alanmin4304

I use it as a nitrogen source on the compost heap but don't know about aquarium use.

Legally it is dearer as you have to go to the vet and get a script. Furan works.

My understanding is that they are supposed to be dead when you buy them. I would think someone has done a bit of a shafter and may well get a visit from the egg heads upstairs. Free meals and a holiday at her majesty's pleasure---what is wrong with that.

Great stuff.

Just don't talk about double nitrogen bonds or talk with an accent.

If you replace it and don't use meth blue it will go green instead with algae as the aquarium safe RTV has no mould inhibitors/algicides. Black glue is great if done well. When the shaking slows up a bit I intend to get a new replacement done with black glue.

Water has a greater affinity for oxygen than CO2. When a water supply has high iron or manganese or both it is usually because the pH has been lowered by hi CO2. Aeration will replace the CO2 with O2 and that changes the iron from ferrous to ferric which is almost insoluble (works for manganese as well) and it can be settled out. If you want hi CO2 you do not want aeration. Can't see the point in having both.

In a previous life I had a purpose built fish house with 60 tanks heated by a two bar heater with a fan. I wired the fan so it went all the time and only one element went. The room was well insulated and the heater hardly ever came on. You cannot have too much insulation or too much water. The water acts as a heat sink. It does not take much heat to heat the air but a lot to heat the water. Once the tanks are heated and loaded with fish you will need to change the air once or twice a day and this will not take much heat. I used to breed 50000 fish a year but even then it is very hard to make a profit. The more you breed the bigger market you need so you have to sell to wholesalers. It takes a while to establish a reputation so that they will buy off you instead of their normal supplier. You need "bread and butter fish" and then you can try others later. One problem you have is that there are already very good breeders in Christchurch who have established markets and are breeding the "bread and butter" fish. The water in Christchurch is good enough to breed most fish straight out of the tap.

Welcome

I am a bit paranoid about feeding crickets because of their biting. Locusts just hang around waiting to get eaten but the first thing crickets do is hide. They can then come out later and bite. I normally feed locusts but have recently started breeding and feeding crickets again. I am feeding 6 baby beardies at about 10-12 weeks and I put them in a large plastic container along with suitably sized crickets and leave them for a while till they eat what they want then I feed the remainder out elswhere. I have not seen the result of any bites but have heard of beardies dying of blood poisoning as a result of bites. Worse with adult crickets I think and risk can be reduced by adding a source of water such as zuchini. I only feed adults one at a time and make sure they are eaten.

The black beard is just something they do and is part of their body language thing like arm waving and head bobbing. The lump I don't know about. Are you puting cacium on its food?

Welcome and there are plenty of people here that can help with either if you feel you need it.

My understanding is that they very rarely morph by themselves as Mexico and New Zealand are both very low in iodine. They can be forced to morph with the addition of iodine, feeding thyroxin (as in sweetbreads---sheeps thyroid gland) or lowering the water level, or all three. Doing this is against the way they have evolved and their life is considerably shortened. Many years ago people were morphing them to try and breed them without realising that axies breed. Can't see the point myself. There are a number of ways things can be banned---Maf, Niwa or the Regional Council. Who knows why the same species can be banned or not banned, but I know the powers that be would have liked to see them banned for years but there are probably too many around.

If you are meaning a morphed axolotl (salamander) then yes.

It shouldn't make any difference to nitrates. Why do you want to reduce nitrates?

I would be surprised if the nitrates in the tap water in Christchurch city water supply were much over 10 mg/litre. If you are growing plants they would do better with levels much higher than that. Water changes remove all compounds in the water, not just nitrate.

Welcome back.

Welcome and enjoy your time here. There are some informed salties here that I am sure will help.

It is an unwanted organism. The twisted varieties (tortifolia and contortionist) are OK. Sagittaria subulata and microfolia are also OK.

Welcome aboard

Aint he just lovely when he gets away from the bitter and twisted.

My apolgies also as I will not be able to attend. I wish you all well.

Is that in a shop? Photoshop.

Over a period of about 40 years I have always used the charcoal supplied with many filters for any other use other than in the filter. I have not used it in filters in bare tanks, lightly planted or heavily planted tanks with or without added ferts. The first thing I do with it is throw it out. Hope that answers your question.

I would destroy the water hyacinth if I was you. Best to do it soon before you are offered an extended holiday at Her Majesty's pleasure, free meals and a substantial fine. It is an unwanted organism and one of the worst.