Caryl

I have come across people referring to their UGF and on viewing, it turned out to be a box filter. This is what I meant, that Aqua may actually have a box filter, not that their UG uplift is not attached to a plate!

There are also some fish clubs in Auckland. Have a look at the main page of this site (click on the "fnzas is here" at the top of the page) and look under Clubs. There is a list of clubs and contact details. You may be able to arrange for someone to pick you up if there are any other members nearby. As for the lights, you can find them in the supermarket next to the other lightbulbs. They plug into an ordinary light socket. These can be bought from a hardware or lighting shop. You then get someone to wire it onto a cord and 3 pin plug. If this is beyond you, we could make one for you but freight from the South Island would add $10 - $15 to the price. A lighting shop ought to be able to do it for you at little cost. The plants seem to like these lights too

I have kept fish for over 25 years (I'm old!!) and used UGF for many of those years. I have NEVER cleaned out an UG filter, particularly not weekly. This would negate the reason for having one as it would destroy the bacteria. I would do a light gravel clean whenever I did a water change (about once a month if I got around to it). As for lifting and moving the rocks - never done it. Apart from a few cases of white spot when I first began fishkeeping, I have never had a problem with diseased or dying fish en masse. I do not even have any medications. I think we have been confused. The thing you are referring to is the useless bit now attached at the top of new filters. You still have a plate UNDER the gravel don't you?

Get a number of white clouds, preferably a few more males than females, put them in a 2ft or larger tank with plenty of plants and wait. Eggs hatch in about 72 hours. You do not need a breeding net as these are for live bearers. The adults do not eat the young so do not need to be removed either.

Nothing wrong with good old flakes (well, not too old) for your white clouds. Some fish need more variety and a little extra protein, or green in their diet, hence the suggestions for alternatives.

You have replacement filter thingees on an UG? The only things I can think of on UG is the new ones have useless little charcoal bits that sit on the top of the uplifts. These can be removed. If you have a side mounted filter with sponges, you do not replace them, you just carefully clean them out in used aquarium water.

Do you mean infection from a second hand tank? If so, a thorough clean will do the trick. Fish do not need light but plants do. If it is in a well lit room, and you choose plants which don't require a lot of light, then having no light won't be a problem. If you want a cheap light, get one of those compact fluorescent tubes that look like folded over rods around 10 - 15cm long and that plug in like an ordinary light bulb. These do not get as hot as light bulbs and will sit on top of a sheet of glass (like an aquarium glass lid). You then go see a friendly builder, or visit a building site (or shop) and acquire a piece of plastic guttering the length of your tank. You can get end caps for the guttering if you want and cut a shape out of one end for the power cord to fit and there you have it. Sit the light on the lid and put the guttering on top and it looks very neat and tidy. If you like, line the inside of the guttering with aluminium foil to reflect more light downwards.

I have always bought my tanks from a glazier - usually cheaper but they do not have the fancy stands and hoods etc. UGF work very well but it depends on what sort of fish you plan to keep. Large fish would benefit from better filtration as they create a lot of waste and you don't want fish that like to dig in the substrate if you have an UG.

There are plenty of others for those who want to test all sorts of stuff but those 4 are the biggies. Without knowing them, if a fish gets sick how are you supposed to figure out why without knowing the water quality?

Where are you Andrew? We have someone interested in killies! Andrew belongs to the NZ killifish Association and will be best able to answer your questions

Definitely an ungrateful lot! Hopefully they will all settle down in a few days. Hope you like the plec's rearrangement.

They aren't territorial but there will be a dominant fish (usually male) who likes to assert authority. No harm will be done.

You can have the wallabies back too! :lol: You've hit on a good plan Rob. Let's exchange possums for fish (as long as they don't kill off the native flora and fauna)!

They will happily breed with no special help. The males are slimmer, brighter coloured, and have larger dorsal and anal fins than the females. They need more room to breed in though and my book recommends a breeding tank of 50 - 100 litres with plenty of plants. Mine were breeding in a 60cm x 30 x 30 tank. White clouds have also been called the poor man's neon. They are a lot hardier than neons though in my experience!

Hi Aqua, and welcome to the fishroom. Whether the flake sinks faster depends on how strong the water flow is. It shouldn't be a problem for the fish though. I have kept white clouds in the past myself. They are a lovely fish and can be kept in cold or tropical water. I didn't know they made tanks that small! Are you using one of those "Kritter Keeper" plastic ones?

Sorry to hear that. I have never had a fish with popeye. What causes it?

Well I am sure that won't take you too long! I assumed wingless fruit flies were available everywhere but obviously not. Am not too familiar with them myself but have read articles about them.

No. I said the fruitflies bred for aquarium use are wingless.

If you want colourful, have you considered killifish? They should certainly impress the missus

These are wingless fruitflies and probably a better class of fruitflies than the Aussie ones :lol:

I am afraid I have no suggestions or experience to add to your theory but will certainly be keen to hear if it works! Sounds like a good idea.

I assure you Dr Felix, most aquarists are well aware of the difficulties involved in getting fish into shops in NZ and we appreciate your efforts - long may they continue. We also appreciate those shops who go to the trouble of getting rarer, and usually more difficult to keep (hence the rarity and price) fish for those experienced and dedicated enough to give them a go. Our thanks to the wholesalers! As we have said before David, if you don't like the prices - go somewhere else!

It was a LOVE bite cat! :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol: Andrew Like you Ira, I would not be surprised at a die off after a few days but within 24 hours? What was in the tank before? Could there be some residue in it doing the killing?

I am surprised at how quickly your daphnia died Ira. I have never had trouble breeding daphnia myself but obviously others do. Guess we are lucky we live in an area which produces plenty of them without any effort on my part.