An Introduction to Freshwater Aquariums E-Book

Jesper Söderberg

• Herausgeber: Jesper Söderberg
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 203

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

It is easy to get mesmerized with freshwater aquariums. Creating an underwater ecosystem is not only a rewarding experience but can also bring much peace and relaxation to your life. They seem easy to care for at the start, but there is more than meets the eye when keeping your freshwater aquarium and pets healthy. This book will guide you through every process of starting an aquarium, maintaining healthy fish and plants, and tips on how to battle common problems. Perfect for beginner hobbyists and longtime aquarium enthusiasts, An Introduction to Freshwater Aquariums makes it easier than ever to set up a beautiful aquarium that family and friends alike can enjoy, not to mention, most importantly, yourself. Included in this book are full-color photographs that will supply readers with: - Step-by-step instructions on setting up your aquarium - Understanding the chemistry and biology involved in keeping a healthy aquarium - Anatomy and diseases - Including 70+ of the most popular species of fish, invertebrates and plants, and much more.

Leseprobe

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

CHAPTER I

BEFORE GETTING STARTED

COMMITMENT

AQUARIUM PLACEMENT

AQUARIUM TYPES AND SIZES

NANO AQUARIUMS

CHAPTER II

AQUARIUM EQUIPMENT

WHAT AQUARIUM EQUIPMENT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER GETTING?

FILTRATION

HEATERS AND TEMPERATURES

LIGHTING

OXYGENATION AND AIRSTONES

CO2 SYSTEMS

MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT

CHAPTER III

WATER KNOWLEDGE

TESTING YOUR WATER

DIFFERENT WATER PARAMETERS

THE NITROGEN CYCLE

CYCLING YOUR AQUARIUM

CHAPTER IV

UNDERSTANDING YOUR FISH

FISH ANATOMY

RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN BUYING FISH

STOCKING RULES

CHAPTER V

DISEASES AND TREATMENTS

PREVENTION BEFORE CURE

COMMON ILLNESSES

QUARANTINE TANK

CHAPTER VI

DIET AND NUTRITION

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FISH FOOD

CHAPTER VII

GET STARTED

SETTING UP YOUR AQUARIUM

INTRODUCING LIVESTOCK

CHAPTER VIII

FISH SPECIES

ANABANTOIDEI

LIVEBEARERS

KILLIFISH

CHARACINS

CYPRINIDAE

CICHLIDS

AFRICAN CICHLIDS

SOUTH AMERICAN CICHLIDS

LOACHES

CATFISH

CORYDORAS

LORICARIIDAE

MISCELLANEOUS CATFISH SPECIES

MISCELLANEOUS FISH SPECIES

CHAPTER IX

INVERTEBRATES

FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES

AQUARIUM SHRIMP

SHRIMP SPECIES

AQUARIUM SNAILS

SNAIL SPECIES

CHAPTER X

AQUATIC PLANTS

LIVE PLANTS

NUTRIENTS

CARBON DIOXIDE

ALGAE

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALGAE AND HOW TO BATTLE THEM

CHAPTER XI

PLANT SPECIES

FOREGROUND PLANTS

BACKGROUND PLANTS

FLOATING PLANTS

MISCELLANEOUS PLANTS

INDEX

PREFACE

The idea for this book grew when I realized how much information there is about keeping aquariums. The more I compared the information provided from different sources, the more I remembered the confusion I had when I bought my first aquarium. It mattered not whether I sought information about a specific fish species or a plant, every source had its own facts and opinions. It got me questioning why that was the case.

What information is reliable? Who can be trusted? Why does the information differ so much? All these questions comprised a mere fragment of the confusion I felt when I was first introduced to aquariums. Now, many years later, I concluded that this hobby should not be a trial-and-error experience, as it was for me, just because false information has been given. It should instead excite and reward hobbyists, allowing them to progress towards the next step. This formed the basis of my decision to make a book to help those who want to get an aquarium and prevent them from walking in the same footsteps of confusion as I initially had.

