Forums / TEAM Marine Depot / Pulse on the Hobby – by Steven Pro

I take it RC did not like your question

xroads — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 04:47:43 GMT

I about fell out of my chair when I read it, of course it wasnt there very long

Steven your box is full

xroads — Mon, 12 May 2008 06:59:44 GMT

I tried to send you a PM but your box is full.

Thx

Craig

calcium reactors

RGibson — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:41:51 GMT

Steven what is a good calcium reactor for my 220 gal reef tank,?

Muriatic acid use

charlesr1958 — Fri, 09 May 2008 04:32:16 GMT

First, I have tried to find this info online only to become confused as chemistry has a habit of doing to me and can not find anything definitive (pros/cons).

Having only calcium hydroxide available to me, and feeling dang lucky to have that, I can not maintain calcium levels even though all of my top off is lime water. Which I make by using rain water at a pH of 7.0 in a 6 litre container which barely dissolves half a teaspoon of "kalk" powder, leaving a great deal of it settled out on the bottom. Doing it this way while not maintaining my calcium does slowly jack up my alkalinity to where I either have to stop adding lime water or flush the system with a NSW change. Sooo, lately I have been adding about 30ml of muriatic acid to the rain water which is then able to dissolve 3 teaspoons of calcium hydroxide and not only maintains my calcium but raises it, it also does not mess with my alkalinity level in any great manner as the straight water/powder combo does. In fact, it will over time lower the alkalinity level very slowly to where I can easily adjust it back up a bit by using a combo of sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate (1/2 ratio).

Oh, and I quickly learned that if one does use such an acid in place of dissolved CO2, do so in a glass container as the reaction generates a great deal of heat and melted a potable water container I was using (1 litre plastic bottled water container). That or dilute the acid out with distilled water, and wear goggles and have no bare skin exposed, and yes I found that out in my own way, which is always the hard way...

So.... Being somewhat skittish on doing so or continuing to do so, I thought I had better swallow my pride and ask if there is anything I should be concerned about.

Having a gallon or two of the acid, and not wanting to make the two hour trip to the mall on another island, I also tried soaking my carbon in a diluted muriatic acid solution as I read that is what industry does to recycle the tons of carbon they use, am I just wasting my time and acid?

Feeling very much the newbie,

Chuck

Some Countries Denied CITES Importation into the US

Steven Pro — Fri, 09 May 2008 04:14:02 GMT

Read here http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/files/citesusfws_129.pdf

Be careful who you let in your home

Steven Pro — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:55:45 GMT

Police raid suspected meth house, only find fish tank

Brooklyn Park police were looking for a meth lab, but they found a fish tank and the chemicals needed to maintain it.

And a few hours later, when the city sent a contractor to fix the door the police had smashed open Monday afternoon, it was obvious the city was trying to fix a mistake.
It happened while Kathy Adams was sleeping.

"And the next thing I know, a police officer is trying to get me out bed," she said.

Adams, a 54-year-old former nurse who said she suffers from a bad back caused by a patient who attacked her a few years ago, was handcuffed. So was her 49-year-old husband.

"They brought us here and said once we clear that area, you can sit down and you will not speak to each other," she said.

Police were executing a search warrant signed by Hennepin County Judge Ivy Bernhardson, who believed there was probable cause the Adams's home was a meth lab.

Berhardson, who was appointed to the bench less than a year ago, did not return KARE 11's phone calls.

"Ohmigod," Adams said as she recalled police breaking down her door and flashing the search warrant. "I just kept saying to them, 'you've got the wrong house.' "

Police soon realized that themselves.

"From a cursory view, it doesn't look like our officers did anything wrong," said Capt. Greg Roehl.

Roehl said the drug task force was acting on a tip from a subcontractor for CenterPoint Energy, who had been in the home Friday to install a hot water heater.

"He got hit with a chemical smell that he said made him light headed, feel kind of nauseous," Roehl said.

The smell was vinegar, and maybe pickling lime, which were clearly marked in a bathroom Mr. Adams uses to mix chemicals for his salt water fish tank.

"I said, 'I call it his laboratory for his fish tanks,' " Mrs. Adams said, recalling her conversation with the CenterPoint technician. "I'm looking at the fish tank talking to this guy."

Police say there was no extended investigation, just an interview with the subcontractor.

"Everything this person told us turned out to be true, with the exception of what the purpose of the lab was," Roehl said.

Adams is looking for a lawyer.

"I could say that about my neighbor - I smelled something when I went in their house," she said. "Does that make it right for them to go in there and break the door down and cuff you? I think not!"

Police say the detective who asked for the search warrant is an 8 ½-year veteran, but he just started working in the drug task force.

CenterPoint energy maintains the home was "unsafe" and it would have been "irresponsible" for the subcontractor not to report it.

Kudos Steve

xroads — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:26:56 GMT

Several of our club members said you were very impressive this weekend at the Frag Fest.

Craig

My Greenhouse Build Project

Steven Pro — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 09:13:48 GMT

I figured it was about time to bring you all up to speed concerning my greenhouse coral propagation farm. I have mention it in other threads and in a couple of my presentations to cliubs and such, but I am at the point where I can start to document my progress.

I hope that readers will learn some of the lessons that I learned during construction. Even though I thought I had prepped myself well, I had been in Anthony's greenhouse more times than I could count, have visited Dick Perrin's Tropicorium several times, and even checked out Morgan Lidster's Inland Aquatics a few times, not to mention thoroughly researching greenhouse construction, I still ran into things I had never considered and been made away of.

We broke ground on the greenhouse in mid-July. My initial hopes were to get everything running by MACNA XVIII in Houston in September. That would have been about a two month build time. Well, those hopes were dashed, but not early on. In the beginning, progress was quick and that kept my hopes high.

Kati/Ani Function & Hookup Info?

CTReefer — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 09:58:37 GMT

Hi Steve: I recently purchased a Kati/Ani unit from a fellow reefer. First off, I found the instruction manual very difficult to follow as it's translated from German. It also seems that it will be difficult to hook it into a regular carbon filter canister because of the differences in the tube sizes. I also can't figure out how to directly attach it to the tap water outlet which is a standard hose type threaded connection.

The unit appears to be mainly used for the following: "Desalting Water (partially & fully)", "Purifying Sea Water", "Softening Water", & "pH Buffering". I really don't see the application for what we need to do as far as making up water with "0" TDS to be used for water changes? There also appears to be a few different ways to "recharge" both the Kati & Ani canisters. Seems like everyone that has one of these units is using the Muriatic Acid & Lye (Caustic Soda) means of recharging (Kati & Ani respectively). How do you personally utilize this unit? Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks,

Steve

Contact Steve

Artisan Corals — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:37:02 GMT

Steve,
You asked me to send you a PM, but your box is full and will not accept my PM. My e-mail address is bkaercher@y***o.com. You'll have to fill in the *'s - supposedly doing this prevents automatic retrieval of e-mails for spammers.
Bruce

AMACS

Geoffkx250 — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:14:46 GMT

Hey everyone-

Does anyone have any experience in using AMACS (aquatic monitoring and control system)? Or any other similar product? Im looking to put together a system like the one on www.automatedaquariums.com, but would like imput from other aquarists before I purchased something like this. Thanks everyone!

