HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: MLOCKER@biomed.med.yale.edu (Michael Locker)
Subject: Re: Fish with Personality
Organization: Yale University
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 02:11:18 GMT
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20

In <1k4pcsINNreo@shelley.u.washington.edu> marthab@carson.u.washington.edu writes:

> I need to restock my 39 gal. freshwater tank.  Lost all but two Tetras due 
> to a recent 5-day power outtage when the tank's water temperature dropped to
> 43 degrees.  Have kept mostly Gouramis in the past, but would like to
> get some fish with more personality.  Any suggestions?  
> Would Jack Dempseys be a good choice?
> 
> Au contrare, I think gouramis, at least dwarf gouramis, have a lot of
personality.  I had a mated pair that would say hello to me whenever I showed
my face in front of the tank.  They often tried to feel my finger on the glass
with their barbels.  Not only did they know when I was feeding them, they
recognized the can of food and would follow it around the tank, wherever I
would move it. 
>  However, if you are looking for fish with different personalities, I might
suggest rams, which are beautiful, slightly aggressive, but compatible in a
community setting.
> -- 
> 
> 
> 
> 
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: csmith@mpr.ca (Cameron Smith)
Subject: Algae and Plants - Equilibrium?
Organization: MPR Teltech Ltd., Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 16:05:51 GMT


Thanks to everyone who responded to my questions regarding Aqua-scaping, I
have some good ideas now!  However, I seem to be having a problem with
algae!

I had brown algae, and removed it by getting the full spectrum 14W
fluorescent bulb and adding the pleco.  Now, I seem to have
green algae - there seems to be two distinct types; two quarter
sized spots of very green algae growing on the gravel, and numerous very
fine "hairs" growing on the rocks and the back glass.  I think these hairs
(Threads?) are what my books refer to as "filamentous green algae".
However, the stuff in my tank is a brownish color.  The plants and fishes
seem to be doing well, I will include the details of my setup below.

My questions then are as follows:
1)	Are these "hairs" really a form of green algae?  If not what is
	it and what do I do to get rid of it?
2)	The pleco has not yet (that I notice) touched the "hairs" - Will
	he?
3)	Am I correct in believing that a tank that is capable of supporting
	green algae is also capable of supporting higher plant life (ie:
	my water and light are sufficient for this setup?)
4)	If (3) above is true, can I assume that I can partly solve the
	algea problem by adding more plants.  These plants will, in time,
	out-compete the algae and thus the algae will be kept in check?
5)	If (4) above is true, is there any type of plant that would be
	better that others (eg: broad leaf plants as opposed to thin leafed
	plants - Amazon sword compared to Cabomba)?

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated
Thanks in advance

Cameron

P.S. oh yeah, a description of the aquarium:

Tank Stats:  established about 6 weeks ago
10G 20"X10.5"X12"
UGF
fluorescent lighting with a full spectrum 14W tube

Temperature 79F
pH ~ 7.0 (maybe a little less)
Ammonia and nitr*tes are all good - tested about 5 days ago mind you.

Population:  all happy and active!
2 Bettas (Male - 2" and Female ~1")
1 Dwarf Butterfly Cichlid (1.5"
1 pleco (2")

Plants:  all doing well 
1 Cabomba carolineaus (sp?)
1 Ceratopterious thalitrodies (sp? water fern)

-- 
Cameron Smith                    Curiouser and Curiouser!!
MPR Teltech Ltd.
Burnaby B.C.  V5A 4B5
Internet: csmith@mprgate.mpr.ca
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: dbs@hprnd.rose.hp.com (Dave Sheehy)
Subject: Re: cichlids
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 18:28:34 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Hewlett-Packard
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.3 PL7]

Joey Maier (maierj@edmund.cs.andrews.edu) wrote:
: In article <C185uC.Hs2@hpchase.rose.hp.com> dbs@hprnd.rose.hp.com (Dave Sheehy) writes:
: >matthew.kaufman (mattk@cbnewsl.cb.att.com) wrote:
: >: I only have experience with L. leleupi, J. regani, J. transcriptus (talk
: >: about vicious...) L. brichardi,  ...
:                      ^^^^^^^^^^^^
: 
: Didn't some taxonomist with too much time on his hands decide that these
: are really Neolamprologus elongatus?

I believe the name has changed but to what I don't know. I refuse to buy a
new book on africans just so that I can learn the new names. I suppose someday
I'll have to bite the bullet and do it anyway.

