AQUATECH
A publication of AquaTouch containing Tips & Techniques for being a successful
Marine Aquarist...
AquaTips:
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When using R.O. (reverse osmosis) water for evaporation
top off add buffer to the water, pH buffer for a fish tank or KH buffer for
a reef tank to help maintain alkalinity levels. Use a alkalinity test kit to
determine how often to add buffer.
Use a tooth brush to clean those dirty Intake screens.
Clean the outside of acrylic aquariums with R.O. water
and a soft cloth or Bounty brand paper towels, then to really make it
shine use Novus Clean and Shine.
When purchasing dry fish food chose a package size that will
be used in less than one year.
Let your family and friends know they can purchase Gift
Certificates at AquaTouch.
Fish Spotlight:
Longnose Hawkfish
The Longnose Hawkfish is a very popular fish for
both reef and fish only tanks. It has a long pointed snout and maroon
cross-hatching on its white body. This hardy fish is most often found perching
on rocks and decorations as they do not have a swim bladder to hold them
buoyant. When they stop swimming they sink to the bottom. In the wild this
Indo-Pacific fish is found perching on corals at depths of 100 plus.
Although generally considered reef safe, they can
sometimes irritate individual corals or clams by constantly perching on them.
Also, larger individuals may eat crustaceans and become territorial. One thing
is for sure they will swim to the surface and beg to be feed every time you get
near the aquarium. They will eat most any food but prefer meaty foods like mysis
shrimp and ocean plankton. This fish has lots of personality.
Brittle Star
Brittle stars are a sea star (starfish) which
generally have a discrete central disk and five arms covered with spines. There
are two basic groups of brittle stars being sold. The first group consists of
brittle stars that generally have their spines arranged in distinct rows down
the length of their arm and tend to be more colorful. This group is more
specifically known as serpent stars. They tend to be less reclusive and are
often seen walking rapidly across the tank to pick up a piece of food. However,
serpent stars are often known to capture and eat smaller or rock dwelling fish
and are not recommended for reef tanks.
The second group generally has spines in circling
the entire arm and can be safely kept in a reef tank. This group tends to be
very reclusive, only showing their arms while keeping their disk hidden under a
rock. Brittle stars will eat almost any kind food, serpent stars tend to prefer
meaty foods. Brittle stars in reef tanks do not normally need to be specifically
fed.
AquaTouch News:
Premixed Saltwater
A number of customers have been asking for premixed saltwater for a long
time. Well we are happy to announce that AquaTouch has purchased some new
equipment to mix and store saltwater. The equipment is not yet installed, but we
should have premixed saltwater for sale some time next month.
Next time your in please join us in welcoming our new staff members Adrian
and Ryan.
The Staff at AquaTouch wishes you and your family the Happiest of Holidays!
Q: Why arent the fish in your back room for sale?
A: The back room you see through the window across from the rock bins is our
Quarantine room. We keep the fish in the quarantine room when they first arrive
for three main purposes. First, many of these fish have just come from the ocean
and spent several days traveling to get here. They are very stressed and need to
be slowly acclimated to life in an aquarium with human activity around them.
This is just one of the many reasons that only employees are allowed in the
quarantine room. Part of this process of acclimation includes training the fish
to eat prepared foods that may be greatly different from the foods they had been
eating in the wild.
The second purpose of the Quarantine room is to make sure the fish are
healthy. First the fish are prophylactically treated for diseases they are known
to commonly carry when they arrive. Shipments from different suppliers are kept
in separate systems to prevent the spread of disease from one shipment to the
next. Also, ultraviolet sterilizers (the white tube on the end of each system)
are used to help prevent the spread of diseases within its system. We also watch
for any other sign of disease or health problems and treat them as required.
Finally, this whole process allows us to determine which suppliers are
providing healthy fish and which ones are providing poor quality fish. This
would be very hard to determine if all of the fish were placed in one common
system. With this knowledge, we purchase healthier fish in the first place
(reducing losses and effort taking care of sick fish.) In the end this means we
can provide you with a healthier fish which is eating foods readily available to
you. This makes the hobby more enjoyable for all of us.