Introduction to your Aquarium

Introduction to your Aquarium River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 1 12/6/09 09:38:55

Congratulations on purchasing Interpet s River-Reef Aquarium. Whether you use your aquarium to keep goldfish, establish your very own slice of an Amazonian river or even create a beautiful tropical coral reef you can be assured that you have chosen an aquarium that has been developed with ease of use and maximum potential for success as it s key objectives. We sincerely hope you enjoy your River-Reef aquarium... Happy fishkeeping. 1 River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 2 12/6/09 09:38:57

Introduction to your Aquarium In designing your aquarium we have looked to nature to ensure we meet key criteria which will allow you to have a happy and successful fishkeeping experience. In order to achieve a balanced, healthy aquarium, having the right balance of filtration, lighting, water movement and temperature stability is essential. Your aquarium is supplied with High Definition Lighting (HDL) and Ultra-Clear Filtration (UCF). Both these aspects ensure that whether you decide to keep tropical freshwater fish, a beautiful planted aquarium or for many the ultimate aquarium- your own coral reef, the basic hardware supplied is of a high enough quality to mean that the only upgrades you will require are those components specific to the environment you desire. In the case of a standard tropical aquarium there is no additional equipment required. To ensure you make the right choices if upgrading to a planted aquarium or marine aquarium, there is a River-Reef upgrade kit available for either set up. Further on in the instructions there is an outline of what is included in both the upgrade kits. Irrespective of the choice you make regarding the type of aquarium set up you desire, we strongly recommend you invest in a good book which explains the basics of the aquarium you require. You should also seek out the advice of a reputable aquatic retailer. Follow their advice and be patient when building your ecosystem. Fish need to be added over a period of weeks to ensure the delicate balance of nature is achieved. 2 River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 3 12/6/09 09:38:58

Lighting Lighting serves 2 functions in an aquarium. Firstly it provides a source of energy for corals and plants. Not only is it essential to supply the right brightness (intensity) of lighting, but the lamps must emit the right colour spectrum in order to allow plants and corals to grow. Secondly lighting is used to enhance the colours of your aquarium and its inhabitants. Your aquarium is supplied with 2 types of lighting: The first is a pair of high output T5 Power Compact lamps also referred to as PC lamps which are bright white output rated at 10,000K. This provides the correct type of light for great coral and plant growth. The balance of these lamps ensures your fish s colours will show their full potential and will give a real enhancement to your complete aquarium. Filtration Whether you intend to keep goldfish, tropical freshwater fish or marine fish and corals your chosen livestock deserve the best water quality possible. Your aquarium inhabitants will be living in a closed environment. It is therefore essential that the waste they produce is dealt with quickly and efficiently. In order to achieve this, your aquarium is supplied with 3 stages of filtration. The combination of filter media supplied ensures the water clarity remains high, which in turn ensures the lighting can be utilised by corals and plants. The second type of light is Blue LED lighting which can be used to create a moonlight effect when the main PC lamps are off at night. 3 River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 4 12/6/09 09:39:11

Stage 1: Mechanical Mechanical filtration is the term used for filtering out larger physical waste matter such as general detritus, plant matter, fish waste and uneaten food. Your aquarium is equipped with a comprehensive mechanical filter area large particles will drop out in the first settlement chamber. The filter balls & foam ensure that particulate waste is trapped whilst guaranteeing good water flow. The filter pad removes the finest material and is in a convenient position for cleaning. Stage 2: Biological The biological waste produced in an aquarium through fish waste, dead organic matter and excess food is dealt with by the aquarium s Bio-Media. This high surface area material provides an ideal environment for beneficial bacteria. The BioMedia should not be washed under tap water as this will harm the beneficial bacteria that breaks down the ammonia and nitrite which are created naturally and can pollute the aquarium. Stage 3: Chemical Organic particles known as dissolved organic carbons (DOC s) which are too small to be picked up by the mechanical filtration, can cause yellowish discolouration of the aquarium water. This is effectively removed by the River-Reef s carbon chemical filter bags. The carbon bags will continue to remove DOC s for between 4-8 weeks depending on the level of organic waste in the aquarium. It is important to ensure the carbon bags are replaced regularly to ensure water clarity is maintained, and to allow essential light penetration required for sustained plant and coral growth. Stage 4: Protein skimming (Marine option) By using the skimmer weir gate supplied you can drop the water level in the third chamber creating sufficient head room to install a compact nano-protein skimmer. A protein skimmer removes organic waste from salt water instantly before it can become toxic waste. 4 River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 5 12/6/09 09:39:11

