water or water in the
light…electrocution!!!
Air

Aquatic organisms breathe
dissolved oxygen.

Air must be pumped in with a
compressor or can be put in
with a powered filter.

Air stones increase surface
area of bubbles & O2 content.
Temperature

Most fish can live at a range
of 72-80 °F (22-27 °C).

An aquarium heater can be
placed in tanks that need
higher temperatures
(tropicals).
Biological Filtration
 Created
by bacteria in gravel, on
fish & on bio wheel/bio scrubber
 Beneficial
bacteria breaks down
waste products in the nitrogen
cycle
Fish food (protein N) Ammonia
from fish waste (NH3)Nitrite
(NO2)Nitrate (NO3)H20 change
 Use
an under gravel filter to
facilitate bacterial growth
Mechanical Filtration
 Removes
accumulated solids
from aquarium
 Usually
accomplished with
mesh in an power filter
 Can
also be manually removed
with a gravel vacuum
Chemical Filtration
 Purifies
water using activated
carbon-dissolved impurities are
absorbed by holes in carbon
 Activated
 Minimize
carbon must be replaced
use of chemical/medicines
to rid tank of problems
Water tests - pH
 pH
 Measures acidity or alkalinity of water
 Range
Freshwater 6.6-7.6
Saltwater 7.8-8.4
 A buffer can be added in to maintain pH
or make a 25% water change
 If pH is too high (basic) – lower pH using
Peat moss
pH decreasing chemical
 If pH is too low (acidic) – increase pH
Baking soda
Water tests - Ammonia

Ammonia
 Released
from gills of fish and
decaying wastes
 Toxic;
should be 0 ppm!
 Change 25% of water or
replace carbon to lower level
 Ammonia
is converted to
nitrite then nitrate by
bacteria.
 Excess nitrate is removed by
25% water change
Conditioning period

A conditioning (waiting) period of 1 week
should be allowed for new tank to run until
a natural bacteria population is established.

If possible, seed the tank with gravel from
an established aquarium.

Add new fish slowly and monitor
ammonia levels!
Aquarium Salt

Freshwater- add 1 tsp / 5 gallons
for health

Saltwater can be obtained from
the ocean or from a salt mix
 Concentration:
 32
ppt
 Specific
½
gravity = 1.021 - 1.024
cup marine salt / gallon
Saltwater vs. Freshwater
Freshwater

Cost
$
Saltwater
$$$
(saltwater tanks need special lights & fish are more expensive)

Work


(during water changes, saltwater must be mixed before adding)

Color
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
(Saltwater has a wider array of colorful fish/corals)

Equipment
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
(Saltwater requires more equipment to maintain)
Aquatic
Organisms
How to buy

Find a reputable fish dealer

Never buy from a tank with
dead or sick-looking fish

Be sure to ask questions- these
guys are experts!
How many?

General rule- 1 inch of fish/gallon
 Ex:
a 30 gal tank can have:
10-
3 inch fish
15-
2 inch fish
20-
1½ inch fish
Remember!
Fish may grow!
What to get?
Do I need friends? (schooling)
community
Do I play well with others
or am I aggressive?
Do I prefer warmer
temperatures?
How big will I get?
What to get? (Freshwater)

Select fish that live in different parts of the tank.
 Bottom
 Cory
feeders (scavengers)
cat
 Mid-water
Loach
to upper level swimmers
 Platties
Mollies
 Barbs
Guppies
 Schooling
 Danios
Neon tetras
What not to get…

Semi-aggressive should not be mixed
with community fish
Cichlids, Gouramis and Angelfish
(often because of size)

Plecostamus (pleco, sucker fish)
will get huge regardless of tank size!
Don’t believe it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sCDM3UYFsM

Bettas are best solitary (alone)!
What to get? (Saltwater)
 Damsels
 Tangs
 Wrasse
 Puffers
(brackish-low salt)
 Snow Flake Eels
 Crab
 Shrimp
Helpful Websites
http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/fishspecies/tp/fishprofiles.htm
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/Saltwater-Fish_c_15.html
http://fishprofiles.com/
How do you add new fish?


Dumping fish directly in your tank from a bag can shock
them.

Float the bag for 15-20 minutes to gradually adjust
the temperature.

Then, pour out half of the water in the bag and add
in water from your tank.

After 15-20 more minutes the fish should be
acclimated to your tank.
Also, feed the resident organisms in the tank as you are
releasing new fish from a bag, to keep them
preoccupied.

This allows the new fish to enter gently, without
being harassed by current resident “bullies.”
How much to feed?

Feed fish only what they will consume
in 5 minutes, twice a day (once for us)cover food!

Remove excess food, so as not to
pollute the tank

One day of fasting is recommended
(feed 6 out of 7 days)
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Signs
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Sickness
Clamped fins, fins held close to the body
Frayed fins
Bloating
Enlargement of the eyes
Erratic swimming and shimmying
Drifting close to the bottom or gasping for air at surface
Loss of appetite
White spots on fins or body
Parasites on body
Cottonlike patches on fins or body
Fish that are normally active remaining still
If an organism appears sick, it should be removed from
the tank so as not to contaminate the rest of the
organisms
A separate “hospital” tank can be set up to help or
medicate a fish
Plants

Just like land plants, aquatic plant
need natural light to survive, as well
as minerals from a substrate

Aquatic plants are often hard to
maintain without adequate lighting
and can deteriorate in your tank

My advice……. Go plastic!
Substrates
Fill tank ¼ inch
 Coral gravel
 Crushed coral; porous
 Easy to clean
 Inexpensive
 Bacteria growth
 Flourite
 Enhanced with nutrients to sustain plants
 Sand

Set Up Day 1

*Safety!!!!*

Pull out all décor clean/rinse, and put on table

Wash and rinse out the empty aquarium. Do not allow any gravel to go down the
drain!

Wipe off the lid. Plug it in and make sure the light works.

Wash the filter. Remove as much algae as possible.

Wash any gravel you want to use thoroughly before you put it in your aquarium. Do
not allow any gravel to go down the drain!

Put the gravel in the aquarium.

Fill the aquarium with water.

Attach the filter to the side of the aquarium. Prime it (put water in it). Plug it in
to see if it works.

Wash and rinse any and all toys you plan on putting in your aquarium.

Place them in the aquarium. Remember, fish like “structure” so that they can hide
and play!

Get an air compressor, hose and air stone from me. Use only hose to allow you to
put the air stone on the bottom where you want it. Plug in the air compressor.

Put the lid on your aquarium and allow to set up.

If you have a marine aquarium, add 2 boxes of salt and check the level daily. Use a
hydrometer to measure the salt levels. The recommended specific gravity is 1.020
to 1.024.
Day 2

Drain 50%

Refill

Add water conditioner