Duke3d

Good on you guys. I can see I am on the right track at least. For the outlets are any of you adding a larger piece so can do your vaccuuming at same time or is that another whole project. With the aqua plus added straight to tank no one has noticed problems with fish getting stuck with some chemicals straight out of tank. No one doing the spray idea?? Of course you lucky people with rain water tanks (except for drought seasons) don't have to worry about this. Mrs is understanding, understanding enough to know fish are worth more than her!!!!! KIdding kidding (*if she ever reads this*)

I see those magic words "buckets" still coming in!! Ballistic you have the idea with the T section. What do you use to syphon out the tank? How do you hold the hose in tank etc. Whats stopping overfills, over empties etc?? Mistakes Mistakes. Sorry I meant Beachy you have the idea of getting the T section..... Apologies

Have been reading thru and I see some of you have some great automatic ideas - which lets face it is better than the below idea but not all Mrs's want hoses etc going everywhere through the house. I want a simple manual way. I have been trying to work out a system that would be less painful on the body and time and was debating the "Super Sump" which attaches to your tap to fill directly from tap - would possibly have a spray attachment going into tank so a few chemicals would be aireated out, and then adding the Aqua Plus scenario to the tank. For the out was debating the old style syphons - which I think were for petrol which has a bulge type system which you pump to get going then a long hose which can be directly put into garden. Would probably put a simple tap in the middle of the line somewhere so it can be stopped immeadiately if you need to for any reason? Thoughts and suggestions please. Some of you out there must be doing this more cleverly than the bucket back aching up the stairs, down the stairs scenario............

Mitre 10 has them I forget for how much but have different thicknesses and sizes.

So it is agreed that even in the tropics water temp would drop by "a couple" of degrees. I wonder if this would be worth putting in to practise - while a couple of degrees does not sound much, it would make some species a lot less active which may give them the much needed rest they naturally require.

m just about to go to bed, walking the dog to her kennel when the cold strikes me. I get to thinking how its a natural part of nature and plants and animals all do something with a change of season. SO what about tropical fish? Do people see a possible benefit to lowering their tanks over winter - I know certain fish like a lower temp to lay eggs etc. But just for general well being do you think the fish should go through a winter cycle like they would in the wild - and by how much. 2-4 degrees over a couple of weeks perhaps?? I did a quick search on net and didn't come up with anything apart from goldfish and ponds, but didn't look for long. I have heard of people reducing their thermostat because of electricity bills. Anyway just interested to read some of your thoughts. Ill see what I come up with while asleep!!!! Sad sad life!

So why did you get snails Alan? Are they a pest or a contributing member of tank?

Dee, Mine is a completely communal tank, Glass cat fish, Corydoras, Pleco, Angel Fish, Tetras (neons too small), Khuli Loaches, Clown Loaches, Cichilids, Killie (again a bit small although 1 has survived hiding), Gouramis. DId have a Fighter in with it - not good mix. The pleco bullies the Knife fish, but angel and gouramis seem to be about the best companions for him. I just have the 1 and he is just about 30cm (if not over) and very broad. I fed him some wax worms the other day and he ate 15 that I could count - getting rather large!!!

I am interested in this concept of snails. Are these Ramshorns better than most varieties? Are you guys both thinking there will always be enough algae in the tank to feed them as opposed to them eating the plants? Do you Hummingbird control their numbers?? Do you not think that while they are cleaning the tank they are making more excrement, thus dirtying the tank in another way??

What sort of cover do you have in your tank for these guys? As mine is more than happy to hide behind the driftwood and only come out when I can't see him?

I own one which is approx 30cms long in a 430l Community tank. Have recently introduced a whole heap of new fish (as its a new tank) and he thought it was supper time. Has managed to eat 47 neons in 2 weeks. Have been feeding him aswell but neons seem to be his favourite now!! Since bought him a seperate tank which I am yet to set up. They are definitely a nocturnal fish, somewhat shy but can be trained to lie in hand while feeding him. There are a couple of good sites on net telling you how to train them to do this. Very neat fish that is for sure. For viewing a half cut piece of downpipe in the tank works a treat, as he things he is hidden but you are looking straight through the glass at him. If you have wood etc in tank he will prefer to hide behind this and very rarely see him. Is a bottom feeder and feeds by swimming over the pray as has senses in tail, then backs back over food to eat. I believe is the only fish that can swim in any direction. Definitely suppose to keep singly in tank and according to all internet articles never been bred in captivity however am intrigued a Kiwi has achieved this feat. 1 tip - I dosed my original tank with Melifax (you know the one I mean) and it killed him. They are scaleless so have to be careful with treatments. Feed mine shrimp, however after seeing the size he has put on after eating number of neons, I intend on breeding up some guppy food for him as he has become a very big boy. As far as viewing, you just have to get him used to your presence - will come out in daylight if feels comfortable or you make this its feeding time. Blue cellophane under lights can give fish effect of night but allow viewing too (also a black rubbish bag is suppose to work) Have fun

What the heck do I do with that many babies - I suppose they can be used as food for other fish!!!! Well time to put a post on the trade section to get some more tanks!! They are definitely a neat fish, always waiting for their food, don't mind touching your finger (well I think its an attempted bight more than anything). Characters thats for sure. Thanks for all your thoughts. More tanks, more filters, more stones, more heaters, another light - when does this end. I CAN'T STOP!!!

Yes I need to find a small enough filter which doesn't produce a big airflow that would do the job!! Sounds simple enough. Got 5 different colours and all from Redwoods - they have quite a few left. Some real pretty ones - I had always thought that the females were quite bland but not these jobies - quite cool. Please keep me informed of how the mating goes. I bought a breeding net/cage which simply clips over the edge of the tank which should work quite well I think (definitely saves the filter issue).

Am wondering if there are any serious keepers out there of these fish. I have just purchased a male and 5 females and have them all in a 70litre tank. I have tried very hard to work out whether they can stay in a tank like this but it seems the male has to be kept seperate? Any comments on this? For a tank this size, and knowing the fish doesn't like much water flow, what could someone recommend for filtering - just an air stone?? Awaiting all of your thoughts.......

Yes there are definitely some nice looking rocks alright. Apart from the Vinegar test there is no real way of knowing whether those lovely coloured bits in the rock aren't going to release something into the water. The actual river bed stones are quite colourful - mainly the grey pebble but also your bits of red and white etc. And same applies - how do you really know what they are? But I agree this is where pet shops get their stones from - do they have a selection process to take out any that would affect a tank in any way?

My question is very simple and some may wonder why I am asking it, but can you simply use gravel dug out of my nearby river - is it possible that there are stones in there I do not want? Anyones thoughts please Am just trying to cut costs where I can and this is an easy one really Will be heavily planting the tank also.

Can someone then please explain what tubifex worms are?

How long has it been going? Do you think the green algae is depleting or is there plenty? Have you oxygenated it? Is it a clear barrel to promote growth? Are they quite visible in the tank - or is it more for the fish's pleasure

The good worms tho Pegasus? Tell me about these Daphna - why so easy to keep? I have read you feed veges etc in a mesh bag, or manure? White worms - why are mine not thriving? My biggest problem I think is it is very wet, however there must be a trick to it? - please let me in on a couple. Hadn't thought of keeping them inside - don't they like it cold? Live Blood worms. Are these the ones found in water troughs? If they are aren't these known as tubifex worms? Why does it seem to read that you don't really feed tubifex worms to your fish - is it disease or.....?

Has no-one else got these readily available supplies? What else can we breed for amusement - anyone got real worms as opposed to the dreaded Tiger

That is one massive tank. Looks great in that photo nevermind the more mature version!! I am assuming their are simpler versions of your DIY filter - any suggestions on where to start looking. I have found a few things on the net, nothing that has grabbed my attention.

Ha ha. Dont know whether this makes me more stupid or not but I went to the website to work it all out. God it is definitely full of it. Never talks about Brine.

good on you pet planet. You didn't mention Eheim? What is your comment on one of them?

Being the sort of caring hobbyist I am, I trudged down to the local river today which comes from a pond, which I thought may contain some goodies for my fishies. Got some great still water and bought back about 40L of it. I now have a bin and a few buckets outside. In them I am hoping to cultivate some mosquito larvae (will have to stop spraying them). I think this shouldn't be far away just once the nights warm up a bit. Interestingly enough there were a lot of little bugs in the water - do not look like Daphna (but there are different kinds which I only know the one that whiplashes forward - jitters). A few waterboatmen aswell to keep me amused. I have read on the net through all the live food sections that waterboatmen aren't/shouldn't be used. However once I diving into water boatmen i have found a couple of interesting things 1 These guys eat mosquito larvae 2 Will also eat the Daphna 3 They are part of a fishes staple diet in wild. I have my tub of worms which I found out a month ago are no stinkin good due to the tiger worm taking over and being repungnant to fish. I experimented with one today, and while the fish played with it there was no eating. I have my tub of white worms. This isn't going awfully well so will have to put some more effort in here. Too wet I think, and food is going mouldy which isn't helping. http://www.ak.planet.gen.nz/~bio/index.html above is a link to website devoted to selling live food to fish and us for cultivation - I am awaiting their response on a couple of questions as Micro and MealWorms look good. Well thats my growing efforts - need something more substantial as a staple diet. Please people share your insect rearing efforts.

i hope all you other newbies are reading this. Isn't it great? Keep it coming people. We seem to be seeing the Eheim name come up a fair bit what other pluses minuses have people experienced with this or other brands. I know there are more brands out there than this. What about the Atmans which I believe are an imitation of Eheim ......?