Lady-Lene

Ta for that RyanJury. Ok so its a filter ... doesn't help my syphoning dilemma. So even with a large tank you still have to syphon off from the top? Maybe if I inserted a hose (which of course would come out when not in use . . . I've read that fishies don't live long outa water :lol: ) that went under the house and into a drain? If it had enough drop would it syphon on its own? At lease then I'd only have to cart the fresh water I'm adding in a bucket. Nice quote by the way Davidb!

Hi all Just curious .... I hear some of you talking about sumps and was wondering if you could fill me in .... is this something to drain off water when doing a water change? If I'm gonna get a 4-6 footer I don't want to syphon off into a bucket like I do with my 100 ltr tank - that will be cumbersome. You guys got an easier way? Cheers Rayelene

Aw c'mon - so long as you take "orsome care off them" - they'll be fine! :lol:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Pe ... 880410.htm Just as well that poor wee silver shark is so small. 55 ltr tank? Don't those things grow to over 30 cms?

I've not had any problems yet and just for interests sake I tested the tap water today and the PH is about 6.3. Yes I've looked at all those (dimebag suggested dwarf chichlids too) and they are cool. I have always wanted a Cobalt Blue Gourami but am afraid to put one in with my pair in case they pick on her. If I had a bigger tank I could tho right? My friend has a clown loach and he's soooo cute and funny. I definately want one of those. (the reason I'm going for a sand substrate this time). Yep definitely exciting ..... :bounce: Thanks heaps for your help. No doubt I'll have lots of questions as I go.

I too bought my Sun Sun off this guy. I agree he's pretty honest. Mine goes well but like Smidey I have added a canister filter. My only complaint is that the hood has developed a squeak when you lift it! Apart from that it goes well. I'm waiting for him to get some bigger ones in and I'm gonna buy another :bounce:

Oh also .... UGF or not? (in a sand tank)

Cool topic - just what I need to know ... can I jump in here? How thick would each layer need to be? (Say for a 4 foot tank?) If you have a sand tank instead of gravel do you vacuum it like gravel?

Wow you were'nt kidding! Those discus are beautiful but I thought they are difficult to look after? Would they eat my current fish? Also I see the preferred PH is 6.5. Mine always sits on 7.0. How do you keep the PH lower?

Oh my goodness Snookie - you are so right - I could oust the tele and have two! lol Best not push my luck - I'm lucky to get 'bigger' don't know wot hubby would say to multiple tanks :lol: Besides I've seen many people on here with MTS and am trying to stay clear of that! Sounds dangerous.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: We are extending our lounge and I'm allowed a 'bigger' tank. Woohoo! Oh man I must be really hooked! Extensions are not started yet but thought I'd get onto the planning now so I'm ready when able. :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: * Looking to buy 4-6 ft tank and wondered wot I should be looking for? * Wot sort of stand would I need for something that big and how thick should the glass be to hold that much water? * Can you get tanks (like Aqua) with lights etc in hood in that size? * How much filtration? * I'd like some slightly bigger fish (the honey gouramis are the biggest I currently have in my 100 ltr tank). I'm not sure if I could keep the fish I have now (see below). Would any of them get eaten? * Any suggestions on wot sort of fish. Prefer peaceful! Sorry for all the questions but you guys are so knowledgeable and I don't wanna stuff up. Any suggestions would be appreaciated. Cheers Rayelene

Cool - I didn't know about the vinegar thing to get rid of the smell. I only ever use vinegar if the cat or one of the kids has an accident. It nuetralises the ammonia and works wonders. I'll try to remember that (not that I'll ever have another accident with the fish tank :lol: )

You're right - not much info on the web. Did find the following though. Long Fin Blue Danio Brachydanio rerio species Common Name Long Fin Blue Zebra Danio Scientific Name Brachydanio rerio species Family Cyprinidae Community General Class Danio Temperature 78�F Swimming Range Middle Adult Length 1 3/4-2 inches Feeding Habits Fresh spinach, zucchini, peas and lettuce. Live blood worms, glass worms, brine shrimp and tubifex worms. Frozen vegetable diet, daphnia, plankton, beef heart, brine shrimp, glass worms and blood worms. Flake and freeze dried foods also accepted. Compatibility Peaceful and schooling fish that mixes well with other similar sized fish. Habitat India: Moderately decorated with rocks, live plants and driftwood. Live plants may be nibbled on. Breeding Adult males have fine red lines running the length of their body between the thicker blue lines, and golden high lights. Adult females have silvery high lights to their bodies. I only know coz I was researching them earlier this week when wondering wot to add to my tank. Hope that helps.

Do they look like this? (Half way down the page is a photo of long finned blue danios) http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Minnows,%20Danios.htm

Yup - thats wot I thought! Hey while I'm here. I recently lost all my harlequins (overdosed the tank with Algae-fix) .... Doh! Anyhow am wondering wot to replace them with. I have taken a fancy to the powder blue gourami and would love to add one. Think it would be safe to mix it with the gold honey pair (1 male and 1 female)? I guess it would be best to get a female? I've read that males don't get on too well. Shame as the males are much more colourful. Thanks

I recently went away for a night to my daughters wedding and the fish never got fed on time (usually regular as clockwork). When I got home the next night my bumblebee goby was nowhere to be found. The lid was down so that rules out jumping and cats. Did not find any remains but I'm convince that somebody had an early lunch! Which of the following fish do you suppose it was????? Honey Gouramis (x2) Black Widows (x3) Corydoras (x4) Cardinals (x8 ) Harlequins (x6) My guess is the Black Widows as they are so gutsy at feedtime. But I guess it could have been the Gouramis? I really thought that very grumpy little face would have scared anyone off but obviously not! Poor wee man!

I had a bumblebee goby til about 4 weeks ago. Came home after a night away (hence was late feeding the fish) and he had just vanished! Lid was down so he couldn't have jumped out. I suspect another fish (impatient coz feeding didn't happen on schedule) ate him. Poor wee guy. I suspect either the gouramis or black widows? Make sure he has plenty of places to hide when he is small.

Well .... got up this morning to NO DEAD FISHIES Yay. Phew! They are all looking much better and were hungry too which I guess is a good sign. Looks like the worst is over but I'll continue with the water changes and check PH and nitrites regularly over the next few weeks. Thens its back to my LFS to get some more fish. What a shame A valuable lesson learned! Read the label before adding anything! Some of those bottles look similiar! Hehe Thanks heaps for your help. Its nice to know there is somewhere to go for advice when things go wrong. I appreciate you! Cheers

Hi Whetu and adodge - Thanks for your replies. Yes I added water conditioner today when I did the water changes this morning and after lunch (and it is the one with the stress-coat in it). I don't think it was the chlorine I think it was an overdose of Algae-Fix. I treated the water with Algae Fix and I might have also used it as conditioner. If I did do that - then I probably gave them close to double the recommended dose! Eeeek. Poor wee things. This is only the second time I have ever used Algae Fix in my tank and I'm not sure I'll ever use it again now Yes my tank has been fully cycled for about 5 1/2 months now and PH and Nitrite levels have been rock-steady (and still are). Some of the fish look a little better tonight the still the Gouramis and Corydoras look unhappy. The Gouramis fins are up like they get when they are aggressive. So how much water can I change at a time? Also do you thing the water changes I've done so far (Bout 45%) will have removed enough of the Algae Fix? Cheers

I did a partial water change yesterday and got up this morning to find all 6 Harlequin Rasboras floating (dead). The other fish refuse to eat and appear stressed. I immediately checked PH (7.0) Nitrites (0). I was in a hurry and I'm wondering if when I did the water change I added Algae Fix in instead of water ager to the fresh water by mistake. This would explain the rasboras being affected as they like to chase the tiny bubbles when the fresh water comes out of the hose. They would have had a more direct dose. I have removed dead fish and done a partial water change (bout 25% this morning and another 15% this avo). Levels are all still good this arvo but the remaining fish are still in hiding and the corys and gouramis don't appear to be too happy. Cardinals seem fine. How often can I do water changes and how much without affecting the cycle too much? I'm gutted as this is my first mishap and loss. Any help would be appreciated. Rayelene

I've had mine for about 2 months now. They are very friendly and will actually come up and touch my hand at feeding time (something none of my other fish will do). They also play this little game where they meet face to face and go backwards and forwards quite quickly (almost like they are going to kiss, then change their minds). Then they sidle up to one another (head to tail) and go round in circles. Possibly a mating thing - not sure - just know its very funny to watch. They were the last fish to be added to my tank and I love them. I've heard some people say they are 'touchy' to keep but mine seem to be quite hardy. Good luck with your decision!

Thanks Southern Girl. I had been to that site previously but didn't realise there were more comments on next page. I also just found the following: 'The male transforms from a plain little fish to a blaze of honey gold. Both dorsal and anal fins are edged with yellow, and the ventral feelers assume a similar strong yellow coloring. A dark steel-blue area extends from below the mouth, back under the eye, merging into a black area as it drops down into the anal fin. The honey-gold scales are edged delicately with a pure yellow'. Now that sounds about right if you look at the photo of the male. That 'dark steel-blue area' sounds like it will look awesome. Well at least I know they are 'normal'. By the way .... I only have a pair of these - do you think they would tolerate a 'powder blue' female?

Well .... now that the 'fungus on the log' crisis and the 'bad substrate affecting corydoras' (see under diseases forum) is over (hopefully), I thought I'd take the time to ask a quick question .... My honey Gouramis were a nice yellow colour when I first got them and now they appear to be developing black patterns. The female has a black stripe down her sides and the male is going white with black speckles on its underside. (see photos) Male: http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/Albu ... _=75412825 Female: http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/Albu ... _=75412825 Just curious ....is this just bad breeding or is something wrong with them? Many thanks in advance .... you folks are 'tops' :lol:

Hi Sharn - No can't say I noticed any bubbles but the substrate smelled a little like sewage (Nice :lol: ). I hope my plants will do as well in pots as they did in the substrate!

Well ..... I got drastic and took all the fishies out and pulled the tank apart. I took all the substrate (including aquamix underneath stones) out and replaced the stones (wanted to have darker stones anyhow) and put it all back together again. The stones are a lot smoother than the last ones. The aquamix underneath was a bit smelly so it could have been a problem. BIG THANKS to Caryl It took longer to catch the fish than to clean the tank (especially those elusive cardinals. I re-used all the water and I left the filters and large rocks alone so as (hopefully) not to upset the water parameters too much. Heres hoping ........ The little corys now have some nice large smooth rocks to blob out on during the day and they appear to be very impressed with that. the rewarded me by flitting up and down the front of the tank doing all kinds of antics. :lol: