Caryl

I always use glass lids to keep water off the lights, stop evaporation, lessens condensation, keeps temperature better, stops animals and small children getting in and fish getting out.

Thanks for that. Obviously abother fish shop to visit next time I am in ChCh. What is it about ChCh that attracts so many lfs? Not only that but they all seem to thrive!

Trendy Pets? That's a new one on me. Is that the shop that used to be down Moorehouse by the old railway station?

I think a lot depends on what sort of, and how many, fish you will be putting in it. I like those filters you mentioned.

Hi and welcome VCH. I have a 4ft tank of Malawis and am negotiating price on a 6ft replacement, using the old 4ft as a sump. Lots of friendly people and information here so enjoy.

Well I can't I assume you mean they should be in the post with the message?

Oh go on TC, wear the bells! :lol: Good luck with the meeting Marcel.

Welcome treehugga

yep

Here is a couple of males. See the pointy bit in the middle of the tails? Females don't have that. Their tails are round.

They are sent out when a member is capitated. (Yours is sitting on my bench and will be posted with your club newsletter next week. I forgot to put it in the envelope last month :oops: )

It was my understanding when people refer to electric yellows and blues they mean Haplochromis sp. Mind you, come to think of it my yellows are actually Labidochromis caeruleus. :-? :roll:

If you have electric blues and yellows they will interbreed and the colour of the fry are yucky - sort of electric blech. :roll: If you want blue, try Sciaenochromis ahli. I have these with my yellows.

I only have bristlenoses and a leopard cory. It wasn't dug up, just got shorter very fast! :lol:

Malawis need territorial space. I would recommend 4ft at least but, if only a few you could get away with a 3ft. They destroy plants (Lake Malawi itself doesn't have any) but I have seen tanks with Java fern surviving the high pH and fish munching. My substrate is a bit of sand from the local beach. Only a little as they throw it around and dislodge the rocks above. Will it just have yellows in it? They are a sriking sight.

I recently bought some lilaeopsis which didn't last 3 days. I don't know who the culprit was (other plants are fine) but SOMEBODY ate it I am sure! No signs of it dying at all, just less plant each day. It was a reasonable height too about 8cm. :-?

I have spoken to many African fish keepers who agree that overstocking of these actually keeps aggression down as each fish is so busy defending its own territory it doesn't have time to go about hassling others. Just make sure you have LOTS of caves and hiding places for everyone.

If it is newly set up and cycling I would not recommend anything to get rid of ammonia as it stuffs up test readings and slows down the cycling. If a tank is set up, cycled, then maintained correctly (inc stocking and feeding) such products should not be necessary.

Looking good Shae

It is missing I think

Don't remove the fry from the parents. For some reason small BNs don't take kindly to being moved.

You get 4 issues of the NZ Aquarium World magazine. This A5, full colour, 40 page magazine is free to all affiliated members. Full of articles, hints, tops, DIY etc and few adverts. You get a Year Book listing all affiliated clubs, their members plus contact details and interests (ie tropical, marine, plants etc). It has all sorts of other information like temperature conversions, how to work out aquarium and pond capacity. It has the FNZAS Constitution plus other club information. It also lists all retailers offering discount to FNZAS members. You get a membership card to show participating retailers when you ask for discount. You get to attend our yearly conferences which are always great fun and you learn heaps. The FNZAS puts you in touch with like-minded people so you can swap plants, fish etc as well as ideas and information. This site is run by the FNZAS but is open to everyone, whether affiliated or not. Our aim is to improve fish keeping in NZ and help educate people in the right way to keep their aquatic friends.

I was starting to wonder if I had missed it!

I don't use carbon at all. It is also my understanding you can't clean it, you throw it out and buy more. Most people I know only use carbon to remove medication from the water.

There is a choice of clubs to join too for more help, cheap or free fish and plants.