HOW TO SET UP/SIT AN AQUARIUM

                  HOW TO SET UP AN AQUARIUM PART 1

The modern all  glass tank consists of five pieces of glass, four sides and bottom. They are held together with a silicone sealant which is inert and more pliable than old-style aquarium cement.

     Although an all-glass tank is simple to build, it is recommended that the beginning aquarist buy a ready model. By doing so, he is guaranteed that standard accessories will fit and that the tank will not leak.

     Tanks come in two basic styles: high and low. The high tank (fig 1)

Fig 1;A high Aquarium constructed by Mr Fish

has a greater vertical height but a reduced surface area, whereas the low tank is the opposite, it has a low vertical profile and greater surface area (fig 2)

Fig 2;A low Tank constructed by Mr Fish for a Celebrity in 1990

. The low is the better of the two because surface area is much more important than height (or water depth).

SITTING:  Do not set up the aquarium at the  front or back of a window in direct sunlight, if you disobey this instruction,  heavy growths of algae will occur.

             It is best to locate the Aquarium at right angles to the window so as to get the benefit of some natural light and thus save the need for continuos artificial illumination. Neither should the aquarium be placed in a cold draft such as in a hall way entrance.

     Warm air is just as harmful and the tank should be at a good distance from the nearest heat source. The room should be of nearly constant temperature year round and the tank should not be placed on or near a source of vibration like a big home theatre musical console.

            It should be a room frequented by people or better still   a much bigger room like a Restaurant, Eatery,  Hospital, or Office Reception, otherwise the fish will develop sensitivity to any movement outside the tank and will hide when you come near.

 

AQUARIUMS TYPES

METAL FRAMEWORK

 Most of the old-style aquariums are made with, sheets of glass which are held in a metal framework. This is usually cut of pieces of angle iron or stainless steel which are welded together at the corners.  Leakages between the glass and metal is prevented by putty aquarium cement, acrylic or silicon sealant.

Mr Fish standing by a Marine Aquarium in Singapore

 BATTERY JARS: Also known as fish bowls: This type of aquarium is used for emergency purposes, but is not to be recommended as a permanent feature. The glasses are cast in one piece and a crack, however small, may suddenly expand and cause a flood. This not only results in a loss of fishes but also necessitates the buying of a new tank as it is impossible to repair the old one.

     Moreover, when looking through the walls of these types of aquarium, there is distortion, which adversely affects ones view of the fishes.

PLASTICS: With the ever-expanding applications of plastics, it is not surprising that these synthetic products  have been used to replace glass for aquarium Plastics have the advantage of being unbreakable, but are soft enough for the surface to become scratched.

 

VITROLITE: This glass-like material is available in many different colours and some very pleasing effects can be obtained by applying it to the sides to back up the aquarium. Moreover, being opaque “vitrolite” will hide the wall and any unsightly wires or other apparatus behind the aquarium.

Wood aquarium frameworks with wood are desirable mainly for aesthetic reasons. The wooden framework however, will have to be constructed from plywood to prevent warping.

The advantage of the wood lies in the fact that it can be polished covered with upholstered rug stained or coated with colours to harmonize with the furnishing of the room.   

 

 



Gold Fish in an Aquarium Constructed by Mr Fish.

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT AQUARIUM

A GREAT advantage of aquarium lies in its economy of space. With 60 or 90cm (2 or 3 cubic feet) one can keep 30 to 60 fishes. This means that even the smallest room can accommodate this most fascinating  hobby.

There are no restrictions on ownership of aquariums such as apply in some blocks of flats, where dogs and other animals are prohibited on grounds of noise. Nobody is likely to complain of the aquarist, with his tank of silently swimming fishes.

     WHAT DOES IT COST? This is a fundamental question asked by everyone who wishes to keep an aquarium. Fortunately, there are many sizes and shapes to  chose from, the prices of which vary to suit every purse.

                 Maintenance is low. If properly kept all that is necessary is occasional scraping of the front glass and perhaps shiponing away small amount of sediment and topping up with water. 

     The skilful aquarist can organize the feeding so that it costs practically nothing  and with experience it is possible to breed certain fish whose sale not only will he recover the expenditure on the aquarium but may even show a profit. The aquarist will soon find that his hobby is helping him to makes a widening circle of friends whose

Interest coincide with his own. His enthusiasm will inspire other people to follow his example and become aquarist            Moreover, I must not forget to mention the existence of fish clubs like the Nigeria Aquarist Society. Here, new comers  are welcomed .For a very moderate subscription a member can attend periodic meetings, join in discussions, see films, and hear talks on all aspects of his hobby.

     The club organises shows and perhaps the aquarist will win a coveted prize. The club brings him in touch with those who are more experienced fish-keepers than himself.   This gives him the opportunities of gaining valuable information. In this exchange of knowledge lies one of the supreme satisfactions of the aquarist.     

