Hobby Cards

12 hobbies, 2 pages each (aquarium 3), all tables. Built from 1–2 core books per hobby. Ashish Agarwal, 2026. Download PDF

Hobby (tap to jump)	What it gives you	Core books
01 Fish aquarium	Two living worlds: a planted office tank and a hardy outdoor pond	Ecology of the Planted Aquarium — Diana Walstad (1999, 2nd ed. 2003); Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish — David Alderton (2005, new ed. 2019)
02 Palmistry	Hast Rekha: read shape first, then mounts, lines, marks	The Laws of Scientific Hand Reading — William G. Benham (1900); Cheiro's Language of the Hand — Cheiro (1894)
03 Astrology (Jyotish)	Read a Vedic kundli: grahas, rashis, bhavas, nakshatras, yogas, dashas	Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, 2 vols — Parashara, tr. R. Santhanam (1984); Light on Life — Hart de Fouw & Robert Svoboda (1996)
04 Planting / Plants	Pots and beds in NCR: right light, drained mix, seasonal care	The House Plant Expert — D.G. Hessayon (1980, new ed. 1991); The New Vegetable and Herb Expert — D.G. Hessayon (1997, rev. 2014)
05 Stone art	From a ₹300 painted pebble to marble carving and Agra inlay	Stone and Marble Carving: A Manual for the Student Sculptor — Alec Miller (1948); The Art of Painting Animals on Rocks — Lin Wellford (1994)
06 Wood work	Turn raw boards into lasting objects with sharp hand tools	Essential Woodworking Hand Tools — Paul Sellers (2016); Understanding Wood — R. Bruce Hoadley (2000)
07 Numerology	Names and birth dates turned into numbers: Western, Chaldean, Indian, Lo Shu	Cheiro's Book of Numbers — Cheiro (1926); Numerology: Key to Your Inner Self — Hans Decoz (1994)
08 DJ	Phrase-true mixes, clean levels, the right song for the room	How to DJ Right — Bill Brewster & Frank Broughton (2003); Rock The Dancefloor (2nd ed.) — Phil Morse (2024)
09 Vastu	Read any site or floor plan by direction: home, office, farmstay	Mayamata (tr. of the Sanskrit treatise) — Bruno Dagens (1985); The Penguin Guide to Vaastu — Sashikala Ananth (1999)
10 Body language	Read comfort and discomfort; project calm confidence; know the limits.	What Every Body Is Saying — Joe Navarro with Marvin Karlins (2008); Emotions Revealed — Paul Ekman (2003)
11 Landscaping	Read the land; design shade, water, paths and light first	Garden Design — John Brookes (1991); RHS Encyclopedia of Garden Design — Chris Young, ed. (2009)
12 Plant Landscaping	Right plant, right place: layered, repeated, hardy NCR planting.	Planting: A New Perspective — Piet Oudolf & Noel Kingsbury (2013); Trees of Delhi: A Field Guide — Pradip Krishen (2006)

Legend:B BeginnerI Intermediate A Advanced★ Top pick! Caution ●●● Rating: more filled dots = more

