Fish as Pets; Aquarium, Pond News, Reviews

Submariner Internal UV Sterilizer Review, such as Kokos Goldfish; Reviews Part 1

2011-11-17T11:35:00.001-08:00

Updated 11/20/11

In this post of Fish as Pets, I will look at a popular trend on the Internet; the anecdotal review of products that is not based on any true professional knowledge use of the product.

The problem with these reviews in both negative and positive reviews is that little though of correct design, scientific controls and parameters of effectiveness, or simply time of use is considered.

However before I proceed, I want to clarify an important point; This article/post is NOT meant as an attack on this person or forum from which I am writing this review rebuttal.
Rather this is intended to convey the importance of correct information and product research.
I feel writing such review rebuttals are important even if they may seem harsh as I receive copious amounts of communications via emails, etc about this product and various "knock-offs" of this UV Sterilizer where the user would eventually end up with a failed product within months and/or realize the product was not aiding their fish in ways they expected.
The result was a person that would incorrectly "write off" UV Sterilization as a waste of money based on this poor purchase choice. And sadly, THIS VERY REVIEW I AM CRITICIZING HAS BEEN CITED AS A REASON FOR THEIR POOR PURCHASE CHOICE!

Back to the review rebuttal; This problem of correct design, scientific controls, time of use, and parameters of effectiveness would obviously extend into areas of product knowledge in other product such as computers where as I am certainly capable of performing many tasks on computers, I am still far from an expert about computers and while my opinions should not necessarily be discounted, they would likely be anecdotal.

With Aquarium Products, (in particular UV Sterilizer & aquarium filtration), I have spent over three decades in professionally use in many different scenarios, as well as outside research, and controlled tests. For this reason I often have to drop my jaw in the reviews I read in Amazon, Kokos Goldfish and more.

I will add more post later along this subject line, such anecdotal NEGATIVE reviews about the excellent Rena Smart Filter where a positive attribute is turned into a negative.

JBJ Submariner; Also sold under Brand Names such as AquaTop

Here is a review from Kokos Goldfish (in part divided up so as to comment on):

"After looking around and doing a fair amount of research I chose the Submariner because it bypasses all of the above in one self contained unit"

REALLY?? How can anyone say they did ANY research and come to such a conclusion, even many of the consumer reviews do not come to such a conclusion, yet alone information found here: UV Sterilization; Facts & Information or Professional Reviews found here: UV Sterilizer Reviews, Information

"Most UV systems, including this one boast a 99% kill rate but keep mind enough good bacteria that colonizes and lives in your filter and tank substrates aren't effected so the delicate ecosystem of the tank remains unharmed."

Most do make such claims, but what mater is flow rate per watt of UVC irradiation and Dwell Time (there is more than this, but this is a quick simplistic explanation.

"I thought the water in my 55 was clear and have had no problems with cloudiness. However the following morning after I had installed the unit the water was so unbelievably crystal and pristine that had it not been for the aeration it would have looked like my fish were floating in air."

Yes, almost any UV Sterilizer can perform water clarification, but what about more important Level One Sterilization (or even level 2)?

"Very strong pump and outflow - 211 GPH this is the same for all three units which range from tanks up to 40 , 100 gallon and 150 gallons. "

For the design of this unit, 10 watt would be the maximum effective wattage for Level One Sterilization (Dwell Time is also an issue with this UV). However the flow rate is fine for water clarification, hence the clear water.

"Excellent build quality, the unit is surprisingly heavy and well made"

AGAIN REALLY?? Sorry to come as rude or smug, but did this person really research this product?
The Submariner has severe leakage, ballast, and shorting issues.
Compared to a VASTLY better TMC 8 Watt Vecton in just "build quality" alone there is NO comparison. As well the construction and design of the Vecton allows for vastly higher flow rates and dwell times for less wattage used!

Also see:
UV Sterilizer Problems; JBJ Submariner
Dwell Time Tests Between UV Sterilizers

"Excellent kill rate for all the nasties"

I do not think so since Level One Sterilization is not going to be achieved.

"Water conditions seem more stabilized"

They may seem to be, but again since Level One Sterilization via flow rate, dwell time, and more, it is doubtful that you are aiding in proper Redox Balance which WILL aid in stabilized water conditions

"Bulb replacement is needed only once a year, pre filter sponges (one comes with the unit) should be changed monthly or bi monthly depending your tank conditions - a pack of three is $7.99"

ONCE AGAIN REALLY?? This is 100% false!!
For correct maintenance all high output UV Bulbs MUST be changed every six months for maximum effectiveness. In cold weather ponds, once per year during the growing season is OK, but this UV Sterilizer is not meant for ponds, so this is a mute point.

"The best price I found was at Fosterandsmithaquatics.com."

Need I say more!! (based on decades in the aquarium business and knowing others in the field and their thoughts about DR. F & S)

In Summary; I have noting against JBJ as a company (I have used many of their products over the years), as well this product can clear cloudy or green water; HOWEVER this is a product made in China that is sold now under many different brand names including AquaTop.
In my opinion, the reason many brands now market this Internal UV Sterilizer is due to the fact many potential users HAVE done their homework, so while one companies sales go down, another company picks up the this product and begins anew the marketing of this UV Sterilizer.

By Carl Strohmeyer

Pet Mountain Review; Parasite Reseller

2011-05-29T16:04:00.001-07:00

"Just Say NO to Pet Mountain"

Updated 1/27/12

I will keep this Fish as Pets Aquatic News article short and to the point.
This review based on input from friends in the aquarium business is different from many which are generally based on misinformation and anecdotal aquarium/pond information often found on the Internet.
However in this review I will more point out the ethics of distributors/manufacturers that allegedly sell to parasite Pet/Aquatics resellers; in particular Pet Mountain.

Hopefully this article will "hit home" for those who consider ethics more important than saving .25 or more.

What is a parasite reseller? This is a reseller that jumps in after another business in the aquarium industry (or other business field of endeavor) has spent years and considerable amounts of time and money educating the public about new products or services that many may keeping aquarium keeping more successful. These parasite resellers will then often make unethical deals with manufacturers under cutting the businesses that have done all the work.

Pet Mountain
First, it should be pointed out, unlike ethical businesses, Pet Mountain hides in anonymity with no listing provided to business searches of ownership.
All that is known is that Pet Mountain is based out of Darmstadt Germany, yet they do no business there!!
This is just one evidence of their parasite retailer activities; they suck out US dollars, damaging otherwise honest US companies while sending the monies to Darmstadt Germany.
(Source: http://www.websitevalue.us/www/petmountain.com)

Second,
Pet Mountain is utilizing an unethical relationship with Lee-Mar Aquarium and Pet Supplies of Vista CA.
LeeMar is an authorized pet product distributor that is is sharing its facilities with Pet Mountain in what is likely an incestuous relationship to sell direct to the public (& likely much more, but so much is secretive).
This is no different than your local Chevy Dealership doing all the work only to see GM make a direct sale to the buyer; this is both unethical and illegal in many instances!!

It is also noteworthy that friend in the aquarium industry has has business dealing back in the early 1980s and discontinued business with them for dishonest practices.

Pet Mountain also hides its address from the general public so it takes some looking to find this unethical relationship.

Here are their addresses:

Lee Mar:
2459 Dogwood Way
Vista, CA

Pet Mountain:
2465 Dogwood Way,
Vista California 92081

Further,
In speaking with one of the largest Pet Supply distributors in North America (who would prefer anonymity), I would have to say the Pet Mountain gets the dishonor of being the worst offender by far as to this type of behavior.
Whether it be Marineland, Hagen, Commodity Axis, API, or Weco; Pet Mountain is selling products that others have spent copious amounts of time educating the general public about.

I should also note that this parasite reselling is not done by normal quantity buying discounts that more ethical large resellers such as Petco utilize, rather with many products I am familiar with at prices lower than those selling in originally higher quantities via unethical under the table deals!

In the case of the Weco Wonder Shell, this is an especially glaring example since although this product is not at all new, it was a regional secret that only in 2005 when American Aquarium Products spent copious amounts of time and money correctly educating the aquarium keeping (& pond keeping) public via blog posts, scientific articles, forum sponsorships, etc. as to what these mineral blocks can and cannot perform for one's aquarium. In steps Pet Mountain with a deal (likely through Lee Mar) under selling others for this product, all the while providing incorrect information about this product.
What is sad is Weco (the manufacturer) is dishonest in under selling those who have help build this product.

In conclusion; if you are considering a Rena Filstar Filter, Wonder Shell, Fluval, UV Sterilizer, etc.
Please consider ethics and those businesses whether internet based or local fish/aquarium stores that have helped you with your product knowledge and return the favor of their hard work for as a little as .25 cents extra.
This is not a lot to ask in a world where ethics has generally taken a back seat.

I might add this is especially important when your fish are sick, do you want a parasite retailer with no experience helping you or do you want a professional that has spent their life in hands on experience in Fish Medications Research for products such as Triple Sulfa, Furan 2, or Erythromycin??

Thankfully many of the best manufacturers of quality products such as TMC do NOT sell their products to these types of retailers. I am speaking of TMC UV Sterilizers & AquaRay LED Lights (these before mentioned web sites sell low end LED Lights such as Marineland Double Bright that should NEVER be used for anything other than basic aquatic lighting, not reef or high light planted; see this article: Aquarium LED Light Review).

By Steven W.

Aquarium Moon Lights Review; Is Moonlite truly Blue

2010-09-06T15:09:00.000-07:00

Updated 11/26/11

The use of Moonlights in aquariums (Reef in particular) is one of the most misunderstood and inaccurately stated subjects that is sadly repeated by aquarium forums, websites, product manufacturers, and retailers.
The simple fact is moonlite is NOT Blue, rather this is a perception due to Rod Cone Interaction in the human eye.
See: Modeling Blue shift in Moonlit Scenes by Rod Cone Interaction

If you go outside on a purely moonlit night the surrounding appears to have a tinge of blue. This phenomenon often referred to as ‘Blue Shift’ is a perceptual illusion. Moon light itself is not blue; moonlight is simply full spectrum sunlight reflected off the grayish
surface of the moon. It is hard to observe blue shift in cities due to many artificial
sources of light, however it is a commonly observed phenomenon in places with low ambient light.
The blue shift is sometimes attributed to the spectral response of rods. Although rods are nominally color blind, they do not respond equally to all colors: Rods are more sensitive to blue-green photons and less sensitive to red photons. You can see this in your moonlit rose. By day, the red flower dominates the green leaves. At night, the situation is reversed. The green leaves are more vivid than the red flower.

Correct Application of Moon Light for Aquarium Use

Since even a full moon only reflects .2 lux of sunlight which is only about 1/400,000 to 500,000 the brightness of the sun, the main implication is the amount of light, as some studies suggest that plants and photosynthetic algae (such as the zooxanthellae that light sensitive corals, clams, nudibranchs and similar rely upon) are effected by bright full moon phases. So the implication is not how blue the light is, rather than how bright the “moonlight” is (moonlight is slightly higher at Tropical latitudes and even up to 1 lux at high altitudes at the equator, which of coarse there are no reefs on mountain tops in Nepal, except maybe according to Yahoo Answers LOL).
As well the Lunar phase or cycle is also extremely important as well in this equation, as coral reproduction/propagation spawns are 3-7 days following the first 2 Full moons in late spring and early summer (as found in the Great Barrier reef of Australia).

What an aquarium keeper needs to be concerned about if truly attempting to replicate Moonlite for his Reef aquarium is not the color, but the precise amount of light in a constantly dimming (from full to new moon) or increasing amount of moonlight (from new moon to full moon). This also must be in a lunar cycle which is 29.5 days (the Lunar Phase is 27.3 days).
See this website for more about the lunar cycle: Moon Calculator

Since timers are set up on a solar calendar, this is not possible with most of the equipment currently available in the aquarium hobby. This would take someone with precise measurements entered into a computer program to then plug ones aquarium Lights into these.
The other problem is the ability to dim and un-dim the moonlights according to the phases of the Moon; which would require a dimming, controller that recognizes these phase according to the lunar calendar to perform this function (your computer likely cannot perform this function.

For these functions (when available), LED Aquarium Lights are clearly the best choice and these should be full spectrum or at least a full spectrum mix such as the AquaRay Reef White.

Even without the ability to phase a moonlight phase via a lunar calendar, with the aid of a controller (such as TMC Standard and Multi-Controller with Storm Feature), an aquarium keeper can run their aquarium LED lights anywhere from 100% to 0%. As well these percentages can be slowly ramped up and down to create varying amounts of sun light.
As an example, for a Reef Tank; I would run the LED lights at 100% for 8 hours per day with 2 hour ramp up and 2 hour ramp down at the beginning and end of the day. Finally generally only 1% is required for moonlight (although you could manually vary this for more accurate moon light effects).

For those that insist on Blue Moon Lights and think they are providing an essential ingredient for a healthy reef aquarium, they are fooling themselves and only providing at best “cool” night lights for their aquarium.

For much more about Aquarium Lighting, including a discussion of Moon Lights, please visit this web page:
Aquarium Lighting; Facts & Information

Further Resources:
*Strange Moonlight
*Interference of moonlight with the photoperiodic measurement of time by plants
*UV Bulbs

Aquarium Maintenance/ Service Companies

2010-04-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

REGIONAL AQUARIUM OR POND PROFESSIONAL MAINTENANCE/SERVICE COMPANIES.

This will be a growing list for those who would like to promote their professional aquarium (or pond) maintenance companies.
We will research wherever possible, but please note that often we will be trusting the submissions portfolio/resume

CALIFORNIA

*American Aquarium Design & Maintenance
*Phone: 909-592-4467
*Location: San Dimas California
*Over 20 Years Professional Experience
*Only taking new Aquarium Maintenance customers at this time (no new pond customers)
*Largest Client: Coaster Company of America; corporate headquarters, officer’s residences, satellite offices (over 30 aquariums/ponds with this client alone)
*Saltwater and Freshwater

*Ancient Mariner Aquarium Maintenance and Design
*Phone: 408-732-7378
*Location: Greater San Francisco Bay Area from San Mateo and Hayward south to the Almaden Valley: The “Fish Doctor” for the Greater SF Bay Area.
*Important clients include: Stanford Hospital & Saratoga Retirement Homes
*Over 22 Years Professional Experience
*Inventor of the Commercial APV 400 Aquarium Cleaning Machine as well as the home use Aquarium Cleaning Machine
*Saltwater and Freshwater

*All Aquatics USA
*Phone: 818-518-7529 or 818-812-9416
* email; info@allaquaticsusa.com
*Location: San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, Ventura County, Malibu, Santa Monica, Beverly hills.
*Important clients include: Stanford Hospital & Saratoga Retirement Homes
*In business since 1998
*Aquarium maintenance, custom design, set up, break downs, and also pond maintenance.
*Area of Expertise; Aquarium custom design.
* Website Address: All Aquatics USA; Aquarium Maintenance

MICHIGAN

* AquaMaid Services LLC
Phone: 810-488-0531
Email: mike@aquamaidservices.com
Address: AquaMaid Services LLC
PO BOX 611324
Port Huron, MI 48061
Years in business: 7 months (I owned an aquarium maintenance business a few years ago ran it about 6 years.)
Refferal: Here you go Mike

"Mercy Health Center located in Fort Gratiot loves Aquamaid Services. Mike does a wonderful job in servicing our 150 gallon fresh water aquarium. We get compliments every day from patients and visitors on how clean our tank looks. Many people think it is a salt water tank because it is so colorful. I would highly recommend Aquamaid for all your aquarium service needs."

A satisfied customer
Lynn Burgett
Administrator Mercy Health Center

Lynn Burgett
Administrator of
Lakeshore Surgery Center
Mercy Health Center
Mercy Family & Surgical Care and People's Clinic
4190 24th Avenue
Fort Gratiot, MI 48059
phone (810) 989-7733
fax (810) 989-7652
email Burgettl@trinity-health.org

Area of Service: St. Clair County in Michigan
Type of Services: Fresh water, salt water, reef aquariums, garden and farm ponds
We specialize in salt and reef aquariums
AquaMaid Services is bonded and is insured. We maybe starting out but are a professional company. Any questions please feel free to call us. Thank you for you consideration.

Mike Blair
Owner
AquaMaid Services, LLC

*Sherwood International Marine
Phone 248-978-7170
• sherwoodaquariums@yahoo.com
• 832 Pine Tree Rd W
Lake Orion, MI 48362
• 18 years in business
• Any referrals or clients that can be used as a resume
• Counties Serviced: Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, Wayne, Washtenaw, Livingston
• Custom Aquariums, Aquarium Maintenance, Aquarium Moving, Aquarium Leasing, Sales, Setups, Tear Downs, Relocations, Overhauls, Consultations, Plumbing/Re-plumbs, Vacation feeding and tank sitting.
• Specializing in reef aquariums
• Emergency service is available 24 hours a day
Sherwood International Marine

CANADA

*Aqua Lease LTD
*Phone: 403-225-2348
*Calgary, Alberta, Canada
*Over 24 Years Professional Experience
*Aqua Lease has been around since 1986 and has since acquired many maintenance contracts, both residential and commercial. Tanks from 10 gallons to 1000 gallons are maintained as well as many ponds. Aquariums are either privately owned or leased out by David Sheremeta, the president and CEO. Fish can also be supplied by the company. Dave is the largest maintenance company in Calgary and also works directly with the SPCA rescuing and re-homing unwanted and sick fish. Clients often require Aqua Lease to indoor house pond fish through the tough Canadian winters. Samples of Dave’s work can be found at AquaLease

If interested in a listing for your area of aquarium or pond maintenance please comment on this blog (the comment may or may not be kept) or email carl@everything-aquatic.com with this information:
• Phone number,
• email (if available),
• Address (this is not required as many maintenance companies prefer not to have a listed address)
• Years in business
• Any referrals or clients that can be used as a resume
• Area of service
• Types of service offered
• Area(s) of expertise
• Only full time companies are accepted

Please understand that we reserve the right to not list maintenance companies that we feel are not truly professional maintenance companies or known feedback is poor.

Wonder Shells, Mineral Supplement; Aquarium Forums Hall of Shame

2010-01-22T13:32:00.000-08:00

Aquarium Forums Hall of Shame 9; Wonder Shells from "Aquatic Community"

Updated 12/30/11

I will apologize in advance if I offend anyone who reads this because this is not my intention. However I should say I was offended by the anecdotal comments thrown around in the forum posts I reference in this blog entry.

Rather than have a discussions of the scientific merits of Wonder Shells and examine the evidence behind reasons it may or may not be beneficial, in these forum posts, it became "free for all" for non-scientific miss-statements in which it is clear that most persons read little or did not see what they read as well as personal attacks. They also did not read the referenced outside sources provided in the articles referenced on the Wonder Shell website.

It is also noteworthy (despite comments made on this referenced thread) that the articles that mention Wonder Shells do not attempt to all point to the "need" for this product. In fact, the Aquarium Chemistry Article notes as a disclaimer that the Wonder Shell is a useful tool for aquarium husbandry, but is not a "cure all" or a magic bullet.

Even more importantly, in of March of 2011, I met with another researcher who discovered the Aquarium Redox Article dealing with how much aquatic life (and all life) is affected by a properly balanced Redox (magnetically balanced is a term he used). He noted (just like in the past) how badly out of touch the aquarium hobby is with current research the aquarium hobby is. Regarding such research was surprised to find such a well researched and "current" article in an aquarium hobby web site.

What might this have to do with a Wonder Shells? Well, unlike the many anecdotal, poser experts who never even noted the importance of Redox Balance, this researcher understood that a Wonder Shell is an aid (again not a cure all) to establishing this Redox/Magnetic balance of aquarium water along with other procedures. To call Wonder Shells part of a "snake oil" scheme is ignorance at its most profound!!

There is no way an honest person can read either the Wonder Shell web page or the many articles referenced and make the statements I reference in this forum thread.

I was also made aware of another post from this same aquatic forum about the use of aquarium salt. This is how my Wonder Shells, Aquarium Forums Hall of Shame came about (as per a suggestion from friend, Tommy). I might add that the referenced aquarium answers post has nothing to sell and further discredits the many extremely shameful snake oil references. This is why these are the type of forum posts that give the aquarium hobby a black eye (this in the opinion of a few researchers I have consulted with over the years, including a good friend who retired from the industry in 1999).
In fact the before mentioned friend who ran a large aquarium supply distributor believed (based on feedback) that this type of misinformation that this aquatic community post displays harms the aquarium keeping hobby in that new hobbyists often get frustrated by conflicting information or take this type of bad information (as exemplified in this forum post) resulting in eventual fish losses that should not have happened; Is this what those who care for the "Fish as Pets" we keep desire?

Before I begin responding to the misinformation, lies, & anecdotal comments put forth in the aquaticcommunity.com thread, let me point out that due to the popularity of Wonder Shells, another large online seller is carrying them. However, this new online seller is simply selling the product without knowing the correct information for its use. Instead, I would recommend purchasing from a Wonder Shell seller with decades of experience AND the correct information for use such as: Wonder Shells, at American Aquarium Products

FROM:
aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showthread.php?t=53323

POSTS IN THIS THREAD (snips):

(1) “As with most aquarium products, the write-up on Wonder Shells makes them sound absolutely vital for the health of your fish.

I've been using them for about 6 months now, and haven't seen anything that would indicate my fish are better, or worse, with them in the tank.”

My Comment:

Neither the Aquarium Chemistry Article nor the Wonder Shells webpage state they are essential. In fact, the webpage states this: “NOT a cure all for poor water management, but a useful tool in proper aquarium maintenance.”

