Caryl

Hi fluffypants and welcome. That will be too many fish for your small tank. Save money and stop adding the fertiliser, Stress Zyme and water conditioner, they are not needed. You will not have cooked the plants at 28C and by now you will realise that 25 on the heaterstat doesn't necessarily mean 25C :roll: . Neons are not good to start a tank with as their quality seems to leave a lot to be desired these days and they will most likely die in a newly set up tank. The zebra danios would be excellent to start with as they are hardy. 6 of these would cycle your tank nicely. If you start with them, do not add any more fish for at least 1 month to give the bacteria time to build up in the undergravel filter. This is what we mean by "cycle". As the fish produce waste, this is converted by good bacteria into harmless stuff and builds up slowly over time. If you add too many fish at once they will die from ammonia poisoning as the new bacteria can't multiply fast enough to keep up with the wastes produced. Guppies and platies are livebearers so will produce fry every 4 - 6 weeks - hundreds of them! If you do not want this, as you will have to have somewhere to put them, get all males. Otherwise, you want a ratio of one male to every 3 - 4 females. I would not add a Siamese Fighter (although many will disagree with me) I feel they are better suited to a species only tank of their own. Dwarf gouramis are sensitive to water conditions so don't add them either until the tank has matured a few months and stabilised. How about attending the next Totally Tanked meeting? Check out http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/februa ... 18496.html They will be able to give you a lot of help (and maybe fish and plants too ) and help you work out what is best for your tank.

I don't shift big fish in plastic bags. They go straight into solid plastic containers or barrels. Much easier and no chance of burst bags.

The bigger the tank the easier it is to look after.

Welcome Ashbo. You also have a choice of local clubs you can join too.

Comets need length to be able to swim as they are fast and grow large. 90cm minimum tank length I would personally recommend. Why not swap them for some fancy goldfish like veil or fantails? They do not speed about like the comets.

You are in ChCh so as far as I know you do not need water conditioner as your water supply is not chlorinated. Wait for another ChCh person to confirm this though. Cycle is not needed either. You don't need to leave the water overnight, out of the tap will be a fine with a little hot water added to take the chill off it. What size is your tank? Comets are better in a pond.

Yeah, PM Tank Man he will be able to advise you.

I have barbs :lol: (not torpedos yet) The rosy barbs rip into it.

Torpedo barbs - my favourite fish at the moment. I also love star grass but can't have it in my tank as the fish strip it bare within 24 hours Looking good!

Sorry to hear that. Some times we just don't think

welcome bdspider. I hope you realise some of the fish on your wish list are not suitable for your small tank!

and you're getting some use out of that new camera Hope they all hatch and survive.

I am ignoring this entire thread! :evil: :lol:

To me it looks like blood under the skin (scales, whatever) indicating internal bleeding. Possible parasites? 10 years is young for a pond goldfish and that is very small for a 10 year old fish. They can live over 35 years.

As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder, so yes, separate the boys from the girls. It may not make them fonder but they sure will be keen! :lol:

I too have seen similar tanks here but not that brand particularly. Have a look around or Google NZ

Green water is exactly that. Put a container outside, fill with water and keep in the sun and it will go green. The green is microscopic greeblies fry will freed on.

Don't use the stuff. It is only temporary depending on the buffering in the tank and will more likely result in huge pH swings. Why do you want to alter the pH? What is it, and what do you want it to be? There are more natural and longer lasting ways than those products. Besides, read the label. I think pH Up is just an expensive way of buying baking soda

We are South Island and going Jared. Whether we can keep some alive long enough to get them to you I don't know but can try. We will be in ChCh mid March to pick up our new 4WD. In between we will be overseas so someone else will be living in the house and feeding the fish.

Zev you just described the average cat :lol:

I assure you, he won't be the only wet and muddy one there! Maybe the smallest though That's what changes of clothing are for.

Of course you are farmchick. The more the merrier! 8)

Yeah I have never come across an unfriendly one either :-? Great pics.

I don't want any either Shiuh. I am going for the fun of it (and it was an excuse to justify the expense of attending an exec meeting, which I don't usually manage to do). Will be taking heaps of pics I assure you! The February Aquarium World is also on hold so I can add a report on the Molly Hunt (and the exec meeting if there's room) before it goes to print

The fluffy bits would tickle the fish or coral's fancy I reckon I would ask at a vet's.