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Aquarium Ecosystem Lab

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Aquarium Lab Setting up and ... has bicarbonate ions which is a base Water tests Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate- Released from gills of fish and decaying wastes Range should ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Aquarium Ecosystem Lab


1
Aquarium Lab
Setting up and maintaining a healthy aquarium
2
Safety
  • Electricution!!!!!!!!! Need Drip Loops on plugs
  • Glass aquariums can break
  • Slipping on water on the floor
  • Cleanliness

3
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 and soak in water to
    avoid tank contamination
  • Maintaining Cleanliness
  • Dont overfeed your fish!
  • Make a 25 water change once a month
  • Vacuum gravel periodically

4
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 conditioner to remove chlorine
    chloramine from tap water

5
Light
  • Natural lighting is best for fish
  • Florescent/UV lights are also acceptable
  • Black lights can be harmful

6
Hood/Cover
  • Aquariums must be covered so that fish dont leap
    out
  • A hood can also house the lighting
  • Be careful not to get light in the
    water.electricution!!!

7
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

8
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)

9
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

10
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

11
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

12
Water tests
  • pH
  • Measures acidity or alkalinity of water
  • Range
  • FW 6.6-7.6
  • SW 7.8-8.4
  • A buffer can be added in to maintain a pH or make
    a 25 water change
  • If pH is too high/basic lower pH
  • Peat moss
  • pH decreasing chemical from pet store
  • If pH is too low/acidic increase pH
  • Baking soda has bicarbonate ions which is a base

13
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

14
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

15
Saltwater
  • Saltwater can be obtained from the ocean or from
    a salt mix
  • Concentration
  • 32 ppt
  • Specific gravity 1.021 - 1.024
  • ½ cup marine salt / gallon
  • Freshwater- add 1 tsp / 5 gallons for health

16
Water level
  • Add water to within 1 of top
  • Water must be added every so often due to
    evaporation
  • Dont forget water conditioner!

17
Aquatic Organisms
18
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!

19
How many?
  • General rule- 1 inch of fish/gallon
  • Ex. A 30 gal tank can have
  • 1- 30 inch fish
  • 2-15 inch fish
  • 3-10 inch fish
  • 30-1 inch fish

20
What to get?
  • 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)

Helpful Websites http//freshaquarium.about.com/od
/fishspecies/tp/fishprofiles.htm
http//www.saltwaterfish.com/Saltwater-Fish_c_15
.html http//fishprofiles.com/  
21
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

22
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)

23
Sickness
  • Signs
  • 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
  • Scraping themselves on plants or filters
  • 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

24
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!

25
Substrates
  • Fill tank ¼ inch
  • Coral gravel
  • Crushed coral porous
  • Easy to clean
  • Inexpensive
  • Bacteria growth
  • Flourite
  • Enhanced with nutrients to sustain plants
  • Sand

26
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, calculate how much
    salt youll need and get your calculations
    checked by me before adding salt to the tank,
    then be sure and check the level daily. Use a
    hydrometer to measure the salt levels. The
    recommended specific gravity is 1.020 to 1.024.

27
Day 2
  • Drain 50
  • Refill
  • Add water conditioner
  • Marine aquariums add live rock

28
How to Reseal a Tank
  • Empty the aquarium of water and dry it completely
    with absorbent paper towels. Set the aquarium on
    a table or flat surface where you can easily
    reach into and around it.
  • Scrape away the old silicone from inside the
    corners and bottom of the tank using a razor
    blade or utility knife. Be careful not to scratch
    the glass. Dispose of the old silicone when you
    are finished.

29
How to Reseal a Tank
  • Wipe down the surfaces of the tank with rubbing
    alcohol and a paper towel or cotton swap. Pay
    particular attention to the corners of the tank
    and feel for any bits of silicone that you may
    have missed. Scrape away any leftover silicone
    with a razor blade and clean the tank thoroughly
    with the alcohol, then let it dry.

30
How to Reseal a Tank
  • Fill a small container with rubbing alcohol and
    place it inside the tank. Coat your fingers with
    the alcohol before spreading the silicone so it
    does not stick to your fingers.
  • Cut the tip off the silicone tube with your razor
    blade or utility knife and apply a generous bead
    of silicone all the way down one edge of the
    tank. Quickly dip your fingers into the rubbing
    alcohol then use them to spread the silicone into
    the cracks and corners and to smooth away any air
    bubbles. Wipe your fingers on a paper towel
    before moving on.

31
How to Reseal a Tank
  • Finish the other sides of the aquarium in the
    same manner by applying the silicone and
    spreading it with your fingers. Pay extra
    attention to the corners, being sure to press the
    silicone as far into the corners of the tank as
    possible to prevent leaks.
  • Allow the silicone to dry for 24 hours then
    examine the tank. If you see any areas where the
    silicone is layered too thin add another coat and
    allow it to dry for another 24 hours.

32
How to Reseal a Tank
  • Allow the silicone to cure for a full 48 hours
    before going back and cleaning up your work.
    Scrape away any spills with rubbing alcohol and a
    razor blade.
  • Rinse the tank well to remove any traces of
    rubbing alcohol then fill it to test it for water
    tightness. If the tank does not leak after being
    full for 24 hours it is considered safe to use.

33
Tips and Warnings
  • To get silicone off your hands, coat them with
    mineral spirits or rubbing alcohol and wipe them
    with paper towels. After you have removed the
    silicone, wash your hands normally with soap and
    water.
  • Execute all tasks in a well-ventilated area to
    prevent the inhalation of fumes from the rubbing
    alcohol. Wear protective eye wear.
  • Only 100 percent rubber silicone sealant or
    aquarium sealant is recommended for use on your
    tank. Other types of silicone sealant may contain
    ingredients that could be harmful to your fish.
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