Bob Marklew, Macvsog23
17-04-1953 to 29-02-2012
Bob Marklew, who very sadly passed away on the 29th February 2012 will always be remembered for his contributions to the pleco world. Bob was very passionate about the welfare of pleco's in aquariums and the wild, and Plecoplanet was indeed honoured that he was part of the staff. Bob gave so much to the forum and members including breeding logs, an article, pleco profiles that he researched and wrote as part of the profiles team and last but by no means least, the advice he gave to members new and old that would help them to become better fish keepers. Bob’s no nonsense approach gained him a lot of respect which was well and truly deserved.
Bob bred many fish including pleco’s, it was never a hobby for profit, it was to help establish the presence of pleco’s in aquariums amid the controversial building of various dams in Brazil which threaten the very existence of many fish. Whilst he may not have been able to prevent the inevitable, he compensated by trying to provide a future for South American catfish in our aquariums, with this in mind, it was normal practice for Bob to give away or sell very cheaply youngsters that he had bred.
Photography was another passion that Bob had, and Plecoplanet has opened this new forum and named it ‘Bobs Photography Corner’ so that he will always be remembered for everything he gave to the hobby and hobbyists.
This is a little insight into the mind of one of the most amazing fish keepers of our time.
Bob's Never Ending Love of EHEIM!
Are you serious? get the fluval and use it to prop the fish house door open
Yes it must be a Eheim if you use any outer filter you will suffer boils and puss will spring from any open wounds and a plague of locust will devour your crops blood will fall from the skies and the whole of humanity will die.
Those that reject Eheim will never go to Nirvana and will always be cursed
His advice on using RO
The main problem with R/O is that it is totally inert and unstable, the PH will run away in neat R/O the HMA will make the P/H stable but the PH is not a major issue.
The art of keeping water is not a black art and the rewards of spawning the fish every one is struggling to just keep alive is great.
For me it is all down to keeping the fish alive in a natural environment.
Filtration
Sadly you’re seeing filters as a mechanical thing, if you think bio your get a better understanding of filtration.
Housing Fish
The 5 Freedoms
Substrate advice
Natures Way - Bob was a real advocate for doing things the way nature intended
For me it is dead simple question did nature put them in the same water answer NO
Simple please dont do it It is a form of slow murder the fish will not be happy
"First problem is not the water, not the temp, it is the fact that it serves no reason apart from looking good
The fish is in a totally alien environment
Like placing a person from a city in the Forests of SEA
I am not going to bang on as my views are well known
Just it is some thing I would never do and I would always advise against it for the reasons stated.
My view is we unknowingly place far too many problems in the way of our fish to add more knowingly is wrong.
When working as the sales prevention officer in my LFS if some one would wish to do this I would under the Animal welfare act 2007 refuse."
Please Try to cure this problem with out using a fish
Bobs welcoming advice for those taking a step into the world of Pleco Breeding
Bobs take on hybrids
and his thoughts when a zebra truly did change its stripes
And to celebrate Bob's wicked humour
And finally last but not least...
Below are the links to all the articles, profiles and breeding logs that Bob has put together during his time here on PlecoPlanet.
RO
L011, L108, L116, L131 Red Fin Thresher Pleco
L136c
L254 Spectracanthicus sp
L236 Mega Crown Zebra
L315 Spectracanthicus sp
LDA78 Peckoltia brevis
Spectracanthicus murinus
L002 Breeding Log
L410 Breeding Log
A special Thank you to bre for her help finding quotes and links.
17-04-1953 to 29-02-2012
Bob Marklew, who very sadly passed away on the 29th February 2012 will always be remembered for his contributions to the pleco world. Bob was very passionate about the welfare of pleco's in aquariums and the wild, and Plecoplanet was indeed honoured that he was part of the staff. Bob gave so much to the forum and members including breeding logs, an article, pleco profiles that he researched and wrote as part of the profiles team and last but by no means least, the advice he gave to members new and old that would help them to become better fish keepers. Bob’s no nonsense approach gained him a lot of respect which was well and truly deserved.
Bob bred many fish including pleco’s, it was never a hobby for profit, it was to help establish the presence of pleco’s in aquariums amid the controversial building of various dams in Brazil which threaten the very existence of many fish. Whilst he may not have been able to prevent the inevitable, he compensated by trying to provide a future for South American catfish in our aquariums, with this in mind, it was normal practice for Bob to give away or sell very cheaply youngsters that he had bred.
Photography was another passion that Bob had, and Plecoplanet has opened this new forum and named it ‘Bobs Photography Corner’ so that he will always be remembered for everything he gave to the hobby and hobbyists.
This is a little insight into the mind of one of the most amazing fish keepers of our time.
Bob's Never Ending Love of EHEIM!
Are you serious? get the fluval and use it to prop the fish house door open
Yes it must be a Eheim if you use any outer filter you will suffer boils and puss will spring from any open wounds and a plague of locust will devour your crops blood will fall from the skies and the whole of humanity will die.
Those that reject Eheim will never go to Nirvana and will always be cursed
His advice on using RO
The main problem with R/O is that it is totally inert and unstable, the PH will run away in neat R/O the HMA will make the P/H stable but the PH is not a major issue.
The art of keeping water is not a black art and the rewards of spawning the fish every one is struggling to just keep alive is great.
For me it is all down to keeping the fish alive in a natural environment.
Filtration
Sadly you’re seeing filters as a mechanical thing, if you think bio your get a better understanding of filtration.
Housing Fish
The 5 Freedoms
Substrate advice
Natures Way - Bob was a real advocate for doing things the way nature intended
For me it is dead simple question did nature put them in the same water answer NO
Simple please dont do it It is a form of slow murder the fish will not be happy
"First problem is not the water, not the temp, it is the fact that it serves no reason apart from looking good
The fish is in a totally alien environment
Like placing a person from a city in the Forests of SEA
I am not going to bang on as my views are well known
Just it is some thing I would never do and I would always advise against it for the reasons stated.
My view is we unknowingly place far too many problems in the way of our fish to add more knowingly is wrong.
When working as the sales prevention officer in my LFS if some one would wish to do this I would under the Animal welfare act 2007 refuse."
Please Try to cure this problem with out using a fish
Bobs welcoming advice for those taking a step into the world of Pleco Breeding
Bobs take on hybrids
and his thoughts when a zebra truly did change its stripes
And to celebrate Bob's wicked humour
And finally last but not least...
Below are the links to all the articles, profiles and breeding logs that Bob has put together during his time here on PlecoPlanet.
RO
L011, L108, L116, L131 Red Fin Thresher Pleco
L136c
L254 Spectracanthicus sp
L236 Mega Crown Zebra
L315 Spectracanthicus sp
LDA78 Peckoltia brevis
Spectracanthicus murinus
L002 Breeding Log
L410 Breeding Log
A special Thank you to bre for her help finding quotes and links.
