AMAZONIAN

Hi all This is something that I apply to all my tanks when stocking them with fish. :roll: (Tongue in cheek) it hasn't failed me yet.

Hi All I don't know about the "one inch of fish to the gallon of water" theory but:... :oops: I have always stuck to what the late "Bill Sievewright" told me; and that is "one inch of fish, less the tail, to eight square inches of tank surface area". :roll: It still works for me to this day.

Hi All The bulb will be quite suitable for the fish and plants in the tank. It's only of recent years that people have been able to buy fluorscent light fittings that are suitable for the atmosphere above a tank. I remember well that 48 years ago with my first tank (the lid was aluminium) there were two 75 watts lamps in the hood. One on each end, and the same size tank as yours. An 20 or 23 watt "Energy Saver" will work a treat. Go for it and enjoy.

Hi Alan It seems like a "Lesson well learnt". :oops: As I said, attack them next time "But do it from FLOOR LEVEL". I have found they are easy to rear and hatch artificially and am on my fourth spawning from my two pairs. The fish will be there later Alan. :roll: In the meantime good luck and a very speedy recovery.

Hi Alan I hope to hell you're ok. The fish will spawn again, but that's taking the breeding lust to "NEW HEIGHTS". Get yourself ok and then attack the little beasties with the appropriate retribution the next time eggs arrive.

Hi All, Thanks for your valued input Alan. I rest my case. 8) As a bit of interest from the useles information department: NZ Post is Part owned by DHL (Germany) and it was NZ Post that set up "PACE" to ship live animals around NZ; exept they didnt tell anybody that the package was put on the "NEXT FLIGHT" in an empty plane set and was charged at "ADULT PASSENGER" Fare price. :evil: PACE was soon shut down when they were taken to the Commerce Commision for their actions. :roll:

Hi jim r I was not in any way, shape or form comparing the qualities of External Canister Filters. I said as I know about Via Aqua Filters only. I use Via Aqua and I'm extremely happy with the product, service parts etc. I ain't fixing what ain't broke.

Hi Petplanet Remember first and well that I go back in the hobby to 1957 and have seen a lot in my time. :lol: Thanks for your input (although you will find that I am correct) but it's a numbers game with the Chinese. For $1.00 US they will set up the machinery to put anybodies name on anything. Plus if you send them the specifications you want they will produce it; doesn't matter who has, or if there is a patent on it, it will be reproduced. I know as I import AQUARIUM PRODUCTS from China. (I'll send you a list some time). :roll: "Via Aqua" was originally designed and manufactured in Italy. Hahahah, the "KONG BROTHERS" saw a fantastic product and had it duplicated and renamed as "AQUA ONE". AQUA ONE then became the "TRADE NAME" of Kong's (Australia) where the company started in a garage, and continues to this day also as Kong's (NZ) Ltd. I wouldn't be so bold as to say they hold "PATENTS" on any of the products they sell, as it would be an affront to the original designer to change the minutest detail and then put a Patent on it and say its yours. I do know that they say they are "DESIGNED TO KONG'S SPECIFICATIONS" on the packaging. You pays your money, ..........You takes your chances. A bargain is only a bargain if you need the item.

Hi All Not one to Fail to recall blunders :oops: I put a Male in a tank I forgot I had a female Albino in. She was put there because I needed the tank she was in and the Pic was taken of the "TEMPORARY" home until I stripped the tank down. You can see the result. The Albino fry are about two weeks behind the growth rate of the Common kribs, which goest to show the weakness of ALBINO plus the added malady of the Crossing. Edit by SpidersWeb: Fixed Image URL

Hi All I've been using "VIA AQUA" since long before "Kong's (NZ) came out with AQUA ONE, which is actually a CHINESE (what isn't) copy of the Via Aqua, originally from ITALY. I am running both the 650 Professional and the 750 Professional and they are superb units . :lol: Very silent and efficient to boot. You wont be sorry buying one at the right price.

Hi All, As a keeper and breeder of ANGEL'S, I will state catagorically that you are all correct. My money is all on the 2nd piccy being a male. Any takers at 20 to 1? That is eveident by the tube which IS JUST VISIBLE and is extremely pointed. The behaviour you're describing is that of a pair, being in what I term "A TUG OF LOVE". Good luck with them and long may they breed for you.