Picture credits

African dwarf frog: note the webbed front feet: Young male DAF.jpg, Stuart Halliday - w:en:Quatermass (talk | contribs), CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Red cherry shrimp: Red Cherry Shrimp 2.jpg, Corydoras-adolfoi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Comet goldfish: Comet type goldfish (48976160136).jpg, Conall from Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Honey gourami, a peaceful air-breathing fish native to India: Colisasota male.jpg, Antoondommerholt at Dutch Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Koi: Koi Carp watchers. (20389239936).jpg, Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Lotus (Nelumbo): Nelumno nucifera open flower - botanic garden adelaide2.jpg, Peripitus, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
A planted nature-style aquascape: Nature style aquascape.png, Duc Viet Bui, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Neon tetra, the blue schooling fish at the heart of T01: Neonsalmler Paracheirodon innesi.jpg, Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Pygmy cory: Corydoras pygmaeus5333.jpg, Birger A, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Rosy barb (Indian native): Rosy Barbs.jpg, Kkonstan, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Water lettuce (Pistia): At La Orotava 2023 130.jpg, Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Water lily (Nymphaea): Pink and white Nymphaea water lily flowers, бел и розов лотос.jpg, Делфина, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Facial expressions, Darwin 1872: Expression of the Emotions Plate V.jpg, 1 by Oscar Gustave Rejlander, rest unsure, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Facial muscles behind the FACS action units, such as the zygomatic major and orbicularis oculi: 1106 Front and Side Views of the Muscles of Facial Expressions numbered.jpg, CNX Anatomy 2013, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Namaste, the respectful Indian greeting that is safe with elders, women and clients: Namaste a greetngs gesture by a local lady while meeting whom she knew at Okhaldunga Nepal IMG 3068.jpg, Sumita Roy Dutta, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Edward Hall's distance zones: intimate, personal, social and public: Personal Space POL.png, Personal_Space.svg: WebHamster derivative work: Przykuta (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
A two-deck DJ controller: jog wheels, tempo faders, pads and the mixer in the middle.: Pioneer DDJ-RX DJ-Controller (front) with computer running mixing software Rekordbox.jpg, Foto: Jonn Leffmann, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
A DJ mixer: trim, high, mid and low EQ, channel faders and crossfader.: AUDIOPAN Pokket Mixer - zero battery mixer with EQ & cue, built in Berlin! pokketmixer.com (2011-10-23 by j bizzie).jpg, j bizzie from MINNEAPOLIS, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi: the Mughal charbagh, four quadrants divided by water channels: Humayun's Tomb from the Charbagh - 1.jpg, Ronakshah1990, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Drip irrigation delivers water slowly at each plant's root zone: Drip emitter.jpg, Alan.ca, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Ryoan-ji, Kyoto: Japanese dry garden of raked gravel and placed rocks: RyoanJi-Dry garden.jpg, Stephane D'Alu, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The three basic fingerprint patterns: arch, loop (Shankha) and whorl (Chakra): Fingerprint Arch.jpg, unknown author, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
The major lines: life (Jeevan), head (Mastishk), heart (Hriday), fate (Bhagya) and sun (Surya): Perin's science of palmistry; a complete and authentic treatise (1902) (14596165268).jpg, Perin, Carl Louis, No restrictions, Wikimedia Commons
A simian line: head and heart lines fused into one crease: Single transverse palmar crease adult.jpg, WurdBendur, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Amaltas in bloom: Cassia Fistula 20230326095208.jpg, Ramesh Kunnappully, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bougainvillea: Starr-090426-6335-Bougainvillea sp-hedge habit-Kula 200-Maui (24584895709).jpg, Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us, Wikimedia Commons
Ornamental grass (Pennisetum): Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, First Knight Ornamental Napier Grass Pennisetum 'Tift10'.jpg, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mealybugs: white cottony pests in leaf joints, treated with alcohol and neem oil: Mealybug on blue background.jpg, Devastator, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Pothos (money plant), the easiest office plant and the aquarium nitrate sponge: Epipremnum aureum (Golden pothos).jpg, Filo gèn', CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Snake plant, a low-light, low-water office plant: Potted plants or snake plants.jpg, Marisankar Mk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
A suiseki viewing stone displayed on its carved wooden base (daiza): Cape San Martin suiseki, October 10, 2008.jpg, Sage Ross, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Parchinkari at the Taj Mahal: semi-precious stones inlaid flush in white Makrana marble: Art Work inside Taj Mahal 01.JPG, Rajesnewdelhi, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Charles Correa based Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur on the nine-square mandala: Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, Rajasthan.jpg, Meena Kadri from Wellington, New Zealand, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Vastu Purusha Mandala: the being lies head north-east, with deities on each pada of the grid: Vastu Purusha Visão Dorsal.jpg, Verena Rapp de Eston, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Parts of a bench plane: sole, blade, chipbreaker, frog, adjuster: Plane parts.jpg, unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
A hand-cut through dovetail, the signature joint of fine woodwork: Image from page 175 of "Teacher's handbook of Slöjd" (1900).jpg, Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, Wikimedia Commons
How boards shrink and cup depending on where they were cut from the log: Cassells Carpentry.134 Shrinkage of Quartering in Seasoning.png, C. W. D. Boxall, Henry Adams, F. W. Loasby, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Fish aquarium

Two living worlds: a planted office tank and a hardy outdoor pond

Books: Ecology of the Planted Aquarium — Diana Walstad (1999, 2nd ed. 2003); Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish — David Alderton (2005, new ed. 2019)

T01 = office planted tankT02 = outdoor tankB I A Beginner/Inter/Adv★ top pick! caution●●● hardiness/easeL/M/H light low/med/highNH3 ammonia · NO2 nitrite · NO3 nitrateppm = mg/LWC water changeFS full sun · PS part shadeZone T/M/B top/mid/bottom₹? = price not researched

