Search results for query: *

came across this, seems you can calibrate it and reasonably priced. Anyone tried one?

I watched a youtube video once on Mark's Aquatics where he tends to do things on the cheap wherever possible. He was setting up a low budget shrimp tank using stuff he found in the wild and second hand gear that was being given away to show what could be achieved with very little £££ One thing...

I think the reasoning behind it is the thermostat is at the top so when the warm water rises it can switch it off too early, being horizontal means the thermostat gets the temp of the surrounding water not the warm water rising past it from the element. Not so important if you have good flow...

Depends on size of tank, the 12mm version is a 200watt and the 16mm version is 300watt. Based on 1 watt per litre recommended. I'm guessing you are not using a 12mm external on a 200 ltr plus tank?

Was thinking same thing mate but I was looking at the aquascaper 300 cabinet which comes with no door but built in shelf, when I was talking to George he tells me the shelf can't be removed so need to find the height of the shelf to make sure an external filter is going to sit under or above it...

Maybe look at the Dennerle internal heater range, both the 25 watt and the 50 watt are only 160mm in length. You could put these horizontal at the back of the tank just above substrate level and the plants would pretty much hide them. They're better off horizontal anyway, the thermostat tends to...

Hiya mate, Complete Aquatics will do you the cabinet on its own. I'm in the same boat as you, I bought an Opti White 300 Cube in Biotopias closing down sale and have been itching to set it up but I can't find a cabinet to sit it on. The only issue with the Aquascaper 300 cabinet is it doesn't...

Never accept sub standard work even if they offer money off especially when it's visual. I have a policy in my business where if I wouldn't have it in my house I wouldn't expect anyone else to even if I have to rip the whole lot. I usually do all the work in my own house but I was that busy with...

I wonder, if you left a chip that big in an expensive kitchen worktop at their house whether they would deem that as "acceptable" I'm guessing not.

I wish I had the equipment and know how to build optiwhite tanks. There's definitely an opening in the market for decent custom tanks in the UK, the one @Andrew Butler posted there would never have left my shop. Its glass for gods sake, not only that the purpose of it is for someone to spend a...

I heard once you can use salt and dip the nets in a strong brine mix. Not sure how effective it is. I use cheap as chips thin bleach from my local budget shop for cleaning diffusers as its easier to rinse off than the normal jelly type bleach.

BTW, I was going to suggest siliconing two lengths of acrylic maybe 3" wide longways across the bending panel with holes drilled in bottom to form a terrestrial plant section so it was dual purpose as well as a stiffener but if things are getting complicated already maybe not.

What not a "no fishing" sign? disappointed.

Also Kudos for doing a test fill in what appears to be in the house. :D That'll do, I can remember a school trip to Notre-Dame Cathedral and the tour guide saying that on every Cathedral there is always something that isn't uniform like a window smaller than all the rest, it was based on...

No bother mate, for 1mm maybe sanding is an option? I was looking at a you tube video about taking chips out and somebody did it with emery cloth on a wooden block and polish but if you can live with it cool.

How about some minimal corner beads @zozo ?

That's just gave me an idea though, I have a sheet of green stuff here that came as a covering protection board. I could rip that down into thin strips and use as supports :thumbup:

I looked up Silver Ion Andrew out of curiosity, it says... Means nothing to me though although handy for future ref on jobs, Altro being very expensive I often get asked why and a lot of it's cheaper versions don't seem to have had this treatment, you know how it is when you tell people how...

Furthermore, as much as it would gripe me, for what its going to cost to custom a lid, I think I would be leaning towards selling the hood and lights they have and getting a sit on rim led fixture and go open top or glass cover. Sometimes you need to bite the bullet.

Hiya mate, this was the reason I said... Because I don't know how it works, I just know when I tried to install a cheaper product as a cost saving excercise at the local hospital the architect wouldn't have it because from their data sheets... Now I don't know what "silver ion" is and one...

Word of warning on the Whiteroc, I install this stuff in hospitals and food prep areas, probably even have some knocking about actually. It has an active anti-bacterial coating to prevent ecoli and various other hospital super bugs. Not sure how this works, I would imagine it so smooth bacteria...

I would have a search of this board regarding the TMC cabinet mate, I have one myself. Lot of issues with it regarding moisture. have you looked in the Aquascaper Range?

I find low iron glass very fragile unless its just me being too finicky. I have a ADA 60H which I once just glanced lifting off the glass cover which ended up knocking a chip off the top front, thought I could live with it until I do a new setup then I'll turn the tank around and put it at the...

I don't have the twinstar but I do have the Chirios one. It advises not having it near to the inlet of the filter as the reactive gas doesn't differentiate between good bacteria and bad bacteria and algae. The sterilising action destroys cells so is it a good idea to have it in the filter...

