#live aquarium plants uk

[aquariuminfobureau]

In past days, it was possible to obtain, at least for aquarists in the UK, at least two species of bitterling, Bitterling, which are cyprinids of the genus Rhodeus, are of interest for their fascinating life cycle, one that is based on depositing its eggs within a freshwater mussel, as a protected environment for the growth of its offspring. Sadly the bivalve is difficult to care for in aquaria, and almost always dies. So it is very difficult to breed bitterlings in the home aquarium, and it should not be attempted by those unable to respect and care for the mussel, that must live with the breeding fish. Bitterling possess a very large, tubular ovipositor, for the purpose of positioning their eggs inside the living mussel. Indeed the size of this structure, relative to the length of the bitterling, is visually striking.

One of the species traded, was R. ocellatus, the rosy species from East Asia. In fact the species once had a much smaller range, for it was once restricted entirely to the island of Taiwan. Centuries ago, this species was introduced to mainland China, as well as Korea and Japan. Since those days, populations have invasively colonised quite far flung locations, but the latitudinal range of this species in Asia, ought to inform us as to its tolerances. For it is established in Beijing just as it is in Hong Kong, although the latitude of Beijing suffers far more severe winters.

Rosy bitterlings are common in vegetated farm ponds and irrigation channels, and they grow to around 9 centimeters, or under 4 inches long. These species display sexual dimorphism, with the females growing to only a mere 2/3 of the length of their male counterparts. Originally this species preferred lakes, natural ponds, and sufficiently slow moving rivers. But now it is quite synanthropic, and is considered a nuisance on fish farms, where they are believed to compete with the juveniles of the cultivated species.

Rosy bitterlings appreciate a rather neutral pH, and a temperture range suited for a warm temperate to subtropical fish. 28 degrees centigrade might be regarded as a good upper limit duriǹg the summer season, dropping to a few degrees below zero, in the wintertime. Although this fish has become established long ago, in some regions where the winter air temperature is often below freezing, most of its populations do not. And it is unnecessary to expose this fish, to such low winter temperatures. Although a winter drop in temperature, is natural for these bitterlings.

When intending to accommodate R. ocellatus, their aquarium should be well planted, and the provided substrate fine, to reflect their natural habitat. Other peaceful fish can cohabit with bitterlings, although they will need to share its requirements as a non-tropical species. Like a great many cyprinids, R. ocellatus naturally form schools with their conspecifics. Their diet is recorded in the wild, to be omnivorous with a vegetarian tilt, including both algal and small arthropod components, but diatoms are their primary food source in the wild.

[sinceileftyoublog]

Billie Marten Interview: Quiet Confidence

Photo by Katie Silvester

BY JORDAN MAINZER

“Where are you calling from?” I asked Billie Marten during our Zoom last month.

“East London,” she replied, “Like everyone else,” simultaneously rolling her eyes at and embracing the scene in which she’s found herself embedded.

The 22-year-old’s wry sense of humor, observations, and self-awareness complement the earnestness she’s shown on her three LPs, especially last month’s terrific Flora Fauna (IMPERIAL/Fiction Records). Though the rawer aesthetic of the record was influenced by a spontaneous, drunken purchase of a bass guitar, and many of the album’s instrumentals were fleshed out in the studio with producer Rich Cooper, Marten both dug deep within her psyche and branched out to the world around her to tackle the album’s themes of self-care and empathy. Opener “Garden of Eden” doesn’t waste any time, its drums rumbling and guitars scraping as Marten compares caring for people to tending to plants. It’s a sentiment that hits even harder after a year-plus of lockdown-induced isolation, when for many of us keeping our pets and plants alive was the only thing we felt like we could control. Throughout the record, Marten’s honest about her relationship with herself, relatable in her alternating between endurance and self-doubt. “Trying hard to teach myself a lesson / Give my body patience to bree free,” she sings on the hip hop-influenced “Heaven”; even if a partner or folks in the world around her think they’re already self-actualized, Marten’s looking out for her own mental health. On the flipside, a chaotically fuzzy stomp like “Ruin” has Marten declaring that treating others like she treats herself would be bullying: “Got a war with my body / Never win, never lose,” she sings desperately. 

Flora Fauna is much more than a collection of the good days and the bad days, though. Marten communes with all sorts of living things, from street pigeons to gardens. And perhaps the most consequential song on the album is “Human Replacement”, a song about women not being able to walk alone at night, inspired by a seemingly increasing rash of violent attacks on women in the UK over the past few years. In its juxtaposition of infectious groove and essential, in-your-face subject matter, it reminds me of U.S. Girls’ weighty “Incidental Boogie”. For Marten, putting herself in others’ shoes, in a sense, allows her to become something else. On minimal closer “Aquarium”, over strummed acoustic guitar, she sings, “Do you wanna go to the aquarium? / I feel I lately wanna drown / Sit down, stare out, shut up, and swim around.” She’s able to nurture an environment by immersing herself in it, like how dirt finds its way on her face and between her teeth on the album’s cover.

Marten’s getting ready to get back out there, with some festival dates in the summer and a UK tour in July. For now, she’s relishing reflection and admissions. Towards the end of our interview, in which she had her camera on but I didn’t, she told me, “I like that your camera’s not on. It feels like I’m in a confession booth.” Flora Fauna’s got to be the greenest confession booth in the world.

Since I Left You: How did you approach the order of the tracks on Flora Fauna?

Billie Marten: I definitely wanted it to follow the classic storyline writing/curve. “Garden of Eden” starts off with the plant, everything’s open, and you really get the main feel of the album there, and “Creature of Mine” is twisting you up to this darker, punchier world, and “Human Replacement” is very in-your-face. “Liquid Love” would be the plot twist. Then, eventually, we float down to the second side of the album and get back into that acoustic-y world slightly more, but it’s definitely still different from the first two albums. Laid bare with nothing but an acoustic...on the last song of the album. I love that it’s quite a loud beginning but very quiet ending, which is what a lot of album campaigns end up being. You’re selling this thing you’ve made for two years, and it’s all, “Look at me, here I am, here’s what I’ve been doing, here’s how much better I am.” That air of improvement has to be there. But in the end, it is what it is. Take it or leave it. I’m not a naturally outgoing, competitive person, so I quite like finishing it with an air of quiet confidence rather than being brash and loud.

SILY: "Garden of Eden” almost has its own quiet confidence. It starts like you’re already in the middle of a conversation.

BM: I definitely wanted it to be immediate, like you’re dropped into my life without any warning. Have you seen Soul?

SILY: Yes.

BM: What did you think?

SILY: I thought it was very good. What about you?

BM: I loved it, and I thought it was the best philosophical education you could have in two hours. It made me think of it that way, because he drops to the real world. I wanted that feeling here.

SILY: I read an interview you did that had the title “We really are just plants,” and I was thinking that while reading about the record before it came out and eventually listening to it. Was it important for you to start the record with a song that compared us to something that’s also living but we don’t always think about as living?

BM: Absolutely. Well said. We’re actually really easy to take care of. That’s why I wanted to simplify it down in the melting pot. Take away emotion from it. In the end, we just need water and light and a bit of space, but not too much, to survive. I was very aware of that whole concept. Especially in London, it’s, “Look how much I’ve grown or will be growing in the future,” not, “How’s everyone else doing? How’s your soil?”

SILY: On “Liquid Love”, you sing about “wanting to wake up as a human every morning.” Does that song point to an eternal optimism?

BM: That was very much an affirmation type line for me. That line about waking up every morning was about how glad I was able to do that, because not everyone gets to do that for a long time. The song’s a love/hate relationship with drinking, which I was doing quite a lot of in the first few years of music. I get hangovers really badly. It doesn’t take me a lot to be completely out of action for the entire next day. That line was about just waking up and feeling proper and normal as a human, because I’ve spent a lot of days not being able to function, and it was really getting to me. We rely on our conscience to remind us to take care of ourselves all the time.

SILY: Is your relationship with drinking now different?

BM: It’s definitely a lot better, and I’m a much happier person. I don’t use it the same. I don’t need it in my life; I just enjoy it. 80% of us probably have the same struggle with it. It’s something you can control, and something that takes us out of real life entirely. It takes up your attention for hours and hours at a time. It’s an incredible mask for genuine problems. With music, it’s around a lot of the time. Some people just can’t function without it. I have big realizations all the time. My body’s telling me to stop doing it and stop smoking as well. I keep getting tonsillitis every month. I think it’s its way of saying to chill out.

SILY: The theme of being able to control certain things seems to pervade the record. It relates to nature, too. On the album closer, your garden seems to represent a balance, a place where you can influence nature but not control it.

BM: I have a really strong urge to protect an environment. I use the word cradle a lot. It’s important that humans can do that with other ones. I wanted that side of confidence I’ve developed but to let people know it’s okay to be and remain vulnerable. I think those are some of the best sides of people. If I think of my friends, I don’t think of them as who they are when they know they’re being watched. I tend to think of what they’ve been through, their low points, who they are when they’re being honest. “Aquarium” is very much that sort of confessional poem.

SILY: There are other natural entities in song titles on here that symbolize something, like “Walnut” and “Pigeon”. I think I read the latter is a yoga pose?

BM: No. I was literally referring to the one-legged pigeons that hang around London that are all gammy and rough and ready and tough characters.

SILY: The pigeon is really smart and historically used for a lot but we think of them as rats.

BM: They’re complete vermin.

SILY: It’s almost like the way we treat nature and/our ourselves.

BM: Exactly. There’s such a different between a rural pigeon and a capital city pigeon. They’re almost completely different species. It’s funny. I’m getting a lot of misconstrued things coming out of this record, people saying I’ve left London, I’ve found spirituality, the pigeon thing. All of these things just aren’t true.

SILY: That’s sometimes a good thing. Of course there’s a line where someone says something completely wrong and claims it to be true, but do you like in general for people to be able to interpret your lyrics the way they want to?

BM: Yes. I’ve had a lot of experience [with the former], especially because we’re doing these things on Zoom, and then you read the written piece and it’s so different from how the conversation went. It’s an interesting social experiment. But I love when people take images and phrases and meanings for themselves and make them their own. It’s a great sign someone’s getting something from your music even when it’s not happening in your head.

SILY: On “Creature of Mine”, that post-apocalyptic, “this is our last chance” type vibe--Is that a scenario you often entertain, and how do you feel about it?

BM: I’m a sucker for diving deep into rumination in a very large, existential plane. Thinking just spirals until it gets bigger and bigger and you get to a point where you’re completely irrelevant. Like watching Cosmos or David Attenborough. [It puts] your existence into a tiny hole. I think sometimes that’s really positive because it helps me understand when I’m nervous for a performance or gig, it’s good to put yourself in perspective. However, it sometimes makes you not want to do things because they’re ultimately not important. It’s a fine balance with that style of thinking. It’s automatic for me. It’s my constant thought train.

SILY: Are there other places on the album, even if not in the same context, where you refer to that spiraling thought process?

BM: I think “Ruin” is especially difficult in that I was noting down my thought process, and that’s what the verses are. I don’t know why I do it, but it makes me feel good. I needed to do that to get it out of me and understand how ridiculous that thought train is. The chorus tries to put this analogy of [wasting] time being a crime. That’s what I was doing: I was wasting a lot of time thinking about it, so every time I sing it, it’s a weird slipstream universe type thing.

SILY: I asked the question hoping you would say “Ruin”. When you sing, “Got a war with my body / Never win, never lose,” it reminded me of that thought process. It goes in a circle. It’s not a linear thing.

BM: There’s no point in putting an element of battle into it. There’s no opponent. It’s just you. You could try and find opponents with other people, but that doesn’t usually work out either. This whole album is fleshing out these huge subjects I ultimately have no control over. Putting my two cents in and leaving it at that, making these musical, experimental creations. 

SILY: “Human Replacement” seems to be one where the juxtaposition between the instrumentation and subject matter is sort of contrasting. It’s this funky strut, but the song’s about women feeling and being unsafe alone at night on the streets. Were you conscious of that contrast making that song?

BM: Me and my producer [Cooper], that was the first song we did together in this album, so it needed to come out very immediate. I just had that [sings melody], and he sat on the kit just trying it out. I had no idea what I wanted to talk about. I was going into this Queens of the Stone Age, grungy, late-night mood. I didn’t have the narrative because what they sing about wasn’t relevant to me. I was looking outside and hearing all the sirens and hearing about what was happening in the news every day, and it was a subject that needed to happen. I wouldn’t say I’m in any way a political writer, but it is a massive problem. It’s a shame that narrative came out of me. The subject matter had to match the severity of the song. I couldn’t really talk about my own feelings in that song. It had to be a bigger subject.

SILY: Are songs like those more or less difficult to perform live?

BM: I don’t know. I worried about playing that one live because it’s so serious. My between-song chat is very much not serious. It’s my personality, which is who I am when I’m not performing. So I was worried I wouldn’t give it the air time it needs. Then again, most people don’t even listen to lyrics. They just like the way a song feels. It’s important to entertain those people as well. It can’t be all doom and gloom. I would say it’s harder than talking about myself, which I’ve been doing since I was 12.

SILY: How was playing your gig?

BM: It was at Banquet [Records], a record store in South London. I thought we were gonna be in the actual shop, me and my long-term collaborator and bandmate and TM Jason. He just makes a bit of [drum] kit, and I’m on acoustic. It turned out to be in this proper venue in this theater. It was a gig. I’m really glad we got pushed into that environment. Anything else would have been a lot more daunting.

SILY: Was it your first time playing many of these songs?

BM: Yes. There are still ones I have no idea how to play. I need to figure that out quite soon. [laughs]

SILY: Are you looking forward to touring?

BM: Yes. Massively. I really needed this break to make me realize that because I think gigs can be really hard for people. I definitely find that. There have been certain moments where I wish I wasn’t going on stage. Now it’s just like we have been given this gift again of living normally. It would be incredibly inappropriate to feel otherwise.

SILY: What else is next for you?

BM: Definitely writing. I want to start recording again. I can do it now since we’ll be so busy. It’s shaping up into a completely different soundscape again, which is interesting. You’re always going.

SILY: Anything you’ve been listening to, watching, or reading lately that’s caught your attention?

BM: This band called Coco. I don’t even know how I found them. They’ve got no information about them whatsoever. I think they’re American. They have 3 songs on Spotify. They’re very very good. To be honest, I’m not very good at watching things at the moment. I watched Nomadland and loved that. Mostly it will always be The Simpsons. To be honest, I’ve been too busy recently. I’ve been looking forward to June. Wait, we are in June! It’s the 2nd day of June. Well, I’m looking forward to this month, where I can do more domestic things again and stop talking about myself. [laughs]

[louisweety]

Get your new Seahorses comfortable

Establishing a brand-new Seahorse aquarium can be fairly very amazing as well as challenging as a lot of points will require to be considered prior Seahorses can be securely added to a brand-new aquarium.

Beginning with the decision what kind of Seahorses to add. One of the most common varieties you will see in the marine aquarium are the Smooth Seahorse (Hippocampus Kuda) as well as the Lined Seahorse (Hippocampus Erectus), and a bit much more seldom to discover are the Dwarf Seahorse (Hippocampus zosterae), the The Gorgonian Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) and the Tiger-Tail Seahorse (Hippocampus comes). 

Next it will certainly be necessary where to position the Seahorse tank, best in an area without any straight sunlight, as it might cause the growth of undesirable microalgae and it should provide a calm surrounding for the Seahorses. 

Than it is time to get the water right for the new beauties. In a brand-new aquatic aquarium the marine water need to undergo first essential procedures to safely host new marine life. Apart from freshwater fish tanks this will typically take a couple of weeks for a marine aquarium as the new marine tank will require to undertake first a period, called "cycling" in which bacteria cultures have to grow and develop first undesirable microalgae will appear, up until the brand-new fish tank water has actually cleared up in and also found a balance to fit new residents. 

This cycling period normally takes about 4-- 6 weeks but it can be considerably reduced by utilizing so-called aquarium starter kits which will add already add valuable microorganisms culture. It is not advised to use marine water from other aquatic aquariums as it might trigger the danger of adding undesirable mini spores of algae, parasites or bacteria to the brand-new Seahorse tank.

Checking the water criteria needed for the Seahorse varieties chosen it is ultimately time to bring the seahorse aquarium to life by including the remarkable new Seahorses.To make them really feel comfy in their new residence it is also important to produce an atmosphere as close to their natural habitat as possible.A great way to develop this native environment is to use an natural holdfast for the Seahorse by utilizing sea plants they are used too.

Those so-called marine macroalgae are great for Seahorses and as some algae types will expand quite gradually they will not overgrow the Seahorse fish tank, reducing the job you have with the algae to maintain them in place.

A great aquatic algae choice for Seahorses are for instance Gracilaria Tikvahiae Mocha Ogo, Acanthophora Spicifera, Codium, Gracilaria Vermiculophylla and also Botryocladia Red Grape algae types, to name simply a couple of. All will certainly expand slow to medium quick and will add a terrific colour as well as the holdfast your Seahorse is looking for. Another very useful macroalgae is the Ochtodes and also Cladophora Prolifera Eco-friendly Shrub, as they expand in a guite dense structure which will certainly provide for copepods and also Rotifers-- the preferred food resource for Seahorses-- a great hiding area. Perfect to increase their population in the Seahorse storage tank and as well an excellent algae which will develop into a searching place for the Seahorse:) 

There are several great sites which have a wonderful option on macroalgae which you can contribute to your Seahorse tank, in the UK as an example Live Algae UK. But have you known that when you add macroalgae to create a lovely natural aquarium residence for your Seahorse that you not just make them really feel a lot more comfortable yet you will improve the water top quality of the aquatic water as well? This is to the fact that when macroalgae grow they will certainly obtain Nutrients like Phosphate and Nitrate, which should be maintained to a minimum.I hope that I have actually provided you some motivation and that you will certainly find and also love the macroalgae you have chosen to contribute to your Seahorse marine aquarium.For currently it is time to say goodbye as well as to allow you appreciate your Seahorse tank.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Mongabay/EcoWatch:

The Brazilian Amazon is hemorrhaging illegally traded wildlife according to a new report released Monday. Each year, thousands of silver-voiced saffron finches and other songbirds, along with rare macaws and parrots, are captured, trafficked and sold as pets. Some are auctioned as future contestants in songbird contests. Others are exported around the globe.

Fish bound for ornamental home aquariums also pour out of the Amazon, including the tiny, iridescent blue and red cardinal tetra. Arapaima fish — also known as pirarucù, one of the world's largest freshwater fish — are caught illegally, "laundered" amidst captive-bred specimens and shipped to the U.S. in large numbers.

Other fish are headed for the dinner table, as are freshwater turtles and their eggs, while tapir, peccary and other mammals are sold in Brazil as bushmeat. Jaguar teeth, heads and skins are shipped to China.

Millions of animals are being illegally captured and traded live and in parts in a thriving Brazilian black market, according to the report, produced by TRAFFIC, a UK-based nonprofit that studies the trade. "The pervasive and uncontrolled capture of wild animals and plants for the illegal trade is having grave consequences for Brazilian biodiversity, the national economy, the rule of law and good governance," it says.

Deep-dive research by biodiversity consultant Sandra Charity — who wrote the 140-page study with Juliana Ferreira, executive director of the nonprofit conservation group Freeland Brasil —focused on Amazon rainforest species and closely investigated the domestic bird trade.

Importantly, the researchers found that an ever-increasing segment of the illegal trade launders poached animals via a sprawling, legal captive breeding industry — a network that specializes in birds, which have a huge domestic market in Brazil.

[reisemanaj]

Deep Sea Aquarium Secret Weapon

The battle for excellent water top quality in your saltwater fish tank is truly never ever finishing..

. What happens if I informed you there was an actually amazing secret weapon around that is naturally happening and will draw a substantial quantity of contaminants out of your water and look actually wonderful at the same time? And also no, it's not live rock ...

Seems too excellent to be true right?

Prior to I allow you in on what the solution is I desire show you my all new mentoring program: the Saltwater  Live Algae UK - Clean Macroalgae & Chaeto UK  Fish Tank Guidance Academy

I produced this program due to the fact that the majority of people who've purchased this leisure activity are incredibly unlikely to prosper at the saltwater fish tank maintaining, in fact 90% of individuals stop working at deep sea aquarium keeping within 24 months, the most common factor for failure is not being able to develop a regular, immaculate water quality setting required for marine life. My training program offer the tools I utilize to succeed.

Saltwater Fish Tank MacroAlgae

Can you see the trump card? Simply among the many benefits you will certainly get with my mentoring program ...

The deep sea "trump card" I am discussing today will certainly provide your storage tank these advantages:

Boost the look of your tank,

Provide food as well as shelter for your marine pet dogs

Outcompete pest algae species

Oxygenate your tanks water

Enhance your water top quality by eliminating phosphates, silicates and also nitrates ...

The trump card or experts pointer is the critical use of marine macro-algae; likewise referred to as saltwater plants! .

saltwater fish tank tips

Photo from my "Developing The Perfect Container Atmosphere" e-class. Having detritus biting inverts and macroalgae is a fantastic tidy team

There are 2 sorts of aquatic plants that generally take place in saltwater aquariums 1. The (primarily) good types; these are the macroalgae (meaning "huge" celled), the aquatic plants like Caulerpa as well as Halimeda and also dirtying forms; the coralline algae.

These are desirable species because they look natural, expand predictably, oxygenate the water, draw out nutrients as well as are healthy snacks for our family pets.

However there are a couple of invasive macro-algae varieties you would certainly not desire in your tank, so research your prospective types well.

A lot of macroalgae species come from the groups Chlorophyta (environment-friendly algae), the prominent coralline types from the group Rhodophyta (red algae) and Phaeophyta (brownish algae).

2. The (mostly) negative varieties: the micro-algae (definition "little" celled) these are single-celled algae types, which converge in our fish tanks en-masse as well as have an incredible reproductive capacity. Its these micro-algae's out-of-control growth that cause flowers that can intimidate our whole marine storage tanks. The most infamous of the micro-algae's are:

3. Blue/green algae (Cyanobacteria): Blue-green sludge algae is responsible for a lot of saltwater aquarium chaos, these single-celled organisms are a lot more pertaining to bacteria than algae. In colour this algae ranges from red completely via to bluish-black and also can be viewed as slime, hair-like strings or a smear of evil looking film. Green algae covers everything in its path as well as is very tolerant of water specifications however does ideal in high phosphate, well-lit environments. 4. Hair algae: Likewise known as filamentous green algae as well as officially as Derbesia varieties. This is one of one of the most frustrating algae's and also is really usual in saltwater fish tanks. Its growth as im sure you can presume looks like clumps of downy hair that are green.

Bryopsis: Bryopsis is an eco-friendly macro-algae and additionally goes by the wonderful name of Sea Brush, however this things is anything but charming in your aquarium. It grows really rapid and also its green-brown feathery mass can take control of your aquarium in a number of days! Bryopsis is typically presented on real-time rock and is generally misinterpreted for Hair algae or Caulerpa.

saltwater aquarium enhancing water quality

Desire some 1-on-1 help to develop the best storage tank possible and fast-track your success? I can help.

So, it's micro-algae varieties that cause the huge bulk of bug algae issues in marine aquariums.

They cause troubles by covering every item in the container (as well as the glass) consisting of corals and other invertebrates that they can asphyxiate, cause infection and also shut out their light every one of which can trigger damages as well as even fatality.

Some algae are even harmful if consumed.

Bug algae outbreaks likewise suck out huge amounts of oxygen from the water at night, block filters, ruin water high quality with their rotting biomass and normally look unpleasant avoiding us from seeing our wonderful fish as well as reefs!

saltwater fish tank ideas

Macroalgae on the other hand is extremely useful and also will do these 5 superb things for your tank:.

Out completing the pest algae varieties by utilizing up all readily available nutrients in the water faster and also better. This implies pest algae will not have a possibility to flourish.

Gives a wonderful auxiliary food source to herbivores as well as omnivores alike. Occasional browsing will also motivate the algae to grow well. Tangs, Angelfish, Blennies, crabs as well as snails all take advantage of algae expanding in the tank. A diet regimen abundant in algae is stated to considerably lower the incidence of head as well as lateral line disintegration illness (HLLE) in Tangs and also Angelfish.

As a water filter drawing natural nutrients out of the water such as nitrates, phosphates as well as silicates that come from the failure of food as well as waste. Corals specifically are extremely conscious these compounds. Algae likewise aids to soak up heavy metals as well as any kind of contaminants released by marine microorganisms.

Add much needed oxygenation to the water column. Marine plants absorb carbon dioxide and put out oxygen, you can never have adequate oxygen in a deep sea environment.

Offers your fish tank a much more all-natural, authentic appearance and also provides habitats for invertebrates and concealing places for invertebrates and marine fish.

Producing a perfect environment for macroalgae.

Macroalgae are really easy to take care of as well as just actually need fairly tidy water and the very same bright (high) lighting that photosynthetic corals and anemone call for, so are best for coral reef containers.

They require around 8 hrs each day of light to thrive. Interestingly pest micro-algae's do better in dark illumination.

They will not need any kind of extra feeding, as they will mop up excess nutrients in the water. Coralline (red) algae also need a calcium supplement to grow ideal.

If your marine plants are expanding excessive (this is usually a pretty slow process for macroalgae) you can simply cut as well as prune them as you would certainly land plants.

Directly I such as to keep the base of my fish tanks devoid of substratum (a lot easier to maintain clean this way and also motivate the development of dirtying macro-algae's across the base and also strategically plant clumps of Halimedia and Caulerpa on the real-time rock where it looks actually pretty.

Sorts of macroalgae.

1. Caulerpa types: This rapid-growing and popular macroalgae comes from the phylum Chlorophyta which are the green macroalgae's. There are greater than 100 different types of Caulerpa some types expanding high and also others growing as floor coverings. The "feather" as well as "grape" selections called after the types of their fallen leaves are one of the most prominent with aquarists. Caulerpa is a favorite treat for marine herbivores and is great for filling in empty spaces in aquatic containers. Caulerpa plants are affixed to each other by runners or rhizomes, which they make use of for securing themselves to the rock.

2. Halimeda: This Hawaiian macroalgae additionally of the phylum Chlorophyta incorporates calcium into its plate formed leaves so is not eaten by herbivores. It is a sluggish cultivator as well as types baseball sized, circular globs. It is an appealing and also durable macroalgae to have in your deep sea fish tank.

