Pegasus

Hi Dilutenz, Welcome to the NZ Fishroom. Always something here to learn and keep your interest Look forward to your posts. Bill.

Looks nice... but I would be concerned about condensation getting into the monitor and computer case Bill. Footnote: I have a number of tanks in my computer room, and over the last three years have gone through.. Three TV's.. (2x26".. 1x14") One VCR Recorder. Three computers.. various.. (last one a P3) Two PC power supplies. Two CD Rom drives. One electric heater. Possibly all due to condensation... but hey... it's worth it ... and we have a dehumidifier in the house Bill.

Hi Polgara, As you possibly know... I don't use meds, but on the odd occasions I have white spot I find that the heat system works. Raise your temp to around 29C (85F) This will speed up the cycle of the WS. Increase you aeration to cope with the increased heat. Remove any carbon from your filters until the WS is gone. Within three days the WS will drop from the fish and this is the ONLY time that any meds are effective, as no matter WHAT you pour into the tank, it won't kill the WS until they are off the fish. Now this is VERY important. Once you see the WS has dropped from the fish you must siphon the gravel to remove as many of the WS cysts as you can. Failure to do this will allow them to break open and go on the hunt for a new host. Do this siphoning each day until you see no further re-occurance of the WS. This siphoning will also act as a water change.. so don't replace any of the water you removed... but ensure that your top up water is at the same temp as the water you took out.. Keep EVERYTHING that has been near the tank or in the tank.. (Nets.. tools.. containers etc).. in STRICT quarantine away from any other tanks you have. WASH your hands before touching other tanks. The WS may not be completely gone over the three days, but once the WS has dropped from the fish, they will start to feel a bit better and begin to build up a bit of immunity to further attacks. I would go easy on the salt if you have Clown Loaches. HTH Bill.

Hi Shelly, Good to have you join us.. hope to see you around more often Bill.

Hi Jane, Welcome to the NZ Fishroom You have a bit of a selection there, but we cater for all types, including Goldies and Frogs Look forwardto your posts. Bill

A warm welcome Robert.. looks like your having fun here Posting Pics on the Forum. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?t=2406 HTH Bill.

Hi Laura, Our 1000th member Good to have you join us, but I can see a few fights over the keyboard with MA Bill.

I'm on tank water, and after siphoning any rubbish out I just remove the shower head from the shower, then connect the garden hose.. run it for a while to set the temp... then fill em up Never had a prob using this method. I never add "anything" in the way of chemicals to my tanks, and the only test I have done over the past three years was for pH.. (maybe twice in that time).. but have no other test kits, and never have probs with ammonia/nitrate/nitrite/hardness.. etc. I think people tend to worry too much about these things and make a peaceful pastime a stressful one Bill.

Life is full of doors that open and close Kim... Let's all hope that the new door that opens is just as exciting as the one that is closing behind you. All the best for the future, and hope you will keep posting Bill.

Hi Maxy, Good to see you here and hope you find lots of interest and enjoy your visits Bill

PeneJane asked: Shae said: Geez Shae.. Hi PeneJane, The darkness of the gravid spot will give you a good idea how close she is.. plus her size of course. The darker the spot.. the closer she is. Avoid moving the fish in the latter stages as this will stress the fish out, and use a heavily planted tank in preference to a breeding trap type contraption. The one you mention in the other post that is lingering in the corner... This could be due to stress or poor water conditions, or even the change in enviroment from the shop to your tank. Keep an eye on it as it may be coming down with something, and if it doesn't pick up, then post here and tell us the symptoms. Regards, Bill.

Welcome to the Fishroom PeneJane, The Guppies are great to start off with, and are such an under-rated fish by many who can't see the amazing beauty in such a small package Three of the deadly sins if you are just starting out.. Don't overfeed Don't over stock in the early stages. Don't rush.. it takes a lot of patience to get things right. Bill:)

Hi shiuh, So many factors can be responsible for low birth rates, from water conditions, stress, diet, temperature, tank companions, and so forth. Some say that the temp can even effect the ratio of male and females born. Question is... "Has the fish stopped dropping..?" They often drop over a period of time... not all at once. If conditions are un-favourable the livebearers can hold back, or even abort the young. Even moving the fish or placing in a breeding trap can cause enough stress to delay the birth or give poor results. The maturity of the parents could be another factor.. eg: young females often drop low numbers.. and imature males often don't fertilize the female fully. Bill.

Well.. I "could" lose my position as moderator here for this.. but... Marine Importer and Perky are one and the same.. according to the IP Address... either that.. or they are using the same phone line. Can we please end this farce now, and have these members suspended. Bill.

This is "VERY" concerning... There should be no foul smell whatsoever in a fish tank, and if there is, then it's a sure sign of polution of some description. I had someone from OS email me some time back with a similar prob. They had also gone through the normal routines of water changes etc... but still the tank had that slight odor and was never 100% crystal clear. Anyway.. to cut the several emails short.. I told the writer to check under the rocks for anything suspicious. Whoa and behold... there was a clutch of fry that had died and was rotting away beneath the rock. This possibly won't apply to your situation... but if your tank stinks... then there is "definitely" a prob, so check everywhere for dead fish or rotting plants and such. Also... Just check a section of the gravel.. If it looks black at all.. (normal gravel that is).. then again it is a sure sign of polution, and if it "is" black, then you may be in for a stripdown. BTW: An established tank "will" have a "very slight" earthy smell about it... but nothing unpleasant... and nothing that would be normally noticed unless you put your nose close to the water. HTH Bill.

Hi ulrike, Welcome to the NZ Fishroom. A few things stand out.. Too many fish for a tank that has "virtually" been set up for such a short time. Sounds like a major case of overfeeding. Cut right back on the food and do regular water changes three times a week. A sure sign of bad water conditions. As above... water changes. There is a deep layer of nasty bacteria below the gravel, and if undisturbed, it usually gives no probs, but too much stirring around will cause a bacteria explosion that your filters can't cope with, and so the problems start. A twenty five percent water change means just that... You remove a quarter of the water "completely" and replace it with suitable water of the right temperature. Vacuuming is fine in moderation, and is used to remove the rubbish that accumulates on the gravel, or slightly below it. Siphoning the rubbish out.. (down a drain).. is far better, as you do two jobs at once.. eg: Water removal and cleaning. HTH Bill.

CG said: I think because it was based around the North Shore Club. Great show... some wonderful tanks. Missed the first minute or so, but managed to grab a tape and record it. Never expected it to be on mid-day.. but luckily someone screamed out that "There's fish on TV.." Don't forget to pull the tab on the tape if you want to save the recording . Bill.

Ira said: Sure do.. the prob is keeping it submersed. Bill.

There are several ways you can shape the Polystyrene. A simple way is with a hot wire cutter made from a length of Nichrome wire.. like the type used in elements. Just make a holder something like the shape of a catapult and insulate the ends, then string the wire tightly across the two arms. A 12v supply (power pack or battery) should make the wire glow. Adjust the length (ohms rating) till you get the wire hot enough. Another method is a hot air gun if you have access to one.. and another is a small butane gas torch.. but this is a bit messy and lots of fumes. Most people I have read about doing this have problems in keeping the poly in a sunken position.. so you might have a few probs there. Bill.

Sheeesh... Thank goodness we went metric .7 of a stone indeed Good one Pies

Ira wrote: You might find the US Gallon weighing 8lbs.. but I think that you will find that the Imperial Gallon does weigh 10lbs Bill.

Hi again, Yep.. there's quite a few posts on growing BS (brineshrimp) You can culture small amounts using the upturned Coke Bottle method. If you click on the "Search" at the top of the page and enter Brine Shrimp.. or brineshrimp in the space provided (don't bother with the author bit).. then you should see heaps of info on them. HTH Bill.

Hi Matt, The fry will stay hidden as long as they feel unsafe, and as the saying goes... "Only the fittest survive" At a week old they may have enough size about them for the parents to ignore, but a few of the smaller ones may become dinner for the adults if they can't get under cover quick enough. Lots of plants and hiding places is the way to go, and if you can... then feed them some newly hatched brine shrimp. This will give them a boost and promote growth.. plus it will take the adults interest away from eating the fry You should be able to sex them at four weeks, and by this time they should be showing a bit of colour. We have a new guppy club being formed if you are interested.. (See Livebearer Section) HTH Bill.

Apart from the odd few that have aquired common names (Peppered etc).. then most of the Corys are called by their scientific name. Bill

There you go Craig... Alan has the answer for you. Next thing to consider is... "Will the place you intend to put the tank support such a weight..."? Better check those joists Thanks Alan . Bill.