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Hi Folks, It's taken me a while to come query this online as i've been trying to get to the bottom of it myself for the last year. This post is to tap into anyone's experience of similar or opinions on base causes. As you may notice from my sig and possibly remember me i'm somewhat of an old...

Hiya, What are the latest opinions of affordable tanks of good quality silicon work, braceless, optiwhite etc? Preferably the ADA clones that are popping up from all the different manufacturers. I've got a fair number of new scapes planned and am looking to balance off the shelf 60cm & 90cm...

Hey hey, The eternal question once more. What light unit for another 60cm in the house? Currently i'm running two sets of Aquabars (one white one colour) on the other two but now I've found out that TMC are no longer making Aquabars and the supply around the place seems to be drying up I'm...

Hi, I was just going to update my signature links and the forum is now telling me I can only have 5 lines and links. For an old timer like me with many scapes and journals that is pretty limiting :) Any chance the cap could be upped? :) (or i can just bite the bullet and erase the links to...

Hi, After a discussion with Nigel from The Nutrient Company about my all in one solution going cloudy I'm going to put a bit more effort into sterilising the dosing bottles I store it in. How do you sterilise yours? Best Regards, John

Hey hey, Due to some bad maintenance a while back some rare fissidens types I've been nurturing have ended up with a variety of algae on them. I've only got tiny amounts of each but I really want to dip/treat the whole branch but am very uncertain of which method to use to avoid accidentally...

Hi, So things are finally at the stage of setting up my clearseal 90 edgeline tank. This thing has been sitting in the living room since march unused for anything other then a plant holding tank. It's also taken a ridiculous amount of time to collect the equipment i wanted. But thankfully its...

Hi Everyone, It's been years since i've journalled properly here, so as promised here is the first of my new batch. I've been busy as hell with work and moving house 8 months ago (and again a year and a half before that) that i'd had little time or space for bigger in house tanks. Brighid...

Hi, I'd actually dismissed this lamp after skim reading else where it wasn't up to much. But i'm seeing more advertising with it over what I would call higher energy scapes. Not seeing much discussion here on it. Anyone using one? Impressions? Found some tech details on The Aquatic Plant...

So... Glass lids, what thickness have people leaned to in the past. My last couple of DIY ones were 6mm laminated safety glass, mainly because the ex had a cat that kept jumping on it and i wanted to make sure she wouldnt go through. I think i could go thinner without the lamination. The...

Hi, Was just about to actually buy some under gravel filter trays to use as a base below large rocks in the new scapes and thought i'd come here and see what everyone else has used/is using. To save some pennies if I have it already kicking about. So, suggestions for areas under heavy...

Hi, Bit of a fun thought process the other day while musing about what we could grow in the garden at the new house.... With EI being great for super charging growth in our tanks i'm wonder if a scape of just edible (preferably nice tasting) aquatic plants would be like. I've read that vallis...

Hi, Do we have any more details on this product yet? I've seen Ian H's video on the colour rendition (no info thou) and some listings on sale sites but the actual spec re: spectrum and LED's used is somewhat lacking. Nothing on TMC's site. Am I to believe this is a similar model to their...

:)

Hiya, Still pondering which light unit to use on my new edgeline 90cm. anyone got some recommendations for 90cm ballasts? Looking for that balance of performance with a sensible cost. Cheers, John

Hi, Since my last year has been full of a couple of major moves I've had little time to do in house large scapes but have managed to keep this one building up until now. The title is Brighid Sleeps after the celtic god of the same name. She was a goddess of fire and springs often depicted with...

Hey, I'm so used to planted tanks and our lovely soils that it's been a while since I'd done a new plant less one. Added to this there is a complexity of tap water with tiny amounts of natural hardness and a ph of around 6.2.... Since the "friendly" bacteria in the various shop bought filter...

Hi Folks, I'm looking for LED's for my lovely new Clearseal Edgeline 90cm and since it's going to be in the colder end of the house (I'm also 200m up in the highlands) I figured that a glass lid will be needed to minimise heat loss. Thinking about this more and looking at the lighting part of...

hiya, got the new house and looking to buy a fresh new opti white aquarium and cabinet. looked at the tmc sig stuff and the clearseal edgeline 90 but they both have their con's as well as numbers of pro's. any other recommendations for brands to check out that are of a similar build quality...

