nano aquarium_ eheim guide

7/28/2019 Nano aquarium_ Eheim Guide

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NANO AQUARIUM GUIDEEHEIM aquastyle – the small design aquarium

Shrimps and crasFresh water

The top tips



List of contents

2

Nano aquariums – a asic guide

A little paradise in your home 5

- Small size design aquarium

- Fashion at home or in the office

- Nano aquariums are so easy

EHEIM aquastyle

- Description and features 5

Check list

The most important things in a nutshell 6-7

- How to get started

- How to create your little paradise

- How to look after the ecosystem

Sound adice

What you should know

- Positioning 8

- Dressing the aquarium 9

- Plants 9

- Water quality 10- Equipment (filter, filter media, lighting, heater) 11

Liestock and plants

- What kind of livestock 12

- Feeding 13

- Shrimps (example) 13

- Plants (example) 13

Maintenance and accessories 14

Advice and help, Imprint 15



Dear Readers,

Discovering new things and putting them into

practice has always been EHEIM’s passion. With

EHEIM aquastyle we have taken up a new trend,

imbued it with our high requirements for quality

and design and created a top of the range nano

aquarium. A beautiful, small glass cube, combined

with excellent technical equipment. A pleasure for all.

With this guidebook we want to give you an insight

into the mini aquarium – an attractive addition to

your furnishings and a small fascinating underwa-

ter world. But also a living space for aquatic life

and plants.

So that you can set up this living space correctly,

so that this little biotope stays in proper work-

ing order and so that your EHEIM aquastyle

aquarium long remains an attractive highlight, here

are some important tips and advice. Clear and con-

cise so you don’t have to read long explanations.

We wish you success and much pleasure with your

aquarium.

Your EHEIM team



Eheim aquastyle –a little paradise in your home

4

NANO AQUARIUMS – A bASIC GUIDE

Just look around your home. Isn’t there something missing? A deco-ratie fixture? Something really eye-catching? Something original?Something liing? A nano aquarium may e just the thing? A fasci-

nating little underwater paradise. A mini island in your daily life. An initation todream.

EHEIM aquastyle – the small-sized design aquarium

Were you somewhat puzzled when you first heard the description “nano aquarium”?So were many others. But nano derives from the ancient Greek word “nannos” andsubsequently the Latin word “nanus” meaning dwarf. And so a nano aquarium is simplya very small aquarium. Not much bigger than a six-pack! Some also call it a “bonsaiaquarium”. Unlike larger aquariums, the nano aquarium has more of a decorative life-style character.

Nano aquariums are a recent trend Nano is in. An original design object suitable for a home or office environment. A trendy glass cube full of life – put it on a shelf, on a sideboard, on a desk or with amatching cabinet as a stand-alone attraction in a room. A small underwater world, inwhich plants and living creatures (eg. colourful shrimps) attract the eye with its fasci-nation. It’s exciting, relaxing and simply wonderful. The typical aquarium is a tropicalcommunity tank, because they are more interesting and colourful.

Nano aquariums are easy

By following a few simple basic rules andusing some suitable and helpful pieces ofequipment it will cost you relatively littletime and energy. However, you shouldalways bear in mind that you are creatinga small underwater biotope, that will onlyremain beautiful and in proper workingorder with the correct ecological balance.

And this equilibrium can more quickly

become imbalanced in a small amount ofwater than in a larger aquarium with a lotof water.



5

EHEIM aquastyle is somethingspecial

Apart from the high quality, which you canalways expect from EHEIM, you will find a fewunique special features with the EHEIM aquastyle.

• High quality float glass with seamless frontcorners.

• Al l-round iewale – een from the ack

The cables run neatly away in a cable tidy.

• Stale ruer feet mean no need for mats orother underlays.

• The coer plate is easy to fit; it incorporatesan air hole without the shrimps being able toescape.

•

The attractiely designed, round lamp withan economical power-LED distributes the lightevenly in the tank.

• The EHEIM aquastyle-filter specially designedfor this mini-aquarium is powered precisely tomatch the small water volume

• An EHEIM JÄGER thermostatic heater (25 or50 W depending on tank size) ensures correct

water temperature (Ask your aquatics retailer formore details).

• The cainet offers not only a stable stand butalso the perfect place to store your accessories.(The column cabinets to fit the different tankssizes are available from your aquatics retailer)

Sizes are: (Width x Depth x Heigh

24 x 24 x 28 = 16l.(assembled and filled ca. 25kg.)

27,5 x 27,5 x 32 = 24l.(assembled and filled ca. 35kg.)

31 x 31 x 36 = 35l.(assembled and filled ca. 50kg.)



This checklist will help you to do theright thing step y step. Howeer,only the asic principles are included,so please read the following pages inorder to etter understand the factorsand sutleties inoled.

How to prepare:

Correct position

No direct sunlight, not too much daylight,away from radiators, near an electricalsocket, upright, stable base.

Write your shopping list

EHEIM aquastyle Set (16, 24 or 35l.) withfilter and lighting; also if needed, a cabi-net; gravel base (fertilizer, gravel bottomfertiliser mixture, fine gravel 0,7-1,2mm –not too light-coloured); plants; decora-tion; water conditioner; other equipment(heater) and accessories. Important:don’t buy any livestock yet!

Prepare plants and decorationUnpack plants – remove elastic bandsand pots and rinse thoroughly; for deco-ration use only materials (stones, xylolithetc.) which do not leach particles intothe water (lime, metals etc.) – also washthoroughly.

Tank cleaning

Before installation, clean the aquariumthoroughly: use only warm water and asoft sponge, no chemical cleaners.

How to create your little

paradise:

Put in grael ase

Three layers: 1. fertiliser, 2. gravel bottomfertiliser mixture (2 cm); 3. gravel layer(3 cm); slope the gravel slightly towardsthe back (5 – 8 cm total height).

Install technical products

(Do not switch on!) Attach filter (filled with media) and light-ing; if necessary heater.

Decoration

Use stones and wood to create small hidingplaces (caves); if desired attach plants(eg. moss) so that they can grow.

Pour in some waterUp to 2/3rd height, lukewarm tap water(approx. 20 °C); don’t let the water disturbthe gravel (pour it gently over a saucer orflat stone for instance).

Put in plants

Shorten roots if necessary; press into thegravel with flat tweezers; plant up to 3/4

of the surface; larger plants towards theback; (cover over equipment).

It’s so easy:The important stuff in a nutshell

6

CHECK LIST



Fill with water

Lukewarm tap water up to approx. 3 cmbelow aquarium top. Add water condi-tioner.

Switch on your equipment

Let the filter run normally; set heater at 20 °C;switch the lighting on for a constant 8-10hours (timer).

Let aquarium mature(without liestock)

Clip on the cover plate and wait approx.2-3 weeks; add bacteria starter to water ifnecessary; keep an eye on the tempera-ture (18-24 ºC) and water quality (ammo-nia, nitrite, pH, CH, GH).

How to ensure quality of life:

Choice of liestock

Colourful shrimps (dwarf shrimps) and/ or crabs (check compatibility of differenttypes), perhaps also water snails; fish –even small ones – don’t belong in a nanoaquarium! 1 cm of fish requires 2 l. of wa-ter; start with just a few types of fish whichcan live together; then add a few algaeeaters, later other types of fish; make surethey have enough swimming room.

Feeding

Only a small amount (if required specialshrimp food, also leaf fall or fresh veg-

etable); one or two days a week the fishshould fast. (see P.13).

Plant care

Remove old and rotting pieces immediately;give a weekly dose of fertiliser; add gravelfertiliser after 6-10 months; make sure youuse good quality lighting. (see P. 9).

Water care

Remove algae and waste regularly; doa partial water change every week (onethird); each time add water conditioner;never clean the filter at the same time,and only briefly every 2 to 3 weeks; checkwater quality regularly (see P.10).

Filtration system

Use only the supplied EHEIM filter and filtermedia; run it day and night; only clean orchange the filter media as instructed, sothat the bacteria cultures are not com-pletely destroyed.

Cleaning

Chemical (incl. biological) cleaning agentsare strictly forbidden; do not use youraquarium utensils like bucket, sponge,

hose etc. for other tasks.

Other care

Remove food remains, dead organismsand so on immediately; occasionallyvacuum up undecomposed solid matter;clean glass inside and out.

7

Helpful accessories

Fish net, thermometer, timer, plant tongues,glass cleaner, and other utensils for watertesting and plants (see also P. 14).



Τι μέγεθος ενυδρείου να προτιμήσω;

8

Other things you ought to know

The single most important things for your nano aquarium are clean, care-fully prepared water, healthy plants and the correct conditions for yourtype of liestock. In the following pages we will gie you some informationand suggestions, so that you can etter understand how the ecologicalsystem works and do it right first time.

8

• Avoid locations in direct sunlight ortoo much daylight. Otherwise the for-mation of algae will be encouragedand the water unnecessarily heated(shrimps like it rather cool – between18 & 24°C).

• Avoid positioning too near a radiator.

