Fish Spotlight:
"Pacific" Blue Tang 
Not be confused with its Atlantic counterpart... the yellow
tailed Blue Tang, Paracanthurus hepatus is a popular addition for both fish or reef tanks.
Blue Tangs can grow to 12" in the wild, they are wide spread in the Pacific, from
Africa to Japan. The smaller specimens (1"-2") can be placed in groups, provided
the aquarium is large enough to house them as they grow. Their dietary needs change with
size, smaller ones graze on algae while larger one will feed only from the water column.
They are generally a shy fish, preferring ample live rock or coral branches to hide in.
Blue Tangs are susceptible to head erosion. Minimize this by providing; Proper diet of
frozen, dried and live algae, as well as meatier foods for larger specimens; Use an
Aquarium Ground to eliminate stray voltage; and only use carbon on an "As
Needed" basis.
Derasa Clam
Tridacna derasa clams are captive farmed, affordable and hearty. They can
be quite colorful and prefer sand bottoms over placement on rock. All clams use minerals
like Calcium, Magnesium and Strontium to form their hard shells. Maintaining proper levels
of these minerals is highly recommended. In fact, Strontium can be slightly above natural
seawater (12 ppm) since 1% of its shell is pure Strontium! For food, Derasa Clams
naturally filter organics out of the water, even Ammonia! They are photosynthetic as well,
using light to grow symbiotic algae for additional nutrient. Fortunately, even under lower
light conditions, they'll do well. But it is best to give them at least two full tank
length VHO lamps.
AquaTouch News:
New Products
We have come across a few new items you'll want to check out.
TetraMin Pro is a new brightly colored flake food that really attracts the fish. The
flakes are uniformed in size making them ideal for autofeeders. While mentioning Tetra,
Krill-E users be aware the packaging has changed to a bright pink color, it is still the
same recipe! Clip-on fans are now available to help lower those high temperatures. We now
have two powerful external powerheads. One features dual adjustable direction outputs,
both have minimal heat transfer since the motor is not in the water. They are very quiet
and should prove to be ideal with wavemakers like the new NaturalWave by Aquarium Systems.
Its a wavemaker & powerstrip in one! Stop by and see these new products.
Q: I have a few white spots on one of my fish, what should I do?
A: Most often these seem to appear out of nowhere. They are most likely a parasitic
cyst. It is part of the life or breeding cycle of a parasite. Parasites are ever present
in aquaria as well as within your fish. Typically some form of stress in the fish
community prompts the reproduction of the parasites. During this time of year, a slightly
elevated or fluctuating temperature is just enough stress to cause an outbreak. Other
forms of stress can include; aggression, decreased water quality, insufficient diet, being
"spooked" (children smacking the glass, loud music, turning the lights on in the
dark, etc..). Once the spots appear, observe how they progress. If the outbreak is limited
to one fish with only a couple spots, simply monitor the fish. If it becomes worse,
consult a reference source for treatment. At the same time try to determine why they are
occurring today. Were any new fish added and are they getting along? Test the water
chemistry and make necessary adjustments. Fish have immune systems, just like people.
Maintain them by meeting their nutritional requirements with a variety of vitamin enriched
foods. Ultimately prevention is the key. Try to maintain a constant water temperature by
using a proper sized heater(s) to keep the low temp controlled. Use a fan(s) or a chiller
to control the high temps. Do not overstock the tank and employ some kind of disease
control. The most common is a UV Sterilizer or Ozonizer. They can save the lives of fish
from harmful diseases as a form of prevention. Remember these fish are your pets. By
giving them the best care you can they will reward you with years of enjoyment.
