AQUARIUM-MANUFACTURING-AND-THEIR-ACCESORIES.pdf
- 1. AQUARIUM MANUFACTURING AND THEIR ACCESORIES GOVERNMENT HOLKAR SCIENCE COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES M.SC FIRST SEM SUBMITTED BY- VAIBHAVSINGH SUBMITTED TO - ROHITVERMA SIR by Vaibhav Singh V
- 2. INTRODUCTION WHAT IS AN AQUARIUM An aquarium is a glass container which displays the aquatic organisms in a simulated natural environment by introducing aquatic plants, rocks, gravels, artificial decorative etc. Maintenance of physio-chemical and biological parameters of water inside the aquaria is of utmost importance. Different types of equipment are required for controlling aeration, water movement, temperature, suspended organic matter, illumination etc. inside the aquaria. Utmost care should be taken while feeding aquarium fishes. Over feeding is always harmful to fishes. Aquarium is a miniature form of an ecosystem which adds to the beauty of our home.This natural “living jewels” makes our living room more attractive and reduce the tensions experienced by the family members or the visitors.The major advantage of aquarium keeping is the low expenditure incurred when compared to other pets. PURPOSE OF AN AQUARIUM Aesthetic Decorative Educational Laboratory Museum
- 3. Types ofAquaria Based on water regime contained in the aquaria they may be of two types: FreshwaterAquaria Marine waterAquaria
- 4. History of keeping aquarium fishes as pets . The idea of aquarium fish keeping is as old as recorded in history.The Sumerians,Assarians and Egyptians have all kept fish in ponds. By the end of the 17th century gold fish was introduced in several countries and became popular in England and Scotland. The opening of the fish house in London Regent Park during the spring of 1853 is the world’s first aquarium.
- 5. Fabrication of aquarium tank and accessories Considering the safety and reliability of aquarium tank you should remember the following factors/Objectives. Aesthetic beauty 1. Size and shape of the tank 2. The volume of water 3. Table - Size of the tank and required thickness of the glass Tank size in feet Thickness in mm L x B x H 2 × 1 × 2 4 3 × 1 × 2 6 4 × 1 × 2 8 3 × 2 × 2 10 4 × 2 × 2 10 5 × 2 × 2 12 6 × 2 × 2 12 7 × 2 × 2 12 Additional care- There is no additional cross belt in the upper portion of the tank up to a size of 3x1x2.The tanks above 3x1x2 size and up to 4x2x2’ size requires additional cross belt on the upper side.Above 4x2x2’ size needs beading and cross link with a size of two inch. Recently, imported modular tanks of various sizes are available in the market.
- 6. Fabrication of the tank Making an aquarium tank is an art that can be learned in just a few days.You'll need high-quality glass, gum, a glass cutter, and silicone sealant.You can buy these items from glass merchants. When measuring or ordering the glass, remember to deduct twice the thickness of the selected glass from the width of the base glass. 1 Step 1 Place the base glass on a leveled floor after pasting sealant near to the edges for fixing the other side glass. 2 Step 2 Paste sealant along two sides of lengthy glass and fix it above the base glass. 3 Step 3 Paste sealant on one edge of side glasses and fix them in the corners of the lengthy glass. 4 Step 4 Finally, attach the lengthy glass to the previous one. 5 Step 5 After finishing the mold, firmly tie a string covering four sides of the tank to prevent the glass from sliding while pasting sealant in the corners. Height of the tank- The aquarium tank should always be kept at height of 2.5 feet for viewing from standing and sitting positions in a living room. The tank should have a covered roof with feeding and lighting facilities. Place the tank near a window for natural light, but not too close to avoid excessive algae growth.Also, provide electrical plug points near the tank for easy operation and safety.
- 7. Accessories for tank setting S.no Items Units 1. Aquarium tank 1 2. Aquarium hood 1 3. Aerator 1 4. Air tube 2 meter 5. Air regulator 2 6. Air stone 2 7. T-joint & I-joint 2 8. Florescent Light with Fittings 2 9. Thermocol Sheet 1 10. River sand(3-4mm ) Enough Quantity 11. Rocks and Drifts Wood enough Enough Quantity 12. Aquarium Plants 13. Thermometer 1 14. Heater with Thermostat 1 15. Power Filter 1 16. Hand Net 1 17. Filter Bed 1 18. Magnetic Cleaner 1
- 9. Setting of aquarium 1 Place the aquarium tank On an even surface (use water level hose or spirit level gadget) preferably on one inch thickness Thermocol sheet. 2 Insert gravel filter plate Carefully insert under water gravel filter plate into the tank along with air lift pump. 3 Add manured mixture and sand Spread one to two cm manured mixture above the filter, and then spread washed river sand sloping towards the front side. 4 Place rocks and driftwoods Fix modulated rocks and driftwoods in the landscape position.Air stones can be placed behind rocks for a good visual effect. 5 Decorate with aquarium plants Use a variety of aquarium plants depending on your imagination. Fast-growing plants and tall plants like vallisneria, cobomba, and sagittaria are ideal for background planting. 6 Planting and care Before planting, thoroughly wash the plants in running water to remove any unwanted snails, eggs, and larvae. Dip the washed plants in 0.1% KMno4 (Potassium permanganate) solution for one to five minutes, then wash again in running water. Carefully plant the long-rooted species without damaging the roots. 7 Fill the tank with water Once the planting is complete, fill the aquarium tank with water without tilting the plants and other settings. Cover the tank with the lighted hood.
- 10. Tank conditioning- Air pump and other electrical fittings (power head, filter, heater etc.) are switched on and allow to run continuously for three to five days. During this time water will be cleared and the plants roots will take their position. Flow rate should be adjusted to 18 to 20 times per day for proper functioning of biofilter and the consequent removal of ammonia with the help of nitrifies. Advance preparation for tank setting- Necessary drift wood, river sand and rocks should be thoroughly washed under running water till water turns clear. Some quantity of gravel and river sand(raw) mixed with vermicomposting is better for growth of the plants.This mixture should be spread just below the washed river sand. Landscaping is to be decided well in advance, we can use silicone sealant for making desired shape in wood or in rock
- 11. AQUARIA BOTTOM The base of an aquarium is known as bottom. Over this base aquaria bed is prepared.This serves following two basic purposes: • To make the fish feel more at home, and • To provide a growing medium for aquatic plants. Unless a particular species of fish has special requirements, the composition of the bed is mostly governed by the needs of the plant to be placed in aquaria bed. Plants suitable for the purpose can be grouped in following categories: Rooted plants – Vallisneria, Sagittaria. Cuttings – Fanwort, Hygrophilia, Ceratophyllum, Limnophila. Floating Plants – Lemna, Riccia, Salvinia
- 12. AQUARIA STAND, HOODAND PLACEMENT Aquaria stand is wooden/metallic structure on which aquarium is placed.This must be flat and level and capable of carrying the load of entire set. Aquaria hood is the top most covering of an aquarium to keep the fishes confined in the tank, minimize water loss by evaporation, offers more protection against intruders and helps in light attachment. Placement of an aquarium should be intended to receive maximum amount of light:
- 13. AQUARIA FILTERS Choosing the right filtration system is key to keeping your aquarium clean and your fish healthy. Harmful substances like ammonia and nitrates can accumulate in the water and poison your fish, but a good filtration system can help remove them. This can be achieved by the process of filtration and the devices employed for the purpose are known as filters. There are three types of filtration that are necessary for the health of any aquarium: Mechanical : Mechanical filtration is the process in which particulate matter is removed from the water. Chemical : Chemical filtration removes toxic or unwanted chemicals as the water passes through a chemical media or resin. Biological: biological filtration, different types of bacteria convert the toxic chemical byproducts produced by the aquarium inhabitants into less toxic nutrients.This breakdown process by the bacteria is called the Nitrogen Cycle. Functions of filters: Filters play a significant role in purification of aquaria water with the help bacteria. When ammonia loaded water is passed through the gravel bed of filter, it is subjected to the action of aerobic nitrifying bacteria that oxidize toxic ammonia into nitrite by Nitrosomonas bacteria.The nitrites get further oxidized by Nitrobacteria group of bacteria into nitrates which are less toxic to the fish.They finally gets absorbed by the plants.
