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Hi all, Looks like a "Greenhouse Slug", so probably came with one of the plants. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, It looks like "biogenic calcification". Basically "lime scale" deposits. It occurs in water with some CaCO3 content, when the plant extracts CO2 molecule, which reduces the amount of bicarbonate (HCO3-) that can remain in solution and the least soluble carbonate (CaCO3) comes out of...

Hi all, That is certainly plausible. I'm guessing that is the real difference, the only rooted plants I have tend to be Cryptocoryne spp. which are "perennials". If I had stems, that I continually trimmed and uprooted, there would be much more in the way of detached roots etc,. It would be...

Hi all, The green algae have the same photosystems and basic physiology as all the other plants, they are "plants". There are definitely algae that are "turned up to eleven" plants, but there are also algae that grow in oligotrophic conditions as well. You do, and I think it does. It is back...

Hi all, I don't think that wood is the sort of organic carbon source that would enhance algal growth. Heart wood is comprised of lignin, and lignin is very resistant to decay, and right on the edge of biodegradability in energy terms. You can release that energy by oxidation (wood burns), but...

Hi all, A tea towel out of the drawer, then put it on the hook to dry, hoping that my wife doesn't notice that I've spilled water everywhere. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, It honestly looks OK. Moss carpet? It looks like Bristlenose (Ancistrus) damage to Anubias & Bucephalandra. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, That is very different from the water that most of us in the UK would get. No nitrate (NO3-) and very variable conductivity. I'm guessing that it is mainly from desalination plants? Cheers Darrel

Those are the sorts of values a lot of people get. My "problem" is that it is all limestone where I live and dust from ploughing and quarrying ends up on all surfaces. Cheers Darrel

I don't precisely mix it, I used to use a conductivity datum range, but now I just use the size and colour of the Red Ramshorn snail shells. If they are all small and very pale I add a dash of tap. Our rainwater still has some carbonate buffering, so the pH is still over pH 7, but the hardness...

Hi all, I use the Daphnia bioassay, basically as long as the water butt has swimming Daphnia, the water is good. You are very unlikely to get any fish parasites, but you could potentially get Flatworms (Planaria). Cheers Darrel

Hi all, You are good. The problem isn't you, it is that most sellers of aquarium "products", just care about a sale. They don't really care about anything else. I'd try some green leafy veg and cuttle bone, eggshells or shell grit etc. and that will delay the inevitable. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, I don't think there is anything you can do, other than move them into tank with harder, more alkaline water. Most (all?) "fancy" snails are from hard, alkaline water. You can't use baking soda (NaHCO3). It will add dKH, but it will also add sodium (Na) and you definitely don't want...

Hi all, The maximum in UK tap water is 0.5 ppm, that is the level that chlorine (Cl2) becomes detectable at by smell and taste. The water companies can exceed this in "exceptional circumstances" to protect public safety. Unfortunately our water companies and OFWAT (the Independent regulator)...

Hi all I'm not a tap water user, but if I was? I'd use a dechlorinator. I let the water I use stand for a while (to warm up), but that would also outgas chlorine. I'm less worried about chloramine, purely because the plants will mop up the ammonia. Having said that, I honestly don't think it...

You don't need a dechlorinator if you don't have any livestock. You can, there are commercial products you can buy, but you can DIY your own custom mix very easily. If you have hard, alkaline tap water? You can use a splash of that. A lot of us, who have hard tap water, use rainwater. I've...

Hi all, Good post. That is something I've said a lot, it is the <"all plants"> and that there aren't any <"special ADA etc. potassium (K+) (or nitrate (NO3-)) ions"> arguments. I would make a slight exception for nitrate, it is not that the ions are any different, but that <"their method of...

Hi all, It definitely isn't disrespectful, and I don't actually see them as mutually exclusive approaches. They had some initial similarities, particularly in that both were developed partially due to the difficulties in getting <"accurate values for some water parameters">, but after that...

Hi all, It looks like Heteranthera zosterifolia. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, You could try Ikea. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Personally, If I had <"soft water from the tap">? I'd use it "as is", and just keep livestock adapted to that water, it just <"makes life a lot easier">. Cherry Shrimps (and <"most snails">) <"prefer harder water">. Our tap water is about ~400 ppm TDS (650 microS) and that just really...

