Aquarium Keeping Practice Exam

Question 1 Aquarium Keeping

What is the typical discus temperature?

More expensive and complex than freshwater. Mechanical (sponge), biological (bio rings), chemical (carbon). Tank, filter, heater, light, substrate, decor, dechlorinator. 82-86°F (28-30°C).

Question 2 Aquarium Keeping

What is the typical aquascape evolution?

Verify heater accuracy; check daily. Removes nitrates and replenishes minerals. Hardy species like guppies, platies, danios. Tanks change over time as plants grow and fish develop.

Question 3 Aquarium Keeping

What is the rule "don't bury Java fern's rhizome"?

75-78°F (24-26°C). Will rot if buried; attach to hardscape. Gravel, sand, or specialized planted substrates. Livebearers self-reproduce; egg-layers need specific conditions.

Question 4 Aquarium Keeping

What is the role of researching each species?

Powers air stones, sponge filters. Boost plant growth; required for demanding plants. Regular testing catches problems early. Tank size, temperament, schooling needs, diet, water requirements.

Question 5 Aquarium Keeping

What is "the right tank for the fish"?

Greatly reduces outbreak risk. Improving fish health for breeding via diet. Hang-on-back (HOB), canister, sponge, internal, sump. Adequate size, water parameters, tankmates.

Question 6 Aquarium Keeping

What is the typical saltwater specific gravity?

Live plants, balanced fish, stable parameters create resilience. 72-82°F (22-28°C) for tropical fish. 1.023-1.025. Cold water (goldfish, white clouds) prefer below 72°F.

Question 7 Aquarium Keeping

What are types of aquarium lights?

Siamese fighting fish; usually kept alone. LED, T5, fluorescent; LED dominates today. Indicator showing CO₂ levels via color. 5W per gallon roughly; varies by room temperature.

Question 8 Aquarium Keeping

What are popular centerpiece fish?

New water should match tank temperature. Female bettas can sometimes be kept in groups (5+) in larger tanks. Angelfish, dwarf gourami, pearl gourami, rams. 72-82°F (22-28°C) for tropical fish.

Question 9 Aquarium Keeping

What is a pleco?

Plecostomus; algae eaters; many species, some get huge. Balance: light/nutrients/CO₂/plants; algae thrives in imbalance. The Estimative Index approach requires all three plus water changes. 20+ gallons; smaller tanks are HARDER to maintain due to instability.

Question 10 Aquarium Keeping

What are signs of healthy fish?

External; high capacity for larger tanks. Water with low salinity, between fresh and salt. Powers air stones, sponge filters. Active, eating, normal coloration, no clamped fins, swimming naturally.

Question 11 Aquarium Keeping

What is the rule "stable pH > perfect pH"?

Fish tolerate moderate pH better than fluctuations. Aquarium focused on live aquatic plants. Producing offspring; many species can be bred in home tanks. Slowly dripping tank water into transport bag.

Question 12 Aquarium Keeping

What is biological filtration?

Aquariums reward slow, steady additions and observation. Bacteria converting toxins; the heart of the cycle. Live food for fry; hatched from cysts. Simple, air-driven; gentle for breeding tanks.

Question 13 Aquarium Keeping

What is cycling a tank?

Adding oxygen via surface agitation or air stone. Requires conditioning, triggers, separation from parents. Establishing nitrogen cycle bacteria before adding fish. Removing debris and harmful chemicals; supporting bacteria.

Question 14 Aquarium Keeping

What is the typical PAR?

High-protein pellets; small portions. Measures specific gravity in saltwater. More expensive and complex than freshwater. Photosynthetically Active Radiation; light usable by plants.

Question 15 Aquarium Keeping

What is the typical fish quarantine?

Ammonia → Nitrite → Nitrate (and removed by water changes or plants). A serious parasitic disease. 30 days in separate tank before adding to display. A saltwater tank with corals and reef-associated life.

Question 16 Aquarium Keeping

What is bioload?

Freshwater community, planted, biotope, species-only, saltwater fish-only, reef. Hang-on-back (HOB), canister, sponge, internal, sump. The hobby of maintaining aquariums. The biological waste produced; some fish are heavy producers.

Question 17 Aquarium Keeping

What is KH (carbonate hardness)?

