Caryl

Hi Zev, Yes, a big tank is much easier to keep than a small one

Hi and welcome.

If you don't change the carbon it releases all the bad stuff back into the tank. I had Siporax in mine and they were loose (once the bag disintegrated). Putting the sponge on top kept the Siporax in place. The balls will have the most bacteria. I just gently rinsed them when the gunk got too thick. Fill with as many bioballs or Siporax stuff you can.

AquaClears are great. All you have to do it clean the sponge in a bucket, using tank water, when the water flow from the filter drops. The filter will also tend to push the sponge up, knocking the lid off, when it needs a clean. Put the bioballs or whatever in the bottom with the sponge on top. Don't bothre using the carbon bags. One of my AquaClears has been running 10 years and still with the original sponge. Only people who sell the equipment tell you to buy new ones

Hi Cherie and welcome. MTS (multiple tank syndrome) strikes again! :lol:

I would like to point out that it was actually written by Pegasus as well. 8)

He copied and pasted Alan :lol:

It isn't 'withstanding' the quake he needs to worry about so much as make sure the stand doesn't pitch forward in one. It doesn't take much of a sway to start it toppling, especially a multi-tiered stand like yours dee_jay. A stand like that needs to be bolted to the wall at the top of it. Of course, you might not get quakes in your area but we do here!

I would have thought the lfs would have them.

That looks painful!

Energy saver bulbs. Get hot but no more than long fluoro's. I have nevre had problems growing plants using ordinary bulbs as opposed to expensive aquatic plant ones. Small tanks have the energy savers and big ones have plain bright white or daylight fluoro tubes. Here is a tank with a 2ft fitting on top. Single bulb. Pardon the state of the tank...

I'd have said the othr way around. That 1st pic is a CAE

Fins crossed for you and the fish guys

My ponds outside sit at 25 - 28 during the day. remember they do cool down at night so it isn't constant.

Will see if I can find a tank the right size and show you what it looks like lit.

It is only a short fitting so one light at the end coped fine. The bigger ones have a bulb at each end.

I thought all supermarkets had them. They do here! They are called ox hearts too.

For those who want to see what a simple light fitting looks like, made using plastic guttering... Go visit a building site as I am sure they will have offcuts of guttering. The pic shows wooden ends. You can get end caps so I don't know whether the man who built these didn't want to buy any or found it just as easy to cut out wooden ends with some ply he had lying around. The aluminium helps reflect the light downwards. A simple and effective light hood for sitting on glass lids.

Show off :lol: Leave them alone, they have managed so far haven't they? Can't help as I haven't bred them but good luck - again. We assume pics will follow :lol:

My goldfish is sitting at 28C at the moment cos that is the room temp.

Just remember, if you have the plugs under the tank they will get wet in case of leaks, splashes etc. A surge protector won't help if the plugs are flooded. Besides, you don't want a surge protector, you want an RCD. 6 plugs will easily be used 1. heaterstat 2. lights 3. filter 4. pump for additional bubble wall you decide looks cool 5. 2nd heaterstat for safety 6. 2nd filter (small internal to keep as standby

Don't use that pH altering stuff!

It would help if we knew what the plants were as different plants like different conditions. How deep is your substrate? How long have you had the plants? A lot of the plants found in your lfs have been grown emersed so it takes them time to get used to being submerged. Quite a few will drop old leaves, have a period to recover, then shoot off new ones.

Guppies drop fry every 4 - 6 weeks. When ready to drop she should be very fat, you may be able to see the eyes of the fry through her belly, and the vent will be dark. Breeding traps are not a good idea. The fish generally don't like them and are as likely to abort when you shift them into it. A heavily planted tank is a much better idea. Lots of floating and planted plants for the fry to hide in. Java moss is especially good. Besides, if all the fry survive each time you will very quickly be overrun with guppies!

Hi and welcome Petey. You don't have to use your 18 month old as an excuse you know