Simian

I just sent this: Hello to Paul and the Team I have just been introduced to a wee snippet of your show featuring Havoc and the silver sharks, I must say I found the whole thing rather amusing. It has prompted some discussion on the FNZAS (Federation of New Zealand Aquatic societies) forum. Sadly this kind of thing is very typical of a chain store and poorly trained staff are costing the public good money I am afraid, most aquarium keepers have no idea of the type of animal they are buying at the pet shop, this is akin to Paul being sent home with a kitten to be a companion for a hungry pit bull..in a cage…..Its going to end in bloodshed. We see this happen all the time with inappropriate wet pets sold to unsuspecting members of the public who them are at a loss with what to do or care for their new pet. The FNZAS is an organisation who’s primary purpose is to promote the hobby and educate the public, perhaps Paul would like to know what type of fish he has and whether anything can actually play nicely with it. I can assist Paul with this if he so desires, perhaps if the feedback has been high enough (and with the number of hits this clip has had on youtube it could be) you may even extract a story out of it, fulfilling two objectives, a story for you and the federation gets to educate a few more people. Feel free to contact me if you would like me to facilitate something along these lines (even if its simply helping Paul’s fish live a little longer). Kind regards Owen Lingard President Waikato Aquarium Society FNZAS Executive member

I agree that was pretty funny, I might send him an email and see if we get a response.

The commercially bought decap cant be hatched as the chemical process produces heat which kills the egg. Apparently if you decap them yourself before hatching it increases the hatch rate and the nutritional value as less energy is expended by the embryo in getting out. Personally I cant be bothered :roll:

I dive or used to, havent done much over the last few years. Padi advanced open water for what that ticket is worth :roll: Dunno how many dives, I lose my only log every time I get a new battery for my Computer :lol: , I guess few hundred or so. I'd be keen for a swim again, I keep meaning to but something always comes up.

This is correct

I agree, I'm a new convert to trout pellets. I have just raised a batch of BN on them exclusively and had fantastic growth and no casualties I can see, waaay better than zucchini IMO. Cheaper and less mess and hassal

In relation to your fluro's or MH over a tank, power off is power off. the lamp life will be shortened with excessive switching (12 + times a day) but not relevant to our use. Owen

Pull out that Barry White album then and breed em :bounce:

In reality the only real solution is to get another tank...or 3 just in case :lol: once they start spawning and if you have a good pair you may have several tanks full before you know it.MTS? whats MTS? Oh and FYI I have had magnificent results raising my BN fry on trout pellets, soo much cheaper than Zuchinni and less messy just suck up the sludge every day before it goes manky and gets covered in fungus.

Strangely enough watercress doesnt seem to be popular with either my Severum or Uaru :roll:

You will note they have no ears

def Cories

Sucked through the bottom of the net is my guess...it happens I'm afraid The other option is to float them in an ice cream container in the tank or remove em to a completely different tank (if that's an option). Dont worry too much once they get the hang of breeding it will become pretty regular, It took me about 3 or 4 goes before I managed to grow any out beyond 30 days now I get almost zero losses on each batch.

I wonder how they would throw if crossed back with a "common" Blue's, If I had the space (and $$) I'd like to get 10 and try mixing it up a little (that way if they only sterilised the M or F you'd at least get a shot)

Increase the cories to 5 when you can afford it they really are happier in bigger groups. No way is that overstocked for a planted tank of that size a good sized mob of cardinals or rummynoses and it will look mint! IMO stick to one type of schooling fish and get as many as you can. I have just done a similar setup but very few plants and a big driftwood tangle. I'm going for the SA blackwater biotype, I have 3 Discus growing out in the tank as feature fish, I personly think a bigger fish makes a good feature and the tetras act as dither fish.

Someone had better breed them :evil: I would but space is limited and haven't tried breeding ordinary rams yet so wouldnt like the trial and error aspect.

I brought a strip of 10 clusters of 3 Blue LED's from Jaycar a while back, just poke in 12v and they rock! my low voltage power supply has multiple output voltages and they dim nicely at 9v also. I fitted them inside my plain old Aqua one light next to the fluro tube and use them to watch my plecs and Bichir do their thing at night. The light can be pretty bright before they seem to care...I can get my nose right up to the tank and the plecs are still casual about my presence, a nice change from them bolting as soon as they see me. The only problem is I tend to fall asleep watching them...although that might be attributed to all the fizzy brown "lemonade" I drink while watching them...I'm getting old :roll: zzzzzzzzzzzz

Dwarf Chains are awesome I have a group of 9 in my 2' and have zero snails. Striata or zebras loaches are also good for snail control, marginly bigger but still waay smaller than clowns.

That is not true How could we not love such a sweet girl with such a calm disposition :roll: :lol: The truth is she volunteered and as she makes a mean choccy cake it would be rude to suggest she didnt. Does it have sprinkles? does it? huh huh?

The main disadvantage of using CFL's is the life expectancy you are looking at about 8000 hours for your average CFL at end of life you will be down to 70% of your initial lumen output, hence relamp at about 5000 hours or every 1.5 years depending on photo period. Fluorescents (good ones) on electronic start gear will live to approx 15000 hours, lumen depreciation is slightly better hence I'd relamp after 2.5-3 years. Depends on if that shortened life concerns you or not HTH Owen

Well that rolled around fast! Wednesday 02 September 7.00pm start 48 Crosby Rd, Chartwell (up the driveway and on the left) Shannon's supplying cake as its her Birthday :bounce: Colin Orams supplying Daphnia Pulex cultures for those who bring their own containers. This month we will be focusing on plants with Shannon. We will also be talking about our 1/2 yearly tank crawl to be held next month, getting your input on judging criteria, suggestions and all that guff. (our 1/2 yearly crawl is a very informal one where we bend the rules to suit the clubs mood at the time ) I know Shannon & Richard still have some very nice blue rams left for a very reasonable price to club members, I will be grabbing some for my SA black water bio-type, so bring a bag and help them keep up their breeding efforts by buying some. I'm keen for some nice long pieces of Valisinaria if anyone has any they can spare. Cheers Owen

Good stuff bro! I too am going with L104 Maccus, save me a girl!...pimp daddy! 8)

Barrie and Wok Looks like I'm delivering a car to Turangi on Satuday for a dodgy dude I know :lol: (I just hope the boot isn't full of drugs or a dead body :roll: ) so I will just need a lift back home. Owen

Perfect, 8) not sure about the rolling eyes Wok :roll: :oops:

Anyone wanna carpool?