Aquatopia

Caryl - come down anyway - would be nice to meet ya - Blenheim is only a wee drive away ! Do you have any stores up there that do marines by the way? Perhaps you had better answer that in a PM - i dont wanna hijack the thread on a tangent.

On the subject of Aiptasia (for future reference) do Copper banded butterflyfish REALLY eat it sufficiently to keep it out of the aquarium (or remove it if introduced after it appears) ? Ive read that to be the case. And what about other inverts - do they munch those too or are they selective ? Cheers

Liz Donlan, the editor of Marine World magazine (available in New Zealand via the distributors, Redwood Aquatics - Bob note the free plug there) wrote an article on the stuff and said she cleared her tank of Aiptasia and only used 2ml of the stuff !! I dont know if its available retail here but I believe i have seen it on Marine Depot for $20US.

Hey Aaron - I think things get heated on forums and in reality people are mostly nice folk. That used to happen on other forums Ive observed - not just fishkeeping. Maybe its because we all love our hobby so much that people are opinionated on here. I believe meeting people is better anyway - you dont get stuff out of context and have the ability to discuss differences of opinion amicably rather than so vehemently as happens on this type of media. I for one would like to meet any other reefer in my area.

Definitely - count me in please - but I dont have my reef set up yet so dont get excited about seeing anything ! lol

CHIMERA I have just finished WADING through this post (started at the beginning of the weekend), and may I say it has been an inspiration to me at the stage where i most needed it. I cant wait to get on with the planning of my (much smaller) project. You have ended up with a real masterpiece. I know this hobby is an on-going project for us all, and i will follow the remainder of this thread with much enthusiasm, but to have got so far - you have achieved heaps. Now i guess all i can say is - more pics dude? Lol.

Hi Frenchie Thanks for that (is the nick from "Grease", lol). Do you know anyone who has some i could maybe get a mating pair out of? I see there is ONE in a store up there but i am guessing you would need several ? Or are they sleep-arounds and all you need is any old male and any old female, lol. Cheers

Can I just remind everyone that the above quote was the basic question involved in the commencement of this thread. Surely therefore, that is what we should be addressing in our answers. I know it also mentioned a "begginers guide" but since we are getting so many different opinions (and the fact they are based on different assumptions this is causing argument rather than anything else). Maybe this thread should concentrate on the specifics in the above quote. There could then be alternative "beginners" threads;- 1) For those who want a small tank, a couple of (small and suitable) fish, a correct amount of live rock for filtration and the other essential basics. 2) For those who want the next stage up (may be several stages) 3) For those who want a full reef set up with fish, corals, and all the necessary equipment that that involves. And for those (retailers and otherwise) worried about "scaring" people with high cost advice. Bear this in mind. Your advice MUST cover specifics. Sure, tell them they could start small with two fish a-la the two year olds bedroom tank, but they have to know thats ALL that money will get them. You have, also to be honest and say - "But if you want to do a 4'x2'x2' mixed reef aquarium that is running properly and beneficially to its inhabitants then its going to cost thousands" And if you are worried that the thought of spending thousands will discourage people - then I would say they are not the right people to be in the hobby in the first place. Those who are genuinely keen will either have the money (lucky them, and im including the ones who can do it for less by having the brains and ingenuity to source certain items more cheaply than are available from the usual sources), or they will save until they have the money to enter the hobby at the level they want to be. Or, they will thank you for your honesty and adjust the level of the hobby they want/can afford to be at. Give them a range, and tell them the variables within that range. Then let them make their own mind up. It is a known fact that more people try and leave the hobby through failure (sadly often through bad advice) than who would choose not to do it in the first place. Information is only valuable if it is COMPLETE. But I digress. The point of this posting of mine was to remind us what the initial questions' specifics were, and to suggest the all the other levels be looked at separately. Hope this helps... :-?

