Caryl

I have been there and it is great! See the 11 metre (yes, I do mean 11) cichlid tank.

We have sony F828 to but Grant thinks the digital SLRs are the way to go. They are faster, easier to focus and manual focus is essential (he claims). Good range of lenses available. Bad part is the lenses cost a lot of money. There are good deals on the Canons at the moment, like the EOS350e. Personally I like my Sony cos I leave it on auto (as I know nothing about photography) and just point and shoot. We got it cos it was good in low light settings. We also got a separate flash unit for it which improved quality considerably.

The Fish Fairy whispers in kellsz ear "Another tank would be good!!"

I hope you realise the tank sits in front of a gap in the wall between the kitchen and lounge so the tank can be seen from both sides in the middle. That is what the blue strip is in the middle - the water level indicator on the jug on the bench behind in the kitchen. :lol: I suspect the thing you mean is the green bar on the top left? That is the return spray bar for the external Jebo filter.

I should have explained that Gareth and Dena's birthdays are just a couple of weeks apart and not only did we combine their birthdays, we combined with Dena's parents to supply the present. Her dad built the cabinet (and a beautiful job he did of it too) and we supplied the stuff on top (and the filter inside the cabinet). We had fun visiting all the lfs to buy suitable fish. It is now stocked with angels, harlequins, leopard corys, opaline gouramis, neons (left over from old small tank they had) and tetras. Once the tank has matured some more and they have made suer all have settled in, they want to add some blue Rams.

electric yellows need different conditions so could not go with the other 2.

We have been away so much we keep missing the landscapers. Currently, we have suggested they try Grant's ballcock idea. They thought this was a good plan but if we were not satisfied with the results, they would go back to their suggestion of lining it. This would be a major job though so we are trying to avoid it.

A teenager, caserole??? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :roll:

If I remember rightly, this was a newly set up tank wasn't it and fish were added fairly quickly? White spot is usually a result of poor water conditions and I suspect if you tested your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels you would see the problem. The fish will continue to get the disease until the underlying cause corrects itself ie the tank fully cycles and, in the case of the clowns, matures further as well. Clowns need excellent water conditions and will get white spot at the drop of a hat!

Sorry Richelle but we had the whole front yard done so have no idea how much just the pond was. I will try and remember to ask the landscapers next time I am talking to them.

I htought you weren't supposed to feed Malawis worms? I tried them on daphnia but they didn't seem interested.

I have never fed my fry anything different since I never notice they are there until I see one darting about under the rocks :roll: They seem to nibble on any flake zooming past in the current. My Malawis get fed Sera cichlid pellets for Africans and spirulina flakes.

Is that in the shop or in your home? We will be in ChCh this weekend setting up my son and his partner's 3ft tropical tank so will be doing the rounds of lfs for suitable inhabitants. (I realise that is not a suitable inhabitant )

We often come home to several thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment sitting on the doorstep. Luckily we live in a back section so stuff can't be seen from the road.

Traffic? What's that? :lol:

Hi and welcome cyberfin. You need to join the Dunedin Aquarium Club

Most clubs have evening meetings.

www.plantgeek.net plus we have our own on this site of course

You could but you are unlikely to get much response. Better to say "A meeting is being held such and such a time and date for anyone interested in forming an aquarium club locally." If you just ask "is anyone interested?" it is not specific enough.

Too busy, too lazy, too scared to be the first, waiting for someone else to do it? Our club started in private homes then moved to a local Plunket rooms. $8 rent per meeting in those days. 8) We ran a raffle each month (winner provided next month's prize) to cover the rent.

Decide where and when you want to meet then contact me to make some posters for you. These will advertise the purpose, the date, time and place of the meeting. Put them up in pet shops, supermarkets, library, vets, malls etc anywhere there is a public noticeboard. Talk to the local paper and get them to do an article on you wanting to start a club (preferably before the meeting date). How's that for a start?

From what I've read, the most regular additive for marine keepers is $$$$ :lol:

If they'll eat 'em. Most omnivorous or herbivorous fish will eat them.

I think you need to sterilise as bugs are hardy little buggers, hot water isn't enough. Either boil or use bleach (rinsing very well after of course)