3. Coralline algae: The bright red/pink/white/ purple encrusting varieties of coralline algae (phylum Rhodophyta) are a big favourite of reef container proprietors. They always come presented on real-time rock however can also spread out onto glass bottoms, they can likewise be propagated by taking scrapings or existing nests to brand-new areas. Also being calcium absorbing they need suitable levels of calcium (400-- 440 mg/mL) like reefs. Additionally like corals reefs they do not tolerate much phosphates or nitrates as well as likewise need magnesium, which will encourage them to grow. Coralline algae is vital to holding together reef in the wild and is stated to create chemicals that advertise the growth of invertebrates, they likewise maintain bug algae away and also offer a magnesium source for the tank.

4. Turtle turf: Likewise called Maidens hair Chlorodesmis is also from the phylum Chlorophyta and looks like great blades of turf that look like tufts of bright green hair. In my viewpoint this is among the most eye-catching macroalgae's as a result of its colour and also form. It wont be snacked on due to the fact that it contains a deterrent in its leaves. It needs moderate to strong water present as well as lighting.

Fish tank macroalgae.

Photo from page 99 of "Creating the Perfect storage tank Environment": Turtle grass is rather appealing and also fish love it.

A GOOD IDEA: utilizing macroalgae as a filter that rubs the water.

One of one of the most effective uses for macroalgae entails growing it in a sump or refugium listed below or to the side of the primary container.

This algae "scrubber" when developed will enormously filter phosphates, nitrates, some heavy metals and contaminants from your water and add big quantities of oxygen.

Along with the obvious benefits an algae filter suggests pest algae will not be able to grow in your display screen tank. All you require is a constant flow of container water in and out of your algae chamber and also regarding 18-24 hrs of light daily for maximum result, the reason for near continuous light is so that launch of carbon dioxide at night periods is kept to a minimum, which will decrease pH.

You can also keep online rock, live sand in your refugium/sump and also raise amphipods and copepods to feed your marine life at the same time as expand algae. Algae in the scrubber needs to be regularly trimmed as well as excessive growth eliminated.

The very best alga to use for this job is Chaetomorpha or spaghetti algae which has come to be popular with reefers in the last few years. This algae expands in thick rounds resembling a round of environment-friendly fishing line. 'Sheaths eat this algae also. Chaeto expands under routine fluorescent lights.

With any luck this blog post will have shown you the relatively unknown huge advantages of macroalgae and the substantial advantages it can supply your aquatic system.

[meowsatan]

How do you care for macroalgae?

nitrate and phosphate degrees can conveniently go high, and result in an algae break out. Overfeeding as well as Live Algae UK  overstocking is the most typical factor for water quality Live Algae UK - Clean Macroalgae & Chaeto UK going bad like that. Microalgae that are able to do photosynthesis are essential to life in the world; they generate around fifty percent of the oxygen discovered in the ambience, they use the sunlight's light and also carbon dioxide in their growth. They are important to the life of our oceans and lakes as they go to the extremely lower of the food web, without microalgae the whole ecosystem would fall down. Chaetomorpha "Pasta Algae" is cultured by lots of marine aquarists to eliminate nitrates as well as phosphates from the water biotope. It is absolutely sufficient to harvest a handful of algae periodically to keep the biological equilibrium in an aquarium-- a cost-effective as well as easy option to several chemicals or resins.

Live Ultra Rare Frag Purple Fauchea Macro Algae Plant Refugium Reefs Saltwater.

This is important because both nitrates and phosphates can be dangerous or perhaps fatal to the residents of your fish tank. One more reason why we feel Chaeto is the very best option for your refugium is because it makes for an amazing home for copepods.

Live Frag Caulerpa Peltata Macro Algae Plant Coral Reef Refugium Reefs Saltwater.

If you're seeking something to use as nutrient export, I would certainly just obtain some stem plants and a suitable light. They'll expand rapidly, consume nutrients, as well as can be trimmed frequently as well as will achieve the same thing that utilizing Chaeto would certainly in deep sea. Commonly seaweed, chaeto, mangroves, sea-grapes, calerpa and so on In home aquariums, the refugium is generally situated in the cabinet beneath the major storage tank. By restricting the plants as well as creatures to the refugium, the major storage tank remains clean and also aesthetically pleasing, while the biological purification happens in the refugium. The suggestions goes over in this short article are merely to offer you an image of the conditions existing in what we think is the "ideal macro container".

The truth that they look great and are typically quite easy to expand is icing on the cake.

Maiden's hair algae as well as sea lettuce (Ulva spp.) are bright environment-friendly species of macroalgae that normally grow affixed to rocks and are normally offered that way for aquarium use.

They might additionally be put amidst your online rock where they would certainly obtain brilliant light.

If you're seeking a little green for your container (and probably food for your Scats?), you ought to most definitely take a look at these varieties.

If the storage tank you are using to filter your system is mosting likely to be seen, after that of course get a varied group of macroalgae as well as make a display screen sump or refugium. If you are as addicted to this leisure activity as we are, you will certainly have fun establishing this new tank. If on the other hand the filtration location of your container will certainly be concealed from sight, you are much better off with just some solid filtering macros.

Macro Algae 1.

It is lasting with low to modest degrees of illumination as well as prefers low to modest flow. Red Titan algae will thrive the best when affixed to your rock; it makes a striking addition to your display screen aquarium. Coralline is located in deep sea fish tanks and also it will certainly dirty rocks, aquarium wall surfaces as well as substrates. It is preferred by lots of aquarists as it gives the fish tank colour as it is located in reds, pinks, purples as well as white. Coralline can play a crucial function in the ecology of a fish tank as points like sea urchins will prey on it. Ironically I really feel fairly comfy with provding for the seahorses, yet certainly they can not be included until this trouble is looked after. It is utilized in the aquarium pastime because of its quick growth under reasonably adverse conditions. It is not used as regularly in the aquarium anymore as individuals currently favour Chaetomorpha. Lights can have an effective impact not only on the survivability of the algae, but also on its look. These other pigments are called phycobilins, several of which reflect red, and a few of which show blue.

Mangroves Live Plants Fish Tank Red Mangrove Deep Sea Freshwater Seeds Tank.

As a basic rule, environment-friendly macro is much better at filtering than the others, as it tends grow faster than the others. Caulerpa and Chaeto both grow really quickly, although as stated before, Caulerpa is not without its imperfections. Scroll Algae is among the very best at straining of the brownish macros, as well as Brown Gracilaria and Red Gracilaria are the best out of the red macros we have,, yet neither is like Chaeto. Mangroves, (which aren't a macro, yet a true vascular plant), is in our opinion the best at purification in terms of the volume it occupies in your container. 

However, because Mangroves mature and out of the storage tank, they need to be incorporated with Chaeto for optimal filtration results. This group of 10 stems of Ludwigia makes a great addition to any kind of small yard fish pond. This rooted freshwater plant does ideal along the edge in a foot of water.

 This team of 30 stems of Infant's Tears makes a terrific addition to any kind of small yard pond. This rooted freshwater plant does finest along the fringe in a foot of water or much less. Some macro algae give a very good environment for advantageous inverts like copepods and also amphipods to expand as well as replicate.

[jeripunked]

Best macroalgae for refugium: various types

Besides the various other evident things like air pumps, filters, and also water pumps, a refugium is likewise an excellent addition to any kind of aquarium, particularly seawater aquariums.

A refugium is a like a different little tank where you can expand advantageous bacteria, algae, as well as allow little microscopic animals flourish, all points which can be very Live Algae UK - Clean Macroalgae & Chaeto UK  beneficial to the health and wellness of your fish tank however what is the best macroalgae for refugiums you ask? this write-up covers all you require to understand and also a lot more.

What Is Macroalgae

Macroalgae is a member of the water plant team referred to as algae. These are fairly primitive photosynthetic plants and also Macroalgae is a multi-cell microorganism that contains hundreds or even thousands of private cells. Do not perplex Macroalgae with sea plants and also seaweed, both things which are a lot more very closely pertaining to land plants, whereas Macroalgae is simply a water plant.

Macroalgae really soaks up every one of the nutrients it requires to endure from the surrounding waters which it resides in, type of like exactly how a sponge takes in water. The majority of types of Macroalgae will come under 4 specific groups, those being turquoise algae, green algae, brown algae, and also red algae.

Macroalgae is generally discovered in reefs and hard sea beds as well as on rocks, boats, and also other hard surface areas. They such as to attach themselves to difficult surface areas which are surrounded by nutrient rich waters.

What Is The Best Macroalgae For Refugium As Well As Why?

In our point of view, the most effective sort of Macroalgae to have in your refugium is Chaeto (you can buy it below at Amazon.com). One of the most essential points that Chaeto provides for your fish tank, particularly in salt water coral reefs, is to absorb excess amounts of phosphates and nitrates.

This is necessary since both nitrates and phosphates can be damaging or even lethal to the residents of your fish tank. An additional reason why we feel Chaeto is the very best option for your refugium is because it creates an amazing residence for copepods.

Copepods are little microscopic animals existing in the water, as well as when offered an opportunity to grow, these things can create a pretty good food resource for smaller fish as well as for coral reefs, therefore lowering the need for you to feed them.

Copepods are commonly consumed means to quickly by the residents of your aquarium, so having a significant population growing in a Chaeto development is a terrific means to maintain a healthy amount of them.

