tHEcONCH

OK - the Anemone (sorry about the quality of some of these photos) - It might be burried in the substrate afterall. What is it?

Don't forget that skimmers only work on salt water (unless you have a million dollar sewerage treatment plant) - if they did, I suspect you would see them on freshwater tanks. At the end of the day you need to do all you practically can to keep the water clean - whatever method(s) you choose.

Check this thread - I have at least 4 different kinds - 'Black' - T. Micrantha, 'Really Black' T. Diaphana, 'Orange' - T. Faulkneri, 'Yellow Figi' -T.?, plus anoth 'Orange' that has candycane-like stripes on the oral disc. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/here-vp264345.html The black definitely requires more flow and more regular feeding.

Chalk it up to experience

Sounds like oxygen problems - get the surface of the water moving with an airpump and stone (that will help get rid of algae too).

Incidentally, as soon as I do a water change the skimmer begins to export waste - I don't know if it is coming from the 'fresh' water, or if it is picking up stuff dislodged by the change itself.

?

I like Flame Angels...

So would you need a white wine to complement the flavours?

Maybe we should stick the bodies on a spike in the centre of the tank as a warning to all other sick fish... :lol:

aHHHH... the power of the interwebby...

Wait.

Yea, that is the one - that would have to be one of the most awesome I've seen.

Don't forget that weakened fish are more susceptible to parasitic infection - the Nitrite levels might have triggered the problems, but with careful treatment they can be resolved. Good luck.

Yea, they are harder :-? PS - I learned to do it on a wharf on Stewart Island in front of a couple of fishermen who were rolling around laughing holding back the tears as they watched the silly townie trying to kill his fish (a big Blue Cod)

I guess that kind of depends upon what you are in to - I personally love Sun Corals, but they aren't necessary the best looking or easiest coral. That blue and red Caulastrea type thing in your thread would definitely get my vote though - that is awesome. p.s. would love to buy it (via a retailer) if its for sale. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/35-vt3 ... ?start=510 (just above the Mushroom)

I'm agreeing with Afrikan

Hold the fish flat aginst the ground with one hand, and using a sharp short knife (vegitable knives work quite well), stab it at the back of the head about where the lateral line begins - the goal being to sever the spinal chord at the base of the skull. You will feel it if you hit it - if you don't, do it again until you do, Alfred Hitchcock style.

Actually there were a lot of nasty experiments done during World War II to do with airmen landing in the North Sea, freezing, being re-heated etc, and some other ones done elsewhere to do with rapid excess heat - the conclusions from both were the same - temperature related death is incredibly painful, a lot slower than it appears, and althogether barbaric as it involves massive stimulation of just about every nerve ending in a body BEFORE it affects the brain / heart etc and actually kills. Massive physical trauma (being squashed) is much faster because it destroys vital organs instanantly and is likely a whole lot less painful. Think about it from the fish's point of view, not your own.

So long as it doesn't 'cook' under the lights, there is no problem (same goes for exposed coral).

Err... I can't find it... maybe it is yet to be approved... can you send me a link? :oops: As soon as I can view it I'll post up what they are, but I think you are probably looking at the Brittlestar (starfish) and a close-up of Yellow Sponge.

It must have been approved already... I'll be back in a moment...

Part of fish keeping is doing what is right for the fish, even if you find it difficult - euthanising a suffering animal, even a fish, is the right thing to do.

No corals like new tanks