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Carl Strohmeyer - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
I have spent over 40 years in the aquarium keeping hobby and over 28 years in professional capacity on the aquarium, pond maintenance business as well as managing 3 LFS.
I had a 2 year stint as a production manager at a Candy Factory after moving to Oregon, however I could not work with an investor who had absolutely no managements skills (he treated persons like trash) and I started back up my aquarium business ... [More]
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- The Redox Potential in Aquariums (And Ponds) And How it Relates to Proper Aquatic Health
[Recreation-and-Sports:Fish-Ponds] A proper Redox Potential improves the health of humans AND fish. A Redox Potential in the 200-400 mV range in human studies has been shown to have the same affect as anti-oxidant preparations such Vitamin C (and many others).
- Marine Aquarium Protein Skimmers
[Pets:Fish] A protein skimmer is a filtration device used in marine tanks (they do not work in freshwater) which employ a chamber with a column of fine bubbles. Surface tension attracts organic waste to the bubbles & carries it through the column (called foam fractionation); then it is "skimmed" into a collection cup. This process Protein skimmers use to remove nitrogenous wastes (protein based organic waste) is also called foam refraction.
- Do Bio Wheels Really Work - Cutting Through the Hype
[Pets:Fish] There is a lot of information about bio wheels and their importance in bio filtration in aquariums. In theory they are great idea and bought into this idea for years without testing the results to see if the hype was true. In theory the wheel turns into the air where oxygen the aerobic bacteria need to remove ammonia and nitrites is much more abundant.
- Aquarium Lamp, Bulb Types
[Pets:Fish] This article will discuss some of the more common aquarium lights (lamps) available as well as a few that are not as well known such as the SHO and T2 bulbs/fixtures. The new reef compatible LED is likely to take over the market as they become more readily available, the price comes down and watts per lumen come up. These lights do not have the heat problems and are very compact.
- Local Aquarium Stores for Information and Advice
[Pets:Fish] 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.
- Yahoo! Answers - Currently Not A Good Source For Aquarium Or Pond Information
[Recreation-and-Sports:Fish-Ponds] Yahoo Answers - is this a good place for Aquarium or other information? The answer from an aquatic perspective is currently no.
- More Pond Basics
[Recreation-and-Sports:Fish-Ponds] Generally most Pond Fish such as Koi and Goldfish like a higher ph of about 7.8 (although a pH in the range of 6.8 to 8.0 is often acceptable). A well planted stable pond usually does not have problems with too high or too low a pH.
- Christian Poetry
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] Where was the Lord when I was alone and hurt as a child? Lord fill me
- Sponge Filter - A Good Filter For A Small Betta Tank Or Bowl
[Pets:Fish] Sponge filters excel as small tank or bowl filters, they fit nicely in small spaces and are cheap to own and maintain. For a betta, there is no better filter in my opinion. They are excellent bio filters and good mechanical filters in small aquaria.
- Question and Answers about pH and KH problems in Rift Lake Cichlid Aquarium
[Pets:Fish] One of these days I'm going to write down the chemistry for pH, kH and GH and maybe I will remember it, eventually. But for now I new some advice. I got many good suggestions on my fairly new mbuna tank and thus far it has been going very well but something is amiss with my water. My tap water comes out at about 7.6 pH. I have about 30 pounds of holey rock in there currently. But, for some reason my pH seems to be dropping. Currently it is approaching 7.2
- Aquarium Test Kits; What They Are Used For and Their Importance for Freshwater and Saltwater
[Pets:Fish] It is always best to have as many different test kits as you can afford (as they apply to either freshwater or saltwater). I prefer to purchase my test kits separately as most master test kits duplicate test I do not need (high range and low range ph) and leave out ones I need such as kH and GH, or possibly Phosphate, Calcium, or Redox...
- The Function Of The Lateral Line In Fish
[Pets:Fish] What is a lateral line in fish?
The lateral line is a sense organ that consists of a row of scales that most fish have along their sides, extending from their head to tail. Under these scales are a system of fluid-filled canals and specialized cells which transmit vibrations to the brain of the fish. The lateral line helps fish to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water including predators and prey.
- Freshwater Velvet - Piscinoodinium Pillulare (also known as oodinium)
[Pets] Velvet (Piscinoodinium pillulare) is a flagellate parasite with chloroplasts, while ich is a ciliate, both have similar life cycles, but unlike ich, velvet can use its chloroplasts during dormancy to survive (which is where light can help), but in a full blown infestation, the parasites get their nutrients from the host and are NOT dependent on their chloroplasts.
- Tap Water for Aquarium Use; From Chlorine and Chloramines to Nitrates, Nitrites, and Phosphates
[Pets] What should I know about tap water for my aquarium?
There US standards for tap water quality (and I am sure other nations such as the UK have their own regulations too), but that does not mean that these allowed levels are safe for fish (or humans for that matter). This article will discuss the effects of allowed substances in tap water on fish.
- The Proper Care of Aquarium Sponge Media
[Pets] The main problem with sponge filter media of any type is clogging due to mechanical filtration. The better designed sponge filter media is one that maximizes the amount of time between cleanings that the sponge media will not clog under normal use.
When the flow slow or water begins to flow around the sponge media (such as in many Aqua Clear Filters), you need to rinse or clean your sponge filter media.
- Aquarium Green Water and Cloudy (Grey-White) Water - Causes and Solutions
[Pets] Green water is free floating algae. The main causes are: *High waste particulate matter in the water column, which over crowding, over feeding and also important here is improper feeding (poor quality food that is mostly passed thru the fish, usually non aquatic amino acids an too much cereal are the culprits here)
- Betta Care, Feeding, Filtration, and More
[Pets:Fish] A Betta fish is probably the most ideal fish for a bowl or small aquarium available. They are simple to keep, beautiful, and interact with the owner (they make great pets). Bettas also take up little space and are inexpensive to keep.
- Quality Fish Food; What Ingredients Are Needed For Proper Fish Nutrition, Growth And Health
[Pets:Fish] There is a lot of confusion about what constitutes a quality flake food (or pellet).
The aquarist needs to understand that there are similarities and differences between fish and other animals. For example; Fish get most of their energy needs from fat, but in humans carbohydrates are a better source. Another point is amino acids (the building blocks of proteins); almost all animals have different amino acid needs. For example; Cats need Taurine in there diet or they can suffer heart problems.
- Aquarium Ich: Ichthyophthirius Multifilis And Cryptocaryon Irritans; Diagnosis And Treatment
[Pets] Ich, also called white spot disease, is one of the most common protozoan infections affecting aquarium and pond fishes. The scientific name for freshwater ich is "Ichthyophthirius multifilis." The marine protozoan causing ich is Cryptocaryon irritans. Both organisms cause whitish spots, called "cysts," to appear on the bodies and fins of the infested fishes.
- Nitrogen Cycle And Aquarium Cycling Including Nitrification, Denitrification, And Cycling Methods
[Pets] All living organisms, from fish to plants, have great quantities of assimilated nitrogen in their tissues. Nitrogen is a fundamental ingredient for the formation of proteins and nucleic acids. Every organism you place in your aquarium adds nitrogen; from fish to coral, to live rock, to plants.
- Reasons for and Proper Aquarium Cleaning
[Pets:Fish] Ph and KH control- Maintaining a proper ph (ph levels have a tendency to drop from biological activity), KH is the buffering abilty of the water and that too can decrease. KH is VERY important and a major problem I have seen over the years in my maintenance business when calling on customers who seemed to always have problems with their aquariums and claimed cleaning their aquarium caused their problems, which of coarse is not true.
- Treatment and Identification of Aeromonas and Vibrio in Aquariums and Ponds
[Pets] It is important to note that both Aeromonas and Vibrio pathogens are opportunistic bacteria that are more virulent in poor water conditions.
It is important to effect a cure that water conditions are improved during treatment and not worsened by the treatment itself
- Proper Goldfish Feeding
[Pets:Fish] A quality Koi and goldfish food starts with quality aquatic based ingredients. Fish derive their energy from fats, not carbohydrates (although cereal is needed as roughage). also the ammino acids that make up proteins should be ones that can be easily metabolized by fish.
- Inexpensive Biological and Mechanical Pond Filtration
[Recreation-and-Sports:Fish-Ponds] What is a good source for additional bio-filtration for my pond? I have a waterfall filter, and a veggie stream. I still think my pond can be clearer and there is a lot of sediment floating in the pond.
- Aquarium Medications, Treatments And How They Work
[Pets] This article (which will continue to grow with information) is informational about different aquarium (and pond) treatments. I give the gram negative or gram positive applications where they apply. Many aquarium antibiotics and chemical treatments are explained.
- Aquarium Disease Prevention - Basic Principles to a Healthy Aquarium
[Pets:Fish] I have kept up many aquariums (marine and freshwater) during my years of aquarium maintenance. It was more of a challenge than my personal aquariums as many of customers overfed or did not tell me fish were sick until it was too late. That is why prevention is the best remedy.
- Flexibacter (Flavobacterium Columnare) - The Treament and Diagnosis of This Aquatic Disease
[Pets:Fish] An aquarist has a cichlid with a white spot/wound about mid body maybe 3/16 inch below the dorsal, within a week the white increased to about a 3/8 strip from dorsal to belly. There was a thin white cottony growth (fungus?) but it appeared to be eating away his skin, and it appeared the outside skin was eaten away and was down to the 'meat'.
- Basic Aquarium Principles for a Healthy Freshwater Aquarium
[Pets:Fish] Start with as large an aquarium as you can afford. There is a very BASIC rule of thumb (this only applies to beginners), that is to have 1 inch of narrow bodied fish per filtered aquarium gallon. Goldfish are dirty and fatter, so I would triple this with them.
- Goldfish Disease Prevention And Treatment
[Pets:Fish] Many goldfish are imported in very cold water, in crowded conditions, making them very susceptible to disease (especially ich). Although goldfish are not very particular about water conditions, they still do better at a ph of 7.2 to 7.8 and a high mineral content (especially calcium and magnesium- KH of 80 ppm or more).
- The Benefits Of Pressurized Pond Filtration
[Home-Improvement:Landscaping-Outdoor-Decorating] Pressurized filter units can be conveniently positioned below the level of water delivery e.g. a waterfall. (Unlike overflow barrel filters or waterfall filters). Compact and discreet design, Can be partially buried in the ground for minimal visual impact.
- The Importance Of Calcium - Magnesium - And Kh In Aquariums
[Pets] Many aquarists overlook the need for calcium, magnesium and the effect of a proper Kh (Carbonate hardness) in their freshwater aquarium.
- The Importance Of Aquarium Water Quality
[Pets:Fish] Nothing is more important in aquarium keeping than water quality management. There are many excellent products available out there to assist in water quality management, but in my opinion, there is still no replacement for water changes, good filtration, and good feeding habits.
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