eaquarist
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Posts posted by eaquarist
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actually it really depends on individual .. I have a friend who have been stung by bees many (seperate) times. Still healthy and leaving.
we won't know unless we try..
(Disclaimer: I am in no way responsible for any mishap caused.. ) 
You are one brave guy, was that you or your friend on the Fear Factor challenge with the bees.., haha Well, yes the hyperallegic reaction depends on the individual, which is why quick response and CPR can help save lives...getting too far off now.. 
Anyway, I thought it was good to inform all hobbyists not to take things for granted...with the bird flu and all, who knows the comparatively "safest" hobby could actually be fish keeping.
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I'd rather my body not have the antigen for it. thats why repeat dengue fever cases can kill. because the body actually produces too much antibodies that may overpower the body's immune system.
or so I think. can't remember. damn my bio teacher would be disappointed.
Well, at least you still remember some facts about immunology....heh heh...who's your Bio teacher? 
Hyperallergic reaction in cases of active natural immunity where memory cells develop to produce long lasting immunity but an over-production of antibodies on a second exposure. People have died from a second bee sting before too. 
For all fish lovers, I think with care and precaution,the possibility of Mycobacterium infection is still rare but with cut skin or open wounds, things can get painful. This was discuseed in a recent issue of FAMA too.
For more info, see attached
http://www.medicinenet.com/mycobacterium_marinum/article.htm
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Hi patrick, FYI, denitrification is a process of removing nitrates using denitrying bacteria (eg, Pseudomonas denitrifans , Thiobacillus denitrifans). They convert these nitrates back to nitrogen gas but in an anaerobic (no oxygen) environment. The DSB serves to provide the environment. While people in the past do batch denitrification in big buckets, nowadays, it's all in a canister to keep oxygen out. The latest models like Deltec denitrators(available from us) uses sulphur to feed the bacteria. As a retailer, I must inform all that such gadgets need a little tinkling to get things right as misuse can lead to drastic consequences (like Hydrogen sulphide production) but otherwise denitrators can be rather useful option.
Pls see attached site
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...p?article_id=15
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Just to add on...LR serves as a Biological filter and the place for the growth of nitrifying, heterotrophic bacteria and other detritivores but most importantly denitrifiers in the deeper crevices. The "Berlin" system of keeping marines depend only on LR with no substrate...those systems stock their entire tanks with LR. The current trend also includes DSB, Plenum or the Leng Sy mud refugium with macroalgae scrubbers.
IMO, you should first decide on the system you wish to adopt for filtration and whether you should have a pure reef set-up without fish, FOWLR or a mix fish and coral community tank. There is no definite answer to your question. The amount of Bio-load can be determined by the number of fish as well as the type of fish. Big eaters like groupers will generate more waste. LR from different regions of the world also vary in their porosity and hence their ability to house bacteria.
The use of LR depends very much on the aquascape too as mentioned ...open space with sand reflects more light and brightens up the place. However, a reef face replica will look empty without the built up of rocks.
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Thanks. Did you get them from Amazon.com. I was comparing prices at kinokuniya. Its cheaper to get from amazon.
Anyone knows if this is a good book. Dr. Burgess's Mini Atlas for marine fish. Its US$25 compare to kino $80
Dr Burgess's Atlas of Marine Aquarium Fishes is $US56 compare to kino $150
More info
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...635358?v=glance
I have both the books and they are very useful indeed. Well, if only the fish ID plates had a little more colour. Other texts like Australian Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef, Reef Fishes of the World and books by Roger Steene are also useful to ID fishes. Even for a trained taxonomist, ID can be difficult but not for some hidden dragons in the forum...ask Rumor I would like to recommend a little book by Scott W Michael- Essential Pocket Guide to more than 500 species of marine fish...so far, the species description has the best match to real life experiences.
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Hi, I've also been using the product in my home tank for quite a while, really works! EAP has the product and there are actually two forms, one has "nutrients" embedded in the sintered glass beads to encourage the growth of nitrifying bacteria.
See attached
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Well said Gouldian!
Looking at all the comments, it's great to know that hobbyists are willing to share and learn from each other. The PRIZM skimmer has worked well for many systems so far and as mentioned, distributed by established companies like Red Sea. The concern I think would be value for money part. Perhaps judging the skimmer by the amount of kopi O might not be enough as different systems generate different amounts of waste. Practical Fishkeeping conducts equipment tests and publish their findings often...can check for reference too.
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Wow, this forum is just getting better
....as a sponsor, I agree wholeheartedly that feedback, be it good or bad, is definitely of great importance for business improvement. I suppose when the need arises, the forum also allows sponsors the chance to clarify matters if misunderstood in any way. EAP relies on valuable feedback to constantly change and improve ourselves. We welcome your responses
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How confident are you on the above comments?
Witnessed this in my 6Ft display at the shop, those kept in large numbers like 10 or more in the retailing tanks are often ok, also fine are solos or seemingly mated pair in my coral retailing tanks.....well,it could be an isolated case, just unlucky for me 
but perhaps this would be a good chance to find out from feedback of other members? -
So sorry to hear fishes dying, had an episode like this before...managed to save only two of the entire batch of my fishes at home..
, Not sure if I had the right diagnosis but I think it could be a Vibriois outbreak..Hope this reading below helps, have to act fast.
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....maybe because these were "fresh".
Fire gobies have been a favourite because of their colours and seeming docile nature. I like both of them! Just to add my 2 cents...However, if kept in small numbers like twos or threes as they often are...one individual will soon emerge as a dominant fish (explains the brighter colours)and possibly kill all the rest.I have also noticed purple fires to be more aggressive too.
