Freshwater and Saltwater Aquariums

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Freshwater and Saltwater Aquariums

• By Jenessa Gjeltema

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Choose Your Aquarium Type
The specific aquarium setup will depend upon the
requirements of the species you choose.
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Choose Your Aquarium Type
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Choose Your Aquarium Type
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Choose Your Aquarium Type
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Basic Needs

• Appropriate enclosure/housing
• Nutrition
• Hygiene
• Enrichment

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Enclosure Components

• Tank
• Stand/Canopy
• Lid/condenser
• Lights
• Temperature Control

• Environmental Enrichment
• Filtration
• Location
• Water Quality

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Enclosure Components Tank

• Consider
• Size
• Shape
• Materials
• Convenience
• Aesthetics

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Enclosure Components Tank
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Enclosure Components Lid/Condenser

• Why?
• Keeps fish from jumping out
• Prevents evaporation
• Protects lights

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Enclosure Components Lighting

• Why?
• Plant Growth
• Coral Growth
• Visualizing the Fish
• Fish health

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Enclosure Components Lighting

• Considerations
• Fixtures
• Ballast
• Wavelength
• Light Intensity
• Reflectors
• Photoperiod (12 hours)

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Enclosure Components Temperature Regulation

• How?
• Heaters
• Chillers
• Fans
• Ventilation

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Enclosure Components Environmental Enrichment

• Why?
• Evasion
• Breeding
• Quality of life
• Express Personality

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Enclosure Components Environmental Enrichment

• Types
• Wood
• Rocks
• Substrate
• Plants

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Enclosure Components Plants

• Why?
• Oxygenation
• Waste removal
• Protection

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Filtration Systems
Filtration Mechanical Biological Chemical
Types Wool, sponge Ceramics, sponges, rocks (SURFACE AREA!!) Charcoal, zeolite
Purpose Remove large particulate waste Removes fish waste products Removes odors, discoloration, toxins, and some waste products
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Filtration Systems

• Considerations
• Tank size
• Stocking capacity
• Water flow
• Breeding
• Aeration

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Filtration Systems
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Filtration Systems
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Filtration Systems
Protein Skimmer Removes organic material from
marine systems
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Filtration Systems

• Underground filter biological and mechanical

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Enclosure Components Location

• Avoid
• windows/direct sunlight
• drafty doors or fireplaces
• vibrations/sharp noises

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Water Composition Water Testing
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Water Composition Stock Water

• Know what is in your stock water
• Test periodically
• Alternatives available
• Test for
• Chlorines
• Copper
• pH
• Hardness

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Water Composition Testing

• Fresh Water
• pH
• Ammonia
• Nitrite
• Nitrate

• Salt Water
• Salinity

• Other
• Phosphate
• Calcium
• Strontium

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Water Quality Nitrogen Cycle
badmanstropicalfish.com (originally from
www.hagen.com)
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Water Quality Nitrogen Cycle
www.cichlid-forum.com
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Water Quality Cycling A New Tank

• Purpose grow bacteria for nitrogen cycle
• Takes 4-6 weeks
• Tips
• Seed the tank
• Monitor values closely
• Avoid water changes
• Can achieve without fish

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Water Changes

• Why?
• Dilutes waste products
• Corrects pH imbalances
• Can reduce algae growth

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Performing Water Changes

• Regular water changes
• 2 every 2 days
• 4 every week
• 20 a month

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Adding Fish Acclimation

• Temperature
• Water composition
• Environmental factors
• How
• 15-30 min. for temperature
• 15 minutes for water composition

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Nutrition
Dry Flakes Pellets Sticks Floating Sinking Wafers
Seaweed
Live/Frozen Blood Worms Daphnia Brine
Shrimp Feeder fish Plants
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Nutrition

• Know your fish
• Observe mouth
• Use dry food as staple
• Supplement with fresh/frozen foods
• Do not overfeed

Picture from Jeremy Gays The Perfect Aquarium
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Maintenance

• Daily
• Feed
• Monitor
• Lighting

Weekly Replace evaporation Water testing Clean
algae Empty protein skimmer
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Maintenance

• Monthly
• Charcoal replacement
• Plant maintenance
• Electrical Inspection

6 mos. To Yearly Change light bulbs
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Additional Considerations

• Personal Safety
• Euthanasia
• Environmental Impact
• Veterinary Care

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References

• Axelrod, Herbert. Handbook of Tropical Aquarium
  Fishes. Neptune City TFH Publications. 1983.
• Borneman, Eric. Aquarium Corals Selection,
  Husbandry, and Natural History. Neptune City
  T.H.F. Publications. 2001.
• Fenner, Robert M. The Conscientious Marine
  Aquarist. Neptune city T.F.H Publications.
  2001.
• Gay, Jeremy. The Perfect Aquarium The Complete
  Guide to Setting Up and Maintaining an Aquarium.
  New York Readers Digest. 2005.
• Hawkins, A.D. Aquarium Systems. London
  Academic Press. 1981

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References

• Hemdal, Jay F. Aquarium Fish Breeding. New
  York Barrons. 2003.
• Hiscock, Peter. Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants.
  New York Barrons. 2003
• Sandford, Gina. The Tropical Aquarium. New
  York Barrons. 2004.
• Stoskopf, Michael. Fish Medicine. Philadelphia
  W.B. Sauders Co. 1993.
• Tullock, John. Water Chemistry for the Marine
  Aquarium. New York Barrons. 2002.

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Special Thank You to

• Fish World
• and
• Aqua Pros

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Thank You! Questions?
If you would like to learn more about fish (as
well as coral and amphibian) husbandry, please
contact me at jlgjelte_at_ncsu.edu. I can help you
get some hands-on experience!