NEW FISH AND PRODUCTS COMING TO A SHOP NEAR YOU!

WIN
sh c ence
tropical food
worth
£540

Issue 1
HE PEACE!
RESTORE T January '16

How to deal
with a tank bully

TOP CATS

Keep and breed

Sturisoma whiptails
SAFE
SIMPLE AND

Child-friendly

Perfect
fishkeeping
ARE!
BUYER BEW

Choose the fish to suit your water

The marine fish that with our easy to follow guide
poison, sting, slice and bite

PLUS: BUILDING A FISH HOUSE ON A BUDGET OBREED DAISY’S RICEFISH

NEW NEW
Welcome
Learn from
the best

JEREMY GAY is a
former PFK editor and
now Evolution Aqua’s
Business Development
Manager. He has advice
on matching your fish
to your local water on
page 44.

We recently had the pleasure of attending 20 Aquascaping ace Stu

the AQUA 2015 trade show, to see what Worrall‘s latest masterpiece.
fishkeeping goodies are likely to make their
DAVE WOLFENDEN is way into the shops over the next few
curator at the Blue months. As we expected, nano was big (if
Planet Aquarium in
Cheshire Oaks. He that’s not a contradiction in terms), but a
spotlights some few of the tanks on display at this year’s
potentially hazardous show were worryingly minute and surely
marine fish on page 78.
not suitable for anything but shrimp — let’s
hope that they are marketed as such. The
movement from fluorescents into LED lighting continues and the
range of wi-fi controlled gear is expanding apace. You can find a
selection of the products that were unveiled at the show in a special 96 New gear launched at the
report beginning on page 96 of this issue. We hope to be reviewing AQUA 2015 trade show.
some of the new gear over the next few months.
You can also see some of the interesting fish and invertebrates we
discovered on various stands at the show, on pages 18–19. While
NATHAN HILL is an one of these was a definite one-of and will probably have been
aquatic journalist and bought and sold by the time you read this, others will hopefully
PFK’s features editor. He
gets into whiptail catfish begin trickling into retail shops soon.
and ofers some tips We’ve introduced a new section with this issue of PFK, called
on dealing with ‘Improve your Fishkeeping’. Beginning on page 43, you’ll find 22
aquarium bullies.
Pages 8 and 56. pages of advice and great ideas that put the ‘Practical’ into PFK.
Read and enjoy! 38 Big, peaceful, sociable
cichlids — try Uaru!

Get more PFK!

Karen Youngs editor
Like us on Facebook.com

Subscribe to Practical
GEORGE FARMER is a
world-renowned
Fishkeeping now and Follow us @PFKmagazine
*
aquascaper. He visits
Stu Worrall, who is
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www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 5
 96

January
Cover image: Neil Hepworth

ON THE COVER

08 CHIEF WHIP
Keep your eyes peeled and what
08
looks like a branch in a tank
might turn out to be one of the
best catfish you’ll ever see.

44 MEET YOUR MATCH

Matching the fish you FISH
keep to the tapwater
Improve your

KEEPING

in your area will make life much

easier and less stressful for both
you and your fish. Here’s what
to consider.

50
Improve your
KEEP IT SIMPLE, FISH
KEEP IT SAFE KEEPING
How do you combine
young children and aquaria
safely? How to avoid potential
hazards plus some ideas for low
maintenance set-ups.

56
Improve your
STANDING UP FISH
TO THE BULLIES KEEPING
If the peace in your tank
has been shattered, it’s time to
deal with the troublemakers.

66 BUILDING A FISH HOUSE

ON A BUDGET
How one reader bought and
converted a garden shed on an
initial budget of £700.
44
78 BUYER BEWARE
Some marine fish can deliver a
painful sting or bite — or even
poison you or any tank mates. It
pays to know what you’re dealing
with and the precautions to take.

96 COMING SOON, TO A
SHOP NEAR YOU
New products revealed at this
year’s AQUA trade show.

NEWS & REVIEWS

16 FISHKEEPING NEWS
UK Aquascaping Champion,
captive-bred tangs and more.

18 EYE CANDY AT AQUA

New fish and inverts that made
56
an appearance at AQUA 2015.

100 NEW GEAR

The latest fishkeeping products,
tried and tested.

106 SHOPTOUR
We visit shops in Gloucestershire
and Lincolnshire.

6 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 FISHKEEPING KNOW-HOW

20 AQUASCAPING ACE
Stu Worrall is probably the best
20
aquascaper in the UK right now.
We take a close look at his latest
tank and discuss Stu’s passion
for contests.

33 NOT SO HARD!
Once deemed diicult and
expensive, SPS corals are now
well within the scope and budget
of many reefkeepers. Here are
the best choices and some of the
fish to keep with them.

38
Improve your
ROUND NUMBERS FISH
If you love the shape KEEPING
of discus but fancy
keeping something a bit less
33
mainstream, try Uaru. These
peaceful cichlids are ideal for
larger tanks where they can be
kept in groups of six or more.

62 THE ROOT OF
THE MATTER
Choosing the best substrate
for your planted tank can
be a daunting task for those
with less experience.
Here’s how to get the right

92
one to suit your needs.

75 DAISY CHAIN
Small and perfectly formed,
Daisy’s ricefish make a
fascinating breeding project.

92 JET-POWERED KILLER
Looks can be deceiving. If you
think you recognise the fish
featured here, you could be
wrong. Take a moment to meet

78 the Asian banjo...

YOUR FISH AND TANKS

27 TANK COMMUNITY
The place to share your fish,
tanks and experiences. 83
30 ME AND MY TANK
Heather Braine’s fancy
goldfish set-up.

PROBLEMS SOLVED

83 FISHKEEPING ANSWERS
Some of the world’s top experts
answer your questions.

PLUS

72 SUBSCRIBE TO PFK!
Save money when you take
out a subscription to Practical
Fishkeeping magazine.

99 COMPETITION
Over £540 worth of FishScience
foods to be won.
LOOK OUT FOR
OUR NEW
IMPROVE YOUR
FISHKEEPING
114 TAILPIECE
Nathan Hill isn’t a fan of
designer fish...
SECTION — PAGE 43

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
 Chief whip
Keep your eyes peeled and what looks like a branch in
a tank might turn out to be one of the best catfish you’ll
ever see. Join the ranks of the whiptail fans and see what
the fuss is all about.
WORDS: NATHAN HILL

S
ome species lend themselves was already out of my league. For one with dentition and squat, ‘uncatfishy’
more generously to a Fish of the thing, I wouldn’t know where to start whiskers? With so many variables, it
Month feature. If I’m looking at — there are just so many. Do I dive in with almost came down to sticking a pin in a list
something vague, like the African Loricaria, Pseudoloricaria, of names.
barbs I wrote about last month, then I can Planiloricaria, Rineloricaria, Eventually I plumped to cover the most
go all out and feature what little Spatuloricaria, or another of the 33 majestic of all. Partly because I feel they’re
information can be found on the many different genera that all rally together so under-represented in the hobby —
different species. The more the under the ‘whiptail’ flag? Which tribe do contemporary fishkeepers prefer the
merrier, and every extra word I can get I choose? The Loricariini, with their shock-and-awe markings (and price tags)
down is a bonus. substrate-dwelling lives, assorted tooth of the likes of Hypancistrus zebra these
Whiptails are too large a category to play shapes and long barbels, or perhaps the days. Some whiptails were once the stars
that game. As soon as I proposed an Harttiini, with their rock-and-wood of the cat(fish) walk too. In their heyday,
T

overview of all ‘whiptails’ as a collective, I clinging existences, mouths brimming during that medieval hobby period of the

8 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Fish of the month

WHERE ARE
THEY FROM?
Venezuela

Guyana
Panama

Brazil
Colombia

Bolivia

Argentina

Sturisoma are found

in pockets all across
South America.

● You’ll come across Sturisoma in Bolivia,

Colombia, Argentina, Guyana, Ecuador,
Brazil and Venezuela. They’re even
further north than most, with S.
panamense found in — you guessed
it — Panama!
These cats are the
monarchs of the
suckermouth world.

1980s, Sturisoma were considered among

the pinnacles of aquatic aspirations.
I’m also covering them because they’re
available. Admittedly, some of the more
obscure cats are making a glacially slow
appearance in stores, but you’re still likelier
to meet the regal form of a Royal whiptail on
a casual day out.
So I’d like to introduce you to — or refresh
your memories of — the delightful
Sturisoma cats of South America. We used
to get extremely hot under the collar over
these fish. I’d like to think we will again, too.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 9
 Sturisoma
nigrirostrum.
AQUARIUMPHOTO.DK
AQUARIUMPHOTO.DK

Sturisoma
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

barbatum.

Sturisoma are elongate

— even elven — in These whiptails fare best
appearance. in uncluttered set-ups.

The prince of cats

To me, Sturisoma will always be the
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

monarchs of the suckermouth world, and

I’ve no shame in saying that. Whereas your
typical ‘plec’ will be a squat, thickset ogre of
a thing, a muscular bulldozer with no regard
for a tank’s layout, the Sturisoma are
elongate and elven, and much more civil. In
fact, where many loricariids have all the
hydrodynamics of a brick with fins attached,
the Royal whips have a distinctly ‘arrow’
appearance. Even their scientific name is a
That body shape is
tip of the hat to another stately fish.
designed for minimal drag
Sturisoma is part derived from Sturgeon,
in the fast flowing waters
and look at the heads of both side by side
these cats inhabit.
and you’ll see why.
Sturisoma come straight out of a sci-fi
novel. With curious eyes — the curved,
U-shaped ‘omega iris’ is a prominent feature
— and hardcore body camouflage, it’s just as
likely that they were left here by extra-
terrestrial visitors as evolved in the wild.
The body shape has a purpose, and it’s one
of minimal drag. Depending on the exact
species, of which the genus Sturisoma
contains 15 (with more potentially
undescribed), they may live in fast flowing
(or at the very least open) waters. Powerful
currents are often and usually associated
ALAMY

with them, and in the wild they’ll be found

10 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Fish of the month

Sturisoma come straight out of a sci-fi

novel. With curious eyes…and hardcore
body camouflage, it’s just as likely that
they were left here by extra-terrestrial
visitors as that they evolved in the wild.

clinging on to rocks or fallen wood with pictures of the plate-like scutes on the fish’s with their tendency to obscure the passage of
their adhesive mouths, hanging on and underside, or describe the bristly cheeks at light, are inhospitable places for plants or
watching the world race by in high speed. length. Even then, it may still be guesswork. algae to grow, and as food sources these are
This is a crucial difference between But identification will help if biotopes are not reliable. Aufwuchs it is, then.
Sturisoma and ‘digging’ whiptails like to be correctly set. Sturisoma nigrirostrum, In the aquarium, though, plants and
Planiloricaria. While the latter will make a for example, comes from black and slightly vegetable matter are relished as aufwuchs
beeline for the base of any habitat, acidic (pH 5.8–7.0) waters, absent of any substitutes. They may not encounter much
wrapping themselves in a snug blanket of plants aside the dense Eichhornia and greenery in the wild, but it soon becomes a
mud, the civilised Sturisoma prefer the life Pistia growth that froths and churns at firm favourite in the domestic setting.
of an underwater monkey, swinging from the riverbanks. Imagine how a dog is with sausages and
submerged branches. Most other species harken from white that’s pretty much how these fish are with a
Unfortunately, in the home tank the long waters, where the pH sits a little higher at a slice of courgette or a prized Hygrophila.
body of a whiptail can be a burden that stable 7.0, where plants both submerged and It’s essential to have this plant-eating
snags and catches on decor or even floating have long been washed away. aspect in mind, especially if you’ve kept
excessive planting. One of the greater Loricariini whiptails before — while
failings of Sturisoma care comes from Feeding your whiptails the Loricariini cats will devour the likes of
keeping them in cluttered homes. Though Wood forms a daily part of Sturisoma life. worms and crustaceans, such food is
I’m not usually one to advocate minimalist Though not obligate lignivores (wood eaters) unpalatable for veggie Sturisoma. Be careful
tanks, with these fish it might be required. like some other popular catfish, they are still what you offer them. Lettuce will lead to
A lesser failing involves identifying your known to ingest a small amount from their slow starvation, and richer leaves like Kale
species, and setting up the right home for it. pernicious rasping, and this then becomes an and Dandelion are better choices. Dried
Different Sturisoma look superficially alike, aid to digestion. algae wafers and tablets are hit and miss, so
in both body shape and markings, and it can It’s not the wood that the whiptails feed on. find one that works for you.
take a trained eye to tell them apart — Their prime interest is the nutritious Soft leafed growth stands little chance
especially juveniles that are near impossible ‘aufwuchs’ — the rich cornucopia of tiny against their grazing mouths, and even old
to distinguish. Never be shy to ask a second, organisms that live on the surface or favourites like waxy Anubias species will
third or fourth opinion on a fish if you’re decaying matter, or within algae. As they eventually concede as relentless rasping gets
unsure. When you do ask, expect to hear a scrape away with their fleet of spoon-shaped the better of them. Keep them well fed
lot of ‘well I’m not 100%, but it looks a lot teeth, they ingest the tiny edible beasts that enough and you might, just might avoid
like...’ You’ll possibly be asked to provide reside within. After all, white water habitats, aquarium wide herbicide.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 11
Aquarium care
As aquarium residents go, Sturisoma
aren’t entirely diicult to keep, albeit
trickier than their Loricariini cousins.
Provided that water quality is sublime,
with only fringe levels of nitrate and zero
ammonia or nitrite, then there’s little to go
wrong. Oxygen levels need to be high, and
with rare exceptions, most will be okay
somewhere in the neutral pH region, with
the higher hardness levels associated with
white waters. I’ve heard of keepers
housing them in tanks with hardness of
25°H, with no ill efects.
There are many reports of aquarists
struggling when they try to house
Sturisoma in excessively soft, acidic tanks
— with a few exceptions. As mentioned
already, identifying exactly which species
you have, and knowing its requirements, is
key. The general rule, though, is that the
kind of tank favoured by hyper-acidophile
tetras or cichlids is not the right place for a
whiptail. Besides which, many such fish
won’t take to the gusty conditions adored
by the rheophilic whips.
Tank size is a big factor. Whiptails are
long fish, if not portly, with most hovering
around the 25cm/10in mark at adult size.
Even the smallest, the barely seen S.
tenuirostre, tips the ruler at almost
13cm/5.2in, and that’s before the long tail
filaments are taken in to account.
Assuming you’ve got a fish in pristine
condition, then the tail filaments can
easily be the length of the body again, and
if you want to keep them that way then
you’d best provide space.
A 120cm/4ft tank can be used for fish up
to around the 20cm/8in mark, but once
they get over this then consider upping to
180cm/6ft if you want to achieve full A spawning pair of
growth. They’re not fast to gain mass, so Sturisoma. Note the
you have a few years’ breathing space bushy cheek growths of
before a scale-up becomes essential. the male (top).
ALAMY

If you’re the kind of aquarist who thinks

that torrential flows are the domain of
reefkeeping alone, then think again. To do
The eggs are usually laid
this properly, you’ll want at least a couple
on the aquarium glass,
of Koralia style flow pumps, and powerful
making it easy to watch
ones at that. Try to arrange a constant flow
the development of the fry
from one end of the tank to the other,
inside them.
rather than a bufering, back-and-forth
motion. If the urge to add a powerhead
with a bubble-churning Venturi takes you,
then go right ahead. Remember, high
oxygen is a virtue for whiptails. Explore,
you’ll soon see what your own fish prefer.
Toss a little sand or gravel on the base —
they’re unfussy — and you’re pretty much
there. Lights set high or low is a personal
preference thing. I assure you, they’ll not
be particularly active either way.
The Royal babies
A wonderful aspect of whiptails is that
they can be bred in the home. During
spawning and the protection of their
young, you might even witness the first
flush of anger from them, as they
passively defend their eggs and young
from prying mouths.
ALAMY

Sexing is simple, assuming the adults are

12 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Fish of the month
Only the male carries Youngsters will begin
out egg and fry foraging for food as soon as
guarding duties. their yolk sacs have gone.
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

sexually mature. Male Sturisoma are How to tell the big three apart
aquarium hipsters, sporting bushy If you see Sturisoma in stores, they’ll likely
odontode ‘beards’ around their mouths and be advertised as S. aureum, S. festivum or S.
cheeks. Avoid netting them once odontodes panamense. The chances are, they’ll be S.
are present, if you value your sanity. The aureum, and here’s how to tell.
beards aren’t foolproof as identifiers, as a S. festivum, which comes from the
male might lose them between spawns, but Maracaibo basin, is pretty much non-
they are a strong visual sign. extant. It’s as rare in aquaria as hens’ teeth.
You might need to buy carefully if you S. panamense is pretty much as rare.
want a pair. It could be the case that more They’re in circulation, but amongst closed
males are imported than females, or it ranks of aquarists. In most cases, if the shop
might be that the boys outnumber the girls is advertising this or the above fish, then it
in the wild, but there are more guys than probably isn’t.
gals in circulation. Look at the fins to tell them apart. You’ll
Flow seems beneficial for spawning, but need mature fish for the diferences to be
far from essential. I’ve occasionally spotted obvious, but obvious they are:
them spawning in retailer display tanks, S. aureum has a slight curve at the top of
alongside a few perturbed looking tetra and the dorsal fin. All Sturisoma have a
a confused looking Ram or two. The newly hatched fry heteroceral tail, where the top lobe is longer
It’s worth removing other catfish from the are very well developed. than the lower, with a long filament, and this
ALAMY

tank, especially suckermouths and is no good as an identifier. Look also to the

Corydoras, which can quaf down any eggs pectoral fins (from above) and you’ll see that
that they find. The fry hatch looking remarkably S. aureum has a slightly curved spine.
Simply put, when they’re ready, they’ll well developed, with colours, whiskered along the fin.
spawn. They like to spawn high in the water, mouths and a yolk sac. Once the sac has S. festivum is much more obvious. The
usually a few inches from the surface and gone after three days or so, they’ll start dorsal fin, which tapers to a sharp ‘hook’ at
overwhelmingly on the glass. I’ve seen some foraging, and you’ll note them spending the tip, has a slight filament extending from
inspired devices to protect the eggs at this their time where flow is higher. it. Looking at the pectoral fins will also
stage. Get a plastic grid of some kind, At this point, it’s handy to have a heap of reveal filaments at the ends, along with a
put a sucker on each corner so it can be algae infested aquarium plants on standby. straight pectoral spine.
placed about 1.5-2cm from the glass, and Get a spare tank if you have to, with a S. panamense has a dorsal that is longer,
stick it over the area. The male should still powerful lamp, and get pots of cheap plants tapers to a narrow point and has no
be able to reach the eggs, so adjust distance into it. Then rotate clean plants with dirty extension. The pectoral fins are also longer
as needed. ones every few days, and your juveniles will than the other two species, with a straight
By now the female will be absolutely have a constant source of scof. dorsal spine but no filament.
disinterested and will clear of, leaving the Then brace yourself. Once they get into But here’s a thing. Where many of the fish
male to divide his time between feeding the swing, Sturisoma may breed frequently. coming into the UK used to be wild and
himself and fanning the eggs. A couple of weeks between spawns is ‘pure’ in species, Sturisoma are increasingly
At 25°C/77°F, the eggs will take seven days normal, and given that you’ve got 40–100+ commercially bred, and that means the
to hatch, and being against the glass they’ll eggs every time, you could find you’ll age-old demon of hybridisation is present.
be easy enough to observe in their eventually need to separate the parents for Simply put, if you’ve a fish that looks like an
developmental stages. a breather. assorted whiptail hybrid, then it probably is.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 13
Fish of the month

3 of the classic whips Giant whiptail

A confusing name, as it’s not the
biggest species at all, but it is
common, it’s a nightmare to identify
properly, and the chances are it’ll be
marked under the wrong name.

● Scientific name: Sturisoma aureum

(Stir-iss-oh-ma or-ee-um).
● Origin: Rio Magdalena, Colombia.
● Size: Often only reaches 15cm/6in
in aquaria.
● Tank size: 100 x 30cm/40 x 12in
footprint is fine.
● Water requirements: Tolerates pH
6.0–8.0, ideally neutral. Hardness
below 20°H.
● Temperature: 24–29°C/75–84°F.
AQUARIUMPHOTO.DK

● Feeding: Rich green foods, tablets,

wafers.
● Availability and cost: Seasonally
available, from around £7.50.

Longnose whiptail
The clue’s in the name. It’s a beaky fish
with an adorable snout, and well worth
snapping up when you see it. Check these
fish are well settled before buying, because
they’ll be wild caught. Prefers cooler water.

● Scientific name: Sturisoma barbatum

(Stir-iss-oh-ma bar-bay-tum).
● Origin: Rio Cuiaba, Brazil. Also
Paraguay.
● Size: To 27.5cm/11in.
● Tank size: 180 x 60cm/72 x 24in if you
want to see it at its best.
● Water requirements: Slightly acidic to
neutral pH 6.4–7.4, hardness below
16°H.
AQUARIUMPHOTO.DK

● Temperature: 20–22°C/68–72°F.
● Feeding: Lots of leafy fare, feed heavily
and ensure they’re retaining weight.
● Availability and cost: Rarely seen,
prices variable.

Royal whiptail
This is where the magic happens. If you
don’t love this classic shape and subtle
colours, then you’re living a hollow life.
Find one, buy it, love it.

● Scientific name: Sturisoma

panamense (Stir-iss-oh-ma
pa-na-men-ss).
● Origin: Panama.
● Size: To 20cm/8in.
● Tank size: 120 x 45cm/48 x 18in
footprint is ideal.
OLIVER LUCANUS, BELOWWATER.COM

● Water requirements: Close to neutral,

pH 6.8–7.2, hardness below 20°H.
● Temperature: 20–29°C/68–84°F, best
somewhere around 25–26°C/77–79°F.
● Feeding: Ravenous, ofer plenty of
plants and fresh, rich veg.
● Availability and cost: Rarely available,
from £15 each.

14 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 FISHKEEPING NEWS
Latest news and events from the world of aquatics.
NEWS
AQUASCAPING

First ever UK Aquascaping

Champion crowned!
J&K AQUATICS

J&K AQUATICS

L-R: Manuel, Stephen, Paul James (MD of

Antoni’s winning ’scape. J&K),and champion Antoni.

The final of the first UK Aquascaping and went on to produce the winning ’scape in James (J&K Aquatics), Chris Lukhaup
Championship took place on the J&K the final. (Dennerle GmBH), Stefan Hummel
Aquatics stand at the recent AQUA trade The competition was sponsored by (Dennerle GmBH), Serkan Cetinkol and
show in Telford by way of a live ‘scape of. Dennerle, Arcadia, Tetra, Eheim and J&K Alastair Treymaine.
Antoni Dimitrov was crowned the first ever Aquatics. In the first round, Antoni won £500 All three finalists got to keep their creations
UK Aquascaping Champion. cash, an Arcadia OTL LED, Eheim Ecco Pro 3 including the 50 l/11 gal Dennerle ‘Scapers
The finalists who were the top three ’scapers 2075 and Tetra goodies, trophy and certificate. tank and Antoni also won a £150 cash prize.
from round one — Antoni Dimitrov, Stephen Stephen Rhodes came second to win £350,
Rhodes and Manuel Arias — ’scaped from Arcadia OTL LED, Eheim Ecco Pro 300 and Want to enter next year’s contest?
10am–5pm during the first day of AQUA. Tetra goodies and certificate and Manuel The UK Aquascaping Championship will take
Spectators were able to vote for the best ’scape Arias came third to win £200, an Eheim Ecco place during autumn next year and entries will
in the ballot boxes below the tanks. Antoni had Pro 200, Tetra goodies and a certificate. open on February 1, 2016. For further details,
already scooped first place in the first round The round one ’scapes were judged by Paul visit www.ukasc.co.uk

ING
CAPTIVE BREED SHOP NEWS
Captive-bred Yellow tangs move one step closer Aquajardin opens
It’s one of the most popular marine fish in new Hampshire store
the hobby, but the Yellow tang has so far Aquajardin has opened a new
evaded attempts to breed it successfully in aquatic store in Titchfield,
captivity. Now researchers at Hawaii Pacific ofering a wide range of tropical,
University’s Oceanic Institute may have coldwater and marine fish, as well
cracked it. as reptiles and amphibians. Covering
AQUAJARDIN

The research at HPU has been ongoing for everything from high tech reef systems,
more than a decade but very few of the fish advanced planted aquariums and nano
hatched from the tens of thousands of eggs set-ups, there should be plenty for all
SHUTTERSTOCK

have made it past the 50-day stage. The fishkeepers at all levels.
problem seemed to lie in getting the Could we soon be This, the fourth in the award-winning
buying captive bred tangs?
balance of food and water right for the Aquajardin chain, will be its second on the
developing fish. south coast, along with the well established
But now the team of scientists working on make this commercially feasible,” Chatham site in Southampton, which has recently
the FinFish Program at HPU’s Oceanic Callan, director of the FinFish program and expanded its marine systems and added a
Institute have succeeded in raising a group leader of the Yellow tang breeding project dedicated discus system along with specialist
of Yellow tangs past the critical larval stage. said. “The important thing is that, with reptile section.
“While this is now shown to be technically continued support, we believe it is possible O Aquajardin Fareham is at Garsons Garden
possible, we still have a lot of work ahead to to achieve this.” Centre, Fontely Road, Titchfield, Fareham
PO15 6QX. Tel. 01329 846500.

16 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 SPECIAL REPORT

50 years of the British Killifish Association

The British Killifish Association celebrated its
half century over the weekend of October
9–11, 2015 at the Mercure Hotel, Wetherby,
West Yorkshire.
PFK had the pleasure of attending this
special anniversary convention, which had a
very welcoming and friendly family
atmosphere. We spoke to members who had
travelled to the event from as far as Plymouth
in Devon — and one who had even flown over
from Brazil!
The British Killifish Association was
founded back in 1965 by a small, dedicated
group of enthusiasts (some of these are still
members today), and is now one of the
largest and foremost killifish organisations Best in Show: Nothobranchius
in Europe.
K. A. WEBB

kadleci Nhamatanda by
Events included a killifish show, which was D. Wolfram from Germany.
incredibly well organised. The show fish were
housed in a separate room, which was open to
viewing for most of the weekend — and there There was a fish auction on both days, with the
were some real delights to be seen. Sunday auction being especially keenly
Prizes were awarded to the winners on the anticipated, as it followed on from the prize
Sunday by the BKA’s oldest member, presentations and featured the killies that had
99-year-old Jessie Cox. Jessie was still been entered into the show. Bidding was brisk
keeping fish right up until last year, which at and some of the fish were sold for high prices
the time probably made her the oldest killifish — two of the breeders’ teams — Epiplatys
keeper in the UK — maybe even the oldest zenkeri Bidou and Laimosemion xiphidius
fishkeeper. (If anyone out there knows — both made £110.
diferently, please get in touch, as we’d love to Sponsors of the convention included JBL,
BKA’s oldest member,
hear from you). Maidenhead Aquatics, Fish Science and Mars 99-year-old Jessie Cox,
Best in Show was a Nothobranchius kadleci Fishcare and the BKA would like to thank them
K. A. WEBB

presents Jim Warner with his

Nhamatanda (also the winner of the for their support. award for Best British entry.
Nothobranchius class) by D. Wolfram All in all, this was a very enjoyable, fun
from Germany. weekend — if you want to join a fishkeeping
The award for Best British Entry went to association then the BKA comes highly
Jim Warner of the BKA for his Aphanius recommended. The fish are rather lovely, too!
vladykovi Boldaji. Next year’s BKA convention takes place over
Other events included a killifish Q&A the weekend of October 6–7, 2016.
session hosted by the BKA’s Vice Chairman The BKA attends and organises a range of
Steve Davidson, plus two excellent lectures yearly events ranging from table shows,
— the first on the Saturday by Wim Suijker on auctions and charity events culminating with its
his collecting trip to Guyana and French three-day convention.
Guyana, and another on the Sunday by Heinz There are also various regional groups, which
Ott on the genus Epiplatys. can be of help to you and are an excellent source
The Saturday evening featured the of stock. There may even be a group near you.
K. A. WEBB

convention dinner, complete with a 50th For further details about the BKA, visit Aphyosemion congicum.
anniversary cake. www.bka.webeden.co.uk
JIM WARNER

Fundulopanchax gardneri Jim Warner’s winning

K. A. WEBB

nigerianus, breeders’ team. Aphanius vladykovi Boldaji.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 17
 T
SPECIAL REPOR
Shrimp show no sign of Neocaridina davidi
decreasing in popularity, Green jade shrimp.
and Sharnbrook has some
of the UK’s finest.

