Use our annual reference guide to find any article in the 2009 editions of Aquarium Fish International magazine.
Feature Articles
January
Keep Thriving Mollies: They are normally considered beginner fish, but mollies require more work to really prosper. Jeff Howe
The “Coolest” Tropical Fish: There are more fish you can keep in a room-temperature tank than you may think. (Freshwater) Oliver Lucanus
Chemical Filtration in a Reef Tank: Good water processing can mean a lot for a reef system. Richard Harker
2008 Article Index: Aquarium Fish International’s easy-to-use list of column and article topics from 2009 can help you find information on the aspects of fishkeeping that you’ve always wanted to read about.
Some Special Angels: Most of these marine angels come from deeper waters. Scott W. Michael
All About Algae: Like it or not, algae is part of the deal. Mary Sweeney
February
Invertebrate Helpers: These invertebrates make it easier to maintain a reef aquarium. Scott W. Michael
Aquascaping for the Fish: You look at the aquarium, but the fish have to live in it. Miller Morgan
Specialized Feeders: Many aquarium fish do just fine with flakes, but some need special foods. David Lass
How Captive Propagation Helps: The hobby affects global fish biodiversity in many ways — some positive and some negative. John Tullock
Little Tigers for Your Tanks: The hyperactive tiger barb makes a stunning aquarium resident. Stephen G. Noble
The Graceful Moonlight Gourami: These young ugly ducklings grow into beautiful swans. Iggy Tavares
Keeping Pizza Anemones: Enjoy these anemones, which have some interesting symbionts. Alf Jacob Nilsen
March
Shrimpgobies for Nano-Reefs: These shrimpgobies are relatively new to the hobby. Scott W. Michael
Three Tough Planted Tanks: One expert made these “impossible” planted tanks into a reality. David Lass
Clubs and Stores Working Together: Here are 15 ways aquarium societies can become indispensible partners with local pet shops. John Todaro
Seeking Cichla?: Find out about the peacock bass (Cichla) genus being reorganized and the author’s trip to a Cichla habitat. Robert J. Goldstein
Two Popular Tetras: Learn to keep neon and cardinal tetras successfully. Neale Monks
When the Power Goes Out: There are easy steps you can take to keep fish alive in a blackout. Lisa Newman
April
Preventing New Tank Syndrome: Cycle your aquarium properly to make it safe for the fish. Mary Bailey
Pond Planner: Before you dig, have a plan. Miller Morgan
Small Catfish for Community Tanks: These species will be delightful additions to your fish community. Iggy Tavares
Unlock the Secrets of Reef Lobsters: These normally reclusive lobsters can actually be colorful and interesting to watch. Scott W. Michael
Benefits of Captive-Bred Clowns: Clownfish need help through captive breeding to protect their numbers in the wild. Colby Podkin-Johnson
How to Create an Orinoco Habitat: With a little time and effort, you can set up a tank that mirrors this unique habitat. Oliver Lucanus
May
Keeping and Breeding Electric Yellows: If you can breed this mouthbrooding cichlid, it may actually pay its own way. Richard F. Stratton
A Fishkeeper’s New Ally: Fish Vets: Learn how fish vets can help your finned friends and what to expect during a visit. Brian S. Palmeiro
Find the Right Filter: Different filters may serve different needs — it depends on the aquarist and the setup. Stephen G. Noble
Keep Silver Dollars in Mint Condition: If you can accommodate them, you may learn the value of these great fish. Spencer Glass
Beginning With Bettas: These popular fish are hardy when kept properly. Neale Monks
Carnivores in the Reef Tank: You can keep some fascinating predatory species in most aquaria. Scott W. Michael
June
Which Species Really Eat Algae?: Discover the truths — and myths — about which animals really do get rid of algae. Mike Wickham
A Lake Tanganyika Tank: Learn how to set up a special tank incorporating four different habitats. Iggy Tavares
An Experience with Fry: Learn lessons from these livebearer, apisto and rainbowfish fry. Penny Crowley
Dottybacks and Assessors: These colorful fish can be perfect for nano-tanks. Scott W. Michael
July
Maintaining the Comfort Zone: Get an overview of aquarium heaters and chillers for temperature control. Stephen G. Noble
Introducing the Jack Dempsey!: This fish was named after the boxer for a reason — but in the end, it’s not as tough as some other cichlids. Lisa Newman
Butterflies that Thrive: Some butterflyfish species can be hardy home aquarium residents. Scott. W. Michael
The Popular Platies and Swordtails: These easy-to-keep and easy-to-breed fish can bring a splash of color to your tank. Jeff Howe
August
Breeding the Dwarf Gourami: These gorgeous gouramis are not difficult to breed and have interesting parental behaviors. Iggy Tavares
Top 10 Fishkeeping Mistakes: Part One: Don’t learn about these mistakes the hard way. Paul Demas
Krib Care and Breeding: Making more of the always popular Pelvicachromis pulcher. Neale Monks
Coming Clean About Soapfish: These groupers have some fascinating characteristics — including being toxic. Scott W. Michael
September
Top 10 Fishkeeping Mistakes: Part Two: Here are the last five of the top 10 fishkeeping mistakes from our two-part series. Paul Demas
Water Chemistry Made Easy: Aquarists should understand the basics of water chemistry. Mike Wickham
The Sandperch: A Fish of Many Names: These fish can do well in a moderately aggressive community, and some do well in nano-tanks. Scott W. Michael
The Elegant Angelfish: Freshwater angels have been a symbol of the hobby for a century. Richard F. Stratton
The Chromide: A Fascinating Fish: Unlike most cichlids, the chromides are from Asia — and they exhibit some noteworthy behavior. Mary Bailey
5 Helpful Refugium Animals: Here are the five best animals that belong in a true reef aquarium system. Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D.
October
5 Questions for Your Community: Answer some simple questions, and you can put together a community the smart way. Lee Newman
Are Kids No Longer Getting into the Hobby?: Everyone benefits when younger hobbyists get — and stay — involved in fishkeeping. Mary Sweeney
Setting Up For Shrimp: Natural freshwater habitats don’t contain only fish — so why should your aquarium? Nathan Yates
The Four-Eyed Fish: These surface-dwellers really do have four working pupils. Iggy Tavares
Harboring Hermits: Testing shells, fighting and decorating their “houses” are just a part of these animals’ interesting habits. Scott W. Michael
Tinfoil Barbs: Big, Shiny Beauties: A school of these fish can be a striking sight — but make sure your tank is big enough. Mike Hellweg
November
Guide to Reef Lighting: Understanding reef lighting is the key to reefkeeping success. Richard Harker
Anemone Care and Nutrition: Although these aren’t easy animals, they are not impossible to keep if well-cared-for. John Tullock
The Tempting Tangs: Known either as tangs or surgeonfish, fish in the family Acanthuridae can be some striking species. Scott W. Michael
The First IMAC West: The International Marine Aquarium Conference hit the west coast for 2009.
Illuminating Plant Lighting: The choices for lighting your planted tanks seem endless — here are the differences. Stephen G. Noble
The Diamond Tetra: A Tiny Treasure: These little fish are easy to care for and may just reproduce on their own in your tank. David Lass
December
Fish as School Incentives: An idea like this middle school’s “Stay in Schools” program can boost students’ attendance — and interest in fish. Mark Johnson
Mollusk Musings: Some giant clams and octopuses can do well in a home reef aquarium. Scott W. Michael
Great Fish for Kids to Keep: These small, colorful and active fish are easy to keep and interesting to watch. David A. Lass
Careers for Fishlovers: There are many careers working with fish — is one meant for you?
Mollies of the ABC Islands: There are more kinds of mollies than you may have originally thought. Ronny Lundkvist
Columns
Adventures in Fish Breeding
January — Zebra Danio (Danio rerio)
February — Chocolate and Orange Lyretail Panchax (Aphyosemion australe)
March — Big Eye Shellie (Neolamprologus similis)
April — Turquoise Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia lacustris)
May — Sailfin Molly (Xiphorphus spp.)
June — Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma cacatuoides)
July — Black Ruby Barb (Puntius nigrofasciatus)
August — Redfin Blue Tetra (Hyphessobrycon colombianus)
September — Bronze Cory (Corydoras aeneus)
October — Eye-Spot Betta (Betta ocellata)
November — Pearl Gourami (Trichogaster leerii)
December — Try this simple breeding setup for livebearers
Reef Aquarist
January — To solve nitrate problems, aquarists need a lot of info
February — Working with dissolved organic compounds
March — You can use flexible PVC instead of rigid PVC
April — What could cause a coco worm’s branchial crowns to change color?
