Plantman

there is always the case of supply and demand. LFS is always looking for the best and reliable deal. if they kill the local market, they also kill the changes of making a profit in their business. in the past, they have depended on rare fishes but many breeders has started in NZ and that is profit for both the breeder and LFS. someone said something about breeder have a choice to sell. if they sell too high, no LFS will buy and LFS would rather buy local fish because they are cheaper and dealing direct meant they have better control over the fish quality. when they do not have a choice, they have to deal with importers who has pump in heaps of money for quarantine and tax. they usually demand higher pricing then the local breeder. first of all, if there is no importer in the first place, there will be no local breeder. the choice is in the market for the local breeders, importers, LFS and the customers. no body can claim they are making heaps of money or taking advantage from one another. IF i want to dump my price to LFS, it is my foolishness. the LFS might be suspicious of the fish and might not even want to buy from me. as Alan and as many had said, maintaining a good reputation with our buyers is crucial if not essential. in the long run, price is not control by us but by the market; supply and demand. and our good sense of judgement

is the green leaves nice and rich or is the leaves melting? i guess the plant is melting, hopefully new shoots will come out. :roll: :roll: :roll:

basically there are: the stem plant which grow very tall. there are lots of maintenance trimming and pruning. this is good for the back section of the tank. the broad leaves which serve as the center piece, the main attraction. these are reserve for the mid section. and then there is the front lawn which is short and thus create more space for the fishes. the shape you created in the tank will be us to your imagination. it can be a auditorium layout or an oasis at one corner or an island by itself. there are also the stones and the wood that creates the underwater natural effects. there are also other plants; like the fern and moss that do not require lots of like. Blues has a good assorted of nana plants which is good in tieing to the wood and when they are properly grown, it create a little tree in the oasis. does that help a little in your imagination? :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

fertliser and lighting are more essential than Co2. but again there are those who has neither special fertliser and lighting and yet their plant thrives. if you just got started with planted tank, you can have the Co2 at the later stage when need arises. Co2 is there not to ensure plant's growth but is there to compete against the dreaded algae but still there is no guarantee if the aquarium keeper did not have a proper maintenance. Co2 does not eradicate algae but to keep alae under control and at the bear minimum. if are well into planted, you can always start a DIY Co2 which is not expensive like the pressured co2 system. maybe some fellow members of FNZAS will share some light for you and others who wants to know. have a good day

you are right. proof below. http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/b_Rotala_wallichii.php http://www.tropica.com/productcard_1.asp?id=032A http://www.freshwateraquariumplants.com ... ROD/BP/RWS i think the top one is Rotala Indica and the bottom is Rotala roundifolia. do you dose iron for the red plant? How much? they look great.

you will probably still need it, though. the pump will keep a good circulation in your tank. a good filter (ext one) will generate good bacteria and thus good clear water and good health for your fish. it will be good if you can place some ceramic noodles in the int filter. the more plant you have in your tank, the bigger the water flow is require.

where did you get the wood from? if by LFS, it will be ok, if from the nature, you might want to boiled, salted and sun before using it. changes are that your water system is not well maintain. the old wood is fine, just give it a good rinse and sun. don't point your one finger at the wood because 3 are pointing back at you.

Hi meesheelly, just a few inexpensive suggestion: Lighting: if more than 8 months old, you might want to change the tube. or you may want to increase one or two more hoursin your timer. or position it near a window water change: change it twice a week with 40% new water. for 3 weeks and see if there is any improvement. then go back to normal water change. fertliser: reduce your dose by half and dose every time you change the water. i suspect the plant has only being in your tank for a month or so. they are readjusting to your tank. florish excel help in growing healthy leaves but the root are not adsorbing the nutrient. made sure your gravel is a good 3 inches in height and have a good level of dayton aquatic mixed. if you have cories, or pleaco or botton feeder, you might want to put them in a seperate tank for a while until you plant staberlise with its root system. have a look at my aquatic landscaping. hope i did not confuse you. Cheers

congrats humming bird. after a while i begin to pull out the stalk of flower, that is just me. you do have the right balance in your tank. careful, you may have a jungle in your tank. keep up the good work. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Blue is right. plants that grown emerge is different from plant thats grown submerge. the conversion from emerge to submerge will take some time if you are successful. it is not a guarantee, that is why, i encourage people not to buy the plant that is grown emerge from the hydroponic. they grow a lot faster if it is grown above the open air. most LFS is selling them in their emerge form without knowing that the plant might not survive in the long run. the picture shown is definitely a difformis in emerge form.

another possibility is the in-balance of the ingrediant in your water. could be excessive: light - too near to the sun light 9or too near to the window with direct sunlight) for too long fertliser - cut down water change - not enough it can also be too many or too little fishes and plants Balance is the key. Cheers

red leaves do need a lot more iron. may be you could at a little more and cut back on other feretliser to starve the algae.

Malayan trumpet snails will be everyone worst night mare because they multiple very fast. do you have root fertliser or liquid fertliser in your tank? is you light strong enough or are your tank located near to the window? Cheers

try florish excel. the price could be a little dearer but it is cheaper because it has a better concentration level compare to other brand. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Pe ... 185895.htm you might want to consider substrate fertliser. you can buy this from hollywood in ak or trademe. i think tankgirl3 sells them: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Pe ... 259397.htm insert the ball among the roots area and you roots will grow nice and firm. no pleco is going to plug them out of your gravel.

my bristle nose like their tank dirty, even though i have change their water. you will never know, there might be a few hiding in between the drift wood just like the re appearing of your GBN. Cheer up, you still have done well and you will do better the next time.