: >Their only downside
: >is that they are not colorful in an overt way. I happen to really like them
: >even though as a general rule I go for the more colorful gawdy stuff (like
: >peacocks). 
: 
: I really like mine too.  When I got them I thought that they were just
: some nice looking little cichlids, but now I really think that they look
: elegant.  One thing that makes  them really attractive is that the tan
: body, on mine at least, is accented by faint blue edging on the fins.
: Very Nice.

Really nice ones (read ones that are not inbred as Brichardi tend to be) get
faint orange squigglies on their gill covers which is another attractive
feature.

Dave Sheehy

Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: ig30@vaxb.acs.unt.edu
Subject: RE: African Cichlids
Organization: University of North Texas
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 02:11:42 GMT

A Fishkeepers Guide to African Cichlids by Dr. Paul Loiselle has a lot 
of information on African Cichlid husbandary. However, this book has a 
very limited species section. This book is available for about $ 6 
through mail order. It is published by the Tetra Press.


Ruvan Nanayakkara

ig30@vaxb.acs.unt.edu 

Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: whiles@nswc.navy.mil (William Scott Hiles x1568)
Subject: Re: [F] More Info Cloudy Water
Reply-To: whiles@nswc.navy.mil
Organization: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 15:32:13 GMT

In article 93Jan21090637@dixie.cs.unc.edu, gb@dixie.cs.unc.edu (Gary Bishop) writes:
>In article <1993Jan20.162224.1@bb1t.monsanto.com> srrapp@bb1t.monsanto.com writes:
>
>   Green water can only be completely removed by using a diatom filter (Magnum or
>   Vortex) with multiple changes of diatomaceous earth.  Letting it run overnight
>   following succesive changes will yield completely clear water.  I dont know why
>   this happens but I have seen 1 tank get green water where the 1 next to it is
>   fine.
>
>My magnum did a great job on green water *WITHOUT* the diatomaceous
>earth.  With *only* the micron filter it works great.  I now run the
>micron cartridge continuously with weekly swaps between cartridges.
>My water stays crystal clear.  That diatomaceous earth stuff scares
>me.  Abrasive particles clouding the water doesn't seem safe to me.
>
>gb
>

I have four tanks in near proximity and never had a problem with water
clarity until I bought a couple of sword plants.  Within a week after putting
the sword plants into an aquarium the water began to turn green until after
about a week it looked a lot like lake water.  It did not have a bad smell or
anything and the fish did not appear to have adverse reactions so I left
it that way.  After a month or so, there was a thick green layer of stuff
on the inside of all the hoses to the magnum filters and anything else in the 
tank.  

I tried using the Magnum micron cartridge and it cleared the water up but
after removing the micron cartridge the tank grew the green stuff again.  I
tried reducing the light on this tank but it did not help.  The only solution
I was able to use to completely get rid of the green water was to move the fish
to a temporary tank and completely break down the tank.  I washed everything
very thoroughly and started the tank cycling again.  Everything was fine and
the water stayed clear.  

Unfortunately, after cycling the tank, when I added the fish back to the
tank, within a week a green haze started to grow in the tank again and
progressively got worse.  

I have just let it stay mirky green and change the filter material about twice
as often as all the other tanks.  The fish are not affected but you cannot really
view them very well.  I have been careful not to spread the stuff to other tanks
by using equipment only for this tank and other equipment for the other tanks.

By the way, "Algaway" (suppose to kill algae) did not work on this stuff either.

---
Scott Hiles
whiles@relay.nswc.navy.mil

Standard disclaimer:
  The opinions expressed are those of my own and do not necessarily 
  reflect those of the DOD or the Navy.  I accept full responsibility.

Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: dbs@hprnd.rose.hp.com (Dave Sheehy)
Subject: Re: [M] Salt mixes
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 02:19:18 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.3 PL7]

Patti Beadles (patti@hosehead.intel.com) wrote:
: sylvia@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM (Sylvia Budak) writes:
: >I could do my massive water change with this new salt without the aquarium
: >having that milky appearance.  There was just a hint of this with the Coral 
: >Life salt, and it vanished within an hour.
: 
: Hmm ... milky appearance?  How long are you letting the water stand
: before using it?  Except in rare emergencies, I always let my water
: age overnight at a minimum, and usually more.  From everything I've
: read and heard, freshly mixed saltwater should never be put into an
: aquarium.

I have similar experiences to Sylvia's. I can mix some Instant Ocean in a
5 gallon bucket, throw in a power head, leave it for several days and
there will still be undissolved salts in the bucket. Reef Crystals on the
other hand dissolves instantly. My water source is basically melted snow pack
and has very little in the way of dissolved minerals, etc...

: Patti Beadles  503/696-4358 | I don't speak for Intel, nor vice-versa.

Dave Sheehy

Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: muleman@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (michael.a.muhlberger)
Subject: Help with Sick Fish (Angel)
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 19:58:16 GMT

Fellow Netters:
    

Help needed!

Established 55 G tank with 9 large fish.
(FW) One angel has ich, treated with Ich
Guard.  Repeated 24 hrs no effect.  Next
tried Super-Ich Cure (tab form) repeated
24 hrs with minimal effect.  How do I rid
this angel of ich?  Tank established 5
yrs.  with no parasites, why now?  Angel
size of palm of hand.

Suggestions welcome.

Thanks!
From: rick@billnext.tamu.edu (Rick Huff)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: Building aquariums
Date: 26 Jan 93 20:53:02 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
NNTP-Posting-Host: billnext.tamu.edu

..Stuff deleted...

> The basic assembly order was:
> 
> Build the wooden box
> Paint it
> Seal it

..Stuff deleted...

This looks like a great idea.

I am thinking of building or purchasing a 1.5D x 2.0H x 3.5W aquarium to house  
African Cichlids.  Does anybody know what thickness glass to use?  Would 3/8"  
be too thin.  1/2" glass is $112!  Maybe I am too cheap, but this seems like a  
lot of money for just one side of a homebuilt tank. 
--
Rick Huff, Systems Analyst (409) 845-8454 (rick@billnext.tamu.edu)
CSC, Computing Account Services, Texas A&M University
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: patton@phy.uab.edu (David Patton)
Subject: Re: Building aquariums
Followup-To: patton@phy.uab.edu
Reply-To: patton@phy.uab.edu
Organization: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 21:06:25 GMT

In article 1jna51INNh80@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu, dxf6@po.CWRU.Edu (Dean Fear) writes:

>A couple of years ago, I attended a seminar at the local aquarium.  They
>provide us with information about building your own tanks.  They suggested
>using marine plywood for the sides back and bottom, and glass for the
>front.  (This reduces the cost greatly.)  The wood is painted with epoxy
>paint(?) the stuff they use for swimming pools, (making sure it is non
>toxic.)  Joints are sealed with silicone.  
>
>The basic assembly order was:
>
>Build the wooden box
>Paint it
>Seal it
>lay box on back side
>place bead of silicone one front edges of the box
>place glass on top, clamps are not necessary weight of glass is sufficient
>let cure 24 hours 
>tank is ready to use!
>
>They assured me that they have built many tanks this way.  
>
>As for the thickness of the glass, I am sure one of the engineers (amateur
>or professional) out there can give us some info on the strength of glass 
>and water pressure etc.  I would check to see what thickness of glass
>comparable commercially made tanks use.
>
>
>
>I have never tried this, but it sounds like it will work.  I suspect that
>this method is more cost effective the larger the tank.  It probably
>wouldn't be worth doing for anything <= 55 gallons.
> 
>Dean dxf6@po.cwru.edu  Feel free to e-mail or post comments!
>>
>>
>>


********
I would like to hear from anybody who has actually built this kind of tank.
Please post your comments and suggestions.
From: gb@dixie.cs.unc.edu (Gary Bishop)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: [F] More Info Cloudy Water
Date: 21 Jan 93 09:06:37
Organization: UNC Department of Computer Science
Distribution: na
	<1993Jan20.162224.1@bb1t.monsanto.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: dixie.cs.unc.edu
In-reply-to: srrapp@bb1t.monsanto.com's message of Wed, 20 Jan 1993 22:22:24 GMT

In article <1993Jan20.162224.1@bb1t.monsanto.com> srrapp@bb1t.monsanto.com writes:

   Green water can only be completely removed by using a diatom filter (Magnum or
   Vortex) with multiple changes of diatomaceous earth.  Letting it run overnight
   following succesive changes will yield completely clear water.  I dont know why
   this happens but I have seen 1 tank get green water where the 1 next to it is
   fine.

My magnum did a great job on green water *WITHOUT* the diatomaceous
earth.  With *only* the micron filter it works great.  I now run the
micron cartridge continuously with weekly swaps between cartridges.
My water stays crystal clear.  That diatomaceous earth stuff scares
me.  Abrasive particles clouding the water doesn't seem safe to me.

gb
From: dbs@hprnd.rose.hp.com (Dave Sheehy)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: Mantis Blues
Date: 27 Jan 93 02:31:54 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Hewlett-Packard
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.3 PL7]

Anthony Tse (tse@ra.nrl.navy.mil) wrote:
:     A pair of mandarins will wipe out most of the small critters you
: may have in your tank in no time flat.  

That has not happened in my reef. The only time I ever see the Gammarus in my
is when I rinse the prefilter. They are always there. I have a psychadelic
mandarin, a pygmy angel, and two common clowns in a 55 gallon reef.

: -Anthony

Dave Sheehy
From: enriquez@zikzak.apana.org.au (Luke Enriquez)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Aquariums, Gravel and Fish !
Date: 24 Jan 1993 23:03:17 +1100
Organization: Zikzak public access UNIX, Melbourne Australia
NNTP-Posting-Host: zikzak.apana.org.au
Summary: [A detailed experiance of keeping fish without needing Gravel]

G'day All,
	This is the first article I have posted on Usenet, and with it, I
wish to enlighten you to the fact that you can keep fish healthy, and even
breed them, without gravel.

	Some of you may have found that after heavy feeding of pellet
food, frozen food, flakes, etc, that a reasonable proportion of the food
sinks to the bottom, wedging itself between the gravel never to be found
and eaten by the fish.

	This food can rot, causing all sorts of algae problems and poor
fish health. After visiting a friends fish house, which contained some 25
tanks on stands, I noticed that he had no gravel in them. On further
asking he showed me the simplicity of keep fish without gravel.

	I'm not suggesting that you *DO NOT* use gravel in a tank which is
meant for looking at, but it should be considered in situations like
myself, where i find most of my tanks are dedicated to keeping fish to
look at (or for eletroflouresis) or for breeding. None of the Australian
natives I keep seem to worry about no gravel in their tank, esp Galaxiads,
Gobies and Gudgeons.

Regards,
Luke

PS : I dont buy fish, what I can catch with a dipnet in the rivers around
Melbourne is what I keep in my tanks. Personally, I am very *ANTI* native
fish trading.

-- 
		Zikzak public access UNIX, Melbourne, Australia.
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: srrapp@bb1t.monsanto.com
Subject: Re: [M] Salt mixes
Organization: Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 19:12:58 GMT

In article <1993Jan24.214642.10004@aus.intel.com>, patti@hosehead.intel.com (Patti Beadles) writes:
> I've had absolutely no problems with Instant Ocean for as long as I've
> used it.  Since I'm draining and refilling the Monster RSN, I considered
> switching to a different brand, but the more I thought about it, I
> couldn't think of any reason to do so.
> 
> I had bad luck once with a batch of Reef Crystals precipitating
> something nasty-looking.  I gave away the rest of the package, and
> haven't used it since.  I've heard good things about Tropic Marin.
> I've also heard a rumor that the CoraLife salt has a problem with
> long-term stability, but I have no first-hand experience.
> 
> sylvia@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM (Sylvia Budak) writes:
>>I could do my massive water change with this new salt without the aquarium
>>having that milky appearance.  There was just a hint of this with the Coral 
>>Life salt, and it vanished within an hour.
> 
> Hmm ... milky appearance?  How long are you letting the water stand
> before using it?  Except in rare emergencies, I always let my water
> age overnight at a minimum, and usually more.  From everything I've
> read and heard, freshly mixed saltwater should never be put into an
> aquarium.
Ideally freshly made up saltwater should be left overnight but there is
nothing wrong in using it immediately after preparing it as long as it is
thoroughly dissolved and of proper temperature.  I've been doing this for 8
years in over 20 marine fish and reef tanks with water changes up to 40%.
Steve
> -- 
> Patti Beadles  503/696-4358 | I don't speak for Intel, nor vice-versa.
>    patti@hosehead.intel.com |
>    75555.767@compuserve.com | If it wasn't for the last minute,
> or just yell, "Hey, Patti!" |             I'd never get anything done!
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: brian@picasso.icd.teradyne.com (Brian Hunter)
Subject: Re: [M] Salt mixes
Organization: Teradyne, Inc. San Jose CA
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 19:52:06 GMT

In article <1993Jan24.214642.10004@aus.intel.com> patti@hosehead.intel.com (Patti Beadles) writes:
>I've had absolutely no problems with Instant Ocean for as long as I've
>used it.  Since I'm draining and refilling the Monster RSN, I considered

Just curious why and I might add how are you doing this.  where are you
putting all those critters while the tank is empty?

