Monthly Archives: March 2010

Keep Your Cichlids Healthy – It’s Easy

Guest Post

The hobby of keeping cichlids can be a very enjoyable and rewarding experience. Most people just getting started in keeping these very intelligent aquarium fish have lots of questions. Even as an experienced aquarist, I seem to learn something new everyday. Here are some tips to get you started.

The first thing that you need to do when keeping cichlids is to consider what size that your cichlids will be when they are fully mature. If you have gotten bitten by the Oscar bug and have fallen in love with these very personable fish, you are simply going to need a large tank.

Most people will recommend at least a 55 gallon aquarium to keep a pair of Oscar fish. That is simply the bare minimum for these big guys. If you have a smaller variety, you just need a smaller tank. Simple, right?

Second, ph level and water salinity, among other water chemistry levels, can be very different between the different types of cichlids. Just consider African Cichlids. They are found in different lakes in Africa. Each of these lakes have their own unique water chemistry, so if you are keeping Africans, it is very important to do your research if you are going to replicate their native habitat.

If your cichlids are going to thrive, whether they are African or New World Cichlids, temperature and water chemistry must be monitored.

Plants and cichlids sometimes just do not match well. Many cichlids are very intelligent, but they love to make lettuce out aquarim plants. Its a challenge, but it can be done.

American varieties of cichlids seem to be able to tolerate plants in their aquarium better that Africans do. But having made that point, Oscars love to destroy plant life. Angel fish, on the other hand, seem to tolerate plants very well.

Angel fish can be some of the most enjoyable cichlids in my opinion. They even do very well in community tanks because they are generally docile and tolerate plants very well.

Visit cichlid care to learn how to keep cichlids healthy, colorful and happy. And visit keeping cichlids to learn how to keep your cichlids stress free.

A Closer Look At A Diverse Brisbane

Guest Post

Brisbane, located in Australia, is much different then many of the tourists destination throughout the world. It offers a diversity in the available activities for one to enjoy, and it is all within a short distance to the center of the city. In the city, itself, you can enjoy a wonderful day shopping at some of the greatest stores around and dining at the many locales throughout. There are street side markets, local cuisine and talent spread out in this city area. When the night time comes rolling in the fun does not have to stop. There are a variety of clubs, shows and concerts for you to enjoy before you call it a day.

If you want to venture outside of Brisbane there is also much for you to see and do. There are fabulous beaches, great parks, thrilling amusement parks and incredible rain forests, all a short drive away. You can spend a day touring the local vineyards, talking a tour through the rain forest or having a picnic in the park.

One thing that everyone loves, about Brisbane, is the spectacular views that it offers. The views from Kangaroo Point and Story Bridge are like no other that you will ever witness. Let us also not forget about the cliffs that overlook the city, as they too offer some of the most breathtaking views anytime of the day.

The Moreton Bay area makes up one that’s unbelievably contrasting. It extends the unparalleled experiences of the Moreton Harbor and among Australia’s biggest marinas, then merely a scant ferryboat ride away you’ll witness the tender dunes of Moreton Island. This unbelievable island escape can be ideal for a day of four wheeling as well as dolphin watching or remain a couple of days at the astounding Tangalooma Resort or camping along the shore of this exquisite tropic island.

While visiting Brisbane you are also guaranteed that the weather will be perfect for the beach. Brisbane has year round moderate temperatures, which makes for a great escape when the colder months set in. There is such a diverse selection of activities and entertainment in Brisbane that you can be sure everyone will find something to enjoy.

There are numerous brisbane hotels that you can choose from while planning your Brisbane holiday. When you are ready to reserve your brisbane accommodation go to www.brisbaneinformation.com.au.

Complete Your Vacation By Scuba Diving in Hawaii

Guest Post

Some of the most popular activities on the beautiful Hawaiian islands are, surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and much much more. Scuba diving in Hawaii is one of the most popular things to do, and you shouldn’t skip out on it.

Hawaii has many companies which offer scuba diving tours. All of them have certified and professionally trained instructors. If you are brand new to scuba diving they will help you with the basics so that you can enjoy your tour. If you already have your certification, they can still take you out to some of the most popular dive spots.

Hawaii also offers the chance for you to get your certification while you are there. Most of the tour companies will help you get your certification while you are there.

Thanks to the warm waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands, scuba diving is wonderful there. Some of the popular items you will be able to see are arches, lava tubes, and caverns. If you like to go on adventures, you can look for pygmy killer whales, whale sharks, and even spotted dolphins. But be sure to have a guide with you at all times.

Scuba diving can be a great experience for everyone. You can also take your kids on the scuba diving tours, the instructors will make sure everybody will enjoy the tour and be safe. Make sure you don’t forget your water proof camera to take pictures of the many fish.

