The sights of the aquatic world are indeed fascinating and thrilling. It is undoubtedly all new world for the observers. Many of the aquatic enthusiasts often wish to bring home this beauty. But to bring home this beauty do you think that you have to built a 20 foot tropical aquarium at home or turn your living room in to a room for a live shark – well you certainly do not need to do this!

You can create impressions of the Baltimore National Aquarium’s picturesque beauty at home itself! Some creative aquascaping in your home’s salt water aquarium can do the trick that the professionals do at Baltimore!

The secret lies in selecting the right type of decorations and placing them well in your tank. Here are some easy tips on the same:

1. To decorate your aquarium you can opt among the real and the plastic plants accoutrements. Anyhow using the live plants & other organisms in the aquarium helps you bring home Mother Nature.

2. Also you must understand that your fishes would make use of the decorations you place in the aquarium. They would find shelter and playfulness in them. Hence, for the best interest of your pets and to maintain the aesthetic feel of your aquarium, it is always advised to use the genuine aquatic plants.

3. A well decorated salt water aquarium is indeed an asset for years together, so, it is all the worth to spend considerable time and energy in searching for the right décor and ornaments of the aquarium. The local vendor dealing with tropical fish can of great help as he could assist you with several varieties of decorations for your salt water fish tank.

4. Live rock is a great decoration for your saltwater aquarium. This adds an aesthetic feel to the aquarium and helps you formulate the aquarium’s ecosystem as it is a vital part of the aquatic life. A live rock is covered with several micro and macro organisms. These organisms filter all the waste products from of the water, thereby making that water safe for the aquatic inhabitants.

5. Adding glory, beauty and attraction to the salt water aquarium are driftwood and sand. Besides, these are essential elements for the saltwater fishes’ natural habitat.

6. Live plants are another beautiful addition for the saltwater aquariums. These are functional as well as they provide for a lot many facilities in the water. Live plants oxygenate the water in the tank. These provide a hide out for your fishes making them more playful.

7. In case you are fortunate enough, your fishes might lay eggs in these plants.

8. The experts always advise that prior to making purchases and decisions regarding your fish tank, you must first choose and finalize the breed and type of fish that you would purchase. This would help you make rather appropriate and correct purchases for the aquarium, for instance some fishes like some particular plants that you would be able to decide on the basis of the breed you have decided to buy.

9. Salt water plants need special care and attention and that can be done with prior and well planned decisions.

10. Like all aquariums and you must light your salt water aquarium at least in the first half of the day as your plants and fishes need a perfect cycle of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The plants need carbon dioxide to live that they can generate through photosynthesis and this can happen only with the right lighting in the aquarium. You might also consider planting an artificial carbon dioxide producing gadget in the fish tank.

11. The depth of the bottom layer of the aquarium that comprises of silt, sand, and/or gravel must be of an adequate depth so as to allow the roots of the plants to seep in well. While this depth majorly depends on the type of plant you are placing in there, approximately 8 cm is the usual depth required for most of the plants.

When you decide to purchase a new aquarium, a 55 gallon fresh water aquarium is quite a good option. Its size is big enough accommodate several fishes at a time yet, can be placed in very less pace in your home or the office.

While the local retailers could very well assist you regarding all the specifics involved in these types of aquariums, here are some simple tips to understand the basics of aquarium maintenance:

1. To make an ideal 55 gallon freshwater tank, one should always opt for an acrylic tank over the glass aquarium. It is because the acrylic tanks are very light in weight and are far easier to manage. The acrylic tanks also have a better visibility than the glass tank.

2. Make sure to purchase a suitable stand for your fish tank before purchasing the fish tank so that you must place it safe and accurately.

3. You would need several equipments to maintain the fish tank such as heater and thermometer to maintain & watch the temperature of the water in the fish tank.

4. A normal 55 gallon freshwater fish tank would require around 5 bags of rocks. You can also select among other substrates that you would require to line the bottom of your tank. Make sure to pick a very bright color in order to you’re your fish tank rather interesting.

5. Further, you would need a filter to fir on ton your fish tank so that water in their must be clean and safe for your fishes. The market is flooded with many types of filters so the experts always advise to research well before purchasing a filter. The type of filter you purchase sheerly depends on the type of fish tank you have.

6. Certain filters are placed beneath the substrates, that is at the bottom of your tank, and there are also those that are placed at the side of your aquarium. Filters can be very expensive it is not always necessary to buy the priciest one. Many a times the basic filters are also just apt.

