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Maidenhead Aquatics Topical Tips - February 2012

Looking back to this time last year, it’s easy to forget how mild this winter has been so far and hopefully this will be reflected in a quick start to the spring…

Outside

  • Cut back emergent plants such as rushes and sedges before new growth makes it impossible. Add to the compost heap or back of the border to allow any overwintering wildlife to remain protected.
  • Don’t try to smash or crack ice formed on fish ponds – shock waves can be a major source of stress. Open a hole by adding boiling water to a saucepan sat on the ice and keep the gap open by using a pond heater.
  • If you’ve inherited a pond or left your filtration off over winter – remember to take steps to prevent water that has sat in filtration being flushed into the pond when the system is turned back on.
  • Look out for returning amphibians – frogs and newts may well be appearing soon and should be welcomed. If you’ve a large fish pond and are concerned about tales of male frogs or toads grabbing your pets, dig them their own wildlife pond and encourage them to use that instead. As it happens, the whole fish-grabbing thing is quite a freak occurrence.

Inside

  • Change carbon and floss filter media. If you had a new tank for Christmas, chances are that any chemical or mechanical media will be due a change
  • Start a log book – brief notes on dates of fish additions and water quality fluctuations add to your enjoyment and make fascinating reading further down the line.
  • Consider a project – many community fishes are easy to breed in a tank of their own, maybe now is the time to find space for a breeding tank, or save some baby livebearers in a set-up of their own?

What’s in store?

It was nice to see a pair of gold angelfish guarding their fry at the Croydon store. As cichlids, they’re meant to be good parents but this fact seems to have escaped most domesticated fish that don’t often get the chance to rear their own young.


If you have a taste for unusual catfish, the Whiptail Loricaria sp. ‘Rio Atabapo’ may be the fish for you. A peaceful inhabitant of sandy substrates, males have larger lips for holding on to the egg cluster that the female leaves in his sole care. These captive bred ones at Swindon North were recently arrived but all ready taking a range of prepared foods eagerly.



Few African barbs make it into the trade and it has to be said that they can be a bit of a plain bunch compared to their Asian cousins. One of the notable exceptions is ‘Barbus’ fasciolatus – often labelled as the Barilliodes barb. A peaceful shoaling fish perfect for planted tanks with soft water where it will glow with a copper sheen – a bit like these beauties at our Thornbury store.


When it made its debut a few years ago, the Panda Uaru Uaru fernandezyepezi was the stunning fish with the funny name.  Seeing them at our Wenvoe store (just starting to sex out into a possible two pairs) made me wonder why everybody seems to only want to keep tiny fish in tiny tanks.


For fans of small marine fishes with large characters, the Leopard Puffer Canthigaster leoparda is a great choice. As a Toby or Sharpnosed puffer, I wouldn’t place one in any reef aquarium I couldn’t get him back out of in a hurry but a perfect fish for a fish only tank decorated with liverock. This particular one was a highlight at our Croydon branch.



Small medium – large differences

We all know that the shelves of your average aquarium shop are heaving with products that can be something of a mystery and some of these make bold promises. One such group of products that often seems to belong in the occult section are the resins, pads, granules and potions that are chemical filter media. There’s quite a range and many don’t overlap, so let’s have a brief look at why you might want to consider using them.


Aquarium keeping is a broad church and within the same glass boxes we keep a range of creatures that vary in their demands. Starting with some of the most uncompromising aquarium residents, hard corals demand very pure water for optimal colour and growth. Often the bright colours seen in species such as Acropora are quickly lost due to nutrient-rich water causing changes to the symbiotic algae that live within the animal’s tissues. Algae growth fuelled by phosphates and silicates is likely to be a constant nightmare under the brightly lit conditions that corals need to thrive and here is where chemical media can be used to remove these compounds from the aquarium water. Under certain conditions high grade carbon is also useful for removing discolouration and toxins exuded by the corals in the ongoing state of chemical warfare that they bring with them from the reef. In recent years zeolites have been used to help control pollutant levels but most commonly encountered types are ineffective in salt water.


In common with their marine cousins, freshwater shrimp are very sensitive to copper and other pollutants found in tap water and most aquarium medications. As well as using a tap water conditioner every time fresh water is added to their tank, carbon and other chemical media can be used to ensure that any potential toxins are removed before harming these sensitive creatures.


In new systems or those which have suffered a filter malfunction, zeolite can give immediate ammonia control until bacteria numbers recover. With regular replacement or recharging, this can also by-pass the nitrogen cycle and reduce the build-up of nitrates. For most tanks, algae of one kind or another are a fact of life and some of the most annoying are those which prefer clean aquaria with nice bright lighting such as black beard algae. To help combat these discerning forms or even something as easily pleased as good old green water, phosphate and nitrate removers are a key weapon. Alongside effective filtration and regular partial water changes, chemical filter media can be the answer to many of the issues likely to be encountered in most aquaria whatever they house.


So, having looked at the pros of this water-management technique what are the cons? Basically, these are products that remove chemicals from the water and they make no distinction between good and harmful compounds. Carbon and some resins can remove fish medications, trace elements and some plant foods from the water so should be removed when these are added. Simply replace your chemical media once your chosen additives have done their work and their normal role will be resumed. Remember that chemical filter media will be less effective when coated by filter bacteria, so unlike biological mediums they thrive on being kept clean and free of organic debris. This is why many filter designers place them near the top of the filter for ease of maintenance.