February 2021 Newsletter

Home , Aquascaping, Substrate (aquarium)

Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS) Volume 40, Issue 2 February 2021

The Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS) is an incorporated non-profit home aquatics organization which meets on the first Thursday of every month @ 7:30 pm in the South Theater of the NCSU CVM campus (North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine) located at 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607. Meeting agendas include introductions, a discussion of assorted business topics, a relevant program of interest, and conclude with door prizes and small auction of aquatic animals, plants, and equipment/supplies. Complimentary light refreshments are provided and guests are welcome free of charge. For more details, you can visit us on the internet using our website at http://www.raleighaquariumsociety.org or on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/raleighaquariumsociety. You can also email us at [email protected]. RAS is a member in good standing of the Federation of American Aquarium Societies (FAAS) and the International Federation of Online Clubs and Aquatic Societies (IFOCAS). Our mission is to encourage and enhance the knowledge, conservation, and enjoyment of freshwater/saltwater aquariums and ponds for the amateur or professional aquarist at all levels of expertise.

NOTE: Please be advised that although parking at the NCSU Vet School is free and plentiful, nearby periodic events such as NCSU sports, Carolina Hurricanes hockey, NC State Fairgrounds business, and weather issues may impact commuting and parking, so plan accordingly. For RAS meetings, kindly park across the street from the main library lobby and enter no later than 8:00 pm.

Table Of Contents: ...... 2 February Program (Thursday 2/4/21 @ 7:30 pm) - " Pseudomugils ": ...... 2 RAS 2021 Calendar of Events: ...... 3 Officers, Directors, and Committee Chairs: ...... 4 From The Fishing Desk: ...... 4 Fishy Business: ...... 5 Business Topics ...... 5 Fish & Trips: ...... 5 February Event - Corona Cancelled ...... 5 Fish Activities: ...... 5 February 2021 Mini-Auction (MA) Report ...... 5 February 2021 Breeder Awards Program (BAP) Report ...... 6 Fish Bowl: ...... 7 Fish Fossils: ...... 8 Plant Growth And Iron ...... 8 Fish Market: ...... 9 Fish Nets: ...... 10 Fish Posts: ...... 11 Indian Almond Leaves ...... 11 Algae ...... 12 Staying In School ...... 13 A Guide To Photographing Fish ...... 15 Fish School: ...... 17 Fish Tails: ...... 25 Aquatic Plant Basics ...... 25 A Guide to Keeping and Growing Aquatic Moss ...... 27 Go Fish!: ...... 30 RAS Sponsors: ...... 31 RAS Membership Application: ...... 32

February Program (Thursday 2/4/21 @ 7:30 pm) - " Pseudomugils ":

In February, Gary Lange of the Missouri Aquatic Society, and a speaker at our 2014 RAS Workshop, will present a program on the blue-eyed Pseudomugils, a member of the Melantaeniidae family, or rainbowfish. This slender docile freshwater fish with 2 dorsal fins is found in eastern Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, and Madagascar. Gary will discuss his experiences it, plus tell us tips on how to select, care, and breed this beautiful animal. We will again be using ZOOM to host this meeting (technical information on attending is available on our website), but we hope you can join us!

When we resume our meetings at the Vet School, please visit our Sergeant-At-Arms when you arrive to register and get a door prize ticket. Drop off any donations or sellable items to our Monthly Mini- Auction Chairman for distribution later that evening (if desired, you’ll get a portion of proceeds as per our Bylaws). As always, we're always looking for informative aquatic-related programs to educate our membership; kindly contact our Programs Chairman if you wish to present at any future meeting.

Club Meetings Board Mtgs. WS/Auctions/Tag Fish Food Field Trips Other January 7th 21tst February 4th 18th March 4th 18th April 1st 15th May 6th 20th June 3rd 17th July 1st 15th August 5th 19h September 2nd 16th October 7th 21st November 4th 18h December 2nd 16th

2021 RAS Monthly Meeting Programs (all topics and speakers subject to change): January = "Amano Shrimp" - Ryan Chan February = "Pseudomugils" - Gary Lange March = "tbd" - tbd April = "tbd" - tbd May = "tbd" - tbd June = "tbd" - tbd July = "tbd" - tbd August = "tbd" - tbd September = "tbd" - tbd October = "tbd" - tbd November = "tbd" - tbd December = "Holiday Party, Awards, & Elections" - RAS Board

