Regional aquariums Here the trick is to reconstruct as faithfully as possible a natural biotope in which everything harmonizes: the water, the soil, the rocks, the plants, and the fish. The density of living beings is higher than that of a natural setting, however. Mounting an aquarium of this type requires a certain knowledge of […]
The community aquarium Here fish and plants not native to the same region are found side by side, creating an environment that does not exist in nature. The results may be charming and ingenious, but this type of aquarium is often disparaged by purists. A community aquarium is often a popular choice with beginners creating […]
TEMPERATE WATER AQUARIUMS These are not heated, and ideally the water temperature should vary to the same extent that it does in nature (from 5 to 25 C, approximately). This is difficult, as room temperature barely falls below 15 C and is often over 18 C. Apart from this difference, the underlying principle is the […]
DIFFERENT TYPES OF AQUARIUM An aquarium is not just a motley collection of plants and fish. Some aquarists aim to reconstruct the biotope of a specific geographical region (Central America, the Amazon, Asia, Africa), while others concentrate on a single group of fish (for example, livebearers, Cichlids, or marine fish). Whatever the option, an aquarium […]
Making sea water for storage and back-up The method is the same, except that plastic food containers are generally used. The quantity of salt can be multiplied by three or four to manufacture concentrated water that will therefore occupy less storage space. Adjusting the density The density is too high Part of the […]
The reconstitution of artificial sea water The quality of the fresh water used is important: it must be as pure as possible. It is best to use water with a hardness of less than 8.4, although reconstitution is still possible with higher levels, providing the CH is equal to at least 75-80% of the general […]
WATER, A HAVEN FOR LIFE TURBIDITY Clarity is more important in sea water than in fresh water. Tropical environments in particular contain very few dissolved solids and they are the most transparent waters on the planet. A marine aquarium must therefore be filtered more efficiently and to a greater extent than a freshwater tank (see […]
FINDING OUT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL WATER The European Union has set compulsory standards for drinking and environmental quality, but the strict legislation in the UK goes well beyond these. In England and Wales, for example, domestic water is monitored by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, which regularly checks up on the practices of the water […]
THE NITROGEN CYCLE This occurs in the same way in sea water and fresh water. In a marine aquarium the vegetation is often less abundant than in fresh water, and so the nitrates, the end products of the nitrogen cycle, will have a tendency to accumulate. At high doses these pose little danger to fish […]
MEASURING DENSITY Density is measured with a hydrometer, whose buoyancy increases as the water gets saltier. In the aquarium trade, most hydrometers also include a thermometer. The specific gravity at water level must be read with care; in fact, it is preferable to use the hydrometer outside the aquarium, as the movement of the water […]