F15hguy

I have been given the opportunity to set up a 450L NZ native tank for a polytechnic project. Everything is all set up, but I am not going to go ahead unless I am able to rehome the fish at the end of the year. The basic plan atm is a torrent fish setup with a deeper slower current end for a few bullies and maybe a Kokopu or 2. It will be VERY lightly stocked to reduce maintenance issues so you probably would not need to have a 450l to take them. I am happy to pack and deliver them within a reasonable distance from TGA around November. Yay, my last hurdle is the good old ethical dillema.

10L??, get a nano heater and do scarlet Badis (Dario dario) or do a planted tank with NZ native shrimp in it

:iag: take in a sample of your tap water to your LFS, if you still get a positive reading contact your council asap, they tend to not like toxic chemicals in their water supply

I use vaseline on the filter seals all the time, helps maintain the rubber as well.

depends on what you want, if its just a few breeding tanks, i'd just use old glass off trade me, if its a display tank, definately shell out for the good quality glass, plus get the edges done properly. If you are going DIY then do a couple of breeders first for a practice run cutting and glueing. can get 20 windows for $1 on trade me for fun.

Go visit a good vet and get a prescription for "Ethromycin", it will fix your problem in a couple of days, unfortunately Cyano is one of the things that hangs round long after you have fixed the initial problem. just for interest what type of gravel did you initially have??? I find some substrates are more prone than others

Mines getting, white worms, black worms, frozen blood worm, live snails and mozzie larvae atm. how big is yours Zeebee???? plus have you sexed it??, i wanna go at breeding some.

I would be careful of running Catfish and loaches on that black silica gravel, its VERY sharp

Finally got meself one!!! :happy1:

Goblin shark

Both are rather peaceful, so i'd assume you would be ok. anyone actually tried it though?

slow moving creeks with lots of plant cover, preferably coastal, just run a scoop net through the weeds. some roadside drains have good populations as well

most of those were reasonably common, just ask your LFS whats on the oddball list some time.

Make sure the tank is well covered, the babies need warm moist air for their first gulps. Also what foods are you using, I used to turn my tanks bright green with infusoria as soon as they were free swimming and then added a few extra brine shrimp naupili every now and then. and try and reduce the amount of surface current as much as possible

I use one in my Dwarf puffer tank, (atm stocked with 5 leopard fish and one dwarf puffer, until the leo's are old enough to breed) I find it to be pretty good, i removed the carbon and used filter floss instead, keeps the water perfect.

Just like to point out that keeping a Gold Algae eater with Discus is just asking for expensive trouble. tbh I wouldn't be surprised if he's had a nibble on the Danio (they take the top layer of skin off) also have you given the sand a good stir round?, I find that Black silica can really trap stuff if not stirred regularly. also do some fresh water changes (no salt, try for 30% every 3 days for a fortnight and see what happens.) all 3 of those could be the culprit as well, RT shark and T-Bar would be my best guesses, both are really too agressive for a community tank.

Waterchanges, review stocking, more water changes and testing. don't be afraid to do 75% water changes either as long as the parameters are right, but find out why first. also how long do you have lighting on for, and is there any direct sunlight hitting the tank?

get your water tested, Algae issues can be caused by excess phosphates. if you are using Tank water I would test the water out of the tap as well. BBA is normally caused by a lack of CO2 in planted Aquariums, consider CO2 injection of some form. also Flourish Excell (a organic carbon booster) will knock back the BBA quite quickly. Algaefix doesn't do anything to either BBA or Cyano if they are your problem. how often do you do water changes?? what is your stocking level like??

wow, im touched

They keep the bacteria in a suspended "spore" state, similar to the state that anthrax is in for Bio weapons. there is also a couple of extra chemicals used to prolong the lifespan as most bacterial spores are not as long lived as Anthrax. https://www.tlc-products.com/pdf/Patent1%20-%20A%20Method%20of%20Stabilizing%20Bacteria.pdf I use TLC products and they work, pretty much thats all that matters

I just use a G-Clamp and a small bit of wood to spread my calipers, works a charm and only $5 Need my disc's machined too now, but thats after about 3 sets of pads.

Havent read the whole thread yet so sorry if it has already been sugested but have you tested your Salinity levels???, if you are dosing every week it will slowly build up. also a good way to lower nitrogen waste in a fish only tank is to add some Duckweed (it can become a pain in some tanks, but normally stays ok if there are some vege fish in there.)

yes im back, finally finished the outdoor leadership and field work paper until september. spent the last couple of months camping around the country, been to Waitawheta, Opoutere, Ohakune (including a round the mountain walk and 2 days of heather surveying) and also daytrips to Otanewainuku, Aongatete and other parts of the Kaimai's Now on Zero waste. btw... who missed me???? :oops:

Poste haste, NZ couriers if its going to more rural areas