Setting up a aquarium

Setting up a aquarium1

AquariumAquarium may he defined as any vessel that will hold water and support aquatic life. In a more restricted sense it means a rectangular vessel with glass slides or glass like transparent slides suitable stocked with growing plants and fishes.The preparation or setting of aquarium is a Process by which the aquarium will be ready to support aquatic life and will be looking good at sight.Preparing an aquarium involves two virtues that so few of us possess care and patience2

Steps of setting up aquarium i) Program/ PlanningA proverb goes on well planned half done. The programme of aquarium preparation includes, where, why the aquarium should he constructed. It also includes the size, shape and type of the aquarium.The size is considered on the available space for the aquarium and the shape preferred for aquarium is rectangular or square with low depth or round jar shaped.

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ii) Stand for the aquariumThe first requirement is a stand on which to place the aquarium. Stand should not be too light to carry the weight or should not be too heavy which will involve more cost and inconvenience of displacement. Various types of plastic, metallic or wooden frame can he used. The frame should be strong enough to withstand the weight of the filled in aquarium.4

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Steps of setting up aquarium iii) Collection of the AquariumThe aquarium can be collected either by buying or self making. Making of Aquarium tank:Firstly think the size of the tank as glass thickness depends on size. Length of aquarium is the deciding factor it must be twice the depth while height equal to depth.

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The glass sheet cut according to the tank size.All edge should be evened by filling with wet fine grain sand paper or sand stone.Clean the edge.

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Place the base glass on a flat surface ad stick pieces of adhesive tapes on all the four sides.Make a glue line of silicon gum on the edge that will hold glass pane to the base.

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Join the back glass to the base on this glue line.Stick the flying adhesive taps to the side glass pane.Provide weight from outside to give support to it.Repeat the process.

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Join the front glass in the lastExtra care should taken to seal corners.Leave the tank to air at least 2-3 days.To check allow it to stand water over night.Plastic or metal may be glued with silicon gum to strength Glass corners

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iv) Washing the aquariumThen the aquarium should be wash by adding light salt solution. We can also use fine sand to remove dirty substances on glass then wash with salt solution

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Washing the aquariumThen add warm water and run a piece of cloth over the surface and remove water.

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v) Leveling the aquariumThis can be checked by adding small water in aquarium. If necessary, the aquarium should keep level by using slices of cork or soft materials underneath the aquarium where necessary.Measure the size, water holding capacity of the aquarium

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vi) Position of the aquariumtwo or three feet away from a window that faces north, then east or west.Too much direct sunlight is undesirable.To avoid the undesirable sunlight, the sides of aquarium can be painted or can be covered with a sheet of paper.Should not be wise to place in a valuable and highly polished furniture because there is always have a chance of spill.15

ix) Planting media16The planting media must be chosen with some care since it plays a large part in determining the pH.Of course the plants need nutrient. For planting media, a layer of loam then sand and gravel layers are recommended by some aquarists.Then add gravel in the tank before that it should be washed thoroughlyThe depth of well washed coarse sand required to three inches at the back slopping to an inch at the front ( help siphoning). But planting media is not needed for artificial plants.

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B) Rock work19Well designed & carefully laid rock enhance the appearance of aquarium.Limestone, marble and other calcareous stones are to be avoided as these alter the pH of water.water born sand stone can be suitably used..The stones should be well scrubbed to reduce the spiny edges.The stones should be soaked for a few days.The stones should not very large amount to overlap the beauty of fish. Colored stone can be used but no artificial color is allowed in aquarium.

viii) Heating and cooling

We can apply heat to the aquarium by electric immersion heater with thermostatic capacity.A thermometer can be added with an aquarium to read the actual water temperature.

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Water supply and water quality21The physical and chemical parameters of water should be suitable.. The water should be slightly basic pH 7.4Temperature: 20C+1C as specific for the species.Alkalinity: medium hard/hardOxygen Saturation point or at least 5 ppm.Chlorination is done in tape water (small heating suggested) Tube-well water or water from river, reservoirs and lakes also used. For tube-well water it is better to keep overnight in an open space of earthen ditch. Water from different sources can be filtered through fine sand and charcoal before use.

xii). Aquarium fillingA piece of thick plastic paper is placed on bottom and container is stood on it. The water is then siphoned into the container pipe. The container and the paper should be removed when the aquarium is filled at desired level22

xiii). Plants and plantingGenerally submerged and rarely floating plants are used in aquarium.the pants should be washed thoroughly by warm/cold water.Potassium permanganate solution can be used to wash It is better to planting after filling by water

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Introducing the Fishes255-7 days after plantation the aquarium should be clean & plant show sign of growth.So we can introduce fish in our prepared aquarium.Fish should buy from a reliable source better from breeder.Well spread fin, plump stomach, active, no external sign of lesion & parasite are some common sign of healthy fish.On arriving fishes in to a jar allow to float in the tank.In half a hour the temperature inside & outside will be equal.Finally tipping the fish in to the tank

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xiv) Covering the aquariumCovering may include a gable shape hood or a glass cover .should be raised about an eighth of an inch above the top of the aquarium, to allow for the free circulation of air and the escape of noxious gasesIt protects the fish from excessive dust and smoke both of which are bad for fish.It helps to conserve water by preventing evaporation.It prevents active fish form jumping out and small fish from being nosed out by bigger fish.28

xv) Artificial aeration29Artificial aeration is necessary for the aquarium organisms. Generally, airstone aerator of different sizes and shapes are used in aquarium for aeration.The slower the flow of water, the smaller the bubbles, and the more oxygen can be absorbed by waterArtificial aeration usually drives the atmospheric air into water through a narrow tube, at the end of which a small porous stone (diffuser) breaks up the air into small bubbles

xvi) Filtration30The fecal matter and other waste sediment must be removed from aquarium. For this reason, filtration is necessary. Some filtration system filtered with biofilter.