Water Circulation Water circulation in a reef aquarium forms an essential constituent of maintaining a healthy aquarium. Many invertebrates depend on good water flow to gain their food intake through filter feeding. A high circulation level aids in maintaining a high level of oxygen, as well as helping to remove mucus and detritus from corals. The disturbance of the water surface created by high circulation aids in gaseous exchange and breaks up the oily film sometimes seen on the water surface. Your aquarium is equipped with pump/s which will circulate the aquarium in excess of 10 times per hour. This is widely accepted to be the correct level of circulation for a healthy reef aquarium. If you have decided to opt for a planted aquarium then it is suggested that the water flow is diverted away from the surface of the aquarium, in order to ensure beneficial carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is not diffused out of the aquarium too quickly. In the River-Reef 50 only fit one pump. The flow rate can be reduced on all the pumps before fitting them to allow you to customise water flow for your aquarium. Safety Please read before installing your aquarium DANGER To avoid electric shock, care should be taken since water is employed in the use of aquarium equipment. Do not attempt repairs yourself; return the appliance to an authorised service facility or discard the appliance. USE AN RCD It is recommended that for safety all equipment is connected through an earth leakage circuit breaker (RCD). WARNING To guard against injury, basic safety precautions should be observed, including the following: a. Do not operate any appliance if it has a damaged lead or plug, is malfunctioning, or if it is dropped or damaged in any manner. b. To avoid the possibility of the appliance plug or socket getting wet, position the aquarium stand and aquarium to one side of the wall mounted socket to prevent water from dripping onto the socket or plug. A drip loop should be arranged for each cord connecting an aquarium appliance (see figure 1 opposite). The drip loop is the part 5 River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 6 12/6/09 09:39:12

of the lead below the level of the socket, or connector (use an extension lead if necessary) to prevent water coming in contact with the socket. If the plug or socket does get wet, DO NOT unplug the lead. Disconnect the fuse or circuit breaker that supplies power to the aquarium. Unplug the device and allow to dry out thoroughly. i. Read and observe all the important notices on the aquarium. j. If an extension lead is necessary, a lead with a proper rating should be used. A lead rated for less amperes or watts than the aquarium rating may overheat. Care should be taken to arrange the lead so that it can not be tripped over or pulled. c. Supervision is necessary when used by or near children. d. Do not touch moving parts. e. Unplug the aquarium from the socket when in use, before putting on or removing parts, and before cleaning. Never pull the cord to remove the plug from the socket. Grasp the plug and pull to disconnect from socket. f. Do not use this aquarium for other than its intended use. The use of attachments not recommended or sold by Interpet may cause an unsafe condition. g. Do not install or store the aquarium where it will be exposed to the weather or to temperatures below freezing. h. Make sure any appliance mounted in the aquarium is securely installed before operation. Figure 1: Drip Loop drip loop 6 River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 7 12/6/09 09:39:12

Setting up your River-Reef Aquarium Contents The contents of your aquarium will depend on whether you have opted for a RR 40 or 50. The RR40 contains one pump, flow deflector and one Bio-Media bag rather than the 2 supplied with the RR50. The contents shown opposite are for the RR50. Location To prevent unwanted algae it is always preferable to be able to control the lighting in the aquarium and for this reason it should be situated away from windows. This will also help to regulate the temperature in the aquarium. To ensure the aquarium does not overheat it should also be situated away from radiators or other room heaters. Your River-Reef aquarium weighs a considerable amount when full of water. It must therefore be placed on a suitable surface. If you decide not to use one of the approved River-Reef aquarium stands then ensure the support you use is both stable and level. As with any glass aquarium, your River-Reef aquarium may crack if placed on an unsuitable surface. Before deciding where to place your aquarium remember you will need to be able to fully open the hood for aquascaping and maintenance. You should also ensure you have access to the electrical socket so equipment can be switched off during the maintenance program. 7 River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 8 12/6/09 09:39:16

