Gills‘NGossip 4thQuarter,2016 1

FourthQuarter,2016

Diatoms(SubmittedbyGuyVanRossum)

Table of Contents

Who We Are / BOD & Committee Chairs 2 - 3 DAAS News / DAAS Jan 15th Auction Information 4 - 6 Article: “Crystal Clear-Diatom Filters” by Guy Van Rossum 7 - 12 Upcoming Events 13 - 18 Our Supporters 19

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Gills ‘N Gossip is published four times per year for free distribution to members, advertisers, exchanges, and hobby distributors and publishers. The material it contains may not be distributed by computer bulletin boards nor reprinted by profit making organizations without prior written permission of the author. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the society members, its’ Officers or Board of Directors. Editorial Policy: All fish, plant, and other hobby related material will be considered for publication. The preferred method of delivery for articles is via email in MS WORD or Text format to BROMEO1234@optonline.net. Alternate means of submitting may be arranged by contacting the Editor. Articles the Editors deems inappropriate will not be published. Original articles may be reprinted by other non-profit hobby organizations with the following stipulations:

1. Gills ‘N Gossip is credited as the original Publisher.

2. The article is reprinted in its’ original form.

3. The original author is credited appropriately.

4. An author’s copy is provided to the Editor at the time of distribution of the reprint.

Exchanges: DAAS will exchange publications with any non-profit hobby related organization with the following stipulations:

1. The request to exchange must be made in writing or email.

2. The organization informs us of their reprint policy.

3. The exchange is mailed (or emailed) to the Gills’ N Gossip Exchange Editor upon publication.

Advertising Rates in Gill ‘N Gossip (for 1 year): Business Card: $25; ¼ page: $50; ½ page: $75; Full page: $100.

Contact Barbara @ 914-433-2556 or email BRomeo1234@optonline.net DAAS Background Information: Established in 1986, the Danbury Area Aquarium Society (DAAS) is a non-profit organization serving the Hudson Valley Area, Westchester, Fairfield and Litchfield Counties of New York and Connecticut. DAAS is a member of the Northeast Council of Aquarium Societies (NEC), a member of the Federation of American Aquarium Societies (FAAS), and C.A.R.E.S. preservation program. General meetings are held the 4th Friday of the month (except July & December) at Laura Sprain Memorial Cornerstone Park, 1 Fair Street in Carmel, NY. General meetings normally begin with a brief business meeting followed by a guest speaker, refreshments, door and raffle prizes and a mini-auction of live fish, plants and other hobby related items. DAAS Website: http://www.northeastcouncil.org/daas DAAS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanburyAreaAquariumSociety?ref=hlGeneral Meeting DAAS Shirt Special

Tees: $5.00 Polo: $10.00

See Joe Masi for availability.

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DAAS Board Of Directors / Committee Chairs 2016-2017:

Chairman: Rich Litsky Email: circledr@verizon.net Co-Chairman: Joe Masi Email: daas@northeastcouncil.org

Treasurer: Joe Dinho Email: joedinho@yahoo.com

Director: Basil Holubis Email: caminokid2@msn.com Director: Fran Masi Email: Franc21Alliance@optonline.net Director: Dick Moore Email: rjmoore49@msn.com Director: Leslie Dick Email: ldick@comcast.net Director: Barbara Romeo Email: Bromeo1234@optonline.net Director: David Schwartz Email: airborneparrot52762@gmail.com Advertising / Publicity….David Schwartz C.A.R.E.S………...…………..Leslie Dick Membership……………….……Joe Masi

Breeders Award Program……..Leslie Dick Auction………………….……..…..Joe Masi Newsletter…………...……Barbara Romeo Programs……..……..Stephanie Campbell Raffle……………..………..… Basil Holubis Recording Secretary………...….Fran Masi Refreshments………...Joe Masi/ Volunteer Setup & Breakdown…………...Rich Litsky Sunshine…………………………Fran Masi Webmaster…………………..……Joe Masi NEC Delegate……….……Barbara Romeo NEC alt. Delegate ………...……Fran Masi FAAS representative……………..Joe Masi

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CongratulationsandthankyoutoDAASmemberStephanieCampbellwillbemanagingastheDAASProgramChair.