T01 office planted tank — at a glance

Item	Value
Size	31 × 15 × 12 in (79 × 38 × 30 cm)
Water	91 L gross · ~70 L real (2 in substrate)
Style	Low-tech jungle + riparium (plants out of the top)
Kit now	HOB filter, LED, thermometer, 2 plant baskets; no heater
State 10-13	No fish, green water, thread algae, sword yellowing
Light	6–7 h on a timer; no window sun on glass
Target	24–25 °C · pH 6.5–7.5 · NH3 0 · NO2 0 · NO3 < 20–40

T02 outdoor tank — at a glance

Item	Value
Size	10 × 2 × 2 ft (305 × 61 × 61 cm)
Water	1,133 L gross · ~1,000 L (6 cm freeboard)
Climate	NCR: winter nights ~5 °C air, summer 45 °C, monsoon
Threats	Heat, sun, rain overflow, birds, cats, mosquitoes
Pump	Turnover ≥ 250 L/h goldfish · ≥ 500 L/h koi
Shade	⅓–½ surface under plants + shade sail at noon
Cover	Bird/cat net or mesh lid; overflow pipe with mesh

T01 stocking — soft, small, peaceful (~70 L)

Animal	Qty	Size	°C · pH	Zone · behaviour	Compatibility
Neon tetra ★	20	3 cm	21–25 · 6–7.5	M · tight blue school	Eats shrimp babies; buy active fish, no pale patches
Honey gourami	3 (1♂ 2♀)	5 cm	22–28 · 6–7.5	T · curious, begs at glass, bubble nests	Indian native; 1 male only; eats shrimplets
Pygmy corydoras	10	3 cm	22–26 · 6.4–7.4	B/M · group hovers, sifts lightly	Does not dig; needs small sinking food
African dwarf frog	2	4–6 cm	23–26 · 6.5–7.8	B · surfaces to breathe, the clown	! Not clawed frog (separate fingers). Slow, near-blind: pipette-feed
Otocinclus	4	4 cm	21–26 · 6–7.5	Glass/leaves · algae-film grazer	Mature tank only; add algae wafers
Amano shrimp ★	6	5 cm	20–27 · 6.5–7.5	All · best thread-algae eater	Larvae need brackish: no breeding
Cherry shrimp	20 start	2–3 cm	18–28 · 6.5–8	Plants · breeds freely	Babies survive only in moss/carpet
Nerite snail	3	2–3 cm	22–27 · 7–8.5	Glass/rock · strong algae grazer	Needs GH ≥ 6; eggs never hatch in freshwater
Mystery snail	1	5 cm	20–28 · 7–8	All · eats leftovers, dead leaves	Pink clutch above waterline; remove to stop 100 babies
Shared target	—	—	24–25 · 6.8–7.4	3 layers filled: T/M/B	No digger in list: carpet stays put

T01 add in this order (6–8 weeks)

Week	Add	Check first
0	Fix light, blackout, top up	Re-cycle: 2 ppm NH3 → 0 in 24 h
1	Floaters + basket houseplants	Green water clearing
2	Amano 6 · Nerite 3	NH3 0 · NO2 0
4	Otocinclus 4 · Cherry 20	Algae film present; GH ≥ 6
5	Neon tetra 10	Heater holds 24–25 °C
6	Neon 10 · Pygmy cory 10	Tests 0 / 0 after 1 week
8	Honey gourami 3 · ADF 2 · Mystery 1	Quarantined 2–4 wk in a tub

T01 never add

Animal	Why
Goldfish	Coldwater, messy, uproots, outgrows 70 L
Angelfish, big gouramis	Eat neons and shrimp
Tiger barb	Fin-nipper
Cichlids, crayfish	Dig, uproot, kill shrimp
Common/bristlenose pleco, SAE	Grow 15 cm+, big waste
Bronze/panda cory, loaches	Dig up the carpet
African clawed frog	Grows big, eats fish
Betta	Hunts the shrimp colony

T01 animals

T02 stocking — hardy, NCR year-round (~1,000 L)

