Modern Aquarium June 2011

June 2011volume XVIIInumber 4

ON THE COVEROur cover this month features a stained glass depiction of a killifish, Pseudoepiplatys annulatus, with an Anubias plant, from the fishroom of former GCAS President Joe Ferdenzi. For more on Joe's stellar fishroom, see Tommy Chang's article, "Fish Friends," on page 19. Photo by Joseph Ferdenzi

GREATER CITY AQUARIUM SOCIETY

Board MeMBers

President Dan RadebaughVice-President Edward VukichTreasurer Jules BirnbaumCorresponding Secretary Mario Bengcion Recording Secretary Tommy Chang

MeMBers at Large

Claudia Dickinson Pete D’OrioAl Grusell Ben HausEmma Haus Jason KernerLeonard Ramroop

CoMMittee Chairs

A.C.A. Delegate Claudia DickinsonBowl Show Leonard RamroopBreeder Award Warren Feuer Mark SobermanEarly Arrivals Al GrusellF.A.A.S. Delegate Alexander A. PriestMembership Marsha RadebaughPrograms Claudia DickinsonN.E.C. Delegate Claudia DickinsonTechnology Coordinator Warren Feuer

MODERN AQUARIUM

Editor in Chief Dan RadebaughCopy Editors Sharon Barnett Susan Priest Alexander A. PriestExchange Editors Stephen Sica Donna Sosna SicaAdvertising Mgr. Mark Soberman

In This IssueFrom the Editor

2G.C.A.S. 2011 Program Schedule

3President’s Message

4 Our Guest Speaker: George Richter

5Our Generous Sponsors & Advertisers

6My Favorite Fish

7The Kerri Tetraby stephen sica

A Little Help 9by dan radebaugh

Wet Leaves 11by susan Priest

Our Generous Members 12

Member Classifieds 13

Bowl Show Rules 14

MA Classics 15Breeding the Red-Tailed Black Shark

from the December, 1970 issue

Aquarium Plants 101 17by Jules Birnbaum

Fishkeepers Anonymous 19by susan Priest

Fish Friends 21The Amazing Joe Ferdenzi and his Awesome Fishroom

by tommy Chang

G.C.A.S. Happenings 24

The Undergravel Reporter 25Caveat Emptor

Fin Fun (Puzzle Page) 26Tetrazzini

Series III Vol. XVIII, No. 4 June, 2011

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)2 June 2011

From theEditor by Dan Radebaugh

This month we get to look at aquariums in a few different ways: keeping our favorite fish, keeping plants as part of

our fishes’ aquarium habitat, taking care of our tanks, breeding our fish, integrating the entire activity into a “fishroom” experience, and allowing that experience to help us integrate into our own social habitat.

Steve Sica starts us off with his current favorite fish, the Kerri tetra (Steve seems to have a lot of favorites, I notice). Tetras have been a mainstay of the hobby virtually since there has been a hobby, and this is a nice one! Using plants to beautify our tanks and improve our fishes’ habitat is covered by Jules Birnbaum in “Aquarium Plants 101.” My own contribution is a photo essay on getting a little tank maintenance help from a family member, while providing a catty young lady with a positive outlet for her energies.

Fish breeding is covered by a rather curious “MA Classics” entry. This piece appeared in the December, 1970 Modern Aquarium, reprinted from a British society newsletter. The name of the author is not given. Today it is well known that the red-tailed black shark (currently classified Epalzeorhynchos bicolor, and extinct in the wild) is bred in groups in large vats, using the addition of hormones. This article, if accurate, reports successfully spawning the fish in an aquarium. I guess in those days they didn’t know better.

In her “Wet Leaves” column this month, Sue Priest reviews a book that tells us how to put all these elements together. Stuart Thraves’ Setting Up a Tropical Aquarium – Week by Week looks like a useful read. Sue has reviewed a lot of books for us, and she seems particularly enthusiastic about this one. Speaking of useful, the Undergravel Reporter has some news of aquarium product recalls that we should all be aware of.

Tommy Chang, now officially one of our award-winning authors, takes us on a tour of former GCAS President Joe Ferdenzi’s fishroom―a worthy subject in itself―and also on a tour of Tommy's own experience as a member of Greater City.

In the “Fin Fun” puzzle, we end where we began―with tetras!

* * *Remember, as always, we need articles!

Modern Aquarium is produced by and for the members of Greater City Aquarium Society. Our members are our authors, and with ten issues per year, we always, always need more articles. I know several of you are keeping and/or breeding fish that I would like to know more about, and I’m certain other members would be interested as well. Share your experience with us. Write about it! If you’re a little unsure about the state of your writing technique, don’t worry – that’s why there are editors.

If you have an article, photo, or drawing that you’d like to submit for inclusion in Modern Aquarium, it’s easy to do! You may fax it to me at (877) 299-0522, email it to [email protected], or just hand it to me at a meeting. However you get it to me, I’ll be delighted to receive it!

From theEditor by Dan Radebaugh

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY) June 2011 3

GCASPrograms

2011It is our great fortune to have another admirable cast of speakers who have so graciously

accepted our invitation to join us throughout the coming season, bringing us their extensive knowledge and experiences. You certainly won’t wish to miss a moment of our prominent

guests, not to mention the friends, fish, warmth, and camaraderie that accompanies each meeting. I know I can barely wait to see you here! Enjoy!

Claudia

June 1 George RichterAdventures on the Amazon River!

July 6 TBA

August 3 Silent Auction

September 7 TBA

October 5 TBA

November 2 Ted Judy Going Gabon!

December 7 Holiday Party!

January Winter Break

February Winter Break

Articles submitted for consideration in Modern Aquarium (ISSN 2150-0940) must be received no later than the 10th day of the month prior to the month of publication. Please fax to (877) 299-0522, or email to [email protected]. Copyright 2011 by the Greater City Aquarium Society Inc., a not-for-profit New York State corporation. All rights reserved. Not-for-profit aquarium societies are hereby granted permission to reproduce articles and illustrations from this publication, unless the article indicates that the copyrights have been retained by the author, and provided reprints indicate source and two copies of the publication are sent to the Exchange Editor of this magazine. Any other reproduction or commercial use of the material in this publication is prohibited without express written prior permission.The Greater City Aquarium Society meets every month, except January and February. Members receive notice of meetings in the mail. For more information, contact: Dan Radebaugh (718) 458-8437. Find out more, or leave us a message, at our Internet Home Page at: http://www.greatercity.org or http://www.greatercity.com


President’sMessage

by Dan Radebaugh

Not long ago I received a message from the Wildlife Conservation Society alerting me to the fact that

New York City plans to cut the budgets of organizations like the Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium by 50 per cent, and urging all who support those organizations to write to the mayor and city council and tell them that we don’t agree with these cuts. I’m sure most of you remember a similar episode last year when Governor Patterson announced a similar measure in the State budget.

After the financial crisis of the past couple of years, we all can appreciate that local governments are being hard-pressed to make ends meet, as are many of us as individuals. I’m sure we also understand that as cuts are proposed, the people and organizations affected are going to fight as best they can to be spared. In the end, if anticipated revenues won’t cover anticipated expenses, cuts will have to be made. One would hope however, that some kind of common sense would prevail, and efforts made to share the pain with some sense of proportion. Fifty per cent doesn’t seem to me to be very proportional, and I wonder how

that particular figure keeps popping up vis-à-vis the Zoo and the Aquarium.

If you do feel strongly about the importance of funding for the Zoo, the Aquarium, and other cultural institutions, now would be a good time to write, email, or phone your local government representatives to let them know how you feel. The animals can’t go out and picket in front of the TV cameras, so someone needs to be their voice. If not us, then who?

On another matter, Tropical Fish Hobbyist has let us know about a program whereby, at a very minimal cost to the club, members of Greater City (and other clubs, of course) can obtain a 12-month, digital-only subscription to TFH. The club would need to provide TFH with your email address so that they can send you an “opt-in” request for their digital edition. This evening, along with your issue of Modern Aquarium, you’ll be given a sheet of paper so that you can let us know whether you’d like to participate in this program. If you would, just fill in your name and email address, sign it, and return it to me or Marsha by the end of the meeting.

Dan

Computer Consulting

Repairs / UpgradesVirus RemovalData RecoveryDSL / Cable SetupWireless Internet

(718) [email protected]

Jason KernerConsultant

A+ Certified


The G.C.A.S.

Proudly extends a most Warm Welcometo

Our Guest SpeakerGeorge Richter

Speaking onAdventures on the Amazon River

George Richter has been keeping and/or collecting fish since his mother let him take responsibility for her

guppies when he was 9 or 10. With her help and guidance they managed to kill those guppies. However, the guppies were soon

replaced, and they persevered. He has always had some kind of fish since, and still manages to kill his share. George’s fish are now mostly South American, with many representing his multiple collecting trips to Peru. Over the years George has kept all sorts of fish from all over the world, including those from Lake Nyasa. Does that date him?

Rather than showing a bunch of fish pictures, people collecting, and streams cluttered with logs, George will give us a sample of the other wonders you will encounter on a collecting trip with MT Amazon Expeditions (formerly Margarita Tours). There is just much more to see in the area than fish.


GCASThanks You!

Our Generous Sponsors and AdvertisersThe Greater City Aquarium Society extends our heartfelt thanks to the following manufacturers for their generous donations. Thanks also to our advertisers, whose contributions to our success as a Society are deeply appreciated. Please patronize our supporters.

Rena Rolf C. Hagen San Francisco Bay BrandSeachemZoo Med Laboratories Inc.Cameo Pet Shop Coral AquariumNassau DiscusWorld Class AquariumZoo Rama Aquarium

Aquarium PharmaceuticalsAquarium Technology Inc Ecological Laboratories HBH Pet ProductsKoller-CraftKordon, LLCMarinelandMicrobe LiftOcean Nutrition AmericaOmega SeaRed Sea


My Favorite FishThe Kerri Tetra

Story and Photos by Stephen Sica

It’s all the fault of that T5 fluorescent bulb. Plain and simple. I was trying to cure myself of having too many favorite fish and plants when the bulb

blew. I researched a replacement on the internet, but as I was soon to find out, thirty-inch bulbs are difficult to secure. Fortunately, a vendor that I queried one night had one readily available for a very reasonable price. But then, instead of finalizing the purchase, I went to bed and fell asleep. I think that I must have heard Joe Ferdenzi, or perhaps Ebenezer Scrooge, or maybe even a Christmas ghost of some sort, since it was just days before December 25th. The mysterious voice kept telling me to patronize my local pet shop.

A few days later Donna and I were visiting her father, who resides in a local nursing facility. Coincidently, there is a fish pet shop just two blocks away from there that I occasionally visit. I told Donna that I would meet her shortly, and off I went to the shop with my faulty bulb in hand.

After a fruitless search, they informed me that they did not have the bulb in stock, but offered to order it. A promise was made that the supply house would deliver it in about four days. I agreed. Before leaving the shop, I browsed the freshwater fish and saw a tank full of “Kerri tetras.” Anyone who knows my fish habits knows that I like a small, schooling fish―especially if it’s a tetra. They looked somewhat

like emperor tetras, but they were smaller and blue. They were also less expensive than the emperors. The blue and the price caught my attention, but since I was leaving without the replacement bulb I didn’t want to purchase any fish. Also, I was looking forward to seeing my father-in-law, and a bag of fish would be inconvenient, as I had no idea when I would return home. “I’ll be back,” I thought.

Exactly one week later, after the first snowstorm of the winter, I returned to the pet shop. They retrieved all sorts and sizes of bulbs to show me, but not my T5. They told me that they would reorder it and phone me when it arrived. I again agreed.

No one ever phoned, but eleven days later I stopped off after another snowstorm and visit to Donna’s father. They had discarded the order list with my phone number, but they did have the bulb. I told

them to set it aside while I browsed, and went to the Kerri tetra tank. More than half of the fish had been sold, so I hurriedly purchased a nice group of twelve. Back home, I relegated them to a twenty gallon tank in the basement that housed five miscellaneous fish. I put the five in another tank with more “odds and ends” fish, so that the Kerri tetras could have their own home. Later that evening, I prepped my digital camera, and in the course of the next three or four days I proceeded to snap over two hundred photos of those


fish. After much aggravation and serious editing, a few photos were barely presentable. Those fish would not swim still! I got an urge to just drown them all, but realized that plan would not work, so I decided to write an article; otherwise I would have felt that I had wasted too much of my time!

I researched the internet and found a few facts about this fish―these apply to most tetras. The Kerri tetra, Inpaichthys kerri, is in the family Characidae,

sub-family Aphyocharacinae. It has been commonly known as the blue emperor tetra and sometimes the king tetra. It originates in the Amazon Basin of Brazil, as well as the upper Rio Aripuana, and Rio Madeira. Care level is easy. This peaceful fish should be maintained in a school, and it enjoys a planted tank. These fish are omnivores with simple food requirements. They eat just about anything, and live food is always a treat. In appearance the male has larger fins, especially the dorsal fin, and is more bluish than the female. Males may reach 1.6 inches and females 1.2 inches in length. Ideal water parameters are soft and slightly acidic, with temperatures between 75 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit. A minimum tank length of 20 to 24 inches is recommended. With proper care, the Kerri tetra can live for up to six years.

