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  1. RossMartin

    Live Aquascaping Demo this Friday...

    I can make it! Looking forward to it!
  2. RossMartin

    Recommend me a light for my ADA 60P

    Thanks for the responses. I like the look of the Twinstar, but struggle to justify it over the Chihiros A-series. I also like the fact i can dim the Chihiros which as i haven't had much luck with planted tanks i like the idea of the dimmer. Dan - The Oase 250 it is, i want to use lily pipes...
  3. RossMartin

    Whats the cause of melt?

    I'm sure more experienced users will comment, but normally too much light and not enough CO2. They can melt back when adapting to a submersed form and come back but generally not enough CO2 with too much light. Lower the light intensity, or duration and/or up the CO2.
  4. RossMartin

    Recommend me a light for my ADA 60P

    Cheers Dan, Really similar to what i am wanting to do. I have a Besta Stand already but was thinking of using a Fluval Roma 90 or 125 more for aesthetic reasons. Have you reinforced your Besta in anyway? I was looking at the Oase Biomaster Thermo 250 as well! Do you find you need to adjust the...
  5. RossMartin

    Recommend me a light for my ADA 60P

    Hi Dan, A lovely looking tank! Why did you go for the 600E?? Also what other kit are you using on the tank? I need a new filter as well!! Thanks Again Ross Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  6. RossMartin

    Recommend me a light for my ADA 60P

    Hi All, just getting the kit together for a new High Tech planted tank. I have got the ADA 60P already but unsure about which light to go for. Has anyone got any recommendations based upon experience? I'm wanting to grow HC! Thanks in advance Ross
  7. RossMartin

    First time iwagumi

    What LED did you go for?? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  8. RossMartin

    Determination

    80% got me melt on the Repens right next to the Bazooka diffuser and i could see CO2 bubbles around the plant that was melting!
  9. RossMartin

    Determination

    Hi Aaron, Yeah i've ordered a Chihiros A Series Plus. It should be here in a couple of weeks!
  10. RossMartin

    Determination

    Hi Doubu, Thanks for the info. I did have a Up Inline Atomizer on a full length spraybar at the back of the tank. The tank was like a can of coke, but i was still getting algae and limited growth, even with the lights at 30%. I changed to a diffuser as the Inline Atomizer snapped when i was...
  11. RossMartin

    Determination

    So i got some more floating plants from the for sale section of this forum. I have lost 75% of them overnight. They arrived in the evening about half six (The post was really late for some reason!) i put them in the tank straight away. They had 1.5 hours of light. Next morning before lights on...
  12. RossMartin

    Determination

    Which Chihiros did you go for the Aquasky?
  13. RossMartin

    Pygmy Cories hiding

    I agree with Alto, Corys are a shoaling fish but also in my experience like a slower tank hence why i think Alto's suggestion of moving the Rummy Noses is a good one.
  14. RossMartin

    Determination

    OK so i have changed the filter media to get more flow. I have a medium sponge on the bottom tray to catch any large debris. Then i have two trays of ceramic rings, both are one fifth full. Finally i have the top tray that has nothing in it! I have created an All in One Fertilizer Solution as...
  15. RossMartin

    Pygmy Cories hiding

    How many Pygmy Cories do you have?
  16. RossMartin

    Determination

    Hi Tim, I did whack it to 80% on Thursday afternoon and i got some pearling in the evening, but i also noticed agae on the glass that i hadn't seen before so i dropped it back dow.! This was when i had the Up Inline diffuser on the spraybar that ran along the back of the tank..the hose...
  17. RossMartin

    Determination

    Hi Alto, George had his hung from the ceiling, where as i am on the TMC stands so there is only about 15cm from the light to the surface! My other half hates the light on this tank so was thinking to replace it with something else, maybe a Chihiros Aquasky or similar! Something more...
  18. RossMartin

    Determination

    Thanks Hoggie, Going to give that a go!!! I have 80% of the dry ferts!!
  19. RossMartin

    Determination

    Thanks all! Hoggie - How did you come across your fertiliser recipies? Alto - Yeah i did water changes daily for the first week and then ever oyther day the second week and so on unitl one a week. I'll start that up again!
  20. RossMartin

