Barrie

Alan If you know of anyone going down there let me know and I will send a male or 2 down with them(Australe Gold) depending on what I have at the time. Its my Striatum that wont look side ways at one another... even taken to pinning up pictures of things I shouldnt to get them interested Started taking eggs again last night from Gardneri Blue, Bitaeniatum, Australe Golds as well as peat in with Korthausae and Palmqvisti Just got my delivery from USA of brine shrimp sieves

I would say males I just put a bit in from time to time... not much Pays to have a bit of peat in the water as well... just so that its slightly peat coloured Im finding. At times, I only take eggs so that the water is coloured so after a few water changes, its time to take eggs again. I raise the fry in the same water

The males are black so may pay me to bring down a female eh Im down there friday 1st in the afternoon so you will be at work? If you are I will just drop a box off... can only spare 1 female as it will leave me with 2 good ones but with 3 bags of peat. Did you have a bit of salt in the water? The ones I have outside have no air and have had the same water for 5 weeks now although Funa may well add some fresh water to the tanks tonight Im taking more peat in mid Feb so if theres no luck, Im sure that we will get them going OK for you...

while away I lost my Rachovii but took peat off the Nigripinnis and Eggersi which Ive promised to a new old guy further south. The rest arnt too keen on breeding as the feeding has been very limited for 3 weeks. Should be back and going again real soon. Sure will be keen on some peat Evil an should also be able to help with a mate for your Nigripinnis... what have you got left?

the minimun distance to the edge is recomended as no closer than 50% the dia of the hole. To drill a hole, you need to have water around the hole. As amazon mentioned, build a ring around the area to be drilled and put water in it. A large rubber ring from one of the plastic places or silly putty could be used? Drill the glass useing Carboundum (ps) powder as a paste and keep the drill straight up as you can break the glass if you move it around to much. As you get almost through the glass slow the downward presure on the drill or you can "break"through the other side causing shells and weakening the tank. Expect to spend a lot of time on this method. To be honest, I personally would prefer to break the tank down and reglue it after having it drilled.

I too wish I could help but sorry. I can add that certian types of Killi are far better off in peat as thats there natural enviroment (small puddles and ponds)

if your ever in Auckland, get in touch and Im more than happy to show you or anyone else

Im a 55 year old glazier with advanced trade cert. The way to cut the glass is to get a good glass cutter (the green diamantor cutter are what we use) dip the wheel of the cutter into a light machine oil (we use Inox) and make ONE firm cut along the glass. This does not cut but provides a weak line in the glass that will allow the glass to part along the line as long as the cut is still "warm" How you part the glass depends on how much is to be taken off. If its less than about an inch, you will probably need pliers with paralal jaws and either a cloth or cardboard to cushion the steel on glass thing (unless you have glaziers plyers). The plyers jaw should be even with the edge of the cut and you gently pull down and back and the nips will come away. This leaves an uneven surface... an nipped edge. This can be ground by using 80 grit belt sander with wet and dry sand belts. DO NOT LEAVE THE SANDER IN ONE PLACE as the glass will burn and break through thermal stress. Take the edges of first so the glass dosnt "shell" before grinding. Give the glass time to cool down and move the sander back and forth. if its about 1inch to say 6inches, make the score (cut ) in the glass the same way but put the handle of the cutter directly under the cut (cut side up) and firmly push down either side of the mark untill it breaks. If your cut is "warm" and fresh the glass SHOULD part evenly along the mark but not always. We dont get an even break everytime we cut due to several reasons. The cut or score may have "misses" in it, this can often be fixed by joining the missed area with recuttin g but dont go over the existing cuts... just join the ends up___________ _______.Another reason for breakage is ions within the glass that cant be seen but can cause a break when cutting . and possibly the main reason that the glass may not break true is the method of manufacture. Glass use to be made by drawing the glass up similar to a knife dipped in treakle, this meant that the speed that the glass was drawn decided on the thickness of the glass(all NZ made glass was made this way) but this had a few faults in it. bearing wear and tremors would creat ripples in glass and this meant a difference in thickness. This veration in thickness made the cut often divert off line and therefore break (have a look at the edge and you may well see a grain like mark on the glass) Old glass is sometimes harder to cut as again, the veration in thickness creates the stress of the cut going off line. Again just lightly sand the edges as it will help protect the glass and stop shells. The third method is as Evil discribed and when the cut is made, hold the glass level and slide it to the edge of the table with the cut 1 to 2 inches on the table. raise the leading edge about 300 mm or more and snap it down. BEWARE as this can sometime break and fall with possible damage to you. Again sand the edges For tha amount of glass that you will be cutting, a self oiling cutter is a total waste of money as all its doing is saving you from dipping you cutter in oil. The cutting wheel is the same on both cutters. Whereas some companies use self oilers, we dont. The things that damage all cutters and is the normal problem is when a cut is started over the edge of the glass. The cut should ALWAYs be started 1 or 2 mm in from the edge. By starting the cut over the edge creates a miss in the cut that will often allow the break to vere of course and therefore break. Hopefully this will help

