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
April ITFS meeting Tuesday 12th
- Andrew (Andrew Taaffe)
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This time I'll ensure the camera gets taken out of the bag so everyone can see what was brought along, and maybe the winner of the night can do a write up of their wet pet!
While the judges are scoring and marking up we are looking at having another quiz, more details will follow closer to the day but rest assured prizes will be up for grabs.
In case you missed it here is a link to the thread from our last table show in September
www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/fforu...fs-september-meeting
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- derek (Derek Doyle)
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30 tanks specialise in african cichlids, angelfish and various catfish
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- igmillichip (ian millichip)
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what about daraghs talk on photography? is that not next month.
That's what I thought as well (in addition to the bench show)
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- derek (Derek Doyle)
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i have already told several people that it is on and need to know one way or the other.
when i was involved with the commitee we had to write to and ring every member with details of each meeting but nowadays a quick update on a forum or query reply should only take a moment.

30 tanks specialise in african cichlids, angelfish and various catfish
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- Andrew (Andrew Taaffe)
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His photography presentation will be at a future meeting instead.
If you have suggestions for the committee why not communicate directly with us rather than the method above.
Solutions are worth more when highlighting an issue.
Though people may appear to be logged in on the forum that does not necessarily mean they are online,
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- Andrew (Andrew Taaffe)
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Ahead of the meeting all we need to know is the fish you are bringing and the approximate size so we can ensure a suitable tank is available for you, so you can PM me or john gannon with those details. On the night itself if you bring as much water from the tank the fish came from that would be a bonus, if you can't bring your own water please let us know well in advance.
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- JohnH (John)
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It isn't at all daunting, really all you need to do is turn up with your fish - just let the lads know beforehand what you'll be bringing along.
As Andrew says it will help greatly if you bring enough water to get the little show tank filled (for the sake of your fish) but really - it's all about taking part - any non-members will be made every bit as welcome as the 'established' ones.
Please do go along and participate...if anyone interested sends a PM to Andrew or John Gannon with any questions they may have - all will be revealed (well, not literally).
I only wish I wasn't so far away myself - I'd be there for definite.
John
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We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
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- Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens)
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It would be great to get a few people along with fish that have not taken part before. It is usually the same people that will bring a fish or two.
The fish needs to be healthy, but is does not need to be a stunner. There will only be about a dozen entries so there is a good chance to place or win with a nice healthy fish.
Even if you don't win you will get valuable feedback from the judges on what they are looking for or why your little beauty did not take the crown.
Daragh
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- Andrew (Andrew Taaffe)
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.
So far I've had a few confirmations and some tank requests for Tuesday night. So don't be shy over the weekend, take a good look in your tanks and come along and let others see what you see on a daily basis.
If I remember correctly the last table show had minnows, tetras, killifish, catfish, corys, goldfish, cichlids ... so all in all nothing you probably don't have yourself, go on get the bag and net out.
If anyone needs them I can bring along some styrofoam boxes for you to bring home and use yourself for transporting fish bags in, safely and securely and not rolling around the back seat



Andrew
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- Andrew (Andrew Taaffe)
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Courtesy of Kealan @ Seahorse Aquariums
- JBL Denitrol - bacteria starter !!
- CO2 system for a planted tank - I think it's a JBL ProFlora ( when I know the exact name\model I will upload a photo )
Further prizes - once confirmed, will be added to this thread
Latest addition to prizes for tonight
Gift voucher from Aquatic Village - thanks Ian
Bucket of Food from Purrfect Pets - cheers lads
If any stores want to donate more prizes feel free to PM me or John Gannon !!!!
The quiz is coming along nicely, so bring a crayon or 2 for the multiple choice tick boxes


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- john gannon (john gannon)
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- igmillichip (ian millichip)
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- Andrew (Andrew Taaffe)
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I'll be sure to pack the camera as well this time, just nudge me to take it out of the bag though !
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- roscelt (Paul Egan)
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Kind regards,
Paul
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- Andrew (Andrew Taaffe)
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1st Nothobranchius Rachovii - Ian Millichip
2nd Asian Rummynose Tetra - Darren Dalton
3rd Emperor Tetra - Justine Millichip
Ian went home with the C02 system as top prize.
Phil Kearney won the quiz, so he is off the the AV to redeem his gift voucher.
Johney Lafferty ( leva star ) won the main raffle prize and brought the bucket of Tetra Prima home.
Photos of the night and more write up will follow in the next day or so.
Thanks again to all who came along, no one left empty handed as a goody bag was given to each person on the night.
Special thanks to the shops who generously sponsored us and without their support it wouldn't have been as much fun.
Andrew
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John
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We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
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- dar (darren curry)
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Check out the angling section, it is fantastic
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John
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- Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens)
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I will post them tomorrow. It was a good night and some great fish on show, all the winners were little gems.
Thanks to everyone that brought fish along.
Thanks to Johnh for providing the quiz. Thankfully I didn't have to embarrass myself as I was busy judging.
Big thanks to the shops that sponsored prizes, Seahorse Aquariums, Aquatic Village & Purrfect Pets.
Daragh
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- dar (darren curry)
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Big thanks to the shops that sponsored prizes, Seahorse Aquariums, Aquatic Village & Purrfect Pets.
nice to see all the lads looking after the customers, not that i won or was even there but cheers
Check out the angling section, it is fantastic
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- igmillichip (ian millichip)
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Myself and Justine had said before the show that we'd run out of AquaSafe and would have to wait until the weekend before doing anymore water changes..... but with a raffle win and a 3rd placed fish the night we grabbed some much needed water conditioners (a nice bulk of it as well).
Justine is not a member of the forum, but she is mega happy as that is her first go at showing.
I'm really happy for Justine for getting her Mr Emperor to the show.
There were some very nice fish on show.
I did home-in on Darren's Rummynose rasbora when benching ours......superb fish.
Many thanks to Andrew and John G for organising us a few show tanks.
I have, today, had to google info on Pollan. (lucky guess that I got that question right

Ian
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- platty252 (Darren Dalton)
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Thanks to everyone that brought fish along and thanks to the sponsors. Aquatic village, Purrfect pets and Seahorse aquariums for donating prizes.
Congratulations to Ian with his lovely Nothobranchius rachovii and Justine with her Nematobrycon palmeri (Mr.emperor).
I wonder is it possible to run the quiz on the forum? Just for fun.
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- Andrew (Andrew Taaffe)
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Question 1
What is unusual about the breeding habit of Hoplosternum Catfish when compared to most other South American Callycthidae?
Is it
a) The male builds a bubble nest
b) The female digs a recession in the substrate for her eggs
c) Eggs are laid above the water level and both sexes splash water over them to keep them moist until they hatch
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- Andrew (Andrew Taaffe)
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- andrewo (andrew)
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Can one just guess? or do you need to talk a bit about the usual breeding habit then?

On a more serious note; you guys seemed to have a swell time during the meet.Great entries and prizes too. Must try to make it to one of these meetings.
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- Andrew (Andrew Taaffe)
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If you can get to the meeting you'll enjoy it, always lots to be learnt and there's nothing better then getting firsthand experience in person from some very knowledgeable keepers who come along, not to mention the added incentive of the raffle and of course regular presentations !
A
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- Andrew (Andrew Taaffe)
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so here is.....
Question 2
A close relative of the Dwarf Gourami (Colisa Lalia) - The Honey Gourami - has been reclassified as?
Is it
a) Colisa Chuna
b) Colisa Sota
c) Colisa Fasciata
reply with your answer,
I'll try and check the site a few times a day to confirm who has the correct answer first, after that I will post the next question
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- igmillichip (ian millichip)
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I've also got some video....but I've been too lazy to convert it. So watch this space.
Anyway, here we go...
Starting with some nice rift valley fish....who stood still when they saw the camera.
And, here is Justine's Emperor (it does not like cameras....so on went the flash...as you can see).
and Mr Notho Rachovi says thanks....
On the show bench
and a big Thank You later that night...
ian
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