calculator

The problem isnt that the animals havnt been imported, it is that the only reptiles that are legal to keep in New Zealand are the ones that were mentioned above. Please dont import anything illegally, you will just get in lots of trouble.

When I set up a tank I just grab a bit of media from another of my tanks, and then stock the tank very lightly, and do water changes everyday for the next few weeks. That has always worked for me.

Welcome to New Zealand and I hope you have a fun time here. We unfortunately do have many exciting reptiles in New Zealand unlike in some countries over seas, so we are stuck with only dreaming about keeping them, and looking at pictures on the internet.

+1 When setting up a tank I find regular monitoring of the nitrate helps you work out the water change schedule.

I think there all important, I use them all, although I use the nitrite the least, as I see any mini cycles as they start with an ammonia test.

Harlequin rasbora are also a common schooling fish choice.

Also I feel the need to say that you should get a bristlenose pleco, they are awesome.(but need driftwood, and should be feed algal disks, or somthing similar.)

You mean there is something else in the picture? You are right, there are some marvelous apartments in it that I have noticed on closer inspection.

For most fish a pH of 7 is fine, I keep my tank between 6.5 and 7 all the time, and my pond at 7-7.5. But you change your pH to suit your fish, as some fish have slightly different requirements.

A pH of 7 is a good pH, it is the neutral pH, until you decide what you want to keep I would leave it there, and only change it if the fish you want need a different pH.

How high is your high ph? It might not be changing because your water is quite hard, providing a buffering effect. To your cycling problem, I am not sure why you are not getting a ammonia reading, you usually get one, maybe one of the local members could donate you some of there cycled media to instantly cycle your tank (saves on the expensive chemicals). Other then that you could get just a couple of fish and slowly stock your tank, making sure the conditions dont get to bad.

Have you cycled your tank yet, if not some good information about it is here: http://www.fnzas.org.nz/?p=1868 I personally dont cycle with live fish, so I would cycle the tank, then putt in the fish that I want to have. It really depends on what you want the tank to look like, personally I say plant the tank up, and put in a schooling fish like tetras (neon, ember, etc), or you could go guppies. Other then that you could get a school of dwarf rainbow fish, or put in dwarf gouramie. if you want a cat fish, corry cat fish are always cute to have.

Sounds exciting, looking forward to seeing pics/a build thread.

Be sure to watch your partners tank when you remove the filter. It might go through a mini cycle, as you have removed some of the filtration capability. As the first lot of fish wont have much bio load I am sure the filter will be fine (as long as it has a high enough water turn over rate).

Most of the bacteria that converts the ammonia to nitrates is in the bio material of your filter. If your canister is being put straight on the new tank from another cycled tank the canister itself will still be cycled and all the beneficial bacteria will still be alive it it. If this is the case you can start putting fish in the new tank straight away as the filter is already cycled and will be able to cope with the bio load, you might want to only stock it up lightly low so that the filter is overloaded with fish waist. That would make it similar to how I have set up all my tanks where I have got some already cycled filter material (the ceramic 'noodle things') from an already set up tank and put it in the filter of my new tank and stocked it straight away. If your filter hasnt been running on a tank, or if it is dry the bacteria in it could have died, which would mean you have to cycle the tank and filter again.

Yea, didnt you see it, it is hiding under the bank in the water, It is a bit hard to see though, the water is fairly dirty.

:sml1: :sml1: :sml1: :sml1:

Again? what happened the first time?

haha, I was avoiding asking weather the fish of girl was being referred to. :smot:

Arn't they illegal, or at-least I remember reading that somewhere, correct me if I am wrong.

@David I am not a fan of the 'fancy' line breed fish either, I prefer the more natural looking fish. But then again I am a fan of odd ball fish, none of my favorite fish have much colour to them.

I would say it is different to cross breading dogs, as dogs are much closer related the the fish that you are cross breeding (Not sure if it is just an 'old wives tale' but I have been told that cross breed dogs are healthy and more hardy then 'pure breeds', but now I need to :smot: myself). I think a closer comparison would be comparing cross breeding lions with tigers.

Congratulations. When I had a similar algae problem I managed to sort it by removing as much as possible, dosing with flourish excel, and I now need to get a couple of Siamese algae eaters to finish the problem off once and for all. You are definitely not the only one.

:sml1: :slfg: :sml1: :slfg: But to get it back on topic, here is another picture of my cat (still fish themed):

Personally I think it shouldnt be done deliberately, it is unnatural. If it happens accidentally I am more accepting of them, it is better they go to good homes then be killed, but I would never buy one as I dont think it is right. The more important thing though is that they are properly cared for (big enough tank size, appropriate tank mates, correct water conditions). I would prefer a properly cared for hybrid to a 'pure breed' in inappropriate conditions.