Pegasus

They used to sell a plastic item at the Warehouse for syphoning things. It looked like a couple of hoses with a round concertina type pump attached that you squeezed. Was under twenty bucks if I remember, but you simply placed one end in the liquid, did a few squeezes on the pump and your syphon started. As Ira says, starting a syphon is a two second job once you get the knack of it Bit off topic, but I'm just watching my fish and the antics they get up to. The Plecos are usually first to the worm feeders when I put them in, but they have now learned a new trick. They see the food arriving and float upside down on the surface and vacuum the flake food from the surface. I can actually hear them slurping the food off the top. These are one of the most comical fish to watch, and seem to wag their bodies violently whenever I go near the tank. Happy Days Bill (Pegasus)

Hi Jadie, As I said, that was some time back, but I can just imagine what Warren and Kriber are going through right now

Hi there Kriber, welcome to the forum. I know EXACTLY how you feel looking at a fishless tank and dreaming of what might be in the future. I sat looking at a theee foot for around six weeks before I had the chance to fill it with water and test for leaks. Even then it was a couple of weeks after until I was able to put fish in, mainly because I couldn't get out to find a decent fishy place, but finished up ordering online. Those days are gone (thank goodness) and my first tank has has grown into quite a few more What fish do you intend to keep ? So many people lose interest after their first attempts, and we are real pleased that you decided to give it another go, and now that you've joined this forum you'll have lots of support to see you through any problems you may have. Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

Hi Jadie, Glad you stopped lurking in the shadows.... Great to have you join us... at last Your fish could have ich (white spot) but it is hard to say from your post (great couple of posts by the way) Is it just a single white spot.... very small like a grain of salt, or is it bigger. ? Have any more spots appeared ? Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

Hi Jadie, There was talk about these Python Syphons on an overseas forum and they said they were over a hundred bucks Might be time to start building those muscles up You said: The easiest way when using a long hose is to fill it with water..... block both ends.... drop one end in the tank and release it, then put the other end in the place you need to dump the water.... then release that and the syphoning will start. Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

Andrew said: Yours was one of the other names I typed in, so there was no "Vanity" involved, just pure interest, nothing more. Couldn't get your link to work by the way.

Hi All, Just reading some past posts about other sites It's amazing how the word gets around the world. Just recently I have recieved mail from Africa, Egypt, and France, plus quite a lot from the States and the UK, all asking for help with their fish problems. The one from Africa has yet to reply (Steve) who has a problem with brown water in his tank. Hopefully he will join the forum. It's a mystery how these people find you, as many of them I have not encountered on any of the sites, but yet they find something somewhere that leads them to here, or in my case, my email box or my small fishy website:) Just for a bit of fun I typed my online name into the search engine and was quite shocked to see the amount of times it came up, and I tried a few other members names from both here and other sites and got similar results. It appears that the net will grab any small detail relating to a subject or name and create a position for it in their search fields. It seems that "Big Brother" is REALLY watching us The lady in Egypt said that she typed in "Aquarium Help" and my name popped up somehow. Absolutely amazing. It's a really nice feeling to be able to help others in a different country and to be able to pass the location of the NZ Fishroom along to them. No matter what conflicts are going on in the world it seems that our fish are allowing us to join hands in peace with all other nations. Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

Congrats Terry, Every spawning to me is just as exciting as the first, and the Gouramies and Bettas are really a choice fish to watch spawning. Thanks for letting us know, and keep in touch.... we don't see enough of you these days

Hi Goldie, Sorry to hear about your predicament. Before stripping or emptying the tank, check the seals carefully both front and back. They will show up as a slightly darker colour if they are leaking. Check the rear seals using a mirror. Usually you will spot a seepage of water inside the seam if it's faulty. Also check that it's not just condensation from your hood, as this sometimes leaves seepage on the bottom of the tank. Mark the level of the water and see how much you are losing. Having Discus I would certainly hesitate in stripping the tank. You asked: Any wooden box or drawer.. dust bin with rubbish sack liner, will serve as a temporary home if it is lined with polythene and the heater mounted so it doesn't contact the sides or bottom. BTW: I can't see your avatar either, but sort your tank out first.... Good Luck Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

Just watched a fantasic Documentary on channel three called "Congo" Hope some of you had the oppotunity to catch it. Showed you in great detail many of the fish from the Congo and the Lake Tanganiki. Looking at the "Repeats" we get these days it is hopeful that they show this again. Brilliant program.

