INTRODUCTION TO

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INTRODUCTION TO
FISH AND FISH CARE
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SALTWATER FISH

• Salt is needed for them to survive. Salt must be
  added to the aquarium when setting up or cleaning
  is done to the tank.

Saltwater fish are more difficult to keep then
freshwater but nowadays hobbyists are having
great success.
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Saltwater Basics

• Salt is measured in specific gravity with a
  hydrometer 1.020 to 1.025 ppm is required for
  proper tank salt balance. Specific gravity over
  1.025 is reduced by a partial water change. A
  gravity too low is raised by adding salt to the
  water.

• PH or alkalinity of Saltwater is higher then
  freshwater and even more important 8.1 8.4.
  Buffering chemicals are sometimes needed to
  adjust this.

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Saltwater Invertebrates

• These saltwater animals have no spine and require
  particularly good water conditions and lighting.
• Many of them filter feed which means they suck in
  the water around them and filter out the
  nutrients. They also use lighting to help digest
  and grow.
• We have a wide selection of additives and foods
  for all invertebrates and corals.
• Some fish eat corals so use extreme caution when
  recommending these items.

Supplements to help feed corals and other
invertebrates
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Saltwater Fish Choices

• Just as in freshwater some saltwater fish are
  aggressive and passive.
• Do you know which are aggressive or passive?

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Aquarium Filter Basics

• We sell mainly three kinds of filters
• Outside, Canister, and Undergravel filters
• Following is a brief description of each and the
  importance of having them.

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Outside Filter
Comes complete and ready to fill and plug
in. Takes water out of tank and filters it thru
cartridges and back into tank. These cartridges
should be changed every 4-8 weeks. Normal
cleaning of plastic intake tubes and unit should
be performed on a regular basis. Operation and
use will be given by instructor.
Cartridge should be replaced every 4-8 weeks.
Rinsing can be done weekly.
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CANISTER FILTERS

• Water flows into filter
• Filter usually has 3 chambers
• sponge, chemical, ceramic chip
• Chemical is usually charcoal or zeolite and
  should be replaced every 4-8 weeks
• Filter sits under tank out of sight
• Very quiet

Ceramic biological, Never change
Charcoal or zeolite removes color and odor Change
every 4-8 weeks
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UNDERGRAVEL FILTER

• Plate sits under 2 of gravel
• All debris is pulled under plate
• Filter is run by power head or air pump

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Other Accessories
Extra filtration usually used in saltwater
aquariums. Uses the force of tiny bubbles to
take out unwanted nutrients and proteins. These
items attach themselves to the bubbles and foam
to the top of the filter into a cup.

• Heaters and thermometer
• Protein Skimmer
• Airstones \ Decorations

Usually set to about 78 degrees Different watts
for larger tanks Customers Do not plug new
heaters in for 30 minutes after you place them in
water. Glass tube must have time to acclimate to
tank temperature or it will crack.
Airstones add beauty and oxygen to lower levels
of the aquarium. Recommend if customer has a deep
tank.
Air Valve makes it easy to distribute air evenly
to all tank asseccories.
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Pulling it all together-Freshwater Basics

• Choose the largest aquarium
• Choose gravel just a ¼ for the bottom
  (Undergravel filters need about 2). A thick
  gravel bed will cause ammonia problems.
• Fill with water tap water, well water or any
  other you still need to use a dechlorinator such
  as Prime or Stress Coat. Any water changes a
  dechlorinator must be used.
• Set up your filter and get it running.
• Set your heater to the desired temperature and
  place your heater in but dont plug it in for 30
  minutes
• Add some good bacteria to help age the tank such
  as Bio Spira or Cycle
• Let tank run for 1 to 2 days and add in 2 or 3
  starter fish.
• See how these do for a week and slowly add a
  couple more.

A new aquarium needs patience and time to
establish itself. A new freshwater tank takes
45-60 days before it cycles through. A saltwater
tank can tank up to 8 weeks.
Bio Spira and Cycle will help introduce new
beneficial bacteria to a new tank. If no
bacteria is used the new tank may become cloudy a
few days after set up.
1/2 -1 pound of gravel per gallon of aquarium
with outside or canister filter.
Make certain you have all the filter media you
need to get it running!
Let heater stay unplugged to 30 minutes anytime
it has been removed from water and placed back in.
These are two excellent dechlorinators.
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Saltwater Basic Setup
When adding water you must also add salt.
Measure the specific gravity using a hydrometer
1.020 -1.025
Now time and patience is needed. Tester fish can
be added (about 3-5). We have no guarantee on
saltwater fish.

• All the same procedures can be used for a
  saltwater setup with these few exceptions.

Cylce and Saltwater Bio Spira can be used
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Common Questions

• Why is my tank cloudy?
• Answer The aquarium is going thru a cycling
  process known as the Nitrogen Cycle. This occurs
  in new tanks and tanks that have recently had
  major water changes.

Solution Adding Bio Spira or Cycle will help. Do
not overfeed or overpopulate a new tank.
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Cloudy Aquarium
After a few weeks
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Saltwater Starter Fish

• There are very few
• fish that are recommended for starting a
  saltwater aquarium
• Here are a couple

Live Rock this helps cycle the tank faster and
will assist in removing excess nitrates
Green Chromis
Damsel
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Feeding Saltwater Fish

• Feed fish and invertebrates a wide variety of
  foods
• Brine Shrimp, Plankton, Beef Heart

Flake Food
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Helping our customer

• As our customer you may be asked these fish
  questions when you come in to purchase your fish
• 1. What kind of tank do you have?

Freshwater or Saltwater
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• 2. What size tank do you have?
• This allows us to know how many
• fish can be in the tank.
• 3. What other fish do you have?
• This allows us to help you make good decisions
• when buying fish. (Aggressive, Community,
  etc.)
• 4. What kind of filtration do you have?
• This allows us to know if you have adequate
  filtration for your tank.

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• 5. How long has your tank been set up \ when was
  your last partial water change?
• New tanks cannot handle many new fish. A
  freshwater tank is considered new for about the
  first 45-60 days. During this time the tank
  environment is changing rapidly and can stress
  fish. Many tanks will become cloudy during this
  time because of an rapid growth and dying of
  bacteria.
• Saltwater tanks can take up to 8 weeks to age
  properly. During this time the tank can become
  murky and brown algae growth can be substantial.

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Quiz Time!

• How long does it take to cycle a freshwater
  aquarium? A saltwater?
• Answer FW up to 45-60 days
• SW up to 8 weeks

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Quiz Time!

• How long is our saltwater guarantee? Freshwater?
• Answer We have a very limited saltwater
  guarantee but talk to a supervisor to help with
  the situation.
• Freshwater is a conditional 7 day guarantee.
• Fish cannot be chewed, must have receipt.

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Quiz Time!

• Is this an aggressive, semi aggressive or
  community fish?

Gold Gourami semi aggressive
Angelfish semi-aggressive
Lobster aggressive
African Clawed Frog semi-aggressive
Convict Cichlid Aggressive
Tiger Barbs semi- aggressive
Dwarf Gourami community
Jack Demsey Aggressive
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Quiz Time!

• Brackish water fish are somewhere between fresh
  and salt. They come from rivers that have salt
  water in them and also freshwater. Which of
  these fish are brackish?

Knight Goby brackish
Puffer Brackish
Flounder Brackish
Red Chromide Brackish
Dalmatian Molly sometimes
Mono Dact Brackish
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Quiz Time

• New tanks can be stressful for fish.
• Which of these are good to start with?

Neons or Cardninals bad
Zebra Danios good
Dalmatian Molly good
Platy Good
Damsel good but aggressive
Pink Skunk Clown Okay but not real hardy
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End Of Quiz!
Platy male

• Bonus
• Can you tell the difference between male or
  female on these pictures?

Swordtail Male
Platy female
Boy George ?
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Remember

• We will do our best to help solve your fish
  questions or problems
• Remember to float your new fish for about 20
  minutes
• A few times a day take time to really really
  enjoy your aquarium. You have your own living
  community there.

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• The End
• Thanks go out to all the hard working
  researchers
• on staff at PPI.