-Geoff

Radio Talk Show about Saltwater Fish

huskerreef — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:55:21 GMT

I received an email from a cleveland radio station www.sportstalkcleveland.com that say they are going to have a segment dedicated to saltwater enthusiasts. It will be called Reece's Blue Zoo, Frank"Reece"Sandor Host. Anyone else heard of this?

Imported Aquacultured Reef Clams Found To Have Foreign Disease, University Of Florida

Steven Pro — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:07:26 GMT

Vividly colorful giant clams officially called tridacnids decorate many an upscale aquarium. But now experts say they boast an exterior beauty that masks an ugly truth: their potential for carrying foreign diseases.

In findings that may impact the reef clam industry as well as international trade, a University of Florida veterinary pathologist recently discovered Perkinsus olseni, an internationally reportable foreign pathogen, in aquacultured clams imported from Vietnam.

While not believed to be a threat to human health or other reef aquarium species, the pathogen's presence concerns scientists as well as aquaculture industry representatives and points out the largely unregulated environment in which the importation of aquacultured reef clams from Asia occurs.

"I had 30 clams in my lab as part of a student research project," said Barbara Sheppard, D.V.M., Ph.D., a clinical associate professor of pathology at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine. "Then they started looking sickly, and within four months, all of them were dead."

As a pathologist, Sheppard was intrigued. She began investigating the cause of death by freezing tissues, putting them into formalin and conducting histopathology and DNA tests in her laboratory. Her findings, which will appear in an upcoming issue of Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, showed the presence of Perkinsus olseni along with a new species of Perkinsus that has yet to be characterized.

"This is an important finding," said Ralph Elston, Ph.D., president of AquaTechnics, a Carlsbad, Wash.-based company that provides veterinary, laboratory and environmental assessment services to the shellfish industry. "It indicates the potential risk of the spread of animal disease when health monitoring is not in place to control such risks."

Elston added that further research is needed to evaluate the distribution of previously unknown species of Perkinsus in Florida.

Giant clams are the largest bivalves in the world. Their range stretches across the Indo-Pacific region from the eastern coast of Africa in the west to the South Pacific in the east, according to the United Nations Environment Program's World Conservation Monitoring Center. These clams represent an increasingly large proportion of the live invertebrates imported to become aquarium specimens. As a result of overexploitation, all species of giant clams are included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Based on CITES data from 1993-2001, Vietnam has dominated the export of live giant clams since 1998. The United States and Europe are the main importers, and captive bred, or aquacultured, clams represent only about a third of the nearly 1 million tridacnids traded worldwide.

Sheppard is now collaborating with the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, the Maryland Department of Agriculture and Anita Wright, Ph.D., a Perkinsus researcher and associate professor at UF, to further characterize the new exotic species of Perkinsus that Sheppard discovered in her clam colony.

"This is not a zoonotic disease, transmissible to people," Sheppard said. "No one is going to get sick from this, as far as we know. The problem here is economic and international trade. We know that Perkinsus is a pathogen of aquatic shellfish, and the reason it is so important is that it makes animals very vulnerable to dying when the weather gets hot or when they get stressed in some other way."

She added that a major pathogen known as Perkinsus marinus is already associated with the depletion of major oyster stocks on the Atlantic coast.

"It's indigenous; you can't avoid it, and we know that particular pathogen is already economically devastating to our shellfish industries," Sheppard said. "They don't want this Pacific version of Perkinsus (olseni) to be transported here."

Although the infected clams were found in Florida, tridacnids are imported and distributed to hobbyists throughout the United States. Sheppard's findings suggest that almost certainly clams infected with Perkinsus olseni and the new Perkinsus species have made their way into consumer aquariums throughout the United States, she said.

"This is a great example of why you should never release an aquarium animal anywhere, under any circumstances," said Ruth Francis-Floyd, D.V.M., director of UF's Aquatic Animal Health program. Aquarium owners with questions about their animals' health could contact the American Veterinary Medical Association for a referral to an aquatic veterinarian in their area.

The ornamental aquarium trade operates globally with very few restrictions to transport product as quickly as possible, said Craig Watson, director of UF's Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory in Ruskin.

"There are probably 3,000 species involved, and no one species has the value to justify the cost of a quarantine facility big enough to handle everything," Watson said.

Members of the clam aquaculture industry as well as the oyster industry are aware of the recent Perkinsus olseni findings and are trying to respond, he added.

Watson said he is working with Florida aquaculture representatives who "really want to do the right thing" and added that his laboratory has proposed a voluntary protocol involving testing and quarantine procedures.

"The cost of doing this, however, is significant," he said. "The ultimate goal would be to start a Perkinsus-free aquaculture industry in the United States where baby clams that have never been exposed to the disease are produced."

SweetWater Zooplankton

Labman — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:18:24 GMT

Steven I know you are a fan of this stuff I love it too or should I say fish and corals love it I just ran out and now I find it imposable to get do you know where I can get some? and any idea what happened everybody I can find that ever tried this product loves it. I guess not enough of us tried it I have been looking all over for it online found it once or twice and ordered it then got a refund saying they were out. I'd like to stock up on 3-4 jars if I can find it.

Greenhouse evaluation

fazgood — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:56:24 GMT

Hey folks,

I am not sure if posting links to greenhouses is OK so if not, but I can't find a MFG site without a sale price.

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=350554

Even though this is on the expensive side, I was thinking about getting this for the house... NOT CORAL ;o)

In reality, not what I am telling the better half, I plan to use a small GH about this size to test some concepts then if they work out, graduate to a real GH and facility but keep this for houseplants and gardening for the wife. The concern is the UV treatment. How big of a deal is it to block the UV from getting to the coral? SEems to be fairly important.

Thanks

Faz

LFS in need of help

iworkforaLFS — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:04:18 GMT

I hope it is alright to post this, I don’t know where else to go for help.

At the end of last year I began working for a LFS. This store had been closed and a new owner acquired the store and just recently reopened. The owner had been a hobbyist both fresh water and marine for years and has worked hard to reopen the shop a lot cleaner then it was before with better pricing and service.

Since then I have been trying to help him figure out exactly how to run the business and give him my input on things although I am no expert. He is working extremely hard and extremely long hours, but is struggling through advice from distributors, sales reps, a small business association, reef clubs, accountants, other stores……

Some of the biggest things that needs to be resolved.

