ONLY   Members may send Questions... 1........How do I know if the Shop where I go to get my fish and supplies is reliable?....... The best way to judge the shop,  is to look at the selection of fish, how they are displayed, the health of the fish ( if you see fish with shrunken bellies, or dead fish in the tanks, that is a bad sign.) The way the person helping you answers your questions is very important. If you go to a shop where the people helping you are too busy to give you answers to your questions,  or they don't know, then leave. I would suggest shopping around before making a purchase. The prices will also vary. WE HAVE FOUND THAT A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY MAY BE SAVED BY ORDERING YOUR SUPPLIES AND FISH ON THE INTERNET We are working with the industry leaders in online aquarium supplies retailing and they are providing our viewers and members with outstanding selection, coupled with world-class customer service. Our members have searched the Internet and have chosen the suppliers on this page. *If selection, quality and service are what you are seeking then, this is definitely the place to be looking. The selection is quite extensive, as we constantly seek and find suppliers around the world to fulfill your needs. Recommended Click HERE 2.....When I get the new fish  and put them into the aquarium they hide.......This is a natural reaction, put yourself in their place, a new environment and you have been bounced for the ride home plus netted a couple of times, you would hide also. In a couple of days, after the fish have become familiar with their new home they will show themselves better. 3......Do I need to have the top covered all the time?... Yes, you must have your tank covered at all times. Fish will jump out of the aquarium if it is not covered.Your water will evaporate much faster without a cover. 4......What do I do if my fish get a disease?.... The most common disease is Ich.  Ich is actually a parasite. If your fish gets a sudden chill or the move weakens it's system, you may have this problem. The fish will start to get little white specks all over it's body. Another disease is fungus. This is a cottony white patch somewhere on the fishes body or mouth. There are many things your fish can suffer from, but these are the most common............... ICH, and all of the above can be cured with the remedies here: Recommended Click HERE Fish Diseases The Aquarium Doctor is the best source of help on the Internet  CLICK HERE to go to the Aquarium Doctor 5.......If I have a small outside filter, what is the best way to clean the foam or spun glass filter?..... The best way is to rinse the filter material in a bucket with the aquarium water until it is clear. If you clean it in tap water, be sure to add dechlore before you use the water to rinse.    6........How do I plant the plants?..... Dig a small hole in the gravel with your finger, then place the plant in the hole and cover the roots with the gravel. When you have a plant with a runner, push the young plants roots under the gravel until it starts to root well, then cut if free. 7........How many fish can I put in my aquarium?.....This depends a lot on the size of the fish. Do not over crowd your tank. Rule of thumb is one inch per gallon of the adult fish (do not count the tail). If you have a good air stream of bubbles and good filtration, you may support more. Just remember, fish grow . If you have a lot of small species you can have more. The less you crowd the tank the better. 8........How long should I leave the light on?........This will vary. I suggest that you start at turning the light on when you get up in the morning (try not to turn the light on when it is dark in the room) and off when you retire at night. If you are getting to much algae on the sides of your aquarium , reduce the amount of light. 9.........How often should I change the water?.......I suggest that you change at least 25% of the water every two weeks, do not change more than 25%. Always treat water for clorinne and replace at the same temperature as the water in the aquarium. 10.........I have a snail in my aquarium, do you know what they eat?................There are many types of water snails, they all eat algae and leftovers, as well as some waste materials . The snails are on the most part pretty beneficial to the aquarium.  Most snails lay their eggs in a clear jelly type mass on rocks, or the side of the tank. If you get a over population, add a clown loach to the tank, they will clean out the snails pretty fast. Some of the snails which are expensive to purchase, such as the Mystery Snail, lay eggs above the water line in a hard mass to keep them dry until they hatch and drop into the water......if you have a problem with too many snails add a few clown loaches to your aquarium.       FRESHWATER AND SALTWATER SNAILS Freshwater Snail 11...........I have a large Danio that chases the other three smaller Danio, should I worry?...........Do not worry about your Danio that cases the other Danio. As in most groups of nature there is the bully or the show off. The Danio will only play at being aggressive, when they breed the male will chase the female around until she drops her eggs, then he fertilizes them. This could be a playful act of pretending. If the fish seems to be hurting the other fish, put more plants or places for them to hide in. You could even add two more Danio to the tank, they love to school......... 13.........What do I feed the baby fish?.....That really depends on which species we are talking about. The egg layers will need infusoria and micro food. The live bearers will eat fine ground dry food and baby brine shrimp.