Caryl

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

Welcome. We seem to be being overrun with Wellingtonians! Is this part of a bigger plot??

That's right, blame the female!!! :lol:

I am probably heading thru ChCh next month then will be in Auckland Easter weekend. If someone is wanting this calcite stuff, I am happy to get it and bring it up with me if you're willing to wait. Save freight. I have a Honda Odyssey and will have 5 adults in it (3 of them not lightweights - but don't tell them I said that) so don't ask me to bring too much! Not sure how much of a load I can put on the axles :lol:

One of the reasons we suggest you run a tank empty for a week or so - to make sure the heaterstat stabilises. Not sure how you will get on with cash converters. You said the heater went for 1 week after you got it. Do they have a warranty on 2nd hand goods? Luck of the draw with things like heaterstats. Even brand new ones can do that on occasion but with them you have a warranty.

Love the lighting in the 3rd pic.

The FNZAS (this is their site) is the Federation of NZ Aquatic Societies and is made up of clubs nationwide.

Something live, or chocolate

Welcome Rogan. One of my club members lives in Te Puke.

Just getting to know each other

Yep the concrete will do it. What does the pH go up to?

I like shoaling fish - tetras, barbs, rasboras. When you get them in groups of 12 or more they really show up their colours. Harlequins are a good example. 6 in a community tank look OK but see a big mass of them shoaling in their own tank and they look spectacular!

The fish won't mind the pH going up but they will have trouble with it going up and down as you try and correct it without knowing the cause. Goldfish are pretty relaxed about pH and I have had them in a pH of over 8.0 with no ill effects whatsoever. This isn't a new pond made of concrete by any chance?

Shouldn't matter where you bought it (assuming it was in NZ) as the same Act applies. I have 2 Fluval 404's, an Ehiem wet/dry (never buy one) and 2 Jebo 819s. Like the Jebo bestest :bounce:

Welcome cigar. Depending on size, I would say you are well overstocked already - or will be as they grow. Goldfish produce a lot of waste.

What size is the tank? How many, and what size, are the goldfish in it? Do you do regular tank maintenance and water changes? Have you tested the water? What readings do you have for pH, nitrites, nitrates and ammonia?