Alan

To get the dust etc out of it. I fill a bucket with about 1/3rd sand and jet water from a hose into till it runs clear.Carry on till all the sand or gravelis clean. I then use a BIG preserving pot and boil it on the stove, from there it goes outside again to get another wash from the cold water which also cools it, then into storage ready for use. Alan 104

I'd have to go along with Pies, the sex dies in a marriage and blossoms else where. About reproduction in hard times? What about the African and other countries that are having famines etc. Also to be noted are the population on a lower socio-economy. Many more there isn't there?? The only thing that seems to carry on is the reproduction. But it is interesting to see this way of propagating the anenomes. Alan 104

Not being a saltie, but putting it into a freshies thoughts. Wouldn't it be lack of filtration and then lack of oxygen?? Sorry to hear of your loss. You must be utterly gutted Alan 104

It's very easy to tell tempered glass. If you try cutting or drilling it, you end up with app. 5mm. roughly square pieces. If you have a look on the glass there is normally a little brand stating the fact. Also if you look carefully, you can see two little dimples where it was held, the edges alo wont be as sharp as a normal, cut piece of glass. Alan 104

Matt, is that tank in the garage your only tank?? If so, get some polystyrene and cut it to fit around the outside of your tank tightly, including the top. Winter will be here soon and you'll need to conserve the heat when your not admiring your workmanship and fish. Alan 104

Tankman said: Not so. Don't use Neutral cure anywhere on fishtanks. It must be Acetic cure. Caryl said: Make sure that you give it a week to cure otherwise you may pop the centre brace which could result in a broken front or back and a resultant flood wherever you have it set up. Be Patient. Alan 104

BenAKL Welcome to the site. Got no idea what size the tank is by your tradename of it so I wont hazard a guess at the population of the said tank. I like you method of just adding a few fish at a time tho. When did you first set it up could make me change my mind tho. As far as the gouramies and fighters go, I think they'll be fine. Don't be too sure of when you'll be geeting your next tank, but start planning for a fishroom now, A freezer shipping container makes a reasonably cheap, finished product. Only about $2000, but you'll need to arrange trensport, ower connection and siting and removal from the transport. Goodluck. Alan 104

Almost without fail I have U/G filters in my tanks. Was it suggested at the shop that you should do that, and maybe buy a replacement cannister filter Matt?? Do more substrate cleaning using the vac/syphon, and of course water changes, about 20% weekly, not total changes tho. Alan 104

HI B&K, they are fine for the babies that are eating off the bottom. But as they aren't in the water column as are the live BBS they are less attractive to those fry that prefer, or will only take "hunted" food. Also, being food that heads straight for the bottom of the tank, preferable a bare bottom tank at that, there is a reason that the advertisers put in that last line warning. Once again, keep some snails with the fry to act as a clean-up-crew. In past Aquarium Worlds there are recipes on how to do your own decaped BBS. Finally stored in a saturated solution of brine. Alan 104