Turn to
page 96

Eye candy at AQUA for a report on

some of the
new products
launched at
AQUA 2015

Nathan Hill highlights some of

the fish and inverts that made an
appearance at the AQUA show.
Long story short, I saw embarrassingly little at the first in the country and certainly the first just wait until they get sexually mature and
the AQUA trade show in Telford this year. Poor I’ve witnessed (UK keepers may like to correct frisky. Just wow...
show on my part, what with my being an me with images of theirs if I’m wrong here). One that surprised me (because it should
aquatic journalist, but it wasn’t so much from The fish is a one-of, so there won’t be a deluge have been obvious) was the albino Cherry
choice. I got grabbed from the moment I of them anytime soon, but as an oddity, this barb, Puntius titteya. I’ve heard of them on
landed and from there I struggled to reclaim could be something of a holy grail fish for the many occasions, but meekly confess to not
enough time to do the event justice. curiosity collector. seeing them before. Albinos aren’t normally
However, I did mange to wriggle free long Unsurprisingly, African river fish made a something I go in for (aside Reedfish, that is)
enough to catch up with two very friendly good presence, and I was taken with the first but these had a certain... je ne sais quoi.
faces. The first, an old friend and colleague Teleogramma brichardi I’ve seen in a while. After peeling myself from the Neil Hardy
Jason Rainbow, now the brand manager for Peeking out from behind rocks, these will make stand, I worked my way to another friendly
Neil Hardy Aquatica. Though the company a great biotope project for those wanting to face, this time Lucas Witte-Vermeulen from
doesn’t deal directly with the public, seeing put together a fast-flowing Congolese biotope. Sharnbrook Shrimp. The spread of colour he
what it had at the show gave a good hint at They were as shy as they were adorable, and if put on was a sight that words cannot justify.
what we can expect to see in stores in the interested I’d suggest keeping a very vigilant Just know that shrimps have moved like an
immediate future. eye — when they hit stores there’ll be an eager exodus from the earlier days of Cherry and
The first thing I laid eyes upon was a cichlid audience ready to gobble them up. basic Bee types. Blues, greens and yellows are
magnificent golden cable of a thing, worming A fresh batch of Alestopetersius was on show the new reds, as it looks like Lucas is a
its way around its tank. This was an albino too, continuing the African theme, and though moment way from inventing a whole new
Reedfish, Erpetoichthys calabaricus – possibly they might look a little silvery at this stage, colour that none of us have ever seen before.

Albino Cherry barb — a

fish we hadn’t actually
seen ‘on the fin’ before.

This Alestopetersius was gracing

the Neil Hardy Aquatica stand.

18 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 19
Aquascaping
right now. We take a close look at his latest tank and
discuss Stu’s passion for contests.
WORDS AND PHOTOS: GEORGE FARMER

20 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Reader visit

MEET THE
AQUARIST
● Name: Stu
Worrall.
● Age: 40.
● Occupation:
Wedding
photographer
and IT engineer.
● Time in hobby:
Ten years.
● First fish kept:
Guppy.
● First fish bred: Cherry barb.
● Favourite fish: Galaxy rasbora.
● Favourite plant: Gratiola viscidula.
● Top tip: Get good hardscape!

A
sk any aquascaping enthusiast
if they’ve heard of Stu Worrall
and the answer will almost
certainly be a resounding,
“yes”. I’ve followed Stu’s work since
2008, as an active member of The UK
Aquatic Plant Society (UKAPS) who
inspires many with his enviable skills as
a photographer and prolific aquascaper.
He is arguably the best aquascaper in the
UK and has ranked consistently well in
the International Aquatic Plant Layout
Contest (IAPLC), the world’s biggest
aquascaping contest.
In 2006 Stu bought his first tank, a
Juwel Rio 125 that he planted and kept
using the Sera product line. Shortly after
his local retailer, Alison’s Aquarium,
closed down The Green Machine in
Wrexham opened up and Stu was made
aware of UKAPS. Stu told me this really
ignited his interest in planted tanks and
aquascaping and he has quickly become
a very well-known aquascaping figure
across the globe. Stu is also a keen bonsai
tree enthusiast, which is a hobby that
goes well with aquascaping, as Stu
explained he loves to connect with
nature by miniaturising it. This style is
apparent in Stu’s recent work where he

ace
avoids the overly contrived diorama-
type aquascapes that mimic a landscape
with the use of underwater ‘trees’ —
instead, Stu relies on great hardscape
selection and positioning in combination
with amazing plant health.
With recent trends in aquascaping
relying on dominant hardscape and less
focus on the plants and fish I find Stu’s
style refreshingly beautiful. One thing
that really stood out for me was the
quality of his stem plants. Stu put this
down to the high quality Tropica plants
to start with, using 50% tissue-cultured
and 50% potted. This, followed by
regular trimming and a combination of
good light, appropriate nutrients and

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 21
 Stu prefers the more natural efect
to the dioramas that are so popular
with many of today’s top ’scapers.

maintenance technique just shows what

The quality of the
can be achieved. I also believe that Stu’s
plants is amazing.
very soft water does help. CO2 injection
levels can be lower in softer water and
Stu only runs two bubbles per second,
which is regarded as relatively low in a
240 l/50 gal aquarium. Stu also runs the
CO2 24/7 as he believes that helps to
prevent algae because the CO2 level is so
consistent when compared to a solenoid
set-up.
The tank in this feature is Stu’s latest
aquascape that he entered into the
IAPLC this year. Ranking a very highly
respectable 54th (out of over 2,000), I
also consider it Stu’s best aquascape to
date. I took the photos a month or so after
Stu took his own final photos to send into
the contest. The IAPLC rules prohibit
anyone making public their entry photos

22 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Reader visit

Stu’s set-up takes Stu’s aquascape

around two hours a ● Aquarium: Braceless, rimless, 120 x
week to keep in shape.
45 x 45cm/48 x 18 x 18in, 12mm
opti-white glass.
● Cabinet: Custom-built.
● Lighting: 2 x Kessil A360W Tuna Sun
LED, eight hour photoperiod.
● Filtration: Eheim Experience 350
external filter, Eheim surface skimmer.
● Substrate: 4.5 x 9 l Tropica Soil.
● Fertilisers: Tropica Premium and
Specialised dosed on alternate days,
15 pumps per day.
● CO2: 3Kg pressurised system with
Tropica difuser run 24/7 at two
bubbles per second.
● Maintenance: Two hours per week
(usually a Sunday).

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 23
Reader visit

Stu’s IAPLC
rankings
2010-2015
2010: 544th
2011: 557th
2012: 114th
2013: 82nd
2014: 282nd
2015: 54th

Stu says that aquascaping

contests give him
something to focus on with
a deadline to meet.

and the copyright belongs to the contest.

I asked about Stu’s motivation behind Stu enjoys recreating
aquascaping and entering contests is a nature in miniature.
very big part of that. He explained that he
gives him something definite to focus on.
There’s a deadline to work to and the
process is something Stu loves, from
planning the hardscape (of which he has
mountains!) through to the final
photography. As a professional wedding
photographer Stu has some of the best
high-end DSLR kit and he certainly
knows how to use it!
Because Stu only runs one tank for a
contest he can give it his full attention
without the distraction of running
multiple aquascapes.
His ambition is to get into the Top 27 in
the IAPLC competition and I believe it’s
only a matter of time. His skill levels
are increasing all the time and I can
only look forward to seeing what he
creates next!

The shoal of Black

neons adds movement
and interest.

24 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
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TANKCOMMUNITY
The place to share your fish, tanks, letters and photos
Are fishkeeping clubs a dying breed?
Here in the North East of

FORUM
Find the popular fishkeeping
England we now only have
seven fishkeeping clubs/
societies, five holding auctions
+
STAR
forum at http://forum.practical and only three holding Open letter
fishkeeping.co.uk. Shows. The North East Goldfsh
Society (NEGS) holds a
Suckered into goldfish only show and
Sucking loaches? rounding of the year is the
Vhannaford TTAA Open Show & Three
I recently bought two Rivers Championship (Tyne
Chinese sucking loaches. I Tees Area Association).
was told they were good for Compare this to 30 years ago,
algae control. I did some you could attend a show or an Club auctions are a great
DR DAVID FORD place to pick up bargains
research before introducing auction every other weekend,
them to a ‘happy’ tank, and you can clearly see the decline and unusual fish.
to my horror found out they in these events.
were OK for about six With today’s shoppers
months but when full grown becoming more savvy and much younger and we need to numbers but not exhibit entries.
they could turn on slower using the internet to look for encourage these young people to What can be done to support
fish. I’ve now returned them. bargains, even turning to social keep the hobby thriving. With the these local clubs up and down
Was it the right decision? media sites like Facebook, economy in the state it is, no the country? How can we
when the real fishkeeping wonder companies can no longer attract new members to join the
pterygo bargains are at local auctions, support these events like they clubs? Many more questions
plichthys you would think these auctions used to. The sponsorship is could be asked and no doubt
They’re unsuited to peaceful would be filled, but getting harder to come by these many more will.
communities or tanks under unfortunately not. Locally bred days, more and more clubs are I would personally like to see
120cm/4ft long and 250 l/55 fish, in local water conditions having to buy their own prizes to the local fish shows and
gal. Tank mates for them can only be better than some hand out to exhibitors, doing this auctions get back to how they
are limited. fish that have flown half way is then having a negative efect on used to be many years ago and
round the world, and also these club funds and therefore some also seeing the local clubs
plastic breeders are breeding fish you clubs can no longer aford to put thrive with new members.
fantastic wouldn’t find in your standard on events. If anyone would like
Horrors they are; I’ve seen LFS. Luckily one of the North Recently a new society has been information on local clubs in
them chase and attach to East events this year attracted a formed in our region, North East the North East they can contact
fancy goldfish. Not nice. small number of breeders from Tropical Society (NETS), and me at netsaquatic@outlook.
Scotland and Yorkshire, who these guys are trying new things com and I will gladly give out as
scootamum brought some very special fish to attract more people to the much information as possible.
You made the right to the auction. The local clubs auctions and encouraging For societies outside of this
decision. I had one a few and auctions are also a great hobbyists to try their hand at region, you can contact the
years back — it terrorised outlet for local fish shops, showing fish. Along with other FBAS (Federation of British
every fish in my tank. I gave if they could get involved clubs in the region they have tried Aquatic Societies) via its
it to my LFS for rehoming. more, this could also help a special class just for first time website at www.fbas.co.uk for
their business. exhibitors, which this year has more information.
M Raw The fishkeeper of today is shown improvement on exhibitor Anthony King, email
They were popular
ages ago when they were
regarded as the be all and Win FishScience aquarium food
end all of clean-up crew, but The writer of each star letter will win a 250ml pot of their choice
did very little cleaning and
from this quality range of food, which uses natural ingredients.
became a nuisance as they
grew. Take a look at the Email: editorial@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
Siamese algae eater as an
alternative, they are great
algae eaters (when young)
don’t get as big, are quite
sociable in a group, and a
much more attractive fish.
JOINTHEPFKCOMMUNITY
There are five different ways to get in touch with Practical Fishkeeping: Tweet, like us on Facebook, drop us an
Vhannaford email, join the forum or simply send a good old-fashioned letter:
Thanks. I’ll be more
careful in future. There ought
 editorial@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk facebook.com. Search Practical Fishkeeping

to be a warning on them.
twitter.com/PFKmagazine  http://forum.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk

Practical Fishkeeping, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA ❯

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 27
 TANKCOMMUNITY
FROM
FACEBOOK
Responses to our
question ‘What’s your OJungle
favourite brand of fish doesn’t
food — and why?’ need to be
massive!
Martyn Reid
(forum name
‘Drammy’), has
created this
small but lush
aquascape he
calls ‘Kei Stones’..
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

Simon Agnew: Fluval. OBearded beauty

Because it lists exactly what The Hairy puferfish, Tetraodon baileyi ,
goes into it, not derivatives of certainly lives up to its hirsute common name
fish and added colourants. My as shown in this photo by Anna Pelham (forum
fish do really well on it. name ‘anna’).
Brillant colours etc.
Darren Hull: Tetra Prima
(mainly for my discus ) stays
solid and you can crumble it
up for the smaller fish too.
Jume Molloy: Tetra Pro
Colour is my favourite. My
fish wolf it down, and their
colours are very vibrant when
using it.
Chris Goddard: New Era and
Hikari. I havent bought ORed and yellow and pink
another brand since I’ve used and green…
those two. ( Marine and Discus come in a rainbow of colours, often far removed
tropical ). from their wild ancestors as shown in the colourful
Lee Smithurst: I once bought photo by Alex Dokter (forum name ‘dok’).
a bulk amount of Hikari flake
that was on ofer. My fish
loved it, their colours became
super vibrant, and babies
grew like they were on
Lucky loach Hillstream loach,
Sewellia lineolata.
steroids. Unfortunately, the My Hillstream loaches
flake is no longer available,but considered under the internal
I still stick with Hikari Micro filter as home, despite the wood
Pellets, and have great results. and rocks I had provided. I was
Alex Carslaw: CE Fish never sure quite how many I
Essentials. had as although I only ever
Bradley E. Moore: I really managed to count five at any
like the Brine Shrimp one time they had obviously
Direction - Mysis Diet flake. bred due to the diferent sized
Suchong Yen: Elive and San fish I had seen.
Fransisco frozen foods. I recently upgraded my tank, loach by the filter housing, I had come up to room temperature
Jason Burk: Dennerle, but I didn't realise that it would even run a ruler under the filter before acclimatising it as you
because it’s amazing, basically. take me over four hours to before putting the tank outside. would a new fish releasing it
Nathan John Williamson: ensure I had caught what I I scooped the loach into the jam into the new tank where it
I’m a JBL loyalist. But love thought was all of the fish. The jar I had used the previous day swam of and is still alive several
Tetra Pro Colour and NewEra new tank was sited on the same to catch them in. It just floated weeks later.
pellets and Dutch Select piece of furniture as the old tank motionless, and I figured it When cleaning the old tank
frozen food so this was put outside (it still would not have survived the low out I found that the filter
Alex Fleming: New Life had a small amount of water and temperature, but when I housing has a hole in the bottom
Spectrum, JBL and Omega sand in) until I had time to clean examined it a bit more closely of it which the loach had hidden
One. it fully the following day. there was a slight flicker of inside, which is why I had
Wil Tyler: Homemade. The temperature that night movement on the underside — it missed it. I still find it incredible
Hev Gardner: Tetra Pro dropped to 6°C/42°F and on was still alive. that it survived such a drop in
Colour. Makes my T. espei,H. looking at the old tank the I put more water in the jar temperature.
amandae and P. pentazonas following morning there was from the old tank and brought it Christina Bedford,
colours soooo rich. one motionless Hillstream into the house and let it slowly email

28 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Don’t keep goldfish in these tanks!
Having been browsing online marketplaces for a
new tank for my goldfish I stumbled upon sellers CONTACT US
Address Practical Fishkeeping,
that sold nano tanks as small as 3.6 l. Bauer Media, Media House,
What shocked me was that in the item Lynchwood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA
Email: k.youngs@bauermedia.co.uk
description they included photos of the tank
If you or someone you know
stocked with two goldfish. The aquarium does not are aged between 16 and
24 and are interested in
include a filter and does not include live plants. work experience
Having looked further I realised that it seems to be opportunities at Practical Fishkeeping
go to www.gothinkbig.co.uk
common practice to advertise nano tanks (under 5
EDITORIAL Phone 01733 468000
l) with goldfish. Editor Karen Youngs
While I know that the buyer should be Features Editor Nathan Hill

SHUTTERSTOCK
Art Editor Mark Cureton
responsible enough to educate themselves about Editorial Assistant Nicki Manning
the needs of their pet fish I am well aware that ADVERTISING Phone 01733 468000
many people (sadly) don’t do so. Email catherine.gray@bauermedia.co.uk
To many beginners these stock photos give the Group Commercial Director Iain Grundy
Key Accounts Catherine Gray
impression that it is fine to keep goldfish in a tank Display Advertising Executive
that small. Nathan Hill replies: How I’d love to see an end to Sean Treagus
Classified Sue Hunter
One goldfish in a 2 l water bottle would have inappropriate packaging on small aquaria. I’ll
MARKETING Phone 01733 468329
more space than the fish have in this tank! This is agree, the expectation and the reality of some of Brand Manager Lynne Fairburn
not only cruel to the fish but ultimately will be very these nano tanks do seem to be at tangents, Direct Marketing Executive
Julie Spires
frustrating for beginners as their fish won’t endure though short of a legislative change — and I can’t Head of Newstrade Marketing
a tank that small for a long time. Honestly see one happening — I imagine that such Leon Benoiton
speaking I don’t have a problem with the item advertising practices will be with us for a while yet. Deputy Newstrade Marketing Manager
Samantha Tomblin
itself as it would be an amazing shrimp set-up but I suspect that the sad truth is that when faced with
PRODUCTION Phone 01733 468000
I am afraid that these photos will lead many two boxes for the same product, one with a shrimp Print Production Manager
people into mistakenly believing that it is possible and one with a goldfish on it, the naive and Richard Woolley
Advertising Production
to keep fish in such a small set-up. I know that this unknowing newcomer will make a beeline for the Nicholas Greenwood
is probably like a drop in the bucket but I feel that ‘classic’ of the two. Printed by Wyndeham Heron
this issue needs to be addressed and I was hoping As for removing such images from the online Distributed by Frontline

that PFK could help in removing those stock world, I tried fighting the Internet before and it SUBSCRIPTIONS AND BACK ISSUES
To ensure that you don’t miss an issue and
photos on Internet market places. won. I suspect the change needs to be as cultural for the best subscription offers visit
Sherry Budin, email as it does a reformation of online practices. www.greatmagazines.co.uk
For subscription or back issue queries
please contact CDS Global on Bauer@
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on 01858 438884. Phone from overseas on
+44 (0)1858 438884
BAUER CONSUMER MEDIA
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Practical Fishkeeping magazine is published 13
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This 6 x 2 x 2 ft sumped tank is owned by Marty Hall remains the copyright of Bauer, and we reserve the
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November winners COMPLAINTS: Bauer Consumer Media Limited is a

member of the Independent Press Standards
Organisation (www.ipso.co.uk) and endeavours to
respond to and resolve your concerns quickly. Our
O Thewinners of the Fluval AquaVac+competition Editorial Complaints Policy (including full details of
how to contact us about editorial complaints and
were: RobertTaylor, Notts; Julie Ashmore, Notts; ORocky relic IPSO’s contact details) can be found at www.
bauermediacomplaints.co.uk. Our e mail address for
S. Hussain, W. Yorkshire; PeterGrainger, Many of us are looking for striking decor and editorial complaints covered by the Editorial
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Midlothian; AndrewRice, Devon; D. M.Roper, hardscape for our aquaria and Draco Graham- co.uk.

Swansea; William Scott, Fife; Alexander Ross, Kevan (forum name ‘CanisDraco’), has certainly
Falkirk; Owen Manuel, Powys; S. Evans, Co. Down. found it in the form of these ammonite fossils. ❯
www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 29
 TANKCOMMUNITY

Me & my
TANK
Heather prefers live plants — but keeping
them with goldfish can be a challenge.

● Fishkeeper: Heather Braine

(ladyamelia).
Feeding time for the white
● Age: 36.
Fantail and Oranda.
● Occupation: Support worker for
people with learning disabilities.
● Whereabouts? Somerset.
● Time in the hobby? Nearly two years
this time round.
● Number of tanks: One — a
secondhand Juwel Rio 400. I am
hoping to get another next year to go
in the kitchen of our new house. I
haven’t told the boyfriend yet...

What attracted you to the hobby?

At junior school it became my job to look
after the school goldfish, which as you can
probably imagine was not kept in the best of
conditions. When I left junior school I was
asked if I wanted to take the fish home over
the summer and keep it, as they had no one to
look after it. Its tank that was probably about
15 l/3.3 gal in volume.
My Dad got me a small charcoal and sponge
filter, and we kept the goldfish for another
year. We were living in Germany with the
Heather hasn’t forgotten that
army at the time and when Dad got posted first school goldfish she looked
back to the UK we had to donate the fish after as a child.
to a neighbour. Ever since I’ve wanted to have
the biggest tank I could, full of fancy goldfish.

What are your favourite plants?

The ones that survive! Keeping live plants
with goldfish can be hard. It is a bit of trial
PHOTOGRAPHY: HEATHER BRAINE UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED

and error. Get a load of plants, put them in the

tank, a week later see which haven’t been
eaten, then just stick with them. I really do
think that live plants look better and help
keep the aquarium healthier.

My current fish
● One white Fantail.
● One Calico telescope-eye.
● One white Oranda.
● One blue Oranda.

30 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Blue Oranda.

My wish list...
Panda Moor.
PFK?NEIL HEPWORTH

White Fantail. Which fish would you like to keep next? Being a lover of
fancy goldfish, I don’t think I could keep any other type of fish. I’m
not a fan of the more extreme breeds such as Celestials and Bubble
eyes, however I do like Moors and would love to be able to stock my
second tank, if I get one, with black and panda Moors.
My advice for beginners
Do your research, preferably before you go out and buy a tank and
some fish. Listen to people who tell you to fishless cycle your tank,
and don’t try and rush your cycle — it takes as long as it takes.
Be prepared for a long term commitment. I’m not sure how long
the lifespan is of tropical species, but if you’re wanting to keep
goldfish, be prepared to look after them for longer than most cats or
dogs will live for.
Save money. Try to use common household alternatives rather
than buying specialist products. Look on the internet for things
— nine times out of ten you’ll find them cheaper than in the shops
PFK?NEIL HEPWORTH

and you’ll find a wider range.

Save time. If you have a tank bigger than about 150 l/33 gal, invest Some varieties, like this
in water pumps to pump water in and out of the tank. This took me a Ranchu, are bred to be
couple of months to work out. Carrying buckets of water around is viewed from above.
not only time consuming, it does your back no good. Now I pump
the water out straight down the toilet and use a hose attached to What would be your dream aquarium? An indoor pond.
the tap to refill. It takes me about 20 minutes to change about 200 Fancy goldfish were bred to be viewed from above in a lot of cases,
l/44 gal of water and do a bit of gravel cleaning. I still haven’t and from what I’ve read were originally kept in small shallow ponds
worked out a way to not spill at least some water though! or bowls, with streams running through them to keep the water
Things I wish I’d known: That fishkeeping was so addictive. It’s a clean. I would love to be able to watch the fish from above and the
bit like getting a tattoo — before your first one is finished, you’re side and not have to worry if my tank is big enough for my fish.
already thinking about what you’ll get next.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 31
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 Marine

Not so hard!
Once deemed diicult and expensive, SPS corals are now
well within the scope and budget of many reefkeepers.
Here are the best choices and some fish to keep with them.
WORDS: TRISTAN LOUGHER
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

T
he reekeeping hobby has seen are subjected to intense light energy from Which coral goes where?
many advances over the past the sun. This explains the abundance of Diferent areas of the aquarium will
decade. Significant game- fluorescent pigments in many colonies as experience diferent levels of water
changers include carbon dosing high-energy UV radiation punches through movement and illumination. Note that
to control levels of pollutants such as the water and would damage the animal if illumination and flow are relative terms and
nitrate and phosphate, and the availability these specialised proteins were not present. will be significantly higher in a SPS system
of very powerful yet relatively afordable They not only reflect back the UV rays but than one designed for LPS corals. Many
light units, whether T5 or LED. also convert the radiation into wavelengths SPS corals will adapt to a range of light
SPS dominated aquaria once represented of light suited to photosynthesis. intensities and water movements but others
the absolute pinnacle of the marine hobby, The final must is strong water movement. are less flexible. In most instances it
but these days a successful SPS reef system Whether it’s a stream-type flow pump or a doesn’t really matter what the species
is more attainable due to advancements in new Gyre, you want the capability to is, as most will prefer strong flow and
equipment and nutrient control. provide more flow than you ever think vigorous water movement. But exceptions
you‘ll need. A thriving SPS aquarium occur, including many deepwater
What’s required? experiences relatively rapid growth — what Acropora species.
Historically aquarists tended to group all is adequate flow in an tank full of small frags We can gain clues about the requirements
SPS corals into the same category. Some is nowhere near that demanded by one of species through their colours and
might refer to them as uniformly difficult or housing mature colonies. Many SPS have robustness of their skeletons. Those with
temperamental, but as with any ‘group’ of densely branched growth forms and rely on abundant fluorescent proteins are likely to
coral, there are more forgiving and less water movement to bring the polyps vital be found in shallow water, so will tolerate
forgiving species, along with demanding resources such as carbon dioxide for higher illumination than less vibrant
and less demanding species. However, as a photosynthesis but also take away species. Those with thicker branches are
whole the range of acceptable parameters potentially harmful metabolites. The ability likely to be located in areas subjected to
for these corals is narrower than for the to add more pumps or turn up those you strong water or current action, so will
other groups. It’s best to maintain low have is a big advantage. demand more flow.
nitrate and phosphate levels around
0.02–0.03 ppm. This will almost certainly
demand a carbon-dosing regime or very
efficient use of granular ferrous oxides WHICHCORALGOESWHERE?
(GFO), for example in a fluidised reactor. Use the table below as a guide when placing SPS corals in the aquarium.
Rapidly growing SPS corals will put a heavy
demand on calcium and carbonate levels, so Type of zone: Suitable for:
calcium reactors and dosing pumps are
recommended to maintain them at STRONG ILLUMINATION Acropora humilis,
optimum levels. The end goal of the design VERY STRONG FLOW Stylophora pistillata
of an SPS aquarium is to achieve stability. MEDIUM ILLUMINATION
Pocillopora damicornis
Strong illumination is an absolute must. LOWER FLOW
Although a number of deepwater species LOWER ILLUMINATION
Montipora digitata
are occasionally available in the hobby, STRONG FLOW
most of the SPS corals we encounter LOWER ILLUMINATION Some Acropora spp.
originate from relatively shallow water and LOWER FLOW (deep water species)

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 33
 8 of the easiest SPS corals
Identification of many SPS corals, particularly Acropora species, can be
tricky. It can involve microscopic analysis of the skeletal components,
but as this necessitates damaging part of the coral or the entire colony,
The beauty of SPS corals and frags in particular is that many will have
been grown by aquarists in the UK with known parameters such as
positioning, water movement and strength (and type) of illumination.
most aquarists are happy to take a best-guess on the species or accept This can make positioning of colonies rather easy compared with the
the word of the retailer/fragger as to the identity of the coral. “informed-guess” scenario when positioning imported colonies.

Plating monti
Scientific name: Montipora frequently seen both as larger
foliosa (Monn-tee-poor-ah farmed colonies and frags. The
foe-lee-oh-sah). growth rate is prodigious, so
Growth rate: Very fast. avoid placing it a position high
Growth form: Forms plates in the aquarium where its
and whorls. growth will mean large parts of
Availability and cost: Excellent; the aquarium are shaded. When
inexpensive — frags commonly larger colonies are purchased
available. they should be positioned where
Notes: Although there are a prevailing currents are able to
ALAMY

number of diferent growth sweep them clean from detritus

forms of branching corals, the as accumulation of this organic
Branching monti foliose whorls of a plating material can lead to die of of
Scientific name: Montipora digitata (Monn-tee-poor-ah didge- Montipora ofer diversity in the the tissues lying beneath.
ih-tart-ah). SPS dominated aquarium. Red, Otherwise this is a relatively
Growth rate: Very fast. green and purple forms are hardy and easy to care for coral.
Growth form: Branching.
Availability and cost: Excellent; inexpensive — frags are
commonly available.
Notes: A staple of aquarists first dipping their toes into the world of
the SPS aquarium, branching monti is beautiful and relatively hardy.
Coupled with the fact that it is also widely available and inexpensive
to purchase it makes an ideal confidence builder. Colonies grow
quickly and can be rather brittle meaning that they often break if
knocked during routine maintenance, but the colony itself is very
resistant to such damage and will repair and continue to grow
provided conditions allow. This is one of the more tolerant species of
SPS coral, tolerant of a degree of water instability and one that will
demand plenty of space to grow into if not regularly pruned.
ALAMY

Cat’s paw
Scientific names: Stylophora Birdsnest coral
pistillata (Style-oh-four-ah Scientific name: Seriatopora hystrix (Serry-at-oh-pore-ah
pist-ill-ah-tah). hiss-tricks).
Growth rate: Moderate. Growth rate: Potentially rapid.
Growth form: Branching but Growth form: Branching but spacing and thickness of branches will
spacing and thickness of depend upon flow rate over colony.
branches will depend upon Availability and cost: Excellent; inexpensive — frags are
flow rate over colony. commonly avaiable.
Availability and cost: Notes: Named for the tight growth form of the branches that
Excellent; frags are resemble a rough arrangement of slender twigs, birdsnest coral, and
commonly seen. particularly the beautiful pink colour morph, is highly prized by
ALAMY

Notes: Cat’s paw coral is aquarists. This is a stunning coral with a rather rapid growth rate
named for the stubby and when conditions allow. It demands strong illumination to display
rounded appearance of the “milka”, named for its colour its best colouration. Green, blue and cream colour morphs may also
colony in the shallow water that resembles the wrapper of a be encountered.
habitats with strong wave and famous Swiss chocolate bar.
water current action that it calls Stylophora appears to be a
home. However, in less harsh rather adaptable coral when
environments of the reef, small. Fragged specimens often
perhaps in sheltered pockets do extremely well in the
behind the reef front, the growth aquarium whereas wild colonies
form changes to more slender, sometimes fare a little worse
finger-like branches and an — larger colonies may
overall more open structure. In experience some initial die-of
the aquarium pink forms are of tissue before recovering
ALAMY

prized, as too is Stylophora to thrive.