May — Nudibranchs are really best left in the wild
June — Possible additions for the small nano-reef
July — For a different approach to reef tanks, try a biotope
August — Anemone and coral color can never be guaranteed (Anemones’ colors vary under a variety of circumstances.)
September — Aquarists may not immediately notice decreased pump output
October — How much ammonia live rock releases depends on its “freshness”; snake polyp (what an invertebrate hitchhiker could be)
November — Sometimes it’s worth trying to save a damaged coral; raising coral shrimp
December — Corals and gorgonians can develop a temporary “skin”
Freshwater Q&A
January — What are some North American fish suitable for aquaria?
February — Plecos may become problematic if they are not getting enough food (starving pleco feeds off the slime coat of a goldfish); earthworms (can earthworms bring disease into a tank?)
March — Hybrids are often sterile — but this is not always the case; quality of life for snails; cyclops in the tank (hitchhiking one-eyed crustaceans)
April — Several issues may cause problems with snails and plants
May — In one particular situation, water changes can actually be dangerous (If an aquarium has a low pH and high ammonium levels, a less than 100-percent water change can create lethal levels of toxic ammonia.)
June — There are a few different ways to cool down a tank
July — Is it necessary to disinfect a tank that has already been used?
August — Sometimes it’s not worth worrying about a picky frontosa; growing up guppy (how long it takes for guppies to mature)
September — What can help to lower nitrates in an aquarium?; sparring silver dollars (how to deal with an aggressive silver dollar)
October — Endler’s livebearer is actually a different species than the guppy; keeping native fish
November — Peacock eels need to be fed live and frozen foods; breeding Oscars
December — Inappropriate food is just one reason for fish to stop eating; darter tetras (information on the black darter tetra, Poeciliocharax weitzmani)
FishKidz
January — When adding a female to your tank could be deadly (pearl gouramis, Trichogaster leerii); researching fish saves lives
February — What would make a great live plant for beginners?; undergravel filters and plants (difference between undergravel filters in fresh and saltwater tanks)
March — The best fish for beginners to breed are livebearers; stowaway euthanization
April — A 5-gallon tank has a lot of potential for freshwater fish; bottled water and pH
May — Many marine fish are captive-bred — but not enough; GloFish
June — Bettas and tiger barbs don’t mix
July — Hybridization doesn’t hurt fish, but dyeing and tattooing do
August — Bacteria make the world go round
September — Catalina gobies need to be kept at cold temperatures
October — Sometimes there is nothing you can do to save all of your fish’s fry (Most hobbyists cannot raise all the baby fish born in their tanks.)
November — The blue-spotted stingray is a difficult elasmobranch to keep
December — The journey a fish takes from the wild to your front door is a long one
Aquabits
January — Cleaner Fish Reduce Aggression (Labroides dimidiatus); New Australian Species (DNA helps discover 130 newly discovered fish and invertebrates); Saving Topminnows
February — Smells Lead the Way for Clownfish; Jellyfish and the Nobel Prize; Pupfish Revival
March — Bored Octopus Causes Blackouts; Responsible Fishkeeping Initiative; Pond Snail Brains
April — Multi-Million Dollar Marine Theft; IMAC Has a New Name; Bruce Webster Memorial Fund; Get Your Society Listed in Aquarium USA!
May — IMAX “Under the Sea 3D”; New Harvesting Rules; Invasive Fish Research
June — Brakers Reef Restored; Ballast Water Dumping Illegal in California; Mosquitofish (This small species is helping keep pools, ponds and jacuzzis on foreclosed properties free of mosquitos.)
