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  1. phantomfisher

    Nitrate Level Very High

    The Nitrite and Ammonia levels are 0. I think you are probably right re overdosing on the Macro mix I use, and the 25% water changes are no problem to do, my only reservation is the daily disturbance to the tank pumping water in and out and how this might effect the fish. It would also be easy...
  2. phantomfisher

    Nitrate Level Very High

    I have checked my Nitrite and Ammonia levels and they are both 0 and as mentioned previously the fish seem in excellent health are in good colour and eating like Piranha. I have always had a problem with my tap water as it has a high background Nitrite level of 50 so I use a mix of 75% Reverse...
  3. phantomfisher

    Nitrate Level Very High

    I am struggling to control the Nitrate level in my planted tank. I have 25 small fish in the tank mainly Barbs, Tetras and a few Oto’s and am aiming to keep the Nitrate level at around 50 or below if possible however I have never managed to achieve this since starting up the tank about 5...
  4. phantomfisher

    Echinodorus Bleheri Problem

    Little bug...s. I got the loaches to kill the mini snails for which they did a great job. I would hate to have to get rid of them as they are great little characters but if needs must :( Any idea why they only attack the sword plants when there are softer and more juicy aponogetens available?
  5. phantomfisher

    Echinodorus Bleheri Problem

    I think the Co2 level is ok. i am on 2 drops per second and the drop checker is the correct shade of green. I am currently dosing 20ml of Aqua Essentioals Trace Mix Plus 3 times per week and 35ml of a Macro mix comprising Potassium Nitrate and Potassium Phosphate in the ratio prescribed by James...
  6. phantomfisher

    Echinodorus Bleheri Problem

    I have 5 Echinodorus Bleheri which are growing well in my 100 gallon tank however about 10 days ago I noticed a few small irregular shaped holes had appeared in some of the leaves. The plants are quite large around 45cm tall with about 20 leaves per plant. The number of leaves effected on each...
  7. phantomfisher

    Nuphar Japonicum (Red Spatterdock)

    Thanks for the information, it sound a little large for my 4ft tank :( The rhizome is around 50mm wide at the base and 70mm tall and it has deep red leaves, a couple of image links follow: http://www.phantomfisher.com/images/nupharJaponicum1...
  8. phantomfisher

    Nuphar Japonicum (Red Spatterdock)

    I have just purchased one of these plants and wondered if any forum members have experience growing this plant? All advice much appreciated.
  9. phantomfisher

    Lights on Lights off!

    It's a great idea and I will be happy to pass on any spare plants I have in the spirit of the scheme. Many thanks again :wave:
  10. phantomfisher

    Lights on Lights off!

    Many thanks for the plants offer, some of the Higrophila difformis and Ammania gracilis would be great. I am not keen on Cabomba so will pass on that. I would be happy to pay for the post and packing so that you are not out of pocket? I will send you a private message with my contact details...
  11. phantomfisher

    Lights on Lights off!

    I decided to take the bull by the horns and have pruned to within an inch of my life. :thumbup: I already have 24 plants on order, crypts and aponogetons so hopefully they will arrive tomorrow and I will get them planted and see how that goes. Have not tried anubias yet so I will see what...
  12. phantomfisher

    Lights on Lights off!

    Here are three images, one of the tank and a couple of plants: http://www.phantomfisher.com/images/tank1.jpg http://www.phantomfisher.com/images/tank2.jpg http://www.phantomfisher.com/images/tank3.jpg Any further thoughts welcome.
  13. phantomfisher

    Lights on Lights off!

    I will run on 3 T5's for 8 hours for a week or two and adjust Co2 accordingly and see how that goes. Come the weekend I will get to grips with the algae, carry out a bit of pruning and do my weekly 50% water change. As far as the DIY electrics are concerned you are quite right it shouldn't be...
  14. phantomfisher

    Lights on Lights off!

    My tank has been up and running for about three months and I have tried a number of lighting/Co2 options. I use the 'James' Planted Tank' dry ferts regime and my plants are doing reasonably well however I do have some algae issues i.e. growing on the leaves of my Echinodorus Bleheri, Mopani wood...
  15. phantomfisher

    Lights on Lights off!

    I will try your suggestion and see how it goes. Effectivelly I will be reducing the lighing period from 12 hours to 6 hours and the Co2 period from 12 hours 8 hours is this correct? Also and this may seem like a stupid question but what benefits do you think I will see by reducing the lighting...
  16. phantomfisher

    Lights on Lights off!

    I currently have my lights and Co2 on for around 12 hours per day with the Co2 starting 2 hours before lights on and finishing 2 hours before lights off, if I am to reduce the lights on period to say 6 hours should I reduce the Co2 injection time period pro rata? :?:
  17. phantomfisher

    Lights on Lights off!