The case of mysterious deaths could easily be attributed to Mantis or Bristleworms but might sometimes be really a victim of aggression. On the reef, large numbers congregrate but an invisible hierarchy exists. If possible, keep these beauties in a larger group.
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so where can i purchase the food for anthias??? just any LFS will do?? or ?? Hi there ckwhon, good to see that you are checking with reefers but I'm afraid you have chosen a challenging species to start with. Anthias have always been classified as "difficult" because of their diet, they do better in large congregations and survive longer in the reef tank. With good water conditions, they can become active feeders of fine foods like cyclopeeze (frozen) or frozen mysis or sometimes even fine powdered fish foods. I carry the above products if you desperately need some.
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Cannot agree more to the idea of not selling them..so never did! So glad that folks at SRC are all responsible reefers....in fact, the cleaner wrasse is such an obligate specialist in its parasite diet that it can even pester fish and stress them out when parasites are not available.
EAP is looking at another alternative to cleaner wrasse, a better candidate for the aquarium, will announce when stock of this fish is available and of course, tested hardy and safe by us.
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Wow, what an amazing animal!!..if it's real then I'm guessing it could be a moth or butterfly and the colours and tail could be a mimic of some species with poisonous or big head catepillars or simply to scare off predators.
Sudden interest in oddities nowadays? Anyone seen Bigfoot lately, tell him I'm cutting his contract cause he's no longer popular....
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can a 5 inch ion out with 2 fuzzy dwarf bout 3 inch n 1 volitan also bout 3 inch? I suppose the ion is lion
. Well, what I meant was really mouth size....saw this horrible scene 
of a bigger lion attacking and swallowing a smaller dwarf lion in a dealer's tank many years back when I was crazy about these fellows (still am).The bigger fellow was obviously impervious to the venomous sting. The size combination looks ok and I believe fishes know how to keep their distance.If you are worried, provide refuge for the smaller dwarfs and don't forget to feed the lion king. -
Yes indeed you should read the instructions carefully. If you are using medication that contains some form of chelated copper, most brands like Oceanfree would indicate that it can be used for both salt and freshwater. However, before you dose the medication, check to make sure you have No invertebrates like shrimps or corals as copper kills them....Brains secrete a white mucus that kills everything in the tank! Copper can also irritate fishes with less scales like boxfishes. Some rays don't respond well to copper too. If you have corals, use Malachite green with formaldehyde...the more "reef friendly" medication.
Boost the immune system of your fishes by feeding them a varied diet (with added Garlic, though I'm not sure the active ingredient allicin has a direct effect on Ich parasites) and plug in a UV sterilizer, the device has worked wonders for me.
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Looks like a Pterois volitans to me...just a little reminder on lions, the big ones do cannibalise smaller lions, don't mix dwarfs with giants like this fellow.
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I normally place frags under weak or moderate currents to allow recovery but make sure they are not upstream of other corals or their exudates might kill your other tank inhabitants.
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Well, I've done this before but I believe a lot of our SPS big boys out there can do this with their eyes closed ....if you want to frag the piece, make sure you allow the coral tissue to fully retract before you do this. Lay the coral on a wet towel, hold with your hand, an arm and main stem of the "Y", using the plier, break with a quick twist the other arm. The tissue normally occupies the a shallow portion inside and the tooth ridges plus a thin layer on the outside of the exoskeleton. If you have somehow damaged the coral tissue, can put in some SEACHEM coral dip for a few minutes to prevent bacterial infection before placing frags back in tank.
http://www.petco.com/product_info.asp?webt..._ite=0011606160
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Oh I got it, Santa spilled some radioactive chemical last Christmas and look what happened to Rudolph?....or did he had an unsuccessful extreme make-over?
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Gee..that's a tough one....looking at the protruding mouth and extended lips..a species of wrasse, probably a mature one? Just a wild guess.
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Well, not sure how to say this but from what I know as a retailer, the origin of the rose anemone might refer to the fact that most of it gets exported from Singapore....our exporters here normally don't sell them to local markets... since they fetch a much higher price overseas
Our surrounding seas used to hold a much higher diversity of life than Indonesia, much lost due to pollution already...if you want to know more, there is a big pictorial reference out at Borders about the underwater life of Singapore.
I fully comprehend the sensitivity of any conservation issue and hobbyists get the blame all the time. Can't comment on A***'s role but I suppose they have their jobs to do. Perhaps a little more we can do for our environment on our own part as hobbyists would be to empower ourselves with more knowledge and share our experiences to ensure our aquatic pets are kept in the best conditions possible.
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Just to add on..
Indeed there are many mimics around, in fact, many fishes have such unusual diets of feeding off others-- slime, scales or fins....a well known example would be some species of pirahna...
For marines, watch out for these sabretooth blenny species too...Plagiotremus tapeinosoma, Plagiotremus rhinorhynchus Although there are some accounts of successful keeping of cleaners, most perish after a while
, they just hide in some crevice and never appear again. Recent research has shown that cleaners play a vital role in the reef, cleaning many large fishes like groupers and sharks. In fact, th mystery of large congregations of hammerheads near some islands in Philippines was solved after divers observed the sharks coming in to get cleaned. To collect them in large numbers for the aquatic trade should be discouraged at the moment, perhaps in limited numbers for the experts to get it right. EAP has never stocked the species until more is known about them.
... the first step to successful keeping could be done in this forum, any success stories to share? -
Indeed it could be a result of disease. Have seen this on many common clowns before. Called the Black Ich, it is caused by parasitic flatworms.
You can read more about it here. http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/compldiag.../a/aa041701.htm
Rem to wash your hand after handling your tank
in General Reefkeeping_
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