Ymir

Hope you guys/gals like. The fish didn't like the flash and ran away

lol starting to think you work for power shop weka

I use nova energy now, I was with contact and feel your pain. There is a consumer magazine link http://www.consumer.org.nz/powerswitch. This is an independent body. You have to fill out the questions (you need a powerbill) and it works out who is the cheapest for you and how much you will save with them.

My Bolbitis and plants in general are doing ok in my dwarf african tank. Very correct here. I brought one or two of each species and assessed how they went. Proved to be very happy. I wouldn't mind finding more narrow leaf at a decent price, it is a beautiful plant. *hint, hint A-town, if you read this do you have some available?* My Africans don't seem that interested in the greenery. I have: Pseudotropheus demasoni Julidochromis marlieri Altolamprologus calvus (Yellow) Aulonocara baenschi and some of ryan's new babies if I can get my calvus to breed.

:bounce: LEGEND :bounce:

Cheers! I will lower the spray wand tonight. I always thought it was good to have water movement for oxygen to enter the water.

thats what I am asking, have no idea. :lol: I read about people and their Co2 and wonder. Do I need that too?

beginners guide to Co2 diffusers? I am using flourish excel and I have just brought a test kit to see if the carbon level is suitable. What is the deal with Co2 Diffusers? I have a 6ft tank, are they really that necessary or would adding more flourish be ok? The Co2 kits I have seen around are not cheap. So If I don't need to buy a setup it would be good. If i do, what is a the better brands available and what when the minimum requirements for a 6fter be?

ahh, then yes, the twisted got melted :-? any the excel for the carbon.

Well I have Africans and I have plants and it seems to be working far so far. I have several species of plants and the only one to die so far has been the twisted val. :evil: My two Anubias species are going fine and I also have three java fern species which are very happy (normal, thin leafed and Windelov). I have one crypt species (I have know idea what it is), Bolbitis and what people tell me is Lilaeopsis brasiliensis but I believe it is Lilaeopsis mauritiana and lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae, thou I do have several Brazilian Micro Sword plants as well. Finally, Limnophila Aquatica. All these plants I have initially brought in small qualities to see if they would survive and assess African suitability. If you want plants that are at a beginner level . I would recommend the Anubias and java's ferns (the thin-leafed species is my personal favorite) . These are tough plants that can survive the pH range of Africans and they have a low light requirements. So no need for expensive lighting setup. The other aforementioned species seem to tolerate the pH and hardness levels but require stronger lighting

if it's hairy just use a Schick disposable blade or if it is really bad, wax!!!

How rude! Don't you like my calvus any more ryan thou they don't seem to be liking my shells much either. SPAWN damn it !!!! lol

the feathery plant I believe is Cabomba caroliniana. Should I get more aggressive with plant and split it up more I wont to but am worried about killing it. Here are the two foreground plants. I don't know what they are called but and id would be greatly appreciated. The sword shapped leaf one, I like particularly. If anyone has an idea of the crypt that would be great too.

I currently have what I believe to be an overstocked tank, so nutrients are not a problem (I am currently doing two water changes per week, due to the poo levels) . The are only babies for the most part (couple of centimeters long) besides the L204. 8 golden bristle nose 12 Pseudotropheus demasoni 3 Julidochromis marlieri 5 Altolamprologus calvus 3 blacks whiptails 3 Panaque sp, L204 8 Aulonocara baenschi (I am waiting on 9 electric yellows and some more Julidochromis marlieri. If you read this Ryan, tell your fish to hurry up and get funky with it!!! ) in a 320 liter tank. With rock work, wood and plants. I have three java fern types and two Anubias species. Plus I am experimenting due to the pH with a crypt specie and two foreground plants and a feathery looking common tall thing (highly technical language). If the foreground plants continue to grow well, I will get more. What are the good nutrient levels to achieve to get this balance? I am relatively new to planted tanks and have been told several times that plants and cichlids don't mix. I have seen pic's of oversea tanks where they work perfectly well and want to achieve that as well. I will try the bleach thing this weekend coming. If anyone could list the ideal nutrient levels that would be great. It will give me something to work towards.

so I take it, it is not black beard the pirate?? are you are talking about flourish excel? I have just found this site, seems helpful. http://mralgae.blogspot.com/2008/01/so-you-have-got-dreaded-weed-in-your.html Seems I need to check my co2 and a couple of others levels. What is a good level for co2 to be at?? and can I get a test kit from the LFS?? I have seen P44 attempts to kill staghorn and it does not look fun. I will work on the black beard first as that seems more manageable. Will a weak solution of chlorine kill the nasty pirate or shall I use flourish excell for the time being?

How right you are

Here is the nasty stuff :evil: I hope someone can help now I have worked out how to post images!!

I have golden bristlesnose, black whiptails and L204 with my Africans and they are just peachy.

Depends on where you are in the country. lol If I list all of them some, won't thrive because they can suit warm, cool, cold conditions. Easy to recommend on a case by case basis and I am too lazy to sort by environmental conditions.

grow a legume crop! It is great for soil conditioning, adds nitrogen to the soil, protects the ground from erosional efeects and finally, when it comes time to planting time, turn the crop into the ground. This adds 0rganic matter to the soil, returns the nutrients to the ground and generally a healthy, sustainable land management practice. If you pm me I should be able to find some legume species that will even grow in the cold deep south

I just did a pH test on my water and the damn wood has lowered it to 7.56. I need to increase it and thought a general fix all would help make it easier with no potential mistakes . I will take on making that mix tomorrow.

Buffer Max Cichlid™ Cichlid Recreates the natural pH and alkalinity (KH) of lake Tanganyika, lake Malawi and lake Victoria. Buffer Max Cichlid™ contains a special blend of carbonates, bicarbonates, and borates that will increase KH and maintain the pH between 7.8 and 8.8. Buffer Max Cichlid™ is in a free flowing powder form and is sold with its own measuring scoop for more convenience.

no that isn't black beared algae. I will try and sort out the picture crap tonite and post a couple of images.

Heya guys, I have a algae problem on all three java fern types and one of the Anubias species. It looks grey/black in colour and kind of tuffy looking. It seems to grow mainly on the leaf margins on the older leaves but there is some on semi newer growth. I would post pic but got to try and work out how to post. lol WANT TO KILL THIS!!!!

One word. Awesome!!! If you ever get these guys and gals to breed I might just have to set a tank up for them.