tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47145798112252999212024-03-05T07:44:02.105+00:00The Lothian Fishkeeper ChannelThe Lothian Fishkeeper Channel is a multi-platform community bringing the best of what this wonderful hobby has to offer. Stick around for a mixture of advice,, new projects, fish profiles, product reviews and even some helpful special discounts on the products you value most. Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-83711368355791734402020-11-09T00:36:00.003+00:002020-11-09T00:36:28.527+00:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHyspN1TzrylryqbpsApCYrGYdYFF2s1ykmPqNK6moyy6l7yskoPkKQN3FE-oXdwjIuqMjECI6sZzvTyRvSiEVP-r3w8t-tdj_Itet_skRiusoqCbIWIi8YbSj3E1yZKkQNLQEaSUasE/s2048/Using+a+UV+steriliser+in+a+planted+tank.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHyspN1TzrylryqbpsApCYrGYdYFF2s1ykmPqNK6moyy6l7yskoPkKQN3FE-oXdwjIuqMjECI6sZzvTyRvSiEVP-r3w8t-tdj_Itet_skRiusoqCbIWIi8YbSj3E1yZKkQNLQEaSUasE/w507-h180/Using+a+UV+steriliser+in+a+planted+tank.png" width="507" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="color: #244084; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">Using UV Sterilizer in a planted tank</b></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Most of us heard about UV from our textbooks, we know how bad it is for our skin. But have we ever thought about how to use it to our benefit? Thankfully, some people did. Throughout recent decades UV has been used in many practices. One of those lucky practices happened to be in the aquarium.</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Using a UV Sterilizer in a planted tank is a convenient way to keep your aquarium clean. Compared to its chemical counterparts, it delivers powerful, precise, and thorough disinfection, keeping your aquarium healthy. </p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">The use of its cutting-edge technology would enamor anyone, so for the curious minds, we will show you not just what UV sterilizer does to your tank, but also how to achieve it.</p>
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<p style="color: #244084; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">What is UV Sterilizer?</p>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">To know about UV sterilizers first we need to understand what a UV light is. UV or Ultraviolet light is radiation of small wavelength. The source of UV light is The Sun. Following the US Navy’s guide, Ultraviolet light can be divided into 3 sub-bands: UV-A (350-400 nm), UV-B (280-350 nm), and UV-C (180-280 nm).</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">What we need on our planted tanks is UV-C and its critical ability to mutate the cell structure. A UV sterilizer uses a bulb emitting UV-C light of 253.7 nm.</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Simply, a UV sterilizer is a germicidal lamp emitting Ultraviolet light to repress the growth of particular organisms, shortening their lifespan and might even eliminate them. </p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Definitely, those who aren’t hardcore aquarium lovers will treat this as alien technology. But what are we here for?</p>
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<p style="color: #244084; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Do you need a UV Sterilizer for your aquarium?</p>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">A UV sterilizer is a great prophylactic for your planted tank, you could even call it an insurance policy. It controls the growth of algae, fungi, pathogens, bacteria, parasites efficiently. You don’t need chlorine or any kind of biocides if you have one of these ruthless machines.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">And here is the best part, it doesn’t harm any plants or fish. Good UV sterilizers can even distinguish between beneficial and harmful bacteria, letting the useful ones live.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">On many occasions, having a good filtration system isn’t enough. Since an aquarium is always full of nutrients and light, they could be responsible for algae growth if you don’t pay attention. And the sad part is, you will have no idea until it’s too late.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">By then it’ll be the cause turbidity, spread spores to create an algae bloom, make a home for parasites, etc. and many other inconveniences. <a href="https://expertaquarist.com/best-uv-sterilizer-for-aquarium/"><span style="color: #0b4cb4;">Having a UV sterilizer helps</span></a> mitigate that.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">It’s a good investment of money, if you’re an aquarium hobbyist you won’t be let down.</p>
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<p style="color: #244084; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">How does a UV Sterilizer work in your planted tank?</p>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">When water is passed through the UV sterilizer, it scans the planted tank for contaminants and exposes them to a lethal dose of UV light, which will alter their DNA by gluing the molecules together, tampering with their cell structure and making them obsolete and unable to reproduce (hence, the term sterilizer).</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">One thing you should know, UV sterilizer will only affect free-floating organisms, so it’s not going to hurt your plants.</p>
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<p style="color: #244084; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Factors involving UV Sterilizer</p>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">UV sterilizers are excellent to keep your planted tank clean, however, that happens if there are some considerations taken into account and it operates in the right manner. These factors will affect the efficiency of the sterilizer which is why you need to be careful about the following things:</p>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><b>The lifespan of the bulb </b></li>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px 36px;">The bulb loses 60% efficiency after a year. Replacing them once a year is a must.</p>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><b>Power</b></li>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px 36px;">The more wattage, the more UV light output you will have.</p>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><b>Length of the bulb</b></li>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px 36px;">A longer bulb means more spread contact with the water. The cleanliness of the bulb is also another important matter. If any material or film is covering it, then the light will be blocked partially.</p>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><b>Dwell time</b></li>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px 36px;">If the UV light is exposed to the water for a longer duration, then it will have more effectiveness.</p>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><b>Flow rate</b></li>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px 36px;">A slower flow rate creates the opportunity for a longer dwell time. But, you need different flow rates to deal with different organisms.</p>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><b>Turnover time</b></li>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px 36px;">Turnover time refers to the time needed for the total volume of water to pass through the sterilizer, which is very tricky to calculate.</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px 36px;"> Thankfully, there is a formula to approximately compute it that is written below:</p>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><b>Temperature</b></li>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px 36px;">Experts believe 104-110 degrees Fahrenheit is the best. You can use quartz sleeves to insulate the bulb, maintaining a high UV output.</p>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><b>Penetration</b></li>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px 36px;">UV light will penetrate more through clean waters compared to turbid or saline waters. A good workaround is placing mechanical and biological filters right before installing a UV sterilizer. </p>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><b>Organism types</b></li>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px 36px;">While smaller organisms like fungi, bacteria, and other pathogens require a small amount of radiation to be obsolete, something like protozoa would need a much larger amount. The following table explains it neatly:</p>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 42.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 207.0px;" valign="top">
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px; text-align: center;"><b>Organism</b></p>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 42.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 207.0px;" valign="top">
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Killing Dose</b></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>uWs/cm</b><span style="font-size: 8px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b><sup>2</sup></b></span></p>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 27.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 207.0px;" valign="top">
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Virus</p>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 27.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 207.0px;" valign="top">
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">15,000</p>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 28.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 207.0px;" valign="top">
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Bacteria</p>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 28.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 207.0px;" valign="top">
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">15,000-30,000</p>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 27.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 207.0px;" valign="top">
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Algae</p>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 27.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 207.0px;" valign="top">
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">22,000-30,000</p>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 28.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 207.0px;" valign="top">
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Fungi</p>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 28.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 207.0px;" valign="top">
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">45,000</p>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 13.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 207.0px;" valign="top">
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Protozoa</p>
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<td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 13.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 207.0px;" valign="top">
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">90,000</p>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px 36px;">Keep in mind that this table only mentions a generalized value, there are also organisms with a high level of UV resistance.</p>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><b>Tank size</b></li>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px 36px;">A large-sized planted tank needs an equally large UV system, otherwise, you will it won’t cover all the space or create heating issues.</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px 36px;">Manufacturers provide information on their products addressing this subject.</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">The above-mentioned factors affect the UV sterilizer greatly. Try to know everything about these considerations to relieve yourself from nuisances in the future.</p>
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<p style="color: #244084; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Must-have Features</p>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">You will see a lot of models in the market. But you’re there for one of the most efficient ones. We believe a good sterilizer should have below mentioned features:</p>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Remote ballast unit</li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Indicator</li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Auto turn on in case of temporary loss of power</li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Emergency shutdown</li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Quartz sleeve</li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Add-on couplings which fit easily</li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Respectable warranty</li>
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<p style="color: #244084; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Maintenance of a UV Sterilizer</p>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Quartz sleeves need regular maintenance, check it every month, and rub some alcohol to clean it. There are wiper mechanisms in some units making the maintenance easier.</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Replace the UV bulb every 6 months. Technically they have a lifespan of 9000 hours which is roughly 375 days. But they lose efficiency really quick. The disinfection quality will lower significantly as the months go by. So, 6 months is a good timeframe.</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Replace the O-rings every year since they degrade fast. You need to keep your bulbs waterproof.</p>
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<p style="color: #244084; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">Get yourself a UV sterilizer!</p>
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<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">We’re hoping that our article explains the benefits of using UV Sterilizer in a planted tank; inspires and motivates you to get one. It is one of the best investments you could get for your tank. For a little extra cash, you get to add an extra layer of convenience.</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">It is a must-buy for an aquarium hobbyist, as it will exponentially elevate the charm of their planted tank. You won’t regret it.</p><div><br /></div>Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-81470185470882213032020-05-02T08:27:00.001+00:002020-05-02T08:29:36.448+00:00Which CO2 diffuser is right for your aquarium?The CO2 diffuser is a very important piece of equipment used to inject CO2 into your aquarium to promote healthy plant growth. Having the ability to break down the CO2 gas into tiny bubbles that are then dissolved and absorbed by the plants during the photosynthesis process is really important. After all, the more you can break down the gas, the more your plants can absorb and the less CO2 is wasted.<br />
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There are a variety of different styles of diffusers available which can be split into two types. </div>
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In-tank diffusers - the clue is in the name here. They sit inside your aquarium and create millions of tiny bubbles that are quickly dissolved within the water.</div>
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Inline diffusers - These attach onto the outlet pipe of an external canister filter, between the canister and the spray bar inside the aquarium. </div>
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Both do things the same way. They are supplied CO2 by a regulator attached to a CO2 cylinder. The CO2 is forced into the diffuser and pushed through a ceramic element. The Ceramic element is where the magic happens. Each element has millions of tiny holes and when the CO2 enters at one end, it is forced to leak out via these tiny holes, creating the tiny bubbles.</div>
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For the purpose of this blog, I have some diffusers from CO2 ART. Both are highly rated by aquascapers worldwide and produce the worlds finest CO2 mist. I want to go into a little more detail about each type of diffuser and hopefully help some people make a choice on which style suits their setup.</div>
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Obviously, this is aimed more at the beginner aquascaper and the following options are based on my own thoughts and ideas but I hope it helps you decide. I also have a nice discount offer available for anyone who is interested in purchasing one direct from CO2 ART themselves. read on for more details.</div>
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The In-Tank Diffuser<br />
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CO2 Art Flux_diffuser comes in two sizes. Large or Small. They used to offer a range of sizes but recently simplified their range. If your aquarium is under 205 litres you have the small sized Flux_Diffuser and for aquariums above 250l, the large size. The Flux_diffuser boasts of the worlds finest bubbles and it doesn't disappoint. This type of diffuser is also known as the bazooka style.<br />
It works by attaching the diffuser to the inside of the aquarium glass (at the bottom) then running some CO2 resistant tubing out the tank and down to the regulator. CO2 is pushed into the Flux_diffuser and through the ceramic element. CO2 ART calls this part the 'Nano mist technology membrane' and it is extremely porous. I especially like watching this part because it produces lots of tiny bubbles of CO2 that float across the aquarium until they are dissolved into the water to be used up by your aquarium plants. Many aquascaper friends have shared videos of this, check this one out.<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzF0yxKFYe3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Bazooka Flux from @co2art is the best diffuser on the market in my opinion! After using several other brands and models I can say that this diffuser kills the competition 😁</a></div>
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A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aqua_planter/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" target="_blank"> Jordan Stirrat</a> (@aqua_planter) on <time datetime="2019-06-24T11:36:22+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 24, 2019 at 4:36am PDT</time></div>
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The second diffuser CO2 ART have is the 'Inline' CO2 Aquarium Atomizer diffuser. This diffuser also uses the ceramic nano mist membrane to produce tiny bubbles however unlike the Flux_diffuser, the inline atomizer remains on the outside of the aquarium. To run this type of diffuser, you must have an external canister filter. The diffuser works by attaching to the pipe coming from the filter back into the aquarium.<br />
The diffuser, which is also attached to the regulator, receives the CO2 directly into the ceramic membrane. The CO2 is then pushed through the membrane and into the filtered water returning to the aquarium. This method does require a working pressure of 30psi to operate efficiently but as a result, you have less equipment inside your aquarium.<br />
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Here is a good video explaining how the Inline atomizer works.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GmQ7sHZKW2Q/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GmQ7sHZKW2Q?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Each diffuser offers different benefits and it really comes down to what suits your aquarium best. If you have a small aquarium and wish to maintain a focus on your aquascape without unnecessary equipment on display then I recommend using the Inline diffuser and an external filter. You could even go one better and use an external filter with a heater included. This would allow for almost no equipment at all inside the aquarium.<br />
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Alternatively, if you don't have space for an external filter in or around your aquarium then choose the Flux_diffuser. This is a very popular choice for all kinds of aquascapers. Many people enjoy watching the bubbles, myself included. The Flux_diffuser comes equipped with suckers to allow you to neatly place the device to the bottom of the aquarium glass. If you have an open-top aquarium, would recommend also using the glass U-Bend to keep everything nice and tidy.<br />
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So really the choice is yours. Want less equipment in your aquarium - go with the In-line Atomiser. An external filter not an option? The Flux_diffuser is your best option.<br />
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To find out more about the Flux_diffuser just click <a href="https://www.co2art.co.uk/collections/diffusers/products/new-in-tank-bazooka-flux_-co2-diffuser-for-planted-aquariums?ref=j7asgrh5xzv" target="_blank">here</a><br />
For more information on the In-Line Atomiser click <a href="https://www.co2art.co.uk/collections/diffusers/products/new-co2art-inline-co2-aquarium-atomizer-diffuser-system?ref=j7asgrh5xzv" target="_blank">here</a><br />
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I also have a nice discount code for anyone who is planing a purchase from any of the CO2ART website. simply visit the <a href="https://www.co2art.co.uk/?ref=j7asgrh5xzv" target="_blank">Lothian Fishkeeper Channel unique discount link</a> or add the voucher code Lothianfishkeepers15 at your checkout<br />
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Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-4562515880218415932019-09-07T00:03:00.001+00:002019-09-07T00:03:13.732+00:00Nine months on and still no coral? - saltwater aquarium updateWhen I firth thought about setting up my saltwater aquarium I have visions of vibrant colorful fish and gorgeous corals. I've always found watching marine aquariums really entertaining. Especially the many different forms of aquatic life that can be seen going about their business. My favorite thing to watch is the invertebrates such as crabs and shrimps. I find them especially fascinating. This was what I had hoped to be doing round about now but no, not me, my aquarium dreams were to take a different path and nearly 9 months down the line, I spend more time cleaning algae and cyanobacteria from the surfaces inside my saltwater aquarium than anything else, aquarium related, than anything else. Oh, and there is still no corals or vibrant livestock either.<br />
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Why? I ask myself that same question every day. At first, I considered the fact I had been using conditioned tap water to create my saltwater. This can create problems for sure and maybe my bacteria outbreak could be attributed to this issue. So I began to use a RODI water filter to mix my saltwater. This single change did make a difference with my water perimeters for sure. My water had never been better. But the issue was still not going away.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5B9PLsOmuGoJ8TAHPe5hMfLd7UWnVtq0ySf3TQpBvznv3G030YadzjqxwVPAbQuPxCQACzNjZaxXTLJuKeyIvA-HCQFjkMRXytn0gpPLKRFZdLssYs2zZju1xc5mM2aOtJQk70PCiUcY/s1600/OS-2PRO50DI__79813_zoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5B9PLsOmuGoJ8TAHPe5hMfLd7UWnVtq0ySf3TQpBvznv3G030YadzjqxwVPAbQuPxCQACzNjZaxXTLJuKeyIvA-HCQFjkMRXytn0gpPLKRFZdLssYs2zZju1xc5mM2aOtJQk70PCiUcY/s200/OS-2PRO50DI__79813_zoom.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My reverse osmosis water filter is available from www.osmotics.co.uk<br />This is the 50g per day model which means I can fill 1 x 25l drum in about 3 hours.</td></tr>
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I would clean as much as I could each time I did a water change - which was twice a week, just saying! and the next day the cyanobacteria was back again in full force. This had me stumped. What was causing it?<br />
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I began to do more reading and try to find a solution to this horrible issue. The sooner I could get passed this stage, the closer that dream aquarium would be. Each day when I turned the lights on, Id just want to turn them straight back off again. I had a swamp in my home, not a reef tank. This was not good.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOTE4niiTm-Hqgzt1fGw6uz6unDNeW2uAQKg4iuR903MHHiESKQzB41mvoTDGrwCwBMGmW-CuHLQ51nXeDMpyZMk9h5hv9IaTZ9tp5o-7tzIr1EL8UixuWbN6KdjB-Tcy7A3a4aXSUYs/s1600/cyano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOTE4niiTm-Hqgzt1fGw6uz6unDNeW2uAQKg4iuR903MHHiESKQzB41mvoTDGrwCwBMGmW-CuHLQ51nXeDMpyZMk9h5hv9IaTZ9tp5o-7tzIr1EL8UixuWbN6KdjB-Tcy7A3a4aXSUYs/s320/cyano.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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When I was in my local Fishkeeper, I was discussing the problem with one of the staff members and they recommended a combination of three products from ARKA Bioteche or Microbe-Lift as their range of products are called. I was advised that this would kill all cyanobacteria in my aquarium. At this stage, I was ready to try anything so after picking up what I needed I headed home with a battle plan and big expectations.<br />
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Let me explain this plan and what it involves.<br />
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The three products needed are called:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Nite Out II</li>
<li>Special Blend</li>
<li>Zeopure powder</li>
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The process involves dosing your aquarium every second night with Nite Out II when you switch the lights off. At the same time dose the aquarium with Zeopure powder. Weekly dosing with Special blend is also required. It is very straight forward but 100% effective. I repeated this process for over a month and in the end, all the bacteria was gone.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEALTZENSolIX6agRBjbJEpbukQTZEsLdux9BY6XLnLNV6Dxw3hurVF5N9hx5xoZvHm8hdFakExx67d5_cysu1cC3-1YzcAk1snJBX1_MsKps6S1Ej731h7hmXEte_nP6q7gJEqDnm7E/s1600/IMG_3610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEALTZENSolIX6agRBjbJEpbukQTZEsLdux9BY6XLnLNV6Dxw3hurVF5N9hx5xoZvHm8hdFakExx67d5_cysu1cC3-1YzcAk1snJBX1_MsKps6S1Ej731h7hmXEte_nP6q7gJEqDnm7E/s200/IMG_3610.JPG" width="200" /></a>You might be thinking that at this point, I'd be stocking my freshly renewed and clean aquarium with the fish of my dreams. You would be wrong. Not only did the bacteria return as soon as I stopped this routine, But It has also come back stronger. This is because although I successfully killed and removed all the bacteria from my aquarium, I have yet to deal with the cause of the problem. This is the part where I struggle. I cannot find the source of the issue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pZk3__Po3p8DmrqABQyNhoUrjZwG6SBpBeGgEDm9SJGF-jSZXtpszk-7uyvL4UVLZFOSb6L-QS2RCEfrbhYpatgGnOoDfsCciX1-Nkb1LSHrXXLKtcvnrOUEk7_CFMYdD5r4gFq8Zgw/s1600/IMG_2735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pZk3__Po3p8DmrqABQyNhoUrjZwG6SBpBeGgEDm9SJGF-jSZXtpszk-7uyvL4UVLZFOSb6L-QS2RCEfrbhYpatgGnOoDfsCciX1-Nkb1LSHrXXLKtcvnrOUEk7_CFMYdD5r4gFq8Zgw/s200/IMG_2735.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Currently, I am looking at adding a protein skimmer. There has been a lot of debris lying o the water surface and bubbles are forming around the edge of the aquarium. Could this be contributing to the problem? I'm not sure yet but I know adding a skimmer can only help the situation.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRUp0LGmprs4J9OJ2xw8BAdC3e-oe7UTwuSmRIoe_o7XC0U095kdDpzUBEyK76qUvayOJutK1kQ1gWZ5x1LyWRisOZJDMfWD-8uQ4Iopq5G3h5zaKN3urJQGK2p5W4mzMUwX3KzHG8kU/s1600/IMG_3963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRUp0LGmprs4J9OJ2xw8BAdC3e-oe7UTwuSmRIoe_o7XC0U095kdDpzUBEyK76qUvayOJutK1kQ1gWZ5x1LyWRisOZJDMfWD-8uQ4Iopq5G3h5zaKN3urJQGK2p5W4mzMUwX3KzHG8kU/s320/IMG_3963.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Whatever the cause, I will discover it and do everything I can to fix it. My dream aquarium will happen. Id love to hear from anyone who thinks they have the answer. Even if you have had a similar problem with your aquarium, please either comment below or get in touch on Facebook</span></div>
