Caryl

It will be clear at the bottom, the bbs usually hang about in the middle, once the aeration is turned off, or head towards the light (if you have one). Look in the middle of the coke bottle and you should see a slight shimmering. That is bbs.

Redwoods and Organism at least have a lovely dark brown gravel which I find dark enough while still looking natural.

A remonder to all newly registers members here... being a member of this forum does not make you a member of the FNZAS with its associated privileges and discounts. To become an actual FNZAS member you must join an affiliated FNZAS fish club. A list of these and contact details can be found as stated above.

I do not use chemicals in my tank but have been told they upset the tank cycle and also give false readings on test kits.

Is this a newly set up tank with these inhabitants in it for these few weeks? Ammolock and stuff stops the tank cycle from completing properly (they also stuff up test kit readings). Stop using the products and just do the frequent water changes.

I only did so once recently as they were large cichlids and space was limited. I am friends with the Dr who heads the local A&E at the hospital and he gave me a small oxygen bottle and tubing A dive shop would be my other suggestion or do you know someone with a sick relative on permanent oxygen? A local rest home might help too as they will have lots of patients requiring it on occasion.

Hi and welcome SixLine. I am afraid you will notice a big difference in available fish ect here as compared to the USA

Welcome Mr X. Perhaps you will also consider joining a local FNZAS affiliated club in your area as well to get access to The Aquarium Wolrd magazine, Year Book plus discounts from selected retailers. Click on the FNZAS logo at the top left of the page and look under "Clubs" for the nearest to you.

Tonic salt etc. What else is included in the etc?

Oops, a bit out of date there. Contact Erling though as listed there as he is still treasurer.

Update for December. We went to Christchurch last weekend and bought 4 plants for the pond. All are growing well and two have flowered since. The water is going very green as the sun gets stronger and the plants are still so small so little surface cover. Still waiting for Grant to fix the hose so we can turn on the waterfall (pump is too powerful and noisy as the water hits the inside of the plastic filter so hard it drums loudly!) Ranunculus lingua aka water buttercup and here is its flower... This is Myriophyllum robustum Lysimachia nummularia aurea aka golden moneywort and last, but not least, Gratiola sexdentata. Note the tiny wee blue flowers

Perhaps the brown nosed one sucks up more

If you are feeding brine shrimp their little angel tummies will go orange and get bigger

A few more details would help. What size tank? How long has it been set up? Has it been cycled? Are there any other fish in with the discus? What temperature?

Worst: Losing a lot of fish when the filter failed on one tank while we were away, and then the thermostat cooked half the fish in the other tank while we were away the next time! Best: Getting my 10m x 3m pond finished and the front yard landscaped

There have been a few questions about how to use a siphon when doing water changes, and how to siphon in heavily planted areas. If you keep your thumb over the hose at the end aimed at the bucket, you can control the flow of water up the tube. To start the siphon, either suck on the end (and risk getting a mouthful of dirty tank water) or lower the tube into the water. Hold your thumb over the far end of the narrow hose and tip the tube until it fills with water. Keep filling until the tube and hose are full of water (you may have to raise the tube a few times out of the water to get it high enough to fill the hose as well, depending on its length) then, making sure the tube is under water, remove your thumb from the other end. When siphoning gravel, I shove the plastic tube as far into the gravel as possible and keep it there until the water going up the tube runs clear. I then put my thumb over the hose to stop the flow then move the tube to the next section. The gravel will ride partway up the tube and tumble clean then drop back to the bottom when you stop the water flow. When siphoning over plants I lower the tube as far as possible over the plant. Hope this helps.

Got a pic?

Depends on how old mum is. Anything from 4 to 204. She will produce every 4 - 6 weeks I never separate fry, I just provide lots of fine leaved plants for the fry to hide in - Java moss, water sprite, cabomba.

Molly fry are big enough to eat crushed flake

I thought it was one of the other myriophyllums that was banned Must go and check what I just bought for my pond then!

I also meant to tell you the Tasman Aquarium Club has just started. Send a PM to AMAZONIAN as he is sorting it out.

Watercress is used as a filter in ponds

My book that sets up an Amazon rain forest stream suggests; Cabomba caroliniana (Cabomba) Echinodorus tenellus (dwarf swordplant) Myriophyllum aquaticum (water milfoil) Eleocharis acicularis (hair grass) and bogwood

What is the hassle when you just lie it on the concrete and blast it with a hose? A lot cheaper too. Goes against the grain to buy driftwood when it is lying about for free.

Send a PM to TM on this forum as he custom builds tanks in ChCh. Does an excellent job too (and cheaper)