Animal	Qty / 1,000 L	Adult	Range °C · hardiness	NCR verdict	Notes
Comet goldfish ★	6–8	25–30 cm	Cold-hardy; stress > 30 · ●●●	Year-round	Rule: 1–3 kg fish per 1,000 L; plan for adult size
Shubunkin	in the 6–8	25–30 cm	As comet · ●●●	Year-round	Calico comet; mixes perfectly with comets
Koi	1–2 max	60 cm+	Best 15–25; stress > 27 · ●●●	! Heat risk, outgrows	Use instead of 2 comets; rehome past ~40 cm
Zebra danio ★	15–20	5 cm	Wild water 12–39 · ●●●	Year-round	Indian native; fast, eats larvae
Rosy barb	10–12	6–8 cm	Comfort 14–28 · ●●●	! Borderline Jan	N-Indian native; keep a heated tub ready
Giant danio	8–10	10 cm	Min ~18 (care sheets) · ●●●	! Mar–Oct only	Indian native; winter indoors
Blue panchax	6	5–8 cm	Tropical; cold limit unknown · ●●●	! Summer trial	Native killifish, proven larva-eater (Hora & Nair)
Guppy, Gambusia	0	3–6 cm	Guppy suffers < 15–18	! Avoid	NBA lists both invasive alien; never release
Fancy goldfish (oranda etc.)	0	15 cm	Weak swimmers	Avoid outdoors	Out-competed; birds take them
Native pond/ramshorn snails	Self-arrive	1–4 cm	●●●	OK	Come on plants; graze algae; goldfish thin them

T02 plan options

Plan	Stock	Bioload
A ★ Goldfish pond	Comet/shubunkin 8 + zebra danio 15 + snails	●●●
B Koi accent	Koi 2 + comet 3 + zebra danio 15	●●● needs 500 L/h
C Native stream	Zebra 20 + rosy barb 12 (+ giant danio summer)	●●●

T02 mosquito control

Method	Note
Fish ★	Any healthy fish clears larvae; danios fastest
Flow	Pump or air keeps surface moving
Floaters thinned	Dense mats hide larvae from fish
Bti dunk	Bacterial larvicide, fish-safe; for fishless pots
! Gambusia	Used by Delhi MCD, but invasive: never

T02 build and safety rules

Rule	Detail	Rule	Detail
Shade	Shade sail 11 am–4 pm; lily/lotus pads cover ⅓–½	Top-up	Dechlorinated; ≤ 10% at a time; temp-matched
Oxygen	Air pump on UPS; aerate night + dawn (lowest O2)	Pots	Plants in pots, gravel on top; koi/goldfish dig
Overflow	Pipe with mesh at 6 cm freeboard; rain can't flush fish	Thermometer	Read daily in May–Jun and Dec–Jan
Predators	Net or mesh lid vs herons, kingfishers, crows, cats	Depth	Keep full 55 cm: deep water swings less
Filter	Bio media rinsed in pond water only, never tap	Leaves	Net out daily; rotting leaves → NH3

T02 NCR season calendar

Months	Air	Water risk	Do
Dec–Jan	Nights ~5 °C	Cold, slow fish, tropicals die	Goldfish/koi: feed little, stop below ~10 °C water; tropicals indoors; lid on at night
Feb–Mar	Warming	Algae bloom as sun returns	Restart feeding above ~10 °C; split/repot lilies + lotus; add shade early
Apr–Jun	40–45 °C	> 30 °C water, low O2, evaporation	Shade + full aeration; feed less, wheat-germ food above 28 °C; slow cool top-ups
Jul–Sep	Monsoon	Overflow, pH/KH drop, runoff, mosquitoes	Keep overflow clear; test KH; no garden fertiliser runoff; lotus flowers
Oct–Nov	Mild	Best season	Stock fish, plant, clean filter, net leaves

T02 animals and plants

Indoor plants (T01)

Plant	Type	Light	Growth	Care	Flag
Dwarf sagittaria	Carpet	M	●●● runners	T01's grass; pull thread algae weekly	—
Java moss	Carpet/epiphyte	L	●●●	Tie on wood/rock; shrimp nursery	★ shrimp
Amazon sword	Rosette	M	●●● big	Heavy root feeder: root tabs 2–3 mo	Old leaves yellow = N/K low
Crypt wendtii	Rosette	L–M	●●●	Mid-ground; may melt after moving	Regrows from roots
Vallisneria	Rosette, runners	L–M	●●●	Background ribbons	! Melts with liquid carbon
Hygrophila polysperma	Stem	L–M	●●●	Indian native; nitrate sponge	Trim weekly
Water wisteria	Stem	L–M	●●●	Background; Indian region	Trim + replant tops
Rotala rotundifolia	Stem	M	●●●	Pink tips under stronger light	Trim weekly
Java fern	Epiphyte	L	●●●	Tie to wood	! Never bury rhizome
Anubias	Epiphyte	L	●●●	Tie to wood, shade	Spot algae in strong light
Salvinia minima / red root floater	Floating	M	●●●	Shades tank, starves green water	Scoop excess; not S. molesta
Brazilian pennywort	Float/emersed	M	●●●	Trails over rim	Grows above water happily
Pothos, syngonium, peace lily	Emersed houseplant	Room	●●●	Basket, roots in water, all soil washed off	★ best nitrate filter