Exactly correct Evil Bentaz is 100% wrong and I as a glass merchant love people like him giving advise Sorry Bentaz but NO

cant see me doing that as peat spawners normally live in less than clean conditions

correct Amazon Carborundum is what was used Can you imagin what the cost would need to be if glaZiers needed to do it like that now

thanks Alan Im still away but will try it at the end of the month

Ive been breeding my Striatum at about 24 through winter/spring but have have 10 to 1 in favour of females. With out want to be sexest, I want more males and the Dallas forum has found that breeding at a higher temp produces more males. any thoughts?

I will say the next as a bit of tounge in cheek and a bit of truth. I have been in the same position for 21 years. I have not had an increase in pay for 7 years. The people that I work with are always bringing their personal problems to work. I can only get a good holiday at Christmas when the company closes down. If I want to take a holliday during the year, my work keeps on phoneing me to solve problems. Im left to clean the work place up as the others simply dont care although they do complain if their cups are not washed and dried. When ever a problem with a customer occures, it becomes my problem and the work mate will never solve it. When a bit of work is needed to be done after hours or while on holliday, my work mates leave it up to me. I get bored as well. For all the extra work I do and all the problems that need to be solved, I get the same as the other guys. When a stuff up is made, the cost comes for my income and they wont offer to pay for the mistake that they have made. If something is broken by a work mate on site, I have to pay for it. I cant have time off sick as I get phone calls wanting me to solve problems. My work mates will often take sickies and think that the boss dosnt know... how stupid do they think he is? I people havnt paid us (customers) I have to go with out my income. The IRD fines me if I am a day late in paying my work mates PAYE tax. I have to collect tax (GST) from our customers for the government and am not paid for it. I do all sorts of work that I dont get paid for and never get thanked. I could list all sorts of other things. Just a few thoughts to think about and see if your "complaints" are similar?

Number one and easily the best reason for changing jobs without a doupt Im sure you be happy and congratulations

loyalty over the next couple of years will be important and those that jump ship for a couple of pkts of cigs per week will be the ones to miss out. I wont go into it as it is political but with an 40 to 50 % increase in building costs in the next couple of years and with rising inflation through interest rates and fuel (amoungst other things) I expect the prospects for the average hands on worker to become harder. Looking after number one will be the quickest way to the dole ques. The only way that companies survive in the times like that is to become more compidive and embark on increasing market share and that is done through watching all costs and having total support from loyal, well trained and helpful staff. A companies number one asset is its staff

Anthoney There are other thing that require an increase in the hourly charge out rate Over the last few years I have had my rent doubled petrol/LPG costs have gone up a bit cost of compliance has gone from a few hours every week to almost half my time plus the accountant materials have risen bank charges are up a lot an extra weeks holiday has meant an increase of 7% alone the cost of servicing slow payers and in fact any jobs that get credit has increased from under 8% to over 15% Hope this helps explain just a few reasons that hourly rates needed to be increased with the new building regs, the cost of new timber windows will increase by at least 80% before next Christmas (wish I could mention politics here but will respect the house rules)

Nav both married now with the eldest with 2 kids and the middle one with 1 due in March Ira Your correct about some jobs but the majority of employers will pay as much as they can afford and still be competitive as thats the way we keep staff and dont have to train new staff. Unfortunatly, a lot of employees think that they are worth more than the field that they are in can afford. People dont realise that the average wage is around the $30,000 mark. All they hear or talk of is the person that gets say the same as a government employees. Teachers about $45000 plus. Police similar. Local government normally above $40000.

as an employer, I will never bow to the more money thing. I pay as much as I can and the excuse of more money for leaving is saying that they (the employee) is never going to be happy so I wish them well. For a long term employee, I will do anything else that I can to make them happy as work is not meant to be a punishment. The type of person that I want working for me needs to be keen, interested and wanting to be a equal with me, not for me to be the boss. People do feel the need for a change and they should look at why they feel this way. Normally its that they have become bored with their job and cant motivate them selves any more... as employers, we sometimes feel the same and as we cant just walk out, we need to do something about it ourselves. Looking after number one? yes we all do that but often looking after number one is showing loyalty to your employer and their company so that when things get tough, they will look after you. Getting ahead in life financally is easy but most employees (and employers) fail because they dont plan and stick to a plan. They are always looking for the extra doller per hour or for the quick buck but never take the responsiblity them selves by saving or putting their savings to work for them. Impusle buying and the I will be able to save more if I just buy this are the biggest problems and excuses that are used. I have 3 daughters and 2 of the 3 have never been flating and shifted from home to their own homes by saving for an early age... I have never given them any money. Daughter number 3 is saving for her own place now and shes 16. Drifting of the subject but you really need to look at why you are looking at leaving and see if you do want achange or do you need to look in the mirror and motivate yourself

the way glass merchants drill tanks is with whats called a habit drill The bit is a dimond ring that has water flowing through the centre of the bit to keep both the drill bit and the glass cooled. There is a hand drill available but there simply isnt enough work for it to justify the $500 cost and its so much slower that there is not enough call for it Im back at work from the 21st and your more that welcome to have a look

by useing a glass drill that we use in the trade, you need to get the tank under the drill and pack the other side so that presure can be applied for the drill piece to work. The chances of finding a drll machine that can fit a 2ft tank under it is small (mine would only take maybe 150mm) and the chances of breaking the glass are great. In my mind, you would be far better off trying to see if living arts system would work for you. BTW, for drilling, the age of the glass makes little or no difference.

Im on a Toshiba down here at the bach with wireless connection. I must say that no problems with the lappie but wireless is as slow as dialup. The recpition isnt all that good down here

and why not legalise drink driving as it will only get rid of the bad drivers... OK.... Im being stupid I know and dont really mean it but when I was young the same question was being asked about dope. The problem with any drug is the you are high. When people compare it to booze, you can have one drink and be OK but cant have 1 pill or 1 toke and be OK. Almost 40 years ago, I cop stopped me driving home and asked if I had had anything to drink. The answer was too bloody rite mate, we just won the race I was in. He congratulated me and said stick to the side roads (traffic wasnt as heavy as it is now) I got home OK but another crewman was not as lucky and died. End result is that his family was and still is effected. Trips were the party pills from that period and had a similar argument to what is presented here but the same result was found with the occasional death and sometimes harm to the taker. End result, the ones that are left behind are the true suffers. A good friend is a paraplegic and is totally relliant on his friends and family for even basic needs... think about it. Yes, I enjoy a beer or wine. Maybe the odd Brambue or two but I can have one and not be drunk. Problem with drugs is that you are either high or not. You take them to get high. Next thing is cost. Similar to tobacco, no use spending money on things that are not going to benifit you in the long run by giving you memorys for the future. If you need drugs/tabacco or booze to enjoy yourself, time to get a life with different things in it. Dont look back on your mates that have got ahead in life and say they were lucky when its you that have made the wrong decisions. Here endith todays lesson :oops: Ive had my say and wont say anything more

in this world and on this site as well, there is a lot of advice given that is not right yet people continue to give it and dont seem to learn. I suppose that what Im trying to say is that often people dont realise that they are giving or being told incorect information. The shop assistant possibly though they were giving good information? In my trade, Im often called in to fix what other qualified (and some not qualified) trades men have told customers. The most common of these is that you can use silicone to glass timber windows.( this nullifies any garentee on the joinery)

I set my tanks at 22 to 24