Hi, I've been doing a little sniffing around HMA filters as i'm about to take over a discus tank. The water here is scotland really isn't that nasty at all and I could probably get away with just using dechlorinator as per usual but my research has got me pondering. Are there any single stage...

Hi! Not only have you got all the stuff i need under one shop, at generally the best prices. You managed to give me in the highland (everyone tries to rip you off with postage) LESS THAN 24hrs order to delivery time friday to saturday on an may day bank holiday weekend. AMAZING. I bow to...

Hi, I'm pondering the impeller upgrade on the couple of Rio125's i'm running for a friend but i'm getting a touch confused in regard to the old Bioflow vs new Eccoflow models. Is it just the old style pumps you can upgrade just the impeller in or also the newer eccoflow models? Additionally...

:) Hiya, Been away from this forum for a while starting other projects and moving up north to the wilds. Just wanted to say it's great to be back and surrounded by so many hardcore planted tank enthusiasts. Looking forward to joining in the conversation and posting my scapes again. Best...

Hi Folks, Been pondering a quick "6 months" 70L scape and think i might give an HC carpet another go. Currently i've only got an old Aquabeam LED lined up for the light which is giving about 35ish PAR at the substrate (although i will bank heavily so it will be more in places). What are your...

Hi peeps, Am aiming at renovating a tank for a friend and, as ever, there is a big pleco that I feel is going to be an issue for the "out of the box", badly maintained, Rio 240. I managed to grab a couple of photos (not great) and have been searching through the L-lists to get an ID but am...

Hi, I've potentially got a chance to scape an 850L L shaped tank that needs a bit of tlc. Anyone want to give me their impressions on the best method of filter intank and outtake placement for good flow. I'm planning dual external filters 2000 lph. However i'm wondering if placing and intake...

Hi everyone, Quick question as I don't have the other bottles on hand. I'm needing to restock liquid carbon and with the nutrient company on holiday the neutro CO2 from aqua essentials seems like a good option. The dosing instructions seem different from what I remember. is the concentration...

Hi, I've broken down the rio180 a long while ago now and am looking at the redmoor roots that i've taken out. They are fully dried but have changed appearance from the original reddish hue to a more manzi look and rough feel. Additionally they feel brittle and my gut feeling is they are a...

I'm pretty sure i know the answer to this one, since the Angels are renowned for sticking anything they can in their mouths and predation of cardinals.... But.... I've got a tank with three medium angels that I want to put amano's in. The tank is going to have a full tear down and scape...

Hi, One of the tanks i'm looking after has a bit of a plec population explosion. The youngsters are now big enough to sell on but i'd like a bit of advice on the best way to catch them. Anyone point me to a cheap and easy fish trap or ninja technique that will avoid me playing "chase the fish"...

Hi, I've kept checking now and again on this area of the forum for good LED lights (cheapish) for a 30cm cube project but not seeing any decent leads.... Can anyone pint me in the right direction? I'm doing three tanks so it has to be with a budget in mind. Lights that have been proven good...

Hi, I'm currently setting up a tank for a public place where I want to add moonlights for optimal viewing time, while reducing the photo period to something sane. Any suggestions on moonlights for cheap? (prebuilt) I see the LED strips on ebay but I keep reading stuff about them failing...

Hi, I'm costing up a new tank where there is no space for an external. The Rio 180 is a good build, size and price for the space and budget. The current filter is that built in 600 l/h fluval bioflow 3 compact thingy which i don't think will cut it in regards to flow.... JUWEL® Aquarium |...

Hi, External filters are designed to be placed below the tank as most of them use gravity and a syphon effect to help move water around in some way. Unfortunately this new tank i'm helping update only has a spot for the external filter, it really needs refitting, next too and spanning the water...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20553143

Hi, I'm in a discussion with a well know budget bulb supplier (i won't mention the name out of politeness) about some T5's i got the other day. They were noticeably dimmer to the naked eye so I decided to get my PAR meter out and do a little testing.... They are coming out 15% less PAR then my...

Hi, I'm loving the Golden RAMS i got for my corner but I did the same stocking I used for my other dwarf cichlids in the past of a male and two females.... Was I wrong in this for RAMS? do they pair up and not bother about other females? or is it advisable to have another woman to stop him...