7. Your aquarium would also require the right lighting. The fishes respond to light in a very positive manner, yet they need a balance of lights in & out. You can either opt to keep the lighting of the fish tank very basic, or may shift to some very technical settings. For most types of fishes, switching on the basic light for a few hours a day is great.

8. Make sure that your fish tank contains ample amount of plants. They not only beautify the fish tank but also purify the water in the tank by absorbing the chemicals & providing oxygen. The water plants break down water and ammonia. Then these plants filter the ammonia & the bad or contaminated pat of the water that is the portion that contains bacteria. Plants maintain the balance between all the chemicals in the fish tank as the fishes produce lot of ammonia. Also the fish love to hide away in the plants. There are many varieties of fresh water plants to place in your 55 gallon aquarium.

9. In case you do not want to get hassled with the live plants, you can also opt to purchase the plastic ones. Unless and until the fish try to eat the plants, the synthetic plants’ variety available out there is so impressive that your fish would never be able to figure out the difference between the real and the plastic plants.

10. Once the tank is all set to welcome your fish, you can choose from a large variety of starter fishes. In case you want to start with the hardy fishes try keeping some live bearers such as barbs, gouramis, and danios. These fishes are naturally capable enough to handle the high nitrate levels in your fish tank.

11. Before adding some new companions for these fishes, wait for a month that is 30 days, so that your earlier fish get acclimated to their tank.

12. Make sure to keep a watch over your fishes else you might never know if they are ill or at unrest. Usually such symptoms show up only after 30 days.

13. While transporting your new fish, be careful and take good guidance form the pet shop from where you purchase them and some trained people in this hobby, else, you might make the fish ill.

14. Ideally a 55 gallon fresh water aquarium is capable enough to handle around 15 to 20 small fishes, in total. Make sure that your fish tank gives them enough space to grow and play healthily.

Scheduled preventative maintenance for your saltwater or freshwater aquarium can be made much easier by following these simple guidelines. With just a little maintenance work done every day, this will keep your fish and aquarium environment clean and healthy.

Things to be done daily:

Make sure to turn the aquarium lights on and off each day. Most aquarists find it convenient to use an automatic timer for this. If you choose not to go this route, try to turn the lights on and off at the same times each day. What you will be trying to do, is replicate a natural day/night cycle for your fish.

Take a couple of minutes each day to check your fish and invertebrates for signs of stress, disease, or death. Always be prepared to remove dead specimens immediately, and treat any sick fish accordingly.

Feed your fish and invertebrates twice a day, removing any uneaten food.

If your tank is not fully seasoned yet, conduct water tests until the water matures and the nitrogen cycle is established. Routine tests include ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH. Record and track these test results carefully.

Routinely check the water temperature in your aquarium. Adjust the heater up or down as needed, unless you’re using one of the preset aquarium heaters currently on the market. If you have a saltwater tank, the specific gravity or salinity, must also be checked.

If a protein skimmer is being utilized on your aquarium, empty the collection cup as needed.

The ever-attentive aquarist should also check the water level, and top off as needed.

Visually check all aquarium systems: heaters, filters, aerators, protein skimmers and such. Make sure they’re all running properly and smoothly and pay special attention to intakes and siphon tubes. Make sure nothing is leaking or sucking air.

Things to be done weekly:

Remove excess algae, while keeping beneficial algae at acceptable levels and getting rid of nuisance algae.

Clean the glass, both inside and out, without the use of glass cleaners of course. Remove salt-creep deposits.

Water tests should be conducted weekly, after the water matures and the nitrogen cycle has been established. Record all of these test results and add trace elements and buffers, as needed.

Things to be done every other week:

Clean your aquarium filters as needed. All solid debris should be carefully removed. Partially change or rinse the filter media within the filter if the bio-load is particularly high, the media is extremely dirty, or the normal water flow is being restricted.

Change about 10 to 15 percent of the tank water while thoroughly vacuuming the gravel.

Things to be done monthly:

Conduct thorough filter checks to assess the filter’s overall effectiveness. Replace the filter carbon and rinse the filter media and components as needed, being careful to not upset the bulk of the bioload.

If a protein skimmer is being utilized on your tank, it should be thoroughly cleaned at this time.

Thoroughly clean the outside of the fish tank, hood, aquarium stand and surrounding area, removing all salt and calcium deposits, dust, and any dirt that has accumulated.

