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Thanks :) Do you mean the MH @ Edwalton? There was a lovely scape at West Bridgeford, but it's shut down :(

Anyone recommend anywhere? Or near Notts, would be even better! I've had a look at java plants, but I'm sure I've heard of other online shops/ebay sellers. The few crypts I've seen seem v.expensive, working out £4-5 per plant with shipping. Is that the going rate? Thanks :)

Thanks for the link :) I've washed it today-5-6 rinses seemed to do it. Will put it in the tank tomorrow, then get the filter and heater setup. Thanks for the thumbs up on the crypts-must find somewhere to buy them...

Anyone know if this needs rinsing-will that remove nutrients? I'm planning on using it for a very low tech setup. Would swords, aponogetons and crypts grow in it with no CO2 or additional dosing? 24w T5 over 60l aqua one horizon with tetratec ex700. Thanks :)

I'm planning a low maintenance tank and was thinking of compost under sand, then someone mentioned this product with some nutritional content. Does anyone know if it's sharp and angular? There will be cories in the tank so I need it to be safe for them. None of the pictures online are detailed...

Few updates Tank 1 Still doing every other day water changes. I'm hoovering up the very top of the sand which is brown with algae, and discarding it. I shall replace if I ever get rid of the algae. Vallis is picking up, lots of new green leaves and a new little plant on a runner. No change in...

Thanks guys, I'm using seachem prime as a dechlor atm which says it 'detoxifies' heavy metals. It's been over 7 weeks since the last dosing, so loads of water changes since then. I think I'll get a kit to see if there's any there, and use the cuprisorb if there is. Is there a safe level of...

I'd like to add shrimp to some tanks which have been treated with copper based meds in the past. I bought some carbon to put in the filters but I haven't added it yet as I didn't know if it would remove ferts too. Any thoughts? Thanks :)

Thanks fred, I'll carry on with that then :thumbup: I thought the water sprite has got brown algae on, but now I think some of it is starting to die. There was a little die back when I first bought it, but it's been lovely since, until now :(

Thanks guys-yes, it looks like a Hydrocotyle, thanks for that. I'm going with every other day water changes to try and keep the algae down and because the betta has bitten his tail. I'll keep with the dosing unless anyone advises otherwise?

Thanks for the links Flyfisherman :) The cat litter I used isn't like that in the thread, it's clay which would totally muddy the water for ever! It's a thin layer topped with a good few cm of sand. Looking at the algae on that link, it looks most like the black brush, but doesn't have the...

I've been plodding on with these, but they're not going so well, so any advice appreciated :) Tank 1 Size-25l cubeish Time set up-5 weeks Filter-fluval 1, mature media from LFS added with fish. Sponge baffle to slow flow Substrate-plain clay cat litter under sand Plants-twisted vallis, water...

I agree a backing really finishes off a tank. I've used some oil type stuff which really makes them stick well, although I think olive oil/baby oil would do just as good a job for future reference :thumbup: I have seen tanks with black bin liners as a backing which looks as effective as fish...

Flyfisherman, as animal mother said, it's the filter you cycle and that's where all the bacteria live. Virtually none live in the water, so you can completely change all your water and still be cycled. Your LFS water will have been little different to tap water apart from conditioner which you...

Brilliant, thanks stu :) Just remembered, I need the heater too! So that's 3 more things to get-this is an expensive hobby :lol:

For my first venture into planted in a 27l 18" long, I plumped for the tetratec ex600. Found a bargain one secondhand which has arrived today. My god it's huge! Bigger than the tank I think :lol: Anyway, I'll try and get to grips with it over the weekend. I'm planning on using liquid CO2 at...

Yep, it didn't take much reading through these forums to notice the 'excess nutrients don't cause algae' posts! The fish deaths were a mystery. I only feed once a day and only a very small amount. I never saw the fish look ill, they just disappeared or I'd find bodies with no visible signs of...

Not really Chris. I bought my first at Easter this year and fishless cycled it for 18 weeks (!) then for 6 endlers, 6 galaxy rasboras and 4 cherry shrimp for it. A couple of weeks ago I had a load of deaths which now seem to have stopped, thank goodness, but I only have the 6 endlers left...

I can't imagine how that would look-any pics?

Why would you have to risk it?

Thnaks guys :) It doesn't seem to be suffering any ill-effects, so I'll leave it be I think.

Great link chris, thanks. And great to have an order to do things, helps to get it straight in my head :thumbup:

Thank for the link, sounds a great idea! I'm not understanding how it makes a tank cycled ready for fish though? Cycling a tank invloves growing bacteris in the filter and with this method, the filter wouldn't even be switched on?

Thank chris :) I'm still looking around and gathering advice about the best way to go. I think I've finally settled on a filter and heater, so just need to decide lights, CO2, substrate and plants now! :lol: Liquid carbon is something I'm considering as I think it would be easy to avoid the...

I've only just some across this method, reading through someone's journal. I've searched these forums but couldn't find an explanation of it. So, any good links to explain the advantages of this method? Thanks :)

I ask as I've recently planted some elodea and it's leaning to the back of the tank which is shaded by the in-lid filter. I've left it a week to see if it would grow towards the light, but it hasn't moved? Thanks for any input :)

So I think I've finally decided to go for a tetratec ex filter and I'm looking at glass inlet/outlet pipes to go with it. The ex400 has internal pipe diameter of 6.4mm, the ex600 is 11.3. So, in both cases, what diameter of glass pipe would I need? Thanks :)

Chelator? Is that some kind of binding agent?

Not sure if they are, I'll check tomorrow.

Thanks Binksy :) Do you mean a list of the chemicals we have in stock at work? We'd be here till next christmas :lol: I have to do the stocktake every year and it's a huge job! They are labelled up with the chemical formula as well as name, so it should be easy to make sure they match those in...

I've just been reading an article about mixing up your own ferts and realised I have easy access to most of the chemicals as I work in a school science dept. Is there any reason I couldn't use stuff from work? As long as they don't mind obviously! :lol:

Wow-lots to take in! I took my A levels in science and work in a science based job but I still had to read that twice. My brain hurts now :lol:

Just thought, do I not need a spraybar? I have seen a diagram of how the lily pipe creates flow around the tank, is that alternative to the spraybar?

Thanks guys :) It is really a case of it's all fine unless it goes wrong. And then no matter what size heater you have, you're pretty screwed! Thanks for the mention of the nano set, AdAndrews :) Can I just run this by to see if I've got my head round it? So I get an external filter which sits...

Brilliant! I'll have a read through those links-thanks :)

I'm trying to have a readup on CO2 and I'm already confused! :oops: There are abbreviations (like DC?) which I don't understand and tutorials which explain how to make systems, but I can't see anything about how to decide how much to dose into your tank and how to control it. Is there a sticky...

Thanks gordon, another possibility. grr, how do you ever choose? lol!

Thanks guys :) I'll have a look at the fluval, although the hydor does say here that it has self prime? TLH, that's what i was worried about with the heater, but I can't find an external one less than 200w?

Hi, i'm just looking into my first planted setup. I have a clearseal 18" long tank, 27l. I would like to keep it clutter free, so I'm thinking an external filter and I like the inline external heaters too. Had a good google and I think the hydor prime 10 at 300lph with the hydor 200w heater...

Hi, I'm just in the first stages of setting up my first planted tank and I'm trying to get the right advice first to avoid mistakes :) So, are there any styles of scape or particular plants that aren't for beginners? And any pitfalls you can help me avoid? Thanks!