Hi all, We have a thread: <"Lean dosing pros and cons">. I'd have to start by saying I've never been an EI user, but I have borrowed from the EI concept in the <"Hybrid Duckweed Index">. I was, initially, very much an <"Estimative Index sceptic">, but <"I'm convinced it can work">, but I still...

Hi all, Very much agreed, that is why I've pushed the idea of <"plant and wait"> as <"an alternative"> and then to use the plants as your test kit (<"to act as a biotic index">). Cory from the Aquarium Co-Op talks about this in his <"Seasoned Tank Time"> video (linked here <"Help needed with...

Hi all, Have a look at <"Amano Shrimp , co2 and Tropica soil">. Yes, that is as good as we've got at the moment. This is the Ryan Newton thread: <"Correspondence with Dr Ryan Newton - School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee">. I'm going to guess that this won't make...

Hi all, Welcome to UKAPS, @algae_connoisseur hasn't posted for a long time, so you may be reliant on another member to comment. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Because it is a neutral salt it doesn't effect pH, all it does is lessen the time the electrode takes to reach equilibrium. This means you don't need to add a set amount, just tip a small amount of salt into the sample. Details below for DI water...

Hi all, I'd guess not, it grows in dry places normally. Most other Tradescantia spp. (other than T. sillamontana) should work. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, You don't need anything else. Nothing will grow in 4 mol. KCl, it is pretty "salty". Cheers Darrel

Hi all, A water butt might be the cheapest option <"Garland 114ltr Harcostar Water Butt (Includes Tap & Child Safety Lid) Electrical World">? cheers Darrel

Hi all, I don't think you don't need to dose EI levels, personally <"I don't"> and would only do so in <"very, very specific circumstances">. That is why I'd start with just adding the micronutrient mix from @BuffBall 's post <"Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC...

Hi all, They are definitely a bit deficient in something, the problem is working out what the <"something"> is. I think this as well. Time is a great <"healer">. I'd probably look on increased algal growth as a good sign, both <"green algae and aquariums plants"> are fundamentally "plants"...

Hi all, Problems often come in the winter, particularly in more continental climates. @Tyko_N or @MichaelJ can probably add more from their <"personal experiences"> of <"life in a cold climate">. The problem is that the cooler the air is the less water vapour it can hold, so really cold...

Hi all, Sage advice, that is why UKAPS is the <"gift that keeps giving">. I think, <"back towards the start"> of the <"cycling wars">, there were <"one or two posters"> who suggested that, if they ever met me in person, they were going to re-arrange my dentition, but this may have actually...

...dosing etc. You might have to dose additional <"chelated iron"> (Fe), (and possibly magnesium (Mg)), purely because of the <"hard and calcium (Ca) rich"> nature of your tap water. * it will be less than these values because you won't have the addition from the Solufeed 2 : 1 :4. cheers Darrel

Hi all, That is it, just below a node (where the axillary buds are), and then trim the cut stem back to the next node <"The Art of Nature Aquarium">., removing the "snag" of tissue (the section above the node). Plant the cutting (the bit with the apical bud) and the axillary buds should then...

Hi all, I can think of a few, @zozo (Marcel) is a good source. <"Where The Jungle "Destroys" Red Rock Creek..">. <"Journal - Mission Bathtub and the Pollywog Party..."> <"Does anyone have experience growing, Echinodorus 'Small bear' and Echinodorus 'Yellow Sun'"> Then there was @BigTom...

Hi all, Good, I knew it should / does work, but it is always nice to have some confirmation. We have quite a few threads (on all sorts of subjects) where we've offered advice, and the OP says that they have started following it, but after that we just don't get anymore posts. The problem at...

Hi all, Welcome to UKAPS. HOB filters normally sit outside of the main tank (traditionally on the back glass). When you say "integral" do you mean above the tank? Like an overtank trickle filter? cheers Darrel

Hi all, It is <"really difficult to judge">. That is partially why I like a floating plant, it performs both <"nutrient reduction"> and <"net curtain duties">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, They do. You can use them, but they really are <"just glorified tap water">. That is <"beyond shoddy">, even for our <"privatised water companies">, they managed a magnificent "one sample" for both calcium (Ca) and alkalinity. You can use any <"all in one">, just <"dosed at a low...

...to back that view up. Once people could search for the genes that <"coded for ammonia and nitrite oxidation">? <"The past is a foreign country">*. You might be interested in our thread with Dr Tim Hovanec: <"Dr Timothy Hovanec's comments about Bacterial supplements"> & <"Tim Hovanec's...

Hi all, I'd go with the combined "all in one" and just use lean dosing. I don't actually use a set fertiliser addition, I just use the <"visual aspect"> of the <"Duckweed Index">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Yes, if you have soils with a large clay (or humus) content water based extraction doesn't work very well, because the ions remain bound to the exchange surfaces. Just an unknown really, <"pH is a funny measurement"> and it only needs a small amount of additional OH- to raise the pH...

Hi all, @jellybean did this work? cheers Darrel

Hi all, Yes throw them in, they will make the water slightly harder and more alkaline, but I wouldn't worry. The dissolution of limestone (CaCO3) forms a negative feedback loop and as soon as the <"pH goes above pH 7? It stops">. This is the reason that you get coral reefs and shell beds in...

Hi all, You are right. The UK differs from a lot of the continental USA, because we have very low amounts of magnesium (Mg) in our water. This is for <"geological reasons">. I think some of the US recipes leave out magnesium (Mg) because of this. Most recipes for "all in one" fertilisers...

Hi all, It is to do with cation exchange, but if you extract a soil with calcium chloride (CaCl2.NH20), rather than water, it is pH is a more accurate representation of the soil pH. The reason its quoted is there is about 1 pH unit difference, so that would be nearer to pH 7.4 in a water...

Hi all, Perfect, the dGH is the <"German"> value, so dKH = 3.45. One dKH is equivalent to <"21.8 ppm bicarbonate (HCO3-)">. We have a map <"Some handy facts about water">, but tap water can be very variable over short distances, They use both, the shell is the "aragonite" form of CaCO3. Have...

Hi all, Just use a horticultural fertiliser <"Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC Combination">. This is the nutrient breakdown. I'd just use an "all in one" fertiliser mix, but at a low dosage rate. If your <"plants are nitrogen limited"> they aren't going to...

Hi all, You can leave them both in if you wish. Have a look at <"Is expensive bio media worth it?"> & <"Replace biohome ultra with foam?"> "Activated charcoal" stops being "activated" but is fine as a <"biological filter medium">, same with the <"ADA Bio Cube">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, <"Same for me">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, They honestly look quite different - <"Hydrocharitaceae | NatureSpot">. You can see the leaf whorls in Elodea spp. in the link. If you find a plant that <"looks like this">? It is Lagarosiphon major. cheers Darrel

Hi all, "Curly leaves" is the easy way, but there are differences in the number of leaves in a whorl etc. The linked posts cover it in some detail. There are moves to legalise species that are unlikely to be invasive in the UK, but I'm guessing that "unlikely" could become "more likely" with...

Hi all, I'm sure that is fine and I wouldn't have any reservations about adding fish. I understand that as well. Caution is never a bad thing. If you can wait a few more weeks? I would. Yes, that is sort of the issue. That is why "plant mass and time" works, there isn't any ambiguity...

Hi all, We really don't know what causes any "algae" outbreaks. We think of <"BGA"> as a single entity, but there are hundreds of different species of cyanobacteria, some associated with <"low nutrient situations"> and some with eutrophication. Have a look at <"Fighting algae in a two year old...

...starter, some more fish (after the first ones died), a silicate removal kit (because "high silicates in the water killed them", or some other total b*llocks), some <"premium biological media">, a <"bigger canister filter">, some zeolite etc then you can "make some real money". cheers Darrel

...test tells me. You might be interested in this paper that has come my way via my "day job" <"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00381">* *Gawanker, S. & Masten S. (2023 ) "Development of an Inexpensive, Rapid Method to Measure Nitrates in Freshwater to Enhance Student Learning"...

Hi all, They definitely look a bit pale, but that might just be the light "washing out" the colour in the photo? If they really are pale green? You could try going back to a "complete mix" and see if <"they green up any">? cheers Darrel

Hi all, It will depend a little a bit on the tank, but I usually give mine a swoosh around (under the tap) <"every couple of weeks">. Our <"water supply"> (in the UK) is <"relatively lightly chlorinated"> so you don't need to worry about "sterilising" your sponge <"Cleaning filter sponges in...

Hi all, <"Tropica Premium"> doesn't contain any nitrogen (N) or phosphate (PO4---). Because these are two of the nutrients that <"plants require most of"> and because of this we usually recommend a fertiliser that does contain them. I'm going to say that may well be where your problem lies...

