Know all about your fish tanks
Did you know keeping gold fish in a bowl is illegal in Monza, Italy? We didn’t know until we meet Rajendra Kumar GG fondly knows as Raj amongst more than 600 members of his group A-s-k, who explained to us that the size of the bowl is torture for fish. Raj, 52, a coffee planter and an electronics engineer by profession is a technical aquarist since the 1960s. He has 15 tanks and a small pond where he breeds many varieties of fish. He was a member of an international group but many tips discussed there were not relevant to him as the filters, tanks discussed in the group were not available in India. He started his own group to share links and information amongst members of Aquarium Society of Karnataka. Soon he started receiving enquiries from other parts of India and eventually he opened his group under strict moderation for all the hobbyists who care for their fish and aqua plants.
A-s-k is a great source of information on maintaining a healthy aqua environment for the tank at your home; be it filter, lighting, fish food, plantation or any other factor. According to Raj, fish starts dying in the initial 2 hours of their purchase if one doesn’t take proper care of them. Even the local shop-keepers of fish tanks don’t have adequate information on all the technical aspects. Many members join the group when their fish are dying so the moment one joins the group, one receives a note for immediate actions for one’s fish tank along with Raj’s phone number .
We met Raj in Bangalore over a cup of coffee and got to know some interesting facts. Most common reason for fish dying in the tank is ammonia. When the fish are fed, they digest the food and excrete waste into the water. The nitrogenous element in the waste breaks down to ammonia, which becomes toxic for the fish in less than a day and fish starts to die. To avoid this, one has to establish nitrogen cycle in the tank. This cycle converts ammonia to Nitrite and finally to Nitrate, which is less poisonous and can be absorbed by the plants and algae in the tank. Bacteria that help in speeding up this nitrogen cycle can be raised on the filters of tank. Raj helps his group members personally making those filters ready for his member’s tank.
To know more about fish tanks and aqua plants, join the Yahoo! Group A-s-k . If you want to share an interesting story of your Yahoo! Group, please send it to us at groups@yahoo-inc.com Stay tuned for our next coverage.
Thanks!
Shefali
Yahoo! Groups India Community Manager
Raj said,
October 6, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
Thanks Shefali, it was a great pleasure meeting you and Prakash over coffee. Looking forward to meeting you all again soon.
shailesh said,
October 6, 2008 @ 12:43 pm
fish tank imagres &knoleg
R.RAMESH said,
October 7, 2008 @ 7:26 am
Anna you are simbly Great !! Keep up the noble works.
vu2RMS
Mrudula said,
October 7, 2008 @ 7:35 am
Good one
Jani Prashant said,
October 7, 2008 @ 8:13 am
Shefali, indeed a succinct post. The picture of the tank is very beautiful and depicts in detail the tank which is well maintained. Thank you for the post. And thanks to Raj for mentoring so many aquarium-enthusiasts.
Nazim said,
October 8, 2008 @ 12:59 pm
If not for Raj my fish would still be dying. Thank you Raj.
G.Somasndaram said,
October 12, 2008 @ 7:43 am
Let me know more about fish acquiriam
rahul rathore said,
October 14, 2008 @ 7:33 am
this is interesting… keep up
onuallae said,
October 20, 2008 @ 1:00 am
- of couse you mean a fish tank
Niranjan said,
October 20, 2008 @ 6:50 am
Hello Raj,
Nice to know you. I am an aqarium enthusiast too. I was cleaning my tank recently and had to put the fishes in a bucket. I had lot of algae on the glass, so after cleaning had left it to dry. The by noon I had 3 dead fishes in the bucket. I dont know how. Immediately filled the tank and released the fishes in the tank. Now they are all doing good.
Raj, how do I avoid the algae growth on the glass. I have about 16 fishes of differnt kinds.
Raj said,
October 20, 2008 @ 9:50 am
Niranjan, please email me ggrk @ vsnl.com
sagari das said,
October 21, 2008 @ 4:26 am
Hi, i jst hit upon your site. I am new to your site. Its made an interesting reading. I am a pet lover, specially dogs. I will like to share my experience with them.
Is nice to to be in touch with the people of same interest. Its great. Do you have something similar in bombay as i am staying in here.
Madhusudan said,
October 21, 2008 @ 5:33 am
Please Email me with this Email.I want to know about more birds in India..Please help me.
lachu said,
October 21, 2008 @ 7:07 am
very good pictures
kenny said,
October 25, 2008 @ 7:08 pm
Hi Raj, I 2 am an aquarium enthusiast(4 d Past24Yrs) from class 8 . unfortunately i have been a very bad fish keeeper for most of the time. that is because I came 2 know about N2 cycle, filters etc only recently. Right now Ihave two glass tks(165 &185 ltrs), four large outdoor cement tanks & six small cement tks. I have had some success in breeding ordinary goldfish, guppies , mollies, swortails, fighters& platies. U would have guessed by now how crazy i am about this hobby.Would be very grateful if i am accepted into ur mailing group.
Upender.A said,
November 3, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
hello sir,,
I am a fish enthusuiast.. I need some information about growng vastu fishes..
i am a fishkeeper from past 10years..i like to keep my fishes safe so can u give me suggestions on the chemicals,,,and the food i.e, which type of food should i give to my fishes… so please give me suggestions about the food to my fishes,,i have golden fishes,,tiger sharks,,mollies..etc..
i also have seals..etc..
so please give me suggestions,,,
Satishkumar.M said,
November 24, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
Its nice watching your site.
Its really very usefull to all.
Keepon giving such valuble informations.
Satishkumar.M said,
November 24, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
Helo sir, i am satish….I 2 am an aquarium enthusiast(4 d Past24Yrs) from class 8 . unfortunately i have been a very bad fish keeeper for most of the time. that is because I came 2 know about N2 cycle, filters etc only recently. Right now Ihave two glass tks(165 &185 ltrs), four large outdoor cement tanks & six small cement tks. I have had some success in breeding ordinary goldfish, guppies , mollies, swortails, fighters& platies. U would have guessed by now how crazy i am about this hobby.Would be very grateful if i am accepted into ur mailing group.
k.vaithi said,
December 2, 2008 @ 8:03 am
sir,
you know fish weeping the water!
Raj said,
December 4, 2008 @ 6:44 am
Any aquarium help, please email me ggrk @ vsnl.com or join
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A-s-k/
Social Networking for Pets said,
December 11, 2008 @ 11:35 am
Thanks, Good Stuff.:)
DATTATREYULU REDDY.N said,
December 27, 2008 @ 11:52 am
hi,
I AM DATTATREYULU REDDY AN EXECUTIVE ENGINEER IN TOURISM DEPARTMENT OF ANDRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAAD,AGED 55 YEARS . AM VERY MUCH INTERESTED TO BREED FISHES FROM MY CHILD HOOD.LUCKLY IN MY OFFICE THERE IS A BIG NUTURAL OLD AGRICULTURAL LAKE OF NEARLY 3 ACRES AREA IN WHICH AM BREADING SINCE 5 YEARS. THE SIZE OF FISHES IS MORE THAN 5 KGS .BUT DUE TO RAPID URBANISATION OF HYDERABAD LOT OF RESIDENTIAL DRAINS ARE FLOWING IN DUE TO NATURAL EARTH SLOPES, DUE TO THIS TOTAL WATER BECOMES VERY GREENISH AND LOT FISHES BREATHING LAST NOW AND THEN AND WATER SMELLING VERY BAD AND LOT OF CAKE TYPE FROTH FORMING OVER WATER WHICH IS FOUL SMELL
AFTER SEEING YOUR BLOG I THOUGHT IT IS BETTER TO TAKE YOUR VALUEBLE ADVICE OVER THIS ISSUE AND PROTECT FISH,DUCKES,TORTAIES ECT IN THIS LAKE
I AM WATING YOUR ADVICE
PLEASE HERE ARE MY WISHES OF HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009
FOR SINCERE EFFORTS TOWARDS BEAUTIFUL CREATURES OF NATURE
PLEASE NOTE I AM AURVEDIC MEDICITIONAL PRACTISIONER
AND STARTED A GROUP TO PROTECT EARTH AND VERY REAR MEDICINATIONAL PLANTS BEST MY LEVEL . IF YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN THIS MATTERS PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS
WITH BEST WISHES
DATTA
SUPRIYA said,
December 28, 2008 @ 4:48 pm
U R IDEAS IS VERY GOOD.I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT AQUARIUM ENVIROMENT BECAUSE IN THIS WINTER ALL MY FISHES HAVE LOSE THERE COLOURS AND ALL BODY HAS SPOTS,AND THEY DIED IN ONE ,TWO DAYS. PLEASE GIVE ME REASON ARE THEY DIED BECAUSE OF SPOTS OR OTHER REASON..PLEASE HELP
CHHAYA PANDEY said,
January 10, 2009 @ 6:06 am
I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR IDEAS BCOS U R IDEAS IS SO GOOD. I LIKE THIS.
Pranay said,
January 19, 2009 @ 5:29 am
YOUR IDEAS IS VERY GOOD.I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT AQUARIUM ENVIROMENT BECAUSE IN THIS WINTER ALL MY FISHES HAVE LOSE THERE COLOURS AND ALL BODY HAS SPOTS,MY TOW GOLD FISH DIED IN ONE WEAK
raima said,
January 20, 2009 @ 9:24 am
please keep me posted abt ur write ups .wud love 2 start keeping up an aquaraium again.
harjeet said,
January 29, 2009 @ 4:55 pm
i like fishes
prakash said,
January 29, 2009 @ 6:06 pm
Hi,
I also had 13 fishes and past few days most of the fishes died .Now only three is left.I have a good filter and we regularly clean the tank once in 15 dyas.the plants kept in the tank also is drying and slowly fading.Please suggest me with few tips so that I can save fishes dying.It is really hurting when seeing the fishes die .Please guide me.
Fish Tank Filters said,
February 18, 2009 @ 7:52 am
that is really awesome. you have done a great job by providing us handy information on fish tank filters.
Fish Tank Filters said,
February 19, 2009 @ 6:09 am
i recently brought an aquarium in my house. i was looking for something that i got in your article. the stuff is very nice and informative. thanks for helping a great deal to me.
HARISH R said,
July 20, 2009 @ 7:06 am
HI
I have a tank, the water capacity is 320 ltrs. I have a problem with the plants everyday the leaf of the plants are turning into brown colour. Please advice me what to do.
Harish
krishna said,
July 20, 2009 @ 12:22 pm
Dear sir,
I am feeding my flower horn fish with live small gold fishes,but it is costing more,Please suggest me if there is any alternate way instead of feeding live fishes.also suggest a good nutritious food for Oscar and flower horn fishes.
Balaji said,
July 23, 2009 @ 6:15 am
hi,
i’m a student n i got to know abt ur deeds through a Deccan Hearld article…
i’m an immense fish lover cos they r very cute and relieves stress…
i like my fish to be happy n long living…
i read that nitrogen cycle has to be established in the tank…
what exactly is this nitrogen cycle and how do we establish it??
i also read that we can be a member, i’d be pleased to be one. how do i proceed? i’m interested in ur deeds of exploration n knowledge…
b,sribabu said,
July 26, 2009 @ 1:34 pm
hi RAJ i am keeping auqarium for th past 10 years i have problem with gold fish
th body becomes swollen adn they die kindly help me to over come the problem