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

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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.