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Inspirational aquariumsThe art of beautiful fishkeeping

You want your aquarium to be a source of pride and joy and a wonderful, living addition to your home. Perhaps you feel you are there already but may be looking for inspiration for new looks or improvements. Perhaps that is just a dream for now and you want to make it a reality. Either way, the advice and ideas contained in this brochure are designed to give you a helping hand in taking your aquarium to the next level.

Fashionable fishkeeping

Discover the art of keepinga beautifulaquarium

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An aquarium is no longer a means of just keeping fish. With a little inspiration and imagination it can be transformed into the focal point of your living room. A beautiful living accessory which changes scenery every second and adds a stunning impression in any decor.

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Create a room with a view

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Aquarium design

There are many ideas to choose from: Plants in an aquarium are as varied as they are beautiful and can bring a fresh dimension to aquarium decoration as well as new interest.

Maybe you would like to consider a more demanding fish species such as a marine aquarium, or a biotope aquarium housing fish from one of the

lakes of the African Rift Valley; an Amazon riverbed, even a coral reef in your own home. The choices are limitless and with almost any shape or size possible.

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A planted aquarium

As you can see there are some stunning examples of planted aquariums and results like these are within your grasp if you follow a few basic guidelines.

There are various degrees of planted tanks: often live plants are added to an aquarium to provide interest and diversity or a place for fish to shelter. This often means that plants are specifically selected to meet the needs of the chosen fish.

In the so-called Dutch planted aquarium the tank is designed and maintained for the plants with perhaps a few smaller fish added that thrive in this environment.

What is a planted aquarium?So, if you want your fish to stand out and be the main focus of attention in your aquarium, you may only want to use very few plants in your tank. However, if you are looking to create an underwater world in which the design is defined by plants, then the traditional Dutch tank with dense planting could be perfect for you!

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A planted aquarium

Aquatic plants, like any kind of plant, require light and nutrients to grow. In the light plants photosynthesize, using carbon dioxide and water to produce carbohydrates whilst essential nutrients like iron and trace elements are supplied in the water and the gravel substrate in which they are planted.

Depending on the plant types your aquarium may require daylight lamps. Key nutrients should also be added to the water and gravel and, in densely planted tanks, perhaps carbon dioxide levels need

How is it different to a community aquarium?

to be supplemented to aid photosynthesis.

Many tropical fish are not compatible with this environment as they will either grow too large or eat and uproot the plants. Carefully selecting fish species for a planted tank is therefore essential. Or you could consider adding beautiful freshwater shrimps.

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A planted aquarium

What key pieces of equipment should I have?

Lighting is always the starting point when planning a planted aquarium: how effectively you are able to illuminate the aquarium will help you decide how many and which types of plants you choose. It is important to provide lighting which is as close to natural daylight as possible. This can be achieved with T5 tubes which provide very effective and powerful lighting.

Another option to provide light for the planted tank is to dispose of the tank hood completely and use powerful pendant lighting suspended over the open topped aquarium. In a healthy planted tank it is also important to balance the supply of carbon dioxide and oxygen. During the day, plants may need an extra dose of carbon dioxide to aid photosynthesis. But at night they continue to respire and use up oxygen. That is why aeration, e.g. with one of the Tetra APS Airpumps should be provided at night.

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A planted aquarium

The provision of plant nutrients is vital for a successful planted aquarium. An iron-rich porous gravel (such as Tetra CompleteSubstrate) should be added to the tank at the outset. If you are upgrading an existing aquarium for plants, tablets of Tetra Crypto should be added to the gravel near the plant roots. Following an initial dosing, you should replenish these at each partial water change.

Key plant nutrients tend to become exhausted in the closed confines of an aquarium. Whilst nitrates and phosphates can be in plentiful supply thanks to the breakdown of the waste from the fish in the tank, you should replenish other key nutrients manually. The most notable of these is iron, which can become depleted in planted tanks very quickly. Dosing the tank regularly with Tetra PlantaMin will ensure that iron levels, along with other key micronutrients, are in continual supply.

What key care products should I have?

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A planted aquarium

Do’s and Don’ts

Once established the planted aquarium keeper becomes more of an aquatic gardener than a fishkeeper! Traditional maintenance tasks such as fish feeding, water testing, filter cleaning and water changing still need to be carried out, but another regular task in your planted tank is pruning your plants! Long-handled stainless steel scissors should be used to cut off dead leaves from time to time. Plant species outgrowing their designated zone of the tank should be pruned to keep them in place.