Without a doubt, one of the very best parts of having Chaeto in your refugium is that it does not go sexual like various other forms of Macroalgae have a tendency to do. This indicates that it will certainly not pass away and release all of those taken in nutrients back right into the water, something that can kill your fish.

There is additionally the fact that this things will certainly grow greatly with some good lights, thus keeping a healthy and balanced populace of Chaeto is relatively simple.

Buy Chaeto Macroalgae at Amazon

Different Types Of Macroalgae

There are a couple of major sorts of Macroalgae which you can utilize for the refugium in your aquarium, each of which looks a little various, does various points, as well as have different qualities.

There are 4 main types of Macroalgae that are common in aquariums and also refugiums, so let's talk about those really quick.

1. Chaetomorpha

This type of Macroalgae is extra typically called Chaeto and it is one of the leading choices for coral reef fanatics all over the world. This stuff resembles pastas as well as it grows really quickly. It expands in a ball of spaghetti like strings and also it will increase pretty quickly given the appropriate situations. One of the biggest benefits of having this kind of Macroalgae in the water is that it does not go sex-related.

When Macroalgae goes sexual, it implies that it launches spores right into the water to recreate, while at the same time, the Chaeto that has actually been thriving will all die, and also this suggests that it launches everything that it has taken in back into the water, something that is obviously not great and also can be really unsafe to any of the animals residing in your aquarium.

Surprisingly sufficient, Chaeto is one of the few sorts of Macroalgae that drifts around in the water, so you probably just want to have it in your refugium, yet not in the aquarium itself due to the fact that it can obtain caught on virtually anything as well as block pumps also. This stuff is actually fairly inexpensive, which is an apparent bonus for any individual.

2. Dragon's Tongue

Yet one more preferred type of Macroalgae, Dragon's Tongue is a really preferred selection for both fish tanks as well as refugiums. This things is quite vulnerable as well as kind of appear like items of gelatin. Dragon's tongue has reddish-orange blades, sort of like smaller sized pieces of yard, except naturally it is not environment-friendly.

This things does look really good as well as it likewise does a great task at exporting nutrients. The downside to Dragon's Tongue is that it grows rather gradually, hence taking a while to get established, plus it is likewise relatively pricey.

3. Caulerpa

This is an additional rather prominent for people who like to have Macroalgae in their aquariums or refugiums. This kind of Macroalgae can be available in several forms such as ferns, grapes, as well as level blade kinds too.

Caulerpa macro algae mostly expands on rocks on other hard surfaces, it expands very swiftly, and it likewise functions as a wonderful place to house good inverts, those being the microorganisms and also bacteria that help filter out your water as well as keep it tidy.

This things does grow extremely fast as well as otherwise kept in check it can overtake other kinds of algae really fast. Moreover, a huge drawback to this stuff is that it will certainly go sex-related, hence launching spores and all of the absorbed nutrients back right into the water.

Caulerpa is not all that costly as well as it does have helpful elements, but the reality that it does expand so quickly, can take over various other kinds of algae, and the truth that it goes sexual are all disadvantages to Caulerpa.

4. Cash Plant

A really interesting component concerning this sort of Algae is that it is calcerous in nature, which suggests that it feeds on the calcium existing in the water. It will certainly soak up calcium in the water, however when it dies it will launch it back right into the water. This type of algae is not superb for nutrient export because it does grow fairly slowly, however it does still have useful residential properties.

The Money Plant is a dirtying type of algae, which implies that it will slowly expand both vertically and horizontally throughout difficult surface areas. The great component regarding its slow growth is that it is reasonably very easy to keep in check and will certainly not adversely affect the development of various other sorts of algae in the water.

Why Do You Need Macroalgae For A Reugium

There are a couple of different reasons that having Macroalgae in your refugium is extremely useful for the health of your fish tank. Firstly, Macroalgae will certainly aid draw extra nutrients out of the water. Nutrients such as ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, as well as phosphate are all points that can hurt or eliminate your fish.

Well, Macroalgae will certainly soak up those points as well as maintain them far from your fish. Essentially, a refugium with Macroalgae can work as a terrific secondary filter to assist maintain your fish tank water tidy and also free of undesirable organic compounds.

Moreover, Macroalgae will also absorb the nutrients that forms of unwanted algae utilize to grow, hence helping you manage unwanted algae flowers easily.

A refugium with Macroalgae is also excellent for enabling the reproduction of small animals as well as microorgansims that would certainly or else not get a possibility to survive in a really active tank since they would most likely all obtain consumed prior to a substantial populace can create.

[montserratgonzalezh]

Live Frag Environment-Friendly Dot Caulerpa Macro Algae Plant Reef Refugium Coral Deep Sea.

Other types, such as the calciferous Halimeda macroalgae, have similar care needs to coral reefs as well as will expand gladly together with them. First you require to make certain that you Live Algae UK - Clean Macroalgae & Chaeto UK   are not including various other "bugs" together with the daphnia. Second, unless you can separate the daphnia from the fish, the fish will likely consume the daphnia before the daphnia can take in all the eco-friendly water. They also can be troublesome for prolonged usage in a planted storage tank, as they will certainly trigger the "breakdown " of some crucial nutrients. It is an instead slow-moving growing species that forms small floor coverings that hardly ever expand over 3 inches in height. The name "Sea Lettuce" is a hint to both the appearance and the edibility of this types.

Live Ultra Rare Frag Purple Fauchea Macro Algae Plant Refugium Reefs Saltwater.

This stuff is quite delicate and also sort of appear like items of jelly. Dragon's tongue has reddish-orange blades, type of like smaller sized items of grass, other than naturally it is not environment-friendly. Macroalgae is a member of the marine plant group known as algae. These are fairly primitive photosynthetic plants as well as Macroalgae is a multi-cell organism that consists of hundreds or even countless individual cells.

Live Frag Caulerpa Peltata Macro Algae Plant Coral Reef Refugium Coral Reefs Saltwater.

In our opinion, the best type of Macroalgae to have in your refugium is Chaeto. One of the most vital things that Chaeto provides for your aquarium, especially in seawater coral reefs, is to take in excess quantities of phosphates and also nitrates. We cover what we think is the best macroalgae for refugiums together with a comprehensive overview covering the 4 main good choices as well as why they are worth thinking about. Use moderate to high illumination and maintain it in a location of high water flow. Greater ammonia/ammonium levels and also low CARBON DIOXIDE degrees will certainly favour this algae. It's been known that the Siamese Algae Eater will maintain this algae in check. Nutrient control and healthy and balanced growing plants will limit Staghorn algae. Cladophora is a branching, environment-friendly filamentous alga, that forms a moss like structure.

When you add ONE large MACRO algae plant you off set the equilibrium of offered food for the micro algae.

Keeping a fish tank with aquatic macro algae and also plants is typically a stabilizing act in between managing the buildup of nitrates as well as organic product and providing just enough for a healthy environment.

Many of these layouts will end up being nutrient sinks in time and can launch large quantities of nitrates and also phosphates into the aquarium water.

When you include saltwater plants to your coral reef storage tank, you are bringing extra nitrate eaters to the buffet.

The Sea Cactus (Udotea spp.) is one of a number of types of large, fanlike algaes commonly up to a foot long as well as half a foot high. It's a rather sluggish cultivator in comparison to lots of various other macro algae species (which expand like weeds) and does not appear to be that typically traded.

I'm sure you'll succeed with the macroalgae if you elevate the details gravity to around 1.022 as well as avoid the freshwater dips next time around. Frequently there will certainly be older strands and fronds that have actually divided from the rest of the colony naturally, and also these are the very best joggers to target considering that there will certainly be little or no breakage when they are gotten rid of. By on a regular basis removing the older joggers as well as the associated fronds, you can disturb the life cycle of the Caulerpa and stop it from going sexual. This is best done on an once a week basis to be secure, if the Caulerpa swarm is growing rapidly. When weakening Caulerpa and also other macroalgae, take care not to in fact suffice.

Red Mangrove Tropical Fish Plants Freshwater Or Deep Sea Filter Container .

Some macroalgae can change the pH of the water as a result of their respiration, so you ought to on a regular basis check your fish tank water top quality. They produce oxygen in the light, however soak up oxygen as well as generate carbon dioxide, which reduces the water pH, in low light problems.

Mangroves Live Plant Kingdom Fish Tank Red Mangrove Deep Sea Freshwater Seeds Tank.

1 component of simple bleach (do not utilize bleach that has lemon, orange or any kind of sort of scent) to 20 components of water. Do not fail to remember to wash the plants well with tidy water prior to adding them right into the fish tank. The only ideal method to fight Brush algae is growing great deals of healthy fast expanding plants, introducing a couple of SAE, keeping CO2 at 30 ppm, nitrates at 15 ppm as well as phosphates at 0.5 ppm. It will certainly grow close to the light on equipment and plants. Strands can be carried out the surface area or in very bad cases the whole fallen leave need to be disposed of.

Examples Of Eco-Friendly Macroalgae.

