SENEYE FAQ- AQUARIUM HELP
WHAT IS PAR ?
PAR means Photosynthetic active radiation is a measurement of light power between 400nm and 700nm. It is used to give an indication of the power of light present that is used by organisms which have photosynthetic cells such as plants and corals. The graph below shows the light used by various photosynthetic cells, zooxanthellae and the combined line of light used by all photosynthetic pigments.
As you can see not much green light is used and absorbed, therefore it is transmitted or reflected by the plant which is why most plants look green. It also shows a slight flaw in using purely PAR as a measurement; for instance a lamp with high levels of green light would measure very high PAR but have little usable light for food where as a more reddish lamp may have a lower PAR but produce a higher growth rate in plants due to it being a more useable spectra. A green lamp would also make plants look very healthy (while potentially starving them) as they would reflect the green light but look healthy. It is for this reason that specialist plant tubes which are normally red heavy often deliberately put a large spike of green light in there lamps so plants don't look dull. This is why the seneye 3 point RGB graph provided can help to point out where the light is peaking. Again to help we have added a tab to allow the user overlay the combined PAR graph and see how your lighting fits. |
We recommend that the Seneye PAR function is used only as a measure against light readings taken from other Seneye devices or a Seneye PAR organism table. Why? most PAR devices are aimed for use in greenhouses where they are more interested in the red end of the PAR spectrum as this is where most terrestrial plant get there useful light from. The Seneye device is more sensitive than most at light below 450nm (bluer). This is arguably the most important spectra for coral and why most marine aquarists use additional actinic (03) spectrum bulbs.
Introducing new fish to your aquarium
When visiting an aquarium shop, it is always tempting to buy lots of fish.
This often leads to disappointment especially in new aquariums
Here are our simple ideas for successful fish introduction. Take it steadily, less fish is definitely more in the end.
Remember you have a duty of care under law (the animal welfare act) in the EU to your fish.
If you have a Seneye device, you may want to place it in the bag with the fish so you can check the key parameters as the fish are floated-in, and see the difference between the bag and the tank. (please note that you need to wait for the Seneye device to take a reading on it's half hour cycle to update the display when placing it in the bag)
If the water parameters in the bag are very close to yours then floating time can be minimised.
Often fish kept in transport bags for long periods will start to use up the water's oxygen and replace it with CO2. This in turn lowers pH and allows the toxic NH3 being produced in the bag to turn into non toxic NH4. Once the bag is opened, oxygen will replace CO2 and the pH will rise. Also, pH can rise when adding water to the bag from an aquarium with a higher pH. A pH rise will increase NH3 levels - the larger fish the more noticeable it will be. Again, a Seneye device in the bag while floating-in will help alert you to any raise in NH3.
When visiting an aquarium shop, it is always tempting to buy lots of fish.
This often leads to disappointment especially in new aquariums
Here are our simple ideas for successful fish introduction. Take it steadily, less fish is definitely more in the end.
- Try to choose and understand the fish you want, and its needs before going to the store.
- Try to make sure you minimise the time your new livestock is in the transport bag.
- If it's extremly cold or hot outside, provide an insulated box to protect the fish when they are being transported.
- Float the fish in an open bag on the aquarium and change part of the water as you go.
- Provide further hiding places for the new fish and existing fish.
- Reduced lighting while the fish are being introduced will minimise stress levels.
Remember you have a duty of care under law (the animal welfare act) in the EU to your fish.
If you have a Seneye device, you may want to place it in the bag with the fish so you can check the key parameters as the fish are floated-in, and see the difference between the bag and the tank. (please note that you need to wait for the Seneye device to take a reading on it's half hour cycle to update the display when placing it in the bag)
If the water parameters in the bag are very close to yours then floating time can be minimised.
Often fish kept in transport bags for long periods will start to use up the water's oxygen and replace it with CO2. This in turn lowers pH and allows the toxic NH3 being produced in the bag to turn into non toxic NH4. Once the bag is opened, oxygen will replace CO2 and the pH will rise. Also, pH can rise when adding water to the bag from an aquarium with a higher pH. A pH rise will increase NH3 levels - the larger fish the more noticeable it will be. Again, a Seneye device in the bag while floating-in will help alert you to any raise in NH3.
NEW TANK SYNDROME & NH3
New tank syndrome happens as pollution (NH3) builds up in water caused by fish excreta and uneaten food because benefitial bacteria have not yet populated filters in sufficent volume to process the waste created.
Care should be taken to watch NH3 levels during cycling the aquarium even if you are fishless cycling. If NH3 levels raise to unsafe during cycling, a number of measures can be deployed to lower pollution levels. |
BENEFICIAL BACTERIA AND YOUR FILTER
Beneficial bacteria are essential to fish keeping and the aquarium as they process the toxic biological waste produced by the fish. The most toxic substance is NH3, free ammonia and this comes from the fish passing urine and excreta from the gills.
There are two main types of beneficial bacteria required for water purification in fish tanks or pond; in mature ponds and aquariums they live everywhere, but most prolifically in the filter system where conditions are ideal for them. The first type of bacteria is called nitrosomonas, and these are aerobic bacteria which convert deadly ammonia into another less toxic substance called nitrite. The second type is called nitrobacter, another aerobic bacteria, which converts nitrites into less harmful nitrate. Without the bacteria, toxic pollution can quickly build up and kill any fish present. |
In a new aquarium or pond you can avoid new tank syndrome by slowly cycling or maturing the aquarium. This is essential because there will be very few bacteria present in a clean new aquarium/filter and they need time to mutiply.
