Caryl

Not at all! I was going to add to it but my comment would have been

I know this is Kapi-Mana's trip, not mine, but hoped you wouldn't mind me sorting out what to do there as I know where everything is and can estimate times etc.

There won't be any fish in the daphnia culture.

Am working on a suggested itinerary now. Will post ASAP.

Boy I wanted to add to Mark's last post but remembered I am a Mod and this is a family forum :lol: Gannet I thought you said that you don't work for Mark you just go and HUG him a lot! Had to read it twice :lol:

If it fizzes, it shouldn't pass the pH test.

Snails I would hazard a guess.

Marble ought to be OK. Coral rock will alter the pH. Bamboo tubes - any garden centre

I could. Give others something to be jealous about eh? 8)

But where does your cousin live? What size are you needing HaNs? Looks like I will have to rummage about in the pond :roll:

Cycle may give the cycle a small boost but it is just as easy to save your money and not use it. It still has to have fish in the tank to do anything.

I know a godlfish breeder in Auckland who never used additives to get rid of chlorine. I saw him fill a tank from a hose (and I could smell the chlorine) then dump the fish in it. He said he didn't have time to muck around with water and the fish would have to get used to it Seems they did though as all his fish were huge and healthy. We do not have chlorine added to our water either so can use it straight from the tap. I understood there was a difference when speaking about chloramines in the water, as a result of added chlorine, and other chloramines actually added to the water supply. Overseas it seems they add both to the water supply.

If you can teach it to feed from your hand while it is in a tank, it will come to you for feeding once in the pond. Although blind, a fish can often manage quite well as they enhance their other senses to find the food. If you feed the pond at the same place all the time it will learn.

I am organising a suggested itinerary to send you soon billaney. It includes a visit to Alan's as he has invited us

Beaut pics Alan.

Going to conference? I could bring some up

As a whole.

Doesn't appear to be harmful

As I said, I don't do anything except hose it down and clean out the crevices.

I checked too although I was sure you were correct and the magazine was wrong :lol:

Many thanks Layton. Hmm Herpolita is the spelling used in the magazine I am using as a reference.

You do not put 2 red tailed sharks in a tank together - unless it is a very large tank (6ft+). The smaller one will be killed.

Test the ammonia etc levels now and go from there I think. I have never tried a fishless cycle but they are all the rage in the UK and cycling with fish is very much frowned upon.

Assuming you are not feeding fry, and the tank is mature, I leave mine up to 2 weeks.

I get all mine from Hokitika beach. It has wonderful waterlogged rata and rimu washed down from the rivers. All I do is give it a squirt with the hose and scrub out the holes and add it to the tank.