Assembly instructions 1. Electrical equipment The plugs for electrical equipment will fit through the cut out in the hood. However should you wish to remove the hood for any reason it can easily be done as follows: To remove the hood from the aquarium: 1. Unscrew the x-head locking cover screws and remove the two locking covers. (diagram 4). The heater is pre-set to the correct temperature for tropical and marine fish, and is fully adjustable should a higher or lower temperature be required. DO NOT TURN THE HEATER ON AT THIS STAGE 1. 2. Open the hood to approximately 45 degrees (see diagram), so the holding pins slide away from the hinge bracket. 3. Ensure the electrical cables are placed in the clips provided. The hood can then be re-fitted, by again setting the angle at approximately 45 degrees and sliding the holding pins in to the bracket. The hinge locks can then be re-attached. Pump/s should be fitted with their flow pipe and elbows. The pump/s need to be positioned at the bottom of their chamber & the outlet pipe firmly fitted to the outlet holes. (diagram 3). DO NOT TURN THE PUMPS ON AT THIS STAGE The heater should be attached to the wall of the filter chamber using the suckers supplied 2. 3. 4. 45 8 River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 9 12/6/09 09:39:18

2. Filtration materials Filterballs Foam Block 5. 6. Bio-Media 7. Carbon and fine pad 8. 9 Biomedia must be removed from polythene bag and washed thoroughly first Carbon must be removed from polythene bag and washed thoroughly first River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 10 12/6/09 09:39:32

3. Optional protein skimmer installation (for marine systems only) To install a skimmer it is necessary to create sufficient head room above the water surface to fit the skimmer collection cup. This can be achieved in the third filter chamber by fitting the skimmer weir gate into the slots provided (see diagram 1). Diagram 1: Fitting the weir gate The water level in the third chamber can be controlled by raising or lowering the weir gate (see diagram 2). Install your protein skimmer and drop the water level to the recommended level for optimum skimming. Please note when using a skimmer the filter media configuration will need to be adjusted according to the space remaining (ask your retailer for advice). Diagram 2: Adjusting water flow through the weir gate Water level Water level UP = raises water level DOWN = lowers water level 10 River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 11 12/6/09 09:39:33

4. Lighting Your River-Reef aquarium is supplied with High Definition Lighting (HDL). This consists of twin T5 High Output power Compact lamps, and a series of blue LED lights. The LED s are pre-installed and are not replaceable. They will last many years and are ideal for night viewing when the main lighting is switched off. The Power Compact lamps can be fitted as follows: 1. Push down on the lighting chamber cover in order to gain access to the lighting chamber. 2. Install the lamps, inserting the non-socket end first and then slide the lamps into the sockets ensuring they are firmly fitted. 3. Close the lighting chamber cover. In order to ensure maximum effectiveness of the PC lamps it is recommended that they are replaced every 12 months. Although after this time they will continue to illuminate the aquarium and you may not notice a visible difference due to the slow reduction in light output, the reduction in output will have a detrimental effect on corals and plants. The PC lamps run at high temperature. To ensure ballasts, lamps and water do not over-heat your River-Reef aquarium is supplied with fans installed in to the hood. These only operate when the PC lighting is running. Your lighting is controlled via 3 switches on the top of the hood. From left to right the switches operate: (a) the front lamp, (b) the back lamp, (c) the Led s. The natural photoperiod on a coral reef or in a tropical river is approximately 12 hours. It is therefore advisable to run both PC lamps for approximately 10-12 hours. After this time you can use the blue LED s in order to continue viewing the aquarium after hours. In addition to gaining extra viewing time, many fish and invertebrates are more visible with the main lights off, and may display different and interesting behaviour in a night time setting. 11 River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 12 12/6/09 09:39:34

Setting up your River-Reef Aquarium Once you have installed the equipment and the aquarium is fitted to a suitable base you can add your gravel or other substrate. In the case of using Florabase (for plants) or Reef Base (for marine aquariums) there is no need to pre-wash the substrate. Please note that Florabase will initially turn the water cloudy. However this will quickly clear once the filter is operating. However if using plain gravel this will need thorough rinsing in a bucket before adding to the aquarium. Ensure the power compact lamps both light. If they fail to do so you should ensure they are firmly located in to their sockets. If they still fail to light then the lamp may have become damaged in transit. Return it to your retailer for a replacement. Figure 2: removing the impeller Once the substrate has been added you can carefully fill the aquarium. Once full, the power can be turned on and you should check that the heater and pumps are operating correctly. A light on the heater will indicate it is operating. Once it reaches the desired temperature the light will turn off. The pumps should both be running quietly. If either fails to operate or if they are running noisily then turn the power off, remove the pumps and take the impeller out (Fig 2.). Check for damage to the magnet and re-install the impeller before turning the pumps back on. Turn on the lights, checking that the led s operate (these are the small blue lights). Once the aquarium is full of water you should refer to the New Aquarium Start Up kit supplied with your aquarium. This provides a full complement of instructions and the necessary chemical and testing equipment for you to successfully prepare for adding fish and plants. 12 River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 13 12/6/09 09:39:34