Remember, you're not trimming bushes or trimming trees-- the idea is to thoroughly bring up and remove continuous, unbroken leaves or whole joggers with various old leaves. Simply thin out the nest of excess strands, delicately tweezing up practical leaves that can be conveniently gotten rid of intact. Many aquarium keepers will have had a cyanobacteria outbreak in their aquarium eventually. There are several factors that can add to a cyano bloom; way too much light, old tubes/bulbs, high phosphates as well as basic bad water quality. If the flower is not caught in the early stages and also the resource recognized and also rectified it can be hard to eliminate the episode.

[aquaessentials]

Live Aquarium Plants Uk - Aqua Essentials

Everyday when I walk into the office, I feel there is so much of energy around the problem that we’re trying to solve and everyday the problem is different. The market is also really big and it’s still growing, and that is why I think it’s daily affair of falling in love all over again with the work that we’re doing. https://aquaessentials.co.uk/

[aquariuminfobureau]

Procambarus, the North American swamp crays

Procambarus crayfish are among the most versatile animals, traded in aquatic retail. They were once traded as red and blue "freshwater lobsters" in the UK, technically Procambarus clarkii and P. alleni, before it became illegal to trade them there. Many were erroneously bought for ordinary community tanks, where they proceed to consume both plants and fish, and even one another. Hailing from North America, where they are known as swamp crayfishes, their wild diet has a seasonal variability. Though most of the animal protein wild swamp crayfishes consumes, probably comes from foraging insects, in winter they consume more fishes. Plants are consumed also, by these omnivores.

This information is about the species bearing the striking red coloration, P clarkii. Despite misinformation, the blue lobster P. alleni is not a morph of the same species. But much aquarium relevant information about them, is expected to be identical. Although swamp crayfishes show a strong habitat preference for slow flowing or outright stagnant freshwaters, sometimes with low dissolved oxygen levels, they are able to tolerate low end brackish conditions in estuaries, where the specific gravity may be as elevated as 1.015.

'Coldwater tropical' by their North American origin, these lobsters prefer subtropical to tropical water temperatures, but can survive as long as the water does not freeze, yet not reach 35 degrees centigrade either. Ideally, the temperature of their aquarium, should be maintained at least 18 degrees centigrade. Not surprisingly, these crayfishes have become famously invasive outside their range, where people have released them after purchasing them from vendors. Doubtless this was often after noticing their new novelty pets attacked their tankmates, or trashed carefully manicured aquascapes. On the plus side, swamp crayfish remain among the hardiest aquarium pets available, where it is still possible to obtain them.

P. clarkii become progressively herbivorous with maturity. Introduced P. clarkii living in the world famous Donana wetland of Spain, primarily consume material of vegetable origin, including detritus and Scirpus rhizomes. Animal prey included arthropods, mainly insects, and the livebearing toothcarp Gambusia, which was itself introduced to Europe. Thus these cra fishes are in fact a danger to small fishes, despite claims otherwise on the internet. Similarly, introduced P. clarkii near Sao Paolo, Brazil, consume algae and macrophytes throughout the year. Their animal foods are mainly arthropods in the spring and summer, switching more to eating vertebrate material in autumn and winter.

Compared to some other crayfishes, P. clarkii do not burrow so enthusiastically. They tend to resort to the burrow, only in the breeding season and in emergencies during dry snaps, when they can survive in self-made burrow microenvironments. Severe rains on the other hand, can prompt them to migrate overland between freshwater bodies, an ability that surely must have aided their colonisation of novel wild environments, where they have been released through human agency. The tank pH that should be provided for these tolerant lobsters, can be anything between readings of 6 and 10, or perineutral to alkaline, and the water hardness ought not be too soft.

[allotment86]

Rolling stones: moss-covered ground and sculptural forms at the Sanzenin Temple in Ohara, north of Kyoto. Photograph: Kaomike/Shutterstock

Timeless moss gardens are springing back

An ethical solution if you want to grow moss indoors

I am fascinated by cultural differences in gardening. In Japan there are more than a dozen named cultivars of moss, the basis of an ancient tradition of moss gardens, but in the UK the only thing you can buy in a garden centre with the word “moss” on it is moss killer. It wasn’t always this way. In the 19th century, as part of the obsession with ferneries and terrariums, special “moss gathering” trains were organised from London to the South Downs. Sadly, as most temperate mosses won’t survive the excessive warmth of indoor growing, fresh supplies were constantly needed, leading to a decimation of some natural populations. For those that long to grow moss indoors, there is a solution that is ethical and effective: aquarium shops.

An unusual thing about plants sold for the aquarium trade is the practice seems to exist in a parallel world to the rest of horticulture. This means they have thousands of species that most landlubbing gardeners have no idea even exist, including loads of ornamental moss cultivars. Despite being specifically selected for growing underwater, these adaptable species will be just as happy grown on dry land, as long as humidity levels are kept up – in fact they are commercially grown that way. They make perfect inhabitants for terrariums, living walls, indoor water features and as groundcover over the soil in pots containing bigger plants, such as bonsai.

In the round: prepared moss balls.

I love using Java moss, Taxiphyllum barbieri, which creates a dense, velvety mat of intense bottle green. Being the most popular, fast-growing species, it is sold in individual portions (loose mats about the size of a deck of cards), and also trained over coconut husks, even wrapped around bamboo canes. These lush green shapes are perfect as instant, established-looking landscaping features in terrariums. Given bright, indirect light and good humidity, it will swiftly colonise the space, looking even more natural as it creeps over woods, rocks and larger plant leaves.

Flame moss is an upright form that grows in vertical clumps to create tiny, apple-green spires like mini stalagmites. It is sold in plastic cups containing nutrient gel. All you need do to get started is rinse off the gel, split the contents of the pack into little tufts and insert 5mm squares of it into the compost, or even superglue them on to moist rocks or wood. A third species, weeping moss, Vesicularia ferrieri, has the exact opposite habitat, forming cascading curtains of emerald green over branches and crevices.

All of these are propagated artificially under sterile conditions, meaning no risk of bringing in pests and diseases, plus of course no impact on wild habitats. Being tropical, they are well adapted to indoor conditions, and so are a pretty perfect solution all round. One last thing, as I know I will get questions – I get all mine from online seller Aquarium Gardens, which has the widest selection in the UK.

Email James at james.wong@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter@botanygeek

source

[petnews2day]

From a grieving dog to inside cats — your pet queries answered

New Post has been published on https://petnews2day.com/pet-news/dog-news/from-a-grieving-dog-to-inside-cats-your-pet-queries-answered/

From a grieving dog to inside cats — your pet queries answered

HE is on a mission to help our pets  . . . and is here to answer YOUR questions.

Sean, who is the head vet at tailored pet food firm tails.com, has helped with owners’ queries for ten years.

5

Sean helps out with a grieving King Charles spanielCredit: Getty

5

Sean McCormack, head vet at tails.com, promises he can ‘help keep pets happy and healthy’Credit: Doug Seeburg – The Sun

He says: “If your pet is acting funny or is under the weather, or you want to know about nutrition or exercise, just ask.

“I can help keep pets happy and healthy.”

Q) OUR King Charles Alfie is pining for his sister who passed away suddenly.

Is there anything we can do for him?

Andy Derry, Cannock, Staffs

Sean says: I’m afraid time is the best healer here. I’m often surprised when asked if pets grieve. They do, just like us.

But we don’t know what exactly they are going through and also can’t explain to them why their companion has died.

One of the best ways to help Alfie move on and enjoy life again is to ensure he has plenty of time with friends — other dogs to go for walks with.

You might consider another companion too, and that’s fine.

You’re not replacing his sister, but I recognise this isn’t easy for everyone and that’s also fine.

Q) MY parents have just adopted a cat, Crunch, and we have been really debating on whether to keep him inside.

What do you recommend?

Sophie Jones, Exeter

Sean says: This is a tricky one. It’s a balance between the mental stimulation benefits of allowing Crunch a free life to come and go as he pleases outdoors.

But lots of that can be provided indoors and with an outdoor enclosure or “catio”.

We’re seeing a move away from free roaming outdoor cats in the UK and it’s almost the norm in the US.

The benefits to cats are that they avoid road vehicle collisions, injuries from fighting, certain diseases and parasites, as well as having less of an effect on our struggling native wildlife — many species of which can’t cope with the density of pet cats we have roaming our gardens, parks and countryside.

Q) I’M thinking of building a pond in my garden for some goldfish.

I’ve had mine in an aquarium inside. Can I transfer them outside and what do you recommend for the transition?

Ben Frank, Burnley

Sean says: I’m glad you’re thinking this way Ben, as goldfish are really not that suitable for an indoor aquarium unless it is very large and very well filtered.

They are much better off in a pond where they can grow to their full size and live more naturally.

Make it as big as you can afford, make sure to include plenty of plants for cover.

And use a trip-line or netting to protect it from your local heron who may pay a visit for a fish supper.

It’s best not to put them out now, but wait until early summer. That gives you plenty of time to get digging.

Q) MY labrador shakes whenever he hears loud noises and, if he’s not on the lead, he runs in terror.

What can I do as it’s so upsetting?

Andy Brown, Wigan

Sean says: Sorry to hear that Andy.

It sounds like he’s had some bad experiences with loud noises or at least worked himself up a lot over them.

We used to think you could train a dog not to be scared, but actually anxiety and fear are a natural emotion.

It’s difficult, if not impossible, to just train that response out of your Labrador, but what you can do is try two very effective techniques.

5

Tails.com provides tailor-made nutritional food for pets

They take some time and consistency to slowly build your dog’s confidence around loud noises.

They’re called desensitisation and response substitution.

Read up on them online and do consider enlisting the help of a professional behaviourist to help set you tasks, as some of the issues may relate to how you are reacting when it happens too.

Star of the week

5

Anca the smartly dressed rescue dog is our star of the weekCredit:

ANCA the rescue dog has swapped the streets of Romania for the title of Britain’s most paw-fessional office pooch.

The two-year-old pup keeps her owner Ellie Patterson company when working from home.

Ellie, 31, of Aberdeen, who entered her into a national competition run by furniture-work.co.uk, said: “She works hard Monday to Friday in her office supporting me.

Her tasks include napping, demanding attention and stealing sandwiches.

“Anca is due her two-year appraisal in November and is on her best behaviour in the hope of a gravy bone increase.”

WIN: Gift bundle

LET PetSafe sort your pup’s Christmas gift with a brilliant bundle of interactive gifts.

The brand is offering one lucky reader the chance to win seven pawfect presents, including a tug toy, ball launcher, puzzle feeder and chew toys – plus a Christmas tree decoration.

For a chance to win, send an email headed PETSAFE to sundaypets@the-sun.co.uk. See petsafe.com/uk. T&Cs apply.

A cat a day keeps the doctor away

5

Owning a cat is good for your health, a study shows

CATS are good for your health, a new survey has revealed.

The poll of more than 10,000 cat owners showed that 21 per cent own a cat to help them feel less stressed, while 67 per cent say their pet gives them something to get up for in the morning.

And 87 per cent spend every day stroking or sitting with them which has been scientifically proven to lower owners’ blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Many said their cats helped their family learn life lessons, with studies showing that pet ownership improves health and social behaviour in children.

The Cats And Their Stats 2022 survey was carried out by Cats Protection.

Mike Elliot, director of operations at the charity, said: “It’s no surprise that cats continue to be important companions for people, bringing associated benefits for everyone.

“As the UK’s leading cat rehoming charity, we’re proud to create strong companion animal bonds that are more important than ever in times of uncertainty.

“To achieve this, we carefully match cats and new owners by considering everyone’s needs.

“We stay in touch post-adoption, offering support, and love receiving updates.”

!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments);if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window, document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '752905198150451'); fbq('track', "PageView");

[happylilfrogs]

Opae Ula Care

Introducing the tiny tank known as the Opae Ula or in scientific terms Halocaridina rubra. These shrimp are native to Hawaii typically found in anchialine pools, due to where they live they have evolved to survive harsh environments such as temperatures drops (30° f), low oxygen levels, no food for up to years, and extreme changes in salinity.

Sadly their hardy nature has allowed them to fall victim to Ecospheres or micro ecosystems which are enclosed (sometimes open) small spheres of stagnant water where these shrimp can be forced to endure many of the harsh environments addressed above for months to years.

Let's do these tiny shrimp some justice and give them a environment they can thrive in and not just survive in.

Scientific name: Halocaridina rubra

Common names: Red Hawaiian shrimp, opae ula, supershrimp, red shrimp, and volcano shrimp. 

Care level: Beginner, due to their hardy nature these guys make a good introduction to shrimps and brackish tanks.

Water: These guys can live in freshwater, brackish, and even saltwater. However they truly thrive in brackish waters of 1.008-1.016 specific gravity or 11-21ppt.

Temperature: 75-85°F / 23-29°C.

Tank size: 5 gallons is the minimum for a group of these guys, but 10 gallons is heavily recommended as to make maintaining salinity and temperatures easier. When kept properly in these guys will easily breed so that’s something you’ll defiantly want to consider when choosing a tank size. 

Size: 0.5" is the average size. Much smaller then most freshwater shrimp you'll see for sure!

Feeding: These guys are scavengers much like other species of shrimps and will eat a variety of foods such as pellets, algae wafers, veggies/leafy greens, etc. Currently I feed mine high quality pellets, algae wafers, spirulina and the occasional blanched zucchini and leafy greens.  

Here are some articles that can give you a idea of what to feed, they are not made for opae ula most shrimp have the same tastes;

Planted Tank

Natural Pet care

Aquarium tidings

Filtration: Most care sheets are going to tell you to skip right past filtration and use the excuse “They prefer slow moving waters” or “It stresses them out” which is completely false. Well these guys can survive without a filter, they surely aren’t going to thrive in a tank without one. Like any tank they need a cycle of beneficial bacteria to help cycle out the bad stuff, but since they prefer slow moving waters you aren’t going to need anything very strong.

 Personally I use a sponge filter in my tank, but I also have a weak power head to assist in preventing any dead spots in the tank and my shrimp don’t mind it. 

When choosing a filter you’ll want to make sure your shrimp and baby shrimp aren’t going to get sucked into the intake so any filter then a sponge might need some modification. 

*Cycling a brackish tank is very similar to cycling a freshwater tank, if your unfamiliar with cycling check this article out. Fishless cycle is preferred, but if your freeing yours from a ecosphere its better to do fish-in then leave then in the sphere.

Tank Mates: Since these shrimp are so tiny you aren’t going to be able to keep them with any fish since they’ll just become a snack to them. There are a few invert tank mates you can keep with your shrimp depending on the salinity you choose to keep yours in. Please research the specific invert and species you want before adding them to your tank, this is only a suggestion or to give you a idea of what you can stock!

Nerite Snails, these snails come in a variety of colors and sizes depending on the species you choose. Many thrive in brackish waters and can also live in freshwater, but keep in mind they also will breed in brackish water. 10g minimum.

Blue-legged Hermit crabs, tiny adorable hermit crabs commonly kept in saltwater tanks as a clean up crew can safely be kept with shrimp. They are mostly found in saltwater, but can also be found in high end brackish waters. 10g minimum.

Other snails, theres many other snails besides just the nerites that can be kept in brackish tanks like Malaysian trumpet snails(1.010), assassin snails(1.003), rabbit snails(1.003).

Other shrimp, if kept in freshwater or low brackish you can keep other species of shrimp like cherry shrimp(1.003) and  amano shrimp(1.005). 

Decor: These shrimp prefer lots of hiding spots and will be stressed if left out in the open. Using plants (in fresh or low brackish) is a attractive and easy way to provide your shrimp with cover. Here’s a good post on brackish tolerant plants!

Live rock is commonly used in saltwater tanks, but it can also be used in brackish tanks in a similar way. It provides lots of cover for your shrimp since it has lots of holes and crevasses for them to hide in. If you want to add a little green to your tank you can also use macro algae though! List of brackish tolerant macro algae here.

Water Changes: Many care sheets will tell you not to do water changes since it stresses them out, it is true it’ll stress them out, but it does not mean you should keep your shrimp in dirty water. A quick water change certainly isn’t going to kill them and a moment of stress for clean water is going to outweigh the downsides.  Weekly or bi-weekly 25% water changes should be done on the tank. Personally I do mine bi-weekly since my tank is established and under stocked, I keep a eye on my water quality and do them before if needed.

Conclusion:

I hope this care sheet helped you guys out, if you have any questions or concerns feel free to shoot me a ask!

Also got a ecosphere and want to free your shrimp and give them a better life, but not sure how to crack that thing open safely? Check out this video! If you can’t watch the video I’ll give my best description:

On the bottom of the sphere there is a area where the sphere is sealed with a ring of silicone, carefully work around the silicone, and once you’ve worked that off pour the shrimp into a container.

*Also you are going to want to drip acclimate your shrimp to minimize stress and deaths. 

Sources;

The Brackish Tank

Opae Ula UK (theres a lot to read here!)

Opae Ula Breeding (Opae Ula UK)

Opae Ula Care (Opae Ula UK)

Pet Shrimp

[travel-rdm]

Must-See Places to Visit in London

London is one of the most fascinating cities you can ever visit. Ancient laneways lined with historic landmarks, high-end boutiques, and modern architectural marvels all find a pride of place to co-exist in this iconic city. With so many beautiful tourist attractions and captivating things to do, it's no surprise that London is one of the world's most visited cities, with over 20 million tourists each year. The busy capital of the United Kingdom has plenty to offer everyone, including shopaholics, foodies, adventurers, history buffs, and children.

Here is a list of Renowned Attractions around London that you can use to plan your itinerary.

1.   Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, one of the most famous structures in the UK, since Queen Victoria's accession, has been the Royal Family's London residence. While the Queen is away at her summer house in Scotland, visitors can purchase tickets for tours of the State Rooms, the Queen's Gallery, and the Royal Mews.

It is also the site of London's most famous pomp and circumstance, the Changing of the Guard. This free display of precision marching draws crowds from all over the world, no matter the seasons or the time of the year.

2.   British Museum

The British Museum houses almost 13 million artifacts, making it one of the best collections of antiquities from the ancient world. The Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon, the Rosetta Stone, Ramesses II's enormous bust, Egyptian mummies, and the stunning Mildenhall Treasure hoard of 4th-century Roman silver, in this huge attraction with rare treasures from Assyria, Babylonia, China, Europe, and beyond, it's tough to know where to start and what to see.

3.   Warner Bros Studio

Have you ever marveled at the fantastic visual effects, sets, costumes, and accessories in the Harry Potter movies? This is your opportunity to study and experience everything, Harry Potter. Take a Harry Potter Studio Tour at the Warner Bros Studio and spend a day experiencing and being awed at the making of the magical world of our favorite boy wizard plus visitors can also get a taste of the staple Harry Potter drink, Butterbeer at the Backlot Café inside the studio.

4.   Kew Gardens

One of the best things to do in London is to spend a day visiting Kew Gardens. This incredible location is home to over 50,000 living plants and some of England's most magnificently groomed gardens. The gardens provide its guests with a peaceful respite from the madness of London city, as well as a breath of fresh air.

The Pagoda, Japanese gardens, Treetop Walkway, and the incredible Palm House, an indoor rainforest with an aquarium in the basement, are all worth seeing. During the spring, the spectacular Rhododendron Dell is a sight to behold, bursting with vivid blooms.

5.   The Shard

This extraordinary structure – named for its resemblance to a shard of glass – dominates the London skyline. Since its debut in 2012, The Shard has established itself as one of London's most iconic and frequently visited monuments. The Shard houses a beautiful Shangri-La Hotel and three outstanding restaurants, all with breathtaking views of London. The uppermost levels also offer a variety of indoor and outdoor viewing platforms for a mesmerizing vista of the city.

[marineworld11]

The Ultimate Guide to Marine Fish for Sale Online and the Best Aquarium Fish for Beginners

Are you interested in marine fish but don't know where to start? Well, we have compiled the ultimate guide to help you find the best species of fish for your tank. We have also provided a list of the best beginner-friendly species. - marine tang

In this article, we will give you an overview of what marine fish are and information about what is needed for a saltwater tank. Then, we will provide our list of 10 beginner-friendly marine fish for purchase online. And lastly, we will go over what equipment you need to make your first saltwater tank and how to maintain it on a regular basis.

The great thing about this article is that once you get started with your first tank, it is easy and cost-effective to keep going! Once you have all your tank plants in, you can have a new plant every time you're able to One plant can live an entire lifetime!

What is An Aquarium and Why Get One?

The aquarium is a fascinating way to explore the ocean and its inhabitants. As the largest biome on earth, there are countless creatures and organisms living in what is a surprisingly harsh environment.

Aquariums provide people with the opportunity to come face to face with marine life that might otherwise only be seen in documentaries or on TV. Which is why an aquarium can be a fantastic present for someone who loves all things aquatic!

How to Choose Which Marine Fish To Buy For Your Tank

The marine world can be a daunting place. Not only are there a lot of different species to choose from, but there are also a lot of different types of environments that these marine creatures come from. In order to make the selection process easier for you, we have compiled a list that provides some guidance as to what kind of fish is best for your tank and what you should avoid buying.

You should always buy pyjama wrasses. These fish are easy to care for and can work in any type of tank environment. Soft corals in UKare also highly recommended because they will help decorate your tank without taking up too much space or needing too much care from you. Beware of turbo snail, they take up more than their fair share of space and eat algae and plants at an alarming rate. Aquariums are wonderful places to watch and learn, but they also require quite a bit of upkeep. The tank must be balanced with proper levels of water, nutrients, and light. Algae-eating snails are sometimes introduced to help maintain the balance in the tank, but these snails quickly take all the algae for themselves and leave behind no trace.

What Type of Tank are You Building?

Marine World Aquatics Ltd., a UK based company, has been in the marine fish industry for the past 25 years. They are well versed in selling fish and are experts at providing customers with the best service.

The company's services include but are not limited to selling marine fish for aquariums, as well as importing and exporting exotic species of marine animals. They also have a wide variety of corals for sale that can be shipped to nearly anywhere in the world. These corals come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and textures that provide aquariums with a natural look and feel.

What type of tank are you building? Marine World Aquatics Ltd., has made it their mission to provide clients with every amenity they need to make their tank look like an underwater paradise!

Marine Fish Care - How To Keep Your Marine Life Alive and Happy

In the world of marine fish, knowing how to take care and maintain your fish can be a little overwhelming. However, with a little bit of research and some guidance from experts, you can find the perfect fish for your tank or aquarium!

Learn more about what types of water are best for marine life, feeding schedules, equipment needs, and more.

Marine life is not as resilient as other pets we have at home but they sure are beautiful. Here are 10 helpful tips to help keep your marine life alive and happy.

Conclusion - The Best Tips For Successfully Keeping Your Aquarium Stocked With Marine Life

Fish, snails, and anemones are the most popular types of marine life for aquarists.

In conclusion, the best tips for successfully keeping your aquarium stocked with marine life is by following these points:

1) Research what type of marine life you want in your tank.

2) If you’re not sure what you want to do with your aquarium, ask a professional opinion.

3) Avoid impulse buying when it comes to fish and corals that are expensive.

4) Take care of your new pets properly to ensure they will live a long healthy life.

Marine World Aquatics Ltd. is one of the UK's leading suppliers of marine fish and aquaria equipment. They offer some of the best carpets anemones, soft corals for sale uk, and turbo snails available in the United Kingdom today.

As one of the UK's leading suppliers of marine fish and aquaria equipment, Marine World Aquatics Ltd. offers a wide range of decorative fish such as wrasse in UK and the best carpet anemone that can be found on sale in the United Kingdom. The company specializes in soft corals for sale uk such as Turbo snails to make any aquarium more beautiful with just a few clicks of your mouse.

The company provides all kinds of aquatic life from freshwater plants to invertebrates including snails, crabs , and mussels, as well as an extensive assortment of fish. The company also offers a wide variety of aquatic plants, live rock and saltwater fish in the form of compatible tank kits. Good quality, good prices , and good service is what the company offers to their customers.

For More Info: cleaner shrimp

[shakilmoss]

An Angler's Guide to Carps

A part of the Cyprinidae family, the carp species of fish, has cultivated a reputation among anglers globally. A popular coarse freshwater fish characterized by their greenish-brown, rough and slimy bodies, carps are considered an impressive catch for sport in several parts of the world like the UK and across Europe. But in parts of Australia and the United States, carps are regarded as destructive and invasive and ranks among the world's 100 worst invasive species. Releasing a carp that has been caught is illegal in some parts of the United States–even though it was accidental. Once peculiar to Asia, carps now exists in nearly all parts of the world except Antarctica. Historians and biologists say that the species were introduced in the 12th century to the European waters, in the 16th century to British ponds and lakes, and 200 years later to North America. Notably adaptable, carps can colonize virtually every habitat they are introduced to but seemingly prefer lakes and still rivers, particularly those with turbid water. Like many other invasive species, carps could invade the new habitats to the detriment of other native aquatic plants and animals. While feeding, they will typically uproot vegetation, reducing or eliminating the cover of other fishes like the bass, bluegill, or bass, rendering these species vulnerable. Carps multiply–or more correctly spawn– at a rapid rate. Once they are domiciled in a new habitat and spawning season, an eight-pound-sized carp can produce so much as one million eggs. During spawning season, carps will swim to the shallow and weedy part of the lake–no deeper than about two or three feet. The male and female carp would swim side by side to spawn, with the female sometimes having about five males fertilizing her eggs simultaneously. A male carp ready to spawn develops small elevated white spots called "breeding nodules" on its head and pectoral fins. It would, however, nudge the female carp with its head and pectoral fin, encouraging her to release her eggs and begin spawning. Certain conditions such as water temperature, food, and oxygen in the water further encourage a female carp to release her eggs. The spawning season for carps is usually from April to August but might last longer in a tropical region. The male carp releases sperm called milt that lasts between 30 to 60 seconds. Within the period of its potency, it penetrates the egg for fertilization. Once it penetrates the egg, it absorbs water and expands slightly before latching to underwater vegetation for the period it grows and hatches. Some carp species may be considered maligned pests; other carps offer ornamental appeal in aquariums and ponds. The goldfish, for instance, is a descendant of the Prussian carp–a dark greyish brown carp peculiar to Asia. Popular in China over a millennium ago for their color, they have evolved from selective breeding into several unique breeds, available in different colors, patterns, sizes, and forms. Koi are also subspecies of common carp, bred for color, and treated in Japanese culture with culture and are regarded as symbols of good luck. Other carp species include the common carp, mirror carp, leather carp, ghost carp, grass carp, crucian carp, and silver carp. Carps can reach over two feet in length and weigh as much as a human, with the heaviest carp ever caught recorded at over 200 pounds. They can also live as long as 20 years.