Recent content by Harlequin

Morning all.... Been off the forums for a little while, but I've not been sitting idly by on the planted tank front. Well, this tank had been torn down - time for a change and a new scape. So a big box of Tropica plants came into my possession yesterday and and all hell broke loose as I...

Stevet - yes I went for the full monty on this tank. I only really keep the one going and I'd been planning something special for years. This is really it (certainly in terms of hardware). I can certainly say that it terms of build quality the tank is first rate. With no bracing to help hold...

Sorry chaps-I'll post some more pics soon! I have some, just not got around to putting them up! Ray - I got the tank from Aqua Essentials, who deal with the company in Germany. I'm sure you could get the contact from Richard there-just drop him a line. It is the same company that make the...

Personally, I would start doing some big water changes (50%) every couple of days. Also ensure your CO2 supply is good-how are you diffusing it? My experience of algae in general, and BGA specifically is that poor circulation (which impacts CO2 disppersal) can have a big impact on algae. You...

Believe me, this is a discussion a lot of us have had down the last few years at least. All I can say is that what has been discussed above (in terms of price 'fixing') is more or less correct-ADA, and in particular ADA Europe are very restrictive in terms of their pricing terms. Essentially...

You have my sympathy George. Similar issue happened on my ADA tank after a couple of weeks holiday. CO2 line got kinked. Thankfully not quite the issues you look to have had, and have cleared it up now. I think it underlines the importance of a consistent, stable supply of CO2 as one of the...

Yes, as an aid to getting rid of the algae. One of the key compounds in Excel is polycycloglutaracetal, which, apparently, is a trademarked (by Seachem) polymerized isomer of glutaraldehyde. The latter can be used to sterilize dental and medical equipment, and apparently as an embalming...

Quick update then... Seem to have sorted out the little algae problem I had after coming back from my hols. It was starting to accumulate in the Lilaeopsis, which was getting very thick and dense. So, as well as trying to work out a way to rid myself of it, I also wanted to think about how I...

Purigen is made by Seachem. Check out their website for more info on it. In a nutshell it is a less aggressive alternative to carbon. A lot of folk worry about carbon stripping nutrients, whether that is the case or not, Purigen claims not to do it. It aims to remove nitrite and ammonia...

Gents, Many thanks for your comments! Well, back from my hols now-had a trip to New England for a couple of weeks with the wife. Very nice, except arriving in Boston to find a heatwave at the end of September!! Neil - of course, the clarity! :lol: On that note, I must say the Purigen I've...

OK, this is the last update for 10 days or so; I'm off on my hols. The tank is currently about to enter the 6th week, but here are updates from the 3rd week. Had a big trim of the stems today. Talking of which, week 3 saw the first big trim of the stems.... Here is a view after 16-odd days...

Agree-will be good to see another journal going up. Looking forward to it! Nick

:lol: Yes, it is a bit of a jungle when the stems get going!! I hadn't acutally counted up how many pots I actually had altogether, but you're right! It was quite an outlay, but I believe it is the best way to get a good start with your tank. Too many people plant sparesly at the outset, in...

These shots are after 2 weeks. Excuse this splurge of photos-I've taken a load, and it has taken a while to get organised to get them up on the site. Anyway... After 2 weeks, things have grown on. The rotalas are doing very well at this stage. The crypts have all started putting out new...

OK, here are a few shots after a week. The main thing that happened in the tank is that the Rotalas started to change from their emmerse to submerse form. They also started to sprout a lot of roots...Which is a good thing. Here is a shot of the system. Awaiting a new beetle counter from...