The owner has been told by several people to run the marine displays in hypo and the fish only system in both copper and hypo… (I have heard in several places never to combine the two and read items from big authors on other sites that hypo should never be used)

He really wanted to avoid this, but we are losing fish even though most of our water parameters have been sitting stable.(Except for salinity and temp)

I had always heard that stores make there largest profit off of dry goods and usually not off of their live stock. I’m being told now at the store that just simply is not the case. (Keep in mind we sell both fresh and salt and currently it seems our audience is about 50/50, but I expect the fresh water will rise as people learn the store is open or even there.)

We are losing a large number on specific species of hermits and snails. I had believed this originally to be the fault of poor acclimation practices, but even those that made it after the first 2 weeks seemed to eventually die off. Currently I am thinking it may be temperature, salinity, or a combination of both. I just recently found out that the salt system is at times as low as 74*F or lower and the specific gravity they try to maintain at a level of 1.023-1.022. Thoughts?

Where can we find new distributors and whole salers if we are having problems with the ones we are using?

Heating/Cooling my greenhouse with geothermal

xroads — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 05:57:04 GMT

I wanted to get your opinion on heating/cooing my greenhouse with geothermal. It will be mirrored on the way I have seen many houses.

I will have 2 1500 gallon tanks buried in the ground. 1 tank will be heated by solar panels, the second tank will be cooled by a geothermal loop buried in the ground. Each tank will have lines in the concrete floor to heat & cool the floor controlled by thermostats.

Question is do you think it will be enough or should I plan on running the lines through the tanks as well. (tanks will be made of concrete as well).

Thx

Craig

Kati and Ani high phosphates

BlackGPGT — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:00:30 GMT

Hello,

I have a Kati and Ani 10 and it has worked fine for me for a few months. Now all of a sudden it is not pulling out any phosphates for me and I cannot get a tds reading below 20 after a recharge when I used to be at 0-1 ppmWhat could the problem be?

Just to make sure Im using the correct amounts I should be using 7.5 g of water to 1.25 g of Muriatic Acid and 800 g of Lye to 7.5g of water. I did this because you are supposed to multiply by 10. Im really at a loss and the phosphates are having a bad effect on my tank.

Hermit crabs

proangel2 — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:47:35 GMT

I noticed two of my hermit crabs locked toghter so i seperated them seconds later there were locked again so i seprated them again a good distance the same thing happend could this breeding behavour??

U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting 2/27/2008

Steven Pro — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:17:45 GMT

U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting
Washington D.C.
Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History
Baird Auditorium
Wednesday, February 27 2008

The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) marks ten years of collaborative research, management, and conservation of coral reef ecosystems. At this meeting, the USCRTF will assess our collective efforts and accomplishments, highlight remaining needs and challenges, and begin to develop a foundation for a renewed commitment to action.

Each state, territory, commonwealth, and freely associated state member will share their perspective on coral reef conservation in their jurisdiction. Federal agency members will use the National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs as a framework for providing updates.

Draft Agenda
8:30 – 9:00 Welcome and Introductions
U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Co-Chairs

9:00 – 9:45 USCRTF – Ten Years of Action, Remaining Challenges, Needs & Plans for the Future

USCRTF Award for Roger Griffis

9:45 – 10:30 International Year of the Reef 2008

Wyland IYOR painting unveiling (15 minutes)

International Coral Reef Initiative Global update – TBD

U.S. IYOR Messaging Campaign – Susie Holst, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation

10:30 – 10:45 Break
10:45 – 11:00 International Coral Reef Initiative Secretariat Update

Christine Dawson – U.S. Department of State

11:00 – 11:10 All Islands Committee Update

Vangie Lujan – All Islands Chair, Guam Point of Contact

11:10 – 12:30 Governor / Jurisdiction Presentations (8 minute presentations to allow for Q&A and discussion)

Caribbean Region

U.S. Virgin Islands

Puerto Rico

Florida

Pacific Region

American Samoa

Guam

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Hawaii

Freely Associated States

Republic of Palau

Federated States of Micronesia (tentative attendance)

Republic of the Marshall Islands (tentative attendance)

12:30 – 1:30 Lunch

1:30 – 2:30 Public Comment

2:30 – 3:30 Keynote Address (45 pres/15 Q&A)

Dr. Nancy Knowlton – Smithsonian Institution Sant Marine Science Chair

3:30 – 3:45 Break

3:45 – 4:30 Coral Reef Ecosystem Management – The Next Ten Years: Challenges, Key Priorities, and Innovative Solutions

Introduction – H.E. Tommy E. Remengesau Jr., President, Republic of Palau

Moderated Panel Discussion

Moderator – Dr. Nancy Knowlton

Panelists

• Billy Causey – NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program

• Noah Idechong – Republic of Palau House of Delegates

• Marea Hatziolos – World Bank

4:30 – 5:00 Discussion with Panelists and Members

5:00 Adjourn

RO, DI, or RO/DI for large scale operation

fazgood — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:49:48 GMT

In an area where you would be using city water, is there a big advantage to using RO/DI over just RO or DI? I think if growing SPS or LPS that RO/DI seems to be the best option but with softies that seem to like the dirty water, is it worth the hassle and expense?

Faz

best type of filtration?

paulmac54 — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:50:40 GMT

hey steven,

i am converting my tank to a reef tank. i am curious as to what type of filtration you would recommend. i am currently using a canister filter, however i am in need of an upgrade. i was thinking of switching to a sump type of filter that involves different types of sand, liverock and plants, similar to the one on this page? or do you think something like bioballs work fine?

http://www.reefs.org/library/members/s_wilson_012699/sumps.htm

i am purchasing all of my new stuff through marine depot. i love the site. i am going to get one of the CPR siphon overflow boxes and i am thinking of getting one of the CPR Wet/Dry filters, however i am not sure of how well that type of biological filtration works. i already have an Aqua C protein skimmer purchased from marinedepot and i am purchasing one of the Current-USA orbit lights (the 72" 6 x 96watts PC). also what pump would you recommend for the return? i know you like Tunze pumps but which of the cheaper models would you recommend.

thanks for the help

Pending Hawaiian Legislation

Steven Pro — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:59:12 GMT

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/bills/SB3225_.htm

Senate Bill 3225

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 188, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§188- Ornamental fish; bag limit; prohibition; yellow tang stock assessment. (a) There shall be a combined bag limit of twenty fish per person per day of ornamental fish, including but not limited to, yellow tang, flame angels, and butterfly; provided that the combined bag limit may include a maximum of only five yellow tang. No person shall catch, net, or trap more than the bag limit. The department of land and natural resources shall formulate an annual stock assessment of the yellow tang, beginning September 1, 2008, based upon data existing as of that date to provide an estimated inventory for preservation purposes; provided that the assessment shall be made publicly available.