The Chemistry Article also states this. It makes similar points within the article as well as makes other recommendations such as: “Before I over promote Wonder Shells, these can aid in proper water management, but they are not a magic bullet in an aquarium for poor aquarium husbandry such as mulm build up under gravel or decorations. However they can be one more piece of the water quality management puzzle and sometimes with fish such as Livebearers and Goldfish the results/benefits of use can be dramatic.”

Benefits of using Wonder Shells are not always readily noticed (although with fish that are more sensitive to poor mineral cation levels, the difference is often easier to spot).

It is also noteworthy (as I state in many places in my articles) that good aquarium husbandry will make Wonder Shell use less necessary (if at all) and a person that takes excellent care and has fish less sensitive to poor mineral cation levels are not as likely to notice any benefits. However, my controlled tests in the 1990s showed less incidence of disease & longer lifespan when mineral cations were maintained on a steady/regular basis, see: “A Healthy Aquarium; Disease Prevention”)

(2) “Never heard of them so guess they aren't too vital.
lol”

My Comment:

Not knowing of a product means nothing nor proves nothing. This is a plain ignorant answer IMHO that employs the worse kind of logic and is similar to stating that “I have never circled the earth on a plane or ship, therefore I doubt the planet is a sphere.”

(3)“Scare tactic marketing. I wouldn't pay that sort of thing too much mind. Most of that type of stuff doesn't do very much IME. Just another gimick to get a few dollars from you.”

My Comment:

What scare tactic marketing? Did this guy read the webpage or the links to more scientific articles listed on my page? Never does it state that if you do not use this product your fish will suffer or die (or anything similar). It is typical of so many in the aquarium hobby to post opinions without even reading the subject of which they are speaking.

(4) “Provides crabs, snails and turtles with an easily available source of calcium for healthy shell growth."
The above is the only reason I would even consider buying it. All the rest sounds like a bit of hooey.”

My Comment:

Again, did this person read the articles/links to back up statements or see that these links contain scientific references to even more .edu scientific articles?
I might also add at this time when I am down in Los Angeles for my business trips, I am often sought out by many experts in their own right that run some of the major outlets for marine and freshwater supplies/fish such as Quality Marine and Tideline. As well, I even had a call in 2009 from a pHd researcher complimenting my research into the Redox Balance as he has seen few outside of the medical community that even were aware of its importance in “life processes.”

(5) “They are not vital for anything. The calcium would help snails or possibly Rift Lake African Cichlids that need calcium for harder water, but other than that they're non essential. They don't do anything that regular water changes won't take care of.”

My Comment:

This is not quite so out of line as he is correct that water changes can and do many of what a Wonder Shells takes care of. However, Wonder Shells or similar liquid drips can provide important mineral cations that are useful for both osmoregulation and Redox balance in between water changes. This can be quite noticeable with some fish such as livebears, African cichlids, & goldfish. However, even with fish such as Bettas, this can still have a beneficial effect on fish health (otherwise why would others such as Atkinson’s Spa include calcium in their Betta formula?

(6) “I'm familiar with the site NG. There is a lot of good information there and at the links, but he does tend to promote the products he sells. And, IMHO, his review of Aquaclear HOBs is very inaccurate.

I don't know, to be honest, just how much the Wonder Shells would raise pH. But if there's calcium in them, the pH is going to go ^.

And I would trust Seachem's Paraguard before I ever used medicated wonder shells!”

My Comment:

It appears that at least this person has read some of the information/articles (& is more polite), but he is still off base in more than one area.

First of all, my review of Aqua Clears in my filtration article even states that these reviews are both facts and opinions, & I acknowledge that many have positive results (including the aquariums I have installed these on for clients). However I have also had higher break down and other issues as well based on the use of literally dozens.

I am glad this person is happy with his 2 or 3 Aqua Clear Filters (as many are), but this does not compare to the many I have maintained nor the feedback my colleagues in this business have given me about these filters. I did this for a living for over 20 years and employed others in this business before I had to move and I am sorry to sound smug (as this is not my intention), but using a few AC filters simply does not compare to the dozens I have used. His statement, “his review of Aquaclear HOBs is very inaccurate,” does not hold water when you factor in experience (kind of like a passenger of a jetliner critiquing an airline pilot with 20 years experience based on his (the passenger's) first solo flight in a Cessna).

Secondly, although he is not stating there is something wrong with me promoting products I sell, it sure seems inferred. What is wrong with this? I provide free information, answer emails and phone calls 7 days a week and often work 14 plus hours per day all for less than a $1000 per month income: am I not entitled to make any profit?

As well, 90% of what I sell I have used and tested. In particular, these Wonder Shells are an item I have used for almost 30 years and many of my clients even commented that I should try promoting them on the internet based on their positive results when I had to leave my Aquarium Maintenance business behind in 2002.

Thirdly, no where does it state that Wonder Shells raise pH, and he should read some chemistry basics as it is carbonates that primarily affect pH, which Wonder Shells have little (my comment here is not meant disrespectfully, however this is a very basic principle of KH and pH and it is carbonates that contribute to a higher pH/KH, not calcium and by making this statement one as to question his aquarium keeping knowledge)

Fourth, The Wonder Shells webpage (as well as my Ich article) state that SeaChem ParaGuard is a first choice for Ich.

(7) “I'd never heard of them but looking at the website they sound like snake oil. That's the place I've EVER seen anything suggesting trying to harden the water for discus and rams. To me it looks like a fad product that will do nothing but mess up my tank water. No thanks, even if they paid me I would not add it to my tank based on their claims.”

My Comment:

There is little I can say to this post as this person’s comments show he has little understanding of chemistry and cannot learn anything that is beyond is close minded views. He obviously has no understanding of bio-chemistry and worse, is unwilling to learn either. This guy would rather disgustingly label others (such as peddling snake oil) and totally show his lack of even basic knowledge of aquarium biochemistry and aquatic product history.

Stating “That's the place I've EVER seen anything suggesting trying to harden the water for discus and rams” really shows his strange reasoning. Not knowing about a subject does not make it false. As well, he should research Marc Weiss: he is one of the first to prove the need for positive mineral ions such as calcium.

I admit I learned from some of Marc Weiss's articles dating back to products he collaborated with the Premier Aquatic Chemical company with; Aquatronics (which sadly went out of business earlier in this decade due to corporate issues, not product quality). Marc Weiss and others in the field of Discus and similar soft water fish have proven the importance of calcium in Discus. Even more recently others have shown that keeping the water “charged” with positive calcium ions is important as well.

I have also demonstrated (after using one of Marc Weiss’s Aquatronics products) that the addition of calcium cations to the aquarium water can alleviate HITH Disease in Discus.
So much for never seeing anything about the FACT that even Rams and Discus require Calcium for long term health!
(See Aquarium Chemistry; Amazon, SE Asia River Water)

The term "snake oil" can only be applied to a product that provides no scientific benefit. The articles and the references within my own aquarium articles prove there is science behind Wonder Shells and similar products. Sadly this guy does not even know how to apply the term fad because this product has been around for more than 30 years with no marketing, promotion, or even good packaging. Why are Wonder Shells around then? Because they do work. 30 plus years of poorly marketed product does not make for a fad.

In Summary, here are just a few sites of uninformed, anecdotal, aquarists that believe the lies put forth in the aquarium thread (cited in “Aquarium Community”) should read Including the many references cited therein:

*Aquarium Chemistry
This article & the Redox aricle below are must reads because many aquarists simply do not understand the importance of mineral cations- even for fish that prefer softer water. Since Wonder Shells use calcium as the main carrier of mineral electrolytes, the constantly regurgitated mantra that too much GH is always bad (which is simply not true) often confuses many well-intentioned aquarium keepers.

Here is an email example that demonstrates this confusion, yet the person even admits that the Wonder Shell has helped improve fish vitality:

“I have used the WonderShells. I have 2 tanks, one 30gal. for goldfish and one 10gal. with a beta and catfish. They also raise the GH way over 30 drops, sometimes when I test for GH I have to drop 37+ drops in the tester for it to turn green. Is this still ok? because my fish seem more active when I use the Wonder Shells”.

As noted in the Aquarium Chemistry article, the use of Wonder Shells (or similar) will cause an increase in GH. However, this is not the problem many might consider. Please read the GH section, & the sub section "Depletion of Positive Ions" in this Aquarium Chemistry article. This article uses the example of a car battery to explain how a GH test cannot provide an accurate picture of aquarium electrolyte health.

*Aquarium Redox Balance

*Osmoregulation in Aquariums; Minerals; Use of RO Water, more

*A Healthy Aquarium; Disease Prevention

*Aquarium Lighting

Finally, a point for those who stick to the closely held anecdotal beliefs that so badly permeate the aquarium keeping hobby rather than read researched articles such my Aquarium Chemistry, Redox or Aquarium/Pond Answers articles/posts, is best summed up by another Mentor of mine, Reggie, who worked at an aquarium supply wholesaler and finished his business career there. After spending most of his decades of business in different industries specializing in making poorly managed businesses successful again, he told me this:

"I have never seen a more dishonest and back stabbing business than the Aquarium industry".

Though my blog post is technically not an aquarium industry post, nor is it back stabbing, it does certainly fit into what Reggie (& others I know at Quality Marine and elsewhere) has pointed out: that persons will ignore facts and take others out of context just to hold tightly onto anecdotal beliefs rather than admit that maybe they do not know something.

I know that I have been forced to change my understanding of aquarium concepts when either new evidence surfaces or I am corrected with more complete facts. The Redox Balance is a good example where I would have stated 180 degrees the opposite of what I know now about this still very misunderstood part of biochemistry.

LED Aquarium Lights vs Metal Halide

2010-01-22T09:43:00.000-08:00

LED Aquarium Lights vs. Metal Halide;
Yahoo Answers Hall of Shame #8; Can you use LED Lights for planted freshwater or Reef Aquariums?

I do no know whether to laugh or cry as to two relatively recent Yahoo answers that were brought to my attention.
Both of these answers could not be more wrong, and sadly the correct answers are no mystery and are not hard to find.
What amplifies the disgust I find with these answers is both are by so-called top contributors and one even claims 15 years experience.

I will give each question and (bad) answer followed by a correction

QUESTION:
Saltwater aquarium LED lights?
I have a 4 ft tank and would like a LED lighting system as an upgrade from t8s. Are there any cheap systems available?

BAD ANSWER (from YA):
No, they are far from cheap, and the technology is still new and not that great. The one time manufacturer of these lights (PFO) was sued and stop making them. Other manufactures are have large problems with computer boards etc. I would avoid them for now , look at t-5s or a good metal halide setup.
15 yrs Reef keeping and this.

CORRECTION:
While cheap is a relative term, when you consider that a LED Light fixture lasts 50,000 hours vs. a T5 that he recommends, as well when you consider a comparable T5 costs about 70% of a LED, I would have to even question this subjective part of his answer.

As to the other part of his answer, I have to ask what planet this guy is on (I mean no disrespect, I just cannot grasp how he can come up with this comment), while some of the first generation lights (Solaris) were both pricy and not as "good", there is no "one" manufacturer (There are many from TMC, Lamp Elves, Current. LED Grow Lights to name a few). I know for a fact that TMC has had not problems with either its second generation or its newest 3rd generation.
As well when you look at all factors (PAR, Lumens Per Watt, Useful Energy, etc.) modern LEDs surpass T5s and even Metal Halide (there is tests/evidence to support this too).
What also makes me question the credibility of his answer is that he did not even mention two lighting types that others in the lighting community (not anecdotal reef keepers) are aware; the T2 and SHO Light. The T2 has a better useful light energy output over the older T5s he promotes.

QUESTION:
im starting a new tropical aquarium and im wondering if these lights are good enough for my fishes health i am planing to stock my tank with live plants as well

BAD ANSWER (from YA):
Generally LEDs are not bright enough for live plants. You can get LED arrays that are bright enough for a small tank, but they are expensive.

For a fish only tank the lights are not as important, you only need them to see the fish better.

CORRECTION

This answer is really bad, where does this person get his information?
Studies outside the anecdotal aquarium hobby/industry (from the horticulture/greenhouse industry where bad results puts them out of business) that go back to 2006 have no only shown that LED lights can grow plants, but growth is superior to a comparable Kelvin output Metal Halide.

In the picture to the left a 12 watt LED Grow Light similar to the Natural Daylight LED Aquarium Light showed superior growth to a 175 watt full spectrum Metal Halide.

I strongly suggest freshwater plant and reef keepers read this in depth and more importantly well researched and "current" article about aquarium lighting:
Aquarium Lighting; Facts & Information

LED and T2 Aquarium Lights

2009-11-27T13:49:00.000-08:00

LED and T2 Aquarium Lights for Freshwater and Marine Reef Tanks
The LED and T2 as of this post are probably the best two aquarium lights in terms of output of useful light energy per watts used

Updated 6/4/11

Although the popularity of these two lights is still lagging behind many other lights used by aquarium hobbyists, hopefully the facts of these two styles will get out to many who will find these to be useful for marine reef and freshwater plant tanks in particular.

There is still a lot of misunderstanding about both of these lights (along with the other excellent light that is popular in greenhouses, but is still sadly not well known in the aquarium hobby/industry; the SHO).

In the case of the LED, many still cannot get past the watts per gallon rule of thumb that is badly outdated. As well, the other aspect that slows the popularity is cost (which is certainly more understandable). However, when one considers the 50,000 hour lifespan and the operating costs that are generally 1/3 or less of many popular CFLs, this is not truly the barrier it is often made out to be (although up front costs to acquire many of the better LED Systems such as the “Top of the Line” TMC Aqua Ray LED Aquarium Lights certainly can still be a hurdle for those on a budget).

This is where the newest generation T2 light systems shine. Although the output per energy used of the newer lights is not at the same level of an LED, it is an improvement over the still excellent but lower output per watts used T5 lights. As well, the T2 is a considerable improvement over many CFLs and even more so over standard T8 and T12 lights. The advantage of the T2 is cost of many of the fixtures priced around $30 usd. (as compared to the $150 usd plus for the better LED systems).

What sets these Lights Apart from others?

First, I would suggest that readers reference this excellent, well-researched article (as this Fish as Pets post is but an abbreviated summary):
Aquarium Lighting; Information, Facts

Here are some important points to consider rather than just the old watts per gallon “rule” only:

• Lumens per watt, PAR (often easiest determined by Kelvin output),
• Lumen focus
• PAR
• PUR/ Useful Light Energy (not wasted in yellow/green spectrum that plants and zooanthellic algae reflect)
• Output in relation to bulb length (this is where T2 and Power Compacts excel).
• Lux
• Watts per gallon; the reader might note that the watts per gallon, is still viable when comparing apples to apples.

Even with LED Lights, most of those on the market are cheap Chinese knock offs (such as the Marineland Single and Double Bright). The best of these knocks still use much older generations of Cree emitter bins that Cree is no longer obligated by contract with TMC and other high end users to provide exclusively for. Thus, an apples to apples comparison via watts per gallon cannot be made. For instance, the Marineland Double Bright 1 watt emitters do not put out the same useful light energy per watt as an AquaRay or Orphek.

*When “high end” (2nd half of 2010) TMC AquaRay LEDs are considered, only .6 watt per gallon for high light planted freshwater and .8 watt per gallon for most reef tanks is needed.
*With new generation 6500K T2 Lights, this watts per gallon for a high light planted aquarium would be about 1.5 (which would mean that two 13 Watt daylight T2 Lights would work for a 15 gallon “high light” planted aquarium)

The first five points are the most important. As well, it is noteworthy that although watts per gallon is still a consideration, it is at best ¼ of what determines a proper aquarium light for a given aquarium. With this under consideration one modern LED such as the TMC Aqua Ray LED 12 Watt Aquarium Light Fixtures can produce more useful light energy necessary for live freshwater plants or marine reefs than one older generation T8 or T12 Trichromatic Fluorescent of 20 watts by 4-5 times.
Even modern CFLs require about three times the wattage to produce the same amount of useful light energy.

When it comes to T2 Aquarium Lights, although they still fall short of an LED, these lights still have one of the highest lumens per watt outputs and still produce less yellow/green spectrum light energy than many others. As well, the purchase price is low, generally last about 10,000 compared to the 8,000 hours of most other fluorescent lights and are available in the most important Kelvin temperature for optimum PAR; 6400 K.

The only short coming of T2s is for larger aquariums. It make take too many of the T2 Fixtures. With larger aquariums, a SHO or T5 lights may be more practical.

Still, the T2 is quite adaptable and multiple fixtures can be linked together so they require only one outlet. Even for larger aquariums such as a fish only freshwater aquarium, two 13 watt T2 fixtures can easily provide enough light for a 60, 75 and even a 5 foot 100 gallon aquarium for a n excellent savings of energy over standard aquarium lights.

See the comparisons of different lights to pictorially explain these lights:
Please click on Pictures to enlarge

This picture shows the visible light of a 13 Watt T2 with two 15 Watt CFLs (both are 6400K):

This picture demonstrates one of the strengths of an new technology LED Light (Aqua Ray) using a special camera lens;

On the left is one daylight LED (12 Watts).
On the right is two daylight CFL (totaling 30 watts)

Besides the noticeable higher light output with lower watts, the filter on this camera shows the increase of yellow/green light which is useless to most green plants and zooanthellic algae.

Conclusion

Sadly I read many aquarium forums, especially Yahoo Answers (which should be avoided like the plague by those desiring factual aquarium information), which still slam LED lights as impractical and overly expensive.

As well, many have not even heard of T2 lights (or even SHO), even though the rest of the industrial lighting world has.

Yahoo Answers Hall of Shame, UV Sterilizers

2009-11-13T11:09:00.000-08:00

Aquarium Forum/Yahoo Answers Hall of Shame #7; UV Sterilizers for Aquariums (Again) Part 2

Once again Yahoo Answers allowed a plagiarized post to stand as a best answer (even with multiple complaints).

In this answer, a person plagiarized and pasted points out of context from my UV Sterilization Article. He even contradicts his opening comments by using my material.

First I will post the Yahoo Answers so called “best answer” (with my plagiarized content in italics), followed by corrections:

UV sterilizers are good in multi-tank systems where risk of parasites and disease are great. In the average tank, it will destroy all the beneficial bacteria and tiny critters that are needed to maintain healthy life.

One on the big drawbacks of using one is that not all of the water and organisms will pass through the sterilizer, making it somewhat ineffective to control the problem.

UV sterilization will not cure infected fish of bacterial or fungal diseases. A UV can aid in cure by killing bacterial pathogens in the water column and fungal spores, also by improvement of the Redox potential and general water quality.

A UV sterilizer will not kill ich trophozoites already on the fish (but then medications don’t either), but UVC can again slow the spread of ich tomites in the water column (but usually not out right kill ich tomites).

A UV sterilizer will not kill beneficial bacteria such aerobic bacteria, as this bacterium is effective when attached to a surface of high water flow such as the sponge of a sponge filter, not when in the water column. It is best to turn off a Sterilizer unit when introducing bacteria to seed a new aquarium.

UV Sterilization will not remove or destroy algae growing on tank or pond sides, rocks, decorations, etc.

UV Sterilization will NOT make up for poor aquarium maintenance practices such as over crowding, over feeding, inadequate filtration, poor cleaning practices, improper water parameters, and more.

For me its not worth getting one not worth the cost I myself never use one...

Comments;
*First of all he contradicts the opening paragraph by pasting my content in paragraph #5, as he is dead wrong when it comes to real research.

*Second he does not even allow the asker to read the article for himself by referencing the article from which he plagiarized content (which is supposedly a rule in Yahoo Answers)

*Third, shame on Yahoo Answers for not removing clearly plagiarized content that was used to deliver incorrect information to an asker after this was called to Yahoo’s attention by several persons.
Yahoo Answers is CLEARLY not interested in providing useful information for its readers/askers by allowing this to stand after being notified of the issue.
BTW, if Yahoo were to claim that this is a matter of opinion, my response is twofold; Wrong, these are facts; Two, and more importantly this material was plagiarized and NOT cited/referenced for the readers to make up their own mind.

I will not provide a direct link, as I do not want to lend any credit to Yahoo Answers, so please paste this link into your browser if you would like to read the full thread (including comments made after the answer was awarded best answer):
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091020203346AAGk6s0

The bottom line is; a properly set up UV Sterilizer is not essential, however it is a major piece of equipment for any aquarium or pond keeper that is serious about disease prevention and water quality (UV Sterilization improves Redox too). If you do add a UV Sterilizer to your aquarium, it is important to provide regular maintenance of your UV Sterilizer as well such as changing the UV Bulbs on a regular schedule for maximum effectiveness.

Please see these articles for much more about UV Sterilization:
*UV Sterilization

*UV Sterilizer Articles/ Posts

*Aquarium Forum/Blog Hall of Shame 5; UV Sterilizers Part 1

Asian Bonytongue, Arowana News

2009-10-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

Asian Bonytongue:
Osteoglossum formosum
AKA: Golden Arowana, Asian Arowana, Dragon Fish

Updated 6/4/11

Habitat Range Asia: Southern Myanmar to Malay Peninsula and Indonesia, eastern Thailand to Cardamon Range. International trade banned.

Asian Bonytongue Osteoglossum formosum live in tannin stained black (often low light) forest covered streams including peat adjacent areas. Take around three months for free swimming fries. Arowanas are mouth brooders and young are about 6 cm in length at birth. The young fish feed on insects at the water surface, and adults arowanas consume fish and small vertebrates.

Asian Bonytongue are valued as an aquarium fish, especially among Asianaas. They are considered a lucky fish because of their resemblance to the Chinese mythical dragon.