Use an iron-rich planting substrate and dose regularly with a plant fertiliser

Add lots of fish to the tank. The oxygen levels in planted tanks can get very low at night.

How do I look after my planted aquarium?

Do Don’tPlan how you can supply the maximum amount of light

Add herbivores - they will damage your delicate planting layout

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A planted aquarium

Algae

Algae are unsightly and can grow to the point where they out-compete other plants. It is usually an excess of nitrate and phosphate or the wrong kind of lighting that encourages algae. As nitrates and phosphates are derived from fish waste, over-stocking the aquarium with fish can add to the problem.

Good plant growth will help to keep algae down so ensure that your plants get the light they need, plus iron and perhaps carbon dioxide, as described earlier.

Use Tetra Crypto and Tetra PlantaMin to fertilise through the leaves and roots.

If algae gain the upper hand, you must take fast and targeted action with Tetra AlguMin.

There are some problems that very commonly occur in the planted aquarium and can be dealt with very easily:

Common problems in planted aquariums

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Poor plant growth

If your plants are failing to thrive in the tank the usual cause is a lack of light, a lack of nutrients or the wrong kind of substrate.

Lighting tubes and bulbs need to be replaced from time-to-time, so check with the supplier to determine how often this should be and replace if necessary. More light can be provided by adding extra bulbs or using a reflector above the bulb. If this is not possible then reduce the density of planting and stock some low light tolerant plant species such as Anubias or javafern species.

A lack of nutrients will also lead to poor growth. The use of an iron rich substrate is essential. A lack of aquatic plant fertilizer is often a limiting factor on many planted aquaria. The Tetra range of plant substrates and fertilizers will overcome all of these problems.

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Creating a Zen-influenced aquarium

Recently aquarium design has taken on a more minimalist approach. The Japanese designer and aquarist Takashi Amano is widely credited as the inspiration for the modern Zen aquarium. This is based on the Japanese philosophy of wabi sabi, which finds beauty in simplicity, irregularity and austerity. Whilst the principle can be difficult to translate into western languages you can use it to influence the design of your aquarium and bring a serene and peaceful scene to your home.

A simple vista is created in the tank focusing on key plants, rock or wood décor. Rock and driftwood arrangements in the tank draw heavily on Japanese Zen principles. Also odd numbers of items are placed asymmetrically in the tank. The age of the rocks and the rustic nature of the driftwood impart a majesty and simplicity to the tank.

Driftwood can be purchased from your local aquatic store in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. However, some types like bogwood will

For tips on plant growth

see page 9

often leach brown colouration into the water and this may well affect the aesthetics of the tank.

Your aquatic store is the best place to buy decorative rockwork for the tank. Here the rocks will be inert so they will not release alkaline minerals into the water which will cause pH instability. It is tempting to find a supply of rocks from your local builders merchant or DIY store – these are likely to be unsuitable for decoration in an aquarium.

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Creating a Zen-influenced aquarium

The Tetra DecoArt Poster and StickerSet are quick and easy ways to bring the Zen theme to your aquarium.

There is a vast range of plants to choose from, though a Japanese influenced aquarium would be more limited in its choice. Perhaps one background species such as Micranthemum micranthermoides and Lileopsis novaezelandiae with a carpeting species in the foreground. Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus) is especially suited to this type of aquarium as it can be readily fastened onto driftwood using fine nylon thread, where it will take hold and thrive. This gives the budding aquarium architect a new dimension to develop their planting.

There are many options when designing your aquarium around traditional Japanese aesthetic values. If you wish to create a tranquil and minimal vision in your aquarium there are other ways to achieve this. The careful use of miniature replicas of ancient ruins, Buddhist statues, or temple backdrops will enhance this look.

Inspired by natural habitats

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Another option for the creative fishkeeper is the ‘biotope’ aquarium. A biotope aims to perfectly recreate

the conditions found in natural aquatic habitats such as a soft-

water Amazonian environment or the harder water and rocky landscape

of Lake Tanganyika. There is a huge number of regions to explore!

Here, we are taking some of these regions as inspiration for an aquarium

and give you a few tips on how you might recreate something that’s usually

only seen in a wildlife programme.

Rivers, lakes or seas?