Buffer against pH shifts. LED, T5, fluorescent; LED dominates today. Soft, LPS (large polyp stony), SPS (small polyp stony). Young fish.

Question 18 Aquarium Keeping

What is "flashing"?

Adding oxygen via surface agitation or air stone. Higher temperatures = lower oxygen capacity. Java fern, Anubias, Cryptocoryne, Vallisneria, Amazon sword. Fish rubbing against decor; sign of irritation.

Question 19 Aquarium Keeping

What is when to use carbon?

Freshwater community, planted, biotope, species-only, saltwater fish-only, reef. Diverse, colorful fish from African lakes; hard water. Removing medication after treatment; not always needed. Hang-on-back (HOB), canister, sponge, internal, sump.

Question 20 Aquarium Keeping

What is the typical reef equipment?

Brown organic compounds; tea-colored water, slightly acidic. Skimmer, return pump, powerheads, lights, heater, controllers. $100-$500 starter setup; ongoing $50-100/month for established. 72-82°F (22-28°C) for tropical fish.

Question 21 Aquarium Keeping

What is driftwood?

Coral health and waste suspension. Fish tolerate moderate pH better than fluctuations. Natural wood for aesthetics and lowered pH. New water should match tank temperature.

Question 22 Aquarium Keeping

What is black beard algae?

Heat + salt or copper-based medication. Tough, difficult to remove; treat with CO₂ or spot-treat hydrogen peroxide. Balance: light/nutrients/CO₂/plants; algae thrives in imbalance. Will rot if buried; attach to hardscape.

Question 23 Aquarium Keeping

What is the typical aquarium cost?

$100-$500 starter setup; ongoing $50-100/month for established. Aquarium focused on live aquatic plants. Angelfish, dwarf gourami, pearl gourami, rams. Excellent algae eaters; named for Takashi Amano.

Question 24 Aquarium Keeping

What are powerheads?

Removes organic waste from saltwater before it breaks down. Pumps creating water flow within tank. Densely planted, structured groups of contrasting plants. Removing medication after treatment; not always needed.

Question 25 Aquarium Keeping

What is the typical driftwood prep?

Removes nitrates and replenishes minerals. Soft algae and biofilm; need mature tanks. 1,000+ gallons; large open space. Soak or boil to release tannins.

Question 26 Aquarium Keeping

What is the typical filter types?

8.1-8.4. 7.8-8.5; high pH water. Hang-on-back (HOB), canister, sponge, internal, sump. 1-3 inches.

Question 27 Aquarium Keeping

What is the typical first fish?

Measure of acidity; 7 is neutral, lower acidic, higher basic. 4-10x tank volume per hour. A secondary tank below the display for equipment. Hardy species like guppies, platies, danios.

Question 28 Aquarium Keeping

What are African cichlids?

Diverse, colorful fish from African lakes; hard water. Greatly reduces outbreak risk. The Estimative Index approach requires all three plus water changes. Algae plus vegetables (zucchini, cucumber).

Question 29 Aquarium Keeping

What is a biotope?

Tracks parameters, additions, problems. A tank replicating a specific natural habitat. The hobby of maintaining aquariums. A tank with one species; often for breeding or specialized care.

Question 30 Aquarium Keeping

What is the role of macroalgae?

Slowly dripping tank water into transport bag. Consumes nutrients reducing algae in main tank. Simple, air-driven; gentle for breeding tanks. Critical for fish; affected by temperature and surface area.

Question 31 Aquarium Keeping

What is velvet?

Requires conditioning, triggers, separation from parents. A serious parasitic disease. Critical for fish; affected by temperature and surface area. LED, T5, fluorescent; LED dominates today.

Question 32 Aquarium Keeping

What is blackwater aquarium?

Fish bearing live young: guppies, platies, mollies, swordtails. Local clubs, online forums; shared knowledge. Tannin-stained water mimicking Amazon habitats. Angels, discus, rams, Severums, Oscars.

Question 33 Aquarium Keeping

What is mechanical filtration?

An enclosed tank containing aquatic life and plants. Adding calcium, magnesium, alkalinity for coral growth. Trapping particles physically. A tank replicating a specific natural habitat.

Question 34 Aquarium Keeping

What are nerite snails?

More expensive and complex than freshwater. Rockwork, hard alkaline water, mixed species. Algae-eating snails that don't reproduce in freshwater. Oxygen, nitrate uptake, aesthetics, hiding places.

Question 35 Aquarium Keeping

What is the typical substrate depth?

1-3 inches. 1,000+ gallons; large open space. Adequate size, water parameters, tankmates. 72-82°F (22-28°C) for tropical fish.

Question 36 Aquarium Keeping

What is the typical first reading goal?

A coldwater fish needing space and good filtration. Ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate <40 ppm. Angels, discus, rams, Severums, Oscars. Aesthetic, biological surface, plant rooting.

Question 37 Aquarium Keeping

What is the rule "old tank syndrome"?

Using mature media or commercial bacteria products. Oxygen, nitrate uptake, aesthetics, hiding places. Long-running tanks need monitoring for nitrate buildup. Flakes, pellets, frozen, freeze-dried, live, vegetables.

Question 38 Aquarium Keeping

What is the typical heater wattage?

5W per gallon roughly; varies by room temperature. A product neutralizing chlorine and chloramine. Pumps creating water flow within tank. Coral health and waste suspension.

Question 39 Aquarium Keeping

What are food types?

Bacteria converting toxins; the heart of the cycle. Slowly dripping tank water into transport bag. Hiding places, territory, aesthetic. Flakes, pellets, frozen, freeze-dried, live, vegetables.

Question 40 Aquarium Keeping

What is the role of CO₂?

Boost plant growth; required for demanding plants. Higher temperatures = lower oxygen capacity. Tetras, rasboras, danios, gouramis (some), corydoras, livebearers. Categories based on PAR; matches plant needs.

Question 41 Aquarium Keeping

What is the difference between cold water and tropical?

A secondary tank below the display for equipment. Using mature media or commercial bacteria products. A peaceful mix of compatible species. Cold water (goldfish, white clouds) prefer below 72°F.

Question 42 Aquarium Keeping

What is "schooling fish"?

A peaceful mix of compatible species. Balance: light/nutrients/CO₂/plants; algae thrives in imbalance. Selectively bred varieties (oranda, ranchu, etc.). Need to be kept in groups (6+) for well-being.

Question 43 Aquarium Keeping

What is fishless cycling?

Algae-eating snails that don't reproduce in freshwater. The hobby of maintaining aquariums. Adding pure ammonia or fish food to feed bacteria without fish. Angelfish, dwarf gourami, pearl gourami, rams.

Question 44 Aquarium Keeping

What is the typical fish stocking rule?

75-78°F (24-26°C). Hiding places, territory, aesthetic. "1 inch per gallon" is outdated; varies by fish bioload and behavior. 72-82°F (22-28°C) for tropical fish.

Question 45 Aquarium Keeping

What is Nature style (Amano)?

Simple, air-driven; gentle for breeding tanks. Naturalistic, asymmetric, inspired by Takashi Amano. Severe internal infection causing pinecone scales; often fatal. Verify heater accuracy; check daily.

Question 46 Aquarium Keeping

What is filtration?

Removing debris and harmful chemicals; supporting bacteria. Aquariums reward slow, steady additions and observation. Improve water quality; antibacterial medication if severe. Regular testing catches problems early.

Question 47 Aquarium Keeping

What is breeding fish?

Round, colorful, demanding fish; requires warm, clean water. LED, T5, fluorescent; LED dominates today. Producing offspring; many species can be bred in home tanks. Stones arranged for structure and territories.

Question 48 Aquarium Keeping

What is canister filter?

External; high capacity for larger tanks. Freshwater community, planted, biotope, species-only, saltwater fish-only, reef. Flakes, pellets, frozen, freeze-dried, live, vegetables. Long-running tanks need monitoring for nitrate buildup.

Question 49 Aquarium Keeping

What is the rule "underfeed rather than overfeed"?

Active, eating, normal coloration, no clamped fins, swimming naturally. Young fish. High-output LEDs spectrum-tuned for corals. Overfeeding causes water quality issues.

Question 50 Aquarium Keeping

What is the common goldfish lifespan?

Plants losing leaves before regrowing; normal. 5W per gallon roughly; varies by room temperature. 8.1-8.4. 10-20+ years with proper care.