• An electrical socket should be close byfor lighting and other equipment.

• You need space above (for, waterchanges & maintenance etc.).

• Don’t forget that the filled aquarium willbe quite heavy and later can only bemoved with difficulty.

How to choose the est position

The attractively designed light

with power-LED, specially

developed for the EHEIM

aquastyle, gives off just the

right amount of light for richplant growth.

The matching cabinet offers not only stability

but also a place to store your accessories. The

column cabinet is approx. 110cm high (eye

level when sitting); width and depth are accord-

ing to the three different tanks sizes (24 x 24,

27,5 x 27,5, or 31 x 31), so that the front views

are always level with each other.

Your EHEIM aquastyle deseres an attractie position. In a place where the

design element catches the eye and where you can watch life flourish in thisunderwater paradise. Howeer, the following rules are important to follow:

SOUND ADvICE



How est to set up your EHEIM aquastyle

How to look after your plants

A few extra tips:

• Slope the gravel slightly towards theback. Then you can better watch lifegoing on – it mainly happens at the

bottom.• Hide the equipment (filter, heater) at

the back behind suitably tall growingplants.

• Have patience and keep strictly to thewater stabilization period (2-3 weeks).The ecological balance has to settledown first.

9

Plants in your aquarium not only add eauty, they are alsoextremely important. They make an important contriution tothe alance in this small ecosystem. Together with acteria they detoxify the water and also remoe the asic foodstuff of algae. At the same time they gie off oxygen, which the liestock needfor reathing.

To set up an underwater world is a small act of creation, in which your creatiity knows few ounds. If you follow the steps as descried on pages 6/7, then actu-ally nothing can go wrong. but don’t forget that you are creating a sensitie littleworld, in which plants and liestock will lie in a small area. A eautiful, healthy iotope.

• Don’t forget future maintenance. Thisneeds your attention so that the won-derful biotope remains healthy and your

EHEIM aquastyle is still an attractive eye-catcher after many years. Particularlywith relatively small water volumes anylaxness will have an unfavourable effectmore quickly than with larger aquariums.

Please note:

• Plants grow and flourish solely fromlight (photosynthesis). For this reasonthe lighting must be switched on for 8to 10 hours per day (timer!)

• Aquatic plants not only take their nutri-tion from their roots – unlike terrestrialplants – but also via their leaves. Apartfrom gravel fertilizer they also neednutrients from the water and thereforeregular fertilizer is necessary

• To begin with, choose robust types of

plants, which take root well, don’t growtoo big and are not too demanding.

Additional CO2 supply

Apart from light, plants need carbon dioxide (CO2)

for photosynthesis. As a rule invertebrates don’t

give off much. With a CO2 kit you can supply the

necessary dose if required. Please ask youraquatics retailer.



10

How to achiee good water

quality

Healthy water is the essential ingredi-ent. Tap water, unfortunately, does notmeet the conditions for life that forinstance shrimps and other inerte-rates or een fish require. It is pol-luted with heay metals (eg. copper,zinc) as well as chlorine and other

chemicals. by using water condition-ers, acteria starters and filtration,toxic particles can e neutralised orasored.

Therefore what is important:

• When adding or changing water alwaysdose with water conditioner, (there areeven special shrimp-friendly water con-ditioners).

• Occasionally, particularly in the matura-tion period, add bacteria

• Use only a suitable filtration system (seeP.11) and leave it running permanently

• Change 1/3 of the water weekly anddose with water conditioner

• Clean the filter and filter media onlyinfrequently and never at the same timeas a partial water change – always 2-3days apart, so as never to completelydestroy the bacterial colonies (see box)

• Feed only small amounts• Keep aquarium clean: quickly remove

algae, fish waste, food remains, deadplant remains etc.

Also you should test the water qualitynow and again (pH value, water hardnesslevel etc.) and if necessary adapt to thevarious requirements of your livestock.You can get specific advice and a test kitfrom your aquatics retailer.

SOUND ADvICE

Water temperature If your EHEIM aquastyle stands in a room where the temperature is permanently oer 18ºC, then you don’t

necessarily need to heat the water. It depends on the indiidual requirements of your liestock (compare

P.12/13). Otherwise you should get yourself an EHEIM JÄGER heater) see next page.

Filter maintenance Clean the filter only infrequently – for instance, only

when the water output drops significantly – in luke

warm water. Simply rinse the filter cartridge (sponge)

and squeeze out gently, so that the acterial colonies

are not completely destroyed. When you replace the

EHEIM SUbSTRAT pro, retain aout 1/3 of the used,

acteria colonised sustrate in the filter ox.