The world’s great tropical rivers, such as the Amazon and the Rio Negro, are the ancestral homes of many of the fishes commonly seen in an aquarium. The river offers numerous different habitat types that can be recreated in your aquarium, from upland rapids, where fast flowing water cascades over boulders and gravel, to tropical grasslands.

Inspired by natural habitats

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Streaming rivers

Pea gravel and large smooth boulders should be used to create a river scene. Ask your local aquatics store about suitable plants, as the fast flowing water might uproot the plants or damage the leaves. A vigorous flow of water can be created by placing the spraybar outlet of a TetraTec EX canister filter at one end of the tank. Additional water movement can be made by placing airstones in the gravel connected to a powerful TetraTec Airpump.

Tetra’s EX range of external filters are suitable for aquariums up to 500 litres in size. They have been designed to provide quick and efficient set up and maintenance with powerful but quiet operation and low power consumption.

The fish must be carefully selected for this type of tank. Small shoaling species such as Neon Tetras or zebra danios happily occupy the midwater layers, whilst certain loricarid catfish feed on the slime layer that grows over the smooth boulders. Fish that are delicate swimmers such as Siamese Fighters, should be avoided as well as those that prefer a fine sandy substrate such as Corydoras catfish.

Flooded forests

Every year following the wet season, the mighty Amazon River bursts its banks and many thousands of square kilometres of adjacent forest change into a wonderful submerged world. This flooded forest is a magnificent habitat to recreate in your aquarium, and is one of the simplest too.

In this environment, brown colouration of the water and the tree canopy above create low light levels at times, but occasional shafts of bright sunlight can penetrate.

Natural habitats

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To reproduce the water conditions from forest streams and achieve the blackwater effect use Tetra Blackwater Extract. This water conditioner contains natural peat extract.

Natural habitats

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Your tank can be decorated with bogwood. This is available in an infinite range of shapes and sizes at your local aquarium store. Bogwood will leach brown colourants into the water over time. Always make sure you have a good functioning aeration system, e.g. with one of our Tetra APS airpumps.

There is a vast selection of fish suitable for this type of tank; small shoals of vibrantly coloured Cardinal Tetras contrast strikingly with the dark backdrop of the tank. Larger species such as angelfish or discus gracefully glide through the woody scene. A substrate of dark fine gravel mimics the forest floor and will allow bottom feeding catfishes to thrive.

Tetra’s range of APS air pumps offers powerful air flow for maximum oxygenation with quiet operation. Available in many sizes for aquariums up to 600 litres.

Flooded grasslands

Just as a forest floods following the wet season, so will the grasslands adjacent to the tropical rivers of the world. The environmental conditions are however very different; the bright tropical sun shines down powering the growth of vast swathes of submerged plants. Fishes previously confined during the dry season disperse into this fertile habitat.

Clearly, planting is an important feature of this habitat, and you can mimic the tropical grasses with a backdrop across the tank of Vallisneria species with smaller foreground ‘grasslike’ plants such as Echinodoras tenellus.

Larger fish such as discus and angelfish will thrive in this habitat. Or you can select small shoaling species which will complement the delicately planted conditions.

Natural habitats

For tips on plant growth

see page 9

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Lake scenes

The tropical rivers of the world are not the only source of inspiration. The great lakes of the world are home to numerous fish species which are commonly seen in aquaria. It is the African Rift Valley lakes of Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika that are most famous among fishkeepers. Lake Malawi is home to the famous ‘mbuna’ cichlids, whose vibrant colours rival those of the fishes of the world’s coral reefs.

‘Mbuna’ aquarium

‘Mbuna’ is a Tongan word meaning ‘rockfish’. These fishes inhabit the tiny caves and crevices between the rocks worn smooth by wave action on the shore of the lake. To create a truly stunning scene you will need to source plenty of suitable rock!

Natural habitats

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Your local aquatic store will be able to supply rocks that will not affect the water chemistry of your tank. It should then feature a rocky backdrop offering the fishes a vast array of habitats and territories to retreat into. Creative fishkeepers have fashioned large rock caves, arches and promontories which draw the eye into the tank. When working with so much heavy rockwork in a delicate glass aquarium, it is vital to secure large rock pieces firmly together. To avoid the aquarium from cracking the rockwork should never touch the

aquarium glass.