(b) No person shall catch, net, or trap certain ornamental fish in a no-take category, including but not limited to, all puffer fish, all box fish, potter's angel, cleaner wrasse, all coralvores, and all eels.

(c) For purposes of this section, the term "ornamental fish" means salt water fish, usually found in or around reefs, that are commonly kept in aquariums.

(d) The department of land and natural resources shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 for purposes of this section, including adding other types of ornamental fish."

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the yellow tang fish stock assessment as provided in section 1 of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 2 shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

Minimum Pricing

Steven Pro — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:44:17 GMT

While not necessarily pet business news, this is big business news that could very well affect the pet sector.

http://www.mdm.com/issues/1_1/breaking-news/4207-1.html

Supreme Court: Minimum Price Resale Agreements Allowed (updated)

The U.S. Supreme Court has made it easier for manufacturers to set minimum resale prices by overturning the "per se" illegality of minimum resale price agreements.

Instead, the Supreme Court ruled that challenges to minimum resale prices will be judged on a case-by-case basis by the "rule of reason," a more flexible legal doctrine that requires the challenger to prove price-setting was anticompetitive and did economic harm.

"Per se" was a much stricter enforcement that assumed that minimum price setting agreements were on their face illegal, regardless of circumstances. By changing the judgment from "per se" to "rule of reason," the Supreme Court has made it more difficult for challengers of the law to win and less risky for manufacturers to set minimum prices, says Gene Zelek, leader of the antitrust and trade regulation practice at Freeborn & Peters LLP, Chicago, IL.

The "rule of reason" has also governed practices such as supplier-defined reseller territories, confining reseller sales to particular locations or allocating reseller customers, Zelek says. It is also the same test that the Court determined 10 years ago applies to maximum resale price setting by agreement.

"Although it was possible even before this decision to set minimum or exact resale prices by unilateral policy, the press attention generated by this case likely will spark substantially more interest in resale price programs," Zelek says.

Defining Anticompetitive

George Keeley, an attorney with Keeley, Kuenn & Reid, Chicago, IL, who wrote an advisory on the subject for the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, says that the ruling does not mean manufacturers have an unfettered right to push minimum prices down to a distributor or retailer. "It should be emphasized that the Court's decision still leaves minimum resale price restraints open to antitrust challenges," he says.

The Court, in the Leegin case, said that some "vertical price restraints" may have clear anticompetitive effects making them illegal under the "rule of reason" standard. A group of resellers, for example, could fix prices and compel a manufacturer to enforce the illegal arrangement by going along with the price-setting, according to NAW's advisory on the subject.

Or a manufacturer with market power may set prices to influence key resellers to not sell the products of a smaller rival or new market player.

"This conduct could facilitate a manufacturer price fixing cartel," the NAW advisory reads. "If a manufacturer adopts the resale price maintenance policy, without influence from its customers, the restraint is less likely to promote anticompetitive conduct at the resale level."

Stimulating Competition

In explaining its decision, the Court said that minimum resale price maintenance can stimulate competition among manufacturers selling different brands of the same type of product by reducing intrabrand competition among resellers offering the same brand.

"A single manufacturer's use of vertical price restraints tends to eliminate intrabrand price competition; this in turn encourages retailers to invest in tangible or intangible services or promotional efforts that aid the manufacturer's position as against rival manufacturers," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the court.

"Resale price maintenance also has the potential to give consumers more options so that they can choose among low-price, low-service brands; high-price, high service brands; and brands that fall in between."

History of the Case

The Court was ruling in a case between a manufacturer of leather goods, Leegin Creative Leather Products Inc., and retailer Kay's Closet, owned by PSKS Inc. in Texas. Leegin designs, manufactures and distributes leather goods and accessories.

At issue in this case were belts sold under the brand name, "Brighton." The Brighton brand is sold across the U.S. in more than 5,000 retail establishments. Leegin asserted in its case that small retailers (such as Kay's Kloset) treat customers better, provide customers more services, and make the shopping experience more pleasant than do larger retailers.

PSKS, operator of Kay's Kloset, first started purchasing Brighton from Leegin in 1995. It promoted the brand heavily, running Brighton advertisements and holding Brighton days in the store. Brighton was the store's most important brand and once accounted for 40-50% of its profits.

In 1997, according to the Supreme Court opinion, Leegin instituted the "Brighton Retail Pricing and Promotion Policy," in which it refused to sell to retailers that discounted Brighton goods below suggested prices. The policy contained an exception for products the retailer did not plan to reorder. Leegin wrote to retailers:

"We, at Leegin, choose to break away from the pack by selling at specialty stores .. that can offer the customer great quality merchandise, superb service, and support the Brighton product 365 days a year on a consistent basis. We realize that half the equation is Leegin producing great Brighton product and the other half is you, our retailer, creating great looking stores selling our products in a quality manner."

It also expressed concern that discounting harmed Brighton's brand image and reputation.

In December 2002, Leegin discovered Kay's Kloset had been marking down Brighton's line by 20% to compete with nearby retailers who also were undercutting suggested prices. Leegin suggested Kay's cease discounting. Kay's refused, so Leegin stopped selling to it. The loss had a considerable impact on Kay's Kloset sales.

PSKS, owner of Kay's, sued Leegin, alleging it had violated antitrust laws. PSKS won in both district and appeals courts. The case was taken to the Supreme Court to reconsider the Sherman Act, which initially ruled that minimum price resale agreements were illegal.

NERAC 2008

Graveyardworm — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:36:05 GMT

Any buzz about this conference yet. I've been searching the web but cant find anything. I'd like to try to organize a local club trip, but without advance notice it may be tough. Any links with info would be appreciated Thanks, David.

Algae-munching fish clean up Chinese lake

Steven Pro — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:29:52 GMT

Algae-munching fish clean up Chinese lake: official media

Thu Feb 21, 12:35 AM ET

BEIJING (AFP) - Chinese authorities are using algae-munching fish to clean up one of the country's most polluted lakes -- and after their diet of toxins they will be sold on to consumers, state media said Thursday.

More than 50,000 silver carp fry have been introduced into Chaohu lake and another 1.55 million will be added in the next 20 days, said Wu Changjun, from the Chaohu Fishery Administration, according to the Xinhua news agency.

Each carp is expected to have gobbled between 40 and 50 kilogrammes (88 to 100 pounds) of blue algae when it reaches its adult weight, with each chomp of the sludge helping to clean up the toxic lake, the report added.

Once the carp have matured, fishermen will be able to catch them and sell them in markets, at a price 15 times their original cost, giving a boost to the local fishing industry, according to Xinhua.

Chaohu, China's fifth biggest lake in the nation's eastern Anhui province, was last year overcome by the blue-green foul-smelling algae, threatening water supplies and destroying life in the lake.

The algae has led to a decline of 20 percent in the lake's whitebait stocks, one of the local fishing industry's key catches, Xinhua said Thursday.

Hundreds of factories discharge their waste into Chaohu.

More than 70 percent of China's waterways and 90 percent of its underground water are contaminated, according to government figures, often as the result of years of untreated sewage discharge and industrial pollution.

The environmental woes have had led to problems with the nation's food supply, with some of those toxic foods making their way into exports that have contributed to the recent tarnishing of the "Made in China" brand.

Fishers to stop clowning with Nemo's habitat

Steven Pro — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:43:27 GMT

Fishers to stop clowning with Nemo's habitat

Padraic Murphy

December 20, 2007

NORTH Queensland commercial aquarium fishers are still able to find Nemo, but now they'll have to leave him alone.

Under a groundbreaking voluntary agreement between commercial operators and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the sought-after clown fish and anemones will no longer be caught at reefs off Keppel Island, near Rockhampton.

Lyle Squire, a commercial fisher and industry representative whose family has run aquariums in Cairns and fished the reef since the 1960s, said the moratorium was a precautionary measure to allow habitats, affected by coral bleaching, the best chance to recover.

The agreement was reached after several outbreaks of coral bleaching on reefs near Keppel Island reduced the numbers of sea anemones in which the fish lived and threatened the valuable tourist industry.

"We recognise the importance of these fish to the tourism industry," Mr Squire said.

"People come from all over the world to snorkel the Keppels, so we are happy to exercise our stewardship and stop taking clown fish from those reefs."

Although most clown fish sold in aquariums were bred in captivity, their popularity, particularly overseas, meant Queensland's 30 or so commercial aquarium fishers still caught them in the wild.

"There is a real worry that, because of climate change, they will become less common on the reef and that will be a tragedy, not just for us, but for all users of the reef," Mr Squire said.

The agreement to protect wild clown fish has been welcomed by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.

"This strategy is an important step towards effective co-management of this small but economically valuable fishery," department spokeswoman Brigid Kerrigan said.

"We will continue to work with the industry to achieve the best outcomes for sustainability and economic productivity."

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said voluntary agreements between government and commercial operators would help protect the reef from climate change, which some experts say could destroy the reef in decades.

"(This agreement) forms part of a wider strategy to adapt to the effects of climate change," the authority's Bruce Wallner said.

"Such an initiative is probably a world first in addressing this growing problem."

Under the agreement, commercial aquarium fishers will collect data about fish populations and provide the information to state authorities.

Ozonizers

IPT — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:53:53 GMT

Hi Steve - I see Red Sea has some Ozonizers that include a controller built in. I have read that keeping ORP up is of good value. WHat are your thoughts on these units? What are your thoughts on the need/use of Ozone at all? Specifically in an SPS dominant tank.

Georgia Aquarium News

Steven Pro — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:22:17 GMT

GEORGIA AQUARIUM ANNOUNCES “SWIM WITH GENTLE GIANTS”

Guests can now swim or SCUBA dive with whale sharks at world’s largest aquarium

ATLANTA (Feb. 12, 2008) – Georgia Aquarium announced today that guests can now swim or SCUBA dive with the world’s largest fish, the whale shark, in the world’s largest exhibit (Ocean Voyager) at the world’s largest aquarium. Swim with Gentle Giants is a new immersion program at the Aquarium that introduces participants to the Aquarium’s whale shark conservation program and gives them the amazing and rare opportunity to swim or dive with whale sharks and thousands of fish including zebra sharks, sawfish, bowmouth guitarfish and schools of tarpon, cownose rays and more. Georgia Aquarium is also the only place in the world where participants are guaranteed to encounter the magnificent whale shark.

In addition to a 30-minute guided exploration of Ocean Voyager and access to behind the scenes areas, guests also receive admission to the Aquarium, all equipment provided, log book, certificate of participation, t-shirt and souvenir photo. No experience or certification is necessary for the swim program, and participants in the SCUBA dive program must provide certification from a nationally or internationally recognized organization and photo identification. The program is open to all guests age 12 and older. Participants under age 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult.

Participants may SCUBA dive daily at 3 p.m. or swim at 4:30 p.m. Swim with Gentle Giants registration opens today with the first slots available June 8 for Annual Pass members and July 1 for everyone. The cost for the swim program is $190 and the dive program is $290, and Annual Pass members receive a 10% discount. In addition to program discounts, Annual Pass members receive great benefits and family adventures that last for a year. Join Today!

For more information on the program and how to reserve a spot, visit georgiaaquarium.org or call 404-581-4000.

What would you recommend

Marinelife — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:09:38 GMT

I posted this on another part of the forum but was told maybe posting here would be better.

I am currently looking into building a wood tank with a large viewing panel on the front and a small one on one side. My question is about the large one.

Would 1" thick acrylic be good for a 86" x 48" panel? The water level would be over the top of the panel. I have posted a picture of the tank design (sorta bad picture). What do you think, is 1" good enough? I was thinking of a larger panel say 86" x 60" but the easiest to find and best price panels are 96"x 48" and can be cut down to the 86" I need.

A little background on why this size tank, the only way for me to upgrade tanks at this time is to make it fit in the spot my current tank is in, so taller it has to be.

New Sea Salt Article

Steven Pro — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:26:52 GMT

I was reading my latest copy of Pet Age (December 2007) when I saw a new article on sea salt titled, "Understanding Sea Salts" by Anne Culbreath Watkins. There were a couple of interesting points that I wanted to share.

1.) "Three products under the Central Aquatics umbrella - Coralife Salt Mix, Oceanic Natural Sea Salt Mix, and Kent Sea Salt - offer hobbyists different options. "It's a good, better, best scenario," said Andrews. (*Steven's note: the Andrews quoted is Paul Andrews, associate brand director of Central Aquatics*) ..... For example, the Coralife brand doesn't have the same amounts of trace elements and buffers as the Oceanic brand, which in turn has less than the Kent brand."

I didn't know that. I wasn't sure how the three brands related to one another. Interesting to note.

2.) Regarding RO water, "This has represented a challenge for the home hobbyist because, according to Howard (*Steven's note: Ron Howard, CEO of Red Sea), all salts manufactured to date except for Red Sea's new Coral Pro have been configured to work with tap water. "Tap water typically contains at least 100 parts per million of dissolved calcium - essential for coral growth and health - and magnesium and other essential elements. ..... Consumers who use RO water and properly test their aquarium notice after mixing new saltwater they immediately have to supplement calcium, magnesium and other elements, said Howard."