Hi @Andrew, Great to have you join us on the forum. You say: Plants mainly rot away from two causes, lack of light, or lack of food, but can also die through constant nibbling by the fish. Have you any substrate in the tank (gravel) and filtration ? Many of the plants you find in the shops just don't get along well in cold water, but Elodia does, and some of the Myriophyllum's plus some Hygrophila, Cabomba's and Ludwigia. If you click on the Twin Fishes at the top of this page you will find another part of this forum where there is a huge plant list which tells you the various conditions for plants... either cold or warm water. Hope this helps Bill (Pegasus)

Macka Asked: Just the standard Hypostomus plecostomus, plus BN's. Synodontis's are upsidedown cats ... S. contractus I believe... My breeding will be concentrated mainly on the Cory's and the Pleco's Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

Macka asked: Just running seven tanks at the moment, plus a bath he he. Am setting up another 40 tanks for my fishroom, but as my methods of heating them are not the conventional methods, I have a lot to do before I actually get some ready for fish. Fish.... I breed Angels and have several hundred fry (in the bath), plus three types of Cory's, wanting to spawn, ... Synodontis cats, Pleco's, Bristlenose... Tiger barbs, ready to spawn, hi fin Zebs, ready to spawn, Hi fin Molies and HF Platies... heaps of fry, along with some promising Guppies, and am looking for some young Discus, plus a few Cardinals which I want to spawn. Been out of the hobby for a great number of years and am just slowly getting back into the swing of things, and I must add that this forum has been a great help in doing just that Want to devote a number of tanks to Cichlids (South American) plus another batch for Gouramies and selective breeding of a few "hard to breed" types of Catfish. I like the Africans, but my situation here is more suited to the softer water/lower pH species, as my "tank water" is ideal for fishkeeping. Oh.... And the Botia's.... I want to study the Botia's in great detail, so they are on my "got to get" list Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

Hi Macky, Few good places up here in the Far North, with good stocks and clean tanks, but of course the selection of fish is not what it is in the larger centers, but they say "from little acorns......" and as you say, there seems to be a growing following. Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

Hi Macka, Glad you could join us on the forum. Enjoyed reading your posts Sounds like you have some real big fellas in those tanks of yours. Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

Ira said, Your secret is out Ira.... Just wondering if this was the cause of all your probs over the past months :) Hi Peety, Can't believe you get/got away with turning the heaters and filtration off as you say. If it's/was to save power, I think it is false economy, and you might find that the heaters would be on longer to reheat the water, than if they were left on just to balance the temp, especially in a 2mtr tank, and in Auckland. I suppose the ideal situation with your filters would be to ease them back a bit if the turbulence is making things hard for the fish to rest on a night, but usually they will (as Ira says) find somewhere that suits their situation for a relaxing night IMO, filters, once established, should be kept running. Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

Hi there Shilo, Great to see new faces on the forum... a warm welcome, and great advice on that filter. Sounds like you've been keeping fish for a while and we hope you will tell us all about them. Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

INTERESTING..... 102 Tanks.... Tell us more.... especially how you heat them I'll have a hundred tanks by early next year (setting up 47 at the mo) so if you have any brilliant ideas other than my method in the Tech Section, then I'm keen to hear them. Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

Hi There Clare, Welcome to the forum. Lotsa members from down your way, so you won't be lonely Quite a few also keep Goldfish as well. What fish do you have at the moment ? Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

Better.... Much better... One of John's logo's was enough without having TWO of them

Hi Danny, Now we are REALLY confused as you have John1's logo. Hope you look a bit better than that LOL. Getting your logo to NZ is a piece of cake provided it is stored somewhere, like your home website or somewhere. Just go into your profile here and enter the addy where the logo is stored. Not TOOOO sure, but I think this system will even take it from your own PC in your home. Give it a try.... Any probs.... errrr... we try again :) How did you get John's mug up there anyway LOL. Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

SO CARYL S........ You're not REALLY a RED devil, but a GREEN one

I think it was the Mark seven dash eight hyphen fiftytwo slash nine version.... but I ain't sure That one will do.... just start a thread.... could be interesting he he.

"Green Water" is water that has turned green through algae growth. Great stuff for feeding fry of any kind BTW. Ponds and lakes can hold some REAL nasties if you don't know what you are looking for. If you do, that's fine.... You may even find some Daphnia, another excellent live food A few days out in good sunlight should give you algae starting to grow in your buckets without transporting water from a pond. Your old tank water will help get this going as well Just make sure you put the buckets where they will get the maximum sun. Catch the mozzies with a net, then feed to your fish. This leaves the smaller ones behind to grow on for a day or so. Some suggest rinsing them under the tap, but I never bother and have had no probs. Regards, Bill (Pegasus)

Time you had an Avatar/Logo Danny... your other one looks good, but it seems you left it behind