HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: scott@psy.uwa.oz.au (Scott Fisher)
Subject: Re: DI water and Bugs (from sci.aquaria)
Keywords: DI Bacteria
Organization: University of Western Australia
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 02:28:34 GMT

tom@dynamo.ecn.purdue.edu (Tom McCain) writes:


>WARNING!!!  DO NOT DRINK DI WATER!!!

>	When you remove all of the ions from the water to make "DI", you
>remove the chlorine that usually suppresses bacterial growth.  There are
>some very primitive bacteria that can flourish inside DI water systems,
>living off of just the water and the carbon chain molecules in the
>plastic of the system.  These bacteria can also flourish in your digestive
>tract, yielding symptoms similar to amoebic dysentery.  I have also had
>the pleasure of waking up in the morning and discovering that the minor
>scratch on my finger had become infected from working in the di water -
>it had swollen to twice it's normal size.  A somewhat expensive program of
>antibiotics allowed me to keep my finger.

[stuff deleted...]

> 	Aquaria content?  I want some of you to live long enough to be around
>in case I need help in two years when my son finishes Boy Scouts and I have
>enough free time to set up my 55 (or 135, I haven't decided) gallon
>brackish water tank.

>	In summary, DI water is good for cleaning silicon wafers, BOILED
>coffee, make-up water, and probably good starting material for making
>salt water.  But it can also harbor some nasty surprises!

>		From an occasional reader,
> 			Tim			miller@ecn.purdue.edu
>--

I have a "Natures Sunshine" Reverse osmosis unit I use for drinking water,
it has...

tap in ---> Pre Filter ---> Reverse Osmosis membrane ---> Carbon filter ---> out

This system gets the TDS way down and produces some of the cleanest, tasteless
water I have seen.  Would this be good for fish-takns?

Regards Scott.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Scott Fisher [scott@psy.uwa.oz.au]  PH: Aus [61] Perth (09) Local (380 3272).                
                                                             _--_|\       N
Department of Psychology                                    /      \    W + E
University of Western Australia.                 Perth -->  *_.--._/      S
Nedlands, 6009.  PERTH, W.A.                                      v       

Joy is a Jaguar XJ-6 with a flat battery, a blown oil seal and an unsympathetic wife, 9km outside of a small remote town, 3:15am on a cold wet winters morning.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: rosentha@bldrdoc.gov (Peter Rosenthal 303-497-5844)
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria
Subject: Re: Blue-green algae
Date: 31 Aug 92 20:13:51 GMT
Organization: National Institute of Standards and Technology

One dose of Maracyn at the recommended strength will
completely eliminate blue green algae within two weeks.

I have used this drug (erythromycin) for this purpose 
several times.  Nothing else worked, although I have 
heard that a thriving bunch of hornwort (Ceratophyllum) 
will eliminate blue-greens.


-- 
Peter Rosenthal       Email rosenthal@cmg.eeel.nist.gov

Xref: sparky sci.aquaria:1329 alt.aquaria:4900 rec.aquaria:7110
From: igorl@uiuc.edu (Igor Livshits)
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria,alt.aquaria,rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: [M] Tang needs help!
Date: 4 Sep 92 16:07:42 GMT
Organization: NCSA
X-Xxdate: Fri, 4 Sep 92 17:02:57 GMT
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d9
X-Xxmessage-Id: <A6CCF2E1740214C6@spiff.ncsa.uiuc.edu>

I ma having similar bad luck with my Yellow tang.  As above, all
parameters are excellent, all the corals are happy, my mushroom anemonies
are budding like crazy, my leather dish is developing a bud, the Maroon
clown and the Coral Beauty are as happy as they can be.

I have had the tang for over six months now.  He was perfect.  About a
month ago, his fins started getting ragged with little orangish nodules
near some of the edges.  He is fine otherwise -- eats, parades in front
of the glass when I am near, chases other fish if they get near his
territory.  The other two fish have had random minor tears which heal
within a week.  Just yesterday, I also noticed a white tumor-like
protrusion on one of the tang's lateral fins.

I do not have a cleaner shrimp or wrasse, but I do have a coral banded
shrimp which does some cleaning rarely.

Help!  I do not want to lose this fish.