Outdoor plants (T02)

Plant	Type	Sun	Depth / pot	Care	Flag
Lotus (bowl/dwarf) ★	Deep-water	FS	15–22 cm over soil; wide pot	Heavy loam, no drain holes; flowers Jul–Sep; dormant winter	Large types want 40–60 cm
Tropical water lily	Deep-water	6–7 h FS	20–30 cm over soil; 35–45 cm pot	Crown centred; fertiliser tab monthly in season	Tropicals suit India; day + night bloomers
Hardy water lily	Deep-water	6–7 h FS	13–25 cm over soil	Rhizome at pot edge, tip out	Better for hills; OK in NCR winter
Umbrella palm (Cyperus)	Marginal	FS–PS	Pot on brick, rim at surface	Tall vertical accent	Divide yearly
Colocasia / taro	Marginal	FS–PS	Roots wet, crown above	Big leaves shade water	Cut back in winter
Water spinach (kalmi)	Marginal/creeper	FS	Edge, trailing	Indian native, edible, nitrate sponge	! Fast spreader; trim
Azolla	Floater	FS–PS	Surface	Native fern; fixes nitrogen; red in sun	Scoop half when full
Duckweed (Lemna)	Floater	FS–PS	Surface	Goldfish food	! Hard to ever remove
Water lettuce (Pistia)	Floater	PS	Surface	Shades, eats nutrients	! Invasive in India; contained only
Water hyacinth / Salvinia molesta	Floater	—	—	—	! Never: worst invasives
Hornwort (Ceratophyllum)	Oxygenator	FS–PS	Free-floating	No roots; goldfish spawn on it	★ Native, tough
Hydrilla / Vallisneria spiralis	Oxygenator	FS–PS	Weighted pots	Native; fish nibble	Thin monthly in summer

Plant rules (Walstad)

Rule	Why
Plants are the filter	Take NH4 before bacteria do
Floaters + emersed win	Air CO2 → beat algae
Fish food = fertiliser	Light stock, no CO2 needed
Soil option: 2.5 cm soil + 2.5 cm gravel	Feeds roots for years
Many fast plants on day 1	Starve algae from the start
Midday light "siesta"	Lets CO2 rebuild
Don't vacuum planted gravel deep	Roots + bacteria live there
T01 heavy stock → keep weekly WC	Walstad's rare WC = light stock only

Nitrogen cycle

Step	What happens
1	Waste, food, dead leaves → NH3
2	Bacteria: NH3 → NO2
3	Bacteria: NO2 → NO3
4	Plants eat NH4/NO3; WC removes rest
Cycle	3–6 wk; done when 2 ppm NH3 → 0/0 in 24 h
Speed-up	Used sponge from a healthy tank, bottled bacteria
T01 now	Long fishless spell: bacteria may have starved, re-test
!	Rinse sponge in tank water, never tap

Water parameters

Parameter	T01 target	T02 target	Why	If off
NH3 ammonia	0	0	Burns gills; worse in warm, alkaline water	30–50% WC, stop feeding 1 day
NO2 nitrite	0	0	Blocks blood oxygen	WC; wait for bacteria
NO3 nitrate	< 20–40	< 40	Stress, feeds algae	More plants, regular WC
Temp °C	24–25 stable	10–30, shade in summer	Swings kill more than numbers	Heater (T01); shade + air (T02)
pH	6.5–7.5	7–8, stable	Don't chase pH	Stable source water
GH / KH	4–10 / 2–6	Moderate / ≥ 3	Shells, moults / pH buffer	Mix RO + tap; rain lowers KH
TDS	150–300	150–400	Quick hardness proxy	RO for soft, tap for hard

Maintenance schedule

When	T01 indoor	T02 outdoor
Daily	Temp, count animals, feed what goes in 2 min	Temp (summer/winter), count fish, check net + pump
Weekly	20–30% WC, wipe glass, trim, pull thread algae	10–20% WC (dechlorinated), skim leaves, thin floaters
Fortnightly	Test NH3/NO2/NO3/pH (weekly first 2 months)	Test NH3/NO2/pH; KH after heavy rain
Monthly	Squeeze sponge in tank water; prune stems	Rinse pump pre-filter; lily/lotus fertiliser tab
2–3 months	Root tabs at sword + crypts; check heater, timer	Cut dead pads; repot crowded lilies (Feb–Mar)
Twice a year	Replace half the sponges, never all	Full clean before Apr heat; check net + overflow

Algae fixes

Type	Cause	Fix
Green water	Sun + spare nutrients	Block sun, 3–4 day blackout, floaters
Thread/hair	Strong light, new tank	Toothbrush twirl, Amano, 6 h light
Brown diatoms	New tank, silicates	Wipe; otos + nerites; fades
Green spot	Strong light	Scrape; nerites
Black beard	Unstable CO2, old waste	Trim; liquid carbon spot-dose
Blue-green slime	Poor flow, dirty floor	Siphon, flow, blackout
T02 pea soup	Full sun	Shade + lilies; fish fine, don't panic

Health quick check

Sign	Likely	Do
Salt-grain spots	Ich	Hospital tub, raise heat slowly 28–30 °C
Ragged fins	Fin rot	WCs, fix cause
Gasping at top	NH3 or low O2	Big WC, air stone, stop feeding
Pinecone scales	Dropsy	Isolate; often fatal
Neon pale, alone	Neon disease	Remove; no cure
Shrimp die moulting	GH/WC shock	Smaller, slower WCs
! Copper meds	Kill shrimp, snails, frogs	Treat in a separate tub only

Start kit (₹, Amazon.in 13-Oct-2026)

Item	₹	For	Item	₹	For
Heater 100 W (Sobo / Eheim)	899 / 7,131	T01 winter	Algae wafers (Hikari)	400	Otos, snails
API Freshwater Master kit	4,700	Both	Frozen bloodworm	378	Frogs, corys
GH + KH kit	1,000–1,500	Both	Feeding pipette	244	Frogs
TDS pen	300–700	Both	Root tabs + liquid fert	500–1,300 each	T01 plants
Seachem Prime	1,397	Both	Battery air pump / UPS	800–3,000	Power cuts
Plug timer	629	T01 light	Gravel siphon + bucket	300–800	WCs
Auto-feeder	997	Holidays	Floaters, stems, moss	100–300 / portion	T01
Micro pellets (Hikari)	406	T01 fish	Pond pump, shade sail, net, pond pellets	₹?	T02

Feeding

Who	Food	How
Neons, gourami	Micro pellets, crushed flake	1–2×/day, 2 min
Corys, frogs	Sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm	Pipette to frogs
Otos, snails	Algae wafers, blanched veg	2–3×/week
Goldfish, koi	Floating pellets; wheat-germ when hot	1–2×/day > 10 °C
All	One fast day a week	Holidays: auto-feeder

Breeding basics

Animal	What happens
Cherry shrimp B	Berried ~3–4 wk; babies hide in moss
Mystery snail	Pink clutch above waterline; remove if unwanted
Nerite snail	White dots on wood; never hatch
Pygmy cory	Eggs on glass after cool WC; mostly eaten
Honey gourami I	Male gold, dark throat, bubble nest; fry need infusoria
Amano shrimp	Larvae need brackish: no breeding
Goldfish (T02)	Spawn on hornwort in spring; adults eat eggs

Learn in this order

Step	Learn → do
B 1	Nitrogen cycle → test T01, log readings
B 2	Water sources → TDS of tap, borewell, RO
B 3	Light + algae → timer, shade, blackout
B 4	Plants → floaters + basket houseplants
I 5	Stocking + quarantine → crew, then fish
I 6	T02 build → shade, net, pump, goldfish
I 7	Lotus + lily care → pot, feed, divide
A 8	Breeding → shrimp colony, gourami fry

Buying checks

Check	Why
Shop tanks clean, no dead fish	Disease comes home with the fish
Active, full colour, fins open	Neon farm stock can be weak
Dwarf frog: webbed front feet	Clawed frog has separate fingers
Quarantine 2–4 wk, sponge + heater tub	Stops ich and neon disease
Buy Oct–Nov or Feb–Mar	Mild weather, less transport shock

Power cuts and holidays

Event	Do
Cut > 2 h	Rinse filter media in tank water before restart
Any cut	Battery air pump or UPS keeps O2
3–5 days away	Healthy adult fish skip food safely
Longer	Auto-feeder, tested 1 week before
Office boy	One-page plan: feed, light, check, whom to call
T02 in summer	Shade + air matter more than food

Avoid

Mistake	Instead
Fish before cycling	Test 0/0 first
Overfeeding	2 min, 1 fast day
Window sun on T01	Shade + timer
No heater in winter	100 W thermostat
Filter rinsed in tap	Old tank water
All fish at once	Stage over 6–8 wk
Hyacinth/Pistia/Gambusia outdoors	Native plants + fish
Unshaded T02 in May	Sail + pads + air

Palmistry

Hast Rekha: read shape first, then mounts, lines, marks

Books: The Laws of Scientific Hand Reading — William G. Benham (1900); Cheiro's Language of the Hand — Cheiro (1894)

B Beginner I Intermediate A Advanced! caution★ key ruleBn = Benham · Ch = Cheiro · IN = Indian (Samudrika) loreJup Sat Sun Mer Ven Mo Ma = Jupiter, Saturn, Sun, Mercury, Venus, Moon, MarsLL HdL HtL FL = life, head, heart, fate line→ = means

Reading order (Bn, Ch)

#	Step	Look for
1	Which hand	Writing hand = active
2	Backs + feel	Size, nails, texture, firmness
3	Hand type	7 types (below)
4	Fingers + thumb	Length, tips, knots, setting
5	Mounts	Strongest = Bn planetary type
6	Major lines	LL, HdL, HtL, FL, Sun
7	Minor lines, marks	Then prints, loops
8	Timing, synthesis	3–4 themes, both hands

Which hand

School	Rule
Ch	Left = born with; right = made of self
Modern	Passive = potential; active = now
IN	Right for men, left for women
Left-hander	Reverse: left is active
★ All	Difference between hands = change

Feel of the hand (Bn, Ch)

Check	Reading
Fine skin / coarse	Refined, sensitive / robust, practical
Firm, elastic	Energy, action
Soft, flabby	Love of comfort, indolent
Hard, rigid	Stubborn, limited
Bends back easily	Adaptable, generous, extravagant
Stiff	Cautious, reserved, economical
Pink / pale / red	Warm / low energy / passionate
Short nails / long	Critical, argumentative / calm, artistic
IN: no gaps, fingers closed	Holds wealth; gaps let it slip

Line quality (Ch)

Look	Reading
Clear, deep, even	Strong
Broad, shallow	Wasted energy
Chained, islanded	Weak period
Broken	Interruption, change
Overlapping break	Change, cushioned
Sister line	Support, protection
Influence line	Another person, event

Hand types (d'Arpentigny, used by Ch)

Type	Hindi	Look	Character
Elementary	Nimna	Thick, heavy, short fingers	Physical, simple, instinctive
Square (useful)	Vargakar	Square palm, square tips	Practical, orderly, reliable
Spatulate (active)	Chamsakar	Tips broad like a spatula	Energetic, inventive, restless
Philosophic (knotty)	Darshanik	Long, bony, knotted joints	Analytical, thoughtful, independent
Conic (artistic)	Kalatmak	Tapering fingers, rounded tips	Impulsive, artistic, sociable
Psychic (pointed)	Adarshvadi	Long, slender, pointed	Idealistic, dreamy, sensitive
Mixed	Mishrit	Features of several types	Versatile, adaptable

Fingers (planet in both traditions)

Finger	Sanskrit	Planet	Governs
Index	Tarjani	Jup (Guru)	Ambition, leadership
Middle	Madhyama	Sat (Shani)	Duty, balance
Ring	Anamika	Sun (Surya)	Creativity, fame
Little	Kanishtha	Mer (Budh)	Speech, business
Thumb	Angushtha	Will + logic	Whole character

Finger checks

Feature	Reading
Long (middle ≥ 7/8 palm)	Patient with detail
Short	Quick, big picture
Index > ring	Confidence, leadership
Ring > index	Risk-taker, creative
Little finger set low	Shy, hard early life
Leans to neighbour	Borrows its qualities
Top knot / lower knot	Ordered ideas / ordered things
Tips: square, spatulate, conic, pointed	Practical, active, artistic, idealistic

Phalanges (Parv) — Bn's 3 worlds

Phalange	World	Long or full →
Top (nail)	Mental	Ideas, intuition, ideals
Middle	Practical	Reason, business sense
Base	Material	Comfort, food, possessions

Thumb (Angushtha) — Ch's key

Feature	Reading
Top phalange	Willpower, decision
Middle phalange	Logic; waisted = tact, thick = blunt
Long / short	Determined leader / heart over will
Low-set, ~90°	Generous, independent
High-set, close	Cautious, reserved
Stiff / supple	Firm, obstinate / adaptable, spender
IN: Yava at joint	Wealth, fame

