Recent content by AndyTaylor

Ah, that's a good idea, stick with the soft drink mix. Knowing nothing about how these pub cylinders are used meant that I couldn't question what I was being told. Apparently, each beer has a different mix of CO2 & Nitrogen. Who knew? As it happens, I found a friendly FE guy this afternoon...

Hi All, Re-filling FE canisters is proving very expensive over here so have made some enquiries about getting a pub CO2 cylinder. Managed to get my hands on one that I can get refilled for free when I need to but I'm unsure about the gas mix they use for refilling. The mix is 50% CO2/ 50%...

Quick update an apologies in advance for the ongoing lack of pics. I'll get proper (ie..not phone) pics soon. So, the flow issues have greatly improved with visible growth in all areas of the tank. Crypts are popping new leaves every day and the melt has stopped completely, Staurgyne has...

thanks ady, I did a thorough clean and prune last night, moved a few plants around and generally tweaked the layout. I removed any crypt leaves that looked like they were not thriving and cut back the Staurgyne in an attempt to encourage carpeting. The floating plant (Salvinia Natans) is...

Ok, quick update: While there is still some melt happening, it seems mostly confined to the older crypt leaves and new growth has started. The Staurgyne has exploded to life all over the tank so flow at substrate level has improved at least. 25 cherry shrimp ordered to tackle the small...

I have successfully grown a forest of various crypts in a non-CO2 tank with only minor algae issues to ruin my feeling of smug satisfaction. :) I realise now from what Clive has posted above that it was as much down to luck and inadvertently limiting the amount of light hitting the crypts as...

Make sense?..... Honestly? No. :lol: Inlet = water in to filter. Outlet = filter spray bar. At least in my tank. The diffuser is right next to the inlet so that the CO2 is being distributed in the water returning to the tank via the spray bar? I think we're saying the same thing?

Diffuser is next to the inlet pipe. At a guess, about 50% of the CO2 goes straight into the filter. I think i'll move the diffuser closer. I've set up the Hydors left and right of the spray bar. Judging by plant movement alone, flow/circulation is hugely improved. I'm going to add a second...

Closer inspection suggest that the plants closer to the CO2 diffuser are doing much better than those further away, including some crypts of the same age, species (and probably motherplant) as those melting. That would seem to confirm a flow/distribution issue at the very least.

It's wood alright but the same principles should apply. I have a smaller Iwagumi set-up with dragon stone that will be getting some HC next. It was very straighforward to just push the plant into any suitable cracks. I just got lucky with that wood, I guess. It had loads of suitable holes. It...

Forgive the awful phone photos but here ya go: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/n ... directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/G ... directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/e ... directlink

I'd happily go the Chine route but I already have the Hydors ready to go. :) I think one either side of the spray bar is the way to go. The tank has an awkward glass ledge along the back edge so I'll have to get some filter tubing and do an extension piece but it's do-able. We'll try that...

In general terms.....how does 2 Hydor minis and the spray bar directed from back of the tank towards front glass sound as an attempt to improve flow. Angled from high to low? Link to poor phone photo.. : https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8 ... directlink Spray bar top right, hydor top...

Hi ady34.... sorry, my omission. I'm only using 2x39w. I've never had the 4 on together.

Makes complete sense. I went from overdosing liquid CO2 while I was getting the pressurised system together, to stopping liquid CO2 altogether as soon as I had the diffuser working without considering the implications of that. I currently have a bright green drop-checker but I'm guessing that...