Hello to everyone at AQ.
I just wanted to introduce myself and say hi.
My name is Cameron and I'm from Johannesburg, South Africa. I found this forum a few days ago and really like the 'vibe' here. I hope to get to know all of you in the future.
Planted tanks are not very big here just yet but it is beginning to take off slowly only now, I think there are only a handful of us here that have even heard of the EI or PPS methods etc. This is why I have to seek overseas forums to find like minded planty people, so far I like this forum alot, I think its much friendlier than APC
I have 2 planted tanks, one 2 foot moss/anubia shrimp tank that is VERY LOW light and one 3 foot tank that is CO2 injected. My 5 footer is a Tanganyikan Biotope setup ( I love Cichlids). I would like to post some pics for all to see over the weekend.
Anyhow, thanks and glad to make 'your acquaintance'.
Kind Regards
Cameron James
Good day Camper, welcome to AQ.
I think you are the first African hobbyists I've come across so far. Hope you can find your answers here in AQ.
Since the hobby is not popular in Africa, are the Co2 and equipment rock expensive in there? How about the fish selections and plants? I guess congo tetra and bolbits are cheap there?
Hope to see you tank photos soon.
人的一生﹐ 全靠奮斗﹐ 唯有奮斗﹐ 才能成功
Hello Lorba and thanks for the welcome. To answer your questions: At the moment the only brand that sells CO2 equipment here is Sera, the co2 bottle + ph controller will cost you round about R4500 (Rands), the rand is about 7.5 to 1 US dollar at the moment so that would give you an idea as to what it costs, in other words, YES, very expensive indeed. You also cannot buy co2 bottles here they HAVE to be rented on a monthly basis from a legitimate gas company. So at the moment my 3 footer is bubbling away quite nicely on DIY CO2, until I save all my pennies this is the way it has to beOriginally Posted by lorba
Good day Camper, welcome to AQ.
I think you are the first African hobbyists I've come across so far. Hope you can find your answers here in AQ.
Since the hobby is not popular in Africa, are the Co2 and equipment rock expensive in there? How about the fish selections and plants? I guess congo tetra and bolbits are cheap there?
Fish selection here is pretty good, we have a wide selection of common fishies but the more demading and finnicky species are a bit harder to come by, but as always 'good things come to those who wait'!
We have only recently been seeing Crypts on the market, we have loads of easy common plants like Hygro, Vallisneria, Java moss/fern etc. Last month I nearly fell off my chair when I discovered some rather poor looking E.Stellata in one of my LFS tanks, I bought it and nursed it back to health and I now have a nice clump growing. Anubias are very common and also dirt cheap, as are the congo tetras.
I will take my camera home over the weekend and post some pics here on Monday for you. Nice to speak with you and I hope you enjoy the rest of this fantastic day
Kindest regards
Cameron James
Yippie!! Reptiles and Fishies!
SWEET!! south African member!! WElcom welcom!! cant wait to see your tanks!
SWEETSWEET!! south African member!! WElcom welcom!! cant wait to see your tanks!
OK, I'll show you mine if you show me yours
Artificial Intelligence
Hi James,
Always nice to get to know a new friend, especially overseas. Keep in touch, stay healthy and god bless
Something about the water & the fishes that calms me down.
Welcome Cameron!
South Africa is one of my favorite places! Love the cape region and the Safari.
Incidentally, this site is predominantly Singaporean. If there's any lingo you don't understand, feel free to ask for clarification.
Cheers,
I have dwarf cichlids in my tanks! Do you?
Hi Benny
Yes Cape Town is truly beautiful, unfortunately I live inland about 1200km away
I'll be sure to ask you if there is any misunderstanding with lingo but so far so good
Kind regards
Cameron
Well...put it this way, you are a lot closer to Mapumalunga, not to mention other beautiful areas such as Blyde River Canyon and Pilgrim's Rest!
It would be nice for your to share with us what's the aquarium scene like in South Africa. Are there a lot of fish shops around? What's popular amongst South African aquarist..etc, etc.
Cheers,
I have dwarf cichlids in my tanks! Do you?
Hi BennyWell...put it this way, you are a lot closer to Mapumalunga, not to mention other beautiful areas such as Blyde River Canyon and Pilgrim's Rest!
It would be nice for your to share with us what's the aquarium scene like in South Africa. Are there a lot of fish shops around? What's popular amongst South African aquarist..etc, etc.
Cheers,
Well it seems you know South Africa quite well
If you are ever in the country again please let me know, you are more than welcome to come and visit for a few days
Yes, Blyde River is my favourite, I must go back there soon for a visit, breathtaking
The Aquarium scene here is quite limited in terms of hardware equipment, especially for planted tanks, as I said before the plant part is only really taking off now. I think in a couple of years there will hopefully be a better variety to choose from. There are no fancy substrates available for instance. You have to make do with what you can get. There are many fish shops, we call them pet shops as they don't just focus on fish alone, you will find everything from hamsters, mice, guinea pigs, dogs, cats, reptiles, fish and equipment all in one shop! There are alot of folk here who specialise in East African Rift Lake Cichlids, Malawi's, Tangs and Victorian Cichlids. The marine side of the hobby is also doing quite well here. There are a couple of Hatcheries that breed cichlids, marine fish and corals etc. Here is a link to a local Hatchery in Grahamstown (not too far from cape Town) http://home.intekom.com/rh/page5.html
Cheers for now, hope everyone has a nice weekend.
Kind Regards
Cameron James
Hello
I guess this would be a good place to introduce myself as well seeing as Cameron introduced me:
I am from South Africa as well and live in Cape Town. My main fish interests are angelfish and dwarf cichlids. I have some wild caught P. scalare from the Rio Negro, some Peruvian scalare as well as a bunch of P. leopoldi along with various dwarf cichlids (L.curviceps, M ramirezi, A. agasizzi, A. cacatuoides, A.thomasi, N. nudiceps, P.pulcher, N.annomala) and also some smaller gourami's (T.vittata and Pseudosphromenus dayi) and then also started getting interested in rainbows and have a small colony of Pseudomugil gertrudae.
To keep the tanks clean I have quite a number of catfish species.
On the fish side we have a small but dedicated and knowledgable bunch of people in South Africa, but sadly the planted side is lacking a bit. I currently have 2 planted tanks set up - 1 low tech 4 foot tank with various dwarf cichlids and angels and also one small 50cm moss/riccia tank.
Cameron started a South African planted website recently to help get planted aquariums going in our country
Most of my other tanks have some fast growing plants in there to help with nitrate reduction, but they are not really aquascaped at all.
I am hoping to learn a lot from you and hope that I can contribute as well.
Artificial Intelligence
Hi AndreCosterus,
Welcome to Aquatic Quotient, we would be more than willing to share. There are quite a few cichlid lovers over here, feel free to share or discuss any topics. warmest regards and god bless.
Cheers,
Something about the water & the fishes that calms me down.
Baton courtesy.....service with a smile!
AndreCosterus, welcome to AQ!
Please make full use of all the info that is available here in AQ. If you have any question, feel free to ask them or you could even browse through the various thread to read through.
Can we have a link of the planted website you were telling us? Thanks!
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Mohamad Rohaizal is my name. If it's too hard, use BFG. I don't mind.
hi andre /camper...
welcome to Singpaore...
thanks
yours sincerely,
Storm
The website is Aquatic Plants South Africa - www.apsa.co.za
I see some familiar faces here
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