President & Webmaster: Thomas Narten [narten @ cs.duke.edu] Vice-President, Mini-Auction, & Youth Programs: Jamye Carr [[email protected]] Secretary, Membership, & Newsletter Editor: Michael Maieli [michaelmaieli @ aol.com] Treasurer, Workshop, & Auction Chairman: Chris Smith [rasboardtr @ gmail.com]

Director & Sergeant-At-Arms: Curtis Smith [sirhiss9 @ gmail.com] Director: Maggie Poole [dalqueen123 @ yahoo.com] Director & FACEBOOK Socials Chairwoman: Caroline Morgan [caromcmo @ live.unc.edu]

Trips Chairman: Gerald Pottern [gbpottern @ yahoo.com] Program Chairman: Neil Frank [nc.aquarist @ gmail.com] BAP Chairman: Paul Parks [paul @ fishmaniac.com] Social Media Chairman: Robert Crawford [photorob @ gmail.com] Mail Order Chairmen: Thomas Narten, Chris Smith, Brandon Berry [brandonberry1978 @ gmail.com] ...

From The Fishing Desk:

Nearly a year after COVID-19 hit our shores, we are still grappling with the pandemic, hopeful that the various vaccine rollouts will have their intended effect. RAS continues to operate virtually, with our meetings, auctions, and socials being performed online. As mentioned, many clubs have gone dormant for a while, but we still intend to provide whatever services we can to our members. Please stay safe and informed during these challenging times and send us any questions or concerns you may have about our operations. We remain in touch monthly with the NCSU Vet School and are optimistic about returning sometime this year. We are truly appreciative of your ongoing support.

Membership dues for RAS remain at $20.00 annually, starting each January 1st (dues are due in January.) This is a household (as per the IRS definition) single voting member price. No other types of memberships (with the exception of BAP lifetime memberships) are available. Pro-rated fees for joining the club at other times of the year are itemized on the RAS membership application form, found on the last page of every newsletter, which also contains a list of RAS membership benefits. Kindly remit your dues in person to the club treasurer or by mail to our P.O. Box. Membership cards and other welcome give-a-way gifts are available from the club secretary. As a reminder, merely subscribing to our FACEBOOK page does not constitute membership in RAS (really).

Contributions to our newsletter, website, or FACEBOOK page are always welcome, respecting the expected mature and professional norms of legality, ethics, and courtesy. This includes any news, activity updates, business/technical articles, items to buy/sell/trade/donate, forum posts, trip reports, classes, job openings, home aquarium photos, etc. Submit these to us softcopy via e-mail or hardcopy via our P.O. Box. When communicating to us in any form, however, please include your full name, phone, and e-mail address. Newsletters are published about a week prior to each regular club meeting and sent blindcopy to your e-mail address on file. If you have updates to your contact information (including subscription removal) or questions about our operations, please contact the club secretary. Finally, please keep in mind that we are guests of the many facilities we use for our events and activities and must treat them responsibly if we expect to use them again. Direct any problems to the club secretary for resolution. RAS wishes everyone a happy Valentine's Day!

Business Topics By Michael V. Maieli; RAS Secretary

The latest RAS Board meeting was held via ZOOM videoconference and occurred on 1/21/20, with participation from 5 board members and 0 club members. Anyone can attend any board meeting at any time to provide any input on any item of business. Board meetings normally occur on the 3rd Thursday of each month, but check with the Secretary for exact details as our logistics may change. These ZOOM meetings are now being recorded so can be reviewed by any member so interested.

(Please Note: The outline below contains a brief summary of the topics discussed at the latest RAS board meeting. A complete set of documents containing all recent board meeting agendas, formal minutes, and voting histories can be found on GOOGLE DOCS at...) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bVUfE2DjLbeGdRPaP0-ootKl5ZEbyVJ1/view?usp=sharing

Business Topics included:  President's Remarks [agenda, previous board minutes approval, future outlook, etc.] (contact = T. Narten).  Treasurer's Report (contact = C. Smith).  Pending items include documenting operating procedures, bylaw updates, tank stand demonstration, 2021 programs, event calendar, etc. (contact = all).

