Pegasus

Is this round six... or seven. It's hard to keep track :) In the blue corner weighing in at ....... No offence Warren, but the bottom line is that both yourself and David seem to both have wonderful setups, and both use the methods which their creators find suits them the best. Your tank does seem somewhat overstocked based on the dimentions given, but obviously you have provided for this in some way, be it air circulation/water changes or whatever. The point being that all posts on these boards are the writers opinions, and should be taken as such, for what might work for one person might not work for another. The end result is what matters, no matter how one obtains it. Packing a sad at this point is not the answer, I had the score about even :) Bill.

Hi Ira, Derek said, IMO any area is pretty suspect, (dogs, cats, cars, people polution) but next time try this. Get a small amount of peat (Organic... no additives) Small amount of potting mix (Organic... no additives) One pudding bowl. Soak peat and mix in the bowl till fully soaked. Strain and fill an ice cube tray with the contents. Freeze till firm. Remove frozen cube of peat/potting as needed and slip under your plants as needed. The ice gradually melts and peat/potting mix gradually disperses under your plants No mess etc. Note: check the pH, it may change to slightly acid, but by adding small cubes like this it shouldn't . Happy Days Bill.

Hi Ira, Seems you still have a problem. Remember this, http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?t=288 And this, Bill said,

Ta Muchly Caryl

Moved my question here seeing the topic is still flowing Hi Warren, Having not had the pleasure of seeing your tanks, could I ask you the dimentions of the 300gall. Bill

Beautiful pic Clothahump. I must have kept them on and off for twenty years or more and never seen one flower. Any secrets

Thanks Peter, Added the link to our list. Bill.

Hi Nix, Glad to have you with us. Good advice from AJ and the secret to setting up in the beginning is patience. Besides the books AJ suggested you'll probably find a number of post here that relate to your problem. A couple of things you mentioned... "The white marble stones, and the driftwood" Are you positive that the stones are suitable for an aquarium and not lime based chips of some sort, which would cloud the water no end. Also the driftwood you have. Unless it was soaked for a considerable time before you put it in the tank it could be expelling tiny amounts of air until it gets completely water logged. Newly setup tanks always tend to appear to have a fogginess about them, but this usually passes in a day or so unless something else is causing the cloudiness. Additives in a new tank are not really a good way to start your new hobby, despite what all the advertising says, and the less chemicals you can put in the tank the happier your fish will be once you have the conditions right to include them. As from the previous advice, "learn all you can before you actually purchase your fish" Hope you enjoy your time with us. Bill (Pegasus)

Thanks Cees. My book doesn't list "Java Fern" which was the reason for the question. Hi Caryl, My tank(my lovely beatiful gorgeous tank that is sat there with all the wonderful gear still in it) is still quite dry until I can find a permanent home for it. but thanks for the offer. Bill

David might not get the joke here Caryl, after all your original Java Fern question was posted Posted: 30 Jun 2001 04:39 Post subject: well.... just about a year ago Don't tell me you STILL have some left BTW, What is the latin name for Java Fern?? Bill.

Where's Tigerhair of TTT, haven't seen him for some time.... well, not over here anyway and we thank you for the compliment

Hey Clothahump, you might find a few familiar faces here. Seen some of your great posts. Hope you'll hang around a bit and oblige us with a few Bill (Pegasus NZ)

Hi Andrew, Can't really see your point here, Having re-read your post I see you are talking about the Future, not the past :oops: This section has only been active for a few months, and the above has really been the first lengthy discussion that has been posted. My original post was answered, and the topic changed, for the good I might add The fact that it deviated is no problem, to me at least :) I can see that Cees possibly got involved because the topic was not related to the "Different species of surface breathers" and possibly another thread should have been started. Hopefully this topic on Betta's can continue for the benifit of all members who keep and breed these fish. Maybe a new thread is required. ? Bill.

Don't know if any members are interested in this type of project (See here http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?t=83) but I recently was asked about the sealer I used for the project, and after a great deal of searching, both here and elsewhere in the world, I finally found a company in NZ that supplies a product that may be suitable. I recieved the following email today. Hi Bill, EQUUS INDUSTRIES PHONE 03-5780214 RIVERLANDS INDUSTRIAL ESTATE BLENHEIM HAVE A PRODUCT SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU HAVE DESCRIBED IT IS USED TO LINE TANKS FOR LIVE CRAYS. EQUUS ALSO HAVE OFFICES IN CHCH, WGTN,AUCK.I have just done a speci for live prawn tanks for Silicate Systems. What are you proposing to do? Give me a call or email SINCERELY Gus MacIver PH 021-467-671 Hope this helps. Bill

For all those confused members This discussion jumped from Sep 2001 to Jun 2002.

Can't see a prob here ??? Cees's Post This is: Section......... Anabantoid Topic..............Betta's Subject..........Interbreeding Where is the problem Cees. This is a good discussion, and very interesting to breeders of fighters. If you are referring to this Cees, Bill asked, Forget it Cees, This is FAR more interesting Bill.

You are be right Midas, I must admit I'm not up to scratch with the name changes, I misread Caryl's post and thought the data at tangledupincichlids was a little behind, as many sites are. My only excuse is being up all night Quite right Benny, http://www.tangledupincichlids.com/photo.html has some nice pics. Never got a chance to go through them.... Must go back seeing it's up to date. :)

Hi David, Peter, Seems there are quite a few Betta's, B.bellica, B.brederi, B.imbellis, B.smaragdina, B.macrostoma The B.smaragdina has shorter fins, but is classified as the "Peaceful Betta" The B.brederi is apparently a Mouthbrooder, and doesn't build a bubble nest. Don't know if we get these over here?? Bill.

Hi Midas, As Caryl says, it has been changed to Cichlasoma argentea, but there's some great pics here, (male and female with eggs) under the old name. http://www.tangledupincichlids.com/photo.html Bill.

London, been in NZ 27 and a bit years.

Hi David, You said,

Thanks Derek, great site the Krib.... lotsa useful info. Will add the link to the list. (Tech/Useful Links)

Thanks Cees, I found the plant in question, but was still keen to know if there were any in NZ. I looked on the Plant survey before I posted the request. Not quite sure what you mean here though,

Hi again Warren, Got to laugh.... When I saw the mail arrive I thought of you, and having not stipulated what plants, I knew exactly what you would say regarding the Echinodorus and Aponogetons, for I too had bulbs and rhizomes from various plants for many years. The first Aponogetons I bought were from an auction at a fish show, and I thought I had been ripped off as when I unwrapped them at home they looked quite dead, but shortly after planting they began to grow, and some time later sent out fine thin shoots to the surface. What happened in between at that time I don't remember, (pretty busy breeding fish) except I awoke one morning to find the whole surface of the tank covered in beautiful tiny flowers... pinkish I think they were... it's a lot of years ago. Those same bulbs were "recycled" as you might call it, for many years, so I submit to your post, you are quite correct, but about the fleshy ones... well..... If I remember correctly I used to store them in a cool dark place for some time after lifting them, before replanting later on. Just one.... and only one, thing I disagree with and that is:

Picard of Star Trek would say "Make it so" Please Warren, Don't make it so.