Re: MCM - Digest V1 #394

["Mary McCaw" <marymccaw@mediaone.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "MCM - Digest" <owner-aga-mcm-digest@thekrib.com>
To: <aga-mcm-digest@thekrib.com>
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2000 11:03 AM
Subject: MCM - Digest V1 #394


>
> MCM - Digest         Monday, November 6 2000         Volume 01 : Number
394
>
>

> Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 07:45:16 -0800 (PST)
> From: Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>
> Subject: Convention Wrap-up
> The next two messages are my notes from Sunday.  The first is the business
meeting, and I'll be using this to re-adjust the Master List of Things To
Get Done soon.

My suggestion is that we maintain a separate file for face- to-face
meetings.  According to Bob, the common wisdom is that nonprofits should
keep minutes.   A propos keeping minutes, I forgot to mention that some
states require an official secretary for nonprofit organizations.  Bob is
going to check on whether or not we need a secretary for MA.

The second is the freeform discussion notes.  Like the ones I did for NEC
they may be usable for publication in TAG if the reader is distracted by
generous amounts of good photos (Mary, if you  want, I can dig up some stock
photos of Glossostigma and maybe heating cables and algae to go along with
the topics).

Photos would be great.  I'd be delighted to publish these notes.  Erik, you
did an awesome job!  The name of the Maryland Aquatic nursery guy is Richard
Schuck.  I can't remember if he goes by "Dick" or another nickname.
>
>    - Erik
>
> - --
> Erik Olson
> erik at thekrib dot com
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 07:46:10 -0800 (PST)
> From: Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>
> Subject: Biz Meeting Notes
>
> AGA Convention - 5 November 2000
> Biz Meeting and Miscellaneous Biz Notes
>
(> Paul: Would like to see local plant clubs listed on our website and
possibly elsewhere.  [Good idea -- I will take this item. ***EO]

I would be happy to list these clubs in TAG.  Does anyone know of other
clubs besides San Francisco, Madison, and Chicago?

> Bulk subscription: It was announced that Mary and Neil had > unofficially
agreed to offer a bulk subscription of TAG to Glaeser's group at the 3-year
rate.  We voted at the meeting to formalize this as a policy for any
organization desiring bulk subscriptions of 10 or more.  Needs to be updated
in the subscription info in TAG and website
> [***EO].

Will be done.

> Mary's deadline for TAG is like now (her layout person goes out of the
country on the 22nd).  [Mary, what IS the deadline for the next TAG?

Like now.  I sent my two layout people an e-mail about 2 1/2 weeks ago,
setting a deadline of November 15 and asking if this was a problem.  Cheryl
(who is fast and does most of the work) e-mailed me back and said she wanted
the material ASAP to avoid a stressful, last minute rush.  My work is about
2/3 done and I will be able to finish it in the next few days.  I am not
concerned with the page count because I am planning on adjusting it up with
black and white photos.

 > And the one after that?

Jan. 15th.  I am leaving for Brazil on Jan. 20th, and I want to send TAG on
to the layout people before I go so I can proof when I get back.  So the 1st
issue of TAG for 2001 should come out mid to late February.

  Was decided to have a few varying viewpoints from 3 or so individuals
ranging from the casual first-timer to the seasoned people.  Charlene
GRACIOUSLY (after all
> that INCREDIBLE work on the convention!) offered to step in and do the
interviews.

Here here.  Thank you, Charlene, for all the hard work you did.  I really
appreciate your doing the interviews.

> Someone brought up (Dorothy?) the speaker program (we supply supplemental
funding for clubs who want an AGA-sanctioned speaker).  We decided to have
it an "apply-by-mail".  I want to call for  discussion on this so we can
have something formal written up on the website here too.  Doesn't have to
be fancy, maybe just a simple paragraph that clubs are invited to apply for
thus and such speakers and we'll provide up to $100 in funding towards their
trip, and maybe some back-issues of TAG for auction.

I would like to see this completed in time for the TAG Jan. 15th deadline.

> Color in TAG: Not clear, needs more research.  Looks like the current
printer offers color xeroxes [EO: BAD BAD BAD] or true 4-color  printing
[EO: GOOD GOOD GOOD!].  Mary is going to find out what it
> costs.

Here are some estimates on 4 color printing.  This estimate is based on one
or two center inserts which would mean 4-8 sides.  This is the most
economical way to go.

750 copies (what we do now)

1 sheet $1047    Second Sheet $847

1000 copies

1 Sheet $1, 114    Second Sheet $914.86

The above figures are for the color sheets only.  The printing costs on top
of this would be in the neighborhood of $750 depending on the length of the
issue.  (That was the cost of the last issue which was 32 pages.)

I asked for figures on a second sheet because someone suggested one or two
issues of color as opposed to spreading the color out over several issues.
This would keep the costs down.

Perhaps James, Erik, and I should put out heads together and decide what
makes sense to do as far as the contest is concerned and get back to the MC.

 Dave Gomberg knows of some printer that does slick 4-color inserts at 25
cents per page or so, but there is the usual complexities of collating, etc.
Anyway, we can ask him if we are interested.

I will e-mail Dave, get the name of this printer, and ask for an estimate.
However, bear in mind what our printer told me, that the main cost is the
initial set-up fee which is about $350 of the estimate he gave me.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 07:48:06 -0800 (PST)
> From: Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>
> Subject: Panel Discussion Notes - CORRECTIONS SOUGHT PLEASE!
>
> What's the name of that guy from Maryland Aquatic Nurseries?
> Technical corrections also sought where applicable!
>
> - -=-----------
> AGA Convention
> Panel Discussion 5-November 2000
>
> One of my favorite parts of aquarium conventions are the impromptu
> freeform discussions that occur over the breaks between talks, lunch,
> or late at night.  Thankfully, the recent AGA convention featured an
> ORGANIZED freeform discussion, moderated by a panel of conventions
> speakers Karen Randall, Paul Krombholz, Neil Frank, David Lass and
> Charlene Nash, plus special guest George Booth.  For an hour over
> breakfast, we enjoyed spirited banter on three aquatic gardening
> topics.
>
>
> CYANOBACTERIA AND OTHER ALGAE
>
> Earle Hamilton has three large tanks, two 300-gallon aquaria and a 220
> gallon aquarium, kept right next to each other and with similar
> conditions, lighting, etc.  Two of these tanks are very clean but one
> gets plagues of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).  Maracyn
> (erithromyacin) is an effective temporary cure, but is very expensive
> ($25 for 100 tablet was quoted).  Earl has found that an alternative
> to this is hydrogen peroxide; it is certainly a lot cheaper.

Should we include the amount to use since some people may want to try it?  I
don't remember how much he says he uses.
>
> George notes that algae is natural in a tank --- but when it covers
> everything in the tank, it's a problem.  David wonders if the tank is
> overfed.  Karen added that the appearance of Cyanophyta is a signal of
> nutrient imbalance, and it's best to find the root of the problem
> (i.e. the nature of the imbalance).  She also concurs that the algae
> is naturally present in particular sites, for instance the waterfall
> in a paludarium, or the overflow skimmer.
>
> Cyanobacteria may produce certain toxins, Paul expounds.  Snails do
> not eat it under normal circumstances.  But if the light level is
> decreases, the algae seems unable to produce the toxin, and in his
> experience, snails are able to eat it!  Also, running the water
> through a U/V sterilizer makes this algae more "palatable".  Could the
> algae be secreting something into the water?
>
> ****That Maryland Nursery Guy*** has never seen cyanophyta, green
> water and "string" algae co-existing in the same tank or pond.  He
> sees phases where new ponds first undergo a case of green water, which
> then seems to collapse as string algae takes over.  This is also is
> seen naturally in streams --- does the movement of the water help the
> nutrients get to the algae?  Karen wonders if it's Allelopathy.  Paul
> suggests that the string algae provides a lot of surface area for
> rotifers and other critters to colonize.  These small creatures feed
> off the unicellular green algae.
>
> Dorothy Reimer has had string algae plagues cured by throwing in some
> tetras with "orange and black fins".  The group is curious about
> exactly which tetras these were, because they are not normally known
> for their algae-eating prowess.
>
> GLOSSOSTIGMA
>
> Glossostigma elatinoides (also known as "that Amano Plant" or "that
> impossible-to-grow plant" by your note-taker) is a short carpet plant.
> It needs high light and CO2 to grow, says ***That Maryland Nursery
> Guy***, but is very easy to grow emersed!  Paul and Karen suggest
> growing a bit emersed in a jar on the windowsill, just in case your
> rare and expensive sample does not fare well in the tank at first.
> Karen muses that some of the trouble we encounter growing it in the US
> may stem from a tendency to overcrowd the tank with taller plants,
> shading the foreground carpet, while the Amano "style" sometimes
> consists of a tank with only Glossostigma and some rocks.
>
> Neil, who has visited with Amano in Japan, adds that Glossostigma is
> not the high-maintanence plant in those tanks; it's actually all the
> fast-growing stem plants which require constant pruning by the
> minions.  Neil has tried Glossostigma himself, grown in pots, and it
> has never developed the large leaves seen in the pictures.  They
> produce very shallow roots, and thus must be getting their nutrients
> from the water column.  The best tank of Glossostigma he's seen in
> this country has it growing in Flourite!  Perhaps the Flourite is
> supplying a small but constant amount of iron and other micronutrients
> to the plant.
>
> In an excellent example of why your note-taker loves group
> discussions, Michael Rubin and Steve Dixon chime in with somewhat
> contrary information to the above!  Glossostigma, for folks in the Bay
> area, does well in soft water, likes high nitrates, produces 2-1/2"
> long roots, grows very fast ("it's a screamer" they say), and will
> actually grow into shaded areas.  Another person pipes in with reports
> of it growing well in hard water (5 degrees GH).  The group attempts
> to rationalize the differences: maybe shade is OK if the bulk of the
> plant mass extends into the main well-lit area of the aquarium.  And 5
> degrees GH isn't hard water to many.
>
>
> HEATING CABLES AND SUBSTRATE
>
> George, who has been using Dupla heating cables on his aquariums for
> eight years (See TAG ***

I checked the index, and the relevant articles would seem to be in Volumes
5-6 which I don't have.)

Mary