Caryl

Perhaps we could bruy things for Ira :lol: I have looked at the site a few times but generally found the same thing I wanted cheaper elsewhere so haven't actually used the site.

I have 7 Baensch Atlases here Very helpful books.

Why are you boiling it? :-? If it has not been used, painted or whatever, I would just add it as is.

Well I suggest you get one of each and give us a comparison report in that case! :lol:

In that case, let us know what you think of it over time

Mel - I have no idea if it matters what sort of cucumber it is :-? Phoenix44 - I assume if you are at a business lunch they served stuff with cucumber in them Barrie - The 80 - 90% of females may not actually be eating the cucumbers 8) Ira - pickles! Yuck :lol:

No, this is not going to be rude! For those who feed cucumber to their fish, here are a few other uses for the leftovers... 1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc. 2. Feeling tired in the afternoon? Put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours. 3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance. 4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area. 5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!! 6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!! 7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation. 8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water. 9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone! 10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams. 11. Just finished a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath. 12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean. 13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

JK it is an Expro-1000 HAQOS filter

I have confused you further Sandysme as I edited your title as well :roll: Sorry Many get bought and brought confused. Think of it as brought when you bring and bought when you buy. We know what you meant and that is what is important. That is an interesting looking filter but I have never seen, or heard, of one of that brand before. If you decide to buy one you will have to give us updates on its performance 8)

That collection of multi outlet boxes sitting beside the tanks worries me. What happens if water splashes over or a tank cracks?

Grant and I would love to attend this but it is Marlborough's Anniversary weekend and we are tied up with the 150 year anniversary celebrations :roll: If only it was the 22nd, we could come up after the exec meeting!

I seem to remember someone telling me the smallest width of a tank needs to be one and a half times the length of an adult fish so it has room to turn. I have read, in The Age of Aquariums site, of an 8 yr old giant gourami that is 64cm and lives in a 900L tank. The fish's owner says he would never keep an adult one in anything smaller than a heavily filtered 900L. Your tank's a trifle on the small size I would say at a guess 8)

Choice is yours but be aware the fry often swim back up through the slot in the V and the mum can eat them. How big the fry have to be depends on your other fish. They will eat anything that will fit in their mouths. A lot of fine leaved plant like ambulia, cabomba, Java moss and Indian fern will give fry plenty of places to hide.

I don't know about Furan 2 as I have never used it but I think it treats fin rot, as does Melafix. Furan 2 is very expensive though. My lfs has stuff with just "Fin Rot" written on the label. I have no idea what it is.

Or perhaps they don't like them in the water as their spines rip through fishing nets?

There is med you can get specifically for fin rot. I suggest you use that, not just "tonic".

Well a pic woudn't help me but it might help someone else. Heavy breathing in one fish (as opposed to all of the fish in a tank) sounds to me like something internal. Are the poos looking normal, or is it pooing at all? Other symptoms of fin rot are loss of appetite, sluggish movements and lying on the bottom of the tank, according to one site I have looked at. Have you treated it for the fin rot? Perhaps another dose is in order.

I hope you contacted Alice! Perhaps she has someone to ask too

How long has she been like this? Is it possible mum (or whoever) was over feeding while you were away? If so, even if she kept up the usual water changes they may not have been enough. I would check the water and do more water changes if the ammonia, nitrite or nitrate readings are too high and see if that perks up the fish. Is it the only fish in the tank? If not, are the others behaving normally?

There is a group who are very concerned about the quality of cichlids in NZ, especially the African ones which interbreed so easily. If interbreeding continues there will be no decent fish left. As more fish turn up on the banned imports lists it is even more important we save what we have and encourage fish keepers to breed as pure a strain as possible. When someone is offering fish for sale, if someone else suspects they are interbred, there is nothing wrong with a polite message being sent to that effect. The person selling may be unaware they are hybrids (or the person saying so may be incorrect for that matter) and welcome the information. It is all in the wording - and some of it, unfortunately, leaves a lot to be desired. :-?

Where did you hear that? More likely wishful thinking :roll:

Welcome back Lorey. I remember you too - Carly 8) (just a dig. I know my name is spelt in a weird way)

Welcome to NZ and I look forward to the pics. 8)

Did you poke yourself with your pointy stick Zev? :lol:

A friend's oscar loved bananas