jude

And before you ask, no I haven't tested for anything :lol: :lol: This is my little fishtank at work. I think it holds about 25 litres. I noticed it seemed smelly the other day so did a 25% water change. I checked today and it really stank. It has 4 or 5 cardinals and 5 harlequin tetras in it and I had added 4 small clown loaches to get rid of the snail problem. It has a built in filter at the top of the tank and the sponge was disgusting and stank. I have rinsed the sponge out and removed the clown loaches because they've done their job, and because they might have been overloading the tank. I also did another 25% water change but it still seemed a bit whiffy to me. It has a thin sand base and quite a few plants for a tank that size and its been running smoothly for several months now. Any suggestions as to what might be causing it and what else I could do about it? The water looks crystal clear although I know thats not an indication of its quality. Cheers Jude

:lol: :lol: :lol: whetu and nz mitch

Usually I yell and shout and throw things. Sometimes I cry as well. Jude :lol: :lol: :lol:

Oh No! That's really awful Caryl. I am so sorry to hear it. I agree with Billaney but you know so much more about this stuff than me anyway. Cheers Jude

You nearly had a fryed filter :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I use cold, straight from the outside tap. But last night I did a big water change and it was very very cold so I added some jugs of hot water as well Cheers Jude

Yippeeeeeee Got the AW today and I've already read it from cover to cover. Thanks Caryl for another brilliant issue - and thanks to all the contributors too Cheers Jude

Thanks everyone Caryl, the cats would love that idea - fresh fish for dinner :lol: :lol: :lol: I've also uploaded the pictures to the photo gallery. Cees says its not being used enough and he might have to remove it - so come on everyone, upload your photos to our own gallery Cheers Jude

Just letting everyone know I've posted updated pictures in the freshwater tanks section. Cheers Jude

As far as I know, they do need wood in their diet. You might be able to avoid having wood in the tank by feeding them with pleco chips that contain wood. Cheers Jude

I know a nationwide store sells SAE's under the name flying foxes. This link should show you how to identify whether or not it is a true SAE. I have several in my tank and they are great fish who seem much happier in a school. Good luck with buying them http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/ Cheers Jude

Why not use a paddling pool?

Just out of interest, whats the difference between that cement and the stuff available everywhere? And where would you get the white coral sand from? Cheers Jude

That's an interesting site and the rock is very similar to hypertufa except it doesn't use peat and it seems to have a special sand. Its certainly similar in the way it uses molds. Is coralline sand available in NZ or will any sand do?

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Hey Ira I've just been sitting here watching your aeroplane take off over and over again - its hypnotic but I think the Wright brothers flew further :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I was thinking that Ira, and I am tempted to trial it. It seems such a simple way of making a wall. Apparently you can lay a fine mesh through it to give it strength so that might stop it crumbling. Cheers Jude

I guess the deafening silence means nobody knows what hypertufa is :lol: :lol: Its a mixture of cement, sand and peat used to make planter troughs, garden sculptures, planter troughs, water features and fake rocks. It doesn't weigh much and it absorbs water. Years ago I saw a gardening programme where they dug a hole, poured the mixture in and when it was set pulled it out again - instant fake rock. It seems to me it would be easy to pour a fake background using this, if you used a shallow hole, the lumps and bumps would become caves and overhangs and it could be made in separate pieces - which brings me back to my original questions - would it crumble in the water, would it make the water too acid or alkaline? Cheers Jude

Has anyone ever made rock backgrounds from hypertufa? It seems to me it would be reasonably simple to dig a shallow pit of the correct size and fill it with hypertufa mix and it would provide a good surface to grow plants on. Would it dissolve in the water or would the peat make it too acidic? And are there other drawbacks I haven't thought of? Cheers Jude

If you like the ornament maybe you could put an airstone in it - it might look cool with bubbles coming out the holes

Hi and welcome to you too Good to see you've already joined a club Cheers Jude

Hi and welcome Good to see even more people joining Cheers Jude

Hi and welcome Sorry, I cant be any help about sea horses either but I am sure someone here will have the info you need Cheers Jude

Ignore me - I was just apologising for saying the plant was cabomba instead of ambulia but then I looked at the original post and I did say ambulia ............ I think its time to go back to bed :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Cheers Jude

Wow, I didn't know that, Mustcooktea. One of my tanks has the heater straight up and down and it always feels colder than it should. I will go put it on the diagonal now and see if it makes a difference - thanks. Cheers Jude