Southerrrngirrl

You know I actually own 4 tanks now.. only 1 is operational at the moment. 2 are only AR380's so way too small for me now. Maybe good for quarantine tank perhaps?? So I think MTS has got to me already :lol: Back on to the topic, I'm thinking I might flag the idea of aquatic mix, because I'm worried the loaches will burrow down into it. So instead of having a lovely planted tank, i'm thinking I might make it more rocky, from what I read kuhlis also love to hide in rock caves. The only plant I would put in is one from my AR850, i don't know what it is, (grows tall, has broad leaves) but it grows damn well in there and that tank just has a gravel substrate, no aquatic mix or anything. Whats the best colour substrate to go with - light or dark??

A "lil" black ghost will eventually become a BIG black ghost. Apparently can grow to 20 inches (50 cm). Minimum recommended tank size 90 gal (340 litres).

Oh, so that way I could have the planted tank but still have sand for the kuhli's?? Or would I still need to have another layer of something to prevent the aquatic mix from mixing with the water?

Yep, already read about the plate thing in another post, Jayci! Thats what I was thinking and was just coming to post that bdspider! However, I was wondering if I'd be able to say, put a layer of gravel between the aquatic mix and the top sand layer in an attempt to stop them burrowing so far down? Although then I could end up with half a tank full of substrate?

We don't have a Bunnings here so thats not an option.. plenty of garden centres though. Thats what I want, amazing plant growth! What does Daltons Aquatic Mix look like? Is this the stuff that has the fertilizers etc in it? And whats propogating sand? Do I use both of these?? Next tank! I think 2's enough! :lol:

Well in the weekend I visited my LFS to get cat food, ended up walking out with a new tank. An AR620, 90 litres, (62wx38Dx53 H cm) I really really want some kuhli loaches in this one, so was thinking about putting in a sand substrate/fine gravel for them, I also want some Honey Gourami's. However, my LFS doesn't appear to sell much other than the tacky brightly coloured gravel, so I'm wondering where I would get suitable sand/fine gravel from? Anyone recommend an online shop? I also want to plant the tank, will plants grow ok in the sand?

And they do have a rather large mouth too. see this pic here I researched these fish a while ago, I found that mostly suggested that the weren't the ideal community type fish, and that they should be with fish simliar to its size and have a peaceful temperament

I can't see your sig so don't know what fish you have but I have a rainbow shark over a year old with 3 corys, 2 zebra loaches and a bunch of tetras. There is the occasional chasing but its very short, generally only to get them away from "his" food or out of his hidey hole. I used to have one with gouramis and platys, didn't go so well as they were in a very small tank together (this was before I knew about overstocking :oops: ) They are really cool fish though. If you do decide to get one, make sure your tank is big enough as they can grow to about 15cm I think. And also make sure you put in lots of hiding places. Oh and also make sure it is a Rainbow Shark and not a Red-Tailed Shark (the ones with just the red tail). They are apparently more aggressive than the Rainbow Shark.

Oohhh gorgeous!! Looks like they both have different coloured eyes?? Can they hear ok? Isn't it quite common for white cats to be deaf??

Oh no there shouldn't be any trouble with that, he's only about 7 weeks old but already knows how to use his dirt box, smart little kitty he is. Sure can yell though!

We have an addition to the family! Yes we have four cats now.. what can I say, the SPCA desperately needed to find homes for 80 kittens, and I'm a sucker for a cute face! And this little fella definitely has one of those. His name is Orion.. here is where we found him earlier tonight.. "cattuccino" anyone?? :lol:

It sure smells a lot like cat food. And my cats think so too, especially my big black & white boy, he looooves the stuff especially Wardleys Shrimp Pellets. He knows when I'm feeding the fish, he knows the sound of them moving in the little plastic container and comes running and demands that I feed him some too. My girls aren't overly fussed on them, but our new addition, another boy (which I have been meaning to post a pic of!) managed to find a stray pellet the other day, so now he keeps sniffing the floor around the tank scrounging for more.. so I take it that he's into them too.

Have you tested the water before it goes into the tank?? Maybe there is something in your water tanks, ie dead bird, bugs etc.

Yes it is! Even took the photo myself. I'm not much of a photographer so was quite impressed at how well it turned out.

If clown loaches are too big for your tank, I highly recommend Zebra Loaches, (Botia Striata) I have two and they cleaned up my snail problem with in a week or two. They only grow to about 10cm and really are very cool little fish. Very active and playful too.

I just asked the same question the other day. See the post here http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/gravel ... 19426.html Someone advised to use Budget bleach, not Janola.

Oh thanks Caryl! The stuff I was looking at looked pretty free of shell, it was quite a distance away from the high tide mark too so it should be ok.. I will be careful though.

Cool thanks for the tips!

Our LFS doesn't have the kind of fine gravel I'm after. I found what I was after on a beach yesterday... would this be able to go into a freshwater aquarium? Would I have to rinse it well to get rid of the salt??

Hehe I know what you mean Fluffypants!! One, no infact it was several of my glowlight tetras were getting dangerously close to my siphon last night.. I ended up having to distracting them with food down the other end of the tank :lol:

:lol: wish my fish were that entertaining!

Oh.. cool. thanks so much for your help! Guess I'll go do a water change, add that flourish stuff then play the waiting game again.

On checking my tank I have: 2 x 25W 10000K bulbs and 1 x 20W 15000K. That is surely enough?? Although it could be time for new ones? The phosphate test shows atleast 2ppm. The instructions say it's best if its 0ppm.. now what?

Don't think its the nitrates, I've checked and they're within acceptable levels. Got myself a phosphate testkit and some Flourish Excel though.. you're right, it is expensive, for that tiny little bottle. Also checked out lightbulbs... yeah that one confused me... what exactly am I looking for again?? Someone previously posted that I should get 6500-8000K?? What does that mean exactly? cos the tank that I have at the moment has 20W 10000k ones?? Does that mean they are brighter than the 6500-8000K ones?

Ok, so its Flourish Excel I'm wanting?? Well it could be phosphate problems then because despite all my good intentions, there has been several ocassions where its been bi-weekly water changes instead of weekly.. :oops: I haven't fed any bloodworm for quite some time so its probably not that. I think I'm totally stocked in the tank now.. probably overstocked in fact. I have small schools of 4 different kinds of tetra, 3 corys, 2 zebra loaches and a largish rainbow shark. I don't think I can add anymore. Although I am in the process of setting up one of my old AR380's, so I suppose I could transfer a school of tetras to that one.. but I really wanted gourami's for that one.