Igor
From: Michael D. Thomas <mdt2@po.cwru.edu>
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria
Subject: New Marine Aquarium Set-up
Date: 3 Sep 1992 15:26:04 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: iris57364.iris.cwru.edu
X-UserAgent: Nuntius v1.1

I am in the process of setting up a 38 gallon marine aquarium. I've been
involved in the aquarium hobby for 20 years and have maintained saltwater
as well as freshwater animals. Since it has been about 10 years since
I've had a saltwater aquarium, things (technology) have really changed.
At this point I have a 38 gallon tank, stand and hood. I have an
undergravel filter with power head, pump, heater etc. In the 'old' days
we use to use dolomite as our substrate. Now I have a choice between
dolomite, crushed coral and what appears to be a mixture of small sea
shells. Can anyone suggest which is best ? What about filtration ,I use
to get by with just an undergravel filter but after reading current
materials ,I beginning to wonder what works best. I am planning to keep
only fish and not invertebrates. Can anyone refresh my memory as to these
basic concepts and any others you might think of?
From: mssmith@afterlife.ncsc.mil (M. Scott Smith)
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria
Subject: White cottony stuff on gravel -- how do I get rid of it?
Date: 30 Aug 92 16:10:59 GMT
Organization: The Great Beyond

I've had a 10-gallon tropical tank for several months now, and besides a
lot of fish committing suicide (I guess that's what they did..), everything
seems to be fine...

Except that as of recently (within the past month or so,) the bottom of
the tank has started to get quite dirty.  (I have an undergravel filter
and one catfish; plus about 5 other fish.)

There's some kind of growth (or waste or something) that seems to be
growing on the gravel.  It's white and cottony, sort of like dustballs
or something.  It's not very attractive to look at.

I bought a hand pump filter to try to get rid of it, but the stuff seems
to be adhered to the gravel, and it won't easily come off.  So the pump
doesn't do a very good job.

Does anyone know what this stuff is?  How I should get rid of it?  Should
I fire my catfish for not doing his job?  :)

When I had a tropical tank a few years ago (about the same setup), I don't
remember having any problems like this.  The tank basically kept itself
sparkling clean..

Thanks in advance for any information!

M. Scott Smith
  --|mssmith@afterlife.ncsc.mil
From: moss@brl.mil (Gary S. Moss (VLD/VMB) <moss>)
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria
Subject: Re: WANTED:gentle vegetarian
Date: 27 Aug 92 15:29:09 GMT
Reply-To: moss@brl.mil
Distribution: na
Organization: Ballistic Research Laboratory

In article <22707@sybase.sybase.com>, holly@sybase.com (Innocent Bystander) writes:
|> Does anyone have any favorite herbivores for a 55 gallon reef?  I've
|> recently pruned back my overly exhuberant caulerpa, and i'd like to
|> hire a gardener.  Yellow tangs are pretty, but they're such 
|> bullies (and they never seem to calm down). 

It is true that Yellow tangs have a bad reputation, but they are not *always*
aggressive.  I have kept two so far and have only seen defensive behavior,
though I don't have any other tangs which is an important point.  They do an
excellent job on hair algae, encrusting forms of Caulerpa (like C. racemosa)
and can keep larger varieties like C. prolifera under control.  Other tangs
are supposedly less aggressive, though I haven't kept them yet; you might
look into a Chevron (pricey), Sailfin, or there is one I can't recall the
name of, but they are dark brownish with bright yellow around the eyes and
are supposed to be very good.  Aquarium Center of Baltimore keeps the latter
in there live coral holding tanks (one per tank) and won't sell those
specimens.

|> Second question: the tank has one cleaner shrimp ("cleaner than 
|> what?" you ask. smart-mouth.) and i'm wondering if it would 
|> be ok to get him/her/it (is there a reliable way to tell the girls 
|> from the boys?)  a companion, or if they're too territorial.

If you are referring to the propular Red-backed cleaner shrimps, they
are hermaphroditic and peaceful with others of their kind.  Typically
if you combine two mature specimens, they will both become "in-berry" (sp?)
after they molt.  This is apparent by a light green egg mass held by their
swimmerets (under the abdomen).

Banded coral shrimps can be aggressive to others of their kind, but if you
have enough hiding spaces and room they can coexist; I have two in a 55g
reef and so far so good.  I don't recall their sexual preference, but I'll
have to find an old FAMA article on breeding them and report back if you
are interested.