    Determination

    Hi Hogan, Thanks for the quick reply! I have literally just cleaned the filters again. I have some coarse sponge in the bottom tray, ceramic rings in the middle and four pot scrubbers in the top. I got the ferts from Aquarium Plant food. I do have some Tropica Specailsed that i was...
  21. RossMartin

    Determination

    Hi All, I've had a few planted tanks with no real success but i never give up. I brought the tank 7 years ago and have never had fish in it apart from two ottos who i rescued and then moved to another tank. I seem to be having algae issues that i can't get to the bottom of. The details are...
  22. RossMartin

    Struggling a bit - can't work out why

    Hi Julian, I've got issues with my tank and algae...GSA i think. I use a TMC 1500 Ultima. Looking to swap the lights out for something else. I'm interested to know why you think the TMC LEDs are trash...think i'm coming to the same conlusion!
  23. RossMartin

    Algae Issues

    Hi All, I've been on UKAPS for a while but have always suffered with algae issues. My tanks details are below: Setup Date: 01/11/2016 Tank: TMC 600 60x45x30 Light: 1 x TMC 1500Ultima at 10% for 6 hours no ramp Filtration: JBL CristalProfi e1500, with full width Spraybar Hardscape: Lava Rock...
  24. RossMartin

    low tech 40x40x30 scape

    Hi Tim, This is awesome! What ferts are you using and what lighting period? Thanks Ross
  25. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Mr Hidley, Yeah it is a great piece of kit! I have another one running Kodi. It is awesome. Hi Jaap, I'm running it at 80% Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  26. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi All, So here it is at the moment. It is need of a bit of a prune but i've been really busy so not had the chance but i will do on Sunday. As you can see some algae growing on the glass and on some of the Monte Carlo. I've not got a clean up crew in here so i plan to add some...
  27. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi All, Been extremley busy so will update this tomorrow, but the tank is OK. I have a Monte Carlo carpet which is positive and the rest of the plants appear to be doing well. Think i need to add a clean-up crew as am getting a small amount of algae...nothing serious though! I'll also show you...
  28. RossMartin

    Shoaling fish recommendations for an large Angelfish tank

    I like Rummynoses!
  29. RossMartin

    Co2 chart

    Well i can say on an 80l tank i have to run four bubbles per second minimum for medium and advanced plants It doesn't really take into account the water itself and what might buffer it!
  30. RossMartin

    George Farmer At destination aquatics

    What plants were used in this? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  31. RossMartin

    Plant choice

    It's a great question! I'm looking for a plant to put in my tank. I tend to look in the journal sections and on websites where the plants can be sorted in to foreground and mid ground etc. I also look at the Tropica site to see what the requirements are like if they have the plant I want. Sent...
  32. RossMartin

    Open Book

    So i reduced the CO2 injection today whilst i was at home. I measured by tank KH and this was 11.....although this was an API test kit so i wouldn't say this is gospel! When my CO2 started the PH was: 7.76, at lights on this was: 6.96 and it got down to 6.58. However my Drop Checker never went...
  33. RossMartin

    What's the best way to ensure I get the full benefit of co2 to and around my tank

    Ok, so the fact that it is slowly turning colour means that it is working but there isn't enough CO2 to make it go green, which does mean that you are not hitting the magic 30ppm (i think thats the value). This would mean you need to increase the CO2 going into the tank however i would position...
  34. RossMartin

    What's the best way to ensure I get the full benefit of co2 to and around my tank

    Did you buy some 4dkH solution? It can take a couple of hours for the colour to change.
  35. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Thanks Andy! So today i started at a ph of 7.57 and got all the way down to 6.19, but it takes and hour and 55 minutes to drop 1 ph point. So five minutes before light on. I'll look to decrease to two bubbles a second and see what this does. Fortunately i am at home tomorrow so i can monitor...
  36. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi All, I'm in the process of fine tuning the CO2, by that i mean reducing the amount i am injecting to a sensible level as i was getting a 1.8PH drop by lights on. I think i have found that i need to have 4 bubbles per second to get a 1 point PH drop. My water Ph is around 7.6 and my KH is...
  37. RossMartin

