Ismart120

I've got mine in a 63 litre with a t8 15W and a reflector? I've changed my tank up a bit just a few days ago, putting a larger more interesting driftwood piece in there and they seem a little more active out in the open, although still ducking around all the plants. They like the crypts the best too...

Yeah, one of the other threads was talking about something similar http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8541 It could just be a coincidence that the wounds are matching, most of the fighting I've seen involves the fish going for the same area on the other fish each time ie pectoral fins, tips of the tails etc I'd try to get a few more, the skunk loaches I had did much better with three even than just two - one was definatley more dominant and the other was getting picked on a bit. As for the damage they can do, I've had a finger punctured enough to bleed slightly by a young striata loach, painful little guy.

As silly as it sounds, it could be the other loach doing it, many of mine try to get each others fins during fights - Do they tussle at all?

haha, are you doing biol 375? - I was doing this quiz on sunday night...

My black widow tetras do something similar, but, the issue with them is actually the background colour and not the light itself- effectively they try to blend in with their surroundings. What colour is the gravel etc? I can watch mine change colour from faded to black to faded again as they pass by dark coloured wood pieces compared to the light coloured gravel.

Thank you i think it looks even better in person Yeah, while I appreciate how many of the fish in there originate from areas that have quite a bit of tannin in the water, I have to admit that it kinda ruins the look for me when I cant see most of whats in there hence the trying not to have too much in there, I'd rather provide a small amount and use shading plants for the rest to give a similar water treatment, that, and none of these fish have come from a tannined set up so prob wouldn't benefit from using blackwater as such...

Will do, I'll try to get regular photos. Yeah, the driftwood piece is a mangrove stump on its side with about 5 large anubias plants cable tied onto it, I've had it soaking in the back yard for about a month so hopefully the tannins wont be too bad. Don't have a background on it though, just the wall behind the tank? Everything you see in there is real 8) As for the gourami, unfortuately they're all my little brothers fish, so will be sold off once he gets his act together, same thing with the female fighter but I'll try to keep that in there. Thinking of putting a male fighter, some more loaches and maybe a few honey gourami to fill in the spaces when that happens.

Has anyone had the issue of the juwel heaters not working very well/not heating the tank as soon as the stock filter clogs up and the water circulation reduces? Kinda surprised me that there wasn't something to prevent this, all it seemed to be doing was keep the filter media nice and warm...

Just replanted my interim earthquake replacement tank into something that resembles a display, open to ideas thoughts etc, more just wanted to put a photo up... Its currently inhabited by: Approx 15 neons Approx 5 White clout minnows Somewhere in the range of 5-10 Dwarf chain loaches One Angelicus loach 3 Whiptail catfish (at last count) 2 Male dwarf gourami 2 Female dwarf gourami 1 Female fighter fish (albino) 3 (maybe 4) SAE and most likely some other fish of some description Powered by the usual juwel filter, heater and lights with a ehiem 2213 attached and a little air pump (2l/hr?), liquid ferts when I remember... Wanting to get my hands on some dwarf cichlids, anything anyone would recommend in this or am I just asking for stocking problems?

Honestly, I've seen some pretty weird things - an adult (apparently healthy) black widow tetra that I was watching just stopped and floated to the bottom. dead. :facepalm: So, I wouldn't go blaming yourself in that sense, fish keeping can sometimes just be a real pain.

+1 The best part is when they finally realise you've had them on and get really angry...

Knowing the inside of town, I'm more surprised the tank stayed up

Yeah, let us know if he pulls through or not. Feeding him anything special while in hospital?

Depending on the size of the plecs, thats most likely fine, I've kept a pretty full cichlid tank going with just the juwel filter (frequent water changes though) but I'd still get an external, more filtration is better at the end of the day

Where is petworld? Haven't been in ages, from memory the last time was not long after the sep earthquake where everything was a mess :facepalm:

Def organism and redwood aquatics - animates are pretty standard all over though

Sweet, how skinny is the skinny one just out of interest? I always lost mu skinny ones, I think its a worm thing in the first place. Know anything about whether the fat one is a breeding female or anything?

Yeah, about 10 of them? I've never been able to count them all since they've been in the tank, way too fast, I do know I've lost a few though unfortunately. I've found they're much more active in a large group too, and you have a fat one too?? My impression is thats the martriarch - she'll even tell the angelicus loaches that I've got in there whos boss, kinda cool to watch 8) Just though I'd ask as I've got a similar set up to you, but mine are quite taken to going under the drift wood and hiding there...

They keep the snail population down at least, not so effective with mts though.

Loaches, get loaches instead of the cories, dwarf chain would look cool - makes for a change on the cory standard I think 8)

And the narration sounded like it was more suited to a wrestling match rather than a doco I though. Bring on David Attenborough anyday

Once they hit the top its all over, the things spread like wild fire there.

Man, that looks really good. How is the fighter with the guppies?

Haven't had any BGK's before, but does he have a normal cave or whatever that he goes to in the day? Just wondering if his behaviour changes with the bright lighting?

Have to admit, cichlids are amazing fish for that - 10 days without power or water in the chch cbd, and didn't lose a single one. One of the best fish types ever.