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That practice regarding the water hardness across the suppliers is not as widespread as is being alleged is the point I would question. Well done, you've nailed me with science. What do you want me to say? Somebody else who has already countered a lot of the points you raise I believe but...

That may be true in some circumstances, it may well even be a growing trend. However to try and pretend like that's a majority thing across the world, well, simply put it just isn't true. I want to make it clear because it feels like this is getting way out of hand. I am not going after anybody...

As soon as somebody disagrees with the overall philosophy on here it's automatically assumed they are some sort of fish abuser. If you can't forward plan, don't experiment. I was pretty clear about that from the off really. Most of the time a fish species such as a BN gets to the level of being...

It isnt that straight forward though is it. If for example is pH was in the high 7s as opposed to the low 8s many people successfully keep plecs with cichlids. In fact even the big mbuna tanks, if ever you see of someone successfully keeping a non cichlid in with them, chances are it's a common...

Tankmates or not is an issue we can help you and your relative with once you have decided which tank size your gonna be going for. Whatever the tank size, I wouldn't recommend combining a betta with tetras personally. First things first is speak to your relative and decide which size tank, from...

Now that's a tank! Couldn't resist a quick Google to try and get an idea of pricing just out of curiosity. The fact I couldn't even find anything similar enough to make a comparison definitely leads me to expect it to be incredibly expensive indeed. Spectacular though, we can dream right haaha.

Gonna keep an eye on your progress here. The filterless method is something I've been tempted to try for a while but, frankly, lacked the fortitude to pull the trigger on it as of yet. Hopefully it goes well for you and your success spurs me onto trying it ha.

And yet categorically they are successfully kept all over the world under a variety of parameters. So like I say, unless the parameters are extreme there is a perfectly good chance they failed for another reason. Also, if for whatever reason in a specific instance we can say yeah sure its the...

If you can find any, and unfortunately that is a huge if. I recommend betta brownorum.

I dont have anything particularly exciting right now unfortunately. The only tank I have running right now is a nano and I'm not happy enough with it right now to wanna share it if that makes sense, the only fish right now are a few cherry barbs. This is very much a short term problem based on...

All the evidence would suggest that evolution has certainly done the job in that sense. The fact remains the sort of fish I'm discussing have been successfully kept, maintained long term and bred all over the world for decade after decade after decade. This is not a new hobby. There are mass...

Awesome pictures. Sparkling gouramis are brilliant. I've only ever kept one dwarf gourami, an electric blue male many years ago. Whenever I see one like yours with the more natural colours, I do wonder why the need was ever felt to adjust them in the first place, aesthetically an incredible fish.

I'm not trying to suggest anything as extreme as that. Some fish are specifically hard or soft water. No getting away from that. Others, due to a variety of reasons, not least the way in which they are mass produced, as long as parameters aren't in the extremes, it is almost entirely irrelevant...

All I'm attempting to suggest is instead of giving the same blanket answers. Maybe we should try to be more reality based and metaphorically take a hold of the newbies by the hand and try to guide them deeper into the hobby without instantly imposing more restrictions on them. If the sorta...

When have I ever said I favour survival? That's the problem right there. I favour thriving. I favour breeding. I favour good suitable habitats and happy well cared for fish. So yeah, you were and arguably still are twisting my words entirely and honestly I don't care enough to continue on that...

Completely agree with Colin. If euthanasia does end up being the kind option, I personally would suggest the freezer method. It takes a while but is allegedly painless and once the freezer is closed you can just leave it much longer than necessary meaning your not having to watch the process. I...

Around the very low end of 26.

I agree, to an extent. Forums like this still regularly bring in beginners through Google searches. Not enough is being done to capitalise that and social media whilst easier and faster certainly, has done nothing to damage the reputation of forums like this. That damage is entirely on the forum...

What is the actual PH? Have you considered dwarf cichlids such as Apistogrammas? They generally do well in quite soft water. They generally stick around the bottom section of the aquaria and shouldn't cause to much in the way of problems for Congo Tetras.

I've not long got home from a walk with my son and dog. I was out more than an hour but less than two. Entirely my own fault but whilst I was out my electric had ran out, i had no idea it was even low. So I came home to electric being off throughout my house, dashed to top up the electric. In...

I haven't received nor sought out any advice with which I am unhappy. The only point I'm trying to make is a little more common sense needs injecting into these forums. Science is all well and good but it should not be a direct replacement for common sense. Ultimately, the way things are...

Before my time in the military I spent two years working in a reputable LFS. I'm aware of the variety of parameters stock arrives with. I'm also not trying to suggest GH is irrelevant. I'm just saying I think it's importance is regularly being overstated. In some situations it can be critical...

Simply put, the fact you get an indication light when it's in operation is about as exciting as it gets. It as basic as a heater can be, which is no bad thing.

Many breeders mass produce both tetras and livebearers, regularly in the same location. I'm not for a second trying to say there aren't cases where GH is an issue. I'm just saying most the time, chances are it's something else. There's a reason fish like that are as widespread as they are and by...

So I have been running a Hidom 75w thermostatic heater for a month or two. This is ran alongside a 50w Eheim heater. So, I was very wary of the Hidom due to the fact its a brand I'd never heard of and was startlingly cheap. I bought it as a secondary heater as I noticed I was getting slight...

Lovely pictures. That sailfin is particularly attractive, beautiful fish.

Regarding a catfish, be aware of the bioload. If your planning on over stocking with cichlids to disperse aggression then I'd personally say to avoid anything else purely to minimise the stress on your bacteria levels. If not, then by all means I'd say give it a go but be prepared to monitor the...

I wanna make it clear from the get go, this post is not an attack on anybody. I'm seeing the same few problems over and over on here. I'm the sorta person to address things. Likewise if you are on the other side of this argument and disagree, please feel free to do so. One of the many joys of...

Unreal. At first I found the extraordinarily wealthy fella really annoying but a few minutes in i realised it was nothing to do with the clear silver spoon in his mouth, it was me being accidentally intolerant. Jealous no doubt ha. Breath taking tank. I would love an opportunity to tinker...

Extreme being, if for some reason you can't make it work with neons, then maybe give real consideration to your GH because then maybe, just maybe, your an extreme case. The fact remains fishkeepers have successfully kept, long term, and bred neon tetras all over not just my country but the...

Like I said, science is all well and good. The fact remains they are mass produced and successfully kept all over the world. If they died two months after they were bought in the majority of places, there appeal would never have been very widespread would it. I agree extreme cases apply. Beyond...

Well due to the lack of effect from my first two attempts, I ate a lot, like way more than was remotely sensible. I was in about as bad a state as you can get in off cannabis. Incredibly white, illogical brain, vomiting, the lot it was horrendous. I'll tell you what though, after an hour or so...

Not for me. Tried them on three occasions and had two so so experiences and one awful. Granted the awful was my own fault. Lesson learnt though. Besides, there's a certain simple pleasure from either smoking or vaping the herb.

Yeah. I think a moving body of water would be better for the next attempt haha. Fingers crossed for you.

I tried this but with an empty coffee jar and from a local ornamental pond. It's been on my kitchen windowsill for about three weeks. So far my green bits are still green but no other signs of life. Will be interested to follow your progress.

Fish such as neon tetras are bred all over the show in vast numbers, they are kept all over the world and are very much a mainstay of tropical fishkeeping for that very reason. I do not dispute the importance of gh in extreme cases nor if your keeping more specialised species. However, surely...

I never said anything about twenty five percent once a week? As stated I do water changes two to three times a week. At the minute three. Once I'm back at work, at least two sometimes three. Which is 50-75% of the water volume changed over a seven day period. Theoretically it should be...

There's an awful lot of misconceptions here but I don't think this is an appropriate setting in which to address them. There is no friend, honestly I thought that was a pretty obvious joke, my mistake lol. I do use activated carbon, just something I always use more out of habit than anything...

Yeah I get that, I think that's pretty similar to my own attitude. Strictly just me, but personally I'd die for my child but I'd be hesitant to lightly graze my elbow for a fish.

Get what you like. Nevermind other people's fears, get what you think you will enjoy the most. Convicts are very interesting and in my opinion one of the most underrated fish in terms of its aesthetic appeal. Also, you should be able to find somewhere to take them off your hand easy enough. You...