<br />Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-28461359885818023642019-04-06T10:25:00.000+00:002019-04-06T10:26:35.069+00:00Lets get...Salty!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqTjnH5Ynhle9CzcUGgxD6W9nZW3MK7nRxErJVcGNv49mnfpEGElltJRzemaMBf45udyg0WWNDIWx6_x__F_UlppN7ijzkbfsST9CXxk39Cx4-GmEYOpB9ad_tc5YGZvtvsGyknkFkYU/s1600/FotoJet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="672" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqTjnH5Ynhle9CzcUGgxD6W9nZW3MK7nRxErJVcGNv49mnfpEGElltJRzemaMBf45udyg0WWNDIWx6_x__F_UlppN7ijzkbfsST9CXxk39Cx4-GmEYOpB9ad_tc5YGZvtvsGyknkFkYU/s320/FotoJet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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For many fishkeepers (myself included) the thought of setting up a saltwater aquarium themselves can be filled with confusion. What equipment do I need, How do I make salt water and what is live rock? <br />
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I've recently set up a new saltwater aquarium and want to share my journey every step of the way. I am no expert when it comes to aquariums, let alone saltwater systems, however, I believe that with the right support and enough research, anyone can have their own marine aquarium with beautiful colourful fish, corals, shrimps and crabs.<br />
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The purpose of this blog is to share with you what I have done so far and what I have planned next for my own saltwater aquarium.<br />
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First of all, this project would not be possible if it were not for the support of the following companies.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Prodibio</li>
<li>ARKA Biotech</li>
<li>Fluval</li>
<li>Fishkeeper Scotland - Melville</li>
<li>Hydor</li>
</ul>
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With their support along with the help of the reef keeping the online community, I feel very positive about taking on the challenge of marine fishkeeping. So If you are considering setting up your own reef tank, subscribe to the Lothian Fishkeeper Channel and follow my progress.<br />
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Next week, Filtration is the focus. Internal. or external?<br />
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bye for now<br />
<br />
JohnLothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-39044577398885940722018-06-08T09:55:00.001+00:002018-06-08T10:00:15.119+00:00The Native Scottish Stream Biotope - a father daughter project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH80XtgeVz5fdJdsN21qoyQKp3Hg5gPqywite_bOJ5DeNW-jCMKjM-xQxIlljkf3SFWlc4Cn33Gk5l9wtaWC6t91QoH9meHHE_bgEkfAFvi5Hg0tHidvMYwNSIsmCC7n2A_x2RGaT_F1I/s1600/DSC_0777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH80XtgeVz5fdJdsN21qoyQKp3Hg5gPqywite_bOJ5DeNW-jCMKjM-xQxIlljkf3SFWlc4Cn33Gk5l9wtaWC6t91QoH9meHHE_bgEkfAFvi5Hg0tHidvMYwNSIsmCC7n2A_x2RGaT_F1I/s320/DSC_0777.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Hi Guys,<br />
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Springtime always brings along lots of things to do outside. Our local pond is always busy during spring with lots of ducklings and signets bobbing about. Trees are blooming and plants are popping up all over the place. It really is my favourite time of the year.<br />
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This year I really wanted to take advantage of the spring season and enjoy some time with the kids down at the pond. We decided to try and recreate an area of the pond - in a home aquarium.<br />
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Our local pond is populated is home to a woodpecker, kingfisher, crane, swans, ducks, squirrels and all the other woodlice creature. Under the surface of the water, you will find lots of equally as interesting things. This is what we done.<br />
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So Myself plus my two daughters, Anna (aged 3) & Ava (aged 8) set of on our mission to bring the pond into our home. After walking around the large pond and following the stream down to the smaller pond, we eventually picked the perfect spot. It was easy to get into the water and had lots of fish swimming around.<br />
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The exact coordinates of our chosen spot were <i style="font-weight: bold;">55°55.844'N -03°30.247'W </i>which is known locally as the small lanthorn pond or lower Dedridge pond. This is where the stream flows into the pond area and was only about 30cm deep with a slow flow of water.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2U-pZEWoj_Ov3CMXYnXLciWRymtdozRO0FJ28ELX0XnmaRNmXCnOwYMZ4iLz5RwHYgUwGUAD6cNeTQX6274dnZ3_AmrImvGqb0eWCq4Z7u5U18BWuuyYovkeh1hqahCimejdZrJt5dA/s1600/DSC_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2U-pZEWoj_Ov3CMXYnXLciWRymtdozRO0FJ28ELX0XnmaRNmXCnOwYMZ4iLz5RwHYgUwGUAD6cNeTQX6274dnZ3_AmrImvGqb0eWCq4Z7u5U18BWuuyYovkeh1hqahCimejdZrJt5dA/s200/DSC_0803.JPG" width="200" /></a>Initially, I wanted to look closely at the substrate in order to recreate this at home. Looking closely I noticed that the bottom of the stream/pond was covered in smooth rounded black pebbles. Amongst the pebbles was a heavy leaf litter which has fallen from the trees directly above the water. This included Oak and Birch leaves. I also noted some fallen branches and algae growing on some of the pebbles and branches.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYEi5wt0k9ccxLztqcSvPD801oBzdXIdzYsjstlVF3WCO0b3lNi87e8lk2bEyf8a3YiZAOCqCIbjcs8WpcefuwNQC4IEU49cBz1TK6bpYIdv7Spvl6Uyxw5PcBIeDzWZi549y17wsa20/s1600/DSC_0789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYEi5wt0k9ccxLztqcSvPD801oBzdXIdzYsjstlVF3WCO0b3lNi87e8lk2bEyf8a3YiZAOCqCIbjcs8WpcefuwNQC4IEU49cBz1TK6bpYIdv7Spvl6Uyxw5PcBIeDzWZi549y17wsa20/s200/DSC_0789.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Looking even closer, I found small <i>Gammarus pulex</i> and tiny leaches living underneath the stones. The Gammarus in particular are a great food source for the predatory Three-Spinned Stickleback we hoped to catch and study.<br />
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Collecting several different sizes of stones plus a piece of wood and leaf litter from the surrounding area would hopefully off any fish collected a similar environment in the aquarium.<br />
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After collecting some invertebrates and stones, wood and leaves, we set to work catching fish. This was the part my two daughters were really looking forward to and who could blame them. I was actually telling them to get into the water instead of the usual warnings to stay away from the water.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UbPhRHAGGUjQh6yNAIYIwQtrrvf5uajLmCZPx6d76-f-S0x_H5B78a14jNYzzUZTSn8KnKi76hrQsifbG3y4c-OGwkZOaPCLsTvriwVKczSlnTtNBBM3n_T2yPAQ0RVkkI5tmVxxe5Q/s1600/DSC_0776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UbPhRHAGGUjQh6yNAIYIwQtrrvf5uajLmCZPx6d76-f-S0x_H5B78a14jNYzzUZTSn8KnKi76hrQsifbG3y4c-OGwkZOaPCLsTvriwVKczSlnTtNBBM3n_T2yPAQ0RVkkI5tmVxxe5Q/s320/DSC_0776.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I spent most of my childhood in and around the local pond and watching my daughters dipping their nets into the water reminded me of how much fun it could be. Ava was quick to go chasing the shoals of fish shooting past her while I was sticking to the sides. By shoving my net underneath the bank, I was finding plenty small stickleback females. This was perfect. I was delighted to find a large male stickleback in the net too. His amazing red breast and neon blue eyes are unmistakable.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23WNqG9W2jvyGwJ6jfnpvsoOV9G-qI5Cj4aadQyPxloUp8CJ_samfYZXAH0HosWK_p6hvhsbWC1m9375ZbU2UwxLM-gl_xp5I5V0VtZH4zjT1dpNEJg8PLeg0oBNZ93mF2V7FTKyZx_w/s1600/DSC_0790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23WNqG9W2jvyGwJ6jfnpvsoOV9G-qI5Cj4aadQyPxloUp8CJ_samfYZXAH0HosWK_p6hvhsbWC1m9375ZbU2UwxLM-gl_xp5I5V0VtZH4zjT1dpNEJg8PLeg0oBNZ93mF2V7FTKyZx_w/s320/DSC_0790.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ava was catching things too but for some reason, she was only able to catch chubby tadpoles. As we were setting up a smaller aquarium, we released these back to the water after having a close look at them and discussing the different stages tadpoles go through before becoming adults. Again, this took me back to being a boy and remembering the excitement of discovering frog spawn in the pond.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNMDL1nJQDTDupwL5UwSjtVQ1rWe64-LagrlxnI9HDkVFykjs9YePrgj7DHLw5601kcihIyx7Jb_xgzYFp1-HSbnLmysLUrnPdgz6El7MsgT6UlUbxycHpWF36dr18SaGxCJPdG7q_tk/s1600/DSC_0782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNMDL1nJQDTDupwL5UwSjtVQ1rWe64-LagrlxnI9HDkVFykjs9YePrgj7DHLw5601kcihIyx7Jb_xgzYFp1-HSbnLmysLUrnPdgz6El7MsgT6UlUbxycHpWF36dr18SaGxCJPdG7q_tk/s320/DSC_0782.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We collected about 4 females and one large male fish (<i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Gasterosteus aculeatus) in total. </i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Alongside the fish, We were able to collect several </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">bladder</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> snails, a really nice </span>rams horn<span style="font-family: inherit;"> snail, a few Gammarus, some little tiny leaches and a water beetle (<i>Coleoptera</i>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Looking around the pond there are a wide variety of plants, mosses and wild flowers. However none of which originated from the water so we didn't take any for our project. Its worth noting that the area we were studying didn't have any plants growing in the water and only one type of green filamentous algae which was attached to several rocks that were collected.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZCTJPn2nRyNUIiI9eFKhkFotk4AKOZetjLNo5Zpbw8Op1gplhPDpwidqrf_LK-oVxkZUitPu2nIbzezuwsJq_b_fk-PL9C_oBsVhhRyWOmK2qcgnY7CCdEJen5QrJKBhQ4fsh1dNB7c/s1600/imga0162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZCTJPn2nRyNUIiI9eFKhkFotk4AKOZetjLNo5Zpbw8Op1gplhPDpwidqrf_LK-oVxkZUitPu2nIbzezuwsJq_b_fk-PL9C_oBsVhhRyWOmK2qcgnY7CCdEJen5QrJKBhQ4fsh1dNB7c/s200/imga0162.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Myosotis scorpioides - Water forget-me-not<br />are in abundance in this area</span></em></span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCkVB_RZffXR62HO_3eaxuyrCM_HLURzE247DPOf7pnJhL82Hgh-yLIBXcXaF-9pYFQz_IWyHXg4rbbQPCgLJDzuiW3ae5dLzle80qf0OEqBYUw22JVtCyygyg2bFDUkEjwiTgzxVFqI/s1600/DSC_0802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCkVB_RZffXR62HO_3eaxuyrCM_HLURzE247DPOf7pnJhL82Hgh-yLIBXcXaF-9pYFQz_IWyHXg4rbbQPCgLJDzuiW3ae5dLzle80qf0OEqBYUw22JVtCyygyg2bFDUkEjwiTgzxVFqI/s200/DSC_0802.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ferns and liverwarts are also growing<br />all around the water</i></td></tr>
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Finally, we gathered up some of the finer substrate to add to the black soil we had at home. we decided on black soil because it is as close to the black rocks and gravel as we could get. I didn't want to remove too much of the substrate from the stream because the cleaning process would have killed any living organisms. Will all this packed up, We made out way back home to begin our Scottish Stream Biotope Aquarium.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ksOdiYcVhEDcoWkXtB5XN7C8kGR4u90UGHKAZm8o4dxFgpnxRTB1F35AFK3EVSBZN1itcOBu5MZHTs9Zn-ymKpYw7elFSMRX8j4AVzZjyh1HF6ccFHFmAZOA5pstowhLhEvlSbtwpeI/s1600/DSC_0805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ksOdiYcVhEDcoWkXtB5XN7C8kGR4u90UGHKAZm8o4dxFgpnxRTB1F35AFK3EVSBZN1itcOBu5MZHTs9Zn-ymKpYw7elFSMRX8j4AVzZjyh1HF6ccFHFmAZOA5pstowhLhEvlSbtwpeI/s320/DSC_0805.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soil, Stones, Wood and moss all collected from the<br />
substrate of the stream.</td></tr>
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Once back home, We spent some time checking out our interesting finds up close. The kids especially liked the ramshorn snail with its swirly shell. Ive kept golden rams horn snails in my other aquariums before but the one we caught was larger and had a solid black shell.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoUY8QtMWh1auh29KfJ0Zbw-uLKj_lLOu0VyGPWicJgW4gE2wLjTX_4BzgiZOL02dH9UBYbM_EUb7wtYjWQuJCvV3kf2QjZ09ANykEjM-gWjBx_dZ4R8E90Cbjzxcffkrv0nsKxvhAeA/s1600/DSC_0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoUY8QtMWh1auh29KfJ0Zbw-uLKj_lLOu0VyGPWicJgW4gE2wLjTX_4BzgiZOL02dH9UBYbM_EUb7wtYjWQuJCvV3kf2QjZ09ANykEjM-gWjBx_dZ4R8E90Cbjzxcffkrv0nsKxvhAeA/s200/DSC_0808.JPG" width="200" /></a>With the aquarium in place, I added the black soil then began setting out the black stones we collected followed by the branch. I then added the moss and covered in oak leaves that found around the pond.<br />
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The easiest way to fill the aquarium with water was to cover the entire layout using a plastic bag. By doing this the mucky substrate was not disturbed a great deal. Once the water is in the bag can easily be removed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2AwozNPw_1wCE_scEbqa-zSpPPU-FD9C_CkY2ycQ1Yon2BMFy1mD_BC5dXtbyt5SLb8JO_RQlo_qTTHBVuWUoWtH7NKYZSpoAK7or0uIf_bwsHR2AGVml4IS9UmHfD_qDniHmVzMDwc/s1600/DSC_0807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2AwozNPw_1wCE_scEbqa-zSpPPU-FD9C_CkY2ycQ1Yon2BMFy1mD_BC5dXtbyt5SLb8JO_RQlo_qTTHBVuWUoWtH7NKYZSpoAK7or0uIf_bwsHR2AGVml4IS9UmHfD_qDniHmVzMDwc/s200/DSC_0807.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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With a setup like this, The water temperature I was aiming for was round about 18° so no heater was added. The room temperature rarely goes passed 20° which shouldn't present any issues.<br />
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For filtration I went with my small Hydor internal filter which would sit in the corner of the tank. This would blend into the background.<br />
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With all the live stock currently being held in buckets and tubs in my garden ( in the shade) I wanted this tank to be ready asap. I added three products which would trap ammonia, establish a healthy biological filter and provide all the trace elements to make these wild caught fish feel as close to nature as possible.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCySFm598rIy8zMoHoEqChajNaKg5JauUu0vH8hNdb_mcfpe2Mj6e0qdeBsBCmyt-9J0VpquYv4D16MFraiyTvxKzhrTxJGQ83MHBpoj22-Xs8p4Yj9qYPbvPSbOxlKFRW-tjFU7Jc_4/s1600/IMG_9989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCySFm598rIy8zMoHoEqChajNaKg5JauUu0vH8hNdb_mcfpe2Mj6e0qdeBsBCmyt-9J0VpquYv4D16MFraiyTvxKzhrTxJGQ83MHBpoj22-Xs8p4Yj9qYPbvPSbOxlKFRW-tjFU7Jc_4/s200/IMG_9989.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ramshorn Snail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdfET1jGO5DtDflEFliBzzVcLqO2o-20I5kHrjwim-EttWhLoymLKsb2ADtTWZQppEnmd1uc5zbcjJ1mJQA3qG0TOqrIdHDOwQzql1avs-laSquZhQllmHOUszhJGaO0Pyl47onHw3dE/s1600/IMG_9856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdfET1jGO5DtDflEFliBzzVcLqO2o-20I5kHrjwim-EttWhLoymLKsb2ADtTWZQppEnmd1uc5zbcjJ1mJQA3qG0TOqrIdHDOwQzql1avs-laSquZhQllmHOUszhJGaO0Pyl47onHw3dE/s200/IMG_9856.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eggs from the Ramshorn</td></tr>
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As soon as the the water reached the right temperature, we began adding the fish. Starting with the smaller females one by one they swam down to the leaf litter and began exploring their new home. Next we added the snails. My Daughter really enjoyed this part (she has a thing for collecting snails from our garden). Finally we added our little monster. Watching the big male dart about exploring his new surroundings and displaying this nasty spikes on his back was great. Having only ever really kept tropical or marine fish, it was fascinating to watch this mean looking fish settle in.<br />
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Our Sticklebacks are not used to prepared fish food so I was a little concerned about what to feed them. initially we fed them frozen bloodworm with success. We also offered frozen gammarus which was a big hit. however many of the gammarus were too big to be eaten by the rest of the fish. They enjoy most frozen foods, both meaty and vegetable foods are enjoyed. Recently I have introduced an insect meal based dry food granule which to begin with was rejected but now will bee eaten by all the fish.<br />
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In this video you can see the male building his nest by selecting various bits of moss other plant matter lying around. He glues this together by secreting a protein based liquid from his kidney. He is very selective over which materials to use and will often remove pieces to replace them. Once his nest is complete, he will trap a female inside and they will spawn. He will chase the female away and take full responsibility over the care of the eggs and eventually the fry will emerge free swimming. </div>
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I have yet to see a successful spawning. However this doesn't rule out the fact it may have taken place. We watch our fish daily and eagerly await some baby sticklebacks. </div>
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Our native Scottish stream biotope was an idea my daughter Ava came up with. She is very much an outdoor girl and spends every day playing down at the pond an the surrounding woodlands. Ava doesn't have a great interest in my other aquariums so when she came to me with this idea, I was delighted. It has been great talking to Ava about the different things we found and spending time doing what I used to do as a boy. It brought back so many happy memories. I urge you all to do something like this with your kids. You won't regret it.</div>
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The lifespan of these fish is normally around 2 years so I do intend on maintaining this biotope and hope to follow through with the spawning cycle to fully grown adult fish. I think this would be really educational for my daughter. </div>
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I will do a follow up blog and hope to have lots of photos of fry to share with everyone. </div>
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Thanks for reading and I hope ive inspired you to get down to your local stream with your kids to see what you can find.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJREYNmg4cOhjsIVcc-0hEs-CqvpEbomKiIoK9kFW8EYKirsOu2IVNT0MhEQZcxcrHb_hfzeXfxe2_s1O8z3OcH6Ojq_VZ6661b6ihx_rvUiv52ofSpFYZEz5Dra706JCuF5DHDntTXk/s1600/IMG_9902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJREYNmg4cOhjsIVcc-0hEs-CqvpEbomKiIoK9kFW8EYKirsOu2IVNT0MhEQZcxcrHb_hfzeXfxe2_s1O8z3OcH6Ojq_VZ6661b6ihx_rvUiv52ofSpFYZEz5Dra706JCuF5DHDntTXk/s320/IMG_9902.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just check out mr Blue eyes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDV-5oeW1OUc4QTiCA1D7Y6SWaD1JB2nZG_Dj9otFfqt14J53GTjVZijeqg5b8KxnrUWlJdAFEJNF2rZHMCVD6AbHSlLZMPjy2oiLcpuW278kjQ2vEUg-fdYBkWO9XgO3h6maRdoLZ708/s1600/IMG_9918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDV-5oeW1OUc4QTiCA1D7Y6SWaD1JB2nZG_Dj9otFfqt14J53GTjVZijeqg5b8KxnrUWlJdAFEJNF2rZHMCVD6AbHSlLZMPjy2oiLcpuW278kjQ2vEUg-fdYBkWO9XgO3h6maRdoLZ708/s320/IMG_9918.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The love nest is complete! Those white strings are the<br />
glue produced by the Sticklebacks kidneys and is<br />
mostly made up of protein</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnCOavyKmUDu9Q8g8brucAHoBK2EA22Raj6WcCO-glRvDRTaPlX89uL8dhtEY-4hfxuBtN9SmQcFSZ0220b4gT0MB4_tai5juwMZ0fSB_6BZFEq7vTWHSty9tz9fqI7yFL6n9KSfUXN8/s1600/DSC_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnCOavyKmUDu9Q8g8brucAHoBK2EA22Raj6WcCO-glRvDRTaPlX89uL8dhtEY-4hfxuBtN9SmQcFSZ0220b4gT0MB4_tai5juwMZ0fSB_6BZFEq7vTWHSty9tz9fqI7yFL6n9KSfUXN8/s320/DSC_0774.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had such a good day together. No iPads or phones.<br />Just good fun.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LeC5YXzE97-iYAxM5Y9B9jR9dFrHUvcgNbNklo8woNAhAzcEzYGXC5U8OVomjArF1EaD0xWlQ0z1OjhSI72CPP_LOBUjYtBZ7ZGNXhZRsgD_jnRiiCRU7Qz3QFP6tMN_JY1XNp5-CQc/s1600/DSC_0779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LeC5YXzE97-iYAxM5Y9B9jR9dFrHUvcgNbNklo8woNAhAzcEzYGXC5U8OVomjArF1EaD0xWlQ0z1OjhSI72CPP_LOBUjYtBZ7ZGNXhZRsgD_jnRiiCRU7Qz3QFP6tMN_JY1XNp5-CQc/s320/DSC_0779.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our entire day was watched over carefully by the resident<br />swam family and their babies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-376RMuVb_7QWlc96q9MsEhMgJDZAfO9oOz_zl_vEpj8Ue81fYGE0N5Ulnc7bynGdMKou7yNuefeRTgNOSJT6KopCHsxdzr32o3bNgJL7oiynQfbMPWzCLtyqW_oJVKrHG7aVbLB1mgo/s1600/DSC_0780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-376RMuVb_7QWlc96q9MsEhMgJDZAfO9oOz_zl_vEpj8Ue81fYGE0N5Ulnc7bynGdMKou7yNuefeRTgNOSJT6KopCHsxdzr32o3bNgJL7oiynQfbMPWzCLtyqW_oJVKrHG7aVbLB1mgo/s320/DSC_0780.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both girls were fascinated by each thing we caught </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxHw7zIXWY5Cy4dJDTo3iKhwCJrahxkOVHQD8fbOto3Oghze9m8K3KCsyc2OocsgMKv0mnm20sClVIl5CJ57P8gp9-FpVL_XOED27nTkdKzIiTUIPpMgambd1SdaA_Qxb2EOTjcxxOYE/s1600/DSC_0783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxHw7zIXWY5Cy4dJDTo3iKhwCJrahxkOVHQD8fbOto3Oghze9m8K3KCsyc2OocsgMKv0mnm20sClVIl5CJ57P8gp9-FpVL_XOED27nTkdKzIiTUIPpMgambd1SdaA_Qxb2EOTjcxxOYE/s320/DSC_0783.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ava was an expert by the end of the day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EDl_GeecfulrovSqQ4QEx8tPj0hGWq8_skxZvN-b-Ydl-f0GS6dgUYMTSQBAh6TYVJyulkvtUnNtbegM6Tu8Svl8-KNw7kSfDq3_DSCoSNMs4EY8aNYPbjuSLt3YXQ79CoJYLfHidn0/s1600/DSC_0784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EDl_GeecfulrovSqQ4QEx8tPj0hGWq8_skxZvN-b-Ydl-f0GS6dgUYMTSQBAh6TYVJyulkvtUnNtbegM6Tu8Svl8-KNw7kSfDq3_DSCoSNMs4EY8aNYPbjuSLt3YXQ79CoJYLfHidn0/s320/DSC_0784.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the view upstream</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0sAz_8RWjgiOklYPqnnZUyzp0neZcZOYoZkcVrkxQqmpc9bSiR3V9RpqdP0CrEWvkHcp6A4lv2qt9Mdydtk_iLXiAsIsrcFguXrr0AHhrM8GnF1gAoovMKHXRNU6M9G5ddVMwht72ns/s1600/DSC_0788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0sAz_8RWjgiOklYPqnnZUyzp0neZcZOYoZkcVrkxQqmpc9bSiR3V9RpqdP0CrEWvkHcp6A4lv2qt9Mdydtk_iLXiAsIsrcFguXrr0AHhrM8GnF1gAoovMKHXRNU6M9G5ddVMwht72ns/s320/DSC_0788.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna loved getting her wellies wet</td></tr>
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<br />Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-55799983294734447842018-06-02T01:47:00.000+00:002018-06-02T01:47:07.658+00:00Easy as 1, 2, 3<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCnLxVDD1r_h3EJvxPgpFz2lYMKtIpQx0705oEHtvi-3YuZbw8uotLBa5k6DfUxYm_YBhkYyeihhrXwHz697BRul-H3KYSg5zsx5cTNW9VvTRyYYEsOGNRbN4LO4PRHrHOmtm7_O6DjU/s1600/DSC_0938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCnLxVDD1r_h3EJvxPgpFz2lYMKtIpQx0705oEHtvi-3YuZbw8uotLBa5k6DfUxYm_YBhkYyeihhrXwHz697BRul-H3KYSg5zsx5cTNW9VvTRyYYEsOGNRbN4LO4PRHrHOmtm7_O6DjU/s200/DSC_0938.JPG" width="200" /></a>Hi Guys,<br />
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As you know, I am a big fan of the Prodibio range of water treatments and whenever I am looking at setting up a new tank, I make sure I have the following three products on hand to insure my new aquarium goes swimmingly.<br />
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<ol>
<li>Chloral Reset</li>
<li>Start Up</li>
<li>BioClean</li>
</ol>
Using each of these products in the order you see here makes setting us an aquarium easy and lets you focus on the fun part - which for me is the layout of the rocks and wood. Knowing my water is taken care of gives me peace of mind. Even once everything is up and running, all that I need to do to maintain a healthy aquarium is to remember to use Chloral Reset and BioClean when performing a water change - every two weeks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbvRrZfLudh4aynkTogg5o54f5RTt255-5CpC1eScSnLGBXoAwoZoaj3GfJz1cdH5Gm3JpXvNUUYYZA4pz7D7j8sPLGo7M84RuGDB0Z79as1UqpQW4w49rmHQKmFZ3iXlKls3a9j-SxE/s1600/DSC_0939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbvRrZfLudh4aynkTogg5o54f5RTt255-5CpC1eScSnLGBXoAwoZoaj3GfJz1cdH5Gm3JpXvNUUYYZA4pz7D7j8sPLGo7M84RuGDB0Z79as1UqpQW4w49rmHQKmFZ3iXlKls3a9j-SxE/s320/DSC_0939.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Chloral Reset</b></span> works by chloramines and chloral from your tap water. This protects the living organisms in your aquarium. This includes everything from your fish right down to the bacteria responsible for your biological filtration. These chemicals are added o tap water to kill bacterias that are dangerous to humans in order to make our tap water safe for drinking but these chemicals are very dangerous to aquatic life. Chloral reset comes in perfectly measured vials to make adding the exact amount a breeze. You can also use this on marine aquariums to protect your corals and live rock from these chemicals.<br />
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The instructions state to perform a 1/3 water change every 15 days using Chloral Reset each time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGcNAzQZgzVATywniEJUks6QuePWNBv42duLcdtPlABtX1nbdD8I77DtlaI4dZ7dF6OTWrQWIzSXidiRmIdyI7Mr3wAga7AT2b4zwdDvraklypK6PGVhGwSp2XR_XHex4KNxW5fJiFcI/s1600/DSC_0940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGcNAzQZgzVATywniEJUks6QuePWNBv42duLcdtPlABtX1nbdD8I77DtlaI4dZ7dF6OTWrQWIzSXidiRmIdyI7Mr3wAga7AT2b4zwdDvraklypK6PGVhGwSp2XR_XHex4KNxW5fJiFcI/s320/DSC_0940.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Start Up</b></span> is made up of two products <i style="font-weight: bold;">STOP AMMO START & BIODIGEST START</i>. Stop Ammo Start is a natural plant extract that traps ammonia naturally without the need for further chemicals. Stop Ammo reduces the production of nitrite in your new aquarium. Pairing this with Biodigest Start which consists of lots of different helpful bacteria strains that effectively live of the waste matter in your aquarium) will reduce nitrates and phosphates and purify your aquarium water. I add the required dose of Stop Ammo and Biodigest just before I add my fish which is as soon as I get my aquarium water up to the desired temperature.<br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">BioClean </b>is what I add with every new water change. This maintains healthy water and helps the biological filter digest waste matter. It also keeps the nitrates and phosphates under control. Bioclean constsists of two elements <i style="font-weight: bold;">BIODIGEST & BIOTRACE.</i> BioDigest being the living bacteria and BioTrace being the trace elements needed to sustain aquarium life. BioTrace also contains sulphur which is great for live plants along with Iron which promotes healthy blood in your fish.<br />
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Now I know there are several other products, cheaper ones too. What makes Prodibio stand out is the way they are packaged. Each dose is contained in a small glass vial. This gives you the exact amount you require with no waste. The shelve life of each vial is about three years, even in direct sunlight. This is by far more value for money compared to bottled alternatives. Think about it, as soon as you open that bottle, the bacteria inside begins to die off unless it is added to your aquarium. With Prodibio, you use what you need and save the rest, unopened and contained in those little glass vials until you need to add more. It also takes up less space in the cabinet.<br />
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Why not give it a go yourself? I have a limited amount of samples available to UK readers so if you would like to try out all of the above, just <a href="mailto:john@thelothianfishkeeperchannel.com" target="_blank">email me</a>.<br />
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If you have a tried and tested method you implement while setting up new aquariums, why not share with us in the comments below.<br />
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Thanks for reading<br />
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<br />Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-40263528836749964432018-05-29T22:47:00.001+00:002019-09-06T22:51:47.289+00:00Carl Bethell - What have you been up to?<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">A while ago, we interviewed one of our members and found out all about the rare South American cichlids he was keeping and the plans he had for his hobby. Today we meet back up with Carl to see just how his plans have come to fruition.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>So Carl, You have been busy since our last interview. Tell us what you have been up to?</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">Yeah I’ve been really busy. The fish room is now up and running, still making a rack for the back wall but I have a few tanks running. The biggest being an 8x2x2 that I bought recently. The fish room came around at the right time really, as a few of my pairs have been breeding for me lately and I needed the space.</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999; font-size: xx-small;">Step by step build of carls fish house</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">I enjoyed watching you build the fishhouse and it looks like you have put a lot of thought into it all. Did you plan the layout based on your existing livestock or did you have plans to try something new ?</b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Planiloricaria cryptodon </i>have to be<br />one of the strangest catfish</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">I knew I wanted one large tank and some smaller tanks for breeding. I built it to the size I was allowed really. I wouldn’t plan around my stock because I’m always buying fish lol</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><b style="background-color: transparent;">8x2x2 is a decent size. you must have build a fairly big fish house to fit a mammoth tanks like that in there?</b><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">The layout was really planned around how much much room I was allowed. It’s roughly 12 feet long by 8 feet front to back. I planned it around the space I had. I wouldn’t plan around my stock because I’m always buying new fish ha ha.</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">The 8x2x2 is a great size tank. I learned a lot from getting a big tank. Plumbing in a sump and learning how it all works was a challenge.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">I’ll bet. So how many tanks have you managed to squeeze in there?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">Only 5 at the moment. Once I’ve finished building The rack I’ll be adding more.<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><b>It must be great to have all your fish in one place?</b><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">I still have a 6 foot tank in the living room. That tank has leopoldi and manacapuru angelfish, a pair of discus, iguana tetra, penguin tetra and a group of Planiloricaria cryptodon.<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3C7iMHSE3YICj0jDDWZs3BoMxrX7A3ATo2b7HhfPjxEVChTIUglU4Dzb9FRV_FjCDr5ruzqFkH1YlmEmEqQWKwtzlOpgmZAgiOP85pP3P9Fk5udR8jQvILkxu2eDNZv3S4cE2reEki0o/s1600/33964986_10216088677959991_7103850902284402688_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="1600" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3C7iMHSE3YICj0jDDWZs3BoMxrX7A3ATo2b7HhfPjxEVChTIUglU4Dzb9FRV_FjCDr5ruzqFkH1YlmEmEqQWKwtzlOpgmZAgiOP85pP3P9Fk5udR8jQvILkxu2eDNZv3S4cE2reEki0o/s200/33964986_10216088677959991_7103850902284402688_n.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999; font-size: 11px;"><i>Geophagus pellegrini</i> “atrato red”</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">I also have a 5 foot tank in my dining room. That has a pair of rare severums called Heros sp curare. It also has a trio of Geophagus pellegrini “atrato red” and a group of diamond tetra. <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">Apart from those two tanks the rest are in the fish room.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">Wow, they are some brilliant fish you have. I guess the big question is what have you put in the 8ft tank?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">It’s only partially stocked at the moment. I’m still looking for something special. It currently has a group of Krobia xinguensis, Guianacara geayi, Crenicichla geayi and a single male Uaru amphiacanthoides. I also have a pair of L14 Scobiancistrus aureatus in there. Then there’s two Ctenolucius hujeta that I’m growing out in one of the smaller tanks that I’ll add in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>So are you going for a river style setup?</b></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999; font-size: xx-small;">Uaru amphiacanthoides</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">I try and create as close to nature as possible for my set ups. My 6 foot has discus and angels. In this set up I have low flow, hanging rootwood and dim lighting. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">The 5 foot Geophagus and Heros tank has rocks, wood and faster flow as these fish are found in more open waters. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">The 8 foot has a medium flow, and large rootwood pieces. My scapes are often quite simple. It’s also worth noting that finding the appropriate looking pieces of wood for large tanks can be quite difficult</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">I remember your setups from our previous interview. simple but exactly what suits the fish in each tank. </b></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">Having such a long swimming area must give your fish plenty space to let loose. do you notice any different behaviour with having this extra length that you might not have seen in the smaller tanks?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">Yeah it’s definitely different having more space. The fish seem a lot more chilled in a larger tank. My Krobia would occasionally squabble and chase each other. Since moving to the 8 foot they seem to stick together for security.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">A more relaxed fish means better everything all round.</b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999; font-size: 11px;"><i>Krobia xinguensis</i> are right at home in<br />Carls 8ft setup</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">what about breeding?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">I’ve had quite a lot since our last chat. Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura, Gymnogeophagus balzanii, Guianacara geayi and Krobia xinguensis have all bred for me. I just bought a pair of Heros sp curare that I’m hoping to breed as well</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><b style="background-color: transparent;">Well done! What’s been your biggest acheivement so far out of the above then? I definetly like the Krobia .</b><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">Yeah the Krobia are one of my favourite species so I’d say they were my biggest achievement so far. Hopefully I’ll get some luck with my Heros soon, that would be amazing</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></b> <b style="background-color: transparent;">There can’t be many people with these in the Uk let alone breeding so it will be great to get success...</b><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">Your fish are not your average fish Carl, what’s the attraction?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">I love different. It’s always nice to find something that isn’t common in the hobby. I’ve made some good friends that import or own great shops so it’s great to have the opportunity to keep rare fish</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999; font-size: 11px;">L14 <i>Scobiancistrus aureatus </i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">The fishkeeping hobby is vey much a network . It’s what keeps it going I think.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">Aside from building your fish house, what else is new for you?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">Maybe need diving and seen more peacock bass or any other scuba trips?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">Haven’t dived in a while now. I really need to sort out a trip to do some diving. I’d love to go to South America, do some diving and maybe do some fish collecting while I’m there.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><b style="background-color: transparent;">A dream come true for many a Fishkeeper.</b><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">Borneo was where your previous dive was. Don’t you fancy a return trip?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">I’d love to go back. I made some great friends out there at the research centre and at the dive centre. They are always looking for extra hands to help with their work, it’s just finding the time these days. I’m very busy with my children right now but would love to go back in the future</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><b style="background-color: transparent;">Your lucky to have those memories. </b><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">What would you say had been your most memorable moment when it comes to fishkeeping ?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">Having my Krobia xinguensis breed for me was a big achievement for me. They are one of my favourite species and it’s an added bonus for me that the group started breeding...plus the babies look really cute. But I’ve been quite lucky as far as memorable moments are concerned. Finishing the fish room and getting the 8 foot set up was a big moment for me, also took a lot of work. Moving a 35 stone tank definitely wasn’t easy and something I’ll never forget. I’ve also been lucky enough to find some rare fish over the last few years. So I have lots of great memories from the hobby, hopefully lots more to come<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><b>I’m sure you will. And lots to do with your new fish house too.</b><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">In the time you have been keeping fish, what changes have you seen? Peoples approaches, atritudes or trends?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: transparent;">I think there will always be two types of fish keepers. There will be those who just buy a tank and throw some fish in without a lot of thought. Then there are those that take the hobby seriously and really get swept away by it. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">As far as fish are concerned there’s a lot more variety these days. A lot more fish being introduced to the hobby and that’s great. Unfortunately there’s also this trend of hybridisation and manipulating fish that I really don’t approve of. Dying, selective breeding for special traits like short bodies, enlarged fins etc. It’s very pointless if you ask me. There’s a lot of natural beauty to be explored yet some still choose to manipulate natural species. For me the best aquariums are attempts at creating a natural environment for the species you keep. For me every tank I set up I try and give the fish a little piece of the amazon. I think a natural looking aquarium with wood, sand, leaf litter and natural occurring fish looks magnificent.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><b>Couldn’t agree more.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">There is a big campaign right now supporting the natural biotope aquarium. An example of the hobby and industry working together for the greater good.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-kerning: none;"><b style="background-color: black;">If you could make a difference in the hobby or industry, what would you like to achieve? A lasting legacy so to speak?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">I try my best to educate others. I have my own group called Cichlid Central that offers advice to others in the hobby. I’m always doing my best to help others. Through my breeding projects I hope to introduce new rare species into my local area. I have several groups of wild caught fish that are breeding for me, hopefully this will encourage others in my area to be more adventurous when it comes to fish keeping.<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><i style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11px;">Well Carl, </i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";"><i style="font-size: 11px;">Thanks again for sharing your fish with us. Good luck with all your upcoming </i><span style="font-size: 11px;"><i>projects</i></span><i style="font-size: 11px;"> and remember and share some </i><span style="font-size: 11px;"><i>photos</i></span><i style="font-size: 11px;"> with us over on facebook.</i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";"><i style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></i></span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";"><i style="font-size: 11px;">keep an eye out </i><span style="font-size: 11px;"><i>for</i></span><i style="font-size: 11px;"> more photos of Carls fish being uploaded in our Facebook group.</i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";"><i style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></i></span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";"><i style="font-size: 11px;">Remember folks, if you </i><span style="font-size: 11px;"><i>would</i></span><i style="font-size: 11px;"> </i><span style="font-size: 11px;"><i>like</i></span><i style="font-size: 11px;"> to be featured, or you know someone that would, just hit <a href="mailto:john@thelothianfishkeeperchannel.com" target="_blank">Feature Me</a> for details</i></span></span></span><br />
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Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-27936087425117112342018-05-09T00:02:00.001+00:002018-05-11T22:01:20.145+00:00The Fish Shop Directory<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Hi Guys</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>We have some great aquarium shops throughout the country. I thought it would be a good idea to list as many as possible in order to let people know about them. I asked the members of Lothian Fishkeepers Facebook group for suggestions and based on the feedback, I contacted the following stores and invited them to be listed in our 'Directory of Scottish Aquatics Shops'.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Our directory is by no means complete. There is no rating applied to any shops included and all shops have been suggested by members of our community. The aim is to offer our readers a workable list of places to visit.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>If you have any suggestions for the directory please email <a href="mailto:john@thelothianfishkeeperchannel.com">john@thelothianfishkeeperchannel.com</a>.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FishkeeperMelville/">Fishkeeper Melville</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Dobbies Garden Centre</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Melville Nursery</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Lasswade</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Edinburgh</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">EH181AZ</span></div>
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Tel: 0131 6639814</div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Great saltwater section with lots of corals and fish species on sale</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Wide selection of cold water & tropical fish available</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Massive dry goods section</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Dedicated system for freshwater inverts and Betta fish</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Multiple display tanks running to showcase different styles</span></span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MbE6IAgjDmxG22IT9oq6rSAIW-wTvbTEbC_AzHQUXwa5Dkjx-CTGaIgPF3unJ1chl0bjaPpUMWE7Zv6dQgf8LSmqnSdTHxpq2SMfRWw6HRXqeUHG_7Bn3RpEEAMM6WVEMb1ao_hBYm4/s1600/132502_398782846854961_1723370533_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1438" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MbE6IAgjDmxG22IT9oq6rSAIW-wTvbTEbC_AzHQUXwa5Dkjx-CTGaIgPF3unJ1chl0bjaPpUMWE7Zv6dQgf8LSmqnSdTHxpq2SMfRWw6HRXqeUHG_7Bn3RpEEAMM6WVEMb1ao_hBYm4/s200/132502_398782846854961_1723370533_o.jpg" width="179" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;">Pets & Aquarium Supplies</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">86 Quarry Street</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Hamilton</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">ML37AX</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Tel: 01698 282489</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">3rd Generation family ownership </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Very Clean and well presented</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Good all round selection of tropical fish </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Friendly and helpful staff</span></span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sAGOBKhDKzdcFQ80ud6jq_p7BvWv602PSHJc-jl0kPWo0glRKjFuIHbODCrCVFiH-4kfzGCXwk5XW7fqyW7CbezPH5GjQzlAivxqslYlKBdXtwarcc7PeQGcJQEDji9CrrDypHvOSr0/s1600/14732205_1614940872140232_1069039260442575138_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sAGOBKhDKzdcFQ80ud6jq_p7BvWv602PSHJc-jl0kPWo0glRKjFuIHbODCrCVFiH-4kfzGCXwk5XW7fqyW7CbezPH5GjQzlAivxqslYlKBdXtwarcc7PeQGcJQEDji9CrrDypHvOSr0/s200/14732205_1614940872140232_1069039260442575138_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FishkeeperStirling/">Fishkeeper Stirling</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Dobbies Garden Centre</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Drip Road</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Craigforth</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Stirling</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">FK94UF</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Tel: 01786 446131</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px;">Great selection display tanks up and running</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Always has well stocked saltwater, tropical and cold water tanks </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Very nice range of Stendker Discus on offer</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Friendly staff always ready to help</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">7 Tam’s Brig</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Ayr</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">KA88DF</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Tel: 07462 379731</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Free parking to the rear of the shop</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Nice selection of Rift lake cichlids</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Quality marine fish, corals & Inverts</span></span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm0nrY_Xyltczt8aoJ2tw8lJyggss1UZ_huPQtJbjlwThKyx_62wMDX_uM4Ddayw6acfF0bblLyYaoLFTHynBg767DYpbei36QzXspkOu8_x7kQHXHb9TMFZ2i3E9aq1Y_aew18lMWqo/s1600/26229339_181673642577103_2221720967949455677_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm0nrY_Xyltczt8aoJ2tw8lJyggss1UZ_huPQtJbjlwThKyx_62wMDX_uM4Ddayw6acfF0bblLyYaoLFTHynBg767DYpbei36QzXspkOu8_x7kQHXHb9TMFZ2i3E9aq1Y_aew18lMWqo/s200/26229339_181673642577103_2221720967949455677_n.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PetsDGC/">Pets & Aquatics</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Dunbar Garden Centre</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Spott Road</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">5 Croft Estate</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">**NEW OWNERSHIP**</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">EH526PA</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Friendly & knowledgeable staff</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Aquascaping section</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Voted top PFK top 40 retailer 2017</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Healthy offering of pond fish available throughout the season</span></span></li>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Thefinroom/" style="font-family: impact; font-size: 17px;">The Fin Room & Aquatics</a><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">242 Merry Street</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Motherwell</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Free parking</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Good selection of wild caught fish</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Semi-aquatic section with Axololts, mudskippers, crabs and frogs</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Rare & oddballs </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Great Betta fish selection</span></span></li>
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Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-78299428628730493602018-05-07T23:52:00.000+00:002018-05-07T23:52:42.203+00:00Aquascape - on the cheap Fishkeeping can be an expensive hobby. There really is no limit to what can be spent on some setups. Size, Stock and Style all dictate the cost of your home aquarium. Wether your choosing freshwater or saltwater you can be sure to find a gadget for every element of the hobby. With the home aquarium industry topping 36 million pounds every year in the UK alone, nobody can deny Fishkeepers are spending money on the hobby they love.<br />
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For some of us, spending lots of money isn't possible and we look to alternative ways to achieve our goals. Money saving skills are probably more noticeable when it comes to decorating our aquariums. Depending on the type of aquarium your aiming for, you can easily pick up some nice rocks or river stones, gravel, wood and fallen leaves from most local woodland areas or riversides.<br />
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Now, obviously to create an aquascape you have to use aquarium safe products. Not all wood and rock you may come across will be suitable and these could come with disastrous results. These come in the form of the following:<br />
<ul>
<li>Pollution from traffic</li>
<li>contaminated waterways</li>
<li>rocks containing high levels of metals</li>
<li>wood containing sap</li>
<li>leaves from unsuitable trees</li>
</ul>
If collecting some materials yourself from your local area be sure to stay away from roads first and foremost. The fumes from the exhausts of passing cars will pollute any leaves, rocks, branches that are near the side of the road. Using any of these would be a sure fast way to fail.<br />
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Sometimes when Im looking for nice rocks to use, I look in the water as well as the banks and forrest floor. We have a very small stream close by and from a short distance, with the leaf litter and slow movement, you would consider the stream to be the perfect habitat for a killifish (if we were not in Scotland that is!) On closer inspection, the water surface has an oily film on it and the water is a copper colour. This is the result of a waste pipe of some kind leading directly into the waterway. Needless to say, there is no signs of life in the area and using anything collected from this area would result in the same situation in your home aquarium.<br />
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It often easy to spot a shimmering rock from a distance because of the sunlight sparkling of the tiny little silver speckles on the rock. In my early Fishkeeping days, I made this mistake myself and it took weeks to realise what was causing my water perimeters to be off the scale. Some rock contain high levels of metals. If you can identify the type of rock your holding you can check it against this list of aquarium safe rocks/stones.<br />
<ul>
<li>Onyx</li>
<li>Slate</li>
<li>Granite</li>
<li>Lava Rock</li>
<li>Petrified wood</li>
<li>Quartz</li>
</ul>
Collecting wood has a few rules to follow too. The most important one is not to rip down branches from standing trees. Asides from being destructing and making yourself a bit silly, the main reason is the sap that will be inside the branch. This is toxic to fish. Even some branches you pick up on the ground may contain some sap. A good way to check is to try and bend the branch, If it bends easily, there is still sap. Not all trees are suitable either. Avoid pine and evergreen trees due to their high sap content. My favourite is oak tree. I find their branches to be the nicest and where I live they are in abundance. You can sometimes pick up branches with empty acorn casings which add a nice effect.<br />
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Leaves are found everywhere. They blow with the wind which for me is great because every autumn I end up with a good sized pile of leaves right on my back door step. However they can also blow close to roads so be aware of where you collect from and avoid any areas you think may pick up fumes from passing cars.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tnPAAH3nezkDzIbOr7mKvGM0TY2SQ9CBXwrWDxpw0u8H80RGfaIaYrP2inqB7F8JliB5RrWbGUMSSmtCmm0910nPIi6MHogLkQgN1_ol4m3E3hbhysKNGNbxT4eFrV7b51VPgRIbdOQ/s1600/Whetsted+Winter+Floor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="143" data-original-width="400" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tnPAAH3nezkDzIbOr7mKvGM0TY2SQ9CBXwrWDxpw0u8H80RGfaIaYrP2inqB7F8JliB5RrWbGUMSSmtCmm0910nPIi6MHogLkQgN1_ol4m3E3hbhysKNGNbxT4eFrV7b51VPgRIbdOQ/s400/Whetsted+Winter+Floor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Fallen brown leaves to have great benefits for your aquarium. The tannin acids they release into your aquarium create a brown water effect. This mimics natural habitats for many fish. They also contain other chemicals that leach into your water that can combat fungal growth, lower pH levels and even cure diseases without the need for medicines.<br />
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So to achieve a lovely natural looking aquarium on a small budget grab your boots and head out into the wild. You never know what treasure you might find.<br />
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Just remember to get permission first if your walking on private land.<br />
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I want to see everyones locally sourced aquascapes so feel free to share your photos with Lothian Fishkeepers facebook group.<br />
