blueether

Thanks guys, oh and Stella you know where I live - I hope you will be dropping in when you head up for the freshwater conf. and just to give you an idea of the size of tyhose Dolomedes spp (and they get bigger):

I arrived back at the campground, after getting dinner in Thames, at about 2130 and proceeded to get boots on and get torches ready. So it must have been about quarter to 10 by the time I reached Waiora stream next to the Wainora DoC campground. I walked down the stream edge towards the main Kauaeranga River. In the first small hole I flicked the small torch, that I use for walking, across water – straight off a torrentfish, male redfin and common bullies. Looking good. As I continued the walk down to the main river I heard or saw a few splashes of what looked like kokopu, vanishing. When reaching Kauaeranga river I was surprised to only see bullies, the odd eel and a single (what looked to be a) smelt, although the water level was very low, with that on-going drought. I did see a lot of hunting spiders though, Dolomedes spp. As the main river was proving unfruitful I headed back up Waiora stream. Waiora stream proved a very different prospect to spotlight than Kauaeranga river with many more bullies, torrentfish and Galaxias spp. The first few runs saw torrentfish, Cran’s, common and redfin bullies almost by the dozen. The first hole proved just as productive with bullies, torrentfish and banded kokopu throughout. This hole of about 2m x 10m was home to at least 4 adult banded kokopu, 100-150mm, and another maybe 5 or more one year old banded kokopu at about 50-60mm. The next hole housed even more adult banded kokopu, I saw maybe 7, as well as many juvenile. I may have also seen a juvenile shortjaw, but probably an inanga, but didn’t get close enough to catch and ID it. The stream continued in this manner with the odd eel, koura and shrimp in the mix until I caught what probably was an inanga, with very faint markings. Then I saw my first ever koaro, doing what they do best, climbing a wet rock in some rapids – almost completely out of the water, just where the water line meats the rock. Man those things have some amazing colour. Not much further upstream than here was where the DoC road crosses the stream. It was depressing to see that at the moment it was almost impassable to fish with a high drop and overhang. Above the ford/culvert the species distribution changed with a lack of torrentfish, way fewer bullies – I think I only saw Cran’s above the ford. I was surprised to see banded kokopu and shrimp above the ford, though not as many as below. So all up for the night I saw: Banded kokopu (too many to count) Inanga (just 2) Koaro (just 2, and maybe a third) Eels (probably both long and short fin) Bullies – Common, Cran’s and redfin Torrentfish Smelt (?) Shrimp and koura Trout (rainbow and maybe a small brown) What I was surprised not to see over the 2 and a half hours were giant kokopu. Full set of hi-res photos here https://plus.google.com/photos/113298704761943818357/albums/5861772068505312881?banner=pwa

no ferts but am thinking of adding some as some of the are starting to look washed out and a few holes in the odd leaf. the substrate is river sand over top-soil/potting mix mix. pushed the nitrates off the chart for the first weeks untill water changes had brought that down.

I have just removed about 1/2 of the gravel from the tank and moved the rest to the end with all the flow, there was just too much food getting stuck in it. The tank is real dirty now even after a 2/3 w/c.

I guess all big kokopu can be stroppy, especially at feeding time. The giants in my tank seem to be all good unless there is live food on offer. If you can't stretch to a 3 or 4 ft tank then a 2ft will probably do for another year or so.

Might head up to Coromandel and do some camping, will take the spotlight and nets.

A machine programed to make a bigger and better version of itself, can't see how that could possibly end badly...

I haven't seen my shrimp attack the guppy fry (not had any luck with the WCMM in the same tank) so would think that they would be ok. Our native shrimp don't do much damage to green algae but do love detritus, diatoms and bacteria films (but not blue green algae).

As the banded can grow to over well 20cm, maybe closer to 30cm, I would say at least a 3ft tank and 4ft would be better. With a standard 4fter (4x2x2 ft or 1200x600x600mm) you could probably have 3 or 4 adults and many bullies. You could also have a few inanga or smelt, say around 5-7. I would recommend inanga over smelt as smelt always seem a bit flighty and they are more sensitive to water changes. Smelt don't like chlorine and koura don't like de-chlorinators. Inanga can live 2+ years in an aquarium - My oldest one is about to have it's third birthday this autumn. I think banded kokopu can live to over 5 years in the wild. I would guess that banded and giants do most of their growing in the second and third years. If you have any other questions just ask.

To cut any shape he wants :digH:

Yes the fissidens is doing well. It started as just a few strands. I do have a constant problem trying to keep java (?) moss out of the tank. The tank had it in years ago, and it keeps coming back. The Hydrocotyle verticillata, pennywort?

Thanks. As you can see there is a bit of green spot algae, and there is a bit of long hair algae as well.

This was in a small stream that drains into the waipa river near pirongia

Nitrites will convert to nitrates once the nitrogen cycle is 'complete', ie all the bacteria are there that are needed for the population of fish. and +1 for above

I don't think it would matter. If you are worried then take out the impeller from the canaster filter and just run the pump/powerhead.

from what I have read they start to die at 26/27 degrees, I think 28 will be too hot. Went out spotlighting over the weekend for some smelt for my native tank and caught about a dozen shrimp without too much trouble. This is 160km from the sea.

depends how bad they are. My 430l has many on the inside of the glass, most vanish when filled with water.

or just stick it the tank as is. Boiling will release more tannin then just sitting in the tank will.

I have a 2500? l/h pump pushing water into my cf1200 and works just fine. one advantage on having it on the inlet side is it never needs priming as the pump in in the tank and under water.

Natives are good, hard and sink fast. The darker woods are normally harder. I would avoid pine as it is too soft and will rot quicker

Cool video/timelapse Here is a realtime moonrise over Wellington: http://vimeo.com/58385453

I must video my natives chasing my laser pointer...

Hi Barry I know that they can be found in the south island as I have read reports of them found in Invercargill and have seen a Canterbury fishing guide that uses shrimp flies on lowland rivers/streams. You will want to find a slower moving waterway with plenty of in-stream vegetation, grass/cress/etc.

After about a year, now heated to about 23 with corys, guppies and WCMMs

I challenge you to take that much honey off (without gloves) and not get stung. Oh and of cause stings hurt, that is why they have them...