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HI All, Is surface agitation imperative to help getting the right CO2 balance? Every time I get the CO2 right / Ph drop of 1 before lights on, my fish do not behave normally. Every time they are alright, the CO2 and ph is not. The only thing left to try is to increase surface agitation. But...

Hi all, I'm finally moving to a FE set up - taken me ages, I know! My question is - what help does the check valve (on a bubble counter) have? I haven't been using one on my old DD set up as the bubble counter wasn't in a good position to be of any use. I've read it stops the back flow of...

Hi, I wonder whether this is a problem? In the last week or so the top leaves of this plant have started curling. Is this a problem with anything that will cause other plants a problem? I dose ferts using the EI method currently. The only change in recent weeks is that I have uppsed the...

What does it mean (if anything!) if crypts develop small holes in older leaves?

Hi all, I have consistently had some difficulty with this plant. Is it easyish to grow? It seems to do quite well when I leave it in the pot, sending out runners etc. However, the leaves are very thin and shorter than usual. They tend to look quite 'straggly' - certainly not like it is in...

Hi, A while a go I made my own spray bar using advice from this site. I used clear acrylic and it worked well. However, I couldn't come up with a way of closing the end, so I just 'crimped' it using the heat gun. I desperately need to clean it now and keep that cleaning up regularly. Any...

Does anyone know where I can get hold of one of these? I desperately need to sort out a FE solution for CO2 as I'm now going through a 500g bottle every fortnight with my 200l tank! My wallet can't stand much more of this! Thanks! Paul

Hi All, I wonder if anyone can offer any advice/improvement on my plant selection for my new plan for my tank. I've just started a journal about it at the link below but I wanted to highlight in this topic area which is related to aquascaping and composition. Thanks! Paul...

Right, having scattered random questions over the forum, I have decided I'm going to re-scape my current tank! In another forum I asked about emptying it and starting again, but I've decided that all I really need to do is re-consider the plant stocks and where I put them. So I'm going to up...

Can you put a CO2 bottle on its side? i.e. lying down? I'd like to swap to a FE but the 2KG bottle I can find is JUST too large (with the reg etc) to fit inside the cabinet. Can I lie it down or is this dangerous?

Hi All, Right, so this weekend I finally got around to making my own spray bar. As a result, I have some follow-on questions! 1) Do you all find that you need to use more CO2 as a result? My drop checker has not been the same since I put the spary bar in yesterday. Its not go to the same...

I'm sorry to start yet another topic about DIY spray bars! I can find plenty of relatively cheap Clear Acrylic tubing on ebay that comes in the size I need - my Fluval FX5 has hose of I/D of 25mm and the best pipe I can find is clear acrylic of I/D 24mm. All other PVC pipe that I can find as an...

If I manage to grow a healthy carpet of plants, are Corys ok to keep? Just wondering as these are fish that like to feed off the bottom and wondered whether they were still suitable with carpeting plants?

OK, for a while now everyone has suggested using a spray bar to improve flow and get flow down to the carpet plants. I have a 200l tank with a FX5 filter an inline diffuser. The tank is a 1 metre long and 50cm deep Currently I have one of my FX5 dual outlet heads pointed down which forces the...

Does anyone know where to get one of these so that I can swap from using DD disposable bottles to FE refillable ones? I would really like to do this so that I increase my CO2 injection without having to worry about money! I understand that they aren't made anymore so I'm struggling to find...

I know this topic has probably been asked many times.....but can I get this to work for me? I bought the DD aquarium CO2 system and then swapped to buying the CO2 cylinders from Machine Mart to save money. They are the same sized cylindars just with different lables! I then found a supplier on...

Hi! Can somebody help give me their experience and suggest the best way to go about breaking up an existing set up and creating a new aquascape. Away from inspiration, what are the practicalities of doing this? Has it ever been covered in PKF? It should be, if it hasn't already......! - I...

I returned to the hobby (after a 20 year absence) last year, about 18 mths ago. Since then I have struggled to get the 'balance' right in the tank to get the plants growing and algae irradicated. I've not got bad algae but its present on older leaves and I can't get the plants to 'pearl'. My...

Quick question, how do you manage to plant this?! I ask because I have bought several pots now and I struggle to keep it in the substrate! With such a small root structure the fish and the shrimps seem to move gravel to uproot it before it can take hold properly! Also, what conditions does...

Hi All, I think I may have some Cardinal Tetras with early white spot. I also have one neon which may have neon tetra disease, although I can't be sure. For white spot, I've read about 'no light' treatment and also chemicals. I've taken a lot of time to get to grips with plants (and am still...

Hi All, I've just got some EasyCarbo, mainly for my new 20 litre tank, as I wanted something easier than Co2 injection. I have two questions; if I go away for a day or 2 days at a time (as I travel with work) and miss dosing, will I trigger algae (due to low or unstable CO2 levels) as with...

Hi, I don't know where to post this but I'm interested to get recommendations for the best introduction into Nano Aquariums? With an aquascaping slant to it? Also, what other books do you recommend for aquarium plants/aquascaping? Which is your favourite?

Right I've finally changed filters to improve flow based on feedback. In my 200 litre tank I now use a Fluval fx5 so flow is now great. I've also switched to EI method and my co2 is dissolving well through an in line diffuser with the drop checker green. I thought that was now all sorted and...

Not sure if this belongs in this topic or one of the others Will shrimp be ok when using EI method? I ask because I recently 5 shrimp (before using EI method and using bought ferts) and lost all of them. I put this down to copper being present based on people's advice. So I have switched to EI...

Can i do this without uprooting my existing plant? It is currently growing very well but is slightly hidden. I would like to re plant a new one somewhere else Can someone explain how I might be able to do this?

Ok so this might seem a strange question but I bought 5 males. Now I still haven't got any females but one looks half way! And it is always being chased by the other 4 who seem to display the same mating type ritual that my platys do. The one in question is much larger with much more grey and...

Having read up on this forum I have concluded (like so many others before me!) that my 'flow' isn't good enough. My tank os c. 180 litres and I currently only have a fluval 305. Will changing to a Fluval FX5 be sufficient to achieve the 10X rule? People say that published flow rates aren't...

I recently purchased 5 Amano shrimp 2 weeks ago from Maidenhead Aquatics. 2 died within 24 hours, 1 died after a week and the other 2 have died within the last day or so. Water quality is good, its a heavily planted tank with an attempted carpet (although the algae is stopping this) and a fair...

From another thread I posted in the algae forum, Ive concluded I need to review my flow rates. My tank is approx 180l and 1m long, 55 cm deep I only have a Fluval 305, so using manufacturers guide I make that just 5 times flow. I'm not currently using spray bars, I've thought about it be the...

I started up my tank 13-14 wks ago. It started well with plants growing really well for 2 months, without CO2 or nutrients being added. I slowly built up my fish stock too. It was quite a heavily planted tank - I would say about 60-70% planted. The tank is a metre long by 55cm high. It is lit...

I seem to be having difficulty growing the 'dward four leaf clover'. I planted it some time ago and it seemed to start well, sending up small shoots and runners. The runners and shoots kept coming. However, none of the shoots have ever grown higher than 1-2 cm and certainly never developed into...