Fish & Trips:

February Event - Corona Cancelled By Gerald Pottern; RAS Trips Chairman

Due to ongoing concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and strongly voiced opinions expressed by some of the membership, all of our various monthly extracurricular activities sponsored by RAS will be suspended until further notice. This is truly unfortunate but a sign of the times. We appreciate your support and understanding.

When we get back to normal, we’re always looking for neat places to go (aquariums, pet shops, hatcheries, aquatic conventions, etc.), cool things to do (collecting trips, dining, movies, community projects, etc.), or interesting people to meet (parties, picnics, socials, meetups, etc.). Send comments or suggestions to us at [email protected].

Fish Activities:

February 2021 Mini-Auction (MA) Report By Michael Maieli; RAS Secretary

At the January meeting, RAS held it's second monthly auction using ZOOM, hosted by Vice-President Jamye Carr, start to finish. Although small, various BAP entries were auctioned, including cory catfish, angelfish, tiger teddy's, blue dream shrimp, and snails, all of which found new homes with our members that participated. PayPal payments and porch pickup is still the norm for these auctions. A larger online auction is planned for later in the month. We again thank our BAP breeders for donating these items to the club for use in the

© 2021 RAS (All Rights Reserved) www.raleighaquariumsociety.org Page 5 of 32 Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS) Volume 40, Issue 2 February 2021 auction. We want to remind everyone that when we resume meeting at the NCSU CVM, we will now have a free table of used supplies/equipment donated by the membership which will be located next to the door prize table and the donation table (where we are soliciting items for the Vet School's Amazon tank). All of these 3 tables are all aligned on the front row of the meeting room. RAS is constantly trying to balance the fun of the monthly auctions along with the quantity/selection of items available and the time it takes to do it all. Different formats have been suggested and tried, each with their unique advantages and disadvantages. We ask our members to be patient as we search to find the "holy grail" of auction formats. Your respectful suggestions are always welcome. If you have any extra fish, plants, or usable aquatic supplies/equipment/decor for sale, please consider making a donation to any of our auctions to help build the club treasury which enables us to do our many worthwhile activities. Auction forms are posted on the club's website.

February 2021 Breeder Awards Program (BAP) Report By Paul Parks; BAP Chairman

The RAS BAP wants to congratulate Liz Winfrey Ventura, Thomas Narten, Brenton Koenig, and Jamye Carr for submitting their first BAP entries. We hope to see more successful spawns! Clicking the link below will direct you to the latest RAS standings in the club's BAP program. Please send any questions you have about this program to the BAP chairman. Thank you. https://www.raleighaquariumsociety.org/bap

[COLOR KEY TO REFERENCES: BOOKS - CATALOGS - CORPORATIONS - MAGAZINES - NEWSPAPERS - WEB SITES]

 About Fish Online website = http://www.aboutfishonline.com/

 Age Of Aquariums website = http://www.aquahobby.com/age_of_aquariums.php

 Aqueon Corporation = http://www.aqueonproducts.com/products/aquariums/

 Aquatic Community website = http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/

 Daily Tarheel newspaper = http://www.dailytarheel.com/

 Doctors Foster & Smith Aquarium Supply catalog = http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-supplies/pr/c/3578

 Durham Herald Sun newspaper = http://www.heraldsun.com/

 Fish website = http://www.fish.com/

 Fishlore’s website = http://www.fishlore.com/

 Hagen Corporation = http://usa.hagen.com/

 Independent Newspaper = http://www.indyweek.com/

 New Aquarium Information website = http://www.newaquariuminformation.com/index.html

 Pet Solutions Sales catalog = http://www.petsolutions.com/

 Raleigh News & Observer newspaper = http://www.newsobserver.com/

 Tetra Corporation = http://www.tetra-fish.com/

 Tim’s Tropical Fish & Aquariums website = http://www.tropicalfishandaquariums.com/

 Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine = http://www.tfhmagazine.com/

 Tropical Tank’s website = http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/fishindx.htm

 Wardley’s Corporation (a Hartz Company) = http://wardley.com/

 Wildlife In NC = http://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/MultimediaCenter/WildlifeinNorthCarolina.aspx

Plant Growth And Iron By Dale Speirs; former RAS member (published in the 12/90 edition of the RAS newsletter)

 FOR SALE: RAS-logo’ed apparel; various types of shirts, hats, jackets, towels, soft briefcases, etc. Contact Queensboro Apparel Company [http://raleighaquariumsociety.qbstores.com/]. {never expires}

