Ira

You could also try using the macro setting on your camera, assuming it has one.

Yeah, aesthetically, I don't like barebottom either. But, if it isn't a display tank, like a frag tank or something, barebottom is good.

Definitely sounds like your best bet is to tear the tank down and replace all of the gravel. If the place that gave you that advice won't refund it see if there's anyone local with africans that would like it.

There's really no way of knowing. Could be any one of the fish, could be all of them, could be any combination of them. No way to know unless you stay home and watch them.

Cryptocoryne pontidefolia is good. Very easy to keep, looks good, grows well.

Hey, Steve, is...What was it...JetkierSteve you? Was selling one of the corals, can't find the auction again. Anyway, been meaning to ask, but thinking it probably wasn't since that would mean you spelled your nick wrong.

Try adjusting the powerheads so that the flow is a bit more turbulent instead of a constant stream. It may still push the sand around, but if it tends to be more random it'll stay in place better.

That was Pegasus removing Breakaway's post.

Rinse it and scrub it until it's clean. Use bleach if you think it needs sterilized.

Don't worry about the food getting caught in the rock. If you've got a couple shrimp in there they'll dig it all out anyway.

Looks nice, but seems overly complex.

What're you using to glue the pipes together? I'm thinking I'll do something similar for the return from my sump, at least until I get a sea swirl.

I think all the base rock available locally is broken off reefs in Fiji, blasted with steam and then dried to kill everything and then imported and we have to put it in our tanks and try to make it alive again.

$35? NZ? Where? I want one!

Forgot to tell you guys what happened. I knew I'd have to take the center of 3 front braces out to fit the sump in. So I try...And it doesn't fit. No problem, I'll just remove another one it should fit fine, the piece of polystyrene cut to the tank's size fits fine. Try to put the sump in...It doesn't fit. After getting pissed off and frustrated for a few minutes I measured the sump, it was 50mm longer than it was supposed to be. Still will fit IN the stand, just won't be able to get it in without removing all 3 front supports. So, I go and try to remove the third and...It looks like maybe the previous owner tried to drill out the screws and gave up, end result, Can't remove that one. Had to get a friend to give me a hand lifting the tank off the stand soI could try dropping the sump in through the top...Doesn't fit. After hitting my head on the wall for a few minutes I managed to rotate a piece that runs along the front from left to right around(Rotating the third front support in the process) and give me just enough room to drop the sump in. So, now I've got about an inch of free space on each side of the sump.

It's looking like the plan now is to head up on the 24th if we can get someone to housesit and watch the kids. So, I'll let you know if that doesn't work out, R&S. Thanks for the offer.

Oh, damn, I just had a look at the schedule in the mag, so if I want the fish to have a tank(I'm not worried much about showing them, just don't want to risk them being in bags that long) then I'll either have to go for two days or see if I can get someone local to take them up for me. Anyone in the Wellington area heading up there on the 24th that might be able to take a chillybin full of fish for me?

Ah, I see a few slightly green pieces. That's not even enough to worry about.

I didn't see any of the green stuff, but it'll be cyano bacteria. Basically green slime algae. And the white stuff is moldy food.

Susi, the choice is either you have fish you want, but can't get. Or you have all the fish you want but it's so much work that you start to hate the hobby. Which would you prefer?

Just had a thought, if I'm bringing some fish do I need to reserve a tank? Just fish to sell, not to show. I'll be bringing about 30 pearl gouramis.

I've been using rubber bands or cable ties. Mostly because I'm totally useless with using thread to tie them on.

Alkaline water tends to have high hardness, acidid water tends to have low hardness(Soft) There are exceptions, of course, but generally that's how it is. Harder water also generally resists changes in PH more than soft water.

Hmmm, Every few years, if you feel like it unless it's disintegrating or something before that.

I'll vote for you! Oh, wait, it's not an election. :lol: