Search results for query: *

i bred these a few years back. Best way i found was to set up a tank similar to what you have in post 1. I used: 2 wool spawning mops. 1 floating 1 sunk. Plastic grid in bottom of tank The plastic grid is a hobby thing sometimes called 'plastic canvas'. I cut it larger than the tank...

Hi Guys, I need some help here. I know a few of you frequent the PFK forums. Since the hack and shutdown I have had nothing but headaches trying to get back onto the forum. I would class myself a pretty competent at handling a computer, but cannot figure out what the heck is going on. I...

Hey guys, I'm looking some advice on floating plants. Currently I have a salvinia sp. (i think) in my tanks. I've tried duckweed, but its a major PITA. I'm looking for something nice looking without super long roots. Is this just wishful thinking. Currently I have found: Azolla...

I think you got a bit mixed up. Substrat is the stone chips type effect and Pro are little balls. I prefer the balls as flow through is more even and there are less areas of clogging etc. Otherwise they are both very similar in surface area etc (from what I can gather) I have found them...

Hey guys, I've been a bit quiet as I've been really busy in the past few months. However, the light is at the end of the tunnel!! I'm trying to persuade my father to come down to this party as well. He's into his fish ponds, and me into planted tanks and gouramis... I'm sure we'll both find...

I'm confused. I have a bottle of each product in front of me: Excel = 5ml / 200l (1ml / 40 ltrs) daily or every other day Easy carbo = 1ml / 50 litres daily To my eyes the dosage is pretty similar. Am I missing something?

All the best Matt. Teaching is a great job to get into. I find it the perfect antidote to my main job :-) Good luck with everything. Si

Excellent write up clive.. I think i'll have to read it a few times to appreciate it. Still getting to grips with my DSLR.

I found that when running my DIY CO2 on my RIO 180 I could do so very safely without a shut off. My CO2 levels never got that high as to be a danger to the fish. I actually needed to change the mixture weekly just to keep up. The only time I potentially could have run into trouble was when I...

After gaining the advantage in the algae battle, my donwoi are starting to look well. So i took a picture!

please guys, can you stop making this sound so FUN!!! I'm nearly crying now :-(

Ok.. how do I unsubscribe from email notification for this thread... (Joke) I'm fed up hearing you guys organise having fun without me :-( I think I'll have to go with ed since all you guys/gals hate me... (huff, strope, teenage sulk...) Max ps. I havnt been a teenager for over a decade...

I have just put eco complete into my RIO 180. I would recommend 4 bags, maybe 5 if you wanted a high banking effect front/back. I got it from here and the price worked out the best as there is a postage discount for more than 1 bag.

just checked the dates :-( I fly back here on the 6th :-(

I would like to arrange to come, but I think that I'll be abroad on holiday around the beginning of April. I would hate to have to go on my own all that way :-) Is the date fixed?

I found mine had about a 3 week period before it put runners out. I depends what sort of plant you get. If you get a larger mother plant it can put runners out after a few days. The smaller shoots you tend to get take a while...

is your tank a rio 180??? If so it 'should' come with a central brace!!!

I'm still up for it, but i too cannot host :-( I'm sure anyone staying over in mine would hate to be woken by my young kids at an ungodly hour!

If you ever have a rank of 'resident pedant' can I have first dibs on it please :-)

i use an eheim thermo filter on my RIO 180. A little expensive on initial outlay, but worth every penny. I have a 2324. edit. using this filter means you can remove the internal filter. However, a tetra tec 1200 and a hydor external heater would do the same trick.

I've been nosing around aquarium photo forums and have picked up a few pointers in the right direction. One thing I did find which will help me a lot is a small addon for firefox. It displays the EXIF data from the photos by right clicking on them and going to properties. I found it here- at...

Another excellent source for dwarf cichlids is http://www.dwarf-cichlid.com/ I love the indian almond leaves too George. I've only started using them recently, but am finding them really good!

I have not found keeping mine difficult... until now. I have in the past few weeks been struck by a mystery illness that looks a little like fungus on the nostrils. It has now gone but I have lost 2 of my vaillant chocs. I have heard one other report of a similar incident where a vet couldnt...

Pictures taken with my new Nikon D40. I think I've a lot to learn about my lighting, depth of field and apatures! excuse the floating plants at the top... the fish are very sensitive. I plan to grow crypt. balansae up to the surface, but in the meantime its this floating weed :-) Some of...

welcome back

Yup.. thats my mate Ste.... I just got some Rams off him - F1 from wildcaught fish. They are beauties. A big humbug to the Royal mail from me :-( good luck with your decision.

Hi Ed, I have a Rio 180 and am very happy with it. I keep it in my living room with and the light overspill from the hood is negligible (I have an Arc I bar with T5s in it). So for a high traffic area such as a living room it is great. It looks smart and fits in with existing furniture set...

I'm up for the blue planet. Its about 15 mins from my house!!

I assumed the seista at midday routine was something targeted at DIY CO2 users to ensure the maintenance of higher co2 levels in the tank. Are there other people that use it?

I never really understood poor CO2 properly until recently. I changed CO2 systems to a large solenoid controlled rig 1 month ago. After 3-4 day I had the CO2 levels where I wanted them. 1 month later with only a little pruning and the bi-weekly dosing of Excel, my agae is pretty much gone. I...

looking good!

This is a very interesting thread, and I am surprised that I have an observation to make. I think that my basic understanding is that roots are the best at transporting nutrients... thats their job. However, foliage can do this also, and the plant can adapt to do this even more. At this stage...

i suppose the other thing to consider is reflected sunlight.

I've been reading this and thought I'd just add a little info which I've posted in the best buys section. I bought a 2KG refillable CO2 cylinder from these guys for £20 http://www.gascylindersuk.co.uk/ and they will refill it for less than £5. Sounds cheaper than a FE to me.

check this out for more inspiration. It was a winner at AGA this year. It looks like you are trying to achieve a similar theme http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2 ... l=1&id=190

i can see it.. and its groovy!

welcome aboard!

i think we should all goto Daves house :-) or alternatively name a few places. I'll start the ball rolling... Liverpool is a big place with good train stations. How about a pint at the 'Ship and Mitre' its a flagship real ale pub within 5 mins of the train station and beside the tunnel, and...

my plan was to fully empty the tank of the fish water plants and old substrate. The put in the eco complete with new bogwood and replanting followed by the fish.

I managed to get some from the same ebayer as mentioned above... it arrived promptly and well packaged. I opted for 4 bags. I just have to organise some time to do the substrate switch! ANd I also need to buy a water but to keep the fish in during the change!

I'm not sure about the online site. I rang up the guy and spoke to him. They were very straight forward. I'm sure they prefer to deal with customers face to face or on the phone. More straight forward. He did say you could rent the cylinder, but suggested that I bought it outright as it...

yes you can buy the cylinders individually. That was £20 including gas. He said the refils are about £3.

click on the here part and scroll to the bottom

I just got a CO2 cylinder brand new and full for £20... See my post here for details.

CO2 cylinders and refills I think I have just got a real bargain. I just bought a Full CO2 cylinder for £20 today. Refills are approx £3 !! The place I went to is a compressed gas supplier in St Helens. http://www.gascylindersuk.co.uk/ The place is distinctly a working mans joint. It...

yes... thats where i got it from. I have plenty of it. So if you want some just say.

I've found fissidens attaches to wood well. I'll try and take a pic of my bogwood I've been working on for a while to show you. here it is. not the best pic, but you get the idea..

Oen BN plec and an SAE. I've tried in shade and out... both suffer the same :-(

I've been doing well recently as far as the whole planted tank thing is coming along. My plants grow well, and I have a few (but no major) problems with algae. But then again... who doesn't. Whats bugging me at the minute is my anubia. They are growing really well, but after a few weeks the...

any more ideas around the NW get together???? I need some advance warning so that I can get a pass out from the boss (wife) :-)

In a complete tangent - i pass scousemouse every day in work!

I check the colour during my filter maintenance. You recharge it when colour is dark brown.

Groan!!!!

I've just been to AE website... Tom Barr popped over and said Easylife Carbo HAS got gluteraldehyde in it... Damm.. and I've just bought a 500ml bottle of Excel.... wouldnt mind trying it out!

I have both boraras maculata and CPD's and they are both great. For an iguami I would probably edge towards the boraras... unless you could source captive bred CPD's. If you give me a few months I may have some :-)

hmm... mine had done this automatically....

I have been perusing the easylife website and came across this product: http://www.easylife.nl/english/index.html?id=06 a 'fluid filter media' Would any of our more chemically aware members care to highlight exactly what this does. It sounds like a re-branding of a flocculant to me, maybe...

this is the maufacturers website. http://www.easylife.nl/english/index.html?id=40 apparently its a dutch product.

it will be interesting to see how this product goes down. I'm really attached to my Exel because of its algaecidal properties...

sounds like an excellent idea!! What sort of area is central to us, or has good transport links that might allow some to train it????

I have just attempted to 'recharge' my Purigen. Its seems I misunderstood the advice given - i assumed you only needed an non-amine based water conditioner during the recharge phase.. I have been using Nutrafin Aquaplus water conditioner. It apparently (after much internet searching) contains...

do your bit for the economy... work for the NHS and get below inflation payrises!!! /sarcasm off Max

have a quick look at the "Sub on the cheap" thread 2nd from bottom. There is already some info there. I would also browse a bit on the EI natural and Low tech forums on this site... there is more information to be had there. There are various ways of using soil in your substrate, you just...

WOW guys.. that looked really slick and professional!!! Seriously impressed. Its making me even more keen to get together with the rest of the guys in the north west!

formby Point Graeme, its really cool. They walk right up to you - about 1foot away. I also saw 2 wild rabbits and a few interesting wild birds. Its a fun day out - and its right beside the beech if you fancy blowing those cobwebs away :-) http://www.redsquirrels.info/formby_squirrels.html...

