Facts & Tips on Feeding Koi and Pond Fish: Scale

The Laguna Floating Thermometer is a fast and convenient way to keep you informed about the water temperature. Pond water temperature is an important factor that influences the overall condition of your pond as well as the health of your fish. The thermometer includes an easy viewing window with large temperature indications for quick readings. It comes with a handy anchoring cord and is designed to float on the water surface for easy access. The Laguna Floating Thermometer records temperatures between 30 to 120-degree fahrenheit and its light, all-plastic construction is fish friendly and will not rust.

Product Features

Floating Thermometer with anchoring cord

Designed to float on water surface for easy access

Easy viewing window with large temperature indications

Temperature range of 30 to 120-degree fahrenheit 0 to 50-degree celsius

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Laguna Pond Celsius and Fahrenheit Scale Thermometer

J. Am. Chem. Soc., Just Accepted Manuscript

DOI: 10.1021/ja509340c

Publication Date (Web): November 13, 2014

Abstract

Fish have evolved biogenic multilayer reflectors composed of stacks of intra-cellular anhydrous guanine crystals separated by cytoplasm, to produce the silvery luster of their skin and scales. Here we compare two different variants of the Japanese Koi fish; one of them with enhanced reflectivity. Our aim is to determine how biology modulates reflectivity, and from this to obtain a mechanistic understanding of the structure and properties governing the intensity of silver reflectance. We measured the reflectance of individual scales with a custom made microscope, and then for each individual scale we characterized the structure of the guanine crystal/cytoplasm layers using high resolution cryo-SEM. The measured reflectance and the structural-geometrical parameters were used to calculate the reflectance of each scale, and the results were compared to the experimental measurements. We show that enhanced reflectivity is obtained with the same basic guanine crystal/cytoplasm stacks, but the structural arrangement between the stack, inside the stacks and relative to the scale surface is varied, when reflectivity is enhanced. Finally, we propose a model that incorporates the basic building block parameters, the crystal orientation inside the tissue, and the resulting reflectance, and explains the mechanistic basis for reflectance enhancement.

The Structural Basis for Enhanced Silver Reflectance in Koi Fish Scale and Skin