34 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Marine
Raspberry coral asexual reproduction.
Scientific name: Pocillopora Pocillopora spp. are available in
damicornis (Poss-ill-oh-poor-ah some beautiful colour forms,
damm-ee-corn-iss). most notably pink, purple and
Growth rate: Very fast. green. It is also one of the
Growth form: Branching or hardiest SPS corals and
clump forming depending upon demonstrates a diversity of
local conditions. growth forms depending upon
Availability and cost: where it is found. This durability
Excellent; inexpensive — frags is associated with the fact that
commonly seen. Pocillopora is a coloniser of
Notes: Pocillopora is widely virgin substrates; it is often the
A LAMY

available both as farmed first SPS coral seen and has one
colonies and fragged of the greatest calcification
individuals. Many aquarists rates of all SPS corals, so care
Bali slimer experience colonies should be taken with
Scientific name: Acropora yongei (Ack-rohw-poor-ah yong-eye). spontaneously appearing in neighbouring corals to avoid
Growth rate: Potentially rapid. their aquaria as a result of direct competition.
Growth form: Open branched form.
Availability and cost: Good as frags; inexpensive.
Notes: One of the fastest growing species of Acropora, the Bali
slimer is named for the copious amounts of mucus it can produce,
particularly after exposure to air (e.g. during fragging). This coral is
known to lay down calcium carbonate skeleton at rates in excess of
20 kg per m2 per year. Give it plenty of space to grow and you will
have a stunning, mature-looking colony often before other species of
Acropora have really begun to grow in earnest. Factor in its obvious
beauty and it comes as no surprise that this is often a must-have
species for SPS enthusiasts.
A LAMY

Millepora
Scientific name: Acropora millepora (Ack-rohw-poor-ah
mill-ee-pore-ah).
Growth rate: Moderate to fast.
Growth form: Corymbose — cushion-like colonies that may difer in
the packing of branches depending upon where the colony grows.
Availability and cost: Good as frags; inexpensive.
Notes: A stunning species with extended long polyps during the day,
ALAMY

giving colonies a hairy appearance. Colour forms include pink and

red with growth tips showing contrasting blue or purple making these
Bushy Acropora and A. tenuis. Available highly desirable specimens. Widely available as frags or larger
Scientific name: Acropora colour morphs for these species colonies and relatively hardy.
nasuta (Ack-rohw-poor-ah are extremely diverse but often
nass-oo-tah) demonstrate contrasting tips to
Growth rate: Moderate. May the main colony colour, for
take some time to settle and example a green or turquoise
begin to grow. colony with purple branch tips.
Growth form: Corymbose The species mentioned here
— rounded colonies with tends to be found naturally on
densely packed branches. upper reef slopes and so
Availability and cost: Good as experience strong illumination
frags and as small farmed and strong, intermittent
colonies. Inexpensive but frags currents. Colonies should
can be tricky to identify to always be given very strong
species level. water movement in the
Notes: Forming relatively tightly aquarium as the tightly
branched colonies with slender, packed branches can lead to all
tapering branches, A. nasuta is but the swiftest flow being
only one such species available blocked, meaning the centre
in the hobby. of the colony or branch
A LAMY

Other species with similar bases experience relatively

appearances include A. valida static water.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 35
 5 great fish for SPS systems
Avoid any species that might take the odd exploratory nibble of coral — here we’ll focus on fish
that shouldn’t show any interest in your prized invertebrates.

Carpenter’s flasher wrasse

Scientific name: Paracheilinus mccoskeri (Parra-kai-linn- individuals are among the most beautiful of all marine
uss muck-oss-ker-eye). fish. Their common name comes from their tendency to
Size: 8–9cm/3.2–3.6in. communicate by extending all their fins simultaneously,
Lifespan: Four years can be expected. revealing the beautiful colours and patterns that make
Temperament: Usually peaceful but may occasionally these fish so desirable. The greatest issue is their
chase smaller, open water swimming species. tendency to jump from uncovered aquaria, but mesh-
Availability and cost: Good; £25–£35 each. screen type covers are available that enable them to be
Notes: The diminutive flasher wrasse from the genus kept safely. McCosker’s flasher wrasse is one of the more
Cirrhilabrus make for excellent additions to the largely commonly seen and inexpensive species in the hobby but
peaceful reef aquarium. Entirely invertebrate-safe male rarer and more expensive species are available.
A LAMY

Green chromis
Scientific name: Chromis viridis (Kroh-miss
vih-ridd-iss).
Size: 5–6cm/2–2.2in.
Lifespan: Over five years.
Temperament: Usually tolerant of other
species unless breeding, in which case males
can become territorial.
Availability and cost: Excellent. £5–£12 each,
depending on size.
Notes: Busy, inexpensive and potentially useful
in bringing more timid species out into open
water, Green chromis are attractive and
relatively benign fish that are evocative of
natural stony coral reef scenes when stocked
into SPS-rich aquaria. Try not to stock too
many, particularly in smaller aquaria, as
dominant males will often bully same sex
individuals to death, leaving them with a harem
of females. Perhaps the greatest issue
presented by Green chromis is their greed;
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

feeding enough to get through these

permanently ravenous fish to the more reserved
fish in the aquarium means there is a risk of
overfeeding the system.

36 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Marine
Lyretail anthias
Scientific name: Pseudanthias squamipinnis
(Sood-ann-thee-ass squarm-ee-pinn-iss).
Size: 8–12cm/3.2–4.8in typical aquarium size
potential depending upon the sex of an individual.
Lifespan: Two to four years.
Temperament: Bickering is usually reserved to
between individuals of the same species but they
may chase other open water swimming species
on occasion.
Availability and cost: Excellent; £25–£35 each,
depending on size.
Notes: For many people, the Lyretail anthias is the
archetypal reef fish, living in huge numbers in
relatively shallow water. Anthias have marked
pecking orders in their populations. Males dominate
females and form harems. The dominant female will
exert her authority over subordinate females and
she will become male should anything happen to
the dominant male. This can translate as plenty of
bullying and chasing in the home aquarium. Often
selecting simply a pair of fish as juveniles and
allowing them to work out which one is going to
become male is a good idea. Where larger numbers
are attempted regular feeding is advised to relieve
ALAMY

territorial aggression.

Orchid dottyback
Scientific name: Pseudochromis fridmani (Soo-doe-krow-miss
fridd-mahn-eye).
Size: 6–7cm/2.4–2.8in.
Lifespan: Four or five years.
Temperament: Occasionally defensive or may harass very small fish
species, but this is one of the most peaceful dottybacks, frequently
tolerant of members of the same species, reflecting the densities at
which they are found in their natural environment.
Availability and cost: Excellent, £30—£45 each depending on size
ALAMY

and origin.
Notes: Frequently seen as captive bred individuals, Orchid dottybacks
are beautiful fish that are perfectly at home in small aquaria, and
courting and breeding behaviour is likely where pairs are housed. They
should not be confused with the significantly more pugnacious, even
downright belligerent Strawberryfish, Pictichromis porphyrea. Orchids
are frequently encountered in the Red Sea (to which they are endemic)
in shallow water in densities of several per square metre.

Purple tang
Scientific name: Zebrasoma xanthurum (Zebb-rah-sow-mah
zannth-your-umm).
Size: 12–17cm/4.8–6.8in.
Lifespan: Into double figures given good husbandry.
Temperament: Often becomes the dominant fish in the aquarium
but unlikely to present a threat to anything provided it is either
stocked last or when significantly smaller than subsequent additions.
Availability and cost: Sporadic — imported perhaps a couple of
times per year but usually in good numbers, £25–£35 depending
on size.
Notes: The beautiful Purple tang is endemic to the Red Sea and
Persian Gulf, which explains its limited availability. Unlike Yellow
tangs, they are available as hardy, small individuals perhaps
measuring 2–3cm, giving the option of stocking this species before
less aggressive fish provided they are larger than the tang as even a
small one can be boisterous. A tang is included here because of the
ability of these herbivorous fish to prevent undesirable algae. Purple
tangs can be a little lazy in this respect but given the low nutrient
PFK/NATHAN HILL

conditions demanded by most SPS corals, algal growth will already

be limited and whatever attention the tang gives to limited algal turfs
is welcome.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 37
 Round
numbers
If you love the shape of
discus but fancy keeping
something a bit less
mainstream, try Uaru.
These peaceful cichlids
are ideal for larger tanks
where they can be kept
in groups of six or more.
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY:
Uaru are naturally timid
RADEK BEDNARCZUK
fish, so give them plenty of
company of their own kind.

A
s juveniles they might look difficult maintenance. It is commonly called properly covered. Furthermore, they love to
rather inconspicuous and the Panda Uaru by aquarists, because adult, scrape everything with their tiny teeth, so
ordinary — simple grey fish mature and sexually aroused specimens forget about internal sponge filters as well
spotted with white — but once may indeed resemble a panda. There is also as artificial decor (including plastic plants),
they reach maturity, the Uaru will adorn an Uaru ‘Orange’, not yet scientifically as these will all be munched on by the Uaru.
any larger aquarium. With a big, disc- described; the provisional name refers to The substrate should be fine sand, on which
shaped body and eyes that glitter with its colouration. you should place natural decorations such
intelligence, these are truly majestic Species of this genus have a number of as stones, lignites and driftwood, arranged
looking cichlids. distinguishing characteristics. Popularly to create various hiding places.
Before we go any further, I must warn you known as the “ugly cousins of the discus”, as Lighting should be subdued — you won’t
all that if you want to embark upon an adults these cichlids are large and hefty, be keeping plants with these fish anyway, as
adventure with this genus, you will need a with a slim, disc-shaped body, which allows they will make short work of even those
tank with a capacity of a few hundred litres, them to move agilely among the mass of with reasonably thick leaves — only
and very efficient filtration. Never mind submerged tree branches, of which there Crinum thaianum is reported not to be
that the fish you buy will probably be just a are many to be found in their natural eaten by Uaru.
few centimetres long — the speed of their biotope. They also have small, reddish teeth, Because of their natural timidity, they
growth and their high metabolic rate with which they often scrape various should be kept in groups; as their
necessitate the use of really large aquaria. underwater objects, such as tree roots companions I can recommend small
Furthermore, if you want them to thrive (which are a source of fibre). armored catfish, Corydoras catfish (as
they are best kept in groups of at least six, Interestingly, the Uaru undergo a dramatic bottom cleaners) and some peaceful
and as the adults can easily exceed change in colour pattern, from the lines and eartheaters, such as Biotodoma. Some
20cm/8in in length, a 300 l/66 gal tank for dots of the juvenile to the adult form — this people also keep them with discus and
even just one mature pair would be the is probably due to the fact that juveniles and angelfish. The temperature should be
equivalent of a bachelor pad. adults inhabit diferent environments. The around 27–30°C/80–86°F, the water soft
These cichlids inhabit the soft and acidic iris of the eye is a reddish orange in these and slightly acidic, with regular weekly
waters of South America. There are two cichlids — when seen in adult fish, it leaves a water changes to keep the level of nitrogen
scientifically described species within the very strong impression on the observer. compounds low.
genus. One is the very popular Uaru If you intend to keep Uaru
amphiacanthoides, with its chocolate The Uaru aquarium fernandezyepezi, the water quality must be
brown body and a characteristic dark In a nutshell: the bigger, the better. The very high, the concentration of nitrogen
triangle/wedge on the flank. The other same can be said about aeration (however, compounds very low, and the water itself
— bearing the tongue-twisting name of they do not like strong water currents), and acidic (pH around 6.5) and very soft
Uaru fernandezyepezi — does not enjoy the biological filter. These fish may jump out (preferably RO water with some mineral
such popularity, due to its high price and of the water, so the aquarium should be salts added), enriched with tannins.

38 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Cichlids

FISH FACTFILE

Uaru
● Scientific name: Uaru
amphiacanthoides (Warr-roo am-fee-a-
can-thoi-deez).
● Origin: Amazon River basin, and the
middle and lower Negro River basin.
● Size: To 25cm/10in, sometimes more.
● Water chemistry: Soft and acidic,
pH 6–7.
● Temperature: 27–30°C/80–86°F.
● Feeding: Plenty of green foods plus
some granulated discus foods. Live or
frozen foods such as black mosquito
What’s larvae and glassworms will also be

in a name? readily taken.

The name Uaru Amazon River basin, and

the middle and lower
means ‘toad’ in Negro River basin.

the native Indian

language.

Health issues as the observations of other fishkeepers,

There will be few health problems in the these are the factors responsible for the
case of Uaru amphiacanthoides, which is development of HLLE:
resistant to disease and has been mass bred O Stress, caused by too small a tank
in captivity for many years. But (overstocking), aggression from other fish
unfortunately the same cannot be said of (such as dominant males), and lack of
Uaru fernandezyepezi, most of which are hiding places.
still wild-caught. O Too high a level of nitrogen compounds,
U. fernandezyepezi often sufers from as well as other metabolites, old,
HITH or HLLE, the development of which infrequently changed water, a lot of
is due to many factors, the most important organic mulm on the bottom, generally
being poor water quality and stress. less than sanitary conditions in the tank. Panda Uaru
According to my own experiences, as well Unfortunately, in the case of Uaru the ● Scientific name: Uaru fernandezyepezi
tank cannot be planted (they feed on (Warr-roo fern-nan-dez-yep-ay-zee).
plants), which causes the nitrogen ● Origin: Orinoco River basin, in the
Uaru with HLLE.
compounds to accumulate, necessitating Atabapo River basin, South America.
frequent water changes, unless a ● Size: 20cm/8in, sometimes more.
denitrifying or a hydroponic filter is used. ● Water chemistry: pH 6.5 and below and
O Incorrect physical and chemical very soft. Nitrates as low as possible.
parameters for the species in question ● Temperature: 28–34°C/82–93°F.
(too low or too high water temperature, ● Feeding: Plenty of green foods plus
incorrect pH or hardness). some granulated discus foods. Live or
O Monotonous diet, lacking fibre and frozen foods such as black mosquito
vitamins (C, B, D, E), as well as fatty acids. larvae and glassworms.
O No natural sunlight reaching the tank
(personally, I can neither confirm nor Orinoco River basin, in
disprove this one). the Atabapo River basin.
O Infections (for instance Hexamita/
Spironucleus), which compromise the
fish’s immunity.
Try to avoid HITH/HLLE at all costs as
treatment is difficult and time-consuming.
When keeping Uaru fernandezyepezi, if
the conditions in the aquarium deteriorate

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 39
Cichlids

Battle for the green peas; Uaru

fernandezyepezi (left), with
U. amphiacanthoides (right).

Remember that these fish

are largely vegetarian.

Very veggie 8 great foods

The best aquarium
plants for your Uaru
These fish eat a lot and you must take good for Uaru
care not to overfeed them; however, they O Young green peas
are...parsley greens!
are also largely vegetarian. Green peas, O Parsley greens
parsley greens, fresh leaves of lettuce, O Finely chopped
duckweed, young carrots, or even red young carrots,
watermelon or bananas — all these will be O Eggplant
to your Uaru’s taste. Don’t forget (aubergine)
granulated foods, such as those developed O Watermelon flesh,
for discus, which should be enriched with O Dandelion leaves
liquid vitamins. These fish will also readily O Spirulina flakes
take shrimp mix, black mosquito larvae O Granulated
and glassworms. discus food

— perhaps a sudden temperature drop, or a

Quarrels, biting, fighting for
rise in the levels of nitrogen compounds, pH
territory or food — all are
or hardness, (especially when combined
typical Uaru behaviours.
with intra- or interspecific aggression), you
can expect an outbreak of ich, fungal
infections or even flexibacteriosis. Handling
stress (for instance during routine
maintenance tasks) is also detrimental to
these fish.
Breeding your Uaru
Uaru reach sexual maturity, on average, at a
year of age. Usually two years must elapse
before they spawn for the first time. Just
like discus, during brood care these fish
secrete a special mucus through their skin
— the equivalent of milk in mammals — on
which the young feed. This is why the
youngsters swarm around their parents and
peck at their flanks.
In the case of Uaru amphiacanthoides, you
simply need a mated, sexually mature pair
— preferably that don’t eat their eggs or fry
— then raise the temperature to about Did you know?
30-32°C/86–90°F and patiently await The bodies of these cichlids produce
developments. They will become more copious amounts of slime. This is
aggressive during the spawning period. The something to bear in mind if
eggs, a few hundred in number, will be laid transporting adults in bags over large
on a hard substrate such as a stone. After a distances, as it can result in fatalities.
few dozen hours the parents will move the
larvae to a pre-dug pit. Once the yolk sac has
been resorbed the young begin to feed of
their parents; they should also be fed with reveal them, as the reproduction of this However, if you want to try something
freshly hatched Artemia. After a month, species is considered the proverbial diferent I can thoroughly recommend this
well-fed juveniles can reach a few gold mine. genus to all lovers of large cichlids — believe
centimetres in length. me, you will not be disappointed. Uaru
Breeding Uaru fernandezyepezi is a Alternative to discus amphiacanthoides makes a great choice for
diferent proposition altogether, and one I realise that faced with the choice those with less experience, while more
that requires a generous helping of luck. between colourful, slender, stately discus or seasoned fishkeepers who fancy a challenge
Warm, very soft and acidic water is Uaru — which are not only less colorful, but should try their hand at keeping Uaru
considered the key to breeding success. also have an appetite for aquarium plants fernandezyepezi, first simply to maintain
However, you need to experiment to find the — most people are very likely to choose them in good health, and then maybe to
exact parameters — breeders tend not to the former. breed them.

40 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
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Improve your
FISH
KEEPING
Practical advice and great ideas to ensure you get
the most from your hobby.
CTION
IN THIS SE KNOW TANKS
YOUR FOR BUSY
WATER FAMILIES

44 Meet your match

Make life easier by choosing fish to suit your tapwater.
50 Keep it simple, keep it safe
Advice on keeping fish in homes with young children.

HOW TO
PLANTING
DEAL WITH BASICS
PROBLEM EXPLAINED
FISH

56 Standing up to the bullies

How to restore peace in the community.
62 The root of the matter
Choose the best substrate for your planted tank.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 43
 Improve your
FISH
KEEPING

FK/JACQUES PORTAL
FK/NEIL HEPWORTH

Central Americans like The heart of Africa lacks

their water chalky. mineral-filled water.

HARD WATER SOFT WATER

Rocky lakes are a culprit for Silty rivers may have
collecting carbonates. zero hardness.

ALLEN SHEFFIELD, CREATIVE COMMONS

SHUTTERSTOCK

Meet your
KNOW
YOUR
WATER

Matching the fish you keep to the tapwater in your local

H
area will make life much easier and less stressful for both
you and your fish. So, what should you consider and how
does it afect your choice of livestock?
WORDS: JEREMY GAY

H
ere’s a scenario. Imagine you’re limescale in the kettle and a scum rather soluble calcium hydrogen carbonate. It’s
trapped on a treasure island. than a lather when they use soap. Hard temporary because boiling it can remove it,
The good news is you can keep waters of the UK include nearly all of the and the hardness salts then leave solution
tropical fish and have south, south east, east anglia, east midlands, and deposit themselves typically on our
unlimited equipment and budget. Lincolnshire and up to Hull in east metal surfaces. This is what limescale is
Everything you want will be provided for Yorkshire and accounts for 60% of all UK (and even stalactites in caves). Permanent
the rest of time, but with one caveat, you homes. You’ve only got to watch all the hardness also comes from water percolating
can only keep hard water or soft water kitchen and bathroom de-scaler product through rock, but this time Gypsum
species. For some this is a quick, easy adverts to to see that tackling it is also (calcium sulphate — not limestone, calcium
decision but for the fishkeeping addict this big business. carbonate.) Calcium sulphate does not
can be a very real dilemma and for Hard water is measured by water precipitate out like calcium carbonate does,
fishkeepers up and down the UK, a real companies either in parts per million or but you still get soap scum instead of a nice
postcode lottery. milligrammes per litre (which are the same bubbly lather like the soft water areas enjoy.
thing,) with 100ppm being classed as Soft water is essentially what rainwater is
What’s the difference? slightly hard, but generally upwards of — before hitting any rocks in the ground
Hard water is water that has come into 200ppm (or mg/l) being classed as hard. rainwater is free of any mineral salts as it is
contact with calcium and magnesium ions, 300ppm + is very hard. formed always from evaporation, and
typically by coming into contact with You can have temporary hardness, caused evaporation or distillation never takes any
limestone rock in the ground. Non- by calcium carbonate (limestone, reacting salts with it. When mixed with CO2 in the
fishkeepers see it manifest itself as with carbon dioxide (CO2) in rain to form air, soft rainwater can dissolve limestone

44 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Water chemistry

Test your pH and carbonate hardness (KH)

There’s a wide range of test kits available to help you determine are titration tests as shown here. These are simple to use, so long
your pH, GH and KH. These can be simple dip tests, others require as you don’t lose count. Here we’ve used a JBL wide range pH and
you to refer to a colour chart to obtain the results, and then there KH kit.

1 Take two 5ml water samples and add to

the testing vessels as shown. 2 Hold the pH reagent bottle upright, then
add three drops to the pH water sample
container. Gently swill the solution — the pH
3 Hold the KH bottle upright, then add
one drop to the sample of water to be
tested. Initially, it will turn a light blue
test gives an instant result. colour. If it immediately turns the sample
yellow, then KH is less than 1°KH.

4 Gently swill the sample, then add

another drop of reagent. Continue to
add one drop at a time, swirling the sample
5 As soon as the sample turns yellow on the
addition of a drop (and stays yellow) the
test is complete. The number of drops used to
6 Using the colour chart, obtain a figure
for the pH value of that sample — note
that JBL kits require you to look through
after each addition. The sample will turn the sample from blue to yellow the sample from above. In my case, the
become a deeper and deeper shade of blue corresponds exactly with the hardness of the reading is just a shade over 7.5, so I class it
— don’t lose count of the number of drops water in degrees. So, in my case I added ten as pH 7.6.
going in. drops, making my sample 10°KH.

It took ten drops

to turn the sample
The pH of the water yellow, meaning it
sample is 7.6. has a KH of 10.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 45
 Improve your
PFK/JACQUES PORTAL
FISH
KEEPING

Dip tests will help you

determine the pH and
hardness of your water
quickly and simply.

causing caves to be formed underground.

Soft rainwater takes up calcium from
limestone, becomes temporarily hard, and
the cycle continues. Soft water areas of the
UK include Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and
most of Northern Ireland, but it is always
best to check your tapwater yourself using
test kits as towns and cities can even be split
down the middle as to their water supply
and source.
In the aquatic hobby we can test for KH, Too hard and the
which is known as carbonate hardness, eggs of some fish
temporary hardness and alkalinity. A KH cannot fertilise.
ALAMY

test kit measures for both carbonates and

bicarbonates and as bicarbonate bufers KH
and keeps it high, bicarbonate of soda is a water, because both processes remove What’s better — hard or soft?
popular, cheap DIY method of bufering KH mineral bufers producing very soft High KH will resist KH and pH crash the
in freshwater aquariums. Because those product water. best, so in hard water areas these two
carbonates are temporary, KH can drop, The other type of hardness we test for in scenarios will not manifest themselves very
which is the bane of reekeepers where aquariums is General Hardness, or GH. often in either aquatic stores or with their
corals demand a pretty constant, high KH of General hardness again tests for calcium customers — unless they are using RO
7–9 dKH. KH can also drop in freshwater and magnesium but not the temporary water. The problem with hard water with a
aquariums which causes problems, because carbonate (KH) form. Instead it measures high pH however, is that ammonia will
KH bufers are also good at bufering pH. If the non precipitous sulphate form, which always be in its toxic form. So soft water is
your KH drops, then your pH will also drop, drops much less readily. best on your fish in the early days of being a
causing first a KH crash, then a pH crash. The freshwater fishkeeper needs to have new hobbyist and mistakes being made with
Such crashes are therefore common in soft both a KH and GH test kit as they measure filter maturation, but apart from that
water areas and are a real problem. This is two types of hardness, and many a there really is no best apart what is best
why even soft water aquariums should be fishkeeper may be surprised to find that for the fish.
bufered, and also why you need to add KH they can have both a low KH and high GH at In nature, fish have spent millions of years
bufering minerals to RO and deionised the same time. adapting to survive and thrive in either hard
The aquariums I monitor and maintain in or soft freshwaters to the point where, when
Wigan, Lancashire, where I work, sufer presented with the wrong hardness they
from just that scenario and any freshwater will fail to reproduce at best but at worst,
Does hardness affect body ranging from community tanks, to their whole physiology will fail and they will
ammonia toxicity? planted tanks, to high end Koi ponds, all die. Generations of tank breeding can
Ammonia toxicity is afected by two need regular KH bufering in order to avoid reverse this to an extent — this has
things — pH and temperature. The higher KH crash and the inevitable pH crash. I find happened in the case of angelfish for
the pH, the more toxic ammonia becomes, cases of dropsy much more common in example, which only naturally occur in very
and the higher the water temperature, the water with a little or no KH reading or 0–1 soft, very acidic waters but their
more toxic ammonia becomes. So hot, dKH — even with species that naturally now very diferent aquarium bred
hard water is the most toxic and cold, soft occur in soft waters. mutations will be happy in all but the very
water the least. So, when speaking generally about hardest of water and generally show no ill
KH can afect pH however and CO2 can aquariums and aquarium fish and their efects whatsoever.
lower pH, so indirectly, yes, KH can afect habitats we nearly always link high pH with Going with what your tapwater is, is the
ammonia toxicity because of its efect on hard water, so water which is both hard and path of least cost and hassle for the
pH. In soft water with low pH ammonia is alkaline, and low pH with water which is hobbyist. Matching soft water fish to soft
much less toxic because it becomes always soft as well as acidic. But as we have tapwater and vice versa is the easiest way to
un-ionised NH4 instead of NH3. found, you can also have low pH and low KH go and you won’t need to use expensive
water which has a high GH. bufering or softening aids.

46 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Water chemistry

The fun part: Fish selection!

The hobby is full of some very notable soft and hard water fish. Here’s a selection of popular fish and their habitats, including a few less common
species you may also want to try if you’re feeling more adventurous.

SOFT WATER FISH

PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

Congo species
The Congo river is to Africa what (Fen-ack-oh-gram-uss
the Amazon is to South America, in-tear-up-tuss).
and is filled with freshwater ● Size: Males can reach
Characins, catfish, barbs and 8cm/3.2in, females smaller at
oddities like elephant noses. 6cm/2.4in.
Think of a jungle, think of a river ● Ease of keeping: Simple.
flowing through it and you have ● Feeding: Flake, pellets,
the Congo and its bizarre, old granules, Daphnia, bloodworm,
world flora and fauna right there. dried insect, greenfoods.
● Availability and cost:
● Common name: Congo tetra. Commonly available, price
● Scientific name: widely variable. Starts at £2
Phenacogrammus interruptus upwards, adults much more.

Amazonian species
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

Be they cichlids, L-number catfish, tetras or piranha, the

Amazon soft water fish species make up a huge chunk of
our hobby, past and present. Due in no small part to the
Amazonian rainforest and its leaf litter, frequent rainfall and
non lime-based geology, the Amazon is the largest tropical
soft water habitat on earth. Peat swamp species
Asia’s threatened peat habitats tiss oss-from-en-oy-deez).
● Common name: Ram. are home to many popular ● Size: Maximum 5cm/2in,
● Scientific name: Mikrogeophagus ramirezi (My-crow- aquarium fish including Chocolate though usually peaks at
gee-oh-fay-guss ram-ear-ez-eye). and Liquorice gourami, pygmy 3.5cm/1.4in.
● Size: To 4cm/1.6in fully grown. rasbora and Betta species. Stain ● Ease of keeping: Very difficult,
● Ease of keeping: Moderate. your soft water with black leaf and tricky feeder and demanding of
● Feeding: Flake, slow-sinking pellets, Daphnia, peat tannins for realistic efect. water conditions.
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

bloodworm, Calanus. Include some vegetable matter. ● Feeding: Micropredator that

● Availability and cost: Commonly available, expect to pay ● Common name: Chocolate feeds on live and frozen
£3.95 upwards, pending quality. gourami. Daphnia, Cyclops, microworm.
● Scientific name: Sphaerichthys ● Availability and cost: Rarely
osphromenoides (Ss-fair-ick- seen, from around £4 or so.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 47
 Improve your
FISH
KEEPING

SOFT WATER FISH CONTINUED HARD WATER FISH

MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

Hillstream species
Where rainwater falls of non lime based mountain rocks, water
moves at force over obstacles instead of dissolving through them.
The results are clear, fast moving soft water habitats with fish
representatives in the hobby like hillstream loaches.
Livebearers
● Common name: Hong Kong ‘plec’. Guppies, mollies, swordtails, platies and their relatives have
● Scientific name: Pseudogastromyzon myersi (Soo-doh-gas-trow- adapted so well to hard water that it’s made them the
my-zon my-errs-eye). dominant small fish group in their part of South America.
● Size: To around 6cm/2.4in, usually a little smaller.
● Ease of keeping: Difficult, sensitive to temperature and a fussy ● Common name: Fancy guppy.
feeder. ● Scientific name: Poecilia reticulata (Poh-eh-sill-ee-ah
● Feeding: Aufwuchs and biofilm feeder. Supplement with ample ret-ick-you-lah-tah).
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

Daphnia, Cyclops and bloodworm. ● Size: Females to 6cm/2.5in, males rarely top 5cm/2in.
● Availability and cost: Commonly available, from around £5. ● Ease of keeping: Incredibly simple.
● Feeding: Anything and everything. Flake, pellet, any frozen
More soft water species to look out for and live food, green foods.
● Availability and cost: Very commonly available, expect to
pay £1.50 upwards pending sex and variety.
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

Bee shrimp
These southeast Asian can-ton-en-siss).
hillstream dwellers now ● Size: Tiny, barely reaches
come in very popular red and 3cm/1.2in fully grown.
white, but originate from soft ● Ease of keeping: Simple
water, bamboo edged streams without anything big enough
in China. to eat it.
● Feeding: Shrimp foods, dried
● Common name: Black King Catappa leaf, spinach.
Kong shrimp. ● Availability and cost: From
● Scientific name: Caridina specialist stores, around £9.99
cantonensis (Cah-rid-deen-ah each.

