David R

That is why forums have moderators, to steer threads back on-topic and remove or edit posts that are in breech of the rules. Removing a thread simply because it has the potential to cause a little conflict is the easy/lazy option.

So we're trying to avoid a public slanging match by having a public slanging match in a thread that should be about the identity of a fish. Alan, as a moderator if you didn't like the nature of firenzenz's post then just delete it and PM him rather than dragging the whole thread off topic. As for the "do we really need this discussion"? Is FNZAS the leading authority on fishkeeping in NZ where experienced hobbyists can have a debate about the identity of a fish, or it is just some lovey-dovey feel good site for people to tell each other how much they like each others tanks? A mature debate, complete with disagreements, is not against the rules of this site IIRC. I would have thought your job is to make sure it complies with the rules by removing the non-compliant posts, as you seem to have been doing with mine.

As I said, its just a temporary set up until the 370g is up and running. Tetras are a no-no as the black aro will eat them, and I'm not going to attach asian or african plants to the driftwood in my south american tank!! :lol:

What is your opinion based on? How much do shops sell a tiny cutting for, and how many tiny cuttings could you get off that plant? IMO one big established piece like that should be worth more than the sum of its parts, you'd never get the same effect by buying 50 $10 pieces and trying to tie them all onto a piece of wood.....

Preparing wood for the tank If its small enough you could boil it for a bit, but I'd just give it a good scrub and a blast with a hose or water blaster. Maybe soak it in some fresh water for a week or two just to see if anything nasty comes out of it. oak leaves I think if you get the completely dried crispy ones and boil them they should sink. You can also add the water they're boiled in to help lower the pH and give the water a nice black-water colour. Plecos, otos and loaches Hillstream loaches are from temperate climates and probably won't do too well with warm water fish. Ottos would be your best bet, try Redwoods in Christchurch, and if they haven't got any or can't/won't ship them, try hollywood. Cycling If you've got fish in there and all your parameters are fine it sounds like the tank has done its cycle.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=330426 Can't be bothered resizing and reposting pictures. This is just a temporary set up until the 370g is ready, which will hopefully look very similar but a bit bigger...

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... ?p=4152984 That makes me really question the article saying they "evolved" in 100 generations, especially if F2-3 captive bred ones from wild fat-lipped parents will develop the lips if places in an environment that requires them to use them.

Would be interesting to see where they got that information from. IIRC the lips are one of the defining features that differentiate A. labiatus from other similar species (particularly A. citrinellus), its not like they are something that has just recently evolved. The whole "midas/red devil" complex is a pretty confusing area given that you have so many different-yet-similar fish living in the lake with nothing but water as a geographic divider, if they were from an african rift lake no doubt we would have a hundred different named varieties with minuscule differences and countless people arguing about names on various internet forums. I've read that it is usually only wild caught fish that exhibit the big lips, and that F1 captive bred young from fat-lipped parents don't have lips anything like the parents. IIRC I read something on MFK about wild caught specimens lips shrinking in size over time in captivity where they weren't using them as they would in habitat. I wonder if anyone has done any research to prove that they are a hereditary trait, to me the article seems to be more about sensationalism than fact...

I'm with Xnet, ~$30 a month then $1 per gig regardless of if I use 1 gig or 100, no complaints really.

There is nothing "honest" [fair] about a fish shop with all the overheads of keeping livestock having to compete with garage-traders selling cheap parallel imported pumps, gear, and food. There is nothing wrong with competition and I'm all for a free market, the question is really about the ethics of the individual. Are you a penny-pincher who decides where to spend their money based solely on price, or do you value customer service and after-sale support? IMO people put far too much emphasis on price these days, I could have bought a cheapo pump from some parallel importer on trademe for close to half the price my Laguna cost from HFF, but instead I chose to support them as I know if ever I have a problem with it they are open 7 days a week with spare parts on hand, and will do their best to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. Have you tried talking to HFF? It might be worth them shipping a polybox full to Taupo if you and a few other people got together and placed an order and supported one of the best LFS's in the country.......

Gutted, was a great looking fish. Would be tempted to do a big salt tank for one some day when space and money permits, wonderworld in rotorua had about 4 of them ~12 months ago, wonder how many went to suitable homes...

You'll have to take me on a tour next time I'm down that way!!

I don't recall seeing that particular incarnation of the big round tank, but it sounds a lot more interesting than whats in there now. The best would have to have been the big emperor snapper, I'd love to know what happened to it... Great pics as always, one day when I'm finally happy with my tanks I'll commission you to come take some photos.... :lol:

I was having a browse at Bunnings yesterday and I spotted some pond sealer, comes in clear, blue, black and maybe a few other colours, perhaps you could put a few clats of clear over top of what ever you are painting to seal it?

Interesting, I've had a 700lph Eheim and Aquaone running side by side on the same tank and there is a noticeable difference. With the Fluval vs daewoo thing, are you comparing models of the same vintage? Its no secret that a modern daewoo will be more reliable than a classic bmw....

Caryl is right, longevity and reliability are not something aquaone is famous for. I've heard of eheim pumps running with out so much as even a clean (let alone having impellers replaced) for longer than aquaone have been making filters. There are also other factors, I'd put money on an Eheim 2000LPH filter flowing more than an aquaone 2000LPH filter after 12 months....

Get some big bits of wood they can shelter under to break up the line of sight. Mine was fine with smaller fish (too big to eat of course) but with my 13" dat he would occasionally get a bit grumpy and give him a nip and chase when the dat was out. Most of the time the dat would lurk under a big piece of wood and so long as he wasn't out in the upper level of the tank the aro ignored it.

Thirded, a craft knife with a brand new blade works well. Make several shallow cuts with the blade on an acute angle to the poly.

Kinda like suggesting a daewoo in a discussion about weather to go for Audi or BMW...

HFF already have cheaper alternatives to the $$$ zebras with the King Tigers and Chocolate Zebras, $80 and $60 a piece IIRC, and both very attractive fish...

Is it 75cm high or wide?

A silver could go with those fish, but would outgrow your tank in a couple of years.

Gold eh. "Protection from what Tommy? Zee Germans?"

Bugger, I just noticed your location. Anyone in NZ have them???

I know there is one person on here with a high grade red, stunning fish!!