 

AQUARIUM TANK

Aquarium Care

VISIT: www.mrfishmart.com

Once an illuminated aquarium is installed, it becomes the focal point of the room. You will probably find that you actually spend a lot of your time just looking at your fish. It is usually fascinating to watch the brilliantly coloured exotic fishes weaving in and out among the rocks and aquatic plants.

There is something intriguing in this LIVING PICTURE which gives a glimpse of the mysteries of the underwater world and brings nature right into the home.

                        As an expression of individuality, the arrangement of a tank normally gives the aquarist ample opportunities for personal artistic expression, hence no two aquariums are likely to be identical. The same situation holds for fishes. While some prefers to keep fish of one species only, others like diversity, and their tanks may harbor fishes from many parts of the world.

     As an aid to education, possession of an aquarium affords the owner the opportunity to study habits of fishes and their method of breeding. Some fishes give birth to live young ones;

 It provides the owner the opportunity to study habits of fishes and their method of breeding. Some fishes give birth to live young ones; others produce eggs. The aquarist who keeps these species will sooner or later have the opportunity of seeing the birth of these species. With the aid of a small breeding tank he can watch the spawning, hatching and development of egg layers.

     Strange  as it may seem, fishes soon learn to recognize their owner and treat him as a friend, coming fearlessly to his hand at feeding time.

           

            In some from hospitals, particularly those for children, fish tank in the wards have proved to be most beneficial as they create an interest and help to take the mind off pain.

INTRODUCTION TO FISH KEEPING

                                   INTRODUCTION

 

The real aquarist - only a small percentage of the total number practice their hobby in a scientifically more appropriate  way. They try to imitate as closely as possible in their tanks, the natural environment of a certain fish species by the composition of the water and by the planting, lighting and temperature, so that the fish can live there under optimum conditions and ultimately propagate.

 

These series of articles are designed to provide general information on this matter as well as detailed information on the keeping of tropical fresh water fishes. It will also include notes on some basic areas like nutrition, hygiene, disease, and rearing of these fishes.

 

In addition, helpful hint will be given to the advanced aquarists interested in the salt water aquariums even though it is a relatively new branch of the hobby.

 

 

 

 

 

The modern interest in aquariums began in Europe in the nine-teenth century. It was then that the first public aquariums were established, including the very popular ones in Paris and London.

 

The remarkable increase in the number of aquarist (The general term for those who keep fish) shows the growing popularity of a hobby which transcends national frontiers and provides a common interest among men and women all over the world.

 

In Nigeria, the first aquarium shop seems to have been established in the early sixties by Apostle Dr. Lukosi of Aquarists International Limited. Since then other aquarium establishment have been set up but the rate have not been enough to satisfy the growing popularity of the hobby.

 

This unfortunate situation is further compounded by lack of detail information on care and maintenance of the tank and it’s occupants.

 

Most aquarium owners, they cannot be called real hobbyist - will put together a heterogeneous collection of fishes which came originally from totally different biotopes, and which must adapt themselves to what is often an unsuitable environment.

 

The real aquarist - only a small percentage of the total number practice their hobby in a scientifically more responsible way. They try to imitate as closely as possible in their tanks, the natural environment of  certain fish species by the composition of the water and by the planting, lighting and temperature, so that the fish can live there under optimum conditions and ultimately propagate.

 

These series of articles are designed to provide general information on this matter as well as detailed information on the keeping of tropical fresh water fishes. It will also include notes on some basic matters like nutrition, hygiene, diseases, breeding and rearing of these fishes.

 

In addition, helpful hint will be given to the advanced aquarists interested in the salt water aquariums even though it is a relatively new branch of the hobby.

 

 

 

< After having been involved as a major catalyst in the catfish revolution in Nigeria since 1996 pioneering, innovating and mentoring many successful farmers leading to the registered nickname - MR. FISH, Israel Adediran is set to make Nigerians and Expatriates alike partake in the Education, thrill and wellness benefits involved in the 2nd most popular hobby in the world Tropical Fish keeping ( world’s No 1 is photography) enjoyed all over the world especially in developed countries through the care of ornamental fishes and live aquatic plants in Aquarium tanks and Garden ponds. It has yet to find a place in the hearts of Nigerians partly because there is no one yet giving the people access to simplified technical information is easily understandable knowledge which is the key that unleashes the passion involved in any hobby. Mr. Fish who hold’s a Masters Degree in Zoology (specializing in fisheries) from the University of Lagos, is set to expose the simplicity of the hobby by endearing the young and old to this absolutely rewarding lifestyle through the concept of building Scientific aquariums. A 3ft Natural system Aquarium stocked with live plants built Mr. Fish 08037189694 Email: catfish192001@yahoo.com Mrfishworld.com