Matt

Excellent work Sally and Caryl That's very generous and kind of you.

Hi Johannes and John, thanks for the info

Does anyone know where I can get lead plant weights like the ones plants from the LFS have attached? Can you buy lead sheets from somewhere and cut them to size? Thanks, Matt

Your size tank is fine, I just meant with that sized tank toxins will build up very quickly - hence the daily water changes. PH should be fine, as you said with the size of water changes you are doing it shouldn't be a problem -provided the water is from the same source. Good that you have some driftwood and Java Fern in the tank. Have you tried placing food in different parts of the tank and then leaving the room? You can even try an automatic feeder. He might come out to eat after you have gone. You can also try some sinking pellets that they will pick at. He will probably last 1-2 weeks without food?? But I'm not really sure. I wouldn't worry at this stage as he will probably be getting small amounts of food and should settle down and start eating soon. You are doing everything right as far as I can tell. Cheers, Matt

Hi, Some Discus are more jumpy than others, I don't think it matters what colour variety they are. I have found young Discus to be worse than Adults. They also get frightened easier when their water quality is not up to scratch. Your water changes etc are good but I would try doing 50-75% water changes for a few days and see if that helps, especially with your size tank. Make sure the water is at the same temp and ph as your tank. If it is a bare bottom tank you could also add some plastic plants or even some live Ambulia or Indian Fern weighted down with lead to make them feel more secure, and live plants will help with water quality. I had Ambulia and Java Fern in my bare bottom tank while rearing baby Discus. Cheers, Matt

Hi, Does anybody know of anyone with Turtles for sale at the moment? I am asking on behalf of a new pet shop in Auckland that is looking for some stock? PM me if you have any information. Thanks, Matt

Hi Johnny, I had the same problem with my baby discus a while back - losing 1 a day. I treated the tank for flukes with Liquid Prazi and the deaths stopped. See here for info http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/dronta ... 23656.html on where to get it, otherwise you can use droncit tablets. Cheers, Matt

I use Flourish Excel on my planted tank with nine adult discus and they are fine. I only dose at the recommended rate though and don't recommend double dosing as I have lost fish that way in the past. I would like to get a proper CO2 setup but in the meantime Flourish Excel is working well plus I no longer have any Black Beard Algae in the tank. I would recommend giving the Flourish Excel a go.

Hi Stu, In my Discus tank I have Rotala Macranda, Rotala Rotundifolia, Ambulia, Dwarf Sagitaria, Aponogeten Sp., Cryptocornes, Red Pinetree, Echinodorus Osiris and Echinodorus Amazonicus. They all grow well even at 30 Degrees Celsius. I have almost 1 watt per litre of light though and it will depend on your lighting setup and tank conditions as to what plants will do best, but the plants listed should give you and idea of what might work. Cheers, Matt

Hi All, What courier companies are you using at the moment? I need to get 4 Discus overnight from Auckland to Wellington. Thanks, Matt

Providing they are healthy and you have plenty of plants and some dither fish to make them feel secure, they will put themselves on display. Discus are pigs once they have settled in, and will normally come to the surface begging for food when they see you. Cheers, Matt

Hi Chrisa, Instructions are on the Aquaone Website, check them out here: http://www.aquaone.co.uk/documents/Canister.pdf Cheers, Matt

Hi Kelsta, The post you ar elooking for is here: http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/dronta ... 23656.html Cheers, Matt

Hi Danilada, You need to give your water parameters i.e. temp, PH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate levels to be able to make a proper diagnosis. Also with your water changes - how often and how much is changed each time and are you on town supply or tank water? When was the last water change done and when were the Discus added? To help in the mean time I would make a 50% water change straight away and cross your fingers. You may know this already but Discus need clean water and good food to thrive. I have a 450 litre Planted Discus tank with 9 adult discus. I change 50% of the water each week and they spawn every week after the water change. I hope your Discus makes it. Cheers, Matt

Hi Shaymis, It is not dangerous just annoying. It sounds like you have Black Beard Algae - see article here: http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_algae.htm The easiest way to get rid of it is to pull the driftwood out, make sure there are no fish hiding it it or plants attached, give it a good scrub and pour boiling water over it. Any remaining algae will go red or white and fall off after a few days. You will need to fix the water conditions causing the algae otherwise it will come back. Cheers, Matt