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Thanks for reading guys...<br />
<br />Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-43378888324130453692018-05-05T21:51:00.002+00:002018-05-06T11:07:18.343+00:00My Tank Monday - Sarah Rutherford<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMP0thDVV_Eg8Sni7NZYEeDXTRooPktZY1uxMIMCW0dtiBmJXm5QIJwO063fNCxWklRIVZIP8NezZEOeO_2_S0mqOGRKCTBNrcvutcPAH7G63EN1qZTf4cR8JIFk4sXVaS1lg1ZUu_2_g/s1600/17201150_10155086552231112_3692900504349520085_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMP0thDVV_Eg8Sni7NZYEeDXTRooPktZY1uxMIMCW0dtiBmJXm5QIJwO063fNCxWklRIVZIP8NezZEOeO_2_S0mqOGRKCTBNrcvutcPAH7G63EN1qZTf4cR8JIFk4sXVaS1lg1ZUu_2_g/s200/17201150_10155086552231112_3692900504349520085_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><b>Name:</b> Sarah Rutherford </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><b>Location:</b> Falkirk </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">How long have you been keeping fish:</b><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"> Since September 2017</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">How did you get into the hobby? </b><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">I</span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"> wanted to for a few years but my requests to be allowed a tank were always met with refusal from my other half. Eventually it was my mum who let me set up my first tank at her house. After proving my dedication to that tank my hubby eventually gave in three months later when I set up my 240l at home!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><b>Can you describe your current setup: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">I have four currently. The main one being my Fluval Roma 240 community tank in my living room which is becoming quite heavily populated with plants interspersed with some nice pieces of wood with black substrate. I am running the Fluval Aquasky lighting system which the plants love and me both love!</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"></span>Currently swimming about in this aquarium I have:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGs6lt0bMsi4jblvQbafqBWM853BhKyc7-y8qfsyWha8rk_csXOhLbwFprIZpuiAnyovZP6SgzeMx2uEogRKxoX1F_UVzjvk5CHX3-5VTyFO7PdpT7viUo6117V_vc9r_HToPjkrcx08s/s1600/31933169_10156317794761112_6295662813092249600_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGs6lt0bMsi4jblvQbafqBWM853BhKyc7-y8qfsyWha8rk_csXOhLbwFprIZpuiAnyovZP6SgzeMx2uEogRKxoX1F_UVzjvk5CHX3-5VTyFO7PdpT7viUo6117V_vc9r_HToPjkrcx08s/s320/31933169_10156317794761112_6295662813092249600_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah’s main aquarium in her house</td></tr>
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<li><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "sf ui text";">Scissortail Rasbora (<i>Rasbora trilineata</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "sf ui text";">Congo Tetra (<i>Phenacogrammus interruptus</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "sf ui text";">Black Phantom Tetra (<i>Hyphessobrycon m</i></span><span style="color: #454545;"><i>egalopterus</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Emperor Tetra (<i>Nematobrycon </i></span><span style="color: #454545;"><i>Palmeri)</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Ceylon Killifish (<i>Aplocheilus dayi)</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Red Breasted Acara (<i>Laetacara dorsigera</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Golden Dwarf Cichlid (<i>Nannacara anomala</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Cherry Barbs (<i>Puntius titteya</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Bronze Corydoras (<i>Corydoras schultzei</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Elegant Corydoras (<i>Corydoras elegans</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Kribensis (<i>Pelvachromis pulcher</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Stiphidon Goby (<i>Stiphodon semoni</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Rubbernose Pleco (<i>Chaetostoma formosae</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">L006 Pleco (<i>Peckoltia oligospila)</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Bristlenose Pleco (<i>Ancistrus</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Juvenile Blue Pinoy Angelfish x 3(<i>Pinoy paraiba</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Honey Gourami (<i>Trichogaster chuna</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Powder Blue Gourami (<i>Colisa ialia</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Pearl Gourami (<i>Trichogaster leeri</i>)</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWKpBqBU33RDmfcGnfMMAt1fa7QaQ3OH08zkxDN4YrkxzYXCNw032bDzOn4uuD6WeiKlZPmSkL_pumqeGXYn3q037FExHMePebIuShz-Ui603jo49hY9bGNTWSiaw27jEGFEyiSGkwPc/s1600/31948807_10156318058336112_8743693592268111872_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWKpBqBU33RDmfcGnfMMAt1fa7QaQ3OH08zkxDN4YrkxzYXCNw032bDzOn4uuD6WeiKlZPmSkL_pumqeGXYn3q037FExHMePebIuShz-Ui603jo49hY9bGNTWSiaw27jEGFEyiSGkwPc/s320/31948807_10156318058336112_8743693592268111872_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;">The second biggest setup I have is the one at my Mums house. This is my first setup and its a 160 litre tank. Again, a community style tank with black Limpopo sand, stone and wood with plants here and there. In this tank I have:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85DhK6mPTDpJmRVvadlccI5zgc70WHdC7nVGTp3MxFzqQWmTVdEsBK0ZpUHgySz7csiZ67a1XUIt8ZIA5xtbs0CX_0p4dpezZmv5Ic4LIk_qa8BQm9LqKww-DlmELYY9JLvH7QqqliEQ/s1600/31935891_10156318056156112_1194477108491976704_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85DhK6mPTDpJmRVvadlccI5zgc70WHdC7nVGTp3MxFzqQWmTVdEsBK0ZpUHgySz7csiZ67a1XUIt8ZIA5xtbs0CX_0p4dpezZmv5Ic4LIk_qa8BQm9LqKww-DlmELYY9JLvH7QqqliEQ/s320/31935891_10156318056156112_1194477108491976704_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah's first setup over at her mums house</td></tr>
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<li><span style="color: #454545;">Red Breasted Acara (<i>Laetacara dorsigera)</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Neon Tetra (<i>Paracheirodo innesi</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Cardinal Tetra (<i>Paracheirodon axelrodi</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Golden Tetra (<i>Hemigrammus rodwayi</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Horse Faced Loach (<i>Acantopsis dialuzona</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">L333 Pleco (<i>Hypancistrus sp.</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Platys (<i>Xiphophorus</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Dwarf Suckermouth Catfish (<i>Otocinclus</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Peppered Corydoras (<i>Corydoras paleatus</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Bronze Corydoras (<i>Corydoras Schultzei</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Julii Corydorus (<i>Corydorus Julii</i>)</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfLDJ6wWo_9LqfOw3m8khXACJTgLAtGSQI8KKk3sU_X73y_WMRricWUN0FlnSDq4IYzz7vRtCVeYNcBiXits-ngneiOf3-ZxBAoWXK05TkcaXUoCVUAx25CLIS7amzXMoqTWPthjo42Y/s1600/31950228_10156317804566112_5369234068082786304_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfLDJ6wWo_9LqfOw3m8khXACJTgLAtGSQI8KKk3sU_X73y_WMRricWUN0FlnSDq4IYzz7vRtCVeYNcBiXits-ngneiOf3-ZxBAoWXK05TkcaXUoCVUAx25CLIS7amzXMoqTWPthjo42Y/s200/31950228_10156317804566112_5369234068082786304_n.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">I also have a 30l mixed freshwater shrimp setup in my dining room. This includes:</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #454545;">Red Cherry Shrimp (<i>Neocaridina davidi</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Blue Diamond Shrimp (<i>Neocaridina davidi</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Red Rili Shrimp (<i>Neocaridina heteropoda var. red rili</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Bamboo Shrimp (<i>Atyopsis moluccensis</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;">Amano Shrimp (<i>Caridina multidentada</i>)</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCpxfnnaFZ28c6SGOZVbj7axlHJ6aY8I4XxantvyfWXRhX8UPng78YAgkWehSYIN3xm0-kemdYzDUkUvwBkfMe-OKqKMEfu2ttlV0iKcJqolL7G7NorQfyyYhkdYABW_qxR08X3uLNdY/s1600/31959428_10156319922516112_2661270755756474368_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCpxfnnaFZ28c6SGOZVbj7axlHJ6aY8I4XxantvyfWXRhX8UPng78YAgkWehSYIN3xm0-kemdYzDUkUvwBkfMe-OKqKMEfu2ttlV0iKcJqolL7G7NorQfyyYhkdYABW_qxR08X3uLNdY/s200/31959428_10156319922516112_2661270755756474368_n.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";">Lastly, is my other shrimp tank. Its only 19 litres and sits on my Mums kitchen bunker. I have just planted a carpet of Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba' which is growing like wild fire. This tank is currently home to some Amano shrimps but I do want to add more this this tank soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">I have discovered that I really do like the community set up instead of single species tanks, so a fish shed breeding fish would hold no interest to me.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "sfuitext";">Have you found a liking for a particular species yet?</span></b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sfuitext";"> I love gobies and kuhli loaches without a doubt my favourites.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrDcO_1aAiCMuWvszJa6IuYvPCYg7GyNAodPHezuXFY9gK5kfkgCA-YOGAXOghX2ayi6nqlZnSiMXW8OGQ7TvcHRvpBpBCLxxVo_VPomicowdgwXaU4xq89iK1E_-2NChWY8E4zskvzk/s1600/31948328_10156318271166112_5114649147172978688_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrDcO_1aAiCMuWvszJa6IuYvPCYg7GyNAodPHezuXFY9gK5kfkgCA-YOGAXOghX2ayi6nqlZnSiMXW8OGQ7TvcHRvpBpBCLxxVo_VPomicowdgwXaU4xq89iK1E_-2NChWY8E4zskvzk/s320/31948328_10156318271166112_5114649147172978688_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The much cherished "lord long" the Stiphidon Goby</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">Whats your most cherished fish right now?</b><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"> That has to be "Lord long" my Stiphidon Goby. He is my favourite boy. He's such a wee cutie.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">Whats on the wish list of fish?</b><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"> Puffers and more goby, puffers would probably be the only species specific set up I would have but they are adorable.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">Do you have any plans to change your set up? Maybe more tanks, a bigger tank maybe?</b><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"> I think any fishkeeper always strives for bigger set ups, quantity wise I have enough so the only way is up! Would love a marine set up but I'm nowhere near ready for marines. Maybe further down the line I might try a nano reef.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">What has been your high point so far?</b><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"> Being asked to do this interview for sure!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><b>We all make mistakes, even the most experienced Fishkeepers have disasters from time to time. Having only been in the hobby for a short time, have you experienced any yourself?</b> I make lots but learn from them, not researching more before I started my first tank and suffering cloudy water and new tank syndrome because of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><b>Whats your best advice for someone looking to get into fishkeeping?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><i>Research, research, research!</i> that plus understand the nitrogen cycle and don't rush that part. Also if you are going to keep fish try to stay away from garish plastic ornaments and plants. Aim to make their environment as natural as you can. There is a huge difference between fish surviving and fish thriving so give them the environment they will thrive in and you will get far more enjoyment out your hobby.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;">So guys, this is Sarah's story so far. I hope you enjoyed reading. It doesn't matter how long your have been keeping fish or what experience you have, your journey is your own and always worth sharing with the rest of us. To share your story with the Lothian Fishkeeper Channel, email john@thelothianfishkeeperchannel.com to find out how.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;">Thanks for reading everyone and be sure to look out for more of Sarah's fish in her very own photo album in the Lothian Fishkeepers facebook group.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;">Bye for now</span></div>
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Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-63950542040850792022018-04-23T22:28:00.000+00:002018-04-23T22:28:04.517+00:00Are Facebook groups bad for our hobby?<div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There once was a time when information was passed onto beginners by experienced Fishkeepers. Eventually our hobby was filled with reference books packed with information about newly discovered species and how to care for them in the home aquarium. With the establishment of aquarist societies up and down the country, our hobby was in safe hands. We could meet Fishkeepers in person and share our experiences - good and bad!</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fishkeeping hobby grew from strength to strength with the development of technology offering easier and more effective ways to cater for more and more fish being introduced to the hobby year upon year. Aquarist societies were holding events with lots of members coming along and overall things were going great. Some may say that these days were the best days, the golden era of fish keeping.</span></div>
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<i>Then came along the internet!</i></div>
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<i>Suddenly information was available to anyone prepared to search for it on their computer. This came mainly in the form of the Forums.Websites with chat rooms all dedicated and ran by very experienced Fishkeepers with a passion to talk to other likewise hobbyists all in the name of fishkeeping. In these forums you would have dedicated rooms for breeding, feeding, health and any other topic that came up. Forums took dedication to run and to get involved in the conversations it was often based around a fee or membership method of participation. Only serious Fishkeepers with a genuine interest or question would take the time to register, be approved and pay the membership fee. A process that preserved the quality of conversation to some extent. </i></div>
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<i>The internet has also come a long way since it started and how Fishkeepers use the internet to benefit their hobby has also changed. Now we can buy/sell our fish and everything we need to enjoy our hobby to the fullest all from the comfort of our home. Anything we want is available online from ultra rare corals to jellyfish. just visit one of the hundreds of websites and place your order. </i></div>
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<i>We have also changed the way we talk to other Fishkeepers online thanks to Facebook. Only a few of the great forums have survived the social media tidal wave and withstood the test of time. Forums such as www.planetpleco.com are still a strong favourite amongst catfish keepers and I can't see that ever changing. the information that has been logged over the years is mind blowing. This is something just not available yet within the facebook groups. </i></div>
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<i>The more recent version of online communities come in the form of facebook groups. There are a lot of groups on facebook now dedicated to pretty much every area of our hobby. These groups can be ran by traditional aquarist societies, local fish shops and very often Fishkeepers that are unaffiliated to any society at all. Facebook groups are free and because most people have facebook on their phones, the conversations can be instant.</i></div>
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<i>The point of this blog is to focus on the facebook groups and the effect they have on our hobby. Now before I get into this, I have to say I do run my own fishkeeping group on Facebook and I have done for over 4 years now. I can look at the positives of these groups but also respect that there are negative elements of the groups too.</i></div>
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First of all lets look at the negatives. </div>
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<li><b><i>Fishkeepers of any level of experience can hand out advice based on very little information from the person in need of help. This inaccurate advice can and often does lead to more problems.</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>Everyone has an opinion and us Fishkeepers can get a little too enthusiastic when it comes to getting our point across. Facebook groups can result in large scale arguments.</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>It can be difficult to find good quality groups with experienced members willing to share their advise. all too often when the right advice is shared, its drowned in a sea of chat or silly inaccurate advice. This can make experienced Fishkeepers genuinely wanting to help, very wary of ever posting anything.</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>Groups can become boring and filled with generic sales posts from its members. Not very appealing to read through.</i></b></li>
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Now the positives.</div>
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<li><b><i>Easy to access </i></b></li>
<li><b><i>A great way to share photos of your fish.</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>Handy for meeting local Fishkeepers and exchanging young fish etc</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>Quick method of locating breeders in your area </i></b></li>
<li><b><i>if you group is connected to a club, facebook is a very effective way of sharing club information with your members.</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>Promoting your shop to a live customer base is free and very effective if done right.</i></b></li>
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<i>There are probably other negative sides to the facebook groups but I think this covers the basics. Also These are just a list of the things I consider to be a positive way of using facebook groups in the fishkeeping hobby.</i></div>
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<i>During the four years I have been running Lothian Fishkeepers, I have come across a lot of issues and some harder than others to overcome. I do believe facebook groups can work alongside existing societies and not against them. I also feel that if done correctly, groups can benefit the societies in many ways. It is important to all remember that every single one of us are either in our club, on our forum or chatting on our facebook groups because we love fishkeeping.</i></div>
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<i>There is a lot of things that the societies and clubs to do to benefit Lothian Fishkeepers. Their experience and resources could transform any event I plan. But I do think there is lots of things groups could do to benefit the local societies too. Promoting each society on groups, leasing with their members to assure there is adequate time between each other events and offering support by sharing sponsors could also work, but we all need to be communicating and working together for that to happen.</i></div>
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<i>Nothing every stays the same. We have to find ways to integrate the new ideal into the traditional ways that our hobby has developed over the years. Why? because the next generation of Fishkeepers are going to be far more used to an online community that we will ever be. We should be building the foundation of a fishkeeping community that is thriving in the clubs and providing accurate, respectful advice to online members who are just looking to get the same experience out of their hobby as everyone else. </i></div>
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<i>My advice to any members of the fishkeeping community that has come across problems within the groups, is to speak with their admins and put across ways for them to develop a more effective experience to their members. I know I personally appreciate it when members of Lothian Fishkeepers take the time to contact me with any concerns they have regarding the group. Its important to listen and take on board the things that are not working well. </i></div>
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<i>Just like every other 'era' in our hobby past, Facebook groups have to be shaped into a community that will work for our hobby just like books and forums in the past. </i></div>
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<i>I invite all of you to think about how you use your facebook group wether your an admin or member. get in touch to share your ideas about how to improve everyones experience. Maybe working together instead of against each other we can make our community a little less divided.</i></div>
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<i>Thanks for reading guys</i></div>
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<i>John</i></div>
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Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-4327117776222831812018-04-01T11:23:00.002+00:002018-04-01T11:41:29.533+00:00FishScience Food Trial-End of WeekHi I'm Jacqui, I posted last week about trying out FishScience food in my African Cichlid tank.<br />
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So the fish have been eating the Malawi pellets and flakes for a week. They certainly have enjoyed eating it. It is hard to speculate on future health and colour, but they certainly are looking vibrant. This is the mob at feeding time today.<br />
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The nitrates are similar to normal, but the water clarity after feeding is definitely better. <br />
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The clown loaches especially liked a little treat with the stick on algae tablets. It provides a great photo opportunity too!<br />
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I must invest in a new camera, those fish like to keep me spending my money on them! I will be continuing with the FishScience pellets/flakes and recommend it to anyone who hasn't given it a try yet. The ingredients are one of the main things I look at when buying food for my fish. I aim to get as close to a natural diet as possible. </div>
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Thanks for letting us try your food!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-82830228896595925512018-03-24T15:06:00.001+00:002018-03-24T22:31:15.900+00:00FishScience Food Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Hi my name is Jacqui Bates and I have been in the hobby for about 3 years now. I have learnt a lot from groups such as Lothian Fishkeepers where everyone shares their knowledge and experiences.</span></div>
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So today I received my new foods which we are going to trial for the next week. I have tried FishScience before, but not for my African Cichlids. So it will good to see if they enjoy it and whether the fish seems to benefit from this.<br />
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The fish did seems generally very excited, a lot of sploshing and jumping in anticipation! But they are generally a greedy bunch.<br />
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I fed them mainly pellets with a small amount of flake. I will probably alternate the foods daily from now onwards. What I will say so far is that the food was eaten fast and left the tank with very little residue, which is always good. <br />
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As I have come to expect from this brand- the ingredients is based on the fish's natural diet. This hopefully will reflect in their general condition over the next week.<br />
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As you can see they are active colourful fish. I am going to take a Nitrate reading today before and after I clean my tank. When I clean again next weekend, I will see how the levels compare after a week of this food, as it certainly is visually less messy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-73804581978301128462018-03-13T10:39:00.001+00:002018-03-25T20:48:30.480+00:00Living the dream - with Steven Chester<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Hi Guys, <br />
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Ive been chatting to the lead aquarium keeper from Chester Zoo about his passion for the hobby and luckily he agreed to answer some questions for the Lothian Fishkeeper Channel….</i></span></div>
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<i>Enjoy</i><br />
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<b>Can you introduce yourself to everyone?</b><br />
Good afternoon John, thanks for sending me this questionnaire, I am delighted to share my thoughts with Lothian Fishkeepers and hopefully a wider audience of serious aquarists across the hobby. My name is Steven Chester, I have just turned 40, I have a very understanding and supportive partner called Steph and three Children, Ben (21), Kelsey (17) and Grace (10). We live in an industrial town in Cheshire, England called Runcorn. I currently work at Chester Zoo where I am proud to hold the job title of Lead keeper with the aquarium team. My day to day work covers all aspects of aquarium keeping, temperate and tropical freshwater and marine, Invertebrates and aquatic plants, we have a large aquarium facility holding around 50 off show tanks, 23 display tanks plus a further 10 large display tanks in various animal houses across the zoo site! Our largest is a 150.000L tank holding a 14ft pair of Tomistoma crocodiles and approx. 5000 Asian fish, a lot of these were bred and raised at Chester Zoo. We are involved with various conservation projects which I will mention later!<br />
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<b>How long have you been a Fishkeeper and what started your life long love for the hobby? </b><br />
Ha ha, I think I was born with an interest in the outdoors and have been fascinated with water and aquatic life since I can remember, my very first memories are digging up my Grandfathers vegetable patch and making a ‘pond’ to hold sticklebacks that I caught with a child’s fishing net! My Grandfather would invariably fill in my hard work as soon as I returned home! I remember a Goldfish in a family member’s tank when I was four or five, the front panel was always thick with algae and I remember being the only person to ever wipe the window and spent hours watching this fish! Similar to this but a little later on in life, at the age of 13-14 I used to visit my auntie who had a twin 3ft tank setup on the wrought iron stands that were popular in the 80’s/90’s I saw my first neon tetras and pearl gourami and was entranced! My poor mother drove me to the local pet shops and aquatic dealers several times per week and after my aunt tired of the tanks I scraped together enough money to buy them, I installed them in my bedroom and my obsession became my hobby, I bought magazines and books, made lots of mistakes but slowly educated myself and had some early successes.