 FOR SALE: RAS mail orders - for members only; (club pays handling/shipping/tax) {never expires} Ken’s Fish: monthly; fish/aquatic supplies, $ varies. RAS needs a contact; Eastern Aquatics: monthly; black worms, $24/lb. Gerald Pottern [[email protected]]; Jehmco: quarterly; food variety, $ varies. Brandon Berry [[email protected]]; Wet Spot: semi-annually; fish/plants, $ varies. Chris Smith [[email protected]]; Brine Shrimp Direct: semi-annually; shrimp, $49.50/lb. Thomas Narten [[email protected]]; Blackwater Aquaria: a potential new mailorder opportunity. RAS needs a contact;

 WANTED: Amazon fish or plants or decor; suitable for use in the NCSU CVM cafeteria Amazon tank. Contact Emi Tucker [(407)276-6631 or [email protected]]. {expires 12/31/22}

 WANTED: Rummy Nose Tetras; any gender, age, size, or condition. Contact Sylvia Vaughan [call or text (843)272-4043]. {expires 2/28/21}

 FREE: Parrotfish; very pretty and healthy with no deformities. Contact Len Galante [call or text (919)413-7867]. {expires 2/28/21}

 FOR SALE: 30g tank; includes hood, used fir reptiles but holds water. $60. Contact Frank Carver [call or text (919)830-6099]. {expires 2/28/21}

 FOR SALE: Cold water fish food pellets; Aquascape premium brand, 2.2 lbs/bag, 7 bags total. $6/bag. Contact Concord Brown [call or text (704)712-4128]. {expires 2/28/21}

 WANTED: Aquarium decor; any type, color, or construction (to be used for tank donations sponsored by the Society). Contact Michael Maieli [(919)624-3053 or [email protected]]. {expires 3/31/21}

 FOR SALE: Miscellaneous tanks (some with supplies/equipment); selection ranges from 5g-55g, price ranges from $15-$80. Contact Amanda Temple [call or text (804)469-4667]. {expires 3/31/21}

 FOR SALE: Red Tail Gourami; 13 inches, includes 40g tank. $200. Contact Milton Harris [call or text (704)201-0030]. {expires 3/31/21}

 FOR SALE: 20g tank; includes lights, filter, pump, heater, decor, food, chemicals, and fish. $100. Contact Cara Brown (call or text (336)281-6354). {expires 3/31/21}

 FREE: Angelfish; 2 marble variety adults. Contact Caroline Glencoe [call or text (336)226-8191]. {expires 4/30/21}

 FOR SALE: Two 55g fishtanks (columnar style); each includes a stand, $150 each obo. Contact Len Galante [(919)413-7867 or [email protected]]. {expires 4/30/21}

Fish Nets:

 US Directory (for all national clubs and societies) = http://www.ifocas.org/usstates/unitedstates.htm or http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-community/fish-clubs-and-societies.aspx

 American Killifish Association (located in Houston, TX) = www.aka.org

 Aquarium Enthusiasts of the Triad (located in Winston Salem, NC) = www.aquariumenthusiastsoftriadnc.webs.com

 Atlanta Area Aquarium Association (located in Atlanta, GA) = www.atlantaaquarium.com

 Capital Cichlid Association (located in Silver Spring, MD) = www.capitalcichlids.org

 Carolina Fishtalk forum (located in Durham, NC) = www.carolinafishtalk.com/forum

 Charlotte Area Aquarists Society (located in Charlotte, NC) = www.aquacharlotte.org

 Duke University Marine Laboratory (located in Beaufort, NC) = www.nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab

 Georgia Aquarium (located in Atlanta, GA) = www.georgiaaquarium.org

 James River Aquarium Society (located in Richmond, VA) = www.jras.org

 Jersey Shore Aquarium Society (located in Freehold, NJ) = www.jerseyshoreas.org

 Marine Aquarium Society of the Carolinas (located in Raleigh, NC) = www.reefkeeping.com

 National Aquarium (located in Baltimore, MD) = www.aqua.org

 North Carolina Aquariums (located in Roanoke Island/Pine Knoll Shores/Fort Fisher, NC) = www.ncaquariumsociety.com

 NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine (located in Raleigh, NC) = www.cvm.ncsu.edu

 North Jersey Aquarium Society (located in Lynhurst, NJ) = www.njas.net

 Potomac Valley Aquarium Society (located in Fairfax, VA) = www.pvas.com

 Reef Aquarium Society of Charlotte (located in Charlotte, NC) = www.rasoc.org

 Ripley's Aquarium (located in Myrtle Beach, SC) = www.ripleysaquariums.com/myrtlebeach

 South Jersey Guppy Group (located in Griggstown, NJ) = www.south-jersey-guppy-group.com

 UNC Chapel Hill Marine Sciences Institute (located in Morehead City, NC) = www.marine.unc.edu

 UNC Wilmington Marine Biology Laboratory (located in Wilmington, NC) = www.uncw.edu/career/marinebiology

Fish Posts:

Indian Almond Leaves By Staff Writers; www.thewetspot.com

Algae By Erica Carlson; Staff Writer, Discover Magazine

Staying In School By Jeff Beane; Staff Writer, Wildlife In North Carolina magazine

A Guide To Photographing Fish By Scott Gietler; Staff Photographer, www.photographyguide.com

Fish photography can be very challenging, but very rewarding. It's one of my favorite types of photography. Don't give up. I hope some of these photography tips help you capture that perfect fish shot. Use the right equipment and the best lens. A fast-focusing dSLR camera and a fast prime lens make fish photography much easier. Compact cameras can have difficulty focusing on fast-moving fish, so you will have to try harder.

Fish photography equipment tips - Use a fast, prime lens if shooting with a dSLR. You should try to match the lens to the fish you want to photograph. The best lens depends on the size of the fish, and how close you can approach the fish. Use 100mm or longer for small, fast or skittish fish. Compact users should zoom all the way in. Use a 60mm or wider lens for larger fish. Zoom out as much as necessary. Here's an article on choosing underwater macro lenses. The sigma 17-70mm lens works well for larger fish. You can also use a macro lens behind a dome port. A 1.4x teleconverter can be used to extend the range of your lens for skittish fish. This works specially well for small "darters" like gobies. If the fish is large and doesn't move much, like a sea dragon, large frogfish or scorpion fish, don't be afraid to photograph it wide-angle.

Understand the fish's behavior - Knowing a fish's behavior is essential in getting excellent fish photos. This means asking questions like where they go, what time they are active, and how to best approach them.

Check your settings beforehand - Make sure your camera is set to the proper aperture and shutter speed. I start at F8, 1/125th on a dSLR, or F5.6, 1/200th on a compact. Do a test shot on a stationary object to see if the background color is what you expect. Have your camera on the fastest focus mode, usually continuous focus, spot focus mode. You want your camera to instantly shoot when you press the shutter. Position your strobes before coming close to the fish. Watch out for areas that could give hot spots.

Spend time with the fish - Fish often will repeat behavior over time. Spend time watching a fish - does it repeat a pattern? Does it open its mouth, yawn, or have a mate? Watch a fish for several minutes before moving closer. Control your breathing as you approach a fish. Don't be afraid to spend a significant amount of time with a fish. Never chase a fish, let it get used to you and not view you as a threat.

Imagine the fish photo you want - Try to imagine the perfect photo of your fish. Is the depth of field small, or is the entire fish in focus? Always make sure the fish is facing you, and it's eyes are in focus. Will the fish look better with a blue background, or a black background? What kind of lighting will look best, even lighting or dramatic? One strobe will often give more dramatic lighting, which often works well with fish.

Be creative in your fish photography - Don't be afraid to try different creative underwater photography techniques, such as:

Small depth of field - using a large aperture (F2.8) and getting a blurred background Using only 1 strobe, or a strobe without a diffuser. Using a slow shutter speed to show motion in the photo.

Panning the camera to show motion - Zooming the lens while taking the photo. Using rear curtain sync and a slow shutter speed to show motion behind the fish, yet using a strobe to freeze it's motion. Thing about different underwater compositions, such as filling the frame, diagonal lines, etc. For an artistic fish photo, photograph the fish eye, or a pattern on its body.

Go where no diver has gone before - Juvenile fish are beautiful, and often love habitats that other divers normally don't dive. Try shallow harbors at night, eelgrass, muck areas, piers & jetties like the Rapid Bay Jetty, etc for your fish photography.