Hi, I'm wanting to suggest a clean up crew for a tank with a bunch of tiger barbs but i understand they are not safe to keep with Amano's and Otos.... does anyone have any experience of this? Is a bristlenose plec or two the next best alternative? Cheers in advance, John

Hisonotus leucofrenatus or Black Oto's as they are otherwise called. I've been offered some of these and am being slightly put off by the information on the max size i'm finding on the net. Can anyone confirm how big these lovely fish grow? Thanks, John

Hi, Thinking of being a nutter and just driving down to Aquatics Live. Any advice on cheap parking around the venue? I read on the PFK forum the olympia parking is like £25 a day. Thanks, John

Hi, Question - I'm thinking of coming down from Scotland for Aquatics Live. Is it worth me coming both days? ie will there be enough going on to occupy me or will I see it all in one day? (i then spend the second day visiting friends in London). :) Best Regards, John

Hi, I've got a couple of my lamp eyes looking off. Swimming slow and top fins down. One is much whiter then usual with a patch you will see on the photos. The second is in one of the photos with a slight white patch and a ragged tail. I'm very inexperinced in fish health and i've been lucky so...

Hi, I've been presoaking batches of Manzanita to get rid of tannins and make it sink but some of the buckets have started to really stink of rotting fart gas. Should I be worried about eventually sticking this wood in my tank? Thanks, John

Hi, I've been presoaking some aquasoil as i need to top up a tank. its not looking nice. Its just not going to work. I'll mud bomb the nice plants and moss if i try. Before i break open a bag of flora base fine and use that instead has anyone topped up with aquasoil before? is there a tip...

Hi, For reference, does anyone know the colour temperature of iQuantics t5 bulbs? I really like them but can't find it listed anywhere. Thanks, John

Hi, So kind of the opposite of what people are usually asking about here. I'm looking to upgrade/downgrade the lighting of a tank that will not be planted (anubias at a stretch). With a high bioload i'm trying to minimise the algae by minimising the lighting. But i'd like to still keep it...

Hi, I'm thinking of using one of these for a project that requires an internal. Anyone used one? Impressions pls. Best Regards, John

Hi, Can anyone confirm my id's here. BIG fish. I think Tinfoil Barbs and Golden Severums with a loach at the bottom there. Am I correct? Thanks, John

Hi, I'm thinking about doing a daphnia farm in a tub in the garden. I've got a little "summer house/shed" in the garden that came with the flat that is completely unused. It's got big windows and is basically a mini green house. Daphnia farms are not something i'm used to trying. Is it as...

Hi, I've got a couple of reg's that have too high a working pressure or poor needle values that make fine adjustment a bitch. I'm pondering if I can put a second, better needle value, on to get better control? If there is no issue with that, recommendations? Thanks, John

Hi, The new pfk subscription offer is pretty good this coming month with a Cristalprofi e700 external filter on offer. I did some checking up and my current subs runs out in 2 issues. Currently I think the direct debit just renews the subscription when it runs out (trying to check on line...

Hi, I've just noticed some small white oval eggs in my 70L DIY tank. They are on leaves, in small lines or groups of 3 or 4. The only thing in the tank are 3 oto's, 7 amanos and 3 nertite snails. Have my oto's bread? I presume the amano's will eat the eggs very soon unless I move them. I...

Hiya, Not really a real post. I'm just preping a new tank and am making that decision about substrates again. I've got plenty of bonsai stuff downstairs for packing out the higher points at the back. I'm pissed off at the oliver knot stuff i've had in the tank which is now turning to dust/mud...

Just wanted to say it. Thanks guys! John

Hi, In my continuing mission to break down my long running corner tank I've been left with the "where do i put those fish" issue. So I decided to start a new smaller rectangle tank from bits I had kicking about in the basement. I wanted to try and go "fakeADA" and DIY a cabinet but also...

Hi, I'm considering the regulator Solenoid from CO2 Supermarket as it seems to be a good price. Can anyone share their experiences with this bit of kit & does the thread work with FE as their site talks mostly about adapting it for use with soda stream bottles? Thanks, John

Hi, I'm pondering what substrate to use in my new setup. I'm taking the remaining fish out of my corner tank, which include 10 pygmy cory and 4 others. I'd like to use a nutrient rich substrate combined with a sandy front for snuffling, as I am going to go crypt heavy. I'd like to hear...

Hi, I'm going to do a low light tank with CO2 and some nutrient heavy substrate ive got kicking about spare. My aim is really to see what I can grow at lower light then to see how much I can reduce my maintance by but I am wondering how much I should expect to need to reduce my dosing by...

Hiya, I'm struggling to find something in my kitchen/house to test a rock. Vinegar isn't making it fizz. Can anyone point me to a household strong acid that I can pour onto it to check? Ta, John

:D We need a guide! my girlfriend and I have bought a new dslr this year with a zillion settings but it is very hard to find a comprehensive guide to tank photography. With all the expert photographers here I thought one of you guys could impart your knowledge onto the masses. Thanks in...

Hi, Quick question. I'm trying to scape with a large collection of wood pieces that I would like to secure to each other to form something more solid as a type of "claw". Suggestions on methods of joining the branches? Cable ties Silicon (will this be strong enough?) Hot glue gun? Thanks, John

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=4085 :?

Hi, How do you clean yours? I don't want to take mine off to clean but don't know what brush types i should be looking for. Thanks, John

Hi, I've taken a bag full of Flora Base out of my nano and want to store it for a future scape as its not been depleted in any way plus it is holding its shape excellently. Any recommendations in the method of storing? Drying first to prevent mold? Bagging it tightly while wet and store in...

Quick Index Filled and planted 2 weeks. 2.5 month update. 3.5 month update. 8 month update. Hello and welcome to my new journal. And yes, believe it or not this is my first "Normal" shaped planted tank. I am aiming to run this for a couple of months along side the corner then break the...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8327911/Chinese-synchronised-fish-trick-sparks-complaints.html

Hi, The girlfriend and I are looking to replace our cheap point and click that has suffered a "lens error" fault with another model. Does anyone have any recommendations for models with flexiblity and quality of photo? Below £100 is the aim. Thanks in advance, John

I should possibly add with a base of gravel and sand...... My feeling is Dragon Stone being browner would look more natural with the gravel & sand then the grey of the Seiryu stone. What do you all think?

Hiya, After buying another bunch of Redmoor wood (does this actually come from the Redmoor area?) and drooling over the stuff Tom Barr finds by the truckload in the US I got wondering what and where should we be looking for when collecting wood ourselves in the UK? I've seen the video of...

Hi, Someone posted up a link for clear tubing (16/22) in another thread but ive lost it. Anyone know where to get some at a decent price? Thanks, John

Hi, I'm currently trying to refit a rio 180 and am having no joy with this fluval*see below* 100cm 2x45w t5 ballast i've bought. The second replacement has arrived and still does not work. Bulbs flick on for a second then out again. I am now thinking it might be the very expensive fluval bulbs...

Hi ho ho ho, I'm about to start setting up my Rio180 tank and am at the substrate buying phase. Anywhere other then Aqua Essentials where i can buy Colombo Flora Base? Their prices seem to have gone up. As for amounts. I think 30L will be enough for coverage and some sloping at the back for...

Hi, I'm thinking about sending my dad a pond book for xmas to help him along. Has anyone got an recommendations for reading on the subject? Best Regards, John

Hi, I've been having issues with shrimp death in my main tank and in another tank that i helped setup and do dosing schedules for. I've got my suspicions that it could be the trace mix. I'm using the recommended dose of AE new trace mix. Am I barking up the wrong tree? Anyone else having...

Hi, I water my house plants with my spare aquarium water all the time and have done for years. They love it as far as I can tell, and it actually makes me remember to take care of them as well as the tanks. I was just wondering while researching the reasons why my house plants get brown tips...

Hi, Just saw in another thread a link to this - http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/20128738 Anyone have any experience using this cheap as chips low light LED lamp or similar DIY shop versions on tanks? I'm wanting to make my 10L low maintenance, low light plants so think going down...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-Layer-filtration-medium-External-Filter-System-200L-H_W0QQitemZ370115912895QQcategoryZ46310QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4012.m8QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DMW%26its%3DC%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D15%26po%3DLCA%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D6296590289173756168 Anyone got it?

Hi, Just seeking a little confirmation on this one. I'm getting cloudy water on my corner tank, a new one for me. Am i correct in saying this is due to too low filtration? I added an external reactor with "floss" media in it which is reducing my filter output quite a bit. I compensated with an...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8772000/8772020.stm 8) would make catching fish in a planted tank so much easier.

Hi, I'm ponding on what to replace my 9w arc pods with and can't find any alternatives in the shops. ebay has some 11w things on flexible arms but i'm sure there are some cheap fittings similar to the dennerle one that broke on me out there. A nice ADA knock off possibly. :D Anyone got any...

Hi, I'm enjoying this plant for the first time and it is now spreading and growing well in my CO2'ed, 10ml a day TPN+ 174L corner tank. But I'm getting leaves going pale in sections then dying off on certain stems occurring in various places around the tank. Everything else is growing fine, I...

Hi, Is shooting them the only way to get truly rid of them? 8) Discuss. Best Regards, John

Hi, I went on a little field trip to the glasshouses at the Edinburgh botanical gardens for some inspiration for my new scape. Obviously I took some photos to share with UKAPS. Enjoy...

Hi, Just tripped over this... http://www.pbase.com/plantella/image/115133759 On oliver knott's site. Thought it would be right up the street of some of our iwagumi fanatics. :D So cute. Best regards, John

Hi, What is considered best timing for those of us who switch our CO2 off at night? 2 hours after lights on 2 hours after lights off? 1 hour? same duration as lights? Thanks, John

Hi, Just having a ponder. I fitted out a Biorb for a friend the other day (god i hate those things) and for ease of use kept the lead weights on the couple of bunches of low light/cold water stems i chucked in for effect. Question - Are the lead weights that stem bunches come with actually...

Hi, I've been getting ok"ish" results using a standard setting on my Fujifilm s5600. I am currently getting the best results through the curved front of my corner tank with the "natural" preset/macro/no flash. Any advice on how i could get the best out of the camera? Thanks, John

Hi, I've switched to TPN+ on my nanos with great success but have not really paid attention to the exact amounts i am putting in or my absorb son rates (i gave up on test kits when i learned EI). I judged a lot of the amounts to put in from peoples recommendations here, other journals and a...

hi, general question, are planted aquariums with a full glosso, ricca, hc or whatever carpet out of fashion now? I'm noticing alot of new blogs with mix'ed substrates, paths and sandy open areas? for the older guys in the hobby here whom have followed ADA comps for years, do trends in scapes...

Hi, Been promising to add this one for a while but have been a bit busy with life stuff. Since Dan did his Dennerle nano there have been a good number on this forum, way better then mine i have to add, but here is my effort. It is the standard 10L Dennerle Kit, light, substrate, filter and...

Hi, So, my parents recently moved house to north of Aberdeen as they reason they have 10 years of legs left in them to do up another house. They now have this lovely homestead in farmland quite near to where donald trump is going to build his mega golf resort. In the grounds of this house is...

Hi, I have ordered in some (way too much) Bolbitis heudelotii but am having issues with placing it on my "tree" in my scape. How would you use it? I am torn between using a small amount, vertical and slightly angled or going full "bush" and tieing loads together into a kind of ball with bits...

Hi, Wanna move an oto into my 10L from the 3 i have in my 20L. They ok by themselves or do they like having others about with them? Thanks, John

Hi, Has anyone reviewed these bulbs yet? I read and have been told they have long life without intensity reduction saving constant replacement (i currently use arcadia t5 plant bulbs). Is this true or just marketing? What about the colour spectrum? is it similar to the nano lights (amazon...

Hi, I started with EI and am somewhat going backwards for my nanos but i presume the theory i have learned for dosing is the same. So for ease of use and what i've seen in some journals here, good results, i'm going to try Tropica TPN+ for my two nanos. Going from reading Dan's thread on his...

Hi, I need to make up a new batch of dosing solution from my dry trace fert's that i bought from AE a while ago. I've never been sure on the rough amounts i should dissolve as the AE site instructions work from a "less is better - work up" principal and my tank doesnt respond quick enough to...

Hi, This is my cherry shrimp breeding tank which sits next to my home office computer while i work all day. It has been running for about 6 months now and is my first attempt at Iwagumi. Sanzon Iwagumi to be precise. Tank: Arctank 20L Filter: Dennerle Nano Filter Heating: Newattino 10w...

Hi, This is my first large tank and first real go at planted tanks of a higher techy nature. It has been running for a couple of years now to varying degrees of sucess. Basically i've learned everything i know from trying to make this work and i have been taking photos all the way. There are...

Hi, This Venezia 190 corner tank was my first big tank and real go at the heavily planted aquarium. I've been tweaking things over the last couple of years to get ever better growth out of my plants. I've added a bit more lighting and reflectors, pressurised co2 and eco-complete. Now in the...