Welcome to the Eastern Districts Aquarium Society ~ EDAS
 
            Established in 1955, and Incorporated in 1989, the Eastern Districts Aquarium Society has grown
                           into the largest and most progressive generalist aquarium society in the state.
 
Bulletin Board:
 
    
NEXT MEETING....
 
    FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26TH.
 
 at the Willis Room,
 
Whitehorse Civic Centre
 
     379 Whitehorse Rd.
 
             NUNAWADING
 
   Speaker for the evening will be veteran aquarist 
 
    Mr. Glenn  Briggs
 
      of   BAYFISH
 
       Melbourne
       
                       speaking on
 
         "PURPLE SPOTTED  
 
              GUDGEON"
 
           
          Trading Table 
 
      Supper           Raffle
 
This will be another combined
 
 meeting in conjunction with the
 
 Aquarium Society of
 
       Victoria.
 
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
 
For those wishing up to date information
 
 regarding the NOXIOUS FISHES BANS
 
please email me (Daryl) on ~
 
               info@edas.com.au
 
for the Norm Halliwell 9 page letter on
 
this topic  as  a PDF
   
        
       
 
 
See details of EDAS Plant Study Group at
 
    edaspsg.org
 
For Meeting dates go to "Contact" page
 
       For Sponsors go to 'Auction and Sponsors' page
 
       For Auctions go to  'Auction and Sponsors' page
 
       For onlineLibrary booking go to 'Library' page
 
.......................................................................................
 
  Next  Auction:
 
   SATURDAY  MAY  1st.  2010
 
 
Note that EDAS acknowledges the valuable support of 
  
     Whitehorse  City Council
 
 email for free EDAS information kit ~   
 
                        info@edas.com.au
 
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See below
  
for Article of the Month ...and
 
        Lifestyle ..
 
 
   Opportunity
 
 
   of a lifetime.
 
Details of an exciting opportunity for
 
 those  interested in commercial fish
 
 breeding.
 
 
                         
 
 
 
 
Mogurnda adspersa, the Purple Spotted Gudgeon, subject of our February lecture by Glenn Briggs
The Combined Council Meeting is session at A.S.of V. Hall
Second view of Combined Council in Action, January 25th.2010
CALCIUM REACTORS
 

I had not realized until recently that Calcium reactors can be applied to fresh  water aquaria as well as marine tanks.

          What is a Calcium reactor and what does it do ?

          Well let me pass on the information I have gleaned from the internet and from reading books. A calcium reactor is simply a tube filled with calcium carbonate through which the tank water is pumped by a power head or similar device.

          What a waste of time I hear you say - everyone knows Calcium carbonate ( CaCO3 ) is insoluble. Well yes and no. CaCo3 is only insoluble in water with a pH above 8.2. At lower pH values is becomes more and more soluble - thus we can clean bricks with acid because of the low Ph involved.  

                   To increase the solubility the reactor needs some help in the form of Carbon dioxide, which is introduced into the reactor to lower the pH and allow some CaCO3 to be dissolved into the water.

          The more CO2 the greater the Calcium uptake within certain threshold values.   Why would you want to achieve soluble Carbonate going in to your tank ?

          Calcium carbonate/bicarbonate interchange acts as an excellent buffer - maintaining a stable pH at the level determined by your reactor settings, it also maintains a set hardness level.

          Other than plant fertiliser there is no need to add anything to your tank, to keep it functioning smoothly, without variation in chemical parameters, and at very little expense !

Whilst comnmercial units are available ( simply Google 'calcium reactors' and you will find an astonishing range), it is relatively easy to construct a unit yourself, particularly if you already use CO2.

          A diffusion chamber is simply a fat tube or column filled with Calcium carbonate. Shell grit would be the cheapest but coarse crushed coral would be a purer form. Ground up powder is of no use as it allows no circulation of water and simply clogs.

          Water from the tank is pumped in at the slowest possible rate to allow long contact time, and CO2 is added with a bubble counter and  control to vary the rate .

          It will be necessary to recharge the Carbonate        column periodically.          The rate of consumption depends on various factors such as flow rate, tank population etc. but as shell grit is so cheap (Make sure to wash it well before use) this is not a serious consideration.

          There is ample info available and also check on e-Bay where units appear periodically at about $200 !  ..Daryl M.

 

Early crowds at the July 19th. Fish Fair.
Bargains were snapped up with fish, rare plants,
and  new and used equipment all available
 to the budget minded buyer.
Over three hundred eager buyers crowd the Waratah room.
Buyers cluster around the bargain laden tables
 
Life Style Opportunity

 

Expression of Interest

 

Due to the projected retirement of the owners, Exoticfish
 
 Hatchery is being offered for sale.
 
This is a tropical ornamental fish hatchery situated on
 
seven acres of prime land in the Upper Yarra Valley at
 
 Wesburn and has been operating successfully for over 20
 
 years.

 

The property consists of a 10 year old four bedroom house, hatchery
 
 building of 2500 sq. ft. housing over 500 tanks of various sizes,
 
 a large double carport, and an 800 sq.ft.  garage/workshop. Heating
 
 is provided by a large LP Gas cylinder and water is high quality
 
 mains water sourced from theUpper Yarra Dam.

 

The hatchery is being offered as a working business with all stock
 
 and equipment that will provide an immediate income. Offers for
 
 purchase of the equipment for relocation will also be considered.

 

For further information contact:
 
Ernie Hicks
 
(03) 5967 1693
 

erniehicks@bigpond.com