cannz

Just bought myself some guppies, one of which is pregnant. I have her isolated in a breeding net for now. one of the males looked like it was dead last night laying on it's side on top of the gravel, a good couple of hours....then it turned upright and started swimming around like nothing ever happened, it did it again later, but now it seems to be fine again...has anyone had this happen before or does anyone know why this happened and is it common with guppies to do this??? Thinking I'm gonna be a daddy very soon, her tummy is getting real big. Also would like to know what type of setup I would need for breeding guppies for starters, once I got that right would like to breed some egglayers. (tanks, size, filtration and so on) all advice and guidance would be appreciated. p.s. my 4 ft tank is ready will be picking it up on sunday. I'm pumped...looking at getting a 3 ft next and then a 5 ft for a marine setup (once I feel confident with tropicals) Johnathon [email protected]

Thanks...will do it within the week.

Ok Caryl, Tell me how do I sign up with Marlborough Club. Eventhough you are a few hours away, it will also give me a reason to go up there on occassion when time permits. Bought the U/G filter today...shopped around of course first. Prices ranged in the high $40.00 mark, then phoned another place and they quoted me only $25.90...hung up and was there in a second. Also got a discount (20%) on several other stuff I knew I needed (double flourescent light with reflector $130, large air pump for eventual additional tanks $26 , and one more 200w heater $34 going to be using 2 x 200w heaters in the tank) Somebody tell me I did good pleeeeease My tank will be ready next week and I can't wait, then I can start building my stand for it. Sorry bout the typo's in my last post, it was 6 a.m. and I woke up with a sty in my eye, and it was 3/4 closed could hardly see out of it. Eventually I'll come up with a signature at the end of my posts... Johnathon

Just wanted to thank you all for your input on u/g filters. I think I will go for them and if I am not happy with the results I will change it. As for my lawnmower...I have been wondering why my cabomba has been floating on top of the tank and I just thought I didn't have it planted properly. Thanks for the info on the gravel, can't get any cheaper then that. Ehen I got this small tank I didn't know anything about setting up a tank.. I washed the tank, the gravel that came with the tank and the orniments as well.filled it with the fish that was also given to me. turned on the heater and introduced the fish to their clean home. Never knew about the cycle. Even went out the second day and got 14 other fish. put them in and believe it or not, they are still all alive and doing well. Now that I know about cycling the tank I won't do that again, but just wanted to let you know that I didn't cycle the tank and none of the fish died. Luck I guess. When I get my 4 ft I am not going to rush getting the fish inside it. Going to wait at least 2 wks before introducing any fish into it. Once again thanks for your input. Now can someone tell me how do I just a club like your Caryl? and does it cost anything and if so how much. Went to the club page but didn't see anything except where they are located and their phone number or do I just email requesting membership?

most sites that I have visited and a few pet shops told me that u/g filters are not good for plants because of the air flow on the roots... it's even mentioned here in the technical section. On the other hand, if it works for you why shouldn't it work for me. Can you tell me what kind of substrate you are using for the plants to grab hold of, once again read that the coarse gravel doesn't provide much grip for the roots. Could I mix a finer substrate (not too fine ... will get sucked through the u/g filter) with the coarse and does it have to be pet shop bought gravel? As for the silver dollar...LOL only have one and he/she swims like it's on speed...if it only had legs I could get it to mow my lawns, Lord knows my 14 doesn't I used to like the silver dollars when I was about 12 yrs old, (associated with money) but this one was given to me along with the tank and I have no plans of getting others. thanks and hope to hear from you and others in the chat room at 9

right now I have in my 2 ft tank...2 dwarf gouami, 1 honey gouami, 4 neon tetra, 3 red eye tetras, 1 raindow shark, 1 red tail shark , 1 silver dollarand 4 angelfish which are going like wildfire (hence getting a 4ft tank. does that give you an idea of what type of fish I am leaning towards. Also have been looking at other types but undedecided right now. They are all living happily together even the sharks don't both each other they have their hiding spots at each end of the tank. I don't at this present time want to specialize in one type of fish as I am exploring all species and seeing which type does what and how they react to others..I would like to stick with a community tank and maybe build some smaller tanks for breeding. When I was younger I never thought that fish tanks were this interesting the more I read about it the more excited I get and want to get into this hobby more and more. I am sure witht the support that this site and forum have to offer I am going in the right direction thanks Johnathon

I was thinking of going with undergravel filtration, but I want a planted aquarium so that is out of the question, the next level up would be an internal filter system... was shown a rio sytem at "Pet World" hovering around $80 the salesperson suggested that I get 2 of them for my 4 ft tank (Rio #600 and Rio #800 or was it 60 and 80...by the time I left there my brain was fried with all that info she gave me) one at each end. Do you know this brand and is it overkill having 2 filters running? should I go with a Shark , Fluval or eheim system, does it really matter or are the all basically the same in performance? I am really eager to get this aquarium set up but I know I have to do it slowly to acheive the best tank and environment for the fish as well as it's appearance to the eye. thanks for your welcoming notes. Johnathon

Hi, I am a Canadian who is living here in NZ. Married my lovely wife that I met on the internet back in 97. She wanted to experience a "white Xmas" (only seen it on T.V.) so I brought her, my step daughter and our little baby girl (6 months) to Canada (montreal) for Xmas with my parents in Dec 98. Ended up staying there for 2 years. Then we returned to NZ in early 2001. I think NZ is a beautiful country and even better when I don't have to shovel snow to go to work. I am 41 yrs old and have a stepdaughter 16 , a stepson 14, and a daughter who is 5 yrs old. (She started surfing the net when she was 3...she is a brain(god help me). Wanna know more just ask Well getting on with why I registered here just a few moments ago, I was given a 2 ft aquarium a month ago, and now I have ordered a 4 ft one, I'm addicted. I have been touring all the pet shops getting advice about what I need (moderately priced of course for now) and most of the shops say different things...Wish I truely knew what I really need to start off, undergravel, internal, ...external (which is too expensive for me at this present time)...heating...what kind of gravel should I use, planted aquarium substrate...silversand, fertilizers and so one...is there any place on the net that I can research my options and have faith in what was being said. I don't want to kill any of my future fish or waste my money on misguided help. I have searched some places on the net and there too it is not always the same info for the same question. I am hoping I can get better guidance from knowledgeable people here. I am also interested in breeding fish in the future, but that will be in time, when I my confidence increases. Looking forward to hearing from the members of The Fishroom Johnathon