>I had bad luck once with a batch of Reef Crystals precipitating
>something nasty-looking.  I gave away the rest of the package, and

I have been using reef crystals for over a year anyway and have never
seen any problem.  I mix it in a 32 gallon `garbage' can.  I have a 
power head and heater to get the wat up to temp before doing a change.
I do let it sit with an air stone going.  I usually keep 20 gallons or so
mixed and ready just in case although I have yet to have to do an
emergency water change.

Brian Hunter



Newsgroups: rec.aquaria,alt.aquaria
From: paul@panix.com (Paul Gatker)
Subject: Re: (F) [F] Severums in a community?
Organization: PANIX Public Access Unix, NYC
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 04:27:46 GMT

I have an 11" golden severum and it is quite mellow. He'll stand his territory
against the 2 Albino Oscars but everyting stays cool. All in all, I'd say the
severum and the oscars are quite zen fish.

-- 
*******************************************************************
paul@panix.com                                    COMPULITE GRAPHICS
Brooklyn NY usa                                Design & Consultation
********************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: frazier@kona.cs.ucla.edu (Gregory Frazier)
Subject: Re: Adding a new fish
Organization: UCLA, Computer Science Department
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 19:31:44 GMT

Carter J White (cjwhite@IASTATE.EDU) wrote:
: In article <1993Jan20.193229.13871@bsu-ucs>, 01mbmccabe@leo.bsuvc.bsu.edu
: writes:
: > Why does it seem a lot of people here replace the "E" in Pleco with an
: > asterisk?
: > 
: > 				-Matt
: 
: 	Ex. (THIS IS A TRUE STORY, IT WAS IN THE STAR)
: 
: 		The word pl*co was posted inocently on the fishnet regarding its breeding and
: diet.  Within 24 Hours of the posting a beutiful 12 inch fish of the same type
: was found mysteriusly sucked up into an intake tube on a Fluval 303.
: 
: 	Ex #2.  Once after the word pl*coscopus was posted a tuely tragic incedent
: occured.  Two mature breading pair of the said fish suddenly came down with some
: unknown sickness, not in anyway affecting the beautiful discus also in the tank.
: Despite the efforts of the aquarist, the fish died with in 24 hours of the
: post.

About 2 years ago, during the course of about 3 mo's, at least 5 people
lost plecos within a week of posting about the existance of their pleco.
During that time period, nobody who posted about their pleco had it
survive - it was rather eerie.  Since then the phenomena has occured
regularly, although not with quite the unanimity of its outset.

--
"They thought to use and shame me but I win out by nature, because a true
freak cannot be made.  A true freak must be born." - K. Dunn, _Geek Love_

Greg Frazier	frazier@CS.UCLA.EDU	!{ucbvax,rutgers}!ucla-cs!frazier
From: sylvia@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM (Sylvia Budak)
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 17:45:22 GMT
Subject: Re: [M] HELP!  What happened to my Cowfish...
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Loveland, CO
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria



I just got myself a little cowfish two weeks ago.  He is about the size of a
lima bean and unfortunately got stuck in the skimmer slits twice.  Because of
this I had to put a net over the slits to keep him from getting stuck.  Could
it be that your cowfish might have gotten stuck somewhere and couldn't dislodge
herself (I noticed you used she)?  I have also heard these fish can when 
scared excrete poisons into the tank which kill other fish as well as them-
selves.  This doesn't fit your tank however because your other fish are fine.

I have also heard cowfish are sensitive to water conditions.  Earlier this 
week I had an emergency happening in my tank.  I believe it was caused by the
nylon net I used to keep the little cowfish from getting stuck in the skimmer.
I bought the net from a fabric store, and now believe it must have had some
coating on it that stupid me didn't think to rinse off!  My blue tangs and 
percula clown were showing signs of distress while my cowfish went along like
nothing was wrong.  For this reason I question the cowfish's sensitivity to
water conditions compared to a percula!  On the other hand I think my percula
may have been having simpathetic symptoms.  He seems to copy anything the Tangs
do.  By the way, I replaced my "nylon net" with a plastic screen made for 
humidifiers.  I also did an emergency large water change and now things are 
getting back to normal.  My tangs are creeping back towards being total 
porkers.  Wheh, I tell you though, that was a close one.  I was sure I was 
going to lose at least one of the tangs.

Is your specific gravity really 1.2?  I think this must have been a typo.  If
it is 1.020 then maybe it is a bit low. 

Sorry to hear about your loss,  cowfish are pretty cute.

Sylvia
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria