Aquatic News And Products www. pettradeworld. comPET TRADE WORLD OCTOBER 2009 41 New starters at Casco CASCO has expanded its team further with two new starters this summer, both bringing diff erent skill sets and qualities to the ever expanding CASCO group. Francesca Collins is new to CASCO, based in their Broadbridge Heath offi ces she joined in early July. Francesca, 22 who graduated from Roehampton University in 2008, will be part of a busy offi ce Administrative team, ensuring the smooth running of the CASCO offi ce continues. She already brings a wealth of experience with her from her previous role as Centre Administrator for West Sussex County Council. Another new starter to the CASCO group is Lucy Faith. Lucy joins the team as Marketing Executive in the development of CASCO's marketing in the UK; she is also based at the offi ces in Broadbridge Heath. Lucy has been working in marketing for over 7 years and has previously worked in the press and media industries for the Racing Post formally owned by the Trinity Mirror Group. Lucy hopes to bring new and exciting ideas to CASCO in the development of their marketing and PR. Matthew Bubear Managing Director for CASCO group said: '' It's always nice to have new team members on board, both Francesca and Lucy will bring fresh new ideas and approaches to our Administrative and Marketing departments within CASCO. I hope they enjoy working for the company and developing their careers with us.'' ¦ Product - Ozoniser Company - Reef Scientifi c Product Details - The RSO3- 100 has an output that's adjustable between 0 and 100 mg. This high specifi cation unit, uses cold plate discharge technology and because of the greater effi ciency over corona discharge ozonisers, this is comparable in output to that of a 200mg unit when used without an expensive air dryer. The Reef Scientifi c Ozoniser features a built in 365 day digital timer so that it can be run for timed periods over the course of the day as an alternative to the more expensive, and often inaccurate, method of using a redox controller. The unit is splash resistant to IP55. Manufacturer Statement - The new ozone generator from Reef Scientifi c is a high quality product at a cost eff ective price. It's manufactured in the UK and more effi cient than other ozonisers utilising corona discharge technology. A very versatile product, capable of being run on mains power anywhere in the world. Operating from 85 - 260 volts AC and 50 - 60 Hz, unlike cheaper quality units adapted to diff erent mains supplies, there's no transformer to fail. Currently units are available with UK or EU plugs. Trade RRP Launch price: £ 76.26 £ 135.00 After November 1st 2009 £ 86.95 £ 149.99 Contact Details - Telephone: 01543 685599 ¦ Product - DT's Pure Reef Elements range Francesca Collins and Lucy Faith Company - Midlands Reefs Product Details - DT's Pure Reef Elements consist of a 3 part additive for reef aquariums that provides calcium, alkalinity buff er, and magnesium, all backed up by an online dosage calculator - a great product for the reef keeper. Manufacturer Statement - Available to the retailer in 20 litre bulk packs, enabling them to attract repeat sales with customers returning for their refi lls to save money. This is an internet beating service as, " You can't get bottles refi lled on the internet!" Contact Details - Telephone: 01543 685599. ¦

4 2 PET TRADE WORLD OCTOBER 2009www. pettradeworld. com Winter Pond Focus Preparing the Pond for Winter With Autumn fast approaching, customers will start thinking about preparing their ponds for winter. Retailers are ideally placed in order to off er the best advice so you need to make sure that you're stocking the types of pond related items the customer will need. Here's a breakdown of what you should be advising people to do in order to prepare their ponds, fi sh, and plants for a healthy winter. During the winter months, despite all outward appearances, the pond remains active even when the water is cold - or frozen. The dead leaves, algae, insects and solid fi sh waste that have accumulated over the summer slowly break down during this period. This natural decomposition uses oxygen and produces small amounts of hydrogen sulphide - this is a toxic gas, but doesn't normally reach harmful levels. It is important to remind customers that ponds do need to be kept ' balanced' throughout winter as fi sh, frogs, and other aquatic life are especially sensitive to poor water quality during winter. One of the biggest problems during Autumn is when leaves begin to fall from the trees above. A build- up of leaves and other organic matter can cause an imbalance, reducing oxygen to dangerously low levels and releasing poisonous hydrogen sulphide. Using netting to cover the pond prevents the accumulation of these falling leaves in the pond. If too many leaves are allowed to fall into the pond and decay it will throw off the ecological balance of the pond. Heavy leaf fall can clog a skimmer several times a day so don't expect a skimmer type fi lter to capture all the leaves - they are designed to only get the occasional leaf or other fl oating debris. Experts also recommend using a bacterial ' cleaning' product to reduce sludge build up. These products work by allowing the bacteria they contain to digest dead algae and sludge that accumulate in fi lters and at the bottom of the pond. These types of products will also help to process the sludge and waste build- up that is hidden behind and underneath rocks. People often worry most about what to do with the fi sh. As a general rule, ponds with depths of 24" or greater can sustain the fi sh all winter quite successfully providing care is taken in preparing the pond. If fi sh have been fed a high protein diet throughout the summer this will have allowed them to build up a reserve of fat to help through the winter. Once the water temperature reaches the low sixties the amount of food given should be decreased and the fi sh feed only one to three times per week. At this time a food with a protein content of 25 to 32 percent should be given - wheat germ based food is another good choice as it is easily digested and fi sh can take 2 or 3 days to digest food at this water temperature. Once the temperature drops below 50 degrees advise your customers to stop feeding altogether until spring once the water temperature is consistently above that same level. Also remind your customers that they have to be careful with decomposing organics in the pond as they can produce toxic gasses which could get trapped in the pond if it is covered by ice for more than a few days. It is important to keep a small area free of ice so that these gases can escape. One of the easiest ways to do this is with a fl oating pond de- icer - a device which fl oats in the pond and has a built in thermostat to turn the heating element on when the water temperature drops below 40 degrees. They can also prevent a small pond from freezing solid altogether. Another option is to operate an air pump with an air diff user to help keep a hole open in the ice as the constant motion of air bubbles through the water will prevent the ice from forming. Tell people that they should NEVER break the ice as the shock waves created can damage or kill the fi sh. Your customers should have stopped feeding the plants by autumn and they now need to remove any dead and dying leaves and to place the potted plants in the deepest area of the pond to prevent freeze damage. Bear in mind that all plants in the pond need to be cared for based on their type. Oxygenators and/ or submerged plants, for example, should be left completely submerged at the bottom of the pond below the ice line. If the pond is less than 18" deep, the plants should be removed and placed in water fi lled containers fi lled in an area that will not freeze. Some hardy species such as iris, sweet fl ag, grasses, cattails, rushes, etc can be left in place overwinter regardless of pond depth and trimmed in the spring rather than the autumn. Floating plants such as water hyacinth and water lettuce, however, need