VinsonMassif

Can I ask why you keep so many big fish in such close confines with the seemingly inadequate tank not even filled to the top?

This tank is almost 100,000L for Stringray. It is wonderous!!!!!!!!!! http://www.freshwaterstingray.nl/1Engels/Mega_tank.html

I was wondering if anyone breeds, or imports different Bristlenose varieties? Other than the regular/common brown, the golden, and albino variations are there any other variations available? I personally think the common brown type is particularly average, I abhor albino, also am not a fan of golden. One variety I have seen looks great IMO: Long fin calico/red marble. There are some pics in this thread. http://www.plecofanatics.com/forum/show ... hp?t=50337

I want one too! http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/p ... cle_id=376

Yeah it was a long way. I don't mind driving though. The road was good, no traffic, or PTBs Did it in just under 5 1/2 hours each way. I have to recommend the bed and breakfast place just before the Esk Valley lavender farm for brunch/lunch. We stopped in on the way home for a break. It is the place with a barn with south african flags at the door. They sell animal sculptures and art things. Can't remember the name. It was spotlessly clean, great food, and very friendly staff. You can sit next to the pond, or outside under the trees. It has a bar too.

Yes $14 is definitely worth it

Yeah all those pleco's were cool. They were all active too. I thought it was funny that there was one rainbow fish darting around in there. We are thinking about Hokitika. But it is not definite yet.

I have never been to Napier before and seeing as we are probably moving to the South Island I thought I should make the effort. So we went for a day trip. Would have liked to stay longer, but am too busy with other things. The main thing I wanted to visit was the National Aquarium. I thought that the cover charge was worth it. I absolutely loved the Oceanarium, the rock pools with snapper etc., and the seahorse tanks. It was great to see an exhibit of active Kiwi! As opposed to the ones in the dark where you can't be sure if it is a bird or some foliage I was glad to see a grown Tuatara, active under lights. It walked across the rocks, swam through the pool and came over to see who we were, starring at it Who knew Tuatara swam? lol I was impressed with how clean all the exhibits were. Not full of crap, or sick fish. Or whats more, empty. Seeing a giant squid up close and personal was cool. Very fascinating. I was slightly disappointed that there was no a large native fresh water tank. With so much dialogue on fresh water species I had thought they would have gone all out. Other than the tank in the Kiwi area, I thought the little tank opposite the Eels didn't do the Kokopu justice. IMHO I thought the koi, goldfish, and small tetra tank was wasted space. I appreciate they are probably catering for kids, seeing they are at eye level, but even so they are too common. Native tanks perhaps?? I was left wondering WTH with one Clown Loach in with the Pacu, and 3 individuals in the next tank in with the barbs. Then there was the plaque stating they only get to 15cm? Hmmm.... All in all totally worth the time and effort though

As long as you acclimatise your fish well, they will adapt to a range of pH. It is the water chemistry and dissolved compounds that impact the fish too, rather than simply the pH of the water. What exactly is your pH reading. "Blue" pH may well be "natural" for where you live. If your fish are already living in, and healthy in this water I would recommend you not to do anything to it. Also wood/bogwood/driftwood does not always affect the pH like we think it will, or makes only a very slight difference. It depends on the water, and type of wood. My tanks at home have wood in, and are acid, along with the water. I look after another tank with 3 pieces of wood and a pH of 8.0 constant.

I have a half dozen Redline Torpedo Barb's. I have read that you cannot determine the sex of the fish. I have been watching my Redline's to see if I can spot any differing attributes that could possibly set them apart. I have found one thing that may or may not be anything to write home about: One fish has a red spot on the forward tip of each pelvic fin, from the tip up to the 3rd spine (if you can call it spine). All the other fish only have golden colouring on their pelvic fins. Also the fish with red colouring is not the "alpha" fish. I have noticed that the other fish play "tag" with this fish, more than just seems random chasing. Does anyone else have Redlines with a red spot? Does anyone have any articles links mentioning this?

How far away from the house is the tub? Could you just get a long air hose and keep the air pump inside?

One of my canisters (at tank level) stops every time I do water changes and the outlet is above the water level. I just squirt the hose up the intake and it kick starts it. As for the rattle, pull the impeller out and check to see if the shaft is not broken. I replaced mine, and there is no more rattle. On getting gunked: I have to say that sucking on a filter pipe is a terrible idea IMO. Your canister filter is a huge bacteria colony, full of all the fish poop, decaying food, possibly fungus as well. Terrible idea.

Let me know when you find out please. I would be interested in browsing that site.

I believe "flow" and "current" refer to the same thing. If your filter outlet is disturbing the surface, if it is creating ripples, then it is increasing gas exchange. Adding an air stone increases oxygen a small amount, but the bubbles cause ripples thus increasing gas exchange also. Some fish do like a slow flow, others a stronger flow. You can alter the strength by positioning the filter outlet mid tank, or near the side, or by planting tall plants in front of the outlet, or by placing a piece of wood in front of the outlet.

Have you actually seen one of these websites? IMO the easiest would be to find the addresses of the sites you want to go, then search Google Maps satellite maps. The resolution is to 50m in 3D. In Google Earth there are options for overlays of food places, entertainment etc.

I put my air stone in the corner behind my spray bar, the rising bubbles push the water in the same direction as the bar, this increases the flow noticeably.

They are so cool. Definitely a fav Good pics.

This is not entirely on topic, but I found this site with some interesting articles. http://www.rexgrigg.com/ferts.htm

If you can't fit a heater in, what are you planning on doing for filtering? As for lights, you could go with a lamp shining over the tank. Realistically 13L is ok for a Betta is about all IMO. Or maybe some colourful rocks.....

Check out the nutrients and element ratio's of each product.

Just a thought, but is there anyway to steal a little bit of established media (or a bunch) from all your other filters, to fill up the new filter. Then replace the taken media with uncycled (whatever you use: noodles?) in your existing tanks? Then the impact will be nominal because you spread it out over all your tanks..... Just a thought

One is to assume from the original post that they did not have a 20' hose, because they mentioned drinking tap water Ira. If they did have a 20' hose, sucking to start the syphon doesn't lead to drinking tank water. Of course putting a 20' hose into a small aquarium is a stupid idea.

Or you could just submerge the whole thing in the tank, pull the hose out while holding your thumb over the end, put the end of the hose in bucket and remove thumb. Takes about 3 seconds.

If it is indeed leaking out from where the cord comes out of the housing you need to disconnect the taps form the top. Undo the latches, and unscrew the four top screws. Once you have done this, separate the top and bottom halves and replace/reposition the o-rings that go in the connection of the taps to the housing inside. There should be two for each tap. However if water is leaking from the outer top part of the taps it can drip into the hand holds and sit there, making it appear like it is leaking from the cord connection. HTH

I have one of these filters with the exact same problem. It was the taps though. A replacement pair of taps cost $7. All you need is a screwdriver and remember to put the O rings in. Took 5 minutes - if that is the source of your leak. One of my large canisters was leaking from the main canister seal. It turned out I had too much media in the trays. So I took some out, cleaned the main seal and it is fine atm.