IF you have a hole of one diameter, then a void of another, and then another reduction, the void will FILL, but the rate of flow surely would not be affected (ie the larger void would not increase the rate of flow). All that would be happening in that scenario is that the larger void (in this case piping) acts as storage of water. Thats my take at least and I may be wrong, but it seems logical. And as Im no plumber, i will be happy for anyone to correct me (so long as you do it nicely, )

Hi They havent got sucked into a filter somewhere have they? Might be worth checking that -- if you can remove them, all the better.

Not sure - but i think this is all getting mixed up with people talking different money for different things. I think it would be a good idea to lay this thread to rest aye. Im not on here to get heated....

Yip thanks - thats the one. Great fish aye ! Are they available over here? How much if so? Do they breed easy ? Cheers

:roll: :roll: :lol: :lol:

Hi, Im sorry, I know Im new to this forum, and i dont want to make waves, but I have to agree with Layton on his comments regarding what "petplanet / Michael" has written. Its just not on - for the hobbyist OR (more importantly) the livestock he is potentially gonna kill - to advise someone to start small in this hobby. They will spend money on expensive fish and invariably lose them That will put them off in a lot of cases (not all) and they will leave the hobby. And now to really put the cat amongst the pigeons. I have to say, that it would not be in a pet shop owners best interests to be putting people off and telling them it costs thousands not hundreds to do it right. So they WILL say "sure you can do it on the cheap". I would prefer to see it explained properly from the start. Then if they can't afford it, if they are REALLY interested they will go away and save. And come back when they can. And thats the right way - for them and for the live animals they will become responsible for. Only with a greater amount of experience should someone consider a smaller reef. This is not a dig, but it is certainly my opinion, and I hope it is taken in the right context.

Hi Do any of these books come up in second hand bookstores? I would love The Reef Aquarium. I guess i will have to ask for it as a Christmas gift.... Or has anyone got one they want to sell now they have read and inwardly digested? I bet Im dreaming here....

Alan Right - well i know what to talk to my GP about then and i know who to blame ! This site ! Im now thinking about the marine reef, a killi breeding setup and some catfish brreding too ! Aaarrgghhh. Now what can i sell to pay for it all??? Oh yes, that'll do - anyone want a videocam ? heheeh :roll:

Al Yeh i am sure the CAN be kept like that - the question is SHOULD they be? I personally think its a bizarre thing to do or for a LFS to suggest. Whats MTS by the way ?

Alan - what the heck is MTS ???

Hi From my dim and distant past interests in cichlids (in a minor way), i seem to remember seeing pics of a biotype tank containing some small cichlids which looked like blockheads (had a lump on their head), but these little fellers only grew to about 4". Can anyone tell me what they might have been ?

Never heard of any thing so daft or bizarre as goldfish in a tropical freshwater tank. What planet was this shop girl on? Or what pills ! And as far as telling you you can add fish after two days - total rubbish. Black mollies, in particular, can be hard to keep for a newbie - they are susceptible to white spot and prefer a slighly higher temp with brackish conditions (a slight amount of salt added to the water to replicate the water conditions they come from - in face, if acclimatised, they can be happy in a marine aquarium !!). Oh well, you have taken the plunge, and thats all part of the fun. As someone else said - leave alone for at least two weeks now and then only add the fish in small groups (the larger the fish the smaller the group). Good luck and enjoy

Any idea of price here in NZ reef ??

Hi Reef, Yeh - thats why i was asking about them cos im setting up and need a skimmer. My tank size will be 1000x500x500 and then a smaller sump. What do you reckon?

Hi Wondered if anyone is using a Turbofloter 1000 skimmer? Any opinions on this one? Where can i find the retail price in NZ? Cheers.

Blimey ! Well I was going on the score say 18 months ago so you probably are more up to date than me. And to think I was offered 6 at £10 each once back home. Makes ya sick aye !

Hi I am amazed - i have just put a post about breeding corys and zebra plecs then i came across this thread. These wonderful plecs are available in the UK at between £25-40. This is the equivalent of $65 - $100. How much are they here? Are they on the Import list? If so - I wonder what the score would be about getting some sent over? Is that possible? cheers I would LOVE to breed these cuties !