Hi all, Algal spores are universal in non-sterilised water, so as soon as you create suitable conditions they will grow. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Welcome to UKAPS, Unfortunately this is <"quite a common finding">, but I'm going to say you are now in the right place now. When you have time read through: <"What is the “Duckweed Index” all about?">. In terms of plants have a look at the <"Tropica Easy"> range, they are likely...

Hi all, The problem is that it will return, if conditions remain suitable for it. Cyanobacteria, diatoms etc are pretty much universal in freshwater, they will always be present in your aquarium, but most of the time at a level low enough so that they aren't visible. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Welcome to UKAPS They are <"Ostracods"> ("Seed Shrimps"), a kind of Crustacean a bit like a Daphnia <"encased in a shell">. They are entirely harmless and very common in shrimp tanks etc. cheers Darrel

Hi all, They don't exactly stunt, it is just that the growth of Tomatoes etc. is sub-optimal at ambient CO2 levels. You can definitely get local depletion of CO2 in glasshouses, this is because they are (to some extent) sealed structures. If you make sure that PAR, water and nutrients are non-...

Hi all, Via the holes, they reproduce pretty freely and the young ones are very small. I look at them as a definite plus in the planted tank, and they also <"evade predation"> much more successfully than Crangonyx. cheers Darrel

Hi all, PM me. They will definitely end up in the tank. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Where are you located? Are you in the UK? cheers Darrel

Hi all, <"Crangonyx psuedogracilis">? much safer than Hyalella. <"Asellus aquaticus">, absolutely fits the brief, but is a trifle <"aesthetically challenged">. They would work and are "cat-nip" to most fish. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I think a lot of people enjoy the initial buzz of high tech., but realise that low tech. <"can be just as satisfying"> and much <"easier to manage"> when life intrudes. This was about ponds, but the same applies to tanks. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Welcome to UKAPS. It is very likely to be. Have a look at <"Curly Waterweed | NatureSpot"> & <"Curly Waterweed » NNSS">. I'm originally from nr. Kington. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I still think we are in <"Apples and Oranges">* territory, because we are comparing a dense medium (water density ~ 1000 kg/m³) with a much less dense medium (Dry air at 20°C and standard atmospheric pressure (1.013 bar) has a density of 1.204 kg/m³.) <"Air Density">. *edit what...

Hi all, I use the same sponges as <"pre-filters on canister filters etc">. Once it is wet all <"mechanical filtration media"> is <"biological filtration media"> as well, <"if that makes sense">? cheers Darrel

Hi all, They sell them as 4" x 4" x 4" cubes etc. as well, I just buy the big ones (it is cheaper) and cut them down to size. I think these are good, they are all based on on the ones that Stephan Tanner (<"Swiss Tropicals">) sell in the USA. I've got a <"lot of time for Dr Tanner"> -...

Hi all, Yes, you would, but I use these <"big sponge blocks they sell for Koi"> etc. They are £10 for a 12" x 4" x 4" sponge with a 1" central hole 3/4 of the way to the bottom of the sponge <"Consistency Deficiency">. They are really just a gimmick, the <"prime metric in nitrification"> is...

Hi all, It is probably preferable to using sodium (Na+) based salts. Even though sodium isn't toxic to plants, they don't have a requirement for it either and it could build up over time. Potassium (K+) and ammonium (NH4+) have the advantages of being plant nutrients. Even "sodium build...

Hi all, Either will do, the finer sponge will need cleaning a bit more regularly. I like <"Eheim Substrat Pro">, but not if I have to buy it. <"Could you do this?"> It will give you a lot more sponge area. cheers Darrel

Hi all, You can. Ideally you need to thin the Moinia pretty much every day and the easiest way to do this is just to feed the fish. You should, they are very prone to <"boom and bust">, have a look at <"Feeding daphnia with crushed fish flakes">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Because they are sensitive fish, and eat a limited range of aufwuchs. You would need a huge tank to generate enough natural food for them. They will graze on <"structural leaf litter">and I would definitely offer them some. They often don't recognise Algal Wafers etc as food, but...

Hi all, They are <"Fragilaria (Synedra), a filamentous diatom">. I'd keep manually removing them and <"they should go away"> as the tank matures. I know it is difficult, but you really need to concentrate on plant health and not the algae. The test strips may or may not be right, but I...