    Is there a recommended amount of time to leave the lights on in a planted fresh water aquarium? :?:
  18. phantomfisher

    Vallisneria Spiralis - Another Question

    Thanks for the avice Marco :)
  19. phantomfisher

    Vallisneria Spiralis - Another Question

    It says on the plastic name tag that came with Vallisneria Spiralis I purchased recently and I quote Do not bury the crown. Place roots gently in the substrate, but keep the juncture of roots and crown abobe the gravel. The problem is that some of the plants do not have any roots so it is...
  20. phantomfisher

    Reference Book on Plants

    I have had a look on the Tropica website but cannot find a link to buy the plant booklet you mentioned is it available via the site or is there another supplier? :?
  21. phantomfisher

    Planting Vallisneria Spiralis

    I planted 5cm apart as advised and they look pretty good :) I have heard that you should not bury the crown of this plant but simply bury the roots, what happens if there are no roots on the plant? :?
  22. phantomfisher

    Lead Strip

    Thanks for that guys :thumbup:
  23. phantomfisher

    Reference Book on Plants

    Thanks everybody for your recommendations. I will probably go with the Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants by Peter Hiscock to get me up and running then when Christel Kasselman's updated book is available have a look at that. :thumbup:
  24. phantomfisher

    Lead Strip

    Is it safe to use thin strips of lead to hold plants down until their roots take hold?
  25. phantomfisher

    Reference Book on Plants

    I have a couple of small books on aquarium plants but neither goes into much detail. Is there a good reference book out there that provides good illustrations and comprehensive information about individual plants and their needs? :)
  26. phantomfisher

    Planting Vallisneria Spiralis

    I have around 30 Vallisneria Spiralis plants which I am planning to add to my 400L tank but wondered the best way to plant them. Each plant has about 5 leaves, is 20cm high and a very small root. Should I plant in bunches and if so how many or should I plant individualy and if so how far apart...
  27. phantomfisher

    Aponogeton Ulvaceus

    Many thanks for the advise :thumbup:
  28. phantomfisher

    More Advice Required Please

    Thanks again Andy the advice is much appreciated :thumbup:
  29. phantomfisher

    Aponogeton Ulvaceus

    I have just received my first ever Aponogeton plants and I am unsure of the correct way to plant them in my tank. They are fully formed Ulvaceus plants with around 10 green leaves per bulb from which there are long trailing roots. How deep to plant, should I trim the roots before planting, in...
  30. phantomfisher

    More Advice Required Please

    Thanks for the info and advise Andy and Simon, I think I am probably too much in a rush to get the perfect planted tank :roll: As an avid enthusiast and keeper of large cichlids over the past 25 years all my tanks have been void of plants, just rocks, wood and more rocks so the whole plant...
  31. phantomfisher

    More Advice Required Please

    I have been getting some very helpful advice from this forum over the past couple of weeks regarding my 400L planted tank and have made progress but still could do with a bit more help :) I have taken on board the advice to prune away all the dead leaves of my Echinodorus Bleheri plants...
  32. phantomfisher

    Powerhead Position

    The tank is partially dismantled at the moment as I am changing the layout so I will take this opportunity to re position the powerhead midway which will provide a bit more flexibility with the water flow's direction. :thumbup: Many thanks for the advice.
  33. phantomfisher

    To Prune or Not to Prune?

    Thank you both for the advice, I am carrying out a 50% water change tonight so will get stuck in with the hedge trimmer then :crazy:
  34. phantomfisher

    Powerhead Position

    I am trying to maximise the water flow throughout my tank and am a bit confused as to the best location for the powerhead :? I have two TetraTec 1200's with the water exiting from two spray bars at the surface which together are nearly the length of the tank (120cm). Should the powerhead be...
  35. phantomfisher

    To Prune or Not to Prune?

    Many thanks for the advice. There are a couple of plants where there will be hardly any leaves left, will this be ok? Also what about the leaves that have a very small amount of damage should these also be removed?
  36. phantomfisher

    To Prune or Not to Prune?

    I have 6 Echinodorus bleheri which have not been doing to well recently and have developed brown blotches on the leaves (see following links) http://www.phantomfisher.com/images/echinodorusProblem1.jpg and http://www.phantomfisher.com/images/echinodorusProblem2.jpg. I have discovered that the...
  37. phantomfisher

    Plant & Algae Problems

    Many thanks for your detailed reply, it will give me a good basis to get thing working correctly. :thumbup:
  38. phantomfisher

    Plant & Algae Problems

    Thanks for that information, could you clarify a couple of point? From a previous post you advised that I should use 4dkh in my drop checker instead of tank water, I have now done this and my Co2 reading shows around 30ppm of saturation (a perfect light green colour match) are you saying that I...
  39. phantomfisher

    Plant & Algae Problems

    I was not sure the best forum to post this cry for help :cry: I am having problems with my 400L planted tank (fully cycled) which has been up and running for about 8 weeks. My problems are algae and plant health! First of all the details of my setup: Lighting: 6 x 54watt T5’s 3 x lights...
  40. phantomfisher

    Co2 Injection / PH Swing

    You learn something every day, I will get some 4dkh and use from now on. :thumbup:
  41. phantomfisher

    Co2 Injection / PH Swing

    I am using a Red Sea drop checker and the instructions say to use 1ml of aquarium water plus 2 drops of their indicator. I have only been using this drop checker for a couple of weeks but have not been using 4dkh water will this cause a problem?
  42. phantomfisher

    Co2 Injection / PH Swing

    I monitor my Co2 using a drop checker, when you say avoid Co2 swings is it acceptable to just keep the drop checker in the green all the time or is more accuracy required?
  43. phantomfisher

    Co2 Injection / PH Swing

    The Co2 content in my 400 litre tank is around 30ppm which gives a nice green reading on my drop checker (around 1.5 bubbles per sec). I have 4 x 54w T8’s on for 10 hours per day and start the Co2 2 hours before lights on and stop it 2 hours before lights out. The results of this is that...
  44. phantomfisher

    How to attach breeding trap to tank

    Can you tell me where you had these traps made, I am looking for something similar and your traps look really good quality? :?:
  45. phantomfisher

    Plants ID Please

    I will have a good read through the various tutorials :thumbup:
  46. phantomfisher

    Plants ID Please

    Thanks for the info but could you be a bit more specific re the parameters? I have just got my Co2 up and running again, would mid to high be around 25/30? I have added 2.5ml per gallon of Tetra Plant PlantaMin liquid fert, is this to much , to little, when should I add more? My lighting is...
  47. phantomfisher

    Plants ID Please

    Thanks for that Paul. Would you know the best water conditions to keep these plants in? Also the roots and fronds that are appearing on the plants can these be taken off or do I need to leave them? :?
  48. phantomfisher

    Plants ID Please

    I have a couple of plants in my recently planted 100 gallon tank that I do not know the identity of, any ideas? :? Both of these plants have been in the tank for around 3 weeks the top appears to be doing ok and the bottom one is growing very quickly. Both plants was rooted from a cutting...
  49. phantomfisher

    Co2 Just Started

    I know this is going to sound silly but what is a crop checker kdh water? My substrate is Caribsea Ecco Complete. Any thoughts on what ferts to use, something that is easy to find just to get up and running? I will drop the lighting down to two tubes for a week.
  50. phantomfisher

    Co2 Refills - Bournemouth, Dorset

    Any idea where I can get my Co2 bottle refilled in the Bournemouth area?
  51. phantomfisher

    Co2 Just Started

    I have just switched on my Co2 system for the first time and wondered what would be a good bubble count to kick off with? The plants arrived this morning by post and I have them floating in the tank. According to the instructions that came with them I should not seperate the planlets and plant...
  52. phantomfisher

    How deep To Plant Etc, Etc, Etc

    Thanks Iliveinazoo for the other info, I expect I will get there in the end, I just hope not to many plants suffer before I get there :) Hi baron von bubba, a gravel tidy is a plastic mesh sheet that is used to seperate different levels of substrate. for example in my tank I have a 3" layer of...
  53. phantomfisher

    How deep To Plant Etc, Etc, Etc

    Hi Iliveinazoo, Many thanks for the information and advice. You mentioned 'rhizome of Crinum Natans' what is rhizome? I am planning to put predominently Discus in the tank with a few Rams and Cory's so hopefully the substrate will not get disturbed to much. I had a quick glance through the...
  54. phantomfisher

    How deep To Plant Etc, Etc, Etc

    I am a complete newcomer to planted aquariums altho I do have some fish keeping experience with chiclids in a plantless environment. I have a new 48"x24"x24" tank which I will be planting shortly but have a few questions to ask. My substrate is CaribSea Eco Complete which I have to a depth of...
  55. phantomfisher

    Gravel Tidy in a Planted Aquarium

    Hi Ed, Thanks for your advise I will ditch the gravel tidy idea and use a vertical divider as suggested :thumbup:
  56. phantomfisher

    Gravel Tidy in a Planted Aquarium

    Hi, I am setting up a 48x24x24 planted tank using Carib Sea Eco Complete as a substrate and fine gravel as a top decorative layer. The Eco complete substrate is around 3"/75mm deep and the gravel around 2"/50mm deep with the layers seperated by a Gravel Tidy. Now the silly question! :? How do...
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