(You can get frozen  baby brine shrimp in most fish shops.)Fish Diet 1 14.........Do you have to separate the males or females with any of the other baby fish as you do with the Betta? (Siamese Fighting Fish).......No, only some species after they start to mature and get to breeding size. 15.........I would like to know if there are any fish that can make my aquarium more clean? Mine is a fresh water aquarium with several goldfish in it ........There are no fish that will make your aquarium cleaner. There are fish that will eat the wast food, and some algae,  such as catfish and the plecostomus. To clean the tank of waste you will have to use a good filtration system.    If you purchase a plecostomus, you must be aware it will eat your real plants and they grow very large.. The fact you have goldfish brings us to the problem of excess waste. I have goldfish and I am aware of your dilemma. The better filter is your only answer. 16........I have seen freeze dried bloodworms, Tubifex Worms and freeze dried brine shrimp on the aquarium shops shelves. Are freeze dried foods good for my fish?.........I would recommend that you purchase some soon and try it, your fish will love it. There are many freeze dried foods on the market, they are all worth checking into. They are easy to store and are as beneficial as live food. Just remember not to overfeed the fish. Fish Diet 1 17.........Would you recommend the Omega 3 enriched frozen brine shrimp?.... Yes, brine shrimp enriched with Omega 3 are high in hufa's, which are fatty-acids. If you can buy the Omega 3 to put in with your live brine shrimp it will make the shrimp a much more beneficial meal for your fish.  If your Aquarium shop does not offer this, go elsewhere to buy your food. 18.........Would  you please inform me about a AQUARIUM Club for the Internet?....... Yes, I have a club for all of my friends which are viewing my pages.   Check it out, it is the largest in the world. Click here to THE AQUA NET, everyone is invited .....         19..........I have a pair of Black Mollies, do they need special water?......... The Mollies need to have a more alkaline water, in fact they like the water to be brackish. I have had them in a salt water tank and they did real well. They will tolerate the regular fresh water, but that is not best for them. If you change the Molly to brackish or salt, do it in stages. Mollies are schooling fish, it is a good idea to have more than one pair together. 20..........I have two Angelfish , one chases the other  constantly, What do I do?..... Angelfish can be very aggressive to each other, they  may be pairing up to breed. Put more plants in the aquarium for the chased one to  hide in. If they are pairing up  don't worry, they will soon stop battling and get down to laying eggs. 21..........How do you distinguish the males from the females......That is a question that is not easley answered. In live bearers, the male has a gonopodium, this is under the male as modified anal fin. In other species the male is usually larger (Labyrinth Fishes) and has more color and the fins are usually longer and the dorsal fin more pointed. The female Cichlids are usually smaller than the males, the dorsal fin on the male is usually longer and more pointed also. In many species it is very difficult to distinguish the sex, I suggest asking the Shop expert, and in most cases if you are planning to breed a species which you purchase at a young age, buy at lease five. 22.........Two months ago I purchased a male Betta fish. However over the last two weeks he seems a bit listless remaining near the bottom of the bowl or up by the water level. Additionally, he seems to have lost his appetite. If he does eat it's only one pellet of 'Betta Bio-Gold. I would appreciate any advice you can give me....... I would not change his water so often....once every two weeks change 1/4 only. It would be a good thing if you could give him some live food. Try live brine shrimp, or freeze dried tubifex worms, even frozen blood worms could give him a appetite. Put a small mirror on the outside of the bowl for him to see himself. Bettas will flare at other Bettas, this will make him less listless. Betta (Siamese fighting fish)  *23.........Where can I get the best prices? Do you know of a source where I can save money on my supplies, equipment and fish?...........Yes, Recommended Click HERE Aquariums Chillers Coral & Shells Filter Systems Gravel-Coral-Puca Lighting Livestock Protein Skimmers Software Make Selection Purchase your Fish and Supplies here! Eliminate algae Growth Safe for fish, plants, animals and humans Degrades and dissolves organic bottom solids and scum. End result is carbon dioxide releasing through the top of the water after BI- AQUACULTURE consumes the nitrates & phosphates. Other products require the tank or pond to be vacuumed creating excess maintenance Improves water clarity and quality; no more green water Will work in fresh and salt water Cuts and eliminates odors Converts nitrites to nitrates Oxidizes Ammonia to nitrite BI-AQUACULTURE 24........Why does my 10 gal. under gravel filtered, aquarium have cloudy water? Outside filter Charcoal is less than two weeks old, ph & temp ok . Too much food?...... This is pretty common with a new tank. You can wait it out or get some Crystal CLEAR by Aquarium Products..... Your tank should clear up in about a week  all by it's self.... you may be over feeding.... could be an algae bloom, decrease the light, change 1/4th of the water and see what happens. The amount of fish in the tank is also a factor. 25....... Are you going to do a section on Salt Water Marine Fish?....   I have a page on   Setting up and Maintaining a Salt Water Aquarium.) Salt Water Fish now. 26........ Why do some Aquarium shops have such a poor quality of live food (brine shrimp)?...... They usually only get a shipment once a week, and do not have anyone with the responsibility of maintaining it. 27......... Do you ever suggest to mix live and plastic plants in the same aquarium?........Yes, that is an excellent idea, I have done  it  myself. 28......... When I buy live brine shrimp what should I do?.....When you arrive home place the shrimp in a container to be put in the refrigerator or a very cool area. You should have plenty of salt water in the container, enough that the shrimp are not extremely dense.(ask for extra water when you purchase the brine shrimp)  If you have fresh water fish the first thing to remember is to rinse the shrimp you are directly feeding to your fish in a fine mesh net with cool water. You may not want to much brine water in your freshwater aquarium.  See question #62. 29......How do you control the brown algae forming on the glass in a salt water aquarium?..... Brown algae is almost always the first type to grow. When your tank is new it goes through a brand new nitrifying cycle. the brown algae usually grows in response to rising levels of Ammonia and Nitrites. These gases will be present at some time in order to complete this natural process of waste reduction. When more of these gases are simplified to Nitrates is when a majority of your green algae will start to appear. Be patient and you will start to culture green algae. If green algae does not start to grow you may be feeding too much thus keeping Ammonia and Nitrite levels high. If you want to help your algae along get a scraping of algae from an established tank and introduce it into your tank. Good lighting is also an important factor , I recommend the Coralife 50/50 (50% actinic bulb). Brown"slime" sometimes called incorrectly Red Algae, is a plague that affects Reef Aquaria, most of all, but is often found in fish only tanks, as well as variants in colour such a blue green "slime" & other shades. THE AQUARIUM DOCTORS PAGE ON ALGAE CLICK HERE This is a good source of information....Aquarium Algae 30.......What brand of Synthetic Sea Salt do you recommend?....... I highly recommend Coralife Marine Salt Mix Coralife Scientific Grade Marine Salt sets the standard for synthetic sea salt mixes in the aquarium industry. It's made from pure, raw materials with broad spectrum biological activity. Dissolve the mixture completely before adding it to the aquarium. Make sure the temperature is the same as the aquarium water.   Recommended Products Click HERE 31...... I live in Romania, we do not have specialist shops that sell such things as you describe on your pages. What do I do about declorinated water?....... Let the water set and age for about three days to a week, keep extra water in a container for the 25% water change every two weeks.   32.......What do we do when we live in a area or country that does not have fresh live food available?....... The best thing to do is use your imagination, chop earth worms into fine pieces, chop fresh fish or shrimp, collect live mosquito larvae, there are a lot of things your fish eat in the wild.  A fly is a great meal for a cichlid, a cricket can be a treat to a large fish.  Some of the larger fish can even consume a whole earthworm. 33.......I would really like to start salt water aquarium but I do not have the room or the money to get the large tank that you suggest?  Is it possible to start out smaller?...Yes, I will write a article on my AQUA NET (http://user.aol.com/cebrezzie/aquarium/mem1.htm) for members of my aquarium club, anyone interested may take a look. 34........You talk about using romaine lettuce for the fish, why not iceberg?...... Romaine lettuce has a lot more nutritional value. Always rinse the lettuce  with cool tap water before putting it in the aquarium.                                                                           35........Which small hanging filter do you recommend.......The small hanging filter that I recommend is the AQUACLEAR, by Hagen..Click here to see how it works. Recommended Products Click HERE Aquarium Filters 36.......I notice that a few shops display all males in some species yet offer two for one, how could one breed these fish?.......You are right, the reason is that the males are much more pretty and sell faster. Some of the help in the shop do not even know that they are all male, in fact I have asked the owner of one shop to please obtain a female for me and he never had the time. The problem is that a lot of these shop owners are so busy trying just to keep ahead that they don't have time to service their customers. They do not realize that the very problem they are having, is losing customers because of lack of interest in helping customers. I  have spent over $2,000.00 in this shop. I probably will not return there again. There has been at least six shops that have closed in my area in the last two years and this is one of the reasons. Just talked to a shop owner on this subject. He says it is the supplier that is the blame. The breeders and suppliers can sell more fish faster using this method.  This also brings up another question.( I wonder, what do they do with all the females?) 37.........I am trying to breed a pair of pearl gourami, the male has built a small bubble nest and I have introduced the female to the tank. The male is very aggressive to the female, he constantly bites her tail and chases her around. Do the the males always react this way during mating?.........Yes, the male will weaken the female which is full of eggs and will finally get her under the bubble nest and he will then squeeze the eggs out of her. He will do this several times, fertilizing the eggs and placing them in the nest. The female will be battered and worn, get her out as soon as the mating is over, as he will attempt to kill her, she would eat the eggs or the young if she stays in the area.  She will heal, this is natures way for this species to reproduce and multiple. Look at my page 7, the Breeding betta will give you a better idea of the process. 38.........How does a skimmer work?.........In the water of our coral reef aquaria large amounts of proteins are accumulated. These either must be removed at once or be decomposed by bacteria. As intensive bacterial activity in the aquarium may lead to an accumulation of harmful intermediate protein, skimming, a process in which electrically charged protein molecules adhere to air bubbles. On top of a water/air contact column, a brownish protein foam, called adsorbate, is formed and pushed through to a collection container. The adsorbate of a well functioning protein skimmer should be thick and have the consistency of paste.      Check it out... Order your skimmer HERE, Recommended Products Click HERE 39.........My husband sprayed the house for ants, will this affect my fish?.... You want be sure the tanks are covered very tightly when ever there is a toxin in the area. It could effect your fish. 40........We recently experienced a brown out for a couple of hours, what should we do to be ready for a long term length of time with no electricity?.....The first thing to do is get a portable battery operated air pump for each aquarium. Be sure to have extra batteries available. You can put plastic bags with hot water in them in the tanks if they start to get to cold. If you have hot water this is the best method. The best thing you can do is to be prepared ahead of time. Here are some helpful tips for things you can do to be ready for the worst if it happens. 41.........What does PH mean......... pH is an abbreviation for pondus hydrogenii which also stands for "Power of Hydrogen" or "Weight of Hydrogen." pH is a measure of the effective acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It is expressed as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen-ion concentration. Pure water has a hydrogen ion concentration equal to 10-7 moles per liter at standard conditions. The negative logarithm of this quantity is 7. Pure water has a pH value of 7. The pH scale usually is considered as extending from 0 to 14. As the scale drops towards 0, the solution becomes more acidic. As the scale rises toward 14, the solution becomes more basic. Small pH testing kits are available at most aquarium shops. These kits have color codes to indicate the approximate pH. PETsMART.com Fish 42......Could you Please make a perfect food for all aquarium Fish, Saltwater and freshwater ?.....................Yes, I have created  a food after searching  and experimenting for forty years, Andre's Special Blend of staple flake food, and it is available now.               Recommended Products Click HERE Fish Diet 1 43.........Could you give me the specific gravity of marine water at different temperatures?......Yes click on specific gravity. Specific Gravity 44.........My air pump has begun to be quite noisy, and has  lost a lot of its power, is there any thing I can do about it?...........Try replacing the air stone. If the air can't get out of a clogged airstone it has nowhere to go but back to the pump. Thus the noise.When your airpump  is not pumping the same amount of air it once did, try replacing the airstone first. If that does'nt work, replace the diaphragm. Finally, purchase the repair kit and replace the flappers and the diaphragm. If you are not good at repairing things, toss it and get a new pump. 45...........Has anyone come up with anything that will reduce nitrates ?....Removing Nitrates Nitrates are from ammonia. The waste is first in the form of ammonia, which is deadly to marine life and comes from solid waste or urea. This is then broken down in the form of nitrites which is a less toxic compound and then down to nitrates which is not at all as toxic as ammonia, but can be in large quantities. You are probably wondering how to remove nitrates from your aquarium. This can be done by many periodical water changes and by a process called denitrification which is when nitrates are biologically used up in the aquarium. Some people like to place large quantities of plants or caulerpa, a form of algae which uses considerable amounts of nitrates. The plants use nitrates for fertilization. In some tanks, aquarists place marine plants into the sump of their tank to take out the nitrates and this is quite successful. Other ways of removing nitrates are to place a denitration unit inside their filter section. This unit filters out the nitrates. There are several ways in removing nitrates from your tank. I would recommend the periodical water changes and the use of marine plants in the tank because it is the most natural process. Nuisance algae also removes nitrates from the tank but don't rely on that to be your way of removing nitrates. Siphoning debris off rocks and from substrate is also a great way to remove nitrates. There are several ways in which nitrates can be removed, it is all up to you. Important thing to know My TDS are at 500ppm how if at all will that effect my tank? I'm running the water through an RO system,( the 500ppm is the end result). Thanks, Belinda & Mike The EPA's recommended maximum level of TDS in drinking water is 500mg/L (500ppm). "Fish in general care less about the amount of salt (by which I mean common salt, NaCl), than they do about total dissolved solids (TDS). TDS refers to the quantity of "stuff" dissolved in the water, whether magnesium, calcium, sodium, or anything else. This is important because it controls how fast water moves into the fish...." If you like what you see!! Go to the HOME PAGE for the Index Directory click HERE To Find Your Way Around the rest of our site.

