Bgf Journal

Create a stable rock wall, using Live Rock, dead rock, or a combination, by placing a framework of PVC piping under the substrate, and then placing substrate (sand, or gravel) around the PVC, but have the rock wall rest on the PVC so that tunnelling pet fish can still tunnel without undermining the rock wall support. Be careful not to use PVC glue. Use aquarium sealant, or other glues designed specifically for fish tanks. Another option is using a hammer to drive the PVC piping and PVC "T's" and other connectors together. Or assemble the PVC piping and connectors then drill through them both and apply plastic strips as though you would a plastic nail to lock the connectors and pipe together. Do not...

What makes an excellent dive site? It is hard to pinpoint precisely, since the best scuba diving sites in the world are as varied as the individuals who dive them. Here is a list of some of the best and why each is so unique. 1. Cozumel, Mexico. This is a perfect site for laid-back divers. In fact, you can just lie back and let the swift currents take you through all there is to see: a spectacular reef scene full of colorful sponges and a large variety of fish, including the whiskered Splendid Toadfish that is particular to these waters. 2. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. This is not only the place that inspired Darwin's theory of evolution; it is also one of the best scuba diving sites on the planet...

Create an environment mix in your aquarium decor for maximum flexibility in the types of fish species you may decide to keep. That means setup your rocks, plants, sand, or gravel, so that there are caves, nooks, and tunnels, that fish can explore, inhabit, and seek refuge in when feeling threatened, while still leaving lots of free swimming space for those fish that prefer wide open spaces. Position the rocks, aquarium plants, etc., away from the sides of the fish tank so that you can clean off any algae that may grow there, without interference from rocks, plants, or decorations. Leave sufficient space between fish tank plants, and aquarium ornaments to permit vacuuming up any debris that will...

Though known as one of the top shopping destinations in the Caribbean and an easy getaway for American travelers, St. Thomas also boasts some of the world's top beaches and a wide assortment of recreation options. While excellent beaches can be found at all corners of the island, the stretch of sand regularly cited as one of the best overall beaches in the Caribbean region can be found along St. Thomas' scenic northern coast. Magens Bay is an idyllic destination, a mile-long stretch of white sand dotted with palm trees. As this incredible beach remains largely undeveloped, there is also plenty of space to relax in the sand or play in the calm, blue waters offshore. Throughout the year, Magens Bay...

ring where to go? Why not try the world of great tropical adventure that Costa Rica offers? A Costa Rica Caribbean travel offers you active volcano exploration, wild animals, lush rainforests, and great beaches. On one of the ultimate paradises left untouched on this planet, there are no military, no nuclear power plants, lots of culture to offer, and no winter. A democratic society, Costa Rica is known as one of the most peaceful in the world. The last civil war was in 1948, and since then, armed forces have been abolished and the country has been able to avoid such dangers as despotic dictatorships, military coups, terrorism, and all other forms of internal strife. Not only that, a Costa Rica...

One of South Africa's best kept secrets, this group of reefs lies between two and four kilometers offshore and at a depth of twenty to forty meters it is for advanced divers. Only 10 minutes drive south of Umkomaas/Aliwal Shoal. Landers Reef: Average Depth 21 - 32 Meters : Big pinnacle, large boulders, crevices and huge gullies with small sand patches in between the reefs, caves and overhangs Finger Reef : Average depth 22 - 35meters: Simply the best, untouched, unspoilt reef around! Butchers Reef: Average Depth 18 -25 Meters : Boulders, rocks with big crevices and gullies are characteristic of this reef north of Landers. The reef has a wall like formation that is approximately 6 meters high...

The sea is one of the natural resources of the earth. Numerous of species are living under the sea. We are most fascinated with the living organisms located under the sea. Unlike the other forms of animals, sea creatures are limited to stay within the water only. Sea water has a different composition and concentration compared to the tap water that we normally use. The sea is also the main portion of the earth where we get our food. The marine life has made the lives of the people healthier. Sea foods are good source of certain minerals that are essential for the development of the body such as iron and calcium that can be obtain from eating seaweeds. There are different species of fish present in...

I have kept both saltwater fish and cichlids. I can tell you that my favorite by far was my cichlid fish tank. There is something about keeping cichlids that is so rewarding. First of all they are not as difficult as salt water fish, but they have so many great colors, sizes, shapes, personalities that you can find whatever you want. I chose to keep African cichlids because I loved the diverse colors as well as the breeding was easy to do. I enjoyed watching the little fry in my tank try to survive and make it to adult hood. I never bred them seriously, but they would breed all the time and it was a blast to watch them. I also included a few catfish in the mix and it made the tank look amazing with...

