Aquari

 

Aquari  

 Whether the house is small or big, its beauty can be enhanced by interior decoration. Still, bored with modern materialistic life, man wants to live close to nature. In cities and towns, in the absence of sufficient land outside and around the house, the entire environment of the house can be made more natural and colorful by developing indoor gardens. By including natural flowers and plants in the artificial environment of cities through indoor gardens, a permanent source of happiness and joy can be developed inside the house. Apart from terrace garden, window garden, roof garden, balcony garden or table garden, construction of terrarium and aquarium brings the home environment closer to nature. Terrarium and aquarium can be decorated on the table as well as in the corners of the rooms.

Terrarium and Its Construction

Terrarium is a box-like structure made of glass in which ferns, flesh grass, palm, small evergreen plants etc. grow naturally on top of a layer of soil mixture. Developing a garden by growing ornamental plants in this glass structure is also called a glass garden. Terrarium was first developed by England's physician Nathaniel Ward, so in his honor it is also called Wardian case.

Aquari Plants

 Terrariums can be of different sizes and shapes. Generally, it is rectangular box-like which is 1 m long, 0.5 m wide and 0.5 m high. It has a glass cover with a sloping roof. This cover can be removed or shaken for a short time from time to time to provide ventilation to the plants growing inside. Since the terrarium is completely closed, there is no need to water the plants growing inside frequently. The moisture produced by transpiration of leaves and evaporation in the soil keeps condensing on the inner walls of the terrarium and the required water for the plants is supplied. There is a hole in the bottom of the terrarium for the drainage of excess water. If there is no hole in the bottom, then frequent and excessive irrigation should be avoided. If there is no hole in the bottom, then before filling the soil mixture (one part each of soil, leaf manure and sand), a 5-6 cm thick layer of coarse sand and small pieces of charcoal (about 65 mm size) should be spread on the bottom. To make a Hill garden inside the terrarium, a small hill can also be made by mixing stone pieces and soil mixture. Planting of fast growing plants should be avoided in the terrarium. Young and small plants should be planted carefully and watered immediately. There should be proper distance between the plants so that they are not dense. With proper selection, planting and careful irrigation of plants, plants can be maintained for many years without replacement. Sick, dry or pest affected plants can be replaced with new plants. Ferns, mosses, small evergreen seedlings, pitcher plants etc. are suitable plants for a terrestrial aquarium.

 

Aquari and Its Construction

 

An aquarium is a box-like structure made of glass, in which water is filled and colorful fishes are reared along with aquatic plants. Aquariums provide special attraction and uniqueness in indoor gardens.

 

The size of a normal aquarium is 2 feet x 1 feet x 1.25 feet or 3 feet x 1 feet x 1.5 feet. The price of an empty aquarium without fishes ranges from 2 thousand to 3 thousand according to its size. The price of fishes suitable for the aquarium (such as goldfish, white mollies etc.) ranges from Rs. 15 per pair to Rs. 500 per pair according to their size. Aquariums can be made in various attractive sizes and shapes.

Aquari Plants and Fishes

Types of Aquari

(1) Center Aquarium – These aquariums are of standard size square or rectangular. These are suitable for decoration on the table in the middle of the room.

(2) Corner Aquarium – These types of aquariums are suitable for decoration in the corners of the room. These are triangular in shape with the front glass being semi-circular in shape.

(3) Bowl Aquarium – This small sized aquarium is round-oval. Which is very suitable for decoration in dining table, decoration table. Its price ranges from Rs 250 to 500 with a pair of goldfish. Bowl aquarium with a light bulb can also be decorated as a night lamp in the bed room.

(4) Wall Aquarium – These types of aquariums are made like a show case in the walls of the drawing room. To make these, space should be left empty as per the requirement while making the wall. The size of the wall aquarium can be increased as per the availability of space and cost bearing capacity.

Materials required to make an aquari

(1) Glass plate - The structure of the aquarium is made by joining the glass pieces cut according to the size of the aquarium being made with silicon gel.

(2) Coarse sand - Gravel is used to make a 2.5 to 3 cm thick layer at the bottom of the aquarium. Oxygen producing aquatic plants are planted on top of it.

(3) Coloured stone - By scattering colourful stone pieces on the gravel layer and trapping small shells, oysters etc. in between them, the bottom of the aquarium gets the feel of a natural sea bed.

(4) Water filter - This is a very important part of the aquarium which keeps the water clean. If a good quality water filter is installed, then the water does not have to be changed frequently. It is necessary to clean the water filter at least once a month. 

(5) Air Pump - Air is sent into the water through a pipe connected to the air pump so that the fish get sufficient oxygen.

(6) Natural water plants - To make the aquarium look natural, it is very important to have aquatic plants in it. These plants are mainly oxygenator plants from which the fish get sufficient oxygen. These plants also release some such elements in the water which are necessary for the fish. Plants planted in the aquarium give the fish a feel of their natural habitat. The following aquatic plants are suitable for planting in the aquarium -

(i) Vallisneria - It is also called Eel plant or Tape grass. Its leaves are long, flat like ribbon and about 1 cm wide. It is a small aquatic plant that grows inside the water. It has separate male and female flowers. Fishes also use it as food. It is an oxygen producing plant. It is propagated by rooted runner.

(ii) Callitriche - It is the best among oxygen producing plants. It is a suitable plant for fishes to hide.

(iii) Elodea - It is the smallest plant among oxygen producing plants. Its growth is very fast, hence there is an urgent need to remove the overgrowth.

(iv) Cabomba - It is also called water buttercup. It bears white flowers on the surface of water in May.

All the above plants grown in the aquarium require sunlight, which can be fulfilled by lighting a bulb in the aquarium. 

(7) Colored fishes Small sized colored fishes are more suitable for aquarium. Golden colored goldfish is the main beauty of the aquarium. It is also called 'Feng Sui fish'. Its price ranges from Rs. 30 to Rs. 500 per pair. Black Molly and White Molly fishes cost Rs. 15 to Rs. 50 per pair. Fishes are released in the aquarium according to its size. 12-14 fishes are sufficient in a standard aquarium.

(8) Other material - Artificial plants, background posters, toys, aquarium lights etc. are used to make the aquarium lively and beautiful.

                                                                

Care of Aquarium

                                                         

                                                                                                    Aquari

1. The amount of water in the aquarium should be filled as per the requirement of the fishes reared in it. The amount of water required for each fish depends on its species.

2. If the number of fishes in the container is not too much and the number of oxygen producing plants is sufficient, then the water needs to be changed only once a year.

3. To avoid frequent water changes, the food not eaten by the fishes and the sediment formed on the water should be cleaned from time to time.

4. Fishes die if the aquarium water is changed frequently, hence a good quality filter should be used so that the water does not have to be changed before 5-6 months.

5. Good quality feed should be used for the fishes. Three to four grains per day are sufficient for one fish.

6. Excessive food (feed) is fatal for the fishes, hence food should be given at a fixed time every day. 

7. All fishes do not adjust with each other, hence fishes of different species should be kept in one aquarium according to their nature. For example, fishes of other species cannot be kept with gold fish.

8. While changing the water, it should be kept in mind that the temperature of the fresh water should be the same as that of the water to be taken out, because fishes are very sensitive to changes in water temperature.

9. The temperature inside the aquarium should always remain between 28°C to 30°C.

10. It is necessary to install an aquarium heater when the temperature decreases in winters. Similarly, ice should be put in the aquarium when the temperature increases in summers.

11. To avoid any kind of infection in fishes, a medicine called Anti Itch should be put. Antichlorine should be put while changing the water. A medicine called General Aid can be put anytime.