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I have always added mixed water which keeps the temp change to a minimum. My air pump turns off 3 hours before my Co2 kicks in. The air pump is running two big stones in the sump. From my original set up the only thing I have changed is I got rid of the spray bar. Si

Nice one Mark At long long last :clap: :clap: My tank is now very high maintenance I spent over 45 minutes on it in total last month. Its just not on :D :D And everything still works as from day 1. Simon

:D :D Simon

Thanks chaps. The tank is still running fine. I have cut the Co2 and ferts down to limit growth. It basicly looks after its self. I give it some attention once every 3 or 4 weeks for half an hour. Top up the dosing bottles as required,quick clean of the glass, wash off the glass tank lids and...

Sounds a nice size tank. You are going to need to move more water around than you current filter can supply. Either a second filter or a power head or two in the tank will help achieve this. Look at a total turnover of around 3000 ltrs How are you going to introduce your Co2 into the system. So...

That sounds a long time to have the lights on. My lights are on for 6 hours a day , with the present amount of C02 I am injecting and the food I feed the plants thats plenty. You are going to need a lot of CO2 in a tank that size and deep, along with some powerful pumps to get it down . Look...

Its like a magnet to them. I get one or two out every time I clean the prefilter sponges off. Still they help eat all the junk in the sump Si

I used to use carbon blocks on my water change, now its straight from the mains, all 350 ltrs of it every Sunday morning. Much simpler and cheaper with no ill effect that I have noticed 5 hours I could not be bothered with that. At 7am my pump in the tank pumps out 350ltrs in 9 mins as set by...

I am running one in my 720 ltr set up and I have a second on order. Big thumbs up for the "up". Just be aware you will probably have a fine mist in your tank. Thats the reason for the second one to make my mist finer as I am over gassing just the one and its more like fine bubbles at the...

I did not take any pictures but I used a small sump pump of about a 1500ltrs hr with a 16/22 mm up atomiser fitted to it. The output of this went into a length of 22mm speedfit pipe . This pipe had 3 "t" pieces in it and a 90* elbow on the end. This gave 4 outputs from the single pump output...

You are going to struggle with that one. I have spent a good few weeks messing with in line diffusers running into reactor chambers. I used 4 in parallel in the end with one supply feeding them so I was trying to dissolve the same amount of gas in 4 x the water then injecting the end product...

Thanks Paul. Looks like I will leave them alone then Thanks for saving me a good few quid. I can now buy a few more plants . Simon

Hi people I have had my T5 tubes for nearly 12 mounts , When should I replace them. I take it the have a useful life span. Where and what to replace them with as well would be useful. I am Running 8 x 39" ones in the 7x2x2 ft tank. thanks Simon

No idea what make my one is but it gets hot. Always has, works perfectly though. Si

Great to see you are on with this again Mark. Will be watching with great interest Simon

My Akadama seems just the same as when I put it there to be honest. I can do just one water change but the timers are set for two and I can't be bothered to change them ,and it only seams to help , especially as it all happens when I am still asleep . Simon

I do not add any Dechlorinator to my water change water.Never have done. So get along to your local plumbing centre and get one of those over the sink water heaters for washing your hands. Mount that in the cupboard under the tank and plumb the outlet to the tank. Set the temperature of the...

How do you get your hot water at your Taps.??

Thanks for reading my 760 ltr tank adventure. Note sure why you could not see all the Pictures as they all seam there now. Nearly 12 months on and here are my views on what I have learnt about equipment My Auto water change system is the best thing ever. 50 % on Thursday and again on Sunday...

stop messing around and drill the tank, My tank is drilled to feed the sump using 2x 11/2 pipes and I am running 10000 to 12000 ltrs an hour through them easily. Its worth the time to do it. You can do it yourself. Simon

Hi Mate Thats some tank you have there. I have no idea how long its going to last but my Co2 usage is dramaticly less now I have added the cover glasses. I use a 45kg bottle, I hope it will last until the new year. I would hope to use 2 of theses a year . simon

I must post a couple of Pictures. The tank is still running fine. Everything still works perfectly. I have added cover glasses to the sump and to the main 95% of the tank. Covering the tank was to stop condensation in the conservatory. It also helps with the Co2. I am still not 100% happy with...

My Co2 bottle is from a pub gas supplier. Its around 40Kg . I rent this from them at a annual cost of about £35 and its about the same amount to get it refilled. I also have a couple of 6kg ones from them which I use when the big bottle runs out as I can only get to them at certain times...