M 46............Is it possible to breed any saltwater fish in a aquarium ?........Yes,the Clown Anemone fish has been breed successfully,and I am sure there are many others.. Click HERE to a great article one of my members sent me... Notes and observations on Raising and Breeding the Banggai Cardinalfish CLICK HERE Aqua Culture and The Aquarium CLICK HERE 47...........Were do you recommend I buy my aquatic plants ? Check out Check out  Page 4. Plants for the Aquarium. 48..........Do you have a good source to direct me to what to do about leaving my fish while I am on vacation?......... THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU GO AWAY FOR 2 WEEKS 49..........I am Interested in breeding Angel Fish, Can you help me?...Yes, I have the best internet site available on fresh water Angel Fish.  About Angelfish   50a..........I would like some more information on controlling algae in a saltwater water aquarium....... O.K.CHECK THIS LINK HERE THE AQUARIUM DOCTORS PAGE ON ALGAE CLICK HERE Eliminate algae Growth Safe for fish, plants, animals and humans Degrades and dissolves organic bottom solids and scum. End result is carbon dioxide releasing through the top of the water after BI- AQUACULTURE consumes the nitrates & phosphates. Other products require the tank or pond to be vacuumed creating excess maintenance Improves water clarity and quality; no more green water Will work in fresh and salt water Cuts and eliminates odors Converts nitrites to nitrates Oxidizes Ammonia to nitrite BI-AQUACULTURE 50..........How do you change  Fahrenheit (F) to Celsius (C)?.......To convert from F to C, subtract 32 from the F temperature and then multiply by 5/9.    (70 F -32 = 38 x 5/9 = 21.1 C). 51.........My reef tank has a lot of hair algae growing in it and recently my aquarium shop tested the water and told me the problem was a high phosphate level. Could you tell me where the phosphate came from and what I can do about it?.........Click HERE.for the answer. THE AQUARIUM DOCTORS PAGE ON ALGAE CLICK HERE 52...........Could you suggest a way that I can start this hobby and not have a lot of problems and waste a lot of money?   Yes,    I have been collecting and raising  Tropical and Marine fish for  over 40 years. If you would like to be successful with this hobby you  can use my experience plus my club members experience and be very successful . You can spend a lot of money and have a lot of grief if you do not start right and maintain properly.   Many have started this hobby and need help maintaining. I  suggest that you join Andre's Aquarium club.  Click here to check out the club Second, read my pages. I have links to the best information on the Internet. Third, the Aquarium Doctor will personally help you with your problem if you are a member. 53......... Do marine fish require spirulina as much as say african cichlids in their diets? I am currently using a marine flake as well as frozen food. I also give them a couple pieces of romaine a day. Fish consist of Angels, Tangs and Butterflies. They all seem to be very healthy but if I can do more I will........... Yes, For many species of exotic saltwater aquarium fish, algae are an essential part of the diet. Lettuce and spinach are poor substitutes for algae: they do not have the same nutritional value. Spirulina has several important nutritional features that are important for beautiful healthy fish. Spirulina and other micro-algae contain essential fatty acids that are essential for proper development and functioning of the internal organs.Without the proper fatty acids, many saltwater fish will not breed or survive. Colorations in fish depends to a large degree upon the pigments that they get from their food. The most important pigments are of a class called carotenoids. These include beta-carotene and xanthophylls. Fish species very greatly regarding the type of carotenoid pigments they can use, and how they individually exhibit these coloring agents in their skin. Hence the great for variety of colors in fish Spirulina is the natural food highest in carotenoid pigments, some 20 times the amount found in carrots. Spirulina contains at least six forms of this pigment providing a "rainbow" of color possibilities. When feeding your fish a food containing Spirulina, you will see better colorations within a few weeks. Spirulina is a rich source of A and B vitamins, especially B-12, and naturally chelated and bio-available calcium and iron. My special blend has Spirulina included in its ingredients.   I recommend my Special Blend @ $29.95 for a large 5 oz. Container. Fish Diet 1 54............Please tell me more about the Protein Skimmer.... In the water of our coral reef aquaria large amounts of proteins are accumulated. These either must be removed at once or be decomposed by bacteria. As intensive bacterial activity in the aquarium may lead to an accumulation of harmful intermediate protein, skimming, a process in which electrically charged protein molecules adhere to air bubbles. On top of a water/air contact column, a brownish protein foam, called adsorbate, is formed and pushed through to a collection container. The adsorbate of a well functioning protein skimmer should be thick and have the consistency of paste.       On the surface protein scanning is simple. Foam is mixed with saltwater, the finer the bubbles the more efficient this skimmer works. Proteins and other organic materials coat the bubbles, as they rise they make a relative stable foam. This foam is captured and removed before get can be re-entered in the system. This is the difference between protein skimming and other forms of filtration. Protein scanners do not let the waste back into the system.       