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Ah, that's a good idea, stick with the soft drink mix. Knowing nothing about how these pub cylinders are used meant that I couldn't question what I was being told. Apparently, each beer has a different mix of CO2 & Nitrogen. Who knew? As it happens, I found a friendly FE guy this afternoon...

Hi All, Re-filling FE canisters is proving very expensive over here so have made some enquiries about getting a pub CO2 cylinder. Managed to get my hands on one that I can get refilled for free when I need to but I'm unsure about the gas mix they use for refilling. The mix is 50% CO2/ 50%...

Quick update an apologies in advance for the ongoing lack of pics. I'll get proper (ie..not phone) pics soon. So, the flow issues have greatly improved with visible growth in all areas of the tank. Crypts are popping new leaves every day and the melt has stopped completely, Staurgyne has...

thanks ady, I did a thorough clean and prune last night, moved a few plants around and generally tweaked the layout. I removed any crypt leaves that looked like they were not thriving and cut back the Staurgyne in an attempt to encourage carpeting. The floating plant (Salvinia Natans) is...

Ok, quick update: While there is still some melt happening, it seems mostly confined to the older crypt leaves and new growth has started. The Staurgyne has exploded to life all over the tank so flow at substrate level has improved at least. 25 cherry shrimp ordered to tackle the small...

I have successfully grown a forest of various crypts in a non-CO2 tank with only minor algae issues to ruin my feeling of smug satisfaction. :) I realise now from what Clive has posted above that it was as much down to luck and inadvertently limiting the amount of light hitting the crypts as...

Make sense?..... Honestly? No. :lol: Inlet = water in to filter. Outlet = filter spray bar. At least in my tank. The diffuser is right next to the inlet so that the CO2 is being distributed in the water returning to the tank via the spray bar? I think we're saying the same thing?

Diffuser is next to the inlet pipe. At a guess, about 50% of the CO2 goes straight into the filter. I think i'll move the diffuser closer. I've set up the Hydors left and right of the spray bar. Judging by plant movement alone, flow/circulation is hugely improved. I'm going to add a second...

Closer inspection suggest that the plants closer to the CO2 diffuser are doing much better than those further away, including some crypts of the same age, species (and probably motherplant) as those melting. That would seem to confirm a flow/distribution issue at the very least.

It's wood alright but the same principles should apply. I have a smaller Iwagumi set-up with dragon stone that will be getting some HC next. It was very straighforward to just push the plant into any suitable cracks. I just got lucky with that wood, I guess. It had loads of suitable holes. It...

Forgive the awful phone photos but here ya go: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/n ... directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/G ... directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/e ... directlink

I'd happily go the Chine route but I already have the Hydors ready to go. :) I think one either side of the spray bar is the way to go. The tank has an awkward glass ledge along the back edge so I'll have to get some filter tubing and do an extension piece but it's do-able. We'll try that...

In general terms.....how does 2 Hydor minis and the spray bar directed from back of the tank towards front glass sound as an attempt to improve flow. Angled from high to low? Link to poor phone photo.. : https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8 ... directlink Spray bar top right, hydor top...

Hi ady34.... sorry, my omission. I'm only using 2x39w. I've never had the 4 on together.

Makes complete sense. I went from overdosing liquid CO2 while I was getting the pressurised system together, to stopping liquid CO2 altogether as soon as I had the diffuser working without considering the implications of that. I currently have a bright green drop-checker but I'm guessing that...

Straight to the point as always. :) Thanks a million. I had already upped the CO2 and I've since reduced the photoperiod by 2 hours. I'll monitor closely and see how we go. I've noticed some new Marsilea leaves breaking through the substrate so maybe it was just getting going. I'm having my...

As I type, I know this is a dumb question but as I'm not stranger to making a fool of myself, I shall carry on regardless... :D Is 'melt' contagious? I had always assumed that it was 'plant-specific' (for want of a better term) but following a bout of melting Staurgyne a nearby and...

Excellent Stu, thanks. I can start it up high and train it downwards. Exactly what I hoped...

Wow! I dunno if I want to dismantle my hardscape to go drilling the bogwood but I kinda wish that I had now. Your's looks fantastic. I particularily love the view from above. The glosso was nice but the crypts are amazing. Well done. I suppose my question was more about whether HC Cuba would...

the latest in my sporadic posting career on UKAPS. :) Good to be back. As usual, when every other source fails me, I come here for advice. My latest order of plants arrived from Richard in AE yesterday and typically I realised that I hadn't fully thought through my planting plan. I had a...

