Sophia

ilk

:facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm:

Went hunting in Meola Creek today and caught a host of bugs and 3 kinds of plant. All currently living in an ice cream container till tomorrow when I hope the water in the tank has settled - not very organised of me I'm afraid. General bugs - shrimps, 2 angry water boatmen, some ___pods (ostra or cope), worms, snails, things that look like fleas swimming sideways One of the snails Elodea (luscious and thickest I've seen), what I think is Potamogeton crispus as has wavy leaves, and a mystery ferny moss. Moss was growing on rocks in the flow of water, and submersed.

I don't this garden has anything like lemonwood in it I filled the tank before lunch and the water is very brown and misty. I can see barely any fine bits floating on the top so once the cloud has settled it might be good enough to start. I'm going to put a layer of black gravel on top to keep it down a bit too.

really? did you notice Mark hasn't replied yet? that's because he rushed off to find a santa suit !! :lol:

haha! How about a kids santa costume cut and stuffed... can probably get from Spotlight or the Warehouse

can there be too many leaves in it? I collected enough to fill the bottom of an ice cream container by a number of layers of leaves, there must be a good 2 or 3 handfuls, maybe a cm thick. They've been soaking in said container and starting to rot down. Also are there any leaves that shouldn't be there? I took out gum leaves in case of oils and the like, but there are guava, feijoa, olive and some other native tree. No pine in there. Some cups from the feijoa flower, without the stamens. (got the tank today, table has been varnished and now drying - the bugs have been informed and the ostracods can't wait) Have also collected at least half a tank worth of rainwater for their bugly pleasure.

it looks rather pleasant, a smiling gentleman shark if you will.... needs a top hat and a walking stick

I will laugh if they turn into something else

nice and what sort of filter is it? do you have it near a window for light and all that?

ooh that would be nice. Let me get it all set up and the peat settled and then I will send you a PM. Thanks for the offer, that's very kind of you.

blue eyes is having my babies! :lol:

got my plant book, and my husband has rearranged the washhouse where the tank was going so it's going to get more light. Not enough to warm it significantly, but enough to get more algae growing I suspect. I am well pleased. Should be getting the tank on Sunday when the table is finished :happy1:

would you mind sharing the specs/equipment in your tank....? pleeease?

CHOCOLATE :love:

I went to Onehunga store about 3 months ago and that big tank in the front of the shop looked like it had too many fish and lots of staghorn... then there were all these tanks out the back that were covered in algae and/or empty and anything inside just looked plain sad. I sniffed about for some steal deals on a light fitting and then got out as quickly as possible. I don't think I would buy anything alive from there. It's a shame - all they had to do was clean the tanks, move the fish to a more eye level-buy level zone together and it would have been much more inviting.

In my experience cardinals hide in dark corners near the bottom of the tank when frightened, they don't jump or head to the top. There might be a bolshy one who bosses the others around but it is tame chasing here and there usually, as compared to focussed aggression. As they are shoaling creatures they are generally peaceful. The bigger the shoal the braver they are. In a busy house they may be inclined to be a bit shy if there are people running about in front of the tank. I wouldn't let that stop you though, as they are bright you can usually see them anyway, you won't have to search them out like a dark coloured shy fish. You can train your brother to be very quiet because that is how he will get to see them. Just keep it simple and enjoy it

cool, thanks I have a copy of the one Stella recommended on request from the library, should have my nose in it by the end of the week.

I don't know anything about barbs. I think the rush will get too big and I think it's a cold water pond plant too? Depends if you have a lid and don't want plants growing out of the top of the tank. In a same depth tank for I have had a lot of success with ambulia (cabomba is too big), twisted val, star grass, and crypts. You can pinch out the tops of the ones that grow taller and if there is good light and they are spaced far enough apart, they will send new plants out further down the stem. You can also trim in the same way and plant the trimmings to start growing as well. I usually get a couple of months out of a stem, maybe more, and then after lots of trimming and replanting they are tired and need to be replaced.

is that one of these? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Pe ... 864474.htm http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Pe ... 864475.htm looks like I have a lot more reading to do !!

radial

hint hint... suggestions welcome

Photos will come when the crypts have finished sulking :lol: later edit: the interesting thing about the melting is that some are already starting to sprout new leaves so it's almost like watching seeds come up.

this is where I need that dancing banana

hahaha that is hilarious I love the soundtrack