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Green LED's work for me! No algea issue as green light is of no use! (Blue does! IMO/E) I use a LED M16 connector bulb (12 VDc) cost about £6 from local elecy shop THT, Cheers, Mick B Something like these; http://www.terralec.co.uk/lamps/led_lamps/483_0c.html

Ceramic rings are for colonisation of bacterial-filtration (IMO). Inlet sponge works well (over inlet strainer, in tank) and is easy to clean, without breaking into the cannister :D HTH, Cheers, Mick B PS, The thin pad, I buy large pad of Koi matting, cut to size and split-off a thin...

Just to be safe (as C02 can be cold when exhausting/decompressing) put some gloves on! :wink: Caffine & Nicotine, don't calm nerves, But I still try it, 20+ times a day :lol: :lol: 8)

:wink: :) :) :)

Hi Matt, Just a thought, the inlet pipe size of the pumps may be the determining factor? If you are tight for space, to get 2 inlets and 2 outlets into the tank (bl**dy brace bars!) then you may find it's the size of the biggest inlet which will fit, determines which pump. No point in getting...

Hi Matt, The choice is yours! :D But IMO I would go with the additional 2000 ltr unit (but that's just IMO :oops: ) This may not suit you, but I find, when checking the flow patterns, a few drips of malachite green or meth-blue can help :wink: Cheers, Mick B

Hi Matt, The pumps will compete, and dependant upon which way around, filter-load etc, and they may even cause cavitation (not good). Also, most cannisters have pipe and fittings, to match the impellor output, so you may not see any improvment at all! So IMO, (I have similar) put them on...

Great link Steve, thanks :D So the Future is not Orange, it's Green :mrgreen:

:D Well, we all concentrate on getting rid of the stuff, but it may well soon be driving us to work! :wink: :mrgreen: Thought this extract from 'Processtalk' might be of interest! beats the hell out of chopping down rain forest to grow pine-oil :evil: "2] Algae oil feedstock for biodiesel...

Nice :D Last year, I switched from a Honda 600/4 to a triumph 675/triple, You gonna love the sound and the grunt :D :D Cheers, Mick B

Hi , I have wormed my Discus (on more than one occasion :) ) with Panacur (Puppy dog strength wormer, 1 gram crushed and mixed with 100 grams of meat-mix food). Served morning & night Day 1 and Day 5 (excess removed after 10 mins) Never been a problem with snails or shrimps, BUT it is dosed...

Good News! But I hope he's not driving that custom lorry home! :lol:

Hi George, Is it me? :? or is there a strong resemblance to Arnie the "Terminator" :lol: Oh and theres no Tax Disc on your truck!!!! :lol: :lol:

South Lincolnshire :D

Re: James3200s 6.5x2x2' planted tank - Discus now in Hi James, Just a thought? :oops: Wonder if, with all those Discus, you may be visiting the British Discus Show @ Bristol in November?? (Not too far from you!) www.british-discus-show.com Cheers, Mick B

Re: James3200s 6.5x2x2' planted tank - Discus now in Hi James, Looking good! I'm glad you went for Discus, but I'm biased :lol: IMO/E Cardinals are prone to sudden shifts in water parameters :?: , I have 200+ in my display tank, with 21 Discus, no problems, providing the Discus are well...

Cover the front face of the box, with a piece of mirrored glass. (Use silicone to stick it to the box, and seal the cut-edges to prevent any of the metalic mirroring being exposed to the water). Cheers, Mick B

Just IMO, Blokes seem more happy (generalising wildly :oops: ) with all the widgets/pumps/valves/chemicals/etc etc required to run the tank and without the tank, no scapes! Gardening again IMO, tends to be; Flowers, appearance, the whole experience - - - - Female Giant Veg, huge leeks...

Hi All, I don't use any De-chlor either, but I do use an HMA filter cartridge (actual name Pentek CBR2-10, removes chlorine and heavy metals), I also use RO (but that's a discus thing :wink: ). IMO, Modern water companies, quite often mix & match from differing areas, dependant upon season...

Hi Ark, Glad yours shoal :D you may wish to post on this; viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2855&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=shoaling Overstocked, No :D Averages about the equivelent of 1 adult Discus per 10 galls, and it all depends on your filter capacity, WC routine, feeding schedule etc etc. The...

Hi Ark, Problem with a shoal (as a focal point/specimine etc), is they won't shoal unless they are scared, so you need a large fish (IMO) to make them nervy, so why not just have The larger fish? I have currently 21 Adult Discus and 200+ cardinals, they do shoal, but only when the Discus are...

6 good quality Discus would do it :lol: But I'm bias, Cheers, Mick B

Thanks Clive, See we were listening :lol: I've been VERY sceptical about the accuracy of 'Hobby drop-tests' since spending a year trying to reduce nitrates, only to find (when tested by my water supplier) that my test kit registers X2 (yes 100% inaccurate!! :evil: ). So, now, with this...

Try this link; http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aquarium-Mazzie-V ... 286.c0.m14 Cheers, Mick B :D Or this one, for 1/2" veriant http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aquarium-Trident- ... 911.c0.m14

Excellent! I like this place :D Cheers, Mick B

Saw ypur post and , guess what, It gave me the confidence to increase the phosphate level a bit, so now (Sorry Clive :oops: ) test kit is showing 4ppm, which would have prompted a WC, but now, I look, see the plants are improving, fish are well, so test kit, back in box! Sometimes good...

Of topic? is it? Sounds similar to me :D :D Surely, the optimum, is to dose EI and adjust (over time) untill there is no 'bottoming-out' and no surplus, but good sustained plant growth, balance! :D Thanks for the input, I'm slowly learning, but it takes time!! :) Cheers, Mick B

Hi Ceo, So, I may as well do my daily doseing with the Discus 1st feed (lights off) in the morning, as that would be far more convenient :D So, once again, many thanks. Mick B

Hi Dan, Good on Yer! anything with two wheels (or 3 :lol: ) floats my boat :D Used to be a regular local thing, Sunday Car & Bike grass-track in a field near you, but nowdays seems to have faded away (insurance cover costs??), dam shame, some of the best racing to be seen! Balls out...

Hi Garuf, I tend to agree, to some extent, I'm using PMDD without the water :D or EI based on a daily routine (not weekly). Ceo was kind enough o give me an initial EI 'mix' which I intend to adjust (over time) with referance to the plants reactions (and the fish :D ), so hope to get a...

Hi Garuf / Matt, Thanks for the replies, :D My 'system' is a large planted Discus tank, which has an automated WC system (approx 10% each night) which finishes at about 6.00 AM each morning. The tank gets some natural light (minimal) but the main T5's etc come on at 12.00AM. As I understand...

Hi All, Ok, I'm adding dry ferts (EI) on a daily basis (as instructed to off-set my nightly Water changes), so when is the best time to add the ferts? WC occurs through the night, finishes about 6AM, lights (main) come on at 12AM (lunchtime), so is it best to add the ferts early morning just...

Now you are talking!!! Proper racing! but on which tyres!!!!!! :lol: :twisted: :lol:

Hi Will, SAE's jump, but so do Discus! so I would definatly go with cover-glass :lol: I use acrylic (B&Q) with a 30mm Dia hole in each section, to allow food to be dropped in and to get my fingers in to lift-off etc. (Glass is best, but if you lean on it, crash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and it's heavy...

Well I'm English and I'm happy to support Lewis :D Yes Lewis did go over the corner (to avoid 'R' leaning on him), he allowed 'R' to re-overtake (advantage gone), then overtook him on the opposite side, so how's that an advantage? Even if, you agree, 'R' was still getting up-to-pace, when 'L'...

Hi Will, Re "how much do I love that ripple effect? :? " I use t5's for the main lights (photo period) but have four 12 VDC Dichroics (halogen spots) which are on pre & post photo-period (sunrise-sunset etc) these little chaps, do penetrate 30"+ depth and give 'shafts' of light (filament etc)...

Hi Wilis, You are correct (linked kitchen units), IP54, but as I have a 'boxed-in tank', I have 3ft above to play with and it don't matter, they look crap :D (Supply is on an RCD, to add extra security etc :wink: ). Thanks for the link, Cheers, Mick B :D

Thank You :D With the help of folk on this forum, I hope to improve it, allways 'work-in-progress' :lol:

MH do get hot!!! Have you seen these? Link; http://www.growell.co.uk/p/5065/T5-High ... Light.html 6700 colour temp, cheap, easy etc. Cheers, Mick B

Hi Aaron, Well they are currently in a 60 gal, QT set-up, but destined for my Display Tank (300 gals), some pics on this link; viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2363&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=10 Cheers, Mick B PS, I'm hoping they will form a tight shoal, when faced by 21 Adult Discus :lol:

Hi All, Well I've been waiting to comment, as during the discussion, I had ordered 200 Cardinals from Zoostock. Yes I had to chase them about delivery, but the explanations were plausable, expanding bussiness with growth issues. The 'Main Man' is Andrew Stephenson, who personnaly explained...

Hi George, Glad to be hear :D Have to say, this place is an absolute gold-mine! for those taking a plunge into the 'dark-side' :lol: :lol: :?: Are you back from your travels? (been earwigging, some scary places you seem to be visiting! and not improving, from what I hear on the TV!)...

