Caryl

If they are being fed bottom feeding pellets containing lignin (I think that is the vital ingredient) then they should be fine without driftwood. I just found this which is interesting.

Context is everything. I have just made some sushi, a quiche and some bran muffins (aka as poo pellets or fluffin muffins by my kids). Just waiting for our visitor to arrive. I think he must be lost! He said he thought he was about 20km away but that was over 45 minutes ago. I do hope your birchirs are eating pellets and not pallets

A packet was $2.50 when I smoked :bggrn:

I do not use them but a lot would depend on how well covered your tanks are too. I spray, when I have to, everywhere but the end of the room where the tank is. My tank has a solid wood lid though so I would probably be able to spray over it with no problems. Personally I found Mortein useless and prefer Raid

Whether a fish becomes a "good community fish" depends on a number of factors; number of fish - as fish loving being in a group the more of them you have the better behaved they ought to be towards others. size of tank - bigger means more room for territories for individual species order they were added - some fish will decide the whole tank is their territory if they are added first type of other inhabitants - some cope with more boisterous fish than others We have all had similar experiences I am sure and it does make you wonder sometimes why you keep fish! Sometimes this relaxing hobby :dnc1: is anything but :-?

Hi and Good to hear they put a qualifier on the "coldwater" :thup: I hope someone with natives answers your question! Perhaps if you posted it in the native section it would get a quicker reply PS. I love your user name :bggrn:

Pics of the tank once it is up and running disgustipated. I myself would not consider the word whore to be swearing, except in direct name calling.

Thank you LA. I was confused until you posted that :roll: Sorry guys, no brown bottles sitting in the treetops, just tuis of the feathered kind. Although, I must admit, I didn't actually see a tui. I heard some, and bellbirds, and saw wekas, wood pigeons and kakariki but no tuis.

Grant and I spent an enjoyable day on Saturday visiting the Tui Nature Reserve. It is an over 2hr boat trip down Pelorus Sound then a very steep 25 minute walk uphill (45 for some). Luckily the day was warm but overcast so our climb was not too exhausting. http://tuinaturereserve.co.nz/ We were taken on a walk through regenerating native forest and black birches while they talked about the project that started 10 years ago. We met the rodent sniffing dogs, native geckos and red fronted kakariki while being shown the various traps used to catch rats, stoats, possums, cats etc. They are building a predator fence too and raising money for this as it costs about $30 per metre. Here are some photos I took throughout the day... http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/ca ... rch%202013

Stumbled across this and thought it may be of help and/or interest to some... http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/ebook.html

If the fish are gulping at the surface it is because they lack oxygen, not bubbles. I have never had bubbles in any of my tanks and not had a problem with drowning fish. I am assuming the filter described is a small internal. If so, positioning it so it breaks up the surface should be enough.

I have complained to retailers before about selling unsuitably sized tanks as "goldfish learner kits". As you have discovered, your tank is way too small for them. If your fish have ich (and most likely) it will look like they have been sprinkled with salt. Fungus is fluffier. Read the instructions on the Wonder Tonic and follow then carefully. I suggest you see if you can re-home the fish as soon as possible (you will have to get them well first) then get something more suitable. Explain to your kids that a small tank is not good for goldfish and you need to give them a better home, then replace them with something a lot smaller. Heaters are not expensive these days so it would not be difficult to go tropical and then your choice of fish would be wider. The only cold water fishes suitable for a tank that size are white cloud mountain minnows (already suggested) or leopardfish. If you went tropical, you could have a Siamese fighter or a few cherry barbs, lamb chop rasboras, neons, micro rasboras, or danios. They poo a lot less than goldfish too!

Have you got a train track(s) running throughout the house or just a short bit for photographic shots?

For those wanting a printed version, this will be possible but you will have to pay for it and it won't be cheap! :tears:

If they can find another editor the magazine will definitely continue, just not in printed form. It will be an online publication.

Gee, I have enough trouble getting content for the Aquarium World magazine! Now you come along to ask for stuff to put in your own blog "for others that are interested in keeping fish but need that extra bit of help". That is what we are doing in these forums. :-? I confess, I am miffed! :evil:

Next year is Dunedin (if I remember correctly)

Hi and welcome. I also agree with Godly3vil, if those tanks are still cycling you are way overstocked and some of the species are unsuitable for such small aquariums.

I am one of those who only does water changes once every few months. The tank does get topped up in between as the water level drops in summer through evaporation. I have lots of plants and less fish. Very little algae sometimes at most. Standard daylight tubes and never add any chemicals or fertilisers. Filter gets cleaned every 18mths - 2 years or so, if required. My aquarium is a lot larger than yours though and I don't know if that makes a difference.

Hopefully it will return soon! :thup:

Hmmm can't see any cat hair stuck to them anywhere. :dnc1:

One of my favourites too! Manhattan Transfer double CD.

I think it already has!

Doesn't luv me neither &c:ry