Search results for query: *

Please help!!! Im hoping somebody can put their finger on my problem. Ive grown Cuba and hairgrass in my old set up with no issues. Now I'm spending a fortune on killing plants. What i want to grow is Hemianthus Micranthemoides, Monte Carlo and Cuba.My setup is as below: Tank 535L approx...

Hi, My drop checker is staying green even after co2 has gone off (even after 10 hours of being off!!). The regent im using and the 4dkh is at least 2 yrs old, so im thinking this may be the issue. It is blue when I put it in at first and does go green when Co2 comes on. Should I be getting new...

Hi, I have Tetra min flakes that are well over a year old.....do they go off or loose any goodness? Fish still eat them. I usually buy them in 1000ml container as its cheaper to buy big containers! Thanks, Dave.

Having read good reports on these algae prevention thingies, i both 2 of them from TGM for a 560L tank. I suspect one of them is not working correctly. when you switch them on, they release what ever it is they release....white cloudy stuff:crazy: The first one releases it from all segments of...

Hi, Im planting my new set up and trying to decide what ferts to use. I inject co2. I have a lot of Cuba which grew fine for me before using Tropica liquid frets but its expensive.. Then I switched to EI (MGSO4/Trace/KNO3/KH2PO4) but this caused my TDS (total dissolved solids) to go too high and...

Hi all, Ive just finished my hardscape on a new layout, but am a bit unsure of how many of my 80w T5's i should use. First of all ill be planting Cuba, Monte Carlo, and Hemianthus Micranthemoides with co2 injection and adding dry ferts. The tank is 5x2x2ft and 2 ft high with an Arcadia unit (4x...

Hi, Im using the Up Atomizer on the out pipe on an Eheim 2180 going to a spray bar. It has been great until now!!! I have 2 of these so while one is being cleaned, i use the other. The last few days when my timer switches on the co2, and the co2 does not come out the spray bar. The solenoid is...

Hi.... I just got a new TDS pen today and was wondering does it need to be calibrated before the first use? Also it says to rinse it in distilled water after every use. Is this important and will 4DKH water do? Thanks, Dave.

Can anybody explain to me the difference between Taiwan bee shrimp and CRS/CBS? ...And why are they less expensive? Thanks, Dave.

Hi everybody, I want to have my tank GH suitable for CRS, which i understand to be around 5-10. My tap GH is 4 but in my tank it is 16 :crazy: Could EI dosing cause this increase it? A guy in a local fish shop suggested it could be the MgS04 and try reduce it (if i reduce it will it affect...

Hi all, I recently started EI dosing (dry dosing) using the method below (560L approx): Day 1 - 2 tsp KNO3, 1 tsp KH2PO4, 4 tsp MGSO4 Day 2 - 1 tsp Trace Day 3 - Same as D1 Day 4 - Same as D2 Day 5 - Same as D1 Day 6&7 - Rest. What I really wanted to know was, what is the purpose of the rest...

Hi, Anyone know where you can buy spare debris collection bags for the Pondovac 4 online??? Cheers, Dave.

I want to test my GH to make sure its ok for CRS shrimp, but the instructions make no sense. Its a Tetratest test kit. Instructions say the GH is the number of drops it takes to turn the colour from red to green! For starters, my water is not red!!!!!!!!!!!! :| It took 5 drops to turn my...

Hi all, Ok, this Tropica stuff is costing me too much! So EI it is. Sorry in advance for any questions that have been probably asked a million times before. First of all my tank is about 560L. Am I right in assuming that in a tank this size it would be easier to dose dry?? I got a link from...

Hi, Ive grown Cuba before with no problem. Now I got an new open top tank and the evaporation really annoyed me so I covered it with perspex. My Cuba is not doing well at all (drop checker is green).......Would the perspex with condensation on it hinder light getting through :?: The tank looks...

Hi, Just wondering what you all would reckon would be adequate dosing of TPN+ for a new heavy planted tank with co2. The tank is about 550L. Someone said about 80mil a day. Thought this sounded a bit much, so thought Id see what the general consensus would be here ? Thanks.

Hi.... When I feed flakes, the flakes just float on the surface even with a spray bar and fish seem too lazy/afraid to go up for them. I usually have to swirl my hand around water surface to get them to sink and then the fish feed. This is a pain as I have to remove a perspex cover to do this...

Hey all......just wondering what is the biggest aquascaping conpetition world wide? Anyone one know final entry dates for 2012 or links? My algae growing skills are fantastic :lol: Cheers, Dave.

Hi Ive just bought this item with extra extensions to make my spray bar longer (grey Eheim spray bar). The problem is that I want my spray bar centered at the back of the tank without adding any more sections with spray holes. The spray bar at the moment is on the left side and i need a section...

Hi all, Dave here.Just thought Id start a journal for the first time. It would be nice to get some feedback and ideas from fellow aquascapers. Been a long time since I set up a new tank, so bear with me! Well I stripped down my old Vision 260 and sold it and bought an optiwhite with cabinet from...

Hi all, I recently upgraded my tank to an open top optiwhite (570L approx). An awful lot of water evaporates everyday and as a result tank gets much more noisy with the water coming out of the spray bar, as the water is not level with it after evapouration. Never heard anyone talk about this...

Hi, I have the thermo filter above which has 2 intakes. I was looking for something to put over the intakes so small shrimp wont get sucked into the external, but doesnt restrict the flow too much?? I heard cutting up an old net might work....any other suggestions?? Thanks, Dave.

Hi, I built my first pond about a yr and a half ago. It turned out well and has a UV filter leading to the top of a small waterfall. There are no fish in the pond and I never intend having any(enough of them in the house!). I have some plants and a stoned beach effect at the front of the pond...

Hi all, Any suggestions on a powerhead for a 560L tank, just to have a nice flow (along with my external) to prevent algae, but not too much flow where the plants look like they are in a hurricane!! Low power consumption would be a bonus too. Was looking at the maxi-jet 1000 :? Thanks, Dave.

Please help....Im having trouble priming my filter for the first time. Been ages at it and cant get it running and am getting very angry :evil: I opened the filter and it seems to be full, but i still emptyed the tray prefilter as manual suggests and tried prime it again but no joy. The only...

Question....are the algae pads for sale in Aquatic shops just an over priced gimmick?? The reason I ask is because recently I sold an old tank and I used a Tesco sponge with a green scour bit on one side to get some marks off the glass, and it did so without scratching. These are a fraction of...

Hi, Im in the process of setting up a planted tank with a sand path running from front to back. The rest of the tank will be planted. I have never used sand before and am not sure of the best way to clean it....some say just stir it up on water changes, but then the sand will just spread into...

Hi.... Ive been growing this plant for a while now and it grows very well but I have one problem and was wondering does anyone else have the same experience? After about 2 months of growth or so, i need to uproot the Blyxa and replant because the roots have grown upwards out of the Aquasoil...

Hi... Ive never used backlighting before, but am thinking of doing so. Ill have to do it before i put my new tank in position, as there will be wall tight up to each side of the tank. Also im planning on putting a frosted backing on my back glass. My questions are.... What is the best...

Hi, Im setting up my new 560L tank soon and am looking for some suggestions for good small shoaling fish. I know Harlequins shoal well but im not mad on them. Ive already decided im going to put in a shoal of Rummy nose Tetra. Seemingly Green Neon Tetra shoal very well......Anyone have any...

Hi....Im getting a new optiwhite tank next week and I hear that optiwhite scratches easier then ordinary glass. So would it be a bad idea to use magnets to clean the glass in case some sand or aquasoil soil stirs up and the glass gets scratched? What would be the safest way to clean the glass...

Hi....Im setting up a new tank soon (something i have not done in a long while!). I was wondering what people think about adding products such as Stress Zyme - Do they help the tank cycle, or are they a waste of money??? :? I heard that adding some fish food flakes can help build up the...

Hi Im stripping down my tank as im going bigger and ive taken out the Redmoor wood which had moss growing on it. I wanna get rid of the moss. Whats the best way....Is it ok to soak the wood in a bleach solution or would it absorb the bleach and release it in the new tank causing mayhem...

Hi, Just wondering does ayone have a picture of their cabinets as it is quite hard to tell from their website what they look like. Thinking of getting one as thet look fairly contemporary. What do ye think would be better - black or grey with an opti glass tank? :? Thanks.

Hi, I was looking at this Luminaire for a 570L tank im setting up (5ftx2x2). I reckon this should be enough light? Does anybody have any feedbck on these Luminaires? They look nice but are pricey! Thanks, Dave.

Hi all.... Im buying a new tank and am trying to decide is the opti white glass worth the extra few quid.....I know it looks better but i heard it scratches a lot easier then ordinary glass?? :?: Cheers, Dave.

Im getting a new 5ftx2x2 tank (approx 560L, i think). Would 4 T5's (54W each) be sufficient to have carpet plants such as Cuba (will be using co2)? ....or would 6 be more realistic.....how many watts per liter would you need? :eh: Cheers, Dave.

Hi all, Im planing on upgrading to a 5x2x2 ADA tank (580Lapprox) and from looking on the net it seems like im going to have to buy 2 external filters. I was thinking of getting 2 Fluval FX5 External filters (or should i substitute one of these with an Eheim that has a built in heater, so less in...

Hi, Ive got a planted tank for a few yeasr now and i noticed that over time the slope of the substrate seems to eventually level out (Aquasoil). I suppose this could be from replanting ect..... Im getting a new tank and was wondering does anyone have any suggestions on how to prevent this from...

Hi all. Im going to start to build a pond with a waterfall using a liner. I want to use a dark rock.....cant find any slate, so was wondering would a grey limestone be ok to use (ill have no fish, just plants). Will the limestone wear away over time?? Is it bad for plants? Also. for the liner...

ok...I have a nice HC Cuba carpet for the past 7 months and it is totally filled out and quite thick with no problems. Whats the problem, I hear u ask........well over the past few days the whole carpet is lifting, kinda like when you peel back the lid off a can of beans or something!!!!! When...

As I said, my drop checker is clear colour and yes, I use 4dKH water with 3 drops of regent. It has always worked fine before, changing from blue to green. I took it out of the tank and it stayed clear!!! Then I put in new 4dKH and regent....went blue....turned green in tank, and next day it...

Hi all, Thinking of getting this external for a 260L tank. Seemingly it pumps 1250L/h. Am I right in thinking this should be more than enough (it says its good for tanks up to 600L)? Any feedback on this filter ? Cheers, Dave.

Hi all, Poxy algae strikes again :evil: I have a case of staghorn algae (getting worse) and there seems to be many conflicting ideas on it. Also worrying too, is that I saw a small trace of BGA. Removed it. My KH and GH are very low. Testing KH from my tap is 3 d (german scale)when changing...