Remove and rinse off any tank decorations or plants that suffer from excess algae growth.

Owning a fish is probably one of the easiest pets to have. There is no walking, no training and no pet hair all over the place. Fish keep in an aquarium where you can watch them all the time. This means no running away either. This doesn’t mean that you can throw some fish in a tank and never think about it again. There are basic care procedures for an aquarium.

Daily Requirements

1. Check the aquarium to see if the fish are healthy. You can tell by the color of the fish. If the fish seem to be fading in color, you will want to check the conditions of water. If a fish is stressed, it won’t last long.

2. Feed the fish everyday. Some fish require just one feeding a day where many freshwater fish require two. The most important thing to note is not to overfeed them. If you overfeed, the first are going to die. It shouldn’t take longer than two to five minutes for the fish to eat the food you put in there. If it is taking longer than that or the fish left any food, scoop it out. You don’t want to leave the food in the water and possibly contaminate the aquarium.

3. Check the lights and filters to ensure they are running properly.

Weekly Requirements

4. Check the pH and temperature of the aquarium. This is important for your fish to thrive. Anything outside of the norm will result in damage to the fish. The aquarium is their home and they need it to be as close as possible to the natural habitat. If there are any problems, fix them immediately. You can get pH buffers at a local pet store. If you have warm water fish, check the heater to make sure it is working properly. You can find out the proper water conditions from a book or your local pet shop.

5. Check the filters to see if they need cleaning. The filters usually need to be changed about two to three weeks, but looking them over once a week isn’t going to hurt. The filters are there to clean the water to ensure your fish are getting the right amount of oxygen. The filters will fill with debris and waste. If left untreated, you won’t have any fish left to care for.

6. Changing the water is important to the fish as well. This should be done every week or every two weeks. You won’t change the entire tank though. Start by turning off any plugged in equipment to ensure your own safety. Only change one-third of the water because the fish might not be able to handle harsh changes to the water. Tap water might have to be treated with a purification system or a treatment kit. The water should also be within two degrees of the tank water.

7. Clean inside of the aquarium to remove any algae build up, but do so without bothering the fish. You can do this when changing the water. It is probably easier this way. Collect the algae and debris in a bucket or vacuum.

8. Prune the plants in the tank. There might be some dead leaves that are unsightly and unhealthy.

9. Clean the outside. You can do this with soap and tap water. When you are doing this, also clean the hood.

Internet forums and pet shops are the best places to get precise information about fishes that breed in freshwater and fishes that breed in saltwater. The tropical fish and the coldwater fish constitute as freshwater fish. Marine fish consists of salt water fish. There are 22,000 and more species of aquarium fish. The freshwater fish and saltwater fish require totally different conditions, water temperatures, feed, and pH levels.

The freshwater fish and the saltwater fish are basically amphibians and reptiles. Experts related to this field generally blend a different selection of these fishes. They might even go to the extent of adding Cushion Stars to their tanks. Cushion star is generally classified as Phylum Echinodermata. These fishes generally survive in the Mediterranean or in Adriatic areas. Starfish grows up to 1 ½ to 2 inches. It has arms that are shaped like short stars. These types of fishes have a yellow layer in the bottom region and green color in the upper region. This fish feels comfortable around coastal waters, as there are many stones there, to keep its skin covered all the time. Cushion Star enjoys waters that are really warm. The preferred temperature is 77 degrees, in Fahrenheit scale. The starfish eat organic matters off.

Wartlets can be classified in a series of categories, and subcategories. This fish hails from Mediterranean, but it has adapted itself to other sea areas. This fish’s main food is plankton. Rocky areas are its favorite, because of the hideous nature. It prefers staying in water that is about 71 degrees in the Fahrenheit scale. It normally grows up to 2 ½ to 3 inches.

Red-tailed Black Shark fish:
This fish has its origin from Thailand. It grows up to 4 ½ inches. This fish is basically torpedo shaped and resembles a flag. It is more or less velvety black, and its tail has a red tint. This fish is friendly in nature, so he makes a good local aquarium fish. The mouth of this fish is somewhat like a shape of sucker, so, he is often referred to as sucker. Clean water, grass and plants is all that he needs.