    Hi

    Hi Jason, Welcome to a ridiculously addictive hobby! I agree with Hoggie, read and read some more! Also ask questions even if you think they are stupid, because they aren't! Ross Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  38. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Or burning from the light??
  39. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi all, So i have dropped the amount of CO2 i was pumping into the tank. I was getting a PH drop of 1.8 so have dialled it down a bit. I'm at home the next few days so i can monitor it and so can you http://pi.aquapi.co.uk/. I would like to add some livestock in the next few days/weeks and i...
  40. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Aaron, Yes thats right, however i do believe it was adjusting the flow that was the main reason, however i can't be 100% sure as i adjusted the lighting and reduced the flow at the same time. I did have the lights up at 90% but i had issues with algae so dropping it to 75% has helped reduce...
  41. RossMartin

    Struggling a bit - can't work out why

    I remember him! He didn't last long on here!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  42. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Flygja, Ironically, no pun intended I added some iron in to see if it helped! This is barteri var nana so it will be interesting to see if it is a deficiency or just colouring! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  43. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Will do Aaron, I'm sure yours will pick up too!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  44. RossMartin

    Am I missing something?

    Have you tried adding more co2?? no reason to aim for 1 ph drop when you have no fish, I would add more. It could be the plant adjusting to submerged conditions. Someone with more know how will answer I'm sure! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  45. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi All, Thanks for the feedback and apologiese for the lack of updates. It seems by following all your advise i might have turned the corner. I have left the lights at 75% and i made a change to the flow by slowing it down doing this these seems to have really helped. I'm getting a much...
  46. RossMartin

    Struggling a bit - can't work out why

    Just a thought, i have had algae issues so what i did was slow the flow down by partially closing the inlet lever on my e1500. This has meant happier plants at the front but also i have been able to easily achieve a 1ph drop in 50 minutes from CO2 on, also i can get it down to a 1.6 ph drop...
  47. RossMartin

    Open Book

    two days!
  48. RossMartin

    Open Book

    So it looks like i am now sucessfully growing algae. Plants are showing more signs of melting.
  49. RossMartin

    Open Book

    38 CM from the Monte Carlo. The substrate increases in height towards the back.
  50. RossMartin

    Air stones + pumps

    Could use an ehiem surface skim, will help with any film you may get but also can be used to help flow in certain areas!
  51. RossMartin

    Open Book

    So i have gone 80% as i cannot move the light any higher I'll ramp this to 85% over the next couple of days. Lets see what happens! I'm still getting my 1 ph drop and dosing EI, so happy that i got those covered. I'm also dosing Easy Carbo at the normal doseage! Still thinking i might go to a...
  52. RossMartin

    So what did you get for Christmas?

    Melting plants!! Lol!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  53. RossMartin

    Open Book

    It occurs to me that none of my plants that are furthest down in the tank are growing. The Repens is three weeks in and hasn't changed. Something has to be wrong. I think I'm going to ramp the light up to 90% and see what happens. It can't do any damage as its not working anyway! Sent from my...
  54. RossMartin

    Open Book

    My thoughts are to consider the following. 1. Change from a spraybar to a lily pipe to get the flow going from the back right of the tanks to the front right. 2. Move from an inline diffuser to a reactor....i certainly have a filter capable of running this tank with a reactor 3. Extend the...
  55. RossMartin

    Open Book

    So i have melting Monte Carlo, Helferi and even some Repens is struggling. Most of the Helferi has gone. The MC has just started and i don't know why! The lights were upto 85% but i have backed them down to 65% and they have been for the past week. The Repens doesnt seem to be doing much, some...
  56. RossMartin

    60ltr at 4bps???

    If you are dosing EI you could drop some of the powder in the tank to see what the flow does. This is what Ceg told me to do and I could immediately see what the flow was doing and where the flow wasn't getting to. I used the trace powder and I did it on water change day! Sent from my iPad...
  57. RossMartin

    60ltr at 4bps???