More South Americans

This mighty continent contains other great river and lake drainages Malawi cichlids
that don’t meet the Amazon, including those in Paraguay, Uruguay Natural hard water colour and activity in abundance makes Lake Malawi
and southern Brazil. Catfish, characins and cichlids still abound here cichlids deservedly popular, and keeping them for many is a hobby in its
and their species are highly desirable and sought after. Uruguay also own right.
contains temperate soft water species including Gymnogeophagus
cichlids. ● Common name: Yellow Lab.
● Scientific name: Labidochromis caeruleus (Lab-id-oh-crow-miss
More Africans care-ool-ee-uss).
Nigeria is on a separate river drainage to Congo but still contains ● Size: To 10cm/4in fully grown.
absolute softwater gems including Pelvicachromis, killifish, Jewel ● Ease of keeping: Simple in an African tank.
cichlids and African snakeheads. ● Feeding: Vegetable flake, algae, green foods. Avoid meaty fare.
● Availability and cost: Commonly available, from £3 or so.

48 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Water chemistry

Central American cichlids

Central America has lots of limestone geology making most
of its waters hard as they drain through and spring up from
the white porous rock. Be it hardwater river or lake, there will
be a cichlid living and thriving in it.

● Common name: Blue Jack Dempsey.

● Scientific name: Rocio octofasciata (Row-key-oh ock-toe-
fash-ee-ah-tah).
● Size: To 20cm/8in.
● Ease of keeping: Simple given space.
● Feeding: Varied: Flake, pellets, Daphnia, bloodworm,
prawn, fish pieces, fresh veg.
● Availability and cost: Sporadically appears, prices from
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

£7.50 to over £20 a time.

Tanganyikan cichlids
The hardest waters of the big three African Rift lakes makes this
diverse and endemic group of cichlids perfect for tanks in the UK’s
hardest water areas. Whether it’s big or small, colourful or cryptic,
substrate spawning or mouthbrooders you’re after, Lake
Tanganyika has it all.

● Common name: Calvusr

● Scientific name: Altolamprologus calvus (Al-toe-lam-pro-low-
guss cal-vuss)r
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

● Size: To 12.5cm/5inr
● Ease of keeping: Moderately simple.
● Feeding: Frozen Daphnia, Calanus, Cyclops. Dry foods often
ignored.
● Availability and cost: Available in African specialist stores, from
around £8 or so.
More hard water species to look out for

Ricefish, Oryzias spp.

Ricefish are tiny Asian fish which inhabit hard freshwaters and some
brackish waters and are known for their unusual breeding method
whereby eggs cluster to the females’ vents before becoming dislodged
and stuck to vegetation. (Ed’s note: Check out the Daisy’s ricefish
feature on p.75 of this issue).

Goodieds
These alternatives to the usual livebearers overcome many extreme and
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

isolated hard water habitats in the wild, only to find themselves under
threat from habitat destruction and introduced species. One for
collectors and conservationists.

Lake Inle fish

Danio erythromicron, Yunnanilius brevis, Sawbwa resplendens and
Inlecypris auropurpurea all go to together to make this lovely and
unique Asian community lake biotope.

Rainbowfish Sulawesi fish and shrimp

These Australian and Indonesian● Size: To 15cm/6in fully grown. Tinted blue from all the dissolved minerals, the lakes of Sulawesi
beauties provide much needed ● Ease of keeping: Demanding (formerly Celebes,) contain some very sought after, marine reef looking
colour and class to those who want
and prone to rainbow specific freshwater shrimp which need hard water, and the lovely Celebes
hard water fish without involving problems. rainbowfish, Marosatherina ladigesi too.
cichlids. ● Feeding: Flake, pellet, all frozen
and live foods. Crater lake and soda lake cichlids
● Common name: Red rainbowfish. ● Availability and cost: Unique habitats in Central America and Africa boil up through volcanic
● Scientific name: Glossolepis Relatively common, from rock and can be extreme in temperature and causticness. Naturally
incisus (Gloss-oh-leap-iss around £4.50 while small. some all-conquering but now endemic cichlid species make these
in-sigh-suss). Adults considerably more. habitats their home.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 49
 Improve your
FISH
KEEPING
TANKS
FOR BUSY

Keepitsimple,
FAMILIES

How do you combine young children

and aquaria safely? Here’s how to
avoid potential hazards plus some
ideas for simple, low maintenance
set-ups to give you time to spend
with your family as well as your fish.
WORDS: JAMES STARR-MARSHALL

S
ince becoming a father just over view of it I sought to safeguard him as
a year ago, my priorities where best I could by selecting the right
fish tanks are concerned have tank and equipment. I needed an
changed significantly in a aquarium with no external pipework,
number of areas. I find I no longer want to made of acrylic or 10mm thick glass,
spend hours every Saturday morning and that uses LED lighting not
meticulously pruning and cleaning a fluorescent tubes and preferably low
complex aquascape when I could be voltage equipment.
playing with my son. I also now worry
about external pipework being pulled at, The best system
particularly with glass lily pipes attached There are numerous aquarium packages
to it, and more so about a heavy toy hitting that feature built-in filters and LED
the 6mm thick glass of a rimless braceless lighting and some even include a low
tank. Even my choice of fish is now voltage pump, but finding one of these
considered from a diferent perspective that is made of glass thicker than 6mm
with guppies and fancy goldfish seeming or acrylic is a real challenge. Please
Wind swept cliffs is
ever more appealing. Don’t get me wrong, understand that I’m not labelling tanks
the theme of this low
I don’t resent any of the changes I’ve with a glass thickness of 6mm and less
maintenance set-up.
made to my aquatic practises, but am as dangerous — most manufacturers
happy to make them so that my son can carry out stringent safety tests on their
have the same great experiences with fish products. However, it requires a much
that I had as a child and perhaps one day larger impact to break 10mm glass and
become a fishkeeper in his own right. larger still to break 10mm acrylic. After out of the reach of a child for obvious
much searching I finally found the reasons. I made a plywood plinth for mine
Safety first Interpet Nano LED 19, an all-in-one as my cabinet was not quite tall enough.
PHOTOGRAPHY & ILLUSTRATIONS; JAMES STARR-MARSHALL UNLESS STATED

The safety of aquariums is too complex a acrylic aquarium that fitted the bill in all I also made a simple plastic canopy (see
subject to be covered in detail within the ways apart from its 19 l/4.2 gal size. I right) out of a sheet of 1mm thick black
confines of this article, so I will just was hoping for something in the 60 l/13 polypropylene that I bought online for about
mention a few factors that I considered gal range and although I realised that £3. This prevented my son from looking
when selecting my new tank. The main this nano tank would seriously restrict directly into the bright LEDs and meant
concern was that the aquarium would my fish choice, I was keen not to be that I didn’t have to use the glass cover that
have to be situated in the living room without an aquarium for my little boy came with the tank. Sadly a heater isn’t
where my son plays, as I live in a small flat to gaze at. included with the tank and, as far as I know,
and this is the only room available for there are no appropriate low voltage models
either play or fish tank. My son is too Siting and adjustments available. To keep tropical fish you can place
young to have a concept of safety but old The tank measures only 36 x 24.2 x a TMC H2 Therm Micro 15W heater in the
enough to be strong, active and curious 25.2cm/14.4 x 9.7 x 10in and therefore filter section of the tank. As the heater is
— this meant that the tank was likely must be placed on a stable cabinet that is made of plastic it is safer than glass
to be pushed, pulled at and hit with hands much larger than its footprint, or one alternatives — for electrical safety use it in
or toys. that is screwed to the wall — failure to do conjunction with a plug-in RCD socket
Rather than installing the tank at a so may result in the cabinet toppling adaptor, which should cut the power if
height beyond his reach and impairing his over. The top of the tank also needs to be something goes wrong.

50 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Step by step

Simple DIY canopy

The plans for the canopy, should you decide to
make one, are shown here. Polypropylene can
be cut and scored with scissors in much the
same way that card can. Make sure to cut along
the bold lines and score along the fine lines. To
attach the sides of the canopy to the top I used
small plastic nuts and bolts, but you could use
a glue gun or double sided tape. The canopy is
designed to rest on the lamp arm and be
slightly smaller than the tank so that
condensation runs back in to the tank.
I used black electrical tape to hide the water
line and further prevent light bleed.
I also put blobs of Blu Tack under the corners
of the plinth and the feet of the tank to prevent
sliding, unlikely as it is that a toddler would be
Sizes shown in mm. that strong.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 51
 Improve your
FISH
KEEPING

Setting up
It’s no secret that planted tanks, in general,
TWO LOW COST SET-UPS
take more time to maintain than fish only
systems and even though I knew I would
be saving time on maintenance, due to the
easy access filter and single bucket water
changes, I opted not to plant the tank.
That said, I could not set up an
aquarium without giving serious
consideration to the layout and therefore
I set about designing some hardscape
only aquascapes.
It is important with very small tanks not
to use up too large a portion of the water
volume with rocks and wood. The
hardscape materials selected for each of
the following layouts did not exceed 2 l/0.4
gal in volume, yet were still big enough to
have an impact. This is easier to achieve
with tanks that are mainly viewed from
the front as the rocks can be almost flat
and still give the impression of depth. A top view reveals the layout in more
Don’t be afraid to experiment with detail, note that the rocks are narrow
diferent colour backgrounds. You can and do not eat too far into swimming
laminate sheets of coloured card to protect space. A gap has been left between the
them against accidental spillages. large rock and the rear of the tank to
prevent scratching the acrylic.
Stocking the tank
I am all too aware of the criticism that
nano tanks receive, however I am also
aware that the result of the so-called
property boom is that many of us are living
in nano homes. I believe that fishkeeping
should be accessible to everyone and not
just to those who have enough space for a
Wind swept clifs
large aquarium.
That said, housing fish in a tank of this
size must done with extreme caution,
there are very few species that are
appropriate and even those that are must
be stocked in limited numbers.
What I consider to be sensible stocking
would be 6–8 fish that have at least 20
times their body length in swimming
space, as the tank is 36cm/14.4in long the
chosen fish should not exceed 1.8cm/0.8in
maximum size. The best examples would
be species of Boraras or Danionella — I
was hoping to stock Boraras micros at
1.2cm/0.5in long but there were no
Boraras available at the time, so I opted
for Ember tetras, Hyphessobrycon
1 Start by sloping the gravel or sand so
it is lowest at the front right of the
tank — this will help to create the illusion
2 Place a foot stone for the largest clif at the
rear of the tank. You can use any type of
aquarium safe rock but ones with lots of
amandae, which are 1.8cm/0.8in long of depth. surface detail will look best.
when fully grown.
All considered I am very happy with the
set-up. The acrylic has survived some
significant knocks and doesn’t scratch as
easily as rumoured. The filter can be
cleaned in under a minute and a 50%
water change takes about five minutes, so
weekly maintenance is no chore at all.
Although the layouts did not keep my
interest quite as long as a planted tank
does, it only takes a fraction of the time
and cost to re-scape.
Even without plants I found that the tank
sufered almost no algae — this could be
due to the lighting not being too bright. I
wonder if these subdued light levels
would support the growth of plants, and
5 Position the second largest rock on its
foot stone. Make sure it does not
obscure the top or right edge of the first clif.
6 Now add the third and final clif as
shown. Use small rocks to fill any
obvious gaps next to the filter.
that’s something I fully intend to find out
in the future.

52 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Step by step

FISH FACTFILE

Ember tetra
● Scientific name:
Hyphessobrycon amandae
(Hi-fess-oh-bri-con am-and-aye).
● Origin: Araguaia Basin, Brazil.
● Size: 1.8cm/0.8in.
● Water chemistry: pH 5–7; softer water
preferred in the region of 1–12°H.
● Temperature: 20–28°C/68–82°F.
● Feeding: Small live and frozen
foods along with suitable sized
commercial foods.
● Availability and cost: Increasingly
available due to the popularity of nano
aquaria. Expect to pay around £1.50–£2
per fish.

The Ember tetra

Turn the page comes from the
for the Pebble Araguaia basin
in Brazil.
beach version
of this tank

Maintenance
Weekly:
● Clean the acrylic, inside and out, with a
micro fibre cloth.

3 Position the largest rock on the foot

stone as shown. Good tessellation
and matching textures will give a more
4 Place a second foot stone to the front
left of the first. A small gap between
them where the sand can be seen helps
● 50% water change with dechlorinated
tap water.
● Clean rocks with a small brush.
natural appearance. define separate clifs. Monthly:
● Replace the disposable filter cartridge.
● Give the bio media a light rinse in used
tank water.
● Clear the pump inlet of any debris.
● Syphon the bottom of the filter
enclosure.

Cost
● Interpet Nano LED 19 — £57.
● TMC H2 Therm Micro 15W heater
— £13.
● Plug-in RCD socket adaptor — £10.
● 1mm thick polypropylene sheet (50 x
50cm/20 x 20in) — £3 online.

7 Find some twigs that have broken of larger

bits of tank safe wood. Bind a bunch using
cable ties to make a small tree and use others
8 Fill the gap between rocks and filter, in
the back left corner, with small pieces of
rock. Brush the sand or gravel into natural
● Hardscape materials — £3–£8 per
layout.
● Fish — £11.
as roots. Soak in advance to ensure they sink. looking lines around the base of the rocks. Total: £97–£102.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 53
 Improve your
FISH
KEEPING
Step by step

Pebble beach

A top view of the aquarium, showing the

decor in place. Take care not to scratch

1 Slope the gravel or sand so it is lowest at the

front right of the tank. Position the largest
pebble at the rear of the tank next to the filter.
2 Place the wood just in front and to the right
of the large pebble — make sure to leave
some space behind the wood.
the acrylic when placing the hardscape
materials.

3 Next position a medium sized flat pebble

behind the wood. When viewed from the
front the eye will not read it as flat and an
4 Now the smaller pebbles can be placed
around the larger ones. Use rounder
pebbles rather than flat ones here.
5 Put a similar pebble as in the previous step
behind the wood but protruding out to the
right of it. Try to maintain a consistent slope
illusion of depth is achieved. with the two other rear pebbles.

6 Fill the gap to the left of the wood with

another round pebble. Seat it lower in the
substrate than the one on its left.
7 Position the final round pebble to the front
right of the wood. The pebble from step five
should still be visible behind it.
8 Scatter some tiny pebbles or large gravel to
create a scree efect and fill any unnatural
looking gaps between the main pebbles.

54 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 f
Probiotic & Prebiotic Quality Fish Foods
Highly Efficient Digestion for Cleaner Water
Stimune for Superior Health & Immunity
NEW
RANGE

Want More?
 Improve your
FISH
KEEPING
HOW TO
DEAL WITH

Standing up to the PROBLEM

FISH

If the peace in your community tank

has been shattered, it’s time to deal
with the troublemakers.
WORDS: NATHAN HILL

U
nless you’re the kind of fins, missing scales and torn skin are entry
psychopath who enjoys points for infection.
watching animals pitted to the Next, there are the long-term effects of
death against each other, stress. Fish subject to repeated aggression
chances are that you want a harmonious will suffer from chronic stress, and produce
and peaceful tank. corticosteroids like cortisol as a result.
Alas, some fish have their own plans These impact on the immune system,
about how aquarium life should pan out, weakening the fish until eventually it
embracing their most hellish natures and might succumb to other infections
channelling hatred to all in their vicinity. such as whitespot. More than one tank
Some fish can be ‘cured’ of their bad has been wiped out by diseases started
behaviour, while for others it can be through bullying.
innate. But whatever the circumstance,
any outbreaks of aggression need to be Spotting trouble
dealt with as and when they arise. Speed is Two fish having a tiny spat may indicate
essential, as fish can reduce each other to nothing. Loaches might rub against each
tatters in hardly any time. other, and even click audibly, but nothing
Imagine being trapped in a tiny room may come of it. Some fish need to establish
with an extremely angry wolf. For a fish pecking orders, and occasionally there’ll be
confined within the glass walls of a tank, a brief power struggle. Sometimes the first
being stuck alongside an aggressor can be hint of trouble doesn’t always mean that
just the same scenario. You wouldn’t enjoy hostilities will continue.
it, and neither would they, so be prepared Another problem is that fish may not be
to act. relentless in attacking each other. It might
The problems with bullying and fish are happen after dark, or at dawn or dusk, and
multiple. For one there’s the immediate you might only get fleeting glances of the
damage caused by biting and chasing. Split tank’s dynamic.

Male guppies are ruled by

PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

their gonopodia, so make sure

you add plenty of females to
spread out the attention.
ALAMY

56 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Back to basics

Convicts will overload your tank

with offspring — and they’ll
attack anything they see as a
threat to territory or family.

If you’re having issues

with fin-nipping Tiger
barbs, add some more!
ALAMY

Look for physical symptoms on the fish. A being pursued, they get the chance to take
missing scale, torn fin or other obvious a breath.
damage should be a cause for concern, and As well as altering the numbers, consider
if you spot any then you’ll need to camp out adding some dense areas of planting. If a girl
by the tank for a while to find out what’s can get lost in a tangle of moss for five
going on. minutes, it can make a big diference to
Behavioural signs are a good indicator. If a her day.
fish is huddled up in one corner of the tank, On the downside, all those extra females
trying to make itself as inconspicuous as mean that you’ll end up with hundreds
possible, then something is stressing it. Are of babies.
any fish giving particular tank mates a wide
berth? Fish have good memories, especially Up your numbers!
where former scules are concerned, and Some bullying is the result of misdirected
will be keen not to antagonise. If a fish is too social interaction, and is often the result of
scared to even come out and feed, you can be ill-considered shoals.
safe in betting that it’s had a run in. The classic point in case is the Tiger barb.
Left to their own devices, Tiger barbs have a
Sexual harassment complex hierarchy within a shoal, which
Some incidences of bullying aren’t involves displaying to neighbours both
aggression as such. Many fish have very larger and smaller, locking jaws, circling
basic thoughts, along the lines of ‘Can I eat each other, and opportunistic nips.
it? Can it eat me? Can I mate with it?’ Within a shoal of 30 or more fish, such
In the confines of a tank, a desirable behaviour looks like little more than
female in the company of multiple males frolicking. But when there are only three
may find herself on the wrong end of fish doing it — and many Tiger barbs in the
amorous attention, with her would-be UK are sold in trios — then it takes a new,
suitors unaware of the harm they’re causing sinister appearance.
with their relentless afections. Worse still, in their frustrations for
Typical cases of sexual over-interest interaction, Tiger barbs in a small shoal will
involve livebearers, such as guppies, platies direct their attention towards other fish
and mollies. Males of these fish exist in a passing them by. Tetras, other barbs,
permanent randy state, and females are cichlids, anything — all will receive a nip as
always on their guard. they get near.
Although sexual bullying rarely takes Tiger barbs aren’t the only ones to get
the form of nipping, it will involve ‘bored’ in small shoals. Certain deep bodied
constant hounding, leaving the female tetra like Serpae tetra show the same traits,
drained and stressed. but on a more tenacious scale.
The easiest solution is to get the ratios In the first instance, any signs of shoaling
right. For most livebearers, you’ll want fish turning on their tank mates should be
to outnumber males with females, at addressed by increasing their numbers. It’s
about a three-to-one ratio, though more important to shore up numbers with others
would work. of the same species. A common mistake is
This approach has the efect of to think that adding similar fish will have
overwhelming males with choice, so the same efect — it doesn’t! If you’re having
that their attention is divided issues with Tiger barbs, then add more
between multiple points of interest. Tiger barbs, not Cherry barbs or Rosy barbs
This means that while females are still or any other kind.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 57
 Improve your
FISH
KEEPING

Territorial bullies Belligerent as they come —

Cichlids in particular, and some catfish, are
nightmares for deciding that they ‘own’ a
Red devil cichlids take territorial
aggression to a whole new level.
Big fish, little fish:
territory, and then policing it for intruders. A simple fact of life is that big fish
Worse still, territories that remain eat small fish. When not ingesting
peaceful for some time can eventually them, larger fish can still
become war zones as fish grow and their intimidate small ones, even
territories expand. Before long, the unintentionally.
boundaries of each fish’s domain overlap
and all hell breaks loose.
Dealing with territorial fish is tricky. In
some cases, hostile flare-ups can be the
result of one fish coming into breeding
season. When one is about to have a lot of
fry swimming about, tempers can fray
towards tank mates with a potential to eat
those fry.
If aggression is going to be a temporary
thing until a fish has gotten its hormones
out of its system, then you might be best of
employing a simple tank divider for a while.
Tank dividers are as obvious as they
sound. But they can be fiddly or easy.
Traditionally, a piece of mesh or clear
acrylic/plastic was used, wedged centrally
in the tank, so that the fish could still see
each other (and in the case of mesh, smell
each other) but not reach each other.
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

A similar efect can be achieved easily by

using a foam block, such as those used in
pond filters, to keep the fish apart. This has
the benefit of allowing water to flow
through, meaning that there are fewer
issues with deteriorating water quality in fish start to reclaim new territories, the two, acting like a visual windbreaker at key
one half of the tank. fighting can start anew. points in the tank, can help to produce an
Once breeding is out of the way, the It also helps to divide the tank up into ‘out of sight, out of mind’ attitude in the
divider can be lifted, and hopefully any territories on the fishes’ behalf. If all of residents. What they can’t see cannot
rivalries forgotten. your hiding spaces and decor are in one outrage them.
Sometimes territorial disputes arise with place in the middle of the tank, it’ll be a
age. In these instances, your safest bet is to free-for-all in which the strongest can Who do we love?
periodically take away any territories. claim the lot. By breaking things down in Who do we hate?
That doesn’t mean removing everything to several small ‘islands’ of decor, fish With bullying issues, it’s often the case that
from the tank, but rather just rearranging it. can have predetermined territories the victim will be the same species as the
When fish get territorial they draw a spatial which they spend all their time bully. If the victim is also the same sex, and a
map in their minds, marking out waypoints protecting. As long as they’re happy potential rival for mating or resources, then
as ‘theirs’. Take away the map, and suddenly with their lot, they won’t usually go on a that can be all the provocation needed.
they feel like the imposter and become a lot land grab into other territories. The perfect example of this is the classic
more reticent. Breaking up line of sight is another pugilist, the Siamese fighting fish, Betta
Removing fish from the tank temporarily, strategy to reduce aggression. Fish are splendens. These fish see any other male
changing everything about, and putting (mostly) very visual animals, and their fighter (and many females) as a threat, and
them back in is a great way at temporarily world is that which they can perceive with in the confines of a tank the two will fight to
calming things down. But beware, when the their eyes. A strategically placed rock or the death. There’s no way to pacify them,

Predator and prey Bucktooth tetras are

not good choices for the
There are some relationships that simply
community tank — they
aren’t going to work out. Fox-and-chicken
are scale eaters!
scenarios with fish are more common
than you might think, and if you’ve made
the mistake of buying a piscivore, scale or
fin-eater, then the only option is to
remove the problematic fish.
Thankfully, the chances of buying a
hardcore fish-eater are slim. The likes of
Bucktooth tetra, or scale-eating
Melanochromis are the realms of
specialist retailers usually.
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

Do be careful of fish like piranha,

though. But then, if you’re buying a
piranha for a community tank, you’ve
probably got the wrong hobby.

58 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Back to basics
h
5 ways to separate fis
For small fish, the JBL Babyhome Oxygen
is an extra large spawning box featuring A hospital or quarantine tank can be used
air supply for good circulation and also a to offer respite for a bullied fish.
removable divider.

PFK/JACQUES PORTAL
WWW.JBL.DE

You can separate the tank into ...or a mesh alternative. As a short term measure, float a
two using a clear divider... separate container in the tank, but
monitor the water quality inside it.

MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

AQUARIUMPHOTO.DK

PHOTOMAX

they’ll still try to fight if you put a clear Where do you put them? than stress the fish out and leave it open
divider between them, and even a mirror is Depending on the condition of the fish to illness. Resorting to cruelty is never
enough to drive them in to a rage as they being removed from the tank, you might the solution.
attack the reflected ‘intruder’. In these need a temporary home, or a complete Likewise, putting the aggressor in
cases, you need to accept that there hospital suite. something like a tiny breeding trap is going
simply is no resolve to be had, and In the case of pulling a fish out for recovery to stress it. Furthermore, when put back in
must decide which fish to keep and which (or to let fish in the tank recover) you’ll want to the tank, it’ll take just an hour or two to
to rehouse. to set up a quarantine tank. It needn’t be pick up where it left of.
extravagant, and something of 45 x 30cm/ It goes without saying that banging against
Who to remove? 18 x 12in will suffice for fish up to 7.5cm/3in the glass will achieve nothing. Though it
During a bout of bullying it can be hard to or so as a short term, temporary measure. might momentarily distract the fish from
establish exactly which fish to remove. Do Kit the tank out with a basic air-driven beating each other, they’ll soon resume
you remove the victim, and give it time to filter, ideally one which has been running in proceedings, except this time they’ll be
heal, or do you remove the aggressor, only to an established tank. Alternatively, an air stressed with it. Don’t do it.
face issues when it’s time to return? driven box filter with media and substrate
This is a complex puzzle to try to solve. In from the main tank may suffice (though
some cases the victim might be so battered you’ll need to test your water after moving
that it needs removing either way, lest it the fish to ensure this). Why are some fish worse
becomes a victim of even the most gentle Minimal decor is needed, as the fish will than others?
fish still in the tank. be in solitary confinement, but do give it A horrid situation to be in is to have a fish
As much as it might afront our innate somewhere to hide. Keep the base of that you kept peacefully before, only to
senses of justice, this scenario of leaving the the tank clear of substrate to make find that your second attempt results in
aggressor in place might sometimes be the cleaning easier. violent outbreaks.
best. With the object of its immediate If the fish is in a bad way, then you’ll need Fish are unique in their personalities.
hatred removed, the fish may calm again, an array of medications on standby. For There are bold fish and shy fish. Even
and leave smaller tank mates alone. physical wounds, you’ll want access to among known peaceful species, there are
Another angle to note is that without the aquarium salt (which stops the fish losing some examples of the criminally insane.
‘big brother’ aspect of the bullying fish in too many essential minerals through open I’ve known of platies, Cardinal tetra and
place, the former victim, now free of its cuts) and tea tree oil based medicine like even a Corydoras catfish that have been
oppression, might bring its own reign of API’s Melafix (which is great at fighting of aggressively out of character.
terror on the tank, taking over where the bacterial infections). It cuts both ways. Some fish notorious
former bully left of. for their bad behaviour can, on rare
However, the other side of the coin is that Aversion therapy? occasions, be as good as gold. They
the victor, spurred on by his ‘success’ in There are a couple of approaches that won’t are usually exceptions to the rule, so
vanquishing his foe, now moves on to other work with fish. when talking to your retailer, ask
fish in the tank, going on a killing spree. Punishing fish for their wrongdoings what the normal behaviour is and hope
Such is the unpredictable nature of fish simply isn’t going to end bullying. Taking a that you won’t end up buying an
that you’ll need to make an assessment on a bully out of a tank and shaking it about in accidental wildcard.
case-by-case basis. the net isn’t going to do anything other

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 59
 Improve your
FISH
KEEPING

13 known troublemakers
ALAMY

SHUTTERSTOCK

Pufferfish
Aside the tiny Pygmy
type, puferfish are
notorious biters of
tank mates. It’s not
that they’re
aggressive as
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

such, but they

explore their
surroundings with
their mouths, which
are equipped with
ALAMY

sharp, cutting beaks.

ALAMY

Featherfin catfish
SHUTTERSTOCK

Ah, they look so cute when they’re young. Then suddenly they’re
over 15cm/6in long, fat, and the only fish in your tank without bite
marks. There are better options, like the true Upside down catfish.