Fish Recipes:

<…Because everyone loves seafood, right? (not to mention it’s the best brain food on the planet). Material presented is public use or copyrighted by author/organization and is listed when available.>

Fish School:

Fish Tails:

Aquatic Plant Basics By Staff Writers; Aqueon Corporation

Live plants create natural beauty in an aquarium, but they also promote a balanced ecosystem and provide many benefits to your fish including producing oxygen and consuming CO2 during the day (which benefits fish, helps with filtration, and stabilizes pH), prevent algae growth by removing nitrate and phosphate from the water, keeping your fish healthy and colorful by providing them with valuable cover and habitat (this lowers stress and boosts their immune systems, and when fish know they have refuge nearby they tend to stay out in the open where you can see them), creating a source of food for fish that feed on the natural microbes that colonize plant leaves as well as others which feed directly on the plants themselves, and producing spawning sites for many fish species as well as valuable refuge for newly hatched fry. Whether you just want to add a few plants for accent or set up a dedicated aquatic garden, understanding the basic needs of aquatic plants will help maximize your success and enjoyment with your aquarium. Aquarium plants need the following to thrive: clean moderately soft water, full spectrum light, nutrients, and a suitable substrate (for rooted plants).

Water Requirements for Aquatic Plants - Most aquarium plants do best at a pH between 6.5 and 7.8, general hardness of 50 ppm to 100 ppm and alkalinity between 3° and 8° dKH (54ppm – 140 ppm). Nitrates should be below 10 ppm and phosphates below 0.5 ppm to prevent nuisance algae from growing on leaves. Temperature should be between 74° and 80° F. Change 10% of the water weekly or 25% bi-weekly and use Reef Carbon or Organic Adsorption Resin in your filter to remove organic pollutants that tint water and reduce light penetration. Use reverse osmosis or deionized water with Aqueon® Freshwater Renewal added if your tap water is unsuitable for use with aquatic plants. Proper circulation is important to plants as well. It ensures a steady supply of nutrients, inhibits algae growth and prevents the accumulation of organic debris on leaves.

Light Requirements for Aquatic Plants - Choosing the right light for a planted aquarium depends on which species you want to grow and how tall your aquarium is. Some plant species need more intense light to thrive, and because light does not penetrate water very well, a stronger light source is needed for taller aquariums. Aquatic plants do best under full spectrum light with a Kelvin rating or “color temperature” between 6,500K and 8,000K. Always choose a light source specifically designed for growing aquarium plants; those designed for houseplants do not have the correct Kelvin rating. High Output T5 fluorescent and LED offer the best lighting for aquarium plants. Exercise caution when using “watts per gallon” to decide how much light your plants need. The term “watts per gallon” has long been used to help aquarists determine the correct amount of light for live plants and corals. Until recently, this formula worked well since standard fluorescent was the most common type of lighting in the aquarium industry. The introduction of High Output T5 and LED lighting has complicated matters somewhat, making “watts per gallon” no longer valid. Here’s why: Wattage is a measurement of how much electricity a light consumes, not how much light energy it produces. Light intensity is measured in lumens, not watts, and different sources of light produce different amounts of lumens per watts consumed. For example, a 60 watt incandescent bulb produces fewer lumens than a 54 watt High Output T5 lamp, and you would not want to look directly into 60 watts of LED light! Lumens, PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) and PUR (photosynthetically usable radiation) are more meaningful measurements. Aqueon OptiBright, OptiBright Plus and OptiBright MAX LED, Planted Clip-On LEDs and Modular LEDs are all suitable for aquatic plants. Aquatic plants do best

© 2021 RAS (All Rights Reserved) www.raleighaquariumsociety.org Page 25 of 32 Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS) Volume 40, Issue 2 February 2021 with 10 to 12 hours of light per day. Leaving the light on longer will not compensate for weak lighting. It’s also important to create a consistent day/night cycle. If your aquarium light does not have a built-in timer, use a timer or digital power center to provide a consistent photoperiod. Replace High Output T5 and other fluorescent bulbs every 12 months to get the best light output. Finally, keep glass covers clean to allow maximum light penetration.

Substrate for Aquatic Plants - Choosing the right substrate ensures proper root development and anchoring of rooted plants. Fine to medium grade gravel or coarse sand are best, and you can also mix different grades for texture and aesthetics. Avoid ultra-fine sand and coarse gravel as fine sand compacts and doesn’t “breathe”, while coarse gravel inhibits proper root anchoring and may collect excessive amounts of organic debris. Install a 2” to 3” base and slope it higher towards the back of the aquarium. Terraces, hills and valleys also help create depth and dimension. Avoid dolomite, crushed coral, crushed oyster shells or other calcium carbonate-based substrates, as they will cause an undesirable rise in pH and alkalinity. Always rinse substrate before placing it in your aquarium.