The Asian Bonytongue has been in the news of late in North Carolina

In July of 2009:
A Charlotte woman has been accused of smuggling live endangered fish from Vietnam, packed inside bottles of fish sauce. Bich Phuong Truong Phan was charged with violating the Endangered Species Act by attempting to import two Asian bonytongue fish without a permit.

Truong Phan was traveling from Vietnam to Charlotte on July18 when her luggage and two cardboard boxes were opened and inspected at the Atlanta Jackson Hartsfield International Airport. Inside a cooler in one of the boxes inspectors found two clear plastic bottles appearing to contain an edible mixture of fermented fish in fish sauce or paste, according to an affidavit by an agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Inspectors poured out the mixture and found two black plastic bags. Inside each bag was a live fish, according to the court document.

In July of 2009
QI GUI NIE of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today before United States District Court Judge Willis B. Hunt, Jr., to charges of smuggling endangered and prohibited wildlife Asian Bonytongue fish into the United States through the port of Atlanta.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said, “Federal laws and international conventions are important tools to prevent the over-exploitation of endangered and protected wildlife. Fish and Wildlife inspectors are to be commended for their vigilance here in identifying the illegal smuggling of protected species.”

James Gale, Special Agent in Charge, Southeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, said: “Whenever there is a demand for endangered and protected wildlife, a supply is created to meet the demand. Smuggling endangered and protected wildlife species into the United States and offering those species for sale on the black market is a persistent problem that our agents and wildlife inspectors encounter on a regular basis. This case is a prime example of how an individual attempted to smuggle endangered and protected wildlife for his personal gain. Our agents and wildlife inspectors will continue to concentrate on and aggressively pursue individuals and organizations who promote the illegal trade of protected species of wildlife.”

References

Fishbase.org; Asian bonytongue

http://www.earthsendangered.com/profile.asp?view=c&ID=3&sp=41

Suggested Web Sites:

*Aquarium Chemistry; an accurate aquatic chemistry article that goes beyond the myths of aquarium keeping into what is truly essential for fish such as Arowana.

* For premium hot cathode UV Bulb Replacements to maintain your UV Sterilizer is top notch working order

Columnaris Disease in Fish, Aquariums, Ponds

2009-06-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

Aquarium Website/Blog/Search Engine Hall of Shame #6; Columnaris Disease

Updated 7/29/11

The treatment and prevention of the Aquarium (& pond) disease "Columnaris" seems to be one of the subjects of more inaccuracies than most diseases commonly confronted by aquarists.
Surprisingly about.com has an article that although basic without much information, is generally accurate in identification, but otherwise does not give very good information for treatment or prevention.
HOWEVER from Wikipedia to many other sites, blogs and forums this is a subject that is full of anecdotal inaccuracies.

One popular Betta site/forum (Ultimate) has an article that has a few inaccuracies in one article (often it is one inaccuracy here another there), and since it is a sad representation of what is commonly out on the internet, I will use it to make my points of inaccuracies about Columnaris

Here are some quotes followed by corrections/Refutations:

* "Maracyn is the most useful anti-biotic"

CORRECTION: WRONG! Columnaris is a strictly gram negative bacterium while Maracyn (which is Erythromycin) is a gram positive antibiotic.

If the author of this article or anyone had any success with Erythromycin, this is proof that the disease treated was NOT Columnaris, rather a gram positive pathogen. What antibiotic that has proven gram negative effectiveness will work best is more debatable, whether a combination of Furan 2/Kanaplex, Minocycline, Triple Sulfa or others, but you will not achieve success with a gram positive antibiotic!

* "Columnaris reproduces poorly in the presence of oxygen in the water, so keeping the water's oxygen content up by creating a current can help prevent Columnaris"

CORRECTION: This statement is also 100% false and has no basis in university level research or even simple reading of researched articles such as "Columnaris & Saprolegnia Disease"

Here is a quote from the above referenced article:
"In fact since Columnaris is strictly aerobic, the addition of more aeration/circulation will do nothing to stop Columnaris other than to possibly help the fish fight this disease pathogen."

I would also reference this university level article as well:
http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-11112004-113024/unrestricted/Farmer_thesis.pdf

* "As mentioned above, Columnaris loves hard water and high pH." (a similar statement is found in Wikipedia and another incorrect article

CORRECTION: This statement is not as inaccurate as the other two statements, but it does show a lack of understanding of basic disease prevention water chemistry, in particular the Redox Balance and importance of positive mineral ions in the water.

As well there is no scientific data to show the statement that Columnaris "loves hard water and high pH" (although Columnaris certainly 'loves' warm water, especially over 75 F), if anything the opposite is true based on both observations and data.
The lack of KH, resulting in an unstable pH can be a major Columnaris causing stressor. Even more so the lack of positive mineral ions such as calcium is not only a stressor, but lowers the Redox Balance and the ability of the fish to fight infections via proper osmoregulation.

What ironic, is that this same article later recommends the use of Atison's Betta which includes calcium along with Indian Almond Leaf (& is a good product).
Personally I think the use of a mineral block such as a Wonder Shell which will keep a constant supply of positive calcium ions in the water column (unlike Atison's Spa), combined with a more pure source of Indian Almond Leaf such as Bio Lif is a better way to go.

SUMMARY;
The bottom line is if you are truly interested in treating and preventing Columnaris, I would ignore many of the inaccurate articles (sadly including Wikipedia) about Columnaris and read one of the few articles based on real world "hands on" experience (since 1978) and further research, and that article is: Columnaris

UV Sterilizers for Aquariums; Forum/ Blog Hall of Shame -5; About.com, Fish Channel

2009-03-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

Updated 11/09/11

Once again in my research I stumbled upon a gem of poorly researched anecdotal information posted by about.com, which unfortunately seems to be common with this website (which is sad considering their internet prominence, at least on Google, which is another reason to avoid using Google in serious searches).
As well Fish Channel among others also brought up incorrect anecdotal information about UV Sterilizer use

While there is some excellent information in this article (sauch as "Most effective if UV bulb is new, or replaced regularly (at least every 6-8 months)", there are several misleading or factually incorrect comments or implications

Here are some quotes from about.com and Fish Channel, then refutations:

*"Suggested wattages are 4-8 watts for 20-40 gallon aquariums, 20-25 watts for 50-100 gallons, and 40 watts for larger aquariums."

Refutation; Better is to consider flow rate and tank turnover rate. A flow rate of 25 gph per watt and a turnover of at least twice per hour (not counting recirculation on a sump) using a quality UV Sterilizer is a much better starting spot for UV Sterilizer wattage/size.

Often when I was called out on a service call and found an ineffective UV that a client installed on their aquarium or pond it was that the flow rate was too high. This was quite common with ponds and UVs installed on high flow rate sump pumps.
This was easily taken care of using a diverter valve so as to divert part of the water the UV Sterilizer/clarifier at a correct slower rater for the given wattage

*"Using this method of treating water is quite controversial amongst aquarists. Some consider it to be a waste of money, not all that effective, or suitable for fish-only, but unnatural for reef tanks, while others feel it does have its benefits for either type of system."

Refutation; this actually is correct, as there are many anecdotal, misinformed aquarists who miss the researched benefits for use of UV Sterilizers in aquariums.
HOWEVER about.com words this in a way that would make any newbie wonder if this is a good investment rather than qualifying this statement as anecdotal. There are those that say the Earth is flat (the Flat Earth Society), but that does not make it true any more than stating that being controversial sheds a question on whether or not UV Sterilizers are truly beneficial).
What is missed by such anecdotal comments as to this so-called controversy, is besides aiding in the spread of disease pathogens, cloudy water & "algae blooms", a UV Sterilizer can help with fish immunity by improving the Redox Balance in an aquarium.
See these articles:
The Aquarium Redox
Aquarium UV Sterilizer Articles

*"Should never be run when treating with any drugs or medications."

Refutation; this is only partially correct, and stating half truths is not good information in my opinion. As stated in this article: ""Aquarium UV Sterilization; How it Works", chemical such as Malachite Green are not broken down where as Quinine Hydrochloride is broken down. For more information about UVC light sensitive chemicals, see the above referenced article.

*"The general consensus is that an aquarist that has a well maintained and un-crowded aquarium, as well as follows good quarantine procedures when introducing new specimens to their system, a UV light filter is not necessary."

Refutation; this comment left me both laughing and crying. Whose consensus is this? I sure do not know any persons with UV Sterilization expertise asked this question.
This is not to say a UV Sterilizer is a must, HOWEVER every test I have conducted over the years (including an extensive one with goldfish), showed that the addition of a UV Sterilizer improved health & longevity even in well kept, fed, etc. aquariums. The only possible exception might be a Reef tank used to raise large amounts of infusoria, ‘pods’, etc. (& even here my correct application of UV Sterilization caused little or no detectable problems)

*"Implementation of a UV sterilizer on your freshwater aquarium would be a waste of money. I would continue to keep good water quality in your freshwater aquarium, feed premium foods to your discus fish, and monitor where any new discus fish are coming from."

Refutation; This quote is from Fish Channel (another often anecdotal website).
http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-exclusives/fama/uv-sterilizer-discus.aspx

This is one of those statements I do not know whether to laugh or cry. Yes good water quality is a must for Discus health, HOWEVER a UV Sterilizer is an important aspect of maintaining water quality, especially for sensitive fish such as Discus.
While his statement that a UV Sterilizer would be a "waste of money" is 100% incorrect, I would also not state it is essential, HOWEVER in my maintenance business I recorded considerable differences in Discus health, longevity, and Redox Balance in the aquariums with UV Sterilizers versus those without that along with marine aquariums I later would not accept any service contract (since I provided fish guarantees at my expense) to any potential client unwilling to install a good quality UV Sterilizer!

PLEASE read these articles for vastly better UV Sterilization information (with current research):

*"ULTRAVIOLET STERILIZATION (How UV sterilization works)"

*AQUARIUM AND POND UV STERILIZER ARTICLES;

*UV Sterilizer Directory

OR for an excellent pump to run your UV Sterilizer:
Rio Pumps

Three separate fish are actually the same

2009-01-22T17:01:00.000-08:00

Mystery solved by Scientists: Three separate fish are actually the same Cetomimid Whalefish!

From:
January 22nd, 2009 By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer in General Science / Biology

This composite image (please click to enlarge) from the Biology Letters of the Royal Society shows, from top,
*Tapetail post larval stage of cetomimid whalefish off Cozumel, Mexico;
*Adult male of cetomimid whalefish from the Gulf of Mexico;
*Juvenile female of cetomimid whalefish from the eastern North Pacific.

Researchers believe they have solved the puzzle of three seemingly different fish, one all males, one all females and on all juveniles. They are the same fish, and undergo remarkable changes as they mature. (AP Photo/Biology Letters of the Royal Society) Top image: Photo/Donald Hughes Middle image: Photo/G. David Johnson Bottom image: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Bruce Robison

"And it tells you how little we know about the deep sea", Johnson said in a telephone interview.

Cetomimidae, a type of whalefish, had been known since the 19th century, but only females had been found.
Seemingly related species called Mirapinnidae, or tapetails, and Megalomycteridae, or bignose fish, were identified in the 1950s and 1960s. Tapetails were only found as juveniles and bignoses only as males.

"Although their skeletons indicated the three were related, there were so many differences no one could believe they were the same fish at different sexes or stages in life", Johnson said.
But it turns out that is the case, Johnson and colleagues report this week in Biology Letters, a journal of Britain's Royal Society.
"All three will now be classified as Cetomimidae", he said.

Johnson said the researchers were able to link the fish through comparative anatomical study and, once they obtained fresh samples, by their DNA.

These Whalefish live in the sparsely populated deep water thousands of feet below the surface, though as youngsters they rise to shallower levels where there is more to eat. Living at extreme depths generally void of light, Whalefish have developed an exceptional, highly sensitive lateral line system (their eyes are very small & often useless). Their system of sensory pores that run the length of the Whalefish body help the Whalefish to accurately perceive its surroundings by detecting vibrations.

The larvae are called tapetails because they grow long streamers, he said. The purpose of the streamer remains unknown, but several fish larvae develop similar appendages, so it must have some value, he said. They reside within 600 feet of the surface, a region well stocked with food.
As adults, however, these fish descend thousands of feet down into the dark ocean.

There is scarce food there and the females cope by developing a large mouth - a common trait among fish living in the deepest waters - and they even develop teeth in their gill area that can serve as an additional mouth. Whalefish are known to feed primarily on small crustaceans such as copepods, euphausiids, and decapods.

Even stranger, males who reach adulthood don't eat at all. Having gorged as larvae, their jaw fuses and they develop a vestigial gut that only stores shells from previous meals. That's an advantage, Johnson said, because in the deep ocean "there's not a lot of food, you're better off taking your lunch with you." The males gorge as larvae and grow a giant liver, storing energy there to live on.

The males also develop a large nose to sense smells in the dark water.

Meanwhile, researchers had noted that females have some unusual tissue, separate from the skin, on their body. It's not luminous, so Johnson speculated that this tissue may produce a pheromone that the big-nosed male can home in on.

Resources:
*John R. Paxton of the Australian Museum, Sydney;
*Tracey T. Sutton of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science,
*Takashi P. Satoh and Mutsumi Nishida of the University of Tokyo
*Tetsuya Sado and Masaki Miya of the Natural History Museum, Chiba, Japan.
*Aquarium Lighting

Melafix Dangers; Betta, Labyrinth Fish, Pencil Fish

2008-12-13T12:20:00.000-08:00

Updated 1/13/12

Possible Melafix, Pimafix Dangers with use for Gourami, Betta, Pencil Fish

It was recently brought to my attention that there were real or possible dangers with Melafix via an email I received (admittedly I at first thought the email was a sham, as I get so many of these, but I was wrong and my apologies to the person who sent it).

I then researched (via specific Blog/Forum searches) to get some background about the complaints which stemmed from use with Labyrinth Fish (such as Bettas) and Pencil Fish.

I then spent more time in university level research, mostly looking at veterinary and human studies of the known ingredients in Melafix (TTO/ tea tree oil) which is in the case of Melafix is not from the more researched Melaleuca alternifolia, but is from the lesser researched Melaleuca leucadendron version of TTO, more correctly identified as cajeput oil.

Some Background

Although I have used and tested Melafix on many Labyrinth fish (in particular Bettas) and not found these results that some are claiming (this does NOT mean these persons are making up the results, this just indicates that there are more than one factor in this equation, such as a chemical trigger, incorrect disease diagnosis, water parameter, etc.). I also know of many other aquatic professionals that have not observed the deaths in Labyrinth fish/pencil fish, but again this just tells me that we need to look deeper and not make non-scientific knee jerk proclamations based on anecdotal evidence which often all too common in this hobby (even by well meaning aquarists!).

Another point (which I will cover in more depth later) is that Melafix is primarily for minor wounds & gram positive bacterial infections, and from my experience in the professional aquarium maintenance industry since 1978, often persons will treat with the wrong medication and then when their fish die, blame the treatment rather than realize that they used the wrong treatment in the first place!!

Back to the reason for this article;
In one such forum (Fish Lore) one member stated that the "oils" in both Pimafix and Melafix are dangerous to Labyrinth due to the need to "breathe air". If this is the reason aquarists are contributing to Melafix, I can correct this in that part of the patent for Melafix (& Pimafix) is the process of refining of the oil out of both these products. This can EASILY be proved by adding Melafix or Pimafix to the water and watching for it to float on the water, which it does not. HOWEVER before implying this member in that forum does not know what she is talking about, Melafix can and does cause foaming, which at least in theory could be a problem with certain fish or more likely allowing for "consumption" of the TTO where the chemical reactions likely take place.

BTW, my using Fish Lore is in NO WAY an indictment on this forum, I have read many of their articles and forum posts, and many are reasonable, albeit at worst well behind better research with "cut and paste" in a few articles (such as UV Sterilizers Use & the Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle).

As of my most recent article update, Fish Lore has made an updated post that is more accurate, however it still ignores the real causes of Melafix Dangers, which omitting this valuable piece of information leaves me scratching my head especially when one considers the amount of misinformation that is truly disseminated in many aquarium articles such as the discredited Raw Shrimp Cycling method.
Many persons/forums also make similar mistakes of omission with Malachite Green.

Current Research/Hypothesis
(from Aquarium Medications Part 4, Melafix, Pimafix, Usnea

First I will start off in pointing out that so much which has been said about Melafix or Bettafix dangers with Bettas and other Labyrinth Fish is based on observations, often by persons with little or no knowledge of how medications work or water chemistry and its effect on these medications. Sadly, even in the before mentioned forum one important point was not brought up and that is that Melafix is primarily effective only with minor injuries and gram positive bacterial infections.
This is worthy of note since most aquarium infections are gram negative and using a product such as Melafix for a disease such as Columnaris will only result in failure. So unfortunately the observations is made (especially when Melafix or Bettafix is overdosed) that the medication killed their fish, which of coarse is totally incorrect!
Now that is not to say that some of these anecdotal observations were incorrect and that Melafix did indeed kill their fish (still generally in an extreme overdose), but there is a water chemistry explanation for this too, so please read on!

Currently the best scientific information shows that there may be link between the tea tree oil in Melafix and toxicity in Labyrinth fish/Pencil fish, but this link is NOT what many in aquatic forums are anecdotally assuming. The best information points to liver function, which would explain why some (such as myself) have not observed this problems in our test (admittedly the studies did not focus on over doses or chemistry variables in the water).
Basically Tea Tree oil (Melaleuca, Melaleuca alternifolia) is a phenol-containing essential oil. Its active ingredients are cyclic terpenes which have a similar structure and action to turpentine (a known liver toxin). The acute toxicity for the major terpenic compounds (linalool, ocimene, alpha-terpinene, 1,8-cineole, terpinolene, camphene) is 2 - 5 g/kg body weight, which is considered a moderately toxic range. From a toxicological point of view Tea Tree oil is comparable to oil of turpentine, which is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and then finds its way to the liver. What may be the problem is that under certain conditions Melafix may be toxic to the liver in Labyrinth fish/Pencil fish.

My current hypothesis (note, this is merely a hypothesis, not a fact!), is that since the best research shows similarities between TTO and Turpentine (both are terpenes, but then so is beta carotene), is that in an acidic environment, in particular an environment with nitric acid or other acids as a result of organic decomposition such as carbonic acid, the chemical reaction can produce chemicals that may harm the liver in certain fish that have a tendency to ingest the water around them such as Labyrinth fish/Pencil fish (via the surface). Certain terpenes such as turpentine are actually explosive when combined with nitric acid (this chemical reaction is used in rocket fuels!). On a VERY small scale (aquarium environment) some similar reaction may be happening that with certain fish can cause death. This would also explain why this problem has never been noted in marine fish even though they constantly drink the water around them, since marine fish are always kept in an alkaline environment.

This would also explain why this reaction has not been observed in my tests with Melafix (even at double doses) with Labyrinth fish/Pencil fish since I conducted these tests in a balanced Redox mineral/electrolyte environment.
At this point my advice is to maintain proper mineralization and Redox, which is something I have been a big proponent of for many years now based on scientific evidence of the benefits therein. If my hypothesis is correct this may be the link in this problem, especially since the TTO found in Melafix (and all terpenes) is a known Redox reducer and an acidic/oxidizing environment of ANY cause could cause possible undesirable effects.
I recommend reading these articles:
*Importance of Minerals, Electrolytes, GH, KH in Aquariums
*Aquarium/Pond Redox

MELAFIX SUMMARY:

A few tests have confirmed my hypothesis (although I would not state this in a "the discussion is now over" sort of way).

The water Parameters hypothesis/possible conclusion certainly makes more sense than simply blaming Melafix for unexplained fish deaths when many tests with these very fish have not yielded the same results.
The ultimate conclusion may also NEVER be found, but this does not mean that Melafix should never be used. This is similar to many anecdotal comments about Malachite Green and its use that ignore the affect water parameters have on its dangers or how high amounts of calcium can render Tetracycline useless. Think about Tylenol, this is generally considered a very safe medications for humans, yet mixing with alchohol (especially in increased dosages) can cause liver failure; does this make Tylenol a product that should never be used? Of coarse not! This goes for Melafix and Bettas, if you are using this product with Bettas, make sure that your KH is above 50 ppm, your GH is above 150 ppm, & pH is above 6.5, and you should not have a problem.
I should also note that one theory that has been noted by many is that these problems with Melafix are the result of overdose with sensitive Labyrinth fish/Pencil fish, however (as noted earlier) mine and my colleagues tests cannot confirm this as with correct water parameters we have successfully doubled the Melafix dose with Bettas without any problems. This is obviously another case of where anecdotal observations are being made without placing other factors into the equation. This is not to say doubling the dosage is good, but that doubling the dosage with poor water parameters (low KH, minerals, etc) is the likely combination that can kill.

That said, I think Melafix is often over used for way too many aquatic problems where even though it may be harmless, it also may be useless.
However one thing is for certain and that is there is some trigger that causes this problem; otherwise one can not explain the use of Melafix at up to double dose without the deadly results some aquarists are observing.
In the mean time, I think many can continue to use Melafix (for the proper conditions, please reference “Aquarium Medications Part 4” for further information in this regard).
My suggestion is to not use products such as pH Down (which honestly should not be used anyway) or any other product that may add acids to ones aquarium while treatment with Melafix is under way. Make sure your pH is at least 6.5 or higher and would strongly recommend the use of products that buffer your aquarium (such as SeaChem Alkaline Buffer) and add minerals/electrolytes such as Wonder Shells (which come in sizes for Betta bowls as well) or Replenish.

