koiboy

Thanks, now I know that it should be okay to use the ehiem stuff on my filter. Thanks John. I also know that the 203 spraybar would fit my 204. Thanks Ira. Thank you both, Matt

Well, I can understand the reason why they are banned in NZ. We don't have any problems like that over here, probably due to the fact that Koi are quite difficult to get hold of, due to their price. Just out of interest, do you like or approve of Koi, or do you 'bear a grudge' against them? If you were allowed to keep them, would you? Just curious, don't want to cause any upset or arguments, Matt

Before I say this, I am in the UK and Koi are not banned over here. I have a relative who has a Concrete Koi Pond with wel over 30 koi, ranging from 6 inches to about 3 foot. He has some real nice ones, which he isolates from the rest for breeding. He has kept them for about seventeen years now. Are Koi the most expensive fish, I think there are but I'm not sure about it, I've seen ones in LFS for £2500 + and thats just in the small outlets. Just thought I'd contribute to the conversation. Regards, Matt

Okay, thanks, I just wondered if perhaps you may need aditional adapters to make the 03 spraybar fit on th 04 range. The sponge is a good idea, and would reduce clogging of the filter, thanks for the input, Matt

I was just wondering if somebody could help me, regarding pipe fittings for the fluval 04 series canisters. First of all I have the 204 MSF, the one witht he two levers on the canister. I would like to know what size of piping I need to fit insibe the rubber bungs on the inlet and outlet (where you connect the output nozzle). I have seen fittings (spraybars, air diffusers etc) made by ehiem, but will they fit my filter, they are in a few sizes - 9mm, 12mm and 16mm. But I would like to know what size I would need. Would hagens air diffuser fit my model. Also does anybody have a spraybar for their 04 series, and if so, could they talk me through (or write) the parts needed to attatch the spraybar? I ask this because I have read that some people have a spraybar on thiers, but I have seen no spraybar speciffically for the 04 range, just the 03 range. The piece of stiff plastic pipe that they give you for the inlet tube, has an external diameter of 18mm, and an internal diameter of 14mm, and I am confused as to what way companies measure their piping and parts before advertising them (whether they would advertise this piece of pipe as 14 or 18mm piping). Also am i the only one who does not like the chunky inlet strainer and would like to replace it for something that draws water from a larger area, perhaps installing a spraybar on the inlet, is this a good idea? I would be grateful if anybody could help me with any of these questions. Thanks in advance, Matt

Sorry, I meant to put them in the order I was getting them. This order is the order I will add them and each species will be added at one week intervals (weekends are the only time I have to get the fish). 1)Zebra Danios (to cycle the tank) 2)Platies 3)Dwarf Gouramis 4)Kribensis 5)The catfish will be last as I have research to do as yet. Do you know whether the slate structure for the Kribs has to be open ended on both ends or just one? Thanks for oyur time, Matt

I have been doing more thinking about my tank and have come up with a stock list that I think I like. I have still not planted the tank as I havent had time yet although may do it tomorrow, and the earliest that I will be stocking with fish is not next saturday, but the saturday after. I have been reading and have read that If i wanted to I could keep Kribensis as community fish. If this is so, then here is my proposed stocking list. 2 x Kribensis (male and female) max size = 8" (combined) 3 x Dwarf Gouramis (1 male, 2 female) max size = 6" (combined) 4 x Zebra Danios max size = 8" (combined) 4 x PLaties (2 varieties, Male and female of each) max size 8" (combined) I will also probably be getting a catfish/scavenger,. Would it be Okay to put Kribensis in with this mixture, in a 30" tank. I may convert my 36" tank to hold these tropicals at a later date (if i can temporarily home the goldfish) so they will have more space. I am going to put a slate structure in the tank for the Kribensis, and smaller fish will have the driftwood, and upturned flower pot to go if things get nasty with Kribensis. Would this work? By the way, I have decided not to go for fancy plants, just your ordinary begginers ones. PLease tell me if you think this stocking list will not work, or if you have any suggestions to improve it. Thanks for your help, Matt

Seven quid would get me 7 neon tetras, or 6 swordtails, or 3 mollies. I dont know how that matches up with what YOU could get though. I am in The South West of England, In bristol. bristol is opposite Cardiff, which is just across the river severn. I dont know whether you know where I'm talking about, but there you go. Bristol is probaly most famous for the Suspension Bridge, Its Replica of 'The Matthew'(boat), SS Great Britain is also docked here, We have cabot tower and um, well, lots and lots of rain. How does that compare to where you live? :lol: regards, Matt 8)

Actually on the subject of what people will throw away nowadays, I sometimes see some nice looking furniture which would be good for tank cabinets. the only problem is tou're not supposed to take things from the dump (something to do with health and safety acts), but if you spot someone throwing away someting, or just thrown something away, you can have it with their permission. Unfortunately i usually miss the person whos dumping the furniture and usually rthe attendant wont let you have the stuff. :evil: :evil: Regards, Matt Oh by the way, its funny you should mention me only getting about £7 for the equivalent of the voucher,because i was looking at boronias online shop, and theres not much you can get for $25.

did you not hear form chris at boronia aquarium that I could not accept the $25 gift voucher cos i am in the uk. I emailed hm to let him know and he replied with if i give him my postage adress, he will post me some goods anyway. Very kind of him if oyu ask me. :lol: Looks like these fish will be coming out of my own money - nooooooooooooo !!!!!!!!!!!!!. well, actually, i dont mind, because the tank i got was free. i dont know whether I told you, but I went to the rubbish dump to get rid of some rubbish (that figures), and there was a man about to throw away this tank. I didnt ask him for it, cos he might have asked me to give him some £££££££, instead I waited till he had put it on the pile and drove off. I then asked the attendnat if i could take it and he said that I could, that must be my biggest bargain yet, as it came with hood and lights. :lol: :lol: Regards Matt 8)

I meant that if you put them together you get a length of 8". Anyway, thanks for the advice, I think that I am happy with my fish list and will probably buy what is on it. The tank has been running since 24th august now, with nothing in it. I have not done fishless cycling, and believe that the best way to add the fish would be to put the zebra danios in fist, and let them cycle the tank, am i right? I think the gallonage is about 22gallons, but if i was to convert my other tank, I would have 29 gallons. I will take the advice about the positioning of the slate structure, and would like to ask whether i need to make any speacial considerations in the layout of the rest of the tank, for territorial purposes? Also what would be the dimensions of the slate structure, and would it be open at both ends or butt up against the glass, with perhaps a hole in the top, so as you can enter at the front and swim up through (if you were a fish)? Thanks again for the help, like I asy I wont be stocking until 2 weeks time as Im going on holiday in a weeks time. Thanks again, Matt

I have been doing more thinking about my tank and have come up with a stock list that I think I like. I have still not planted the tank as I havent had time yet although may do it tomorrow, and the earliest that I will be stocking with fish is not next saturday, but the saturday after. I have been reading and have read that If i wanted to I could keep Kribensis as community fish. If this is so, then here is my proposed stocking list. 2 x Kribensis (male and female) max size = 8" (combined) 3 x Dwarf Gouramis (1 male, 2 female) max size = 6" (combined) 4 x Zebra Danios max size = 8" (combined) 4 x PLaties (2 varieties, Male and female of each) max size 8" (combined) I will also probably be getting a catfish/scavenger, I'm not sure about the Red tailed Black shark cos I have done more research and read some offputting things about their behaviour. Would it be Okay to put Kribensis in with this mixture, in a 30" tank. I may convert my 36" tank to hold these tropicals at a later date (if i can temporarily home the goldfish) so they will have more space. I am going to put a slate structure in the tank for the Kribensis, and smaller fish will have the driftwood, and upturned flower pot to go if things get nasty with Kribensis. Would this work? By the way, I have decided not to go for fancy plants, just your ordinary begginers ones. PLease tell me if you think this stocking list will not work, or if you have any suggestions to improve it. Thanks for your help, Matt

I dont know whether anybobdy knows anything about plants but heres what i had in mind for planting up the tank. echinodorus tunicatus eleocharis acicularis (hairgrass) limnophilia sessiloflora (ambulia) cabomba piauhyensis (red cabomba) sagittaria graminea (wheat plant) cabomba cardiniana (green cabomba) I dont know whether these plants will work (size is my main concern by the way), but its just ideas. I will probably buy the plants tomorrow or sunday, so have really left it to late to ask you this, but what do you think? Thanks A Lot Matt P.S I expect the fishstore i go to will give me some advice on plants as their all experts (i know this for a fact) and the company is not the sort of company who will sell you anything just to make a profit.

I have been thinking about the fish to go in the tank and so far have come up with this list. *=almost definately going to get **=definately going to get - =not sure but considering **Red tailed Black Shark (x1- ?male?) 6inches * Dwarf Gouramis (1x male and 2x female) combined 6inches * Zebra Danios (x4) combined 8inches - Silver Mollies (don't know how many) don't know the length - Angel fish (Koi one, I think - are these the ones with white bodies and - orange head?)(x1) 5inches Total=9 fish (not including mollies) total length=25inches (not including mollies) Maximum length of fish for surface area=32inches (i think) Is this a good list or not, have I got to much or what? have I got the male to female ratios right, or the group numbers right? Please let me know what you think, Thanks Matt

I think I have decided on one of the fish which I will definately go for and that Is The "Red Tailed Black Shark". Just wondered if anybody knew, do these fish have sucker mouths to clean the glass, i read in an old book (from the 1950's) that they do. I am only going to keep one of these fish. Just thought I'd let you all know what has made it to the "Shopping List". Thanks, Matt :lol: :lol: