Caryl

I think I know the birchir you saw at Redwoods and can understand your desire for one! :lol: It attracted my attention too but I have no intention of buying one.

If you don't have chlorine in your tap water (and Blenheim doesn't either) then there is no point in adding chlorine remover. I add absolutely nothing to my tank, apart from water (and not counting fish food ).

MAF have a web site - easy to look it up. Can't remember the address off hand though, will have to search. MAF isn't called MAF though anymore I don't think

I have heard about both these theories but don't know how accurate they are. I do know reptiles' sex is determined by temperature.

Hmm isn't the English language wonderful? :lol:

You are supposed to build a house around the tank Warren! :lol:

If this club gets off the gound may I dare suggest you consider affiliating to the FNZAS? Your expertise in marines would be of great benefit to others. At $5 per person I think our fees most reasonable.

If printing is a problem for you Rob I am happy to do them for you if you just email me the details and I can print the certificates and send them off for you.

You need an excuse? :lol:

I do hope you realise by the smileys Chris, that we are kidding?

If he isn't willing to go to the trouble of making the coffee personally, I wouldn't help him :lol:

I don't think they are particularly aggressive but I would not keep them with anything too small. They grow larger than the average community fish (eg tetras, barbs, guppies etc). Maybe gouramis would be OK?

There are lots of fishkeepers, both tropical and reefers, in ChCh but they don't seem to be club people.

I agree with herefishiefishie :lol: . Dreadful looking things! People either love em or hate em. Welcome to the fishroom by the way I am sure someone else will like them and have better suggestions.

Rata looks beautiful in an aquarium! Sounds good Joze, thanks for the offer, but what a waste of ancient rata It seems sacriligeous to burn it Rata and rimu are both good for landscaping a tank.

Try Organism too - boy you have to watch that one when you pronounce or type it! :lol:

I know you are new to the hobby Ash but those are fish, not test kits :lol:

I believe they have come out with some of these plants with a pink tinged variety. They need a good amount of light though or will lose some of the redness.

Albinos can develop a slight hue sometimes. Nothing to worry about but if it is 9cm it is a good size for a cory!

Hi Josy We might not see Josie in the chatroom sue as she is unable to use her computer confortably at night due to an eye problem but keep an eye out for her during the day

Welcome TeeCee. We have a few from Canterbury in here. Christchurch has the most pet shops per population in NZ and, according to those in the know, a better selection that Auckland. Heading your way next weekend as we will be staying overnight in ChCh then on to goldie in Asburton. You had better start budgeting for a bigger house or a garage as this hobby is catching!! :lol:

I wouldn't think it matters what level you take the water from either, assuming good flow. On the rare occasions I actually test the water I always take it from the top. Haven't used a Hagen kit so can't help re colours. I can see your problem though (it's clear to me )

Gorgeous reef! Thanks for sharing.

Don't get carried away and stock it too quickly will you? Tank is looking very nice.

This won't be much help Andrew but I use a python for my 4ft lounge tank and don't know if it would work for multiple tanks unless the tanks are considerably lower than the water source. If I use the python to siphon water out the front door the length is such that it does not draw enough current through the hose and therefore does not do a good job of cleaning the gravel and hasn't enough oomph to lift larger particles of dead leaves and poo. This means I siphon using an ordinary siphon tube and empty it into a couple of 30 litre barrels which I then drag out the door (about 2 metres to the edge of the verandah). To put water back into the tank I use the siphon attached to the sink tap (a dual hot/cold) but it is extremely slow as the top of the tank is about the same height (or a little lower) than the tap. I also can't put too much pressure through or water goes everywhere so it takes half an hour or more to refill 60 or so litres. I dare not leave it either in case I forget it is filling I am wondering if you could set up some sort of watering system like the Plassay (except fatter hoses going to each tank) to fill them, and dig a drain near the garage (or in the middle of the floor but if I remember correctly it is concrete) where you can empty siphoned water, or put in overflows. If you did lots of small water changes you only need cold water and you could use a timer to turn it off in case you forget.