Many Lake Malawi cichlid fishes are naturally aggressive and territorial. Ask your aquatics dealer about suitable stocking options.

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TetraPro Crisp Foods

Using the highest quality ingredients and manufacturing techniques TetraPro Foods deliver optimum nutrition with minimal waste. The unique Tetra crisp formula allows for better vitamin retention and an optimum protein to fat ratio. This means your fish will benefit from improved nutrition and digestibility, converting more of the food to growth and health with less waste. Available in 3 varieties each ‘crisp’ delivers a complete diet plus an additional benefit. They are also available as a menu pack containing 4 different types of crisp for a varied diet.

Brilliant fish in a healthy aquarium

High Quality Food

The most important factor in caring for your fish and maintaining the optimum condition of the water is the diet you feed. Poor quality diets will not only fail to provide your fish with all the nutrients they need to thrive but will also pollute your tank as they lead to higher waste levels being produced by your fish.

Different fish also have different nutritional needs and so it’s important to find out about the needs of the fish you have decided to keep and choose the correct food. Fortunately Tetra offers a range of diets to suit different species. Here a just a few that you might use if you decide on one of the designs included in this brochure:

Hopefully by now we have been able to inspire you in your choice of decoration. But however you choose to decorate your tank, ultimately the aim is the same for us all: brilliant fish in a beautiful aquarium.The secret to that success is down to the quality of the water. The good news is that a healthy aquarium is easily achievable with the quality range of food and care products available from Tetra.

TetraNatura Gel Foods

If you want to offer your fish a more natural daily diet TetraNatura is available in a range of varieties. These unique foods, based on Tetra’s gel-food technology, are packed in portion sized sachets or blocks for fish that like to graze. Each one contains natural foods with added nutrients to ensure a balanced diet.

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Brilliant fish in a healthy aquarium

TetraCichlid and TetraDiscus Foods

The singular nature of the name ‘Cichlid’ fails to convey the breadth and variety of fish that are part of this species. Large and small, peaceful and aggressive, they have a range of varying dietary needs.

We have already spoken about the cichlid varieties from the lakes of Malawi and Tanganyika, however the cichlid group also includes specialist fish such as discus, as well as better known community species such as Rams, Kribensis and Angelfish.

Some Cichlids require an algae enriched diet whilst others are omnivorous or carnivorous. Tetra’s 2-colour pellet range caters for all these needs. Larger species such as Oscars are better fed on sticks which suit their larger mouths and dietary needs.

For more help and advice check out our on-line movies www.tetra.net

TetraPlecoWafers

Fish that live on the bottom of the aquarium, such as Plecostomus Catfish, tend to be more shy by nature. They prefer to feed at their own pace rather than join the frenzy at normal feeding time. Their mouths are positioned underneath their bodies to allow them to rasp away at algae on the rocks. PlecoWafers offer a balanced diet with superior nutrition in a stable format that allows these fish to feed naturally over a longer period.

Tetra FreshDelica

Tetra FreshDelica is the ideal treat food for giving your fish variety in their diet. Feed your fish from a choice of fresh bloodworms, brine-shrimps and daphnia every few days in addition to the fishes’ staple food. The nutrient-enriched jelly comes in easy-to-use sachets to avoid mess. Tetra FreshDelica is an ideal treat for all tropical fish, marine fish and goldfish.

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Ensuring water quality

Water care 6in1 Test Strips: Tetra offers the convenience of 6in1 Test Strips that allow quick and easy testing of aquarium water parameters: nitrite, nitrate, general and carbonate hardness, pH, and chlorine.

AquaSafe: A water conditioner which immediately transforms harmful tap water into safe water that is ideal for fish and plants. Adding AquaSafe when starting a new tank and every time you change the water will:

• Eliminate chlorine and chloramines.

• Bond heavy metals.

• Support the fish’s protective mucus layer, which also may be damaged during water change.

• Support the fish’s ability to cope with the stress.

• Add iodine, magnesium, and vitamin B for health and vitality.

SafeStart: Contains a unique blend of highly effective live nitrifying bacteria. Use when setting up a new aquarium or when carrying out water changes, filter maintenance and medical treatments to:

• Biologically activate an aquarium when either setting up or adding fish.

• Replace lost bacteria when carrying out filter maintenance and water changes as well as after medical treatments.

• Convert toxic ammonia into toxic nitrite and then into non-toxic nitrate.

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Ensuring water quality

Use our dosage calculator to quickly work out how much Tetra product to use in your aquarium www.tetra.net

EasyBalance: Keeps aquarium water and fish healthy, without the need for frequent water changes. A weekly application will:

• Reduce nitrate and phosphate to permanently low levels resulting in far less algae.

• Prevent pH and KH instability so preventing acid drop which can be life threatening.

• Add vitamins and trace elements that are essential to a healthy aquarium.

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Water clarity

If you follow our advice, it is unlikely that you will have any difficulty with your aquarium. However, in case you need additional help achieving water clarity, here we tell you how.

Cloudy water

Cloudy water is usually due to:

- Overfeeding

- Improper gravel cleaning and water changes

- Inadequate filtration

- Overstocking

- Setting up a new tank

- Unsuitable drift wood

To overcome cloudy water conduct a partial (25%) water change and treat with Tetra CrystalWater.

This formula quickly clears up cloudy water by binding with suspended particle, which are then removed by your aquarium filter. The first effects are visible after 2-3 hours, and the water will be clear after 12 hours. You then need to identify the cause of the cloudy water from the list and take the appropriate remedial action.

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Marine aquarium

Marine fish need saltwater to survive, so the key to successfully keeping them at home is recreating the conditions found in the open sea. Nowadays this can be done fairly simply with ready to use salts such as Tetra Marine Sea Salt.

As you can imagine, the diversity of fish species available is staggering, plus the option for keeping an even greater range of invertebrates; corals and anemones to shrimps and crabs, makes marine aquarium keeping one of the most exciting. Some marine species are very challenging to keep but many others offer the possibility of a rewarding and beautiful tropical seas landscape in your home.

A basic marine aquarium with invertebrates will need one extra piece of equipment not seen on the freshwater tank

A tropical marine aquarium housing fish and invertebrates from saltwater coral reefs has to be one of the most stunning aquariums. With the right equipment and care it is possible to create a coral reef scene containing fish and invertebrates in your own living room.

– a protein skimmer. These clever devices use a column of tiny bubbles to strip out dissolved organic waste from the seawater and are a vital part of the filtration system of the tank.

Tetra have a great range for the marine fishkeeper. Full details can be found on our website www.tetra.net

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Planning your aquascape

Whichever scene you choose for your aquarium, a little research and planning before you begin will really pay off in the long run. Ask yourself some basic questions before you start to buy anything:

• Which aquascape would I like to create? (remember, some will take a little more time and effort to recreate and maintain).

• What kind of substrate should I choose?

• What species of plants will I have – if any?

• If there are plants involved will I include a planting substrate?

• What hard decorative items will I need: rock, bogwood or perhaps a man-made resin decoration?

• Which fish species are best suited to the tank – small shoaling fish or a couple of larger trophy species?

When considering plants and fishes, it is crucial to research their environmental requirements:

• What water temperature, pH and hardness do they need?

• Do the plants need high levels of light or CO2 supplementation?

• Will the fish thrive in the aquascape you are planning? Will the plants thrive with the fish that are planned?

The best source of advice will be the staff in your local aquatic store; they will be able to comment on your planned tank in terms of fish and plant availability, hardiness and cost. Most significantly they will be able to advise if your local tapwater conditions (in terms its pH and water hardness), suit your planned aquascape.

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About Tetra

Tetra was founded 60 years ago by Dr. Ulrich Baensch. At that time fishkeeping was a complex hobby which was only enjoyed by a small number of enthusiasts. This was mainly because live fish food had to be caught or cultivated in order to feed fish. Dr. Baensch was aware of this problem and developed a complete food for fish. His work resulted in the world’s first complete flake food - TetraMin. As a result of the success of many Tetra innovations over the last 60 years, Tetra has remained the global leader in the aquatics market and today distributes to over 90 countries.

Tetra’s success as the global leader in this market has been built on a commitment to quality and innovation. By continuously improving its range of products and services, Tetra makes it easier than ever to create the ideal aquarium for your fish.

For details of our range of products or for more information about fishkeeping please check out the website at www.tetra.net

As market leader, Tetra considers it a duty to treat the world and its resources responsibly. Through constant improvement to the products, packaging, logistics and service, Tetra not only meets the needs of the business but also protects the environment. Tetra has adopted a continuous programme of sustainability as one of its guiding principles.

Taking Responsibility

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