Hi Ceo, No I won't throw away the test kit, just re-calibrate, what is working. Was 2ppm, now after doesing, 4ppm and GSA which from articals is low PO4, so potentially increase dose of PO4 9but I'll maintain as-is for now). This edit, form a link by GF in articals threw me :?: To prevent...

Hi Ceo / All, Nearly 3 weeks into EI and there are visible signs of re-growth from both anubias and Java fern, :D Plus increased growth from substraight rooted plants :D A slight increase in green-spot algea, but nothing to write home about. Water test, mid point between WC & Doseing is...

They have no problems digging down in my gravel and its 1/4" to 1.5" diameter pebels and 7" deep in places, they are very able diggers! :D Mine grow to about 1.25" long HTH, Cheers, Mick B

There are many types of stainless, but IMO/E none will be detrimental (316 food grade would be best, but 303 or 304 wouild be OK), Screw-Fix direct, do a good range at a reasonable price, but; Where the screw 'cuts into the wood and pulls up tight', the wood will rot away, around the flutes of...

If you want GOOD Discus, visit BIDKA and check out the Sponsors, you may be suprised by the high quality and reasonable prices. Link; http://forum.bidka.org/index.php Cheers, Mick B :D

Link from BIDKA (Thanks Slackey :D )

Thanks Jay :D Since starting EI, my Java fern is having babies (plantlets on leaf edges, not sure which veriety it is??) but looks like I will also have some plantlets to re-plant sparce areas etc :D Cheers, Mick B

Thanks Jay, Have java fern & anubias on wood, I did have bolbitis, but it died back?, however, since using EI (only 2 weeks so early days), the J-fern & Anubias are starting to re-grow, so once they prove stable, I do intend to re-try some bolbitis (Have you any spare? :wink: ) Cheers, Mick B

Hi Aaronnorth, Understand and appreciate your comment, but like life, it's not quite that simple :) Areas of the UG are not deep-vacced, only surface (1/2") vacced and loaded with flourite, other areas are deep-vacced (up to 7" deep pea gravel to 1.5" pebbles) but no plants are rooted in...

Thanks Guys, I'm ok with how, it was what I was trying to achieve 8) I think I'm OK with circulation as I rotate the water around a vertical axis (external pump & heater) back via nozzels just below surface, plus the action of 21 Discus tend to stir things up a bit :lol: Plus the U/Gravel...

Hi All, Very new to this, so sorry if it's a dumb newbie question :oops: , but; I have read on varied threads about circulation to distribute ferts etc and they seem to suggest x 10 But, I also note, lots of surface aggitiation de-gasses C02, so I'm looking for calrification please; As I come...

Excellent explanation, thanks. Coming from the Discus side of things, CO2 tends to be considered as a Ph reducing tool as it promotes the take-up of KH, thus reducing Ph, hence the parallel with using RO to reduce TDS (including kH) again to drop Ph I learned someting today, Cheers, Mick B :D

Thanks for the 'user report' I was contemplating one, so I could remove the pond net, but now, I think I will pass! :D Cheers,, mMick B

10% by volume (30 galls) per night. RO & HMA filtered tap, blended direct into tank at 5 galls/hour. (Low tarrif electric heats etc). Water is piped direct to tank, from a mini-water treatment system in the 'car-port', then up the drain-pipe, via the attic to the tank. Over-flow is directed to...

UKDA are there, but there is also a Discus show by BIDKA at Bristol in Nov details here; http://www.british-discus-show.com/ Why not go to both!!!!! Cheers, Mick B

We have 9 Cats, so I'm not going to rise to the ball-bearing thing :( The super-soaker is good, and Hozelock (I think?) make an auto shooter, for warning-off herons etc from your pond (connects to mains water 'hose-pipe' and is triggered via infa-red) works at night, but can soak the postman...

One little bit of info, which may be of interest; If you crush a bit of willow (green not dormant) and soak in water, the water makes an excellent rooting-mixture for cuttings! for all you organic gardeners (Normal 'dry' gardening, not for Tanks), so hormones poss play a part?

Like this place, learned something new! :D :D :D But I'm not increasing pH or kH for them, they do fine, judging by the numbers! LOL Cheers, Mick B :wink:

Well, that's how I understood it to work? :? and yes, smaller new ones do have a point, but not the older ones? Calcium, don't know? all I can say, is my planted tank is approx 6.8 ph average, kH 5, gH 12 (ish) and @ 29 deg C (does sometimes in summer hit 32 C) and they breed like wild-fire...