I'm sure there was a voucher with 40% of at TGM recently if they can order one in. What about aquascaper models which I believe George farmer is involved in? I know they do opti white tanks to custom sizes, maybe ask George

The bizarre thing is for some reason I always thought that a glass thermometer would always just work, it was a done deal until you smashed it. Until recently that is, I have a RCS tank in my unheated office which is only heated when I'm in so gets pretty cold this time of year. The tank has...

I don't think that's fair on the seller though, My mistake really plus the ph and temp side of the meter work fine. What's the deal with these £4 TDS meters, are they all just as good as each other or false economy? Came across some KCI on ebay but they appear to be slightly chemically...

Then you start looking at ones for £3ish and wondering whether it's worth messing. Getting the KCI I would would have to assume the RO water I was mixing it with had a TDS of Zero to get accurate results and ironically I have no way of checking this with a......:D

Hmm, not the reply I was hoping for if I'm honest, this is the meter I bought. So if it's only high range will it be less accurate at lower readings I guess? Also can't really see any UK suppliers of the calibration fluid when searching.

Just bought a TDS/PH/Temp meter off Ebay. Firstly, thought I'd calibrate it before using it just in case it's been sat about in some warehouse for a long time only to find the instructions say to calibrate using 6440ppm standard fluid. I assumed that it made no difference what fluid you...

Just make sure you tie the scrunchy to the pipe well people. I had an experience not so long ago where the knot had came undone with plenty of use and the scrunchy part was literally hanging by a thread. Had a bit of a bomb diffusing moment where I had to pull it out as gently as I could, no...

:D I have my uses. Was just about to pop in and suggest my DIY method, I can't believe it's been noted by so many people. Truly honoured, glad some people have found it some use. I never had any luck with bleach but my pipes tend to get really mucky especially at the bottom of the inlet. I guess...

I think the worry is that the cabinet or tank might be slightly different sizes which was my concern as well, even a mm out would be annoying in my head if spending that sort of money for a set up especially if you go down the ADA tank route. If the above was true about all being equal makes you...

What's that song? You say it best when you say nothing at all ;) you can get away with glass ones. My missus didn't even notice they were in there until I was cleaning them one day.

Yes, I think it's the ones from China I've heard people having problems with. Just cleaned my lily pipes on my shrimp tank today. Wish I'd came up with this idea earlier, what a big difference it is! I'm no longer avoiding pipe maintenance. Only scary bit now is pulling the pipes off the tubing...

These look hot! Not sure why they only come in 14mm Diameter unless they are specifically for the ADA filters. Good thing about them is my missus wouldn't mind me getting them :D They go with the stainless, white paint, white oak and glass theme that seems to be prevalent in my house at the...

Already did that, that's where it began. Ironically mine broke off clean along one of the slits so I took the sharp edge off with sandpaper and it actually works better albeit needing a mesh intake filter on. I actually looked about to see if anyone did an open ended one but couldn't find any...

Thanks, I now have two sets so hopefully they won't get as gunged up in between filter cleaning. I can have a set soaking in bleach while the others are being used. Having one set soaking for an hour or so while I was cleaning the filter just didn't make a difference to me. Most commercial ones...

Diy lily pipe cleaner. by AWB70, on Flickr Tried many commercial pipe cleaners which to me have been a brown trouser experience. Knocked this up and it works perfect for both 13 and 16mm pipes. Fishing line, air line tubing and a body scrub. Cut a piece off, roll up and insert about 20mm into...

Ford one size fit 13 and 17mm pipes,any links to where you can buy them?

I'm thinking of glass here. Managed to get hold of two sets of lily pipe which means I now have two pairs per tank. Hopefully I can now leave a set soaking in bleach until I change them over. I find soaking them in bleach when you only have one set for an hour or so doesn't really have much...

I'll give it a try as soon as my replacement turns up just in case. Has anybody came across open ended inlets before? Miles easier to clean IMO. I've bought 2 sets of lily this time so that I can soak in bleach more regular and alternate which set I'm using. If they are well scummed up bleach...

Worth a try. I suspect a similar approach is what broke them in the first place. I dipped the end in boiling water to soften up the tubing but didn't fully submerge it. I think the last 10mm or so still had a grip and when I twisted shattered round one of the slits which would have been a week...

Has anyone successfully did this? Managed to break the end of my inlet where the intake slots are. I've ordered a new one but the old one still functions for now, I just rubbed the sharp edges with sand paper and put my mesh filter back on. On the plus side it seems to be less restrictive and...

