mrshanepaul Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Just saying hello from Auckland City. Have been reading forums for a few days and preparing my two, $30, 2' tanks and thought I would say hello. So far acquiring goods from tradme and fish shops on the cheap. Damn there is a lot of information to absorb, been reading a HUGE amount of info. Luckily I enjoy this kind of research. I am the "read up on it all before starting" type of person, rather than the "screw it up and ask for help" sort. For those that are interested: Want to try axolotls in one tank and have the other tropical. Not sure what type of fish yet for the tropical but since my heaters are yet to arrive, it is not that important. Tried a "fishless cycle" with a chunk of meat, but today I tested the water just now and found zero ammonia and zero nitrites. Lucky me. I used supermarket steak and figured that this would be as bacteria ridden as anything I could find. All I can think now is that the preservative level in the meat killed everything??! So it is off to get cloudy ammonia. I really don't want to end up with any floating fish just yet - I am too . Also my partner (who has grumbled once or twice about costs) may not appreciate the delicate nature of fish in "new tank syndrome" and see it as: "idiot man who does not know what he is doing and will waste a whole bunch of our money only to end up with bad tasting fish cakes and I really wish he had taken up some other hobby...[etc] ". Don't mind advice, but I am not asking for help just yet. ;o) Will see how the ammonia goes and then start bleating. (so much for reading up first) I am a bit miffed that I have so far failed to sustain bacteria. One might take this as a warning!? Not me, I shall continue! Current thoughts: Water went cloudy (yellow/brownish) over 24 hours and got a light frothing on surface of water. Started to smell "like aquarium" with a very faint urine smell. (I THOUGHT this was ammonia) Test kit says clear on all counts. (drops made no colour even when they first hit the water) Added black stones bought from bird barn. Boiled and washed them well (I thought) but when they were added the water went went slighty white and cloudy. Auckland water stinks of chlorine and most probably chlorimine, but double dosed++ the AquaPlus to make sure. Also used stress-zyme an hour later. Could be any one of these causing the problem I guess. Will try more things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Is that the SP from down the Waikato that had a goldfish outlet?? Welcome aboard anyway. Have fun. Chat in the evening about 9-ish most nights. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Welcome, hope it all goes well and you enjoy the forum Cheers Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrshanepaul Posted October 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 hey, that ain't me. Sorry about that. The guy at hollywood fish store in mt albert convinved me to put a few Danios and do it that way. They are very cute. They are very active and seem to be having fun. Only one seems a little depressed and stationary, but I don't blame him really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrshanepaul Posted October 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Thanks for all the Hellos! Even from the vampiress... If only that made a pet that looks like this: :bounce: The closest I have seen is the mudskipper. Anyways, turns out the docile fish was about to lay a huge dump. (or a parasitic worm was about to infest my tank!?) Long (about 1cm) stringy thing started coming out his butt. Took about 5 minutes to pass it. And I thought the disconcerted look on his face was due to new tank stress. He just needed a good old crapola. A good sit down and crapola solved many a problem I guess. And I refer to it as he, but I am 89% it is a she. Woman are not suppose to dump like that I thought... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrshanepaul Posted October 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 It has been. I have done searches on the forums for all sorts of things and found good info. The best discussion was on filters and undergravel systems. Everyone got all upset and a whole heap of useful information leaked out. It was a very informative argument...unlike election debates... (I had read an article saying that UGF were rubbish and dangerous etc etc etc and so looked it up) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Hi and welcome. Good luck with your fish keeping. You ought to be able to keep a couple of axolotl in a 2ft tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrshanepaul Posted October 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 I am hoping to have a couple of golden albinos. The shop said they were getting a few in soon...at $60 each. heh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Hi steak Did you barbeque it first, or add steak spice...just kidding Does your partner know that you will probably have MTS...and there is no cure? This site has people who have tons of information...always eager to help! Take care, Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrshanepaul Posted October 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 Did you barbeque it first, or add steak spice...just kidding Do I LOOK that stupid?? I fried it and used hot sauce...was that bad?? I think she is getting the idea. I conned her into coming down the fish store to have a look and I think she fell in love with the danios. They are very cute. They now have two trademe pirate ships (got both for $5!!) to play with and lots of plants. They are looking more than pleased with themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 Hi there mrshanepaul Good to see you settling in and hope you enjoy your visits. Would be good if you put your location up on your profile so that we know whare you are from Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrshanepaul Posted October 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 Good point. :oops: Done now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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