SamH

I currently have one 2ft single 18w cool daylight tube mounted in a plywood box over my 2ft planted tank. The Java moss is doing well but the Java Fern, Bacopa and Polysperma aren't thriving. I'm planning on building a DIY lighthood (thread in the DIY section) and mounting 4 2ft 18w tubes over it. Is that enough light to grow plants decently?

I'm planning on upgrading the lights in my 54L so then plants grow better and I was wondering about DIY lighthoods. It currently has one 2ft single 18w cool daylight tube mounted in a plywood box over it. This seems to be keeping the plants alive but not letting them thrive. I'm going to add about four times more light over it but I need to know how to make a decent lighthood. Does anyone have any plans or pictures of their light hoods or any ideas on how to make one? Thanks

My Bacopa's gone red at the top but stayed green at the bottom. I've found that many plants will go red near the surface if there is strong enough lighting.

Wow, nice combo Jfishfanatic. Love the metallic sheen.

I'm not sure how you'd heat them all. Do you heat the room or keep them in a shallow heated tank? I'm starting to collect the 85c homebrand soft drink bottles, got about four so far but I can get more if the need arises. Do you have a Plastic Box, plastics place or wholesale food factory in Wellington? I went into Plastic Box the other day and they had 50 700ml disposable food containers like the ones you get from Thai and Chinese resturants for $6 and 50lids for $6 too I think.

Bummer. Never good when a fish dies. Hoping to get a spawn going if my little red girl heals up okay.

Here's two I got off ADodge. But her's are much nicer And very nice Phoenix. Any still alive??

Welcome. Don't forget to read the forum rules!

I need a filter for my new 85L rearing tank. 850mm long, 250mm wide and 400mm tall. Looking for something under $100. Any suggestions, ideas or reccomendations? I don't mind the non-branded gear.

Yes! I've got that too. Never had it on my Jager or MasterPet heaters but that ONE brand seems to get it. I'm pretty sure it's harmless but it doesn't look too flash.

Yes! Very creative. What are those tiny little out-of-focus fry I can see? And do IAL's or the IAL teabags really help the spawn?

Yes! I used that when I kept guppy fry in it. Quite possibly the best system. Just catch the in a cup guppies, drop them in the net breeder (no need to acclimitize them cause it's their own tank water), feed them until they're big enough to be sexed and split into different tanks. Worked a treat. Back to the Betta... She seems to be doing fine. The other fish were coming up to the net and trying to eat her missed food from underneath.

I've read that it is possible to cycle a tank in one week if using pure ammonia. I'm very sorry to hear about your fish, especially since they were so expensive. Raise the temperature and if possible set up a hospital tank so you can dose individual fish if the others aren't sick. This will save you money on medicine and will stop the meds from killing the good bacteria in your main tank. Good luck.

Yeah, same here. I put a little terracotta pot in my tank and it started fizzing straight away. Just air, from all the tiny "pores" in the pot I'd imagine?

And how many loaches do you have Phoenix?

That made me LOL. I noticed that too, and I don't think those poor (computer generated) angel fish stuffed into that tiny bowl would have been getting much excersise so wouldn't be creating excess heat.

It all depends on the personality of the fish really. You could try let them see and get used to each other before they are in the same tank with ea other or if it's densley planted enough then you might get away with it. Whatever you do, just be prepared to seperate fish!

I'll have some! Willing to ship? Nice tank BTW, looks really wild and natural. My plants have just stopped growing, they may aswell be plastic... Who doesn't have snails?

Sometimes MAF can be strict but I guess it's for the good of the country. Wish we could have FW shrimp though...

Hopefully it won't have time to get dirty. If I get my way then the tank I just set up should be good to go by Monday.

I've put her in the Marina Net Breeder until I get the other tank set up. She's eating so it can't be too bad but which Betta can resist bloodworms? Here's some pics:

How do I measure rocksalt by capacity? I.e 1/2 a teaspoon per litre

She's hiding under the Magna-Float now. I'm going to have to set-up that other tank. Pity, I was hoping to try spawn some other fighters. Oh well, they can wait.

Thanks Lyndyloo.

She's in with her sister, 3 platies, 2 kribs and the BN pair. I was going to spawn her sister, the Red Cambodian one you sold me. Where can I get rock salt from?