P.S. Donna proof-read this and said that I should get a life! Say what?


A Little Helpby Dan Radebaugh

Sometimes it all just gets to be too much. The water changes, the filter maintenance, making sure your fish aren’t killing one another, paying

enough attention to the fish who like to be paid attention to, etc., etc. So maybe it’s time for a little help. Where do you turn? Well, maybe to someone whose presence you’re taking for granted, but who might be willing to pitch in. Does anyone else in your household regularly pay attention to your fish?

If so, perhaps a little encouragement is in order. Start by encouraging their curiosity to study the habits and preferences of the species in your care.

When you feel your new apprentice is ready for some hands-on (well...) experience, water changes can be a useful and entertaining first step.

Fun and games with water changes is all very well and good. The enjoyable side of the hobby shouldn’t be overlooked, and we don’t want to scare away newcomers with too Calvinist an approach. Sooner or later though, the real work must be addressed. Filter maintenance can be complicated, so it’s best to demonstrate first. Your apprentice needs to be able to see exactly what you are describing. Be sure and provide, simple, clear explanations. A little theory in the beginning is not a bad thing, but don’t overwhelm your new helper with too many details. Do, however, be clear about the intended uses of the substrate!

Be nearby to give advice when needed, but don’t baby your apprentice too much. Solo experience is a must!


As I’m sure we all remember, a first solo experience cleaning and re-assembling cannister filters can be a bit stressful. It’s only natural to want to grab a catnap afterward. In the end though, if your’re diligent and patient in your teaching, your new helper will be confident and ready to pitch in again when needed!

Photos by Marsha Radebaugh

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY) June 2011 11Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY) June 2011 17

Setting Up A TropicalAquarium - Week by Week

By Stuart ThravesFirefly Books, 2009

A Series On Books For The Hobbyistby SUSAN PRIEST

Many authors have written books whichattempt to be an all-in-one treatise on the

subject of aquarium keepingand tropical fish. In myexperience and opinion, noone has succeeded in thiseffort as well as Mr. Thraves.

Before I begin mydiscussion of this book, I would like to share abrief story with you. I am acquainted with a veryfine gentleman by thename of Walter. Heknows that Al and Iare active in thetropical fish hobby,and recently he toldus of his interest ingetting reacquaintedwith swordtails, forwhich he has had anaffinity in the past.Here is an excerptfrom an e-mail whichhe sent us. “It hasbeen at least thirtyyears since I had anaquarium. Is thereany book that youcould recommendthat would give mea n u p - t o - d a t eaccount of the bestway to set one up? Iassume that therehave been advancesin aquarium plantings, feeding fish, diseasecontrol, filtration, aeration, etc., that make my oldbooks obsolete. I want to do things right.” WhatWalter had no way of knowing is that I have beenwriting this column since 1994, and that I havereviewed over 100 books on the subject of tropicalfish.

Inwardly I groaned a bit as I started to scanmy bookshelves. I couldn’t imagine that a singlebook would meet his needs, and I started tomentally compile as small an assortment as I could.Then, as coincidence would have it, this book

arrived at my doorstep the very next day. A fewdays earlier I had ordered several titles fromAmazon.com for future review in this column, andthis one was the first to arrive. Well! I can’tdescribe this any other way; Walter and Stuart area match made in heaven!

Thanks for taking a bit of your time to meetmy friend Walter. His query helps me to illustratethe high regard which I have for this book. WhenI have completed my review, I will be passing italong to him.

Let me start out by saying that this author hasa lot to offer hobbyists of alllevels of experience, and thatin itself is akin to a magictrick. The “Contents” consistsof a very nicely laid out time-line of the first twelve weeksin the life of an aquarium. Mr.Thraves hasn’t spelled it out

for us in so many words, so I will simply insert atthis point that it is the life of a community

aquarium. I like hisperspective on thesubject, which I willbriefly quote: “Unlikemany hobbies, wherelearning can bephased [in], and levelsof difficulty matchedwith emerging ability,fishkeeping requiresthe immediate graspo f a c r u c i a ltechnique—how toturn a transparent boxof water into anenvironment that willsustain life from dayone and beyond.”Day one, that is,adding the first fish,doesn’t actually takeplace until week three.

The photographythroughout is ofoutstanding quality.

Of particular usefulness are the many excellentphotos which demonstrate the “hands on”techniques being described in the text.

“First Thoughts and Decisions” is a detaileddiscussion of siting and picking out a tank.Beginners will want to take special notice, as thesepages are overflowing with good information.Observe that choosing a site comes first. Mr.Thraves suggests that you decide where you willput your aquarium before you purchase one. Don’tworry; he will explain why.

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)12 June 201118 June 2011 Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

The opening paragraph of “Building theSystem” uses such terms as “accessories,” “check-list,” and “budget.” Right from the start he lets usknow that a glass tank does not an aquarium make!Types of filtration, feeding of fish, testing of water,choices of substrate, CO2 systems, even theaddition of wood and rocks, are explained in detailwithin these 200 pages.

“Day Two” covers planting techniques, aswell as the plants themselves, along with lightingand water chemistry. Plants are a major area ofemphasis and interest for this author, as we will seeevidence of more than once. The model tank thathe is setting up which follows us from chapter tochapter has been planted with (among other things)several different varieties of Echinodoras (AKAAmazon sword plants). “There are manyswordplants to choose from. Bright light and ironrich fertilizers will maximize their potential.”

Another item under discussion here is thecutting edge technology of LED lighting foraquariums. “LED (light emitting diode) lightingcan produce an intense balanced light while usingminimal power and giving off very little heat.They run cool enough to touch, and only needreplacing every ten years.” Warning: this cuttingedge lighting does not come cheap!

This author answers a question which I haveasked myself many times. I have wondered whateffect dead plant material has on the aquariumenvironment. The answer to this question is that“spent plants” (my term, not his), will produceammonia, and therefore should be promptlyremoved.

The stunning photos of the fish show each ofthem off in larger-than-life detail. They will pushyour will power to its limits, as you will want toinclude each of them in your new community.Even fish which you have known for years willtake on a fresh appeal. The information on eachfish is not so much of the “encyclopedia” or “atlas”variety, but having more to do with aesthetics. Themaximum adult size for every fish is provided.

Mr. Thraves has us adding fish at three, five,and eight weeks. His suggestions range from thevery small White Cloud Mountain minnow,measuring less than two inches, to a snakeskingourami maxing out at eight inches. If you are abeginning aquarist, I would suggest that you startout with some of the smaller species.

I thought that an interesting suggestion foraddition to a community aquarium were several ofthe dwarf cichlids, such as the caucatoides or theviejita. I have always thought of them as needinga species tank. Danios and barbs would appear tobe among the author’s favorites.

