Kelsta

Good tip HaNs, thanks.

Thanks heaps - trying to cut down on expensive trial and error here by asking for others experiences! Cheers, for that

Yes, that's the sort of thing I was thinking of - one layer of normal wool, and then something else a bit finer - preferably something that can be washed and re-used for a very long time. I'll go and have a look at my LFS tonight. If it works well for you that's what I was hoping to hear. Hopefully they've got lots to choose from at the LFS. We were given some basic filter wool when setting up a year ago, and never thought to try or add anything else.

Hi, I hope this is the right section to post this in - alhough it's not exactly DIY... I have a biological filter, with filter wool, then a layer of ceramic tubes. I wanted to add something else for filtering as well as the filter wool to catch the bits of debris (I have messy goldfish), but wanted some suggestions as to what's out there or what people have found good. I thought I'd look for a sponge type thing, or even maybe someting like a seive, but with smaller holes?

You sure do - thanks heaps for that Have a good day guys!

Oh wow, I had actually thought all NZ water had chlorine. Gee that's news to me. Thanks.

Thanks. How would you suggest we treat the water for chlorine and chloramine then? Prime does that as well, but also binds the ammonia, etc. We used to use Aqua Plus, would that be a better product? Sorry, when I said went down quite a lot, I meant about 1 1/2 boxes on the testing card. It was on about the third box (Sorry, can't remember the actual numbers!) then went down to between the first and second box, colour-wise. We got the suckers for our cold water tank because it tends to be quite warm usually, and the suckers were beiong sold in the same cold water tanks as the goldfish in the pet store. So they were already acclimatised to a temperature that goldfish like as well. The info label and sales assistant said they prefer temps "up to 24 degrees". We were aware that they are tropical and shouldn't get too cold, but our tank rarely drops below 21 in summer, and the lowest it's been is 14 once in winter, but hovers around 16-18 in winter normally. We're getting a heater this winter so it doesn't drop too low for them. Thanks for all your help - what do you use for treat for chlorine?

What do you mean by saying the ammonia shouldnt have gone down a lot? It had been 3 days since the last water change, and then we changed 50% of the water again. So one on Sunday, one on Wednesday. Sunday: 50% water change as usual. Wednesday: tested the water - ammonia showing up Wednesday: 50% water change Wednesday: Re-tested after the water change, and ammonia levels had significantly dropped Also, what do you mean by stuffing up the readings? Could you please explain that so I know what to do and how to test? Tank has been fully cycled for ages - about 6 months. 4 Fantails, 6 WCMM & 5 suckers. 143 litres. I am aware that this is a little overstocked but we were only just advised this recently. We were told that was fine when we were setting up but the store wasn't being honest. Thanks for your help.

"Boring old Goldfish!?" Coelacanth that's rather insensitive of you, many people adore goldfish and prefer them over tropicals for their gorgeous little faces and personalities. I'm a goldfish lover, but would never dream of insulting tropical fishkeepers. Each to their own Anyways... Heir, I have goldfish and I successfully keep White Cloud Mountain Minnows and Borneo Sucker fish with them. I've had this combination of fish for ages, and everything has gone swimmingly Only one WCMM has ever been eaten, and I suspect that was a combination of a very hungry goldie and a slightly slow WCMM! He was new to the tank and wasn't schooling. If you have fantails, the WCMM will most probably be fine, as fantails are slower swimmers and generally not interested in chasing or eating the WCMM. As for the suckers, they are classified as tropicals, however the info in the store says 'up to 24 degrees'. Well, our tank has ranged over the seasons from 14 degrees, to 26 degrees, and they have so far been happy and healthy. (A couple of my suckers look pale right now but that's not to do with the tank mates or temp). We're actually going to get a small heater this winter to stop it dropping so low this winter. So I hope that gives you a couple of ideas. Tried and true - we've done it with great success and they've brought a lot of joy PS: I've also been told that you can put some kinds of barbs with fantails, but that never seemed like the right thing to do so I've never tried it and probably wont.

How well do you know the person who was feeding them? Is it possible she forgot to feed them for a few days and they got really hungry? I have a fantail who would readily gobble up one of her friends if she got hungry enough - stuff the plants! She ate one of my minnows once, but she's well behaved when she's well fed.

