Cath

Hi there, I am looking for about 10 - 15 chili rasboras. They are proving hard to find. Does anyone have any for sale in Canterbury? Cheers

Hi There, Did you manage to get some of these?

Can someone tell me why we can't get amano shrimp here in NZ?

Hi There, I was wondering if anyone is breeding chili rasboras , green neons or any other tiny bright coloured fish suitable to go as a small shoal in a 60 litre planted cube aquarium? At this stage I am still cycling the tank so it will be a couple of months before I actually purchase fish but I am keen to see what is out there 🙂 Cheers

Yes I understand that and no it doesn't make me feel any better. It is still incredibly high.

OK Just heard back. The council test came back at 42ppm +5 This is actually in line with my test as I probably read the red colour a little higher than I should have - is hard to tell the difference. Anyhow it is still unacceptable in my book. Apparently the NZ 'acceptable' level has crept up to 50ppm, something I find hard to believe and completely utterly unacceptable.

I expected to hear by now but will let you know as soon as I do 🙂

hmm, hills lab told me it was the same thing. But I hear you and it would make sense. I don't understand the measurements but I do know that ours are still stupidly worryingly high. Cheers

My understanding is that ppm is the same as mg/l. ?

I know it does - by a long shot. The council came out and did their own tests - waiting for the results, as they don't believe my test results - who knows, I find it unbelievable too. They say their last test came in at 9.6ppm. They say that 10ppm is safe however I know from research I have read that in actual fact anything over .87ppm puts us at risk of colorectal cancer. It is very scary and stressful and to say I am angry is a gross understatement. The only reason I discovered this is because I could not get my tank nitrates below 40ppm despite heavy planting. Finally, not even suspecting this would be the cause, I tested the tap water and nearly had a fit. In the mean time I need to know about this RO filtration and what I will have to add to it to make it safe for plants and fish!

Hi there, due to the ridiculously scary high nitrate readings in our tap water here in canterbury (80ppm!!!) we are installing an RO system. I understand thi strips the water of every mineral and I also understand that there are certain minerals the fish will need. So my question is what products do I need to get to restore the correct minerals/chemistry to the water. It is a heavily planted tropical freshwater tank. (see pic) Thanks in advance...I hope someone sees this 😉 Cheers

my tanks are completely planted - more like jungles, with a few rocks and logs also . I use an airstone in every tank. I don't use any filtration other than the bio environment I have attained through the planting and frequent water changes (once every two weeks - a thrid of the tank) The water is crystal clear always, the fish extremely healthy and happy.ONe thing I do do though is turn off the airstones at night with the lights.

As juveniles, they will be fine

The best LFS is at Palmers garden centre in Hastings, they have a great selection of fresh and salt water fish and they also have in my humble opinion a couple of better tank displays than the National aquarium which was disappointing last time I saw it. (I know I'll get into trouble for saying that)

It would pay to watch the guppies with the male fighter - he may attack the male guppies particulalry if the guppies have good colour and finnage The fighters are gorgeous.

Nobody has mentioned an important (I think) aspect of air bubble balls or rods and that is that not only to they agitate the water surface BUT the fish LOVE to play in the bubbles - I often see the neons and especially the catfish tumbling around in the bubbles, it's very entertaining.

Hate to be the one to throw a spanner in the works but it sounds to me as if it is going to be a glorified cafe with a bit of a display of NZ marine life. I admit to being ignorant of what they are actually proposing but I hope it doesn't damage further the environment around the coast. Just another opinion.

I find a cooler water change though not cold is loved by the fish - especially the cats who get very playful about it all.

A school of small fish is much more exciting and interesting than one poor lonely fish swimming about bored in a tank I think. I would set it up as a cichlid tank and get a variety of the smaller types.

Have not been in here for a long time, didn't see the date.

Or if you do not use chemicals like me, you can reduce the light in your tank, make sure no daylight gets in and only light iot for 8 hours a day also remove any algae that you see - cut the stems of plants it is growing on.

I've got 3 Botia Lohachata (yoyo loaches) and they do a superb job of snail clean up, of course they also clean up any fish eggs too.

This sounds like a fabulous excuse for a new tank. Tanks are relatively cheap if you get them made at a glass place or buy second hand. That way you could set up your new tank as you want it, cycle it properly and start agin, then you will have a spare tank for a new look/quarantine/breeding/species/spa bath etc Yeehaa :bounce:

take the couch and the tv out of the tank, stop his beer intake and make him take up aerobics. Within around 3 months, he'll be feeling so good and lively, she'll not be able to resist him.

wow, see this is what I mean about this site - I did not know that the bubble wall dissapates CO2, that is really very interesting. I've not had any trouble and the plants in my tanks don't get CO2 injections or anything but then I only have the bubbles going for around 5 hours a day. Thanks for that Snowman, I'll have to do some more research on that - and I agree actually definately best to get a filter when starting out!