Scuba diving tours are designed for a small group of people. The reason for this is so the instructors can have as much one on one time as possible, to make sure the tour is fun for everyone. There is no doubt that you will have a great time. Hawaii scuba diving is something that should be high on your do list, many of the things you will see you won’t have the chance to see them anywhere else.

Want to find out more about Hawaiian vacation reviews, then visitHawaii scuba diving tour reviews to help you choose the perfect scuba diving tour for your Hawaiian vacation.

Pocket knife safety

I mentioned elsewhere that I carried a pocket knife almost all the time when I was a kid. Some of my friends found this unusual when they found out—I guess their parents didn’t let them play with anything sharp (I wonder what that says about my parents?).

One time I recall walking home from school with a friend and the topic of my knife came up somehow. Of course he wanted to see it, so I pulled it out and before handing it to him I advised him that it was sharp. To demonstrate, I showed him how he could gently drag the blade of the knife over the ridges of his thumb to feel the sharpness. He imitated me and instantly cut his thumb.

I think this event made such a big impression on me because I really was not aware that other kids might not have the same level of training and experience with a pocket knife as I did. They were basic tools around my home. So, keeping this lesson in mind, perhaps it is worthwhile reviewing some of the basic safety tips for handling a pocket knife.

First point, as my friend learned, knives can be sharp. Don’t cut toward your body with the knife blade. We are all guilty of this; you are holding a stick and just need to make this one cut back toward your hand, and bingo, it cut through quicker than you thought. Or, you are holding that tough plastic package on your thigh to stabilize it as you cut through to open it—wham, yup you did it. Just make a habit of cutting away from yourself, period.

Don’t run (or walk) around with the knife open in your hand. If you are going more than a few steps just close it. It really only takes a few seconds.

If your knife has a locking mechanism for the blade, carefully practice with it so you know how it works. Even though some knives are designed to be worked with one hand, you are really better off using two. You might need to loosen the blade or even oil it a bit if it is too stiff. However, you may not want to oil a blade that does not have a locking mechanism—nothing worse than having the blade suddenly close around your fingers.

If you hand the knife to someone else, either close it or hand it over by the blade, carefully holding it so it will not cut you, but your friend can grip the handle to take control of it.

And finally, do not slide your finger ALONG the blade to test how sharp it is. Gently drag your finger PERPENDICULAR to the blade to feel how easily the edge catches on the ridges of your fingers.  A sharp blade will catch easily against your skin. If it fails to catch the ridges of your fingerprint it is not sharp. Some of the worst accidents happen with dull blades, so they are more dangerous, not less.

Happy and safe cutting.

King of pocket knives

In a previous post we discussed some of the crazy stuff you can find on a pocket knife. I indicated that I was not super impressed with the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink knives out there. There is, however, one exception to the rule. I am very fond of my Leatherman tool.

I think my family purchased Leatherman tools back when they were just “Leatherkids.” I sort of feel we grew up with the company. I have owned several over the years and find them incredibly useful. The full-size versions are larger than your typical pocket knife and so may be more than you need for everyday use. In fact, they come with a belt holster as it really is too big to comfortably be called a pocket knife, although I have slipped it into my pocket at times. They do have smaller models too.

One of the nicest features of the tool is that it folds out to form a full-size pair of pliers. Having pliers right with you makes all kinds of tasks simpler. You need to grab this, turn that, cut this wire? Having this tool gets these light tasks done right now

The other tools within the Leatherman that I find most useful are the screwdrivers, both Phillips and regular, the knife blade, and the bottle opener. I don’t know how many times I have needed a quick screwdriver to do a simple task, and the Leatherman was right at my side.

In keeping with a theme of other comments about pocket knives, I am the first to admit that the Leatherman’s versions are often not as good as the tools it imitates. The pliers are often not as good as a “real” pair of pliers: the Leatherman pliers are needle nosed and often slip from something you are trying to work with, and you are not able to get as much force on the handle of the Leatherman. But when no other pliers are around the Leatherman is a God send. The screwdrivers are short and sometimes close on you when you are applying force on that stubborn screw. But again, a screwdriver in hand is better than one in the shop.

As the Leatherman tools have grown in popularity, they have fallen into the “Swiss Army knife” syndrome I think. They have come out with more models with more tools and different features, and I guess that is inevitable. But as with the Swiss Army knife trying to be all things all the time and not doing much well, I feel the “tricked out” Leatherman tools end up in the same boat. For me, I will stick to the basic, tried and true models, the tool that is multifunctional without being multi-dysfunctional—the basic Leatherman tool.

Also see what to look for in a hunting knife for other ideas.