Barrie

never realised that RTV was still arround was the leader when we first started useing silicones, Ive probably made a couple of thousand tanks useing it and glazed the glass into Vindex launches useing RTV

no the name is Dow Corning 480 (black is the colour) and Dow Coring 580 (Clear is the colour) There will be others that use other brands but thats just what I use. I like the black in colour as I think it looks neat in apparence whereas the clear can look a bit messy

your local glass merchant should stock it but if they done, have a look at "Glass Corps "site www.glasscorp.co.nz they import it Its a matter of reading the back label and makeing sure that it will do what you want it to do then allowing enough time to cure 100%, normally 1 day per 1mm thickness of joint. ie; 6mm joint will take around 6 days to cure fully under temps of +20cel hope this helps a bit

there can be no garentees but an educated guess would be that you will be OK Most err on the side of caution. the 480 black use to be used on mussel tanks (for live mussel eating stores) but as there is no testing done, I cant garentee it and there fore the sea food shops tanks cant be repaired. I use that glue on 12 tanks If just sep up and feel very confident that all will be fine. Simple thing is that untill tested, no-one can say yes for sure

I am a glass merchant Through the glass merchant supplies, there is not ONE silicone that is made food safe and that is what you are talking about. The tests needed to garentee food safe product cost thousands of dollars and the market is far too small to bother spending that amount of money on. In saying that, silicone is not an adhesive (glue) but we use it for that as well without any problems I use Dow Coring 580 clear and Dow Coring 480 black for my tanks and have had no problems. The person behind the counter of the department stores has no "indepth" knowledge but has an overview on most things but still relies on packageing and suppliers back up for more indepth information If glueing rocks together I would tend to read the lable and see what is OK from tiles and the like, glue them together then soak them for a few days changeing the waters a couple of times of if possible put in a fish to make sure that no leaching has occured

try looking at the EXPOL site www.expol.co.nz Dont know how many you want but they would probably make them for you or point you in the right direction. I get my poly sheets from them as well. 1200 x 2400 x 10 mm thick for under $6 and they will cut them in half

Thanks Alan I take it that he charges for entry like at Kelly Tarltons?

dont get rid of them all Tim... just waiting for the electrics to be done , the guy lives in Tauranga as well.

thanks again really apreciate the help

mmm seems I shouldnt worry then Thanks

I know that the Ph will very for speices to speices but what should I have the Ph set to in my comunity tank in the lounge that will house only Killis? A good medium range?

thanks guys

conference??

There seems to be quite a few shops here in Auckland that have a few different verities of Killi in them. My dissapointment is that they (the shops) are mixing up similar breeds together and with the females looking almost exactly the same, fish like golden and Chocolate Astrale are almostimposible to sort out. Grizzle over :oops:

if the holes are to be drilled into all ready made tank, the problem is 10 times harder as the glass needs to be very firmly supported on the rear side where the hole is to be drilled. The highest my drill goes up is not much more than 100 mm I suggest that you find what size holes can be drilled before you buy fittings

there is an industry standard for tank that can probably be found on the Metroglass tech web site... I dont work for them. Be aware that silicone is not a glue but is a sealant and has a life that is shortened went under too much stress

the size is important and how many do you need drilling? the 2 main types of drills are a "spade"which is for hand drills like the old egg bearter type. To use these you need to place a ring around the hole you inted drilling and have water in it to cool both the glass and the drill. The other type of drill bit is normally a habit bit that is a higher speed and needs a drill press that has water flowing through it... more of a specialist type of thing Most glass companys will drill your glass for you (at a cost) but would need the glass in their factory and to be reasonably clean. The cost of this would be about $4 to $6 and is "all care but no responsibilty taken "

thanks for the help What would be the longest you could leave them without food... just that it helps with the planing of trips away Looks like a weekend is fine but would say easter be ok? seems a bit long to me?

what do people do say at Xmas time if your away for 2 or 3 weeks Is there a prefered "slow release" food that can be used or do you rely on friends Thanks

Gesh Looks like I may need the lot eh Thanks

I suppose that as with most things the list is endless What Im after is really a good photographic data base that has a brief discription on a heap of spieces and methods of breeding and keeping. That data base looks interesting but is the book what Im after? I am a supporter of things like that as information is the key to most things[

Amazon has a couple of books namely Killifishes of the world- Old world Killis 1 Killifishes of the world- Old world Killis 2 Killifishes of the world- New world Killis are they worth buying or is there something better? Are all 3 a must have? Thanks.... again :oops:

yes Your right about the tubiflex. They were the main meal, Age has me forgetting them. I know the family was discusted in me keeping them in the fridge. Plenty of mozzies at the moment

In yesteryear I used to feed blood worm and white worm along with mozzies as my live food. Has there been any change ? I notice wingless fruit flies now, are they much good? Thanks

thanks again