Aquarium Fish International - December 2011 - Volume 23, Number 12

FEATURES
18 IDENTIFYING A PLANT HITCHHIKER
Learn about the aquatic moth and how to deal with it if you find a larva in your aquarium.
By Cassandra Radcliff

24 GOING DUTCH
Discover the beauty of a Dutch-style planted tank.
By Stephen G. Noble

30 OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY REEF FISH
Shrimp fishes, ghost pipe fishes and sea moths are striking syngnathid fishes that are reef-safe.
By ScottW. Michael

36 SOME LESSER-KNOWN AFRICAN CHARACINS
Get to know some interesting African tetras, and create a tank dedicated to them.
By Oliver Lucanus

42 ONLY THE BEST FOR BETTAS
For betta success, choose the best Betta splendens specimen and keep it in an appropriate tank.
By Bob Fenner

84 DRY-START METHOD
Get your plants ready for their new aquatic home by starting them emersed.
By Tom Barr

92 LET YOUR REEF SHINE
Here are eight creative ways to light your reef tank and your prized reef specimens.
By Adam Blundell, M.S.

COLUMNS
8 Freshwater Q&A
12 The Aquabotanist
14 Reef Aquarist
16 Adventures in Fish Breeding
49 Fish Kidz
50 Saltwater Q&A
52 In the Fish Room
112 Aquarist’s Notebook: Cichlid Aggression/Fish Chat

DEPARTMENTS
2 Editor’s Corner
5 Flotsam & Jetsam
5 Reader Reward
20 Aquabits
21 FishChannel.com
54 Buyer’sGuide
55 LivestockSection (Wholesale Only)
57 Online Marketplace
106 Dealer & Classified Advertising
108Aquarium Clubs & Societies
111Ad Index

FAMA
From the pages of Freshwater and Marine Aquarium
66 AquaticMaestro
70 Sand Mail
72 WetVet
76 ReefNotes
78 Popular Freshwater Tropicals
80 Freshwater Forum
104 Species Profile: Turbinaria heronensis

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