Yet another favorite of the expert aquarists are Helmet Shell Fish. These are majorly seen in the Mediterranean areas. They survive best in 71 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale. They basically live really close to the bottom of the waters, filled with sand and mud. This creature is a carnivorous species. He feasts on mollusks, that too on smaller breeds. Helmet Shell Fish is basically a nocturnal.

Cerianthus Membranaceus is a creature that resides around the Mediterranean areas. The surrounding seas play the role of their home. This creature has white tentacles that are narrowed and they have a crown. This fish’s body is somewhat shaped like a worm. It grows to nearly 12 inches. It is best to stay in 60 degrees for this creature, in Fahrenheit scale. This creature likes to feed itself with plankton.

Dried animal food stuff also becomes a feast for the aquarium fish. But it is necessary to feed them with plankton. This creature often prefers the solitary confinement.
Experts’ love sea squirts. They look really cool with the reddish orange tint, which is quite unusual for a sea creature. They basically reside in dark cavities. The ideal temperature for them is about 68 degrees to 71 degrees, in Fahrenheit scale.

The tubeworms are really nice creatures that can be found in the aquariums. Tubeworms produce some sort of firework caption when erected. The internet forums and the local library have a lot more information about this creature.

1) Most tank owners think setting up a saltwater fish tank absolves them of all after care – after all, the same fish in the regular marine life take jolly good care of themselves, breed and lead a happy, long life there, so why should there be any special need for aftercare when they are kept in a home aquarium? But, here’s where they make the mistake of not realizing that proper cleaning and care of a marine tank is very essential to avoid future health problems the fish may face and to maintain its general upkeep. Begin with purchasing a device to keep the tank water clean, which by the way should only be filtered water – you can buy a reverse osmosis kit, available at the local pet store or on the net. The other alternative is to use regular water at required temperature for the kind of marine fish in the tank, add chemicals to remove chlorine from it and other stuff and ensure cleaning is done at least once a month!

2) Caring for your saltwater fish tank requires regular maintenance and cleansing, if possible, once every 2 weeks; but, it is as important to understand that you do not clean out the good bacteria from too much cleansing.

3) If your saltwater aquarium is relatively new – please remember to let it sit for at least a month before adding fish or plants or even decorations to it. This period is for resting and testing the waters of the tank for the inmatest to come: invest in some inexpensive test strips to check chlorine and pH levels in the tank water if you do not want to lose your precious piscean pals to imbalance in the water levels they usually prefer! After you have ensured that the saltwater aquarium has been set-up properly and the water conditions in it are conducive to keeping fish and other marine creatures or even botanically beautifying it, do not indulge in removing gravel to clean the tank as this can upset the delicate chemical balance in the aquarium.

4) Any kind of cleaning supplies you invest in should be thoroughly researched as being advantageous and safe for tank inmates’ health and cleanliness levels and should be effective in cleaning the saltwater aquarium without upsetting its chemical balance, especially if you own an acrylic tank.

5) Learn about the simplest ways to clean tanks and control build up of scuff and algae that dirty up the saltwater aquarium; you may use phosphate drops to cleanse the marine fish tank water, which prevents build-up too soon or buy a pair of hermit crabs and snails to keep algae at bay! These versatile marine creatures also clean out rocks and gravel in the tank and are often referred to as a tank’s clean-up crew! For yourself, you can invest in a good pair of gloves, scraper or scratch pad to shine the glass as algae is difficult to remove with any old cleaning tool.

In closing, please remember that aiming a filter (if using one) should ideally be done downwards – into the tank water to avoid build-up of excess salt on the hood of the aquarium. Learn about ideal tank lighting (no more than 6 hours daily at a set time, keep tank away from direct sunlight etc.) for the kind of marine fish you have, the best water filter for your tank needs and the situations that make algae thrive so you know what to avoid and what actions to follow for good marine tank hygiene.

If you are considering a new pet, fish aquariums offer an attractive alternative to more common pets. While expenses can vary, aquariums offer many advantages to most households.

If you do not have the time or space required for a larger size animal, then there are a number of other options available which are small in size yet can be very entertaining and rewarding. There is one option available which will not speak to you or communicate with you but is still sure to amuse and relax you. Can you guess it? Yes, here we are taking about fish aquariums.

While the purchase of the actual fish is easy, their care and maintenance can be more challenging. You normally visit different pet shops for different types of aquarium supplies and accessories. Few pet shops you visit will be able to answer all your questions based on their staffs’ experience. Whenever possible, visit a pet shop which is willing to listen to your needs and provide the answers you need along with great products at ultra-competitive prices.  

If you visit an online store for aquarium supplies, then chances are quite high that you will end up with a good deal. However, there are some companies which have both a brick and mortar storefront along with an online presence, thus offering the best of both worlds. If you have an opportunity to deal with one such company then you will have a better chance of getting everything you need from a single source.

You have an option to deal with a pet shop which is guaranteed to provide everything needed for your aquarium. For the finest quality aquarium supplies at the best prices, we suggest you visit Washington Pet Shop.

There are many reasons to shop this website for all your aquarium needs. It offers a wide variety of pets and supplies and features some products on its website at near wholesale prices. It is one of the reasons for the stores success.

 Among the aquarium supplies, one of the products offered by this pet shop is Current USA – Nova Extreme T5 aquarium light fixtures. They are comprised of high output T5 lamps manufactured in European style. They consist of performance driven electronic ballasts with slim design and German parabolic reflectors and are offered in many sizes. These light fixtures are very energy efficient while producing ample lighting for both invertebrates and corals.

When it comes to aquarium filters, the best quality products are available, like Penn Plax Cascade Aquarium Filters.  These filters offer innovative bio-falls quad-filtration systems along with Activated Carbon Cartridge Internal Sponges.

Another attractive filter option is the Tetra Whisper series Filter. With this filter you can maintain your aquarium with a new level of ease. It comes equipped with a new patented carbon filter carrier which is simple and convenient to use. It is the kind of system which is suitable for most aquariums.

Not only these, there are several other products as well which you can find under one  roof of one pet shop i.e. Washingtonpet.

So go and shop it now!!

Getting Started…the Necessities

Note: Use this information at your own Risk! Lantz Enterprises Inc ( www.walltanks.com ; www.kooltanks.com ) assumes no responsibility whatsoever.

Business Licenses

The cost of a business license is miniscule. Unless you plan to sell from a retail store, the common price in most areas is approximately $25 per year. In addition, you will also need to obtain a special tax identification number for sales tax. In order to acquire a tax ID you must contact local and state governments to set up an account.

2. Business Essentials

• Business cards

One of the most important steps when starting a new service is the purchase of business cards. Generally, for $75 it is possible to print 5000 cards in multiple colors. Keep in mind that in order to gain a potential customer’s attention a more professional looking card will reflect on your business.

• Letterhead

It is very important to maintain professionalism at all times. One of the ways to do this is through your letterhead. Letterhead is commonly used for sales letters, business correspondence, sales promotions etc. First impressions are crucial to draw in potential customers. When targeting high-end customers they will expect a certain level of professionalism.

Other marketing tools such as brochures and advertisements are essential in getting your product out to your potential clients however they are not always necessary. Normally, depending on the quality of brochure or advertisements you decide on, these can generally range in price from $50- $500. There are many print shops and graphic designers in your area that will take care of this.

• Invoice book

• Appearance

The personal appearance of you and your employees is a very important detail. Formal business attire is not necessary, either a golf shirt or a regular t-shirt with your company name and logo should be worn. T-shirts with simple pocket embroidery will cost between $10 and $12 per shirt. Embroidered golf shirts will cost around $15 to $19 per shirt.

• Insurance

Do not step in the door without some type of liability or damaged property insurance. No matter how careful one can be while servicing an aquarium, accidents will happen. Nothing will end your business endeavor quicker than a lawsuit for damaged property. Normally running around $90 per month with some variation of types of policies that are available, it is truly better to be safe than sorry.

• Liability

It is good business practice to have some type of basic liability insurance. It gives the customer and you a sense of security and adds credibility to your business. A liability disclaimer against fish and livestock deaths as well as aquarium leaks and other collateral damage caused by leaks is included in the “Sales Section”.

3. Marketing

The greatest challenge in starting an aquarium maintenance service is finding your base clientele. By allowing a local pet store and friends to pass out your business cards, you essentially turn them into free sales representatives. Positive contact made between a potential customer and others that recommend your service is truly a priceless commodity.

• Newspaper ads

Advertising in a newspaper is deemed ineffective and can become costly. A better approach would be to develop a catalogue or brochure, which you can personally drop off at potential businesses.

• Display your name on the tank

Always display your name and number somewhere on the tank. Always ask your client’s permission first then offer a free month’s service or free fish. Invest in some business cards or stickers that you can leave on or around your tanks.

