The Greater Akron Aquarium Society Tank Topics March/April 2015 Inside this issue: President’s Message 3 Bud White Editor’s Message 3 Dave Williamson BAP/HAP 4 Wayne Toven Bowl Show 5 Don Youngkin Exchange Review 6 Wayne Toven Did you know? 6 Reprint A pair of Nanostomus beckfordi pencilfish. Find out Nanostomus beckfordi 7 more about this interesting characin in Wayne Toven’s Wayne Toven article starting on page 7 of this issue. Narrow Leaf Java Fern 9 Wayne Toven Meeting Notice 10 2015 GAAS Board of Directors President ....................... Bud White .............................. (330) 848-3856/[email protected] Coming Events 10 Vice President ............... Jeff Plazak .............................. (330) 854-5257/[email protected] Treasurer ...................... Rich Serva ............................. (330) 650-4613/[email protected] Secretary....................... Dave Girard ................................................. [email protected] Important Dates Editor ............................. Dave Williamson .......................................... [email protected] for 2015 Special Activities ........... Don Youngkin ........................................... [email protected] BAP/HAP ...................... Wayne Toven ..................... (330) 256-7836/[email protected] March 1 Membership .................. Bill Schake .......................................................... [email protected] Spring auction Raffle ............................. Phil & Tiffany Hypes ............... (330) 327-6316/[email protected] Historian ........................ Steve Brunn .......................................... [email protected] June 13 & 14 FAAS Rep. .................... Ken McGill ............................. (419) 677-3405/[email protected] Ultra Aqua 2015 Refreshments ............... Bill & Linda Koleszar .............................................. (330) 626-5660 Publicity ......................... Bob Miller ............................... (330) 928-6028/[email protected] November 1 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 $10 for adults, 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 others that share your interests, a subscription to our bi -monthly magazine 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 _______ Dues are for 1 year or 2 years if Address ___________________________________________________ email publications are chosen New Renewal City _______________________ State ___________ Zip ____________ Phone __________________________ email ______________________ Electronic Mail How did you find out about GAAS? _____________________________ Adult (18 years and older) & Family (includes children under 10) $10.00 Memberships are due one year from the date of joining. Completed mem- bership forms can be turned in at a meeting or mailed to the membership Junior (10-17 years) $5.00 chairman at this address: GAAS Membership Chairman, P.O. Box 494, Akron, OH 44309-0494 Dues Collected _________ Date Received _________ President’s Message P a g e 3 Hello folks Just a heads up on a future club activity, Hope your enjoying this wonderful Ohio we will be building some small show tanks See ya soon weather. I know I am, since I do get to from plexiglass. The plastic will be precut work outside in it. I just could not ask for and ready to assemble. Last time we did anything better ( I think I need to talk to this everyone had a good time and they my doctor about what I am saying, maybe got a nice show tank out of the process. get some medication)! We will announce the date later. Anyway, I do want to remind everyone One more thing, we need sponsors for our that our auction is this Sunday, March show classes. If you would like to sponsor 1st, setup for the auction is Saturday at a class or more, or know someone else 7pm. Please plan to be there to help both who would, see Wayne Toven or any days, it is your club’s activity and it is board member and we will be happy to what pays the bills. We can find some- help you. thing for everyone to do. Besides it is a Bud White chance to get some good deals on some See you at the auction good fish and other items. Editor’s Message Dave Williamson I for one am quite tired of below zero issue. And here’s another easy way temperatures and snow. Yeah, I to get you into the swing of writing an know it’s Winter in Northeast Ohio article if you’ve never done it before. and we should expect it, but that You’ll notice that in Wayne’s plant doesn’t change how I feel at this article he mentions that writing said point. Spring is only a few weeks article was part of the requirements away, at least that’s what I keep tell- for his HAP submission. If you’re al- ing myself! ready doing the BAP/HAP thing and paid any attention to what it took to Now that I’m done complaining, we’ll facilitate that spawn or propagation, move on to more important subjects! guess what, you’ve done the main First up, we have an auction coming part of the research necessary to up really soon on the first of March. write an article about it! Really, it’s That will make it before the March that simple. Consider giving it a try. general meeting so you won’t get I’d also like to thank new member another reminder. You’ve heard it so Lissa Harvey for submitting a “Did many times before about how we you know?” filler articles she picked should all try to come out and help up off the web somewhere. We al- make any of our events happen, and ways need things to fill in odd little this is no different. Every year we are areas that articles didn’t fill. That able get enough helpers to take care would include pictures too. Don’t be of all the little things that make the shy! We want to see and hear about auction happen, but don’t take it for what’s going on with your fish. granted that the mythical “someone else” will always be there to do I’ll see you at the meeting and the things. It’s your club and you’ll get Spring Auction! out of it what you put into it. It’s worth spending a few hours helping out, Where we’re at while you’re there you may just find that item you didn’t even know you were looking for! Next up, the eternal search for arti- Where we cles for Tank Topics continues. I’d want to be like to thank Wayne Toven for help- ing to get me out of a jam with this P a g e 4 Tank Topics agations turned in over this year through November, then they are to- BAP/HAP taled up and the Breeder of the Year and Horticulturalist of the Year plaques will be awarded at the December meeting/Christmas party.