Tales from the Crypts
The BPSG met on Friday, 22nd July 2005 at our home in Wooloowin. There were ten members in attendance on the night. After a quick look around at the fish tanks and netting a few fish, the meeting got underway.
I started off telling everyone of our latest adventure to collect some local gobies. We had been advised that there were some nice gobies in an area only about a half hour's drive from our house. So, off we went to see what we could find. The area we were looking in had mangroves lining the banks, clear waters and some vegetation. We did spot a little goby, but were unsuccessful in convincing it to swim into our net. There were lots of tiny little fish swimming in the water. We managed to catch seven as a result of sheer luck. Bruce mentioned that the goby we spotted might have been Mulgilogobius platynotus (flat-backed goby). He said that this goby makes a very nice aquarium specimen and is very pretty as well. It is a flat-headed goby with a blunt snout and is brown in colour. The males have a prominent yellow band near the margin of both dorsal fins and a yellowish anal fin. They grow to about six centimetres. The fish we caught are in the blue-eye family, but we aren't certain of their exact ID at this time. They have the brightest blue eyes I have seen. We were successful in transitioning them from seawater to freshwater. Bruce added that a bit of shell grit will soften the water and they will do much better. We also collected an aquatic plant that is thought to be marsh grass. If this is the case, it won't survive the freshwater tank in which we planted it. However, we will keep an eye on it to see what happens.
The discussion then moved on to plants that could tolerate brackish water. Bruce mentioned Bacopa monnieri (native Bacopa - Money Wort), Microsorium pteropus (java fern) and Vallisneria gigantea (giant val). Greg mentioned Nepa Palms that thrive in brackish/salt water. These palms only grow in the tropics.
I asked about a small crab/crustacean that we spotted while looking for the gobies. It had a pointed shell (similar to some hermit crab shells) and there were lots of these creatures crawling around in the water. Greg advised that the only crab to watch out for was the cone shell crab, which fires poisonous darts when disturbed/threatened.
Greg brought along the third edition of "The Aquarium Plant Handbook" - the catalogue for Oriental Aquarium - that he acquired on his trip to Singapore. This catalogue is beautifully presented with glossy full-colour photos throughout. Greg also mentioned seeing Riccia sp. and Fontinalis sp. growing on metal mesh. This makes it easy to put in and take out of tanks. Seems like an easy way to get a nice carpet. Greg said while in Singapore he saw a snail that was a bit different than any he had ever seen before. Peter chimed in and said there were some rather large mystery snails at the last super auction. Greg also had a copy of the Oase Catalogue that listed a 40,000-litre/hr. pump and swimming ponds.
Phil said that his Aponogeton madagascariensis (Madagascar Lace Plant) that was doing well had died. He wasn't sure why this happened. Phil had also collected some blue-eyes.
Luke brought along some books:
The Eleocharis sp. (hairgrass) he planted is starting to spread. He suspects the snails or bristlenose might be eating the tops though. The shrimp he collected near Sanford are looking good and the Rotala sp. is pink and growing well. He was using a diluted Dupla 24 fertiliser, but is now using Seachem Flourish. He still has low iron levels and uses rainwater with a bit of aquarium salts added in his tank(s). In response to Luke's low iron levels, Michael asked if he used steel wool to clean the glass. Not only does steel wool do a wonderful job removing algae from the glass, but also if left in the tank, it breaks down adding a bit of iron and is thought to control algae. Luke then enlightened us as to why the steel wool might act as algae deterrent. The steel wool breaks down into iron, which is a good phosphate attractant and it therefore doesn't leave much phosphate in the tank for the algae to feed on. Alan and I have had some success with controlling algae by leaving it to break down in the tank.
- Psychology of the Planted Aquarium
- Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants by (Hissock)
- The Creative Nature Aquarium by Kaspar Horst & Jorg Ploger
Lee said that there wasn't a lot that was new with him. He set up a new tank last week and it was cloudy for a bit while the gravel and potting mix settled. He planted the tank with mostly cutting plants and Lilaeopsis sp. (pygmy chain sword). Lee also added a bit of driftwood as well. He notices a lot of stratification of heat in the larger tank. There were pockets of cooler areas, even though he has a heater towards the top and at the bottom of the tank. Bruce said that the fish would find the water temperature they are comfortable with. Bruce queried about the filtration Lee was using and commented that he should get a reasonable mixture of heat through the water with a good filtration system. Lee mentioned that his male fighter chases his reflection up and down the tank and doesn't seem to bother with the female fighters. The females, however, are bashing each other up.
Ken commented that his fish and plants were all okay. He just returned from a fish-collecting trip to Cairns. He visited Kennedy Creek, Utchee Creek, Streets Creek, Davies Creek, Etty Bay and the MacIntyre River. He saw some Blyxa sp. and Myriophyllum sp. Bruce asked how the Harvey blue-eyes were doing. He added that they are a bit cranky and sometimes can only be kept one male to a 6-foot tank. They are also the only blue-eye that is big enough to be caught with a fishing rod. Ken also brought along a photo of Crassula crassulaceae. He also mentioned some nice trifaciatas from Gap Creek that he is having sent to him.
Peter has been busy getting ready for the RNA show.
Michael brought along a plant that was found in the neighbour's pond. Bruce identified it as Salvinia sp. - a noxious weed. It is good for mulch and very hard to eradicate. Michael's algae are doing well and the fry tanks are nice and pea-soupy. He brought along a bag of "kitty litter" and a mix that he found at Bunnings that is called "Aquatic Planting Mix". Both mixes looked similar, except that the Bunnings mix had larger pieces. There were no ingredients listed on the bag, so we were unable to confirm what the composition was. The mix was more expensive than the kitty litter, so it will be interesting to see if it does any better. We tried to get Dizzy and Jazz (our kitties) to test out the mix, but they were reluctant.
Nick brought back the plants he acquired at the last meeting to discuss the changes in leaf shape and size. The Bacopa sp. had wider leaves at the top and narrower leaves at the bottom. The Ceratophyllum demersum (Hornwort) was thinning at the bottom and larger spaces between the branches. Different growing conditions and lighting were the factors. Nick also brought an article to share that discussed the ratio of nitrate and phosphate levels and the effect on algae. He is thinking of attempting to make his own chemical-based pH probe, where the pH tests solution changes colour in a column suspended from water. He is an electronics engineer, so he shouldn't have too much trouble. He is costing CO2 cylinder rentals and fill-ups and finding it to be pretty expensive. Michael mentioned trying a home-brew shop. Nick said that the "do-it-yourself" yeast-based CO2 made the tank go cloudy.
Bruce brought along books of various titles on aquatic plants and life. He discussed how plant names have changed over 50 years. The old books versus the new ones - example: Aquarium Plants by H.C.D. DeWit, 1957.
The meeting ended with supper and some continuing discussions on aquatic plants and aquaria. I am leaving the BPSG in the hands of my husband Alan for the month of August, as I will be in the Northern Territory completing my final teaching practicum. See you all when I return in September.
The Brisbane Plant Study Group (BPSG) meetings are held on the 4th Friday of every month and begin around 8PM. If you need directions or have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email at bpsg2002@hotmail.com or via mobile on 0403 790 701. For the latest information, please visit our website at http://bpsg.frell.org