Alongside my love for the hobby of keeping fish I also developed a love for Angling as a young boy and became a competent and successful fisherman, my angling career lasted for over 20 years and I only dropped it when I became serious about keeping and breeding fish and setup my first fish room, something had to give and my angling was the casualty, maybe one day I will wet a line again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0EmoFLp8Vi3UUbvz56I-4nYW5vIN5tXeEC8S1O7Km46BBANgA6D477SxiFEVlyYnSeMQQkdvzUjH8fyYKM3j70OeTVQk94oH-QvodmW7oIbeeiPVuhQalsz9uAlbGVhJvrboTMVCu5E/s1600/DSC_1341-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1600" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0EmoFLp8Vi3UUbvz56I-4nYW5vIN5tXeEC8S1O7Km46BBANgA6D477SxiFEVlyYnSeMQQkdvzUjH8fyYKM3j70OeTVQk94oH-QvodmW7oIbeeiPVuhQalsz9uAlbGVhJvrboTMVCu5E/s320/DSC_1341-1.JPG" width="320" /></a><b>Can you describe your current home setup?</b><br />
I met my partner Steph in the late 90’s and we quickly fell in love and moved into our first home together, for around 6 months I didn’t have a tank, the two tanks were still running at my family home but there was resistance about bringing a tank into the new house because they ‘smelt and were dirty!’ It took me six months to work a single 2ft tank into the living room, as most aquarists will know! One tank is never enough! One grew to two and eventually I had 9 tanks scattered throughout the house, it was unsightly and difficult to maintain so I made the decision to move my tanks into a fish house outside and utilised a brick outhouse that we already owned. Once installed in my own space I quickly devoted myself to breeding many species of fish from all kinds of families! Over the years, after dabbling with planted tanks, shrimp, larger fish and predatory fish I established that breeding small soft water fishes, especially Dwarf cichlids from South America and West Africa was my primary hobby, I threw myself into collecting rare and unusual species and that of course put me into contact with more experienced aquarists and ultimately into the organised hobby and the world of specialist groups such as the British cichlid association. My hobby has continued to grow and I now have a purpose built wooden fish-house measuring 20ft x 8ft x 8ft, the internal layout has changed over the years but I am very happy with the current layout and the 80 tanks it currently holds, these measure from small 10litre tanks measuring 14x8x8 that I use for characin breeding to a 40x24x18 tank that is on a system holding 1500litres of water and holding larger fish such as a group of lovely wild caught Geophagus sp ‘Pindare’ and a group of ten wild caught Syphysodon aquafasciata from the Rio nanay, Peru.<br />
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<b>Your bound to have had countless success stories in your fish house, are there any that’s stood out?</b><br />
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I am not sure if other serious breeders of tropical fish have a celebration dance? But I have been known to do a jig from time to time! I have bred over 600 species of fish to date but there are several that have stood out as special and that I am proud to have bred. There are several challenging species that I have worked with that are widely regarded as difficult to spawn in captivity or certainly were before I bred them, notable species for me would be the chocolate gouramis, Sphaerichthys Selatanensis and Sphaerichthys vaillanti, the dwarf cichlid Dicrossus filamentosus was commonly known as a tricky species to breed in captivity, I was able to document the entire spawning sequence via pictures and published my work in the BCA journal cichlidae. Other successful spawns of note include. Barbus hulstearti, Ivanacara adoketa, Taeniacara candid, Trigonostigma somphongsi, Betta rubra, Nannostomus espei, Nannostomus mortenthaleri. The list go’s on!<br />
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<b>You play an important role in the running of what is arguably the biggest and best fish keeping society here in the UK. How did that come about?</b><br />
Thank you, I am lucky to be a small part of a very good committee and have had the pleasure of working alongside some of the country’s best aquarists and organisers over the years. I was aware of Preston early on but never attended, my first venture into the club scene was to attend the North west cichlid group auction in 2005 or 2006, from there I attended the monthly meetings for several years, the active membership was always quite small but we had some great informative meetings and I was learning quickly from guys with a lot of experience. Alongside the NWCG I also became actively involved with the British cichlid association and around 2009 found myself on the committee as publicity officer, at the time I joined the Association was in grave danger of collapse, high printing costs for cichlidae (The club journal), a minimum print run of 200 and a falling membership due to a high £20 joining fee were factors that were working against the group, I was present during a meeting that was to change the fortunes of the BCA, we took the decision to drop the printed copy of the magazine, we freed the budget of the printing costs and dropped the membership to a more reasonable £5 yearly fee, this was almost pure profit to be invested back into the group with larger events, better speakers etc, and as a bonus we teamed up with Tetra who supplied a lot of free food samples, myself and Darren Evens toured the country with the BCA stand, we offered a tub of food worth £10 with every new membership and we jumped from 100 to 350 members within a short space of time! All this was valuable experience in organising and running an Aquarium society. I first went along to Preston after I became disappointed with the falling membership of the NWCG, the last meeting I attended had four people in attendance, Preston on the other hand had 40-50 people at every meeting, a vibrant selection of the best aquarists in the Northwest and as a bonus a small auction at the end of the evening, a tempting prospect for a breeder to gain new stock and move on his surplus fishes! The club secretary at that time was an excellent aquarist called John Dean, the meetings were entertaining and I quickly became very good friends with Ray Blackburn, John Dean and Alan Vassiere, we would meet at Alans flat and travel together to the meetings and they were my favourite times in the hobby, unfortunately we lost Alan to cancer but John and Ray remain amongst my closest friends in the hobby. John decided to step down as secretary and I took on the role as other active members were in short supply! This is a common problem in all hobbyist societies, a few people put in the bulk of the work! My role as publicity officer came into good use and I started to advertise our club using social media and eventually our old location was filling up and space was incredibly tight, we moved to a larger venue just down the road and although several members had reservations it was just what Preston AS needed and we have gone from strength to strength, we average around 80 members per month and during 2017 we topped 120 people in the room, we invite the best guest speakers and come up with some novel, educational and entertaining activities!
I am very proud of our club and our members, we have a great group of people and always welcome new members with open arms. <br />
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<b>Aquarist clubs have been around as long as the hobby itself. They have played an important role in the development of the hobby worldwide. Why do you think this is?</b><br />
For me, it is the social side of the hobby, to meet up and discuss problems, successes and failures over a pint in a relaxed atmosphere is the overriding advantage. Being a club member gives you access to fish that do not regularly appear in the shops, in our club I know who to approach for rare Cichlids, Rainbowfish, Anabantoids, Livebearers, Catfish ect, even if our members do not have the fish they usually have their own networks within their specialised subject and can help track down the required species, over the years I have acquired most of my rarest fish in this manner. I have been fortunate to listen to hundreds of lectures on a wide variety of subjects by a wide variety of speakers! Without a platform to speak on, this experience would be lost to the world! Gone are the days of detailed informative articles on breeding fish, the social media now offers a short blast of information but rarely is it from experts talking from life experience! A aquatic society allows you to listen to in-depth discussion about various topics. <br />
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<b>With the introduction of social media, many Fishkeepers are turning to the online communities to connect with other Fishkeepers. While this has its positives for the community spirit within the hobby, can you foresee any issues for the hobby as a whole?</b><br />
Ah social media! A hotly debated topic amongst club members and experienced aquarists. The way I see it aquarists have always communicated, firstly we wrote into question and answer sections of aquatic and club magazines, an expert in that field would reply (A month or months after!) and usually that persons advise was taken as gospel. The internet brought us message boards and forums, it allowed us to discuss problems with other enthusiasts, problem solving was shared amongst people of all ages and ability and allowed good records to be kept and old threads to be found and re-read. I personally started off on the PFK forum and was an active member, I also spent a lot of time on the Apistogramma.com forum and many experts there were able to help me and likewise I was able to help others. Social media kind of caught up with me a few years ago, I use Facebook, mainly for my hobby, it is a great, fast and easy way of seeing what my aquatic friends are doing and allows almost instant contact between aquarists! I can easily see what my friends in America and Asia are up to and can share my own photographs, successes and disasters with the world. Negatives! There are a few in my eyes, firstly the amount of ‘Internet experts’ many a time I have been convinced that a person online really knows their hobby when doling out advise, these people generally stick their opinion into everywhere and are very vocal and active in dishing out advise, I have met quite a few in person and they cannot hold a conversation about fish face to face, without google to help they are not quite the ‘<i>expert</i>’ they like people to believe they are! Secondly the number of sales pages and cheap second hand equipment available has really damaged the retail side of the hobby, the unregulated, unlicensed import of tropical fish by ‘Garage sellers’ who sell cheaply and often only last a year or so before getting bored and moving onto more profitable ventures! I believe this kind of seller is a great threat to our shops and retail trade! Where will we buy our fish if the retailers are forced to close because they cannot compete with sellers with no overheads, staff, VAT ect? I am not talking about breeders such as myself, we simply sell a surplus of stock, the result of successful breeding programs, I am talking about people that import fish as a unregistered business and sell from a home location, these people are certainly damaging the hobby/trade. If we loose our best specialised shops what do we then turn too for a supply of beautiful fish that are not common in the ‘bread and butter’ trade.<br />
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<b>For some Fishkeepers, the thought of 'bagging' a job in their local fish store, surrounded by like-minded people all day sounds like the perfect job. For yourself, some may say you have the ultimate job of jobs when it comes to aquarium related employment. Growing up on a council estate in Widnes, did you ever imagine yourself as a zookeeper at Chester Zoos aquarium?</b><br />
Not for one minute! I was not overly academic at school. I had ability but lacked enthusiasm, I drifted through school without much thought as to my future, enjoyed fishing with my friends and ‘having a laugh’ but I was never going to be career minded. After leaving school my responsibility was to find a job to help support the family home, I started as a shopfitters apprentice, a joiner and eventually ended up working in a sawmill, a dead-end job, low pay, few prospects and the kind of job that you watch the clock all day just to go home. I had a loving family and my hobby of breeding my fish and was happy with life but unfulfilled in my working day even after several promotions to management level. This changed when I saw an advertisement for a job as a freshwater aquarist at Blue planet aquarium in Ellesmere port, never before had I considered working with fish so I applied and was interviewed, I am naturally a confident person and with my experiences in the hobby I felt confident that I was more than capable of running a freshwater department and was willing to quickly learn the bits about public aquarium management that I did not yet know! I was given the job and very quickly my enthusiasm for my work was noticed, my curator and the managing director were very complimentary of the changes I made to the section, my tanks were clean and neat and tidy, the fish health improved, my ideas for changes to displays were excepted and I was very happy in my role, after a year the role of Display supervisor came up, a promotion beckoned, I applied and was given the job, I now had the responsibility of being second in command to the curator and relished the chance to have a say in the running of the entire zoological section including marine and Herp sections. Unfortunately, or fortunately!! I did not last long in this role, six weeks to be precise! Chester Zoo beckoned and I was offered the chance to apply for a temporary position within the aquarium team at Chester Zoo, I applied for the position as Assistant team manager (Maternity cover) and was given a 12 month temporary contract, luckily for me the lead keeper left almost immediately and I applied for that position, I was given the job and allowed to complete the 12 month contract as assistant team manager whilst secure in the knowledge that I had secured a full time role within the Zoo team as Lead keeper. I have the best job in the world for me, I work with an amazing team of people and relish going to work everyday! I have this to say..
‘ Any man spending his working day doing something he does not love is a fool, life is so short and we spend most of our time at work, retrain, apply for a more suitable job! Do something that makes you happy!’ <br />
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<b>Your job must give you a great chance to care for fish that you would never normally get the opportunity to do so?</b><br />
The public aquarium industry gives you the opportunity to work with fish too large or difficult to easily keep in home aquariums, I have worked with sharks, Rays, Octopus! And many others, I have swam with a shoal of 80 piranhas and a group of 3ft Pacu, I have worked with some amazing species such as seahorses, pipefish, mudskippers ect. It is a dream to work in my role, it is a challenge and a job that can be quite stressful when things go wrong! But the positives out way the negatives and I love my role in the aquarium team at Chester.<br />
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<b>Is there a species you would really like to see housed at Chester Zoo aquarium?</b><br />
That is a tough question because I love all fish, our collection at Chester is predominantly small freshwater fish, I would love to see some larger species within our collection but do not really have any preferences, I am a bit of a generalist although I have specialised in Apistogramma for the last 15 years or so I love all fish, I get excited planning a Tanganikan tank with Xenotilapia species or a Amazon river setup with various tetras and cichlids.<br />
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<b>Whats a daily routine for you at the zoo? Is everyday a maintenance day?</b><br />
Everyday is different, we have a team of five, a Team manager, assistant team manager, lead keeper and two keepers. We also have two interns that work with us on a full time contract for 12 months. Every morning someone is scheduled to check the external tanks (These are the tanks around the zoo in various animal houses), someone else is scheduled to work in Islands (The flagship £40million pound development) where we have tanks, someone is scheduled to feed our animals, sort out live foods, we maintain all tanks weekly and this is done via a rota, we do morning spot checks on all aquariums so the standard is very high and we ensure that all our displays are presentable to the public once we open at 10am. Mid morning and afternoon jobs vary, we maintain our offshow area, we breed fish and setup new projects, give special care and attention to fry, we maintain live food cultures, build new displays, theme tanks using a variety of materials. We have team meetings once per week and discuss issues or upcoming projects together. We have an excellent management team and we are organised and enthusiastic, I think this shows around the zoo where I feel we are respected and liked as a team.<br />
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<b>Working for Chester Zoo has seen you get involved in some brilliant projects over the years, more recently the Mexican Fish Ark Project. What does this involve?</b><br />
Chester were involved with the Mexican fish ark since the beginning, I met with ex Chester zoo director Dr Gordon mcgregor Reid and he was amongst the first to support the fish ark financially via Chester zoo funding. He was out in Mexico looking for projects to support and at the time the University of Morelia had a aquatic facility that was breeding common aquarium fish such as guppies and tetras for resale and to raise funds. Together with Ivan Dibble a plan was formed to maintain a population of endangered livebearers called Goodeids. Today this collection holds almost all species of Goodeid and is expertly ran by Omar Dominguez and a team of university lecturers. In 2017 I was told that I had been selected alongside aquarist Nadia Jogee to visit Mexico to view the setup, meet the people behind the project and to help with reintroducing Zoogoneticus tequila back into the Rio Teuchitlan. It is a long story and I do have a lecture that I give to clubs that explains it in much more detail but basically the University breeds a strong population of Zoogoneticus in captivity, the Rio Teuchitlan has been observed and studied for many years to ensure that it is suitable as a site of reintroduction. The Zoogoneticus have started to be released back into the river and are marked with elastomer to allow recognition of the original stock whilst non marked fish that are captured in the future must have been bred there in situ! My powerpoint lecture is well received and does go into the finer points of the project with lots of picture and video of the Mexican fish ark! <br />
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<b>Back to home aquariums and whats your best advice for someone looking to set up a breeding project for Cardinal Tetras? A fish you are enjoying great success with at the moment.</b><br />
Thanks, it has taken me three years to work out the finer details and although I am always willing to pass on advice I am just in the middle of writing an in-depth article on breeding cardinals and don’t want to give too much away here. Sorry! I will say that you will need a very soft water, PH does not seem to matter too much, in the Rio negro the fish are found in Blackwater with a PH averaging 4.5 with minimal hardness. I experimented with PH and at PH7 I still get very good viable spawns, just make sure that the water is soft. The conditioning diet is also important, I feed plenty of live foods including newly hatched artemia, grindalworm, Whiteworm and tubifex.<br />
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<b>You must have kept so many different fish at home and in your fish house, to choose one favourite would be impossible. What I would like to know is that one species you would love to keep at home and breed yourself? </b><br />
An impossible task!! Can I please select my top three favourites? <br />
1. Copella arnoldi – I will never tire of watching this fish spawn, its unique method of breeding fascinates me and although I have spawned them hundreds of times I am still entranced when watching them. <br />
2. Taeniacara candid – This dwarf cichlid is very special to me, they are now bred commercially in the Czech republic and are not as difficult to find, years ago the situation was different and I searched for years without success, when I did eventually find a pair and bred them the feeling of success was incredible, I managed to keep the line going for seven generations before eventually adding new blood into my breeding lines. <br />
3. Symphysodon sp - When you are a soft water cichlid fan how can you not love the Discus! I started with a group of turquoise discus around 15 years ago and have kept them on and off ever since, I adore the wild types and currently house ten young wild green discus from the Rio Nanay, they are growing well and I am hopeful of breeding from them in the future.<br />
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<b>Who do you admire within the hobby?</b><br />
I admire anyone who takes time to put back into the hobby. To all those who help Aquatic clubs, associations and societies, to those that write articles for journals, books, magazines or website, I admire those that work in the scientific and professional fields.
In a take, take, take society I really admire those that give up their own valuable time for the good of the hobby! I have known people to travel worldwide to give a lecture on their chosen subject! I know many aquarists who spend late nights pouring over books to help identify a fish for a fellow aquarist, I have seen disabled aquarists as an auction runner whilst able bodied members sat back and did nothing to help a club.
Ultimately, I admire all those true hobbyists with fish in their blood and their brains, it is a strange affliction but once bitten it is hard to stop caring about our wonderful hobby. Finally there is one person that is no longer with us, Alan Vassiere was the best breeder I ever met, I was lucky to know Alan well for several of his final years and we got along well, we had similar interest (Cories and Pencilfish) and he gave me lots of valuable advise whilst always being interested in my opinion. He remains in my memories and his personality and skill as a breeder made him unforgettable.<br />
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<b>Whats on the horizon? Do you have anything planned that you want to share?</b><br />
My fish room and breeding my fish still remains my primary focus, I have not lost the love for it despite working with fish from 6am to 10pm almost every day, I continue to collect aquatic literature and educate myself further!
I have recently made several trips abroad with work to Mexico and Brazil and have gained the travelling bug! With my kids growing older I am hoping to travel more in the future and explore the world, especially South America as that is where my heart lies, it is a beautiful continent and the people are amazing, to snorkel in a Brazilian stream viewing dwarf cichlids in their habitat was something I will treasure forever, hopefully I can travel further and increase the knowledge about these fish, not only with myself but with others in the hobby.
I have always said that I wanted to write a book on my experiences and breeding, unfortunately the amount of people reading paper seems to be dropping in this digital world, I prefer a paper copy myself but I am realistic enough to know that the digital world will not go away and is here to stay, I have recently been putting ideas together for a website to share my knowledge on, I have many thousands of pictures, I have visited hundreds of breeders and fish rooms and have lots of photographs and information to share, I have over 600 breeding records for a variety of species that I would love to share with the world. My only problem is a lack of spare time! Something may have to be dropped before I can find time to put that project together? We will see.
In the meantime, I will continue to work hard at my hobby and hopefully share my experiences with fellow aquarists around the world, I have a series of lectures containing good pictures and video and am always happy to listen to offers to come and give a talk or two. The lectures prepared are as follows. Please make contact via s.chester@chesterzoo.org <br />
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<ul>
<li><i><span style="color: #444444;">Apistogramma – A guide to keeping and breeding</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: #444444;"> Brazil – Project Piaba expedition 2018 (Can cardinals save a rainforest?) </span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: #444444;">Breeding Fish – A guide! </span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: #444444;">Chester Zoo – A behind the scenes tour of the aquarium</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: #444444;"> Dwarf cichlids – A guide to the dwarf cichlids of the world. </span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: #444444;">Mexico – The Goodeids and the Zoogoneticus tequila reintroduction project. </span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: #444444;">A fishroom refurbishment project! </span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: #444444;">UK Fishroom Tour 2013 </span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: #444444;">UK Fishroom Tour 2014 </span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: #444444;">UK Fishroom Tour 2015</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: #444444;"> UK Fishroom Tour 2016 </span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: #444444;">UK Fishroom Tour 2017</span></i> </li>
</ul>
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Finally, thank you to John and the members of Lothian Fishkeepers, I have really enjoyed sharing some of my experiences with you, the above is just a snapshot of my life so far so I look forward to talking more over a beer sometime.<br />
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All the best, Ste<br />
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<i>Well guys, I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did. I think its safe to say that Ste is a very dedicated and enthusiastic Fishkeeper. We should all be inspired.</i><br />
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<i>For more information on what Steven gets up to, visit the following links below.</i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="http://www.chesterzoo.org/" target="_blank">http://www.chesterzoo.org/ </a><br /><a href="http://www.goodeidworkinggroup.com/">http://www.goodeidworkinggroup.com/</a><br /><a href="https://projectpiaba.org/">https://projectpiaba.org/</a> </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="http://www.aqualifeleyland.co.uk/preston.html">http://www.aqualifeleyland.co.uk/preston.html</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UJdg_jdEzw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UJdg_jdEzw</a> </span></i></div>
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<i>Thanks for reading, remember and subscribe to keep up to date with the blog.</i><br />
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<i>bye for now</i><br />
<i><br /></i>Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-15056331386504721002018-03-01T22:38:00.000+00:002018-03-07T11:18:33.928+00:00Prodibio Start Up - Explained<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A lot of people have been asking about the <i>Prodibio </i>Start Up vials that I use in all my new tank setups. No matter what style of aquarium I'm setting up, I will always use Startup during the process in order to quickly establish a healthy & safe environment for my fish and plants.<br />
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While I do my best to tell people how good it is, I'm not the best at explaining things so I contacted <i>Prodibio</i> and asked for some more information to share with you and hopefully properly explain why their Startup is so effective and why you should use it in all your own aquariums.<br />
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When you set up any new aquarium, you have to go through the nitrogen cycle in order to grow "good" bacteria that will breakdown ammonia products in the water and turn them into Nitrite and then into Nitrate. Nitrate is far less harmful for fish and can easily be maintained at safe levels by performing regular water changes. Nitrates are also consumed by live plants which is great.<br />
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<i><b>Start Up</b></i> is a combination of two operate products:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoL77RHNwdjV2NJrJMGKcaQ1LTx1pZO-WFoxgIrM8FGZg6HQD9aj6cIKNgx8i38vhSeuL1nAb4thqgAoZya5nIPrPFNk_FXebzv0ds02u2Vj9z3uk9sFaI5j8A3Hu-DGaduqgv2k5mNgc/s1600/stop_ammo_-_12_-_prodibio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1600" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoL77RHNwdjV2NJrJMGKcaQ1LTx1pZO-WFoxgIrM8FGZg6HQD9aj6cIKNgx8i38vhSeuL1nAb4thqgAoZya5nIPrPFNk_FXebzv0ds02u2Vj9z3uk9sFaI5j8A3Hu-DGaduqgv2k5mNgc/s200/stop_ammo_-_12_-_prodibio.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<ul>
<li>BioDigest</li>
<li>Stop Ammo</li>
</ul>
<b>Stop Ammo</b> is a natural plant extract that is dormant until it comes in contact with you aquarium water. The chemistry reaction results in the catching and releasing of toxic ammonia from your water.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJp12rk5-2AtqVw18mRGd2xvxjRQc8ii4jQq_wByghuOOWz3HxmvEAul_ZPT2O9d059QgYAMMjJ9Imr60OKre0F8vXUByVhWDGKLZv8WmrHf_2eMexqlJJa-EeIKRwvmb4-XHvEy8XiM8/s1600/biodigest_-_6_-_prodibio_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1600" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJp12rk5-2AtqVw18mRGd2xvxjRQc8ii4jQq_wByghuOOWz3HxmvEAul_ZPT2O9d059QgYAMMjJ9Imr60OKre0F8vXUByVhWDGKLZv8WmrHf_2eMexqlJJa-EeIKRwvmb4-XHvEy8XiM8/s200/biodigest_-_6_-_prodibio_0.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>BioDigest </b>Is made up of 15 different strains of live bacteria with each strain finishing of the work started by the others. Each bacteria strain has been collected directly from estuaries so can actually be used in both marine and freshwater aquariums. These bacteria strains are very effective at decreasing the levels of Nitrogen and Phospherous in the water. This rapidly speeds up the nitrogen cycled also prevents the spread of filamentous algae.<br />
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The Bacteria in BioDigest is most effective during the first two weeks so it is recommended to dose again every 15 days.<br />
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<b><u>But what about those glass vials?</u></b><br />
<i>"</i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>In France the use of glass vial is very developed in the pharmaceutical industry. This packaging gives the product a higher protection against oxidation, pathogenic micro organisms...</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">On the other hand, the plastic material is not really impermeable to the oxygen of the air and can permit some exchanges between the product and the external environment (bacteria, iodine...)<br />In addition, with the PRODIBIO system the product always stays fresh</span></i>"</span></span><br />
One question I'm always asked is related to the way <i>Prodibio</i> pack their products. Unlike all the other products on the market <i>Prodibio</i> products are packaged in individual glass vials.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Each individual vial contacts billions of dormant bacteria cells that only become active when they come in contact with you aquarium water. This guarantees 100% fresh bacteria each and every time you dose your tank. You can also store your vials in direct sunlight for up to three years and still get 100% fresh and effective strains of bacteria when you dose.</li>
<li>Each product is labeled with a straight forward dosing program and each vial holds an exact amount of bacteria.</li>
<li>Quick and easy snapping process which allows 100% of bacteria to enter your aquarium.</li>
<li>You get more value for your money due to shelf life of product compared to other startup products.</li>
<li>100% of bacteria strains are grown and collected from estuaries and not developed in laboratories.</li>
</ul>
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Now I know we all have our preference and <i>Prodibio</i> is my own preference. I rate it not only because of all the above, but because since using the StatUp in all my new setups, Ive not lost a single fish. Not even when introducing the fish as quick as 4 hours after setup.<br />
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In addition to the Start Up, <i>Prodibio </i>also have a range of products for disease cure, aquarium plant care, Kh&Gh control along with marine salt, and substrates.<br />
<br />
<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=lothianfishke-20&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B009LEGCTY&asins=B009LEGCTY&linkId=b0a020c81f28086f59838a9c53cd1a82&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff">
</iframe>For more information on Start Up and all the other <i>Prodibio </i>products, visit <a href="http://prodibio.com/">Prodibio.com</a><br />
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<b><br /></b>Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-31184016740068039542018-01-25T13:12:00.000+00:002018-01-25T13:12:30.279+00:00Starter Box Shrimp - Shrimpin' made easy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAdFhyX-FwP0pfz7D5lBxo_oykt7L2jBDgSgZRggSSOEVN-ERySQr-3MuX6M1zDHCkzFN9ZIDzmyYfzEegDv2rVBkJbLeiz2BWhPxWFWdWQr7Olm_Wv8-6zISA-xE5mPtLIeN6OMarfU/s1600/IMG_9327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAdFhyX-FwP0pfz7D5lBxo_oykt7L2jBDgSgZRggSSOEVN-ERySQr-3MuX6M1zDHCkzFN9ZIDzmyYfzEegDv2rVBkJbLeiz2BWhPxWFWdWQr7Olm_Wv8-6zISA-xE5mPtLIeN6OMarfU/s320/IMG_9327.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Now that Christmas is well and truly over, Its time to get back to fishkeeping. The first thing I want to share is the latest tank Ive set up. Its a small 20l nano aquarium that will house some shrimps.<br />
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I really wanted this tank to be low maintenance and straight forward so I decided to use a new bit of kit I've been looking at for some time. This is the S<i>tarter Box Shrimp </i>from Prodibio. As you know Ive used some of the Prodibio water treatments in the past so I know how good they are. What appealed to me the most about this box was the all-in-one kit idea.<br />
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In the box was:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Aquashrimp Powder (soil)</li>
<li>Bacterkit Soil</li>
<li>Chloral Reset Nano</li>
<li>Startup Nano</li>
<li>Bioclean Fresh Nano</li>
</ul>
This is basically everything you need to set up a 20l aquarium specifically for freshwater shrimp. It appeals to me because it saves time sourcing everything individually. My aquarium the time round was an empty Dennerle 20l nano cube. Having used this tank a couple of times in the past with no success, Im really interested to see the results with this kit.<br />
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On the outside of the bucket, you have five simple steps to setting up your aquarium which are really easy to understand. All the products are clearly labeled inside and its pretty much failsafe. The hardest part of setting up this tank would prove to be the choice of rock and plants.<br />
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<li>Conditioning the water using Chloral Reset. Using tap water I filled my watering can and cracked open the first of the vials, adding one for 30l. </li>
<li>Once the water was mixed, I poured about 2cm of the water into the empty tank and added the entire contents of the Bacterkit Soil. The bacteria and nutrients in these vials will establish a healthy colony to kickstart the biological filtration. The bacteria will actually favour fish waste and turn it into food for any live plants you add.</li>
<li>Time for the soil! I always enjoy this part. playing with mud and water takes me back to childhood haha. With such a small surface area, you don't have many options for laying out the soil. However, the small grain size of the Aquashrimp powder Soil makes is slightly easier to manage. This also allows any baby shrimps to remain on the surface with ease. Unlike some soil there is no need to rinse before using either. I knew I wanted the internal filter on the left hand side so I sloped the soil from the back right down to the front left. This was giving me plenty of space on the back left corner to attach the internal corner filter.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</li>
<li>Adding my hardscape and live plants. Aquascaping is never easy in smaller tanks and with limited resources, I opted for some rock ive used before. Placing the rock in position, I added a little more soil to finish off the setting. My choice of plan was a variety of African Water Fern I picked up last year. I will add some more plants in the coming months but for now this will do just fine. With everything in place , its time for the water. Not wanting to disturb the substrate, I used one of my daughters toy kitchen colander. It sat perfectly in between the two rocks and done a great job of preventing the substrate from being disturbed as the water was poured in.</li>
<li>Once water is fully added and everything is set, I added the two vials in the Startup pack. This initiates the Nitrogen cycle by adding more bacteria and an Ammonia binder. You should be able to add 1/3 of your toughest fish after four hours when using this product. I added my shrimp about six hours after completing the setup.</li>
</ol>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IKq9zLxpzqaErV72Aq4OQpkElk1nIpr4n8Vvo3CsY6zM-mYzlB0-P-X14sa2brtpTKFxhgCZ5hVQxhS69lsl9bfwJyWccG6ZR4kaufGmY91b3sSKBFDGKhU-7JPRld3GKjRmHyIuNvg/s1600/IMG_8270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IKq9zLxpzqaErV72Aq4OQpkElk1nIpr4n8Vvo3CsY6zM-mYzlB0-P-X14sa2brtpTKFxhgCZ5hVQxhS69lsl9bfwJyWccG6ZR4kaufGmY91b3sSKBFDGKhU-7JPRld3GKjRmHyIuNvg/s200/IMG_8270.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
Like all the other Prodibio water treatments ive used in the past, this was no different. After adding livestock six hours after setup, everything was looking healthy and the shrimps were feeding, moving about and displaying good solid colours. The instructions on the box state that after one week you need to maintain the biological filtration by performing a 1/3 of a water change. replacing the water with conditioned water by adding Chloral Reset & Bioclean Fresh to make sure your bacteria remains healthy. From this point onwards, a 1/3 water change every 15 days plus Bioclean Fresh with conditioned water will keep your water crystal clear.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3Y2mT72Hrk0KbIw2Lyg15xnQJ5VCZvKB7LeYDsuMk2AItfYuYMWeXkoEYyY2LGjeJh0gDzQ6o-oZiQDfa0yTvNXq8l0I9SP-B_1O7e4_7T9e-hdKXg1iZr8gLhyphenhyphen_Rp1j9KTeS9D2VvI/s1600/IMG_9718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3Y2mT72Hrk0KbIw2Lyg15xnQJ5VCZvKB7LeYDsuMk2AItfYuYMWeXkoEYyY2LGjeJh0gDzQ6o-oZiQDfa0yTvNXq8l0I9SP-B_1O7e4_7T9e-hdKXg1iZr8gLhyphenhyphen_Rp1j9KTeS9D2VvI/s200/IMG_9718.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
Ive been using Prodibio in my aquariums for some time now and the vials included in this bucket, I have used them all before. I know they are good. What I like the most about this kit is that it has everything you need. For someone setting up their first shrimp tank, this is perfect.<br />
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One thing worth pointing out though is that if you are planning on keeping some of the more delicate species like crystal shrimps that require a slightly harder water then you will need to buffer your water slightly to accommodate that. There are many different ways to do this including KH+ and GH+ from Prodibio.<br />
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Although there is nothing new in the Starter Box Shrimp, Prodibio have cleverly Bunched together the essential ingredients for making the perfect shrimp aquarium - All you need is the shrimps!!<br />
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Thanks for reading, please visit our youtube channel and subscribe for updates on this little shrimp tank.<br />
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bye for now<br />
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<br />Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-16771536785294045702017-12-14T00:30:00.000+00:002017-12-14T00:39:58.700+00:00Sam Garcia Jr. <div class="" original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr="" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 12px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwZbk0WA-SXrHfCKPzDiIeoo3N8YXVKOiloObP6pa-Zlfm5DIZRIpXtzQaj4w-s6GPMj-ZThoCImt4spFeperaF-4XihPXW1_bIZFoyee0Hj7obsZpp-4pB2dAn9TKM66R1ZscGsF46w/s1600/20171203_225426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="1458" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwZbk0WA-SXrHfCKPzDiIeoo3N8YXVKOiloObP6pa-Zlfm5DIZRIpXtzQaj4w-s6GPMj-ZThoCImt4spFeperaF-4XihPXW1_bIZFoyee0Hj7obsZpp-4pB2dAn9TKM66R1ZscGsF46w/s200/20171203_225426.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<b>Name</b>:<br />
<br />
Sam Garcia Jr. but professionally goes by Sam Scālz</div>
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<b>Age</b>: 44</div>
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<b>Location</b>:<br />
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San Diego, California only 2 miles from the Mexican border</div>
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<b>How long have you been in the hobby</b>?<br />
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I've kept fish for 39 years, worked professionally in the hobby for 29 years. Been a professional artist for 30 years.</div>
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<b>What do you currently have in your aquariums?</b><br />
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I currently keep mostly nano aquariums under 20 gallons with small Characins and Cyprinids, rare Loricariids, Apistogramma, wild Betta species, Shrimps and Corydoras. I formerly had a very large and diverse fish and reptile collection. I toned down the livestock so I could have more time to do other things. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfhyphenhyphenWIl711tGmTBIRhjedOy6iYt_ug2hqGwFOe4POXdZnNLLMSA1aNO1P5TlEWJcl39vxENKJkApB4NvDufUyPa4dVsrt1SHaJdPd3xmfY0dtdbGXS0LsH0h5KiSKHad7obyN5QkSea0/s1600/10547838_10205219190545451_4598391337407286078_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfhyphenhyphenWIl711tGmTBIRhjedOy6iYt_ug2hqGwFOe4POXdZnNLLMSA1aNO1P5TlEWJcl39vxENKJkApB4NvDufUyPa4dVsrt1SHaJdPd3xmfY0dtdbGXS0LsH0h5KiSKHad7obyN5QkSea0/s200/10547838_10205219190545451_4598391337407286078_o.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Apart from fishkeeping, you also like to catch fish on rod and reel. Living on the coast, you must catch some awesome fish. What has been your most memorable catch?</b></div>
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I have fished for species like Yellowfin and Bluefin Tuna, Thresher and Mako Sharks, Dorado, Yellowtail and many other species. Despite this, I am more satisfied catching freshwater species including giant Largemouth Bass. While not my biggest Bass, I vividly remember catching a 13 pound Largemouth that ate a Trout I caught. I landed it on 45 minutes on only 2 pound test momofilament. </div>
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<b>Now, You are well known for your artwork. your tropical fish artwork is pretty impressive. what led you to producing these amazing works of art?</b></div>
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I always liked to draw and paint fish since I was very young. Being very observant of the physical details of nature, it was always a challenge to try and recreate them. I am always striving to improve my <span style="background-color: yellow;">technique</span> and execution.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctiiyOQGkcXNgVXoxlFdiyZ-E7tYEa2rUKawanA8MTh0JFRaaSxwDLkesUESsIx96EcGA98MsSoiOT8L__eB181j7UmGM7RrNGGFCNiyg0BJbkRZYtuBEn7F8X5zd4-vVyYaDu0OzYaw/s1600/20748209_10214396502052503_7457220037718738277_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1080" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctiiyOQGkcXNgVXoxlFdiyZ-E7tYEa2rUKawanA8MTh0JFRaaSxwDLkesUESsIx96EcGA98MsSoiOT8L__eB181j7UmGM7RrNGGFCNiyg0BJbkRZYtuBEn7F8X5zd4-vVyYaDu0OzYaw/s320/20748209_10214396502052503_7457220037718738277_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>You obviously have a passion for fish and wildlife in general. Your work ranges from insects to fish to reptiles and more. Your profile is filled with a variety of drawings. is there a species you enjoy drawing the most?</b> </div>
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I go through phases where I like to focus on different species. I enjoy whatever I am currently painting and become obsessed. Recently, I even painted ducks. I am looking forward to painting Spiders, Geckos, Characins and Loricariids next year for some upcoming print series. </div>
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<b>Whats on the do do list of fish to draw?</b> </div>
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Aside from Characins and Loricariids that I already mentioned, I will be painting many iconic Rift Lake species, the whole Cichla genus and quite a few new species and CARES species. I will also be doing some Gamefish art. </div>
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<b>Being passionate about your work shows in all you do, how do you share you work with the world? other than Facebook?</b></div>
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I recently began using Instagram and other social media platforms. Aside from that, I display my work at trade shows, art conventions, galleries and create clothing with my art on it. My art is frequently used for promoting events related to the hobby, as well. </div>
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<b>Have you ever had your work displayed in a gallery?</b></div>
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I am represented by Art For Wildlife Galleries in Coronado, California. I also do shows at several other galleries across the US and have had work displayed at various natural history museums. </div>
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<b>Where can we buy your work? </b></div>
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I will be revamping my website <a href="http://www.scalz.com/">www.scalz.com</a> soon and I sell lots of work through my Facebook artist page, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/scalznatureartist">www.facebook.com/scalznatureartist</a>.<br />
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I also want to mention Herpetological Conservation International (HCI), Project Piaba for responsible wild collection of fish, Art For Wildlife Galleries, and Artists For Conservation (AFC). </div>
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<b>Any advice for folk out there looking to draw their own fish at home? </b></div>
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Always try to get body and fin proportions accurate. Sometimes, a small error can make a fish look wrong in art. Be patient with scales and try to study as many photographs as you can. </div>
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Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-16775081374969476242017-11-27T16:28:00.000+00:002017-11-27T16:30:02.212+00:00Hydor Crystal Mini Internal Filter - review<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0sCas8tALBwtno6FkYf0kOkWsiU50ggGT-roL0OVpCjzQW3ZUg5HWiQlsS9dMZ5JAJyoY9_U1-qfDPS9k_ARdvERSFs-uzN0MaRGkkV6qqtq8deqPjxDxfSqFjgU6wHju21Q0Pra89g/s1600/IMG_5694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0sCas8tALBwtno6FkYf0kOkWsiU50ggGT-roL0OVpCjzQW3ZUg5HWiQlsS9dMZ5JAJyoY9_U1-qfDPS9k_ARdvERSFs-uzN0MaRGkkV6qqtq8deqPjxDxfSqFjgU6wHju21Q0Pra89g/s320/IMG_5694.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
While cleaning the shrimp tank out, I noticed the internal filter was goosed so it was time to do something about it. With the aquarium lacking in space and not wanting to go down the external route, I really wanted a small reliable internal that would fit neatly into the corner of the tank without spoiling the look of the tank.<br />
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After a bit of research, I decided on one of the internal filters from Hydor. There were a few features that looked good and the main one being the anti-waste dropout system. If there is one thing I hate is the detritus waste spewing into the water as you take our your internal to clean it. Its brutal. The way this filter is designed, you unclip it from the corner bracket an lift the full filer out and nothing comes away. We will see how effective that is when it comes to cleaning it.<br />
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I also liked the size of the filter. just over 9cm wide and nearly 20cm tall, it would fin nicely in the corner of the tank.<br />
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Taking everything out the box and putting the filter together took about five minutes. From filling the media chamber with charcoal to clipping it onto the bracket was very quick and easy. The instruction manual is nice and simple to follow of you have never fitted an internal before but having installed plenty over the years, it was straight forward.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out the box</td></tr>
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Putting the filter into the tank was easy enough, I pushed the filter into the water and pressed gently against the corner of the tank and the suction pads held everything in place. I found directing the flow to where i wanted it was simple. With the option to twist the filter when its in the bracket allows for a left or right direction and with the little push on connector you can even direct the flow towards the substrate or surface. I wanted to direct the flow towards my Cryptocoryne plants that had collected a bit of debris due to the existing internal filter not working correctly. As soon as i switched on, it kicked up all the debris and straight away I was seeing the particles of shrimp shells (previous molts) being sucked in through the intake on the brackets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8vXBm4Wj7cdGw1fJIoUYUluYg3FOC9O3mDZfhksCriS4ZuacGrkA5SbIBffV6rUBZmcIPRVaUp4MJfi1QNedh_ypGympUYJxqpQp61Sko7nWw56qwRYwGJ97X39EAMeDSc6vynr8zUQ/s1600/IMG_5688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8vXBm4Wj7cdGw1fJIoUYUluYg3FOC9O3mDZfhksCriS4ZuacGrkA5SbIBffV6rUBZmcIPRVaUp4MJfi1QNedh_ypGympUYJxqpQp61Sko7nWw56qwRYwGJ97X39EAMeDSc6vynr8zUQ/s320/IMG_5688.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple but effective media </td></tr>
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What I found interesting is that the filter intake is designed to work through the actual cornet bracket and the rear of the actual filter. this works well on my shrimp tank because there are no large intakes for the smaller shrimps to worry about.<br />
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The option of a venturi air intake is here too but in not a fan of them personally. I did attach the tubing to have a look and it is very effective adding lots of bubbles but its not my thing.<br />
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The filter has been running now for 24 hours and my water is crystal clear, moving about very well in all areas of the tank and the surface has cleared up completely. There is a setting on the actual outlet which gives you the option of high and low. I Went with low because its being used in a shrimp tank. i did test the high and it was a notable difference but too much for me.<br />
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I wanted a small, reliable filter and this certainly ticks both boxes.<br />
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The crystal filter range comes a few sizes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDRJZTByS10m6MqccG2f0NKXoD-EqLtUSGDQrLT-2qFawOLf4SKAvbXsrc6H8kHXqyM-b9MBUoJtT8XObeFgxUfkRvhQ7ToOkn7Ne9MRQpk-FlNuPBpQbloIbBz6pxH9VDHu3I_v6b7Q/s1600/IMG_5760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDRJZTByS10m6MqccG2f0NKXoD-EqLtUSGDQrLT-2qFawOLf4SKAvbXsrc6H8kHXqyM-b9MBUoJtT8XObeFgxUfkRvhQ7ToOkn7Ne9MRQpk-FlNuPBpQbloIbBz6pxH9VDHu3I_v6b7Q/s320/IMG_5760.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crystal filter fits perfectly in the corner of my shrimp tank</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>20-50 litre tank size</li>
<li>40-90 litre tank size </li>
<li>80-150 litre tank size</li>
<li>120-200 litre tank size</li>
<li>200+ litre tank size</li>
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This filter has been around for a while now and can be picked up at a very reasonable price too. My model costs around £20.00. </div>
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As far as negative aspects of this filter goes, Im not sure at this point if there are any. It feels sturdy, looks good, works well, easy to install. When the time comes to clean the filter, I will find out how good the anti drip feature really is and ill let you know.</div>
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<u><b>To summarise </b></u></div>
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If your after a solid little internal, with out spending a fortune, these filters are worth picking up. As far as negative aspects of this filter goes, Im not sure at this point if there are any. It feels sturdy, looks good, works well, easy to install. When the time comes to clean the filter, I will find out how good the anti drip feature really is and ill let you know.</div>
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<i>Our upcoming Scottish event on the 10th December will have a range of Hydor products on display with the chance to ask the team any questions you may have. Hope you can make it.</i></div>
