Setting up a tropical aquarium

28 Pages·2008·3.79 MB·English

Setting up a
tropical
aquarium
Approved by
For more information: www.tetra.net For more information: www.tetra.net
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Contents
A well cared for aquarium Planning
your aquarium 4-5
provides the perfect focal point
Choosing
to any room, as well as being
your aquarium 6-7
both fascinating and relaxing. Aquarium
equipment 8-11
With Tetra´s range of high quality
Decorating the
and simple-to-use products, it has
aquarium 12-15
never been easier to create an attractive underwater
Getting started 16-17
display.
Stocking your
new aquarium 18-19
For more than 50 years Tetra has been the global
Choosing and
leader for aquarium products, committed to making introducing fish 20-21
aquarium ownership easy and enjoyable through Types of fish 22-25
Feeding your fish 26-27
continual innovation and unrivalled customer support.
Every Tetra product has been subject to rigorous
testing by our independently accredited Research &
Development laboratories - the largest of their kind in
the world, to ensure they keep your fish and aquarium
in top condition.
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Planning your aquarium
Before purchasing your aquarium, it is important to think about what you want
from it, and where you are going to place it. Taking a few moments to do this will
avoid problems later on, and make setting up your new aquarium easier.
Types of aquarium
Before going ahead and choosing an Size
aquarium, it is a good idea to think The size of the aquarium will not
about what sort of fish you want only determine how many fish
to keep. There are hundreds, if not you can keep, but also how easy
thousands, of tropical fish to choose the aquarium is to care for.
from, many of which require special
Perhaps surprisingly, larger
care and attention. For these more
aquariums are generally easier
demanding species, a particular
to keep balanced and healthy.
aquarium set-up may be required.
This is because their larger
Therefore, if there are specific fish
volume of water is less prone
you want to keep, you should check
to sudden changes in water
their requirements with your aquatics
temperature and chemistry.
outlet before going ahead.
A larger aquarium also allows
Most aquarium owners will opt for a
you to select a better choice
community aquarium. This will contain
of fish, and to create a more
a good mixture of different fish, all
impressive display. As a rough
of which live happily together, and
guide, tropical fish require 1 litre
which do not require special care or
of water for every 1cm of fish
equipment. A community aquarium
length. This refers to the final
may contain live plants or artificial
adult size of the fish, and not the
ones, and can be decorated in many
size they are when purchased.
different ways. This flexibility, and the
fact they are easier to care for, makes
For example, a 60 litre aquarium
a community set-up the best choice
can ultimately hold 60cm of fish.
for first-time aquarium owners.
However, taking into account
the final size of the fish, this may

