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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

my new 910 L tank

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07 Feb 2012 18:29 #31 by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re: my new 910 L tank


Thought you'd enjoy this.

Kev.

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07 Feb 2012 18:46 #32 by Frontosa (Tim kruger)
Superb.You just cant beat the Back to Nature modules and backgrounds.Thanks for sharing.Regards,Tim

Midlands - in the heart of Ireland.

Keeping and breeding : Frontosa Blue Zaires , Synodontis Petricola , Tropheus Red Rainbow (Kasanga) , Tropheus Moliro . Regulary fry for sale.
Community tank with P.Kribensis and different livebearers.

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07 Feb 2012 18:51 #33 by Frontosa (Tim kruger)
Just realised that you used aqua terra background.Looks very similar to Back to Nature.Do they do Tanganjican backgrounds aswell?Regards,Tim

Midlands - in the heart of Ireland.

Keeping and breeding : Frontosa Blue Zaires , Synodontis Petricola , Tropheus Red Rainbow (Kasanga) , Tropheus Moliro . Regulary fry for sale.
Community tank with P.Kribensis and different livebearers.

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07 Feb 2012 19:04 #34 by SpiderMonkey (Mark O'Neill)

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07 Feb 2012 19:09 #35 by davey_c (dave clarke)
stunning, thanks for sharing kev :cool:

ye got to love a large shoal of shoalers :silly: :cheer:

Below tank is for sale

my plywood tank build.

www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768

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07 Feb 2012 19:16 #36 by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re: my new 910 L tank
Nay bother guys, I hope this was ok to post bib.

Kev.

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07 Feb 2012 19:32 #37 by BlueRam (Sean Crowe)
great find kev

thankin you

sean

Sean Crowe

ITFS Member

Location: Navan

Always Remember Surviving Is Not Thriving

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07 Feb 2012 19:45 #38 by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re: my new 910 L tank
PM'd you Sean.


Kev.

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07 Feb 2012 20:39 #39 by dave k (david)
hi greg i have being working away on the tank added some JBL AquaBasis plus and some Aqua Soil NEW Amazonia which looks great with light coloured sand really suits the set up and the plants are really taking off. in regards to stock i have 15 Cardinal Tetra,15 Rummy-Nose Tetra, 15 Red Eye Tetra,1 Chinese Algae Eater,about 8 plecos,i have not decided on which tetra to be the main one yet its between the cardinal and the rummy-nose.. was going to get some discus in the next week or so...was looking at some Checkerboard Discus some Royal Red Discus...my phones camera is not working at the moment but as soon as i get a new one will post some pictures of the tank

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07 Feb 2012 20:54 #40 by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re: my new 910 L tank
A bit of advice... leave the Chinese Algae eater out, I promise you you'll regret it later.

Kev.

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07 Feb 2012 21:50 #41 by k.galvin (Kieran Galvin)
I would go with the rummy nose they look great in a big shoal....

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07 Feb 2012 22:21 #42 by ghart (Greg Hart)
Dave,
I'm told the Red Line Torpedo Barb is a good mix for the Discus. A shoal of these would look great.
The Rummy Noses are great for shoaling and always follow each other up and down the tank. A larger shoal of cardinals is very attractive but after they settle in they tend not shoal all together unless some large fish are present.

The ADA Amazonia looks good and dark but is quite expensive at €45 for 9L bag.

Do post some pictures soon.

Greg

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08 Feb 2012 13:14 #43 by ghart (Greg Hart)
Draco,
You may be right on this one though I've heard that Plymouth Discus keep them with Discus.

Also they are found in higher temperatures in the wild see below..

This is sometimes reported to be a subtropical species and some say it does best at cooler temperatures. This is contradicted by a first-hand collection report by Indian aquarist Madan Subramanian, who documented finding the fish in 34.8ºC (94.6º F) muddy water on the eve of the monsoon season in Kerala.


Greg

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08 Feb 2012 13:33 #44 by ghart (Greg Hart)
Draco does raise a very valid question on Tropical fish and the temperature they are kept at.
Is it cruelty to keep a fish in a few degrees below or above their recommended temperature range.
Or is it a case that it only affects their metabolism example slower at lower temps or highter at high temps.

It would be interesting to hear comments on this from the forum experts.

