ESS 121 Aquarium Reports
You need to design THREE Aquariums set ups.
a)
b)
c)
Planted Amazon Tank filled with Discus Fish
Unplanted Malawi or Tanganyika or Lake VictoriaTank with Cichlids fish
Brackish (semi-salt) water with Mudskippers
Part 1 Setup (20 Marks)
Provide an aquarium design for each of the above. Design needs to be a drawing (2D AND 3D) showing the X, Y, Z dimension (cm) plus the volume, what
substrate you used, what aquascaping (rocks wood etc), and the species of fish, size and stocking density. For the planted tank what aquarium plant species.
Part 2 Equipment to make an Ecosystem (20 Marks )
What equipment (heating, lights, pumps etc) would you use to keep these fish and explain and explain how the equipment is installed and why it is the best
option.
Part 3 Water Quality and Tank Maintenance (20 Marks)
What water quality parameters would be attempting to keep the fish. This would include pH, water hardness (general) and carbonate hardness, Nitrites,
Nitrates, Water Temperature, Lighting Regimes. What special conditions (plant foods) would you consider to keep the plants actively growing? What food
would you supply to the fish?
Part 4 Water changes (20 Marks)
Examine this data for an Amazon Tank which contained Angel Fish. This was based on a 20% Water change per week. Graph the data and explain why these
parameters are inadequate for keeping Discus Fish. Based on this and general recommendations what should the parameters be
Type
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Amazon
Parameter
Amazon
Nitrate mg/l
25.0
25.0
15.0
15.0
15.0
15.0
10.0
Amazon
Nitrite mg/l
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Amazon
General Hardness degrees
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Amazon
Carbonate Hardness degrees
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
Amazon
pH
6.5
6.5
6.5
6.5
6.5
6.5
6.5
Amazon
Chlorides mg/l
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Amazon
Temperature Celsius
24.0
24.0
24.0
23.6
23.5
23.1
22.9
Now examine these parameters for a Malawi Tank. What would be the safe limits for these fish. Explain why an alkaline fish tanks with no plants is more
difficult to keep the water chemistry within the safe zone.
Malawi
Nitrate mg/l
120.0
150.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1.00
120.0
Malawi
Nitrite mg/l
<5.0
<5.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
<5.0
<5.0
Malawi
General Hardness degrees
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Malawi
Carbonate Hardness degrees
8.0
8.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
9.0
9.0
Malawi
pH
7.2
7.0
7.2
7.1
7.1
7.0
7.0
Malawi
Chlorides mg/l
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Malawi
Temperature Celsius
27.4
27.4
27.4
27.4
27.6
27.8
27.8
Part 5 (20 Marks)
Examine the Three tanks we have set up in the lab they have been neglected so what would you do to improve the water conditions and make them more
attractive.
Tank 1 Live-bearers (Platies and Endlers),
Tank 2 Planted Amazon (Angel fish, Tetras, Corydoras)
Tank 3 Malawi and Tilapia (no plants).