[Proof that a small bit of censored or neglected info...]

That's the kind of comment I would expect from a Jafa Barrie

We down here in the beautiful south are quite happy to have less people to share it with, don't you worry.

By the way when did the 21st century happen?

[Water temperature]

Hey you can have that weather, its too hot for me.

[using a vaccume]

I use the method subzero and adodge use. I used to suck and then heard about fish TB and other nasties you can get from the water, so don't do that anymore.

[I am a Bad Fishkeeper :(]

All the best for the future Stella

Don't worry I'm sure every fishkeeper can relate, we all have times like that.

[Fish dying]

You don' think its anything to do with the silicon used or maybe the fact that the tanks cycle may have been upset Caryl?

[i dont think we are a bad lot!]

Yeah maybe I am naiive, but I think most of the people that come to this forum really want to help others and share their experiences, rather than just get nasty and picky about things. Some of the baby forums I go to can get really nasty, you just need to pick a subject that people get fired up about and man it gets blown all our of proportion.

[one more?]

I would probably increase filtration as others have said, but I think it would be okay to have two small schools, your siamese fighter and one of the bristlenose plecs. I wouldn't have an opaline gourami in a tank that size, when I first started out I have a 60 litre tank and had two golden gouramis and discovered they were really too big for the tank the hard way. One got really territorial and attacked any fish I added. plus they do grow to be reasonably big fish.

I would probably also get rid of the mollies and add some female fighters instead, maybe 3.

[My gouramis and my siamese?]

I agree. I have had golden and blue gouramis with siamese fighters before and no aggression, I find the gouramis tend to only be aggressive with each other if at all. I think checking them out with the feelers is just curiousity too. I would put them all in together and see how you go anyway, you will know if your siamese fighter starts to get nipped and then can separate them again if you have to.

The only fish I had probs with siamese fighters with is angels as they tend to nip the fins.

[Help please...]

I wouldn't worry about the snails too much either, just remove some every time you do a water change if they are getting too plentiful, some fish will actually eat them anyway and you will find empty shells in the tank!!

[Not sure is this is being done!]

IMO I find it hard to find answers to specific questions you may have in books or on the internet and sometimes it is easier to ask on here incase someone else has had the same experience and can help out with what they did.

You may not always agree with the advice as there is more than one way to swing a cat, but like with any advice take in what you can and learn what works for you, I think that's what this forum is all about.

Its also good for beginners to give their opinions as it helps them gain confidence in fishkeeping too. There are so many years of experience on this forum that it is a great help to many, I know I have learnt heaps from coming on here.

And like someone else stated if you disagree then post that too and give the person the benefit of your experience.

[Watermelon]

LOL at the cartoon, often I wish our cats could earn their keep.

Yeah Caper that's why its sweet. Although fruit sugar is nowhere near the same as processed sugar, your body metabolises it much differently, so no reason to stop eating fruit. Man watermelon is fantastic this time of year, I was so jealous when we went to Oz a couple of years ago in March and watermelon over there was only 60 cents a kg!!

[How do I match my new water temp: To my tank water temp:]

I would check your water parameters before doing a water change to ensure cycling has taken place first.

Then once you know your tank has cycled I would do 20-30% water changes every one - two weeks. Some people prefer to get the water temperature the same or close enough to the tank temp and others don't, I personally prefer to get it roughly the same and have bought a pump that allows my kitchen tap to mix the water and pump it in via hose to my tank, before this I used to bucket the water in, depends how big your tank is though as bucketting can take ages for a big tank.

Chch water doesn't need any chemicals added to it as stated by others. All the best with your tank, in the end you will find what works best for you from a variety of advice.

[Help please...]

I probably would have scrubbed the wood and stones and soaked them in boiling water for a day first. The plants may revive themselves anyway once they start to get a bit established and may have just died off due to the length of time out of water and possibly the heat.

I would probably add one bristlenose plecostomus, a male siamese fighter and as a school, some cardinal tetras or harlequin rasboras, they are all pretty hardy and will do fine together. I would add the schooling fish first and then the others over a few weeks once your tank has cycled.

Others will have other ideas for fish, so its what you like the look of really.

All the best with your tank.

[Packet of fish food says feed 3 times a day - would you?]

I have a planted tank and feed my fish once a day in the morning, mostly flake and spirulina and on Saturdays they get frozen food, don't be tempted to feed too often just because they come to the front when you walk up to the tank either. My lights are on from 7am till 10.30pm everyday.

[I got my Siamese fighter]

Yeah I used to have one that was a light purple colour, I called him The Mauve Marvell. And another that was light blue, like an aqua colour, they are such beautiful wee fishies and can be quite friendly too.

I had to move my new guy, my angels were picking on him, I was hoping they would leave him alone, but I think it was wishful thinking, he is alot happier now though just have to catch my girl and put her in his tank now, she's smarter and faster than she looks.

[Sunday Miracle]

oh my god!! Are all those boxes empty or are they full of stuff?

[noisy sponge filter]

you could submerge it slightly like Caryl does with hers and just have it rippling the surface which is enough disturbance, that might cut back the noise.

Or completely submerge and get an airpump, but you would probably find the airpump noisy as well, cos they can be.

[I got my Siamese fighter]

oh what a pretty boy, I just got a new siamese fighter male, I have a female choc filled with eggs and my male had died, so we'll see how they go, mines mostly royal blue, with a bit of red here and there. I wanted a nice red one but couldn't find any.

[Some pics of my guppies]

wow they are beauties, look really healthy with good colours

[Sunday Miracle]

did you move the mess to the garage Caryl. :lol:

[Filter suction cup]

I find fluval internals quite good, quiet and reliable cheesejawa, if you are looking for another option

[What its costing you...]

Wow I wish our powerbill was that low, ours would be at least $80 a month in summer and in winter that climbs to $130 or more.

[Dehimidifier (sp?)]

I don't think it would affect your tank that much, we have a heat pump which dehumidifies the living area well in winter and I haven't noticed it doing a lot to my 4 ft tank in the lounge.

[Who has the most boring job?]

I sit inside a box looking at a different box and punching numbers, then I place the stuff I have been working on into another box for someone else to look at.

[What fish are more hardy???]

I personally never have much luck with guppies. There are a few other fish I would say are hardier, eg harlequin rasboras, cardinal tetras, platies are quite hardy and easy to keep and bristlenose plecs are pretty hardy.