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I wud like to know if u cud help me out with this assignment that i got.Its not quite an assignment that i got but rather a demonstration on how to set up an aquarium.

I'd be bringing all the equipments n stuff there.

The problem though wud be that i'd only have around 10 mins for the demo.

So many things wud have to be cut out.

What do u think i cud present and wat not?
I have around a week to prepare.


Any help wud be hugely appreciated.

What equipment do you have access to?

I would suggest having the gravel pre-washed and in a bucket.

you can set up a simple tank in about 10 minutes, with a UGF, or a HOB or even an internal filter.

I would avoid the cannister filters.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Here's what I'm thinking:
1. Stand. Obviously set up first. Talk about tank placement, including sunlight and weight.
2. Tank. Talk about dimensions and how wider/longer is better than taller. Differentiate between glass and acrylic.
3. Gravel. Washed and whatnot. Perhaps talk about sand. Tell how much a person should get.
4. Fill the tank about half-full with water, giving some basics on water chemistry. You could probably use a good sized bucket to do this quickly. Talk about how to fill up a tank.
5. Heater/Thermometer. Talk about the wattage per gallon and placement for good circulation.
6. Filter/Powerhead. You could set this up before or after the heater, doesn't matter much. Talk about the three different forms of filtration (mechanical, chemical, biological). Talk about flow, current, surface agitation, and good gph for most tanks.
7. Tank decorations/Plants. Talk about the importance of hiding places and say something about live vs. fake plants.
8. Hood/Lighting. Talk about the lighting and it's importance and the hood's importance for keeping fish inside the tank and such.
9. Add fish; they don't have to be real, just something to help demonstrate. Talk about proper acclimation.
10. Food. Easy.
11. Water Parameter Tests/Cycling.
12. Give a disclaimer that it probably won't take 10 minutes and that you had everything prepared beforehand. Also, give a disclaimer that it's best to use a tank larger than what you probably used (5-10 gallon?) since the small tanks can easily fluctuate and such.

Admittedly not much thought went into that... But in only 10 minutes you can't say too much. But you should probably try to hit on most if not all of the basic things that I mentioned. I might have missed something big.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Callatya,
I'll be bringin along a 20 Gallon tank together with pre-washed gravel. Also, a sponge filter and UGF ,and i'll also bring a heater. A UV light tube and also plastic plants and fish.

Shini,

I think if i start goin into water chemistry and the other such as fishless cycling, it might just be too tight for my time limit as it's only 10 mins + i wud be doin the live demonstration there.
So i wud have to manage 2 things at a time which might be too much.

Thx for the ideas though. Keep them coming.

If you are on a time limit them I would maybe do a quick setup like this:

1 Stand then foam then tank. Quickly explain why foam.
2 filter and gravel - explain also why to wash and why you selected that filter
3 water - how to add, what to add to help start
4 decorations within the tank - what can and can't be added
5 fish - compatibility and whatnot.



That should easy last for 10 minutes and then maybe as questions. That way you get class involvement and also can explain other points that others might want to know. But remember to keep this short as you don't want to rant on and on. In saying that I will leave you at that and see what you think.