PETEYPLECO

COOL ! I have a few plants - enough for them to feel comfortable and there is probably enough for the bababies to hide, there's also lots of driftwood and other hidey holes too. I sure hope the Red Lyretails breed they're really nice fish, I have not seen them before. Any other suggestions? Cross your fingers.

My Geo is about 5 inches and can be lets say a bit bossy to other fish its own size and nips at my large clown loaches. If I am right its the females that have longer / extended dorsal and longer pectoral fins which are also more coloured.

As mentioned this system is still in its setup stage, components arriving next week so wiil keep you posted once cylinder is filled and it is installed in my tank and run for a while.

Will keep you posted, as soon as my own setup is perfected I will offer the complete system and seperate components for sale.

I have a few yellow mollies and a pair of Red Lyretail swordtails, will these guys just breed on their own or do you have to encourage them in some way by providing certain conditions? They have lots of plants and places to hide but I could imagine the larger fish in the tank would not only put them off but also the chances of babies surviving would be quite low.

Another good book is called "Fishlopaedia" cant remember the auther but it covers a whole heap of fresh water issues - highly recommended.

I have all below fishies in my 165 ltr cube with no worries. So long as you keep the water quality good, I have a large external filter and I do weekly 25 to 35% water changes.

I was aksing as I am able to source and import Co2 bottles from overseas, I can also get reg's and needle valves at trade price locally. I was basicaly wanting to make my own cheap, D.I.Y system and wondered if I could maybe sell a few more once my own was perfected and trialed for a period of time. Bottles would be certified ex faxtory and obviously re fillable, all regs and valves replacable locally, tubing would be locally sourced Co2 resistant. Reactor or DIFFUSER would be based on a powerhead and ceramic noodle filled canister, as Co2 is passed in to the canister the power head forces water in and the two are swirled and mixed together, the tank water is slowly released out of the base of the canister. As I say it would be a low cost D.I.Y system origianly for my own use but I thought I could help a few others out as we all dont have $200 to $600 for a LFS model !

If there was a simple and reliable locally manufactured Co2 system complete with 20 Oz bottle ( approx / TBA ), regulator, needle valve, lines and reactor, how many of you would buy it and for how much?

Looks like I'll go for a sodastream bottle, reg', needle valve, gravel vac and power head system. Just gotta wait for a bottle to come up on trade me at the right price and I'm in ! Will go source all other items once I have the bottle in hand so I know what size fitting to get etc. WATCH OUT I GOT TRIFFIDS !

I have all below fish in a 165ltr cube ! They are all happy as larry.

Make sure if you use silicone it is the fish freindly type, maybe even a hot glue gun?

This plant has been in the tank for well over six months now. It did go through the emersed stage to begin with, or maybe as you say it was because it was disturbed from my LFS's tank. As you say it does have rather large / long stalks.

By the way whats the common name for ECHINODORUS MURICATUS ?

My sword is ECHINODORUS MURICATUS ! I have been watching a new stem come up and just before the leaf opens out the leaf forms small holes and goes yellow. After a few days of it being open it slowly turns green from the stem out. These new stems reach up to withing 100 to 200mm of the light before the leaf opens out so I dont think it is so much of a light problem as first thought. There are 5 or 6 big leaves on the surface of the water under 100mm from the light and only about 4 leave well under the surface but still only 300mm from the light. Light is on from 6am to 9pm every day on a timer. I know I am under watt per Gal recomendations and I am working on that. This new leaf has come up after the addition of 3x JBL balls around the roots, a 50% water change and weekly additions of Flourish and a wee bit of Leaf Zone. Whats going on !

Are there any products available that you can add to your tank to prevent or lessen the possibilites of catching any fishy bugs? Such as small weekly doses of melafix or something else. Can fish in an established tank suddenly get sick as if they are carrying bugs or is it something that is introduced by say new additions of plants, fish etc? I have seen an add on TV for a product you use as an alternative to washing your hands, its a clear cream that you put a small amound on your handes and rub it in, its kind of a hand sanitiser. Say if you go to the toilet at a resteraunt and you want to ensure your are bug free before you pick up that bread roll for a munch ! Its called GERM-X. Im going to make the effort to but this and when I have finished cleaning the tank I will wash my handies then use this product. Lifes to short to live it unwell.

So sorry to hear that. In that case its very likely it had some infection or the water conditions were out of kilter?

Ooops sorry - sometimes they catch their mouths on stones / gravel when they feed and if your fish is like mine it likes to go bump other fish and may have caught its mouth on something sharpish causing the injury?

Melafix ? ?

Keep it comming as I am taking your experiences to make a decision along with info gained elsewhere. I like the sound of the soda stream kit as I supply to companies I could get the reg and valves etc from.

For now can I use an old bottle from the soda stream with some of my tanks water in it, give it a few shots of the Co2 and biff it in the tank or will this just float to the top and be a waste of time? If this would work how often should I do it, daily weekly? Its only untill I get my D.I.Y system going.

What D.I.Y system do you have, Yeast or Sodastream and why? Please advise what it cost to make and to run?

Oh boy you've done it now ! Where do I get the valve / reg' from and how does it fit to the bottle? Do I then run a hose (what type) to the filter outlet?

I have. also thought of the old Sodastream ( just dont tell the missus ). I recon my lighting is a priority though - must have more watts !

I have a few but its not the same sorry. I will do my best to I.D this plant . . . .