Caryl

It is the filter that has the majority of the good bacteria in it, not the water. Think of it as a large water change and run the 2 filters together for a month. You will still have to add new fish slowly so the bacteria can build up to match the fish numbers.

Can anyone up that way tell me if Critters Petshop, Devon St East. still exists?

I'm glad you said that as I thought it was a colour mutation as well, nothing to do with the amount of salt. I wonder what else they are telling poor unsuspecting visitors?

Just siphon the water from one tank to the other (turn the heater off first), and move the fish in. Top up the tank with fresh water. Hang the old filter off the new tank for a month until the new filter gets established. I assume you are not wanting to use the old tank for other fish immediately in this case. Don't forget to turn the heaterstat back on once you have transferred it to the new tank

All those barbs cope with lower temperatures than most tropical which is why you can get away with the tank unheated, if the room temperature doesn't go below 20 - 22C. They are also good (possibly better) with a temperature of 22 - 26C I bred odessa and rosy barbs outside in paddling pools over summer although I suspect the temperature in the pools was hotter than the temperature of my tropical tank inside 8)

Only because you said if you moved the heaterstat over you would still see the cable.

Have you not got a backing sheet on the tank at all Rozski?

Which ones? You must pay me in chockie bickies

Be guided by the ammonia levels and do water changes as necessary.

It is a pity we can't put a sticky at the top of all Trademe auctions telling people (for general sales purposes only) that anything 2ft or under is small. To be considered big it must be 4ft at least. Anyone selling anything 10L or smaller should be made to put it under the household section and call it a vase! :evil:

Looks like a great start. How about moving the heater further along so most is hidden behind the Java and log?

No rain but certainly got frost. The 30ft pond has been staying iced over all day. Our lounge has a gas fire which automatically turns on overnight if the temp drops below 14C. It has turned on twice this winter.

Not as rare as a wife who irons surely? :lol: Alan I bet it got extremely cold in that garage of yours! Brrr

Just a thought - you can buy those thin silver blankets that they use for warmth when you go on overnight tramping trips. They would probably make an excellent tank cover in the event of a power cut. Cheap and store as a small bundle so won't take up much room. Yes newspaper also works well but I would still put blankets on top.

I never use meds in a tank unless I absolutely have to. Most fish will heal small scrapes etc on their own without extra meds if the tank is well maintained. I would use white spot cure if I had white spot in the tank.

Although 10 - 12 is standard. The maximum time will probably encourage extra algae growth.

Welcome Hoody. I suggest you join the Waikato Aquarium Society for added help and advice. They will see you right. Several of their members are in here...Dave or HandS for a start. Send them a PM for club details or check out the club section.

Personally I would not buy fish that had just arrived at a lfs. You don't know how far they have travelled, and what conditions they travelled in or for how long. They have then been dropped into a new tank with different water conditions then you come along and stress them further by having them netted again, transported yet again and then dropped into new tank conditions. Leopard corys are not that robust. I think it would be kinder on them if you waited and at least made sure the danios survive the cycling first. Corys shouldn't be added to a new tank. Let it mature a bit.

Keep a lookout for the locals too as they will object to you fishing in what they claim are 'sacred waters'.

Thanks Errol. Megs also has a friend going through tonight but if she comes home tomorrow, Redwoods will be shut so if you have the time to get 25kg of the dark brown gravel it would be much appreciated.

Thank you Alan x2 for the ID

Only one RTS per tank and most get stroppy and become bullies as they get older.

I used to have so much of it the fish couldn't swim, they had to climb over the plants! We stripped the tank and replanted some and they all packed a sad and died off. Months later, they started coming up again. :-?

Never thought of that and haven't read the top of the page for many years! :lol: This has always been The Fishroom to me. :roll:

That one sulks when moved :lol: It may die right off. I can never remember if it is a cryptocoryne or some sort of Echinodorus :roll: