Adrienne

yup and then theres the predictive text that turns everything around just as you do click

Thank you to the FNZAS members who have responded to my first post. Most of the positions have now received nominations however the position of Editor still remains vacant. This is a position that must, under our constitution be filled at the AGM. Our previous editor, Caryl Simpson has just retired after a very long time at the helm. Editor should only involve editing articles received and laying out the articles. We intend to have this happen this year as, if not enough articles are submitted by clubs, executive and outside contributors then there will not be a magazine produced. We are also looking for a Treasurer. Some financial experience is required, the busy period is June - end of July, late Oct, and early Feb plus the books for the financial year to go to the auditor at the end of March. Books are required to be kept up to date so a small amount of time needs to be given monthly and reports are required to be prepared for the Executive meetings held three times a year and the AGM in June. The heaviest load is mid June - July with capitations coming in from clubs for the year. Traditionally we also form a fish sub committee and a plant sub committee. Executive can also be on these committees. The idea of these is to have the members of these committees write articles for the website, update things like the plant data base etc. The amount of time spent on these depends on the enthusiasm of those involved but on the forums there are always requests for these sorts of articles. Perhaps some of the forum members would like to consider becoming involved! We know the expertise is out there. Last, but far from least - we are looking for people with web design experience and advertising experience to help us bring the website on and make it fully self funded. To do this we need advertisers; we have a number of businesses enquiring about advertising but not the people to make it happen. At the moment, if the Federation goes the website goes too as it can not stand alone and we want to remedy that. Once again, any queries to me please. Thanks Adrienne

These days the only travel is the AGM. If we can move with these proposals, the ones the club should have shared with you and can get funding in to fund the site, provide the clubs with international speakers, fund shows and pay for helpers, that sort of thing then we should be able to assist with executive travel expenses as has been in the past. All exec meeting during the year - 3 are done via online hookup, there is an area, actually two in the forum which exec can see where a lot of matters are discussed, in between meetings, bill payments approved, that sort of thing. While I cant speak for Jennifer this below is my response to another query about helping - ' I will imagine the initiative will be on making the fnzas website a self sufficient, fully self funded promotional tool for the federation, bringing in new members and money and allowing us to provide clubs with more things like promotional speakers visiting clubs... What you will need to be, is easily accessible by computer, be willing to check the forum threads regularly, provide ideas, respond to queries, assist where needed, possibly in getting advertisers on board.' We have been asking for an editor for the aw for several weeks and for people to help with advertising on top of the exec side of things. Have a think, email me if you have any questions, someone will respond to you. The only other pre requisite is that you must be a financial member to be able to be on the FNZAS executive.

As everyone is aware next Saturday 1 June 2013 is the FNZAS AGM. All positions on the Executive are up for grabs. No nominations for any Executive position have been received, nor have any bios from people wishing to join the group. Our President has indicated she will stand again and I am prepared to stand as Secretary/Treasurer unless someone else is willing and able to take it on. Grant Simpson is willing to stand again as Patron. We have had one letter from one person willing to join the executive. We need more people than this. If we can not get enough people to form an executive it is likely the Federation itself will fold. To this end I am seeing a lawyer on Tuesday morning to work through the due process that will be required to wind the Federation up. This meeting will not cost the Federation but at this time I will be given an approximate cost of the amount it will take. We have no option unless people are willing to join up and push on ahead with the excellent initiatives that Jen has proposed. Those taking on executive positions need to be able to commit for a twelve month period, it is a time where we need to rebuild, reinvent ourselves and may be time consuming. Good IT skills and a committment to checking emails and the office section of the forums is a must. You can see here http://www.fnzas.org.nz/?page_id=2 the number of people required.

Yup - was posted on here days ago https://www.facebook.com/FNZAS

It is very easy to sit and judge. Clearly the person selling the fish knows they need help. Being critical to some one on an auction is not going to help the situation - an explanation as to how to clean the fish tank or a link to how to do it may have been more useful than what was posted by those criticising. People who have not had fish before have no idea how to look after tanks. Chances are that if the tank was to be cleaned the fish would be taken out, the tank scrubbed out, refilled with nothing added and the fish would be killed any way due to a new cycle and ammonia poisoning. On a side note - Disgustipated I do find your remarks offensive. Not necessary, please think before you post.

:thup:

What are your tank parameters ie pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate? Six weeks is pretty new for a tank and I wonder if in fact fin rot is ammonia burn. Finrot is often caused by poor water conditions as well. Normally if the tank is kept healthy it will resolve itself.

no there will still be pressure points, 2mm is too big a height difference.

hmmm - so they not all pit bulls then!

Wouldn't trust AMI as far as I could kick them when it comes to paying out on tank damage but thats only my experience. Just make sure you get a proper receipt from Greg for making the tank, it may be the difference between a claim being recognised and one that is refused. Sorry to take the subject off topic DavidR. Its one lovely tank. Is the sump being built on site as well?

That is one amazing tank David. Have you thought about putting some sort of drain hole in the floor? Thats an awful lot of water should something ever happen. Assuming the room is connected to the house, which it looks to be, a good sized flood would literally take out the whole place.

I have sent you a pm with the email address I have been given to use for you by your secretary. I've also asked to have the members section and members thread access opened up to you.This could take a few days. Edit - my apologies to your secretary, your fish room name was there, just not popping up when searched for.

I do not know who you are. Your club officials have not sent me through your fishroom name so please contact them and ask them to do so and check they have sent me your email address as well. If I had your email address already you would have received a test email several weeks back and this is the address the link will have been sent to.

Sent to the other email I have for you. If it doesn't come through you may have to sort the security settings on your computer as it may be being blocked at your end. Normally I would have absolutely no idea of the email addresses of the fishroom forum members. It is only because I have been assisting outside my normal treasurer duties that I have any idea of what has been going on. Would you please let your club secretary know of your new email address as well.

I resent it to you the other night when you mentioned you did not have it however I note you have two email addresses registered with the fnzas though. The one it has been sent to is an orcon one. Please check and let me know if it is on there as it has not bounced back. Adrienne

I will resend it now - please note the link will not show as coming from me. Done, you may even have it twice Thanks for letting me know

Have you done this? - If you have not received a link and you do have email please contact your club officials in the first instance to find out if they have supplied the FNZAS Treasurer with the information. I do have an email address for you and the test email did not bounce back. Check 1. your spam box 2. that the email you have supplied your club secretary with is the correct one

Why don't you phone them and ask? Perhaps they made a mistake and have not realised.

Doubledutch, in NZ there are very few vets with fish knowledge other than the basics. If you have a regular vet you might get away with taking in the paperwork from the internet and asking for a prescription but generally they will insist on seeing the fish as well. I have a good friend who is a vet with international experience. I asked her a few weeks ago what she was like with fish and she said while she studied fish in training she never has had one to look at and admitted she wouldn't know where to start. Some areas of NZ do have vets who have more fish knowledge than others but I don't believe there are many out there. Sandaz, phone around your local vets, its not going to hurt to ask if they have fish experience and would they be willing to help.

Cyanbacteria is a bacteria which causes a green or blue green algae outbreak, usually in areas of low current i.e. often forms between the glass and the edge of the substrate. It is like a fine sheet which can be syphoned out. You can also purchase a remedy from the lfs which will deal to it, or if you have it around erythromycin (the human antibiotic) will also work on it. If you get rid of the dead areas around the tank the cyano will reduce. It will kill plants by smothering them. I wouldnt have expected it to be killing off your fish. What are your tank readings, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH. Do you know what your phosphates are?

My experience is that the 'fancy' fighters are harder to breed and keep alive. But if you think about it, think of all the messing around that has been done with them to get them looking like they are. Also here in NZ we dont get the best quality adults come in so thats not going to help their fry.

Doubledutch, the strongest medication available over the counter in NZ is furan 2. One shop brand in NZ has a licence to sell praziquantel but thats it. Anything more and you pretty much have to download the information and images off the internet, bag the affected fish, go to a vet and tell them what you think is wrong and this ..... (showing the pieces of paper) is the recommended medication. I think, if it was me, I would be taking the fish that still appear completely healthy out of the affected tank and put them in a different one for the next month at least. Then dose the sick tank either with a medication from the vet or with furan 2.

I also wondered that doubledutch, looking at the pics, but the variety of symptoms spread over such a long time doesnt mimic it very well. Columnaris normally presents as a whitish patch which develops rapidly and eats away. That swordtail looks very suspect though.

Check your email in about 3 mins. My apologies I must have missed two of you off the list. :oops: