Help with a school assignment

[ryanoh]

So, in my graphics 2 class we're currently in the planning stages of our final for the semester, which is a how-to info-graphic pamphlet project. One of the ideas I'm thinking about pursuing is 'how to set up a freshwater aquarium,' and it would go through the steps of choosing a tank size, getting a good filter for it, the pros and cons of different types of substrate, what lighting is good for what plants, methods of C02 diffusion if I'm ambitious enough, and it would give pros and cons for each option. I'd also have a bit explaining the nitrogen cycle.
Can anyone tell me if there's anything I left out, or specific things I should mention about each element? I know right up front that I don't know that much about lighting other than what I can google about different types of bulbs, and that you need around 3 watts per gallon.
Thanks in advance to anyone who answers this, and I'll be sure and post it here when I'm done, and probably even some progress along the way.

 

[blue_ram]

The important aspect of lighting is the bulbs spectum and not just the k rating, but the distribution of the spectrum.

Lighting Spectrum and Photosythesis - Lighting - Aquatic Plant Central

 

[lauraf]

And you don't 'need' 3wpg - I have 1wpg, and have healthy plants and happy fish . . . .

Probably doesn't need much explaining, but you should include heaters and thermometers. And would you talk about decor at all? You could discuss how to ensure they are safe for tanks and fish, for example . . . .
And you could do a neat graphic with a 'checklist' that includes other purchases needed for maintenance, such as water test kit, dechlorinator, gravel vacuum, etc.

 

[ryanoh]

I completely forgot about heating, which is very important. I think I might try and make some sort of flowchart about what kind of fish you want (like a community tank, an aggressive tank, a cichlid tank, a coldwater tank), and I can probably cover some things about tank decor in that area.
Other than the ones I just listed, what are some other "types" of fish tanks?

 

[IThinkTherefore]

That project sounds awesome! It will probably make a great sticky

If you're looking for a simple Nitrogen Cycle graphic I just put a link to one in my signature, it'll be the second one down.

Those four types seem to cover it all, although you could talk about biotopes too

Best of luck!

 

[ryanoh]

(Here's what I've got so far, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about anything.)
How to Set Up a Fish Tank:

1. What fish do you want:
Saltwater
-FOWLR
-Reef
Freshwater
-Coldwater
-Tropical
-Planted
-Community
-Species

2. Get the biggest tank you can afford / have room for.
Have a level, appropriate stand.

3. Heater
internal
external inline

4. Substrate
Saltwater
-live sand
Freshwater
-gravel
-sand
-pH buffers
crushed coral / peat

5. Filtration (Mechanical, Biological, Chemical)
Undergravel
Sponge
Internal
HOB
Canister
Wet Dry
Refugium

6. The Nitrogen Cycle
Fish food
Ammonia
Seeding with Bacteria

7. Lighting (Incandescent, Fluorescent, Metal Halide, LED)
Fish Only
Planted
Reef

8. Adding Fish
Float Method
Drip Acclimation
Quarantine



So, each part will have sort of a pro/con list thing, especially the filter part. I'm also not sure about the order, because for some things are kind of dependent, like what fish you can get with what substrate?

 

[ryanoh]

So nevermind all the bits about salt water. I think I'm going to focus specifically on freshwater for the sake of space, and for the sake of me not knowing anything about saltwater.

 

[lauraf]

Sounds good, Ryan. Maybe include something in the Substrate section about planted tank recommendations?

 

[IThinkTherefore]

Also if you're going in-depth about tank options, acrylic vs glass

 

[ryanoh]

Good advice all around, especially about acrylic tanks because I forgot all about those. I feel like I need to mention air pumps and bubble stones somewhere, but I'm not sure where they'd fall in.

 

[IThinkTherefore]

Around filtration? Maybe in the context of sponge filters?

 

[ryanoh]

That's a good idea. I thought about touching on C02 as well, but I may skip that just for sake of space. I feel like if I mention it I have to go into the many methods of diffusing it properly.

 

[ryanoh]

I'm going with sort of an "icon" look for the pamphlet, and so far I've got the lighting diagrams drawn. The plan is to have a simplified, but still recognizable image with a short text description telling the pros and cons for each item (lights in this case), and giving a scenario in which the usage of that light would be ideal.

From left to right they are incandescent, fluorescent, compact fluorescent, metal halide, and LEDS. Did I miss any, and can you tell would you be able to recognize the real thing if you went to the store only knowing what you saw in this image?

I'm working on drawing out filters right now, but they're proving to be a little more complicated than lighting...

 

[pateceramics]

Awesome! The only other thing I'd suggest is a "do not" section. A list of things that you may see at the fish store that you do NOT want to get into. Raising and lowering ph to try to get it perfect for some fish, instead of getting fish that are okay in the water that comes out of your tap. Weird and unnecessary water additives. The importance of knowing the size your fish will become when full-grown for appropriate tank stocking. I'd cruise the beginners forum for a bit and see if anything stands out as a classic beginner mistake. That's your target audience. If this is a pamphlet, you probably don't have room to get into nano, saltwater, planted, breeding... unless you pick one of those topics, and that is ALL you focus on.

 

[lauraf]

Awesome icon graphics, Ryan. Really clean and recognizable.

 

[IThinkTherefore]

ditto to lauraf!

 

[pateceramics]

ditto again!

 

[ryanoh]

Okay, so here's some fish. They're supposed to be a goldfish, an African cichlid, an angelfish, and a neon tetra. These will be in the brochure in the context of "what kind of thank do you want?" The goldfish is coldwater, tetra is community tank, the angelfish is semi aggressive, and the cichlid is aggressive. I haven't kept some of these fish before, are these correct things to say about each species I've shown? I think I'm also going to make a note about species tanks / biotope tanks, but I may or may not have a picture to go with the description of those. Can you guy think of any other sort of freshwater tank? I thought about maybe adding a betta for a single fish tank, or maybe some sort of ADF/invert tank, but I may leave that out just for the sake of space.

EDIT:
Also, the blue on the tetra isn't supposed to be so bright. The file is CMYK, and it should have been RGB when I uploaded it but it wasn't, so the colors got a bit wonky.