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Fish for Your Aquarium
Some Fish Need Schools and Some Schools Need Fish
An aquarium at school -- what a wonderful idea, and it can inspire the students to learn skills of observation bringing them closer to nature.
While an aquarium in a school needs to beautifully equipped, it should also require a minimum of care.
After this aquarium has been set up for a while, you will find a suitable group of students who will enjoy caring for it, under proper supervision of course. They need to be able to have access to the aquarium without obstruction while unauthorized people can be kept away from the tank.
In addition sufficient electric and water supplies need to be easily available to them, along with the basics of care for the aquarium.
The biggest advantage to an aquarium at school is the possibilities of observation to the students.
Fish that breed easily can give the students the opportunity to observe the courtship and care of the young for fish like the dwarf cichlids. Several types of fish work well in a community tank that are live breeders.
Class outings can supply an endless opportunity for observation in smaller tanks. These tanks can be used on a seasonal basis for observation of other animals including frogs (development of tadpoles), sticklebacks (courtship, laying of eggs and care of the brood), and newts (courtship, pairing, laying of eggs). These are all animals that can be watched during the spring; of course these need to be returned to the water where they were first found after they have grown.
For other seasons, the mouthbrooding cichlid or dwarf gourami are well suited for behavioral studies in school, as they willingly spawn all year long.
Since these species do not normally eat their young they are a wonderful tool of observations for courtship, pairing, and care of the young.
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Aquariums
This situation only occurs in aquariums with an abundance of plants and ones that are overstocked with fish.
A well-balanced aquarium can be maintained without aeration, at least during the day; and fertilization with carbon dioxide should only be done during the day, when photosynthesis can be used by the plants to absorb this excess.
With an aquarium that is lacking in sufficient plants or crowded tanks, an aerator can save the lives of the fish!
However, by using a filter that creates an adequate overturn of water, we can again avoid the aerator.
In most instances, a filter will be sufficient and preferable to an aerator.
Another positive effect of water turnover is that there are no warm areas in your tank. In some aquariums, the surface of the water is several degrees warmer than the water in the bottom. This temperature change is not healthy for either the fish or the plants.
Aerators can be best used for preparing fish to breed or when raising young. A good filter will eliminate the need for an aerator. |
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More articles:
About Saltwater Aquariums - Reef Tanks
Cheap Scapes: Tips for Budget Aquascaping
Re: Questions about Reestablishing a Tank
Equipment for your Tropical Aquarium
Aquariums For Salt and Fresh Water Fish
Start with cleaning the glass; this allows you to siphon off and algae that is removed from the glass.
Next, begin siphoning off the water. Use a hose and, at the same time using the hose like a vacuum, siphon off the surface debris. With a minimum of care, this can be done with the fish and plants still in the tank. All electrical appliances should be unplugged before you begin this process to avoid electrocution of yourself!
Siphoning can be accomplished by placing one end of the hose in the aquarium and the other end lower in a bucket; you can start the siphon in two ways. Either suck strongly on it to start the flow, or submerge the hose in the tank until it is completely filled with water, then hold your finger over the end until you put it in the lower bucket.
While sucking on it may be the easiest way, it may take a few times before you learn this method without getting a mouthful of water!
Related Topics: A Miniature Aquarium ,
Aquatic Plants for Your Aquarium , Reestablishing an Aquarium
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