I also like Sailfin blennies and Flame angels for micro algae control,
they don't really keep up with it in my tank, but they are nice reef citizens.
You have to be careful in introducing more than one of a kind of these though
it supposedly can be done.

|> Thanks for all tips and suggestions(and even wise-ass remarks),
|> holly

Welcome,
-Gary
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria
From: jlance@dbaix.oc.com (Lance Jablonski)
Subject: Sperm Whales
Organization: OpenConnect Systems, Dallas, TX
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 15:08:19 GMT

 Gee, SORRY GREG, but I didn't read all of the anatomy chapters! ;-


                                        Lance
jlance@dbaix.oc.com
OpenConnect Systems
Dallas, Texcess
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria
Subject: Slipper Lobsters
From: <HCM100@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 16:23:58 EDT
Organization: Penn State University

I think that my brain went on sabatical this month.  In the September FAMA,
Bob Fenner has an article on slipper lobsters.  In the opening paragraph,
I feel that he is extremely confusing.  I quote:

"Unlike most crustaceans, slipper lobsters ARE NOT opportunistic omnivores
(translation = they eat everything) not to be trustedwhen hungry; which is
all the time."

Okey Dokey, what does he mean by that?  are they OK to have in a reef tank,
or will they massacre everything like other higher crustaceans?  I would
be extremely interested in having them in my reef *IF* they are OK for
anenomes and corals.  Any experience?  Scientific information?

| HANS C. MASING                   | A BAD ATTITUDE IS THE      |
| HCM100 @ PSUVM.PSU.EDU           | DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE     |
| MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS   | WAY I THINK AND THE WAY    |
| PENN STATE UNIVERSITY            | YOU THINK I SHOULD THINK.  |
From: brian@picasso.icd.teradyne.com (Brian Hunter)
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria
Subject: Re: DI water and Bugs (from sci.aquaria)
Keywords: DI Bacteria
Date: 31 Aug 92 19:22:32 GMT
Organization: Teradyne, Inc. Boston MA

In article <1992Aug25.162839.26539@noose.ecn.purdue.edu> tom@dynamo.ecn.purdue.edu (Tom McCain) writes:
>
>WARNING!!!  DO NOT DRINK DI WATER!!!
>
>
>Tom McCain 
>tom@ecn.purdue.edu
 Lot of people are installing RO units for drinking water.
How is this different than DI?

Brian
Organization: Queen's University at Kingston
Date: Tuesday, 25 Aug 1992 16:31:26 EDT
From: <KARYA@QUCDN.QueensU.CA>
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria
Subject: anenome reproduction

I understand that anenomes (and corals?) can reproduce asexually
by (I'm not sure what the scientific term is) splitting off a
part of their body.  This part then develops into a new animal.
Is this true?  What does this process look like?

I am asking because this morning I noticed that my 6" pink
Caribbean anemone (condylactis gigantea) seems to have "dropped"
a part of one of its tentacles.  This part is about 3/4 of an
inch long and is writhing, stretching and contracting on the
bottom of the tank.  This has been going on for about 7 hours
now.  The end that was attached to the rest of the animal is
white with two small dark spots.  The rest of this ex-tentacle is
dark purple like the parent(?) when it is contracted.  Could this
be a "new" anemone?  If it is, is there anything I can do to
protect it or to encourage its development?  Any
ideas/advice/suggestions/comments would be appreciated.

adTHANKSvance.

Alan
Xref: sparky sci.aquaria:1297 rec.aquaria:6878 alt.aquaria:4778
From: sh240031@wvnvms.wvnet.edu
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria,rec.aquaria,alt.aquaria
Subject: Re: DI water
Date: 28 Aug 92 13:37:25 GMT
Organization: West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing

OK.  I've decided that it is in my best interest not to drink DI H2O.  Our
water comes from a spring and without any additives, I'm sure there are some
interesting bugs growing in it.  It sounds like the DI resins could make a
nice environment for something really nasty to grow.  Thanks for all of the
input.

Now on to question 2.  I am currently searching for some resins to replace
those that have expired in my DI unit.  It seems that there are quite a few ion
exchange products availible for various chemical supply houses.

My question is what properties do I look for in such products?  Which do I stay
away from?

The cation resins are fairly straightforward.  Polystyrene grains that exchange
H+ ions for metals (Cu is the problem in my case).  The anion side is a bit
more confusing to me.  Most resins use Cl- as there exchange group.  Others use
(OH)-.  I think I want to stay way from those with the Cl group because in the
reaction of exchanging (NO3)- and (PO4)- with Cl- my water would shift further
toward the acidic side.  But might this not be countered by the salt mix?