• Radio / TV Advertising

• Keep it spotless

Most people associate a spotless tank with a healthy environment. Don’t try to argue this point. You will be doing yourself a favor and promoting your business as a clean running service.

4. Customer Service

If finding new clients will be the most challenging aspect of this business, keeping them is a close second. Depending on your local area, business can become very competitive if you are not the only service provider. Keeping your clients happy involves much more than simply cleaning their aquariums. It is important to go “that extra mile” and maintaining a top-notch service. Having flexible service hours and “on call” availability is vital for success. For example, restaurants and other businesses often close at extremely late hours. During their business hours clients will not want their patrons viewing a cleaning service. Offering late or “off hours” times to your clients will keep them happy and put you above your competitors.

On call availability is important. Customers can and will call at the strangest times so it may be important to give them access to a pager number. Not only to schedule appointments but to ask questions or report some type of emergency. From leaking tanks to major fish kills, you will be the first one your customers will call when there is a problem with their aquarium. If you are not available, they will seek out somebody else.

5. Aquarium Location

When examining the best possibilities for a tank location keeping a few factors in mind is crucial. You will want the tank to be in a high traffic area with maximum exposure where it is easy to maintain, has an abundance of natural light and no direct sunlight. More specifically, “Wall Aquariums” can only be installed in inside non-supportive walls.

Ask the client to choose three areas they want to consider and do a checklist. Make sure the final location has access to power and educate the client on why some areas may need further prepping.

6. Working with Contractors

You will need to work closely with a contractor unless you are licensed. Contractors can be found in the Yellow Pages and range from $50 – $70/hour on average. Average installation in an existing wall takes 12 hours, from nothing to fish.

7. Financing Services

If your customer wishes to finance the installation, payment plans are available from Finance Companies. You will be paid 100% of the cost upfront from the service and your customer owes them the balance. These businesses can be found in the Yellow Pages under “Finance Companies”.

8. Fish Selection

Most “non” fish hobbyists struggle with fish selection and compatibility. You must educate the client on understanding why some fish can cohabitate and some cannot. Listen to your customer and get a general idea of size and colors they want. Suggesting species will help guide them through fish selection and your professional opinion will be appreciated.

Once you have a good idea of what they want, do some homework. Put together a list of compatible and available fish for the tank. Listing an estimated price per fish will aid the customer.

9. Service Equipment

Gathering all of the necessary equipment needed to run your service is simple and easy. Most of the tools required may be found in your personal equipment that you have acquired through the years.

You will need:

• Bucket

• Aquarium cleaning siphon (battery operated ones work nice)

• Algae scraper (acrylic friendly)

• Fresh & Saltwater test kits

• Filter media

• Fish medication (Melafix, Pemafix, Kich-Ich, Salt)

• Instant Ocean Bio-Spira (instant tank start)

• Fish food

• 100% Cotton towel

In addition to these items, a canister filter that can be taken from site to site would be a good investment. You may also consider purchasing a portable diatom filter for ‘polishing’ your client’s aquarium water. If you do not already have these tools you may be looking at an equipment start up cost of $100 to $200.

10. Aquarium Set-up

• Water

1. Fill the aquarium with pure water. Culligan works great or you may want to invest in a R/O unit (reverse osmosis).

2. Add the appropriate amount of water conditioner to neutralize chlorine.

3. Add a starter fish or two.

4. Test the ammonia and nitrate levels.

5. Anywhere from 2-5 days later pending the results of your tests you can introduce more fish.

• Test the ammonia and nitrate levels every time the tank is serviced so that you will be well aware of any unseen problems.

• In the case of a sudden fish fatality, test the water to see if anything has changed.

• Lighting

Depending on your client’s tank the ideal ‘photoperiod’ (the length of time the aquarium is lit) ranges from two to four hours for saltwater and six to eight hours for freshwater.

If algae is a problem in the tank, a contributing factor is usually too much light. Reducing the artificial lighting time to eight hours, or a bit less may be necessary.

Plugging the light into a timer is essential in creating a controlled environment.

• Temperature

Most aquarium inhabitants prefer water temperatures around 77°F. Typically, if water temperature increases above 80°F, or below 72°F, disaster is imminent. Secure the heater as directed and place a thermometer as far away from the heater as possible in an easily readable area.

• Filtration

Follow the instructions included with your filter for proper system set up. The filter cleans the tank water and provides vital oxygen for the fish so it must be left on 24 hours a day.

There are three types of filtration that you must educate yourself on: mechanical, chemical and biological.

• Mechanical filtration (the removal of pieces of debris from the water) works by passing water through a screen, a thin piece of sponge, or through a floss material.

• Chemical filtration works by passing water through small pieces of carbon. The carbon removes molecules such as ammonia from the water.

• Biological filtration works by certain types of bacteria that live on gravel and in your filter. These bacteria remove ammonia and nitrites from the water (see next section).

Most filters will clean mechanically and biologically if not all three.

11.Understanding the Nitrogen cycle (Fish make Waste – Bacteria get rid of Waste).

• The Biological filter process:

1. Starter fish are introduced to aquarium.

2. Ammonia from the waste starts to build up (toxic).

3. Bacteria start growing that use Ammonia.

4. Ammonia level starts to drop as Nitrite level builds (toxic).

5. Bacteria start growing that use Nitrite.

6. Nitrite level starts to drop as Nitrate level slowly rise (much less toxic).

7. Water is changed and Nitrate level drops.

8. More fish are introduced.

• These bacteria are called Aerobic Bacteria because they need oxygen. The best way to fuel them is to have well-aerated water and plenty of places to grow.

• A new tank isn’t ready for a full load of fish because the biological filter hasn’t built up yet. Slowly adding fish during scheduled visits will aid in water quality.

12. Water Changes

• Cleaning frequency

You will want to do a 20% water change every two weeks. This would be a partial cleaning. If your customer prefers less frequent visits, a 30% water change can be done every three weeks but will cost more. A major water change is only necessary if tank has not been cleaned in a long time.

Clean your aquariums in the following order:

1. Inside aquarium walls

2. Decorations (rocks, plants, etc)

3. Gravel

4. Filter

5. Outside and fixtures

Cleaning the inside walls will cause particles of debris to fall on the plants, decorations, and gravel, so it’s best to clean them first. Removing the plants and decorations will cause debris to fall to the bottom, so hold off cleaning the gravel until the plants and decorations have been taken out. Also, the gravel is much easier to clean once the plants and rocks have been removed. Cleaning the inside of the tank will cause the outside to get dirty, so clean the outside last.

Algae pads

Start your cleaning process by giving the acrylic a good cleaning on the inside. All you need for that is an acrylic algae scraper or sponge. There are a wide variety of algae scrapers on the market, from long handled scrubbers to magnetic scrubbers. Buy your algae scrapper at a pet shop instead of the house wares department at a regular store. Although the pads may look the same, they may have a soap or chemical residue in them from the manufacturing process. A residue will not affect your kitchen sink, but it can leave a lethal film in your aquarium.

For particularly stubborn residue on the sides, use a special plastic razor blade, as standard razors will scratch acrylic.

Bleach

Once the inside walls are clean, remove any rocks, artificial plants, or decorations that have significant algae growth, or are noticeably dirty. Do not clean them with soap or detergents. It is very difficult to completely remove soap, and even the smallest trace can be lethal to fish. Usually a good scrub with an algae scraper will remove the algae and dirt from rocks and plants. For particularly stubborn cleaning problems, prepare a 10% bleach solution (1 part household bleach to 9 parts water) and soak the items for 15 minutes. Scrub any remaining residue off, rinse well in running water, and let air dry to eliminate any residual bleach. Leave the rocks, decorations and plants out of the tank while you vacuum the gravel. That way none of the debris stirred up from the gravel will settle on them.

Get a new bucket and designate it for aquarium use only. Using a bucket that has already been contaminated with other household chemicals could result in the loss of your fish.

Siphon

Clean the gravel next by using an aquarium siphon to vacuum away the debris into a bucket. There are several types of siphons available, all of which work essentially the same. Be sure to vacuum all of the gravel thoroughly so that all debris is removed.

Glass and Lime cleaners

Once the inside of the aquarium is cleaned, the hood, light, tank top, and outside glass can be cleaned. Only use cleaners designated as aquarium safe. Regular glass cleaners contain ammonia, which is toxic to fish. Standard lime cleaners are even more toxic. Use aquarium safe cleansers and rinse. Do not scrub the acrylic with paper towels or any wood by-product. Use a 100% cotton shirt or towel.

Filter cleaning

After doing a partial cleaning and it has been 4 weeks since you last cleaned the filter, it is time to clean it again. If you did a major water change you may want to wait until the next visit to clean the filter. The reason for this is not visible to the naked eye. The major cleaning you just performed has disturbed the bacterial colonies on the plants, rocks, and in the gravel. Fortunately a significant number of the beneficial bacteria reside within the filter media meaning you haven’t completely upset the eco-system. However if you changed the filter at the same time, you could end up with a significant spike in ammonia levels due to the lack of beneficial bacteria. For that reason, it’s wise to give the tank a rest before removing the filter and cleaning it.

In most cases your filter has media containing carbon, ammonia absorbers, or ion-exchange resins, and should be replaced if it’s more than four weeks old. After a couple of weeks the absorbing qualities in the media have been exhausted, and there are enough bacterial colonies elsewhere to offset its removal. If you are using two filters, clean one per visit.

Your package prices should include installation, aquascaping, filling the tank with water, fish and cleaning the aquarium for the 1st month. You should offer a 5 – 10% discount with a 6-month service contract as listed on the example “Sales Contract”.

• Service charges

Your service charges will be based on competition and target demographic. The charges below are suggested and should be adjusted to your area.

Service programs include:

• Scheduled bi-monthly visits (can be adjusted to meet clients needs)

• Water change (see Water Changes)

• Delivery of equipment, supplies and environment as requested by client

• Free consultation for

• Fish tank makeovers

• Fish stocking

• Equipment replacement/upgrades

• Water quality improvement

• Medical treatment of fish illness

16.Sales Procedure

Set aside specific hours or days a week for sales and stick to the schedule. During this time you will approach businesses and introduce yourself and product line.

If the client wishes to finance a package or service, contact your “Finance Company” (see Finance Company) and you will need to complete work before you receive your payment.

• Customer’s concerns and frequently asked questions

Concern: I don’t have enough money right now to cover the package prices.

Reply: No problem, the entire amount can be financed and it’s also a tax write off for commercial clients.

Concern: I don’t want you to clean the aquarium in front of my customers.

Reply: No problem, We can come by after business hours for commercial clients.

Question: How do I access the tank for cleaning if it’s in the wall?

Answer: Access will be hidden under a picture-frame style border or an access panel where the top piece swings open.

Question: How will electricity be supplied to an in-wall aquarium?

Answer: An outlet will be mounted inside the wall facing the aquarium.

Question: How will the fish be fed when I’m on vacation?

Answer: An automatic fish feeder will feed the fish for up to two weeks for freshwater fish. We also offer a vacation feeding service.

Question: What if the tank leaks?

Answer: It is extremely rare however it is under manufacturers warranty for one year.

18. Tips

These are a few handy tips and suggestions that may make things a little easier.

1. If you have a computer, make use of it. Most of your customers will have a computer and it makes for a great way to communicate. E-mail is a wonderful way to contact your customers, send them invoices, and allow them to ask questions when you’re not in their area.

2. Teach your clients and their employees about feeding and the filter system. Show them what to do in an emergency and teach them to recognize problems before they get out of hand. Always train at least two employees on feeding methods.

3. Keep your customers up to date on the system and any changes you make. Never allow things to become a surprise. Clients tend to frown on sudden changes made without their consent.

4. Invest in maintenance tools that are easy to use and which do not create a mess. Water changes with a 5-gallon bucket are an accident waiting to happen. Find methods that are user friendly and clean.

5. Control algae. It is your clients’ number one concern. A dirty tank delivers the wrong message to your clients’ customers. Use fish species, lighting control, feeding programs and good removal tools. Just remember these tanks are acrylic and will scratch if rubbed with an abrasive material. Use 100% cotton towel instead of paper towels. Paper towels are a wood by-product and can scratch acrylic.

6. Great customer service means being patient. Not everyone will have the understanding of aquatics that you do. Things that are simple to you may be more difficult for others to understand. Try to become well versed in basic principles; you will be explaining them over and over. Treat everyone with respect; you may be talking to one of your client’s valued customers.

7. Fish deaths are a part of this business. Learn to be sympathetic but firm. Some fish deaths are unforeseeable, while others are preventable. Work out a fish replacement system and stick to it. Replacing a few fish for free is no big deal, replacing a whole tank is.

8. Try to keep up to date on new products and fish species. Don’t be afraid to try new things, it’s the only way you will advance your skills. Invest in some good books and magazines; they will become useful for reference.