INTRODUCTION TO

FISH AND FISH CARE

SALTWATER FISH

• Salt is needed for them to survive. Salt must be added to the aquarium when setting up or cleaning is done to the tank.

Saltwater fish are more difficult to keep then freshwater but nowadays hobbyists are having great success.

Saltwater Basics

• Salt is measured in specific gravity with a hydrometer: 1.020 to 1.025 ppm is required for proper tank salt balance. Specific gravity over 1.025 is reduced by a partial water change. A gravity too low is raised by adding salt to the water.

•PH or alkalinity of Saltwater is higher then freshwater and even more important : 8.1 – 8.4. Buffering chemicals are sometimes needed to adjust this.

Saltwater Invertebrates

• These saltwater animals have no spine and require particularly good water conditions and lighting.

• Many of them filter feed which means they suck in the water around them and filter out the nutrients. They also use lighting to help digest and grow.

• We have a wide selection of additives and foods for all invertebrates and corals.

• Some fish eat corals so use extreme caution when recommending these items.

Supplements to help feed corals and other invertebrates

Saltwater Fish Choices• Just as in

freshwater some saltwater fish are aggressive and passive.

• Do you know which are aggressive or passive?

Aquarium Filter Basics

We sell mainly three kinds of filters:

Outside, Canister, and Undergravel filters

Following is a brief description of each and the importance of having them.

Outside FilterComes complete and ready to fill and plug in.

Takes water out of tank and filters it thru cartridges and back into tank. These cartridges should be changed every 4-8 weeks.

Normal cleaning of plastic intake tubes and unit should be performed on a regular basis.

Operation and use will be given by instructor.

Cartridge should be replaced every 4-8 weeks. Rinsing can be done weekly.

CANISTER FILTERS

• Water flows into filter• Filter usually has 3

chambers sponge, chemical, ceramic

chip• Chemical is usually

charcoal or zeolite and should be replaced every 4-8 weeks

• Filter sits under tank out of sight

• Very quiet Ceramic: biological,

Never change

Charcoal or zeolite removes color and odor

Change every 4-8 weeks

UNDERGRAVEL FILTER

• Plate sits under 2” of gravel

• All debris is pulled under plate

• Filter is run by power head or air pump

Other Accessories

• Heaters and thermometer

• Protein Skimmer• Airstones \

DecorationsUsually set to about 78 degrees

Different watts for larger tanks

Customers: Do not plug new heaters in for 30 minutes after you place them in water. Glass tube must have time to acclimate to tank temperature or it will crack.

Extra filtration usually used in saltwater aquariums. Uses the force of tiny bubbles to take out unwanted nutrients and proteins. These items attach themselves to the bubbles and foam to the top of the filter into a cup.

Air Valve makes it easy to distribute air evenly to all tank asseccories.

Airstones add beauty and oxygen to lower levels of the aquarium. Recommend if customer has a deep tank.

Pulling it all together-Freshwater Basics

• Choose the largest aquarium• Choose gravel : just a ¼” for the bottom

(Undergravel filters need about 2”). A thick gravel bed will cause ammonia problems.

• Fill with water: tap water, well water or any other you still need to use a dechlorinator such as Prime or Stress Coat. Any water changes a dechlorinator must be used.

• Set up your filter and get it running.• Set your heater to the desired temperature

and place your heater in but don’t plug it in for 30 minutes

• Add some good bacteria to help age the tank such as Bio Spira or Cycle

• Let tank run for 1 to 2 days and add in 2 or 3 starter fish.

• See how these do for a week and slowly add a couple more.

1/2 -1 pound of gravel per gallon of aquarium with outside or canister filter. These are two excellent dechlorinators.

Make certain you have all the filter media you need to

get it running!

Let heater stay unplugged to 30 minutes anytime it has been removed from water

and placed back in.

Bio Spira and Cycle will help introduce new beneficial bacteria to a new tank. If no bacteria is used the new tank may become cloudy a few days after set up.

