Lady-Lene

Good grief Caryl - ARE YOU TRYING TO GET ME KILLED??? She's already a stress-ball! LOL :lol:

Hi Caryl thanks for your reply - yes I siphon thoroughly every time I do a water change. You can see the gravel in the photo - its small and quite rounded. I feed them in the same spot everyday so bought some larger round stones today and will trying placing those where they usually get fed. I have also dosed them today with tonic for white-spot and fungus (I'm suspicious that its some kind of fungus infection). Just have to see how that goes and if not successful I guess I'll have to pull them out and into quarantine until I get on top of it. Especially if I'm not sure what it is. Most inconvenient as my daughter is getting married and I'm gonna be gone for a couple of days. Bad timing!

No Sharn its not really fluffy, just white and soft looking. The substrate stones are all smooth edged and I can't see that it would upset them. Panda got it first, noticed his whiskers (are they called barbells?) were gone then whiteness started later. Then just noticed yesterday that one of the golden spotted has developed the same. The other two like fine. Actually on closer inspection it does look kind of like a fungus but not really fluffy. Managed a photo of spotted. My he does look odd with that little white face hey! http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/Albu ... _=75412825

Hi all. Can anyone offer any advice on what this is on my corydoras. I have four (two golden spotted and 2 panda). One of each is affected. They have lost all of their whiskers and around their mouth is swollen and white looking. I have tried to get a photo, but the golden spotted one just goes into hiding. I managed to get one of the panda cory (although it could have been clearer). http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/Albu ... _=75412825 All of the other fish in the tank seem healthy and its not something I have seen before. Your help would be appreciated.

Reading these posts almost made me wanna do a bigger spill just so I could get the trophy! :lol:

Crikey! - I don't feel nearly so bad now! :lol: Actually my filter does have shut off thingees too but funny enuf - they don't work if the hose is not connected :lol: Have you all noticed how well the tank siphons (without any help getting it started) when you don't want it to? MENTAL NOTE TO SELF: Small fish tanks have definite advantages - don't be in too much of a hurry to get a larger one!

Aaawww - C'mon - just never told anyone?

Last night my canister filter stopped working and so I went thru the normal ritual. 1. Placed in in a large plastic container (to stop leaks on the lounge carpet). 2. Turn switch off and shut of valves. 3. Undo hoses to see if they are blocked. 4. Take top off and check little spinning thing is going (which it wasn't). 5. (Might as well clean it out since I've got it apart) so take to sink and proceed to pull apart. 6. Do quick glance at tank to make sure cats are not hanging around fishing. Problem! Tank is only half full! Where did all the water go ? ..... All over my carpet - (hose popped off top of filter). About 45 litres of water !!! Nice! Lesson learned - Have reviewed list and number 3 now goes ... 3. Undo hoses to see if they are blocked and [make sure properly secured]. :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: I bet lots of you have done that hey !!!

Yep - I agree with the whole 'fungus' thing. I've now taken the wood out and decided to get some from my LFS that hopefully won't rot. The fish are loving the extra room. Thanks heaps for your help.

Snookie - the wood was average weight when I got it. Not very light like some but not realy heavy either. It did not sink by itself and I had to weight it down for a number of weeks before it was heavy enough to stay down by itself. Thanks 'adodge' I'll keep that in mind. Good point Robert! [if the wood was driftwood, you've got to assume that the 'whatever' can survive salt water.] Would a solution sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) be harmful to the fish if any residue was left in the log and I placed it back in the tank? The fish don't seem to be affected by it at all and my PH etc is all stable so doesn't appear to be affecting the balance. I'll give it a bit longer and see what happens. If I don't win then its off to buy the malaysian hardwood as Jo suggested! A great big thank you !!!!!!!!!!

Managed a closer photo. http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/Albu ... _=75412825 So you think I should get another piece of wood maybe? Its only been in there bout 2 and a half months. I thought they would last longer than that. Do you have any idea how many hours I spent dragging my poor old hubby along the beach looking for that piece :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Yep - its that greyish fuzz growing on the log. It doesn't show up very well in the photos I'm afraid but looks nasty when viewing in person. (The flakes were only present because I had just fed them - they don't usually leave any leftovers). Its like a fungus and its definately growing on the log. It does not appear anywhere else in the tank and grows very fast. (I just cleaned the log 2 days ago). Its very difficult to get off and takes much scrubbing. I got the log from the coast between Taumaranui and Hamilton (now age is showing coz I can't remember the name of the place) :oops: I boiled it in my large soup pot first and it has been in there for a couple of months with no problems until about two weeks ago. The only thing different I added to the tank during that time was the moss in front of it which I have taken most of out and just left couple of little pieces. Would it help if I tried to get a closer photo? Oh .... and no I'm not using PH up or down. The levels are very stable. I wondered if I am leaving the lights on too long?

Hi all, All is going well with my new aquarium and I'm so enjoying them .... until some sort of fungus or algae started growing on my piece of driftwood. (see photo). Its kind of grey in colour and slimy feeling. It only grows on the driftwood so I figured this was the culprit so ......... I tried boiling it in water, then I tried boiling it in Baking Soda, then I tried boiling it in salty water. All to no avail. Then as a last resort I tried Algae-Fix but that hasn't helped either. Time for a new piece of driftwood? What is it exactly and how do I get rid of it? Your help would be much appreciated as it grows very fast and it takes more work than the fish! http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/Albu ... _=75412825

Oh my goodness .... I'm so impressed and extremely jealous. Well done Fresh that looks awesome! I went to sleep last night wondering if I could manage with a two bedroom house ..... saw a large hole forming in the lounge wall .... into spare room (aka fishroom) ..... hehehe. Was gonna post a picture of my first tank effort but don't think I'll bother now ...

Oh dear ... wish I had read this earlier. I alaready took back the danios my LFS !!! Oh well .... everyone seems much happier. Bumblebee Goby and Red-tailed shark have come out of hiding. Corys seem much happier too (they are the funniest wee things - night time comes and they go spastic, flitting up and down the tank playing chase - quite the characters). I'm sorry to lose the zebra danios as they liked the top of the tank and all spaces were occupied. Oh well - can't have it all. Thanks for your help

Hi Caryl - No - probably maxed out now? 100 ltr tank and have: 1 red-tailed shark 8 cardinal tetras 3 black widows 2 panda corys 2 golden spotted corys 1 bumblebee goby 3 harlequin rasboras (was going to add another 3) 2 problematic zebra danios Makes a total of 22 fish and although I have good filtering I think thats about maximum. I've added them little by little and had no fatalities or disease which is good. I've decided to take back the danios tomorrow. I'd rather have another couple of harlequins. I've also decided to get a bigger tank next year when they get a little bigger. Yep - I've got the bug

Hi - tank is stocked now and all was going well until I added a couple of zebra danios. They are stroppy as!!! Picking unmercifully on most of the fish but in particular the red-tailed shark. His fin is starting to look a little ragged on the ends. Funny how he was the one I was most worried would pick on something else but I appear to have got a very timid one. Is that just because he is young? Is is this normal behaviour for Danios - I thought they were quite peaceful fish. Is it likely that that will settle in eventually or should I take the danios back? I'm reluctant to take back the red-tailed as he is gorgeous!!!

Oh no ..... I visited LFS and discovered my tank is not nearly big enough to accomodate all the fish I will 'NEED'. :lol: Might have to get a bigger tank next year. Got hubby a little interested though .... so that might not be as difficult as I thought .... :lol: :lol: I'm sure once he lays eyes on those cute little darlings he will want a bigger tank. My revised list: 8 Cardinal Tetras 8 Harlequin Rasbora 3 long fin Zebra Danios 4 Corydoras panda Possibly 3 male platys (I'll see how the tank holds up - although its filtering at 1000 l/h and water is chrystal clear. We'll see ... I've taken off the gauramis and cichlids as they appear 'touchy'. Thanks so much for your help. One more question .... Do fish school within their species? For instance if I got two spotted and two panda corys would they hang out together? Cheers

Thanks for your suggestions .... heres what I'm thinking of putting in there (after much researching). Trying to stay away from anything that breeds too easily. 5 Cardinal Tetras or Neons 5 Harlequin Rasbora 5 long fin Zebra Danios 3 Platys (two female 1 male) 3 Corydoras panda (can you get them here?) 2 Dwarf Gourami 2 Dwarf Cichlids I'll add them slowly in the order above. I have to decided before I get to my LFS what I'm gonna buy or I'll come home with something entirely different lol Anyone see any problem with those all together. Not too many for a 100 ltr tank? Cheers in advance .... :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Well the new tank is cycled and goldfish and WCMM have a new home to go to on the weekend - a large pond. And not before time - after one decided to lay egss! After two days of crashing and bashing about the tank my plants are totally battered and most have taken up new positions floating on the top - exept for java fern - its in a million little pieces! My heater has arrived and I'm almost ready to go ..... Now what to put in there??????? Some suggestions please for some 'small' tropicals (tank only 100 ltr) that are not too temperamental for a tropical beginner. I don't want them to eat each other - that would be plain 'nasty'.

I've got a smaller one (100 ltr). Only pumps 450 l/h so have just bought an Aqua One canister filter as well. Ditto - lights are good on mine too. One other thing bugs me - condensation on the lid drips down the front when you open it to feed them. Most annoying! Good luck

U are all awesome. Thanks for your help. WOK if I don't get the heater I'm gonna get me some of those paradise fish! MCT - I heard about leopard fish but couldn't find a picture anywhere. Yes I must confess I rescue anything with big sad eyes. I think Mrs Bojangles is fancy goldfish - can she go outside in a pond? She seems more temperamental than the others. Balkie and Trout I think are fantails, Punky Brewster is an Orlando and Sushi is a comet. My fish all have names ... the other three WCMM are Mork, Mindy and Mo who incidently have suddenly become quite colourful in the new tank - must be because the lighting is better. Vtec8u - I'm sorry but you're freaking me out .... u keep eels inside???? I'm terrified of them. And I'm afraid I'd have to eat those freshwater crays if they were in my tank SPIDERSWEB - U rock! I'm convinced now to get the heater as I really like the look of danios, neons and some of those guppies are amazing. Yep - that'll do me. I had that one Kylemorrison suggested in my watchlist but thought this one will do me ... http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... d=73385725 Its a Jebo 200 watt - does that matter or should I stick to 150? MRSkz - Haha - someone from the deep south. I'm from In'gill originally. Thanks for your offer but I'm hooked on trade-me and you would want to do me out of my weekly fix would you? Cheers and thanks for your help. Off now to think of what I'm gonna tell hubby got a bigger fish tank to accomodate the growing goldfish ..... :oops:

Hi all. Just set up a new aquarium and have decided to oust my goldies. (I'll find someone with a nice pond where they can grow bigger ). I have five and three are getting quite big and my tank is only 95 ltr. They are nearly all 'rescue' cases which I've saved over the past couple of years from the dreaded 'toilet flush ' or tiny little bowls which they couldn't turn around in. One has 'curled out gills' and one has a deformed mouth but they both appear to manage fine. I havn't the heart to put them down. What other fish can I put in with three cute White Cloud Mountain Minnow? (there were five but my big orlanda crushed two of them. (He was in an amorous mood and chasing around the female goldie and the poor wee things got in the way. Rammed them against the wall and they died instantly). I'll get some more Mountain Minnows as they are sooo funny to watch. Maybe some Zebra Danios I've heard they don't mind. Wanting to have just small fish and preferably in bunches - oh and how many could I get comfortably in a 95 ltr tank? Any suggestions would be appreciated. By the way - my tank is not heated. OOOOh now theres a thought ... how much $ would it cost me to heat it ...... Oh man - I'm sooo hooked on fishies now .... might need therapy

Thanks MysticVampyre I'm stoked I found this place - Been reading in the forums for days and learned heaps. I have brain overload lol

Oh dear SpidersWeb - You said 'layers'. Are those little bio-rings supposed to be stacked in neatly? I just threw them in randomly :oops: And Smidey that means the photo on the left is correct (you had them in correctly). Trust me to come along and confuse you lol