Quest

2004:
1/31/04
1/25/04
1/18/04

2003:
12/31/03
12/22/03
11/4/03
10/9/03
9/19/03
9/6/03
8/23/03
8/8/03
7/13/03
7/08/03
6/21/03
6/13/03
5/19/03
5/06/03
4/20/03
3/25/03
3/23/03
2/18/03
1/5/03

2002:
11/11/02
10/11/02
10/03/02
9/1/02
8/10/02
7/14/02
7/2/02
6/4/02
4/6/02
3/14/02

2001:
6/28/01
5/31/01
4/26/01
3/29/01

2000:
11/30/00
10/24/00
9/28/00
8/21/00
7/27/00
6/22/00
5/25/00
4/20/00
3/10/00
2/24/00

Q U E S T Newsletter of the Madison Aquarium Gardeners Club 1/25/04

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, January 28, 6:30 - 9:00 PM.
Science House, 1645 Linden Drive, UW Campus
That's right, we've moved from a Thursday to a Wednesday evening.

1. This meeting will be stellar! Just talked to Professor Paul Williams. Does he have a show lined up for us! Known for his widely acclaimed Fast Plant and Bottle Biology exercises to stimulate hands-on K - 12 science education, Paul is very quickly developing projects involving mini-aquaria. His ideas are being explored by a group at Olbrich Botanical Gardens, and we'll get an update on this program. We'll see some of his understated aquatic ecosystems full of bountiful activity. Close looks through a microscope, viewing sections of a CD he's creating and Paul's ever abundant enthusiasm will make time fly.


2. Jasper Quizzicalmo, peripatetic novice asks: "Will adding lemon juice give a boost to my aquarium plants?

Answer: Can't say for sure. Needs some careful experimentation, something I'd encourage you to pursue. Adding acid into water neutralizes alkalinity resulting in formation of carbon dioxide in water. Plants need carbon, finding it most readily from CO2. You figure it. For a good discussion about pH, carbonates, buffers, alkalinity and optimal pH range for nutrient absorption by plants check out this:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/floriculture/crop/crop_water.htm

Select this document:

Alkalinity Control for Irrigation Water used in Nurseries and Greenhouses - HIL #558

Oh yes. Peripatetic = To walk about; followers of Aristotle, who walked about in the Lyceum while he was teaching; itinerant.

If you have questions in the name of Jasper Quizzicalmo, let me know. Would love to have his provocative inquiries show up, now and then.

John