A new aquarium needs patience and time to establish itself. A new freshwater tank takes 45-60 days before it cycles through. A saltwater tank can tank up to 8 weeks.

Saltwater Basic Setup

• All the same procedures can be used for a saltwater setup with these few exceptions.

When adding water you must also add salt. Measure the specific gravity using a hydrometer: 1.020 -1.025

Cylce and Saltwater Bio Spira can be used

Now time and patience is needed. Tester fish can be added (about 3-5). We have no

guarantee on saltwater fish.

Common Questions• Why is my tank

cloudy?

Answer: The aquarium is going thru a cycling process known as the Nitrogen Cycle. This occurs in new tanks and tanks that have recently had major water changes.

Solution: Adding Bio Spira or Cycle will help. Do not overfeed or overpopulate a new tank.

Cloudy AquariumAfter a few weeks

Saltwater Starter Fish

• There are very few

fish that are recommended for

starting a saltwater aquarium

Here are a couple:Green ChromisDamsel

Live Rock: this helps cycle the tank faster and will assist in removing excess nitrates

Feeding Saltwater Fish

• Feed fish and invertebrates a wide variety of foods

• Brine Shrimp, Plankton, Beef Heart

Flake Food

Helping our customer

• As our customer you may be asked these fish questions when you come in to purchase your fish:

1. What kind of tank do you have?

Freshwater or Saltwater

2. What size tank do you have?

This allows us to know how many

fish can be in the tank.

3. What other fish do you have? This allows us to help you make good decisions

when buying fish. (Aggressive, Community, etc.)

4. What kind of filtration do you have? This allows us to know if you have adequate filtration for

your tank.

5. How long has your tank been set up \ when was your last partial water change?

New tanks cannot handle many new fish. A freshwater tank is considered new for about the first 45-60 days. During this time the tank environment is changing rapidly and can stress fish. Many tanks will become cloudy during this time because of an rapid growth and dying of bacteria.

Saltwater tanks can take up to 8 weeks to age properly. During this time the tank can become murky and brown algae growth can be substantial.

Quiz Time!

• How long does it take to cycle a freshwater aquarium? A saltwater?

• Answer: FW – up to 45-60 days

SW – up to 8 weeks

Quiz Time!

How long is our saltwater guarantee? Freshwater?

Answer: We have a very limited saltwater guarantee but talk to a supervisor to help with the situation.

Freshwater is a conditional 7 day guarantee.

Fish cannot be chewed, must have receipt.

Quiz Time!

Is this an aggressive, semi aggressive or community fish?

Dwarf Gourami: community

Angelfish: semi-aggressiveAfrican Clawed Frog: semi-aggressiveConvict Cichlid: AggressiveTiger Barbs: semi- aggressive

Jack Demsey: Aggressive

Gold Gourami – semi aggressiveLobster: aggressive

Quiz Time!

Brackish water fish are somewhere between fresh and salt. They

come from rivers that have salt water

in them and also freshwater. Which

of these fish are brackish? Mono Dact: Brackish

Knight Goby: brackish

Red Chromide: BrackishFlounder: BrackishPuffer: BrackishDalmatian Molly: sometimes

Quiz Time:

• New tanks can be stressful for fish.

• Which of these are good to start with?

Dalmatian Molly : goodNeons or Cardninals: badZebra Danios: good

Damsel: good but aggressivePink Skunk Clown: Okay but not real hardy

Platy : Good

End Of Quiz!

Bonus:

Can you tell the difference between male or female on these pictures?

Platy: male

Platy: femaleSwordtail: MaleBoy George: ?

Remember:

• We will do our best to help solve your fish questions or problems

• Remember to float your new fish for about 20 minutes

• A few times a day take time to really really enjoy your aquarium. You have your own living community there.

The End

Thanks go out to all the hard working

researchers

on staff at PPI.