Hi All. There are some things I like and some I dislike. :oops: SPECIES CROSSING IS ONE THING I DONT LIKE, and I DONT ABIDE THOSE WHO DO IT. :evil: To Clarify:..............Crossing Three Spot with Golden Gourami's is OK as they are the same fish; Trichogaster trichopterus. Crossing Colisa Lalia with Colisa labiosa is a "NO, NO". :evil: They are the same Family (Colisa) but are different species and they dont deserve to be adulterated by us humans. In the wild if that happened the scientists would "FIND" a new as yet "UNNAMED" Fish, and would do their thing to sort it out. In reality in the wild it probably wouldn't happen; so lets not do it in our fish rooms. :evil:

Congrats., I know that they are very SENSITIVE TO MOVING so I'll keep you all posted on progress.

I think in my case, :lol: a steady flow of "RUM" would be good Paul.

Hahahahaha. You're right Alan????? :lol: But I still like to think of it as:>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I CAN REMEMBER WHEN; "A QUID WAS WORTH TWO DOLLARS" and there was value in the money.

Hi All. As an "OLD WRINKLY" to use your modern terminology I have always advocated using "GREEN WATER "to feed your newly hatched fry. Well I have just spawned my Trichogaster leeri (Pearl Gouramis to the unknowing) and remembered that I should take a piccy and show you how I do it. You've only got to be an enterprising Kiwi with a bit of imagination to achieve a result and I've used this method for years; and the parts come via a "Friendly" Nurse. you will see this isnt "Rocket Science", but it sure works a treat and the fry get their green water 24/7 :oops: (another politically correct term) on tap virtually.

Hi All There is a guy in Christchurch who I met through a Trade Me deal who is breeding them and trying to build up a stock of "Breeders" so as to get the strain going again. He has promised me several pairs (5 actually) that I will pick up in a few weeks, when I go back to Chch for a hospital visit. He's not too far from Alan4304.

Hi All I just put my twopenneth worth on the auction. :lol: It should be shut down and the trader given a stern talking to by DOC.

Hi All I have seen some of the "AMAZON SWORDS" in the wild; some years ago :oops: but believe me, what is now "Cordifolius" was RADICANS back then and everybody wanted one (and at about (2pound, 10 shillings) someone made plenty)and they got one. But the reality is that I saw them on the river banks in Florida 6 foot tall with leaves the size of a table cloth. As Alan4304 says; beautiful when they are small.

You CAN cross (if thats your description) some of the Gourami species. But I put tongue in cheek saying this. Colisa lalia and Colisa Labiosa have been crossed. The offspring are "Crap" to all accounts and breed nornally, as they are not sterile. :evil: Blue gourami's; Crosby Gourami's; Three spot Gourami's; Opaline Gourami's; and Golden Gourami's will all cross with each other. This is the tongue in cheek bit: :roll: ALL THOSE GOURAMI'S ARE THE SAME FISH.............Trichogaster trichopterus. It's just that the breeders have fixed the mutations so as they continue to breed 95% true to ther parent fish. Good luck with anything you cross. YOU MIGHT GET THE "PURPLE" Gourami. :lol:

Hi All. Just got these piccy's from my "Bucket". :roll: Not a bad number of eggs, now to hatch and raise them.

Hi All it's usually "CAVIAR" for dinner in the fish room; especially with the "Dwarfs", but tonight I got em beat. I think. :oops: Mummy and Daddy REDTAIL, AKA "Apisto. Mcmasteri had been making whoopeee and, yep you guessed it. :roll: They laid eggs.. But me being the big bad ogre of the fish room put a spoke in the wheel and said, "Caviar is off the menu tonight kids", and thirdwith (it's quicker than forthwith) removed the dinner table "holus bolus" into a new room, complete with Air Con. and Central Heating. :lol: I'll post a piccy when "PHOTOBUCKET" comes back on line.

Hi Aaron The short answer is NO. The photos are far too dificult to read and the angles of the fish make it impossible to even have a calculated guess and be 50% correct. The way "I" use (and it works for me) is to look at a fish "Front On", you can see the keel of the males is like a "V" and slightly concave; the female's keel is like a "U". The most certain way to sex them is to check the ovipositor Tubes. The Female has a very broad tube and flattened at the bottom whilst the Male has a very pointed tube end. There is more chance of picking males at a young age if you use this method as the tube end protrudes slightly outside the "body line". Good Luck.

Hi All. There is a meeting of the above Club:................ :lol: 42 ABRAHAM HEIGHTS NELSON at 7:30pm 8th MARCH THE USUAL BUY - SELL - SWAP TABLE Members of other club's that are visiting the area are most welcome to attend.

Hi All, I'm with "joandwilly" except that I also put Carbon rods in the top basket and TWO pads of Filter Wool woth the carbon in the sandwich. :lol: It works a treat.