Caryl

What an excellent light fitting! I noticed it immediately and thought "Wow, there's someone who knows how to make a light fitting!" :lol: I have one made from Marley guttering too. I also line the inside with tinfoil to increase light reflection. Have also seen it done using old CDs. Nothing wrong with the tank as is. Darker and lighter places for the fry depending on their desire.

Stroppy means aggressive Caper. Isn't it funny how words we take for granted aren't known in other places? Makes you wonder how anyone learns to speak English with so much slang in common useage.

I would get rid of the blue.

Not sure the local rocks would have added to your problems. Canterbury rocks are pretty safe. All some rocks do is alter the pH, making it too alkaline. Limestone does this for instance. To test a rock to see if it is safe, pour a little vinegar on it. If it fizzes, that indicates lime present and don't use it - unless you are setting up an African tank of course and want a high pH. I am sure though that the rocks had nothing to do with your fishes' dying, just the problem of too many fish too fast too soon.

Java fern

It could be a problem. The blue 3 spots are known to be a bit stroppy. Keep an eye on them all and look for signs of stress from the others - clamped fins, trying to hide etc.

Just be aware that the inside of most chilly bins is white so the fish will lose vitually all their colour - DON'T PANIC! This is normal and colour will come back once they are in their tank again I gather it is not too far from A to B so you shouldn't have any problems. Keep at least half the water, put water and fish in transportable container. If the tank is not too heavy I would leave the gravel in it and carry it in situ. Remember the temp in the car is likely to be warm anyway - besides, if you have the car heater giong they are not going to chill. As long as the filter doesn't dry out it should be fine too for a short time.

I htink it is trying to escape the encroaching red rotala!

Once the seal has been broken the air gets in and it is this exposure that starts the deterioration. Expiry dates are more for the sales people to make sure product is rotated correctly. Many pills for instance have an expiry date but are quite useable many years past their use-by dates.

It recently started sending out bigger leaves than usual too :roll:

Once the seal has broken the food starts to lose its 'goodness' It will not harm the fish (unless it has something growing in it) but also will not provide maximum nutrition. Use it but alternate with 'fresh' flakes.

My males fight, but nothing serious and they don't do damage. They usually just fight over food. I have at least 6 in my tank too (probably more) of mixed sexes though more males than females.

As far as I know Jude my Anubias is v. nana. I have seen it in both small and large leaved versions depending on conditions.

The only thing your neon has regarding neon tetra disease symptoms is colour loss. This can also be attributed to stress, as can the clamped fins, which it also seems to have in some of the pics.

Should be OK as long as it was still sealed until now.

Organism - cnr Ilam & Clyde Rds. Redwood Aquatics - 21 Hussey Rd (opposite Willowbank wildlife reserve) Pet World - 475 Ferry Rd. Critter Kingdom (2 shops) 250 Stanmore Rd & 213 Blenheim Rd

I don't know why tanksman should suggest misnomer's girlfriend be hidden with Java moss! :lol: The trouble with Java moss is it tends to wrap itself a lot more than just the stuff you want it wrapped around :roll:

Try it and see!

If they are a little pale I would suggest it is stress Caper.

Very nice and, as pegasus said, very peaceful.

Looking good, you'll have to keep her misnomer :lol: I have 2 suggestions (and they are both polite). Heaters are best on their side but it isn't vital if you have good water flow. Either lie the heater on its side almost touching the gravel or stand it upright in one corner, or the end that isn't seen from the other side. As for the spray bar, if you put a strip of duct tape or similar (as wide as you can get) around the top of the tank (2 widths if necessary), then fill the tank so the water is a bit above the tape and the spray bar is also behind the tape. I'm not sure what the tape is actually called but it goes on sale regularly at Mitre 10 and is a sort of material, rather than the plastic of duct tape. Also comes in a variety of colours. I have silver on mine but I have seen tanks lined around the top with black and blue tapes.

Remember where you put them misnomer as they can be expensive to replace. Sometimes cheaper to buy a new pump instead.

It is possible something is stuck and stopping the rest from coming. If you aren't squeamish you could always hold her gently and rub her tum downwards to try and expel the half-out bit or get some tweezers and try to gently pull it out.

If you have an air pump that is noisier than it used to be - check the diaphragms . Bound to have a split in them somewhere.

22 litres is very small (the equivalent of a couple of buckets) and already the fish you have in it will grow too big, indeed it is already overstocked. Comets need lots of swimming room as they are fast fish. Do not add a black moor. In fact I recommend you swap the goldfish for smaller tropicals as that tank is not suitable for them. I looked up the size of the AR-126 and discovered its length and width are 38 x 25cm. Divide the total by 76 and you get a total of 12.5cm. This is the recommended total amount of fish you should have in there and you already have 15cm just in the goldfish, without including the sucker cats. Goldfish are big producers of waste and you will soon run into problems. Don't those tanks come complete with a heaterstat? If so, changing it to tropical would cost no more.