Nutrients for Aquatic Plants - Aquatic plants use nitrogen and phosphorous as well as potassium, iron, magnesium, manganese and other minerals to grow. Most of the nitrogen and phosphorus comes from fish food and waste, however, minerals must be added to the aquarium on a regular basis. Depending on plant species, nutrients are taken in through leaves, roots or both. Aqueon Aquarium Plant Food provides proper liquid nutrition for most aquatic plant species. Dose weekly or add partial doses every few days to make sure your plants have a steady supply. For plants that take in nutrients through the roots, some aquatic plant enthusiasts mix laterite, an iron rich clay, into the substrate when setting up their aquariums. Others use special aquatic plant substrates that contain embedded nutrients. Yet another method is to insert fertilizer tablets into the substrate near plant roots. Do not use plant tabs or fertilizer sticks intended for houseplants as they may not have the correct balance of nutrients for aquatic plants.

CO2 for Aquatic Plants - The element carbon (C) is essential to healthy plant growth. Aquatic plants consume CO2 and produce oxygen (O2) during the day, while at night the process is reversed. Many dedicated plant enthusiasts add supplemental CO2 during the day to enhance plant size, color, and growth. Beginning aquarists often ask if additional CO2 is necessary for successful plant growth. The short answer is no. Most aquatic plants don’t require additional CO2 to grow, but their size, color, and vibrancy are always better when it is added. Compare a planted aquarium that uses supplemental CO2 to one that does not in order to appreciate this. Carbon can be supplied using liquid supplements as well as tablet and DIY yeast generators. All these methods are effective, however, the most reliable and convenient method of supplying CO2 is a pressurized injection system that is synchronized with the aquarium light. Since plant growth increases significantly with the use of CO2, it may be necessary to increase liquid nutrient dosing to keep up.

Aquatic Plant Selection - Choosing the right plants for your aquarium will depend on lighting, aquarium height, the visual effect you want to create and to a certain extent, the type of fish you keep. Do research or ask your local aquarium expert for advice on choosing the best plants for your tank. When laying out your plantscape, place tall or rapid growing plants in back, broadleaf and “showy” plants towards the center and low-profile plants in front. Many foreground species grow laterally, so make sure you leave enough room for them to spread out. Be careful not to plant shorter plants next to tall broadleaf species that may block light to them. Add a few plants to accent your aquascape or use them as the main décor theme. Some hobbyists go to great lengths to create a lush aquatic garden and use fish as the accent! They add beauty, balance, and a healthier more natural habitat.

A Guide to Keeping and Growing Aquatic Moss By Staff Writers; www.aquascapinglove.com

There are so many ways to use aquatic moss in your aquarium and they should definitely be an area that you have really planned for in your aquascape design. Mosses spread easily, so if you are looking for a floor or featuring covering plant, then considering the use of an aquatic moss is a great start. Mosses can help to soften edges of other aquarium features and enhance the natural feel of your design. They come in all manner of shapes, colors, and growth habits, and can be used to create green lawns, selectively cover rocks or driftwood, or even grow towards the surface. Aquatic mosses are generally very easy to propagate so are suitable for aquascapers of any experience level.

Why Grow Aquatic Moss? - Aquatic mosses are generally chosen for their aesthetic qualities, but they don’t just look great - they can also contribute to improving water quality. As photosynthesizing plants, aquatic mosses absorb nutrients in your aquarium water, including nitrates, from the water column. Where other plants require high light levels to accomplish this, or a regular fertilizing regime, aquatic mosses are effective nitrate removers without the use of high light levels or fertilizer.

Water Temperature - One of the most important areas to remember when propagating aquatic moss in your planted tank is that mosses prefer moderately cool water temperatures, so you should set your heaters in the 21C-24C range. The best way to encourage mosses in your aquarium to look great and to grow quickly is to keep them cool. Some aquatic mosses, however, are known to be able to adapt to slightly higher temperatures. There are some mosses that, with no apparent harm to themselves, will grow in a whole range of temperatures.

