Re: Subject: [GSAS-Member] UV light to control algae, ecological consequences of using bogwood

[Trish <snips36@yahoo.com>]

Hi John-

I am not the most qualified person to anser this on
John, but I'll give it a shot.

I keep Africans as well in 3 different tanks. I have
Colbalt blue zebra's and Yellow labs in a 55 gallon, I
have Red top Zebra{Iced Blue}, and Yellow lab in my
90, I have P. Milomo {vc-10's} , and Yellow labs in my
125 gal. I have kept various Africans cichlids before,
and have many different aquascapes.....the best for
them is plain river rock. Yes river rock. I have
collected rock from many places, you can even go to a
local landscape place, and they'll sell it cheap. For
the rock I have in my 90 and 125, it cost me a total
of $15.00. And their is alot of rock in these tanks.
The rock in the 55 gallon is just river rock, so it
was free.

I am not sure of the use of bogwood wit Africans, I
think it does something to the PH, it lowers it I
think. And Aricans want a higher ph usually above or
around 8. Mine are at 8.4 . I am lucky it comes out of
the tap at 8, and well with adding marine salts and a
few other things it brings it up. Also with substrate,
they prefer just sand. Not gravel. If you have gravel
it's fine, but you can see realy how they dig with
just sand.

Oh and to collecting wood locally, I think that dift
wood would be the best choice. But you could also be
bringing little nasties you don't want in your tank.
Some woods are fine, but I don't know what they are.
Don't go and buy the plastic ones, first their to
expensive, and secondly the color comes off
eventually, if your using salts. Not sure if it does
if you don't. 

I can send you picutres off list if you'd like so you
can see the rock in these tanks. Just let me know.

Trish
--- John Ruhland <john@drruhland.com> wrote:
> I was so busy this week, I'm just now able to give a
> follow-up report on
> my use of the UV light for the blue-green "algae."
> This life form is 
> small
> enough that the pleated filter of the Magnum 350 did
> not filter any out.
> I did not try precipitating it out, although that
> may have been my next 
> step
> if the UV light had not worked.
> 
> Originally, the algae suspended in the water was
> clouding the water so 
> much
> that one could see maybe 4 to 6 inches in. After 6
> hours using the UV 
> light,
> it was about 8 to 10 inches. 24 hours after that, so
> 30 hours after 
> first using the
> light, one could see the color of the wall through
> the tank, and an 
> additional 24
> hours later, it was nearly normal. At this time, I
> moved the light to 
> another tank,
> where two of my Kenyi have developed a nasty-looking
> infection. They 
> have
> been fighting while I quickly try to get another
> tank running in order 
> to be able
> to separate them.
> 
> John
> 
> (Still looking for more hiding places for the fish
> as well, if anyone 
> else bogwood,
> clay pipes or rocks that would be appropriate for
> the Kenyi African 
> Cichlides (they
> are about 6-7 inches long). Sorry, I will not be
> able to make the 
> auction.  : (
> 
> Does anyone know if there are negative ecological
> consequences to using
> bogwood. Are we destroying habitat or doing other
> harm by using it, as 
> we
> are when we use peat? Is it practical to use wood
> from our area, and 
> just
> submerge and waterlog it? I'm afraid that it will
> work its way loose, 
> shoot
> up to the surface, and damage light or cover.
> 
> Thank you
> 
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