The Wild Fishing Forum

Quote from: Wildfisher on Yesterday at 07:05:10 PMWhat on earth were you doing on an NC500 group?  Covert surveillance of the enemy?    

am in both the anti NC500 groups, and the ones offering advice to the N500 tourists. It all helps in trying to understand the mindset of visitors to the island. Also, piss taking opportunities abound.

Thanks Jon. Which vac. would you recommend?

I'm going to keep the stocking density low, to start with at least. Say 5 Rams, a few plecs and a few corys. That's not a lot for a 240ltr tank. Allows room for additions.

They say rams are not very long lived, 2 years or so, anyone know about this? Any recommendations?

Not sure whether to go for a planted tank or a wood/rock hardscape. In my Malawi days I dispensed with plants (the buggers ate / dug them up anyway)and created caves with flowerpots which the fish spawned in so they were happy! However this first 4 footer will be in my living room and I'd rather it did not look like shit! 

All hints welcome! 

I'm looking forward to the results. I keep  yellow Labs and electric blue haps. I sold some of the juvenile haps to the local pet store about 3 months ago. I went there Saturday and to my dismay they are all drab grey in colour. The one I kept flushed with colour months ago.

I'm tending towards German Blue Rams and maybe Electric Blue Acaras. I've never kept any of those before.

Quote from: Laxdale on Yesterday at 06:10:24 PMI was booted off a NC500 group

What on earth were you doing on an NC500 group?  Covert surveillance of the enemy?    

I was booted off a NC500 group for laughing at them all wanting pictures of toffee paper cows.

Some set of horns on that one Sandy

I took this one that used to be at the coffee shop as you drive north out of Callander.

Test kit wise I'd say :-

Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
pH

With these you can ensure your tank is correctly cycled and then have the tools necessary to diagnose any problems correctly. A master kit will suffice and you can find the API kits on Amazon cheap enough.

Don't waste your money on litmus paper based test kits.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/API-Freshwater-Aquarium-Water-Master/dp/B000255NCI/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3UM8MWZG01JHM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.57Q8H2juCmiUi9LxaZHIEZGeO3miYu4enwnOU5nJ7RNRn_zgy-RiSGmBr9jrs4w55ITa97svBuxo6_2I4jn5tzEP1ylRsUlHvsvgDoiVZbm8DGE12cFPKohwIG7bciBTW3VQpmjhGQz-qz1GZfARLTrlzl0O55blM-pkTVAI3aaSUFjXaOMRGvGsvRbe9xZ7bzLgY9Z93zqzq-bFyspDhAlVg1E3y0QhBqoX5dB_YQxzZTVwxnIBRGsWvqIpg_AwoyBceJmKvLhizM0vYNdar-BwKOxcxgPBf40Vg2CeIUc.EiVM7TFZUzbC8fNPqeEt_A0Ce2h_bWnIm4bFxX38SOU&dib_tag=se&keywords=api+test+kit&qid=1714734676&rdc=1&sprefix=api+test%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-2



Nets! One large enough to comfortably accommodate your largest fish when fully grown and a smaller one to chase it into the larger net.

Algae scraper and gravel vac to keep things clean.

Dechlorinator is not using a HMA or RO filter but see my post in your discus thread if keeping those.


Decor and live plants but these really depend on your chosen species.

Food. A combination of dry, freeze dried and frozen but again depends on the actual species you keep.

Pre filter media for your filter. It will need replacing at intervals.