Advice for the first time aquarist

    Table of contents
    [MISSING: System.API.no-headers]

    Version as of 06:37, 22 Dec 2024

    to this version.

    Return to Version archive.

    View current version

    Aquatics have become a massive and popular industry since polythene bags came into existence the hobby has gone from strength to strength.More knowledge is now known in all areas, water quality being the most important as the water in the pond or aquarium is the complete envoirnment for the inhabitants and their well being depends on providing the correct parameters. As in all industries new and exciting products are being constantly developed the seneye is a prime example of this innovation.

    It should also be remembered that we tend to look inside an aquarium and dont consider that some of the inhabitants could be as different to each other as a mouse is to an elephant.
     
    All coldwater fish that are sold through the aquatic trade will come from breeders and shippers, the majority of  freshwater tropical fish are now also tank bred mainly from Asia and very few species will resemble the original wild caught fish used initially to develop these varieties.
     
    The majority of coral fishes are still wild caught, however recently a good number of species have been tank bred, clown fish are a typical favourite and have for a number of years been bred by hobbyists and commercial breeders, the development of new mutations at higher prices have allowed more to concentrate and develop new techniques. Coral fragging, the propogation of corals is also becoming much more wide spread where a few polyps are removed from the mother colony, attached to small discs and allowed to grow and spread.
     
    Brackish fish are the fish that thrive in a lower salt content than normal salt water fish, scats, monos are perfect examples, however they will adapt to live in either a full salt water or fresh water envoirnment. Mollies are another fish that adapts to either salt water of freshwater.

    Marine fish have to balance the salt content in their tissues with the much higher salt content in their envoirment,the kidneys produce a dilute urine that gets rid of the excessive salt, freshwater fish have to get rid of the large quantities of water which they take in meaning they are constantly having to produce urine.
     
    The amount of dissolved oxygen in a pond or aquarium can be depleted by a number of factors such as a considerable  increase in temperature which also speeds up metabolism, an algal bloom, dead rotting plants can effect the pH and can as any rotting matter cause ammonia readings. Using the seneye provides constant monitoring  of these vital parameters.

    Fish need oxygen just as we do,the amount of dissolved oxygen in water is far less than on the surface,so fish have to work harder to extract the oxygen that they need,using a highly efficient pump action involving the mouth and gill plate,called the operculum.
    When the fish opens its mouth the operculum closes, which draws water in. When the mouth is closed the operculum opens and fresh water flows across the gills. As the water flows through the gills the dissolved oxygen passes into the blood circulating through the gill filaments. The carbon dioxide in the blood stream then passes out back into the water. The incomming water is filtered through the gill rakers that act as a sieve, taking out any solid particles