jude

I bought a pool vacuum hose - they come in very long lengths and are flexible. I put one end on the garden and bring the other end inside. I tie that end to the back of a chair then I use the ordinary tank vacuum/syphon thingie - I get it started, push the end of the syphon tube down the pool vacuum hose and vacuum the tank to my little hearts content! And as a bonus, my garden loves the water and nutrients it gets from the tank water. Then I bring in the outside hose and use it to refill the tank. I squirt in some chlorine remover if I can smell chlorine in the water but otherwise I don't bother. I have one of those trigger type nozzles on it so I turn it on at the tap, bring it inside and put it in the tank, then start the water running. Piece of cake - no buckets and hardly any splashing. Cheers Jude

I thought it was a peace lily at first but the leaves don't seem right for that. How tall is it? If its not too tall it could well be an anubias Cheers Jude

Caryl's fish don't poop much either because she doesn't feed them often. Poor little things keep coming to the glass, holding out their bowls, and saying "Please Sir, I want some more." :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I was thinking the same Alan. They are sold as aquatic plants but don't usually last for long. I didn't think they'd flower underwater but it looks great. Cheers Jude

how does the siphon and backup pipe work?

How will you know when 'last' is? :lol: :lol: :lol:

I think I remember reading that using ammolock won't change the readings - the ammonia is still in the water even if it is a more harmless form. As I say, I think that's what I read but I'm not 100% sure. Cheers Jude

It would be too fine to wash - it would just all wash away

No, it won't hurt your fish at all and I doubt it would affect breeding. If you want to use it I'd suggest you mix it with fine gravel, put a layer in the bottom of the tank and then cover it with gravel or sand. Aquatic plants love it but if you use too much it does make a mess when you pull plants out - clouds the water and settles on the leaves.

The aquatic mix is basically clay. Not at all like potting mix. Cheers Jude

I have one yoyo loach and I've found that whenever he goes pale its time to do a water change. His/her colour always comes back afterwards so he's kinda become my canary

I'm expecting trouble with my new tank soon. There was only one place to put it and it will get a lot of light. I have been wondering whether to hang some sort of black out cloth over the front of it during the day. I expect I will be limiting the amount of time the lights are on too. Cheers Jude

It looks good like that to me. What does it look like from the other side of the tank? I can imagine it covered with java moss and java fern, with fish swimming through and under it. Have you tried it so the side thats now facing up, is facing down? That might look good too. Otherwise you have no choice but to go for a bigger tank. It would be sacrilege to saw it :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Whatever you do, DON'T encourage them :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: My swordtails and platties in the community tank never stop, and enough babies survive the bigger fish to constantly over populate the tank. If you wanted to breed them seriously then you might have to consider other options - like breeding tanks etc Cheers Jude

I don't know that I'd class mine as outstanding but I'm working on it. The L shaped tank at first http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/my-l-s ... t4720.html An update on the L shaped tank http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/update ... 13165.html There are some very nice tanks in that forum and they show what can be done with the plants available her Cheers Jude

changed my mind - I don't want any :lol: :lol: :lol:

Going by the link posted, its also a pest plant. I'm not sure if its banned or not but it might pay to check it out. Cheers Jude

What is the supersump? Is there a link I could look at? This might help me in my planning (daydreaming) about what I will do when I win lotto :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Cheers Jude

You can get glosso here and I believe you can find it in the wild in wet marshy spots. Perhaps you need to go for a walk by a river or lake Cheers Jude

They look amazing. Congratulations

the position of the heater could be affecting it, or the temperature of the surrounding air, or water movement perhaps? I've always thought it would be interesting to have a very long tank with the temp at 28 at one end and lowering to 22 at the other. It would be fascinating to see if the fish tended to stay in the area where the temp was the most comfortable for them. Cheers Jude

and if it works can I have some please :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I think the chewed one should go to Warren :lol: :lol: :lol:

That must be so frustrating for you Caryl. I know you have had the AW ready for ages and have just been waiting on this printer replacement. If you ask me, their customer service stinks and I won't be going near them.