Hi all, That looks like plec (Loricariid) feeding damage. You have a choice of plecs. cheers Darrel

Hi all, That was a lot of people's reservations about having a planted <"quarantine"> tank. I'd just come from it from a different direction, the question is: "What is the best environment for your fish?" and the answer is "an established planted tank with good quality water and a variety of...

Hi all, I'm guessing eventually that UKAPS will go the way of most / all <"the other forums">, and just be replaced by <"the drama of FB">. It is a shame, but I'm not sure there is much you can do, other than make the most of UKAPS (and other <"bona fide"> sources) while they still exist. I...

Hi all, It will be interesting to see what happens, because I'm a rainwater user I don't have any nitrate NO3- in <"my base water">. The same is actually true of our tap water, it is relatively low in NO3- . I've just got some Phyllanthus fluitans (thank-you @simon_the_plant_nerd and...

Hi all, I understand that, it is entirely up to the individual aquarist. If you are a plant it really doesn't make any difference how much an ion has cost, the potassium ions (K+) from APT3 are exactly the same as the K+ ions from Solufeed 2 : 1 : 4. For small tanks it makes much less...

Hi all, I'd just dose a lean dose of a complete fertiliser. If you are happy with <"APT 3">? Use that. The only thing that looks "wrong" it <"is the cost"> and that is back to the <"World's most expensive water"> contest. This is <"Solufeed 2 : 1 : 4"> at £14 for a kilo of dry salts. In...

Hi all, That is brilliant, they don't flower very frequently and then it's curtains, so it is along time before you get another chance . Cheers Darrel

Hi all, I'd definitely put them in the tank, I don't like "breeding boxes"or bare quarantine tanks. I particularly wouldn't keep a bottom orientated fish, like a Corydoras, in a breeding box for any extended amount of time. When I say "extended" I mean more than a day. I quarantine new fish...

Hi all, The females are attracted to light, so you <"occasionally get them in fish-tanks">, even inside. Most Mayflies need really good quality, highly oxygenated, cool water, but the one species (the <"Pond Olive">) is a lot more <"tolerant of warm water"> etc. cheers Darrel

It is a swimming Mayfly Nymph, almost certainly the "Pond Olive" (Cloeon dipterum). This one is harmless, but fish really, really like them. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, I'm <"really not sure at all"> about that at all. I think we are probably in <"Apples and Oranges"> territory, but I don't actually know. @hax47 or @Andy Pierce are probably your best bet for a definitive answer. When you don't inject CO2 it is back to <"Henry' s law">, and the...

Hi all, That is why I chose a floating plant for the <"Duckweed Index">, it removes one variable. Plants always have access to <"426 ppm of atmospheric CO2"> and it never runs out. cheers Darrel

Hi all, They look <"OK growthwise">, but I can't really <"tell how green they are"> because of the light colour. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Obviously <"I'm UKAPS biased">, and <"not an entirely objective commentator">, but that is one of the great advantages of UKAPS. We don't have <"anything to sell">, we have a very extensive <"library"> of past threads and a lot of members who've <"seen it, done it and bought the tee...

Hi all, Nerites don't tend to graze plant leaves very effectively, but they are <"good on hard scape"> etc.. Snails like <"Physella acuta"> & Planorbella duryi are more effective at getting to "difficult to reach" places <"Algea id, root of cause and how to deal">. People don't like Tadpole...

Hi all, It really, really <"p*sses me off"> - <"Its a miracle!"> All you can do is what you've done, give an <"honest appraisal of a product">. If all <"sponsored content"> and <"infomercials"> were labelled as such? It would help. cheers Darrel

Hi all, It isn't a nutrient deficiency symptom, the green algae (Chlorophyta) have the same <"basic physiology and photosystems"> as all the mosses, ferns and higher plants (clade Chlorobionta). I would regard them as all <"plants">, you just have "plants you want" and "plants you don't want"...

Hi all, Not really, but I only have <"Hygrophila corymbosa"> and normally they've gone from submersed to emersed, before flowering and dying. I've always had a few still submerged, and they seem to tick over from year to year without any problem. I bought the original plant ~20 years ago. I...

Hi all, <"Definitely"> cheers Darrel

Hi all, That is the problem. Because of where I live (hard water and not many fish shops) I don't often get <"temptation placed in my path">, but if Pier Aquatics or <"Aqualife Leyland"> (Aqualife Leyland | Leyland) were close to hand............ cheers Darrel