About a dozen people visited Laurel for the September GWAPA meeting. Nick gave a talk about trimming plants in a planted aquarium. He showed off his aquascaping tools and explained the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. After describing his trimming process, which included cutting off every damaged or algae infested leaf and trimming the stems very close to the ground to enable them to create bushes, he trimmed the host’s 75 gallon tank. Once the plants were trimmed, Nick put a polishing filter in the tank to be used for about an hour only. Then he used a razor blade and melamine foam to clean the glass while intentionally stirring up the detritus for the filter to catch the particles.

Over a dozen people showed up at the May GWAPA meeting. After enjoying some pizza and drinks, we watched Freshwater Illustrated’s new film, Hidden Rivers. This feature film explored the rivers and streams of the Southern Appalachian region, North America’s most biologically rich waters. The film followed the work of conservation biologists and explorers throughout the region, and revealed both the beauty and vulnerability of these ecosystems.

Over twenty people turned up to the April GWAPA meeting. Before the presentation began, the president talked about having possible group buys for wood and plants. GWAPA also is offering a liquid fertilizer mix to members now.