Caryl

Day 15 LOOK We've got GRASS!!! :bounce: Wasn't there yesterday! We also have very fat and happy starlings.

We (us and the landscapers) think it looks better too. They said it was funny stuff to work with and quite rubbery to touch. The concreters actually used the wrong aggregate I gather and it wasn't supposed to be as large a grade stones as it had.

Right you lot, contact each other and see if one of you is willing to offer your house for the first meeting. Sharn is sending me the details and I am producing full colour posters for you. Let's get this club off the ground!!! :bounce:

If you have no club in your area and would like to start one... 1. Decide on a meeting time, date and place. 2. Design an eye catching poster giving details of the meeting plus a couple of contact names and numbers. (I am happy to design a poster and print them for you, in full colour, very cheaply - if not free) 3. Contact local paper and ask them to interview you about starting the club and make sure they mention the meeting details in the article. Make sure they also print the article BEFORE the meeting! 4. Put posters up on every public notice board you can find, vets, malls, supermarkets, schools etc. At the actual meeting, find out if there is enough interest to continue. If so, you will need to decide on the best day and time for regular meetings and a place for them. If you have lots of interest you may need a hall or large room rather than a private home. You need to decide what you want to do at meetings as you want people to be interested enough to return. Once you are up and running you will need to elect a committee. You will need a president, secretary, treasurer and editor at least (it would be good to have a club newsletter). If you have to pay for your room hire you will need to have subs. If you decide to affiliate to the FNZAS you will definitely need subs as it will cost $10 per head (or family) plus a $25 levy paid by the club annually to help pay for the Year Book. Affiliation to the FNZAS gives each member (or family) an Aquarium World magazine 4 times per year plus a Year Book. This has the contact details of every club and member in the FNZAS plus a lot of helpful other information. It also lists all the retailers nationwide who offer discount to FNZAS members.

I know 2 others in Te Puke who belong to other clubs Sharn. They might help too. I will PM details

Day 14 (we have been held up due to welcome rain - not welcome to the vineyards though as they have started harvesting). Landscaper says yes, the steel rods were lifted off the plastic and the coating is over 100mm - more like 150mm. The pond cured properly and there are no cracks. They have got a new product up from ChCh to seal the pond. They have put a slurry over it and, with this sealer stuff, it will bond to the concrete. All will then be repainted with more paint and sealer.

I have been asked this so often I will make a sticky some time in the next few days, when I have the time, and post a How To guide.

I think I should make a sticky about this subject somewhere! To start a club, decide on a time and place for a meeting then put up posters everywhere - libraries, malls, vets, schools, and public notice board you can find. If you have a local paper, get them to interview you about wanting to start a club in the area and make sure the meeting details and a contact name and number are included. Have meeting and go from there.

Welcome to The Fishroom. What is it with all these Pauls who keep fish? 8) I do believe some are trying to start a club in Tauranga.

By doing such a massive water change, cleaning the gravel and cleaning out the filter all at once you have totally destroyed what cycle you had and it will have to start again. It is also possible you have too many, or too big a fish in the tank and the filter is not coping with the extra load as they grow.

All female fish act pretty much like that. I was laughing at my big electric yellow male the other day as he shimmied and danced in front of the small female while she ignored him totally! They may be breeding but you haven't noticed. The eggs and fry are both just about impossible to see as they are so small. They are not noted for eating their fry. Try shining a torch into the container. The fry's eyes will reflect the torch light. Especially look around the edges as they will cling to the sides of the container or plants.

They are settling in. Once used to their new surroundings they will venture further but generally speaking will be middle to top swimmers.

I too would guess the tetra

Bunnings is a large chain of hardware warehouses.

The off switch is your concrete driveway - which the fish must hit at great speed

Welcome Deaane. What is a sunset wcmm (I know the wcmm bit, it is the sunset bit I am querying)? Do you have a pic?

Not so stupid if you figured out where you went wrong

Me too Ira!

Hope I have the names right :roll: Aphyosemion gardneri Aplocheilus lineatus Aphyosemion australe Jordanella floridae

No but there are several in here from there. Why not start one?

Here is the display stand Alan mentioned. This was taken at the National Fish Show in Napier 2004

Do some water tests for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

I wasn't there when they did it so can't answer the questions. I seem to remember them saying the concrete was 10cm thick but I wouldn't quote me on that. I am emailing this updated thread to them so they can see your comments and suggestions too. They called in an expert from somewhere who is overseeing the fix. Fingers crossed and we will wait and see.

Thanks for all your thoughts and comments. The landscapers have decided it is the size of the stones in the concrete versus the spraying on of the sealant. Water level has dropped further, below the pipes so I am pretty sure it is porous all over. They will re-seal it on Monday. Too late about the concrete additives since they have already done it Wonder if it can be added to the sealant? Tanksman; I was going to hang upside down off the deck until I remembered the display screen and angle capabilities of my camera

That was my thought too. Mine all have black edged fins.