Caryl

It was the colour and shape that made me wonder if they were air bubbles :lol:

Sorry I can't help with meds but one of our club members was saying he lost several hundred guppies recently. He said they are in short supply in Australia too as they have been wiped out due to antibiotic resistance. This man has been breeding fish in large quantities for many years and also has an importer's licence so I should think he knows what he is talking about.

Yes, please turn off the caplock Your local council should be able to give you a comprehensive readout of the water contents if you ask.

Looking good Peter. I assume you have a bubble wall along the back of the 2ft? Is that what the purplish blobs are?

Put this in the private trade and exchange section as it may reach more people with some to sell.

I think water based based paints are ok but be wary of oil based. Cover the tank with a blanket and either turn the filter off or have the pump venting into another room if you want to be sure.

Yes, I believe some algae don't like current

Hoplo catfish will always love you

I have spray painted the backs and sides of my tanks with no problems. I have also had the lounge redecorated (paint, wallpaper paste and carpet glue smell) around the fish tanks with no problems from fumes etc.

I don't know that you need water movement but it always looks good to see the plants moving in the current. 10 - 12 hours of light (assuming this is fresh water)

You might be doing the grouper a disservice. After all, the goby may have died first, or been killed by another fish, and the grouper came along later and swallowed the rest! :lol:

Why do we always let ourselves feel bad about 1 or 2 negative comments and forget the many more positive ones? :roll:

Barley straw is most effective if added autumn through spring before the algae takes hold. If the water is less than 10C it may take 6 - 8 weeks to start working but in water over 21C it may become efffective in as little as 1 - 2 weeks. It will slowly decompose and remain effective for around 6 months. 2 - 3 bales per surface acre of pond is the recommended amount so, since most ponds are a lot smaller it doesn't take much. A pond 3000 - 4000 litres should only need about 230g of barley straw. Less than 3000 litres use 120g. Put the straw in a mesh bag or old pantyhose to stop it spreading all over the place. Attach a float at one end (it sinks as it decomposes) and put it in the pond with the straw partially out of the water. It needs exposure to water and oxygen. You could also put it at the top of a waterfall unit. In warm temeratures, you can add another 'dose' of straw after 5 months and remove the old one 2 months later so they overlap doses. This ensures a continuous algaecidal effect. If you live in a colder area, put the barley straw in the pond once the temperature is above 10C. Make sure the straw is organic and free of chemicals. Make sure you get barley straw and not hay, wheat, or other straws. Barley straw is the most effective of the lot and hay will actually increase algae growth and deoxygenate the water as it decomposes rapidly. Do you have any farming friends you could ask for some? I would enquire at gardening centres, nurseries, or farming supply stores. Even an organic store may be able to point you in the right direction to their suppliers.

It is easy to criticise when you are anonymous Bas. Take no notice. I am sure your fish are well looked after.

Hi Colin. If your fish are breeding there can't be too much wrong I have just bought a paddling pool and 10 rosy barbs and hope to try breeding them (the barbs that is, not the paddling pool!) outside this summer.

Welcome Bas. Great site you have there. One of my club members is Dutch and he often tells us about the big Shows you have over there. He is keen on angels.

What part of the sponge filter was making the noise? The pump or the bubbles? Filters are not necessary if you do plenty of regular water changes and keep the tank lightly stocked and well planted.

I gather quite a few aquatic medications and stuff are known carcinogens

What about keyhole cichlids?

I have heard people say you can make your own with the things they use to pump water out of waterbeds - cheaper too apparently.

You have some great pics there Fay and some gorgeous looking tanks and fish!

I would have thought then that with the water changes you are doing the pH should be dropping. What is in the tank that may be affecting it? This is where the talk about 'buffering' comes in which always lost me :roll:

You need an excuse to go to the lfs?? :roll: Critters in rock pools usually only have to withstand hot temps for a short period of time in between tides. Constant warm water can kill them. I had hermits and shrimp from rockpools for a couple of years but they were in a cold water tank.

Have you checked the pH of the tap water?

Sorry I can't help with your plant vjarn. Your tank looks good Fay. Is all that plant in the middle growing directly on the driftwood?