- 14. Selection of Fishes After maintenance of adequate water load in the aquarium (2.5cms of fish to each gallon of water) fishes of choice should be introduced in the aquarium.Aquarium fishes are both exotic and indigenous). Some of the popular aquarium fishes are listed below: (1) Barbus tetrazona and B.ticto (2) Betta splendens (3) Botia dareo (4) Carassius auratus (goldfish) (5) Colisa lalia (6) Colisa chuna (7) Cyprinus carpio (8) Gambusia affinis (9) Hemichromis bimaculatus (10) Lebistes reticulates (guppy) (11) Macropodus opercularis (12) Nemacheilus aureus (13) Poecilia reticulata (14) Pterophyllum scalare and P.eimekei (angelfish) (15) Tilapia macrocephala (16) Trichogaster trichopterus (17) Puntius ticto
- 15. FOODAND FEEDING OFAUARIUM FISHES Properly feeding your fish helps them to stay healthy and is helpful in maintaining your aquarium. It is important to know the types of foods your fish need and how much food they need, which differs from species to species. In most cases, fish only need to be fed once a day, and you only need to feed a small amount. Small, regular feedings provide fish with the nutrients they need and keep your tank cleaner than large or more frequent feedings. Over feeding can also contribute to algae growth, which can be unsightly, remove vital oxygen from the water, and increase your tank maintenance routine.
- 16. Nutrient Ratio
- 17. Water quality parameters The key to a successful, healthy aquarium is in maintaining good water quality for the creatures in your care. Most fish health problems are caused by poor water quality and many factors can cause this including type and frequency of the maintenance you carry out, inadequate filtration, stocking levels, overfeeding, and so on.The most important water quality parameters for a tropical community aquarium, or goldfish aquarium are as follows: Ammonia Excreted by fish into the water; ammonia is poisonous and must be removed. If the filter is working properly, there should be no ammonia in the water. It is recommended to test for ammonia every week. Nitrite Bacteria in the filter turn ammonia into nitrite, which is also poisonous. If the filter is working properly, this is also removed, and there should be no nitrite in the water. It is recommended to test for nitrite every week. Nitrate Bacteria in the filter turn nitrite into nitrate, which is harmless to most fish. It is, however, an algae nutrient and should be controlled if it gets very high. It is worth testing the nitrate level if you have a problem with algae in the aquarium or pond.Very low nitrate levels are only important for sensitive freshwater fish and marine aquariums. pH A measure of the water’s acidity. Fish do not respond well to rapidly changing pH levels, and therefore a stable value is important. Pond fish, goldfish, and hardy tropical fish require a stable pH between 6.5 – 8.5. Sensitive tropical fish and marine fish have more particular pH requirements. Oxygen Like all animals, fish require a plentiful supply of oxygen. Because water contains much less oxygen than air, it is important to provide some form of aeration in an aquarium. Extra aeration can also be provided with aerators, air-pumps.
- 18. Ideal Water Quality Conditions are as follows — Freshwater Marine Ammonia 0 0 Nitrite 0 0 Nitrate 0 0 pH 6.8-7.2 8.1-8.4 Carbonate Hardness 40-60 120-180 General Hardness 60-150 N/A Phosphate <0.5 <0.5 Calcium N/A N/A Salinity N/A 1.002-1.024(30 -35g/l)
- 19. General Diseases inAquaria Fishes Diseases Symptoms Treatment Constipation Feces of the fish are long and stringy and remain attached to the fish went Keep the Fish on Fast Bronchitis The Gills become inflamed and swollen Potassium Permanganate 3ppt for 10 min or 1ppm Salt solution Fin rot and Tail rot Fins and Tails become frayed 3ppm Oxytetracycline for half to one hour Hite Spot Irritating tendency 4 to 5 drops of formalin in 10ml of water or Methylene Blue 2mg per 10 liter water, Keep the fish for one weak
- 20. Regular maintenance of the Aquaria Important points to be looked into are: Regular water change (20-30% every two or four weeks) Cleaning of algal scum from the glass at periodical interval. Removal of dead fishes, if noticed inside the aquarium. Racking the surface layer of the substrate and removal of dirt etc. by vacuum device every week. Pruning of excess plant growth, when noticed If aquarium water turns cloudy after one or two months, it indicates the need to change water. Water loss caused by evaporation should be made up once a week Other Important Precautions For Maintenance of Aquaria The fishes are fed one or two times a day ad-libitum 1. At the time of feeding air pumps and power filters switched off 2. Daily switch off aerator, heater, power filter etc. for half an hour to avoid overheating. 3. Monitor the tank regularly during winter season especially the heater. 4. Do not spray insecticide near the tank 5. Assure sufficient light 6. Check air connectivity to the tank 7. Remove dead animals from the tank immediately 8. Use magnetic cleaner 9. Use chlorine free water always 10.