Stephanie Campbell with “friend” Volunteers have signed up for the monthly meeting dessert, bake goods, health snacks responsibility between Jan-May, 2017. Joe Masi will continue to bring refreshments. Thank you to those who have volunteered!

January 27: Dick Moore February 24: David Schwartz March 24: Guy Van Rossum April 28: Everton McCalla May 26: Mike Wicki Please contact Barbara Romeo to sign up for the remaining months of 2017: June, September, October, and November.

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AreyoureadyfortheDAASJanuary15,2017Auction?AFacebookeventpagehasbeencreated:https://www.facebook.com/events/904174969713268/.PlaceyourstuffonDAASFBbeforetheevent!

PleasesendyourSeller’sListtoBarbaraatmailto:BRomeo1234@optonline.nettopostontheDAASFacebookEventPageBySaturday,January142017@6PM

SeeYouAtTheAuction!DirectiontoColumbusHall(KnightsofColumbus):

WESTBOUND Take Interstate 84 to exit 19. Turn right on NY-312, follow to US-6. Turn right onto US-6, follow for 2.3 miles. Turn right onto NY-52 follow for 0.5 miles. Turn right onto Fair Street, Knights of Columbus hall is on right past gas station. Parking in rear...

EASTBOUND Take Interstate 84 to exit 18. Turn right on NY-311, follow to NY-52. Turn left onto NY-52, follow for 3.0 miles. Turn left onto Fair Street, Knights of Columbus hall is on right past gas station. Parking in rear...

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL:

RICH LITSKY (845) 721-0783 JOE MASI (845) 896-4793

Web: www.northeastcouncil.org/daas

Email:daas@northeastcouncil.org

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CrystalClear-DiatomFiltersByGuyVanRossum

DiatomaceousEarth(SubmittedbyGuyVanRossum)

Likeanythingelse,theaquariumhobbyhasitstrendsandhotitemsthatfadeastimegoesby.Sometimestheyarereplacedwithsomethingbetter,othertimestheyjustbecomepasséandthoseshinynewtoolsareleftontheshelf,thenboxedupandlaterbanishedtoastorageareanevertobeusedagain.It'stoobadbecausesomeoftheseforgottentoolsdidauniquejobandoncetheywereputasidenothingreplacedthem.Amongthesebypassedtoolsisthediatomfilterwhichusesthediatomaceousearthtofiltermicroscopicparticles.Diatomaceousearthisafinenon-toxicinertpowdermadeupofskeletonsofmobilephytoplanktonnameddiatoms.Diatomsaremicroscopicsinglecellalgathathavesilicacellwalls(Frustale)whichdividetheplantintotwoequalhalves.FossilsofthemfirstappearedinsedimentsfromtheearlyJurassicperiod,approx.20millionyearsago.Today,thereareanestimated100,000speciesdividedinto200genera.Theycanbefoundinsaltandfreshwater,andinthetoplayerofdampsoilsandonwetsurfaces.Butthemajorityliveinmarinehabitatswheretheymakeupanestimated45%oftheprimaryproductionoforganicmaterialandaretheprimarycomponentofspringtimealgaeblooms.Diatomscandoubleinnumbereighthoursunderfavorableconditions.The