Mounts (Parvat) and Bn planetary types

Mount	Hindi	Where	Strong → (Bn type)	Flat →
Jupiter	Guru	Below index	Ambition, pride, religious (Jupiterian)	Low drive, self-esteem
Saturn	Shani	Below middle	Wisdom, solitude, serious (Saturnian)	Normal, balanced
Sun / Apollo	Surya	Below ring	Charm, art, success (Apollonian)	Little interest in fame, art
Mercury	Budh	Below little	Wit, business, eloquence (Mercurian)	Poor talker, gullible
Upper Mars	Mangal	Percussion, HtL–HdL	Moral courage, endurance (Martian)	Gives up easily
Lower Mars	Mangal	Inside LL, above thumb	Physical courage, fight	Timid
Plain of Mars	Mangal	Hollow centre	Firm: temper, drive	Hollow: low luck, energy
Venus	Shukra	Ball of thumb	Warmth, passion, music (Venusian)	Cool, detached
Moon / Luna	Chandra	Lower percussion	Imagination, travel (Lunarian)	Literal, unimaginative
! Rahu / Ketu	Rahu, Ketu	IN only: centre / above wrist	Sudden gain / spirituality	Varies by author

Major lines (Rekha)

Line	Hindi	Path	Variant → reading
Life	Jeevan	Thumb–index gap, around Venus	Wide sweep: energy · hugs thumb: cautious · island: strain. ! Short ≠ short life
Head	Mastishk / Buddhi	Across mid-palm	Joined LL: cautious · separate: independent · straight: logical · slopes to Moon: imaginative · fork: writer
Heart	Hriday	Percussion → index/middle	Ends Jup: idealistic · Sat: self-focused · between: warm · curved: expressive · straight: reserved
Fate	Bhagya / Shani	Wrist → middle finger	From LL: self-made · from Moon: via public · new start: career change · absent: free spirit, common
Sun / Apollo	Surya / Ravi	Up to ring finger	Success, recognition, contentment; upper palm only: late success; often absent
Simian	—	HdL + HtL fused	Intense, single-minded; ~1.5–3% of people

Minor lines

Line	Hindi	Where	Traditional meaning
Mercury / health	Budh / Swasthya	Rises to little finger	Health, business; better absent
Relationship	Vivah	Short, percussion below little	Key relationships, not marriage count
Children	Santan	Fine verticals above Vivah	! Unreliable
Girdle of Venus	Shukra Valay	Arc above HtL	Sensitive, nervous energy
Ring of Solomon	Guru Valay	Around base of index	Wisdom, insight into people
Ring of Saturn	Shani Mudrika	Around base of middle	Isolation, pessimism (rare)
Intuition	Chandra	Crescent Moon → Mer	Strong intuition
Line of Mars	Mangal	Inside, parallel to LL	Protection, extra vitality
Travel	Yatra	Horizontals, lower percussion	Journeys, restlessness
Bracelets	Manibandh	Across wrist	IN: 3 clear = long, healthy life
Worry	—	Venus → across LL	Stress, anxiety

Signs and marks (Ch)

Mark	General	By place
Star	Sudden event	Jup/Sun: success; line: shock
Cross	Obstacle	Jup: happy union
Mystic cross	Occult interest	Between HdL–HtL, under Sat
Island	Weakness	HdL: strain
Grille	Scattered energy	Mount in excess
Triangle	Talent	Great: LL+HdL+health
Square	Protection	Around break: survived
Circle	Unlucky	Sun mount: good
Dot	Shock, illness	Temporary
Chain	Unstable	Common on HtL
Fork / tassel	Versatile / decline	At line ends

Indian auspicious marks (IN)

Mark	Hindi	Reading
Fish	Matsya	Prosperity, merit; near wrist
Conch	Shankha	Fame; also loop print
Lotus	Padma	Status, Raj Yoga
Wheel	Chakra	Power; also whorl print
Trident	Trishul	Great fortune, end of FL/Sun
Flag, pot	Dhwaja, Kalash	Honour, abundance
Barley grain	Yava	On thumb: wealth

Fingerprints and loops

Pattern	Hindi	Reading
Loop (most common)	Shankha	Adaptable, sociable
Whorl	Chakra	Individualist, intense
Arch (least common)	—	Practical, reserved
Tented arch (rare)	—	Enthusiastic, idealistic
Double loop	—	Sees both sides, undecided
Rajah loop	Index–middle	Charisma
Seriousness / humour	Mid–ring / ring–little	Purpose / humour

Timing (approximate)

Method	Age points
LL, read downward	Below mid-index ~20–25
	Below index–middle gap ~35
	Below mid-middle ~50
LL equal division	~10 yrs per section
FL, read upward	Crosses HdL ~35, HtL ~50
★ Anchor	Known event, count from it
! Always	Say "around", give ranges

Pictures