Cyclops ring a bell Sha?? Alan 104

Good one Aaron Alan 104

Just seeing if you'd see it. Good work Alan 104

I was requested to post up this thread on the Pygmy Chain Sword so as more posts, sensible ones, can be added, and a meaningful discussion on the subject Alan 104 B&K said Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:27 pm Post subject: Wanted: Pygmy Chain Sword Hi everyone, I had some of this lovely plant but it was slowly decimated due to lack of lighting (curse of the Riccia) and then the remains destroyed during a shift. If anyone has some, please PM or email me, thanks! By the way, I've already tried TradeMe Kookie said Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 5:54 pm Post subject: Oh oh oh. I would love some of this too, so if there is any spare after B&K gets some, can I have some too. Am happy to pay. PS: hope you don't mind me joining in here faren? Any day above ground is a good day!! PJ said Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:37 pm Post subject: What a bummer! I have this plant (well its as close as I can identify to that name and I will get pic later) I am going to be swapping some of this plant with jude for another plant. I have this growing like wild fire in my small tank but over the weekend I thinned it out into my other tanks. Maybe in a month or so I will have some more available. Cheers NZKA 273 alanmin4304 said Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:04 am Post subject: There are lots of plants sold as tenellus which are not. I have E. quadricostatus var. magdalenensis (common chain sword) and they are very similar. tenellus has a narrower leef and is usually a darker green, but both can be the same size. People often think it is tenellus if it has runners and is small--not so. With good light it can grow to 100mm. Unfortunately both species are a bit sad at present and I am trying to bring them back from "extinction". alanmin4304 said Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:27 am Post subject: If you give it lots of light and don't watch the cooking pot you should be in luck. B&K said Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:46 pm Post subject: (Sorry I couldn't transfer/copy the pics, you can do so B&K if you wish in another post) Alan, perhaps you could help me out identifying this? I'm thinking it's not Sagittaria subulata (Dwarf Sagittaria) as the dwarf sag I have has much thicker, succulent-like leaf formation. Oh, scuze the messiness. A school of young Bristlenose decided to camp out around the plant and were scared by the flash from the first attempt. Feelers said Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:47 am Post subject: Ask Plantsman on tm, http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/SearchR ... anced=true He has had some in the past. Kookie said Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:30 pm Post subject: I'm going to finish this thread by pointing out that two of the members from these forums have offered me what I was wanting and I will be supplying Kookie with some as well when I get it. Thanks everyone BlueandKim wrote: I'm going to finish this thread by pointing out that two of the members from these forums have offered me what I was wanting and I will be supplying Kookie with some as well when I get it. Thanks everyone Cheers FarenQUOTE B&K

Another sucker huh Spongebob?? Welcome along to the site. Alan 104

tru. Didn't you have heat lamps under your first tanks?? No, neither did I. But we didn't have plastic bags. Had to take a bottle with string attached for a handle into Johnny Walkers, QueenSt., Auck., when getting fish. Didn't have cellotape or RTV glue either. Gee todays have got it made really haven't they. I never say "This is the way to do it!!" I say. "This is how I do it!!" Alan 104

Yep. That's what my odessas will be feasting on. The more I look the more I see. Yipee!! Alan 104

Woops!! Ummmmmmmmmmm?? That's three in a line of the, arrrrrr, older elk that say the same. Maybe we have been wrong. All those years of breeding fish down the drain cause we shouldn't have stuck with something that worked. Have to go out now and feed my baby odessa's on BBS and watch them all die. Alan 104

I have always used green water or boiled egg yolk for the first week. When I haven't, I've had massive die offs Alan 104

Mat, can you get in touch with Papamoa and see if they will do it for you. I'm sure Frans would be able to test it for you. Not sure about the other two Tauranga shops as they appear to be newbies, and may not have the necessary testers. Alan 104

I can tell from reading your post that you're Nth of the Bombays. Don't know why ppl aren't proud of where they come from. I was from One Tree Hill. Where are you residing?? MOD Alan 104 Oh!! ps. Welcome to the site too. Al

I do for a major leak or breakage. Check out the wardrobes, they aren't so noticeable there. Alan 104

Easy. Cut a hole in the floor. Or you can be neat and drill a hole. Or you can syphon out the door or window, for that you will need a long pipe tho. Alan 104

I would personally be worried about the rise in temp., then the drop later. It would be a lot more than is usual and very stressful to the fish. But if you have the heater just simmering 24/7 as my wife does I wouldn't see too many probs. Most of the heat from that type of heater is not radiant, but heated, circulating air. Sucking in from the bottom of the unit rising and around the firebox, then out into the room above the firebox. The ceiling temperature of the room is a lot higher than the floor temp too, so unless you have a room circulating fan, there is a large difference between the two. Try it, and watch you temp rise and the temp in the morning and base your decision on that. If you have an efficient filtration system your tank temp will be the same throughout due to the filtration circulation. I would prolly go for it. Alan 104

Look for those others in the "tropical-fish" side of the shop. Introduce them SLOWLY to the cold tank or else the thermal shock will kill them. Alan 104 ps. Add golden barbs to the list too. Al

I went out and checked that temp after what you wrote Alan. The original was what I estimated the temp to be. :oops: In fact it is 22oC. Which is a big improvement. Alan 104