Posts Tagged ‘plants’

Newer Entries »

Discus Breeding Cones

Sunday, September 18th, 2005






I went to the Harrogate Flower Show today to purchase some garden peat to<br /> condition some water in hope to get some breeding pairs of

I went to the Harrogate Flower Show today to purchase some garden peat to
condition some water in hope to get some breeding pairs of Angelfish to spawn.
Unfortunately, there was no peat or even compost on sale so on returning from
Harrogate, visited Moorland Nurseries, Forest Moor Road, Knaresborough, North
Yorkshire HG5 8JY to collect some garden peat, I purchased an 80l bag, which was
very heavy a bit overkill for my needs, but I can use the rest for potting on
seeds and plants.

Whilst at the garden centre also had time to visit
Tropica, the
tropical fish shop and my local
Dennerle stockist!
This is an excellent tropical fish, with an excellent display of tropical fish,
Tropica plants, dry
goods and the full Dennerle
range. Some very interesting Botia loaches were on display from Asia, their
mail order business on the internet at
Tropica, carries some
very useful information on the
Dennerle range.
I purchased a pair of Discus Spawning Cones manufactured by JBL, I prefer these
"tough plastic" cones, to ceramic/terracotta, as they are easier to clean and
disinfect and are un-breakable, and much cheaper from this tropical fish shop,
than purchasing from eBay!

Back to what’s happening in the fish house, all fish are well, air ring main
is currently undergoing pressure testing, air pump is connected up, fixed in
place, and I’ve tested for air leaks, using a water mister and washing up
liquid, no leaks   were found, touch wood! It’s currently violently
aerating an 18l container of water with an airstone. One of the display tanks,
has an algal bloom, possibly causes by too much vegetable matter from courgettes
and cucumber, partial water change required this week, I’m working the late
shift at the office, so I’ll have to re-plan my evenings.
 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in All, fish house | Comments Off on Discus Breeding Cones

Aquarium plants by post.

Friday, September 16th, 2005

To spruce up my 48″x18″x12″ display tank, which contains two large old male marble angels, six bueno aires tetras and a 17 year old Syndontis Ocellifer and Pterygolichthys Gibbiceps, or The ‘Sailfin Plec’ can sometimes be confused with the suckermouth catfish, Hypostomus plecostomus, but one look at the broad dorsal base which contains between 12 and 13 rays, and the difference is immeasurable, also the first ray is equal to the length of the head. The small anal fin has 4 to 5 rays and its head is conspicuous by the large nasal flares. The “syno” and “pleco” are often seen scraping in the tank, the Sailfin Pleco was recused about 12 months ago from a local tropical fish shop in York, it was in bad condition when I purchased it, fungus, very thin, torn fins, it has almost full recovered. It’s quite small for it’s size at approx 6″-7″.

I’ve purchased some aquatic plants mail order from Java-Plants. I’ve not purchased plants by post for many years, but the selection in the area is not very good. We have some Tropica stockists but these plants are very expensive, too expensive for tetras to eat.

I’ve ordered 25 Amazon Swords and 50 Vallis. I’ll drop my comments back here, after they arrive. I’ve also got a Dennerle CO2 Professional System for plant fertilisation, but not connected it up yet. Another project for another rainy day!

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in All, fish house | Comments Off on Aquarium plants by post.

Out of the frying pan….

Saturday, September 10th, 2005

I don’t know what’s been happening today in the fish house, maybe it’s the weather. I found a another zebra danio, on the floor after it had decided to jump out of the tank.

And one of the Purple Spotted Gudegon had decided it didn’t like it’s quarantine tank, must have jumped out and decided to jump in with a Breeding Pair of Marble Angels, which promptly attacked and killed it!

I’m confused, as to how these fish escape, when I’ve tight fitting condensation trays on all the tanks!

I spoke to Pentair Aquatics, the manufacturers of the Lifegard range today, excellent customer service, gave me the required part numbers, and arranged for the UK Distributor to call me, and suggested retailers, where I can purchase my replacement water deflector, I didn’t know that Pentair is a very large commercial company that also specializes in water treatment products for domestic consumption and have deployed massive mobile treatment plants into New Orleans to pump/treat the water, after the Katrina Hurricane Disaster.

It is alleged, that the prime reason for the Import Ban on Hikari products into the EU, is because Hikari have to prove the source of the ingredients, the EU is concerned that products do not contain contaminated blood or meat products from infected animals. Until the Japanese company can provide adequate documentation, the products will not be allowed to enter the EU.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in All, fish house | Comments Off on Out of the frying pan….

Visiting friends in Otley, West Yorkshire (via tropical fish shop of course!)

Sunday, September 4th, 2005

I had hoped to attend the Otley Aquatic Society OPEN SHOW & AUCTION today, because I was visting Otley, West Yorkshire, but then I noticed the show is held at Wortley High School Swallow Crescent Leeds, so I didn’t have the time to route via Leeds, as the Auction was starting at 1.30pm. This will have to be an event I pencil on the calendar for next year.

Whilst in Otley I did get my “fish fix” by visting Waterscapes located in the Stephen H Smiths Garden Centre. An excellent range of tropical fish and Tropica plants on display, I especially liked the Leiarius pictus catfish, they had three small 4″ fish for 18 GBP each, but resisted the strong desire to own a large catfish again. These grow very large, a good example here at www.thetropicaltank.co.uk but are excellent catfish, and one of my favourites. But I certainly don’t have eight foot tank space in the fish house at present!

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in All, fish house | Comments Off on Visiting friends in Otley, West Yorkshire (via tropical fish shop of course!)

Newer Entries »