Caryl

Hi Frances, good to see you finally introducing yourself. I gather you have been looking around here for quite awhile. As you can see, we don't bite (well, not hard anyway). I have an aunt and uncle in Rotorua. Do you still have that aquarium place in the centre park? Run by Jo I think her name was?

Hi Colin, good to see you. Have you got much smoke coming your way? I saw the news last night about the fire on the Mt.

Sorry we got off-topic cat. I found I got too confused searching the net about cichlids as there was so much information, some of it contradictory, and too many cichlids. Find someone who breeds them and ask them to take you through step by step. I hope to have electric yellows, blues and peacocks too My tank is now sitting at 7.4. The breeder I spoke to said all his fish were second generation and were only in 7.4 too so I won't have to muck about with the pH when I do water changes.

You are probably too late already goldie!

The shape of the plant in the link is correct but mine is the same dark green colour all over so I guess it is a sempervivum. Organism (I keep calling them Orgasm!) gave me an information sheet on how to look after my Venus Fly Trap. I will keep your offer of some later on in mind thanks Andrew.

We certainly did have a good time. I enjoyed meeting macka and his fishes and catching up with goldie. We saw a few shops and bought lots of plants but couldn't get any fish as my tank ammonia level was too high. Andrew gave us contact with a fish breeder so we got to visit him and his fishroom too. All in all it was well worth the time and effort to go down. This is the fun side of fishkeeping and what I enjoy most about my club and the FNZAS. They allow me to meet many fishkeepers who I would otherwise not know existed.

I don't think my cactus is a cactus as it is not prickly. Must be a succulent. It's sort of shaped like a flower with lots of smaller identical 'flowers' growing all around the edge. The other plant is a Venus Flytrap. It was a hard decision as there were several interesting looking ones to choose from.

Yes, take it back to the place you bought it from as it will be covered by the Consumer Guarantee. Make sure you are polite about it though. Not only is this more respectful but you will usually find them more helpful.

What sort of bulb were you using? They recommend changing fluorescents on tanks every 6 months but I never do as I can't afford to do so. I often use those short fluorescents that fit an ordinary socket. They work well. I always buy daylight or bright white tubes from a wholesaler so can't tell you whether pet shops are more expensive than lighting shops.

There are several different species of what are commonly called fritters, er whitebait. Our local ones stay small and grow about 8cm. Go visit underwater world at Hokitika to see some giant whitebait.

Lime will increase your pH. Our council adds it to the water supply as the acid water (was 6.8) was eating away the pipes. The supply at my house is now about 7.0 - just right for most but I want it higher for the Africans.

Organism have some beautiful fish in there and the cleanest tank (and shop) I have ever seen. I bought a carnivorous plant there, a cactus, and some aquatic plants. Couldn't get any fish as my new tank set-up has awfully high ammonia readings at the moment. Stopped at the Ure river on the way home and got some limestone to help the pH in the African tank I am setting up.

Do they sell the inanga for the same price as those in the supermarket?

Can't be. We all agreed. :lol:

The 2 filters (identical but different prices) were in Critter Kingdom, Blenheim Rd shop. It appears they are a lot cheaper in the North Island.

Long time no post Paul! Good to hear from you. Informative as always.

A little extra protein won't hurt. If the fish start coughing up fur balls though I suggest you dose them with a little cod liver oil :lol:

Bruce had a couple of hundred ancistrus the weekend of the Napier show. Surely he has some left?

We will be too busy to help this weekend goldie! You know we would if we could macka :lol: . I direct, you lift.

If you need a hand, let me know and I will ring Terry! :lol:

Look at the top of the page

I think you have a problem Warren! :lol: Cat, you wanna come chat in the chat room? Warren doesn't.

Good thinking goldie!! :lol:

As long as you are moving to bigger and better with more room for tanks then it will be worth it

Beautiful CM. Thanks for sharing.