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Essential Information for Setting Up a Healthy Aquarium

Learn about the key factors, equipment, and care needed for a thriving aquarium ecosystem. From filtration systems to water chemistry, ensure your fish thrive in their environment.

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Essential Information for Setting Up a Healthy Aquarium

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  1. Aquarium

  2. Biotic (Living) Type of Fish, newt, turtle etc. Beneficial Bacteria Live Plants Harmful microorganisms and multicellular organisms Abiotic (Nonliving) Substrate (gravel, crushed coral) Plastic Plants Decorative rocks, caves, or toys Equipment (filters, lights, heaters, etc.) Wastes (EX.Ammonia) Factors to Consider

  3. Equipment • Determine what equipment is needed • Size and shape of tank • Heater or Heat Lamp • Lighting • Filtration System • Stand • Substrate (gravel, crushed coral, sand, dolomite) • Plants, Rocks, Shells etc.

  4. Tank Placement • Away from windows, radiators, and air conditioners. • Placed in a manner that all equipment should be available for maintenance, cleaning and care of fish

  5. Tank Placement • Place tank on a steady surface that can support the weight. • Fresh water =8.8 lbs a gallon, saltwater ways more. • Calculate the approx weight of the tank?

  6. Filtration • Install a filtration system. • To maintain optimal fish health, 3 types of filtration are necessary. • Mechanical/physical – eg. ? • Biological - eg. ? • Chemical - eg. ?

  7. Mechanical/Physical Filtration • Pads, sponges, floss, sand or other media that remove solid particles from the water. • Removes • Excess food • Wastes • Pieces of fin, scale • Plant matter

  8. Biological Filtration • A biowheel, prefilter media, biosponge, gravel, or sand for beneficial bacteria to grow on. • These bacteria break down deadly nitrogenous wastes from living organisms and decaying food. • Bacteria break down • Ammonia (deadly) to Nitrite to Nitrate

  9. Chemical Filtration • Activated Carbon removes harmful gases dissolved in water.

  10. Heating • Most fish can only survive within an environment with narrow range of temperature change. • Approx. between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. • To maintain optimal temperature, install a submersible heater

  11. Heating • You need 5 watts per gallon • 10 gallon – 50 watts • 20 gallon – 100 watts • 25 gallon – 150 watts • 30 gallon – 150 watts

  12. Decorations • Organisms need to be in an environment as similar to their natural environment as possible. • rocks, live plants, caves, shells plastic plants, plastic pipes etc.

  13. Cover and lighting • A cover is needed to: • Prevent fish from jumping out of the tank • Slow evaporation • Keep dust out of the tank

  14. Care of FishWater Chemistry • Test and Record • pH • Ammonia level • Nitrite level • Maintain ideal levels for optimal health

  15. pH • pH is a chemical component of a solution that determines how Acidic or Basic it is. • Neutral pH is 7.0 • pH above 7.0 is Basic and below 7.0 is Acidic • Ideal pH of a freshwater aquarium is 6.5-7.5

  16. Ammonia (NH3) • Ammonia is a chemical that is created as a waste product by living organisms. • Animals urinate which is converted into ammonia • Ammonia is the most toxic chemical tested for in Aquarium water tests • Ideal ammonia concentrations should be less than .25 ppm. Amounts over this can stress fish and even cause death.

  17. Nitrite (NO2-) • Ammonia is converted into nitrite by Nitrifying bacteria. • Toxic to fish but less toxic than ammonia. • Ideal concentrations should be less than 1 ppm (Parts per million) once the aquarium is established. • New aquariums may spike to concentrations of 10 ppm until the bacteria concentration reaches equilibrium and convert nitrite to nitrate. • Too much Nitrite can indicate over-feeding, too many fish or inadequate biological filtration.

  18. Nitrate (NO3-) • Converted from Nitrite by nitrifying bacteria. • Not considered toxic to animals in lower amounts but can cause algae blooms in excess. • Ideal concentrations should be less than 40 ppm. • Partial water changes will lower concentrations of Nitrate in aquariums.

  19. Care of FishMaintenance • In order to prevent disease, regular maintenance is critical • The single most important maintenance procedure is a water change • Clean gravel at least once a month • Change 20% a month to remove harmful wastes and replace trace elements • Clean filter pad every month, replace every 3 months

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