Setting up and maintaining a healthy aquarium ecosystem Aquarium Lab Setting up and maintaining a healthy aquarium ecosystem

Safety Electrocution!!!!!!!!! Need Drip Loops on plugs Glass aquariums can break Slipping on water on the floor Cleanliness

Cleaning Siphon out the water and remove contents Do not use chemicals to clean in or outside-residues can remain in scratches (NO windex near tanks!) Rinse anything you clean with and place in net soak to avoid tank contamination Maintaining Cleanliness Don’t overfeed your fish! Make a 25% water change once a month Vacuum gravel periodically

Tank Set-up Situate tank where it will stay before adding anything! Add in gravel, water, decor, then fish Use natural or aquarium decor- simulate habitat ALWAYS add water condition to remove chlorine & chloramine from tap water

Light Natural lighting is best for fish Florescent/UV lights are also acceptable Black lights can be harmful

Hood/Cover Aquariums must be covered so that fish don’t leap out A hood can also house the lighting Be careful not to get light in the water….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)

3 types of Filtration Biological filtration Created by bacteria in gravel and on fish Beneficial bacteria breaks down waste products in the nitrogen cycle Fish food (protein N) Ammonia/ fish waste (NH3)Nitrite (NO2)Nitrate (NO3)H20 change Use an under gravel filter to facilitate bacterial growth

Filtration Mechanical filtration Removes accumulated solids (mulm) from aquarium Usually accomplished with mesh in an electric pump Can also be manually removed with a gravel vacuum

Filtration Chemical filtration Purifies water using activated carbon-dissolved impurities are absorbed by holes in carbon Activated carbon must be replaced Minimize use of chemical/medicines to rid tank of problems

Water tests pH Measures acidity or alkalinity of water Range SW 7.8-8.4 A buffer can be added in to maintain a pH or make a 25% water change

Water tests AmmoniaNitriteNitrate- Released from gills of fish and decaying wastes Range should be 0 ppm Change 25% of water or replace carbon to lower level

Conditioning period A conditioning (waiting) period of 1 week should be allowed for new tank without a natural bacteria population established Seed with old gravel

Saltwater Saltwater can be obtained from the ocean (risky) or from a salt mix Concentration: 32 ppt or .022 specific gravity Freshwater- add 1 tsp /5-10 gallons for health

Water level Add water to within 1’’ of top Water must be added every so often due to evaporation Don’t forget water conditioner!

Aquatic Organisms

How to buy Find a reputable fish dealer and establish a buyer relationship 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 1- 30 inch fish Ex. A 30 gal tank can have: 1- 30 inch fish 2-15 inch fish 3-10 inch fish 30-1 inch fish

What to get? Helpful Websites Freshwater: Plecostamus (sucker fish) Tetra Platties Guppies Mollies Beta Gouramis Danios Tiger Barbs Bala & Red Tail Sharks Catfish Angel fish NO CICHLIDS!!!! Saltwater: Damsels Tangs Wrasse Puffers (brackish-low salt) Snow Flake Eels Try to utilize all the areas in your tank by adding fish that live in different parts of the water column Ex. a bottom feeder (scavenger), a mid-water swimmer, a top feeder Helpful Websites http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/fishspecies/tp/fishprofiles.htm http://www.saltwaterfish.com/Saltwater-Fish_c_15.html http://fishprofiles.com/  

How to add? Dumping fish 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) ASK what the fish eats when buying them!

Sickness 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 advise……. Go plastic!

Remember!! **SAFETY!!** NO AQUARIUM WATER DOWN the Sink! Dump it outside in the drain. Don’t let the sink run continuously. No rocks/gravel in the sink. Clean up after yourself.

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 is 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. If you have a fresh water aquarium, you may add fish after the filter and air compressor has been running for 4 days. In observations, record your filtration type and describe how your air is supplied (where is it running from?) Must bring in at least one of the following: towels, fish, décor, gravel, rocks

Day 2 Drain 50%, refill, water conditioner, C