There are some drawbacks to protein skimming. Organic and inorganic trace elements are removed during skimming so you must replenish trace elements from time to time.            Protein skimmers cannot be used in freshwater because pH is to close to neutral, and this reduces the electron interaction between organic molecules and water, which decreases foam formation. The operation of a protein skimmer aerates the system water and increases redox potential almost as well as a trickle filter, which is an excellent reason for adding a skimmer to a marine aquarium. Word of caution, a protein skimmer can be very beneficial to marine system, but it is not a static piece of equipment. It has to be cleaned, adjusted, and care for daily or a weekly basis, or else it is useless. If you are an aquarist that does maintenance units on your tank only once a month it would be better idea to stick with a wet dry chemical filtration like carbon. Types of skimmers: 1. Cocurrant: these are the simplest skimmers. Efficiency and cost are low, and operation is easy. They are always placed internally and most suitable for small tanks, 30 gallons or less.    2.Counter Current Skimmers: the skimmers are in the midrange in ease of use and mid to high in  efficiency. They can be internal or external. These units are usually used on aquariums 60 gallons or less. 3.Venturi Skimmers: these skimmers are moderately easy to use. The Venturi skimmers are very efficient because of the long contact rime between bubbles and water. Can be either internal or external. Usually used on tanks that are 55 gallons and larger. I can recommend a good protein skimmer. The protein skimmer I am speaking of is a Seaclone made by Aquarium Systems, it is a Venturi and is for tanks up to 90 gallons. It costs about $90.00. It is basically like a tornado in a tube and it whips up a hefty froth of protein on a daily basis so I know it is performing well. It uses the venturi valve to create this tornado effect. I also  recommend the Visi-Jet protein skimmer model PS-100, This in-tank protein skimmer is designed to remove organic wastes. The unique Turbo-Venturi injector system mixes filtered air and water in the pump impeller chamber to create a froth of micro-bubbles for maximum skimming efficiency. The top mounted collection cup is easily removed for cleaning. The entire unit is compact enough not to interfere with most aquarium hoods. Also made by Aquarium Systems. Recommended Products Click HERE 55.........Where on the Internet can I get the best Aquarium information available? For the best information on the Internet about Aquarium Problems read the Aquarium  Doctors Pages........                            N The Aquarium Doctor The Aquarium Doctor is a Member of Andre's Aquarium Club. If you have any aquarium related questions check out the Aquarium Doctor. The Aquarium Doctor 56. What causes the most diseases in the aquarium.........Most disease problems encountered in Marine animal culture are the result of stress induced by deteriorating water quality. The aquarium that operates efficiently does so because it is stable:, vital parameters like oxygen,ph,ammonia,and so forth,do not fluctuate appreciably.Animals maintained in stable systems are subject to limited environmental stress, and they remain healthy even in the presence of latent infections caused by a viruses, bacteria, and protozoans. In well-managed aquarium, the physiologic process of the animals are attuned to the chemical composition of the culture water. Fluctuations in the environment brought about by adding new animals (which causes a increase in ammonia), or shutting off the air(causing a decline in dissolved oxygen), produce stress that may show up a week later in an outbreak of  a disease. When there is an outbreak of disease, most people immediately buy one or more of a myriad "cures" available commercially. These substances, when added to a Marine aquarium often give disastrous results. Those containing antibiotics and copper kill the nitrifying bacteria, which results in an increase in the ammonia and nitrate levels. Furthermore, the treatment itself (especially copper) may stress the animals directly. When disease is first noted: >B> 1. Immediately maintain 25 percent partial water change. 2. Check the aquarium equipment. Is the air pump unplugged? Check The Aquarium Doctors Page On Diseases CLICK HERE.. Member of Andre's Aquarium Club These are great articles on fish diseases Fish Diseases 57................First I think your page is great and it really does help people who want to learn about this great hobby. My question is how do I breed my platys? I have a male and female and they won't do anything. She doesn't have a gravid spot yet and she wasn't pregnant when I bought her so how can I get some offspring here........ You must let nature take its coarse, they will breed when they are ready. I would set the temp to between75-80 degrees and check the ph. Also check my page... http://user.aol.com/buddyri/aquarium/page3a.htm CLICK HERE Breeding The Livebearer 58.........Is there somewhere that I can find Quality Aquarium suppliers all in one place???------Yes   Click Here to   Aquarium Supplies and Equipment 59........... What is the gestation period of the livebearer fish such as the guppy or the swordtail?...........  A single fertilization is sufficient for 4 or 5 broods. There is no definite period of gestation. However at 75 degrees the time from fertilization to delivery is about 4 t 5 weeks. The time will be greatly changed by a few degrees less temperature. At 65 degrees it may be as long as 12 weeks to deliver. Putting fresh water in the aquarium may stimulate a delivery, sometimes causing premature births with mollies.. Breeding The Livebearer 60..........How do you suggest hatching brine shrimp?........................The guidelines for hatching brine shrimp cysts are: Salinity - 20 - 30 parts per thousand (ppt) salt solution or approximately 1-2 tablespoons of rock salt per quart (or liter) of water. This equates to around 1.015-1.020 specific gravity. A 20% (or around 1/2 teaspoon per quart) concentration of Epson salt or magnesium sulfate can be added to further buffer the hatching solution. Temperature - Optimum temperature for a 24 hour complete hatch is 80-82° F or 26-28° C. Lowering the temperature would result in a longer hatching time. Do not exceed 30°C. Light - Illumination is necessary to trigger the hatching mechanism within the embryo within the first few hours of incubation. Maintaining a light source during the entire incubation period is recommended to obtain optimum hatch results and for temperature control. Aeration - Constant aeration is also necessary to provide sufficient oxygen levels for the cysts to metabolize and hatch. A minimum of 3 parts per million dissolved oxygen during the incubation is recommended. Strong aeration will not damage or hurt the brine shrimp cysts or nauplii. pH - A starting pH of 8.0 or higher is recommended. If pH drops below 7.5 during incubation, add a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate or a pH buffer to raise it above 8.0. Stocking Density - 2 grams per quart or approximately one level tablespoon of cysts per quart is recommended. A higher stocking density will result in a lower % hatch. Hatching Cone - Flat bottom hatching vessels should be avoided. Cone or “V” bottomed containers are best to insure that the cysts remain in suspension during hatching. Be sure to thoroughly wash the hatching cone with soap and water and allow to air dry between uses. 61.............How do I harvest the baby brine shrimp?............. To harvest the baby brine shrimp or nauplii, simply shut off the air and wait a few minutes for the shells and nauplii to separate. The shells will float to the surface and the live nauplii will go to the bottom of the cone towards the light source. Once separated, the nauplii can be siphoned from the bottom or drained from the bottom of the cone through the air tubing.  Brine Shrimp 62...........Should I rinse the baby brine shrimp before feeding? ..........Yes, definitely! The warm incubation temperatures and metabolites from the hatching medium create ideal conditions for a bacteria bloom. Rinsing of the baby brine shrimp or nauplii in a fine mesh net using fresh water is sufficient before feeding to your fish. 63............Where do you recommend that I obtain Live Rock?..............Check this site out.....         Live Rock 64.................Does regular table salt harm freshwater fish? Many freshwater hobbyists keep some aquarium salt in their aquariums—usually a teaspoon per gallon—as a tonic to help prevent disease. Indeed, some fish (such as mollies and other live-bearers) are much happier with a little salt in the water. Aquarium books and dealers will often mistakenly warn that table salt (which has iodine added) is unsafe and that only "uniodized" aquarium salt or kosher salt should be used. This is a myth that has been passed on for so long that it won't go away. Your table salt is perfectly safe. The iodine level is too low to be harmful; it may even be helpful. 65................Is there a product that will help keep algae out of my aquarium?...There is nothing you can do on a continual basis to help minimize algae and promote plant health as well as fish health as the simple water change. This is one area where there is no such thing as too much too often. A stream or river may change water thousands of times a day. Best of all worlds would be a tank that is set up to allow for a constant replacement of water on a daily basis. Unfortunately it isn't practical. Change at the least 25% on a bi-weekly basis. You'll find fish and plants will do better and the algae will be none existent. There is no better prevention for a algae build up than this, water changes. Compare that to the alternative of constantly fighting algae it becomes time well worth spending. 66..............I have wart like swellings on my hands and arms. Is this possibly due to the aquarium water?..... In a recent study in the Journal of Accident and Emergency Medicine, British doctors described the cases of five people who came to the E.R. with wart like swellings on their hands and arms. The common denominator... All the patients had recently dipped their bare hands into tropical fish tanks. And further test revealed all were infected with mycobacterium marinum. A waterborne germ that enters the body through tiny cuts or scrapes. Antibiotics can clear up the infection, but prevention is far simpler. A pair of long rubber gloves or some long handled tools should be all the aquarium owner needs to keep themselves and their fish feeling ship shape. 