Hi We've got 5 Borneo Suckers in our tank, and three of them went really pale yesterday. Bahaviour-wise they were still acting normal and active and nothing was different - just their colour. The remaining two looked like their normal darker colour. The temp ranges from 21 - 26 degrees at the moment. We tested the water and there was a tiny bit of ammonia, no nitrIte, and nitrAte was 10ppm. (The third coloured box down on the testing card). The tank is fully cycled and we don't normally have any ammonia in the water - just a bit of nitrAte, so we did a 50% water change, even though it's only been 3 days since the usualy weekly water change. Ammonia went down quite a lot, but they still look pale this morning. Can't think what it might be? No new fish have been added, no new water additives or medications. Anyone have an idea? Better yet, anyone got Borneo suckers who've had this happen? Thanks! PS: We use Prime in the tap water when changing the water, which binds any ammonia, so I would think that gave the fish some protection from the small amount of ammonia in the water anyway.

If you stick with goldfish, there are two other very good sites that are dedicated to goldfish. They have great info on keeping healthy goldies. www.goldfishconnection.com and www.kokosgoldfish.com I found both very helpful when I was just starting out with my tank. Goldfish require about 35-40litres of water each, so the others are right - if you want lots of fish it would be best to go with another species. All the best

My goldies get very cranky and start acting aggressive when they miss their meals :roll: So my first choice is preparing each day's food in little zip-lock bags for someone to feed for you. The $2 shop have good ones. Make sure you don't leave the fish food container lying around or it will be very tempting for your friend to overfeed them! Otherwise I have heard the automatic feeders are good, though I've never used one.

Yep, same with me Janelle. I know it wasn't oxygen starvation because mine were dying one by one as well, while the others remained happy & healthy. There is heaps of airation in the tank, and and there was no gasping - just the lock jaw. Still don't know what it was, but the two survivors are still OK.

Thanks

Hi Does anyone know of a vet that's knowledgable about fish? I'd like to find one but my local says he doesn't know anything at all about fish I'm in Wellington, but I could always call a vet from out of town... Thanks!

Thanks purplecatfish

Thanks

Can anyone tell me if WCMM and Borneo Suckers would be OK with Prazi? I've got Droncit tablets to use for my goldfish, and I'm sure they'll be fine with it, but I don't want to go ahead with it unless I can be sure it won't affect the others adversly.

When you say 'red streaks' do you mean blood red, or the orange goldfish colour? It's just that goldfish colours can change (this is normal) and my goldfish had a white tail, but the his organge spread in two little streaks out to the end of his tail fin. However, if it's blood red, and he's lost most of his tail, I'd be concerned about infection. Good advice to google the picture. Good luck.

Yeah that does sound too small - especially if they're comets. Also, sometimes goldfish do that when they're cold - I'd check the temperature. (The cold won't hurt them but they try to conserve energy by slowing down.) When you say there's nothing wrong with the water, have you tested it? Things like raised ammonia and nitrite levels can cause bottom sitting too. Has the current in your tank changed recently? Fancy goldfish don't like a strong current, and can bottom-sit to avoid the 'treadmill'.

OK thanks

OK cool, thanks. What do you think about the white poop though? Should I be concerned or am I being paranoid? They all do it - even the one in her own little hospital tank.

We have brine shrimp in the freezer - would that do the same thing?

OK, now I have another concern, I mentioned the fishes wierd white poos before, well, they only do those occasionally, in between normal poos. But, I am now wondering if I should be more concerned. I've been told that it can mean internal parasites, or an internal bacterial infection, or re-absorbing eggs (but only if it's zig-zagged). Well, sometimes it's zig zagged and sometimes it's not. Also, when they do normal flake-food poop, it's often got air bubbles in it, which makes it float at the top of the tank when they've finished pooping. Is this normal? Should they be doing thin, stringy white poos, and should their 'normal' poo have air bubbles?? They look SLIGHTLY thinner because we suddenly cut back feeding drastically to assist cycling, but they are still ravenously hungry all the time and feeding well.