Technical equipment

Filter

The filter is the heartbeat of your nanoaquarium. It maintains the balance in theecosystem, cleans the water, extractsfloating dirt particles, converts toxicwaste using colonised bacteria, ensures

constant water flow, prevents formationof different layers of temperature anddistributes oxygen and nutrients.

The EHEIM aquastyle-filter has beenspecially developed for the mini aquar-ium. As a corner filter, it takes up littlespace; the intake is precisely regulated,so that small livestock, such as young

shrimps, don’t get sucked into the filter. And it fits so close to the glass, that live-stock cannot get trapped in the gaps.

EQUIPMENT

Filter media

EHEIM SUBSTRAT pro

(Art. No. 2510021),phenol-free filter pad(Art. No. 2610000)

LightingThe EHEIM aquastyle lighting with powerLED (only 7 W) is intentionally designedround rather than a tube. In this way thelight shines more evenly on the squaretank. The lamp is easily adjusted, sothat the light can be directed at specificplanted areas.

HeaterFor your nano aquarium youcan use a 25 W (20-25l.) or 50 W(25-50l.) EHEIM JÄGER thermo-static heater. The temperaturedial is calibrated from 18 to 34 ºC(adjustment accuracy +/- 0,5ºC). Thetemperature set is permanently constant.The heater is fully immersible and is fixed

in the aquarium by rubber suckers.

Life in your EHEIM aquastyle mainly depends on using the correct technology. Itmust e precisely adapted to the mini iotope and must neer e too demandingof the system. So please neer oerdo it and only use the appropriate equipmentand media.

11

The construction is ideal. The filter media canister

can e easily unclipped. behind the grill, a filter

pad is used as a pre-filter and ehind that is

the media ox filled, for instance, with EHEIM

SUbSTRAT pro (also suitale for KARbON,

bioMECH etc.). The filter stays in the tank dur-

ing cleaning (or filling). You simply remoe the

components and replace them afterwards. As

easy as that.



In principle you should only keep invertebrates in you nano aquarium – that

is shrimps and/or crabs. Additionally, perhaps a couple of snails as “clean-

ing agents”. Fish*, on the other hand – even small types – need room to swim

around and don’t really belong in this mini tank. Furthermore, fish have different

requirements and their higher metabolism can quickly lead to a surfeit of waste

in a small amount of water.

Dwarf shrimps are the ideal inhabitants.

What liestock is suitale for your EHEIM aquastyle aquarium?

12

LIvESTOCK AND PLANTS

They are fascinating creatures. There areseveral types with attractive colouring.They are fascinating to watch, while forag-ing for food, fertilising the larvae, hatchingthe young, shedding their skins...

Dwarf shrimps are undemanding,

resistant and low maintenance. Theyonly need a small amount of food and,depending on the type, can even toler-ate a water temperature below 18ºC,although they then become somewhatlethargic.

Like all invertebrates they have anexoskeleton – their armour. They con-stantly have to adapt to growth. That is:when the armour becomes too small itbursts the shrimp forces its way out andsearches protection (some hiding placesin the decoration) until the new exoskel-eton hardens after a few hours.

Shrimps are gregarious and live inlarger groups. Therefore, at first, put sev-eral of the same type together (approx.5-6 per 10l.). They will soon reproduce.

If you would like to have crabs(as well or exclusively), then seek more

information. Some species neither toler-ate each other nor the peaceful dwarfshrimps. Some are also predators.

Snails, on the other hand, are usu-ally very useful co-inhabitants. They keepthe small biotope clean, devour rottingfood and plant remains as well as carrionand feed on algae... This even keeps theglass cleaner for longer. However, snailsalso eat things which the shrimps like toeat, so keep their number within reason!

Attention

Dwarf shrimps can jump. So always put the coer oer your EHEIM

aquastyle.

Note* In Germany and Austria, the keeping of fish in tanks of less than 54l.

is prohiited. Exceptions exist only for reeding purposes and for ery

small species.



How to feed correctly

Dwarf shrimps need only a small amountto eat as they have a low metabolismand weigh almost nothing. Furthermore,

they live, among other things, on micro-organisms, which colonise inside decom-posing material. As long as they can finddecaying plant debris and small algae,you hardly need to feed them.

Therefore:

• Don’t feed too much – (homeopathicdosage)

• Remove any food not eaten after 24hours

• Include 1-2 fasting days per week• You will find special foods for crusta-

ceans at your aquatics retailer

As a change you can sometimes serveleaf fall (beech, oak, hazelnut leaves) orfresh vegetable (cucumber, courgette,spinach, bell pepper, nettle). You mustfirstly blanch them in boiling water.