Thanks ceg4048. Succint as always! :)

I can't find a smiley that conveys *smacks self really hard on head* so here goes...... I've just realised that the MgSO4 solution that I've been dosing for 3 weeks was 6 times stronger than I had thought it was. I've been dosing to 30ppm every second day instead of my aimed-for 5ppm. As per...

Ah good stuff, glad that worked out for you. I wish i'd stockpiled before I moved away because the cheapest I can get a refill for over here is €36.....more than twice that if I need a cylinder too. :shock: I did get your pm btw, I just haven't got around to replying to you. :) So far, so...

Ok, after 36 hours and 1 w/c on 6 hours lowlight & 2 hours hilight (as zig suggested), the cloudiness has cleared. At least, it had this morning before i dosed Macros. I made some adjustments to the flow pattern and upped the CO2 injection rate. It comes on 2 hours before lights and goes off 2...

:) even the masters must listen to ceg ;) I'm using a rhinox 5000 diffuser, but I think you may be right. It needs to be cleaned nearly every week at this stage. i may have to look at a better solution... I have some Excel here so I'll dose that for a while until i can sort the distribution...

Oh, don't worry.... I'm well on the way to being de-programmed! Operation ceg4048 continues! ;) Having checked James' Algae guide I'd be almost 100% sure that I'm farming BBA.... I's also be pretty sure I have a few of the other varieties that he mentions. Most all of them linked to low CO2...

Ok, I've upped the CO2 a little and added a 3rd Eheim 300 powerhead. I'll double the PO4 when I dose in the morning. I'll resume the MGSO4 dosing also. I really thought I was getting the hang of reading this tank......obviously not.... Ho Hum....... :roll: Once the cloudy water clears...

:D No sooner had I hit 'submit' than I knew you'd pick me up on that one! Point taken, though. CO2 is FE injected. At least 30ppm running from 9am (lights come on at 10am) until 13.30pm. The D/C is yellow even after the CO2 has been off for hours. I think I've pushed the level as far as the...

Any advice greatly appreciated. The Bad Stuff: I have GSA on the glass since yesterday. Not loads but still..... I have short black algae on Hygro Siamensis/E. Tennellus/Anubias/Various Mosses/Various Crypts/Nessea Podicellata/Ludwigia Repens. All of the above plants are otherwise healthy...

Will do, Sam. I'll be starting it on Saturday. Pics will follow. The deaths still have me puzzled, all the other fish are perfectly healthy with no signs of stress. There's no inter-species aggression of any kind and all the dead fish are stock I've had for ages, 3 years in the case of the...

lost 10 fish last night, including 5 of my 7 blue rams, 3 rummy nose and 2 lemon tetra. No obvious cause apparent. I thought the gas might have come on hours too early and stressed them too much. The powerhead that gives surface agitation and runs in parallel with the CO2 didn't come on, but I...

CO2 tubing popped off the diffuser while I was away for 2 days. :evil: Brown diatom stuff all over the glass. Not happy. BBA is improving slightly. Crypt Parva seems to have dirty leaves, doesn't look like algae but I suspect it is. Slowly getting on top of the quantities of trace to dose...

Well done Peter. Ireland does it better again! :wink: :D

Thanks guys. I'm sure with the help I'm getting from everyone on here I'll be able to keep it looking like that.. :wink:

Golden Rock - 4 weeks growth, Background planted 5/8/08 So, this week i've learned: 1. Don't assume your filter is working properly just because it's only 3 weeks old. If you do you risk not discovering the 6 inches of filter floss wrapped around the impeller reducing flow to very little...

Re: Work in progress - 2 weeks growth, fish and shrimp added Well, my plant order from GreenMachine arrived exactly as promised, (Jim, 2 days from your door to Galway by DHL, for future reference) I've the alarm set for early in the morning to get them in. 2 really healthy looking pots of...

I'm very happy with my 2026, but the flow might be a bit much in a 60cm. This one might be better: http://www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalo ... -2324-.asp or you could always run an in-line Hydor heater?

Re: Work in progress - 2 weeks growth, fish and shrimp added Thanks Sam, I think it's getting there now. I need to get on top of the algae before it gets worse but thanks to ceg4048's advice above I reckon I can do that. I have more Downii, some Hyrgo Corymbosa Red and a few others on the way...

Re: Work in progress - 2 weeks growth, fish and shrimp added Another revelation. So much of what I 'know' seems to be wrong. Thanks again. I'll keep you posted on progress.

Re: Work in progress - 2 weeks growth, fish and shrimp added Will this not have an effect on the PH though. I have the CO2 running 24/7 at the moment to avoid a PH swing overnight.

Re: Work in progress - 2 weeks growth, fish and shrimp added Thanks Clive, Once again, you've covered everything and more! Most of the problem with this tank is the fact that I'm away from it during the week so dosing and trimming are done via phone instruction to the G/F. Not ideal but from...

Re: Work in progress - 2 weeks growth, fish and shrimp added Once again, ceg4048, another very helpful post. Fear not, I don't take offence when offered advice from far more experienced Aquarists. I was having trouble getting my drop checker to change from yellow to green and in the absence of...

Re: Work in progress - 2 weeks growth, fish and shrimp added Ok, so the tank has been up for nearly 4 weeks now so I decided it was safe to add the cleanup crew. 10 Amano Shrimp and 14 Ottos from the local lads in AquaPaws, Galway...... and a small shoal of Harlquins for colour. Started dosing...

Welcome back, Neil. Loved your tanks since the TFF days. It's all upwards from here. :D

Re: My latest effort - Work in progress - Rescaped - 22.07.08 you have pm, milla

Re: My latest effort - Work in progress - Rescaped - 22.07.08 Thanks for all the helpful comments, lads. I really appreciate the advice. I've been on the TGM (what a helpful bunch they are) :D about a plant order, some Hygrophila corymbosa `Red` & Nesaea pedicellata to add some color...

Re: My latest effort - Work in progress - Rescaped - 22.07.08 Good point, planter. There's actually a decent slope on it but it is too deep at the front. I'm not sure I can fix it now without tearing the tank apart again.

Re: My latest effort - Work in progress - Rescaped - 22.07.08 Ah yeah, it's a nice plant. I think I've just let it grow too long so it looks straggly. I'll prune it back into something more compact before I decide to get rid of it! Do you think that I need more colour contrast in the...

Re: My latest effort - Work in progress - Rescaped - 22.07.08 Thanks Dan. I agree about moving the stem plants to the back corner. That 'cabomba' is hornwort, i think. I'm not mad about it. If I can get my lone surviving stem of E.Stellata to grow, I'd like to fill out the back right corner...

Re: My latest effort - Work in progress - Rescaped - 22.07.08 Yeah, it's definitely improved but still a way to go yet. I thought that I wanted it to look a bit jungle-y but now I think it looks untidy! :lol: I made a divider out of coco pots (not cocopops!) to divide the AS and the sand...

Re: My latest effort - Work in progress One productive aquascaping weekend later... Turns out you guys were right about the size of the stones :D so I replaced all of them with smaller, darker ones. I think it looks much better. Thanks for the advice. The Limnophilia is way too stemmy so I...

Re: My latest effort - Work in progress Interesting you should say that, John. The original scape was to have darker rocks but I changed my mind at the last minute. I'll re-scape on Saturday with smaller, darker stones and see how it looks. Thanks for the comments, everyone. This is a great...

Re: My latest effort - Work in progress Not negative at all, Dan. Thanks for the input. I have a whole beach full of stones to choose from, i thought I had the scaling right. I'll have a look at it again next weekend with that in mind. (this tank is across the country from me at the moment...

So, finally I got to start my 'temporary' 3 foot tank at my new address in the west. This was supposed to be a holding tank for my fish for a few months until I get to set up the 5 foot tank in the living room. I think this tank may be a little more permanent than that, somehow. Anyway, what...

Any blue/green slimy looking stuff? A healthy tank shouldn't smell strongly, in my experience.

Haven't picked up PFK yet but just came across pics of George's Optiwhite on APC...... That's one beautiful tank...... One of your best yet, GF....

I had a serious BGA issue for months that just would not respond to the usual blackouts, upping CO2, maintenance etc. I too killed mine with Erythromycin. I first manually cleaned as much of the slime away as possible, I covered the substrate with black tape as recommended to protect it from...

I had a notion to use thin balsa wood and hide it with bogwood. Either that or cut bogwood to have 2 flat edges below the level of the sand and silicon it to the tank bottom. That way it would look natural above the sand too.

Ah, good point. Maybe not quite so geniusy then. I didn't use clay when I did this. Well pointed out, JamesC.

There is a way to add new substrate to an already planted tank with minimal disturbance but it won't address the issue of ammonia release from the ADA soil...... I've used this myself with success in the past... Take a quantity of tank water, a quantity of the substrate to be added and as big...