Before you know it, you will have arrived atweek twelve, “The Finished Display.” Zebradanios, harlequin rasboras, and yes, a few dwarfcichlids, are in evidence. However, what ourauthor wants to talk about at this point are theplants, commenting on which ones need trimming,which ones need to be replaced, and even whichones are thriving.

No single book can do it all. (This one doesn’thave banana plants, bio-wheels, or a warningagainst using soaps or detergents on “fish stuff.”)But, I firmly believe that you, as well as your fish,will find a complete aquarium experience withinthe pages of this one.

“It is vital that you proceed carefully in apatient frame of mind.” I can easily see thatWalter, who is a retired geneticist, will bring amethodical and scientific approach to his newaquarium. I wish him great success andenjoyment.

Detailed notes on fish health and routinemaintenance complete the presentation, withphotos doing most of the talking. I would like tooffer you many more details from the pages of thisexcellent book, but in doing so I would no doubtomit something of interest or importance to each ofyou. The best advice I can offer is that youexplore it for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

Our Generous MembersEach month a blue sheet is located on our auction table where those members who donate items to the auction can indicate their donations if they wish to do so. Due to the immense generosity of those who donate, we have no shortage of items to be auctioned. A warm thank you to the following members and others who so generously contributed, making last month’s auction the bountiful success that it was:

Mario BengcionJules BirnbaumJeff BollbachGerry DomingoPete D’Orio

Rod DuCasseAl & Sue PriestDan PuleoCharley Sabatino Ed Vukich


Member Classifieds

EQUIPMENT:

Tanks: 2 15 gallon, 2 20 gallonCall Jack: 914-390-4682--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Computers (used): towers, laptopsCall Dan: 212-957-5300 ext 231


BOWL SHOWRULES

There is a Bowl Show at every GCAS meeting, except our Silent Auction/fleamarket meeting and our Holiday Party and Awards Banquet meeting (December). These shows are open to all members of GCAS. Rules are as follows:

Only current GCAS members may enter fish in the Bowl Show.•There is a limit of 2 entries per member per meeting.•Unlike some other clubs, every month is an “open” Bowl Show at the GCAS (i.e., there is no “theme,” •such that one month cichlids are judged, the next livebearers, the next anabantoids, etc.).Any fish that wins any prize (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) may not be entered again in the same meeting year.•The current Bowl Show Coordinator is Leonard Ramroop, who usually also serves as judge (although •guest speakers are often asked to do the judging honors).2.5 gallon containers are available for use (brought to the meetings by the Bowl Show Coordinator), •but entrants are responsible for providing enough (and suitable) water for their fish. For a fish too large (or too small) for those containers, entrants must supply a suitable container, •which must be clear on at least three sides.Only one fish per container (i.e., no “pairs”).•No plants, ornaments, or equipment (filters, airstone, etc.) are allowed in the judging tank (an external •mirror, or opaque cards between containers is acceptable, as is a cover that does not obstruct side viewing).Points are awarded: 5 points for 1st Place, 3 for 2nd Place, and 1 for 3rd Place.•Ribbons are awarded: blue for 1st Place, red for 2nd Place, and green for 3rd Place.•The person with the most points at the end of the meeting season receives the Walter Hubel “Bowl •Show Champion” trophy at the Awards Banquet.The decision of the judge(s) is final.•A running UNOFFICIAL total of the points awarded is printed in • Modern Aquarium. Only the tally of points maintained by the Bowl Show Coordinator is official.In case of ties• :1• st Tiebreaker – most 1st Places2• nd Tiebreaker – most 2nd Places3• rd Tiebreaker – most entries


MA ClAssiCsIn this installment of our series showcasing articles from past issues of Modern Aquarium, we feature a piece from the December, 1970 issue. Why current wisdom is that breeding Epalzeorhynchos bicolor requires the use of hormones, this piece would seem to indicate that aquarium spawning is possible. No author is credited.

16 June 2011 Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

DANBURY AREA AQUARIUM SOCIETY

Serving the Hudson Valley Area, Westchester, Fairfield, and Litchfield

Counties

26th AUCTION - Spring 2011!

TO BE HELD AT THE: Carmel Firehouse

94 Gleneida Ave (Corner of Route 52 & Vink Drive)

Carmel, NY 10512

, 1 red dot, 50/50 split, *60/40 for 6 or more lots, and preprinted lot #

labels (no description, please label your bags)

*Acceptable lots will be determined by the auction committee

Vendors: TBD

Food &Refreshments will be available

REGISTRATION.................................8:30 AM TO 11:15 AM

VIEWING OF GOODS........................10:00 AM TO 11:15 AM

AUCTION..................................................11:30 AM TO 5 PM

RAFFLE..........................................................................50 / 50


Aquarium Plants 101by Jules Birnbaum

To my way of thinking, aquarium plants should be living things. I hate plastic in a fish tank. I’ve tried plastic plants, and they do nothing for

me. As Joe Ferdenzi once told me long ago, if you buy plastic plants, you should buy plastic fish.

When putting together a new aquarium, the joy of seeing the completed picture is its natural look in your living room. I can’t tell you how often looking at my aquarium has given me a sense of peace during a day that was filled with news of war, death, and unemployment.

Years ago, live plants were part of what was called a balanced aquarium. Plants, snails, fish, and other organisms were to balance the ecology within the tank to create a true miniature system.

In William T. Innes’ book, Exotic Aquarium Fish, written in the early 1900s, he describes plants not as oxy-generators, but as purifiers and beautifiers. Mr. Innes was of the opinion that in theory, water changes don’t need to be done in a well planted and properly populated aquarium. He goes on to state that there were only five kinds of plants in general use: myriophyllum, cabomba, vallisneria, sagittaria, and anacharis. His plant chapter also discusses then hard-to-find plants that are now common, such as cryptcoryne, water sprite, sword plants, and aponogeton. Innes discusses one interesting idea that you might want to try―the use of trays to contain the gravel and plants. This offers advantages such as house-cleaning or catching elusive fish that hide among the plants. It might also be a good idea if you ever plan to move your plants to another tank. Glassware or earthenware trays at least two inches deep should be easy to find locally.

These days there are many varieties of plants being imported from the Far East and Africa, and there are many websites devoted to the sale of every variety of aquarium plant and every type of lighting to exhibit and grow plants. Locally, Cameo Pet Shop (there’s an ad in this issue giving their address) usually has a good selection of healthy, low-maintenance plants. The proprietor, Steve, is very knowledgeable, and you can see what you are buying. His prices are also very reasonable.

The balance of this article will be devoted to my personal experiences and preferences. I don’t claim to be an expert in design, lighting, or water chemistry, but I try to use lots of common sense.