equate to 20-30cm when they are
first added. Your aquatics outlet
can advise you on the eventual
size of the fish you want to keep.
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Position
As well as providing a focal point to • Easily accessible, to allow for any
the room, you want your aquarium maintenance.
to be in a position that is ideal for
• Out of direct sunlight, to prevent
healthy fish and plants, and good
algae growing.
water clarity. A filled aquarium is
• Well supported, to take
heavy, so thinking about its position
the weight of the aquarium
now will avoid you having to move it
(a litre of water weighs
in the future. An ideal position would
approximately 1kg).
be:
• Near to an electric supply
• In a reasonably quiet area, away to plug in equipment, but far
from sudden bangs (e.g. not next enough away to avoid any
to a door). danger of splashing.
• Away from areas of very high
activity.
• Away from sources of heat or
cold (e.g. radiators).
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Choosing your aquarium
Having planned for your aquarium, 1 The innovative Tetra EasyCrystal
you can now discuss your filter is simple to use, and keeps
requirements with your aquatics water healthy and crystal clear.
outlet. They will be able to show you
2 The Tetra EasyCrystal filter is
some suitable options to choose from.
easy to clean and maintain, with
An important decision is whether a 'one-touch' system for easily
to buy the aquarium and equipment replacing the filter cartridge
separately, or as a complete kit. without getting your hands wet.
Modern aquariums usually come with
3 Large, user-friendly openings in
the equipment included, which makes
the hood for feeding and easy
buying them easier. However, if you
access to equipment.
want a particularly large aquarium, or
a more unusual design, you may need
4 Modern design based on
to buy it separately. Your aquatics
exclusive Tetra research:
outlet can advise you on exactly what
• Innovative features
is required.
• High quality materials
Tetra AquaArt Aquariums
• Silver colour to suit any décor
Tetra AquaArt aquariums have
• Awarded international
been designed to make aquarium
IF Design award
ownership easy. As well as their
modern, stylish design, every detail
has been carefully considered for
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ease-of-use and healthy, clear water.
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5 Completely safe to set up and use
thanks to excellent manufacturing 8
and high-quality equipment.
6 The filter can be positioned easily
in a number of different places,
thanks to customised support
slots.
7 High quality glass aquarium:
• Distortionless float glass with
smoothed edges, for better
viewing
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• Stable hood with durable
fluorescent tube, ideal for
encouraging healthy plant
growth
8 Complete with all equipment,
set-up instructions, and Tetra food
and care products.
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Aquarium equipment
Whether they come separately or as part of the aquarium, there are some
important items of equipment that are essential for a healthy, attractive
aquarium.
Filter ‘biological filtration’, or ‘nitrification’,
and is central to good water quality.
Like all animals, fish produce a certain
amount of waste. It is the filter’s job to
There are two types of filter to choose
process this waste, removing it from
from – ‘internal’ or ‘external’. Internal
the main aquarium and making it safe
filters, such as the TetraTec INplus
for the fish. There are two types of
or TetraTec EasyCrystal fit inside the
waste that are important to the health
aquarium and contain media which
of the aquarium:
carries out combined mechanical and
biological filtration.
1 Solid waste is mostly undigested
or uneaten food. If allowed to
External filters, such as the
accumulate it will cause the water
TetraTec EX, sit outside the aquarium,
to become murky, and reduce the
and contain different types of media,
quality of the environment.
including separate ones for biological
and mechanical filtration. Because
2 Dissolved waste is primarily
they contain a larger volume of media,
excreted by fish across their gills,
as well as different types, the quality
and if not removed will accumulate
of filtration is better with an external
rapidly to dangerous levels. The
filter, and they tend to need less
most important dissolved waste is
maintenance.
ammonia.
For a small to medium sized
A good quality filter, such as those
community aquarium, with a sensible
in the TetraTec range, passes water
stock of fish, an internal filter will
through special media which removes
provide good filtration. For aquariums
both solid and dissolved wastes. They
that are larger, more heavily stocked,
therefore make the water safe for
or if you want to reduce the amount
fish, and are absolutely essential for a
of maintenance required, an external
healthy aquarium.
filter may be a better option. Your
Solid waste is removed by physical aquatics outlet can provide you with
straining (‘mechanical filtration’), further guidance to help you decide.
whilst the removal of dissolved waste
depends on naturally occurring filter
bacteria. These colonise the filter
and turn ammonia into nitrite, and
then into nitrate. This is known as
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TetraTec INplus
• Powerful and easy-to-use
internal filters.
• Two filter chambers to
minimise loss of bacteria during
replacement and cleaning.
• Filter chamber can be
removed for cleaning
without taking filter out of
aquarium.
• Flow adjuster allows
regulation of flow rate.
• Venturi system increases
oxygen content of water.
• UV/GS tested, CE certified
– safe and reliable.
TetraTec EX
• Powerful and quiet external
filters, for the ultimate in
filtration.
• Easy to assemble and
access for maintenance.
• Supplied with all media.
• Filter start button makes
starting filter simple and
straightforward.
• Snap valve stops water flow
for cleaning purposes, and
prevents water leaking out.
• TUV/GS tested, CE certified
– safe and reliable.
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Heater Light
Most tropical fish require a A light/dark cycle is a natural part
temperature of 24-27°C to remain of fishes’ lives, and live aquarium
healthy. If it falls below this, they plants rely on good lighting to drive
will quickly become unwell. Modern photosynthesis – the process by
aquarium heaters, such as the which they convert carbon dioxide
TetraTec HT, have built-thermostats, and water into simple sugars.
to regulate the temperature of the
Ambient light levels are not sufficient
water. This means all you have to do
to support these processes, and so
is set the dial to the temperature you
you will need a proper aquarium
want, and let the heater do the rest.
light unit. These are designed to
Your aquatics outlet can help you
emit the correct spectrum of light
select the right size of heater, or you
for encouraging plant growth, and to
can follow the on-pack instructions.
bring out the natural colours of the
It is well worth using an aquarium fish. In addition, they will not become
thermometer to monitor the excessively hot, which is important as
temperature of the water. This should they need to be on for around 10-12
be placed at the other end of the hours a day.
aquarium from the heater, to ensure
heat is being evenly distributed. Light units can be bought separately
In large aquariums, or in very cold and installed into most aquarium
rooms, it may be better to have two lids, or they may come as part of
heaters instead of one large one. the aquarium kit. Tetra AquaArt
aquariums come with a built-in
light unit, specially designed for
TetraTec HT aquarium heaters
encouraging good plant growth.
• Reliable, high-performance
heaters for a range of aquarium
Air pump
sizes.
Air pumps, such as the TetraTec APS,
• Electronic regulator and
are designed to deliver a constant
safety shut off for top reliability
and safety. flow of air into the aquarium, to
increase oxygen levels. In addition
• Temperature-setting dial for
easily adjusting the desired they can be used to power air-driven
water temperature, to an ornaments.
accuracy of 0.5°C.
Although adding an air pump is
• Extra-long cable for ease of
installation. always beneficial, it is not necessarily
essential if you have a good filter. This
• Extra thick shock and heat-
resistant borosilicate glass. is because the flow produced by the
filter can be used to aerate the water.
• TUV/GS tested – safe and
In filters such as the TetraTec INplus
reliable.
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