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powderitselfisminedwithheavymachineryindeposits,someofwhichare1500feetdeepandcoverthousandsofacres.Livingdiatomsarefoodforfilterfeedersfromplanktontoflamingostofish,largeandsmall.Aquicksurveyontheinternetturnedupmanyclaimedusesfordiatomaceousearthbesidesliquidfiltration.Thetwomostcommonareashealthfoodsupplementsandinsecticides.Usedtocontrolbugs,itisclaimed,itgetsintothecracksoftheinsect'sexoskeletonandduetoitsabrasiveness,rubsthewaxycoatingofftheinsect'sexoskeletonwhichcausesitsdeaththroughdehydration!Sitesspecificallynamefleas,indoorantsandgardenpests.Thelatterwouldn't,atleast,doanydamageifyouwashitoffbutputtingitonapetwhowillingestitwhilecleaningitselfplusgetitintoitsnoseandeyescausingirritationmakesthecureworsethanthedisease.Whilepilingituparoundanttrailsinthehopetheywillwalkthroughitjustgivesitachangetospreadaroundyourwholehouse.Asahumanhealthsupplementateaspooninaglassofwateradayissupposedtokeepyouregular.Abelievableclaimbutsowilldrinkingmillionsoftinyburrs.Andconsiderwhatthefinestgritsandpaperwoulddototheliningofyourdigestivetract.Sincediatomaceousearthismadeupofthepuresiliconskeletonsofdeadalgaeitalsocan'taddanyneedednutrientstoyourdiet.Indeed,itcanabsorb300%ofitsownweightsoit'smorelikelytoremovesome.It'sindustrialusesarevaried,frommildabrasivesintoothpaste,mattingagents,astabilizingcompoundindynamite,tothermalinsulatorsandmore.Forthefishkeepinghobby,diatomfilterscanbeusedindoorsorout.Ineitherplacetheywillremoveparticlesdownto1microninsizemakingthemthemostefficientmechanicalfilteravailable.Thenextmostefficient,micronpads,areonlygooddownto50to100microns.Diatomfiltrationisefficientenoughtoeliminatemulti-cellularparasitessuchasichandfreefloatingbacteriathatcausecloudywaterandgreensoupalgaeinponds.UnlikeUVlightswhichkillthenleavethedeadcellsinthesystemtorotandcreatealargerbioload,Diatomaceousfiltrationremovesthealgaeandbacteriacompletely.Diatomfiltrationalsoadstremendouslyintakingphotosbyeliminatingtheneedfortediousspottinginpostprocessing.Nomatterhowmanywaterchangesyoudotherewillalwaysbesomesuspendedparticlestoreflectbackthebrightlightoftheflashcreatingwhite

DiatomExhibit(submittedbyGuyVanRossum)

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spotsinyourpicture.Diatomfiltersarequick;a120gallontankcanbedoneinthreehours.Oncethetanksarefiltereddisconnectthefilters.Itmakesnosensetorunthemlongersincetheyclogupastheyrunandthewaterflowcanlessendrastically.Diatomaceousearthasafiltratewasfirstintroducedtotheaquariumhobbyintheearly70swhenVortexInnerspaceProductsputoutitsfirstDiatomfilter.Thefilterwasfunctionallylikecanisterfiltersbutitcouldonlybeusedwithdiatomaceousearth.SincetheintroductionofitsoriginalmodelVortexhasbroughtoutalargerversionandonedesignedtobedrivenbyair.Vortexhasalsointroducedseveralattachments,suchasagravelcleanerandeasystartvalve,tobroadentheirfilter'sappeal.Bothoftheabovearenotcompletelysuccessful.Theoneitemtheydidintroducethatworksverywellisaracktoholdthefilteronthesideofatank.ToponyonthesuccessofVortex,severalcompaniesmadeaccessoriestoallowstandardcanisterfilterstobemodifiedbytheownertousediatompowder.ThedesignandoperationoftheseisverysimilartotheVortex.

