PETEYPLECO

I also had two nice sized sharks die on me. What you have described is very similar to my situation.

At the mo' I have a Sicce, but the cheap $20.00 Jebo is in case the heater I have packs it in, so I guess as a temporary backup it will be fine. Cant have me fishies getting chilly now !

Acaras - saw some today? Might look into these?

Yeah most likely, the bogwood you buy from your LFS is a very hard long lasting wood, or the right type to use. Some wood from beaches is okay but it must feel very hard ( break or cut a small bit to see ) and you still must boil it.

On the subject of flushing sick fish, I know this guy who works at the poo ponds in Albany who swears the ponds are full of enormous mutant mixbreed fish ! Seriously tho flushing is okay once the fish is dead, please make it quick and painless, as you would like it. We are all creatures after all.

If it is old whitish wood like you see at the beach it will be okay but you will still need to soak it or preferably boil it for a while to rid it of germs, any sap or other contaminants. Some wood is not suitable for use in an aquarium, eg pine as it will rot quickly under water. Your best and safest bet is to go to your local pet shop or aquarium shop and buy a piece from there.

HMMMMM ?

Hollywood fish farm in Albany has a smallish planted tank with 2 x discus clown loaches, neons among others ? ?

Also looked at other cichlids - convicts, severum, jack dempsey, texas, jewel, and of corse the jag. These are the fish I like but for one reason or another all but the Severum will seem to either eat my neons, fight every fish in the tank or grow to about the size of my tank ! Again I have neen advised not to go Discus whick is what I originally wanted. Any other largish colourfull mid water fishies you can suggest?

WOW COOL , ahum, I mean oh bugger I would love one of these in my tank, never mind . . . . dreaming on about MTS ! ! The fish I saw today was about 6" for only $18.00, what a nice fish it was too.

Are JEBO heaters any good as I have seen a 200w & 300w heaters for sale in a LFS for $20.00. Cant help but wonder if this would be a good buy for a spare in case of current heaters failure.

Jaguar Cichlid - anybody got / had one? Are they quite agressive, and do they really eat smaller fish?

Allmost tempted to buy a 6" Jaguar Cichlid today, but he will get to big I supose.

What does a rainbow look like, I'll have to google that one? keep the suggestions comming.

Looking for suggestions on mid to upper tank level dwellers suitable for the tankmates below, something largish 5" to 6" fully grown, maybe colourfull, calm. I would love discus but I have had comments on not going this way.

Yeah, i can imagine if they cant sell fish they aint in business but if they give out the wrong info, thats about the same isnt it? I would have though you could trust their comments? Please keep feedback comming about your situations good or bad on this subject. I have been contacted by a local breeder / keeper and this person has asked for me to perhaps visit and discuss this further, I think I will go see this person and have a good chat. I would also love to go to the North Shore clubs meeting tomorrow to talk to others about this and listen to the discus experts talk but I have wee little two legged fiends that wont allow this to happen LOL

Please dont get me wrong I value all comments but I am getting two sides of advice and I want to make a decision? I have had two keepers and a breeder say its okay? I am aware of the extra effort to keep discus, my major concern is will the other fish in the tank anoy the discus to the point where it will cause the discus sickness, unhappiness or worse. Regarding the discus's growth, I was looking yesterday at a pair of mid size ( 3 - 4" ) to save the problem of growing them in a bare tank, I would say I would look at a pair of this size for my tank. Perhaps I could have comments from others who have discus in a planted tank with other species of community fish, please let me know what other fish are in the tank with the discus?

I had the total opposite advice from a well reputed LFS yesterday ? ! ? I am doing more research before I decide though as I do not want to waste time, money or a fishes life.

That right caryl I remember the pics now

I just replaced a whole heap of normal light bulbs around the house with these "tornado" energy savers and I was suprised how bright they were. I once saw a post on this site where somewon had made a tank light out of a piece of plastic guttering using these bulbs. I am thinking of making some kind of fitting / hood to house one or two of these - does anywon have this type of home made / D.I.Y lighting on their tank? Do they get hot? ? ? Let us know.

maybe ask your local vet if they have a procedure or potion?

Boil it ?

I have a large piece of driftwood in my tank that was keeping the ph down and I have added a small amount of oyster shell in a media bag in my external filters upper basket and now it is constant 7.0. This may also help you.

Who thinks I should go for it ?

Be carefull acrylic will warp if it gets to hot and glass will be easyer to clean and will resist staining more.