Some sots taken with my mobile phone whilst feeding the squirrels in the forest with my wife & kids A tree stump close up - overtaken with moss. I have some more close ups of moss/root pics.. but i need to fix them. The camera started playing silly beggars. I'll try and post them...

Hi James I have been looking at these types of systems for a few months. I have found the whole thing filled with mumbo jumbo, and not very user friendly. I would appreciate if you would tell me which modules you have, and how you have it set up. I would find it very useful for my 180 litre...

By my calculations thats 3 X 20lb bags for a RIO 180???

Hey guys.. i'm looking to kit out my RIO 180 with a new substrate. Currently it is an inert black gravel (looks like rolled crushed glas tbh) I'm quite keen on ECO Comlete as its a black substrate and wont mess with the water chemistry. I would be introducing fish to it immediately in a kinda...

I saw the same thing in PFK this month (p. 119).. it had me a little curious too! It goes into the vital stats there as well. 24, 39, 54W T5HO Single or double light units. integrated extention brackets - 23"-40" (24W) 35"-52" (39W) 47"-64" (54W) Integrated reflector. Thats all I could glean...

ooops.. sorry i jumped the gun... I just got too excited. Mums the word until Oct 3rd then :-)

PFK popped through my door this morning.. Aquascaping contest results were init!!! I was pleased to see that Graeme had won the under 60cm category!!! Well done old bean! Si

It means 'For The Win'.

cloning FTW!!!

I would say a plec is a bit too messy to do a fish cycle with. I'm with Dan.. if you must.. then zebra danios.

I came across this site browsing PFK. I have NO experience dealing with them however. http://www.aquariums.ltd.uk/index.asp

ME I want beer!!! Would love to have a NW meet up... been dying for one for ages!!!!!

hi, and welcome!

I went a bit mad in peir this week. I got some cracking fish though. I got some sparkling gouramis - Trichopsis pumila - and some Dwarf Rasbora (AKA Boraras maculatus or Rasbora Maculata). Both species will like the nice shaded planted acid tank and I hope add more movement and colour to the...

i could be the fourth... i love the stuff!

I love your panchax... i have the same type... they settle into a planted tank well. Their colours are fantastic compared to what you see in the shop too!

That should be Muahahahahahahahaha... and dont forget to raise your little finger to your lip!

excellent guys.... am green with envy. Definitly gona earn some brownie points with the missus to get to weekend fish thingy soon!

I got my caillant choc gouramis from WIgan Peir aquatics. Its a very good shop.

Well I suppose I'd better join in too. I'm Simon (31) a nurse with a wife (a fox) and two kids (handsomest boys in the world). I currently live in Widnes, but I'm an Ulsterman born and bred. When I say I'm a nurse... I'm a funny sort of a nurse - lets just say I look after sick kids quite...

I have informed my 'WAG'... God help us all :-)

Excel contains 'polycycloglutarcetal' its apparently from the same family as formaldahyde etc. In small doses it is algaecidal. I use it on problem spots of algae and before I go on holiday.

Beautiful tank!! I have Golden panchax in my planted tank too. They love it in there.. they were actually playing in my ET last night :-)

I started with takashi amano's nature aquarium books 1 & 3 alongside Diana Walstads book. I'm currently working my way through the Barr reports over the past few years. Very informative but hard going when my 2 year ols keeps drawing on the ones I have printed out :-)

welcome to the beautiful addiction :-) aka the money pit!

would love to see some pics!

Glad to see I wasnt the only one who noticed this :-)

nice pictures... I'm definitly gona have to get my camera fixed now.

unfortunately... my son 'fixed' my digital camera so no photos i'm afraid. :-( :-(

I visited Port Meirion in Wales last week. The garden in it is amazing. Its a cross between an overgrown bramble patch and a formal garden.. its quite weird. However, there is some excellent mosses on the trees/braches and an unusual japanese pond area. It has given me a lot of ideas about...

I find applying the tank calculated dose via syringe, and applying it directly over the moss helps. I dont overdose unless combating nasty algae. And since i've found that poor CO2 control is the root of most evils i tend to introduce excel at normal doses whilst working on co2 levels.

thanks Dave, The JBL root balls are there for 2 reasons 1) my substrate is inert, and they provide extra nutrients. 2) As you guessed they are under the heavy root feeders. I'm doing a prune tomorrow (if I have time before I go on holidays!!) I'll try and get a picture up when I return...

i got HC from greenline... unfortunately it died.. repeatedly. I think it was more me than the plants though. It does come with a plastic coated wire mesh (1x1cm mesh) or you can order it in pots.

yes its a pain in the ass. AE now does a powdered form. I assume you have the granular form. Crushing helps, As does making it up a long time before you put it in the tank :-)