The Greater Akron Aquarium Society Tank Topics May/June 2013 Check out this selection of native North American fishes, Inside this issue: if you find them interesting and want to find out more President’s Message 3 check out Ken McGill’s pro- Bud White gram at the May meeting! Editor’s Message 3 Dave Williamson BAP/HAP 4 Wayne Toven Bowl Show 5 Don Youngkin Exchange Review 6 Wayne Toven Aponogeton natans 7 Dan McMonigle Buenos Aires Tetras 8 Wayne Toven Coming Events 10 Meeting Notice 10 2013 GAAS Board of Directors President ....................... Bud White .............................. (330) 848-3856/[email protected] Vice President ............... Jeff Plazak .............................. (330) 854-5257/[email protected] Treasurer ...................... Rich Serva ............................. (330) 650-4613/[email protected] Secretary....................... Dave Girard ............................................... (330) -/@gaas-fish.net Important Dates Editor ............................. Dave Williamson .......................................... [email protected] for 2013 Special Activities ........... Don Youngkin ........................................... [email protected] BAP/HAP ...................... Wayne Toven ..................... (330) 256-7836/[email protected] March 3 Membership .................. Bill Schake .................................................. [email protected] Spring auction Raffle ............................. Phil & Tiffany Hypes ............... (330) 327-6316/[email protected] Historian ........................ Russ Kirkendall ....................................... [email protected] July 13 & 14 FAAS Rep. .................... Ken McGill ............................. (419) 677-3405/[email protected] Ultra Aqua 2013 Refreshments ............... Bill & Linda Koleszar .............................................. (330) 626-5660 Publicity ......................... Bob Miller ............................... (330) 928-6028/[email protected] November 3 Program ........................ Dan McMonigle ................... (440) 476-4663/[email protected] Fall auction Check out our website: www.gaas-fish.net P a g e 2 Tank Topics THE GREATER AKRON AQUARIUM SOCIETY WHO ARE WE? We are a local group of aquatic enthusiasts. Formed in 1952, the Greater Akron Aquarium Society is a non -profit, non-commercial organization. Our membership ranges from the beginning hobbyist to the advanced aquarist with many years of experience. The goals of our club are to promote the care, study, breeding and exhibition of aquarium related aquatic life and to promote interest in the aquarium hobby. MEETINGS: Our meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 8:00 p.m. at the Mogadore Community/Senior Center, 3857 Mogadore Road, Mogadore, Ohio. It is located East of Route 532 across from McDonald’s in the former post office building. Visitors are always welcome, it costs absolutely nothing to attend a meeting and look us over. MEMBERSHIP: The cost is only $7.50 for adults, $10 for a couple or a family (includes children under 10 years of age) and $5.00 for a junior membership (10 to 17 years) Membership provides an opportunity to socialize with other that share your interests, a subscription to our bi -monthly magazine, library usage and more. AGEND A: Our meeting agenda is simple and informal. The meeting will begin at 8:00 p.m. with a short business meeting. Immediately following is the program for the evening which usually lasts about 45 minutes. Our programs consist of a speaker, slide program, movie or perhaps a panel discussion always on a particular subject related to the hobby or various species of fish. Following the program is a short refreshment break. After which the winners of the Bowl Show are announced, the Breeder’s Award Program fish are auctioned and tickets are drawn for the raffle. THE BOWL SHOW: Each month members can bring in fish for specific classes to compete for first, second and third place awards. The charge for each entry is only $.25. Members also compete for annual awards by accumulating wins throughout the year. BREEDER’S AWARD and HORTICULTURE AWARD PROGRAMS: members can receive recognition for spawning species of fish or propagating aquatic plants. All that is required is to turn in a minimum of six fry from the spawn that are between 30 and 90 days old. Members earn certificates for each species and can work towards plaques in different categories. EQUIPMENT RAFFLE: The raffle table has such items as tanks, fish food and aquarium accessories that are donated by national manufacturers, area dealers or purchased by the Society. Tickets may be purchased by anyone attending the meeting. Save your losing tickets for the Christmas Party raffle. ANNUAL SHOW: The Ultra-Aqua show is held during the summer at the Tallmadge community Center. This has become one of the largest all -species tropical fish shows in North America. It is an international gathering of hobbyists to display their fish in class competition, talk fish and to learn about the hobby from each other. TANK TOPICS: is published on a bi -monthly basis for the members of the Greater Akron Aquarium Society. Articles and comments for this publication are welcome and encouraged. Such articles are to be submitted no later than the board meeting prior to publication. All articles may be reprinted as long as the author(s) and GAAS are given proper credit and two copies of the publication containing the reprint are sent to GAAS. Please send any correspondence regarding this publication to: Editor/Tank Topics, P.O. Box 494, Akron, OH 44309 -0494 or email to [email protected] The Greater Akron Aquarium Society Membership Form Name __________________________________________ Age _______ Address ___________________________________________________ New Renewal City _______________________ State ___________ Zip ____________ Electronic Mail Phone __________________________ email ______________________ Adult (18 years and older How did you find out about GAAS? _____________________________ 1 year $7.50 2 years $12.00 Memberships are due one year from the date of joining. Completed mem- Family 1 year $10.00 bership forms can be turned in at a meeting or mailed to the membership (includes children under 10) 2 years $15.00 chairman at this address: Junior (10-17 years) 1 year $5.00 2 years $7.00 GAAS Membership Chairman, P.O. Box 494, Akron, OH 44309-0494 Dues Collected _________ Date Received _________ P a g e 3 Growth Program 2013 All members are urged to participate by coming to our May meeting to receive some FREE Five Banded Barbs to take home and grow them until the November meeting. Then bring in your biggest to compete for prizes! No, you’re not having déjà vu, we were going to try this last month with a different species but they didn’t come in well so we ‘re trying again from a different supplier. Editor’s Message Dave Williamson Here we go again, there always Next up, let’s talk about the show seems to be one issue every year coming up in July. Yeah, I know it that gives me a hard time getting barely feels like Spring has arrived, done, and this is it! Normally at this but the middle of July is only two and time of year I’d be pushing the idea a half months away! That’s really not of going to the American Livebearer that long (at least the way time Convention, but not this time. It seems to move in my world!) But an- seems too many people in my de- yway, what I’m getting at here is that partment at work wanted the last it is time to start planning what you week of April off, so I didn’t get it. I’m might want to enter in the show now not real happy about that, but there so that it’s easier to do when the time isn’t much I can do about it either comes. Look around at your fish. You since you’ve got to keep the might wonder what makes a good paychecks coming in, otherwise you show fish. The biggest thing to re- won’t have money to buy fish with! I’ll member is that it should be a good at least get something interesting out example of it’s species. Is it close to of it, I sent some money with Rich adult size? Does it show proper adult size container to show it in when the and Wayne to buy some fish. Grant- color patterns? Are the fins in good time comes. If it’s a neon tetra a quart ed it’s not as much fun as doing it condition? How about the things that drum bowl will work but if it’s an Os- myself but it’s better than nothing! are specific to the type of fish car, you might need to consider (scales, barbels and so on). You may something a little larger. It’s easiest if Well now on to the subject of 4-letter have heard the term “condition” in the container you plan to use isn’t words (for starters: WORK) I’ve been relation to fish in shows, basically it’s one of your permanent set ups. You rather distracted from my hobby body weight. Is it too thin to be con- won’t have to move things around (another one: FISH) due to a training sidered a healthy example of it’s spe- and clean it out just to use it at the program I’ve been in for nearly a cies/gender? And believe it or not show for a couple of days. All this year to try to get a different position they can on occasion be overweight rambling is just to get you to think that involves less (and here’s a dou- as well. It all boils down to doing a about putting some entries in the ble: OVER TIME). It should be fin- little homework to find out what ex- show this year if you haven’t done it ished in mid-June so maybe I’ll get actly your fish is supposed to look before.