I have about 10 trillion, but some (approx 30mm long) have been about (as far as i know :lol: ) for at least 4 to 5 years. Mine reproduce live bearing, (end of shell breaks away and is a new baby snail, that's why larger ones do not have a point on the end of the shell). They are carnivors...

Hi You wrote "- Mick B Very appreciated for your inputs. I think I’ll properly need more time to understand about why “peppering” occurred in our tanks, not being occurred in the dealer’s tank. This makes me curious to learn, and it made me to buy the fishes from Chen’s. The fishes are...

Hi Ty-phan, Great tank, and the plants seem great (but other plantsmen & women) are more qualified than I, so I will let them comment on the plants/system etc. I keep Discus and you have learned the hard way about 'mature filters' :( I also note, N02 at 0.1 to 0.3 ppm, this again is not...

Hi Ceo, This is the bit, I had not grasped, with regard to nitrogen in the water cloumn (where anubias and Java fern are sited) So the scientists categorize DIN (Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen) and DON (Dissolved Organic Nitrogen). The DIN is easy as it is a fraction of the KNO3 (or whichever...

Hi Adam, Thanks for the positive comments (and they are easier to keep than percieved :wink: ) Two of the Discus you can see, are home-bred, others mainly from specialist suppliers (via BIDKA etc), but like plants, if you ask around, do the research, find the right suppliers etc, you can get...

Hi ceo, And I thought it was the Frogs!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: , but tend to agree, esp with mumbo-jumbo cost ££££££££'s Same with Meds, for basic stuff, I use the pond stuff in the Discus tank, just have to check doseage etc, but in some cases, (skipping, the it's not as pure'...

Hi ceo, I have a pond, but have never tried EI on it :D seems like a lot of ferts? but I guess it works as the added growth of the main plants, starve the algea (or shade it out etc). Barley straw does work (green water only) as it breaks down, it releases ensimes, which prevent algea growth...

Yes, but don't see it as a problem :) We have Nine Cats (yup that's 9) all will sit on the sofa and watch for hours, but 2 of the females, still think (if we are quick enough, we can catch dinner) but always foiled by the glass!! :lol: :lol: It seems to be the Corries and whip-cats which...

Hi ceg :D Many thanks again for the detailed reply, and UREKA! you have just confirmed my darkest thoughts! There are different types of Nitrate! As a keen gardener, I looked at the plants and though nitrate difficency? but with 30+ppm N03 in the tank water and no apparent Iron, I have been...

Hi Adam / All, Now found the missing pics. Display 2008 1 to 4, note the lack of anubias since the mains were changed! http://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t124/micksnaps/ Cheers, Mick B 8) Edited to provide inline images: ceg4048 14:28 23 Jul 2008

Hi Adam, Well can't locate the pics in the current link (PC crash and issues with Kodak etc :? ) but here's a link to how it was before the Water Co changed the pipes! (No longer has java moss as fish load is higher) Hope it works! Cheers, Mick B 8) Edited to provide inline image. ceg4048...

Hi Adam, Don't seem to be able to up-load a pic?? :roll: but working on it! Cheers, Mick B

sory don't know how to edit??????????????? should read (22 x 22 x 3.142)/4 = 380 mm sq :oops: Now found the Edit button!!! As I said NEWBIE!!!! :lol: :mrgreen:

Hi Chaps, Not wishing to be 'clever' (as the newbie0 but the statement re-flow is correct, but the figures are off by a factor of 4 16mmDia has a cross-section of (16x16 x 3.142)/4 = 201mm sq 22mm Dia has cross-section 0f (22x22 x 3.142)/4 = 380mm sq But the advice re plumbing is correct...

Hi All, Thanks for the warm welcome :D ceg4048, WOW! :shock: :o I was not expecting such a detailed reply (and still trying to get my head around the chemistry! :oops: ) I don't feed 10 times a day :lol: but 4 times and yes, that Discus beefheart stuff! + flake, granules, brineshrimp...

Hi James, Glad I found this place! So I currently add fe (Iron Sulphate), K (potash), Mg (Epson salts) and my Tap water contains at least 15ppm NO3 (Phosphate approx 1.5ppm also in the water) and I have been adding a dry mix of 'trace elements' but blending them together with the other base...

"Sunny S.Lincs" ?? :lol: Thanks for the welcome :D

Hi James, Many thanks for that, off to investigate :wink: Cheers, Mick B

Hi All, 1st let me introduce myself, I'm principally a Discus keeper (link to here from BIDKA). I live in south Lincs and have a 300 gallon planted tank (21 discus) and a 60 gallon planted tank (2 Discus), both use UG filtration+cannisters and UV. I have been reading the artical (great stuff...