    Remember a drop checker has a delay, this can be an hour or two hours so the colour you are seeing is the colour from some time ago. This is why PH pens are recommended.
  58. RossMartin

    TMC 1500 owners what's your setting

    Hi Jaap, I got up to 90% but noticed a small amount of melt and a small amount of algae so I'm back down to 65% which I think that is the sweet spot for me. The tanks is a 60x45x35 and the light is 39 cm from the lowest point of the substrate where my Monte Carlo is. I hope this helps Cheers...
  59. RossMartin

    Vallis alternative

    Crypt Balansae? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  60. RossMartin

    Some Inital Questions With New Scape - Cycling, Glossostigma, CO2

    Is your drop checker green when the lights go on? It looks blue in the video...but i am colour blind!! It would be a good idea to get a PH profile so you can actually see what your CO2 is doing. To give you an idea, on a 80l tank i'm doing about 6 bubbles a second. This gets me a ph drop of 1.0...
  61. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Thanks Mr Hidley, that is a good idea!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  62. RossMartin

    Up Inline diffuser

    Interesting to see that the diffusers are placed half way down the tank. I would place mine further down so that the bubbles spend more time in the water. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  63. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Ok so I already have iron in my Chelated Trace Micro mix. I suppose I could just dose more of this!? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  64. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Jaap! Looks like your right! I think I will add iron to my EI mix. I'll do some research to see what I need to do! I've read it is a very iron hungry plant! Thanks Jaap! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  65. RossMartin

    Open Book

    So the Helferi in the middle of the tank melted. It was under a bit of shade but was certainly getting CO2. THe Helferi at the front doesn't seem to be doing much and that is getting plenty of CO2. Does Helferi prefer harder warter?? Helferi at the front:
  66. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Just some update pics: FTS SIDE RED! They look a lot more red than this photo, i'll see if i can get a better photo! Unhappy Helferi I think I'm going to seperate them out as they were planed in bunches!
  67. RossMartin

    Open Book

    How amazing are some of those ottos!? The Bumblebee is fantastic!
  68. RossMartin

    Open Book

    30 CPD's would be awesome!!! I love Panda Cory's but i think they would be too big for the size of the plants. Maybe a Pygmy Cory? The TDS today was 257, would this be ok for tiger shrimps? I'm a newbie when it comes to shrimps!
  69. RossMartin

    co2 tablets....any good

    I buy the 500ml bottle of EasyCarbo for £10.99 so i imagine this will last ages on a 35l tank!
  70. RossMartin

    co2 tablets....any good

    Yeah the instructions are 1ml per 50 litres so 1.6ml for 80l but you can double the doseage so 2ml per 50l. That would give me 3.2ml at souble the doseage!
  71. RossMartin

    co2 tablets....any good

    Now you have me doubting myself!!!
  72. RossMartin

    co2 tablets....any good

    I imagine you might be better using some liquid CO2 as the amount you would be adding would be very small. I add 1.6ml to an 80 litre tank using EasyCarbo.
  73. RossMartin

    Drop checker readings with mist or 100% dissolved co2

    Could this be a reason why it is suggested to use a PH pen, as it is a better indicator?
  74. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Alto, Getting the balance is where i am struggling. I'm very cautious about increasing the lighting which i think has held me back a bit to be honest. As i added more Aquasoil, probably an additional third of the total substrate volume i have been doing them every 3 days, just to reduce the...
  75. RossMartin

    Open Book

    PM'd!
  76. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Jaap, I did, i'm going to slowly increase over the next couple of weeks, maybe 2% per day and see what happens!
  77. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Alto, I did lower the lighting from 90% as I was getting Algae. My thinking was to slowly increase this over the next few weeks once I was happy that the Monte Carlo was settled. I am doing a 50% water change every three days as I have added more ADA substrate so am mindful of the Ammonia...
  78. RossMartin

    Open Book

    I saw some in my local fish shop and they just hid, i'll have to find some that aren't skittish as it would be a shame if they just hid all the time!
  79. RossMartin

    Open Book

    That would be awesome, thank you very much Hoggie. I already have a heated propagator in the garage so will go and get some compost. What is best for lighting at this time of year? More than happy to pay for the sprigs so please let me know how much! Many Thanks again Ross
  80. RossMartin

