ichthus

Thanks again Joe using the venturi thing seems to be working, it is dispensing the CO2 as tiny bubbles that don't head straight for the surface. Yes - it seems the conventional wisdom is that my lighting isn't enough. I've looked on Trade Me and found units as you described, but they're a little out of my range right now - but at least I know what I'm looking for. I thought about just adding another unit to the current arcadia one - but the arcadia unit heats up a fair bit, and it's all under a wooden hood so I wouldn't think adding more heat would be a winner. I'll keep saving - and may move a plant or two out. Cheers. Rob

Thanks for the reply... yeah, I'm not really trying to go hi-tech...hence the easier plants (or so I thought). I have had one PH crash previously, so the baking soda is to avoid another, especially with the added CO2. Lost 2 fish last time...I think because PH went 7.2 to 6.0 almost overnight. Nutrafin Plant Gro is the stuff - the bottle says to dose weekly. And yep, I'm trying to avoid the daily doses of the expensive stuff like Excel...again, that determined my plant selection. The java fern was going great - pearling, then when older leaves where removed (after pearling) the rest started to die...maybe that was it? Hmm...I was afraid it may be the light. The tank is tall-ish (52cm), and so I wondered if that's why the bottom of the ambulia was suffering. I guess I could try another 2 foot light on top (tank is 62 wide)...but was trying the cheaper options first. Thanks again for the advice. I may have to start saving (or remove plants and go for another look).

Hi all In my 110 liter community aquarium I was concerned about some plants. The star grass and blue hydro are going okay, as are the crypts - but the java fern has started to turn black at the base as if leaves are rotting, and the ambulia is turning brown at the bottom - but still fine at the top. I think I have sufficient lights (28 watts total, pink and white arcadia bulbs) and I add nutrafin plant stuff once a week. SO...I've added a DIY CO2 bottle to see what happens. I just used the old drink bottle/sugar/yeast idea - and have attatched it to the venturi inlet on my Eheim Pickup Filter to try and disperse the bubbles...now I play the waiting game to see if it disperses okay, it produces a good amount (not too much or too little), and if I haven't screwed something up! Oh yeah...and waiting to see if it actually helps the plant. The tap water is SO SOFT I always add a teaspoon of baking soda to every 20 liter water change...and I can still only get a KH of 2 or 3 degrees. I'll let you know if anything happens. I'm nervous - but I'm sure the more experienced here don't think this is a big deal! Anyway - just sharing!

Somebody I know used Trisal for columinarus - double dose (2 tablets crushed per 50 litres of water for 7 days). But this can only be dispensed by a vet.

Tested an Eheim at the pet shop. It sure was quiet...but I heard due to poor design something goes wrong with it after a year or two. I'm not sure if that's true - if not, I thought it was a good product, albeit pricey.

Hi BikBok fish I like...um, better restrict this a little. In my tank, I like my Angelfish (ideal tank this week would be a large planted angel tank, but i think my wife would leave me). I like my dwarf chain loaches, active and fun. I thought I'd like to keep "shellies" sometime, but didn't think they existed in NZ. And although platys were almost my first fish, I like them still for a bit of colour in my tank (as well as a lemon swordtail). Just a few others I don't have - dwarf neon rainbows, whiptails and electric yellows. That should do it for now!

Hi all, i have benefitted from a lot of reading on this site. Thought I'd better join in! My name's Rob, live in Auckland. Used to keep fish as a teenager...but very unsuccessfully! Have got back into it now 15 years later (having learnt a lot more - like the PH isn't your fishes phone number...and that you cannot ride a nitrogen cycle to town). Now have a little 110 litre community tank, and having a go with some hardy plants. Nice to meet you all. I appreciate the friendly tone of so many posts on here. Rob