Articles

A word of warning This is a pretty advanced DIY. You will need basic soldering skills, and reasonably good computer skills to pull this off. You also probably have to have built your own DIY LED's to make use of this. This is by no means plug and play. But if you are up to the challenge, by all means, this works, and is pretty awesome. I provided Amazon links to the specifc parts I used, however, you can substiute most of them if you know what you are doing. The only critical part is...

Mucus: The Slime that Binds Jay Hemdal C. 2020 This article examines the various causes of excess mucus coatings on fish, as well as fecal mucus issues. ------------------- The mucus produced by the fish’s epidermal cells gives them their characteristic slimy feel. Mucus is produced by three specialized cells: goblet cells, sacciform cells, and club cells. Goblet cells are the most abundant and produce mucus granules containing glycoproteins. The sacciform cells mix their exudate with...

Parasitic Crustaceans (Copepods, Isopods, and Sea Lice) Jay Hemdal c.2020 This is an excerpt from my upcoming fish disease book - a section on arthropod parasites of fish; isopods and copepods. ------------------ Cause This disease problem is caused by a variety of very small crustaceans that can parasitize fish. Some are obligate parasites with specific host species, while others are generalists and can live separate from a fish and only return periodically in order to feed on the fish’s...

One question that comes up allot is "How do I convert my metric plumbing to US spec?". Red Sea owners are always asking this. Here I will explain what Red Sea owners need to do to get a clean finish and conversion. Also the adapter I use can be used on any 32mm plumbing to convert it to 1" plumbing. First thing many US Red Sea owners want to do is modify plumbing to suit their needs. There are several different ways this can be done. This is the method I figured out and it's very...

This file is a PDF copy of the book, "Aquarium Careers" written by Jay Hemdal It offers some advice to people interested in aquariums as a career. What is a “Job”, what is an “Occupation”, and how might they differ from a “Career”? To me, a job is something distasteful that you must do in order to pay the bills, gain work experience or to otherwise engage your time. An occupation is a job that you spent some time learning, and is a bit less unpleasant of a task to perform than a “job” is...

Red Band Syndrome in Marine Fishes: Caused by the Protozoan; Uronema sp. Jay Hemdal Introduction: This moderately common disease of certain species of marine fish is so often misdiagnosed that most aquarists apply incorrect treatment methods when attempting a cure. Symptoms include the rapid development of a red mark forming in the hypodermis (fat and muscle) region of the fish, often following rows of scales so that the lesion is typically elongate, and angled downward as it progresses...

Aquarium Inventions @Jay Hemdal C.2006 This article discusses aquarium inventions, a bit of history and future thoughts. It is offered just as a way to get DIYers thinking about expanding on their ideas. Includes an interview with John Kuhns, the person who invented Novaqua and Amquel. A copy of this article is also available as a PDF download. Introduction What are some common dreams people have for their lives? A decent job, solid home life and good health probably all rank near the...

The Harlequin Tuskfish – All Dressed Up, but Anywhere to Go? Jay Hemdal Arguably one of the most colorful Pacific reef fish, the harlequin tuskfish is often the premier subject for underwater photographers, and is commonly used as a subject by artists who portray the coral reef environment in their work. However, in captivity, this species has always received mixed reviews and is not always quite as popular. Home aquarists often anguish over their decision to purchase one of these...

Activated Carbon as a Cause of Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE) in Marine Aquarium fish Jay Hemdal c. 2020 Background: Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE) is the name for a type of skin erosion that affects some species of marine fishes in captivity. It is occasionally referred to as Marine Head and Lateral Line Erosion (MHLLE) or Head and Lateral Line Erosion Syndrome (HLLES). A similar syndrome occurs in freshwater fishes, but the causes seem to be different, and that is usually...