Warren

Actually, another case of not having your facts correct. This has happened several times in the last few days in different topic groups - people expressing their opinion without first checking the issue out properly. This comment is also a classic example of part of the problem...

Maybe I should also have mentioned clubs and the FNZAS in my previous list. If you are not confident about the service from any shop you can contact your local club (as the first port of call) or the FNZAS who will handle your complaint on your behalf. I have no problem discussing poor service or products with the vendor. It's not something to be feared. In most cases I find it was a one-off instance. Had I publicly announced the issue then the vendor would have gotten a bad rap for a one-off or a bad day. Everyone stuffs up from time to time, - at least give them a chance to explain or fix it before making it public. If you don't want to do it then contact us to do it for you. Take action before using a public forum - don't take the easy way out, minimum effort for maximum slander to potentially innocent people. A classic example recently was a question about a product recall. I contacted the NZ Distributor on the persons behalf and posted their response. It was a cut and paste of the distributors direct reply. There was no chance of incorrect facts or people adding their 2c worth without first checking. All sorted. Making wild statements without first checking what was going on is like throwing rock in a glass-house - pretty quickly you're going to break the glass... So, in the future, before you go and post some comment because you felt you got poor service, or got ripped off, at least contact the person/manager, contact the police, a lawyer, the disputes tribunal, your local club or even us to see if there is an explanation before taking it public. To do otherwise is shear laziness and potentially very damaging to other innocent parties.

Except recent history (in fact all history) about "informing people well" on this site has led to a problem. No negative or potentially slanderous comments are to be made as people just don't seem to be able to control themselves.

Exactly, there's the Police, disputes tribunal, lawyers and debt collectors to sort this type of thing out. If it's poor advice then complain directly to the shop or person who caused the problem. Airing your views in public does not accomplish anything. It may also damage someone else's reputation due to improper facts. If the system fails you or the shop or person ignores you or has a poor response then maybe it can be discussed, but not before all other avenues are exhausted. If it is discussed it should only be for advice on how to solve the problem with no names given. There are proper processes for solving almost any issue or dispute and public forums are not part of the process. All it does it start a slagging match. Take any comments you have directly to the problem, do not air them here.

Likewise, too few of us complement a shop for excellent service, especially to the shop owner or people working in it directly.

Or you could be a little bit more objective about it and talk to the management, send them an email or write a letter. There's nothing worse than people who complain about something but never bother to try to fix it. Seems to be too many people like that now...

They're not hard to keep at all. To be successful you absolutely must keep your tank water quality good is all. This means regular large waterchanges and very good filtration. Provided you start out properly and religiously keep your tank maintenance going you will have no problems. They also need a big tank - 500L minimum for 6 discus (to properly thrive). I kept discus for around 15 years. There were 15 discus in a 1200L 2.4m tank. I did weekly 50-60% water changes and the tank was heavily planted. The best thing you can do for discus is give them plenty of hiding places. If they can feel they have a safe place to hide, they'll nearly always be out the front for you to see them. When one is hiding, you know something is wrong. When two are hiding, they're probably laying eggs (if they were a pair)... They're definitely not as hard to keep as most people say. They just require better water conditions to thrive is all. They're possibly not the best fish to start out with as a beginner but if set up right from the outset and the maintenance is performed every week then there's no reason not to try. The biggest issue will be going straight to a fairly big tank. I started with a relatively small 1.5m tank of only 280L. It was only about 1 year before I came across a very good deal on the second hand 1200L tank. The change in the quality of the water with the big tank was immediate. It was much easier to keep stable and looking good. My final big tank was a 3m 3000L tank. This was awesome. Sadly, I had to move house and there was no room for it so it got sold.

As we seem to be going round in circles (yet again on yet another thread) this topic is locked and is not to be discussed again. As the point in my last post has been ignored by some or they have failed to understand what was said there is to be no further discussion of this type again. Don't care what your motive is, damaging unrelated peoples reputation through casual remarks is not tolerated.

Did you try here? http://www.nzkc.org.nz/onlinebreeders.html

I use a bait catcher - only about $10 and it has 2 ends, comes apart easily and has holes and attachment points for string so you don't even have to get your hands wet...

I agree, not enough facts before fingers were pointed. Let this be a good lesson in getting your facts right before posting in the future. Had the original poster asked to talk to the manager and got the correct story to start with none of this would have happened. Don't rush into pointing fingers without correct facts or taking the time to at least try to talk to the people involved first. If at first you get no results, try harder. I tried 4 times to get a shop to remove a pest plant from one of their ponds. When they wouldn't do anything about it I called DOC. Amazingly the plant was all gone 3 days later... This website does not support name and shame. The SPCA is also here for this exact problem. Any mistreated animals whether in homes or shops can be reported to them and they will take the appropriate steps. If all else fails then maybe you can think about discussion on a public forum. Just be prepared for the exact problem shown in this thread though. Just be certain you've exhausted ALL other avenues first and make sure you have your facts 100% accurate. Failure to do so will cause unnecessary grief for people who have nothing to do with the issue.

Duh!! See you later today! We're leaving in about an hour.

Echinodorus bleheri (bleherae) Echinodorus cordifolius ssp. fluitans Echinodorus cordifolius 'Tropica Marble Queen' Echinodorus grandiflorus ssp. aureus Echinodorus macrophyllus Echinodorus osiris Echinodorus 'Ozelot' Echinodorus 'Ozelot' (Green) Echinodorus palaefolius var. latifolius Echinodorus parviflorus 'Tropica' Echinodorus quadricostatus Echinodorus 'Red Diamond' Echinodorus 'Red Flame' Echinodorus 'Red Special' Echinodorus 'Rosé' Echinodorus 'Rubin' Echinodorus schlueteri 'Leopard' Echinodorus tenellus Echinodorus uruguayensis Echinodorus barthii Egeria densa Eleocharis parvula Here's a few I found on 'Tropica' but there's likely to be a few more. In NZ, due to the lack of imports at certain times many species of sword have become quite hybridised and can be difficult to tell apart.

Oh, ok, I'll go... At the same time I'd best send myself a warning for making a post intended to create a reaction!! 8)

Decided not to go...

The seahorse farm closed quite some time ago...

No, no, no - silver dollars will attack the sword plants big-time. They probably won't touch the Java Fern. Swords also need fairly high light levels, substrate fertiliser to thrive. CO2 also helps a lot. Because they grow quite slowly (relative to stem plants) the nutrient level in the main water body needs to be very low or the algae will out-compete the plants.

Oops. sorry :oops: - point taken...

All these species go by the name Snapper (of some sort). Chrysophrys auralus Lutjanus cyanopterus Lutjanus jocu Lutjanus griseus Lutjanus synagris Lutjanus mahogoni Lutjanus analis Etelis oculatus Lutjanus campechanus Lutjanus vivanus Rhomboplites aurorubens Ocyurus chrysurus

Of course

Ok, wrong species of Snapper - there are speices that get well over 50lb though and look very similar too.

I have locked this topic while I await feedback from the NZ Supplier. Once I have their response it will be added here and re-locked. I have received a response for the NZ Distributor: So it looks like all is ok in NZ.

What dribble...

I looked that young when I was 18 too. Of course, then the booze age limit was 20. Luckily I still only look about 21!! 8)

No, the WR is over 50lb...