Category: GCKA Library
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32 uncategorized articles in 2006 (last year for articles)
— The Fishroom Library — Articles from the G.C.K.A. Newsletter — 2006 Articles on freshwater fishkeeping and killifish in particularFor articles from previous years, see the Archives section. A collection of articles, tips, and information about tropical fishkeeping in general, and killi-keeping in particular, from the pages of the G.C.K.A. Newsletter. All material is copyright (©) by the…
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Plants – Water Sprite
Plants for the Killie Aquarium Water Sprite There are many plants suitable for use in the killifish aquarium, with selection of a particular plant depending on the water parameters and the fish being maintained. One of the more popular species is the waterfern Ceratopteris thalictroides (pteris=wing, thus “serrated wing”),more commonly known as watersprite. Originally from…
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Plants – Java Moss
Plants for the Killie Aquarium Java Moss Although there are many plants suitable for use in the killifish aquarium, one of the most popular is Vesicularia dubyana, or Java Moss. Most killikeepers who have been in the hobby for more than a few weeks have a bunch or more of this hardy, undemanding little moss in…
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General – What Is A Fishroom? – definitions, and basic information
By Donna M. Recktenwalt If an aquarium is a container that holds water suitable for maintaining aquatic life, then a fishroom is an area set aside for the primary purpose of keeping aquaria. It may be as simple as a couple of tanks on a shelf, or as complex as a specially designed room…
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General – Water Values and Water Tests – an overview.
By Donna M. Recktenwalt Good water is essential to the successful maintenance and breeding of tropical fish. But how do we know if we have good water? Water values can be measured several different ways, but in general, water can be measured for hardness (total and Carbonate), conductivity, and osmotic pressure. Also, water…
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General – Water Hardness – A Comparison – a look at the dH, gH, fH, and US scales of hardness.
By Donna M. Recktenwalt Maintaining fish in an artificial environment poses a number of questions to the aquarist, but one thing we all must deal with is water. We know that for our fishes to thrive, their water must be clean, free of chemical contaminants, and capable of retaining dissolved oxygen. It also…
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General – Water Conductivity – another view of water.
By Donna M. Recktenwalt Killiekeepers have many tools available to help monitor water quality, including test kits of various kinds. One such tool measures the total dissolved solids (TDS) in water. Readouts from such a unit are useful in measuring the relative TDS, and fish seem to be more sensitive to major differences in…
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General – Water Changes – Revisited – why they’re important.
What’s so important about … Water Changes By Donna M. Recktenwalt Certainly we all know that water changes are essential to the health and breeding potential of our fish. But how important are those water changes, anyway? The answer varies. “Because of my job schedules I have gone several weeks without water…
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General – Water Changes – Basic Fishkeeping.
By Donna M. Recktenwalt One fact that is mentioned in almost every published aquatic resource, regardless of species, water type or tank size, is the need for regular partial water changes. Unfortunately, despite the fact that water changes are a good and useful thing to do, many people don’t do them. Why not? Because it’s…
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General – Water Borne Infections – it can happen to you.
It doesn’t happen often, but aquarists have acquired infections from their aquaria, specifically granulomatous infections from Mycobacteria. Mycobacterium (the same genus of bacteria that causes Tuberculosis) species, such as Mycobacterium marinum, exist in many home aquaria. These can gain access through open cuts or scrapes, and cause granulomatous infections. Such infections are often improperly…