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<br />Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-26655396099099599942017-10-20T21:13:00.000+00:002017-10-20T21:13:05.978+00:00Love your hobby - a call to action!<br />
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There is a quote I see pop up from time to time that I've been thinking about this morning. I think it is very suited to the fishkeeping hobby right now and one that every fishkeeper should really embrace.<br />
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<i style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">"Do what you love & Love what you do"</i></div>
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We all love keeping fish. This is evident each time I visit our Facebook group and read the conversations everyone is having. I see so many people get so much from their hobby each and every day. People making new friends, discovering new species, sharing advice, support and experience. As far as our hobby goes, us fishkeepers are great at supporting each other. </div>
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However, as with any hobby, there is an industry behind it making money by selling the things we all need, bringing out new and innovative products to make fishkeeping even better. These companies play a vital role in our hobby, without the forward thinking of people like Gunther Eheim who created the first suction filter who knows where we would be. </div>
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Society today is all about making things easier, which in theory, is a good thing. We can now go online and order anything from any part of the world. wether its rare species of plants, fish or specialist equipment, if we want it we can get it. This makes our personal fish keeping experience unlimited.</div>
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Before the internet, we could only access fish and equipment via our local fish shop. While this was not always the most convenient method for us all, it was a sure fast way of our hobby sustaining itself. finding a good fish shop was like winning the lottery back in the day. People would travel every week just to see what was waiting in the tanks at their favourite store.<br />
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Today, fish keeping is different. With massive nationwide retailers & online stores the need to visit our local fish shops seems less important than ever before. As consumers, more often than not we choose convenience over loyalty. It happens to most high street shops when the large superstores come to town, small shops like dry cleaners or DIY shops find themselves overshadowed by corporations like Asda walmart who offer everything in one place and very low prices.<br />
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The independent fish shops are currently fighting for their lives. The big retail chains like Dobbies & Fishkeeper are opening all across the UK and our once treasured fish shops are closing down one by one. Its simply impossible for them to compete with these big chains. The fishkeeper that used to take his kids to his favourite fish shop at the weekend to show them all the new fish is now taking his whole family out for the day to visit the garden centre with the aquatics department, nice cafe, farmers market and softplay instead. While I can understand that from a consumers point of view, these big shops offer so much in terms of stock, they are not any cheaper than the local fish shop, infact in most cases, they are more expensive.<br />
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Another issue that continues to surface is the lack of knowledge displayed by the staff working in these aquatics departments. Now I know there are some very experienced fishkeepers working in some of these chain stores who do a very good job, but the majority of "aquatics experts" are undertrained and lacking basic fish keeping experience. This is not their fault and I have nothing against these people who are simply following the instructions given to them. However this scripted approach when selling fish just doesn't work. New fishkeepers need to know the basics of setting up an aquarium, filtration, cycling the tank and biological filtration. I just don't hear staff in these large stores engaging with customers in this way.<br />
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Our local fish shops on the other hand, go out their way to insure beginner fishkeepers all clued up and ready for adding their first fish. Ive heard stories of customers visiting their local fish shop and walking out with not only the fish they want but samples of food and other freebies to help them along. Some local shops even offer to fix your broken filters for you to save you buying a new one. You would not get that level of service from the big guys.<br />
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This brings me back to the quote above.<br />
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"Do what you love" This indicates that we all love our hobby and fishkeeping is definitely something we love doing.<br />
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"love what you do" I feel strongly that we should all care about all aspects of our hobby. We should be supporting new fishkeepers and offering helpful advice. We should be doing our best to support local fish shops and building strong relationships with these people. Our local fish shops should be our go to place, our meeting place and ultimately our source for fish, food, decor and anything else that takes our fancy.<br />
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I ask that anyone reading this blog to cherish your favourite fish shop. Know the staff by their first name. Speak with other customers and take your time to enjoy your visit. I guarantee you will get so much more out of your hobby. You will also be doing your part to preserve one of the most important parts of our hobby.<br />
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Bye for now</div>
Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-71952450192388064572017-10-18T15:42:00.002+00:002017-10-18T20:19:02.871+00:00Bacteria - its not all that badHi Guys,<br />
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Maintaining an aquarium is straight forward when you look at the basics. Water changes, cleaning the filter, the glass and gravel each week. These are the basic chores a fish keeper is required to do to keep their fishtanks in tip top condition. Have you ever wondered why we use gravel? or why there are different types of media for your filter?<br />
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Most aquarium filters consist of a mechanical, Chemical and Biological filtration system, usually, sponges, ceramic or stone blocks plus carbon/charcoal bags.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Mechanical Filtration picks up the large waste like excess food or fish waste</li>
<li>Chemical Filtration removes decaying tissues that are present in tap water. </li>
<li>Biological Filtration removes any ammonia or nitrate</li>
</ul>
It can sound a little confusing to new fishkeepers however, the modern filters are designed to do all the work for you.<br />
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I believe the Biological element of your filtration is the most important one. after all its alive. Some may say that swell as fishkeepers, we also look after colonies of bacteria at the same time. Looking after your filter is very important. If you keep your biological filter in good condition, it will do its job and keep your ammonia/nitrate levels in the safe zone.<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is the biological filter?</span></u><br />
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Your biological filtration consists of several different bacteria colonies. The two main and most active are called <i>Nitrosomonas & Nitrobacter. </i>These bacterias along with the others establish themselves in your aquarium. This diagram explains the entire process of the nitrogen cycle.<br />
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Each bacteria performs a specific task. This is vital to any aquariums good health.<br />
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Bacteria colonise your gravel, rocks, ornaments and even your glass. One of the great things about filters is they create habitats for the beneficial bacteria to colonise.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When an aquarium is first set up it is incapable of supporting any livestock until it has built up large enough colonies of beneficial bacteria to convert all traces of toxic ammonia and nitrites into nitrates which are then removed during water changes or consumed by plants that have been added to the tank. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2RsHyHfK40ygKa-4llWx7J2tYIoCksEaxYTNVwsHsBMotwOQ2V9yBF9xohcR6ZlzVk2Aw-En8YMdoTphF5sqflDU6ojZP_zXwjoakRI1LiZvDmBVcYxTnlliRpA4yOk11W4c4onroIs/s1600/nitrogencycle1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2RsHyHfK40ygKa-4llWx7J2tYIoCksEaxYTNVwsHsBMotwOQ2V9yBF9xohcR6ZlzVk2Aw-En8YMdoTphF5sqflDU6ojZP_zXwjoakRI1LiZvDmBVcYxTnlliRpA4yOk11W4c4onroIs/s320/nitrogencycle1.jpg" width="226" /></a><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">How do you establish healthy bacteria?</span></u></b><br />
This diagram shows the process called the "nitrogen cycle" which is what most fishkeepers will state as the most important part of setting up your aquarium. Your aquarium goes through three basic stages.<br />
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<ol>
<li>Ammonia is created by waste products - you can add a little food or even a fresh prawn or shrimp to an empty tank to create this. Ammonia consuming bacteria develops and consumes the ammonia</li>
<li>Nitrite is formed as a byproduct of the ammonia being consumed. Nitrite is harmful to fish so enough time must be allowed to develop a secondary bacteria colony which consumes the nitrite.</li>
<li>Nitrate is generated when the bacteria consumes nitrite. Nitrates are easily removed by performing water changes. If you have added live plants to your aquarium, these plants will consume nitrates naturally.</li>
</ol>
The full cycle takes time and fish should never be added until your water perimeters indicate that the cycle is complete. This process normally takes around 6 -8 weeks. Regular testing of your water will keep you informed of its progress.<br />
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Its always advised to add sturdy fish first to a new aquarium. This is a good way to ensure your new tank establishes itself at healthy pace.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Is there a quicker way?</span></u></b><br />
There are products on the market that can introduce these vital bacterias to your aquarium quicker than following the above method. You can add colonies of bacteria directly into your substrate prior to filling your aquarium. It is also possible to add trace elements and additional bacterias all aimed at maintaining a healthy mini ecosystem in your aquarium. When using these products it can be possible to add your sturdy fish within a few hours once your aquarium temperature is up to the desired level.<br />
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Just like the traditional method of cycling your aquarium, testing your water is very important to insure it is ok for the fish intended. Research your fish choice and insure you are providing the correct temperature, Ph and other perimeters. This will ensure you get the best out of your fish.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">My thoughts are...</span></u></b><br />
In my experience of using both these methods, I have had good results with both. If you are in no rush to set up your new aquarium and can allow for 6-8 weeks to pass before putting fish in then I recommend you use the tradition method. However, If you are in need of a quick set up and cannot wait that long, I can honestly say the quick start products will do the job. Just remember to test your water!<br />
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This is only my opinion on cycling an aquarium and I respect their is always other methods that can work so be sure to research and find the method that works for you. If you have any comments on how you cycle your aquarium, please comment below.<br />
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Thanks for reading and please subscribe to keep up to date...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image courtesy of KasiaJB from www.MyAquariumClub.com</i></span><br />
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<br />Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-54182973155592838982017-09-26T12:19:00.000+00:002018-04-29T23:05:08.450+00:00Prodibio - Setting up made simpleHi Guys,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8K0cczcj0h9aICtxRKoF_Ri1CT-1g4POAL2GcwXipNZ6IxXxYm-isAcXPlbGtTOI9A8UzU3n-QBJn0Yg21-J98ToJPMxty0auG8om8024RxlJu20A0kfR5JakDXqlbMenUtHtSUGqLs/s1600/IMG_4689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8K0cczcj0h9aICtxRKoF_Ri1CT-1g4POAL2GcwXipNZ6IxXxYm-isAcXPlbGtTOI9A8UzU3n-QBJn0Yg21-J98ToJPMxty0auG8om8024RxlJu20A0kfR5JakDXqlbMenUtHtSUGqLs/s320/IMG_4689.JPG" width="320" /></a>Last week I set up a new aquarium. Normally when I set up a new aquarium, I use a mixture of my favourite products like soil, water treatments and plants. All from different companies claiming to offer great results. This time round I have chosen to stick with one brand for soil, water treatment and plant care.<br />
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Ive went with Prodibio. My reason for this is that I have used some of their products in the past and found them to be good. Ive never really been able to see how good because Ive used different products together.<br />
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The aquarium is an Aqualantis Deco Horizon 50 which is a 54 litre tank. I chose this tank because its a nice size to test out these products.<br />
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First of all let me tell you what I'm using. For more information on each product you can click on the link which will take you to the Prodibio website.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.prodibio.com/products/start-seed-aquarium-soil-bacteria-biological-filtration-nutrients-plant-root-growth-bacter-kit" target="_blank">BacterKit Soil</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.prodibio.com/products/enriched-soil-aquarium-fresh-water-development-plants-roots-growth-water-quality-bacteria" target="_blank">AquaGrowth Soil</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.prodibio.com/start-quickly-cycle-tank-aquarium-water-bacteria-biological-filtration" target="_blank">Start Up nano</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.prodibio.com/care-treatment-biological-filtration-fresh-water-tank-bioclean" target="_blank">BioClean Fresh nano</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.prodibio.com/plant-fertilizer-growth-aquarium-tank-fresh-water-biovert" target="_blank">BioVert nano</a></li>
</ul>
According to Prodibio, this is everything you need to set up a healthy aquarium. They even go as far as saying you can add your strongest fish as quick as 4 hours after filling it with water. Having used Prodibio trace elements in a few of my last setups, I have added fish within this timescale and never lost a single one so I know its good stuff. This time round I added my fish within 12 hours.<br />
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First up was the BacterKit Soil. Having used various soils & gravels in the past I was unsure how this would work. The instructions were very clear.<br />
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<ol>
<li>Add about an inch of water to the aquarium</li>
<li>Add the full contents of one BacterKit soil box for every 60l of water</li>
<li>Add your Aquarium soil</li>
</ol>
It really is as simple as that. Here is a video just showing how easy it actually is to use.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7xyu_v0vj4k" width="560"></iframe>
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Once the substrate was in there, I played about with my hardscape for a while (long while) until I was happy with the layout. I then added my plants. With maintenance in mind, I opted for some simple plants that are not very demanding. My choice of plants was the following.<br />
<ul>
<li>Bucephalandra 'wavy green' </li>
<li>Anubias Barteri 'nana </li>
<li>Cryptocoryne Beckettii 'Petchii</li>
</ul>
All three of these plants are listed in Tropica aquarium plants 'easy' list which means they don't require much in the sense of maintenance apart from some fertiliser.<br />
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Now with all the wood, stone and plants in place I had to call it a night. This aquarium is in my sons bedroom and unfortunately he had to go to sleep. So it was the next day before I was able to get back to work. Filling the aquarium, I used dechlorinated tank water and placed a plastic bag over the substrate to prevent disturbing the layout. In the past Ive all but destroyed new aquascapes just trying to fill it with water. Using this method is easy and really does make a difference.<br />
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Now the tank is filled and the filters, heater and lights are all up and running. The final step is to add the Prodibio vials.<br />
<ol>
<li>BioDigest Start - which included live bacterias to speed up the nitrogen cycle and convert ammonia into nitrites, nitrites into nitrates and nitrates into nitrogen. It also prevents the spread of algae. </li>
<li>Ammo Start - This traps and stops ammonia while reducing nitrite. All helpful when adding fish. This will prevent shock or death (new tank syndrome).</li>
<li>BioTrace - Worth its weight in gold! Biotrace contains everything your aquarium will need to establish itself and thrive. With Microelements such as vitamins, enzymes and amino acids which would all be found in nature along side trace elements of sulphur and iron. All these elements are exactly what your plants and fish need to be healthy.</li>
<li>BioVert - Four trace elements designed for freshwater plants. This is is a complete food for your plants. Obviously good water and CO2 would be required to give your plants absolutely everything they need. The elements included are Iron, Magnesium, Potassium and Sulphur. No nasty phosphates or nitrates here. You can also use Biovert in shrimp tanks which is what I intend on putting in this tank.</li>
</ol>
Now that everything was added, I let the aquarium rest for a few hours. I returned that evening to add four Harlequin rasboras and two rams horn snails. Having used the Prodibio startup in the past, I was confident all would be well and the fish would be fine.<br />
The tanks now been running for just over a week now and I'm beginning to notice the Anubias has began to attach itself to the wood and new leaves are appearing on the Bucephalandra. I will be doing weekly water changes and adding BioVert and BioTrace every 15 days to keep the tank nice and healthy. I will also be adding some CO2 to give the plants an added boost.<br />
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I love this stuff. I love its simplicity, quality and I especially like the fact it comes in little glass vials. Im looking forward to seeing the results of using only Prodibio on this aquarium.<br />
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If your planning a new tank soon and are unsure about adding salts, liquid fertilisers, root tablets etc, I definitely recommend giving this a try. It is a little bit more expensive but for its simplicity alone its worth paying a little bit extra.<br />
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I will be offering anyone in the UK some samples of Biovert soon so keep your eyes open for the Facebook post on Lothian Fishkeepers<br />
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Here is a video of me adding the prodibio vials to my aquarium to give you an idea of just how easy this is.<br />
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Please subscribe to our youtube channel for regular updates on this project and more reviews<br />
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thanks for reading<br />
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Bye for now<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y-OEPrNURIA" width="560"></iframe>
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<br />Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-34002433637705608132017-09-22T09:50:00.000+00:002017-09-22T09:50:36.812+00:00Freshwater Life Project - Charity auction<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi Guys, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">John Cudworth, a Lothian Fishkeepers member maintains clients aquariums all over Scotland. His company Auqalandscape has been looking after one aquarium in particular for over 6 years. With the closure of this clients bar, the aquarium is no longer required and John has been asked to close it down. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Closing down aquariums is always a tricky job at the best of times but for John its made even trickier due to John only being in the area one day a week. This is why He has decided to donate the contents of this aquarium to a charity. The charity he has picked is called The Freshwater Life Project.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cpetvFqjRAmD5y3TMSIRavNfiq1w-iiXbj8Klk1OIs96KFjnSR79PVMmiNiCk3UWO4EjD2ioveHhz4qinm-Xqu81Gom0GD_ejaHazhqVKb4XU-1Stx-g511fDw-0NEUj01ulQvxnp0Y/s1600/14915539_1828316134082948_1047120411809648111_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="492" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cpetvFqjRAmD5y3TMSIRavNfiq1w-iiXbj8Klk1OIs96KFjnSR79PVMmiNiCk3UWO4EjD2ioveHhz4qinm-Xqu81Gom0GD_ejaHazhqVKb4XU-1Stx-g511fDw-0NEUj01ulQvxnp0Y/s200/14915539_1828316134082948_1047120411809648111_n.png" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Freshwater Life Project is a team of independent researchers working towards preserving aquatic habitats worldwide </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">to ensure the future of the wildlife that lives on them and ensure freshwater ecosystems thrive well into the future. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">John has asked me to </span>organise the auction on his behalf and I think the best way to do this is to offer two different auctions. One for the plants and hardscape and the other for the fish. Each auction is for the complete list and therefor bidders should know they are bidding on the following:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><u>Auction number one</u></b></span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Giant Vallisneria - this makes up the bulk of the plants)</li>
<li>Cryptocoryne - a mixture of crypts in various conditions</li>
<li>Java Fern - large bunches all over the aquarium</li>
<li>Various other plants scattered about.</li>
<li>Various pieces of driftwood and branches with Java Fern attached</li>
</ul>
<b><u>Auction number two</u></b><div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">7 x Silver Sharks, approx 6-8 inches</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">2 x Fully grown Siamese Algae Eaters</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">2 x Adult Tiger Barbs</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">3 x Bristlenose </span>Places (at least 1 x male and 2 x females)</li>
<li>2 x Pimelodus Pictus, a possible pair (or maybe something similar) </li>
<li>3 x Massive Amano Shrimp</li>
</ul>
The gravel is also filled with an infinite amount of Malaysian Trumpet Snails working away turning the gravel over and cleaning up excess food etc which will be available too.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORTJBSgwf00c2c-Ql0tzGV_17wlaPcle4HkDJXHMvvnnd9uBnafZk1SlckZZZUgytaOYWH-x19LVBtuN47UE3AhGE7QBDLsw7Bcm2xFIIZvRr9aynbEN9n7C-M2ecH0AgwI9K252jzAs/s1600/21688462_10154731299230303_7017143813213181317_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORTJBSgwf00c2c-Ql0tzGV_17wlaPcle4HkDJXHMvvnnd9uBnafZk1SlckZZZUgytaOYWH-x19LVBtuN47UE3AhGE7QBDLsw7Bcm2xFIIZvRr9aynbEN9n7C-M2ecH0AgwI9K252jzAs/s320/21688462_10154731299230303_7017143813213181317_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To give you an idea of the size of fish and plants, the aquarium is the <br />Juwel Rio Vision 26o which is 120cm long.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I am going to run the auctions on our Facebook page for the next two weeks. Simply place your bid in the comments to enter and the highest bidder at the end of the two weeks will be the lucky winner.<br />
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Why not get together with some friends and split the fish? As long as each auction is collected at one time, this is perfectly fine. The nature of this tank closure only requires that everything is collected at the same time.<br />
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All funds raised are for a great cause so bid generously but before placing a bid, please consider the following terms to prevent any disappointment.<br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li>Winner must collect from Edinburgh in person</li>
<li>Collection must be arranged via John Cudworth</li>
<li>Only place our bid if you are 100% sure you can collect everything in person</li>
</ul>
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Bidding will start at zero and all bids are taken as your intention to win these brilliant prizes. The winners can pay via PayPal and 100% of the winning bid will go straight to The Freshwater Life Project to help support them and their worth cause.<br />
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If you have any questions please contact me by emailing john@thelothianfishkeeperchannel.com or by sending a message on Facebook.<br />
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Good luck guys</div>
Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-39282379576998427182017-08-31T22:45:00.000+00:002017-09-09T08:59:29.203+00:00Mr FishScience - Dr David PoolHi Guys,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLY4_hr_HCYQXkbCoBF0xgROgV7CV6TjEgJXE63TfohTHdQkBYqtCt1Aum1HiO05VvBlyr9SvH9oFQ7g-lhlG0lmqdqwoJUTN4OKoPkmfxAJLipDJajllGeIFuZXVrKs23yuWA-uiJ4PU/s1600/Dr_David_Pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="581" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLY4_hr_HCYQXkbCoBF0xgROgV7CV6TjEgJXE63TfohTHdQkBYqtCt1Aum1HiO05VvBlyr9SvH9oFQ7g-lhlG0lmqdqwoJUTN4OKoPkmfxAJLipDJajllGeIFuZXVrKs23yuWA-uiJ4PU/s320/Dr_David_Pool.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Ive been talking a lot about the FishScience foods recently so I thought it was about time I shared a little about the man behind FishScience. Dr David Pool is a familiar face in aquatic shops up and down the country and has been working very hard to establish FishScience as a fishkeepers favourite. I recently asked Dave some questions to find out a little more about the story of FishScience and how it came about.<br />