July — Daily Changes in Fish Vision; Aquarium Sells Fish (Japanese marine science museum sells clownfish to stop wild capture); ACA Convention; MCA Expo
August — Fluorescent Fish Discovered (fish and invertebrates that emit fluorescent red light); Stressed Seahorses; Pufferfish Bred (spotted green pufferfish); Cichlidentage Show
September — WWII Ship Becomes Artificial Reef; Fast Evolution (Guppies can evolve faster than previously thought.); Guppy Harassment (Male sexual harassment of female guppies stops female bonding); MACNA XXI
October — Rare Clownfish Bred in U.S. (Amphiprion mccullochi); Eurasian Weed Spreads to All 50 States; Male Atlantic Mollies May “Fake Interest”
November — Zebra Danios May Help Hearing; Reefs are Recovering; Sweetlips Bred; Reef-A-Palooza
December — Lateral Lines Studied; Effects of Shipwrecks on Coral Reefs; Illegally Caught Fish
The Aquabotanist
January — A 4-gallon breeder tank can be great for plants
February — Not all plants offered for aquariums are really aquatic; Peacock ferns (Are they aquatic plants?)
March — What’s the best way to siphon water in a fully plannted tank?; too much light?
April — Hemicanthus callitrichoides can grow with moderate lighting; best methods for adding C02
May — The number of plants isn’t a measure of planting density
June — There are no rules about how long the lights should be on
July — Adding special substrates to your tank requires some care; watts per gallon (how to calculate watts per gallon)
August — Actinic lights are not especially helpful with planted tanks
September — A few plants will tolerate some salt in their environment
October — Fish-only tanks don’t have to be broken down to become planted; no longer growing (healthy-looking plants stopped growing)
November — Water sprite is a good plant for beginners
December — Finding the right “mix” is key to keeping a planted tank (the right mix of light, nutrients, photoperiod, substrate, water conditions and fish in your tank)
The Aquarist’s Notebook
January — Preparing Food Portions for Fishsitters
February — The Problem With Pacus
March — Growing Tree Plants
April — Working With Driftwood
May — Fighting Fungus
June — Lack of Appetite
July — Water Testing for Multiple Tanks
August — Tip for the Small-Time Fish Breeder
September — Cycling Tank
October — Acclimating Fish the Easy Way
November — Glass vs. Acrylic
December — Water Testing
Saltwater Q&A
January — There are more lionfish than most shops offer, such as the pygmy lion
February — Parrotfishes are not really good aquarium species
March — Domino damsels will spawn in home aquariums
April — Soles are intriguing — but they are rare in the aquarium hobby
May — What exactly does an anemone get from an anemonefish?
June — Brittle stars are very common on coral reefs
July — Feeding is most important when keeping tube worms
August — What do you do when dreaded red slime shows up?
September — There are several considerations when setting up a predator tank
October — Conchs can do well (and even breed) in a reef tank
November — Do the right thing when it comes to collected reef animals
December — Ghost pipefishes are beautiful — but are they worth the effort?
Secrets to Society Success
April — Let’s get organized — and cover what this new column is all about
May — We the people: creating your society’s constitution
June — What’s a 501 (C)(3) — and should you be one?
July — How to run board meetings that don’t swim in circles
August — The best way to keep track of things is to do it by “the book” (presidents should use a special binder to keep track of what the society is doing)
September — Here are three simple steps to get donations (that really work)
October — Here are 10 profit centers that can help your society thrive
November — How to find and book speakers — and treat them well
December — There’s no business like show business (making your society’s meetings entertaining)
Species Profile
January — Celebes Halfbeak (Nomorhamphus liemi)
February — Guapote/Wolf Cichlid (Parachromis dovii)
March — Yo-Yo Loach (Botia lohachata)
April — Blue Lyretail Panchax (Fundulopanchax gardineri)
May — Glowlight Rasbora (Rasbora paciperforata)
June — Dwarf Pencilfish (Nannostomus marginatus)
July — Bluetail Goodea (Ataenobius toweri)
August — Bushynose Pleco (Ancistrus dolichopterus)
September — Neolamprologus caudopunctatus
October — Farlowella gracilis
November — Fire Goby (Nemateleotris magnifica)
December — Zebra Pleco (Hypancistrus zebra)
What’s New?
January — Thoracochromis brauschi, Denisonii barb (Puntius denisonii)
February — Red Congo Tetra (Alesopetersius brichardi), Betta patoti
March — Corydoras weitzmani, Panda garra (Garra flavatra), Lepidiolamprologus pleuromaculatus, Peppermint pikehead (Luciocephalus aura)
Club Profile
June — The Capital Cichlid Association (Silver Spring, Maryland)
September — The Brooklyn Aquarium Society (Brooklyn, New York)
December — The Heart of America Aquarium Society (Mission, Kansas)