°C

GH

Size of shrimp

Temperature

Water

hardness

How aout these dwarf shrimps for your EHEIM aquastyle?

Crystal Red Shrimp(Cardina cf. cantonensis)

Attractively coloured variety

from South China. One of thepopular types of dwarf shrimp.

bumle bee Shrimp(Cardina cf. breviata)

Multivariant type fromSouth China

Red Fire Shrimp(Red Cherry)(Neocardina heteropoda)

Probably the most widely keptdwarf shrimp in Europe

White Pearl Shrimp(Neocardina cf.

hangjiajensis)

Very demanding variety fromEast China.

Tiger Shrimp(Cardina cf. cantonensis)

Interesting patterned typefrom South China

Examples of ideal plants for yourEHEIM aquastyle:

°C KHmoder-

ate50cm 18 to

28°C2 to15°d

Water Cloer(Marsilea)

Ideal foreground plant, growsslowly, very modest, eg.Marsilea hirsuta

Primrose WillowMullerti(Ludwigia mullertii)

Grows quite high, plant intowards back to hide theequipment, undemanding

Jaa Moss(Taxiphyllum barbieri)

Typical representative of manysimilar mosses, robust andundemanding

Water Trumpet(Cryptocoryne)

Large group of well suitedspecies, slow growing – eg.Wendt’s Water Trumpet

Anuias

(Anubias)Good starter plant; well suitedare smaller types, eg.

Anubias barteri var. nana

°C KHlow 5 to

5 cm

18 to

30°C

2 to

15°d

°C

KH

Height of growth

Temperature

Water

hardness

Lightrequirements

°C KHlow 5 to

15 cm

18 to

30°C

2 to

12°d

°C KHlow 10cm 20 to

30°C2 to18°d

°C KHlow 60cm 18 to

28°C2 to15°d

°C GH

20 to24 mm

16 to26°C

6 to15°d

°C GH20 to25 mm

15 to26°C

6 to15°d

°C GH20 to25 mm

15 to26°C

6 to15°d

°C GH

25 to35 mm

16 to25°C

6 to15°d

°C KH19 to30 mm

18 to26 °C

6 to15°d

°C GH



MAINTENANCE AND ACCESSOIRES

Useful accessories

EHEIM glass cleaner mp fish netmp thermometer

How to keep the little world in order

If you hae set up your EHEIM aquastylecorrectly and osered the asic rules,then there is not much more to do. It’s important to

• regularly

– remove food remains, old plantdebris and dead organisms etc.

– test the water quality values (kit for

this from your aquatics retailer)

•weekly

– change 1/3 of tank water and addwater conditioner

– add liquid fertilizer for the plants

•occasionally

– remove the detritus or cleantank gravel

– clean the tank glass

Only rarely clean the filter or change themedia – as described on page 10

14 EHEIM JÄGER heater25 and 50 watt

EHEIM plant tongs

(withhandle)



15

Do you need help and adice?

If you have questions, go and see yourspecialist aquatics retailer. Fishkeepers’clubs are also useful. Also, of course theEHEIM team.

You can find an specialist aquatic retailernear you by visiting our website at

www.eheim.de

and following the links

You will also find there a lot more infor-mation about aquariums, technology, fish,plants etc.

..................................................................Imprint

EHEIM GmbH & Co. KG

Plochinger Str. 5473779 DeizisauPhone: +49 (0)7153 / 70 02-01Fax: +49 (0)7153 / 70 02-174E-mail: [email protected]

Registered in Stuttgart HRA 211766

VAT ID: DE 1453 394 92

Directors:Erich KauerRobert Moll

Project Management:Ibrahim Mefire Kouotou

Text:Kaspar H. Noeren CMCwww.noeren-cmc.de

Design:Bettina Müller.DESIGNwww.bettina-mueller.com

Aquarium dressing:

Oliver Knott / www.oliver-knott.com

..................................................................15



Like the ery popular “Aquarium Guide” from EHEIM this Nano Aquarium Guide

is compiled so that the essential information is easy to find and to grasp. It is

also more of an instruction manual than an information ooklet. Howeer, the

ecological contexts of the mini iotope are clearly explained, without going too

deeply into detail. Just the right alance to interest the fishkeeper, who is most

interested in design

Your aquatic retailer:

www.eheim.de

EHEIM GmbH & Co. KG

Plochinger Str. 54

73779 Deizisau, Germany

Phone: +49 (0)7153 / 70 02 -01

Fax: +49 (0)7153 / 70 02 -174

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