Caryl

OK, I will pack the old sneakers instead :roll: Don't want to fall in!

Hi and welcome

You should only need to clean your filter out when it gets clogged enough to impede the return flow of water. Once that shows signs of slowing down, a clean is required. You just need to give it a good rinse in used tank water though, you do not want it looking pristine white again. All the good bacteria live in the gunk that builds up in the filter and you want that! I clean my filter once a year, at most. It is usually longer than that though. A lot depends on what sort of fish, plants, and stocking levels are used.

You can also pick them up from other second hand shops, recycling centres, garage sales and school or church fairs It is bottling season so there may not be many about at the moment.

My boss breeds Birmans and they usually have a waiting list for the kittens too. There are usually 1 or 2 cats in the surgery waiting room :love:

Certainly Joe.

Welcome back Brett.

Welcome. Good to know the shakes have not made you give up! :bounce:

Read the title! :lol: You missed it.

I love those dragonfish! :love: My boss was kind enough to ring to ask if I was watching it. I had planned too but had got too involved in my book so it was lucky he rang.

I can lend you my little wooden box (as made by Alanmin) if you want Joe. (I killed the worms I had :oops: )

I have the Amano book, of course, for plants. The Cichlid Aquarium - Dr Paul Loiselle The Complete Book of Dwarf Cichlids - Hans-Joachim Richter and 7 Baensch Atlases. All, except the latest Baensch's were in my previous list.

Then it is either in the wrong section or your definition of fun differs from mine :lol:

That depends on the conditions in which they are kept

I suspect not. I presume it is the direct sunlight that turns them brittle (buckets eventually have the same problem) so covering them with something should stop the sun breaking down the plastic.

A lot of plastic bins go brittle if left sitting in direct sunlight.

Do you have a Rock and Mineral Club in your area? They can be most helpful and will know where you can go to get "wild caught" rocks to suit your needs.

To me it is Joe, for this purpose. Unlike Sophia, I could not keep daphnia alive in buckets or anything smaller than the old bath I use, or a fibreglass pond. That is all I meant - I had more success in containers with larger surface areas. I believe daphnia use a lot of oxygen. It can obviously be done though, Sophia is proof! 8) Just trying to come up with ideas of why you had all the sudden deaths. Nobody sprayed anything nearby have they? Drift from neighbours? Perhaps it was the milk. I have never added milk before but I would have thought, in direct sun, it would go off and perhaps pollute the water? I fed my daphnia green water, yeast, and/or dried blood.

I kept mine in a small pond as I found daphnia do not do well in small containers.

I have added to the collection since then as well :roll:

I guess we will see you at conference then blueeyes? I am sure the NZKA members attending could transport killies too 8)

Me too Stephanie :-? That is looking good! Will be better once equipment is hidden.

Been there done that! Had a bit of trouble with ferry bookings as one of them will be off being refitted and we had to find the right sailing times. Don't forget to pack your gumboots if you plan to step in any rockpools!

You will know if you get a vet to check them and run tests.

Healthy, strong, bones for the daphnia