    Up Inline diffuser

    Hi Viktor, As I have never seen an Ada tank in the flesh, how do they inject co2? Do they use diffusers placed under the outflow or intake? Are the Ada diffusers much better quality than the "cheaper" ones? Really interested to know more! Thanks Ross Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  81. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Jakkals, You must have read my mind as i really want CPDs and shrimps in there!!! The Cuba in the centre of the tank doesn't apper to be too happy, im thinking i might move some out in amongst the Monte Carlo to see how it does there. If it does well then i know it is something to do with...
  82. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Flygja, Yeah i'm really hammering the CO2 in the tank. It sounds like a can of Coke after it has just been opened, fizzing away! I do this for two reasons, one i have no livestock and two i can see the flow of the bubbles. I know i am going to have to reduce the amount i am injecting when i...
  83. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Right so i added some more Amazonia to build the back up so there is no mound. You can see the bubbles folowing the substrate to the back. I'm going to get some Blyxa at the back as that always does well for me!
  84. RossMartin

    Woth the cost to change the substrate?

    I'm certianly not the one to advise on this but do you think it would be easier, cheaper and maybe better to put nutrient capsules in? Like these for example? https://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/seachem-flourish-tabs-x-10-p-308.html?zenid=3ae6750a056f2d9d3da619656a50d6cc
  85. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Jaap, I think taking advice from you and Ceg will fix the problems. I really do think i had the lights on too low and this was evident by the melt stopping as soon as i cranked them up! I think i was guilty of being afraid of turning them up too much but as you pointed out i did have enough...
  86. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Ceg, Thanks for your kind word and advice. Increasing the lighting certainly stopped the melt from continuing however a lot of HC, Repens and Helferi had suffered and died, so they were removed, but increasing the lights certainly did help. I read some posts that you had contributed on and...
  87. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Jaap, The light is between 30cm - 38cm from the substrate. After a bit of reading of some other threads I dropped the lights from 90% to 65%. I have added more Repens, Helferi and some Monte Carlo. I've also removed the sand and made it all ADA Amazonia this is where I have put the Monte...
  88. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Mr Hindley, Thanks for you reply. I'm not convinced that is pearling, I think it is the co2 getting caught on the fissidens as it is like that most of the time the co2 is on. I have had the plants at light levels below 30% and down to 7% and had exactly the same issues with he plants...
  89. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Here is a close up of the HC. The camera and lights make it look greener than what it is! As always please excuse the shoddy camera work!
  90. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Jaap, As requested! The Fissendens seems happy: However this was where the Helferi was as you can see the Repens isn't melting anymore, apart from some of the smaller bits but i think this is because it melted already before i had upped the lighting: Here is the tank side on i'm...
  91. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi AndreiD, I does EI at 20ml per day, I should be 16ml but I add extra because I can! I run 50% RO water and 50% good old London tap water. I don't know what my NPK levels are as I don't have any test kits to check this with due to them not being accurate! I should add that I use the values...
  92. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Jaap, I had a read of your thread, I'm glad I'm not the only one with this issue. I've upped the lights like you said and it looks like the melting on the Repens and Helferi has stopped.... Touch wood.... I'm going to risk it and add some more plants as not much survived! It's a £30...
  93. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Right so the melt is as shown below! I've put the lights down to 30% I just don't know what to do!! It seems to be the HC, Postegemon Helferi and the Repens that are suffering. They were all new plants i brought a week ago on Thursday. They were ok for the first week but then started to...
  94. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi All, Apologies for the lack of updates it has been manic. So not great news the plant melt stopped so i added some more 1-2 Grow plants to replace the meted ones but these are now showing signs of melt after a week of being in there. I dropped the lights down to 30% and i have re arranged...
  95. RossMartin

    Wavemaker Placement

    Any merit in injecting the co2 into both filter outlets? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  96. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Mark, I use the Atlas Scientific probe and circuit. Really easy to setup. It records a reading into the MySQL database every five minutes using a Python script run by a cron job. The webpage runs a php script every two seconds. I found that if I ran the script every second I would get weird...
  97. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Jaap, There is no ambient light so i have put them to 30% and will increase as you say. I'll update this Journal. Many thanks again Ross
  98. RossMartin

    Open Book

    Hi Jaap, The lighting has always been in the back of my mind as i don't suffer any algae issues at all...i haven't seen any in that tank. I'll put it up to 30% over a few days. I have got plenty of CO2 in there, It sounds like a fizzy drink! I'll also turn the flow down a bit! Thanks for your...
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