67.........Where can I order tank born and raised Seahorses that are trained to be fed by hand?......... We have found a company which very successfully breeds seahorses to help prevent the taking of seahorses from the wild. The company (Ocean Riders) only sends the seahorse after it is trained to eat frozen and freeze dried food. They have a web site that is tremendously helpful in exactly how to set up the tank (explicitly mapping out the most ideal tank conditions). The website is WWW.oceanrider.com. 68............I'm trying to cultivate a reef aquarium, but seem to be having problems keeping the ammonia level down - I assume because I also have some fish, which I dearly love and would hate not to have. Is this possible, to have, say 6 to 10 fish and be able to maintain soft corals at the same time - or am I just going to have to choose one over the other? My tank is 125 gals. I now have 100 lbs. of live sand and about 60 lbs. of live rock. Would love to have your opinion. Thank you, Sorry to hear about your problem. I have heard similar stories regularly. I have an idea of what may have happened, but it is just conjecture. There is much you did not tell me such as the size of your fish and the water quality parameters. My guess is that the maximum "Bio-load" of your tank was exceeded when the live rock and live sand was added. Not only in terms of waste reduction via the nitrifying cycle but also oxygen/Co2 imbalance. This situation causes major stress on all the inhabitants. Also reduced O2 and increased CO2 impede the nitrifying bacteria, just when it really needs to start oxidizing more heavily, due to an increase in "Bio-load". Ammonia and Nitrites especially start to accumulate, and it takes longer for the last stage of bacterial breakdown to reduce to nitrates, the least harmful of the gas by products. Nitrates are a good indicator that your cycle is working efficiently. Nitrates are the fertilizers for good healthy green algae growth. Live rock and live sand often bring new bacteria into the tank that the fish have never come in contact with.These new bacteria often spread like wild fire and kind of unleash a "war of the Worlds" between the old bacteria, also causing a shortage in O2 and most of all creating an inefficient nitrifying environment. To put it bluntly .... TOO MANY FISH ..... we all have the great desire to keep more varieties of fish, but we must remember to give them the optimal environment. Where in nature would you find so many fish in so little space. In such a situation it is next to impossible to keep long term optimum water quality. My suggestion is to continue to keep some marine fish as well as coral but lighten the "Bio-load". Marine fish are so striking in beauty it does not take many to make an impressive tank display. I would also do a 25% water change and give the tank time to cycle before adding any new corals. To me it is more pleasing to see a few very healthy specimens than a tank full of fish experiencing stress due to overcrowding. If you must have many fish, just provide more tanks. I know that sounds like a costly alternative but in the long run it will save you in fish lives or deaths. 69............I would like to know if you recommend any site on the Internet that may be as informational as your pages.......Yes, I suggest that you check this site out. FRESHWATER AQUARIUMS with Shirlie Sharpe Your Guide to One of Over 700 Sites Shirlie Sharpe is an expert in maintaining freshwater aquariums. Experience: Shirlie has been breeding, raising, and studying freshwater fish for over thirty years. She keeps and breeds hundreds of species of fish, and has an extensive library of books and magazines about fish, aquariums, and ponds. Shirlie also works as a freelance fish photographer. Her work has been included in various publications, including Fishbase 2000. From Shirlie Sharpe: "There's no need to wade through the vast sea of information on the net looking for the good stuff. I'll serve it to you with a side order of humor to keep a smile on your face. Whether it's breaking in a new tank, how to look for a fish supplier, or wondering how long your fish should live, you'll find your answers right here. 70..... What is live rock and live sand?................For me, the terms live sand and live rock have always sounded like a great way to add swarms of new and interesting unidentified animals to a tank. Unfortunately, if this is your intention, you will probably be disappointed with both types of live media because in reality, relatively few animals are included (although the number of animals on board does tend to vary from shipment to shipment). What they do contain though, is nitrifying and de-nitrifying bacteria. Check Here....... Live Rock 71........Hello, got a quick question. I just noticed that in one of our tanks I saw a bunch of little white worms, what are they? And is this a bad thing? The Little worms are nothing to worry about. They are one of many small organisms that grow in aquariums in response to fish wast. They merely feed on the organic matter that accumulates in the tank. A good remedy for this problem would be to add a tablespoon of non iodized or sea salt per 10 gallons . The salt acts as a disinfecting agent and slows the spread of the out of control bacteria. Try this remedy and let know how it works. Do not forget to change 25 percent of your water at least every two weeks..... Question..........I set up a 55 gallon tank about a month ago, the only thing in it is a strand of grape algae. I noticed hundreds of small white "bugs" swimming around in it. I put one under a microscope and it has an oval shaped body with two antenna and two long (about the length of the body) tails. Do you have any idea what this might be, or how I could find out? Answer.......These creatures you describe could be many things. by your description they sound like some kind of flagellate. They also could be some small copopods, tiny shrimp like creatures. Hopefully they are not a patogenic organism. I would go to the library and see if you can identify these creatures from perhaps some biology related books or look for a section on microorganisms common in saltwater aquaria. Arthropods Copepods Each member enjoys individual attention. Get all your aquarium questions answered!! Have a healthy aquarium... We are offering a special Lifetime Membership. mm

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