60 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Back to basics
Kissing gourami
You’d think a fish that kisses would be full of
love, but the only thing these guys love is
beating on their tank mates. While small, they
keep it inter-species, but as they grow (and at
30cm/12in, they grow big) they’ll turn on
their neighbours.
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

Skunk loach
Not a common fish
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

in the shops, and if

you buy one you
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

won’t see it. It’ll

come out at night,
scof the eyes of
your other fish, Angelfish
then go back into A mixed bag, angelfish can be nice as pie, or
hiding. Best of luck snide swines. Usually their aggression is
ever getting it back restricted to when they spawn, at which point
out. Avoid. they’ll have half the tank to themselves.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 61
 Improve your
FISH
KEEPING
PLANTING
BASICS

The root of the

EXPLAINED

Choosing the best substrate for your planted tank

can be a daunting task for those with less experience.
Here’s how to get the right one to suit your needs.
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: GEORGE FARMER

T
he substrate in a planted coarse grains up to 2mm. They are usually from Tropica, JBL, Tetra and Colombo. One
aquarium has several purposes. quartz or silica based and should not of my home aquariums has Tropica Plant
It will provide a suitable medium adversely affect the water chemistry. Substrate topped with fine quartz gravel
to anchor the plants — the grains Because the gravel or sand has very little that is now around three years old and is
of the substrate grip the bottom of the or no nutrient content you will have to dose still providing strong plant growth for heavy
plants and roots, which prevents them from the aquarium with more liquid fertilisers. root-feeding crypts. It is important that the
floating. The substrate can also act as a This way the plants will obtain their base layer is not exposed at the top,
massive nutrient store, allowing the plants necessary food through the leaves instead of otherwise algae may proliferate. A common
to access food through their roots. A the roots. Most gravel and sand also has a guideline is to add around 1cm/0.4in of base
significant proportion of the aquarium’s very low cation exchange capacity (CEC). layer to the tank bottom then top with
biological filtration will be undertaken by a This means that the substrate does not tend 5cm/2in or more inert substrate.
mature substrate where different areas to obtain any nutrients from the water I prefer to use fine gravel with a grain size
provide home for aerobic and anaerobic column. Colours can range from lovely of 2–3mm rather than sand. Sand tends to
bacteria allowing both nitrification and natural shades to garish fluorescent pinks, compact in the long-term and can lead to
denitrification processes to occur. purples and blues. excess anaerobic areas, which can produce
Aesthetics also play an important role toxic and foul-smelling hydrogen sulphide.
with aquarium substrates and there are Layered substrates
literally hundreds to choose from. But there Layered substrates are those based on a Complete substrates
are three basic types: commercial product that is usually added to This is the fastest growing sector of the
the bottom of the aquarium, and then planted aquarium substrate market. There
Inert substrates topped with an inert substrate. They are are now dozens of complete substrates
These are the most common form of nutrient-rich and should also have a high available from a wide range of suppliers and
substrate in the aquarium hobby and CEC meaning that they have the ability to most will have the name “soil” somewhere
comprise gravel or sand. Gravels will range lock in nutrients from the water column, in their title. It is usually made by baking
in grain size from over 1cm/0.4in down to making them available to the plant roots. and tumbling soil granules to give them
2mm and are usually made up inert They provide a cost-effective solution for their consistency and spherical shape. The
minerals such as quartz (limestone-based many, especially in larger set-ups where original, and one of the most popular with
products can raise the hardness and pH of complete substrates may cost hundreds aquascapers is ADA Aqua Soil Amazonia
your water). Sands can vary in grain size of pounds. but there are many other similar products
from the finest silver sands to relatively I have had success with several products now on the market from most major

Inert Layered Complete

Pea gravel. Tropica Plant Substrate. ADA Aqua Soil Amazonia.

Silica sand. Gravel with base layer. Colombo Flora Base Pro soil.

62 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Plants

Feeding the roots

Root tabs and capsules have been on the
market since I started the hobby and
come in many shapes and sizes from
gelatine-coated capsules filled with slow
release nutrients, to compressed iron-rich
tablets. I have even spoken to some
hobbyists who like to use rabbit
droppings, although this isn’t something
that I have tried myself! The idea is to
target-feed specific plants, usually
species that have large root structures
such as Echinodorus, Cryptocoryne, and
Vallisneria. Lifespans will vary depending
on the product and set-up but they do
represent a very cost efective way to feed
the roots of your plants without relying
on a completely new substrate.

Plain sand or gravel substrates have

little nutrient content, so additional
fertilisers will be required.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 63
 Improve your
FISH
KEEPING

This set-up has an inert

substrate border with a
soil ‘island’ for the plants.

aquarium plant specialist companies like labelled as “powder”, to around 3–4mm. The
Tropica, Dennerle and JBL. powder varieties are ideal for nano aquaria
I have used many products over the years to enhance the sense of scale.
and I do believe they ofer the best substrate One of the potential disadvantages of
solution for most planted aquariums and many soils is that they can contain a lot of
aquascapes. They ofer many advantages nitrogen-based compounds including
over inert and layered substrates. They ammonia/ammonium (NH3/NH4). For this
should not be rinsed prior to adding to the reason it is important not to add livestock
tank, otherwise you will rinse the nutrients too soon. Ammonium is also known to
away and end up with a muddy mess. trigger algae in some conditions so large
Most soils will reduce the aquarium water frequent water changes need to be carried
pH and bufer it at around pH 6–6.5 making out in the first few weeks. This is less of an
it suitable for most fish, shrimp and plants. issue if a mature filter is in use but it is still a Substrate syphoning
Hardness will usually be reduced too, good idea to test the water before adding any is difficult in a heavily
making it particularly advantageous to livestock. Most aquariums with a new filter planted tank.
those in hard water areas. and soil will take two to three weeks before
The soil granules are porous, making them ammonium and nitrite are undetectable
quite light and very easy to plant into. You with test kits. The process of the soil plant growth but if you are planning any
can slope the soil steeply without fear of maturing essentially matures your filter, so major tank re-aquascaping sessions then
causing too much anaerobic bacteria arguably it could be regarded as an be prepared to make a cloudy mess as soon
because of the grain structure. They’re advantage to use soil for this reason. as you uproot your plants and/or
usually available in brown or black colours Another disadvantage of soil versus inert hardscape. The nutrient lifespan of soils
giving them an attractive natural or layered substrates is that it does have a will depend on several factors including
appearance that provides a great contrast to finite lifespan and will eventually turn into a plant species and density, lighting, CO2
the colours of the plants and livestock. muddy sludge as the grains of soil slowly and water column nutrients. The plants
Grain size can vary from very fine, often decompose. This is not an issue in terms of are able to take in nutrients from their
leaves and roots. If you add a good quality
liquid fertiliser regularly then the plant
Pick and mix! will take nutrients from both. If you don’t
Depending on the type of aquascape you dose much liquid fertiliser then the plant
are creating you can deliberately add will use the soil for the majority of its food
steep sections or mix types of substrates. source. Therefore the soil’s nutrient
There is a popular technique in content will last a lot longer if you dose
aquascaping where a pathway is added to liquid fertiliser. Another benefit to this is
the layout. This often consists of an inert that the soil will hold any excess nutrients,
sand path running from the foreground to making them available to the plants in
the background with soil either side situations where you may forget to dose
where the planting is done. Open sand liquid fertilisers or go on holiday. Think of
foregrounds are also very popular where a good soil as a big nutrient bufer.
inert sand or gravel takes the place of Other types of complete substrates
relatively high maintenance foreground include those that are not soil-based but
plants and instead the soil is planted in are a fracted clay gravel such Seachem
the midground and background. Flourite or Caribsea EcoComplete. These
lack the water conditioning qualities of

64 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Plants

Substrate dos
and don’ts

slope the substrate gradually to

DO the rear of the aquarium when
you add it. There is no real optimum
depth but I usually go for 3–5cm/1–2in
at the front to around 10cm/4in at the
rear. It is possible to go a lot deeper at
the back, especially if using soil. This
helps to create an optical illusion,
making the aquarium appear deeper
front to back than it really is.

thoroughly wash and rinse inert

DO gravels or sand because they
are loaded with dust and debris.

rinse aquarium soils,

DON’T otherwise you will rinse
the nutrients away and end up with a
muddy mess.

add water very slowly to the

DO aquarium after installing the
substrate. This will help prevent
clouding the water. I use a colander to
soils but will last indefinitely in terms the surface of the plants. This will lift up a add the water slowly after positioning
of their physical structure. They do contain lot of collected waste matter into the water the hardscape.
nutrients but typically not as much as soil. column, which should then be syphoned
away as part of your regular water change. If
Keep your bottom clean! you are doing any form of maintenance in
I usually recommend planting as densely as the aquarium and you see waste matter
you can, especially in new set-ups. This lifted into the water you should always
helps to prevent algae and allows the follow up with a water change and syphon
aquarium to look great right away. Aim to as much of it away as possible. Otherwise,
cover as much of the exposed substrate the disturbed waste matter can lead to
as possible. algae issues.
In a fish-only aquarium with no plants it is The dreaded cyanobacteria (blue green
important to maintain the substrate, usually algae) usually originates in the substrate (it
by using some form of gravel syphoning. is found naturally in almost all mature
This becomes tricky in a heavily planted substrates) and by neglecting substrate
tank but the good news is that it isn’t maintenance you will increase the chance
entirely necessary. The plants will break of transferring it into the open tank and
down and use a lot of the fish waste and onto your plants. You can usually see the
other detritus. cyanobacteria forming on the substrate line
However, the substrate is not maintenance against the aquarium glass. Excess
free and if you allow accumulation of waste ambient light in combination with poor
organic matter the result is often algae and maintenance practices will trigger it. If I plant up the aquarium
an excess of oxygen-robbing bacteria. With see it between the glass and the substrate, I
DON’T while it is full of water. I
every water change I like to remove as much will use a credit card-like implement and add just enough water to cover the
of this waste organic matter as possible. I scrape in between to dislodge any substrate, then plant, then slowly fill.
gently wave my hand just above the accumulation. This usually prevents it This avoids lots of mess — trust me!
substrate, whilst simultaneously rubbing spreading any further.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 65
 Building a fish house

Fish houses don’t

have to cost a
fortune. Here’s how
one reader bought
and converted a
garden shed on an
initial budget of £700.
WORDS: GABOR HORVATH

I
’m sure almost every fishkeeper
out there has dreamt about The shed was built,
having a place where they could delivered and
have as many tanks as they wish, ere d for £400.
cte
or at least a few more than they have
already — especially when their wife/
husband/mother/partner etc. has
warned them: “If you bring any more
aquariums into the house, then...
(please insert the relevant threat).”
For many, this might seem like an someone online who offered tailor made
unachievable dream due to a restricted — especially marine related — buildings. He delivered and even erected
budget. But you don’t have to be a experiences. Then when I got a job in my it, all for a bargain price of £400.
millionaire to own a fish house — or original profession — I’m a business
rather a fish shed, as in my case. lecturer by trade — we moved to Wales. Keeping the heat in
The house we bought wasn’t very big, but and cold out
From ‘palace’ to shed fortunately at the bottom of the garden The next step was to insulate the fish
Before I go any further, let me share there was a small, flat area — a rare find house to protect it from the winter cold
with you some background information in the Valleys — topped with a thick layer and the summer heat (this latter isn’t too
about myself. I got my very first fish of concrete. frequent in the Welsh Valleys). I knew it
tank when I was six and since then I managed to get permission from the could save me a lot of money later, so I
— wherever life threw me — I have local authority (my wife) to build a fish had to do it properly.
always had at least one aquarium. house there. However, as our resources I was lucky enough to find some
During the past 38 years, I have were running low we agreed in a budget Kingspan Celotex insulation board
successfully bred nearly 100 fish and of £700. To build a brick and mortar “seconds” nearby, so I could buy the
shrimp species. My biggest fish house building I would have needed permission required quantity for £50. I also bought a
contained over 70 tanks, but I have from the “real” authorities, therefore I big roll of bubble wrap. I started the
always considered myself as a hobby decided to buy a wooden shed. insulation with stapling a layer of bubble
breeder. I am more interested in new The first step was to determine the size. wrap to the inside of the walls, making
challenges than cashing in on large I considered the “regular” aquarium sure that the edges are overlapping. A
PHOTOGRAPHY: GABOR HORVATH UNLESS STATED

scale production of one or two selected lengths (75cm/30in, 90cm/36in and layer of 75mm/3in thick insulation board
species. When I moved to the UK in 120cm/48in) and the best possible use of and then another layer of bubble wrap
2005 I had to leave this huge fish space. It was also necessary to take into completed the insulation.
“palace” with its eight outdoor live food account the thickness of the planned The ceiling and the floor were insulated
rearing ponds behind. My only insulation, which decreased the available in a similar way. Here, unfortunately, I
compensation was that I could work for space by 10cm/4in at each side. made a huge mistake. I thought that the
a year at the Blue Reef Aquarium in As I couldn’t find the right sized shed in step-proof insulation boards could also
Portsmouth, where I gained lots of new any of the local dealers, I discovered hold the weight of the aquariums, so I

66 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Fish houses

The fish house as

it
is today, following
the redesign.
FK/NEIL HEPWORTH

didn’t cover them with a hardboard layer.

Although I placed cuts of wood under the
legs of the stands, after a few months RIGHT: DIY filters may
they started to resemble the Leaning not be pretty, but they
Tower of Pisa. As it was too dangerous, I do the job very well.
had to rebuild the fish house — but I’ll
come back to this later. BELOW: The shed
was insulated using a
DIY stands and rescued tanks combination of bubble
All the stands but one were designed and wrap and Celotex.
built by myself, using 75 x 45mm
kiln dried timber.
One stand — together with nine
ex-hamster tanks — was acquired
from a local pet shop that had
closed down. I have also ‘rescued’ a
number of aquariums, several
bought from boot sales, and also
put up ads in the local Freecycle
sites for unwanted (even broken)
fish tanks. As I was experienced in
repairing and gluing aquariums I
could fill up my fish house
practically for only the price of the
silicone glue. One quick piece of
advice here though — if you choose
to go down on this route always
purchase a top quality aquarium

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 67
silicone. You don’t want to see your fish
stock splashing in a puddle on the floor.
As the shed was a relatively small size (2.4
x 1.8m/8 x 6ft), I had to rotate the stands
into the space. With this I managed to
utilise every available inch, therefore
maximising the number of fish tanks, but
moving around was a bit difficult. When I
was alone it was fine(ish), but if I had a
visitor every move needed to be planned
carefully. Nevertheless I was very happy
that I managed to squeeze in 22 tanks.
Because I believe it is more economical to
heat the whole fish house than individual
tanks (and there is also less evaporation), I
connected a 1kW blow heater to a
thermostat set at 24°C/75°F. As a result the
top tanks reached 26–27°C/78.8–80.6°F
(ideal for breeding most fish) while the
bottom ones stayed at 21–22°C/69.8–71.6°F
— perfect for conditioning.
For keeping the tanks clean and healthy I
made some DIY internal filters, which were
supplied by a single 90 l/m air pump.
Lighting was provided by a number of
sources, including aquarium lights that had
come supplied with the tanks, and also
some energy saving lightbulbs. All the lights
were connected to a timer, which kept them
on for nine hours a day.
The fish house was also equipped with a
small built-in kitchen vent on a timer, set to
switch on for five minutes in every 15
minutes. With this I managed to keep the
humidity inside the fish house on an
acceptable level.
As I am very lucky to have almost perfect
tap water (pH 7.4, 4°GH, 2°KH, no nitrate
and very low Cl), there was no need to
install a reverse osmosis (RO) system — I
could use the water almost straight from the
tap (although just to be safe I used a small
reservoir tank).
It took me about two weeks to complete
the project (and most of the fish tanks were
ready by then) and I could soon start to Lack of waterproofing on the
populate the aquariums. The newcomers floor and some leaning tank
settled down nicely and the tanks were soon stands led to a redesign later
full of youngsters of Peacock goby,
mouthbrooding Betta, killifish, Corydoras
species — and many others.
Winter of discontent…
The first winter is always testing for
newly built fish houses, and many need
to be closed down because of the high
operating costs. Fortunately, due to the
thick insulation, which kept even the
“waste heat” from the lights and pump
inside, my fish shed worked perfectly
and quite cheaply over the winter.
There were, however, some other
issues. For the regular water changes I
had to keep the door open (to run out
with the buckets), which in turn
cooled down the fish house. Then
when the blow heater turned on it
made my back sweat, so going out to
the cold again was a sure first step
towards something nasty — in the
best case only the flu, in the worst case a
A later upgrade to the original fish house led to the front panel being removed so that stern look from my wife! The overlapping
the sides, floor and roof could be extended. positioning of the stands meant that some

68 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Fish houses

The later extension

meant the number of
tanks could be almost
ubled to 42.

of the tanks were difficult to access. There’s now room f

Furthermore the floor started to shrink and dedicated fridge freezer
potholes appeared, which made removing to keep the bloodworm
splashed water impossible. Therefore I away from the pizza!
began to think about the changes I would
make if I could redesign the fish house.
Bigger and better
It was during the second winter that some
of the stands started to lean, as mentioned
earlier, and although I managed to fix it
temporarily it was a good reason — at least
for me — to hand in a reconstruction plan.
After getting my wife’s agreement, it was
time to put the plans into action. First of all I
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

had to move the tanks and my stock to the

conservatory, strictly on a temporary basis
(I got two whole weeks before eviction). To
keep the tanks warm I covered the stands
with polystyrene boards. Then, with the
help of my father-in-law, I removed the
front panel of the old fish house and
extended the sides, floor and roof by
2.4m/8ft, using 18mm thick OSB boards. further improved the insulation. Secondly, external temperature drops under
Then we replaced the front — just in time it helps to avoid water precipitation which 12°C/53.6°F. For those (rare) hot summer
before the rain arrived. occurred on the surface of the bubble wrap. days, I have installed a switch which turns
Learning from my earlier design mistakes, And finally, it looks much better — the the lights of if the inside temperature
this time the floor got an extra layer of OSB earlier fish house had become famous increases to over 27°C/80.6°F. It keeps the
board and was covered with linoleum, among local aquarists as the “bubble aquariums in the middle row under
making it waterproof. The walls and the wrap shed”. 26°C/78.8°F most of the time, which is fine
ceiling got an extra layer of 2.5cm/1in The insulation was so successful that even with my shrimp. If the weather turns
polystyrene, for three reasons. Firstly, it has there is no need for extra heating until the dangerously hot and the water temperature

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 69
Fish houses
in those tanks exceeds 28°C/82.4°F, a The tanks are individually filtered
portable air conditioner can be called upon, rather than being on a central
connected to a pre-drilled external vent. I system, as not all Gabor’s fish
only use it as a last resort, as it gets the require the same water conditions.
electricity meter spinning like mad.
To avoid back-breaking water changes
and to make my life easier, a drain was built
into the floor. I have also installed a tap
inside, which can be connected via a garden
hose to the water supply, so I can fill the
reservoir tank — which has a capacity of
400 l/88 gal and was a new addition to the
enlarged fish house (up there without
keeping the door open). After treating the
water with JBL Biotopol I leave it to stand
with a moderate aeration for a week.
During water changes I fill the tanks
up with a flexible hose connected to
a pond pump submerged in the
reservoir tank.
Although it was considered, I decided
against a centralised filtration system,
because the species I keep often have very
diferent water requirements.
Furthermore, with individual tanks,
quarantining newcomers or isolating
occasional infections is much easier. To
avoid domestic arguments over frozen
bloodworms being too close to my wife’s
pizza, a fridge freezer was also added to the
equipment of the fish house. It is also
perfect to keep dry food, Artemia eggs
and medicines fresh and useable for
much longer.
After installing all the extras it was time
to introduce the inhabitants to their new
home. Gradually all of the stands and
aquariums were moved in. Thanks to the
new design I could now fit in 42 tanks and
there is still enough room for four people to
move around!
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

This rebuilt fish house has been up and

running for over three years now without
any issues and I absolutely love it. I don’t
plan to expand it (I think!), as it is just the
right size for me. Being a busy man with
three kids I can just squeeze into my
schedule half an hour daily for feeding and
checking the stock and 4–5 hours weekly
for maintenance (water changes, moving
stock around and suchlike). Fortunately,
The redesigned fish house has
my children are getting more and more
now been running for three
interested in being involved with these
years without problems.
activities, so we can even have a great
family time together while looking after my
various creatures.
This hopefully goes to show that almost
anyone can have their own fishy place. If
you have no garden, look around for empty
storage rooms or cellars: with the right
insulation and some creativity they can be
turned into perfect fish rooms —my first
was in an unused utility room at the
basement of a ten-story building. What I
can promise is that you will never be bored
— there is always something happening in a
fish house.
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

Next month: Gabor begins a new series

offering some insight into the life of his
fishy ‘empire’, and sharing more of his
tips and tricks of the trade.

70 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
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 Breeding
Daisy’s ricefish doesn’t require a
large aquarium, but as it’s quite a
prolific breeder, you’ll need extra
space for the eggs and fry.

Daisy
Small and perfectly formed, Daisy’s ricefish
make a fascinating breeding project.
WORDS: JOHN RUNDLE

W
hen I first started Zoologicum Bogoriense (Java) who
keeping fish back in the collected the type series and
1960s, the only ricefish photographed live fish in the field for FISH FACTFILE
that was readily available the first time. ● Common name: Daisy’s ricefish.
to the hobbyist was Oryzias latipes — an When this species first became ● Scientific name: Oryzias woworae
opaque yellow variety sold under the available to the hobby shortly after being (Orr-eye-zee-ass war-war-eye).
name of Golden medaka. The colour of described they were quite expensive, but ● Origin: South east Sulawesi.
the wild species was duller, so it was not now they can be found for under £5 each. ● Size: Up to 3cm/1.2in.
often seen for sale. ● Feeding: Flake, small frozen and
In fact most ricefish are not what we Caring for Daisies live foods.
might think of as particularly colourful. Oryzias woworae is quite a small fish, ● Availability and cost: Increasingly
But in 2010, a new species found in South with adults being between 2.6–3cm/ available, expect to pay around
East Sulawesi was described. I saw a 1–1.2in. In fact, when it was first found it £3–£4 per fish.
group of these quite small fish with their was the smallest ricefish known from
blue bodies and bright red fins in a Sulawesi. If kept in a community tank, Daisy’s ricefish originate
dealer’s tank. I could not resist and care must be taken over choice of tank from South East
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

bought all six. The fish I am talking about mates, due to their small size and Sulawesi.
is called Oryzias woworae (Parenti & peaceful nature. I have kept Corydoras
Hadiaty, 2010), which is commonly pygmaeus with them, but other fish
known in the hobby as Daisy’s ricefish. such as Pseudomugil furcatus,
The species name and the common name Microdevario kubotai and Otocinclus
share a link: woworae and Daisy. The fish vittatus will also suit.
is named for Daisy Wowor, a systematic Keep these fish in a planted tank to see
carcinologist from the Museum them at their best with the iridescent

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 75
 Did you
know?
The genus name Oryzias
is based on the Latin
word for rice — Oryza
is a genus of rice
plants — hence the
name ricefish.
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

Males are more colourful, with

longer anal and dorsal fins, and a
small bump in front of the anal fin.

blues and reds. I kept a group of them in a 50 same area females have double, flattened The eggs were around 1.5–2mm in size, and
x 30 x 20cm/20 x 12 x 8in tank with a fine rounded lobular papillae outside the they were placed in small clear plastic
grade gravel substrate and Java fern and urogenital pore. containers that I use for killifish eggs with
Java moss. The temperature was When breeding Oryzias woworae it is easy water taken from the breeding tank. On the
24–25°C/75–77°F and water parameters to understand why at one time ricefish from containers I placed the name of the fish and
were basically my local tapwater — a pH this genus were linked to killifish — the the date they were removed from the tank.
of 7 and very soft. The tank had a females have quite large eggs that are Because I had read that they could be quite
well-fitting cover glass because ricefish are deposited on plants and can take several prolific egglayers, I decided to collect eggs
rather good jumpers. days to hatch. every day and soon began to fill up most of
Diet is not a problem as these fish It is fair to say that the Daisy’s ricefish is my containers.
will take good quality flake food. I crushed easy to breed and can be quite prolific, as As the eggs got close to hatching, the tiny,
it to a suitable size prior to feeding. I mating can occur daily for a period of formed embryos could be seen curled around
also ofered them live foods such as months before there is a resting period. I am inside the egg and the eyes were quite a
microworm, brine shrimp and selected not sure if it is a seasonal activity in prominent feature. The first fry were seen
small young whiteworm. Sulawesi but I did find a paper on Oryzias after ten days and they were removed using a
latipes that gave details of a breeding season pipette with the end cut of and placed in a 35
Breeding your Daisies in Japan from April to October. I have had a x 30 x 20cm/14 x 12 x 8in tank. When
When males are adult they carry pair still breeding after three months. breeding species of killifish I remove the fry
considerably more colour, both blues and Again it is well documented that spawning from the egg containers and place them in
reds, and have longer dorsal and anal fins. takes place early in the morning — I have larger plastic containers, but because I was
They also have a more slender body shape never seen any of the males chasing the getting a nigh on continuous supply of eggs
than females. In addition, males have a females to breed, but I have seen the females and hatching fry, I thought that to place them
small pointed bump directly in front of the holding clusters of eggs. The female expels a straight into a tank was the best way to go.
anal fin — this is the genital papilla. In the pendant cluster of adhesive eggs, which are The tank contained just Java moss and Java
fertilised simultaneously by the male. I did fern plus a sponge type filter.
observe the female with clusters of eggs I measured the free-swimming fry at
Fish in space! attached to her genital pore. They would be around 3mm and they were very active,
The ricefish species Oryzias latipes has there for a period of time until she deposited swimming in midwater and near the surface.
been sent into space, where it had the them onto the spawning mops. Because of their size, they were able to take
distinction of being the first vertebrate to I allowed them to carry on spawning for newly hatched Artemia nauplii. Their daily
mate and produce healthy young in space three days, then I removed the mops, gently diet was microworm or ZM 000 grade
on the space shuttle Columbia in 1994. squeezed out the surplus water and powdered fry food in the morning, with
The species returned to space in 2012, removed about 25 eggs by hand. There were Artemia in the late afternoon.
launched aboard a Soyuz spacecraft, single eggs and also clusters of up to five; the The group of fish I kept in the planted tank
Soyuz TMA-06M, and was housed in an eggs had a zona pellucida (a thick did breed but not many fry survived. The
aquarium aboard the International membrane surrounding the fully formed adults will eat newly hatched fry if they get
Space Station. egg) and a clearly visible quite long sticky the chance, but if you just wanted to
filament arising from the egg membrane. raise a few, you could remove any you see.

76 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Breeding
Females carry the egg
clusters around before
Where do
depositing them on leaves ricefish belong?
or spawning mops. When I first started keeping fish in the
1960s, the small number of ricefish
species that were around at this time were
thought to be closely related to killifish
— even considered a sub-family.
Since then there have been various
schools of thought as to where ricefish
should be taxonomically. In 1981, Rosen
and Parenti reclassified ricefish in the
order Beloniformes, removing them from
the order Cyprinodontiformes (killifish,
guppies) with which they have been
associated since their description. In this
revised classification, ricefish comprised
the family Adrianchyidae — without
making things too complicated, this
brings them very close to halfbeaks,
needlefish and flying fish.
In another paper in 2008 by Lynne R.
Parenti, the author classified ricefish in
the family Adrainichtyidae and two
ALAMY

genera Adrianichthys, with four species

(all found in Lake Poso in Sulawesi) and
24 species of Oryzias. In a more recent
paper, the species of Oryzias have risen to
31, and it is thought there are still more
new species to be found.
The genus Oryzias ranges from India
through Southeast Asia to Korea, Japan
and through the islands of the
Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Species can be found living in fresh water,
JOHN RUNDLE

brackish and even in a marine

environment, where they can move freely
between marine and brackish waters. All
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

the species are small with most at less

Ricefish fry. than 5cm/2in. Several are tiny at
2.5cm/1in or less, and the giant of the
genus is the Yellowfin ricefish, O.
profundicola, which can reach a whopping
6.4cm/2.5in!
The embryo can be clearly Since Oryzias woworae was described
seen inside this egg. in 2010 there have been quite a few more
species of ricefish found, the bulk of these
coming from Sulawesi. Two more
colourful species were named in a paper
Young Daisy’s in 2013 — they are Oryzias asinua and O.
ricefish. wolasi — and in another paper in 2014 a
very attractive species was named as
Oryzias soerotoi. It is for sure that more
will be found.

THINK TANK
● Size: 50 x 30 x 20cm/20 x 12 x 8in
minimum for a group of six.
● Type: Species tank or community
with small, peaceful fish.
● Decor: A planted tank will show of
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

these fish to great efect. Provide fine

leaved plants or artificial alternatives
for the females to deposit eggs.
● Water chemistry: pH 6–7.5, soft to
medium hardness 5–12°H.
● Temperature: 24–25°C/74–75°F.
● Notes: A well-fitting cover glass is
essential to prevent these fish from
jumping out.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 77
 Buyer
Some marine fish have the ability to deliver a
painful sting or bite — or even poison you or their
tank mates. So it pays to know what you are dealing
with and the precautions to take.
WORDS: DAVE WOLFENDEN

T
here are a number of marine animal’s mouth. Incidentally,
fish that can bite, sting or morays appear to have toxins in
poison you or the other fish in their blood, so be very careful if an
the aquarium — and some of eel is injured.
these are actually very popular aquarium Also of concern is the
species. While cases of aquarists being possibility of a serious
injured are rare, it’s best to be aware of secondary infection. Moray
the risks and know how to avoid them. mouths are pretty dirty, and
the remnants of food lurking
It bites... between their teeth play host
Plenty of SCUBA divers have come a to some potentially nasty
cropper from getting too close to a bacteria, which can be injected
moray. Many species have fearsome deep into the skin. That means
teeth (possibly in multiple rows), and a risk of septicaemia — not a
they rely on sense of movement to nice prospect.
ambush prey — moray eyesight isn’t the Therefore, keep your hands away from
best. Start poking around one, and the business end of morays at all times,
frankly you’re asking for trouble. and if you’re cleaning the aquarium,
Morays are often found in the hobby, watch out for them sneaking up on you.
and whilst crustacean feeders such as Never be tempted to feed these fish
the Zebra and Snowflake morays by hand — it’s just too risky — instead
(Gymnomuraena zebra and Echidna opt for a set of tongs or use a
nebulosa respectively) don’t possess as feeding stick.
fearsome a bite as piscivorous species Other fish which can
(including the Leopard moray, deliver painful bites
Gymnothorax favagineus, and the include puffers,
stunning Dragon moray, Enchelycore porcupinefish and
pardalis), treat them all with respect. triggers. The teeth of
Apart from the obvious trauma (those these fish can be formidable —
needle-sharp teeth sure can make a larger triggers have powerful jaws
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

mess), there’s a risk of toxicity. The jury’s and chisel-like teeth, whereas puffers
out on the true mechanism of toxicity in and porcupinefish possess fused,
morays, but current thinking is that beak-like teeth. Be very careful when
there is a risk of toxins being introduced handling larger specimens, and avoid
through the mucous lining of the hand feeding.

Poison in a box
Not directly a risk to the aquarist, the boxfish and cowfish from the family Ostraciidae
engage in ‘chemical warfare’ to dissuade would-be predators. A cocktail of toxins is
released in the mucus, including pahutoxin (or ostracitoxin); this ‘soapy’ compound has
haemolytic efects on fish, breaking down red blood cells — including those of the boxfish
itself. There may be other chemicals released which actively repel other fish. In the fish’s
natural environment, such a potent mix of chemical weaponry is rapidly diluted, but in
the aquarium with its limited volume of water, a wipe out can be the result.
So, choose tank mates carefully for these fish, avoiding aggressive species that may
stress them.

78 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Marine

ALAMY
Baby teeth
Honourable mention goes to the fang blennies of the genus
Meiacanthus. As the name suggests, these fish have fangs linked
to a venom gland, which can be used defensively. The fangs
themselves are tiny and the venom should not cause major
problems. Even so, ‘better safe than sorry’ is the rule here, and
providing they’re always captured and moved by a net (and never
handled), they should present no issues. They’re actually lovely
fish, and can be a great addition to the reef aquarium.
ALAMY

Fish with flick knives

The surgeonfish or tangs are so-called because of the extremely
sharp spines used as defensive weaponry, located on the caudal
peduncle (the base of the tail). The name ‘tang’ refers to the
blade of a knife, and surgeons, of course, use scalpels — and
these spines really are that sharp. There may be one or two pairs
of spines, which are flicked outwards when needed, causing
often-fatal wounds in other fish — and get on the receiving end
of one yourself, and it’s not much fun. Some species of
surgeonfish appear to have venom glands at the base of the
spines, although this is unlikely to be life threatening. In any
case, surgeonfish should be netted with great care, and always
avoid handling them to eliminate the risk of getting sliced.

Raised in defence —
these spines can cause
a nasty wound.
ALAMY

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 79
Venomous fish If you’re
stung...
GER RAT
N IN
Although the
DA

chances of being
G DA

stung are rare if

G

sensible precautions
IN

N
GE
R RAT are taken, it is
essential to seek
professional help for
a sting from any of
Sea goblins these fish. Many of
The fish that oicially the venoms used are
answers to the name of heat labile proteins,
Inimicus didactylus which break down
(meaning ‘enemy with two under high
digits’, in reference to the temperatures
finger-like modified — that’s why it’s
pectoral fin rays), is also recommended to
referred to as the Popeye immerse the
sea goblin or Bearded affected area in very
ghoul. A cryptic ambush hot water. This can
predator, it lies motionless help, but medical
in wait, but will adopt a attention is
striking posture when necessary to prevent
threatened, splaying its complications and
brightly-coloured fins. provide any
Venom is administered necessary therapy,
through a number of as Vibrio infections
dorsal spines, and and tetanus are
fatalities have been possible. Some folks
reported. Several other may also be allergic
species are found in the to the venom
genus, and they’re all without knowing it,
extremely venomous. making the effects
even more serious.
ALAMY

Rabbitfish
GER RAT There are several species of rabbitfish available in the hobby, with
N
IN
DA

the foxfaces (genus Siganus, formerly Lo), being the most popular.
G DA

Foxfaces have a lot going for them – they’re great-looking, active

and fantastic grazers. However, they need to be handled with care,
G
IN

N
GE as they’re venomous, in common with all members of the family.
R RAT Specifically, the dorsal, ventral and anal fins possess venomous
spines, so handling is a no-no. A sting is highly unlikely to be
fatal, but it won’t be pleasant, with intense pain over several
hours reported.

GER RAT
N
IN
DA
AMADA44, CREATIVE COMMONS

G DA
G
IN

N
GE
R RAT

Stingrays
Marine stingrays have formidable weaponry on their tails. In the
hobby, you’re most likely to encounter the Bluespotted ribbontail ray,
Taeniura lymma, from the Indo-West Pacific, with a disc size of up to
30cm/12in. The ray’s sting (some have two) takes the form of a
serrated barb surrounded by a membrane or sheath, in which the
venom is found. Get nailed by one, and the barb slices the skin,
puncturing the membrane and the venom is introduced. This leads to
pain, swelling and profuse bleeding. Wounds may take a long time to
heal, and there’s the added risk of secondary infection although a
sting is unlikely to be fatal. Stingrays use this efective approach only
ALAMY

for defence, but great care needs to be taken when netting them.

80 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Marine

GER RAT
Lionfish N

IN
DA
Lionfish (Pterois and

G DA
Dendrochirus spp.) deliver their

G
venom through numerous

IN
N
spines on the fins, which GE
R RAT
resemble hypodermic needles.
Whilst not overly aggressive to
aquarists, accidents do occur
during routine maintenance,
where carelessness is to blame.
Localised swelling and
infections are possible, plus
giddiness and heart problems
in some instances, and in a
few cases necrosis of the
afected tissue can result —
some stings take many months
to heal up, often with
long-term efects.
ALAMY

Stonefish
The title of most venomous marine fish surely has to
go to the stonefish of the genus Synanceia (several
species, including S. verrucosa from the Indo-Pacific,
which reaches over 30cm/12in). The name is apt
— these cryptic ambush predators perfectly imitate
encrusted rock, patiently waiting for unsuspecting
victims to be snapped up. Their camouflage really is
incredible, and they’re amazing fish.
As a defence mechanism, they employ a
powerful neurotoxin delivered by stout dorsal fin
spines, and this is the real deal — efects include
intense pain, nausea, respiratory collapse, and in
GER RAT some cases death.
N
IN
DA

These fish do occasionally make their way into the

G DA

trade, but are generally snapped up by public

G

aquariums for predator exhibits. These will

SHUTTERSTOCK

IN

N
GE have strict protocols for working with the fish and
R RAT emergency procedures in case of envenomation.
On balance, they’re too risky for a home aquarium.

GER RAT
Coral catfish N
IN
DA

The Coral catfish, Plotosus lineatus, from the

G DA

Indo-Pacific is fairly readily imported into the hobby.

G

As juveniles, they’re appealing, with cute looks and a

IN

N
gregarious disposition, forming a tight ball-like GE
R RAT
group. As adults, they become solitary and much less
attractive (as well as reaching nearly 30cm/12in in
length), so they’re not ideal for the typical reef tank.
In any case, at all life stages they are (to quote one
paper from the literature) ‘highly venomous’. The
dorsal and pectoral fins have near-invisible spines
which deliver a potent venom. The efects vary, but
include intense pain and other neurological issues,
plus the risk of shock, swelling, gangrene in rare
cases, and deaths have been reported — yikes!
For this reason, treat these fish with a healthy
dollop of respect and be very careful performing
aquarium maintenance. Never, ever handle these
fish directly. Instead, use a net with an
appropriately-sized mesh to prevent the spines from
getting snagged.
ALAMY

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 81
Fishkeeping
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OUR TEAMOFEXPERTS

TRISTAN LOUGHER BOB MEHEN has been GEORGE FARMER JAMES KNOCK has JEREMY GAY has kept NEALE MONKS
works in aquatic retail keeping fish since the is a world-renowned owned and managed fish most of his life. He’s has kept fish for over
and has sold marines 1970s and has a aquascaper. He shops for over 30 years. managed an award- 20 years. He has
for 15 years. He has particular passion for co-founded the UK He breeds a range of winning store and is a authored a number
written books and catfish. He helps to Aquatic Plant Society freshwater tropicals, has former PFK editor. He’s of fishkeeping books
taken part in research moderate the PFK and now works as a a life-long interest in now Evolution Aqua’s and has a particular
projects. Tristan website forum and freelance aquatic aquatic plants and is a business development passion for brackish
works at Cheshire excels at advising and specialist. great advocate of manager. species.
Waterlife. guiding new keepers. low-tech natural set-ups.
❯
www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 83
 Fishkeeping Answers
TROPICAL

Q. What can I keep

with spiny eels?
MARK AMOS, EMAIL

It depends a lot on the eel! Big species

A like Fire and Tyre-track eels are
intolerant of one another but can be
kept with larger community fish such as
Climbing perch, Siamese tiger fish, Kissing
gouramis and so on. Just avoid tank mates
that compete strongly for food, at least until
your eel is tame enough to be hand fed.
The smaller eels are more problematic.
Macrognathus species (including the
Peacock spiny eel seen in many aquarium
shops) are fairly sociable, so they can be
kept in groups. All these small spiny eels are
burrowers that do best in tanks with a sandy
substrate, and get damaged when kept in
tanks with gravel. Once the skin is scratched
they seem to be peculiarly sensitive to
bacterial infections that quickly kill them if
not controlled with antibiotics.
Anyway, if you set up a tank suited to
these small spiny eels, you can add all sorts
of tank mates provided they’re peaceful
and not so small they’d be viewed as food.
Livebearers are a good choice because
they appreciate similar (neutral, not too
soft) water chemistry including the small
amount of salt (1–2 g/litre) that seems to
help keep spiny eels in tip-top condition.
Since they’re algae-eaters that largely feed
from the surface during the day, livebearers
aren’t competing for the bloodworms and
other meaty foods you’ll be putting out for
your spiny eels when the lights are out. Or if
you’re keeping your eels in plain freshwater, Open topped tanks are
any of the more peaceful tetras, rasboras, increasingly popular, but there
is a risk of fish jumping out.
danios and barbs could work. I’d skip catfish
and loaches as they’re likely to steal the
Tropical letter
food you put out for the eels, and alongside of the month
suicidal leaps from open-topped tanks,
starvation is one of the commonest causes
of spiny eel deaths in home aquaria.
NEALE MONKS
Q. Will dropping the water level
by a few inches stop fish jumping
Avoid keeping spiny eels with
bottom dwellers that might
compete with them for food.
from an open-topped tank?
JASON ELLWOOD, BERKS.

A Open-topped tanks can look fantastic

and allow dramatic aquascaping
techniques that may not be possible with a
carpet or down the back of the aquarium
cabinet. Even tanks with well fitted hoods
and covers can lose fish through tiny gaps
hood or cover glasses, but with the obvious at the back for cables and pipework — some
drawback of excessive evaporation and the species seem hell-bent on suicide or have a
potential for fish to jump out. Dropping the fatal curiosity for what’s on the other side of
water level a couple of inches can indeed the cover glass.
help prevent many fish jumping, but some The only way to be certain fish won’t jump
species will still be at risk, especially if is to have tightly fitting covers. Having said
startled by sudden movement or changes in this, the addition of floating plants where
light levels. possible can help. Some fishkeepers also
In the wild, jumping when frightened report that small covers fitted to the tanks
makes perfect sense as the fish is almost corners on otherwise open aquaria help
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

certain to land back in water and may avoid prevent jumpers as fish often jump when
GEORGE FARMER

being eaten. In the average living room they’re spooked and swim rapidly to the
however, this well-honed self-preservation side of the tank and then up when they
instinct soon leads to a sorry end on the reach a corner. BOB MEHEN

84 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 It’s best to avoid fish
sold just as ‘algae eating
plec’ or ‘common plec’.

TROPICAL
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

Q. When will this fish stop growing?

I purchased an algae eating plec last Pterygoplichthys sp. Sadly these fish are they are hungry due to lack of suitable food.
year for my 90cm/36in planted tank. still extremely common in the trade and My advice would be to re-home the
It has done very well — perhaps too sold as a cure for algae problems. However unfortunate fish if at all possible. The
well, as it’s now nearly 17cm/6.8in long they rapidly grow to in excess of 30cm/12in majority of algae can be dealt with by
and is really much too big. Will it keep and produce so much waste in doing so you, the aquarist with the aid of an algae
growing and will it harm my other they often end up contributing to the algae scraper for the glass and through better
fish? I have Black neon tetras, a Dwarf problems they were bought to cure. Their control of light levels and increased tank
gourami, Dalmatian mollies and sheer size is also an issue as they move maintenance. If you still have nuisance
three Corydoras. around the tank, spooking other fish, eating algae then consider one of the smaller
MRS. N. MARTIN, KENT. and uprooting plants, so they are a poor cousins of your monster plec, perhaps a
choice as an aquarium fish in most cases. bristlenose plec or a shoal of five of more
You don’t specify which species of plec They are generally not a threat to small charming little Otocinclus catfish, both of
A you have, but given the description and
size of the fish it seems almost certain to
fish such yours, but occasionally specimens
can become aggressive or try and latch onto
which are better algae eaters and won’t
outgrow your tank.
be one of the species sold as ‘common plec’, the sides of flat-bodied fish, especially if BOB MEHEN

TROPICAL

Caridina dennerli. Caridina sp. ‘Poso red’. Blue leg Poso shrimp,
Caridina caerulea.
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

SHUTTERSTOCK
ALAMY

Q. Which species of Sulawesi shrimp should I start with?

TREVOR ROSS, EMAIL

A The various Caridina species endemic

to Sulawesi are substantially more
delicate than Cherry shrimp. Sulawesi
They don’t compete well with other shrimp
or fish, and are best kept in a system of their
own. Diferent species might be expected to
sp. ‘Cardinal’ seems to be typical of the
group in terms of care, but its bright colours
make it a species well worth keeping.
shrimp prefer warmer conditions hybridise in captivity since they’re all quite On the other hand, Caridina caerulea, the
(26–28°C/79–82°F) and medium hardness, closely related, but this doesn’t seem to Blue leg Poso shrimp, is more adaptable
neutral to slightly basic water completely happen much. Nonetheless, if producing than most, and captive bred individuals
free of nitrite and ammonia. Like other good quality youngsters is something you verge on being quite hardy little animals,
shrimps they’re algae eaters for the most want to do, you’d do best keeping a single but it’s not as colourful as some of
part, but the tiny invertebrates that grow species per set-up. the Sulawesi shrimp, being basically
on freshwater sponges and clumps of algae Once you get past these basic requirements transparent except for the blue markings on
seem to be important too, so a mature tank there doesn’t seem to be much in it when it its legs and tail.
with decent lighting is needed for success. comes to choosing between species. Caridina NEALE MONKS
❯
www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 85
 Fishkeeping Answers
MARINE

Q. Can I mix filtration methods in my marine system?

STU WATTS, EMAIL

A Triton, Ecosystem, Berlin, Zeovit —

there are many filtration methods in
use on reef tanks around the world and all
work, but yes, the good news is that you
can also create your own method. Triton
and Ecosystem share the use of macroalgae
in the sump and Triton, Berlin and Zeovit
share the use of protein skimmers. What all
methodologies share is a way of exporting
nutrients from the system, which would
otherwise cause algae via nitrates and
phosphates, and a way of adding oxygen.
So you could run a protein skimmer and
an algae bed, a skimmer and a mud bed
or a deep sand bed or all of them within a
multi-chambered sump. Biopellet reactors
and Zeovit reactors need to be combined
with skimmers to remove sloughed of
biofilms and if you want to carbon dose to
reduce nitrates and phosphates instead of
using conventional phosphate removers or
macroalgae then you’ll also need a skimmer
too. There isn’t much you can’t combine,
despite some manufacturers urging you
not to. So if you want to attack phosphate There are various ways to
on three levels via macroalgae, wet ferrous remove nutrients from the
oxide and carbon dosing, and run a reef tank — use whatever
skimmer, you can do. methods work best for you.
ALAMY

JEREMY GAY

TROPICAL

Q. Are these little catfish eating my eggs?

I have a 60 x 30 x 30cm/24 x 12 x 12in tank aquarium after they have spawned will greatly inside it. Similarly, a good clump of a low
housing 11 Kitty tetras and six Otocinclus. reduce the success rate, due to predation of foreground plant such as Sagittaria subulata
I was told that the Otocinclus would be a the fry (and to a lesser extent the eggs) by the makes an almost impenetrable jungle in
good choice because they leave fish eggs adult fish. Kitty tetra don’t have parental care which young fry can hide. And lastly, add
and fry alone, but for all the times I’ve instincts, and will happily eat their own young. a thick layer of well-soaked oak or beech
tried to spawn the tetra, nothing comes of Your Otocinclus may be eating the occasional leaves to the bottom of the aquarium.
it. I condition them with bloodworm and egg, but I doubt they are the main problem. These will not only provide yet more cover
fresh Daphnia, and the females get really If you don’t have another aquarium to put for the young fish, but as they gradually
plump, but then over a few mornings the the adults in after spawning, then you will have decompose they will provide the fry with the
females go thin again and I see no eggs or to look at ways to prevent them from eating microscopic food they require.
fry. What am I doing wrong and how can their eggs and fry. There are a few things I’d JAMES KNOCK
I get success with fry? Are the Otocinclus suggest to help with this. Firstly, try adding
eating eggs at night? a really good thick ball of Java moss. This is
My water is a mix of RO and tapwater, not only an excellent spawning medium, but
and I have a pH of 6.8 when I test in the its dense structure makes it diicult for
evening. I don’t use carbon dioxide and I’m the hungry adults to reach the eggs
not heavily planted, my nitrates, nitrites
and ammonia are always kept under
control. The substrate in the tank is mainly
sand with a little gravel, and there is some
bogwood and Java moss for decoration.
Any advice you can ofer would be a
great help.
J. LYLE, EMAIL
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

A While it may be possible to raise small

numbers of fry in with the adults, in
order to get good numbers you would
need to remove the adults after
spawning. You don’t mention this in
your letter, so I assume you are leaving Otos aren’t particularly
them together. Leaving the adults in the known for being egg eaters.

86 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Plant letter Halimeda growing on live
of the month rock — but not all seaweeds
are easy to identify.

Q. What are the best

foreground plants?
What are the best low include Cryptocoryne parva and
growing plants to plant out Lilaeopsis brasiliensis. Other
the foreground? I have a 60 options can include covering
l/13 gal community tank stones with moss or using
with a high output LED bar. Cladophora balls.
The pH is 7.0, temperature is My best advice is to have a
25.5°C/76°F and the tank has look at all of the candidates
a few species of tetra in it. and make your decision based
PAUL SHERWOOD, EMAIL on your taste, how much
maintenance you wish to carry
Which species you choose out and what kind of aquascape
A to plant your foreground
depends on several factors.
you are after. If you wish to grow
the more demanding species
You mention a high output such as Glossostigma and
LED light unit so let’s assume Hemianthus “Cuba” then you
you have enough light to grow may need to invest in a CO2 kit
anything. You don’t mention if and some comprehensive liquid
you use CO2 injection or liquid fertilisers, unless you have
carbon, or what substrate and them already.
SHUTTERSTOCK

liquid fertilisers you use, and My personal favourite in a

these are vital components smaller aquarium like yours
if you wish to succeed with would be some tissue-cultured
some species. Eleocharis “Mini”. This is a
The easiest carpeting species slow grower and stays short MARINE
include Eleocharis parvula and making it suitable for smaller
Marsilea hirsuta. These can
grow without CO2 addition but
aquascapes. The fine textures
help give a good sense of scale.
Q. Is there a book available
growth will be slow. Ideal low
maintenance foreground plants
Good luck!
GEORGE FARMER
to help identify the seaweeds
in my tank?
Eleocharis makes a DEREK BUNN, EMAIL
good carpeting plant.

A Marine algae can be annoying, beautiful or even both in

the context of marine aquaria. Identifying them to species
level can be rather diicult unless you are a marine botanist or
at least have some experience of using taxonomic keys. The best
book I have found for aquarists is Julian Sprung’s Problem Solver
Guide to Algae, which is available from online retailers. It not only
identifies many common genera/species of macroalga but also
suggests methods of control where required. It is not definitive,
but as a starting point, it’s an excellent tool.
I have found web based ID guides such as the Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute’s Guide to the Marine Plants of
Panama (http://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/pacificalgae/) an excellent
resource that is not diicult to use. Bear in mind that although
this is specific to the Eastern Pacific that many marine algae
are circumtropical in distribution and others may be identified
to genus level by using these photographic keys and then
subsequently researched further.
The University of Hawaii has a photographic guide to invasive
species of algae which is useful (www.hawaii.edu/reefalgae/
natives/sgfieldguide.htm) and it may be worthwhile seeing if
there are any pictorial guides published online by photographers
working in the areas of the world where live rock and coral base
rock may be imported from.
My friend Philippe Poppe (www.poppe-images.com) has an
excellent website dedicated to photographing every marine
GEORGE FARMER

organism of the Philippines — an ambitious project but one that

is well underway and algae are well represented there.
TRISTAN LOUGHER
❯
www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 87
 Fishkeeping Answers
If you think you might upgrade to corals
later on, avoid stocking a FOWLR set-up
with anything that’s not totally reef safe.
Centropyge angels, for example, may
nibble LPS corals.

Marine letter
of the month

Q. Which marine tank is the better option?

ALAMY

I have been given the choice of two equipment out of the aquarium. Modern So far as fish inclusions are concerned
120cm/4ft marine tanks free of charge. external filters can be purchased with UV you really need to get out to dealers and
One has a sump, the other has two external sterilisers or integral heaters so they can see what is available. Perhaps the toughest
filters. I wish to keep fish with various help to conceal equipment too. thing to decide is whether you are going to
inverts, live rock but no corals. What Sumps can contain interesting inclusions create a system that embraces fish species
equipment would I need and which tank such as refugiums, deep sand beds or rubble that cannot be maintained with corals; for
would be the better option? Also could you zones to name but three. They also house example, many species of butterflyfish that
please give me an idea of what fish would be large bits of kit such as protein skimmers thrive in live rock based aquaria but will
suitable? that many aquarists see as important in the predate sessile invertebrates. Or you could
MR M. ELLIOT removal of organic waste in marine aquaria. select species that are able to be kept with
For fish only with live rock (FOWLR) corals with a view to increasing the scope of
Both external filters and sumps and no coral then a basic T5 fluorescent or the aquarium as you gain confidence. Often
A increase the volume of the entire
system, which should result in greater
LED lighting set-up is perfectly adequate.
I like to encourage calcareous alga to grow
the main diference between a FOWLR
system and full reef is the lighting used
stability. A sump is likely to be a larger to give the substrate a more natural and and the tighter maintenance of the water
volume than two external filters though. A highly attractive look so a couple of T5s is parameters and so upgrading in the future is
sump will also give you options for placing minimum for me. definitely an option. TRISTAN LOUGHER

PLANTS

Q. Why is this plant losing

its leaves?
I recently bought some Anubias and I keep finding perfect leaves,
complete with stem, that have become detached from the plant. Is
this normal with newly added Anubias?
CAITLYN, EMAIL

A I’ve witnessed this in my own tanks on occasion. It’s possible

that the plant is having trouble adjusting from its previous
emerged (grown out of water) state to its new submerged home.
Reasons for its trouble making the transition may include lack
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM

of circulation and/or nutrients reaching the rhizome — the set-

ups where I have seen this have a high density of Anubias leaves,
meaning the water circulation isn’t reaching all of the plant.
Rub the entire plant with your hands and gently move the leaves
with your fingers to detach any troublesome leaves. Ensure the
rhizome has access to the circulating water.
GEORGE FARMER

88 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 TROPICAL
Freshwater stingrays demand
excellent water quality.
Q. Why won’t my Dermogenys
halfbeaks breed?
KARL MASON, EMAIL

A Halfbeaks pose an odd problem when it comes to breeding.

While they are livebearers, and mating takes place readily,
the females don’t seem to have the fertility of poeciliids like
guppies and mollies. Furthermore, the females are also rather
more sensitive during pregnancy and prone to miscarriages.
Ensure you start with healthy, relatively young adults that are
eating a good varied diet. A mix of herbivore and carnivore foods
is recommended, something like Spirulina flake as the staple,
augmented with small live foods, wingless fruit flies being
especially good. Frozen foods can work too, but you want a good
variety. Bloodworms, brine shrimp, lobster eggs — it’s all good!
Halfbeaks have huge appetites, but often lose out in boisterous
community tanks, so keeping them on their own is recommended,
especially if you want to breed them. Gentle filtration and plenty of

ALAMY
floating plants will help the females feel secure. Medium hardness TROPICAL
freshwater through to slightly brackish water should work nicely;
there’s no need to add salt unless yours are listless or sufering
health problems, but it’s good to know you can add salt (a couple
Q. Can I used de-ionised water?
grams per litre) if you need to perk them up or for that matter treat I’m setting up a 9000 l inexpensive but help to extend
against whitespot without using other chemicals. Halfbeaks dislike indoor pond for stingrays the life of the very expensive RO
changes in water chemistry, so don’t change their environment too and discus and I am now membrane, so skip any units
much. 10-15% water changes every few days is rather better than weeks away from filling the without substantial carbon
big, but less frequent water changes. pond for the first time. I live pre-filters and where economy
Males harass the females. If at all possible, remove them after in a hard water area and is important, don’t compromise
breeding. Alternatively, keep more females than males, and ensure I’m on a water meter so I’m on getting a system with a
there are enough floating plants to break up the lines of sight looking at ways of reducing second carbon filter. Where
between the fish. Halfbeaks may well be gregarious in the wild, but the spend on water. I will you do get some wiggle room is
in aquaria they seem to like to spread themselves out. be trying to achieve a pH of efficiency. The amount of waste
Floating plants will also provide lots of shelter for the newborn around 6.8 — my tapwater is water per litre of RO water
fry. Halfbeaks aren’t terribly predatory towards their ofspring, and nearer 8.3. produced will vary from model
in a tank with floating plants most will survive a day or two, giving What are the benefits of to model, and it may well be that
you ample time to corral them into a large breeding trap or better deionised water as opposed a slightly more expensive but
still, net them into another tank. Apart from the fact you need the to RO and can it be used to more efficient RO filter will save
right food for them, the fry are easy to rear. Frozen lobster eggs and fill the pond and achieve the you money on your water bills
very finely powdered flake food both work, though newly hatched pH I need? I’m thinking of in the long term. Bear in mind
brine shrimp and the smallest Daphnia are even better. Provide at the wastage involved with that the ‘waste’ water from your
least four meals per day and keep nitrate below 20 mg/l if possible. RO water. RO system might have some
Most problems with babies come down to lack of food and/or DAVID HARRIS, EMAIL uses: watering the garden or
exposure to old, dirty, oxygen-poor water. washing the car for example.
So far as fishkeeping goes, You’ll need to add some sort
NEALE MONKS
A both methods remove
impurities from water including
of bufering mix to RO water.
Commercially available discus
Don’t assume that halfbeaks nitrate and the minerals that bufer will work nicely, and
will be easy to breed, just cause general hardness and should fix the pH around 6.5
because they are livebearers. carbonate hardness. Indeed, or 7 depending on the brand,
they’re often used together, which is perfect for the South
RO first because it’s relatively American stingrays usually
cheap but only around 90-odd% kept by aquarists. Remember
efective, and deionisation that the pH itself isn’t all that
afterwards. That’s the standard important, and pH levels below
approach among American 7 will tend to reduce the rate
reekeepers and increasingly at which biological filtration
common in the UK. occurs, so there’s no real need
While deionisation can also to create acidic conditions
be used on its own this is rarely where you’re keeping large,
done because of its expense. So, messy carnivores like stingrays.
where budgetary constraints It’s the dissolved minerals
exist, RO is probably the way and dissolved metabolites,
forward. When it comes to especially the nitrate, that
choosing RO filters there are cause problems, so the aim is
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

several factors to consider, but to lower hardness (anywhere

the most important is that the between 5-10˚H is fine)
RO system has a sediment trap while keeping nitrate below
and at least one carbon filter 20 mg/l and ammonia and
in front of it, preferably two. nitrite at zero.
Carbon filters are relatively NEALE MONKS ❯
www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 89
 Fishkeeping Answers

Q. Help! My plants won’t grow

PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

Striking a balance between the

needs of your fish and that of
the plants is key to success.

