Brennos

I did think vertically, behind the powerhead, but where it is, ensures even heat distribution, as the outlet for the filter flows directly over it. Function over form i guess. Cheers, Hopefully it takes hold, I might try planting something on driftwood next.

Yes, real wood, 2 lots from hff, one is about 3 months old, the other is new. Everything else is real, apart from the back ground. Hide the heater? suggestions? Not particularly, It's the heater cover I guess. The tank is an AR620T, so not the smallest thing out. Yeah I was looking at those, I was planning on doing a cap full every 2-3 days. The guy at HFF recommended the balls, I might go get some next week.

I went down to Hollywood Fish farm today to get a couple test kits, and while I was there, I purchased some new plants, and a tank background, and a bottle of Flourish excel. So after everything had settled, I decided to take some pictures of my tank as it stands today. I added a new piece of driftwood, and some Ambulia (thanks gills) and some new plants (the crimson ones), but am unsure of what they are. The grass like plant at the back is a few months old, but doesn't seem to be doing so well, so hopefully the flourish works, and perks it up a bit. The inhabitants are 4 female guppies and 1 male, and 2 Bristle-noses. The stone is Schist, from Stone & Water World in Ellerslie, and looks awesome in my opinion. I have tried to go for the most natural look, as I am over the fake plants, gravel and ornaments. So what do you think? Potential improvements?

What am I looking at?

Sam, is the hair grass still available? Id be keen for it...

Any pics?

Im of half a mind to empty the tank and start over now the siamese is dead, he was the only thing holding me back from getting different fish. I really like angels and oscars. but i'd like to keep my bristle noses, so i don't know what to do now. Disease is my only answer to the dieing fish now.

Gradually, fist the bristle noses, then the siamese, then 3 of the guppies, then the rest of the guppies, over 4 weeks. the last lot of guppies i added last monday, and they are all fine, except 1 of them, which was one of the fighting males.

I'm in the suburbs of Auckland. I always use conditioner. I will take a sample down to Animates today and see if i can get it tested. Tank has been setup for 4 weeks with fish. 3 weeks before that with out fish, the filter media was taken from a previous set up tank, and the tests show nothing out of the ordinary.

7.6 or thereabouts. So i woke up this morning and headed out to the tank to have a look, and yet another dead guppie, this time another male, with out any fin damage, or any visible signs of illness. So now I'm down to one male, 5 females and 2 bristlenoses.

I have lost 4 fish in the last few days. Fist I found a dead guppie female, with no signs of sickness or nipping, or anything at all, dead on the gravel, the next day, I found a male guppie with almost no tail left stuck to the filter stalk thingy, then I noticed that a second male, was swimming around with very little tail left, just a small fork shaped end, he died yesterday, 24hours after I first found him, and then today I noticed my betta (who has been in the tank with the guppies for ages, and never nipped or even went near them) dead in the long grass plants I have up the back of the tank, he also has no signs of sickness or fighting. I assume the two males fought with each other over a pregnant female in the tank, but i can not explain the betta or the first female found. I have two Bristlenoses in the tank, and they are fine, and the rest of the guppies, 2 males 5 females, seem to be doing great. I have done water tests every 2 days for the last 4 weeks, since setting up this tank, and nothing has been out of the ordinary, The ammonia is never out of the first colour range on the API test kit colour chart, same with the nitrate, and nitrite, and the ph is good. The temp varies a bit, (warm house) average is around 26, but i have seen it up as high as 28, and as low as 25. I am sort of stuck, I would like to add some more fish to the tank, to replace those I have lost, and stock it a bit more now its almost fully cycled, but, if i am going to be loosing fish like this, I don't want to right now. Tank is a ar620t 130l by the way. If anyone has any idea's, or any tests i can do other than what I have done, id be grateful for any help to get to the bottom of this issue. I guess its possible its a coincidence, but it doesn't sit right with me to be honest. I was so sad to see my betta dead. He has been an awesome fish, and was my first tropical fish, so fancy and pretty. I don't think i will find another "Simon the Siamese"

I have put my name on an Aqua One AR-620T and Cabinet, which I hope to pick up tomorrow, or Monday, and now I need to fill it. Currently I have 4 guppies (2 male and 2 female), 1 small Bristlenose, and a Siamese Fighter. As far as decoration goes, I have decided on Glacier or Autumn Harvest Gravel from HFF, some nice river rocks, and some black and white multi layer rocks from HFF also. I will plant some back ground plants, and add a bubble rock, and I also have some drift wood for the bristlenose. Anyone have any other ideas for decoration, and also what other fish I could put in. Next question I have, is a UV purifier a good investment? Or should I spend the money on an external filter instead. Regards Dave

Thanks. I have a Scuba Steve, and a few others, I usually swap em around ever now and then On that note, know where I can get some more air operated ornaments, other than the usual Nemo/car/frog/blue planet ones?

I use the animates in Botany, to buy stuff for my tanks, as they have a large selection. If you ask the young girls a tech question, they usually get the fish guy (Andrew) to come over, I have dealt with this guy for a while, and is very helpful, and seems to know a lot about keeping fish. I have never had a bad experience at this Animates. However, I have had some bad experiences at other animates, specifically the one in Ellerslie/Remuera. I wont go into detail, but it was enough to send me to other shops for quite some time. As we have 3 birds, 2 cats, and fish, It's a weekly visit to a pet store of some description. I went in to HFF yesterday, man that place rocks. I didn't sign up just to post this by the way

Tell my missus that Cheers mate. This forum is great, some of the post's have helped me immensely since I started keeping fish. I just hope I can be of some assistance to others.

Hi all, I am new to this forum, I have currently got a small tank with 4 Guppies, a Siamese fighter, and a Bristle-nose in it. The tank is an Aqua One AR-380, I am currently saving some coin for a AR-620 with cabinet, which I might set up as marine, and add a clown fish and a couple of other fish, Or just expand m y freshwater collection some more. I have been toying with the idea of getting a turtle or two, but the lifespan puts me off a little. Anyway, here's some pics of my setup as it stands. Setup : Regards Dave.