Thank you to everyone who donated livestock and supplies to the GAAS Christmas Party on December 14. The pot-luck dinner—the core of the party—was delicious and plentiful. We are grateful for everyone who planned, baked, cooked, and shared their yummy culinary treats. Special thanks goes out to Elsie and Mike Swanson, who managed the dinner and brought the ham, potatoes, green beans, other goodies, and extra tables. We are also grateful for all the hardworking GAAS members who made the past year a big success for GAAS.
We appreciate everyone who attended the 2018 GAAS Christmas Party. We had a good crowd (over 40 people), and a few pictures are shared below.
GAAS wishes you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Emilie and Travis show off their 2018 GAAS Christmas Party raffle winnings.GAAS President, Bud White, scored prized aquarium décor.Bud White gets into the Christmas spirit!
Everyone pitched in, making the party a success!“Bowl Show” Bob Williams holds a plush catfish that he won through the product raffle.
Congratulations to all of our Bowl Show participants!!
1 Jeff Plazak—113
2 Dave Williamson—99
3 Mike & Elsie Swanson—31
4 Will & Misty White—29
5 Wayne Toven—25
6 Ken McGill—13
7 Madison Shaw—10
7 Rik & Dana Borger—10
9 Emilie Myatt—5
9 Jeremy Hash—5
11 Brandon Shopek—2
11 Rob Williams—2
Bowl Show Judging
A Big “Thank You” to Elsie Swanson for her November Talk: Fish Tales!
Bud and Elsie—November 2018
…And a special “Thank You” to our auctioneers and to everyone who contributed to the Fall Auction!!
Many of you know that my husband Will and I, have been the face of the website and social media presence of GAAS – Greater Akron Aquarium Society for the past year, and anyone who has been to the last few meetings will know that we have not been there….
With Will’s promotion earlier in the year, his increasing work demands and schedule began to make it impossible for us to attend the meetings, while my declining Health behind the scenes continued to affect my work on the website and social media.We both began to realize that while we love our Aquarium Club as well as our fish, that we simply didn’t have the time and ability to contribute the effort, energy, and physical presence needed to give them the attention they deserve.
We are officially retiring from the GAAS web and social media positions, as well as using the next couple auctions to rehome the bulk of our aquatic pets.
We will still be members, but will have to be inactive for the foreseeable future, aside from helping with the occasional posting until the new webmaster is ready to take over fully.
On the plus side, we have been focusing our efforts on our health and our family and both have begun to thrive.
It has been a great couple years and we truly hope we have helped set the building blocks for the new website that I have put so much of my time and energy into and left a memorable contribution to GAAS.
You can find some of our beloved Axolotls, Plecos and other fish in the coming Fall Auction..
Thank you for GAAS for the Fun, Friends, Knowledge, and many great experiences we’ve had with you!
Frank Orteca has been involved with the Guppy Associates of Greater Cleveland and IFGA (International Fancy Guppy Association) for decades. He will be discussing the care and breeding of fancy guppies (Fancy Guppies 101) with a question and answer session to follow. Stan Jachna, who is also a guppy expert, will be joining Frank in answering your questions about guppy basics. Please bring you guppy-specific questions to get the most out of Frank’s visit.
October’s Bowl show: Gouramis & Anabantoids All Other Old World Cichlids Arts & Crafts
Bio for Frank Orteca:
My first interest, like a lot of us, came as a kid and progressed from Goldfish to Tropicals. Somewhere in the late 1950s I was given a booklet about Guppies and their Genetics. I have been fascinated with Guppies ever since.
In 1974 I married my wife, Christine, and we moved into a 2 bedroom apartment. One of the first things I did was convert the second bedroom into my first real Guppy room. In January 1975 I joined Guppy Associates of Greater Cleveland and the IFGA (International Fancy Guppy Association). I shipped my first Guppy in August 1976—a Red Delta to the Pan Pacific Guppy show. It took 1st place in the Novice class, and I was hooked on showing Guppies. From 1976 to 1996 I have won over 300 individual first place awards in IFGA competition and 14 Class Championships.
My best year was 1991 where I won the Snakeskin Solid, Red BiColor, and the Varigated Snakeskin classes. I also finished second in Grand Overall Male that year. In 1981, I became an assistant IFGA judge. In 1983, I became a Senior Judge, and, in 1985, I was voted to be on the judging Board.