Greg

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08 Feb 2012 13:41 #45 by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re: my new 910 L tank

Greg, I can not agree with you on this issue, holding the fish for which the the maximum temperature is 250C with Discus, this is cruelty :angry:


I agree Chris AND Torpedo barbs also move like Torpedos, this can really stress Discus and cause them to dash for cover potentially causing them damage. Where Retailers display Tanks are concerned, the Fish are used to constant traffic, that's why they will crowd the front of the Tank for Food etc because they aren't afraid, most people keep smaller fish or larger ones that are relatively docile or peaceful.

Kev.

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08 Feb 2012 13:57 #46 by ghart (Greg Hart)
Kev,
What taken on this one.
What is your opinion on the temperature question and keeping fish at lower or higher temps outside of their recommended range for extended periods of time.

Greg

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08 Feb 2012 14:17 - 08 Feb 2012 14:19 #47 by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re: my new 910 L tank
I think most species can handle higher or lower temps but within reason, the main thing is that the Fish are not subjected to sudden extremes, Fish in the wild can adapt to fluctuations given where they live, by either swimming nearer the surface or going deeper. There would be limits of high and low temps where the Fish get stressed and the functions of organs and blood supply disrupted causing dysfunction and possibly death, in extreme cases, overheating, Fish can be observed jumping out onto the Floor to avoid the heat.

There is an old, to me, unacceptable test of that theory from years ago but it still holds true and before I explain, I am hereby asking Valerie to delete my reply if it is deemed unacceptable..

A frog put into hot Water will hop out immediately because it's body temperature is room temperature, ambient if you like, the difference is so great that it's reflex causes an immediate reaction to the hot Water, however, a Frog placed in a pot of cold water will stay in the pot while the temperature rises to the point where the Frog dies, it cannot recognise the slow change and stays put.. Fish will do this to a point but I am sure that fats and oils, oxygen and proteins could be altered to a point where the Fish succumbs to stress and injury.

( If anyone feels this should not be included in the Post, please report it to Val )

Kev.
Last edit: 08 Feb 2012 14:19 by stretnik (stretnik).

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08 Feb 2012 14:37 #48 by christyg (Chris Geraghty)
@ kev: interesting 'experiment' but as they say on the tele, 'don't try this at home' !

@bibsun: It's not a good idea to keep chinese algae eaters with discus. As the cae gets older it eats less and less algae and can become very beligerent and will attach themselves to the sides of discus amd do serious damage

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08 Feb 2012 14:45 #49 by BillG (Bill Gray)
I think you make a very valid point and don’t personally have issues with how you make it :) I think the key is to acclimate the fish to the new environment and most species will be ok.
For risk of being totally controversial, I never bothered with Discus myself as I think they are totally over-rated and very demanding fish. However, I do know several people who keep and breed them with great success and have researched the species. Correct me if I am wrong, but in the wild, these fish live a happy life in water ranging in temp from 25C to 28C, the water temperature of their natural habitat. Why, in aquariums, do people insist at maintaining temperatures of 30C to 32C? yet I don’t see anyone argue the point that this is cruel to the discus :unsure:
If the discus are kept at a more natural temperature of 25C to 28C, the options for tank mates to keep with them is opened right up! Certainly towards the lower end of the temp range. Almost to the point where the key considerations would be the compatibility with water chemistry.
Just my 2 cents worth :)

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08 Feb 2012 17:00 #50 by ghart (Greg Hart)
Bill said..
For risk of being totally controversial, I never bothered with Discus myself as I think they are totally over-rated and very demanding fish

Of all the tropical fish I've kept over the years the Discus are by far the most interesting and majestic creatures. They are very aware of their owner and what happens outside of the tank. Being Chiclids they also have individual personalities. Once you keep the water conditions correct they are no more difficult to keep than some of the other termed difficult species.

They appear to be quite intelligent. The other day I was watching a David Attenbrough nature program on TV and I'd swear all the Discus were at the front glass of the tank look out at the TV :laugh: :laugh:
either that or they were just hungry.

Greg

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08 Feb 2012 21:29 #51 by dave k (david)
this is great thats why you got to love these forums ;) , information and ideas advise bouncing around from each other, this is how we become better at what we do... :) keep it going...

dave

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08 Feb 2012 22:19 #52 by paddyc1 (Paddy Corrigan)

this is great thats why you got to love these forums ;) , information and ideas advise bouncing around from each other, this is how we become better at what we do... :) keep it going...

dave


+1 on that Dave :)

Tallaght, Dublin 24

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08 Feb 2012 23:37 #53 by igmillichip (ian millichip)
That's one cool tank set-up.
I could, stepping very boldly, even say better to see a big tank used for that set-up than being wasted on an arowana :)

Brill.

Ian

Irish Tropical Fish Society (ITFS) Member.

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