tHEcONCH

Whoops, my typo - but although stronger, T5 lighting is still fine for that length of time - I actually use 4 x 54Watt T5s on one freshwater tank 14 hours a day with good results. The 'T' number refers to the fitting size - T8s are bigger than T5, but T5 is more efficient and produces more light per length of tube than T8 despite being smaller - they are also more expensive.

A few more new zoos:

Hi Jimbo - welcome to the forums. Your tank uses T8 lighting, so you could quite safely turn your lights on at 8am and off again at 9pm. That will give you good plant growth (assuming you have live plants in there)which will consume excess nutrients, which lessens the chances of problem algae becoming established (but being a new tank you will inevitably have to go through the brown algae cycle after a week or two - don't panic, it'll go away). As far as temperature goes don't be too concerned by small fluctuations (+/- 2 degrees) so long as they are not sudden. Unless you house gets very cold (as in you can see your breath) your heater will be fine. Jaegers can be calibrated - if your themometer consistently reads a different temperature, then follow the instructions, pop the little knob up, spin the dial until it reads what your thermometer does, and push the little knob back down. Have fun

Do more water changes (reduce the available nutrients) and increase water flow (stop the algal spores being able to attach).

Metro is a prescription only drug, but you'll probably be able to get some from someone here if you put up a 'wanted' advert, or better still PM Caryl and see if she can get you some. Do a google search 'metrodizanole+fish' etc. for more info, dosage etc. (I'm having a 'mare at work at the mo' - sorry)

If you think it is constipated, try feeding it on bloodworms. Torn fins come from one of two things - physical damage / biting, or vitamin definiency, which wold fit with the contipation / gut problem, in which case you need to treat with Metro to fix its gut and get it digesting food properly.

Just chuck a blanket over them - they will be fine

Yarrrr... buy it and give it a chance - it is probably in shite water out there

Good point

Hi perren, Yep, that is about as good as it gets. There isn't much you can do to alter the water / bubble level except open the water intake grill wide open (at which point it stops surface skimming properly), open the air completely, and restrict the passage of water past the heater, but if you do that you run a real risk of either cavitating the circulation pumps or oveflowing the tank or the collection cups when you feed. The max skimmer is, in a word, poo. I have fiddled endlessly with it, but I think there is a fundamental design flaw between the water intake size and shape, the skimmer height, and the pump air intake calibration. The whole thing needs to sit about 15mm lower in its chamber, and the overflow needs to have an open top instead of a cable shroud. A lot of people install Deltec MC500s with good results.

Sounds like one of those rediculously generalised and simplified statements that are of no practical use. Somehow I think there is more in play than just stocking levels. It wouldn't matter how many neons I put in the Oscar tank, there would still be blood :lol:

Yarp - some, anyway.

I agree, the problem isn't with the animals per se, it is with peoples management of them. Nor can you really blame settlers for introducing a food source given how tough those times were (do a bit of research on Heaphy of The Heaphy Track fame if you want some insight into just how tough life for Maori and Settlers was). I'd also suggest some of those who think we should be blaming them and feral cats etc. might want to consider how invasive and destructive modern farming practices are (particularly effluent into our water) next time they are pulling some meat and frozen veges out of the cabinet down at the supermarket. You, me and our ancestors have had a far greater impact upon the environment than any other animal, whether it be directly or through mismanagement of other animals. What we should be doing is trying to understand our own impact.

It all depends upon the size and quality of the heater, the surface area relative to the volume of the tank, and ambient heat and humity levels. Cheaper heaters are much slower to react, smaller heaters take longer to 'catch' and counter a drop, oversize ones overcompensate. It gets COLD in Dunedin, so any shortcomings are exposed pretty quickly.

+/- 1.5 degrees shouldn't be an issue.

Flame Angel, Coral Beauty, Blue Tangs, Royal Snottyback, and a couple of Banded Coral Shrimp too

399 Ilam Road - it is bright green!

A small shipment has finally arrived - No, really!

I'm not sure at the moment - I have a couple of ideas, but space (and wooden floorboards) is an issue at this point.

Could you raise some money for my next project please - sell lemonade on the side of the road or something?

The irony, eh? :lol:

:bounce:

Is it like my one?

I'm curious about what can actually be kept - anyone got pics they want to share?