Red Slime Algae Problems - Aquarium Maintenance - Los Angeles

 

Red slime algae is actually not a "true" algae at all, but classified as a Cyanobacteria.

Cyano is a hybrid, a mixture between plant and bacteria. It has therefore plant, as well as bacterial characteristics and is considered the evolutionary link between plants and bacteria.  Starting out as small patches, it spreads out from there as a mat of sheeting covering.

There are several medications that will get rid of “red slime” but that is treating the symptom and not the cause of the algae.

Good aquarium maintenance and changing your pre filter and carbon on a regular basis will keep the “red slime” away.  Also making sure you have the correct lighting and that your bulbs are not out of date.  Deep Sea Aquarium Maintenance has been taking care of “red slime” problems in Southern California for over a decade.  Call us today for a free estimate. 562 477-2219

How to frag Pulsating Xenia - Deep Sea Aquarium Maintenance - Long Beach

Deep Sea Aquarium Maintenance feels the propagation and aquaculture of corals is extremely important to the reef aquarium hobby. Propagation helps to preserve and limit what is harvested from natural reefs in the wild.

Fragging Pulsating Xenia:

1. Locate a larger established polyp.

2. Cut close to the stalk's connection with the rock.

3. Put the cutting into the dish.

4. Take the cutting and cut it half into smaller pieces (a two inch colony would be cut four times.)

5. Take the mesh and cut it to an aporpiate size to the rock enough to rubber ban the mesh to the rock.

6. Take rock and the xenia colony and put the mesh over the colonies, make sure the polyps are facing up through the nets.

7. Rubber ban the mesh around the rock.

8. Quickly take your new colony and put it back into the main tank.

Note: It will look bad for a while, brown and purple pale look to it, give it about two weeks or more and you will have a two inch tall stock and polyps pulsing!!!

Have an algae problem in your pond?

Summer is here and is your pond looking as good as it could be?

The two most common forms of algae that ponds experience are planktonic algae and filamentous algae. Planktonic algae is the type that gives pond that distinctive pea green, soupy color.

The second type of algae is Filamentous algae which you typically see growing on rocks and floating on the surface in mats. It is the stringy, hair-like algae that you often see in the spring and summer months.

Algae in moderation is good for a pond, but when it becomes over abundant, it can cause severe water quality problems. Algae consumes oxygen at night to continue its life cycle, so when there is a severe outbreak, large amounts of oxygen are consumed and can seriously deplete the dissolved oxygen level in a pond to a point that cause fish kills. Not to mention that fact it does not look good.

Deep Sea Aquarium Maintenance has been servicing ponds for over 15 years and can take care of any algae problem your pond might have. They also specialize in custom water falls and streams.  Call Deep Sea Aquarium Maintenance today for a free estimate. 562 477-2219

Custom Ponds and Water Features in Los Angeles, Orange County, and Long Beach

Unleash the design and construction talent of Deep Sea Aquarium Maintenance for your water feature.  DSAM specializes in custom ponds, waterfalls, streams, indoor water features, and pool side grottos.  We have the experience and expertise to make your dream water feature a reality.  Contact Deep Sea Aquarium Maintenance Today! www.deepseanow.com  or 562 477-2219

Reef Aquarium - The Elegance Coral

The Catalaphyllia Elegance Coral is a large polyp stony (LPS) Its polyps are extended during the day showing off its vast array of color-tipped tentacles.

The Elegance Coral is moderate to maintain in the reef aquarium and makes an excellent choice for both the beginner and expert aquarist. Provide ample space in the aquarium between it and other neighboring corals as it will expand to twice its usual size during the day and will sting other corals. Ideal reef aquarium conditions for the Elegance Coral should include moderate lighting with moderate water movement.

For continued good health, it will also require the addition of calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.  It will benefit from additional food fed daily in the form of micro-plankton or brine shrimp.

Keeping Moon Jellyfish in a Aquarium

Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) are a new frontier in the home aquarium.  These jellyfish are breath taking to look at and are not as hard to keep as you may think.  The key to keeping Moon Jellyfish in a home aquarium is proper set up and weekly maintenance.

Jellyfish need a special kind of aquarium called a Kreisel.  The Kreisel is designed to provide a circular current to keep the Jellyfish suspended.  It also has a current that keeps the Jellyfish from getting sucked into the overflow.  Jellyfish aquariums usually have a simple wet/dry filtration with a small UV Sterilizer to help prevent algae blooms.  Moon Jellyfish are a cold water species and there for you will also need a chiller to help keep the aquarium between 60 - 64 F.  The water flow rate in a Jellyfish aquarium is set to the size of Moon Jellyfish you have so a good valve in a easy to use place is a must.  Smaller jellyfish will need less flow than larger jellyfish to keep them from getting thrown around the aquarium.

The maintenance of a Jellyfish aquarium must be done at least weekly.  A complete wipe down of the aquarium will prevent your Jellyfish from being injured from slime  build up on the aquarium walls.  Also since there is a low flow rate you will need to do a small water change and siphon and debris off the aquarium floor.  Water chemistry is very important when maintaining jellyfish and you should strive for a consistent pH and water salinity.  The other problem with Jellyfish aquariums is when performing water changes you must remember you are dealing with a cold water system and you must have your replacement water the same temperature as the aquarium.

Jellyfish aquariums are becoming more affordable.  MoonJellyfish.com offers a great new Jellyfish Aquarium for the home aquarist and live Moon Jellyfish!

DSAM Commercial - Funny!