The Bottom Line;
Basically Melafix is best used for external wounds, and other minor EXTERNAL & gram positive infections where there are proven results in many cases, however for diseases that go systemic (which most gram negative infections common in aquariums often do), Melafix is TOTALLY USELESS.
Using Melafix for Columnaris or similar more serious gram negative infections is analogous to using Neosporin for a 3rd degree burn and then blaming the Neosporin for someone's death after receiving 3rd degree burns. Sadly though, this is just the type of logic that has gone into many of these "Melafix Betta Dangers" articles that come up in internet searches!!!

I would also add to those who read this and might think I am an apologist for Melafix (or their maker API) because I have sold this product; well I am not and anyone who knows me since this product has come out also knows I rarely recommend it but for the few instance I just previously noted. I am just tired of the junk science put forth in so many place on the internet often by persons with a couple years aquarium keeping experience with 10 gallon aquariums and no professional knowledge or training!!!!!

I will also add in summation that blaming Melafix for your dead fish (which may be correct, but in most cases is based on VERY subjective evidence) is lazy/poor science.
For example I had an email in February of 2011 from someone who read one of the internet articles critical of Melafix. This person wasted valuable time attempting to get rid of the Melafix in their aquarium when further questioning revealed that they had poor water parameters (incorrect mineralization & KH) and the symptoms described a classic case of Columnaris (which Melefix is ineffective for treating).
While I cannot be certain whether the Melafix killed their fish by virtue of the incorrect water parameters or more likely due to the Columnaris infection, What I am certain of is that if this person had correct water parameters (which are proven to both fight and prevent Columnaris) and/or treated with the correct medication, these fish would be alive today!!!
For this reason, be wary of the plethora of websites that cut and paste information, often anecdotal that incorrectly places blame in the wrong place, often with the end results being our finned pets death.

I recommend readers read this article for more about Melafix:
Aquarium Medications Part 4, Melafix, Pimafix, Usnea

PIMAFIX

Although this article is basically intended to address concerns about Melafix, I will also address concerns about Pimafix that I discovered when researching forum/blog posts.
The concern was with Pimafix is that it contains refined Clove Oil (refined so as to dissolve in water). Many aquarists warn against the use of Pimafix for this reason, HOWEVER I think this is a knee jerk reaction with NO scientific studies to back this up. Of coarse continued use of Pimafix with no water changes or use of carbon for removal could certainly allow for dangerous Eugenol (the active ingredient in clove oil) buildup, but then ANY treatment when abused can be dangerous! I found one such reaction in Fish Lore by a person who seems quite knowledgeable, but in this case is making non-scientific anecdotal claims based not in controlled studies, but the knowledge that Clove oil can be and is lethal at certain dosage.
An example of this kind of think is the use of Tylenol (acetometaphin) in humans, which used properly is effective for headache relief and more, but when over used or worse, when combined with alcohol can be lethal to one’s liver.
My point is to use this or ANY treatment carefully (organic or otherwise) with routine water changes between doses.

Please note, this article is not intended for questions, please refer all questions to Everything Aquatic; comments with questions will no longer be answered here.

Aquarium Filter Innovations

2008-11-24T13:30:00.000-08:00

Aquarium Filter Innovations in History

This article is not meant to be an exhaustive history of aquarium innovations, and I am basically listing innovations that I have found noteworthy in my nearly 40 years in the hobby, 30 of which were in a professional capacity.
Comments that would add to this article are certainly welcome (any pictures would also be welcome)

CORNER FILTER;
I will start with the lowly aquarium corner filter (also known as an internal bubbler filter and other names as well). The one pictured to the left is the first style I owned with multi level intakes.

Later models included these Bubble-Up Filters that used an air stone to increase flow and had dual level intakes.

This same principle was also applied to the Slim-Jim Bubble-Up Outside (Hang on the back filter) where a rising column of air was used to expel water out of the filter (siphon tubes brought the water in).

These were simple filters and served their purpose, although the Bubble-UP HOB filters were often problematic and I personally would rather have an internal corner filter or the impeller driven HOB Filters that were also becoming common during this time.

POWER HOB (HANG ON THE BACK) FILTERS

The Aqualogy Power Filters such as the Aquamaster 300 or 600 were the "Kings" of the outside, hang on the back power filter..
These Filters employed often 2-4 large siphon tubes to bring water into the filters where is would be pulled through to the base of the filter via large motor (not an electromagnetic motor as found today).
These were popular with many of the "monster fish keepers" of the 70s, although often large fish would knock a siphon tube some loss of intake (and more noise)

Living World/Metaframe came out with the Dynaflo (Marineland and others followed) in 1975. These filters used a motor to pump water in rather than out as its predecessors did (the Aqualogy and similar). This eliminated the problematic siphon tubes, however I found the over-flo method less efficient than the older style and the cartridges used there in could not hold nearly as much waste as an Aqualogy 600 or similar.

These motors were also problematic with many of the bearings often seizing in either the siphon or early over flo style (the early Dynaflo filters also had issues with carbon or other debris getting trapped under the impeller causing loss of flow).

Hagen’s early Aqua Clears employed a "pinky finger" sized well that housed an impeller that used an electromagnet to pull the water in. This also turned out to be problematic with the plastic housing warping (often from heat or trapped carbon, sand or similar) and then resulting in total failure of the filter as it was often impossible to pull this melted plastic piece from the motor/power unit.

What followed next is what is now common, the electromagnet motor with a usually more durable magnet impeller that fits into a directly attaching motor that is sealed via an O ring.

A few generations of Aqua Clears, Whispers and similar employed this method, with newer innovations utilizing other innovations such as the simple Bio Bag by Whisper, Bio Grids by Millennium, Via Aqua and similar. Whisper also used a sponge Bio filter to preserve nitrifying bacteria. Marineland came out with their unfortunately over blown Bio Wheel (see this article: Aquarium Answers; Bio Wheels). Even though my tests showed the Bio Wheel over rated, it along with the grids, sponges, etc. were a vast improvement over the throw filter media that often resulted in higher ammonia levels after filter cleanings.

The SunSun PFE9 Power Filter has added a surface skimmer to these innovations (which is where a lot of new organic wastes tend to accumulate when first produced).
Another similar innovation is the Internal wet/dry style filter utilized in the Bio Cube Aquarium and Resun Filter Bio Filters. Although the technology really is not all that new, the simplicity and application at low cost is. These utilize proven Sponge bio capacity, along with Wet/dry style flows, and in the case of the ReSun BF100 in particular versatility such as the ability to add UV Sterilizers or other nitrifying or de-nitrifying filter media (such as crushed coral crumbles, volcanic rock, or the especially effective SeaChem Matrix)

CLEANING DEVICES, FILTERS

This is another area that I will note a few changes as in the implications for improvements in aquarium care/maintenance.

The simple Aquarium Gravel Vacuum was great improvement to siphons or similar methods of removing water and as well the battery operated vacuums that added much of the waste back into the aquarium. I immediately found improved tank parameters such as nitrates and less stress to both me and the fish when I began to use these vacuum/siphons.
Later (I believe the 1980s) Python came out with a variation of the vacuum/siphon that allowed the user to both empty and refill and even empty "uphill" which was an improvement over buckets, especially over large tanks. HOWEVER, I was already using my own version of the Python that is EXACTLY the same for less money. This involved vinyl tubing and/or hoses, sink adapters, and waterbed drains. I still use this idea and I have more about this DIY version at the bottom of this page: Gravel Vacuum; DIY maintenance system.

The Vortex Diatom/Micron Filter was another innovation I found very helpful for multiple tank cleanings (I used in my fish stores in the 70s and 80s). This was/is a simple way to remove large amounts of large particulate organic material suspended in the water and even Ich Tomites. The biggest negative to the Vortex Diatom is that for it to be most effective, the gravel needed to be stirred (similar to water changes prior to vacuums). This often added to fish stress and the highest volume of organic matter quickly fell back to the bottom of the tank.

The most recent innovation that combines the Gravel Vacuum/Python innovations with the best of the Vortex is the "Aquarium Cleaning Machine. When this first came out I was questioning this cleaning filter somewhat, however when some friends in the Aquarium Maintenance business told me about this product, I gave it a try and I was immediately sold!!
The Aquarium Cleaning Machine removes volumes of Organic matter that can cause an unstable pH, high nitrates, Aeromonas bacterial activity, poor Redox, even Ich Tomites, WITHOUT changing volumes of water as would be necessary with a Python or similar (as well the Python does not remove the contaminants a Cleaning Machine can). There is not the disruption to the fish that using a Vortex Diatom filter causes (since constant stirring of gravel is not necessary).
Like a Python or similar DIY, the Cleaning Machine is great for large tanks or several smaller tanks, however with single small tanks set up and tear down makes the Cleaning Machine more of a time hog than time saver (but if time is not your reason for this device, this machine is still a good idea for providing more thorough aquarium cleanings with little disruption of fish and sudden water parameter changes that further stresses fish).

Unusual Fish-Discoveries

2008-10-09T09:28:00.001-07:00

UNUSUAL FISH AND NEW DISCOVERIES

Hundreds Of New Marine Species Discovered
(AP) Marine scientists say they have discovered hundreds of new animal species on reefs in Australian waters, including brilliant soft corals and tiny crustaceans.

A total of 274 species of fish, ancient corals, mollusks, crustaceans and sponges new to science were found in icy waters up to 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) deep among extinct volcanoes, they said. The scientists mapped undersea mountains up to 500 meters high and canyons larger than the Grand Canyon for the first time, the government's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) said.
The creatures were found during expeditions run by the Australian chapter of CReefs, a global census of coral reefs that is one of several projects of the Census of Marine Life, an international effort to catalog all life in the oceans.

Among the creatures discovered were about 130 soft corals - also known as octocorals, for the eight tentacles that fringe each polyp - that have never been described in scientific literature, and scores of other crustaceans that have never been catalogued, including tiny shrimp-like animals with claws longer than their bodies.

(AP Photo/Gary Cranitch)

Conjoined Nile tilapia fish

(Click Pictures to enlarge)

These conjoined Nile tilapia fish swim in a Bangkok aquarium. They are eight months old and share a part of their stomachs. The bigger fish tends to protect the smaller one from harm, while the smaller one looks for food at the bottom of the aquarium.

Nile tilapia can reach a maximum of two feet in length and can weigh up to nine pounds. Originally from waters stretching from Africa to the Cape Horn, the fish was introduced to freshwater irrigation systems so as to fight algae growth but has now become a pest.
The Nile Tilapia fish is a common freshwater species found in tropical rivers, canals, lakes and ponds but these two were found in a Bangkok aquarium.

Fish That Glow Red

(Click Picture to enlarge)
This is a striking photo of a triplefin reef fluorescing red. According to new research, many reef animals glow red but that capacity is usually overlooked scientists because most of that wavelength of sunlight is absorbed out as you go more than 10 meters down into the ocean. As a result, most animals from that zone see blue light and green light best. But University of Tübingen evolution ecologist Nico Michiels and his colleagues suggest that the red-glowing fish carry an untold biological story about the spectrum of the sea. From Science News:
Michiels noticed the red fluorescence in 2007 while diving with a mask that filtered out all but red wavelengths for another project. As he descended, the sun's available red light dwindled quickly, leaving him in virtual darkness. Then he was startled to see the red fluorescent eyes of a fish, the red fin of another …. Since then, he and collaborators have found that 32 reef fishes sampled from 16 genera give off a red fluorescent glow. Substances on their bodies capture light at other wavelengths and release the energy as red light.

Most of the red-fluorescing fish are small and likely to have mates or neighbors close by, so red glows would make good short-range signals for courtship or other local business, Michiels suggests. The idea that seawater has rendered red ineffective "is a kind of dogma we are attacking," he says. "I would hope that the whole light ecology of reefs is reconsidered."

Sources:
Fish Glowing Red

SHO Aquarium Lights; Correct Information

2008-09-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

Aquarium Forum Hall of Shame Part 4:
SHO Lamps/Lights
(including LED information)

Updated 6/27/09

This answer comes from Yahoo Answers:

Here is the question:
“SHO lighting, Marine Aquarium?
I had a friend who has her marine aquarium maintained by an aquarium tech add new lighting to her tank. He added SHO lights to her tank as he stated it is one of the newer advances in aquarium lighting for freshwater plants and marine reef.

She is real happy with the results, but I am unfamiliar with it.
Does anyone know more about SHO (I believe this stands for Super High Output) or where I might buy it?”

Here is the Answer:

Here is a little information, all it is, is a screw in PC bulb, except its 6500k as oppose to 3000-4000k for lighting up your house.

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/PowerCompact.html

I'm still skeptical of the whole thing. The claim is, it's for "planted and reef tanks", but the pro's I've asked don't have anything nice to say about them. All it's going to be is, "the start of more lighting problems for people new to the hobby."

It's left up to you if you want to experiment with them or not, but I suggest looking into other forms of lighting.

My Answer
Thankfully this lady read more of the site and found the Aquarium Information article about Aquarium Lighting: Aquarium Lighting; How it works, about.

But these sad questions in my mind remain;

*Why did he not look past a simple search and read this article (the lady at least did)?
The answers is simple, he is sticking to his narrow view and is not willing to look outside the box to anything that may move him past these views that are BADLY outdated!!

*What Pros is he talking to? I doubt he has talked to ANY Pros as they obviously have not done ANY research past the anecdotal Aquarium hobby or he could not have made such an absurd statement. As well, has he talked to anyone outside the aquarium hobby/industry?
There is much more money spent in research in other industries, such as the rapidly growing Green House industry where demand for the SHO light is creating a supply problem.
The real Pros know that the SHO and LED lights are at the very least the immediate future of aquarium lighting when cost, lighting parameters, environmental concerns and more are added to the equation.

*His answer that all it is a screw in PC bulb; so is not a VHO a high output PC bulb, come on guy, are you that ignorant! This is plain common sense! Whether the SHO bulb meets all its claims certainly can be debated (although one greenhouse nursery purchasing 1000 per month from the distributor of the SHO light speaks volumes!), but this logic is so flawed it is pitiful.

The picture above was sent by a client (immediately after receiving them, before practical use) showing the difference with an SHO lamps vs. FOUR 36 inch T8 aquarium bulbs!! The SHO in the middle over powers out the 4 other lamps when turned on in the top view.

What also gets me is how common this is (not just in Yahoo Answers) but in many internet forums or articles where someone will make statements with no knowledge or research of the process or product they are talking about (aquarium chemistry, filtration, and medications are full of incorrect anecdotal statements).

SHO lamps/lights are a good example of how the aquarium industry is often behind the tech/research curve as SHO lights are now widely used by Greenhouses, but our sadly slow to catch on in the aquarium hobby/industry.
Quite bluntly, the future of aquarium lighting is in SHO and LED lights due to the practical applications of both, energy saving, and even cost (LEDs are coming down rapidly in cost while the light itself is improving dramatically). Sadly the only thing standing in the way of these two lights is the aquarium industry itself (a popular site has a lighting article that is woefully out of date as to LED and does not even mention SHO, this site is also sadly on the first page of Google as well).

This answer is also one more example of why Yahoo Answers should be avoided like the plague for aquarium information (or likely other subjects that objective answers are sought) as you get persons that think they know something that actually know nothing of what they are talking about!!

For anyone reading this article/post, PLEASE use a forum such as Everything Aquatic for your questions and leave YA to the scrap heap of bad ideas!

Yahoo Answers Exposed Further

2008-09-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

Yahoo Answers #3
By Jon V

Hello everyone, sorry for the many months not posting on this topic. Today I'd like to further illustrate the very poor levels of service that are delivered in the Yahoo Answers forum, in particular the fish section. As stated in previous blogs, YA was started with the intentions of allowing people to ask questions and get input from people all over the world that may have some knowledge or experience regarding certain things. With fish, it's no different. One real problem with the fish keeping hobby is that only a few things are an exact science as such, nitrogen cycle issues, PH, Redox, Electrolyte Balance etc... basically things that you can study and verify in biology or chemistry. The balance of topics are really more or less semi supported opinions.

Due to things being very arbitrary in fish keeping, such as proper stocking levels, compatibility of fish, substrate questions, equipment performance are just a few heated topics that come up. Where there is a failing on the end of YA is that there is little to no quality control aspects. People can post and advise to such things that are actually not in an askers best interest there, but YA has no control really to prevent or even block such input. From my point of view, there isn't as much care on the quality of answers but more concern over your avatar or links being posted. To me, I feel that if you address the quality of input, you take a secondary step to removing the typical trolling morons that haunt there. If a person is under the "threat" of having their answers removed due to inaccuracy or invalid answer to the question, trolls would be less likely to take the time to post in there. That's my speculation, and I'm sure there will be some ardent YA supporters that wouldn't agree, however, this is my blog, and I'm not a fivespeed302 and will ban you out for speaking your mind. You don't really have to agree if this will impact trolls or not actually....read on.

A secondary impact that YA either doesn't realize or care about, with not having quality control on answers, is that an asker can pick an answer based sheerly on thumbs up and down. Clearly that thumbs up and down were aimed to reward accurate on target responses, and steer people away from bad advice, the troll aspect has allowed egotistical maniacs, such as Mantra, Danielle Z, Dareyll R, llriffel, and Jack the Wong to mislead an asker to accept their input. What's a real shame is most of the input these people give, are either completely inccorect or at best only semi accurate not covering all important aspects. By use of multiple ID's the TU and TD aspect can skew someone to follow some very bad and piss poor advice.

YA has also attempted to lighten it's burden of trying to police trolls and inappropriate content by implementing this Community Moderation control, which to me, not only was trying to pass the buck off it's own responsibility, was extremely poor and not well thought out when implemented. One MAJOR flaw with this particular system, is the fact that someone can too easiliy gain trusted reporting status simply by the same way they can up levels of accounts. Create multiple accounts which are soley aimed to flame an answer, but the one main id is saved and reports against the bogus ones, and thus raises the trust factor of the real ID of someone out to do no good. Sure, once they decide to go after someone, and out of spite just report to get someone's answer removed, they take a hit, but what do you think Trolls do? They don't CARE if they take the hit. They have the time it takes to boost up as many ID's as needed, knowing the person that is giving the right answer but gets flagged is going to get sick of that bullshit and give up. THAT is their goal. YA totally failed to understand this as they don't seem to really understand what a Troll is really out to do, cause disruptions.

I've said this time and time again in the forum there in YA, there are so many things that need to be done, but just aren't. Community Moderation failed and I'm not the only person to post as such in the YA forum either. It's far too easy to manipulate. Live monitors are crucial and essential to improvement in that forum. Without an actual "judge" or "screener" on these reports, as well as the answers themselves, there's going to continue to be bogus reports against good people's answers, and 1 time of that happening is 1 time too many. I have yet to see YA ever just come out and admit, they are in over their head really, need more staff and are hiring. They just continue to find the cheapest and easiest solution out there. The people that suffer are those that know what they are talking about, aren't afraid to post it, try to help, and get swarmed on by malicious trolls.

Yet another aspect I've said would really help go a long way in YA is to simply eliminate voting all together. If you force an asker to pick a BA, it will impact people using multiple accounts, to some degree. Until the Community Moderation gets done away with along with voting, the bot aspect won't be deeply impacted however. While it's not a total cure for things, one thing it does is make an asker be responsible for putting up questions. There is a certain user out there in YA now that continually bombards the fish forum with question after question. It's a little 13 year old boy who's parents don't seem to monitor his internet usage, and asks so MANY questions the boy can't possibly absorb and learn everything he's asking. I've taken enough psychology to know, this isn't about curiousity or learning, it's a cry for attention the kid doesn't get at home. YA has to make people like this pick a best answer. It's a total waste of time for people to give a good quality answer and have to wait for voting and even then, monitor that answer if you feel you are right against bot voting trolls. Again, I'm sure some circumventing could be done if this was implemented, but it would be an improvement on current situations.

Finally, I'd like to display some very fine outstanding answers picked or voted as BA's in YA to show you why it's in your best interest to avoid YA itself and join more professional forums such as Everything Aquatic or Cichlid-Forum.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ao35emwYiDnUU2gMPJV3rpbty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080911213420AAe73it&show=7#profile-info-Xibbj4Mhaa

A true asshole at work here disseminating misinformation:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080908195850AA4RsOl&r=w&show_comments=true&pa=FZB6NWHjDG3N56z6v_2wXDcd1yFTvoYUjm1aXuPzRJUslIRiQcGQ3A--&paid=add_comment#openions

This one should give you a good laugh:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArQHXAUsST1qzau4pY5etWzty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080907215503AAnjTaZ&show=7#profile-info-KqvtWjbgaa

I'd love to know just what makes a cichlid from Malawi automatically a Mbuna and if that's accurate, then what in the hell is my Nimbochromis Venustus or my Aulnocara Baenschi?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnLp9FTnyQksK02W9O92bN7ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080908082536AABeamg&show=7#profile-info-VcTlcvJsaa

On top of that, this dickhead really likes to try to convince everyone that any fish from Malawi is a Mbuna, second time, same answer.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ao35emwYiDnUU2gMPJV3rpbty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080905035143AA1wxX2&show=7#profile-info-bxIjNO1Qaa

Funny this person never bothered to answer all aspects of the question. Once again, something like this, the asker should have stepped in and picked one

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aibxkei2WTugnZRRjmrUj0Hty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080903194533AA4oigL&show=7#profile-info-YU51MbZDaa

This isn't aimed so much on soop, other then 7 votes and didn't get help from FC? LOL :P Soop is all right in my book, but it's that asswipe Jack yet again wanting to spread incorrect information.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aibxkei2WTugnZRRjmrUj0Hty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080828091946AA3ET9A&show=7#profile-info-vF1QbxgHaa

Here's a real full of themselves idiot I'm happy to say didn't stay around long.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqojUC90hJaQ_OjTFbHnu6Lty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080825072919AAAbXST&show=7#profile-info-UvFLnV9uaa

Aquarium Cleaning Machine

2008-07-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

Aquarium Forums Hall of Shame #3

Aquarium Cleaning Machine Myths & Review:
UPDATED 10/19/11

Currently this excellent product is not available, as the manufacture is in the time consuming and expensive process of moving their production facility.
Here is a communication from the Manufacturer:
"AMI is moving production of the APGV-100 to the United States. AMI will offer an improved version of the APGV-100 for the "True" aquarium hobbyist by end of year. While AMI will continue to support present customers, the "New" APGV-100 will be much more powerful and allow the consumer to have U.S.A. sources for replacement parts"

Consider the Eheim Sludge Remover as an alternative for now.