My first experience with aquarium plants was over 60 years ago, as a 13-year-old. A local pet shop had common plants such as swords and vals. I selected what I could afford, and the plants were folded up in wet newspapers for the trip home. We stuck them in the gravel and they grew. In fact they threw off runners. I

used no plant food, no CO2, and no special light; the 20-gallon tank had a light fixture with two incandescent bulbs. Before long I was supplying my friends with young plants. A box filter run by a small air pump was the filtration system.

Fifty years later I walked into Aquarium Adventure in Nassau County, a large and expensive pet shop that recently closed. I was greeted by huge acrylic tanks, complicated canister filters, expensive compact florescent fixtures, and CO2 systems. The plant section had an enormous selection, most of which I had never seen before. When I saw the $7 price tag for each plant, I realized a hundred dollars worth would still leave my tank looking empty. Thankfully, my son David told me about a business associate who was president of the premier aquarium society in the Metropolitan area. As a result of meeting Joe Ferdenzi, I joined the Greater City Aquarium Society, and have been able to pick up locally grown plants that are easy to raise. He has also been the source of much valuable advice just by asking. If you need some advice on plants, I highly recommend speaking with some of our experts in the club.

My fishroom has twenty tanks, and all but four are planted. I’m not into tank design, and prefer the jungle look. Most of my plants were picked up at Cameo Pet Shop, our auctions, and from generous members. The lighting is provided by 4-foot fluorescent shop lights hung above the tanks. Extra round, metal, clip-on shop lights containing full-spectrum cork-screw compact florescent bulbs sit directly atop some of the tanks. This gets more light down to the bottom. The lights are on timers and stay on eleven hours a day.

Guppies (and others) among the floating frogbit.


There are general rules for lighting that can be found all over the internet. Moderate light is usually 2 watts per gallon. However, these are only guidelines, and have to be modified because of a number of factors, including the depth of the tank, and the plant varieties housed there.

I use number one or two gravel, which seems to work best for anchoring the plants and giving the roots

room. Stay away from sand, that can compact, or course gravel that will not anchor plants very well. I don’t recommend spending money on fancy substrate; I’ve tried it and it is just not necessary. The pH of my planted tanks is about 7.2 to 7.6. However one tank is buffered by peat and is more like 6.8. Most aquarium plants prefer soft water.

Several of my tanks have little or no gravel, and in these tanks I have Anubias species (Africa) and Java ferns attached to branches and driftwood. These slow-growing plants should not be not planted in gravel, and require very little light. In fact, one of my small tanks containing Anubias has no lighting other from the other tanks in the room, and these plants are doing well. Anubias varieties are among my favorite plants. A new plant I picked recently is a dwarf lily, Nuphar stellata. This is a bulb plant that sends stems up, with leaves opening at the surface. This fascinating plant is not planted ―the bulb is just dropped to the bottom, and its roots will anchor the plant. Some reports say it’s not for beginners, but the bulbs are not expensive, and it’s worth a try.

Floating plants tend to be fast growing, and are of course closer to the light source. They are great for breeding purposes. I am presently growing Najas guadelupensis (North America), Java moss (actually grows from the bottom), salvinia (Brazil), duckweed (local ponds), and Riccia fluitans. The riccia can also be anchored to branches, rocks and driftwood to grow at the bottom. These plants have to be thinned (bring these to our auctions), or light won’t get to any of the plants at the bottom. I would not recommend duckweed to everyone, because it multiplies very fast, making it a high-maintenance plant.

Varieties of Cryptocoryne (Asia & New Guinea) are great looking, slow growing, require only moderate light, and are another favorite of mine. When transplanted, crypts sometimes can “melt down,”

and the leaves die off. It does not mean the plant is dead―often the plant will come back. Crypts can also look different from tank to tank. There are many shapes and colors, and new plants will form around an existing plant, which can be separated to form still more new plants.

The filtration is in my fishroom is provided by a central air pump running sponge and box filters. Air flow should not be too violent, or CO2 needed by the plants will escape too quickly. Plants don’t do well with undergravel filters, so I don’t use them. I use Flourish Exel liquid plant food after weekly 50% water changes, but I’m not sure it’s doing much good.

I breed and use apple snails to help control algae, and they don’t seem to eat anything that is healthy. They can spot a dying plant fast, and will attack the brown or yellow leaves. If you use them keep your eyes open. Young plecos are also good for controlling algae. The older ones get smart or lazy, and go after left-over fish food more than algae. My very heavily planted tanks have little problem with algae, but I try to feed the fish all they can eat in 30 seconds or less. One hint to not overfeeding is to add water to a portion of dry food and use a turkey baster to squirt some into each tank. You will be surprised by how little food is needed. Keep in mind that heavy algae growth on a plant leaf prevents the light from getting through to the leaf. I sometimes scrape the algae off leaves with my fingernail and shut the lights off early for a day or so each week.

Most plants take some time to root and establish themselves, so there is a lot of patience involved, but it’s well worth it. Given the same conditions, and for reasons no one can completely explain, they will do better in some of your tanks than in others.

Give live plants a try. The look will give you much enjoyment, the fish will like them, and they will keep our hobby pure.

Photos by Alexandra Horton

Frogbit (Limnobium) floating; Cryptocoryne below.

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY) June 2011 1910 June 2011 Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

Suggested Questions Please introduce yourself. Tell us about your favorite aquarium. What was your very first fish? Tell us about your education as a fishkeeper. Is there someone you think of as a mentor?

Tell us about him or her. Describe your “Fantasy Fish Tank.” If you were a fish, which one would you be? Who is your “Hobby Hero?” What fish which you have never kept would

you like to acquire? Describe your biggest fishkeeping “blooper!” Describe your most memorable fishkeeping

experience. What changes have you seen in the hobby

during your tenure as a fishkeeper? What advice would you give to a

beginning fishkeeper? What are your fishkeeping goals?

- OR write a narrative story -

by SUSAN PRIEST

Hello, fellow fishkeepers! I know that manyof you fondly remember reading this columnin Modern Aquarium over the past few

years, and I know there are a lot of you who havenever seen it before. On behalf of our hard workingeditor Dan Radebaugh, who is always looking to filla few pages, as well as for the enjoyment andedification of the rest of us, I am hoping to rekindlesome interest in Fishkeepers Anonymous.

The first time this column appeared inModern Aquarium was in March of 2006, and ourfirst anonymous fishkeeper was our own “GypsyMermaid,” Sharon Barnett. Since then many of youhave contributed youre x p e r i e n c e s andopinions. I’m going toquote a few briefexcerpts from that firstarticle. “Wouldn’t itbe great if we had aninterview column;questions and answersto and from ourmembers.” “I wouldl ike to generatebiographies of the bestfishkeepers in theworld, US!” “You cananswer as many or asfew questions as youwant to, or you canjust ramble. Talkabout those aspects ofyour “FishkeeperWithin” which youfeel will be of interestor assistance to yourf e l l o w G C A Smembers.”

During its tenure the questions have beenamended, and the list you see here is the latestincarnation. The best explanation is an example, soreprinted here is the autobiography of the mostrecent person to write for Fiskeepers Anonymous.

Please read and enjoy our:

Anonymous Fishkeeper/ March 2010

Please introduce yourself.

Now if i did that, you’d guess too easily who iam wouldn’t you?

Tell us about your favorite aquarium.

i had a saltwater tank in a 20-high when i wasin high school. something about the light

diffusing through thesalt water gave it anethereal look that ienjoyed. it had oneblue damsel, somedécor, and that wasit! Minimalism at itsbest!

What was yourvery first fish?

i t w a s aP t e r o p h y l l u mscalare, marbledvariety.

Tell us about youreducation as afishkeeper.

i have a Phd inmarine biology, am a s t e r s i nichthyology, and ab a c h e l o r s i n

chemistry…you believed me? the truth is myeducation in fishkeeping is very recent, withthe advent of the internet. i learn a lot fromthe experts on various fish forums and usingthe google search engine.

20 June 2011 Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY) June 2011 11

Is there someone you think of as a mentor?Tell us about him or her.

Not so much as a mentor but as a role model.his name is Marc elieson (vatoelvis.com). hehas written numerous online articles on theinternet and has bred numerous varieties ofMalawi, tanganyikan, and Victorian Cichlids.i’d say that i learned about 75% of all i knowabout cichlid keeping from his online articles.

Describe your “Fantasy Fish Tank.”

Well, it’s not a salt water reef tank! it’s noteven one tank. it’s a whole system of tanks.Let me explain. i need an 8 foot tank (like 200gallons) for an all male Aulonocara/haplochromine show tank. i would needseveral species-only supporting tanks to putAulonocara juveniles to grow out and choosethe best male(s) from. the haps could go inthe show tank because the females are easilyidentified. this is not true for Aulonocarafemales (they all look alike), so i would needseveral 55 gallon tanks to house them andkeep the identification integral. From time totime i would take the male peacocks out andbreed them, after getting rid of the excessmales in the 55's. this is nothing short ofhaving a fishroom! Way Fantastical!

If you were a fish, which one would you be?

the salmon. it fights against the current tospawn and then dies, giving nutrients to theriver, giving its body to the young to grow.

Who is your “Hobby Hero?”

anyone with a fishroom!

What fish which you have never kept wouldyou like to acquire?

Pseudotropheus polit

Describe your biggest fishkeeping“blooper!”

too many! No seriously, i recently took aheater out of the tank without unplugging itwhile i was trying to catch a fish which hadbloat. i realized it was overheating so i put itback into the tank and it exploded! (the glasscracked, spilling silicon carbide all over onesection of the tank.)

Describe your most memorablefishkeeping experience.

Well, i can tell you which one i would like toforget! Cycling a new tank with fish is not agood idea. i must have gone through 200gallons in water changes in less than 3 weeks!i’ve got to find some clear ammonia next time!

What changes have you seen in the hobbyduring your tenure as a fishkeeper?

Undergravel filters were so in about 20 yearsago. Now they are so out!

What advice would you give to a beginningfishkeeper?

Find some clear ammonia and cycle with that!Patience is a virtue. always be prepared withthe stuff you need before you buy fish!

What are your fishkeeping goals?

i don’t want to be a master breeder per se, buti want to breed african cichlids in general. i’dlike to cultivate a Neolamprologus brichardicolony, and especially breed Aulonocara.sometimes i would just like to relax and let thefish work the magic of lowering my bloodpressure.

Will you agree with me that there is somepretty interesting stuff here? Perhapsyou think that the stuff you have to talk

about is interesting, too. We would all like to hearyour story. Please send your bios, or any questionsyou may have, to: [email protected]. If e-mailis not convenient for you, you can find me at mostevery meeting.

2010 was the fifth season for this column. Sofar there have been 25 anonymous fishkeepers.Even though 2006 had 100% participation (one bioin each of the ten issues), I consider 2008 to havebeen its best year. That year there were eightcontributors, and it took third place in the BestColumn category of the FAAS publication awards.Won’t you help raise it to number one?

In the issue following each entry, the author’sname and photo will appear, along with a few moretidbits about them. I hope this bio, which wascontributed by Tommy Chang, has demonstrated toall of you that it is fun and easy to be anAnonymous Fishkeeper!


Fish Friends:The Amazing Joe Ferdenzi

and his Awesome Fishroomby Tommy Chang

I have lived in New York for most of my life. There was a time when I was so disillusioned with New York that my individual motto was “I hate New

York.” I used to dream of winning the lottery and moving to Chicago or Seattle. Now that I have joined the GCAS and become friends with many of the warm, generous, and kind members here, I feel very differently. Now I dream of winning the lottery and starting a fishroom, very much like the one Joe Ferdenzi has in his basement, which I, Mario Bengcion, and Dan Puleo got to visit this past January. Let me start at the beginning, and explain why I had such a dismal outlook about what people describe as the greatest city in the world.

There is a social phenomenon called the witch hunt, like the Salem witch trials or the McCarthyism of the 1950s, where people become frustrated and begin defaming others, and blaming them for their own misfortunes. Generally, psychologists believe that during these periods in our social history the defamers, as well as the general public, actually come to believe the mostly false rumors that they spread about the so called “witches.” I remember such a time here, when there was a lot of racism and hateful attitudes, when people were up in arms against one other. Somehow this seemed especially magnified in New York. The prevailing culture here in New York is very different from the culture let’s say in Washington D.C., where everyone says hello to even strangers on the street. (By the way, The ACA 2011 convention is in DC!)

Most times, periods such as these are not recorded, and people come down from this mountain and forget about being angry and hateful. I, however,

have had the proverbial “memory of an elephant.” I remember the negative things about past years in the city. People on the subway wouldn’t give up their seats to a pregnant woman or an elderly person. People would board the subway cars by pushing their way through before you could get off, and in general

people were grumpy and suspicious of one another.

My frozen heart has begun to melt since joining the GCAS. As an African cichlid nut, I have cultivated a friendship with fellow African cichlid owner and 2009 bowl show champion, Mario Bengcion. During one of the club raffles, Sharon Barnett won her usual holiday filter, and also a bottle of Seachem Prime. I told her that I would have taken that as my raffle win if I had seen it. This dechlorinator is worth $18, and she just gave it to me for free! I offered her some money for it but she refused and said, “That’s the way we roll around here.” I had only been a member for two months when I attended the 2009 GCAS Awards

Banquet, and I got to spend the night with Al and Sue Priest, two of the warmest people you will ever meet. This is just a short list of how members of the GCAS have made me feel warm and welcome.

