Jo1

I agree with Ira. We had that in a tank in a cafe (caused by the oil ommitted from coffee beans). Added an internal filter and problem solved.

The angel fish will look great in the octagonal as they love deep water. We have been experimenting with angels and neons together lately and provided the angels aren't too large, they don't eat the neons, so have to agree with Bluetom.

I would go for plastic as silver dollars are notorious for eating plants and a large pleco will probably be a bit hard on them too!

Crptocornes are excellent for low light.

We always use bristlenose with goldfish and have no problems provided it doesn't get too cold (18 degrees). You can also use plecostamus.

Spotlight has it by the roll, use it all the time.

I wouldn't worry about it, afterall they have to rest sometimes. I have noticed that goldfish do this when the lights are out. Their way of sleeping I guess.

LOL Alan. As most of the tanks are hexagonals (because that is what most people want in an office environment) the only offcuts are in the tropical tanks. We have to grow alot of blue hygrophila and ludwigia in the glasshouse and that has practically died off at this time of the year. You just can't get good lighting for hexagonals ie something that will penetrate down to at least 1 metre. You should definitely give it a go up there - I am sure there would be no competition. Try rest homes, doctors etc.

As some of you may know we operate a rental aquarium company and it has been our experience that human nature is such that our clients are too generous with food which causes us a lot more maintenance. So practically all the tanks we operate have auto feeders and the client also has spiralina, tubifex and frozen bloodworms (if they have a freezer at work). We give very specific instuctions on how often these are fed out and the fish thrive. Most feeders are Nutafin Promax which in general are fairly reliable. Eheim feeders are pretty good but more expensive.

If you use a product called Primer No 9 (Fosroc) on the acrylic silicone will adhere but I wouldn't risk sticking the two products together either.

try visiting http://www.fishprofiles.com/profiles/ This site will give you compatible fish, pics and info.

Osram and Sylvania put out 15 and 20 watt energy savers in the correct colour. Make sure it is colour 860 (can't stress that enough). We usually buy from Rexel. They are around $20 each but last for years.

How about acorus (japanese rush). Not a true aquatic but we use it in several tanks with large plecos and the only thig they are likely to do is uproot it. Bonus is that when it starts looking tatty you can replant in the garden to recuperate and then reuse in tanks.

Buy the sea salt from the supermarket. It is cheaper and dissolves quickly. And I agree, throw it in and watch the fish move quickly!!!

I think it may be anubias barteri too and you are right Jude they look very like a peace lily. I asked a grower once but he assured me they are not the same plant and here was me thinking I could just tear apart the peace lilies I have and use them in tanks!

I have the Aqua One catalogue here and the AR620T tank measures 62 x 38 x72cm 130 litres. Also saw the rep recently and they have a new range that has come out which has glass tank with lighthood, stand, cannister filter and glass heater included. They range from 175 litre to 300 litre and also a 330 litre corner model. Come in either black or woodgrain finish.

Hey Nimbus, You can extend your arms! Purchase a planting stick and if you need to extend the lentgh of a net, insert end into a piece of plumbing pipe and if you are still having trouble get your self a ladder. And welcome!

Thanks for the very informative post Bill. One question. The mild sterilisation solution for plants - what do you use? We regularly find small snails in the filters which are not visible on the plants and would love to eliminate this.

Are you talking about redtail black sharks? If so I would get rid of two immediately. One is fine in a community tank.

Must have been too early in the morning when I posted that. You are right snowman. 3.5cm.

Most wholesalers sell them at 3.5mm. They don't move easily when small so I would wait till they were larger if I were you.

I have to disagree with previous post. Black widows will be fine. We regularly put them in with angels and no fin nipping whatsoever. Same with serpaes and we even put tiger barbs in with no problems. Catfish are good, so is a pair of kribs, definitely bristlenose and you could also try anubias attached to driftwood. Dependant upon where the tank is situated java fern does not always do well in hexagonals. In our 110 litre aquariums we usually release around 20 fish but we do have excellent filtration (Eheim 2213) and also run an airstone approx half way down tank.

It is the red tail sharks nature to chase fish, but they don't usually hurt them. In my opinion you should have the goldfish in a separate tank, they prefer cold water anway.

Make sure you have plenty of air for the goldfish as heat depletes oxygen in the water.

I would just love to know where one can purchase a 2213 for $70-$80 NZ Dollars. That is way below wholesale price and I would imagine they would be at least $200 retail. I too would have to recommend Eheim. They last forever and the only thing likely to need replacing would be the occassional impellor. We have used a few Fluvals but much prefer eheim cannister filters.