If you have read this article already, please see the update halfway through the article for comments added from "Talking Reef Forums" which sadly demonstrate how dishonest and anecdotal the aquarium hobby is.
This just makes the point of a friend in the wholesale side of the aquarium business that stated "after 30 years managing many different types of businesses, he never met a more dishonest, back stabbing, and anecdotal industry/hobby than the aquarium hobby/business"

For my latest installment of Aquarium Forums Hall of Shame I will return to the more original format of Aquatic forums (rather than the last post which dealt with a SEO forum that had little integrity when it came to my trying to counter all the anecdotal or even harmful aquatic articles that have flooded the internet).

In this case I was performing my usual Google checks (always Google, not as much Yahoo or MSN, that brings this stuff up, which is why my last post), when I found a forum that was talking about the Aquarium Cleaning Machine. A moderator here had purchased one from Dr. F & S based on her view that they were a safer/better place to purchase from (which I will get to that shortly). She later had trouble with suction with her Aquarium Cleaning Machine and then basically decided that they were not good.

Let me give a little background before I go on; When I first heard about the Aquarium Cleaning Machine during one of my business trips to LA, I was skeptical, however after talking to a few Aquarium Maintenance Professional Colleagues that I knew that were very impressed, I decided to try one. After finding out how versatile and easy to use they were (as well as excellent for tanks with high bio loads/DOC), I decided to now sell them.
I also decided to try running this machine by putting it together different ways and trying different configurations so as to see what can and would go wrong so as to best explain this to prospective customers. I found that if not cleaned properly, or not put together properly (which is hard not to do since the few parts are color coded), or finally if the valves are not properly positioned (this is the easier mistake IMO), Suction or other non function issues would arise.
This said I have YET to have a single problem with the machines I have used) nor those used by persons I know. The only problems encountered were by my own intentions to force issues with the machine.
What is sad is that Dr. F & S only decided to sell this machine after others such as myself found a market for it and did the hard work. I know this from the distributor of this product whom has poor view of their company, along with many other “old timers” in the aquatics industry based on what many have been sold/told by them. I believe since they have little working knowledge of this product, it stands to reason that their customer service in helping buyers with the machine would be poor.

Back to this forum, as I noted this forum moderator reason to purchase from Dr. F & S was based on false assumptions about Dr. F & S. If she had purchased the machine from American Aquarium Products or others that have vastly more information/help she may have been able to avoid the problem, however she did not.
Now this is where the hall of shame part comes in, when I noticed the trashing of this product (similar to the anecdotal reviews of so many products, methods I have observed on the internet), I decided to join this forum (Koiphen.com) so as to explain what may have gone wrong and my experiences with this product. I later found out (via a phone call from a customer) that my post was removed. This is a despicable yet all too common display of shutting down good information so as to allow their own misinformation to prevail. I found this all too often in many Google forums where many would make statements or slander me so as to make their own unsubstantiated view prevail.

Update 12/06/08
I had to update this article post as I found two more anecdotal comments about the Cleaning Machine, one really blew me away with his condescending attitude that had little basis in what this machine can or cannot do.
Both are separate threads from the forum Talking Reef:
(1) "I would not go that route myself.
I found the next best this next to using the siphon tube to sink method is to use a magnum."

This is a fair comment in my view however it unfortunately demonstrates an anecdotal comment based in a lack of knowledge and experience with this product as I HAVE used a Magnum for just this purpose over 10 years ago and the results were not even close to comparable.

This comment on a second thread where this video was posted really was bad (he is speaking of the inventor in the video, Fred from Ancient Mariner):
(2)"So this guy has nothing new on us, in fact he's behind times. Also, there are several of these units available on the market. He didn't invent this technique. He states he's been in the aquarium maintenance business 15 years. I have several problems with his aquarium, one, he has plastic freshwater plants, two, dead dyed coral, three, there are nothing but Damsels in the tank with the possible exception of a Royal Gramma. All easy fish, tolerant of high Nitrates, which I suspect is in the 50 to 60 ppm range in his established aquariums.

I would also venture a bet that he is a LFS owner. Not that that makes him a bad person nor uneducated in the ways of aquariums. But his aquarium, which he's representing to us as one of his best examples, is extremely basic and in fact way behind in technology. Be wary of what this guy is telling you"

This is a classic example of attacking the messenger rather than finding out what this product can and cannot do.
First; of many aquarium maintenance clients (usually businesses) still like the old style look for its simplicity and cost effectiveness (I know this for a FACT being in this business for 30 years).
Second; this has NO bearing on whether or not this machine works as advertised.
Third; the narrator in the video even states he is in the maintenance business, not a LFS owner
Forth; I have used this machine and compared to high bio load tanks with similar filtration and the nitrates were usually half that of those tested that the machine was not used for, NOT 50 -60 ppm as this really condescending person stated!!!

I will state that this machine is certainly not for everyone, but where results are desired such as lower nitrates or a more stable KH/alkalinity in an aquarium with high bio load, Dissolved Organic Compounds (DOC), this is often where this machine is at its best. Often this includes maintenance clients that over feed and have basic "old style" aquariums as seen in this video.

Please see this page for further demonstration videos including the video flamed by this forum:
Aquarium Cleaning Machine Videos

Let me summarize by stating that I am not trying to make a hard sell for this machine, as it is not for everyone, although I can say from the experience of running a large aquarium maintenance company for 25 years (over 1000s aquariums maintained over the years) that the Aquarium cleaning Machine would easily be 100% excellent investment for at least 25% of aquarists (SW or FW and honestly more often FW).
However I am tired of all the anecdotal bs that floats around on the internet that is totally unsubstantiated by science, practical application in a controlled environment, or is simply trashing a concept, product, etc. that they do not understand.

Other suggest Reading, Websites, Forums:

For an honest, knowledgeable forum, I would recommend visiting “Everything Aquatic”

For the most accurate, researched information in aquarium lighting, where the information is regularly updated, including having the humility to correct errors when new information presents itself:
Aquarium Lighting; Facts & Information

For only the best in True UV-C Replacement Bulbs, Lamps:
UV Bulbs

SEO Chat, DMOZ, Forum Hall of Shame-2

2008-06-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

Aquarium Forums Hall of Shame; Part Two- DMOZ and SEO Chat forums

Updated 1/16/12

This hall of shame post actually diverts from Aquarium/pond forums to an SEO forum as it relates to DMOZ (SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization).
I am writing this post after being flamed and attacked on SeoChat Forums about my comment as to DMOZ and as it relates to Google Searches.
DMOZ is a human edited directory, staffed by volunteers usually from similar fields to which they edit (which may or may not be a conflict of interest, but I will not question the integrity of those in fields I do not know). However in the field I have spent a life’s work (aquarium/pond keeping and of which I have been prodded to publish this work for more than a decade before I finally did with my many articles), I know that many of the articles that are listed in DMOZ are of poor quality or worse.

To set the stage, let me point out that a quick search of the DMOZ directory under Home, then Pets, then Fish/Aquaria will yield several at best spammy sites “The Baily fish”. Many of these sites give not necessarily incorrect information, however it is often anecdotal which can not give a newbie to advanced aquarist the full picture. I know from the many emails, aquarium forums posts, and my old maintenance business questions posed that even simply incomplete information can lead to confusion as to correct procedures of fish care, often with disastrous results.

Another site listed is Fish Lore, this site dates to 2007 (I requested a listing in 2005), and again while this site is not necessarily bad, it is often VERY anecdotal such as an article about the Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle where they have resurrected the long ago discredited by aquarium professionals method of using Raw Shrimp to cycle an aquarium. While this method can work, it also increases the risk of inducing a Saprolegnia infection in a new fish keepers tank; frankly this is IRRESPONSIBLE and for DMOZ to accept this previously noted web site and reject in depth, researched articles such as The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle is simply disgusting (especially when one considers the number of researchers outside the often anecdotal aquarium hobby that have written with their praise of this article and others from this website).
Fish Lore also has misinformation in other subjects such as UV Sterilizer and Melafix.

Another problem is that Google give a lot of weight to its searches to sites that are listed in the DMOZ directory, so often searches can be skewed as well here, allowing these anecdotal or downright dangerous web sites come to the top of searches (such as the before mentioned web sites)!

An example of a recent email question led me to this Google Search: “freshwater aquarium calcium” which yielded some reasonable sites as to Marine Aquarium Calcium, of which the need is better understood, yet for the less understood but still important subject of freshwater aquarium calcium, the search came up dry. This is unfortunately an important subject as correct fish osmoregulation depends on calcium and other electrolytes as well.

Now, back to Seo Chat Forums; I posted on a thread about “shutting down DMOZ” with this comment:

“I do not claim to be an expert in DMOZ or its editors, and maybe 90% are ethical and do the right thing.
However what I can say after 30 plus years in the aquarium industry in research, maintenance and sales is this hobby/industry is extremely anecdotal, passing around the same tired information over and over, never using research from much better funded industries (such as Horticulture, marine research, human drug studies, etc, etc.) to back up what is stated.
For instance I see this in aquarium lighting, where the newer technology T2 and SHO lights are nowhere to be found except in use by aquarium professionals that have to use and stand by their choices on a daily basis.
Another point is a person that worked at an Aquarium Supply distributor as a manager near the end of his career told me a few years back: “I have worked in management for the past 30 years of my life and never have I seen a more back stabbing, dishonest and corrupt industry until I took this job.
My point is unfortunately Google gives weight to DMOZ, and even though many editors may well be good, honest persons, I know from my past three years of submissions that this is not true based on what I do know to be true.”

See:
http://forums.seochat.com/open-directory-project-13/shutdown-dmoz-190038.html
http://forums.seochat.com/open-directory-project-13/dmoz-and-google-199094.html

I am not sure how this previously noted statement got twisted that I am stating that the editors are corrupt, or how ended up with me being accused of being a liar (& worse) multiple times, however I will state from my own submissions to a very low volume category (fish/aquaria) that my aquatic information site is still sitting there.
At the least the fact that so many so-so sites exist while mine and other more current research sites are not added makes the point that this is a poor source for viable aquatic information. At worst it is possible that other sites are being “sat on” based on an editor who is trying to keep his/her agenda in there and block other information that has mores facts that would make their favorites look bad. Read whatever you want into this or my statement on the forum, but this is not a lie, nor is this a charge that all editors at DMOZ are corrupt.

Fathom is one of the more vicious posters (as per his attacks on me and often others as well) in this forums stated that he is “passionate about this subject”, well he has that right to be, but I too have a right to be passionate about the subject of aquatic misinformation that often makes new aquarists quit and often even frustrates advanced aquarists when information they are seeking is either anecdotal, corrupt, or simply cannot be found and DMOZ along with Google often do not make this easy.
As well, this same person suggested that I get a job on the board at Google which is a ludicrous statement, when all I was stating is that either DMOZ changes some procedures or (better) Google gives less weight to DMOZ directory sites (or other so called “authority sites”) and more to content (which includes links within this content to other research, often of university level to back up the content). This is a simple matter of “doing what’s right” rather than lame statements such as were directed at me.

I will admit that I finally stood up for myself with an attack back after his comments about getting a job on the board of directors at Google or an editor at DMOZ with this statement:

“But what is really troubling to me now, is this is almost the exact answer I got from children's services when asking them to do the right thing after several reports to them about my kids after my daughter’s molester was trying to turn the tables by redirecting this corrupt organization against me.
What a sad world we live in when this is the answer to doing what is right.”

I am sorry, but I was told similar (to get a job, run for county commissioner) if I did not like what was being done and this hit a raw nerve, especially in light of recent problems with this persons and my daughter’ nightmares.
My admittedly harsh response brought out the real venom from two individuals and a childish response to remove ALL credibility I had gained over two years of being on this forum (which is a silly system IMO besides that allows this).

This forum still publishes some good articles and has some good people posting there (such as Egol), however the moderation there is poor or non existent (IMO) and this guy along with others often will attack others that due not agree with their world view. In fact I have since gone back and looked the category that this thread was under and this guy in his so-called passion (which I have no right to according to this horrible monster of a human being) still uses the same tired line of "why don't you become an editor if you do not like it. This is the most lame argument IMO when all others ask for is more honesty in DMOZ, however the system is set up with the Fox guarding the Hen House in possibly many categories with areas of conflict of interest that would be thrown out in a court of law is all good and proper at DMOZ.
I will however point out that even with the down right evil statements this person directed at me (and was backed up by other mean spirited persons), I am in NO way saying he does not look at all admissions in his category through an unbiased eye, in fact I know for a fact that my Brothers Toffee Company Web site got added very quickly by DMOZ.
However my original point that the way the system is set up at DMOZ, which includes way to much authority given by Google, but with many at SEO Chat, Google IS GOD so no argument can be made on this subject either. This attitude can allow either anecdotal or worse; dishonest editors to run a muck, and this is a FACT at the very least for the Aquarium Pets: Fish and Aquaria Category.
The bottom line is just because the Candy Category (Shopping: Food: Confectionery: Taffy and Toffee) may all happy and honest, does not mean others are.

Finally, despite comments made in defense of this guy in SEO Chat that he is passionate about this subject so he often gets hostile due to this, I too am passionate about aquarium keeping, as I have sacrificed MUCH (better pay and more) to spend time in research and more on this subject as I know how much MANY care about their finned friends and that so much of the bad information that permeates the internet passes through Google and DMOZ and I feel this is simply WRONG. This is simply my passion for which many who honestly know me will attest to the fact that I will often go an extra mile to help other here!
Why should I give even more of my free time (of which I have NONE) editing DMOZ simply because this guy says I have no credibility unless I do when I already give much of my free time objectively helping other with their aquariums navigate around the myriad of bad information that Google and DMOZ seem to happily provide?
The Answer of coarse, is NO

Here are just a few of the sites where many 1000s of hours worth of research, hands on experience, and yes even corrections to my own mistakes have gone into (I have MANY more):

Aquarium Lighting

Aquarium (& pond) Information, Resources

AQUARIUM AND POND ANSWERS

A CLEAR POND; Pond Information - Proper Pond Filtration, Cleaning, care, chemistry & Basics for maintaining a beautiful garden pond

Reef Clams with Foreign Disease

2008-04-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

Reef Clams with Foreign Disease Sold for Reef Aquariums

http://news.ufl.edu/2008/04/08/imported-aquacultured-reef-clams-found-to-have-foreign-disease/

Popular Giant Blue Clams (Tridacnids) imported from Vietnam have been found to carry to carry a disease (Perkinsus olseni) as per University of Florida Studies. These clams are widely imported and distributed though out the US and the World.

In findings that may impact the reef clam industry as well as international trade, a University of Florida veterinary pathologist recently discovered Perkinsus olseni, an internationally reportable foreign pathogen, in aqua-cultured clams imported from Vietnam.
While not believed to be a threat to human health or other reef aquarium species, the pathogen’s presence concerns scientists as well as aquaculture industry representatives and points out the largely unregulated environment in which the importation of aquacultured reef clams from Asia occurs.
“I had 30 clams in my lab as part of a student research project,” said Barbara Sheppard, a clinical associate professor of pathology at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine. “Then they started looking sickly, and within four months, all of them were dead.”
As a pathologist, Sheppard was intrigued. She began investigating the cause of death by freezing tissues, putting them into formalin and conducting histopathology and DNA tests in her laboratory. Her findings, which will appear in an upcoming issue of Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, showed the presence of Perkinsus olseni along with a new species of Perkinsus that has yet to be characterized.

“This is an important finding,” said Ralph Elston, president of AquaTechnics, a Carlsborg, Wash.-based company that provides veterinary, laboratory and environmental assessment services to the shellfish industry. “It indicates the potential risk of the spread of animal disease when health monitoring is not in place to control such risks.”
“This is not a zoonotic disease, transmissible to people,” Sheppard said. “No one is going to get sick from this, as far as we know. The problem here is economic and international trade. We know that Perkinsus is a pathogen of aquatic shellfish, and the reason it is so important is that it makes animals very vulnerable to dying when the weather gets hot or when they get stressed in some other way.”

In my opinion, short of not importing or selling these clams, the right thing to do is to NEVER dispose of these clams in local waters, whether alive or dead.

Yahoo Answers Part 2

2008-03-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

Vote Tampering
By YA User Jon V

I’ve contributed to YA now for a little over a year. I’ve met some wonderful fish keepers out my attending and contributing to that site. I bring this up, though it has no bearing on the subject line, that I always try to find a positive way to view things. Looking at YA as a whole, and in my previous editorial comments posted by my friend and site hoster, Carl, I’ve got to say that YA in terms of at least fish keeping, is at best, a mediocre place to seek advice. Don’t get me wrong, there are some high quality fish keepers out there that do offer advice, but as with most anything in life, there are always a few bad apples that ruin a group. Since this isn’t posted in YA, where I don’t have to “cower” in fear of having my account pulled due to violating some very ambiguous community terms of service, I’m simply going to call out the known cheaters in the fish forum.

1. Mantra- Simply put, this person, be it a man/female or both, who knows in this day and age, has been already kicked out of YA twice on the account of cheating. There are at least two well known sources in YA that have communicated to me their proof, though for their privacies sake, I am not going to mention who. Since I was alerted to the tactics used by Mantra, roughly a year ago, I’ve watched this user quite a bit. I have no doubts in my mind, he’s got or had at least 25 or more account ID’s in YA. I’ve watched him or rather his question, race a vote count up almost all night in effort to beat out Magicman out of a best answer.

It’s clear to those that really want to look at his case with open eyes, that he will do ANYTHING he has to go be listed as the best. What makes this such a joke and sad side effect, is if you really look in depth at his answers, his answers are at best, just like YA, mediocre, and not even close to the actual best answer give. NoSoop has posted to me a previous question he asked over a year ago titled “Over 257 BA’s in the fish forum, why am I not in the top ten?” One look at that alone tells me enough about what is on his mind. Point in case,
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070420051441AAkjNC4&r=wEJFyD3bpPmOeos7BmMCx6UR2BxsRe9ms3.bijgZi5Loxa_gqUFfFSVqYQQ--&paid=delete_comment#openions

In spite of more than 257 BEST ANSWERS, why am I not included in YA's TOP 10 ANSWERER in section PETS-FISH
It certainly is not about providing quality assistance but to glorify himself on a large web site used by many world wide.

A secondary problem with this, is not everyone reads, or rather reads in depth to things. Just looking at the name Mantra, and seeing it listed in the top ten will generally make people trust his input. This is why he wishes to be in the top ten so bad. If he’s listed there, it makes those that know he’s full of shit look bad by counter answering him. Shred, but low in originality for thinking. Since he’s returned to answers after his second penalty for cheating, he’s proclaimed “Hero’s don’t die, they reload” and “Most loved him, some hated him, but none forgot him” It’s clearly sound bites of low intelligence from his end that show deeper about his true motivations, intellect, and character. Even a child could do well to ignore the advice he gives in the same manner you’d treat shit in your toilet. Flush it with all the useless links he provides.
The tactics of Mantra as well as the next person are quite similar, though Mantra never seemed to have any end. I’ll admit, there were times that I got tired of his blatant cheating, as no matter how many times you’d report his fraud to YA, they acted very slow. I created id’s and voted back against Mantra when I knew I was right and he was wrong, only to find that if I went ahead of him in voting, in less then an hour, his answer went back up. Either Mantra is like some world leader, famous that he’s important to LARGE number of people, or rather, more likely, he’s sitting there watching his questions, as I watched his, and used multiple accounts to pad his votes to win. Making a point? Possibly, but a truly intelligent person is going to realize that votes alone don’t make your answer accurate or best. It’s also now well known that Nemo is just one of Mantra’s alter id’s.

2. Danielle Z- This user has been gone quite some time as well, much like Mantra. I dub her as Dizzy for short as this seems to sum up the level of most of her input. She, much like Mantra, lacks the hands on knowledge of fish keeping and relies very much on links to web sites to do the work she should be doing for the asker. She’s another person that more then appears to use multiple accounts to skew voting. Dizzy before her departure was well known to have around 5-7 votes on her questions early on in the voting period. Also like Mantra, most anytime someone passed her up in voting, you’d see her shoot back ahead within an hour. It’s a shame she never did us all the favor and just stayed gone.

3. Ice Queen- I always thought Dizzy and Mantra were close to their sad tactics, but Ice Queen always seems to get about 6-8 votes as soon as a question opens as well. The quality of her input basically consists of “Your tank isn’t cycled” Usually the best of her input is one or two no brainer sentences that lack quality and in depth responses. One would think an asker would have enough common sense to know that she barely knows her head from her ass when it comes to fish keeping, but still, many of her questions never get BA’s picked and goes to voting. I assume it’s possible she happens to know certain askers. I give Ice one small credit here only. When she’s been called out privately in email, from Soop or comments I’ve left, she seems to have gotten the point and only used her one legal vote of late. There might be hope for this person.

4. Kam S- No question in my mind what so ever this person is or has an alter id in the fish forum. After watching him cheat a top ten listing person on a UV question, with an answer that’s way off the wall, this punk made my watch list. It doesn’t seem they have much of an interest to continue this activity, but watching what happened on one question, I have seen all I need to see about this so called Top Contributor.

There certainly are some others out there, and as this continues to occur, this might be a useful thread to call out the funny voting counts. Hopefully, any askers in the fish forum that might still use this place for help, you’ll know to steer away from input at least from these people. The information presented here is FACT, and there is no disputing it.

Yahoo Answers

2008-03-14T11:11:00.001-07:00

Yahoo Answers; a poor place to go for accurate aquatic (pond and aquarium) information

Yahoo Answers is a good concept. Anyone who has a yahoo account is eligible to use this service. This helps the forum from the point of view; it doesn't have to attract groups of users to build its service up from scratch. It is especially useful for asking questions such what is your favorite movie and why, HOWEVER in my nearly 30 years of professionally designing aquarium systems, maintenance, and research, I have to say Yahoo Answers has serious flaws in the organization and administration in it's terms of service. Never have I seen a source geared at assisting fish keeper, deliver such poor and sub par service.

To support this very point, consider the procedures involved. We must first examine the point system. Designed as a reward and promotion to get people to provide answers, it has transformed into the driving force for lower quality input in every section of Yahoo Answers. In addition to the quest for point gaming there unfortunately is an invasion of Trolls (which include many so-called Top Contributors that come by and thumb down good answers and pad votes for anecdotal answers). They have taken over and YA seems disinterested in fixing this.

On a side note, recently, in a few answers I have tracked hits on references I have posted to back up my answers, only to see little or no change, thus proving lack of interest in good or accurate information (including by many so-called TC that will post behind me contradictory anecdotal information). In addition to that, many will "pile on" trying to get “Best answer” and then later pad their answers with votes, if the answer goes to voting.

As of now, I only go there (I have a VERY busy work schedule) to dispel the constant barrage of misinformation that passes for answers half the time, such as the extreme amount of misinformation when it comes to aquarium lighting that is beyond laughably false (I have seen many other so-called answers such as the correct aquarium silicone to use for aquarium repair and many more).

Yet another major flaw in planning reveals that one who would answer has little to no credibility unless you have a Top Contributor badge (as I have noticed based on answers chosen). There is a misleading impression that someone who happens to answer "x" amount of questions or obtains "z" amount of best answers is an expert. The mind set being, "This person carries a Top Contributor Icon, they must know what they are talking about" I carry no ego, but directly, I do have more extensive experience in the area I answer in, Pets/Fish so I try to make time to come here at least a few times a day. Due to excessive trolling here, several false reports of abuse have been filed in this section of late. It's rather clear to see, there is a problem with people with lesser knowledge and experience that feel their answers are right when in actuality, it's quite inaccurate.

I also notice that Yahoo Answers has a knowledge partners program, but getting in there seems unlikely but for a select “anointed” few (maybe some $$$$ too?)

That being said, not everything is negative about YA. There are a few who are truly interested in trying to help and make this work. In fact I answered a question by one of these Gentlemen of Yahoo Answers where I only answered to add more information and to second the already good answer that was there (actually there were a few excellent answers), needless to say this person picked that answer as best, which he should have since my answer was not meant in any way to compete, only enhance. This is how it should work, but this is how it rarely works. If there were more askers realizing this is not a popularity contest or actually reading over the input many give, I believe the trolls would lose interest and begin to fade away.

Yahoo Answers recently took away my Top Contributor badge (which of coarse lowers my credibility as stated earlier) even though I was answering more questions than usual over the last few weeks, most likely due to troll activity.
Worse yet, another gentleman of YA fish, who is incredibly experienced as well as gracious in the way he often words his answers LOST his Yahoo account due to trolls (most likely Mantra) there that have multiple accounts and use these to knock out the good Top Contributors at Yahoo Answers. The reporting of abuse and disinformation is a noble idea and should be there, but the application of it is failing this service miserably.

The revamped system of community moderation has failed. Trolls are ever more present and dissolving any bit of credibility this service offers in the way of accurate information on fish care. It seems rather evident, that YA will only care if attendance drops and advertising money diminishes. Sad to say, it appears the mode is typical of the American way of life, "Unless it effects your wallet, why care?"

In another sad move on Yahoos side (which is doubly sad as I personally like there other services including what I think is the best search engine), is that not one email is being responded to by Yahoo (including the designer of Yahoo answers that used to be interested in making YA a good place for information).

As someone who has spent most of my adult AND childhood in the Aquarium hobby and especially in my professional capacity (maintenance, etc.) I have seen much of the damage bad information can do, with frustrated fish keepers, dead fish, and poor information treated like a fact being spread out like wildfire.

I and several others now have had ENOUGH. It is time for action. Suggestions have been posted and appears to have fallen on deaf ears. PLEASE, to all that read this and truly care about the integrity of the Aquarium and pond keeping hobby, BOYCOTT or at least try and avoid answering questions directly (use PM) at Yahoo Answers so that it will fold, your fish will thank you!

If you truly want better service and advice, this is NOT the place to find it.

By Carl Strohmeyer
With editing and additional information by Jon V.

Zebra Fish for Cancer

2008-02-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

A Transparent Zebra Fish is created to give a clearer idea of how cancer spreads

FROM:
Science News; Transparent Zebrafish Help Researchers Track Breast Cancer

"What if doctors could peer through a patient's skin and see a cancer tumor growing? They'd be able to study how tumor cells migrate: how they look, how they interact with the blood system to find nourishment to grow and spread through the body.

Zebrafish are genetically similar to humans and are good models for human biology and disease. Now, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have created a zebrafish that is transparent throughout its life. The new fish allows scientists to directly view its internal organs, and observe processes like tumor metastasis and blood production after bone-marrow transplant in a living organism".

VEGF secreting human tumor cells inducing angiogenesis within the Zebrafish body wall. Tumor cells are shown in red (DsRed), fish blood vessels are shown in green (GFP). (Credit: UCSD School of Medicine)

This is really neat in my opinion that a popular and easy to keep tropical freshwater fish is being used to help people in such a way.
Something I was not aware of is that Zebra Fish were chosen for their strong genetic similarities to human beings. Each internal organ of the fish and its bones can be seen clearly throughout its life. Through these studies, observations have shown already that the spread of cancer cells are not random – they home in on a particular area.

Zebra Fish were the first fish I got in a 5 gallon aquarium I received for Christmas in 1967. This tank was quite basic with a "bubbler" corner filter, which were quite simple but do not compare to even the most basic sponge filter. The aquarium lighting was basic clear incandescent bulbs and the heater was an automatic HOB Metaframe Heater.

Blog inspired and sponsored by Thomas Butler

Aquarium Forum Hall of Shame-1; UV Sterilization, more

2008-01-28T08:57:00.000-08:00

Aquarium Forum Answers Hall of Shame; Part One

I am going to add more of these posts in the future where I post answers and/or links to correct information in refutation of some poor to downright bad answers I stumble across in forums, Yahoo Answers, and even YouTube comments.
The sad part is that some of these answers come from otherwise intelligent aquarists that are unfortunately beholden to anecdotal misinformation and shun any new concepts that might make them rethink old ideas (believe me, I have changed my views on a variety of subject as new research/evidence forces me to be honest with myself).

If you are looking for a good group to join (& this is not to say this is the only good forum out there), I would recommend "Everything Aquatic". Many on this group are professionals and more important everyone here is friendly and open to learning, which is what a forum is all about!

The first “Hall of Shame” answer is actually a YouTube comment

YouTube UV Sterilizer installation Demonstration
YouTube Statement/comment
Did u know that if u leave uv lights on 24/7 they shut down a fish's defense systems? then they are turned off for a few hrs or so then illnesses can set in and kill the fish off.
Second comment: They don't shut them down, they simply weaken them since you're essentially creating a sterile environment.

My Comment

This is simply 100% WRONG!
Unfortunately this is a common anecdotal belief about UV Sterilization with absolutely no basis in scientific fact. Unlike the next Hall of Shame answer which is simply poor and based in closed mindedness, these comments are so bad they are hardly worth commenting on, so I recommend readers here follow the links to the articles below for more.
A UV Sterilizer actually improves the immune system by virtue of a reducing Redox environment created by the reaction of UVC radiation INSIDE the unit on oxidizers in the water that lower fish immunity (which are removed by this process). For a further explanation of how this works, please visit the articles below:

I strongly recommend reading this article for a much better explanation of this subject:
Aquarium UV Sterilizer; Does a UV Sterilizer help or hinder a fish' immunity
This is an article of this blog:
Aquarium and Pond UV Sterilizer; Blog

Followed by this article for a more broad understanding of UV Sterilization
"UV Sterilization"

*Note: It should be pointed out that if you have a UV Sterilizer and do not replace your UV Bulb every six months, your UV will become less effective and eventually a useless piece of aquarium equipment, so please do not forget this basic part of UV Sterilizer ownership.

The second one comes from a popular Google Group

Question: The question is basically if a power gravel vacuum such as the Aquarium Cleaning Machine can improve ones aquarium cleaning outcome, in particular the removal of DOC (admittedly this thread went all different directions, however this is the core aspects that the so called experts missed).

Answers: “You are much better off using a siphon, removing the waste from the tank. Those power vacs with the bag, traps the already decomposing waste in a bag just to let a flow of water speed-up the waste being dissolved and dumped right back into the tank as DOCs. You may as well siphon the waste in a glass of water, shake it up till the solids are dissolved and pour it back into the tank! It still does the same thing - makes and dumps DOC right back into the tank, only it does it at high speed.”

“How in the world did we get into a
discussion on how NOT to do water changes when water changes are so
vital to an aquarium's health?”

My Comment This is not a case of wrong answers, rather VERY misinformed narrow minded answers. Devices like this are not intended to replace water changes, ONLY to improve then (especially in large tanks, or tanks with high bio loads).
The final answer I referenced misses this point altogether. This is an ALTERNATIVE to a traditional water changes where as you continue to vacuum even after removing the desired amount of water.
This does not dump DOCs at a high rate of speed back into an aquarium. After using this for a more traditional water change, you then set it to re-circulate and continue to vacuum through the micron filter that removes vastly more DOC contributing organic mulm than using a filter bag with the micron filter which is then removed (unlike a standard aquarium filter which traps the waste in a different location only to still breakdown into DOC).
What is really sad about these comments is that I went into this forum and replied with the correct information (I have used these devices, including filter bags, and the method of siphoning water into a bucket and letting it settle out and pouring it back in), and the results speak for themselves (lower nitrates, improved Redox, better pH stability). These persons never even tried this machine, yet were somehow experts and worse even in theory their arguments fall apart.

Please read this article for more about Aquarium Cleaning, including reasons and methods: "Aquarium Cleaning; About and Why"

I will have more of these posts in the future, so please “stay tuned”

Other Articles of Interest:

Aquarium Repair

Aquarium Lighting

Correct use of RO Water; for Betta, Discus, more

Bahooka Restaurant

2007-12-26T11:07:00.000-08:00

Bahooka; Eatery/Restaurant with 100 Aquariums celebrating milestone

This is the original story form the San Gabriel Valley Tribune about the Bahooka Restaurant that I serviced and set up most of their aquariums starting in 1978.
I reference this restaurant as part of my experience in another Fish as Pets post; “Aquarium Experience”
I started at the Rosemead location in 1978 after an employee recommended me to Owner Jack Fliegel after saving her Arowana in a “fish medical” house call in my relatively new Aquarium Maintenance business (I had been in the hobby for over 10 years prior). From there I revamped already started aquariums and set up many more.
I also used this restaurant for my Wedding Rehearsal dinner years later and received many other clients from seeing my work here (such as Disney Studios)

Here is the newspaper story (edited for a more widespread audience):
By Jennifer McLain
Staff Writer
http://www.sgvtribune.com/

Here is a newspaper clipping picture of 31 year old Rufus the Pacu from the Bahooka Restaurant that I maintained and set up most aquariums for almost two decades with Suzanne Schneiders standing next to Rufus (click to enlarge).
Rosemead, CA- It’s the only place in town where umbrella drinks, a carrot-eating fish and tiki torches are the norm.

And Bahooka Restaurant Family Restaurant co-owner Suzanne Schneiders thinks that’s only part of the charm to this family establishment.
“I just think that it is the atmosphere that people love,” said Schneiders. “I tell people it’s a cross between the Tike Room and the Pirates of the Caribbean”

Bahooka has been a San Gabriel Valley (East of Downtown Los Angeles) staple since 1967 when former residents Betty Twigg and her brother Jack Fliegel opened the restaurant in West Covina, CA.
“They wanted to do something different” said Schneiders.
They came up with a Polynesian Theme, but super sized.

The restaurant serves big portions of ribs, shrimp, and steaks and has a bar full of sweet alcoholic drinks.
But it is the décor that is most memorable to its customers.
Ship remains, fishnets, dried blowfish, Polynesian crafts and more than 100 aquariums fill the restaurant.

The idea was an instant success. The 13 table restaurant in West Covina grew and in the 1970s a second location which seats 300, was opened in Rosemead.
Forty years later the children of Twigg and Fliegel have kept the restaurant going, and are now celebrating its success with an anniversary in Nov. 2007.

“It’s different,” said general manager Pat Kenealy, who started 37 years ago as a bar tender. “And one of the reasons it’s stayed open so long is it is a family restaurant.”
Eventually the West Covina location closed. The Rosemead location however has remained.
“We hear a lot of people say, ‘Wow, that place is still open?’ Schneiders said”.

Schneiders walked throughout the restaurant the night of the interview, pointing out everything that gives the Bahooka its character, from her favorite fish to the longtime waiters to her uncle’s souvenir purchases from around the world.
Of course, there’s more to the restaurant than the atmosphere, Kenealy said. A 40 year old family recipe for salad dressing, ribs and the 60 salad bar drinks are also big attractions.

The restaurant has attracted local, Hollywood stars and world travelers.
Diners included Kirstie Alley, Oscar De La Hoya, and David Hasselhoff. Recently, Jim Carrey filmed “The Number 23” in the restaurant, and in 1997 scenes for the film “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” staring Johnny Depp, were shot there.

Stacey Fliegel, a co-owner, said she remembers running around the restaurant when she was a child. Working here for nearly 30 years, she has seen a lot of familiar faces come through the doors. As the owners hope for success, Fliegel looks to customers to keep it going.
“It’s not that business is falling off,” Fliegel said, “But once in a while, you need to walk down memory lane and remember how you got to where you are”.

Here is a pdf of the original newspaper article about the Bahooka Restaurant (including Rufus the Pacu): Bahooka Restaurant; Eatery celebrating milestone

Other Recommended Aquatic Sites:
Aquarium Saltwater-Marine Care, Basics

Aquarium Cleaning Machine -Micron Filter, Ultimate cleaning filter

SEACHEM PRODUCTS

Aquarium Information; Grants Pass Oregon- My blog of aquarium and pond news that relates to me and Grants Pass

IPod Speaker Aquarium

2007-12-17T17:19:00.000-08:00

There is a new device available in Australia for iPods that doubles as a very small aquarium for Bettas which selling like crazy but is a terrible idea in my opinion, it is known as the "iPond".

This is a terrible idea from the prospective of size (this is only a
.65 liter or .17 gallons container) as well as the noise/vibration factor and lack of any real filtration.

The Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA), which represents more than 650 retailers and manufacturers, also called for a ban on the iPond speaker, saying it raised concerns about the safety of the animal.

"While Siamese fighting fish have evolved naturally to live in confined water bodies this product appears to be taking this unique evolutionary trait too far," the association's chief executive Colin Bransgrove said.

The 'iPond', which is reportedly sold in some Australia pet stores complete with a Siamese fighting fish, is a miniature fish tank which holds about 650 milliliters once rocks are placed at the bottom.

According to one report, the 70 dollar (60 US) device is so popular with Christmas shoppers one Sydney story has sold out of the product.

I hope the company responds to the aquatic community complaints, but I doubt it.

It is sad that Apple will not comment as well, but this does not surprise me either.

This post sponsored by Tommy Butler

Planaria, Wiggly Detritus Worms, in Aquarium, Glass & Water

2007-11-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

PLANARIA (often confused with Detritus Worms) and other Incorrect Internet Aquarium Answers

Updated 11/23/11

Sadly since Googles horrible new Panda/Farmer Algorithm update, the extreme misinformation resulting in misidentifying Detritus Worms as Planaria has hit an all time high.
See the summary section for more about this misinformation

Detritus Worms (below)
This post was/is inspired by the many questions I have read or been asked from readers of my articles or forum members (Everything Aquatic) as to Planaria, which most of the time have been misidentified (in sites such as Yahoo Answers, Aquarium Wiki, Aquarium Fish.Net, Fish Deals, or About.com) and are actually Detritus worms which are an "Annelid" not even closely related to Planaria.

The other part of this confusion by these “cut and paste” sites/articles is even when correctly identified, Planaria are still attributed to the same water conditions that cause a Detritus Worm population “explosion” which is simply not true and can lead an aquarium keeper to address non existent problem if they believe this misinformation from sites such as Aquarium Wiki.

Sadly a Google search brings up these extremely inaccurate articles at the top, so these aquatic lies continue to be spread.

The problem with this confusion of these two very different worms is important since infestations of each of these different worms has very different implications for your aquarium, So Please Read On!

These Detritus Worms are normally not a problem and often go un-noticed living in the gravel aiding in breakdown of wastes. When the population explodes these worms often leave the gravel and cling to the sides, usually close to the surface as oxygen depletion due to the cumulative effects of increased organic mulm, cloudy water and simply too many Detritus worms drive them from the oxygen poor gravel.
The population explodes generally due to high amounts of decomposing organic mulm (often resulting in cloudy water, pH drops, etc.), which is often an indicator of a tank with poor filtration, poor cleaning practices, too high of a bio load, poor Redox balance, poor feeding practices (not always over feeding, sometimes simply feeding foods that do not digest well) and other reasons as well.

For further information about the subject worms, please see my Aquarium Answers Blog post: * “Aquarium Answers; Trematodes and Nematodes in Aquariums” which includes information about these worms near the bottom of the article.

Planaria (below)
In the case of Detritus Worms, no one has bothered to check with any zoological, biology are similar research site. These article mills (and some department store type pet shops as well) just keep pumping out repeated misinformation built upon other misinformation. In the case of Detritus Worms (AKA Planaria, but incorrect) I checked several sources to confirm what was a baffling amount of poor information in aquatic sites, yet all the biology sites confirmed the rather obvious difference between Planaria and Oligochaetes Worms (the family of worms that compost in water that includes tubiflex, naidid, and similar worms.

Planaria are tiny flatworms that live in freshwater and marine environments, and on plants throughout the globe.
Planaria live in fresh water ponds and is a carnivore. The pharynx (the passageway leading from the oral cavity in the head to the esophagus) can be protruded from the mouth which is in the middle of the ventral side of the animal. The diet consists of such foods as insect larvae, small crustaceans, and other small living and dead animals, Not decomposing matter as Detritus Worms do.

Planarias reproduce asexually and sexually; individuals have both testes and ovaries.
A single one can be cut into hundreds of pieces and each will grow back into a whole planaria —a remarkable feat regenerative capacities.

The implication of a true Planaria infestation is VERY different from the much more common Detritus worm infestation, which is why this correct identification is so important.
Planaria can harm some fry, fish eggs, or even occasionally resting or weak fish, and are generally not an indicator of a dirty aquarium as is the common myth.

Planaria is normally transferred into an aquarium from live plants normally grown in a pond. Ponds have more incidence of Planaria.

Where as Detritus worms are primarily decomposters that cause little harm unless their population explodes which then they compete for oxygen with fish and are an indicator of poor tank conditions in general. When Detritus worms are out from the gravel crawling on the glass, etc, this is a sign of a “dirty aquarium” with implications of high amounts of mulm and lower dissolved oxygen as noted earlier.

Removal (Treatment) of Planaria:

There are several remedies that can rid a tank of Planaria, here are a few:

*Clout; this is probably the most effective treatment which contains 4-[p-(dimethylamino)-)O-Phenylbenzylidene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-xylidene dimethylammonium chloride; dimethyl (2,2,2-trichloro-1-hydroxy-ehtel) phosphonate; 1,2-dimmethyl-5 nitromidazole and inert ingredients as non toxic binders.
A negative of this treatment is it cannot be used with Piranhas, Metynnis species, scalelesss fish, bottom feeders, Marine Sharks, or Lion Fish

*General Cure; Not as strong, but still often effective and less harsh on delicate fish. General Cure contains Metronidazole & Praziquantel

*Jungle Parasite Clear; As with General Cure, not as strong as Clout, but still often effective and less harsh on delicate fish.

*Most Medications/Treatments that contain Trichlorfon (although this is very harsh on silver fish, arowana, and similar)

*Copper at .25 ppm can be effective for Planaria

Other references:
*http://www.exploratorium.edu/
*http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/

The purpose of this post is to bring attention to readers (who keep and maintain aquariums and ponds) to be careful about believing everything written, blogged, etc. here on the internet when it comes from some aquatic sites.

What I have noticed being in the maintenance and also research side of this business is that someone will write and anecdotal article with no research behind it and then others will pick this up and run with this poor information. This is especially common with information spam sites like about.com which were created purely for advertising revenue.

