Zuri_08

I suggest being quite careful/gentle if you get massage; sometimes it can make it worse and especially gotta watch out not to damage the tiny blood vessels (which, in worst case scenario, can lead to stroke). I've not had whiplash myself but hearing other's stories is enough. And, follow the advice of your physiotherapist (rather than chiropractor because it is likely a tissue problem, not a bone alignment problem); I think they would know best :-)

Yep; just what I'm hoping for! In saying that though, I've quite enjoyed this chemistry-science stuff ;-) (mental image: ...showing off how I magically make water change colour...)

Wow thanks for sending frightening images of trumpet snails taking over the world! I better keep a close eye on those snails and call in reinforcements if they start taking over! The snails seem quite slow growing; so I guess it will take these little ones a while to grow big enough to produce more young, and as long as there isn't that much food for them I think they should not grow too much :-)

An update on my Trumpet snails.... (sound effects) nah nah nah nah nah..... screech screech! They are multiplying! Still not yet a problem, but I see someone had quite a few babies... and I can't wait till I have more money and more space... a bigger tank would be awesome (along with all the other animals I want to have ;-) )

...i decided to remove the shell creating little bubbles. My fish have lived in the tank for a while now so I guess the pH is not that bad for them, and the other parameters are good. I will monitor the pH for a while, and maybe not worry about hardness since most of you consider it less important than other measures. Min tank has been running about 2 months so must have settled by now.

Hello all I found my stash of sea shells and put a few (whole ones) in the tank. They actually look pretty good. I assume they cannot harm the fish... one shell is producing bubbles, should I worry about that? How long would it take for 3 unbroken sea shells to increase KH? Also, measured pH using test bottle kit: 8.0 That seems quite high, apparently about 7.5 for a community tank is idea?? Tap water is about 7.3. I'll measure it again in the morning before lights-on, as suggested.

Thanks Fi5hguy; I like "spidey sense" Hi Hamstar99; I used one of those "5 in 1 test strips" to get the GH, KH and nitrate/nitrite readings.

Interesting... How do shells change the KH? Do they leach out calcium? Are any shells safe for the aquarium? Is there a particular duration to have them in the aquarium?

Cool thanks. @ Sophia; I was hoping the need for testing the water would decrease once the tank got more established, so good to know that is actually the case :-)

Hello My question today: how perfect does the chemistry of the water need to be in order to maintain happy, healthy fishes? From my previous posts some of you might already know what is in my tank: neon tetras, black-lined flying-fox, (the Otocinclus died), and soon guppies. Today I tested the water: pH_____________________ 7.6 (with bottle method) or 7 (using strips) GH (general hardness)_____ 40 KH (carbonate hardness)___ 0 NO2 (nitrite)_____________ 0 NO3 (nitrate)_____________ 0 Is the water chemistry here suitable for a freshwater (and small) community tank housing the fishes listed above? In particular, the GH and KH, as I have already learned nitrates are toxic and low levels (of NO2 and NO3) are best. How frequently is it recommended to test the water? I've been testing about weekly, though just bought the pH kit today so that one is new.

I have lots of freshwater limpets in my tropical aquarium. They are small and harmless, but do multiply reasonably quickly. internet picture: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum/sh ... r-aquarium

Thanks for all your comments. I had a look on other websites, it does seem Oto's are more sensitive to things. People must be able to breed them in NZ? Or do they all come from America? I'm also still figuring out the filtering system; I've converted what was a goldfish tank into a tropical tank and I didn't realise the importance of the filter until I read a bit more about tank-cycling. Hopefully it is better now.

Hi F15hguy The Oto was my favorite fish. I did notice him and the Flying fox often near each other so I can understand your comment of a school of Oto's 'adopting' the flying fox. :-) I would love to have more and yep, they are a little expensive!

Hello Wow this is some really interesting stuff! Now I'm wondering about my flying fox, he is getting bigger and I don't want an aggressive fish in my little community tank! My Oto died today and now I wonder if the flying fox was a cause... I love this forum; we can learn from each other's problems and really get the facts. I'm a newbie too so am finding all this shared knowledge quite valuable. I might take the carbon out of my tank too... :-)

owwhh, all you guys have some lovely cat/kitten photos! Makes me really want a cat! Note to self: must finish studies and get a job first!

Thanks for the comments. To Sophia, sorry all your Oto's died, they must be a more sensitive fish. I wonder though, do they 'need' wood to eat? I read somewhere they do, and somewhere else they don't... My tank has plants but not any drift wood, did you year-old Oto's have wood? To Godly3vil, I've feed my algae eaters algae chips (from fish store) and zucchini (from veggie store) and they seem to like those things, especially the zucchini.

My Oto died today :-( In death he was buoyant enough to appear to be standing on his tail fins, it was as if he was walking on the gravel. Then I noticed him moving with the current, not against it, and the fact he wasn't moving at all. :-( He is in the garden now. I did notice he appeared stressed the last couple of days; not moving much but the gills were moving very rapidly. I wonder why he died? There were no obvious signs of injury or illness, though his belly was a little yellow (is that normal?). I had been treating for cyanobacteria - could that have made him sick (but not the other fish?). the helpful lady at the shop suggested to test the water so I did that, though the tests are not perfect (multi-strip thing) but seemed to be in the normal range...

Interesting notes on filter types. All I have noticed is that there are many big filters in the stores. So back to the original question; how many of you fish keepers are also working (or studying) in a field of science? (like biology, ecology). How many hope to? Has fish keeping made you more aware of and concerned for the environment? I know when I started fish keeping it certainly did!

Wow some pretty cool tanks there! I've recently got Sky and have been watching a few episodes of "Tanked", its so funny! Very interesting too. I saw the that furniture tank episode, wow, imaging having all that money to splash around! :spop: :spop:

Wow! The books advise against putting the tank near a window, but it must work for your tank. My little tank is by a window too (because there was no where else to put it) and is doing ok too, but is still new. So, if you are going by toxins in the water (ammonia, nitrates) at what point 'should' the water be changed?

Interesting, so how and why have the filters changed now? I did read under gravel filters were not suitable for plants, but I don't know anything about box filters.

Fish keeping as a profession must be a lot of fun!! I currently have two books on fish keeping; The perfect aquarium published 2005, and The complete guide to aquarium fishkeeping, published 2001 (first published 1996). The older book definitely seems more practical and is well written. The newer book is not so well written but has everything you need to know and in more detail with more pictures. Otherwise there is little difference between advised methods and equipment. Therefore, it must be advertising and the internet that is the 'technology' that is making fish keeping different! After all, the internet can instantly answer any question you have, so no time wasted trying to figure it out or finding someone else who might know.... I also like seeing images of others aquariums, usually thinking 'wow', and 'how did they do that?' :spop:

Thanks to those who read that post of mine! Imaginary chocolate fishes for you all! There are some interesting comments about the planted tank. No water changes for 3 to 6 months? Does that include fish or plants only? How do you keep the plants free from algae and cyanobacteria (if that issue arises)??

Question: 1) Why has fish keeping changed so much over the last few years? I was reading an article (http://www.fnzas.org.nz/?p=1857): On the topic of book resources, this article suggests that in the past fish keeping was successful without current technology, and most books were written before the arrival of the new technologies. However in the modern world there is less time for effective fish keeping and technology was developed to save time; "Much of the new technology available today helps reduce maintenance, and can extend the time between water changes. Alternatively, it can improve water quality in an existing system." I am wondering; 2) what is the 'technology' that this article is referring to? Planted tanks? Filtration systems? Are the new products based on old methods of fish keeping? 3) What sort of research went into the design of the new technologies? i.e. were biologists, biological studies involved? I'm was reminded of all the helpful advice offered when I was having trouble with fighting neons (they are all getting along good now with a few more added to the tank), and I suddenly wondered 4) if any systematic study had been done in terms of analysing the behaviour of 'pet' fish species? Here is one I randomly found on the internet: The effect of group size on the behaviour and welfare of four fish species commonly kept in home aquaria http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/ ... ls/applan/ , and paste this title in the search bar. That leads me to another question; 5) how many expert fish keepers are also biologists/ecologists or work in a field related to fish keeping? (and how many would like to!) Wow, this is a jam packed posting so if you have read to this point you deserve to go buy yourself a new fish! (or a chocolate bar ;-) )

That size sounds good to me too, I've also discovered fish keeping is expensive, so some things will have to wait :-)