I'm no chemist, so any help on the subject would be of great help.

The products I am looking at are:  
                                    From Sigma Chemicals
                                         Dowex & Amberlite  IRA 400    -anion
                                                            IR 120 plus-cation 

                                    From Fisher Chemicals
					 Rexyn 276 -anion
                                         Rexyn 203 -cation

Any other sugestions on different products are welcome.  Also any ideas as to
how many times these can be regenerated would be helpful.


				Thanks,
					Carl
From: jlance@dbaix.oc.com (Lance Jablonski)
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria
Subject: Sperm Whales
Date: 27 Aug 92 19:51:54 GMT
Organization: OpenConnect Systems, Dallas, TX

Just a quick question, while listening to the B-52's "Rock Lobster",
a few of us around the office were wondering why Sperm Whales are
called as such?  Any response will be appreciated and valued.

                                     Lance


email jlance@dbaix.oc.com or babs@dbaix.oc.com
OpenConnect Systems 
Dallas, Texcess
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria
From: dhiggs@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (General Protection Fault)
Subject: Re: Blue-green algae
Organization: is the refuge of the unimaginative!
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 01:47:59 GMT


In article <1992Aug27.164633.1@isvax.lmsc.lockheed.com> madavis@isvax.lmsc.lock
heed.com writes:
+ How do I get rid of blue-green algae in my freshwater aquarium ?
+     I've tried chemicals, turning the lights of for five days, and completely
+cleaning the tank out, but it seems to come back stronger everytime.
+     If anyone has some suggestions I would greatly appreciate them.

It may be helpful to put in a few other plants to use up some of the nutrients
feeding the algae.  I've also been known to root cuttings from some of my
houseplants by hanging them into the tank to utilize the nutrient laden tank 
water.

Keith.
-- 
D.K.Higgs  DATA+@osu.edu  a.k.a  dhiggs@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu _____   __o
Ohio State University Libraries, Acquisitions Department      -------    -\<,
Continuation Acquisition Division                              ------ ( )/ ( )
~~(614)292-6314~~~~~~fax(614)292-2015~~~~~~~~~~\_________/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria
From: hall@beta.lanl.gov (Michael L. Hall)
Subject: Re: mystery creatures
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 17:30:51 GMT

<KARYA@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> writes:
>
>Today's mystery
>
>While watching the thing described yesterday (and above) I
>noticed for the first time several worms living under the surface
>of the coral gravel at the bottom of my tank.  I counted eight of
>these in the cross section of substrate that I can see through
>the front glass of my tank.  These are thin (like the bloodworms
>I feed my mandarin), orange at the front and purple at the back,
>about 1" long, and have a series of white legs(?) running down
>each side of the body.  They squirm around between the pieces of
>gravel, often coming very close to the surface, but don't come
>out onto the surface (at least in the light).  They must have
>come in to the tank on the small piece of living rock that my
>zooanthid colony is attached to.  If this is the case they have
>been living in the tank for 8 months or so.  Given the number
>that I can see through the front glass there may be quite a
>population of them.  Has anyone seen this creature before?  I
>haven't noticed any ill-effects yet.  Are these things dangerous?

I bet they're bristle worms, in which case you should eliminate
them ASAP. They can eat your sessile inverts (one time I lost
a flame scallop in a matter of days..."I wonder where that scallop
has gotten to...damn, there's his empty shell!"). I would vacuum
as many as you can out and pitch them. One problem is that they're
hard to get rid of...they keep coming back and they reproduce
like rabbits.

Also, I've heard that arrow crabs eat them. I'm not sure about
the crabs bothering your other inverts, though.

Dangerous? I've heard that the spines on the sides of the worms
can give you a sting, but I haven't gotten stung in practise.
I think the worst danger is to your other creatures.

Mike Hall

-- 
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Michael L. Hall    There are times, sir, when men of good conscience |
| hall@lanl.gov      cannot blindly follow orders. - Jean-Luc Picard   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
From: 2fubranch@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria
Subject: testing from my new account
Date: 2 Sep 92 11:27:56 CDT
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

testing
Xref: sparky sci.aquaria:1325 alt.aquaria:4878 rec.aquaria:7067
From: sh240031@wvnvms.wvnet.edu
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria,alt.aquaria,rec.aquaria
Subject: [M] Tang needs help!
Date: 3 Sep 92 16:03:30 GMT
Organization: West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing

HELP!

I can't seem to keep either a powder blue or powder brown tang healthy in
my reef tank.  My water quality parameters are approaching the excellent
marks, my corals inflate fully, and the other fish in the tank are all doing
fine.  This really has me puzzeled.

I started with a powder blue, a clown, and a flame angle.  The tang developed
either ick or oodinium so I moved it to an isolation tank that has lower water
quality than my reef.  I added copper and within 4 days the tang looked great.
I put it back in the reef tank and in 2 weeks, same problem.  Repeated to move
and treatment and it is fine once again.

Decided I want to try a powder brown and after 1 week in my reef he is showing
ick symptoms.  It has a full belly and I do feed my fish supplemental food
very sparingly, alternating different foods.

Has anyone else had simmilar problems with these fish?

Does someone have any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks,

				Carl
Xref: sparky sci.aquaria:1319 alt.aquaria:4856 rec.aquaria:7029
From: 2fubranch@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria,alt.aquaria,rec.aquaria
Subject: (M) 13W ballast for 9W tube ???
Date: 2 Sep 92 11:33:18 CDT
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

Can I use a 13 W compact fluorescent ballast for a 9 W compact fluorescent
tube???

I'm in need of a 9W remote ballast for a 9W compact fluorescent tube.
If you have any info, please email me.

Thanks in advance
Organization: Queen's University at Kingston
Date: Wednesday, 26 Aug 1992 12:09:32 EDT
From: <KARYA@QUCDN.QueensU.CA>
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria
Subject: mystery creatures

Yesterday's mystery

I have yet to receive any replies to my post of yesterday
regarding anemone reproduction.  Over 24 hours after I first
discovered it, the piece of tentacle that separated from my
condylactis anemone is still alive(?), (i.e. still moving
apparently under its own motivation - not waving in the current.)
It stretches and contracts from about 1/2" to about 1", although
today it is less vigourous in its movements than it was
yesterday.  I'd still appreciate comments etc.

Today's mystery

While watching the thing described yesterday (and above) I
noticed for the first time several worms living under the surface
of the coral gravel at the bottom of my tank.  I counted eight of
these in the cross section of substrate that I can see through
the front glass of my tank.  These are thin (like the bloodworms
I feed my mandarin), orange at the front and purple at the back,
about 1" long, and have a series of white legs(?) running down
each side of the body.  They squirm around between the pieces of
gravel, often coming very close to the surface, but don't come
out onto the surface (at least in the light).  They must have
come in to the tank on the small piece of living rock that my
zooanthid colony is attached to.  If this is the case they have
been living in the tank for 8 months or so.  Given the number
that I can see through the front glass there may be quite a
population of them.  Has anyone seen this creature before?  I
haven't noticed any ill-effects yet.  Are these things dangerous?
A kind of bristleworm?  Again any advice/comments/suggestions
etc. would be greatly appreciated.

adTHANKSvance

Alan
Organization: Queen's University at Kingston
Date: Wednesday, 2 Sep 1992 14:58:09 EDT
From: <KARYA@QUCDN.QueensU.CA>
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria
Subject: Re: mystery creatures
 <1992Aug26.173051.19516@newshost.lanl.gov> <19119@smoke.brl.mil>

Last week I described some yellow andpurple worms that live inthe gravel substr
ate of my 35 gallon marine aquarium.  To review:  these are small thin (like bl
ood worms - maybe smaller) 1/2" to 3/4" inch worms, yellow at the front and pur
ple at the rear.  They have what I initially described as white legs running do
wn each side of the body.  They wiggle around inthe spaces between th bits of c
oral gravel and dive back into it very quickly if uncovered.

My local dealer calls these things fireworms and says that the "legs" are in fa
ct bristles.  However, he says that these worms are not a problem, unless you t
ry to pick them up with your fingers in which case you may receive a nasty "sti
ng" as the bristles stick into your finger and break off.  As I noted last week
 there may be quite a population of these things in my tank and I have yet to n
otice any ill effects - perhaps due to their small size?  I have a mixed tank o
f fish and inverts - bubble coral, two anemones, sea cucumber, feather duster a
nd a zooanthid colony and have not had any recent "mystery" losses.   If I can
dig up a magnifying glass I'll take a closer look at one of these worms and pos
t an update on the net.

Thanks to those of you who replied to my earlier posts.
Alan