So who am I? My name is Jesper Söderberg and I have been working with aquariums for over a decade. I am an aquarist, I do aquascaping, I am the owner of an aquarium plant web store, and I breed fish and shrimp. I aim to provide you with everything you need to succeed with your aquarium. I have made sure that the information provided is truthful. After reading this book, you will have the necessary knowledge to keep and maintain an aquarium.

Information is easily accessed through the internet, but it can be overwhelming sorting out what is reliable. It can therefore be more convenient for you to have a book that someone can stand behind, like this one, which is authored by someone who has extensive experience working with aquariums.

One thing to know about keeping aquariums is that it can be hard at first, but once you have started everything will get easier in time.

If you are already into the hobby and have aquariums up and running, this book can still be handy to have.

Sometimes, even the most experienced fishkeeper needs to refresh their knowledge and there is always more to be learned.

So how is this book organized?

You do not need to read this book in chronological order. Get to know the book and get a glimpse of the hobby before you get down to the basics.

Just use the Table of Contents or the Index to find the topics that interest you and go from there. Start with your needs and interests.

I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I did writing it. Welcome to the beautiful world of fishkeeping!

Chapter I -Before getting started

COMMITMENT

Keeping aquariums is very rewarding but it comes with a price. Maintaining them is not a walk in the park and requires a certain amount of commitment and discipline. Before deciding which fish species you want to keep, or what size of aquarium you would like, it is important to first decide how much time you have and want to spend on fishkeeping. It is pointless buying exotic, hard demanding species if you have only a few spare minutes a week to spend caring for them. When keeping fish, or any other animal, the most important thing is to keep them properly and make sure they are happy and healthy. It is your responsibility to fulfill their needs.

First, you need to maintain an aquarium without fish until the tank is cycled, which often discourages others from keeping aquariums. This process takes a few weeks before completion. You need to learn about the different water parameters and the ecological balance within the aquarium system. For every new fish species you would like to keep, research needs to be done. Every week you need to do water changes and continuously test your water.

Second, keeping aquariums is also an expensive hobby. It is a misconception thinking it is not.

Aquariums and aquarium cabinets are very expensive. Equipment that is needed, such as heaters and filters, also costs a lot of money. Products like water treatments, fish food, test kits, medicines and so forth are also needed for you to maintain a proper aquarium.

All these things take time and cost money, but it is all worth it in the end! Before you know it, this becomes second nature. But it is good to have this in consideration before you enter this hobby.

AQUARIUM PLACEMENT

Aquariums are very heavy once loaded and there is nothing more frustrating than having to move an aquarium because of a bad placement.

Therefore it is better to take a day or two and discover what the perfect placement is for your aquarium.

When you are looking for a good place to set up your aquarium, remember that physical aspects of your home do affect your aquarium and can be decisive between success or failure. Here is a list of common problems that can occur when aquariums are placed inappropriately. Inspect the area where you plan to set up your aquarium and check that its placement is well suited for an aquarium.

Windows

If your aquarium stands near a window several complications can occur. The most common problem is extreme algae blooms. If the aquarium is exposed to a high amount of sunlight and with the aquarium light together, the algae will thrive and grow at an extremely fast pace. Once algae overrun your aquarium it can be difficult to get rid of it.

Temperature fluctuations are another common problem caused by windows close to an aquarium.

Extreme temperature changes can lower your fish's immune systems and increase their risk of getting diseases and can even cause your fish to die. The water temperature can be raised when direct sunlight hits the aquarium, and the temperature can reach lethal levels.

Heavy drapes and thick blinders can help to block out enough light to prevent this problem. The opposite can also occur, temperature drops.

Drafts and chilly air can seep through windows and lower the temperature of your aquarium. The best thing is therefore to avoid placing your aquarium near a window.

TIPS AND TRICKS

Keep an eye on your window for a day during normal sunlight hours to get a good idea of just how far and brightly the sun’s rays reach. Place your aquarium accordingly.

Electrical

Check for electrical outlets near the place you want to set up your aquarium. Have enough electrical outlets since you are going to need a few to properly run your aquarium.

If you are going to use extension cords or multi-outlet strips, try to place them prudently. It is easy to trip on them which might damage your aquarium equipment.

Water sources

This topic is often overlooked. A lot of water will be handled since you are about to set up an aquarium.

Water is needed to fill up your aquarium when you set it up: for the weekly water changes, and when the water has evaporated and you need to top off your aquarium. Having a water faucet close by is therefore mandatory since nobody wants to spend hours of backbreaking work dragging water back and forth.

High traffic areas

High-traffic areas are those places in your house where there is a lot of movement throughout the day like hallways, entranceways and kitchens. Accidents are more prone to happen here.

Also constant movement along the aquarium glass can stress out more sensitive species of fish. Continually spooked fish can be fatal. Fear leads to stress; stress leads to disease and disease leads to death. Bedrooms or living rooms are both great places for an aquarium. These types of rooms allow your fish to get used to people occasionally moving around them without overloading them with constant movement.

Children

Children are another major problem for aquariums. When you have young children in your home you often childproof rooms by locking doors, putting away sharp objects, and hiding anything that can harm them. You need to do the same thing with your aquarium. Make sure your aquarium is on a solid stand that cannot easily fall over. Try to place the aquarium out of reach for young children such as on top of an aquarium cabinet. Having your aquarium in an area where you are frequently in, like the living room, helps you keep a close eye on the children.

Aquariums can be great learning tools for children, but they need to be reminded that the fish have their own needs and that they must be respected. No tapping on the glass children!

Sound

During the daytime, an aquarium might sound quiet but when the night settles you might pick up some noises. Aquarium filters and air pumps are notoriously known to cause noise, especially the more budget-friendly ones. Water movements can also cause some noise. If you are having difficulties sleeping at night, having an aquarium in your bedroom might not be a good idea.

Weight

Your aquarium can get very heavy once filled up. Check the weight chart to determine the estimated weight of an aquarium depending on the size.

WEIGHT CHART

10-gallon - 100 pounds

40 liters - 55 kilos

20-gallon - 200 pounds

75 liters - 110 kilos

55-gallon - 550 pounds

200 liters - 280 kilos

100-gallon - 1,000 pounds

380 liters - 550 kilos

125-gallon - 1,250 pounds

475 liters - 680 kilos

As you can see, you need to make sure that your floor can handle the weight of larger tanks. Contact a contractor if you are unsure if the floor can handle the weight.

AQUARIUM TYPES AND SIZES

Before buying your aquarium, consider the shape and material. With smaller aquariums, it is better to have a longer tank than a higher one.

A glass bowl is NOT an aquarium and you should not keep any living animal in one. When it comes to the material you can choose between glass and acrylic.

Glass aquariums

The glass aquariums on today’s market are the most popular of all tanks. The glass in these aquariums is either tempered or plated.

Tempered glass means it is stronger, lighter in weight, and shatters into pieces when it breaks. Plated glass is heavier and thicker but only cracks when it breaks. Some plate glass tanks can be purchased pre-drilled, with holes for equipment and hoses, allowing you to hide materials inside a normal cabinet without having to route everything on the outside of the tank. However, pre-drilled tanks can be expensive and are intended more for professional hobbyists. The frames on glass tanks are usually metal or plastic, comes in a wide variety of colors, and are glued onto the rim. Glass tanks do not scratch easily and provide good viewing.

The picture is showing a custom-made cylinder aquarium. Making this out of glass would not be impossible, but it would be way too costly and more fragile than acrylic.

The disadvantage of glass aquariums is that they can only be formed into a limited number of shapes. If you want a tank with an unusual shape, you will not find much to please you in the glass department. Glass aquariums are also heavy because the glass used in construction gets thicker as the tank gets larger, which can add up to high weights. Glass aquariums can break or shatter and leave you with a lot of dead fish and a huge mess to clean up.

Acrylic aquariums

Acrylic tanks have made a big splash in the aquarium marketplace in the last few years. These lightweight tanks are available in an amazing number of shapes and sizes such as bubble, half spheres, L-shaped, tubular, triangular, and convex.

With acrylic, the shape possibilities end only with the designer’s creativity. Acrylic aquariums are more impact-resistant than glass.

FUN FACT

Nearly all public aquariums like these are made of acrylic. Since glass is less durable and not as formable it would be unwise to use it for these purposes, although acrylic is much more expensive. If acrylic develops a fault like a crack, quite often it can be repaired in place eliminating the need for an entire new panel whereas glass mostly cannot.

It takes an exceptional blow with a blunt instrument to shatter an acrylic aquarium.

The main disadvantage with an acrylic aquarium is that glass is cheaper than acrylic. It is also easy to scratch acrylic aquariums. Be careful when cleaning with for example rough algae pads. Moving gravel around can also damage the surface.

Also pay close attention when moving or adding decorations to the aquarium. There are, however, good scratch remover kits available.

Although you have been careful when handling the tank during maintenance, it is not unlikely th at the aquarium still has a lot of scratches and notches. This picture shows an acrylic aquarium cleaned out after two years of use. As you can see there is a lot of tear and other surface damages. Luckily most can be removed with an aquarium-safe acrylic scratch remover.

TIPS AND TRICKS

Remember that both stones and driftwood can easily scratch the inside of the aquarium. To prevent this, you can either move the decoration so they are not leaning against the glass, or you can put cotton pads between the crevasses.

NANO AQUARIUMS

Nano aquariums allow you the opportunity to keep an aquarium without having too much space. They take small space and are suitable for lower budget. You have probably heard:

“It is easier keeping a bigger aquarium than a smaller one”

which is a correct statement. The reason being is that it is easier maintaining a good biological balance in a bigger amount of water rather than a small amount.

FUN FACT

Fluval is the most popular and leading company within the nano aquarium business. Combining high quality with modern design are the main features that make these aquariums great. The picture is showing a Fluval EDGE (6 gallons / 23 liters).

A nano aquarium is smaller in size and therefore harder to keep, but with the right maintenance and discipline, this will not be a problem.

Nano aquariums have some further benefits over regular ones:

BENEFITS WITH NANO AQUARIUMS

They are most often cheaper than regular aquariums.

Often sold complete with lights and sometimes even a heater.

Cheaper to maintain in the long run.

Faster and easier water changes.

Nano aquariums are the biggest gateway for new hobbyists to get into the hobby.

There are of course more advantages than listed. Many hobbyists like to include a few nano aquariums in their fish rooms. This allows them to keep species-only tanks, housing fish species that might not go so well with others. Nano aquariums are also commonly used to build quarantine tanks, used when treating sick fish or before introducing newly bought fish to the main aquarium.

Chapter II –Aquarium equipment

WHAT AQUARIUM EQUIPMENT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER GETTING?

To run a functional aquarium system and provide a healthy environment for our aquarium inhabitants, we need certain equipment. Since there are so many options nowadays, it is difficult to distinguish what equipment is essential for you. Therefore, I will list the once you need to run your aquarium properly.

All of them play an important part in the aquarium eco-system, and I will explain why.

FILTRATION

To provide a safe environment for our fish, we need to have beneficial bacteria in our aquarium. Although they live on all surfaces in the aquarium, the filter is the main area.

The reason being is that the filter withdraws uneaten foods, decaying matter, waste, and other floating particles, and as can be read in Chapter 3, the beneficial bacteria feed upon that. Different filters all have their pros and cons. I will present the most common ones and how to get the most out of them. But first, we need to understand the different filtrations in the aquarium and what they are. There are three different types of filtration:

Mechanical

Mechanical filtration removes solid wastes and debris suspended in the water by passing it over materials, such as synthetic foam or nylon fiber floss, which captures small particles like dust, feces, and other floating matter.

Biological

Biological filtration is the term for all of your beneficial bacteria. This is the most important filtration of all.

The lack of effective biological filtration is responsible for the death of more livestock than any other cause. Large filters do not necessarily mean better biological filtration. What counts is the amount of surface area on the media. The larger the total surface area of the media, the more bacteria your system and fish have to use in the fight for good water quality.

Chemical

Chemical filtration is where, usually active carbon, removes organic pollutants which the mechanical or biological filtration cannot handle.

Organic pollutants can be metabolic waste, organic acids, antibiotic compounds if medicating, proteins, and so forth.

Now that we know about the different filtrations, we can start looking at the different options for filter systems. Before we go through the different systems and which of them I will recommend, I firstly want to disadvise using undergravel filters. I do not recommend under gravel filters because they are hard to maintain; though they are placed under the gravel, plants grow roots in the filter and the filter can also cause hydrogen sulfide gas, which is highly dangerous for your aquarium inhabitants. A few more filter systems such as sumps and wet-dry filtrations are not as commonly used and are therefore excluded in this book.

Hang on back filters

The first filter I recommend is the Hang on back filter (also known as HOB filters), and it is the best filter for a nano-aquarium when it comes to how little space it takes in your tank. The hang on back filters are very common, not only because of the small space they take, but also for the excellent mechanical, chemical and biological filtration.

The filter is hanged on the back or sides of your aquarium and pulls water up through a siphon tube. The water then flows through a filter pad (mechanical filtration), next through the carbon (chemical filtration), and finally gets processed by the biological filtration. The water then flows back to the aquarium through a waterfall-like motion which helps the aeration and enriches the water with oxygen.

Sponge filters

The second filter I recommend is the Sponge filter. This is the cheapest and most basic filter you can buy for your aquarium. It is s a good filter for breeding and quarantine tanks. It is also a very safe filter for keeping shrimp. A sponge filter is powered by an air pump where water is forced to pull through the sponge.The sponge filter provides biological and mechanical filtration.

Sponge filters are easy to maintain. Clean the sponge with aquarium water in a bucket on the side on every water change. Make sure you do not clean the sponge in unconditioned tap water since this can kill the beneficial bacteria that live in it. The sponge filter is very good at aerating the water through the bubbles that the air pump produces. The biggest con with a sponge filter is that it is not the most esthetic good-looking filter. It also takes up much space inside the aquarium; however, there are sponge filters designed to fit corners perfectly which take less space.

Canister filters

The third filter I recommend, and my favorite, is the Canister filter. Canister filters are the most expensive filters on this list but provide the most filtration capacity due to their size. This unit is very popular with hobbyists and is often used in larger aquarium systems because they do such a wonderful job of keeping the water in good condition. A Canister filter is placed outside the aquarium, usually on the floor or inside the aquarium cabinet.

It is connected with two siphon tubes, intake, and outtake. Canister filters provide excellent mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration due to their size—significantly larger than a Hang on back filter.

When having a small aquarium, such as a nano-aquarium, one thing to consider is that a Canister filter is often immensely powerful and can make currents in a tank too tough for the inhabitants. They are usually meant for much bigger aquarium than a nano-aquarium. However, most can regulate the water pressure to the desired water flow.

Internal filters

The fourth and last filter I recommend is the Internal filter.

Buying an aquarium starter kit will almost always include an Internal filter. It is best and most commonly used in smaller aquariums installed with suction cups and stuck to the side of the aquarium glass. It is best to place this filter at the bottom of the aquarium, so dirt and other debris have less time to settle in the substrate. The internal filter is also easy to maintain and can provide mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration depending on the model and size.

The biggest con with having an Internal filter is that it is simply an internal filter. It takes up space in the aquarium. However, some models are designed to be placed, for example, in the corner where it takes much less space.

HEATERS AND TEMPERATURES

With water temperature, it is pretty much straight forward, keep the temperature your fish and plants demand. To do so, you need to have a water heater and a thermometer. You can either buy a digital thermometer or a more traditional thermometer. Digital thermometers are more expensive and more appealing, but they can sometimes show false measurements. A more traditional thermometer is more accurate but less appealing. There are, however, extremely tiny thermometers that can easily be hidden away.

Room temperature is the most common temperature range to keep in an aquarium, which will stay between 68-77°F (20-25°C). You might think that having a thermometer when keeping an aquarium inside your room is unnecessary, but it is not a bad idea.

When you check the thermometer during the day, it might be 77°F (25°C), but during the night, when you're sleeping, the temperature might drop to 61°F (16°C), which is below room temperature. Big temperature fluctuations cause your fish a lot of stress which can be fatal.

Keeping a heater will help to keep the temperature stable. It is also important to keep the right wattage on the heater for the size of the aquarium. If the wattage is too low, it might not heat the water enough to get the preferred temperature. If the wattage is too high, it might heat the water too much