VinsonMassif

I bought an eheim internal filter and cut the sponge, filling the centre of the canister with cotton wool. After four hours the water is already noticably less cloudy. Good suggestion.

Cool thanks for all the replies

Uummmmmm....what? If I had a micro-algae bloom would that not colour the water greenish/brownish? If my bacterial filter is on the light side, wouldn't waste build up too quickly if I was only doing 10% PWC per week?

Ok, I will leave it alone and hope for the best. ATM I am doing 3 partial water changes per week, 40-50L each time. My test readings are all ok (0,0,10) and pH 6.4. I ran my filter on my existing tank to kick start it, for 3 weeks.

Thanks. I clean the filter every week, rinsing the sponges, emptying the canister and refilling with aquarium water. It has 3 trays in the filter, #1 tray 2/3 bioballs, 1/3 ceramic noodles + coarse sponge, #2 tray all CN filled to top + medium sponge, #3 tray 3layers filter floss + carbon. I feed froz bloodworms, froz daphnia, shrimp pellets, fresh vege in a cycle rotation. I don't over feed (if anything I under feed), and don't leave vege more than 12 hrs. I rinsed and cleaned the sand entirely in 20L bucket before putting it in my tank. The sand was totally debris/sediment/silt free.

I have had my 225L tank set up for a few weeks now. I have 30-40mm Dalton's aquatic mix under 30-40mm fine sand as the media. The plants are healthy. The fish don't appear to stir up the sand at all. However my water isn't clear, it has a slightly milky look. I would like it to be crystal. What would you suggest I do? I am running an AquaOne CF-1200 canister filter which I have been regularly rinsing out the sponges to make sure they weren't clogged up. I also have a pouch of Seachem Purigen and activated carbon to reduce disolved organics from the water. It is a constant cloudiness, not like a bacterial bloom. I havn't had this problem in any of my other tanks. So I figured it is a side effect of the aquatic mix. Should I run an additional filter on the tank for a while? If so what type?

Mine is in a 225L tank, 1100x450x450. I have some hefty branched peices of wood that it uses as cover.

I had the same idea as alanmin4304: I dont like the idea of fish water in the kitchen sink. My pot plants on the deck are a lot perkier with the fishy nitrate water. As for vacuuming with the hose I have found that if the hose is coiled on the floor (instead of straight) larger debris can build up and slow the flow. (I have a sand substrate and had a couple of vacuum incidents where we lost quite a bit lol)

Hi Chaat, I have recently bought an Elephantnose, had it for a week now. It is by far the coolest addition to my tank. When I was researching it I googled its full scientific name and found some good info, aswell as Google scholar for more technical articles. Badman's has a good profile for it. I found an interesting page about the family it comes from, MORMYRIDAE FAMILY, on mongabay aswell. They are reportedly a very intelligent fish. Mine is active day and night which is cool. It doesn't bother my smaller fish, but shoves away my angels at feeding time. It spends a lot of time probing around my plants and in the sand looking for food. I am working on getting it to feed out of my hand. It is already ok with me holding my hand in the tank, he will swim through my fingers.

What are water fleas? Sounds interesting. How would one acquire water fleas?

Thanks. I turned the heater down and took away the light. I kept the java moss. They seem to be ok with it, they swim through and around it. I fed them blood worms tonight. Are they ok to be fed live white worms?

I claimed one. I'm excited. I hope it doesn't go fins-up on my tho.

Are Peacock Gudgeon's Tateurndina ocellicauda in NZ?

Hi, I have a pair of A. australe chocolate Killifish. They are in a 300mm cube, an internal fluval filter, 26*C, with a few bunches of java moss. I have a small UV lamp on top. I have had them for 5-6 weeks now. They are active, healthy and the male is "coming on to" the female. I would like them to breed. Is there anything I should do/add/alter to get them to breed?

***UPDATE*** My water changer arrived today. It made my day. Now my water changes are uncomplicated, no mess, no buckets, stress free affairs. Simply add water conditioner, plug it in and that's all. I will go as far as saying I think it is the most important hobby-related purchase I have made thus far! It's amazing. I totally recommend it.

Thanks. I will give them a call.

Could anybody please tell me if they know of any Moth Catfish for sale in LFS in Auckland?

I'm setting up a planted tank, and after much deliberating and changes of mind I have decided to get a Black Ghost Knife fish and possibly some angelfish. A friend, and some forum posts I have read, told me it would be great with a moon/lunar light. Can anyone point me in the right direction on specs/price/brand I should get please? My tank is 1100x450x450 and will be planted with a bunch of driftwood/bogwood in it aswell. I have a 3' dual flouro light setup atm. I'm thinking it would be more advantageous to have them set on timers.

I watched one last night eat an entire Tiger Lotus leaf, most of two shrimp pellets, some blood worms, a spiralina disk and two peas in about half an hour, then it started 'hoovering' the glass. How much I see them eat varies. I have seen the fish eat its waste too. They are active from the evening, and are mostly nocturnal. But when its cloudy/rainy they start moving around in daytime. (fyi) Mine grew from half an inch to two inches in six months.

I have two snails, which very closely resemble brown Pomacea canaliculata. I bought them as 'mystery snails' They are 2 inches in diameter and are one of the most interesting additions to my aquarium. It's really cool watching them race around my tank. In a straight line, it takes them about 20 seconds to glide the 3 foot length of the glass. But they are notorious deforesters. What should I feed them to reduce them eating all my plants? I have recently started giving them spiralina disks which has helped. I feed my fish peas every 2nd day too. The snails gorge themselves on all the fish food which makes it to the bottom, be it blood worms, daphnia, flakes, shrimp pellets or pleco chips..... I'm so glad they lay their eggs above water line so I can always knock them off. I don't want hundreds of these huge snails! Any suggestions? ps. forgot to add a link http://www.applesnail.net/content/speci ... culata.htm

Hi. Does anyone know of any stores in Auckland that currently have Elephantnose fish in stock?

Awesome guys. Thanks. I found his trademe listing. Mikesaquatics sell the faucet pump end. I have a suitable hose at home I can use - easy water changers are on their way

I searched this site for this water changer and only found some old forum topics dated 2002/3. My LFS didn't know of anyone who stocked/sold it. Does anyone else know if it is available in stores, other than online?

I'm not sure where exactly I ought to post pics... Here are some pics I took with my ph. http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q308 ... itions.jpg http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q308 ... ominic.jpg http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q308 ... K6/Aq1.jpg http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q308 ... K6/Aq2.jpg BTW Caryl I realise a 3' tank is not a big tank :lol:

Thanks. The new tank is 200l - 3 foot.