Caryl

Tin foil works well. I have also seen one made using old CDs :-?

I would tell you if I could find my Takashi Amano book :roll: Google his name and I am sure you will find it easily. Basically, it is... Greek philosophers and mathematicians found out long ago: the best ratio that pleases your eye is 1:1.618. To explain. When you drink your coffee, you mix one part of milk with 5 parts of coffee (just as an idea) You have a ratio of 1:5. So when you place your focal point, you divide your tank length into two pieces. One has the ratio of 1.618 and the other the ratio of 1. How to do that??? Very simple: just measure the length of your tank and divide it through 2.618. Take the result and measure it from one side of your tank. Mark it. The rest is 1.618 (no math there). This is the place for your very special centerpiece, focal point or whatever you call it.

See how even the scales along the top are standing out?

Here is the one and only fish I have had that got dropsy. See the scales are sticking out the whole length of the body

Only 50??? Welcome 8)

As an aside, dropsy affects the whole body and the scales stick out all over, even along the top of the body. If a fish has a swelling the scales will naturally stick out where the swelling is, as they accommodate the bulge beneath, not all over the body.

Interesting you should say that kiwiplymouth as I too thought that was the reason you should not use the iodised salt.

Perhaps you have the rarer chirping grunty tree frogs

If you have the opportunity to see this show then do so. I have never laughed so hard in my life!!! :lol: http://www.busting-out.com/theshow.html

Shouldn't that be plecoholics gone public?

We can all help by taking them off your hands I am sure

I think you are argueing semantics here. Separate companies but all owned by the same umbrella company. I suggest anyone wanting to transport fish contact their local branch to see what they say. Is that pet courier still operating? Used to be called Stuart Little I think but then changed name.

Every now and then a bar decides to do this an animal lovers get upset. Hopefully it will be stopped or someone catches something nasty from the fish or chokes on it or something :roll: I am not sure what it says about a person who thinks swallowing a live animal in this manner is fun. :evil: I have no objection to those doing it in the wild when they require a source of food!

They look stunning in a larger group. Always on the move and they catch the light beautifully.

Oooh yes, excellent suggestion douwe! One of my favourites them thar torpedo barbs.

I have an overall view of the tank 8) Never occurred to do a closeup of the workings sorry.

I edited your post there Mystic as I am sure you did not mean to leave the L out of the word "tilt" in the last sentence. Don't want anyone making suggestions and references to wet T shirt competitions! :lol:

Dwarf neon rainbows, Melanotaenia praecox, can get to about 6cm. Featherfin rainbows reach 5cm but are very fine and delicate looking.

I too would suggest rainbows.

Good to hear you got it sorted in the end Stella. I have learned never to sit down with a book while a tank is filling :roll: When I use my siphon python thing to refill it is very very slow and I tend to forget it is going (especially if my head is in a book!) so I now refill using the good old bucket sytem and consider it good exercise and worthy of a dessert. With 2 buckets I can have one filling while I pour the other into the tank. The dual tap goes at just the right speed to be almost full by the time I return with the empty bucket. If it overflows it only goes into the sink and we don't pay for wayer useage.

That's my innocent look. Isn't it convincing? :lol:

Must I? :lol: Thanks. See you at your place.

Cool! I love insects. Their patterns are beautiful.

:oops: silly me, I misread it. :roll:

How deep is it? It is possible the water is getting too hot and lacking oxygen. What you have done so far is good and the hose will bring the temp down and what I would have suggested. How big is the pond and are there other fish in it? If so, how many? Are they doing the same or just this one? I gather the pond has no filtration or fountain, waterfall etc? A fountain, or similar, would help but make sure it does not spray the lily leaves as lilies do not like that.