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(88, 86, 214); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>First if all, can you introduce yourself?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>My name is David Pool. I have been a fish keeper for almost 50 years (I started at a young age!!!) and have been fortunate enough to make my hobby into a career. I obtained a degree in Zoology at the University of Liverpool, with fish and aquatic biology as a major part of the study. I then did a PhD in fish health - more specifically ‘The biology of the Pseudophylidean Cestode Bothriocephalus acheilognathi’. This was a tapeworm that affected carp and koi that originated in Japan but has spread around the world.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I worked for Tetra for around 25 years, originally answering consumer queries about fish and fish keeping; doing talks to aquatic societies as well as promoting fish keeping on tv and radio. I then spent some time in marketing, sales and global marketing before managing the UK and South African businesses.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>During my time at Tetra and more recently with FishScience I have had the opportunity to be on the board of directors of the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association, to promote, support and protect the aquatic trade in the UK. I have also been closely involved with the formation and running of the AQUA trade shows having been the Chairman since it’s inception in 2011.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I started FishScience 4 years ago with the exiting challenge of trying to establish a new fish food in the UK and global aquatic market.</i> </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Being in the industry for over 30 years, your experience has not only provided us with several books and articles over the years, its has created a fish food that is taking the county by storm. you must be proud?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I’m very proud of where FishScience is and what we have achieved with the food in a little over 4 years. It has been hard work at times, but also very enjoyable</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What gave you the idea for FishScience?<span style="color: #5856d6;"> </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I wanted to produce a food that was based on natural ingredients and that recreated the diet that fish would eat naturally. A food that was based on sound scientific principles and one that did what it said on the tin.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(88, 86, 214); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Insect meal? What was your reason for using this as a base for your product? </span></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The idea of using Insect Meal came from a chance conversation with an old contact and was a bit of a ‘light bulb’ moment. Most of the fish we keep are not fish eaters and yet most of the foods we use are based on fish meal. Insect meal provided a way of putting this right and using an ingredient that these fish would normally eat. The trials on the food have been better than I could have hoped for with great food conversion ratios, low waste and, importantly, the fish really liked it If you add the fact that insect meal is environmentally friendly and sustainable it was almost a perfect ingredient.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>In parallel, insect meal is also making the headlines as a food for the future, not just for fish but also as a key food source for humans. The claims are that everyone will be eating insects within 20 years.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sustainability is something we hear a lot about on TV. To know that using FishScience is helping maintain fish populations and reducing the waste levels being retuned to our waterways is kind of cool. Do you think other pet foods like dog food should make the change? </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Some fish foods on the market use fish meal that is sourced ethically, others take fish meal that comes from wild populations of marine fish. It is very often trash fish which is made up from juvenile specimens and fish that aren’t being fished for at that time. The insect meal used in our foods is made from Black soldier fly larvae that are cultured on waste fruit and vegetables along with brewery waste. The company rearing the insects are producing protein from materials which would normally go to waste. There are opportunities for a lot more foods to take advantage of this sustainable source of protein. I don’t know enough about dog or cat nutrition to say whether the amino acids in insect protein meet their dietary requirements, but am sure it will be suitable for aquaculture, some bird feeds and maybe small animal feeds.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">On your website, you mention your university days. More specifically, your interests in fish Disease. apart from applying this knowledge to FishScience, you often visit aquarist societies and give talks on this subject. Why is this important to you?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I have been a fish keeper for a long time and the opportunity to study fish and fish health at University was one that I really enjoyed. However I realised that there was a gap between the scientific research into fish and fish diseases vs the more practical knowledge and expertise that fish keepers acquire. If possible I would like to pull the two together and get the science to explain the observations that fish keepers have. I enjoy helping fish keepers to understand a little more about their fish and what makes them healthy ……… and unhealthy!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">having personal relationships with fishkeepers up and down the country really sets you apart from all the other brands of fish foods. You often approach clubs and online groups to get honest feedback from fishkeepers themselves. why go to these lengths for feedback and not just approach shop owners to ask how its selling ?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Throughout my time at Tetra and more recently FishScience I have made some great friends and contacts in the fish keeping world. They have an immense knowledge of the fish they keep and what those fish require. It is really useful to be able to use this in trying to develop the FishScience products. Getting real life fish keepers to trial the foods and give me their honest feedback is invaluable. Everyone keeps their fish slightly differently and having comments from people who slightly overfeed or overstock their aquaria is as important as the feedback from people with bare tanks and only a few fish. It all helps to improve the foods. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I also ask shop owners for their feedback. Every food in the FishScience range has been trialed by at least 50 fish keepers or shops before it is launched for general sale. I try to get people who keep the fish that the food is intended for. The Corydoras food, for example was tripled by Ian Fuller and his colleagues at Corydoras World. Ian’s feedback on the initial foods allowed us amend things and produce the food that is available today - and which is being used by cory keepers around the world.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Being in constant contact with the people that use your foods definitely an advantage?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Very much so. They influence the foods both in the current FishScience range and the new products we are considering for the future.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">So FishScience is a true fishkeepers food then?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I would like to think it is. It doesn’t compromise on the ingredients used to ensure it is as good as possible. I believe most fish keepers want the food that is best for their fish and that is what FishScience is aiming to provide.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">My personal favourite food to use is the insect meal based granules. all my fish go crazy for them. do you have a favourite to use at home?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I particularly like the Fish Treats. The idea of treating your fish and attracting them to the front of the aquarium where you can see them appeals. We have received some fantastic images of fish crowding round the foods which is great to see. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">With a range of foods covering reptiles, pond fish, goldfish and freshwater fish, whats next for FishScience?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>There are still some improvements we can make to the existing foods. This is based on my observations, but also the feedback and comments from fish keepers who have used the foods. I am working on some marine foods using natural ingredients such as shrimp, krill and marine algae. The first food, a Marine Krill Food, is being trialed by fish keepers at the moment and should be available in October 2017. In addition we are missing some foods for the larger, more predatory species such as oscars, rays ad arrowana. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Thanks Dave, for taking time to answer these questions. FishScience is warming the hearts of fishkeepers up and down the country and knowing who is behind these great foods is a real bonus. Already </span></span>enjoying<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> most of the FishScience foods just now, I </span></span>can't<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> wait to try out the new ones when they hit the shelves.</span></span></div>
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If you like FishScience, visit their Facebook page and like/follow them for cool facts and updates on new foods. Dave is also available to give talks to societies when he is not our visiting fish shops. To find out how to invite him to your club, message FishScience direct <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FishScience/" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-36574489261784378662017-08-26T09:24:00.000+00:002017-08-30T16:04:47.382+00:00Tropical Fish Granular Food from FishScience - ReviewHi Guys,<br />
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The thing I like most about maintaining an aquarium is the ability to create my very own slice of nature right there in my own home. Watching fish grow and develop into adult fish and see their colours change along the way. Experiencing the behaviour each fish will display when protecting there territory or young and watching male fish show off to females is just amazing at times.<br />
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I believe this is achievable by giving your fish the best possible conditions to live in. For me this comes in three elements.<br />
<ul>
<li>Water</li>
<li>Environment</li>
<li>Diet</li>
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Providing your fish with clean water that matches the ph, flow and temperature as they would have in the wild is vital. Also creating an environment such as dense plants to hide in or lots of stones and caves always makes fish relaxed and promotes natural behaviour.<br />
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Diet however is a very important issue when caring for fish. Its always vital to research your chosen fish before adding them to your tank. Carnivore species like a lot of south American cichlids require protein in their diets and in turn herbivore fish like Malawi cichlids only eat agae in the wild so in the aquarium they require a similar diet. Omnivore fish such as Angelfish do require vegetation and protein so a balanced diet offering both veg and meat is a must to get the best out of your fish.<br />
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Finding the right food for your fish can be overwhelming for a new fish keeper. For the experienced aquarist its often the case that they have found a particular brand of food that works well for them so they stick to this and rarely consider other food.<br />
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My current stockist of fish includes a mixture of omnivores, herbivores and carnivores. My cabinet is full of all different kinds of food to suit my fish. I have frozen foods, flake, granules pellets and tablets from lots of different manufacturers but there is one I particularly like to use more than all the others. This is because every single fish in the aquarium takes it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJVMlVlpDIElSZpSgu2e1u3QrnW48o-ZaNKJVX1M3_iKcAvYqgjrh1yTzGHASYVGB1GPvHHrgri_ermhleAUpyHBvpTtE4GBbsAj6MLb1A8DOHTAOrmU4BuVOYy4BYm7tiPwN4M3BgDs/s1600/granular+tub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJVMlVlpDIElSZpSgu2e1u3QrnW48o-ZaNKJVX1M3_iKcAvYqgjrh1yTzGHASYVGB1GPvHHrgri_ermhleAUpyHBvpTtE4GBbsAj6MLb1A8DOHTAOrmU4BuVOYy4BYm7tiPwN4M3BgDs/s200/granular+tub.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">FishScience - Tropical Fish Granular Food</span></div>
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<li>There are a few things that stand out about this food. Firstly and probably the most obvious reason and thats the fact that my fish just go wild for it. As soon as it hits the water, the fish decent into a frenzy. Its great when someone comes to have a look at my fish, I know that one sprinkle of this food will have all my fish swimming about. The Congo tetra even jump when taking the food just before it sinks. I don't know if its the taste or smell or what but this dried food sets my aquarium ablaze with activity as if I just added live food. Ive not had a dried food like this before.</li>
<li>There is never any waste, within a few seconds of touching the water surface, the granules start to sink, allowing the slower swimming fish to get their fill. By the time the remaining food gets to the bottom (if any), its devoured by any bottom feeding fish such as my Steatocranus Titanti Cichlids. Even my Plecos will get in on the action on occasion. Having a food that gets completely consumed is handy when you have a planted tank because anyone who has one will know that needing to disturb your aquascape every week during maintenance can be deflating so knowing your foods not going to be building up in the hard to reach areas just makes life easier. </li>
<li>With a granule size of 1.5mm its good for large and small fish alike. which is why it especially suits my main tank. My Congo tetra range from one inch to nearly four inches, so it's a great match for them all. The granules themselves are quite angular and have a big surface area. This means they softer quickly and are very easy to eat. I've kept all kinds of fish in the past and some of them have required specific foods and even target feeding so to have a food you can just sprinkle in the water to suit your whole tank is a breeze. For smaller fish like rasboras etc, you can get this food in micro (0.5mm) granules too. Ive never tried that yet but with it being the same formula I'm sure it will be just as much of a hit as this one is. </li>
<li>Generally speaking, the majority of the fish we keep in our aquariums don't eat other fish in the wild. Most of our favourite fish will feed on fruit, algae, plants and insects that end up either in the water or on leaves and branches just above the water surface. The Mighty Arowana is know locally as the '<i>water monkey' </i>because of its ability to jump and pick insects from overhanging branches. So why feed our fish something that they don't eat in the wild if we don't have to? This is the message FishScience promote and I love that!</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUL3eOMNDMzSSwYSRWXeRI9adCfkeED2XOH6g-r_JW7fgy3HbYCdCFihlUvbQ3pULML8kDGhvK6UM7AVA3SNksFoB3ahyphenhyphenAodyXPfcqbQw4RwiWmh8HBK6GZqcprykbQplL_mQZzgEHVk/s1600/IMG_3251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUL3eOMNDMzSSwYSRWXeRI9adCfkeED2XOH6g-r_JW7fgy3HbYCdCFihlUvbQ3pULML8kDGhvK6UM7AVA3SNksFoB3ahyphenhyphenAodyXPfcqbQw4RwiWmh8HBK6GZqcprykbQplL_mQZzgEHVk/s320/IMG_3251.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
These are the reasons why I use this particular food more than any others. I know it is important to offer your fish a varied diet and I do provide this in various forms but the Tropical Fish Granular Food is definitely my daily food. I get great colouring from my fish (or at least I think so anyway, I may be bias), I am witnessing plenty breeding activity and ''<i>flirting" </i>amongst my group of Congo tetras, which is great to watch.<br />
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Since FishScience introduced themselves to the Lothian Fishkeepers, Central Scotland has become one of the biggest consumers of their foods and its easy to see why. With such great quality why wouldn't we use it?<br />
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There is another aspect of the FishScience foods that I think is great and thats the minimal impact it has on the environment. with 99% of the ingredients being sourced from within the EU, there is very little air miles which reduces air pollution. The packaging is made out of recycled materials. But the biggest factor is the insect meal itself which generates far less waste during production that the alternative which is fish meal.<br />
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So if your looking for a new staple diet food for your fish, then I definitely recommend trying the Tropical Fish Granular Food from FishScience. Infact I think you will like it so much that I will be giving away a tub of it very soon on our Facebook page....<br />
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Thanks for reading this review guys, I hope it gives you some food for thought (see what I did there)<br />
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Please check out this video of my fish all enjoying their Tropical Fish Granular Food <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9vn5zc7pn8" target="_blank">here</a><br />
remember and subscribe to the blog my visiting again on your computer.<br />
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Bye for now<br />
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Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714579811225299921.post-18579778184343352302017-08-21T00:12:00.001+00:002017-08-30T16:04:03.513+00:00Meet Alex Carslaw<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Lothian Fishkeepers has some very talented members. Fishkeepers that have achieved what many of us have ever wished for. Being able to boast a collection of rare, wild, and damn right stunning fish must be great. But running a shed with the kind of fish like Alex Carslaw, comes with a level of commitment that borderlines obsession. However Alex Carslaw has just what it takes and I was delighted when he agreed to answer some questions for the Lothian Fishkeeper Channel.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>And this is what he said...</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Firstly, for anyone that’s not familiar with you, can you introduce yourself?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello John, firstly, thank you for the opportunity to feature in your blog. As you will already know my names Alex Carslaw, I keep and breed mostly the Rainbowfish and Blue-eyes of Australasia. I operate from my custom-built fish house in my garden which houses 28 tanks ranging from 50 litres to 360 litres.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">You have been in the hobby for over 30 years, how did it all begin?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first ever tropical fish I saw was in my late uncles house when I was about 11 years old. A lovely tank full of Neon’s and Angelfish and as I had, like many other fish keepers, just been introduced to fishing I took a very keen interest in its progress. Shortly after that my uncle passed away and the upkeep of the tank was not an option. It wasn’t till I was 19 did I come across another, this belonged to my now wife. She ended up marrying me for my looks (obviously) and I married her for her fish tank, Lol. My wife’s family owned a little pet shop next the barras in Glasgow’s gallowgate called Sandy’s pets so I now had access to hundreds of species I had only ever seen in a book and was well and truly hooked.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Could you describe your current stockist?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I currently house 16 species of Rainbowfish and 3 species of Blue-eyes as well as other family’s such as Killifish, Catfish, Barbs, Rasboras, Bettas, the list is endless as I often forget what I keep!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">You have some very interesting species but its rainbowfish that your known for worldwide. When did your love begin for these often-overlooked tropical fish?</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__KG91poUnslY0D_10SZSTzPozp2mBaIyoni1iBbCgJqa2Sbx56ZLiD7Hl2M_J-PS82BRaiUalS0LLqI6xwSTtKg-sUY1RQTSZU1LXuGjL50921c9sST7nWMDqUveAV1IliHJrlJ4NIA/s1600/21014968_1418832481529789_1263648901_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1006" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__KG91poUnslY0D_10SZSTzPozp2mBaIyoni1iBbCgJqa2Sbx56ZLiD7Hl2M_J-PS82BRaiUalS0LLqI6xwSTtKg-sUY1RQTSZU1LXuGjL50921c9sST7nWMDqUveAV1IliHJrlJ4NIA/s200/21014968_1418832481529789_1263648901_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFwHG1JluxXSHoTaRm-gnXB0qU7JG5p83LKNc4Iac-_S_8MczmTxaldCOOs5VoUrluaXBsNeEdfjMjNkxFJMZexjZMr6WQ4L0dHVfFJafnvEKzFHruLfL8Zr8sB_rBMGdXumbD6YUAOI/s1600/20939072_1418831928196511_1186226501_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFwHG1JluxXSHoTaRm-gnXB0qU7JG5p83LKNc4Iac-_S_8MczmTxaldCOOs5VoUrluaXBsNeEdfjMjNkxFJMZexjZMr6WQ4L0dHVfFJafnvEKzFHruLfL8Zr8sB_rBMGdXumbD6YUAOI/s200/20939072_1418831928196511_1186226501_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It all began when I first set my eyes upon the iconic Melanotaenia boesemani. I was working for a Glasgow Importer of tropical fish at the time. I think I spent my week’s wages on them! Next Rainbowfish I obtained was the Red </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: inherit;">Rainbowfish, Glossolepis Incisus which was the first one I bred. To date I have now bred 42 species.</span></div>
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<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are doing some very important work to help preserve these species in the wild. With more and more of the natural habitats being reduced, what can the average fish keeper do to help?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are seeing more and more new species becoming available. New access roads are being built in West Papua and making the discovery of these beauty’s easier but this comes at a price, the roads are being built for the de-forestation of the once pristine tropical rain forests and in their place, are massive oil palm plantations. Obtaining these new species and breeding them is the only hope of preserving them as the habitat they once lived in will be destroyed. The Island of West Papua and Papua New Guinea are probably the richest in the world for minerals and as such are subject to massive mining operations, both legal and Illegal with both having a crippling effect on the waterways. Sadly, foreign journalists are banned from West Papua by the Indonesian government as an Island dies screaming and no-one can hear it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Being a relatively young family of fishes, in evolutionary terms, Rainbowfish can be easily hybridised between closely related species so it pays to source your fish from a reliable source to ensure you have true species. There are a few stores that work closely with the guys at Rainbowfish UK as well as the International Rainbowfish Group (IRG) which ensures new and correctly identified species can be maintained and spread throughout our network.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you require any further information on obtaining true species or would like to join up at Rainbowfish UK don’t hesitate to contact myself or look for us on Facebook.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.11999999731779099px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Indigeous people believed the mountains were the gods and both preyed to them and feared them, then we arrived"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">With so many successful breeding projects behind you, you should be proud but is there one species that your especially proud to be able to say you bred?</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVkOmX4QlMaMydwYuBvg-khzBlIMzUIrDucJUnu6VrIQ9gknQeUfl7irtrpV9fkeysVwmcV4GJNJvpT7bZo3QzfKsYhZlEnQ9f6Aevq1xyMrYkr9kXAF9y6LffGq4wKX6pm3kooxoPU4/s1600/21014873_1418833071529730_2017323733_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVkOmX4QlMaMydwYuBvg-khzBlIMzUIrDucJUnu6VrIQ9gknQeUfl7irtrpV9fkeysVwmcV4GJNJvpT7bZo3QzfKsYhZlEnQ9f6Aevq1xyMrYkr9kXAF9y6LffGq4wKX6pm3kooxoPU4/s200/21014873_1418833071529730_2017323733_o.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In all honesty, I am proud of every fish I have bred, not just Rainbowfish. I take a lot of satisfaction when people come to me to obtain some of my home bred stock. It gives me a chance to give advice on the correct procedures for maintaining the species and is an excuse for a good natter, something I’m good at! </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4xUVPYB7tAOSmnEtZNTqnOY7n3hVdKSc0zb1JBBfkky0JTBBpcsvkt6pqVxmqQyTLBhbhGZmLY6_gMTa7_JRAKkVtdt-mQr5FVtb77mnSIx-cn8poXoVfw6y_k-LR1ICVqzHQsqVDE8/s1600/20991523_1418831771529860_313419569_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4xUVPYB7tAOSmnEtZNTqnOY7n3hVdKSc0zb1JBBfkky0JTBBpcsvkt6pqVxmqQyTLBhbhGZmLY6_gMTa7_JRAKkVtdt-mQr5FVtb77mnSIx-cn8poXoVfw6y_k-LR1ICVqzHQsqVDE8/s200/20991523_1418831771529860_313419569_o.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If I had to pick one out it would probably be the Chocolate Gourami, it was one of the first non-Rainbowfish I bred back in the 80’s. There was no Internet and advice was practically non-existent on the subject so I was proud to manage to achieve it. No digital cameras existed but we did manage some photos and had slides made, which we presented at our local club. I have no clue what happened to them so that’s kind of disappointing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rainbowfish can be often overlooked and not a new fish keeper first choice. if you were trying to sell these fish to a new fish keeper, what would you say to them?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Without doubt, if I was a retailer, I would have a display tank full of mature specimens, arranged to show them off to their best potential. Usually when I have visitors they are quick to comment when they see the big Rainbowfish in my display tank in the fish house. The key to getting them to show off is security and highly oxygenated clean water, make them feel secure and they will show their best.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">RainbowfishUK is a vital databank for any rainbow fish keeper. What gave you the idea to set these up and do you think social media has played a part in the promoting of rainbow fish care?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are lucky to have some fantastic photographers at Rainbowfish UK so the site is not set up as an advice site but more of a data bank of images where people can get help in Identifying what species they may have as well as some basic information on each species. We would always advise people to download the brilliant Adrian Tappin’s free eBook, his lifetimes work with Rainbowfishes which he decided to make available free to everyone. The link is at the bottom of this blog.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Social media has played a massive part in bringing Rainbowfish keepers together worldwide, creating a network easily accessed like never before.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Having been in the hobby for over 30 years, you must have met a lot of fish keepers. has there been anyone that you would say has influenced you throughout?</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIem02CHqtyZ86jqkv-Rd5LFQlGUwjgEesS3j9v-0C-e4FtPzd6VuF0OppUtTMZfZ2KirKxsj1ZsGSTiTeUqaIEhGwmg4vcTqRk0M-jhFdwQmUPXcu6A7RX7kq7hp-3UyNsWonu9pz5s8/s1600/20986464_1418832831529754_1131779972_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="526" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIem02CHqtyZ86jqkv-Rd5LFQlGUwjgEesS3j9v-0C-e4FtPzd6VuF0OppUtTMZfZ2KirKxsj1ZsGSTiTeUqaIEhGwmg4vcTqRk0M-jhFdwQmUPXcu6A7RX7kq7hp-3UyNsWonu9pz5s8/s200/20986464_1418832831529754_1131779972_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Through my work with Rainbowfishes I’m lucky to get invited to conventions and clubs to share my experiences. Earlier on in the year I was invited over to the Netherlands to speak at the IRG convention where I met a lot of people I have only ever spoken to online. One of my fellow speakers was a guy called Marten Luter Salossa from West Papua. Marten does some fantastic work highlighting the critical danger that faces Melanotaenia boesemani in its habitat, it was an honour and a privilege to spend time with him. In the Rainbowfish world, another two guys that stand out are Gary Lange and Johannes Graf and I spent my Saturday night with both them and Marten planning this year’s collecting trip to West Papua, for a Rainbowfish geek like myself, it was heaven!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If I had to pick someone out though it would have to be Heiko Bleher. A major influence to myself and my fish and a good friend as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">More exciting news will be revealed soon about Heiko so stay tuned!</span></span></div>
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<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your shed is well known and one that has housed some very nice fish in its time. at this moment, which tank are you spending most of your time looking at?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Probably my tank of exclamation barb fry. It’s a fish not often been bred and I’m excited to watch the progress!</span></span></div>
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<i style="color: #222222;">I have to say thanks again to Alex for sharing his thoughts with us and I hope to see loads more from Alex in the future. Anyone that has ever picked up some fish from Alex will know that not only do you get a very high quality bred fish, you walk away with a full understanding of how to care for that fish and even breed them too. Keep up the good work Alex and I personally am looking forward to seeing your progress on the exclamation fish you mentioned. </i></div>
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For anyone in the central Scotland area this evening, Alex is giving doing a talk for the Kirkcaldy Aquatic Society. He will be focussing mainly on Blue eyes and everyone is welcome, including non-members.<br />
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<i style="color: #222222;">Thanks for reading guys.</i></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><i>please check out the links below to find out what Alex and the Rainbowfish UK guys are doing.</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghb5II_QMoFh4fs_TzwA7Av8ANAVhXRTl1peO-irXFGsgQppcHm1CtOutczHUeAvK12S3ch4XXvbOt19nqLkF_kLuwiEt_nBUajTkCOPNBRyfV_hiih8MDP99arxRU_30nldu3sqjGDC0/s1600/20986143_1418832584863112_1685781051_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="960" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghb5II_QMoFh4fs_TzwA7Av8ANAVhXRTl1peO-irXFGsgQppcHm1CtOutczHUeAvK12S3ch4XXvbOt19nqLkF_kLuwiEt_nBUajTkCOPNBRyfV_hiih8MDP99arxRU_30nldu3sqjGDC0/s320/20986143_1418832584863112_1685781051_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graffiti found in Tower Hamlets London</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-CSfPUDn4CzCg9ds9WLwPI_xeR937y17Fv05InMILiRE82jesw7Ajb8ITudH05PKHxpaJL-b_CYBUniMTxVE1wS757mhJE8QX52Hn6765mMEEulpIcqfL9Xtt938UtZqQnW9cFPwxDw/s1600/20986530_1418832131529824_1649642484_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-CSfPUDn4CzCg9ds9WLwPI_xeR937y17Fv05InMILiRE82jesw7Ajb8ITudH05PKHxpaJL-b_CYBUniMTxVE1wS757mhJE8QX52Hn6765mMEEulpIcqfL9Xtt938UtZqQnW9cFPwxDw/s320/20986530_1418832131529824_1649642484_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex recently featured in Practical Fishkeeping Magazine</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://rainbowfishuk.com/" target="_blank">Rainbowfish UK web</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/RainbowfishUK/" target="_blank">Rainbowfish UK Facebook</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/download/g7qzn85uqde8v8o/Rainbowfishes.2011.pdf" target="_blank">Adrian Tappins Rainbowfish eBook</a></span></span></div>
Lothian Fishkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02592972636675297559noreply@blogger.comWest Lothian, UK55.9070198 -3.551716700000042755.6220608 -4.1971637000000426 56.1919788 -2.9062697000000428