PETEYPLECO

Some more info here would be nice, what about JBL balls as a slow release root fertiliser. Any more prefered brands / types here?

Where can I get some from in Auckland ? Please advise its prefered or tollerable conditions?

Yeah I have shoved two JBL balls down in the substrate but I guess they have a slow release so no major changes yet. Still going with liquid fertiliser also. Sorry I am not to sure of this swords name it is around 500mm tall, 300mm wide ( over all ) leaves are about 150mm long, I will go look and try to get a name for you, it is fairly common thought. Idealy I want tiger lilly in this tank but I must get the light thing sorted first.

This tank is approx 700 long 500 wide 600 deep, the light is on a timer 6:30am to 9pm. The 3 largest and longest leave on this plant are basicaly on the surface of the water which is maybe 100mm from the light, surely it would be getting enough of what it needs from there ? Sorry halide lights are out of my budget, I was waiting either for my LFS to have lights on sale and buy another double unit or look fo rone of those industrial ceiling fittings 700mm long with four tubes, so long as I can buy tube to fit it that are suited for use in aqaria. I'll have to buy my fish some sunnies then.

** HOLLYWOODS ** ******************

I now have the same issue but originaly the new leaves formed holes as the came out - see my seperate post on this.

Still not much improvement with my sword, keeping up with the weekly water changes and adding more doses of flourish, no noticable change. I think it must be my tanks depth ( 600mm ) and the lack of light from my feeble 30W double fluro. Looked an Halide lamps but my budget wont alow it, I may add a longer double fluro but the depth still concerns me, I doubt these lamps penetrate to this depth. Any thoughts?

Go to the Manly Aquarium !

Im unsure of the type of sword it is sorry and I am 99% sure it is not any of the fish creating these holes. I spoke to somebody at Hollywoods and they recomended Flourish as well as the Flourish Excel I was already using. I also bought some JBL balls as I had always wanted to use these. I will se how these new ingredients go? And yes I know I need more light, Im waiting for my LFS to have some kind of sale as they are not cheap. I have looked at a DIY version but I have no time to make one.

Yeah, I have 3 Clown Loaches, 2 at about 80 to 100mm and the largest dominant one at about 160mm plus is usualy more reserved and well behaved. It to tends to sleep more and chill in its cave more often. I would not be to concerned as mine is still very happy and healthy.

I have a large sword as a feature in the centre of my 165 ltr cube. Each new leaf that comes out seems to form holes within a day. I am using a twin fluro lamp with 2 15w tubes, i do weekly 30% water changes, I am using "leaf zone" and "flourish excel" and all other species of plant in the tank are okay. I am 200% sure I dont have any snails. Oh and oops I dont have any of that fancy stuff you put in the bottom of the tank for plants before you chuck in the gravel. What is the problem here? I was going to look at those fertilizer balls that you put in amonst the roots?

I think I have a 2" male b/nose, will he get agro with smaller babies? If not how much do you sell and what size?

You can buy crushed (small pieces ) of oyster shell from your local fish shop. This can either be added to your filter in a media bag or scattered into your gravel. This will raise your PH. The shell does break down over a period of time and you will have to add more if the shell is gone or the PH goes up again. I had the same situation with low PH due to the huge driftwood in my tank and I added about 3 table spoons into my external filter in a media bag and it has kept pH 7.0 constantly for months. I have heard brid grit does the same job, see how you go.

AHH - kind Caryl strikes again - your a legend. Let me know if you get the Avatar up on your profile OBIE as I am having some bother even though it is in the parameters of the size? HELP MEEEEEE

You filthy animals ! (Movie quote) We need a new subject for over 20's called Smells Like Fish LOL

Go for clown loaches !

I got one too, its about 18 to 20cm. His / Her name is snappa as it looks like one and also snaps sometimes at other fish. My substrate is fairly large 1 to 2 cm but still picks it up to feed on whatevers on the stones. My fish eats flake food but rally loves Nutrafin Sinking Tablets, it just sticks the whole thing in its mouth and sucks on it a while. I have just recently bought some Tetra Colorbits that have really enhanced its bright reds and blus in its scales. How do you tell males and females apart in this species? Are they agressive towards eachother as a pair?

Hollywoods by a mile - recommended !

So far so good, all fish seem okay and the $20.00 300W jebo is fine too. Will end up getting a decent heater again soon.

Well what do you now, I got up this morning and checked my tank and the temp was at a chilly 20.5 degrees as my normal heater seemed to have failed over night ! Lucky I had just bought a backup after all , or was it bad vibes or jelousy from the old heater? Had to do a quick swap and run off to work so I hope the settings on the new Jebo work properly otherwise I may go home to cooked fish? Will my fish get sick now after the temp got so cold overnight?

My large clown loaches keel over on their sides and go to sleep during the day - it gives you a bit of a fright when you approach the tank and they dont move !

Thanks Sharn, there is a plant similar to this in the Jansens pet store in Botany in Auckland, they have this huge ( and I mean huge ! ) tank with a curved front, it must be 6foot tall and 4 foot wide by about 4 foot deep. I may have to ask them what their plant is?

The "Lotus" you refer to, is there any other name for it? Where can you buy it from, is it a pond plant? I have a 600mm deep tank and want a "lilly pad" type plant.

I still cant see a major problem with a pair of discus in my tank, maybe one day?

YAY ! I got a pair of Sunset Dwarf Gouramis, the male is beautiful red with tuquoise fins and they cruise around the top of my tank, cool ! I guess these will settle my fish buying for a wee while? On the subject of Blue Acaras and severums, I was told they will end up eating my Neons?