OCAU Aquarium Owners Club

[Andres]

Proper lighting will bring out the "tropical" colours heaps more... Worth it.

I got a pair of sailfin mollies a while back, and they bred like mad for ages. We managed to sell some of the babies back to the shop when they were like an inch long, but after the second batch of 8ish i don't think they were terribly keen to buy more.

Now the breeding has slowed (the orignal parent died in the "Great Ich Disaster" of 2005 and i the babies don't seem as keen to get it on with their siblings jsut yet (thankfully).

we jsut fed them some fry food, that was like tiny tiny tiny pellets... Seemed to work fine.

(a crap load were also canabalised by their tank'mates')

[MUTMAN]

Originally Posted by JaC

snip

cycle is good, a bit dear from the LFS, but much cheaper on-line

[JaC]

Sold on the cycle and lighting then. Will keep up the water changes and hope for the best.

Thanks

[DarkGlider]

I recently bought a tropical setup. Is a 60x32x36 tank, 150W Heater, Fluval 2 Plus internal powerfilter, a single close-to-60cm fluoro light and a digital thermometer with some fine(ish) black gravel. This was about a month ago now.

I currently have 2 Phantom Glass Catfish (THE coolest fish I have ever seen BTW) 2 Electric Yellows, 2 Neon Gourami's, 1 Flame Gourami (soon to add another), a 15cm Golden Shark and 4 Neon Tetra's. Have one piece of driftwood planted with an Anubius(sp?), an Aluminium, Purple Something and one other leafed green plant in it.

My question is regarding the plants. The leaves on them start about 7-10 cm from the gravel. Can I chop these bottoms off so the leaves start lower down on the plant because (1) It doesn't look very nice and (2) They are sticking out of the water slightly.

Thanks.

[jayc]

Does anyone know where I can buy Potassium Nitrate (KNO3) for fertilising aquatic plants ?

I've tried various gardening stores in my area but no luck.

If anyone uses KNO3, please tell me where you got your source from.

I don't need much, just a couple of hundred grams.

[taksan]

Seachem florish Potassium is what you want .... get it at http://www.aquaticlifeaquariums.com.au

Originally Posted by jayc

Does anyone know where I can buy Potassium Nitrate (KNO3) for fertilising aquatic plants ?

I've tried various gardening stores in my area but no luck.

If anyone uses KNO3, please tell me where you got your source from.

I don't need much, just a couple of hundred grams.

[jayc]

Originally Posted by taksan

Seachem florish Potassium is what you want .... get it at http://www.aquaticlifeaquariums.com.au

Know of where I can get it in dry form?

[taksan]

Originally Posted by jayc

Know of where I can get it in dry form?

Not commericaly no
Better to use flourish anyhow .....

[jayc]

Originally Posted by taksan

Not commericaly no
Better to use flourish anyhow .....

Thanks looks like my only choice.
It's just so expensive in commercial form.

[l00b3r]

so.....

-Matt

[jayc]

Originally Posted by l00b3r

so.....

-Matt

So ...
it's expensive in commercial form, hence my question to everyone about finding it as a source in dry form as fertiliser. If that's not available then I'll have to just bite the bullet and buy the commercial stuff like Seachem Nitrogen or Potassium.

Do you need anything else spelt out?

[l00b3r]

i was just saying soo..... as in whats new... not a dig at your post.
sorry

mmmm just awaiting the arrival of a Fluval 404 filter.
which was donated to me. the person who donated it to me shall get paid back somehow. I wonder if they like scotch or port...



-Matt

[jayc]

Originally Posted by l00b3r

i was just saying soo..... as in whats new... not a dig at your post.
sorry
-Matt

Apologies on my part as well, as I misunderstood your intentions.

[taksan]

Well you can do it the right way or the cheap way ....
I prefer not to use shortcuts on my fish ...

Originally Posted by jayc

So ...
it's expensive in commercial form, hence my question to everyone about finding it as a source in dry form as fertiliser. If that's not available then I'll have to just bite the bullet and buy the commercial stuff like Seachem Nitrogen or Potassium.

Do you need anything else spelt out?

[jayc]

Originally Posted by taksan

Well you can do it the right way or the cheap way ....
I prefer not to use shortcuts on my fish ...

Oh no, I don't take shortcuts either, not when it comes to my tank.

I've researched heaps and know the safe levels of the fertiliser to dose,
why this fert is needed, what to dose, and when to dose.

I now have the know how and confidence to start using dry forms of the fert. And so have decided to investigate the cheaper sources. Besides, Seachem would have to use the same basic fert ingredient themselves, so why pay extra for them to pre-mix it for me?

It's worked so far and I have been blessed with a lush, healthy tank so far with not only beautiful plants, but healthy, thriving fish too. The motto, "Look after your water in the tank, and the water will look after the fish" is one I adopt.