dino

I would love to have a go at these as well! I am relatively new, really keen, Might give organisms a ring tomorrow. Dino.

Ok had the water tested and pH is really high, Ammonia is fine so is the nitrates. I have treated the pond with pH DOWN and also stress coat. I will test again later in a couple of days, and maybe repeat. Next time it rains I will ensure that I pump some water into the pond. My tap water great for cichlids but have to be wary of using the water for other fish. Has anyone else have high pH tap water in Christchurch?

Ok just found out its Dan's (danval) auction so I will directly trade with him. Thanks Dino

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=508660381 anyone in CHCH (I am in Sumner) want to share 50/50 I am after two pairs.

Can someone advise me on how to treat gill flukes on small Oranda goldfish. Thanks heaps.

Here are a couple of images, I will get the water parameters. But this fish (same one in both pics, click for better resolution) has no white spots, can anyone see anything? I do change water often. Having observed them for ten minutes, it is a gill irritation. any ideas? here is a black fish:

I have a relatively new pond, 1 month old. I have added some orandas 20 (7cm-9cm, some slightly smaller). They seem to be rubbing against the Lilly stems, not too obsessively at the moment. Their appetite is good. I do have a thin bit of brown algae forming on the bed. I have been doing water changes, the water in CHCH has no chlorine It will not be hard to round them up and treat them as the pond is a pyramid shape of 3mx3mx 2.5m and depth of 1.2m. Have I got "ich" I have no water parameters. What action should I take? or do I leave it? :dunno: Thanks in advance.

Oranda's do really well here, I live in Sumner here we do not get frost, I have had a pond here for 16 years never have I ever seen ice on the pond. The coldest the water has ever got (temp taken at bottom of pond) is 5. Willowbank our local zoo keeps turtles outside, i have actually see eggs. Turtles in not priority, and I need to do a lot more research. But definitely Axolotls. I want to introduce large driftwood into pond, what curing do I need to do? Thanks

I want to create a natural looking pond, ambitiously I want to keep Axolotl with smallish oranda goldfish (turtles?). I have plenty of rocks and moss for dry land. I want to put some driftwood in the water possibly with java ferns? (any other plants?) With the driftwood have I got any leeway regarding using driftwood found near a river? as its a pond do I still have to go through the normal steps in curing the wood? Lots of questions! thanks in advance. I will upload photos showing all steps.

Can some one recommend a treatment, does Barley straw really work? I know for a fact that when spring comes, my pond will have algae, can I do anything now to prevent the inevitable bloom. :facepalm: Thanks

We do get high temperatures in Summer, but by then there should be lilies and plenty of shade. I think I'll go for it, but maybe in spring. I also have plenty of sphagnum moss for moist areas and places to lay eggs. I'll keep posted on progress. Just a quick question do they keep close to the pond or do they migrate away like frogs. Also the pond has goldfish, is this ok? Thanks

Just wondering If I can, I have a perfect pond, it never freezes, water temperature of 8-10 at bottom of pond in winter. I do live in Sumner chch, in a spot where we never get frosts. The pond is under an an evergreen.

Hey Pete I use newly hatched tiger worms and eggs for my tropicals, my goldfish eat adult ones, sometimes my fish even eat the debris from the worm farm, I keep it very organic. Slug eggs are also a favourite, white worms are so far the best though. Also since I have been doing this, I found my aquarium plants flourishing, could slight traces of vermiculture be doing this? Fish are not in the slightest bit ailing. (I do not keep discus) Dino.

can someone tell me what these are? and is it safe to feed my cichlids or goldfish with these Thanks

I thought I could start a discussion about free live foods fetched from the compost bin. I know its has to be purely organic etc. Currently I am using it as a source for white worms, (even the odd maggot!). I am sure there is more. If anyone can post photos of what we should or should not avoid, or treatment before introduction. I am sure we will all profit from it. So far I have not noticed any bad side effects like deaths or disease (last 5 years),I do not use cooked food, meats, bread, citrus or strong vegetable matter such as onions, garlic etc. Purely peelings, coffee, tea bags, fruit etc all organic. Thanks

hey zee, I was told to get a much bigger male then female, this definitely did the trick, she still has a go at him but he just shrugs her off. :cofn: Nothing can touch the fry when he is around.

Thanks I understand. learning all the time. One thing that has happened and maybe someone can help, Because I have a relatively new aquarium setup I had an invasion of brown algae (Diatoms) This has cleared up overnight, is this a result of aeration, C02 infusion or just the extra current supplied by the diffuser? or is it because I have lowered C02 through aeration. Hey alanmin thanks for the chemistry, its info like that that makes this new hobby such a journey. I will turn off the oxygen supply and soley use C02.

yes you are right the eheim diffuser has an air intake that is split into two one fed from my room the other fed into a Home made co2 generator made of yeast, sugar and water in a 50c garage sale oil bottle, one of those with a metallic pourer., I have it controlled at 2bs. The combination of the diffuser and co2 generator is a great all up around $23, I'll post some photos/video....

this is what I read: :smln: The CO2 content of your aquarium is important if you are growing plants (though check out a discussion on which plants need supplemental CO2, and which may actually do worse with it!). But CO2 is also of interest to the general aquarist because it is intimately related to the water's carbonate hardness (KH) and pH; dissolved carbonates will raise both KH and pH, while addition of CO2 will lower pH. Here are some charts showing the relationship between CO2, pH and KH, along with a discussion of the actual chemical reactions. You can read CO2 content indirectly by from the combined pH and KH readings, from a good test kit, or try this simple metering method.

I bought one and used it instead of the spray bar that came with my canister (2213), it is excellent produces lots of bubbles and saves the bills as no air pump is needed. It has a control valve to adjust the flow of bubbles. I heard it does reduce ph so may not be suited for everyone. But I like it. Shop keeper gave it to me on special as it did not sell, I wonder why? bought $20.

They are growing really quickly parents are great. they seem to have fed of their egg sac and now eating decap shrimp. I noticed the mum churning the gravel for the fry to feed off. also read this article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9139000/9139756.stm now this applies to discus, but I have seen this happening with the kribs, the fry peck at the parents, and parents just allow them to. if you put a threatening colour next to the tank, the parents shake and the fry just fall to the ground. Very Intresting. The parents are still attentive, no sign of breeding again which is a good thing.

yes I am, I have ordered some from organism, I just need to do something with these fish, I have a grow out for the fry, then I will have to sell the krib pair. &c:ry The fry are strange looking animals :smln: The lady from organism has informed me that the two laetacara look very similar so they may not be a pair, they are not fighting though.

Really is fun, these fish are such good parents, the mum did have a hard time with previous owners, but I think she is happy now. My boy loves it. We are setting up a grow out tank, we will then try to breed dwarf cichlids. Just like to thanks all those that have helped me. Dino.

ok I am a bit concerned with filtration, as you pointed out joe, the one that comes with my ar620 is not doing much. Do I go internal or external, how do the two types match up. I want it to be quite, inexpensive to run(low wattage??) slightly wary of cost, and suitable for my tank. what happens to my lovely biological compartment in my ar620 does that become obsolete. A Fish is coming in two days! Dino.

Thanks Joe, being naive I just bought the plants from trademe. He lives near so it was convenient. Here a list of plants. The ones with the tick was given.