The ocean has a natural way of regulating, filtering and supporting sea life. Millions of undersea fish and plants survive based on the oceans ability to take care of itself. That is not the case with salt water fish tanks that are found in zoos, aquariums and even homes. Tropical fish saltwater setup tank maintenance chores are important to keep aquatic life healthy and happy in these fish tanks. The first fish saltwater setup tank task is to select a synthetic salt mix that closely resembles the composition of natural seawater. You should start out with water that is very pure. You do not want any chlorine or other chemicals to be in the water. Some choose to fill the tank with bottled water...

Many people purchase a salt water aquarium because they think that fish that typically live in the ocean look much more beautiful. This is definitely a true statement because they have much brighter colors. Because there is so much more salt water on the planet then fresh water, there are many more colorful varieties of these types of fish. However, here are a few reasons that you should not get a salt water aquarium if you are new at taking care of fish. 1) Fish that live in salty water are way more expensive then fresh water fish. 2) If the water in the aquarium starts to evaporate, then the salt content in the aquarium becomes higher and will kill your fish. So do not plan on going on long...

A salt water aquarium is a fish tank that keeps sea plants and animals in a contained natural environment. Marine fishkeeping is different from its freshwater counterpart due to the basic distinctions in the constitution of saltwater and the resulting distinctions in the adaptation of its inhabitants.The fishes of a marine aquarium in many cases are complex to get and are typically more costly compared to freshwater aquarium habitants. However, the habitants of saltwater fish tanks are usually much more magnificent than freshwater tank fish. With the spectacular assortment of gorgeous saltwater fish to select from, it's no surprise that lots of enthusiasts dream of maintaining a a salt water...

When searching for fish tank accessories, the internet offers hundreds and thousands of machines, equipment and other stuff. Beginners will end up confused and unsure, which accessory they really need for their aquarium. Here is a list of 5 accessories, a fish tank should be equipped with: 1) Fish Tank Pump The heart of your aquarium is the pump itself. While not necessarily included, most pumps also have an integrated filtration system. The pump pushes the water through the filter and good pumps will also oxygenate the water. 2) Filter System Absolutely necessary to filtrate the water in your fish tank. Every day, the water gets soiled for several reasons and without cleaning it, your fish tank...

Are you new to the world of pet fish keeping? With so many different varieties to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming. Here are a few types of freshwater fish that make excellent pets for the beginner as well as the advanced aquarist (fish keeper). Betas Betas are the beautiful fish you see displayed in small bowls at your local pet store. They have long flowing fins of red, purple or blue and are extremely easy to care for. The only drawback of Betta fish is that they must be kept alone -- the males will fight each other to the death, and females are rarely available in pet shops. They don't do very well with other pet fish species either, because other fish like to nibble on their long fins...

Animals can be considered as our pets in the home. They are not only for livestock or laboratory purposes because they can keep us company in the house. Having pets around can somehow relieve our stress after a hard day's work or when we have no one to accompany us in the house. We can use some of our spare time by playing with our pets. One of the animals, which we can consider as our pets, is the wide variety of tropical fish species. They have this colorful and playful appearance that lightens up our day. Their beautiful attraction somehow keeps our stress away and relieves us from the heavy burden of some problems. There are so many fish in the world that you might have a hard time in choosing...

The practice of adding salt to a freshwater aquarium is one that has been around for quite some time. There are several reasons why sodium chloride (aka table salt or aquarium salt) would be added to a freshwater tank, including stress reduction, medication, and to create a natural environment for fish normally found in brackish water. Before you add salt to your freshwater aquarium for any reason, be sure to understand the reasons for doing so and any possible side effects. Many popular aquarium fish species come from brackish areas, such as rivers feeding into an ocean. In these cases, adding salt to the aquarium serves to replicate their natural habitat by creating a water quality that is between...

A crucial dynamic of handling stress is knowing that the strength within must be greater than the pressure without. A great example of this is the contrast between the aquatic life in the depths of the ocean and a bathysphere. A bathysphere is a miniature submarine used to explore the ocean at depths that would easily crush a conventional submarine. Bathyspheres compensate for the pressure with steel plates, several inches thick, successfully keeping the water out. But, they are also heavy and hard to maneuver. And when the external lights are turned on, you can see numerous fish through the thick plate-glass windows. These deep-sea fish cope with the extreme pressure of their environment in an...

1. Take in Plenty of Fish It is a good choice to eat fish, especially salmon, when you are in a fight with aging and wrinkles, because salmon and other kinds of deep-sea fish are not only the important source of protein, they also contain a kind of essential fatty acid, which can nourish your skin and help to reduce wrinkles. Besides, you can also take in foods like carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, animal livers and beans, which can protect eyes. They all contain a large quantity of vitamin A and vitamin B2. 2. Do Not Wash Your Face Too Often Skin produces dirt, grease, sweat and remains of cosmetics every day, so it is necessary to wash face. But we should know that extremes are dangerous. If you wash...

I've had it! After 19 years in the business, I'm tired of the lies, the misrepresentations, half-truths and down-right mean people. "Life is too short!" No, I'm not simply talking about the clients and potential clients who have assured me of their "clean driving record" or the "I've never had an accident" claims. The distortions come directly from my industry as well: Credit-scoring has been a fiasco that very few companies will discuss. Insurance companies have been sold a bill of goods by third-party credit agencies, and bought the fish store, hook-link-and sinker. Many companies are more concerned about the bottom line than their clients. Fortunately for all of us, the trend for using credit...

Even though you may find yourself struggling to get the healthiest meals possible onto the table for your family, you can do it with less work than you might think. To get the allowance of seafood recommended by doctors (at least twice a week), you don't necessarily have to keep haunting the fish store trying to find a good catch to take home. Instead, look into the boneless Alaska Salmon that is available in pouches or other containers in the grocery store. When you want to shake things up for any meal, you can look to this excellent resource. Because you don't have to worry about refrigerating or freezing this salmon, it can take out the difficult part of the equation. You will still get all of...

You may have heard recently about commercial loan modification, and are not sure what exactly it is. Due to these tough economic times, many small business owners have had to become very creative in order to keep their business alive. Cutting back is always the first and usually most helpful way to working your way out of trouble. There are cut backs on things like; expenses, labor, advertising, utilities and much more. For example, lets say your office or store has five people working at all times. What many stores have done is cut back to four people working; this saves a lot of money over the course of the month. Another example is if you are spending hundreds of dollars a month on things like...

Neon lights can be found just about anywhere. They grab people's attention by the bright colors and the flashing. They are often times used for attracting customers to businesses. There is one depicting a tooth for a dentist office, swimming tropical fish for a fish store, and a delicious sandwich for a sub shop. They also are used to let people know the business is open and ready for visitors. Neon lights are not just for businesses, though. They can be used in people's homes, particularly in recreation rooms where parties are held. Have you ever looked at a neon light sign and wondered how exactly did the lights get shaped into such unique designs? Neon light signs are made of hollow glass tubes...

Zoanthid polyps are among some of the most colorful and sought after reef aquarium corals in the hobby. They are generally hardy, colorful and fast growing corals. Colors for this species range from light green to bright red and every color in between. However when shopping around at your local fish store or online for zoanthids for sale you should always look for captive grown live stock for various reasons. There are many different reasons to only purchase captive propagated zoanthids that often go overlook by new and even seasoned reef keepers. Why Choose captive Grown Corals Hardiness: Captive grown zoanthids are more durable then wild collected specimens and the chances of captive grown ones...

When starting a new business, especially in today's economy, you have to have a lot of things. You have to have a solid idea, money to back it up, and a plan. If you are going to have a fish store you need to find a good location for your store. If you are creating an online business you need decide if you still want an office, or work at home, you need to decide on how much advertising you are willing to do, and if you will have other employees. These are just a few things to consider, and if you do not have the money to start your business you don't want your idea to die, the only logical step is to try and get a commercial loan. Well before you get the loan, or even apply for one, you have to get...

These hard economic times have been especially difficult on the small business. Many of these companies have gone under, or are desperately trying to stay alive. The only way many companies can keep going is to cut their labor staff. This is a big reason why we are in a recession. People lose their jobs, they start spending less money, companies make less money so they have to lay off people, and the cycle gets worse and worse. This trend is hopefully soon coming to an end, but the fact remains that there is a lot of work to be done, especially if you want your small company to stay alive. Keeping your business going will not be easy, but being creative and taking the time to investigate your...

One of the most common reasons why people leave the marine aquarium hobby is due to nuisance algae. There is no doubt that it can become a real heart breaker after spending so much time and effort at this hobby only to be defeated by such a small organism as algae. Just about everyone who has ever set up a marine tank has to deal with nuisance algae at one time or another. Typically it will start showing up near the end of your tanks cycle, about 3 to 5 weeks after your setup. Some of the time it will go away on its own, in a few weeks, as your aquarium has a chance to stabilize. Even if the algae do disappear, there is always a chance it could return. What are algae? Essentially, they are organisms...

The Clown Loach is a popular fish in tropical aquariums since it is very beautiful and not too difficult to keep. Its scientific name is Botia macracanthus and it is therefore also known as Botia fish. When you buy a loach it will typically need at least a 100 liter / 20 gallon aquarium to do well. They are usually sold when quite young and will therefore grow larger and larger as they mature. A fully grown Clown Loach will need a 540 liter / 125 gallon aquarium or larger. Wild Clown Loaches inhabit densely grown waters in Indonesia and will therefore appreciate a planted aquarium or an aquarium with plenty of rocks and caves which the Clown Loach can hide among. A combination of both plants and...

The major problem people face when they have a sick fish is that they are not ready. Many a times when a Betta fish gets ill, people waste lots of time. For the reason of:o They don't catch it near the beginning,o They don't know how to analysis the sick fish and finally,o They don't have the appropriate medicines readily available. Well, if you believe you can quickly run to your neighborhood pet store and acquire the medicine your Betta will require, just think twice! Most effective Betta medicines cannot be found at your neighborhood pet stores and number of people live in areas where even your fish store will not have them. Following are a few medicines for your Betta fish: BettaZing This is an...

Koi are unique in the fish world. Let's face it... most fish you keep in an aquarium are pretty to look at, but as a pet, they're pretty passive. Koi, however, have personality and will actually interact with you. Once you buy Koi, they will steal your heart with their bright patterns, intelligence and friendliness. Before you run out and buy one at the nearest fish store, there are a few things you need to do first. If you want your Koi to grow large enough to be impressive, you need a large outdoor pond. If you don't already have one, you'll need to look into building one and making sure that there is adequate filtration to keep your Koi happy and healthy. Make sure your Koi pond has hiding spots...

So you are thinking of getting LED lights for your aquarium are you? Well let me tell you, I purchased some about 6 months ago and it was one of the smartest things I have done. WHY LED LIGHTS? If you are like me, switching up the look of your fish tank every so often is a must. I love owning fish, but I often get bored with the same old look of my tank, so I tend to rearrange the aquarium every few months. But, even doing that got old too.... So, what did I do? One day when I went to my local fish store I saw a reef tank with LED moonlights. They were the coolest looking things I had seen in a while. You turn them on and the whole tank glows with a blue tint that makes it look like one of the tanks...

You don't need expensive flowers or centerpieces to create an interesting and colorful table setting. Add color and texture by getting creative with simple items you can often find around the house or at the grocery store. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Bobbing for apples Look around your home for large, clear vases. They do not all have to be the same size or style. Pick up a bag of granny smith or other green apples at your local grocery store. It does not matter what kind but a bright green will be the most dramatic. Fill each vase with a varying amount of water. Place a few apples in each vase. They will float near the top. This requires very little artistic talent but looks very...

QUESTION: An aquarist has a cichlid with a white spot/wound about mid body maybe 3/16 inch below the dorsal, within a week the white increased to about a 3/8 strip from dorsal to belly. There was a thin white cottony growth (fungus?) but it appeared to be eating away the cichlids skin, and it appeared the outside skin was eaten away and was down to the 'meat'. Despite its blackish color this patch was definitely fleshier in color. The fish died within a few hours. A local fish store informed the aquarist that yes a problem had arisen in the tank it came from. He gave him 200 mg Erythromycin said apply as directed (5 tabs per 24 hours 4 four treatments, w/ one water change) and that should solve any...

Seafood contains essential oils that are an important part of your diet. Oils provide the source of energy we need and they are also great flavor enhancers. More importantly, they are a source of significant fatty acids. Seafood oils are unique and have great nutritional benefits to our body. This oil contains the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Our body only produces small amounts of these important fatty acids; therefore we need to rely on other sources for this essential nourishment. Seafood is one of the best sources of these nutrients. In fact, oils are the second biggest components in most seafood. Eating seafood...