Caryl

I have only ever just scrubbed rocks before putting them in a tank.

I have been trying to remember abuot hoplo spawning as Denise in Dunedin had lots of them many years ago. I seem to remember she too found a large water change (and slight drop in temp I think) triggered spawning.

I run the energy saving bulbs on my small tanks with no problems. Metal halides are totally different kinds of lights and I thought mainly used by marine keepers.

Rams seem to be particular about water conditions, plus they like a mature tank.

I would think it would work but wouldn't salt be cheaper? Unless it is some sort of porous rock, it will not have absorbed any pesticides so I would think pouring boiling water over it and/or salt, would suffice

He looks like an alien from the deep! 8)

Aren't they are great looking fish? My daughter outlaw wants one but has to wait until her tanks matures a bit.

Make your own heat pad filling 2L lpastic fizz bottle with hot water and wrap in newspaper or towel. Otherwise, sports and camping shops have them too. Someone here was selling them on trademe at one time I think. Poly boxes - supermarkets, fruit and vege shops, surgeries, vets, labs, (my garage :lol: )

Have they been recently moved? This can upset them when small. Also, how clean is the substrate? May be something there poisoning them.

I don't think the yoyos have been bred in captivity and nobody knows how to sex them. Hoplos are bubblenesters so need calm water for a start.

Frenchy - you are doing it wrong!! Don't you know the song says "You can leave your hat on". :lol:

I saw you but you ignored me

Here's some. The first one at least I know is Alan's http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v144/ ... Killifish/

I would be suspect about the advice the lfs is giving you! The tank is definitely still cycling then. Do you have some test kits? At this stage it helps to know your ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels as these will change as the tank cycles. If you get a reading that shows toxic levels, you are able to do an immediate water change to fix the problem and so help the fish. Fish do not need "perfect" conditions but they do need the best you can give them. Their lives depend on you. Do not get any more fish yet until testing shows your ammonia and nitrites are 0. Have a look here as I find this site excellent. http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/bcycling.htm More details http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cycling2.htm

Sounds like he has actually improved if he can now get himself off the filter. Plus, he managed to get out of the trap easily enough! Keep on with what you are doing and see if he comes right.

Put the log in a bucket of water and keep checking the pH there. You will soon see if it is the driftwood or not.

It is always exciting to see fry in the tank, whether you had been trying to breed fish or they did it without asking I just discovered yet more electric yellow fry last night :roll: . They are worse than rabbits!

Calm down shoes. One white spot on the lip does not indicate TB. Your tank is still cycling and neons are not the hardiest fish to do this with. Female neons sometimes look a little swollen when they are carrying a lot of eggs. What has been your tank maintenance routine so far?

Do they have a regular water change?

If you mean the barbs, they are fighting for domination. You need a group of 6 or more to keep this under control. If it is the angels, it could be either. Doesn't matter if they are siblings.

Get some test kits and check the pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. This will help us get an idea of what may be wrong.

and does your water match the alkalinity of the water the fish were in? Not sure if by "your water" you mean tap water or the new tank water. Has the tank come from the same area?

The Aug AW will have a recipe

It has been in the magazine Fenriswolf but perhaps it is worth repeating. Harder to get the separate thermostats we used though.

What are your ammonia and nitrate readings now?