alanmin4304

At the moment I have chocolate and gold fry seperate. My question was to determine if it would be OK to raise them together as it would be easier. I didn't want to mix them and then find I couldn't tell the difference. So it would be OK if I raise both types together?

You should check with the local council to see how a zoo fits into the district plan also. For some strange reason councils don't think keeping elephants fits in well with most peoples ideas of a compatible use in a residential zone.

It is so long since I kept them that I can't remember if it is possible to identify chocolate and gold australe females if kept in the same tank. I don't want to end up crossing them by mistake.

It is available from the water plant section of any large nursery. They classify the plants into how they should be planted. Give them a ring.

I have just gone mad and bought two electronic thermostats. They should make the fish breed as they are labeled "love controls" model TS 13021 a division of Dwyer instruments---$130 + gst. They have a digital readout and remote probe, encased in silicone. More than I had planned but should be good. Alan-- are your $21 ones the bimetelic strip ones everyone has been telling me has not been imported for years and I was originally planning on using?

Some people like to have two for safety reasons, but when they fail they usually fail on and cook everything anyway.

I add trace elements to the substrate when setting the tank up and I leave the rest to God. She is a very clever lady and gave us fish to add nutrient and CO2. If we stopped being such clean fanatics and allowed some mulm to accumulate around the root zone and slowed up on siphoning it all away we would end up with happier plants with or without an electric blanket, and a good dose of all the bacteria that fit so nicely into the nitrogen cycle.

4.5461 litres to an Imp. gallon

I think there is 3.8 litres in an American gallon

I have an electronic themometer with a probe. records temp. plus max/min. I have yet to get there yet but Homershams say they have an electronic thermostat with a digital readout and remote probe for about $140 plus gst. I am getting the car fixed at the moment and when I get it back I will be out there for a look at what is available. I am getting a big fat zero from all the pet shops.

I have the female half of an imported pair. The male had longer fins than the double red I have and the fins were all yellow with no red. It is available if I can can catch it out of my heavily planted community tank. If you want it PM me with an offer

It is a mixture of various microorganisms which are small enough for small fish fry to feed on before they grow big enough to eat microworm,baby brine shrimp etc. They are generally single celled animals and algae and are a living culture.

The lead to the light may be different colours again as suggesteg earlier. Brown--phase, blue--neutral, green/yellow-- earth. The earth wire usually is placed on the screw which holds the ballest into the fixture and therefore earths both.

BK, what type of cocatoo do you have?

The pad sits on top of polystyrene so any protrusions will sink back into the poly and take any pressure off the tank bottom. The tanks at Critter Kingdom in Stanmore Road are heated this way with pads made by Argus.

Cost was $67 without the overheating cutout (it goes in the middle of the heatpad and is a small make and break---you can choose what temperature it will operate at---I was advised not to bother with it}. It will be a straight heater wired through a standard aquarium thermostat placed in one of the tanks. I am planning a 48inch tank in 6 compartments with another 48inch tank underneath and all in the same stand.

Red is phase, black is neutral and you must earth a flouro. EARTH IS GREEN

I was going to have a go at making one but found their price was that good at Argus Heating it was as well to get them to make it. The design I am getting is 31 metres of element (8 watts/metre) placed between two layers of aluminium foil and installed between the polystyrene and tank. It is earthed and for another $15 you can add another safety cutout to the cicuit. Mine is 48 inches x 18 inches and I thought it was a good deal at that price. It is apparently not easy to get the thermostats so that is my next mission. Local pet shop said they had tried but could not get them from Brooklands. I have got one jacked up from a friend but need one more, as I have ordered two elements.

Thankyou all for your input. I have aranged to get one made by Argos Heating Ltd. $67 for 250 watt 4ft x 18inch. It is 31 metres of 8amp/metre element sandwiched between aluminium foil and earthed. Sits on top of polystyrene.

The home brew pads are only 30 watts and no thermostat. Could wire in a themastat but 30 watts wouldn't be enough.

The main thing with high temperatures is to increase the airation as the higher the temperature the less O2 water will carry.

What size are the home brew heater pads and what volume of water are they designed to keep at what temp? I used to use an aquarium heater/thermastat. I might have to trip down to the brew shop as I don't have an old electric blanket.

Do you have a diagramn and details of wiring and thermastat? Is there anything commercially available?

On behalf of your plants "Thanks for caring"

I am thinking of building a six chamber aquarium surrounded by a water jacket heated by one element. Has anyone tried this or is there a way to say heat them from underneath? I am trying to avoid having an element in each tank, because they will be relatively small, and used for breeding killies.