Caryl

Some of you have followed the build of my pond, starting in 2006. Here it is today. The hebes are well overgrown (and hang almost halfway over the pond, making it look a lot smaller than it is) and some will be hacked back and others removed entirely. As I have to get into the pond to reach them I am waiting for warmer weather The mint is doing well. I am thinking of planting watercress as well as it will be nice and green and act as extra filtration.

I will have 2 dogs and a 1 year old grandson, among others, at my place for Christmas so looking to child-safe the lounge. Our tree will be up high (just use the top two tiers and put it on top of the pellet fire) and a bit of furniture arranged to stop him reaching it. I might get a playpen to put around the hearth instead. I had one but gave it to his parents to put the baby in. The baby stays outside of it and their guitars and amps are in the playpen!

I get oxygen weed from a local river free. Get it from an area with reasonable water flow so it is less likely to harbour algae.

Both are easy to grow. Attach to a piece of driftwood or rock and away they go. Neither like their roots buried.

I am sure you could find some in the Motueka Nelson area jackypukeko. Go and have a look in local rivers and streams. I know I have seen them in Marlborough. Used to catch them at Onamalutu.

Don't forget this forum is only part of a whole website dedicated to NZ fish keeping

Wow, not everyone has a magical tank appear in their house! Much excitement ahead and we look forward to progress reports and pics.

Welcome. You will find others around your age here too.

I don't think a non planted tank is simpler, except possibly in looks. What about rainbows? PS. Welcome back by the way Si.

When someone mentions oxygen plants, I automatically think coldwater oxygen weed. It is somewhere between $12 - $15 usually to post to Auckland. I can offer rotala, Java moss and crypts.

I have no idea about using garden soil but am happy to send plants as long as you pay the postage.

Have you still only the 1 hoplo? I would be swapping that plec for 2 or 3 more hoplos.

It will matter to the ambulia but I am not sure what grows outdoors up there.

I don't know what it's like in Auckland but down here I get my oxygen weed from the river that runs through the middle of our town. It is free!

So, have the kids left home or did you buy a bigger house? Welcome back

Yeah, I can see someone saying "I want to speak to the BigBossPants please".

Golden barbs seem to cause problems for many, although when I had mine they were fine and I think they may have been in the tank the same time as the neons but my tank is larger than yours too. This can make a difference to aggression, the smaller the tank the more aggressive the fishes as they try and mark their territory. Pictures don't always do the dwarf neons justice as they catch the light beautifully as they move causing their scales to flash and change shade and brilliance with their movement. They may not be a flash as the Boesemani but I am sure you will find their more subtle colour intriguing.

Welcome to the forum. Boesemani are large and active so need a good length for swimming, so 4ft minimum, especially as they are skittish and do better in a group of 6+, further requiring a larger aquarium. Do not use pHup as it will most likely cause pH swings in the tank. A steady pH a bit out of range is better than one that swings due to the regular addition or chemicals. Many fish do not show their true colours unless kept in ideal conditions with a large number of tank mates. I am sure you will find the neon dwarfs very eye-catching in the right light, especially if you have a group of them. Keep an eye on those golden barbs though as they may try to kill any fish with a similar body shape!

And now... http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/73569852/whitebaiters-pour-cooking-oil-into-river-in-new-fad Nothing like using cooking oil to help the E coli and fecal matter stick to your whitebait!

Have you tried removing it? It may not grow back. If it is a relatively new tank still maturing conditions will change for it and it won't grow again. I think others have removed such mould and it has eventually given up. Did you boil the wood before use? That might kill the spores.

From Jo Goodin, FNZAS Life Member: It is with sadness that I let you know that Terry Sale past away suddenly at his home in Masterton on the 29th October .His funeral will be held in Masterton Wednesday 4th Nov at 1.30 at St James Church High St Masterton. Terry and his late wife Jennie were members of the Hawkes Bay club for years. They were involved in the Federation and in Judging. They later moved to Masterton and became members of the Wairarapa Club. He will be missed by many.

Is it possible the council has recently flushed some sort of chemical through the water pipes?

If you wish to discuss this, rather than the whitebait sale ban petition, please start another thread in off topic!

Good luck with the new tank. I also started years ago when dad had goldfish in a tank then built a pond. After I married my husband and I decided to get a tank then another then... you know how it goes. Our kids got interested and one still has a tank today in his own house with his own son. Remember the bigger the tank the easier it is to care for. Small tanks need more maintenance and if you have a problem it can cause trouble much more quickly and dramatically than a larger tank with more water volume. Since you know it is a small tank, I assume it will be tropical, since we have few coldwater fish suitable for smaller tanks. Are you going fresh or marine?

White faced herons (which I suspect is actually the bird we are talking about) are 60 - 70cm high so at least half of that would be legs. I just remembered being told they are territorial during breeding season in spring so putting a fake heron near the pond stops the real one from going near. The fishing gut a few inches high works like I meant when I said a wee wire fence but a heron could stretch its neck over anything a few inches high. It would need to be more than one strand and higher than that. I can't be more specific about the kingfishers. I remember my dad having trouble with one until he cut the tree branch off where the bird sat. It did not then go and perch on a different branch - go figure. Fish only form a small part of their diet apparently and, after having ponds for over 40 years, that 1 kingfisher was the only one we have had a problem with. This may vary though depending where you live.