Mosses Easily Attach to Various Surfaces in Your Planted Tank - Give the rhizoids (slender root- like filaments that are used for attachment and nourishment) of mosses the opportunity to attach to a rough surface and they quickly will. If you want, many aquatic mosses are quite capable of self- attaching. You simply ‘show’ the moss a growing surface, place them together in your aquarium, then the fronds will attach themselves to the growing surface. If you don’t want to wait for this to happen, then there are other simple and effective ways to achieve the same effect. One of the best ways is to spread the aquatic moss over the surface you wish to cover, and then use fishing line or black thread to attach it. These methods of attachment will be visible to begin with, but the aquatic moss will grow over them very quickly. Some experts in this field recommend using 100% cotton thread as it will, ultimately, dissolve and disappear. If you are using any method of attachment, please consider the other life forms in your aquariums. Fish may get stuck or injure themselves on loosely tied threads, and may attempt to eat loose pieces once the knots have dissolved. Keep an eye on your aquarium and make any adjustments when they need to be made. A new and trending method of attaching aquatic moss to driftwood or aquascaping rocks is using a suitable water-safe glue.

Pruning and Lighting - In general, aquatic mosses will grow in most lighting situations. The hardier mosses can actually thrive in lower ambient lights. Lighting is an especially important issue to consider when it comes to aquatic moss growth. If you have chosen different types of moss for your aquascape, then make sure you know and understand how each of these mosses grow. If one aquatic moss grows much more vigorously than the others, the new growth in the more vigorous moss can and will overshadow the slower growing mosses, thus preventing them from receiving light. This will mean that the slower growing mosses will die if you do not spot and rectify this occurrence very quickly. The simplest way to deal with this (if you want to use aquatic mosses that have different growing patterns) is to prune the faster growing aquatic moss before it becomes an issue or move clumps of it to different parts of the aquarium. It is good practice to prune mosses regularly as this will help to prevent the mosses becoming stringy. The trimming is easily done using special aquascaping scissors, a very handy tool that is very popular nowadays between professional aquascapers.

Top 3 Aquatic Mosses:

1. Taxiphyllum barbieri – Java Moss

The most common aquatic moss grown in an aquarium is the Java Moss, Taxiphyllum barbieri. There are plenty of reasons for this. Using Java moss creates a stunning natural aquascape and can be tied on to all manner of other features in your aquarium; rocks, driftwood and other plants. This aquatic moss will be quite happy be attached to them all. It is self-attaching too, so your aquascape doesn’t need any artificial ties if you have the time for it to make the attachment. The other main reason why you’ll love Java Moss is that it is almost impossible to kill. It will happily grow in aquariums with high lighting levels to aquariums with solely ambient light.

2. Taxiphyllum – Peacock Moss

This type of aquatic moss is a fern-like plant. It is creeping and small with flattened branches. These branches have fronds that spread out and are conspicuous because of their iridescent blue-green color. Peacock moss tends to prefer growing in cooler waters of around 25 degrees Celsius. At higher temperatures, the peacock-shaped fronds that it gets its name from are lost. Aquascapers turn to Peacock Moss when they are looking for an aquatic moss that will help them to achieve a gentle look for their aquascape.

3. Leptodictyum riparium – Stringy Moss

Aquascapers are drawn to the Stringy Moss as it is a very variable moss and can take on many different forms when it is grown submersed. In the wild, you can find the Stringy Moss in the northern hemispheres. Areas from Europe to China to North America all are known to be places where this moss thrives. The Stringy Moss grows more slowly than other mosses, but is straightforward to grow and cultivate. One of the main reasons that Stringy Moss is loved by aquascapers is for the free-growing and slightly wild looking stems that grow upwards in a stringy style. The effect of growing the Stringy Moss in your aquarium can look visually stunning with its fine stems and leaves. This is a great moss to use if you are looking to create an illusion of movement or flow in your aquarium. When you are designing your aquascape, think about the areas that will be enhanced by the use of aquatic moss. Consider the different types of moss and their growing patterns. Reflect on the aesthetics you are looking to achieve in your completed aquascape. With all of these in place, your aquascape will shine!

"SoMeThInG’s PhIsHy":

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Reef Keepers Aquarium (10% discount on everything) 1673 Old US Highway 70 West, Clayton, NC 27520; (919) 359-2424; www.reefkeepersaquarium.com

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