Ismart120

Yep - I've been using the nutrafin aquaplus stuff, using it on all the tanks I'm doing water changes for. How come?

thanks for the replies Yeah, I took the carbon out last time this happened but only replaced it with a few bio balls (the only thing I had spare) - I'll try to pick some zorb of some sort after exams. As for zuccini, you may be on the right track - it happened shortly after I put some in last time but I haven't put one in lately? Any ideas on whether the melting plant leaves would do this (bear in mind they only started dying off about 36 hours ago) and if so, what would be causing the leaves to die in the first place? Water changes are happening about 10% every week or 10 days (aftershocks and water supply limited to be honest), but the tank is heavily stocked (black skirt tetra school approx 7, 3 pearl gourami, 2 opaline, 2 kissings, 3 hoplos, corys and a large pleco) - whats got me confused is that I've upped the filtration and kept the feeding the same as it has been for months and months but its only started recently? Will try to blast the hoses out and adjust the media in the ffluval to see if I get any results there too

Hi there, I'm having a problem with my parents fish tank - its a 180 litre running a fluval 204 and an aqua one filter of some sort, but it keeps becoming cloudy over night randomly, which takes about 3-5 days to clear properly, even after water changes. On top of this, it smells like something is rotting in the water, but I cant really find anything (and it doesn't seem to change with underfeeding either), and the fluval flow is greatly reducing after about a week to a fortnight, nearly no flow coming through,but its not being jammed up with anything, and the large sword plant has had a few of its largest leaves 'melt' in the last day as well as two tetras die with no marks or apparent reasons (one even as I was cleaning out some water tonight - just watched it stop and float to the bottom. I mean, really???) I'm completely lost as to what might be causing it - the inhabitants have been in a similar sized tank with the aqua one filter for ages (a year or two?) without any deaths and the fluval has worked well for about 3 months, eveything has just turned to custard in the day (and one before a while back, just not as badly) Any help would be good, even if its just some theories I can test or look into (sorry about the wall of text too) Thanks

I have to give you credit for innovation. wouldn't it be easier to solder a circuit board than use train tracks though? Seeing as you have the know how to set it up. And then sell some more to us that would get headaches trying?

Did you get a reading of what the pH was after? I'd be interested to know what it was that actually did most of the damage - ie, if it was just the sudden change that did it or not? And I have to agree, that co2 system looks, quite, unique. I think its the assortment of saws nearby that does it. lol

You're kidding right? lol, i guess at least you didn't to give them cola or another flavored drink for the extra nutrients at the same time....

Ok, good to hear. You and aladmin ok? Any fish/tank losses?

pearling crypts would be cool.... If I've just got the stock 2x 39w t5's in the juwel set up, am I going to have enough light to warrant co2? If not, does anyone know what lights can be added to it?

Sweet ok, general consensus that co2 isn't needed for crypts if I go that path? I kept them before the earthquakes (talk about crypt melt) and had some really nice large ones that were producing offshoots every few weeks and would love to get back up to that asap when I get a new tank. Come to think of it, if too much lighting is not so good for them, does that mean the t5's in the juwel vision 180 would be fine as is then?

ok, thanks. What do you mean by high levels though? I'm assuming high co2? and @ the obstacle: thanks for the idea - I'll look into that, just might wait until I'm not wanting to grow crypts. =)

True - hadn't thought of the night pH shift - how would having an air stone turn on/ reducing the bubble rate at night work? If not the co2, what else can be done to speed/increase up the crypts growth? (Assuming a substrate fert and regular water changes)

Thats why I thought a pressurized system would be better, more consistent pH level if I've read right. What about the growth rate though? Wont that benefit from co2 addition?

Hi guys, Looking at setting up co2 on a juwel 180 (when eqc comes through), what is out there and what do people have for similar sized tanks? I'd rather have a pressurized system if possible, although there doesn't seem to be much out there? The fluval systems look to have a fairly high upkeep cost and I'm not sure how long a 88gm bottle would last anyway. Looking to be growing crypts mainly with some ferns, anubias and mirco swords (ideally) and anything else people suggest. Anything at this point would be good.

Yeah, thats about it at the moment (although bottled water still works)

I've been using a dechlorinator when I've done water changes but just noticed that the smell of chlorine varies time to time, as well as from place to place so wondered how others were faring - know of one guy that forgot about the chlorine and lost the whole tank... Main reason I ask is that I've noticed some of the water properties have changed in other things (ie making yogurt which now just comes out as sludge with the chlorinated water) so wanted to know if there were figures to see whats been happening. As for upper ric, it would seem you have a lot less than in shirley - I still cant bring myself to drink it as the smell is so strong so figured it'd do the fish in mighty quick. Going out to rolleston for drinking water or getting bottled still..

Just wondering if anyone knows the water conditions in Christchurch since the chlorine has been added (Straight from the tap I mean)? dh etc etc - I'm in the eastern suburbs if that narrows it down. Also, any idea if the chlorine levels are the same for all the suburbs or are there different dosings depending on where people are? Thanks

Yeah, it reeked when I left - couldn't stay unfortunately so we just grabbed the fish and set them up in an old tank here - cramped but at least they're warm, filtered and feed. Her tank got thrown around a bit too so have to look to see the damage on it when we next go back in

Hi guys, just a quick update from earthquake central. Both my tanks survived again (so so glad) although need new carpet and my juwel 240 twisted slightly and put two holes in the wall but still holds water (will claim on eqc though as the silicone is slipping, hmmm) however, it is the news that my girlfriends cichlid tank (a juwel vision 180) in the cbd also didn't tip, despite travelling about 15 odd cm and being two stories up. We just got back into the place expecting to find dead fish littering the floor after 10 days of cordon and no power and all, even the loaches, were looking very sorry for themselves but very much alive. I'm not sure if thats some record or something but that is some feat I'm pretty sure. Anyone have any other stories of the like? Thanks to Jennier too for looking after my fish while I sort out another tank and while the power was off, it has been such a load off my mind not watching them slow down or waiting for the tank to break =)

group of white cloud minnows? it'd be low tech, low maintence at least?

Just on the SAE front with the RTBS, I've heard that they aren't always the best of friends (although mine seem to be fine, the RTBS is very relaxed though) and the SAEs will at least need to be in a group of some sort, they hide and mope around a lot when by themselves it would seem

Just looking at my chain loaches, it would seem that the queen (i assume its female) is changing colouration - the stripes are widening to a mostly black body and now she looks more like the angelicus loaches that i also have in the tank? Any one have any ideas of what the cause of this may be? The other question is (and more suited for the fresh water area) is, with the higher temps (being in chch and getting 30+ degree days often), are there any species that I keep in the tank that are more likely to breed? I'd love to have a breeding group of loaches but I've also got hoplos, tetras, gourami and white cloud minnows? Update* Ok, I also have a problem with some Bristle noses dying, one golden, one brown so far, about 6cm each and both have had slightly swollen discoloured bellies? Any ideas? Don't want to lose the whole lot. Thanks

not sure if the cause of the yellow water has been found but is the gravel new? - Found that happened to me for a bit when I first put new stuff in, not the colour I was expecting but it seemed to be the cause

yeah, the 10 to 20% rule was told to me too, although in my tank I try to do about 30% ish as my stocking level is reasonably high. I wouldn't think 30% was excessive though, I mean, that still a lot of older water in there, as long as the temps were about equal. If it was over 50% I might be a little cautious. The buffer effect would most likely reduce the pH level change I would have thought too?

+1 for not going with the Siamese, or at least, be very cautious with it. In a tank that size you're likely to have the rams and fighter too close together which will result in aggression, most likely at the fighter, but its still up to you in the end

Hi, Have a very loosely asian set up here at the moment with harlequins and betta together, no problems (both male and female have worked well), and a raft of others. As for bottom dwellers, I'm a fan of loaches, dwarf chain and angelicus especially, and have them with the other two right now, no problems. I would suggest caution with these guys though, just in case. As for the danios, I'd be a bit wary of fin nipping on any long finned betta, maybe gourami would work better if you wanted to stick with the danios? As for plants, no idea sorry, hopefully someone else has some idea... Hope that helps edit: oh, and I've also got siamese algae eaters in there too, just they get quite big and can be skittish so plants of the betta to relax in would be a must with these guys (my betta and the 3 SAE just ignore each other in mine) Charcoal gravel, do you mean a darker colour? If so, yes, brings out the fish better IMO