The best plan is to mature the aquarium, slowly adding fish stocks gradually and feeding lightly. You should also monitor the NH3/NH4 level continously to ensure the fish are safe. If ammonia rises, you can do things about it - click here for help. Because the speed of aquarium cycling depends on how quickly bacterial colonies grow, here are a few ways to accelerate the process and get more bacteria sooner. One method is to migrate bacterial colonies from a disease-free established aquarium or pond by moving gravel, décor or filter media to the new tank. Usually your local fish store will give you some dirty water to help kick-start the biological processes.
As bacteria are a living organism they need to be cared for just as anything else does. Large swings in temprature, pH and pollution can cause bacteria colonies to reduce or die away, even in mature aquariums. A seneye device can be used to watch for the changes that can cause filter crashes.
Some people use fishless cycling to establish bacteria before adding fish but this also has some risks, such as understanding where the ammonia level is at all times with exahustive testing regimes. An alternative is to use the seneye device.
The best plan is to mature the aquarium, slowly adding fish stocks gradually and feeding lightly. You should also monitor the NH3/NH4 level continously to ensure the fish are safe. If ammonia rises, you can do things about it - click here for help. Because the speed of aquarium cycling depends on how quickly bacterial colonies grow, here are a few ways to accelerate the process and get more bacteria sooner. One method is to migrate bacterial colonies from a disease-free established aquarium or pond by moving gravel, décor or filter media to the new tank. Usually your local fish store will give you some dirty water to help kick-start the biological processes.
As bacteria are a living organism they need to be cared for just as anything else does. Large swings in temprature, pH and pollution can cause bacteria colonies to reduce or die away, even in mature aquariums. A seneye device can be used to watch for the changes that can cause filter crashes.
Some people use fishless cycling to establish bacteria before adding fish but this also has some risks, such as understanding where the ammonia level is at all times with exahustive testing regimes. An alternative is to use the seneye device.
WHAT IS CORAL?
Coral is a term given to a group of marine animals which often (though not always) live in colonies. They are part of the phylum Cnidaria, which includes over 10,000 species of animals, all of which live in aquatic (and mostly marine) environments. The main feature which distinguishes this phylum is the presence of cnidocytes – stinging cells used in the capture of prey. Within the phylum there are four classes including that which the corals belong to – Anthazoa – along with sea anemones and sea pens.
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Most corals reproduce sexually and a new colony is established once the fertilised egg has developed into an immature, mobile phase called planulae. The planulae are taken by the current until they find a place to settle where they begin to reproduce asexually, developing a group of individuals genetically identical to themselves to expand into a colony.
Coral is a widely diverse family and can be split into soft and hard (or stony) corals. Soft corals tend to be more flexible and have elements of internal, calcium-based skeleton. Stony corals tend to construct very rigid skeletons which can form huge shapes as the colony grows. Stony corals can be further divided depending on whether their polyps are large (LPS – large polyp stony) or small (SPS – small polyp stony).
As they grow, corals lay down a base of aragonite produced using calcium and carbonate ions taken from the water. This gives the colony structure and support, whether in form of an internal skeleton (soft coral) or a protective exoskeleton (SPS/LPS), which the polyp can retreat into in case of attack.The individual members of the colonies may be as small as a pinhead or as large as a few centimetres depending on the species of coral. The group of corals most commonly kept in aquaria are those found in the epipelagic zone; that is the depth to which sunlight penetrates, though corals have been found far beyond the reach of the sun.
Using their stinging tentacles, epipelagic corals supplement their diet with live food however their main source of energy comes from the production of sugars by zooxanthellae, which they carry internally in a symbiotic relationship. The majority of corals reliant on the food produced via the photosynthesis of their colonies of zooxanthellae are found in the first 60ft below the surface.
Written by Lizzi - Sparshot College - www.sparsholt.ac.uk
Lizzi uses a seneye device for her coral research.
Coral is a widely diverse family and can be split into soft and hard (or stony) corals. Soft corals tend to be more flexible and have elements of internal, calcium-based skeleton. Stony corals tend to construct very rigid skeletons which can form huge shapes as the colony grows. Stony corals can be further divided depending on whether their polyps are large (LPS – large polyp stony) or small (SPS – small polyp stony).
As they grow, corals lay down a base of aragonite produced using calcium and carbonate ions taken from the water. This gives the colony structure and support, whether in form of an internal skeleton (soft coral) or a protective exoskeleton (SPS/LPS), which the polyp can retreat into in case of attack.The individual members of the colonies may be as small as a pinhead or as large as a few centimetres depending on the species of coral. The group of corals most commonly kept in aquaria are those found in the epipelagic zone; that is the depth to which sunlight penetrates, though corals have been found far beyond the reach of the sun.
Using their stinging tentacles, epipelagic corals supplement their diet with live food however their main source of energy comes from the production of sugars by zooxanthellae, which they carry internally in a symbiotic relationship. The majority of corals reliant on the food produced via the photosynthesis of their colonies of zooxanthellae are found in the first 60ft below the surface.
Written by Lizzi - Sparshot College - www.sparsholt.ac.uk
Lizzi uses a seneye device for her coral research.