This is something I have known for quite some time and I and others have spoken about it before, but it doesn't seem to be getting to the masses. I routinely see posts complaining about brand X salt when someone tests it and finds it low when mixed with RO/DI water. I don't know if those hobbyists simply don't know this fact, don't believe it, or simply like to complain.

3.) In several portions of this article the idea of having to add salt to water and not vice versa is reinforced. Again, this is something I knew, but a nice point to bring back up to remind others. Adding water to the salt mix can cause precipitation problems.

Master's Thesis involving survey of hobbyists?

BrianPlankis — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 13:29:21 GMT

Steven,

About a year ago you posted a thread with a link to a Master's thesis topic where they surveyed marine aquarium hobbyists. I've searched your forum for multiple terms and cannot find it.

Do you know which one I'm talking about and do you still have the reference?

I believe the thesis was from a Florida university, but not positive.

Brian

HOBBYISTS’ PREFERENCES FOR MARINE ORNAMENTAL FISH

Steven Pro — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 04:56:29 GMT

Here is a paper someone just posted to another message board. I have only had a chance to skim through it, but it looks really interesting.

http://etd.fcla.edu/UF/UFE0007021/alencastro_l.pdf

Midwest Marine Aquarium Conference in Ann Arbor Michigan March 15th

Steven Pro — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:02:30 GMT

Come see half of the Marine Depot crew in Ann Arbor Michigan March 15th. Eric Borneman, Frank Marini, and myself will be joined by Dr. Bruce Carlson of the famous Atlanta Aquarium to do a one day event. I have gone to this show several times as an attendee and spoke at it several more and always thoroughly enjoy myself. I have to say, it is one of my favorite yearly events behind MACNA. They get a decent size crowd for a regional one-day show, but it is still very comfortable and friendly. If you are anywhere in the area, check it out!

http://www.masm.org/Events/Event.asp?ID=42

An Arguement for Latin Names

Steven Pro — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:23:14 GMT

From the December 2007 issue of Tank Talk, a newsletter of the Durban Region Aquarium Society. This ws written for a freshwater audience, but I thought it was really good.

Aqua Latin 101

Derek P.S. Tustin
Why use Latin?

We have all at one time or another wandered through a local fish store and seen the name of a fish, invertebrate or plant listed only by its common name, with no Latin or scientific name posted. This of course leads to problems as we ask ourselves “What exactly am I looking at?” Go to one store and you get one name. Go to another, and you get a second name. Go to a third store and you may get the first name applied to a different specimen.

These common names are quite convenient for the local fish store, as the name can often be a hook or incentive for a person to buy a fish or plant. One example is the plant Brasenia schreberi. While likely not to be found in the aquarium, it is a potential pond plant native to Florida. A floating leaf perennial with a rhizome, the leaf stalk attaches to the center of the elliptical-shaped floating leaves. It also has a unique feature in that the underside of the leaf and leaf stalk has a slimy coating, leading to one of the two common names for the plant – “snot-bonnet”. The more common name, and probably more socially acceptable name, is “watershield”. Now, not many people are likely to buy a “snot-bonnet” from their local source, but might pay for a “watershield”.

As another example of local fish stores promoting a specimen in an attractive way, the name “bumblebee catfish” is cute, even fun to say. But thinking of the bumblebee catfish, do you have an image in mind? Have you seen one? Okay, which one is it? Microglanis iheringi or Pseudomystus siamensis?

Very similar, aren’t they? But Microglanis iheringi is a small catfish (5.5cm or 2”) native to Venezuela and Pseudomystus siamensis is a larger catfish (15cm or 6”) native to Thailand. So, we have two catfish that are similar in appearance and being sold under the same name, yet are different in size and are from completely different parts of the world.

However, confusion in naming doesn’t stop there. Lets use Atyopsis moluccensis, a relatively large (12cm or 5”) filter feeding shrimp native to Southeast Asia, as another example. In visiting only five websites, here (alphabetically) are some of the commons names of this attractive shrimp:

• Asian fan shrimp

• Asian filter shrimp

• bamboo shrimp

• brine shrimp

• common fan shrimp

• fan shrimp

• flower shrimp

• giant bamboo fan shrimp

• Malaysian rainbow shrimp

• rainbow shrimp

• rock shrimp

• Singapore filter shrimp

• Thai filter shrimp

• wood shrimp

So now we have fourteen different (although some are similar) names for the same creature. But the problem extends further still. The keeping of aquaria is a global hobby. The same species of fish that is in your tank can probably be found in Germany, Japan or France. However, different countries, and indeed even different geographic regions within a country, will call a fish or plant by a different name and possibly in a different language.

All of these potential items of confusion, samples from two different genus being identified under the same name, a single species being identified by multiple names, and differing names in differing languages, can be corrected by listing the fish by its proper Latin name. Latin, or scientific names, are unique plant and animal names that are used globally by scientists, aquatic horticulturalists, environmental managers, aquatic hobbyists and others that provide the same name for the same organism no matter where you live or what language you speak.

History and Current Usage of Latin For Naming Lifeforms

In the 1700’s there was an increase in world travel and voyages of exploration originating from Europe. With these voyages new and exotic (at least to Europe) organisms were being introduced to the European civilizations.

However, due to the vast number of discovered and revealed life-forms, it became apparent that there were too many items to describe, too few people to describe them, and no system which could be used for descriptive purposes. In response to this, the Systema Naturae (or Nature’s System), a universal system for classifying all living beings, was devised by the Swedish scientist Carolus Linnaeus in 1758. Since Latin was a dead language (or a language that was no longer learned as a native tongue), politically neutral due to its status as such, not subject to change, but still taught as part of the formal education of the time, Linnaeus chose it to be the basis for his Systema Naturae. However, he did not just use the Latin language as it existed at that time, but adapted it to permit the usage of words from other languages (most notably Greek words), words of local usage, and eponyms, or words derived from the names of people and places. The usefulness of the Systema Naturae was quickly recognized and accepted throughout Europe.

The system is a taxonomy, or science of classification, used to describe plants and animals. It is a hierarchy that starts with Kingdom and descends to Species.

Simplified, without subdivisions, it reads:

• Kingdom

• Phylum

• Class

• Order

• Family

• Genus

• Species

The Systema Naturae as designed by Linnaeus was a binomial system, or a system listing two terms. In this case the binomial consisted only of the genus and the species. “Genus” is a classification of an organism by grouping it with other closely related organisms. The classic definition of “Species” is a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. It stated that while members of different species of the same genus could inter-breed with one another, this was unlikely, and if they did, either no offspring would be produced, or any offspring that were produced would not be fertile. However, with advances in the study of what constitutes a species, new definitions have had to be established. There are recorded examples of fish from what were classically defined as different species and even different genera successfully breeding with one another and with the resulting offspring being fertile with both originating species. Due to these recorded breedings, the concept of what constitutes a species has been redefined. Now a species is considered to be a selfsustaining population of like individuals found within a defined geographical range. The emphasis has been shifted from the ability to successfully reproduce to a given population that is able to reproduce that is separated from another given population by geographic and other barriers.

Therefore, while both groups may be able to reproduce when brought into contact with one another, they are considered to be different species if in nature they are found in areas that are distinct and separate from one another.

Regarding terminology, using the example of Microglanis iheringi from above, “Microglanis” refers to the genus and “iheringi” refers to the species.

However, it was realized that some species consist of two or more sub-species that are capable of breeding. This lead to the introduction of a trinomial system. In the family of rainbowfish, there exists the Melanotaenia splendida splendida. But there is also M. splendida inornata, M. splendida rubrostriata and M. splendida tatei. The third name in the trinomial system, in the above cases “inornata”, “rubrostriata”, and “tatei”, is the sub-specific. The first subspecies to be discovered and described is known as the nominate sub-species or the nominate form. Therefore M. splendida splendida is the nominate sub-species

Rules for Latin Usage: Written Latin

The taxonomic system of Latin as devised by Linnaeus was and still is intended primarily for written communication. As such, there are several rules that are standard when using this format, and may be useful to those submitting Breeders Award Program reports, and to simply understand some of the information that is being presented.

First, when the name of a fish or plant is being written, it will contain two (binomial) or three (trinomial) parts. The first will be the genus, the second the species, and the third (if present) the sub-species. The genus is always capitalized, but the species and subspecies are never capitalized. This is true even if the species or subspecies name are eponyms, or named after someone. Therefore “Melanotaenia splendida tatei” is correct, while “Melanotaenia Splendida Tatei” (even though “Tatei” refers to someone) is not.

Second, when writing a name using scientific Latin, the name is always either italicized (Melanotaenia splendida tatei) or underlined (Melanotaenia splendida tatei), but never both.

Third, when writing the species name after its first appearance in an article, you are able to use an abbreviation for the genus name by simply using the first letter of the genus followed by a period, and then the full species and sub-species names, such as M. splendida tatei.

Finally, if you are referring to a singular but unidentified species within a genus, then the proper form is to write the genus name followed by “sp.”, such as Melanotaenia sp. If you are referring to some but not all of a genus, then “spp.” will follow the genus name, such as Melanotaenia spp. If referring to all species within a genus, only the genus name is used, such as Melanotaenia. Note that the genus and species name are italicized, but “spp.” and “sp.” are not.

Rules for Latin Usage: Spoken Latin

I’m sure that we have all at one time or another stumbled over the pronunciation of the scientific name of a fish or plant that we are keeping. To help you, here are some basic hints, rules, and suggestions on how to use spoken Latin.

First, and most important, remember that Latin is a dead language. But even when Latin was being spoken across the ancient Roman Empire, there were regional differences in pronunciation. Therefore, there are rules on how to speak Latin, but variations in pronunciation will and do occur. The best approach is to pronounce Latin names as closely as possible to how they appear.

Second, don’t be afraid to use Latin. The scientific names may appear intimidating, and this may lead to a certain hesitation in trying to pronounce the words. But we have no problems pronouncing names that are from languages other than English. For instance we have no problem saying Japanese names such as Mitsubishi or Nokia, or German names such as Klaus Steinhaus.

So keeping that in mind, and realizing that this is a general overview (remember that Latin, even though dead, is a complete language and can take years of study to master), here are some general rules to help with pronouncing Latin;

• In Latin, all vowels are pronounced. (So in Nymphoides aquatica, you would pronounce it “Nympho-i-des”, not “Nym-pho-ides”.)

• If the Latin name is an eponym, or the proper name of a person or place, always pronounce the name as it should be, and then add the Latin ending.

• When two vowels are found together, such as the above Nymphoides, the first vowel is short.

• Latin was a phonetically written language, or one that was written based on how it sounds. Therefore make sure that you pronounce every syllable. (The exception to this is that the first consonant in paired consonants such as “ps” in Pseudomystus siamensis, “pt” in “Pterophyllum altum, and the “ct” in Ctenopoma muriei is not pronounced.)

Latin Name Meaning

Remember that all names, when taken to their absolute basic meaning, describe something. For instance, my name, Derek Tustin, is derived from Theodoric Thurston. Theodoric means “Son of Thor”. Thurston means “Thor’s Stone”. So my name literally means “Son of Thor, Thor’s Stone”. Let’s also take Klaus Steinhaus. Klaus is derived from the Greek name “Nicholas” which means “Victory of the People”. Steinhaus is derived from Stein, the German word for “Stone” and Haus, the German word for “House”, thereby becoming “Stone House”. So his full name means “Victory of the People, Stone House“.

This is just as true for fish and plants. The scientific or Latin name means something. It can refer to physical attributes, breeding habits, origins, or it can be an honourific. If you examine the entire name, it can reveal information about the fish. Just as in the example of the names above, the Latin name can also reveal information. Take for example one of the beautiful rainbowfish from New Guinea, the Melanotaenia sexlineata. As you will see below “Melano” means black, “Taenia” means stripe, “Sex” means six, and “Lineata” means lined. So the Latin name of this fish literally means “Black-Stripe, Six-Lined”. The Black-Stripe refers to the stripe that runs along the side of most fish in this genus, and the Six-Lined refers to the six lines along the side of the specific species.

Following is a list of some of the more common scientific name roots, their meaning, and an example of an organism (either fish or aquatic plant) with that root contained within the name.

Colours

aeneus (bronze) – Corydoras aeneus

albo (white) – Tanichthys albonubes

albus (white) – Monopterus albus

argentus (silver) – Monodactylus argenteus

auratus (golden) – Melanochromis auratus

caerulus (blue) – Champsochromis caeruleus

chromis (colourful) – Labidochromis zebroides

erythro (red) – Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

flava (yellow) – Tilapia flava

luteus (orange) – Carasobarbus luteus

melano (black) – Melanotaenia utcheensis

niger (black) – Oxydoras niger

nigro (black) – Tetraodon nigroviridis

purpurea (purple) – Utricularia purpurea

roseus (pink) – Danio roseus

Numbers

mono (one) – Monocirrhus polyacanthus

bi (two) – Corydoras bilineatus

tri (three) – Apistogramma trifasciata

tetra (four) – Tetraodon fluviatilis

quinque (five) – Cherax quinquecarinatus

sex (six) - Melanotaenia sexlineata

octo (eight) – Leporinus octofasciatus

multi (many) – Glossolepis multisquamatus

poly (many) - Tyrannochromis polyodon

Markings and Descriptions

fasciatus (banded) – Leporinus trifasciatus

lineatus (lined) – Aplocheilus lineatus

maculatus (spotted) – Xiphophorus maculatus

natans (that swims) – Salvinia natans

ocellatus (spotted) – Astronotus ocellatus

punctatus (spotted) – Channa punctatus

reticulatus (net-like) – Lebistes reticulates

seriatus (in series) – Aequidens biseriatus

spilo (spot) – Serrasalmus Spilopleura

splendida (bright) – Melanotaenia splendida

striata (striped) – Botia striata

taenia (stripe) – Melanotaenia oktediensis

undulata (wavy-edged) –Cryptocoryne undulata

zonus (banded) – Hemigrammus erythrozonus

Size and Dimensions

grandis (large) – Bathybagrus grandis

lepto (thin) – Rhamphochromis leptosoma

longi (long) – Aponogeton longiplumulosus

macro (large) – Macrobrachium dolatum

micro (small) – Microrasbora nana

minima (small) – Lemna minima

minor (smaller) – Lemna minor

nana (small) – Vallisneria nana

parva (small) – Cryptocoryne parva

Characteristics

calvus (bald) – Altolamprologus calvus

coryne (club) – Cryptocoryne cordata

crypto (hidden) – Cryptocoryne undulata

curvi (rounded) – Laetacara curviceps

cyrto (curved) – Taeniolethrinops cyrtonotus

echino (spiny) – Echinodorus osiris

furcatus (forked) – Pseudomugil furcatus

geo (earth) – Geophagus steindachneri

gibbi (humped) – Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps

nudi (naked) – Nanochromis nudiceps

phagus (eater) – Geophagus brasiliensis

pseudo (false) – Pseudotropheus demasoni

pugnax (fighting) – Betta pugnax

tropheus (eater) – Pseudotropheus saulosi

vulgaris (common) – Utricularia vulgaris

Locations

palustris (swamp) – Ludwigia palustris

Body Parts

ceps (head) – Ancistrus nudiceps

cephalus (head) – Nyassachromis microcephalus

cara (head) – Cleithracara maronii

flori (flower) – Samolus floribundus

glosso (tongue) – Glossolepis incisus

lepis (scale) – Datnoides microlepis

pterus (wing/fin) – Xenotilapia spilopterus

soma (body) – Rhamphochromis leptosoma

sperma (seed) – Hygrophila polysperma

stoma (mouth) – Helostoma temminckii

rostris (nose) – Acestrorhynchus falcirostris

odon - (tooth) – Trematocranus placodon

gnathus (jaw) – Placidochromis macrognathus

gaster (belly) – Naevochromis chrysogaster

uro (tail) – Hemitaeniochromis urotaenia

Termination Meanings

-anum (named after) – Gobiosoma yucatanum

-ensis (comes from) – Aponogeton madagascariensis

-folia (having leaves) – Utricularia graminifolia

-formis (form of) – Monodactylus falciformis

-iae (named after) – Simpsonichthys constanciae

-iana (named after) – Azolla caroliniana

-ica (comes from) – Cardinia japonica

-icus (comes from) – Arnoglossus arabicus

-ii (named after) – Rotala wallichii

-odies (form of) – Pseudotropheus fuscoides

Animals

capri (goat) – Caprichromis liemi

crabro (hornet) – Pseudotropheus crabro

leporinus (hare like) – Leporinus octofasciatus

The above list, while long, is by no means comprehensive. There are literally thousands of scientific roots that are used to describe fish and aquatic plants. Should you be interested in doing a bit of detective work to find out what the name of a specific organism means, there are many sources available on the internet that will provide root word definitions. There are a number of facets of Systema Naturae, Latin and scientific names that I have glossed over for the sake of space. Items such as the gender of the root Latin, naming conventions, the identification of true Latin versus Greek root words, and much of modern usage has been omitted, but further research and study can provide you with a greater understanding.

We don’t need to know the Latin or scientific name of the fish and plants we keep to enjoy them, but if we truly wish to understand them, to know where they came from and to appreciate them as a unique life-form, a basic understanding of their true name will aid us greatly.

Help on greenhouse glazing

Bigguy — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:54:28 GMT

Did you use a non-uv blocking glazing on your greenhouse. I have been reading that only a few poly films don't block UV and the will age quickly due to uv damage. What advantage does UV light give to greenhouse raised coral?

crown starfish eating habits

OBX6 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 20:11:08 GMT

I'm new to the hobby and have had my tank running for three months now. My crown starfish, which I got six weeks ago along with snails, a shrimp, hermit crabs, and several chromis, and a royal gramma, has now started eating my snails. I know that they like to feed on mollusks, but I wonder why it left them alone for six weeks. The snails are doing a great job of cleaning my tank, but we also enjoy the star. It has eaten two in two days now! Any suggestions about this behavior?

MASNA Coral Reef Survey

CTReefer — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 07:52:15 GMT

Here is the link for the MASNA "Coral Reef Survey". It only takes a few minutes & is well worth it.

http://surveys.edgeresearch.com/eight/macnlogn.htm

Steve

Red Slime Removers

charlesr1958 — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:01:47 GMT

Does anyone know what the ingredients are of these products? I see them suggested as a means to be rid of cyanobacteria, which I disagree with since I look upon such products as attacking the symptoms and not effecting a cure. But it would help to know what someone is actualy pouring into their systems.

Chuck

Forums / TEAM Marine Depot / Pulse on the Hobby – by Steven Pro

I take it RC did not like your question

Steven your box is full

calcium reactors

Muriatic acid use

Some Countries Denied CITES Importation into the US

Be careful who you let in your home

Kudos Steve

My Greenhouse Build Project

Kati/Ani Function & Hookup Info?

Contact Steve

AMACS

Radio Talk Show about Saltwater Fish

Imported Aquacultured Reef Clams Found To Have Foreign Disease, University Of Florida

SweetWater Zooplankton

Greenhouse evaluation

LFS in need of help

Heating/Cooling my greenhouse with geothermal

Kati and Ani high phosphates

Hermit crabs

U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting 2/27/2008

RO, DI, or RO/DI for large scale operation

best type of filtration?

Pending Hawaiian Legislation

Minimum Pricing

NERAC 2008

Algae-munching fish clean up Chinese lake

Suggested reading

Fishers to stop clowning with Nemo's habitat

Ozonizers

Georgia Aquarium News

What would you recommend

New Sea Salt Article

Master's Thesis involving survey of hobbyists?

HOBBYISTS’ PREFERENCES FOR MARINE ORNAMENTAL FISH

Midwest Marine Aquarium Conference in Ann Arbor Michigan March 15th

An Arguement for Latin Names

Help on greenhouse glazing

crown starfish eating habits

MASNA Coral Reef Survey

Red Slime Removers