Caryl

Dark always brings out the colours in fish otherwise they pale trying to blend in.

I agree with everything stated. If you must have someone feed them, divide the food into pill containers ($2 Shop) and hide the rest or don't feed them at all if the tank is well established, fully planted and not overstocked. We regualrly go away up to 10 days at a time and don't feed the fish. Do not be tempted to feed them extra the night before either!! Make sure the filter is clean and running well. Do a water change a couple of days before then off you go.

There is quite a group who advocate adding salt but I have always said they are freshwater, salt should not be added as a 'tonic'.

You will still find it heavy enough with just the substrate and gravel Milet. I would just empty the water and fish into a large container (not bother bagging them) or buckets then pour the lot back in when ready. The plants will cope for a couple of hours out of the water. be careful of the fine stemmed plants like cabomba or ambulia as they will break easily without the water to support them.

Thanks for that

kttk it varys each year depending on what the host club arranges. basically though we get together Friday night for registrations then Saturday is the AGM. Get the boring bit over with first. 8) Saturday night is usually a meal out somewhere. Sunday is whatever is organised by the local club and often includes a tour of local attractions. This conference will have a lot to do with the National Aquarium I expect Another meal together in the evening with raffles running most of the weekend with opportunities to win great prizes generously donated by aquarium wholesalers and retailers.

So is ours as it is artesian. The Africans didn't seem to mind the sudden temp or pH change and would swim in the current from the trigger gun - and boy was it some current! :lol:

That's looking good but it is a lot of fish for a new tank. Hope you are keeping an eye on water parameters. Make sure food gets to the corys and bristlenoses as it will be another couple of months before there is anything for them to graze on.

Looks great with a good turnout. Love that first tank.

I was thinking the same thing evil :lol: Herons can clear out a pond fast too

I use one of those trigger gun things on the end so no running back and forth.

Wait until the end of the week Jim as that info should be on the reg forms

When doing water changes on my African tank I just hauled the garden hose through the window. Easy.

yes

Planaria worms look like fine threads. Caused by overfeeding. Give the gravel a good siphon and cut back on the amount you are feeding. Planaria are harmless by the way.

6ft x 2ft x 2ft

My plants do that after a water change. I always thought it was just trapped oxygen :-?

albinos :lol:

So what temp and pH are they in?

Apparently lilies only need to be removed over winter if you wish to divide them next spring. They need to be kept moist. If so, I am not sure why it is suggested you remove them from the pond :-?

Clean out rotting vegetation, dead leaves and plants etc. Check and clean out filters. Do not turn them off over winter! Cut back any plants that require it. Remove lilies for overwintering. Check pipework joints and seals as ice can open cracks. Check the pump is going well with no worn parts. Raise it to just below the water surface. The agitation will help stop ice forming and warmer water will stay undisturbed at the bottom. Normally warm air and water rises but in a cold pond the surface water freezes and forms an insulating layer which forces the warmer water to sink. That is why pond fish head for the depths during winter. If the water temp reaches 2C ice crystals will form in the gills, causing them to burst and kill the fish. Cover part of the pond if you can as this will stop the whole surface from freezing so oxygen can still dissolve and carbon dioxide escape. Make sure the cover allows light through or algae and plants will die and pollute the water. If you have a waterfall or fountain it may pay to turn them off as flowing water will chill rapidly and lower the pond temp. Don't feed the fish. Once the temp drops below 10C the fish's digestive systems shut down into semi hibernation mode and they can't process food. Nitrates will build up over winter so make sure you do a water change in the spring.

Yes they do tend to fade as they get old. They will also look pale in a lfs if they are stressed, which is often the case.

Makes sense. I look forward to more pics once the plants are established then

Very nice. I much prefer the cardinals to neons. A pity they cost so much more. I also love a big group of rummys. May I suggest a bit more plant on the left? The tank looks a little unbalanced to me but it may be just the pic (or me).

Just trying to do an article on these fish. There seems to be 2 colour forms - yellow and red. Do we get both in NZ?