In addition to showing and judging Guppies, I was elected President of our local Guppy club, GAGC, more than 15 times, and in years I was not President, I was either Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer. I was also Vice President of the IFGA for 6 years and served on many committees.
I quit the Guppy hobby in 2013, and in 2015 I joined the Northeast Ohio Fish Club. I have been interested in multiple species over the last 4 years—until this past June where I got bit by the Guppy bug again.
Adam Leff, DVM, MS, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Kent State University will present his recent research on aquarium additive products that claim to aid in the nitrogen cycling of a tank. In his presentation, titled “Bacteria and the Nitrogen Cycle in Aquarium Systems: A Look at the Efficacy of Aquarium Supplements,” Dr. Leff will focus on the microbiology of biofiltration, with emphasis on the bacteria involved in nitrogen cycling. The talk will attempt to answer the following questions:
What bacteria are involved in the nitrogen cycle of an aquarium system?
What are the characteristics of these bacteria?
What happens to these bacteria when the system is perturbed (in other words, when things go bad, why do they go bad quickly?)
How can you optimize your aquarium system to achieve maximal “biofiltration”
Do aquarium additive products that claim to increase the biological filtration and aid in the nitrogen cycling of a tank really work?
September’s Bowl Show: Goodeids AO New World Cichlids Pairs (male/female)
Bio for Dr. Leff
Adam Leff, DVM, MS
Dr. Leff received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and his Masters of Science degree in Medical Microbiology from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. His research focus at Georgia involved the immune response of Channel Catfish to the protozoan parasite, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. He has been an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences for the past 23 years at Kent State University. While at Kent, his research focus has been in the field of aquatic microbiology including research studies on the microbiological cause of black shell disease in crayfish, the interaction of environmental bacteria with aquatic macroinvertebrates, and the bacterial composition of leachate from shredded tire landfills. Dr. Leff teaches a variety of courses at Kent State including Microbiology, Ichthyology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Medical Histology. He has been an aquarium hobbyist since he was eight years old.
who is an ecosystem ecologist with Kent State
University. In her talk, Mud Matters, Lauren will be sharing her research on the
important role that sediments play in freshwater ecosystem function, including nitrogen
cycling and phosphorous release. By attending Laura’s presentation, you will gain fresh
appreciation for the complexity of shallow freshwater ecosystems (and mud).
July’s Bowl Show: Native Fish Angelfish and Discus Aquatic Plants
As always there will be a full Raffle table available as well as Free Drinks and Refreshments!
This is a TWO DAY EVENT that occurs during the second weekend in June. Held at the Tallmadge Community Center, 80 Community Road, Tallmadge, OH
Ultra Aqua encompasses a whopping 60 Classes of an all Species Show competition!
Everyone is welcome to come and compete for awards and prizes! Your fish may be a winner! 😉
This year will also include the GAAS / YATFSGrowth Program – Sevrum Showdown! (More Info Here)
Saturday!
Show Registration Starts at 10 AM on Saturday so bring your fish and set them up, Don’t delay because registration closes at 5 pm for Judging! Entrance fees are 1.50$ per for the first 20 animals you enter, each animal after 20 is free.
The Swap Meet will be in effect from 12 PM until 5 PM on Saturday with various Independent Vendor tables selling their animals and Hobby related wares.
Our Presentation, featuring the one and only Pat Hartman along with Dinner hosted by us, will begin at 7 pm. Tonight’s topic will be “A Rookie Goes to Mexico-Part 2- NAGWG Goodeid Study Tour 2017” (Pat Hatman’s Bio)
All entrants are invited to attend. (non-show entrants can choose to join us and purchase dinner for $5)
Sunday!
Summer Show Auctionregistration begins at 10 AM and starts at 11 AM. This is an animal and plant only auction, NO hard-goods/ supplies please, we have limited space with the Ultra Aqua Show Tables.
All other typical Auction features Such as Rare Fish Raffle, 50/50 Raffles, Vendors, and Food & Drinks will still be available.
Ultra Aqua Award Ceremony Presentation begins at 5 PM.
It’s an amazing weekend for an aquarium hobbyist! Whatever your interest, if you’ve come to compete, view, shop, sell, try your luck on the raffles, enjoy our dinner and presentation or even simply to socialize with other aquarists, there truly is something for everyone to enjoy!