Thebiggestdrawbacktousingcanisterfiltersfordiatomsisthenatureoftheindividualdiatom.Theyaresosmall,alonetheyareofnouse.Inorderforthemtobeeffectivetheyneedtopileontopofeachothertoformacake,75%to90%ofwhichisvoids,

thatallowswatertoflowthroughfreelywhiletrappingthelargerdirtparticles.Thischaracteristicrequiresaporousmaterialasabase.Butifthebasehassmallenoughholestostopthediatomstheywillclogitup,stoppingthewater.Sothebasehastohavelargerholesthenthediameterofthediatomswhichwillformacakeastheysticktoeachotherifgivenenoughtimewithoutescapingintotheaquarium.Theansweristohavewatercirculatethroughthefilterinaclosedloopuntilthecakeforms.Afteritformsthefiltercanbeopenedtotheaquariumwaterandlefttofilterthetank.Theinstructionsforallthe

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canistertypessayfillupthefilterwithwaterthenplaceaplasticcontainerliketheonesusedtoholdjuiceinarefrigeratorinthetankandfillitwithwater.Intothisyouplacethediatompowderandtheendsofthefiltertubes.Whenhandlingthepowderit’sagoodideatowearadustmaskandsafetyglasses.Diatompowderisdry,fluffyandlightsoitdoesn'ttakemuchtogetitfloatingintheair.Evenalittlecanmakeyournoseitchorirritateyoureyes.Afterbothoftheaboveareinthecontainerturnonthefilterandletitrununtilthewaterinthecontainerisclear.Now,withthefilterstillrunningsubmergethecontainerandpullitoutfromundertheendsofthetubeskeepingthemunderwater.Ifyoudon'tthey'llbreaksuctionandyouhavetostartalloveragain.Oncethat'sbeendonethefiltercanrunnormally.Yes,itisasclumsyasitsoundsandthetechniquetakesawhiletomaster.

Inanattempttomakestartupeasier,VortexintroducedtheP-29rechargevalve.Itgoesintothehosesbetweenthetankandfilter.Thevalvehastwopositions,chargeandfilter.Inthechargepositionthewaterisreturnedtothefilterinasmallclosedloop.Thiseliminatesthecontainerandmakesthewholeprocedurequickerandthewholeunitmorecompact.Afterthefiltercakeformsthevalveisturned90degreesandfilteringbegins.Unfortunately,thesealsonthevalvearenottootightsoaclamphastobeuseddownstreamofthevalvetostopanyleakingwaterloadedwithdiatomsfromenteringthetank.Notaperfectsolutionbutit'sfarbetterthanthecontainer.

DiatomFilter(submittedbyGuyVanRossum)

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Keepingthefiltercleanisamust.Ifit'sleftfilledbutnotinuseitwillgoanaerobicquicklyandpoisoneverythinginyourtankwhenusedagain.Vortexsaysyoucanbackflushitcleanbutthatmethodnevergetsalloftheusedpowderoutandsinceit'sstillfullofwateranaerobicconditionscanhappenagain.Takingthemapartaftereachuseandwashingeverythingoutwithcloseattentiontoanyremainingcakehiddeninthecranniesofthesubstratebagandlettingeverythingairdryisthewaytogo.Theinstructionsalsosayyoucanmovethechargedfilterfromonetanktoanotherbutwhenyoudothecakecanstartdroppingawayoraircangetintothehosesandyoumayhavetodoanotherstart-up.TheotherproblemwiththeVortexlineinparticularistheinstructions.Theywereunclearwhenthefilterswerefirstintroducedandtheywereneverupdatedwhichmakesthemmoreunclearnow.Asamatteroffact,thecurrentsetstilllistsaglassjarwhenVortexswitchedtoplasticovertwentyyearsago.Inanswertotheusabilityproblemsofthecanisterdesign,AquariumProductscompanycameoutwithadrasticrethinkofdiatomfilterswiththeirSystem1.Thisfilterhasmoreincommonwithahangonfilterthenacanister.Tobeginwiththeimpellerthatmovesthewaterisbeforethediatomfilterthuspushingitthroughthefilterinsteadofsuckingitthroughlikealltheothers.Secondly,insteadofaflexiblesubstratetheSystem1usesahardbasethatlookslikecompressedcoconutfiber.Tostartityousimplyputthediatompowderinthefilterjar,screwonthelidwhichincludesthemotor,hangitonthesideofthetankwiththesiphontubeinsideandturniton.Thesubmergedimpellerforcesthewaterintothejarandstirsupthepowderwhichcakesthefibersubstrateandofyougo.Brilliant.Thedesignhastheaddedadvantageofflexibility.Thefibersubstratecanbereplacedbyaninsertthatholdscarbonorchemicalmedia.EventhoughthemotorspinsatthesameRPMastheVortex;3,000RPM,theSystem1pushesthroughalotmorewater.Despiteitsmoreadvanceddesigned,theSystem1wasavictimoffadinginterestinDiatomfiltrationandwasdiscontinued.Arunningoneisnowhardtofind.Thereareonlytwocompaniesthatstillmanufacturefiltersthatcanbeusedwithdiatompowder.Vortexisone.Marinelandisthesecond.Marineland'sMagnum350wasanupdatedversionoftheVortexwiththesamedesignphilosophyandthesameclumsystart.Thedifferencewasthatthe350was

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intendedasamoderatelysizedcanisterfilterforeverydayusewiththeabilitytoadapttodiatompowder.It'sbeenreplacedintheirlinebyainternalfiltercalledtheMagnumPolishingInternalCanisterFilterwhichisalsoaneverydayfilteradaptabletodiatomfiltration.Checkouttheinstructionsonthewebsitefirstbeforeyoubuy.Startupcouldbeinteresting.FindingaDiatomfiltertodayrequireseffort.Fewfishshopscarrythem,bigboxstoresneverheardofsuchathing,andmailorderhousesdroppedthemlongago.VortexhasacrudewebsitewhileMarineland'sgivesmoreinformationandiseasiertouse.Amazonalsoliststhem.Buttheeffortisworthit.Ifyouwanttoexperiencehowbeautifulfishcanbewhentheyseemtobeswimminginairthere'sjustnosubstituteforadiatomfilter.Andthat'scrystalclear.

Thank you to Guy Van Rossum for contributions to this edition of the DAAS newsletter. Do not forget to keep the articles and pictures coming! E-mail Barbara at BRomeo1234@optonline.net for inclusion in our next quarterly edition!

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Upcoming DAAS, NEC & Regional Events 2017 Jan‘17152527

Feb19242526

DAASAnnualAuction(FBlink)(flyer)1stQNECBOGMeeting(CC)DAASMonthlyMeetingPVASAnnualAuction(flyer)DAASMonthlyMeetingTFSRISpringAuction(link)NASSpringAuction(link)

May4-7612212626-28

AmericanLivebearerAssociation(ALA)Convention(FB)BGCMeeting/Auction(link)BASNYGiantSpringAuction(link)OVASSpringAuction(link)DAASMonthlyMeetingAmericanKillifishAssociation(AKA)Convention(FB)

Mar10-1210-1210-122425

NEC42ndAnnualConvention(FB)(flyer)RaleighAquariumSocietyWorkshop(link)CCATheBigFishDeal#5(link)DAASMonthlyMeetingNHASAnnualAuction(link)

Jun423Jul13-16

2ndQNECGeneralMeeting(CC)DAASMonthlyMeetingAmericanCichlidAssociation(ACA)Convention(FB)

Apr1923232828-3029

2ndQNECBOGMeeting(CC)NECASpringAuction(link)NJASSpringAuction(flyer)DAASMonthlyMeetingAquaticGardenersAssociation(AGA)Convention(link)CNYASAnnualAuction(FB)(flyer)

Aug23

Sep2224

3rdQNECBOGMeeting(CC)DAASMonthlyMeeting3rdQNECGeneralMeeting(CC)

*GeneralNECmeetingsareheldatNOONandBOGmeetingsareheldat7:30PM(unlessotherwise

noted).

TBD=ToBeDetermined(F2F)=FacetoFace(CC)–ConferenceCall

Proudmemberof:

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