Caryl

Just read your original post re the dying fish. I am wondering if the massive water change (and possible filter cleanout?) has meant your tank needed to cycle again and you had an ammonia spike. Have the fish continued to die since your original posts? FT: Why would plant fertiliser kill algae? I have never used plant fertiliser so can't comment from experience either The norm for most people I know re charcoal is - don't use it unless it is required :lol: . It is expensive stuff to replace!

OK, let's deal with your questions one at a time. Plant conditioner? You can get plant fertiliser or water conditioner but they are 2 different things. No conditioner will do anything for mossy stuff growing on plants and wood. Water conditioner is used if you have chlorine added to your water supply. Plant fertiliser helps the plants grow. Since the mossy stuff is algae and algae is a plant, it will make it grow faster. Can't comment on different test kits as my experience has been limited. I have Aquarium Systems test kits and a big JBL selection (won at conference). I don't know whether some are really good or bad. Watch for use-by dates on them. Water changes depend on tank size, filtration and stocking levels. The more fish you have the more you should do water changes and everyone disagrees :lol: I have a medium stocked tank which only gets a change every 2 or 3 months. Most suggest either 10% once a week or 20% every 2 weeks. More water changes may help get rid of the algae too. My tank is OK but would be a lot better if I did more frequent water changes. Both of your filters are fine and one is not necessarily 'better' than the other. I run both canister and HOB (hang on the back) filters on my tank too. The HOBs are easier to clean and a lot less hassle IMO. Do not use carbon unless you are removing meds from the water. Short term use can make the water crystal clear but it should not be used long term as it doesn't last long and ends up putting more impurities back into the water than it originally removed. Lots of plants help keep algae down too as they use the nutrients needed by the algae. A few algae eating fish are always helpful too.

OK. According to Sid, who gave the rainbows to me, the pic is of a hybrid M lacustris and M trifasciata

Thanks Frenchy. Yes, I agree with you as to what they are. The pic I was referring to when I said I forgot to ask Sid was for the wrong ones - I was referring to the rainbow I posted elsewhere which has been causing dissention as to what it is

Good to hear no more losses overnight. You are going to have to decide which fish to keep though as the mix you have (according to what you said last night in chat) is not compatible. The electric yellows will be happier in the higher pH anyway. Have you measured the pH of the tap water? Is it higher or lower than the tank water?

Cool pics Rob. never seen an alligator cat before.

Rob I have a couple of male borleyi's then I forgot to ask Sid about the pic

Is she always upsidedown? Sometimes they can have swim baldder problems after overeating. As the food digests they go upright again.

Hi RobW and welcome. You have come to the right place! First of all, the bigger the better when it comes to tanks. Larger ones are easier to look after than smaller ones. If something goes wrong, it generally does so more slowly in a larger volume of water so you have more time to realise there is a problem and correct it before anything starts dying. There is nothing wrong with taller tanks but surface area is more important than water volume so a shorter wider tank is better than a taller, narrow one. Bear in mind the taller ones are also harder to clean as you have to reach further. Sure, you can get all sorts of equpment to help you but it doesn't help as much as being able to reach with your hand. What sort of fish are you thinking of getting? Some are not suited to taller tanks as they swim quickly and tend to hit the sides in a narrower tank. Where are you? Is there a fish club nearby? They are always a source of good information and often cheap tanks, plants and/or fish

Photos to the AW editor would not go amiss Kim

More likely over production of their body slime due to stress (possibly, says she who is not up on the play with diseases). Not white spot. White spot is so named because it forms definite white spots, not a white milky film.

Some of us have nothing added to the tap water

I am sure you will learn heaps and in turn share your knowledge with others. You need to join the FNZAS too and learn even more - especially with our Fish Show coming up in September (Napier).

Nice tank and fish. Really like the angels. If you don't mind a bit of criticism, tanks 001 and 011 could do with a little more aquascaping :lol: Sorry, couldn't resist

Nice pic!

Welcome chimera. Hey pies! Marine enthusiast alert!!!! :lol: Pies and his mates are avid marine keepers and will help you there. I am sure you have found the trade and exchange section by now too.

Look forward to meeting you tamboe as we visit Nelson fairly regularly. PS. Alan likes stirring :lol:

Hi June and welcome. There are 3 clubs in Auckland. Auck. Fishkeepers meet in the Green Bay Community Centre. North Shore meet in the Sunnynook Community Centre and Sth Auck meet occasionally for dinner. Which of these are closest to you? There are some here talking about setting up a west Auck group I think but not sure how far along they are in their plans. When setting up a tank it is important to add the fish slowly. This is so the tank can 'cycle'. A fish produces waste, the waste gets eaten by bacteria in the filtration system and turn it into good stuff. Add more fish = more good bacteria = more good stuff. Add too many fish at once and there is not enough bacteria in the filter to cope with the added waste and the fish get ammonia poisoning. Most of the egg layres are good for beginners - barbs, tetras, rasboras. Gotta watch some of the barbs as they grow bigger than most. Gouramis are nice too. Once you have bought the tank, let us know the dimensions and which fish you like and we will help advise you on which ones are suited to the tank size, and each other, and make sure you start right. Kim, a member here, is at Pupuke Aquariums so could help you if you popped in there too.

Fins crossed Kim! Set up a web cam for everyone while you are at it please and we can be sad together :lol:

Giving the benefit of the doubt I assume you meant "I am moving to NZ and unfortunately can't bring my fish and tanks". That is how I read it anyway. Nelson has a lfs or two but not killies very often. They are rarely in the shops. Alan will PM you details for the killie club - the best way to get fish. As for cheap tanks, check the local Buy Sell and Exchange magazine, keep an eye out in the local newspaper and the auction rooms. I am just over the hill (mountain range to you ) from Nelson in Blenheim - an hour and a half drive away. Welcome to the fishroom by the way 8)

You must be a very proud daddy Not only did I have to view these on a dial-up but my sis in law only has a 14" monitor as well!!

Any plumbing place like Mico Wakefield too.

Hi Lyn and welcome. There certainly is a club in Hamilton. They meet the 1st Sunday of the month at Link House, 4 Te Aroha St. Claudlands at 6.30pm. Rob, who posts in here, is their president.

Welcome breakaway. I hope you learn lots of stuff here and have better luck this time.

It would take too long as there are so many different answers breakaway. Guppies have anything from 5 or 6 to 50 or 60. Many get eaten. Egglayers produce hundreds under the right conditions.