To our newest members I would say, take heart. Just show up to the meetings regularly and you too will be treated this warmly. Joe Ferdenzi will eventually take time from his busy and hectic life to warmly greet you, and you will get to shake Artie Friedman’s hand the next time you see him, as that is his favorite thing to do at the meetings, although he has been very busy with work lately. We have so many members that I haven’t even met everyone yet. And you too will eventually get to know many wonderful people!

A Victorian-era fish bowl held aloft by a bronze mermaid.


Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself. For example, Mario was mentioning someone named Dan whom I had at the time not yet met. By description, I spotted Dan Puleo, and went up to him and introduced myself. We are now friends and got to know each other at the last Awards Banquet. Remember, it takes a little effort on your part as well!

But now back to Joe Ferdenzi. Not only is Joe a funny and warm member of our club, he is one extraordinary aquarist. I invite you to read about him at this url: http://www.carespreservation.com/bio_joe_ferdenzi.html.

Joe is a C.A.R.E.S Program specialist, a nationally and internationally known aquarist who is one of the top breeders in our club, and was President of the GCAS for close to a decade, as well as for an earlier stint that lasted a full decade. Just before I came to this club, he was honored by the GCAS after stepping down as President. We all know Joe, as he still makes use of his clear and often stentorian voice to make announcements, and educates us about the history of the hobby and the GCAS. He is an expert and avid collector of vintage aquarist books and fish tanks, which I was lucky enough to see.

What I like about his fishroom is that it is a living space―not just a room full of tanks full of fish. Once you get down to the basement, there is an antique 100 gallon tank full of barbs and rasboras. It is a planted tank, as are all of his tanks, (and the size of these fish are tremendous, as he has had them for many years). Joe also has a number of antique fish tanks placed throughout his basement, some of which he has restored.

Along with the antique tanks, Joe has memorabilia and literature going back to the beginnings of fishkeeping in the English language. It was obvious that Joe takes tremendous pride in his collection as he showed us how some of the antique gadgets worked.

Moving further into the basement, there was a sitting area with a few couches, and a 125 gallon display tank of rift lake mbunas that separated his racks of tanks from the rest of the basement. This was very well thought out, as the fish had to remain in the tank with all the rock work. They probably will sustain a population without the need to move them from tank to tank. There were one or two Labidochromis caeruleus females holding eggs, and you could tell that some of

the younger fish had been born in that tank and had s u r v i v e d into young adulthood.

Behind the 125 gallon separator were hidden two aisles of tanks. Have you visited other f i s h r o o m s ?

Most are certainly not as thoughtfully set up as Joe’s. Some of you may remember Joe’s presentations, “My Fishroom” and “Adventures in Fishkeeping.” I saw the logic of the design features he had mentioned. Whereas most fishrooms would have stacks and stacks and rows and rows of tanks from the bottom to top and end to end, Joe’s is conducive to sitting down and shooting the breeze.

After Joe gave us the tour, we went up to the dining room and had pizza and a good Cabernet Sauvignon, which Mario had brought along. (There’s a hint here―if you are lucky enough to visit anyone’s fishroom, be gracious enough to bring something for the host!) We talked about fish and, fish food (worms―yum!!), and how we had discovered and

The 125 gallon mbuna tank used as a room divider.

Bookcases displaying trophies and aquarium memorabilia.

A closeup of some of the fish and plants in the 100 gallon stainless steel tank.


joined the club.It was a nice afternoon in January to spend with

my new friends. New York may still be New York, but finding a subset of New Yorkers with whom you have something in common is truly a delight and a saving grace of city life.

One of the reasons I had not been particularly thrilled about New York was that it had no cichlid club like the one in Chicago, the Greater Chicago Cichlid Association. I was flabbergasted to find out from Joe that he had founded, with his busy schedule, the Rift Lake Cichlid Group of New York back in the ‘80s, and I had missed the opportunity to join it! But I must say that I wouldn’t switch from the GCAS for the world!

New York will always be New York, if you know what I mean, but the secret to dealing with the city need not necessarily be to leave. The secret to city life could be finding a group of people with whom you have common interests. Now that my heart has

thawed out, having made new friends at the GCAS, I wonder too whether my earlier perception of reality may have been off. I know that my attitude toward

the city has changed. I see more people on the buses and subways giving up their seats for the elderly. Some still push their way onto the subway cars before people had had ample time to disembark, but I notice such things less and less. I don’t know how many other people have felt as negatively as I have from time to time about living in the big city, but there is one truth―that we all need friendship on some level. Philosophers

will continue to debate the nature of reality and sociologists will measure the heartbeat of society, but I do now know that it is possible to have friendships in a big place like New York City, especially when clubs like the GCAS exist.

Photos by Joseph Ferdenzi.

One of the home-made racks holding mostly 20s and10s.


GCAS Happenings June

Here are meeting times and locations of some aquarium societies in the Metropolitan New York area:

GREATER CITy AqUARIUM SOCIETyNext Meeting: July 6, 2011Speaker: tBaTopic: TBDMeets: Meets the first Wednesday of the month (except

January & February) at 7:30pm: Queens Botanical garden 43-50 Main street - Flushing, NY Contact: dan radebaugh (718) 458-8437Email: [email protected]: http://www.greatercity.org

BIG APPLE GUPPy CLUBMeets: Last tuesday each month (except Jan, Feb, July,

and august) at 7:30-10:00pm. alley Pond environmental Ctr.: 228-06 Northern Blvd. Contact: donald Curtin (718) 631-0538

BROOKLyN AqUARIUM SOCIETyNext Meeting: June 10, 2011Speaker: Carol rossEvent: Collecting in PeruMeets: 2nd Friday of the month (except July and august) at 7:30pm: NY aquarium - education hall, Brooklyn, NYCall: Bas events hotline: (718) 837-4455Website: http://www.brooklynaquariumsociety.org

LONG ISLAND AqUARIUM SOCIETyNext Meeting: June 17, 2011Speaker: scott dowd (senior aquarist/researcher at New

england aquarium) Topic: How the aquarium fish hobby can be one of the

most powerful tools of wildlife conservation Meets: 3rd Fridays (except July and august) 8:00pm. room 120 in endeavor hall on thestate University at

stony Brook Campus, stony Brook, NY Email: Margaret Peterson - [email protected]: http://liasonline.org/

EAST COAST GUPPy ASSOCIATIONMeets: 2nd tuesday of each month at at 8:00 pm. alley Pond environmental Ctr.: 228-06 Northern Blvd. Contact: gene Baudier (631) 345-6399