Besides experience I have gained in the maintenance business, research, seminars, I still do not assume that what I know is correct and re-research often and I often research out side the aquarium industry in areas such as microbiology, the lighting industry, medical, and other research and outside industry sites.

There are several more subjects with vast amounts of poor information, such as nitrifying bacteria, what they are, can they be packaged and whether or not antibiotics will kill them. The fact here is that true nitrifying bacteria belong to the family Nitrobacteraceae and REQUIRE oxygen and are gram positive while most pathogenic bacteria in aquatics (freshwater and even more so in saltwater) are gram negative. This means that these bacteria can live short periods at room temperature in a liquid. Admittedly there are new packaging innovations and cool storage that can stretch the life of these bacteria, Bio Spira by Marineland certainly has been better than most (although shelf life and poor handling certain impacts the quality of this product as well). Unfortunately most products use Heterotrophic Bacteria which store and reproduce much easier, however they do not have nearly the same ability to remove ammonia and nitrites as true Nitrifying bacteria.
The other poor information aspect to this is many sites, forums, blogs that state that most all medications will kill your nitrifying bacteria, while this is certainly true of Erythromycin or Tetracycline which are gram positive this is NOT true of Kanamycin or Nitrofurazone which are primarily gram negative (these antibiotics do have some gram positive abilities as well and so overuse can and will harm nitrifying bacteria).
Finally it is often amazing how many persons will recommend a primarily gram positive antibiotics such as Penicillin or Tetracycline for gram negative disease such as Aeromonas, Septicemia or Columnaris.

For further information about medications and treatments, please read this article: “Aquarium Medications and Treatments and how they work” .

Summary of Misinformation provided by Google Search Results!
Here are just a few of the websites from a page 1 Google search with misinformation about this subject (& proof Google is not interested in accurate content, only cut and paste spam):
*http://www.onedersave.com/ (This is simply a SPAM site, yet Google gave this terrible site rank #1!!)
*www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/planaria_white_worms/
*www.aquariumfish.net/information/having_trouble_p2.htm
*www.theaquariumwiki.com/Planaria
*www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/general-aquarium-plants-discussions/67061-planaria-surprise.html
*http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/freshwater-beginners-archive/9313-planaria-help-please.html
As well many persons often think that Wiki has it correct, yet they are dead wrong and even misidentify the type of worm these are calling them a nematode as well as stating they "feed on dead and decaying organic materials"
*http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/Planaria

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Readers of this article may be interested in this article too (another aspect of aquarium keeping where there is a lot of Internet misinformation):
UV Sterilization
This article deals with many of the facts and myths of UV Sterilizer use including flow rate, UVC penetration, water turnover, and maintenance (such as when to change your UV Bulb)

Another excellent "worth reading" article is:
Aquarium Silicone, Tank Repair, Applications, DIY; this article has informationabout the correct use of aquarium silicone, tank construction, how to check for weak seams, and siilcone sealants to avoid (since many silicone sealants sold are NOT aquarium capable or totally fish safe).

Monogenean Parasites, Marine Fish

2007-09-05T13:56:00.000-07:00

Coral reef fish harbor an unexpectedly high biodiversity of parasites In the same way as the tropical rainforest, the coral reefs of warm seas are among the richest ecosystems of the world in terms of their biodiversity. In fact the best conserved areas harbor over 700 species of coral, 600 species of mollusk and nearly 4000 species of fish. These fish have been well studied by reef biodiversity specialists over the past few years, yet still little is known about their parasites. Two studies conducted by IRD researchers of Noumea have brought out evidence of this parasite species richness in two grouper species of the New Caledonian coral reef.

COMMENT:

This is a good reason to quarantine your new arrivals to your marine tank and find a good source for your saltwater fish and stick with it. This also speaks for other prevention methods including but not limited to UV Sterilization via a properly installed UV Sterilizer (if a UV Sterilizer is employed for Redox control and disease prevention, it is imperative to change your UV Bulb every six months for maximum effectiveness!!).

If a quarantine tank is not available, a 30 minute bath (in a dark location) using Methylene Blue or for a stronger bath (especially if Flukes are suspected) Potassium Permanganate followed by a 3-5 minute dip in pH, KH adjusted freshwater is a viable option for prevention.

For in tank or in pond treatment either Potassium Permanganate or Quick Cure are viable options, although not always 100% and quite expensive for a pond.

What are Monogeneans?

Monogeneans (flukes) are a group of parasites best described as flatworms. Monogeneans are commonly found on the gills, skin or fins of fishes and lower aquatic invertebrates. A few may invade the rectal cavity, ureter, body cavity and even the blood vascular system. There are more than 100 families of Monogeneans found on fishes of the world, in fresh and salt water, and at a variety of temperatures.

Most Monogeneans are browsers, moving about the body surface and feeding on dermal (skin) mucus and gill debris. Monogeneans have a series of hooks that enable them to attach while feeding. Most species are host- and site-specific, requiring only one host to complete an entire life cycle. In fact, some adult Monogeneans will remain permanently attached to a single site on the host.
Morbidity and mortality epidemics in cultured fish caused by excessive parasite loads are associated with crowding, inadequate sanitation and deterioration of water quality. Although Monogeneans are commonly found on wild fish, they are rarely a direct cause of disease or death in free-ranging populations.
Identification:
Freshwater fish infested with skin-inhabiting flukes become lethargic, swim near the surface, seek the sides of the pond and their appetite dwindles. They may be seen rubbing the bottom or sides of the holding facility (flashing). The skin, where the flukes are attached, shows areas of scale loss and may ooze a pinkish serous fluid. Heavy gill infestations result in respiratory disease. Gills may be swollen and pale, respiration rate may be increased, and fish will be less tolerant of low oxygen conditions. "Piping," gulping air at the water surface, may be observed in fish with severe respiratory distress. Large numbers of Monogeneans on either the skin or gills may result in significant damage and mortality. Secondary infection by bacteria and fungus is common on tissue that has been damaged by Monogeneans.
In salt water fish, sharks, skates and rays, the Monogeneans, Neobenedinia spp., may infest the skin and gills, resulting in extreme irritation to the host. Sharks with heavy infestations swim erratically, and exhibit behavior such as flashing and rubbing on the bottom of the tank. Gray patches and open wounds may appear on the skin. Ulcerated skin lesions are susceptible to secondary bacterial infections, which may result in mortality. Affected gills may become irritated, hemorrhaged and swollen. Sand grains may stick to the gills as infested sharks suck in sand in an attempt to rub off the parasites.

Much of the information provided here comes from this source (which I recommend for further reading): Monogenean Parasites of Fish.
I also recommend this article from Aquarium Answers: Trematodes and Nematodes in Fish.

Moon Jellyfish

2007-09-03T11:10:00.000-07:00

Graceful survivors- Moon jellyfish lived through the Ice Age and subsequent warming of the seas. What makes these translucent creatures so resilient?
By Sandy Bauers
Inquirer Staff Writer

Updated 9/22/11

-Dozens of moon jellyfish - diaphanous, graceful, eerily dreamlike in blue light - undulate in the artificial current.
Children racing in from a hippopotamus exhibit skid to a halt and gaze at the soundless ballet in Camden's Adventure Aquarium.

These are the subjects of Alejandro Vagelli, an ichthyologist whose groundbreaking research has painted new pictures of Aurelia aurita.

Moon jellies wash up dead on the beach, all flat and gooey, in sizes ranging from saucers to dinner plates, with cloverleafs visible inside. (Those are the gonads.)

Then there are the leafless faux moons, thick like a hockey puck and even more ubiquitous around Labor Day at the Jersey Shore. Scientists say these are actually the many-ribbed jelly, Aequorea aequorea.

Many are too ragged to tell the difference.
Neither's sting hurts.

Not jelly or fish, Aurelia aurita is one of nature's simpler organisms. It senses light with a primitive optical organ but has no brain. Bodily contractions are its only means of propulsion, mainly vertically; otherwise, it follows the currents.

Because the moon jelly is so uncomplicated, medical researchers study it to better understand living tissue. About 2,500 specimens rode the shuttle Columbia into space in 1991 so scientists could see how they fared sans gravity. (They pulsed faster and went in circles.)

COMMENT:

-I personally find Jellyfish fascinating. Their movements and basic but function structure amaze me. I have kept the Upside Down Jellyfish (Cassiopea Andromeda) for years in my Marine Aquariums and have thoroughly enjoyed them. Upside Down Jellyfish are one of the most common jellyfish in the pet trade. These invertebrates get their name because they spend most of their lives laying upside down on shallow sandy bottoms exposed to sunlight. Among the tentacle structures are rounded, bladder-like structures, which contain photosynthetic algae that help the Jellyfish produce its own food. Their flattened bells pulse gently to carry food and to aid in respiration.

The upside down jellyfish come from the Caribbean and is relatively easy to keep in a non aggressive Reef or Nano Reef aquarium. The Upside Down Jellyfish can make a unique and interesting aquarium occupant.
Upside Down Jellyfish will require bright aquarium lighting to thrive, such as Metal Halide, the newer LED and SHO and possibly VHO). Although Upside Down Jellyfish rely on symbiotic algae to create nourishment for them through photosynthesis, you may feed your Upside Down Jellyfish solid food once in a while such as puréed Spirulina 20. It is not advisable to reach into the aquarium any more often than necessary in order to avoid contact with nematocysts that can sting when they make contact with the skin, although my experience has been that unless you touch them with you more sensitive wrist, you will not feel anything.

These invertebrates get their name because they spend most of their lives laying upside down on shallow sandy bottoms exposed to sunlight. Among the tentacle structures are rounded, bladder-like structures, which contain photosynthetic algae that help the Jellyfish produce its own food. Their flattened bells pulse gently to carry food and to aid in respiration. I recommend keeping a sandy bottom with a low current near the bottom. Be careful in aquariums equipped with overflow filter intakes as this Jelly fish will often get caught in them.

Aquarium Experience

2007-08-18T10:21:00.000-07:00

I am writing this article to explain myself to readers a little more.
My experience and expertise in the aquarium field does not come solely from myself. One of my talents is recognizing others talents and accepting that others may have good ideas even if they contradict my own.
I started an online aquatic information site and business after 40 years in the hobby and 28 years in the professional maintenance business (and LFS). I moved to Oregon for very difficult personal reason, certainly not for monetary reason and this became my new outlet since I no longer owned my business of many years (I sold it to my ex-brother in law).

Eatery with 100 Aquariums Here is a newspaper clipping picture of 31 year old Rufus the Pacu from the Bahooka Restaurant that I maintained and set up most aquariums for almost two decades. Please click the picture to vist the full article (post) and view a larger picture.

Back to aquariums and ponds; I used to have one room of my house with racks of aquariums where I conducted experiments, plus two of my largest aquarium/pond contracts (Bahooka Restaurant, Coaster Co. of America with 105 and 36 aquariums and ponds respectively) allowed me to also experiment around with different ideas.
Also the large number of aquariums I maintained allowed me the opportunity to run head to head test of different brand products or new products. I have also run trials of many fish foods in both fresh and saltwater (as despite what many say), not all fish foods are the same as there is sometimes wide variance in ingredients. I have found that many fish (although they may be healthy) can do better. Here is an article I wrote about this subject:
Proper Aquatic Nutrition

I also talked to and listened to others in the aquarium/pond maintenance field (as I still do) to get their opinions. In one example (shortly before I moved to Oregon), I was talking to another aquarium service person and was telling him about how I was think of adding several of the Marineland Bio Wheel sump systems to my aquariums. He then asked me why I thought so highly of bio wheels and whether I was just believing the hype (which was based on plausible scientific facts) or had actually tested them as he had recently. I answer no and then set out to test them (primarily against sponge filters) and found that he was right, although bio wheels do work, what they accomplish vs. other filters was mostly hype. My point here is that I was willing to listen to others in my field, even if it proved me wrong!

I have also attended many seminars over the years to further my education, such as ones sponsored by Aquatronics (an aquarium pharmaceutical company) and others.

Another point is that I do not place myself at Guru status such as Tom Barr; I read him and others as often as I can. This said, even though he probably knows more than I about planted aquariums, I will confer with others aquarium plant keeping, a case in point is ADA Plant Substrate; I noticed that he recently made negative comments about this over hyped product in plant forums, yet even though I have never used it, several in the maintenance business already had and had raised the same questions months earlier to which I had already passed on. I also feel that often many reading true experts such as Tom Barr’s article will often go overboard in trying to make the perfect tank, and this does not apply to plants alone, pH chasing is a very common problem in many freshwater hobbyists aquarium. Also simple parameters such as Redox are also left out of many an aquarium keeping equation.

I will also note that I have always utilized experts in many a field to help me with my aquatic “problems”. Even though the concept for my UV Sterilizer is mine, an employee (who is now a senior electrician for CalTrans) aided me in the design and prototype changes of my sterilizer, and to be very blunt, based on my usage and others, I do not think any other UV comes even remotely close to it for the price (which is frankly too low considering the time it takes to build).

I had a friend and client who was a long time aquarium hobbyist and a Endocrinologist who was a great help in cutting thru the many aquarium medication myths that still exist today.
As for aquarium lighting, this is a fast growing field where I have to read a lot to keep up, however I am not afraid (unlike many) to change my opinion about new innovations or studies that show mine and/or others beliefs to be wrong. I subscribe to lighting industry newsletters (these are not just for the aquarium lighting industry which is frankly a borrower industry do to lack of real funding like most areas of the aquatic industry). Case in point is that the new SHO self ballast lamps in 6400 K have mostly ignored by many in the aquarium industry yet these are an incredible bulb especially for the price.

I can go on here, but I hope my point has been made and that is my aquarium (and pond) information is a compilation of my experience, research, industry and even more outside industry news letters, and finally the input of others.

Piranha- caught by fisherman

2007-07-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

Pacus & Piranha in aquariums, ponds and lakes?

-MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. - A fisherman looking to catch a catfish for dinner instead reeled in a fish that flashed its teeth and bit his knife. Jerry Melton, 46, was fishing in the Catawba River last week when he caught what state wildlife officials later identified as a piranha, a South American carnivorous fish that lives in freshwater.

COMMENT:

A lot of news attention is always given to these South American Fish and their cousins the Pacu. Both are TROPICAL and will not survive most USA winters (Hawaii and South Florida are the exceptions), yet try convincing some persons, especially politicians with too much time on their hands and not enough brains in their heads.
I have maintained Aquariums and Ponds in Southern California from 1978 to 2002 where I had many a customer dump their over grown Pacu or Piranha in their outdoor pond to give it "more room".
Not a one survived the winter where the ponds dipped well below 65 F, and you know what harsh winters So. Cal has, LOL (Sarcasm)!!

Also studies have shown the Piranha not to be as vicious as once thought, this article "Vicious" piranhas are really wimps dispels that myth as well.

Personally I am not a big fan of Piranha or the reasons many keep these fish, however I am also even less of a fan of misinformation. The aquarium hobby is full of poor information. I have tried to present Aquarium Information and articles that have more practical experience and research behind the articles. I have also tried to update when new, or better information becomes available (or I find new research proves me just plain wrong!)

Finally, often what is often re-posted as a piranha is actually a Pacu (as may be in this case and the accompanying photo from the above news article).

Pacus make much better pets in my opinion provided you have the space (I recommend a 250 gallon + aquarium). I have kept many Pacus in at the Bahooka Restaurant in California where my company maintained over 100 aquariums at this location.
These fish are quite hardy, and very curious (one in particular was a favorite of restaurant patrons as it would come up to the glass and "beg", usually for carrot sticks.
Pacus need a lot of space (as stated earlier) and need filters not easily upset. They will also chew up most decorations, including live AND artificial plants (so a freshwater planted aquarium, even with the best of aquarium lighting is not going to work for Pacus or Piranha).
I also recommend protecting the heater as I have had many heaters broken by large Pacus (Titanium Heaters are often a good choice with Pacus and other large fish).
I also have had several of my more healthy customers with large ponds as well as their larger aquariums get bored with their Pacus (& occasional Piranha) then dump them in the pond.
Unfortunately these fish have NEVER survived past November/early December, and this was in Southern California where the ponds and lakes generally dip into the low 50s and upper 40s in the winter. My point in bringing this up is that Pacus are often suggested as a pond fish, yet with the possible exception of extreme Southern Florida or Hawaii (maybe Brownsville Texas area as well), these fish cannot survive the winter in the USA (and definitely Canada) unless there is some sort of warm water source (Geothermal, Ect.).

Below is a picture comparison of a Pacu and Piranha (click to enlarge)

Here is a map of legal and illegal Piranha States (USA) from my Basic Aquarium Principles and Information Article (click to enlarge)

UPDATE:
As I suspected, this fish turned out to be a Pacu

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Other Articles I have written that may be of Interest:
*Aquarium Silicone Applications, Tank Repair, Glass Top Hinge Repair DIY Aquarium
*RO (REVERSE OSMOSIS), DI (DI-IONIZED or DISTILLED), RAINWATER IN AQUARIUMS, OR WATER SOFTENER WATER
*Molly Disease

Celestial Pearl Danio, Galaxy Rasboras

2007-06-18T10:14:00.001-07:00

Newly Discovered Fish Facing Extinction - March 13, 2007
Release from: United Press International
HOPONG: An aquarium species discovered in Southeast Asia in August is facing possible extinction because of intense demand for the colorful fish.

Updated 9/22/11:

The celestial pearl danio -- Celestichthys margaritatus -- was discovered by a commercial aquarium fish dealer near the town of Hopong in Myanmar, formerly Burma, along the China and Thailand borders.
When this fish first appeared on the Internet forums, many thought that this fish was the result of an ardent Photoshopper. This fish caught the fish keeping world by storm with many people clamouring to get their hands on this elusive fish.

Measuring less than an inch, the fish is deep blue with pearly pink or golden iridescent spots, National Geographic News reported. It lives in heavily vegetated ponds in that remote northern area.

Initially the danio's location was kept secret, but other commercial dealers soon learned of the fish, Tyson Roberts, an ichthyologist told National Geographic. Within a few months, one Thai company alone had exported about 15,000 of the fish, Roberts said, and, since then, exportation is estimated to have reached 10 times that amount, mainly to Japan, North America, and Europe.

Captive breeding may be the only way for the aquarium hobbyist to ensure a supply of the species in the future, since it reportedly is already nearly fished out in the area where it was discovered, Roberts said. He detailed the discovery in last week's issue of the journal the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology.
Picture above from: The Celestial Danio, a highly anticipated species description by Tyson Roberts

Comment:
According to the National Geographic, this original post was greatly exaggerated. Here is a quote from National Geographic News
“CORRECTION: The original title of this March 7, 2007, article—"Aquarium Fish Threatened With Extinction Just Months After Discovery"—exaggerated the threat to the fish, says ichthyologist Tyson Roberts, who is extensively quoted. The availability of the fish to aquarium suppliers at the discovery site is rapidly dwindling, but, as mentioned later in the article, the species most likely doesn't face a threat to its survival because other populations of the fish probably exist in areas inaccessible to fishers, he says.”

This is not to say captive breeding programs should not be started and used as a primary source for these fish for the aquarium trade.
I had an earlier post about this here: Galaxy Rasbora under threat. I have read more as more information has become available, and found my own comments to be premature and even the name of this fish (along with better male pics) as gone through changes.

Here is a little more information about these beautiful fish:

Scientific Name: Celestichthys margaritatus (previous scientific name: Microrasbora Galaxy)
Temperature: 24 C (75 F)
GH: 9 dGH (about 150 ppm)
Size: about 1 inch; 1.5 – 3 cm (female often only 1.5 cm)
Location: Myanmar

Breeding
Although the primary focus of Fish as Pets posts/articles is “Aquatic News” (unlike Aquarium Answers which is more focused on researched information), I will provide some breeding information gleaned from others and Danios/Rasoboras in general.

Most sources agree that Celestial Pearl Danios are not at all hard to breed and compare to other Rasboras/Danios in breeding behavior.
Feeding frozen or FD bloodworms to the adults diet daily will keep them in spawning condition.

The CPD (Galaxy Rasboras) should be separated from other fish and it should be noted that they will eat their own eggs. They spend every moment of their awake time hunting through spawning “mops” to eat the eggs and newly hatched fry.
Best is to utilize a method that screens the adults form the breeding mop/moss at the bottom of the aquarium or better is to separate the adults immediately into separate “rearing tank” with a Sponge Filter for filtration. It should also be noted that CPD spawn regularly, so chances are even if you miss the spawning one time, you might catch the spawning the next time it happens.
Young Celestial pearl danios will also eat new hatches, so the small juveniles must be moved out prior to adding new eggs.
New hatches will grow from about 15 mm to about 60 mm in 4 weeks. Fry prefer to stay in bushy tall plants near the surface for the first few weeks of life.

Please also see this article from a member of Everything Aquatic:
CELESTIAL PEARL DANIO

Here is an interesting video of celestial pearl danios spawing in an aquarium:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If your aquarium has a UV Sterilizer, I suggest changing the UV Bulbs every six months for peak performance for a healthy Redox Balance and of coarse better disease resistance in your fish.

Other Articles that may be of Interest:

Aquarium Silicone; Tank Repair, Application, Correct Sealant to use

Aquarium Lighting

Freshwater Aquarium Care, Basics

Local Aquarium Stores, LFS

2007-05-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

LOCAL FISH STORES FOR AQUARIUM INFORMATION & SUPPLIES.

I have read many blogs, forum posts (including Yahoo answers), and infomercial articles that trash local fish (pet) stores as a source of Aquarium information and help. This in my opinion is unfair as there are many dedicated stores and employees who love the hobby and really want to see the best for your aquarium (or pond).
Even stores such as PetsMart or PetsCo which are often noted for poor quality advice often will have an employee who really knows his or hers ‘stuff’ (although these good employees will often not stay long). This said, if you have received good service and advice, your local aquarium store is worth supporting over the large

One should ask around when seeking a good store, get to know the owners and/or the employees. Also keep in mind that everyone makes mistakes and just because you may have gotten one bad fish or some bad advice does not mean you should right off that particular store.

You want to look for a store that is open minded and not dogmatic on everything they say, always open to new ideas. Also be careful of stores that may push only one manufacturer’s line of product rather than carrying the best of all manufacturers. This of course does not prove a bad store either as they may have purchasing restrictions or other factors that go into this. However I have personally tried to resist purchasing an entire manufacturers line just to get better discounts (many companies from Hagen to Tetra offer these discounts either direct or through distributors such as Central Garden and Pet). I mentioned Hagen and Tetra as two examples of companies that make some good products (more so Hagen), but also some 'dogs' too.

I personally have never tried to be everything to everyone in my previous LFS and Aquarium Maintenance company or my current Online Aquarium Products store , I have always tried to sell what I personally use and believe in and have often suggested DIY filters, premium hot cathode UV Bulbs, leading technology aquarium lighting and similar. In my Aquarium information and help article I often make many suggestions such as for marine applications of products or methods of I have nothing to sell. There are many good LFS that are just the same and will honestly tell you when they cannot help your and send you in the right direction to those who can.

Many larger metropolitan areas have many good stores to choose from, while unfortunately many smaller communities (such as Grants Pass where I now live) often may have just one or two stores and in my community they are both very poor Aquarium stores with poor advice and out of date low quality supplies.
Back in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County (where I was in business for 28 years) there are more choices (such as Pasadena Tropical Fish- 626-449-4987). I am sure many other larger communities are the same and maybe some smaller ones where the ‘old boy network’ is not quite so strong have excellent Aquarium Stores as well.

If any reader knows of a good LFS in their area, PLEASE post it in the comment section along with an address, phone # and email address. To keep this section from growing too large I will have to restrict this to one store per general community.

Here are web addresses for pet stores in the comment section that I could find:
Pisces Pet Emporium

Chloramines in local water supply

2007-04-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

Pet expert says fish owners will need to adjust treatment- By Kelli Williams E-E City Editor

Area fish owners will need to adjust the dosage of treatment used to declorinate their fish water once the City of Bartlesville begins to add chloramines to its water treatment process, local pet store owner Kathy Keim told the Examiner-Enterprise recently.

Keim, who owns and operates Classic Pets in Bartlesville, said that all water added to existing fish habitats as well as new tanks must be treated for chloramines.

Otherwise, “the fish will die,” she said.

“You need to make sure that you treat any water you add to your fish bowl, aquarium or garden pond because chloramines does not dissipate like chlorine,” Keim said. “You normally would need to either change water treatment or double the dose of what you’re currently using.”

The city is expected to switch its current disinfectant system from free chlorine to chloramines in order to meet EPA regulations.

For the full article, click on the link above.

Comment:
Many municipal water districts are switching from chlorine to chloramines due to the stability of Chloramines as compared to chlorine.
Unfortunately the advice given is not totally correct (depending on the product being used). Doubling the dose of a standard water conditioner that is designed to removed chlorine (usually the active ingredient is Sodium Thiosulfate or similar) will not remove the ammonia that makes up chloramines. Chloramine is ammonia and chlorine combined and the standard de-chlorinating product will break this bond releasing the ammonia and neutralizing the chlorine. This ammonia can be removed by bacteria in an established aquarium if water changes are small enough (20%), however this is often not the case in smaller tanks or bowls where larger water changes are the norm. In these cases products such as Prime should be used.

In tanks over 20 gallons, smaller more efficient water changes are the answer as there is less toxic ammonia released in a 20% water changes that cannot be removed by bio filtration. Using a gravel vacuum is an efficient way to remove mulm and water.
The Eheim Sludge Remover is excellent for between "Water changes" cleanings and is an excellent way to control organic mulm build-ups

For even larger aquariums (over 60 gallons or more) I would also suggest the aquarium cleaning machine as this device can perform an efficient water change, then be set to re-circulate and further vacuumed while the water passes through micron filters that can even trap diatoms and similar size organic debris or contaminants.

For more information about water conditioners, please see this article:
AQUARIUM WATER CONDITIONERS

Or this article about Tap Water:
What should I know about tap water for my aquarium? From Chlorine and Chloramines to Phosphates

Fair-Trade Pets- Cardinal Tetras

2007-03-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

Fair-Trade Pets? Eco-Fish Touted to Save Amazon Enclave- Adrianne Appel
for National Geographic News
March 28, 2007

Starbucks does it. Chocolate companies do it. Now pet stores are brandishing the "fair trade" label.

Groups hope to convince aquarium owners to buy eco-friendly, fair-trade fish as a way to save part of the Brazilian rain forest (interactive map: Amazon rain forest).

The flashy red-and-blue-striped cardinal tetra fish provides income for rural communities in the Rio Negro region, near the city of Barcelos.

Using hand-paddled canoes and small nets in flooded, forested areas, the low-tech fishers have kept regional stocks healthy for more than 50 years.

But commercial fish farms in Florida recently learned to breed the finicky cardinals in captivity. Now some conservationists fear the tank-raised tetras will lead to a degradation of Rio Negro livelihoods and consequently its ecosystems.

"If this threat is untended, it could result in the collapse of the Rio Negro industry," said Scott Dowd, senior aquarist at the New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts.

For the full article, click on the link above.

Comment:
This is an interesting side effect (if not a sad one) of fish farming and breeding of fish or other inhabitants for private aquariums.
I do not want to pretend to have the answer here, as I still strongly support aquarium breeding programs as I believe this is the best to keep our hobby from destroying habitats from freshwater to saltwater to coral reefs.
This is an unfortunate side effect that can hopefully be worked out in some way.

For more information about Freshwater Aquarium Basics, please follow this link:
FRESHWATER AQUARIUM CARE

Prescription drugs flushed may harm fish

2007-03-20T12:18:00.000-07:00

"Prescription drugs flushed down the toilet may harm fish, experts say"

Despite what people have been told for years, unused and expired prescription drugs should not be disposed of in the toilet, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"Medications that are flushed down the toilet or thrown straight into the garbage can and do find their way into our nation’s waterways every day,” Sam D. Hamilton, Southeastern Regional Director, said in a statement released today.

“Those drugs are present in water that supports many species of fish and other wildlife.

"We are concerned about reports of fish abnormalities possibly caused by improperly disposed prescription medications.”

The service has joined with the American Pharmacists Association in a partnership to educate the public about what they can do “to clean up our waters and help prevent fish, and people, from inadvertent exposure to prescription medication," he said.

Comment:

Although you should NEVER flush any medications or chemicals down the toilet, this article is somewhat alarmist. First of all most antibiotics break down rapidly and will not last long water (most not longer than 48 hours). Second, ALL sewage must be treated before being dumped into our water ways, so this should never make it into aquatic habitats if someone is doing their job. This said, dumping any waste into the gutter or storm drains should never be practiced.

For more information about Aquarium Medications, please follow this link:
AQUARIUM MEDICATIONS, treatments, how they work, and which ones to use and not to use.

Or for GOOD information about Aquarium Lighting which is a fast evolving subject sadly with copious amounts of misinformation:

Turtle Bill; Keeping Turtles as Pets

2007-02-25T14:18:00.000-08:00

Update

U.S. Sen. David Vitter and U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander sponsored the turtle amendment. The Farm, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (H.R. 2419) that included the amendment passed 79-14.

Area farmers say turtle bill needed to help industry - A new bill floating in Congress to allow the sale of baby turtles as pets in the United States could keep Louisiana's turtle industry from sliding away.

Louisiana leads the nation in pet turtle exports, with about 5 million to 10 million shipped to international markets annually.
The turtles, mostly red-eared sliders with shell widths of less than 4 inches, are popular pets in other countries such as China but are illegal in the United States.

A salmonella scare in the 1970s led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to outlaw the sale and interstate transportation of baby turtles.
Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., introduced legislation to permit the sale of pet baby turtles as long as the seller uses proven methods to prevent salmonella.

Salmonella, a bacteria known to cause typhoid and paratyphoid fever, was recently linked to contaminated peanut butter, prompting the FDA to issue a warning to consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter.

Complications from salmonella poisoning can include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, according to the FDA. For people in poor health or with weakened immune systems, salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections.

Comment:

Hopefully this bill will go through, Louisiana needs this help with the economy. This is also needed to bring the turtle market out of the Black Market. I believe with proper documentation this can be made relatively safe and this is far better than the many dishonest pet stores selling them out the back door to unknowing parents with small children.
As well from my experience of professional keeping turtle tanks/aquariums for clients, there was NOT ONE I did not maintain a properly installed well designed UV Sterilizer on as the killing of Salmonella by Level One UV Sterilization is well documented.
As well for this Ultraviolet Sterilizer to be effective, the UV Bulbs MUST be changed every six months and I caution readers from buying the cheap cold cathode UV Bulbs flooding the market or the cheap UV Sterilizers such as the Submariner, AquaTop and similar that cannot maintain level 1 UV Sterilization.

UPDATE 6/26/07:
Florida has a ban on Red Ear Sliders set to go into place July 1, 2007;

"Tallahassee, Florida - Beginning July 1, people no longer may purchase red-eared sliders — common pet store turtles. A new rule passed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) prohibits selling the species. However, anyone who already has a red-eared slider may keep it, under the new rule.

Red-eared sliders already in captivity will not be allowed to breed, so any offspring will have to be surrendered to certified red-eared slider adopters or dealers, or euthanized."

Aquarium Information If you are interested in an Aquariums this is a good place to start.

For a Fish Forum with dealing with the treatment of Ich:
Ich Treatment; Fish Forum

Galaxy rasbora under threat

2007-02-06T07:12:00.000-08:00

Galaxy rasbora under threat - Just six months since its discovery, the soon-to-be-described Galaxy rasbora (Celestichthys margaritatus), is facing the threat of being wiped out by the aquarium trade, a distributor has warned.

The brightly coloured cyprinid from Myanmar, which was first introduced into the hobby in September 2006, has been collected so heavily that catches of the species are down to just a few dozen fish per day.

AquariCORP's Kamphol Udomritthiruj, who introduced the species to the hobby, announced on Petfrd.com that a recent trip to the species' habitat had revealed that the new species was already under threat.

Comment:

This is sad statement on the aquarium fish trade, hopefully more responsible aquarists will read this and make sure to only purchase tank raised specimens of this or any other at risk fish. For more current information, please follow the link at the top of the page.

Aquarium Information; If you are interested in an Aquarium this is a good place to start for articles such as A Healthy Aquarium, Disease Prevention

For a New Fish Forum with friendly people sharing their love for fish:
Everything Aquatic

Fish doctors make a splash

2007-01-21T14:14:00.000-08:00

From; COLUMBIA NEWS SERVICE
01/20/2007

By Christy Nicholson

NEW YORK — Dr. Gregory Lewbart found his latest patient to be a puzzling case. He arrived in Lewbart's office with a swollen eye and bloated stomach. Lewbart took X-rays, but saw nothing unusual. To be thorough, he decided to do an ultrasound.

Lewbart put the patient in a clear plastic bag with some water and held the ultrasound wand up to the bag.

Lewbart's patient was little more than the size of two nickels and had flowing red fins. It was a Siamese fighting fish named Rusty. Advertisement

The vast majority of fish treated by veterinarians used to be the fancy tropical varieties, but vets are now treating the $1 goldfish brought home from a child's birthday party or won at the county fair. When a pet fish gets sick, concerned pet owners are discovering that top-notch help is available.

For the full article, please click above.

Comment:
I have been treating my customers sick fish for over 27+ years in LA, admittedly I did not have some of this advanced equipment, but I follow good aquatic husbandry procedures and stayed up withe the latest treatments.

Here is a snip about proper treatment procedures;
When you have fish that are sick (bacterial, fungal, protozoan, or other parasites), you want to try and isolate them in a hospital aquarium whenever possible. Regular water changes before each treatment allow for a more effective treatment, especially when treated in the display aquarium.
Sponge Filters work well in hospital aquariums. Remember to remove carbon, as carbon will remove many medications. Also note that silicone in the aquarium will absorb malachite green, methylene blue, and copper sulfate. Most corals (crushed and otherwise), and ceramic decorations will also absorb medications such as malachite green, methylene blue, and copper sulfate.
Proper calcium levels are important, as calcium also helps in healing and stress, and without proper calcium levels healing may be difficult or impossible. The addition of antibiotics (such as Tetracycline) will lower calcium absorption.
AQUARIUM MEDICATIONS, treatments, how they work, and which ones to use and not to use.

More information about Aquarium Disease Prevention:

AQUARIUM DISEASE PREVENTION

For a knowledgeable aquatics forum with a lot of aquatic experience and friendly place to visit where everyone is here to learn and share:
Aquarium Disease Treatment

Another dead-koi puzzler in Fresno

2007-01-20T12:16:00.000-08:00

-As in 2001, officials perplexed at Shinzen Garden.

By Cyndee Fontana / The Fresno Bee01/19/07 04:55:54

In late 2001, about 200 colorful koi fish died in a single bad day at the Shinzen Friendship Garden in Woodward Park.

Fresno city officials labeled it a catastrophe and spent thousands of dollars searching for the cause. Was it a virus? Contaminated water? Faulty pond filtration? A lightning strike?

The mystery was never solved. And today, almost exactly five years later, koi that replenished the pond after that calamity again are dying at an alarming rate.

Of the 50 or 60 fish once swimming around, by city estimates, only seven were left Thursday morning. The die-off that began around Christmas — before the bitter freeze — is another puzzle.

Comment:
This is a really sad story, to which there is not much more I can add as the water has been tested for poisons and more.

My only observations based on my pond keeping experience and research is two fold;
It is possible there were Ichthyophthirius multifilis tomites present in the water, and considering the severe cold wave that hit Fresno in the last week may have stressed the fish brought this infestation.

The other possibility was something stirring up the muck on the bottom of the pond (even a small earthquake!), causing the Hydrogen Sulfide in the muck (a by product of anaerobic bacterial decay and the Nitrogen Cycle) to be suddenly released.

More information about the Nitrogen Cycle:

NITROGEN CYCLE AND AQUARIUM CYCLING; How the Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle Works

For more information about Ichthyophthirius multifilis tomites:
Aquarium or Pond Ich: Ichthyophthirius multifilis, treatment, identification, and life cycle

Carl

A great white shark that spent 137 days at a California aquarium

2007-01-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

A great white shark that spent 137 days at a California aquarium is back in the Pacific Ocean today. It's only the second time that one of the feared predators has been released after such a long time in captivity.

The male shark measured 6 feet 5 inches long and weighed 171 pounds when released Tuesday, compared with 5 feet 8 inches and 103 pounds when he arrived at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Aug. 31. He is one of two great whites to survive more than 16 days in captivity in 50 years of attempts by aquariums around the world, experts in Monterey said.

For the full article, please click above.

Comment:
These sharks are almost impossible to keep in captivity for any length of time.
Many sharks can be difficult to keep in home aquariums even thought they be sold for home aquariums. Horn sharks are shy scavengers (they usually eat chopped squid well) that will do reasonably well in smaller marine aquariums (at least a 75 gallon). Leopard sharks are also scavengers, but they require cool water (below 70 F) and will out grow most aquariums, if kept at least a 300 gallon aquarium is required. Leopard sharks are not as shy, but feeding can be a problem, as other fish will often find the food faster than the shark.

For many scavenger sharks I will use feeder goldfish that have recently been fed Spirulina Flake so as to ensure proper nutrition (even predators need some vegetable matter and this is often achieved in nature by whole fish consumption that includes stomach contents), I then cut the goldfish behind the head so as to kill it and then partially bury the goldfish in the gravel for the shark to find (usually quickly).

Carl

Owner admits game wardens confiscated 13 fish

2006-12-21T17:40:00.000-08:00

Owner admits game wardens confiscated 13 fish - The owner of the East Plano Aquarium (formerly known as the Fish Store) where 13 Piranhas were confiscated by officials from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, claims that it is all a case of mistaken identity.

Game wardens say they confiscated 13 Piranhas from the USA Aquarium Trading pet store, located in the 1700 block of Spring Creek Parkway in Plano, where it was discovered that the fish were being sold illegally as pets.

The pet store, located in the Plano Market Square Mall, allegedly was selling the Piranhas for $9 to $10 a piece, according to an anonymous source.

For the full article, please click above.

Too bad California does not enforce its Piranha and similar laws. I kept my store there above board for years, but my competitors got away with selling everything, including endangered fish (not that Piranha are, in fact they are not the danger to California waterways the politians claim, it is too cold in the winter even in So. Cal.)

Aquarium and Pond Answers

Aquarium information or lack of (UV Sterilizer)

2006-11-26T15:23:00.000-08:00

Aquarium information or lack of.

I was going thru Yahoo Answers, as I was curious about this feature.
I stumbled upon this gem;

Question:
What is the best UV Sterilizer for use in a 20 gallon tank and where can I order one online?

Answer:
A UV sterilizer might do more harm than good to a 20 gallon tank. The UV sterilizer will do exactly that; sterilize almost everything that passes through it, bad bacteria and the good. In a 20 gallon tank your water will circulate so many times that you may be doing more harm than good. There are other ways of treating the water in your tank that might not be has extreme as a UV sterilizer.

TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY WRONG!

This a good example where caution needs to exercised not just on the internet, but at many so-called aquarium stores staffed by un-knowledgeable aquarists.
Often many aquatic forums are staffed by after work aquarium “experts” who have not done their homework or worse, they are just plain dishonest.
I have spent 25 years studying, reading, and doing tank by tank comparisons in my aquarium maintenance business. A UV should be properly installed such as not to high or slow a flow rate. Also the watts per gallon have to be figured.
Another often missed aspect is the Redox Potential which research shows having a proper Redox Potential around 300 mV improves the water quality much the same a way an anti-oxidant vitamin works. A UV sterilizer properly installed helps with this!
Also in studies with goldfish (a very dirty fish), I have found vastly healthier fish in aquariums with UVs vs. without, all other aspects such as feeding and filtration equal.
Here is a full article about this subject: Aquarium UV Sterilization and how UV sterilizers work

When I read this answer, it makes me wonder about subjects I am trying to learn, but still have a ways to go such SEO. I have asked questions (such as SEO) from others trusting their advice, only to get many different answers. Anyone here can pose as an expert and not know what they are talking about either and someone such as myself who is eager to learn, but relatively un-knowledgeable can get taken.

This goes with other strange "answers" found a YA, including several gems about aquarium repair, which left me scratching my head why anyone would ask when there is excellent aquarium repair information available on the internet such as this article: Aquarium Silicone Repair

Are stingray tours safe?

2006-10-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

Are stingray tours safe?Are stingray tours safe?- Questions, answers and cruise line and tour reaction

For the full article, click the above link:

Carl Strohmeyer

Fish as Pets 1

2006-09-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

FISH AS PETS

Everyone has their own opinion about what makes a pet, and many do not consider any animal they cannot hold a pet. I disagree (even though I love my dog); my experience with fish and the customers and persons I have met in aquarium internet groups over the years tell me otherwise.

Many fish have personalities; I had a batfish that recognized different persons and would wiggle his tail and swim to the specific area that each different person in this office would feed (which demonstrates sight recognition).
I had an Octopus that would come to the top of the aquarium and stroke my hand until I would feed him.
I have had Oscars that would let me “pet them”.
Then there are the customers that I have seen grow an attachment to their fish from the interaction and the enjoyment they received from their aquarium pets. Often when their aquatic pets passed away, it would be as traumatic as their family dog or cat.

Aquariums are a way of remembering a trip to Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and more. Aquariums are also a way of having an aquatic pet that brings home the under sea adventures of a favorite movie or TV documentary such as National Geographic or PBS’s Nature series.

I hope some of the above posts are found interesting by those who read this article. If you have a blogger account, please add some of your own stories too!

OTHER INTERESTING LINKS

AQUARIUM INFORMATION A GREAT Resource for aquarium information, directories, and products. This is a fast growing resource with links to some the best and most accurate information sites currently on the internet.

American Aquarium Products Innovative aquarium and pond supplies. Aquarium pumps (VA 302 Aquarium/ fountain pump $7.49, Via Aqua 1300-370 gph-$16.99, 2600 and more), filters (Internal filters, sponge filters $4.99 & up, canister filters, multi-filters and more), uv sterilizers starting at $69.99 (including our own 15 watt Custom UV), Fish food (spirulina, Hikari, HBH, and more), aquarium lights, bowfront complete aquariums. Also Shell night lights (starting at $7.99), wind chimes (capiz, shell), seashells and other ocean themed décor.

EVERYTHING AQUATIC -A great group where the discussions are about anything aquatic related. You post photos and there is a useful links and information page too.

SPONGE FILTERS Informational blog about how sponge filters work, and the benefit of using them in aquariums and ponds.

DREAM COMPLETE AQUARIUM -Glass, Bowfront aquarium complete with wet-dry filter and twin power compact lighting

AQUARIUM ANSWERS -Aquarium and pond questions and answers. Regular posts of aquatic groups and other web information.

AQUARIUM LIGHTING -THE PREMIER Aquarium Lighting Article, with researched facts & information found no where else on the Internet in one location.

AQUARIUM INFORMATION AT AMERICAN AQUARIUM PRODUCTS

FOR MORE ABOUT ME, Carl Strohmeyer-Los Altos High class of 1977