Caryl

Hi Dusty and welcome. A 200L is a good size to start with. Not sure if I would put bettas in it though, especially if you want a good community group. I know a lot of people keep their bettas happily this way but I think they look better in a tank of their own - and a smaller one too. A tank that size would look good with shorter finned shoaling types (tetras, barbs etc) and gouramis or similar. These aren't good to have with bettas as their fins are too tempting.

My son and his partner swam with dolphins at Akaroa and said it was a fantastic experience

Yeah right! :lol:

I seem to remember people complaining about them a few years ago but don't quote me on that! :roll: :-?

He got his ahead of everyone as I was posting him something else so threw the magazine in to save postage

Grant and I went on the last hunt. We neither wanted any fish, nor joined in with those wading through the swamp, but we went for the cameraderie and to have a laugh at others' expense :lol: It is a good opportunity to meet other forum members and put a face to a name. Also good to just have fun! (we laughed a lot!!!) :bounce:

This was posted out today. Thanks to all those who contributed. It is so good to be able to pick and choose from a variety. It has meant the magazines are getting a wider range of topics and contributors so are even more interesting than before! This month look out for; a fish called Bonneville Cisco the adaptation of higher plants to a life submerged Learn more about panaques How do you kill a fish? Watch out for fish TB Learn about biological filtration and the nitrogen cycle Finding Nemo in your lfs How do you post plants? How do you culture wax worms? Look for pics and info on Peter Cottle's fish collecting expedition in Sulawesi Fill out the registration form for conference 2009 PLUS much more!!! Please keep those articles coming as I need to get May finished before I head overseas and would like to be a fair way through August's as well so I am not rushed on my return. Don't forget that all those who supply an article will get first pick of the free beds on offer for this year's conference in the Coromandel! It sounds like it will be a very interesting conference (as usual) 8)

Some swim immediately and some drop to the gravel.

I think the translation is "my platys have just had offspring" Bigger fish, including the mum, will eat the fry. Have plenty of fine leafed plants for them to hide in, or separate them. Feed them finely crushed flake food.

Number of fry varies a lot from half a dozen to 20 or more (there have been reports of up to 200 but I have never seen this many) depending on the size and age of mum. Feed them small amounts often. Crushed flake is fine. Mum can drop fry every 4 - 6 weeks and can do so over a few days.

My Africans were having living and breeding at pH 7.0 :roll:

Only 27.1 here but quite windy and higher than normal humidity

The time frame seems wrong to blame the new filter or media but I have no other suggestions off-hand. Apart from the gourami, the rest are bottom dwellers. Have you a "dead spot" in the gravel somewhere? Are the surviving fish acting as normal?

Well last night was my surprise birthday party! It was the best birthday ever so I thank my daughter, Kelly, very much for all the hard work she put into it. The hardest part I think was blowing up 50 balloons :lol: Every time one burst I claimed a year back so I am now only 45 :lol: Guests were told presents were unnecessary but if they did wish to bring one, to make it on the theme "Caryl's Golden Years Survival Tolols". As a result, I got some very funny gifts including; a pair of slippers made out of sanitary pads (very ingenious!) a pack of Tena Lady incontinence pads a spade (as the giver said I was a friend who called a spade a spade so deserved a real spade of my own) a walking stick a bottle of revitalising V Werthers Originals a travel hairbrush (from a friend who couldn't believe I often left the house without remembering to brush my hair) a fish in a plastic bag (apparently it is actually soap) eyelift cream a flashing birthday button a "Too pooped to party" birthday candle Nivea anti-wrinkle cream Chapstick walking socks Barley sugars little racing motorbike I think the finniest was the "Lonely Planet Guide to World Travel for Over Fifties" my friend Dorothy made. On the front it said Once you are fifty, the world is your oyster... Shuck it! :lol: On the back cover it had the following blurb; 23 ways to say Eh? What did you say? in 14 different languages Slow dancing (and we mean slow) in Rio Zimmer frame walks through the Andes Resort hotels with pre-chewed food LARGE PRINT maps available Nan naps on request You think you're old - wait til you see the tour guides! The birthday cake was lit with many sparklers - and set off the fire alarms!!! 8) More pictures added here

Quite right, the mechanism is in fact refraction and the amount of refraction depends on the density of the ionised layer and the frequency of the signal. The overall effect is similar to reflection but because the refraction varies with frequency, some signals are not refracted as much as others, so do pass right through the layer with only a slight bend in their progress while others have enough refraction to bring them back to Earth again. If you Google "HF propagation refraction index" you will find a lot of information.

Jude don't you mean he knows which side his fish is battered on? :lol:

Separate it from the others then and see if it perks up once it is not being attacked. Keep an eye out for infections from wounds etc.

Yes, if the ionisation layers are at the right density, the right height and we choose the right frequency it just might work - but then again, it might not. It is also affected by sun spots, of which there are none at present! :lol:

Having used Eheim, Fluval, AquaClear and Jebo, I liked Jebo best.

Seems very much an attitude thing. If you go in positive the hypnosis will work then chances are it will. I know of some who tried it. Success rate was about 50/50 I think. Neither of my parents smoked but all 4 of us kids took it up Eldest now only smokes pipes as he claims it is less harmfull :roll: Second eldest was a 40 a day for over 20 years saying you had to die of something, until he worked out he could have bought his new car with the money spent. Stopped cold turkey and got his car. Never smoked since. I was more a social smoker. Met my husband who was asthmatic, so gave up for him, cold turkey. Guess I should credit him with saving my health :lol: Youngest tried giving up numerous times and claimed an allergy to the patches. Finally gave up for good a couple of years ago.

I don't have an old diamond ring, let alone want a new one! Waste of money :roll:

If he is unable to eat I would put him out of his misery. Lockjaw seems to be something predatory fish, particularly marines, are more likely to get so I doubt it is the case with your neon. Some fish, like goldfish, have a tendency to swallow stones with the occasional one getting stuck. Again, I doubt the neon did this. It is possible he whacked into something and damaged his jaw, otherwise I can't think of anything else being the cause. Can't suggest a cure either sorry.

Oh dear from me too :lol: I had to research to see what adzuki beans were too :roll:

Watch out for didymo!

Hmmm, isn't Pingu a penguin? :-?