Caryl

Good luck! Tomorrow someone is coming to catch all my fish and dismantle my last aquarium. I will be fishless for the first time in 45 years. I am unable to do the maintenance myself and want them to go to somewhere they will be well looked after.

I was going to post an updated pic of what the cucumber slices looked like today but when I looked, at lunchtime, the knitting needle was totally bare! It usually takes them 3 or 4 days to finish it and there are often rings of skin floating about, which I remove.

Here is what it looks like day 2. See how they have eaten from the inside out? You can also see gnaw marks on the outer skin.

I've never boiled any veg before adding them to the water. I would think they would break up and foul the tank faster. You don't have to weight them down either but I think it makes it easier for the fish to eat. Try spearing a slice onto a fork and dropping that in. Try various veg but make sure they are washed first to remove any pesticides or other stuff on store bought veg. It can take the fish a day or two to recognise it as new food. If they haven't touched it after 3 or 4 days, and it is starting to break up, remove it and try something else. Pumpkin is also enjoyed by some fish but it does break up faster, which is why cucumber, zucchini and the like work well. Shelled peas are often used for constipated fish. Experiment and see what your fish like best. I knew a cichlid who loved bananas!

Thought you might like to see these pics, taken today (excuse the messy tank). The gold ancistrus is around 8cm. The Odessa barbs went nuts over it as soon as I dropped it in.

Until they have eaten all but the rind, or it all starts to fall to bits. Start with 1 slice as it sometimes takes them a while to try new foods.

MUST PICK UP (and catch the fish yourself) FROM BLENHEIM. Prefer all to go together for ease of dismantling. Can offer 2 large (50L?) barrels with sealed lids for transport. Barrels are 52cm high and 54cm diameter. Might be 3 barrels if I can find the other lid. I have a 280 - 300L tank I am shutting down. It has been running over 22 years now. If someone wants it, they are welcome to it but it needs complete resealing and there are light scratches on the glass, although I suspect if you turned it around the back side may be a lot better. Good for a frog tank or terrarium though. Everything is free except the filter. I would like to see that sold as a fully cycled item, rather than get rid of the fish then have the bacteria in the filter starve. I am embarrassed how bad it looks these days but we were finding it increasingly difficult to do regular maintenance and now Grant has died, I can't manage the filter by myself (back problems). Tank - 122cm wide x 50 x 54cm front to back. Glass is 1cm thick and takes 3 or 4 strong people to lift, unless it is dismantled on site (preferably after it is empty 🙂 ). It has 2 sheets of thinner glass on top that the fluorescents sit on but has about a 10cm gap. Lighting: Single old-style fluorescent tube in even older-style bracket, with timer. Filter: Aqua One Aquis 1200 and must be picked up (especially if full of bacteria etc as it is heavy). $100 (they retail $160 - $200 new) Heating: External heat pad covering tank base with internal thermostat. Fish: 50 - 60 Odessa barbs, 2 or 3 gold ancistrus (1 is a huge male) and about 7 brown ancistrus (a mix of sexes). May be more but I never see them all at once. These fish have never been with any other fish, as nothing has been added to the tank for at least 15 years - all are self populated. Plants: Java moss, Cryptocoryne affinis (I think), Anubias nana. Sorry but the Anubias has a lot of algae. Substrate etc: Brown aquarium gravel and 2 large rimu pices of driftwood. You will probably be given all sorts of other aquatic paraphernalia, including extra filter media (if you want it)

Raw cucumber. They will eat all sorts of veg actually. They are very small so don't upset the bioload too much when young. I found they don't transport well under 3cm so you need them at least that to sell in my opinion. Others may disagree (someone always does 🙂 ) Fella may have been cleaning out the site ready to entice a female into his space.

Sounds interesting. Post pics as you set it up so we can see what you've done please. I'm pleased you realise you are limited to what, and how many, fish you can put in a 65L. Good luck. If you're looking for quality plants, try Cam at thefishroom.co.nz he's in Stoke too so handy for you.

As there's nothing else in there, leave them where they are. Once the fry leave their cave they look cute zipping about with their little tails looking like flags. Neither parents eat the fry. Indeed, neither do other fish. No special care is needed and they do not need to be separated from the adults. They love cucumbers. Weight a slice - I use a fishing sinker tied to one or thread a row of slices onto a knitting needle with the sinker tied to the middle, so it sits on the substrate, or leave it floating, and watch them eat it from the inside out until all that's left is the skin. Your biggest problem will be catching the speedy little buggers when you want to sell them 🙂

Good luck. What sort, and size, aquarium? I am the opposite, having kept fish for over 50 years, I am about to dismantle my last aquarium. All I need to find is someone who wants 50 - 60 Odessa barbs and some ancistrus.

It will be interesting to see the finished filter. I have never made an UG filter as bought ones were always cheap and easily available in the size I wanted.

Hi Matt. I am afraid Warren no longer belongs to this group so is unable to answer your question although I would expect a brace to alter calculations.

If there is anyone on these forums who knew Grant, his funeral will be livestreamed Saturday afternoon; https://sowmans.co.nz/upcoming-funerals/

Good ideas here - https://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=24836 Raise the water temp and do a good vacuum too.