NASSAU COUNTy AqUARIUM SOCIETyNext Meeting: June 14, 2011Speaker: Joe FerdenziTopic: History of the HobbyMeets: 2nd tuesday of the month (except July and august)

at 7:30 PM Molloy College - Kellenberg hall ~1000 hempstead ave -

rockville Centre, NYContact: Mike Foran (516) 798-6766Website: http://www.ncasweb.org

NORTH JERSEy AqUARIUM SOCIETyNext Meeting: June 16, 2011Speaker: Kevin Carr Event: Cichlids of the LineMeets: Lyndhurst elks Club, 251 Park avenue Lyndhurst, NJ 07071Contact: NJas hotline at (732) 332-1392Email: [email protected]: http://www.njas.net/

NORWALK AqUARIUM SOCIETyNext Meeting: June 16, 2011Speaker: tBa Topic: TBDMeets: 8:00 P.M. - 3rd thursday of each month at:

earthplace - the Nature discovery Center - Westport, CtContact: John Chapkovich (203) 734-7833Call our toll free number (866) 219-4NasEmail: [email protected]: http://norwalkas.org/

Last Month’s Bowl show Winners:1 RichaRd Waizman White moon Betta

2 maRio Bengcion Venustus cichlid

3 Joe magnoli half-Black Blue guppy

unofficial 2011 BoWl shoW totals to date:maRio Bengcion 11 RichaRd Waizman 7 haRRy faustmann 5 Joe magnoli 4

A wArm welcome bAck to renewing gcAS memberS roger brewSter, tommy chAng, clAudiA dickinSon, ron kASmAn, Jerry o'FArrell, elliot oShinS, And leonArd rAmroop!

A SpeciAl welcome to new member SeAn cunninghAm!

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY) June 2011 25Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY) June 2011 17

In spite of popular demand to thecontrary, this humor and informationcolumn continues. As usual, it doesNOT necessarily represent theopinions of the Editor, or of theGreater City Aquarium Society.

Check the model of any Marineland Stealth you have!

Affected Marineland heater models

Caveat emptor:Let the Buyer

Beware!A series by The Undergravel Reporter

August is Greater City’s annual Silent Auctionmeeting, something I look forward to everyyear. I’ve gotten some really great bargains,

and I encourage everyone to attend. But, I don’twant to see anyone get burned figuratively or inactuality. So, here are some items to be wary of(and you might want to check your own suppliesand equipment forthem).

In April of thisy e a r , t h e U . S .Consumer ProductSafety Commissiona n n o u n c e d avoluntary recall ofabout 1.2 millionMarineland Stealthand Stealth ProAquarium Heatersbecause a wiringproblem can cause theaquarium heaters tooverheat or breakduring normal use,d a m a g i n g t h eaquarium and posingfire and lacerationhazards to consumers. Overheating can cause theheater to shatter or the aquarium glass to break. Atthe time of the recall, there were 38 reports of firesresulting in property damage and 45 reports ofbroken aquarium glass. There was one report of aneye injury when the aquarium heater forcefullybroke while the consumer held it.

Check to see if you are have one of theseheaters (note the affected models). If you do, stopusing it! Contact United Pet Group for a freereplacement, or a full refund. United Pet Group canbe reached at (800) 338-4896 between 7:30 a.m. and5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit thefirm’s website at www.marineland.com1

Fish tanks last a long time and rarely needreplacing, so you should know about a 2006 recallof AquaPod 12 gallon aquariums. At the time ofthe recall, there were nine reports of electricalproblems, with seven consumers getting shockedby touching unplugged, energized lamp cords.

This recall applied only to model number7050, but the model number is not on theaquarium. It’s in the owner’s manual and thepackaging (not something you usually get with

auction items). Butthere is another wayto identify therecalled aquariums.Only aquar iumswithout a white labelhaving the date ofmanufacturer and abar code attached tothe light reflectorinside the aquariumlid were recalled.

So, open the lidand look on thebottom left corner ofthe light reflector. Ifsee a white label witha date in black lettersand a bar code, it isnot the model thatwas recalled (neither

were models 7051 or 7052). Visit the website ofthe US Consumer Product Safety Commission formore information.2

And if, in August, you see someone with amagnifying lens checking the bottom and sides ofevery Silent Auction item, say “Hi” to me!

1 http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml11/11202.html

2 http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/06111.html

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)26 June 201124 June 2011 Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

Fin Fun

Everyone likes tetras. Everyone has a favorite tetra. For a few among us, our most favorite fish of all isa tetra (see Stephen Sica’s article in this issue). Maybe some of your favorites are on the list below. If not,you might need to refer to an “atlas” or search the Internet, in order to sort them out. Happy fishing!(Common names will be included with the answers in next month’s issue.)

Scientific name Tetra Other

Hyphessobrycon serpae

Moenkhausia colletti

Nemacheilus pardalis

Chapalichthys pardalis

Inpaichthys kerri

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Brachyrhaphis episcopi

Helostoma temminckii

Nematobrycon lacortei

Hemigrammus boesemani

Answer to the previous puzzle

Common Name Scientific NameHarlequin Rasbora -------------------- Trigonostigma heteromorpha

Red Scissortail Rasbora -------------------- Rasbora caudimaculataTinfoil Barb --------------------- Barbonymus schwanenfeldii

Celestial Pearl Danio -------------------- Celestichthys margaritatusSiamese Algae Eater -------------------- Crossocheilus siamensis

Zebra Danio -------------------- Danio rerioFlying Fox -------------------- Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus

Chinese Algae Eater -------------------- Gyrinocheilus aymonieriTiger Barb -------------------- Puntius tetrazona

Attention:

Educators and Ocean Enthusiasts!

Save the Date for the

33rd Annual Conference of the New York State Marine Education Association (NYSMEA)

Our Local Waters: Resources, Restoration, and Citizen Action

Saturday June 4, 2011 Kingsborough Community College

Brooklyn, NY

For more information and to register: www.nysmea.org

Activities include: • Keynote Speakers – listen to inspiring talks from Dr. Merry Camhi from the Wildlife

Conservation Society and Paula Zevin from the Environmental Protection Agency!

• Workshops – learn how to get involved in local stewardship activities in the field, lab, or classroom!

• Field Trips – sample aboard a research vessel, seine at the beach, learn about invertebrate ecology, and more!

• Networking – meet other marine educators and enthusiasts from across the state!

• New York Aquarium – enjoy special “after hours” access, dinner, and a presentation on the New York Seascape program!

• Auction – win great prizes including gift certificates to restaurants, fossils, laboratory supplies, and more!

Professional Development credit is available!

Documents

Modern Aquarium June 2011