FABRICATION, SETUP AND

MAINTENANCE OF AN AQUARIUM

BY POORVA GANGA - 2340531

&
DHANYATA V - 2340507
 INTRODUCTION

Ornamental fish tank is otherwise called an aquarium. An

aquarium is a set up in which ornamental fishes of
aesthetic value are displayed for recreation.

Shape of aquarium tanks: Aquarium can be made of materials like glass, concrete,
The shape of the aquarium wood, fiberglass acrylic sheet etc., depending on its
tank may be circular, location, cost and durability.
square, rectangular, oval,
hexagonal or octagonal.
Glass tank:
However, rectangular
They are either all glass tanks or metal framed ones. In the
tanks are preferred as
metal (steel or iron) framed tanks glass panels are held in
they provide sufficient
area for free swimming of place with putty (battery compound). On the other hand in
the fishes. all glass tanks, glass walls are fitted together edge-to-
edge using silicone rubber adhesive. Nowadays, all-glass
tanks have completely vanished due to the popularity of
metal-framed tanks, which are known for their slim
appearance and suitability for keeping marine fishes also.
 CONSTRUCTION
These are constructed with only glass sheets. Rectangular glass tanks are made with
a glass wall thickness of 5 – 10 mm. In all glass tanks, the cut glass walls are fitted
together with synthetic rubbery sealent called silicone gum. Prior to fabrication of
the tank, sidewalls of the tank are arranged so as to have the desired shape. The glass
walls are tied with a rope in order to keep the correct shape of the tank. Then the
bottom sheet of the tank is kept flat below the arranged sidewalls so as to get the
desired and correct shape of the tank.

Care must be taken to see that the joining ends of the glass pieces are free of oil, moisture or
stains. A good sealent compound binds the glass walls in 10 to 20 minutes. However, a curing
time of about 10 hrs is required to keep the set tank in position and water should be poured
only after 24 hours.
SETTING UP
i) Fitting an under gravel filter
The purpose of the filter is to remove dirty materials from the aquarium. Under gravel filters
are otherwise called as biological filters. Toxic substances like ammonia and nitrite are
converted to relatively harmless substances like nitrate by the beneficial bacteria developed
on the gravel added in the biological filter.

ii) Adding the gravels

Gravels with a particle size of 3-5 mm are used to allow good water circulation and to enable
the plants to root.

iii) Installing the air pump

Air pump is installed to operate biological filter for airlifting and aeration.
 iv) Adding rocks
Suitable rocks are firmly laid down on the
gravel. The rocks are grouped for creating
natural look. Several rock pieces can be
stuck together with silicon gel to make a
cave like structure, which is essential for
maintaining cichlid fishes. ii) Putting the cover glass into position
Cover glass or plastic sheet are used to cover the top.
This type has cutouts for cables and for feeding
v) Filling the tank
access.
Tank can be filled with water through hose
pipe directed over a rock in order to avoid viii) Fitting the electrical wiring
displacement of gravels. Electrical wiring with respect to light and filters are
properly connected.
I
vi) Keeping plants
x) Setting up the hood and lighting
Tall plants are kept at the back and sides. The This is the last stage before introducing the fishes.
corners are filled with short species. The Fluorescent tubes are used which is fitted inside the
roots are buried in the gravel. hood. The hood may be made of metal, wood or
fiberglass sheets.

x) Adding the fishes

Companionable and compatible fishes are introduced
in order to avoid fighting between the fishes.
Surface area of the tanks is
taken into consideration for
calculating stocking
density.
Tropical freshwater species
For 1 cm length of fish,
30cm2 surface area is
required.
Freshwater (Cold water)
species
For 1 cm length of fish,
75cm2 area is required.
Here's a video to help you understand it in a better
way :

SETTING UP
 MAINTAINANCE OF
AN AQUARIUM
Regulating the water in your freshwater aquarium is the most
important role in maintaining the health of your marine life. Without
proper maintenance, fish can become anxious, irritable, and
unhealthy.

These conditions will shorten the lives of your fish and create water
that is neither suitable for life nor pleasant to look at.
You should change about 15 to 25% of your aquarium’s water every one to two weeks.
When you change your aquarium’s water, you should clean the rest of the tank as
well.
The percentage of water and frequency of water changes depend on the volume of
fish and plant life in your tank. A heavily stocked tank will need a larger volume of
water changed more frequently, and a lightly stocked tank can be changed slightly
less.
Changing the water in your tank is the most important maintenance you can perform
on your aquarium, so following a regular schedule will greatly benefit the health and
quality of life of your marine life.
YOU CAN KEEP YOUR TANK’S WATER CLEAN BY PERFORMING THESE
SIMPLE TASKS EVERY DAY:
1. ENSURE ALL PUMPS, FILTERS, AND LIGHTS ARE WORKING PROPERLY.
2. OBSERVE FISH FOR NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS. IF ANY SIDE EFFECTS ARE EVIDENT,
TEST THE WATER IMMEDIATELY. IF THE WATER IS FINE BUT THE FISH REMAIN ILL,
CHECK THE FILTERS AND PUMPS FOR ANY MALFUNCTIONS.
3 .REMOVE EXCESS FOOD FROM THE TANK
4 .TOP OFF THE TANK WITH TREATED WATER
5 .CHECK THE WATER’S TEMPERATURE. MOST FRESHWATER TANKS SHOULD REMAIN
BETWEEN 75° AND 80° FAHRENHEIT. HOWEVER, SOME FISH REQUIRE DIFFERENT
TEMPERATURE RANGES. ENSURE THAT THE TEMPERATURE OF YOUR TANK IS
SUITABLE FOR ALL OF YOUR MARINE LIFE
 What equipment do I need to clean a fish tank?
While you do not need an abundance of specialized equipment for a simple home
aquarium, these tools will make maintenance simpler, quicker, and more
effective.

Gravel vacuum
Algae scrubber
Filter brush
Acrylic-safe cleaner
Scissors (if your tank contains plant life)
Aquarium fertilizer (if your tank contains plant life)
 STEPS TO DEEP CLEAN A FISH TANK
Wash your hands and entire forearm.
Unplug all filters and lights. Close any open valves if you have a sump pump.
Remove 15 to 25% of your tank’s water. Do not remove more than this amount of water, as it will interrupt the biological filtration inside
your tank.
Remove non-living decor and gently rinse and scrub with hot water.
NOTE: When rinsing items in your tank, do not use unfiltered tap water. The chlorine in city-treated water will kill good bacteria on your
items and cause disturbances to your aquarium’s ecosystem. Using reverse osmosis water will effectively rinse your aquarium
accessories while not disrupting good bacteria.
Scrub the inside glass with an algae scraper. Then use an acrylic-safe glass cleaner and scrub the inside glass.
Vacuum the tank’s gravel. Good bacteria live in the tiny crevices between pieces of gravel, so a gravel vacuum will only pick up a small
percentage of them. As a result, gravel vacuums will not compromise the biological filtration inside the aquarium.
Remove filter media and lightly rinse it. Cleaning your media too well will remove beneficial bacteria from your tank. When your filter
media needs to be replaced, never replace more than one-third of your filters at once.
Place your decor back in the tank. Replace the percentage of water you took out of the tank with treated water. You can learn about the
benefits of using reverse osmosis water in your aquarium on our blog.
Open any valves you closed before cleaning. Pour water into the base of your filter to prime it.
Plug in all tank accessories and filters. Ensure all equipment is working properly.
THANK YOU!