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Aquarium Management

Course CodeBEN105
Fee CodeS1
Duration (approx)100 hours
QualificationStatement of Attainment

Learn to manage an Aquarium Tank or Fish Pond

  • Explore the suitable habitats for your aquarium
  • Understand their health and disease
  • Learn how to maintain quality water for fishes and more

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

  1. Scope and Nature of Aquaria
    • Aquarium use and management
    • The categories of aquariums
    • Aquariums for fish communities
    • Aquaria Size and Complexity
    • Water quality control
    • Types of Equipment
  2. The Water Ecosystem
    • Interactions between organisms and the water environment
    • Checking abiotic factors
    • Different types of natural ecosystems
    • Saltwater ecosystems
    • Freshwater ecosystems
    • Brackish water ecosystems
    • City or Municipal domestic water supplies
    • Rainwater
    • Well or bore water
    • Water quality in the aquarium ecosystem
    • Water treatment options
    • Energy relationships
    • Plants and nutrients
    • Photosynthesis
    • Pollution in an aquarium
    • Nitrogen cycle
    • Overcrowding
    • Overfeeding
  3. Water Quality and Management
    • Tank capacity/Tank size
    • Maintaining a Balanced Nitrogen Cycle
    • Aquarium Cycling
    • Changing the Water
    • Vacuuming
    • Algae Removal
    • How to avoid Overfeeding
    • Water Conditions
    • Water Temperature
    • Water Hardness
    • Water pH
    • Salinity
    • Gas Exchange in the Aquarium
    • Preventative Care
    • Moving Your Aquarium Safely
  4. Equipment and System Design
    • Learn about the equipment and systems for different aquariums
    • Aquarium Equipment
    • Aquarium Tank
    • Filtration
    • Aeration
    • Light System
    • Aquarium Light Timer (optional)
    • Tank Cover
    • Heaters and Thermometers
    • Gravel
    • Plants and Decorations
    • pH meters
    • Refractometers/Hydrometers
    • Water and Other Additives
    • Adding the Fish
  5. Suitable Inhabitants for Your Aquarium
    • Determine appropriate species of animal and plant life to introduce into an aquarium.
    • Freshwater fish types
    • Livebearers
    • Loaches
    • Anabantids
    • Catfish
    • Tetras
    • Cyprinids
    • Rainbow fish
    • Branchiopoda
    • Gastropods
    • Freshwater Aquarium Plants
    • Cold Water Plants
    • Tropical Fresh Water Plants
    • Brackish Water Plants
    • Saltwater Fish Types
    • Saltwater (Marine) Aquarium Plants
  6. Fish Health and Diseases
    • Fish Diet
    • Fish Diet Related Problems
    • Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency
    • Origin of Diseases
    • Environmental Diseases
    • Common Signs of an Unhealthy Tank
    • Diseases Caused by Water Quality and Chemistry Problems
    • Water Contamination and Poisoning
    • Ammonia and Nitrate Poisoning
    • Oxygen Starvation - Hypoxia
    • Pathogenic Disease Causes
    • Viral Diseases
    • Bacterial Diseases
    • Fungal Diseases
    • Genetic Diseases and Disorders
    • Parasites
    • Plant Problems
    • Treatment of Diseases and Parasites
    • Quarantine Tank
    • Coral Bleaching
  7. Freshwater Tanks
    • How to establish a freshwater tank
    • Tank Selection and Decorations
    • Setting up Tank Décor
    • Setting up Planted Tanks
    • Aqua-scaping
    • Basic Equipment
    • Electricity and Aquarium Set-up
    • Heater Installation
    • Filters and Air Pumps
    • Lighting and Hood
    • Solar Heating
    • Other Equipment
    • Selection and Addition of Fish
    • Feeding Requirements
    • Cleaning and Maintenance
  8. Simple Saltwater Tanks
    • How to establish a saltwater tank
    • Tank Selection
    • Saltwater Tank Cycling
    • Filter
    • Basic Equipment for saltwater tanks
    • Heaters and Thermometres
    • Light System
    • Test Kits
    • Selection and Addition of Fish and Other Invertebrates
    • Feeding Requirements
    • Cleaning and Maintenance
    • Critical Parameters Affecting Salinity
    • How concentrations of ions affect salinity
    • How temperature affects salinity
  9. Maintenance
    • Learn how to maintain a tank
    • Correct Tank Set-Up and Maintenance
    • Checking the Lighting
    • Checking the Temperature
    • Filter Maintenance
    • Checking and Maintaining Water Quality
    • Fish Observation
    • Plant Maintenance
    • Algae Removal
    • Regular Vacuuming
    • Regular Water Changes
    • Preventative Care
    • Emergencies
    • Breeding
    • Fish Reproduction and Behaviour
    • Live Bearers
    • Egg Layers
  10. Breeding
    • Tank Set-up and General Requirements
    • Early Stages - Selecting and Conditioning the Pair
    • Triggering Breeding
    • Hatching the Raising Fry
    • Breeding and Genetics
    • Nutrition
    • Cultivating Your Own Food
    • Fish Legality in Different Countries
    • Aquarium Care
    • Ultraviolet (UV) Sterilisation
    • Cleaning and Maintenance
    • Maintenance of Plants
    • Checking Filters
    • Water Changes

Aims

  • Select, establish and manage both freshwater and salt water aquaria of varying sizes with different species of plants and animals.
  • Discuss the scope and nature of aquarium use and management.
  • Describe the Water Ecosystem.
  • Explain Water Quality and Management.
  • Determine appropriate equipment and systems for different applications in the provision of aquaria.
  • Determine appropriate species of animal and plant life to introduce into an aquarium.
  • Identify common health problems with fish, other animals and plants in an aquarium.
  • Determine appropriate treatments in response to health issues.
  • Explain the establishment of a freshwater aquarium.
  • Explain the establishment of a saltwater aquarium.
  • Explain the maintenance of an aquarium.
  • Explain how to breed a range of different fish.

Why Study Aquarium Management?

  • Develop skills to work in a commercial aquarium, zoo, or marine conservation.
  • Create and maintain feature aquariums in offices, malls or other commercial locations
  • Enhance your skills to work in the Pet Industry
  • Indulge your passion

Who is this course for?

  • Beginners new to keeping fish at home
  • Anyone working pet (marine) retail 
  • Volunteers involved in conservation
  • Local councils using fish for pest control 
  • Employees of conservation parks or tourist parks 
  • Specialists who deliver routine aquarium maintenance services 
  • Educators in marine science
  • Anyone taking care of aquatic life

 

 

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