Craig Stewart from Essex has a planted community tank

— or he’d like one. Unfortunately he’s having problems
getting the plants to grow. Tetra’s Dave Hulse advises.
Craig’s problem actually remove precious carbon dioxide Start from the bottom
“I am having trouble with growing plants from the water. When planning a planted aquarium, we
in my 90 l/20 gal community tank. I keep Lighting can also be a problem as plants need to start from the bottom. Having a
getting fluffy dark brown algae on the are dependent on artificial lighting from nutrient-rich planting substrate is essential.
decor and leaves and the plants just don’t fluorescent bulbs or LEDs to mimic the I’m making an assumption here that you do
seem to grow. I’d like to pull them out and tropical sun. Many fish in comparison are not have a planting substrate in your tank,
start again. Please can you give me some photophobic, feeling vulnerable in bright so this would be an important addition to
tips on what will grow best and if I can open spaces with most tropical freshwater make your tank more plant-centred. There
avoid having the same problem again?” fish preferring a dimly lit aquarium. are many substrates available such as Tetra
Lastly many plants require a deep, nutrient- ActiveSubstrate which reduces organic
Dave says: rich substrate in which to root but many fish water pollution and helps the cycling
To look after any aquatic animal or plant species are best kept with a thin gravel or process, however to install the new
successfully we need to provide sand layer which can easily be cleaned with a substrate you will have to remove fish and
environmental conditions that meet its gravel syphon to remove solid wastes. water from your 90 l/20 gal tank and take
requirements. Plants have diferent needs Therefore, as the environmental conditions out the old gravel. Ensure you can safely
to fish or invertebrates and a tank designed for keeping tropical aquarium fish and look after your fish while this upgrade to
to efectively keep these animals can growing plants vary so much, a compromise your tank is under way.
often be a challenging environment for has to be sought. This usually involves If you are able to install a planting
growing plants. planning the tank primarily around planting, substrate you should notice a rapid and
Filters in aquariums require a strong flow then selecting fish that will thrive in a plant- profound improvement in plant growth
of water in order to process waste from centred display. Adding plants after selecting (assuming sufficient light and CO2 levels,
animals and aerate the tank. However most fish often leads to poor plant growth with but more on that in a moment!). However, I
aquarium plants prefer almost static water an overgrowth of algae, which could be the appreciate that you may not have the time,
and the surface aeration of the tank can problem here. facilities or budget to undertake such a

Dave Hulse is Tetra’s Technical Consultant. He has 20 years of

experience within the aquatics industry, and has been involved in
education and training for the last 15 years, having taught at both
Sparsholt and Reaseheath Colleges. He is currently based at the
School of Life Sciences at Keele University where he turns his hand to
other subjects in the biological sciences — although he usually
manages to crowbar a piscatorial reference in at some point! With
such a varied and rich background in aquatics, Dave brings a wealth
of experience to support Tetra and its customers.
Special planting substrates will improve growth.

90 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
GEORGE FARMER

Outcompete algae growth

by adding more plants.

Avoid demanding plants like

Hemianthus unless you can
supply the necessary lighting
and CO2.
PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

PFK/NEIL HEPWORTH

Not all plants like the same

water conditions, so research
their needs in the same way as
you would your choice of fish.

major overhaul on your tank. If your plants you should do the same with plants. from the water column rather than relying
are rooted in a standard aquarium gravel, Most good aquatic stores will sell on the substrate via a root system. So the
you could try adding fertiliser tablets for plants with a name tag that lists their key to controlling the algae lies in water
aquarium plants to the gravel around the environmental requirements amongst borne nutrient management; the principle
plants. This may help some of your plant other husbandry details. ofenders are nitrates and phosphates.
specimens that are struggling, though it isn’t Fish waste is a considerable source of
a substitute for a new planting substrate. Carbon dioxide these compounds, but nitrate can also be
The two main factors governing a present in tapwater in many parts of the
Lighting successful, plant-centred tank are the country. Regular partial water changes on
Tanks with plants generally need more light presence of a planting substrate and the tank will dilute nitrate and phosphate
than is provided with a typical aquarium sufficient lighting. However, success with levels and regular cleaning of foams in your
starter kit, though this is changing as LED plants does not end here. Brightly lit, tank’s filters will remove solid wastes before
lighting becomes more widespread. The planted tanks with a large amount of plants they have had chance to decay, liberating
light you provide must mimic the tropical will undoubtedly require more carbon more nutrients. Regular dosing of Tetra
sun and so one 60cm/24in long fluorescent dioxide (CO2). This is needed for plant EasyBalance will help to lower nitrates
bulb is unlikely to be sufficient. Again, I’m photosynthesis. by encouraging bacterial denitrification,
making assumptions about your tank but I Your local aquatic store will have a range especially useful in areas where tap water
assume the lighting over the tank is basic of options for CO2 dosing, from simple ‘can nitrates are high.
and fitted in the lid. Visit your local aquatic and difuser’ kits to more compl s can be useful in the battle
retailer and view the lighting available. You employing bubble counters, pH gainst algae, but they are not a
could replace fluorescent tubes with regulators and solenoid valves. ingular solution. Several species
compact fluorescents or specially designed I suggest focusing on light and f fish or shrimp can be relied on
LEDs. Or you could replace the current light substrate before considering o feed on certain types of algae,
hood with LED lighting designed to be hung CO2 dosing systems. ut again, they cannot deal with
or clipped above the tank. Even simply he problem on their own.
fitting a reflector over an existing Algae control Ironically the best way to control
fluorescent strip light will increase the It is worth considering why the he algae in your tank is to improve
illumination for the plants. algae is growing in your tank — he growth of the plants — which
With lighting you should also bear in mind just like plants, algae need light what you want to do anyway!
that diferent plants have difering light and nutrients. Diferent types of y making some of the changes
requirements. Species like Anubias, Java algae thrive in diferent lighting uggested above, you should
fern or some of the smaller Cryptocoryne conditions and the brown algae e able modify the aquarium
do well in low light levels. Beware of plants you are experiencing is the nvironment to make it more
like Cabomba, many of which need high scourge of dimly lit tanks. onducive to the vigorous growth
light levels. Just as you would research the However, unlike the plants, the f plants, this will then tip the
preferences of any new fish you plan to keep, algae are getting their nutrients tablets. balance out of the algae’s favour.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 91
 Jet powered
Looks can be deceiving. If you think you recognise
the fish shown here, you could be wrong.
Take a moment to meet the Asian banjo...
WORDS: NATHAN HILL

I
’ll wager that you took one glance at this page and
thought the image was of an everyday banjo catfish.
We’ve all seen banjos before. Docile South American
lumps that look like the leaves and fallen wood they
live in, if such a sedentary life can be called living.
Well, you’re wrong. To an extent. What we have here isn’t
an Amazonian banjo. The fish pictured is Asian in origin,
and way more hardcore than its latino counterparts.
This is Acrochordonichthys rugosus. If you pronounced
that right on your first effort, then I salute you. The species
name rugosus comes from rugose, which means rough, and
if ever a taxonomist chose the right name to describe the
warty, toadlike, tubercule-pocked skin of a fish, then it was
here. The common name — something of a misnomer for a
fish that’s pretty hard to find — is the Asian banjo catfish,
which is apt if not very imaginative.
Asian banjos are a perfect example of convergent
evolution, where creatures from different parts of the world
develop the same features independently of each other to
cope with their environment. Flying squirrels and Sugar
gliders are a great example, where two entirely unrelated
creatures have both evolved flaps of skin to help them glide
from tree to tree (and before you think these creatures
might still be related, squirrels are more closely related to
us humans than they are Sugar gliders).
PHOTOGRAPHY: BEN LEE

92 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Catfish

FISH FACTFILE
Asian banjo catfish
● Scientific name:
Acrochordonichthys rugosus (Ay-croc-
or-don-ick-thiss rug-oh-suss) (I think).
● Size: To 11cm/4.3in.
● Origin: Java, Malaysia, Thailand,
Borneo.
● Habitat: Clear flowing waters with
rocks, sand, fallen wood and leaf litter.
● Water requirements: Soft to very soft,
acidic to neutral water; up to 10°H
(ideally less) and 5.0-7.0pH.
● Temperature: 17–24°C/63–75°F.
● Temperament: Sedentary fish eater,
avoid small bottom dwellers.
● Availability and price: You won’t find
these in many mainstream stores, so
get off the beaten track. Price unknown.

Java, Malaysia,
Thailand, Borneo.

These cats are a

perfect example of
convergent evolution.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 93
 These fish would make a great
choice for a species set-up.

Asian banjos have evolved to exploit the Their meals of choice, believe it or not, feeders. They’re not obligatory fish eaters,
faultlessly clear waters of their native are the loaches that inhabit the same and will rapidly adapt to earthworms,
Java, Thailand, Borneo and Malaysia. terrain. Asian banjos are ambush Tubifex, river shrimp, bloodworm and even
Nestled in forest streams, and living in predators that sit in wait. When an chunks of prawn and fish. But they won’t
total transparency, they need to conceal unfortunate Nemacheilus (Stone or Arrow swim for this food, and unless it’s parked
themselves, which they do either down loach) swims past, then it’s snatched with straight down their gullets they’ll just
amongst leaf litter, or by congregating a sudden lunge-and-suck motion. They’ll starve. Even in the mediocre activity of a
under fallen wood and stones. also scof down small cats, like quiet community tank they can be
Like the American banjo cats, Asians are Glyptothorax, too. outcompeted. Tong, pipette or other target
sluggish movers, and use a kind of slow ‘jet In the home setting, they present a few feeding will be a must if they’re kept with
action’ to propel themselves around. problems. Their adult size is just 10cm/ other fish.
Water is expelled through adapted gill 4in or so, and so they’ll not predate
outlets, in quick and blustering pufs. anything too large. But tiny fish are fair These cats are toxic
What really marks Asians from Africans game, and it’ll likely only be a small You might want to keep them alone,
are the feeding habits. While those from measure of time before a poorly housed however. Like others in their genus, it seems
the Amazon are content quaffing down specimen chokes to death on an ingested that Acrochordonichthys rugosus may be too
worms and bugs, those from Asia prefer Corydoras in a community setting. toxic for its own good.
their food to be substantial. The other big problem is that they’re lazy Just by the pectoral fins are axillary glands

Be careful what you keep

with these fish — small
tank mates are likely to
disappear overnight.

94 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Catfish

“Tiny fish are fair game, and it’ll

likely only be a small measure of time
before a poorly housed specimen
chokes to death on an ingested
Corydoras in a community setting.”

(quite a few cats have these) which can becoming dinner, so I’d avoid. loaches at night. Some wood to hide
excrete a milky, toxic substance. It’s Carinotetraodon salivator can be an under during the day, and a few leaves on
guessed that the discharge is defensive in interesting addition, if a little risky, while the base, and they’ll be in paradise. Go
nature, because when they excrete it they Sphaerichthys osphromenoides, though smooth sand (silver sand is good) instead
tend to kill those around them — handy if hailing from the right area, might struggle in of coarse gravel.
you’re a fish fighting your way out of the the flows you’ll need to keep them happy. Big changes and impeccable water
gullet of some predatory barb, but a quality are essential. Though usually not
hindrance if you’re just a bit spooked in a Move that water recommended, a weekly change of 50%
closed aquarium. And flows you’ll need. Asian banjos live in will keep Asian banjos happy.
Still, for a species tank, they’re moving water, saturated with oxygen. A As a final thought, you can keep these at
wonderful. They’re also good in a set up couple of circulation pumps or powerheads a lower than normal temperature, too.
with plenty of surface fish, like larger are a must, and don’t feel embarrassed to Though you won’t want to risk an entirely
danionins. Suitable, biotope specific fish add an air pump if necessary. It might spoil unheated tank, they’ll cope at around
would include the likes of Puntius the look, but not as much as sufocating 18–24°C/64–75°F. It might turn out that
pentazona, Puntius johorensis, Rasbora fish will. temperature is integral to spawning, too,
kottelati, Rasbora sarawakensis and Your tank only needs to be around but nobody knows yet as they’ve never
Sundadanio axelrodi. Loaches would add a 90cm/36in long to keep a few happy. In the bred them. If you happen to be the first,
natural feel, but run dangeously close to daytime they do little, coming out to scof we’d be keen on hearing about it.

Keep them happy and you might

even be the first to breed these
warty little catfish.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 95
Comingsoon,to a shop
Here are just a few of the many new products showcased at this
took place at Telford in October. We’ll be reviewing some of these
AQUA 2015 New NANO TANKS FISH FOODS
Product Awards
Here are the winners of this Planty 25 aquariu FishScience
year’s AQUA New Product from Superfish aquarium
Awards, which were chosen This new nano aquarium is foods with
by a panel of aquatic retail diferent indeed, combining insect meal
judges, taking into account waterfall style background FishScience has
guideline criteria such as space at the bottom for sm launched its new
product innovation, design, fish or shrimp. Open formula fish foods,
quality, packaging and spaces in the background which are rich in
value for money. enable you to add up to insect meal.
five live plants. The Because it’s the
O Pond construction/ aquarium is 25 x 27 x type of food fish
decoration 30cm with curved glass. would naturally eat
Winner: FTS Tivoli 100 It comes with internal in the wild,
Musical Fountain from filter, LED lighting and an FishScience founder
FTS Aquatics aquaponics waterfall. Dr David Pool tells For your
chance to win
RRP £64.99. us that fish really some of these
O Pond pump O More info: Tel 0115 982 3900 for details of your like the taste and foods, turn to
Winner: OASE nearest stockist. smell and adds PAGE 99
AquaMax Eco Titanium that even diicult
New nano products feeders can be
O Pond filter from Interpet tempted by it.
Winner: OASE Interpet has launched two new styles The insect meal used in the new
ProfiClear of heater for the smaller aquarium. FishScience range is cultured in
Premium The Nano Stat heaters are available Europe, reducing the use of fish
Compact in 10W and 25W sizes. They are meal which is taken from the sea,
designed to keep the temperature so providing an environmentally
O Pond food, at 25°C/77°F in tanks of up to friendly and sustainable source
care & 25 l/5.5 gal and feature a run-dry of proteins.
accessories protection sensor. It also contains Inulin,
Winner: Floating Also available is the new Nano which is a natural prebiotic
Fish Dome from Deltamini heater, which has a compact product that helps in the
Velda BV slim design to make them unobtrusive fishes’ digestion and reduces
in smaller tanks and also offers a waste.
 choice of positioning options. All the foods in the FishScience
O Aquaria & furniture Available in two sizes: 7.5W for tanks range also contain natural
Winner: MiniReef 90 from up to 12 l, and 15W for tanks up to 20 l. ingredients such as paprika,
AquaOne (see box, A free thermometer is included. shrimp, and Spirulina algae to
below right). Also new in the Interpet Nano range enhance the natural colours
Highly are the AquaMini air pump for of the fish, together with
commended: aquariums up to 25 l and two clip-on garlic, Beta Glucans and
biOrb HALO 15 LED complete light units with built-in omega oils to help support the
MCR from sunrise feature. Available in sizes for immune system.
by Reef One 10–20 l and 20–35 l tanks. OMore info: www.fishscience.
(pictured right). O More info: www.interpet.co.uk co.uk/

O Aquarium
equipment
Winner: ASAP
MARINE AQUARIA
filters from
Aquael MiniReef ‘nano’ tanks
Highly from Aqua One
commended: These new rimless opti-white reef tanks are available in
Aqua One J-Bar 80 LED. two sizes: the MiniReef 90 l and MiniReef 120 l, and in
either black or white. They include a glass sump filtration
O Aquarium food, care & system, circulation pump, heater, protein skimmer and
accessories LED lighting. The cabinets are ready assembled.
Winner: Pro-f foods, NT Labs The MiniReef 90 has an SSP of £336.99 (cabinet £83),
Highly commended: while the MiniReef 120 has an SSP of £420.99
Shrimplab algae granules (cabinet £109).
from Sharnbrook Shrimp. O More info: www.aquaone.co.uk

96 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
near you LIGHTING
AquaBar T Series LED Light Bars
from TMC
year’s AQUA trade show, which TMC has extended its range of lighting, offering a
simple and affordable upgrade to LEDs for those
over the next few months. with T5 or T8 tubes (including Juwel and Eheim).
The new light bar twin sets offer easy, direct
replacement for twin fluorescent lamp fittings,
with equivalent sizes to T5 and T8 fluorescent
AUTO TOP-UPS lamps but with low running costs and long life.
Available in a wide range of colours including
REEF-Fill from TMC ‘Fiji Purple’ which incorporates NUV light for
TMC has a new infra-red water enhanced coral colouration, and ‘Colourplus’ for
level monitoring and auto top-up fish only/freshwater set-ups. Adaptors included
system for marine and for T5 and T8 IP rated lampholders.RRPs from
freshwater set-ups. The £34.99 for a single lamp (PSU not included); twin
REEF-Fill is ideal for units from £99.99 (includes PSU).
topping up evaporated OMore info: www.tropicalmarinecentre.co.uk
water and ofers a
number of key features: Retro-fit LED lighting
OProfessional, low from Superfish
voltage auto top up Superfish has launched a range of retro-fit LED
incorporating an advanced energy eicient 3.5W 12V DC lighting to replace existing T8 and T5 fluorescent
monitoring system with infrared pump capable of 200 lph (max lamps. Available in three colours: Bright (daylight
sensor and float switch. head 2m). for plant growth), Colour Enhancing and Combi (for
OInfrared sensor accurately OIncludes 2m of 6/9mm flexible fish and plants), they come complete with ballast
monitors the tank’s water level. top up hosing. and waterproof end caps. The lights have a lifespan
OIntegral float switch provides The REEF-Fill is available in of 30,000 burning hours and ofer a saving of up to
reliable safety back-up. two mounting options: 50% on energy costs. There’s also an automatic
OSmart monitoring system Magnet Mount: supplied with a timer operation with an optional controller.
— monitors all water levels and high quality magnetic mounting RRPs from £36.50 through to £82.50.
prevents pump running dry, with bracket for aquariums up to 12mm O More info: Tel 0115 982 3900 for details of your
audible and optical alerts. thick, RRP £84.99. nearest stockist.
OBuilt-in communication Suction Cup Mount: supplied
capability allowing the auto top with a unique versatile locking Arcadia ConX3 bluetooth
up to be integrated with future suction cup —suitable for all dimming controller
technologies (additional aquarium thicknesses, RRP Bluetooth is a first for Arcadia and the ConX3 is
equipment required — not £74.99. designed to work with all future LED products, but for
supplied). OMore info: www. now it controls Arcadia’s Stretch LED units. Fit inline
OComes complete with an tropicalmarinecentre.co.uk between the power supply and the LED unit, download
the free app for Apple and Android, connect to the
device and start controlling. You can manually ramp
CULTURED MARINE FISH AND INVERTS up or dim down two channels (with the Stretch that’s
the white and the blue channel) in 2% increments. You
can set the times on each channel so it will
automatically ramp up and dim down at set times. The
minimum setting allows the blue channel to stay on all
night at 15% brightness. The ConX3 can work up to
three channels, but the Stretch is only a two-channel
product. RRP £39.99, available early 2016.
O More info: www.arcadia-uk.com

Cultured livestock and foods from KoralSea Kessil AP700 LED

A new company that was same way as some aquarium light from
receiving a lot of attention at the plants, so reefkeepers know Evolution Aqua
AQUA show was KoralSea. what they’re buying. Around 30 UK Kessil distributor Evolution
Based in Co. Galway in Ireland, species are currently available Aqua has introduced the new
KoralSea specialises in the including hard and soft corals. AP700 panel light, which breaks
culture of tropical marine reef KoralSea also supplies away from the traditional
fish, corals and invertebrates, Caulerpa and Chaetomorpha cylindrical form we’ve come to
along with macro-algae. Its algae and live foods for marines know from Kessil. This sleek, flat
stand featured a large selection with filtered phytoplankton unit is capable of lighting a 120 x 60cm/4 x 2ft reef tank on its own.
of its captive-bred livestock, (meaning no contamination with The AP700 combines Kessil’s popular white and blue lighting
including Aiptasia-eating heavy metals), zooplankton, and blends but also includes RGB colours for full colour control, colour
nudibranchs, clownfish and live marine algae — a temperate blending which is unique to each user, while at the same time
Banggai cardinalfish. The corals species which won’t grow in a including that all-important UV spectrum. There’s a full suite of
all come from brood stock that tropical marine aquarium. These additional features including cloud cover, lunar cycles, lightning
has been on the farm for are called K-Phyto, K-Zoo and simulation and coral acclimation mode, and it’s fully controllable
between 18 months and three K-Fuzz respectively. Small by Wi-Fi (no unsightly control cables or extra devices,) and by iPad
years and come complete with ‘tester’ sizes of these — called (Android and Smart Phone to follow shortly). RRP £849.
identification label, colour coded K-Shots — are also available. OMore info: www.evolutionaqua.com
for ease of keeping much in the OMore info: koralsea.com

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 97
 CALCIUM REACTORS TREATMENTS AND REMEDIES
REEF-React advanced Nova+ natural tea tree remedy
calcium reactor from TMC from Waterlife
TMC’s new REEF-React is a high Waterlife Research has launched a new
performance, professional calcium freshwater fish treatment for parasites, bacteria
reactor with a compact, space saving and fungus in fish, with a natural tea tree based
design and integral pump, CO2 bubble formula. Waterlife recommends its use for
counter and pH probe holder. Trichodina, velvet, Chilodonella, gill and body
The integral bubble counter enables easy, flukes, finrot, fungus and also to treat wounds.
measurable dosing of CO2 to the calcium OMore info: www.waterlife.co.uk
reactor, while the pH probe holder accepts
all standard size pH probes and enables the Marine fluke treatment
calcium reactor to be used in conjunction from Kusuri
with a pH monitor or controller for more Well known in the Koi world for its
advanced set-ups. range of treatments, Kusuri has
There are two sizes available: branched out into the marine market
REEF-React 300 is suitable for aquariums with a new medication for flukes.
up to 300 l/66 gal and its “hang on” design Kusuri Fluke P Marine is a
allows it to be conveniently positioned on Praziquantel based medication against
the back or side of any aquarium or sump. flukes and tapeworms in the saltwater
RRP £179.99. aquarium. It’s recommended as a
REEF-React 500 is suitable for aquariums preventative treatment during fish
up to 500 l/110 gal and is for in sump use quarantine and Kusuri adds that it can
only. RRP £209.99. be used at any temperature and is
OMore info: www.tropicalmarinecentre. harmless to healthy aquarium bacteria.
co.uk Kusuri Fluke P Marine comes in three
sizes: 100ml, 250ml and 500ml. RRP
starts at £4.99. Available from
AQUARIUM HEATING December.
OMore info: www.kusuri.co.uk
ProLine heater range
from Tetra Arcadia Coral Dip
Tetra showcased its new range of This prevention dip is designed to work by
shatterproof heaters, with safety removing many types of pests from corals
further guaranteed by its unique before they are placed in your aquarium. It’s
double ‘auto shut -off’ technology, simple and easy to use and does not contain
provided by two extra temperature any iodine making it healthier for the coral
detectors. Tetra ProLine heaters come whilst in the dipping stage. Arcadia says the
in sizes to suit tanks of 20 l to 400 l dip is efective against Acropora eating
with prices from £20.50–£31.50. flatworms, Montipora eating nudibranchs,
Suitable for freshwater and zoanthid eating spiders and Red flatworms.
marine aquariums. RRP £15.99.
O More info: www.tetra.net/en OMore info: www.arcadia-uk.com

Arcadia Zap-Tasia
Zap-Tasia is a simple solution for problem
Aiptasia and other nuisance anemones.
PLANTING ACCESSORI Simply feed a small amount to the anemone
and they will disappear within minutes —
no injections required. Safe for use in the
reef tank, Zap-Tasia will not harm corals or
other invertebrates. RRP £12.49.
OMore info: www.arcadia-uk.com

Marine Anti-Fluke &

Wormer treatment
from NT Labs
Marine Anti-Fluke & Wormer treats parasitic
infections, such as flukes and internal worms and
is recommended for use when fish show
symptoms of internal worms, getting thinner or
“sucked in” but still feeding or showing
behaviour linked to skin irritation, such as
ProFlora Direct CO2 diffuser from JBL “flicking/rubbing”.
JBL has developed a CO2 difuser consumption. It contains an Note that this medicine is not reef safe and
which can be integrated into the integrated check valve, which should be used in fish only systems.
hose of the external power filter, prevents water backflowing into NT Labs recommends following up this single
keeping it outside the tank where the CO2 system, and a bubble dose medicine with a full ten-day course of NT
it won’t detract from the visual counter. It’s available for three Labs Marine Parazoryne for best results.
appearance of your set-up. hose diameters: 12/16, 16/22 RRP £9.99, available December/January.
JBL says that the new ProFlora and 19/25. OMore info: www.ntlabs.co.uk
Direct saves 20% CO2 OMore info: www.jbl.de/en

98 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
 Competition

WIN new FishScience

tropical food packages!
We’ve teamed up with FishScience to give 36 readers the
chance to try out these new natural formula foods on their fish.

F
ishScience aquarium fish foods now Total
contain insect meal, to recreate the
natural, insect based diet that most
price fund
tropical fish would eat in the wild. worth over
FishScience founder Dr David Pool says: “Most of
the fish we keep in aquaria are not fish eaters and yet
the foods we give them are based on fish meal.”
£540
The new foods use insect meal made from the
Black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, which is cultured
in Holland, and it brings a number of benefits to the
fish and the environment:
It contains Inulin, a natural prebiotic product that
helps digestion and reduces waste.
It reduces the use of fish meal, which is taken from
the sea, so providing an environmentally friendly
and sustainable source of proteins.
And most importantly, the fish really like the taste
and smell. Even difficult feeders can be tempted
with the new insect meal based foods.
All of the FishScience foods still contain natural
ingredients such as paprika, shrimp, and Spirulina
algae to enhance the natural colour of the fish,
together with garlic, Beta Glucans and omega oils to
support the immune system and ensure the fish
remain as healthy as possible.
For more details of this exiting new range of
foods visit www.fishscience.co.uk
All you need to do to enter is answer the question
on the entry form below, fill in your details and
post it to the competition address before
December 22, 2015.
The prize
There are 36 prizes to be won, each comprising:
FishScience Tropical Flake 50g (RRP £6.25)
FishScience Tropical Granules 120g (RRP £8.85).

COMPETITION ENTRY FORM Name

For your opportunity to win this great prize, simply answer the
question below and post this form to Practical Fishkeeping Address
magazine, FishScience Competition, PO Box 57, Coates,
Peterborough PE7 2FF. Or, email your answer along with your full
name and address to competitions@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
Entries must be received by December 22, 2015.

Answer the following question to be in with a chance

of winning one of the FishScience packages.
Postcode Tel. no.
What insect is the insect meal in new FishScience foods made from?.
...................................................................................................................................... Email address


● By entering this competition you agree that Bauer Consumer Media (publishers of Terms and conditions. Photocopies will be accepted, but only one entry per envelope will be entered.
Practical Fishkeeping magazine) can keep you up to date by email and free mobile Open to UK residents only. Closing date for entries is December 22, 2015. Prize winners will be notified
messaging with fantastic ofers and promotions. ● We promise that you can unsubscribe by post. No prizes can be returned or cash alternative given and no correspondence will be entered
at any time if you don’t find them interesting, and you’ll only get messages about things into by the promoter. The promoter accepts no responsibility for resultant loss or damage to person’s
that we’ve chosen especially for you from ourselves and our network of great partners properties (other than death or personal injury due to negligence of the promoters or their agents)
as a result of these prizes being awarded. Prizes will be despatched 28 days after the closing date. We
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reserve the right to feature the names, photographs and locations of the winners.
www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 99
PFKNewGear The latest fishkeeping products, tried and tested.

Fibreglass shaft
A great balance of
strength and flexibility.

Non-slip handle
No annoying loss of grip
while using with wet hands. Ergonomic grip
Great handling and control
during use through the
simple design.

FIRST SIGHT Metal blade

Sharp edge for scraping
Continuum Aquablade stubborn algae away.

Sounds like a weapon, right? edge. I know which I prefer, but

Well, I welted our designer with as the blades can be removed
one, and he yelped, so yeah. and replaced, if you want to
Hand held scrapers are back, it experiment with both then just
would seem, and these are buy some spares and have at it. Plastic blade
actually mighty good. Even Soft blade, soft algae, and metal
better, these also come in blade for coralline algae, I say. Eradicates most kinds of
various lengths. Because it’s an I particularly like the way the algae and film from glass.
American company, the lengths scrapers are white. A small
are in old money, at 15, 25 and feature perhaps, but makes a
35in respectively. The fibreglass massive diference when
shafts feel great, neither too scouting for fragments of algae
flexible nor too rigid, and give you might have missed.
just the right feedback when
you’re using them.
Shaft and head are connected
3/
through fusing together, and the Verdict 5 Easy replace
absence of glue or screw thread Try one out. You’ll be
makes me confident that these pleasantly surprised. If I Press the button to
are going to last. There is hadn’t already found my extract the blade.
nothing more frustrating than dream scraper, I could be
the head coming of halfway in the market for this. Very
through a clean, but you won’t nice indeed.
get that here. O Ease of use: 5/5
You have a choice of heads, O Features: 4/5
with either 316 stainless steel or O Value for money: 2/5
‘self lubricating’ (whatever that O Overall score: 3/5
means) plastic blades. The O Price: From £16.79
plastic blade can pick up sand if O More info: www.
you go at it too hard down continuumaquatics.com/
towards the substrate, but using aquablade.php
metal blades always puts me on

100 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING

 Spout action Varial dosage
Ferts drip out of the spout Choose the correct hole size
as a continuous process.
Easy access base to dose your set-ups. Membrane
Simply twist to insert Allows water into the
whichever membrane chamber to mix with ferts.
you need.
FIRST SIGHT

Dennerle Dosator
Oh, this is clever. A slow release building full of newborns. to reduce algae even further. We chemical uses too. I imagine
dosing mechanism for nutrients Then with the right shall see, I suppose. that if it behaves the same with
that doesn’t rely on a membrane in place, you add Does it have a market? Yeah, glutaraldehyde, acid and base
cumbersome peristaltic pump. your liquid, push the plunger/ why not? For those who prefer a solutions or fish medications
How does it work? Science! nozzle in so that there’s no air softly-softly approach to the then it’ll really end up going
There’s a semi-permeable and the liquid is partway up the gung-ho bucket science of EI places.
membrane at the bottom of the spout, and then place the unit in this will be a great relief. I’ll be
device, through which water the tank, about 1cm above the especially keen to see how the
slowly seeps, pushing the water/ water level. After 12 hours your product develops for other 3/
nutrient mix up and out into the solution should be (incredibly)
Verdict
5
tank via a tiny spout. There are slowly dripping in to the
no moving parts as such, but you tank. Early signs are promising
do have a syringe action on the On the one hand, but I’ve not had one
dosing part of the device. I’m thinking this is running long enough to be
Using it is simple. Add liquid the product that conclusive. Could be great,
— either Dennerle S7 VitaMix nobody really could be a donkey. Tough
or V30 Complete (in accordance asked for, which to say at this stage. It is
with the instructions) and away seems a tad more fiddly for what it is, I must
you go. awkward than just confess, and I imagine the
Well, I lie. First of all you need making up an EI novelty of frequent refills
to prepare the membranes mix and belting it will soon wear of.
according to dosage and in daily. On the O Ease of use: 2/5
ingredient. You have a selection other hand, it’s O Features: 4/5
of options from 50-250 l for early days, and it O Value for money: 4/5
both liquids, and you need to get may turn out that a O Overall score: 3/5
this part right — mess it up and steady, slow dose of O Price: RRP £9.85
you’ve ruined your membrane. nutrients might be O More info: dennerle.
It is as nerve wracking as better than com/en
defusing a nuclear bomb in a fluctuations and help

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 101
Seashell 3D background from
Maidenhead Aquatics

Natural looks Porthole/vent

The colours have a real Circulation is possible with
natural feel about them. the supplied holes.

Maidenhead sells a lot of tanks, twopenneth worth, I’d silicone can shimmy a heater down the Maidenhead Aqua Oak
including its own customised it and then cover the join with behind there. Get the inlet for a tank sizes. They even do a
lines, so it stood to reason that it moss or plants, or just some filter to pull water out (helping couple of sizes for the smaller
should introduce a range of clever hardscape placement. keep it aerobic) and jet the Superfish tanks.
solid backgrounds to
compliment them.
The edges are sharper than the
sound of a cat wailing, so handle
water back out in front of the
background and you have a 4/
Available in a range of sizes, with gloves for peace of mind. constant turnover through it. Verdict 5
my own test sample is for a The ends are padded with foam, As for looks, it’s great. I’ve A realistic rock
Fluval Roma 240 and it looks as is the middle, so expect the reviewed a similar line going background that actually
fabulous, frankly. occasional fish to get behind back to 2011, which appeared a looks realistic. That’s a
If you’re looking at the picture, there. When that happens, it is bit more garish, and perhaps it’s definite bonus. It’s not
you might be thinking ‘what’s ‘annoying’ though some fish just a change in lighting I’m exactly a steal at the price,
that line down the middle?’ That (think certain loaches) seem to using, but this background has a but I think it’s more than
there is the inspired part of the prefer a life in the narrow pleasing subtlety about it. fair, given that it’s intended
design — it is cleaved perfectly bracket over life in the open I still think that one of these on as a long term (well,
in two. water. There’s a vent in one the base of a tank, with water permanent) piece of
Why? Ever tried getting a corner, allowing a passage of rushing over it from a couple of aquarium furniture.
single 120cm/48in long water — one problem of (massive) flow pumps would O Ease of use: 4/5
background into a tank with a fixed backgrounds is that make an extraordinary O Features: 4/5
central bracer bar? I have, and it without this they can eventually Loricariid display, but I think O Value for money: 4/5
tortured me to madness. With turn stagnant. that’s a project I’ll have to do O Overall score: 4/5
this background, you put it in in Even better, you can use the myself sometime. O Price: £109.99
two parts, and depending how background to hide pieces of There are a fair few sizes to O More info: www.
you want to play it, either wedge hardware. Position it with choose from, especially in the fishkeeper.co.uk
or seal it into place. For my enough space behind and you Fluval range of tanks, as well as

102 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING

 New gear

AT A GLANCE

Brightwell Florin Volcanit Dennerle Nano Carbo

Rio Cafe F Elixier BIO
Pretty nice fired ash Looks and smells like
substrate from Brightwell glutaraldehyde, so I’ll
right here. It’s in that wager it probably is. A
‘middling’ size between liquid carbon source for
fine and noticeable, with growing plants that
grain sizes hovering around replaces or works in
3mm. They’re sort of oblong tandem with CO2. I think
shaped, and not sharp like they might have messed up
some I’ve come across. the wording on the
It’s aimed at the soft water packaging, as all the other
and shrimp market, and claims languages (when
to bind hardening elements translated) read ‘2–6 drops
from the water, helping keep a day for every 10 l of
things soft. Sounds like a grand aquarium water’, while the
claim, but I’ve not had anyone English reads ‘2–6ml a day
disputing it yet, and my own for every 10 l of aquarium
experiences are so far water’. So I don’t know if it
inconclusive. I’d say it seems to works because I’m not
lower GH, but doesn’t seem to entirely sure how much
touch KH, and my pH remains to dose.
roughly stable during use. O 100ml retails for
Because it doesn’t compact, 30cm/12in nano (two bags will around £5.99.
it’s good for plant roots, and cover a 60 x 30cm/24 x 12in O More info:
specifically for nutrient base to 2.5cm/1in deep). dennerle.com/en
transport around those roots. Also, it’s brown, which is nice.
Working out the amount O 2.4 litres of Rio Cafe F retail
needed is straightforward, as for around £20.95.
one bag contains 2.4 litres of O More info: Orca Construct
substrate, which is enough for a brightwellaquatics.com from Aquarium Munster
Not exactly a brand new idea, in aquascaping, perhaps?
Construct is a two-part epoxy glue Probably not...
which you can use for securing Note that you’ll want gloves
Continuum rocks and fragging corals —
though I’m sure you can find a
when mixing the two
components together, and if
flora viv hundred other uses for it. you’ve not worked with it before
reconstitute RO It’s called two-part because it
comes in two parts. Slice of the
then try not to freak out when it
heats up. It gets mighty hot
It might sound holistic, but it’s desired amount with a knife, and when you’re mulching it up.
a remineral for RO water. because of the way it’s packaged, Oh, and it ends up a kind
Boosts GH, KH as well as a as long as you take a clean, of blue/grey colour when it
boatload of trace elements. square cut then you’ll have the finally sets.
Dosage depends on the fish two parts at the right ratio. Mix O 115g tubes of Orca
being kept: approximately one the two together to make a gooey Construct are available from
teaspoon per 20 l for Discus putty and away you go. It dries Maidenhead Aquatics for
and softies, two teaspoons for fast (my own fragging eforts saw £13.50.
barbs and generic freshwater it turning rock hard in minutes) O More info: www.aquarium-
fish, and four teaspoons for and sets underwater. munster.com/en/garden-
platies, mollies, goldfish, etc. Once dried, you can drill it, mill ponds/pond-acessories/
Easier than mixing from it, grind it or do anything you’d orca-construct.html
powder, I guess. usually reserve for extremely hard
O 500ml retails for substances. I reckon that the
around £15. right kind of creative could
O More info: www. use it for some awesome
continuumaquatics.com underwater sculpting. The
next step

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 103
FISH HOUSE STAFF
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REQUIRED FOR CARSHALTON, info@pro-shrimp.co.uk
SURREY BASED ORNAMENTAL 0800 3579 844
... and not only shrimp ... now introducing ish food ... we are a proud
FISH WHOLESALERS DENNERLE retailer and now stocking Dennerle Premium Fish Food:
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WHICH OFFER THE UK’s LARGEST
SELECTION OF TROPICAL AND 10% Discount on all Dennerle Fish Food -
COLDWATER FISH. use voucher code: PFK2015
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The top shops
Here are the top shops of 2015, as voted for by Top 40 shops
readers of Practical Fishkeeping. (listed alphabetically)
O Abacus Aquatics, Kent
O Aquahome, Leyland
ROLL OF HONOUR O Aquajardin, Gloucester
O Aqualife, Leyland
Retailer of the Year O Aquatic Design Centre,
Charterhouse Aquatics, London Scotland London
Runner up: Seahorse O Charterhouse Aquatics,
Aquariums, Dublin London
O Discovery Aquatics,
Small retailer of the Year Dundee
Sharnbrook Shrimp, Northants. North O Eden Aquatics & Reptiles,
East
Runner up: H2O Habitat, Edinburgh
Woldingham, Surrey Northern O Emperor Tropicals,
Ireland North Plymouth, Devon
Online retailer West O Exotic Aquatics, Belfast
Yorkshire &
of the Year Humberside O Ferrybridge Aquatics,
Charterhouse Aquatics Wakefield, West Yorks.
Runner up: Complete Aquatics Republic East O Fishkeeper Edinburgh
of Ireland Midlands O Fishkeeper Glasgow
East
TOP SPECIALISTS Wales West O Fishkeeper Inverness
Marine retailer Midlands O H2O Aquatics, Essex
of the Year O H2O Habitat, Surrey
Seahorse Aquariums, Dublin London O Lincs Aquatics, Lincs.
Runner-up: The Abyss Aquatic O Maidenhead Aquatics
South South
Warehouse, Manchester East @ Bristol
West O Maidenhead Aquatics
Catfish retailer @ Cardif
of the Year REGIONAL WINNERS O Maidenhead Aquatics
Pier Aquatics, Wigan @ Reading
Runner-up: Seahorse Scotland West Midlands O Maidenhead Aquatics
Aquariums, Dublin Fishkeeper Glasgow Prestwood Petzone, @ Truro
Runner-up: Discovery Aquatics, Stourbridge O Oasis Aquarium,
Discus retailer of the Year Dundee Runner-up: Erdington Aquatics, Manchester
Chen’s Discus, Middlesex Birmingham O Pier Aquatics,
Runners-up: DL Discus, Co Republic of Ireland Wigan, Lancs.
Durham/Devotedly Discus, East Seahorse Aquariums, Dublin East O Prestwood Petzone,
Sussex Runner up: The Aquatic Village, The Coral Cave Aquatic Centre, West Midlands
Co Dublin Hardwick, Cambs O Seahorse Aquariums,
Cichlid retailer Runner-up: Dublin
of the Year Northern Ireland The WaterZoo, Peterborough O Sharnbrook Shrimp,
Seahorse Aquariums, Dublin Exotic Aquatics, Belfast Northants
Runner up: Discovery Aquatics, Runner-up: AMC Aquatics, Wales O Silksworth Aquatics,
Dundee Co Londonderry Maidenhead Aquatics @ Cardif Co Durham.
Runners-up: JayDee Aquatics, O Sweet Knowle Aquatics,
Shrimp retailer of the Year North east Wrexham/The Green Machine, Warks.
Sharnbrook Shrimp, Northants. Silksworth Aquatics, Wrexham O The Abyss Aquatic
Runner-up: Seahorse Co Durham Warehouse Manchester
Aquariums, Dublin Runner-up: DL Discus, London O The Aquatic Habitat
Co Durham Charterhouse Aquatics, Gloucestershire
Oddball retailer London O The Aquatic Store, Bristol
of the Year North West Runner-up: O The Aquatic Village,
Seahorse Aquariums, Dublin Aquahome Aquatic Aquatic Design Centre, Co Dublin
Runner-up: Lincs Aquatics, Centre, Lancs London O The Coral Cave Aquatic
Alford, Lincs Runner up: Pier Aquatics, Wigan Centre, Hardwick, Cambs
South-east O The WaterZoo,
Plant retailer of the Year Yorks and Humber H2O Habitat, Surrey Peterborough
Emperor Tropicals, Devon Ferrybridge Aquatics, Wakefield Runner-up: O Trop Shop, Essex
Runner-up: Seahorse Runner-up: Aquatic Finatic, Abacus Aquatics, Kent O Waterworld, Cheshire
Aquariums, Dublin North Yorks. O Wharf Aquatics, Notts
South west O Wholesale Tropicals,
Pond retailer of the Year East Midlands The Aquatic Store, London
Lincs Aquatics, Alford, Lincs. Lincs Aquatics, Alford, Lincs. Bristol O Wildwoods, Middlesex
Runner-up: Runner-up: Sharnbrook Shrimp, Runner-up: O Woodford Aquatics,
Fishkeeper Glasgow Northants. Emperor Tropicals, Devon London

105 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING

 Haresfield
Grantham
Shoptour
This month’s shoptour takes us to Haresfield in
Gloucestershire and Grantham in Lincolnshire.

Aquajardin, Gloucester
Address: Wyevale Garden
Centre, Bath Road, Haresfield,
Gloucestershire, GL10 3DP.
Telephone: 01452 724341.
Website: www.aquajardin.
co.uk
Opening hours: Monday to
Saturday 9.30am–5.30pm,
Sunday 10.30am–4:30pm.
Tanks: 106 tropical, eight
freshwater shrimp, 20 marine
and invert, 21 fancy goldfish,
two Koi vats, 14 pondfish vats.

quajardin Gloucester is

A the largest of the chain

and first impressions
are of an imposing,
immaculately presented,
state-of-the-art aquatic
superstore. On entrance, what
first hits you is a series of
beautifully maintained display
aquaria featuring both marine
and freshwater tanks and
crowned by a magnificent open
topped 1000 l/220 gal planted
tank. Aquajardin certainly
knows how to inspire; if these The display set-ups are
tanks don’t make you want to truly inspiring.
take up fishkeeping, or expand
your hobby in new directions
then nothing will! The subdued tank lighting may looking at. Bright, colourful and the planted look but lacking
A huge dry goods section not always show of the fish to healthy livebearers really green fingers will love the
covers everything the aquarist their best advantage, but helps caught my eye. massive plastic plant selection!
and pondkeeper could ask for, keep them calm in what are Eight tanks were set aside for The marine section is smaller,
from small starter aquaria to largely substrate free, bare a good selection of shrimps and but similarly well maintained
top of the line ADA kit. The bottomed sales tanks. A nano sized fish species. and stocked, with a fine selection
tropical room is nicely laid out comprehensive range of Aquatic plants are of the of corals and inverts under
and immaculately maintained. community favourites is well highest quality and are here in glimmering LEDs really standing
supported by a varied cast of significant number alongside all out. Vats of cured live rock were
rarities and oddballs with clear the decor and technical kit available, as was plentiful RO and
STAR RATING labelling helping novice and required to become a budding salt mix. Customers can feel
expert know just what they’re George Farmer. Those wanting confident in the condition of

Blue phantom plec. Ocellated pufer.

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: BOB MEHEN

KEY: Member of OATA — the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association Member of the PFK anti-dyed fish campaign Member of the Big Fish Campaign

106 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING

 There's a comprehensive Pearl wrasse.
range of dry goods.

Koi swordtails.

The outdoor pond

section includes some
lovely displays.

their new pets thanks to an excavations, this hasn’t and swirling orfe among them,
extensive behind the scenes prevented Aquajardin from all in fine fettle. A good selection
quarantine and acclimatisation constructing a series of raised of liners and pre-formed ponds
area where fish are held upon wooden sleeper displays will fit most budgets.
arrival until they have a clean featuring a broad selection of
bill of health ready for sale. The pumps, fountains, plants and Verdict: Aquajardin’s
back corner of the store decor that had me thinking Gloucester store is a huge,
featured a bank of tanks where I might fit a small water purpose built 21st century
dedicated to top quality fancy feature or two into my garden. advert for the fishkeeping
goldfish. Outside, despite the Pondfish were healthy and hobby. Clean, bright and easily
pond section's solid concrete featured the usual suspects; accessible, it covers all areas of
surfacing preventing any plump goldfish, colourful Koi the hobby with aplomb.

Emerald panchax. Safron molly.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 107
 This store manages to
pack a lot into what is a
relatively small space.

Maidenhead Aquatics @ Belton (Grantham)

Address: Belton Garden recent addition to the chain, heaving with very healthy cute they were, too. We were
Centre, Belton, Grantham, having only opened last year. looking fish. We've visited far also tempted by the Asian
Lincs. NG32 2LN. The store is located towards bigger shops with a much bumblebee cats. The soft water
Telephone: 01476 565020. the back of the garden centre smaller breadth of livestock on section included several species
Website: www.fishkeeper.co. and customers are greeted on these 'tours. of Apistogramma, such as A.
uk/store/grantham entry by a huge 2000 l/440 gal There are no marines at this borelli and A. panduro alongside
Opening hours: Mon–Sat ‘L-shaped tank housing a branch, so all 100 or so other dwarf cichlids, and there
9am–5pm; Sun 10am–4.30pm. rescued Pig-nosed turtle aquariums are given over to was a small but well-stocked
Tanks: 84 general tropical alongside a selection of larger freshwater fish, with 24 of those bank of African cichlid tanks.
tanks (including 24 soft water community fish. She was tanks housing a very decent The selection of freshwater
tanks), five fancy goldfish tanks, happily munching on cherry selection of soft water species. shrimp was also pretty good
seven coldwater/temperate tomatoes when we arrived, and There’s the usual selection of with the usual Cherries and
tanks, large indoor Koi pond staf informed us that she bread and butter tropicals as Amano shrimp joined by
plus 12 outdoor pond vats. doesn’t bother her tank mates you would expect, but this store Crystal reds, Sakura, Snowball
one bit. The fish certainly didn’t also carries a rather good range — and we even spotted a
his Lincolnshire-based appear to be at all disturbed by of catfish and smaller cichlids. Macrobrachium hiding away.

T branch of Maidenhead
Aquatics is located
within Belton Garden Centre,
her presence and were happily
going about their business.
This isn’t a particularly big
On our visit there were plenty
of Corydoras dotted about the
tanks, including C. adolfoi and
If you’re a fan of the more
unusual, there were a
reasonable number of oddballs
opposite the historic Belton store, but that certainly doesn’t similis, and L-number fans will scattered about, including some
House estate, and is a relatively mean it’s short on choice and find plenty to interest them rather nice Red-eye pufers,
there were plenty of — we spotted a group of the Black toraja gobies and wild
temptations on our visit, with smallest L600 plecs we’d ever caught Stiphodon.
STAR RATING the sales tanks positively seen for sale. Unbelieveably If you’re after coldwater or

Dragon Betta.
WORDS: KAREN YOUNGS, PHOTOGRAPHY: NATHAN HILL

Green terror.

KEY: Member of OATA — the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association Member of the PFK anti-dyed fish campaign Member of the Big Fish Campaign

108 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING

 PFK shoptour

Red-eye puffer.

Asian bumblebee
catfish.

'L' plates show which tanks

are beginner-friendly.

Corydoras sterbai.

There's an extensive
pond section with all the
associated dry goods.

temperate fish, there’s a small there were still some nice, choice of tanks was excellent beneficial bacteria and is a
selection of fancy goldfish, healthy pond fish in stock. with pretty much all tastes and great way to cater for those
which all looked very healthy There’s a large potted budgets covered. We fishkeepers who just can’t wait,
on our visit, and we also aquarium plant sales tank particularly liked the ‘L’ plate without compromising the
spotted Rainbow shiners and which had a very good choice of label on some of the aquariums health of the fish. More shops
Rosy bitterling among the healthy plants — all with labels on sale to denote that they were should do it.
temperate oferings. facing forwards, so you could set-ups suitable for beginners.
A large indoor pond ofers the see at a glance what you were Another extra touch that made Verdict This store really
opportunity for youngsters to buying. A selection of bunched this store stand out was the makes the most of the available
hand feed the Koi, including the varieties is held in a smaller availability of pre-matured Bio space, with something for
store’s star attraction, ‘Big Bad tank on the counter. Star filter media for customers freshwater keepers at all levels
Barry’, who pretty much sits and Labelling was informative and who want to stock their tanks combined with keen, friendly
begs for food. up to date. Fish that were not more quickly. Floating about in and knowledgeable staf, and a
There’s a substantial pond ready for sale were clearly the shop’s huge sump tanks with few extra touches here and
section out back, with all the marked as such. the waste from thousands of there to help make the hobby
associated dry goods. Although The store ofers a very good fish flowing through it, this stuf that bit more accessible to new
it was the end of the season, range of dry goods and the is positively loaded with fishkeepers. Recommended.

Cactus plec.

Blue Ram.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 109
 NEXTMONTH
in the ebruary 2016 issue

On sale December 23rd 2015

GO FOR GOBIES
All you need to know about the
gorgeous little Stiphodon gobies.
ALAMY

BE INSPIRED!
We showcase the top ranking tanks from the
ADA/IAPLC

recent IAPLC aquascaping contest.

GIRL POWER
We visit the stunning reef
tank of reader Lou Maggs.

P-PICK UP FISH THAT DIG IT

A PENGUIN! How to accommodate
SHUTTERSTOCK

Keep and breed the

NATHAN HILL

those substrate shifting

Penguin tetras. fish in the marine tank.
ALAMY

Plus OStep by step set-up OCO2 in the planted aquarium OOld tank syndrome explained
110 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
BRISTOL CORNWALL
To advertise
THE AQUATIC STORE
DEFINITELY DIFFERENT here,
14
WWW.THEAQUATICSTORE.CO.UK 01179639120 please call
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and marine fish inverts and corals. Largest range of aquariums, Comprehensive range of fish and accessories 311 – 315 Arundel Street, Portsmouth.
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CHESHIRE HERTFORDSHIRE

find us at Piccotts End

Coldwater, Marine and Tropical Fish. Hemel Hempstead
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111
 KENT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

New African
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www.wharfaquatics.co.uk
JUHDW YDULHW\ LQFOXGLQJ PDQ\ UDUHO\ VHHQ HOVHZKHUH . Tel: 01773 861255 Marine direct: 01773 811044 Reptile direct: 01773 811499
65-67 Wharf Road, Pinxton, Notts. NG16 6LH (near M1 J28)

www.abacus-aquatics.co.uk SCOTLAND
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House of Pisces ~ Scotland’s largest aquatic superstore by far
Tel: 020 8302 8000 With over 1000 aquariums full of tropical, marine and cold water fish
Huge range of aquariums, aquarium furniture and equipment at discount prices
Unit B/G, 207 Strathmartine Road, Dundee, Scotland, DD3 8PH
LANCASHIRE LEICESTERSHIRE 01382 832000 www.tropicalfish-scotland.com
Reef & River AQUARIUM www.leicesteraquatics.com
95 LANCASTER RD, MORECAMBE STAFFORDSHIRE
TROPICALS, MARINES, COLDWATER AND POND FISH
Excellent selection of dry goods inc.
Hagen, Juwel, T.M.C.
Leicester Aquatics
Mon, Wed 2-6pm. Tues, Thurs 10-6pm
Fri 12-8pm, Sat 10-5pm, Sun 1-5pm 01524 419371 0116 2709 610
LEICESTERSHIRE
Classified To advertise here please call the sales team on 01733 366321

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FRIENDLY HELP s EXPERT ADVICE www.aquaticworlduk.com Tel: 029 20 34 29 55
DELIVERY SERVICE s OPEN  DAYS A WEEK
NEW REPTILE SECTION NOW OPEN
Lincs Aquatics Bawtry Aquatic Centre
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Store open 7 days a week

Aquatics Aquatics
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Celebrating
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December
www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
112
WEST MIDLANDS AQUARIUM DIRECTORY
W’hampton Rd (A449), Prestwood, Near Stourbridge,West Midlands. DY7 5AF
1SR*VM EQ  TQ  7EX 7YR EQ  TQ
One of the largest aquatic centres
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Tel: 01384 877150  www.prestwoodpetzone.com Makers of Fine Quality Glass Aquariums
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Tel: 01482 640329 Fax: 01482 640489

when responding
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Email: andrew@kingstonkoi.karoo.co.uk to adverts
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or call in and see us at:
or tel: 01733 366361
Brisol Works, Mount St., Accrington, Lancs BB50PJ

113
Tailpiece

ALEX FOSTER, LATETRICKS

with Nathan Hill

“ Who needs a Corydoras guapore when

you can have a glowing fandango albino instead, with
electric blue eyes and a designer anus?

I
’m going to toss this one out there like
a word grenade guaranteed to blow
up in my hands and scatter us all with
shrapnel: designer fish.
Balloon mollies are a common
sight in many shops.
”
Let me expand that. Morphs, crossbreeds,
enhanced — man made fish. Right now,
you’re either in a big pile of ‘meh’ or you’re
tearing my picture of the page and burning
it. Let me put my own thoughts out there,
because I can. We don’t need them. There,
SHUTTERSTOCK

I said it. Inset: Will we

‘Fake’ fish are a tawdry stand-in for real eventually see
ones, as though the industry is pulling the Glofish in the UK?
teeth out of the entry-level hobbyist, and
MATT, CREATIVE COMMONS

expecting them to be grateful for the chintzy

dentures they’re replaced with. I’m not
buying in to it. Naturally occurring fish are
great as they are, stop messing them up.
By this point, some of my critics might be
whining at such a high pitch that they could
shatter glass. But the fancy goldfish, you say,
what about the fancy goldfish... bundles of fluorescent vomit would involve comes along. It’s just a shame that our
Hold your horses, because that’s not the shoving out some of the slower selling stuf. own hobby has also come to reflect this
devastating, punch-in-the-face knock down So, that’ll be goodbye to all the interesting desire for gimmickry.
argument you might expect it to be. I work bits, then. Who needs a Corydoras guapore
for a publication that’s impartial about fancy when you can have a glowing fandango Trash vs. quality
goldfish. But it doesn’t follow that I’m albino instead, with electric blue eyes and a There was a time when we were still on the
indiferent to fancy goldfish. In the past I’ve designer anus? While chasing the easy buck, fringe that we were left alone in our curious
rallied to their defence. I’ve kept them. I the needs of the old guard could quite easily desires to put fish into tanks. But now there
liked them. It doesn’t mean that I still do be neglected, ignored, or outright dropped. are (big) pound signs attached, and where’s
now. My views have changed and now I can’t The fact remains that we screwed up money to be made, it can be easiest to chase
really stand the things. Do we need them? somewhat with the fancy goldfish, and we the least discerning market. We can all think
Nope. Do the fish sufer because of their should learn from it. Instead of digging heels of examples where something trashy
shapes? Sometimes. Would I rather be in a in and saying enough was enough, the world outsells something of quality, I am sure.
world without fancy goldfish? Probably. acquiesced until it was too damned late. Can So anyway, the point I’m trying to make.
Anyway, back to the matter at hand. When we ‘undo’ the Celestial goldfish and fix it? Love them, hate them, whatever; it’ll change
I visit many shops now, it’s foregone that Probably not, no, and as for whether they nothing. Fish so artificial that you’ll puke at
there’ll be some monstrous beacon of should be continued as a genetic line, first sight are increasingly likely. Some are
unnatural colour slathering at me from I’m not getting involved. There are certain already here. The people that love them have
somewhere behind a glass screen. Whether designer dogs facing similar kinds of welfare already devised terrible arguments and
it’s a fresh strain of platy, a guppy with a woes, with their snort-nosed asthmatic absurd logical backflips to defend them, and
technicolour tail longer than a millionaire hufs and pelvic bones that shatter at a they won’t be budged. Just get used to it,
bride’s wedding train, or some newly moment’s notice, and people still defend because they’re going nowhere fast.
concocted African cichlid, I can be sure that them as though sacrosanct. Either way, if you’re a true fish fan, then my
somewhere in the tanks will be a fish so far We can, however, stop the same mistakes advice is to get involved with a club asap.
removed from its ancestors that early happening again. I doubt we will, but that’s Although they might not be fighting some
taxonomists would have given it a new representative of a wider societal woe. As desperate rear guard action, chances are
genus, let alone species name. we wax lyrical about our ‘rights’ to do that they — and a tiny handful of stores
whatever we please, we seem to forget that across the land — will be the only ones to
Fluorescent sticks we also need to consider how our actions have the fish you’ll want when the Glofish
Here’s a thought. We don’t have Glofish in might afect everything else around us. (or worse — what new chimera is waiting in
the UK. Yet. For the trade, that’s a mixed Bright, manufactured fish seem an the wings?) eventually arrive and take over
blessing. In the short term, the revenue they inevitability of a consumerist society, where every bank of tanks this side of Singapore.
would generate would be like Easter and consumerism really just involves finding the Nathan Hill is Practical Fishkeeping magazine’s features
Christmas combined for shops, all day every next thing to satiate the ten-second whims editor, Japanese beat admirer, amateur freestyle skater,
day. On the flipside, making space for those of the buyer, until another shiny fancy and budding Pez and Hello Kitty collector.

114 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING

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