MGilchrist

Phosphate reading was less than 0.1ppm scale gets a bit vauge at that point, probably closer to 0 than 0.1 Nitrates about 5-6ppm neither test has ever been much higher than this. have reduced feeding and upped water changes to 40-50% daily things are clearing rapidly, i only hope i can keep it that way feeding is wardleys total tropical gourmet flake and bloodworms

And so they start again

Thanks for the replies all Warren good articles and advice, have tested the tank and water supply for phosphates both showed extremely low levels of phosphate, in the case of the tank I assume this is because all the phosphate is tied up in the green water. Current plan of attack, lots of water changes, less feeding of fish (must be overfeeding to give source of phosphate, hum ho thought I got over that years ago) and when things get better start slowing the water changes and adding fertilizer to kick start plant growth. may still look at making a diy uv steriliser, just cause i enjoy that sort of thing, but as been pointed out it is not really a cure just masking the problem that caused the algal growth one last thing, I have peat under the gravel, could this be a source of phosphate? Thanks Mark

been talking to biosuppliers, $26.74 for a 4-5 litre bag of daphia delivered to north island and $32.18 to south island not sure how many daphnia you get in that.

thought you might have been jesting

brian, yes curtains can be closed, but lots of natural warmth for house from sun, so loath to keep them closed dan any chance you have a name for the jbl product? what does it do? kill, filter, remove nutrients, or something else?

Hi All my tank is green, this seems to be due to its position as it gets a lot of direct sunlight (unfortunately the only place I could talk wife into having it.) tank is recently cycled, thought the G/W was part of this but it persists, have been doing lots of water changes all through the process. nitrates very low lots of plants in hope of them outcompeting the algae and am feeding flourish excell to encourage algae killer helps but not a long term solution. have thought of getting a uv steriliser but seem to be very expensive, any comments on cost and availibility or diy options if anyone has done. thanks for any comments Mark

sounds excellent

Ta interfecus

any chance you could send me some Alan, i'm looking to start raising some worms. Mark

Thanks Caryl, Fins so where do i get some and how do i keep them growing i assume warm and dark but what do you feed em on and how much?

A TANK CAN NEVER BE TOO BIG that said it was built as a community tank and guppies were brought to help stock it. Given that all the fry are still alive (month now for first batch) and growing well they are finding food and are not being sucked willy nilly into the filter. If some do not survive, stiff cheese, i worked long and hard on tank and stand and it ain't changing. what i would like to do is help them grow faster. BBS is a possibility but awkward to do for me, don't know how daphinia is grown, but was hoping for a worm that could perhaps be cultured in an ice cream container or the like.

its good to see a shop do right, and now you will go back confident they will see you right.

Thanks Shae as i said, am already feeding flake and bloodworms, did not mention it but also freeze dried tubifex worms, tank is a four ft by two by two with a fluval 404, as such i am looking for suggestions for a live food i can culture hoping there will be less fouling of the tank and good nutrition for the fish, have considered BBS but would be awkward, also considered egg yolk but as fry are spread out and hiding in plants etc fouling of tank would be a problem thanks for the other suggestions but i have no intention of getting into line breeding, i will keep what i like and get rid of others. Mark

Hi All My relatively new guppies have started doing as guppies do and breeding like mad 2 lots dropped 40 plus babies, so in the interest of keeping or selling them, am looking for suggestions for live food, prefer something easy to keep and raise. currently just on ground up flake food and bloodworms when they get big enough any ideas

Cool, good to hear things are going well Ash

Hi SS some advise if you can get together with Caryl, this will help start small with everything but the tank, you had two many fish in the tank for its size, especially during cycling, I know this does not help now but do not buy anymore fish untill things stabilise. cycling this is important, go slowly, very few fish and frequent smaller water changes are better than infrequent large changes, treat the water to remove chlorine (in your case get a new bucket that is only for the fish wash with water only, no soaps, fill with 5 - 7 litres treat and leave till up to ambient temp, change daily) Ph test kit is important, also ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, if you are close to a pet store they may be able to test a sample for you, if not then again Caryl can help. Medicating the tank may be necessary now, but be aware carbon in the filtration system may need to be removed as it can suck out the meds. please tell us what meds you have used. Lastly water quality is the most important thing for your fish and in such a small tank things will go wrong rapidly if it is not right. sorry for your lost fish, and Caryl sorry for making free with your name Mark

Welcome to the fishroom Gavin and best of luck

Thanks for all the comments, in reply David R - the tank itself is 4ft by 2ft by 2ft (about the biggest I can make at home and be able to move by myself) Ballistic - every time I go past looking for something else I get distracted and forget what I was looking for Doc - Doors are on, handles are not yet ! Ancilla - Thank you

Ta Caryl Plants are still to come, not much selection down here.

At last, seven long months after moving up from Dunedin the new tank is finished full and cycling or if image link doesn't work then http://www.geocities.com/markrichardgilchrist/Stand.html imagine my excitement

It looks a bit like the fish has been dusted with salt, more or less, lots of small white dots. have used meth blue in the past as a treatment (can be fatal to some species), don't know what tonic is. Sorry

welcome to the fishroom mono and kiwi

Welcome Spooky Sounds like you are making a good start back, bristlenoses are always a good addition

Welcome to the fishroom Neopole only done freshwater myself, but I believe it is the corals that are so demanding in conditions and light.