Maintaining it is easy. I take less than an hour a week now. It looks better in the flesh. I am really happy with it. We spend hours every week just watching this little world. Simon

Even you :twisted:

Anyone is always welcome. The kettle is always on. Trying to borrow a Video camera at the moment. Simon

Well its all a bit of a mismatch of plants and planting. That suits me really as I could not spend the time looking after a scape. I like the wild ,see what happens look. I have bought some plants from a couple of guys on here clearing out there tanks along with a mix of 50 or so fish. It takes...

A few quick pictures. Its still just a mixture of plants of which I am slowly learning about. Don't seem to have any problems. I have a lot of pleasure sitting watching this mini world existing. Simon

Fancy playing with one of these on my 7ft tank. I am running 15000 ltrs per hour so flow would not be an issue. Looks like a nice project for the winter. Simon

For all your Co2 information have a read through the Co2 section on this forum. It is full of all the information you could ever need . Simon

I must have had the same thing in my set up as its the same as yours. As I had no fish I did not test the water at all. I still have not tested it but all must be well as the plants are fine. Interesting read

Bottle hight depends on what size you get. My 6.25 ones fitted next to the sump. My big one lives outside. Your best bet is to do a search for gas suppliers in your area. I had 2 near me with in 20 miles. BOC gas which is a nationwide concern and a local gas supplier to the pubs. Go to your...

What is there to do. Taking you are using a Pub type or BOC type bottle which on a tank of that size you will end up with. 1) Screw regulator onto gas bottle. Tighten the nut with a spanner. There will be a sealing washer supplied that goes between the mating faces . 2) Screw the needle valve...

Get a Pub bottle. I run a 760 ltr system and I am now running a 40kg pub bottle. Got the Regulator from Ebay. Bubble counter on ebay along with Co2 tubing and non return valve. All works very well I started with 6.25 kg pub gas but that only lasted about 2.5 weeks to 3 weeks Part of my problem...

This valve would be better in my view. Finer adjustment and you can lock it off http://www.airlines-pneumatics.com/webc ... =S07013310 Good quality parts. I have used some of there stuff at work and its good

I followed James set up. He recommended it in his article http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/akadama.htm

The bag looks the same as the ones I had. Simon

Hi I have a 7x2x2 ft tank. I used 8 x14 ltr bags of it with a depth of about 2 " at the front and 4 to 5" at the rear. Great Substrate . Washing it before hand is time consuming but the results are worth it. So I would say 4 or 5 bags of it . Used Irish Peat moss under it.

Looks stunning. It would be even better if the tank was only as high as the water level,it would disappear then.

If you had not said that I would have never got it.

Just thought I would update things a bit. Everything seams to be going fine. All the plants are doing great. The ones that were strugling have picked up now and are growing away. I had to increase the EI dosing quantity's a bit but I did that by simply increasing the amount of time the dosing...

Have you lot not got Combi boilers or are you living in the dark age still. :lol: :lol:

I have been using one of those Solenoid valves. Works a treat. I am still having a few noise issues with my Duros Pipes but getting there slowly. Biggest problem is I am turning over around 15000 ltr per hour which is a lot of water going down them. I also had problems with my stat and the T5...

You lost me there.

Got my 40mm clear Acrilic tube from that Ebay shop. Drilled ok. Simon

At the moment I am just thinking that I want to try and keep it under control a bit ,until I have more understanding of what's going on and how to make adjustments to correct it.Hopefully reducing the direct sunlight will give me a bit of control back . Dose that make sense or is it total...

Local supplier of beer gas. http://www.jgassupplies.co.uk/id2.html Simon

Thanks. If it lasts 7 months I would be happy :thumbup: Its just plant mayhem at the moment. Bit like my life. I am going to try covering the viewable glass on the tank throughout the day time as its getting a lot of sun on it at the moment.( can cure that with some blinds on the window if it...

Rental was £38 per year, and refill £35 I think. There were no terms at all, as much or as little as you like. :thumbup: Just had to buy a trolley to move it round though. :lol: Pictured next to a 6.25kg bottle.

I am still looking at ways to seal the sump. Until I stop air entering the sump via the weirs then there is no point. Anyway I have bitten the bullet and singed up for the rental on a 44kg Co2 bottle.Not that dear in reality . The main reason was the trips to get the 6,5kg ones filled is over a...

The Tubes are Arcadia Plant pros. The drop checker is lime green. I have added some more flow. Pump wise I am running 15,000 ltrs an hour. What actual flow I have is unsure but I can say its a lot. Every plant has movement in the tank . Hopefully I will see a Co2 improvement on the plants right...

I went in there on Saturday. First time for ages.Sill really as its right on my doorstep. They do usually have a good plant stock. The chap that runs it seams most helpful. I thought they were lacking fish , but it is a nice little shop. I shall be getting a few plants from there soon I think...

If you saw that then you must be close to me . Its a nice set up.

Silly Camera is making the lights look like that. I will work on getting a bit better flow to the front of the tank. I will also have a big leaf cutting session later in the week. Thanks Simon

I am sure that would be on old leaves. So do you also think there is a Co2 problem at the front of the tank. The brown Algae I am putting down to new tank syndrome ,although the system should be starting to get some useful bacteria by now I would hope. I am still running 1/2 power on the light...

Sorry for the delay. Had so much else on. Generally I think its going ok. Its not all dead and I cut a bucket full of stem growth off this morning I do now have a few problems. From what I have read and observed I still have a problem of getting the Co2 to all the plants. The ones at the...

I use a trickle tower on my Koi pond . Its simply a 4 ft tall water butt filled with Boi Balls. Has worked a treat for years and I have never touched it. Its prefilter is a Vortex chamber off the skimmer filled with brushes. Once a month cleans that out.

so for my 750 ltr KN03 = 21 tps KH2PO4 = 10.5 tps MGS04 = 63 tps All mixed in 1800 mls of warmtap water, add 150 mls at a time. ( larger water quantities are better for my dosing pumps) Simon

Hi guys and Girls. Sorry for no posts recently. Just so busy with other things. Tank is coming along. Some is good and some is not. I will post some pics of where I am. Lots of things need sorting. I am sure I need more/ better Co2 or better distribution. I am trying the spray bar firing...

so how would you fill it in the first place

I have been looking at that for ages and I still can't see how the water stays in the towers. That is really great.

No its not. Its in the Hextronic Quadrant .If you cant get your quadrant facts correct don't bother to post :lol:

Free Internet access in the B&B :thumbup: So do I reduce the time the lights are on. Its 6 hours at the moment What do you recommend Simon

Going away for 4 days so the tank will have to look after its self for a while. The Hygrophila Rosae Australis is already at the top of the tank and will need a trim on my return. There is a bit of Diatoms algae here and there but hopefully that will go when the tank matures. Simon

You carry on, I am interested in it all. Simon

How is you tank going. Have you any photos of its progress . Simon

Nice one. Bet you can't wait for that. I am looking forward to your journal. First week just piled in loads of it. I also have a much better way of mixing it now and have turned it down a fair bit.Its not that dear at £10 a time ,not that I want to spend a tenner a week on gas though. If I do...

First bottle of Co2 empty today. As I am using 6.25kg bottles we have not had a lack of Co2 in the first week. No panic though as I had a second bottle ready to go. Simon

So we all inject this stuff into out tanks. Some use inline reactors and others use diffusers in the tank. How can we increase the dissolved Co2 content in the water. For instance if the Co2 is in contact with the water in a confined area for a long period of time will the water take up more of...

Tested that, Not that silly. Glad of the reminder though. Simon

Seamed funny this morning. Got up to watch the water change but there is not one today. Had to think about that for a bit while still half asleep. Stil made sure the Trace dosing pump timer was set correct. Improved the Co2 mixing a bit using a Ceramic airstone feeding the Pre mix pump. I am...

Hope its all going ok this morning . I have had similar issues with these type of filters before. I now run a gravity system which is totally reliable. I hope you get it sorted soon. Loosing water is a nightmare. I would be up all night worried about the fish. Simon

Thanks mate. Would not be here without your help. That was the plan now,just let things happen and correct as we go. I have no interest in scapes or fish at the moment . My only interest is learning how to keep the plants properly and take corrective actions when needed. (sure there will be...

So last Saturday I was planting my first ever tank. This is where we are tonight. Pleased so far with the results. A bit of fine tuning with the mechanics but all the hardware seams to be working. This week the tank will have no intervention from me hopefully and should run by its...

I have re set all my auto timers for this weeks new water change and feeds. Sunday water change 7.00 to 7.09 - need to dose NPK 7.05 to 7.13 Monday - Dose trace 7.05 to 7.10 Tuesday water change 7.00 to 7.09 - need to dose NPK 7.05 to 7.13 Wednesday - Dose trace 7.05 to 7.10 Thursday water...

Will find out when my water change takes place. Need so advice on my lighting I have 8 39w T5 tubes. At the moment I am running 4 of them. Is it ok to run all 8. That gives just under 2wpg . Or am I better just running the 4 which I presume requires less Co2 . Simon

It was not a case of sealing them more a case of playing with the flow valves on the ends and the air valves on the Durso stand pipes. I have one set to full syphon controlled by the valve on the end and the air bleed shut.The second is set up as an overflow . This just has a trickle of water...

One big step I have done is I have stopped 95% of the atmospheric air entering my stand pipes in the weirs. This should help a lot as I was getting huge amounts before. I will play with diffusing the Co2 better before it gets to the return pump and sealing the sump. Simon

The water return is via a 2mtr long 40mm diameter spray bar the full length of the tank between the weirs. At the moment the Co2 is injected straight into the input of the 10,000 ltr an hour return pump. I will try injecting it into a defuser in the sump chamber which is easy enough to...

So lets look at another option . What is the best way to dissolve the Co2 better in the water. For instance. What if my return pipe from the sump pump to the tank was say 4" in diameter instead of 40mm. The water would flow slower through this diameter of pipe and increasing the contact time...

During the day I am pumping all this Co2 into the tank are there any benefits in adding more O2 during the darkness . My sump adds some O2 which I can't prevent as it draws it down the sump feed pipes. This I suppose will be richer in O2 after the Co2 has gone off but how much I have no idea...

I am assuming that my crypt decay will be producing that . As the rest of the system is not matured yet I am taking no chances. water changes and dosing is easy to do. Simon

Most of my stems are showing real signs of growth and looking good. Still having a crypt melt but I have pumped up the Co2 and increased the amount of feed after every water change. I am still changing 50% per day to keep on top of the ammonia that must be being produced in abundance at the...

I have upped the co2 a bit and also turned the spraybars a touch to reduce a bit of the surface agitation and drive more of it towards the front and down. I am sure I am getting more than enough O2 from the sump so that should not be an issue. Spent an hour having a tidy up of the dead leaves...

Thanks Clive that makes sense. At the moment I am dosing every day straight after the water change. I will adopt the new timetable from Saturday. I am on day 5 now and things are looking ok . Got a fair amount of melt on the crypts. Some of the stem plants are growing well. Simon

Have you any pictures of you Tank Simon

Thanks, will keep away from the bright spell.. I will change the water changes to three times a week from Saturday. Would I then feed three times a week. Simon

Nearly at the end of day three and all is looking ok. A couple of plants need replanting. Just not planted well enough in the first place. Plus its hard to do anything to one plant without affecting its neighbours until they get routed properly I spent about an hour and a quarter on the tank...

Had no clouding at all. water was gin clear straight off

Re: Saintly's 'savannah dreaming' @ 22 days Looking stunning. Its amazing how its developed in such a short time. A credit to you. Simon

The wife and I both like the built in look with things so that suited us perfectly.All our house is waxed pine so it matches all the other woodwork. Not a fan of the louvre doors but can sort that out later. Gets rid of all the unsightly bits as well as cutting the light out from where we sit...

A few pictures from this evening at day 2

Not sure if this will work. You can see a leaf showing the flow. Also you can see the fine Co2 bubbles. Need to find out how to get better quality on it. Simon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVvotYxveI0

Everything is looking good. Been cutting any poor leaves off. No big melt yet but sure its on the way. Plants have straightened themselves up a bit now. Water change happened ok and feeding and trace went in. Everything seams to be working as expected. Nearly all the plants have some movement...

I swilled my Akadama out in a large bucket doing a 1/4 of a bag at a time. I had 10x14ltr bags to wash ,though I still have one washed one unused. It took me three long evenings . Its just a time consuming job.There is certainly a lot of mes in there with it. Simon

Really looking forward to seeing its development. I am not really shore which direction it will go in. There will be changes along the way. So looking forward too seeing it all growing though. My next job is to get the woodwork finished , this also involves building a bookcase on the return wall...

Re: My venture into my new 760 ltr aquariam. Not good pictures. So much reflection from the Conservatory. I will get better ones later when I cover the windows. Anyway here is what i have at the moment. Looks a mess just after planting. this is about an hour after filling with water . Turned on...

Re: My venture into my new 760 ltr aquariam. You will have to wait a bit longer yet. :twisted: :twisted: Lots of plants ,in fact lots and lots and lots of plants. Some are going to have to come out later ,but that's a later on thing once I get sorted. At the moment I am not sure whether I an...

Re: My venture into my new 760 ltr aquariam. Been sorting and planting for 3 1/2 hours so far. Lots and lots to do yet. Time for tea and a back rest.

Re: My venture into my new 760 ltr aquariam. The wife bought some more Buckets today. We can then start sorting the stems which we will plant first. I have 8 buckets full of them that's some 96 pots . Garage is full of plants . All my hobbies keep me always broke. Simon