Upgrading your River-Reef Aquarium If you should wish to upgrade to either a fully planted aquarium or a marine aquarium then there are specific substrates, additives and equipment required to be successful. Fortunately 2 complete kits are available, thus ensuring good value for money and the correct, compatible equipment is supplied. Planted tropical aquarium In order to establish a fully planted aquarium with lush plants and sustainable growth, it is necessary to add some specialised equipment and fertilisers. The Plant Kit contains the highest quality plant substrate as well as an essential range of fertilisers and test equipment which, when combined will give unbeatable and sustainable plant growth. Using the equipment supplied in the River-Reef pack could not be simpler, and results will be spectacular. In addition to looking beautiful, luxuriant plant growth also helps to achieve a natural balance in the aquarium and can aid in the reduction of algae problems. 13 River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 14 12/6/09 09:39:37

Marine Aquarium A marine aquarium requires more than simply the addition of a good quality marine salt mix. Marine fish and invertebrates need specific supplements and their requirements with regards to water quality and parameters are more specific than those of freshwater fish. The Marine Kit contains everything you require for a healthy marine aquarium, starting with the right choice of substrate, and including all the supplements and equipment you will need to maintain a beautiful fish or reef system. Guarantee This product is guaranteed as free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 2 years from the date of purchase, providing the following conditions are met. The guarantee covers only any defects caused during normal use and operation of the aquarium, in accordance with the instructions enclosed. NEVER place polystyrene under the bottom frame of this aquarium. Your aquarium must be sited on a surface that is flat and level and able to withstand the weight of the aquarium when filled with water, gravel etc. (Note: 1 litre of water weighs 1kg) Wrought iron and angle iron stands, together with video, Hifi, TV cabinets, articles of furniture and self assembly furniture are NOT suitable for use with River Reef aquariums, doing so will automatically invalidate this guarantee. It is the responsibility of the purchaser to ensure that when using an aquarium stand it has been designed for use with a River Reef Aquarium i.e. The top support of the stand should be in contact with the entire bottom frame of the aquarium. All aquarium/stand locations should take into account the position of floor boards/joists etc., bearing in mind the weight to be supported. You must use the correct River Reef stand so as not to invalidate your guarantee. The sealant on the aquarium must not come into contact with any chemicals (i.e. Household bleach etc) or sharp objects such as rocks and razor edged algae scrapers. Normal aquarium treatments and fish medications used for the purpose of fish keeping do not affect the aquarium silicone. Fill the aquarium so the water level reaches the bottom edge of the canopy when the canopy is in position (About 2cms below the top edge of the glass). Do not overfill. Prior to and after filling ensure your aquarium is perfectly level. Care should be taken to inspect your aquarium for any damage whatsoever either to the bracing system (where fitted), or to any other part of the aquarium, to avoid injury. IMPORTANT SAFETY ADVICE: Never site your aquarium over electrical appliances and never lift the aquarium by the top frame (if fitted) or by any part of the bracing system. DO not try to lift or move the aquarium when it contains water. This guarantee covers leakages arising from either faulty materials or workmanship. Interpet Ltd cannot be responsible for breakages of glass. This guarantee does not apply to any unauthorised modifications or misuse, improper or inadequate maintenance, or operations outside the product specifications. In case of defect within the stated guarantee period, the products should be returned, with proof of purchase, to the point of purchase. The extended guarantee does not cover the hood fans or lamps. This guarantee does not effect your statutory rights. Guarantee service includes repair or replacement of the aquarium at Interpet Ltd s discretion. Neither Interpet nor the manufacturer are liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, including loss of livestock, arising from a defect in this product. 14 River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 15 12/6/09 09:39:37

Spares River Reef 50 (94 Litre) replacement filter media: 2x carbon bags and 4x felt pads code: 2123 Foam filter code: 2125 River Reef 40 (48 Litre) replacement filter media: 2x carbon bags and 4x felt pads code: 2121 Foam filter code: 2124 Interpet Ltd. Vincent Lane, Dorking, Surrey RH4 3YX, England Contact Interpet Consumer Advice Department, Vincent Lane, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 3YX Telephone: 0845 226 7437 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm except Bank Holidays) Fax: 01306 876712 E-mail: customercare@interpet.co.uk River Reef Instruction manual 2009.indd 16 12/6/09 09:39:42