Cat litter is also a glass killer. It's attracted to the magnet, probably the Iron in it. I use bank card and sponge for mine. Nice tip on the silicone, algae has got between mine. Something to remeber next time I break it down although I think next time I break it I'm going for a new tank.

That's what I assumed as well. Hopefully it's ok.

Bit late in the day as I've already done this many times. Just wondering if it's ok to use a flexible brush like the ones for pipes through the hydor heaters? I generally do but it's dawned on me that there maybe some bits in there I could damage.

Worked a treat, in fact really good for the job I would recommend anyone who has broke one to do it. The glue that holds these things together is very poor. Put a bead around the rim and re-insert the mesh gets a really good hold.

Thanks mate. I'll have a crack at it later.

I have a couple of stainless steel mesh filters, the ones with the rubber ring by AE. They're a bit fragile and managed to break them probably because I put them on plastic intake pipes. I know have glass and they seem to fit on a lot easier. I was thinking of trying to glue them back together...

Cheers LD, that's the same video that is linked further up bud.

I feel some diying coming on just for the sake of it :)

Great links, thanks. Anybody know where to get the glue less shrink wrap? The auction sites again no doubt!

I had one of these are absolutely perfect for the job. Lot larger surface area and don't clog as fast. However the one I had just fell to bits. With the greatest of respect to AE richard has offered me a free one on my next order so I may get two when I get some other bits and pieces. Maybe the...

Anyone know where I could get hold of the mesh and what the black plastic is on shrimp filters? The one I have which was great but very breakable, in fact, fell to bits and the ones that are not as fragile have very little surface area, I have to clean it every 3 days. I fancy diy'ng a custom...

Has anyone tried using a Superfish Nano 50watt in cold conditions? My tank is 5 Gall and I think the heater in there is faulty. It maintains 24 deg most of the time in a freezing cold office but when I'm in the office and I put my heater on the temp will keep rising to 26/27 degs until the light...

Pm'd so, out of curiosity what happens when these pens are stored before going on sale? How come once they have been wet they need to stay wet but before they can be dry for as long as they want?

Keep it moist with what though? I heard deionised water can damage the probe and not sure if any of the chemicals in tap water could cause problems.

Just bought myself a ph pen. Wondered whether or not to also order some storage fluid, I notice that on some of the fluids it says not to be used with pens using gel probes. Wondered why the difference?

Should be no more than 2week mate. Hmm baileys, now there's an idea.

;) I will have to read this back in the morning to see if this make sense a bit more sober. I might even have one lying about for you to try.

The check valve can be found here Rhinox Brass Check Valve -Fish Tank Live Aquarium Plant items in AquaticMagic store on eBay! as for bubble counters I have only tried one at high pressure which was the plastic type with a threaded end so you can tighten the nuts down on the pipe. With the...

Working at atomiser pressures I had problems getting the glass counter and check valves to stay on. They would pop off under the pressure. I was using soft tubing, perhaps the harder stuff may stay on bit it's also quite difficult to take off and put on with the fragile glassware. I use them at...

Or, being the sceptic I am maybe it's so you have to buy their accessories :roll:

Great comprehensive review mate :clap: I guess I'm one of them perfect people mentioned in the video :) I would not be having that loose plastic on the cabinet or buckle in the pole it would make my teeth itch :crazy: Shame about the pipes being an odd size as well, you would have thought it...

Odd there should be po4 with ro and your not adding it yourself! Could it be from some other source. If your tanks well planted with moderate lighting the fish shouldn't add anywhere near enough the plants would consume. Are the sites you are looking at related to planted tanks? It may be an...

Just sharing my experience to make you feel better about your po4 readings. With a Nutrafin test kit my po4 readings are too dark to get a reading and I think the scale goes up to 2mgl. I don't have any major algae problems and I still dose a little with the rest of my fertilising regime just to...

Re: DIY ADA stand, which paint?? @ Aqua I have seen that vid before somewhere. Another option I have also considered if looking for a new cabinet would be just to get a nice cabinet from the likes of Argos, strengthen it up then get the tank made to fit it. These also custom build high gloss...

Re: DIY ADA stand, which paint?? I found this http://www.osh.govt.nz/order/catalogue/ ... inters.pdf I don't like the sensitised part :thumbdown: would probably at the time explain when people came to me saying they didn't know how I could work in there but I couldn't even smell it any more...

Re: DIY ADA stand, which paint?? Just thought I'd add to that that anyone considering using automotive aerosols that I wouldn't have thought that isocyanates would be present in them but a well ventilated room with charcoal mask would be a minimum. The paper masks just don't fit the bill as the...

Re: DIY ADA stand, which paint?? I stand corrected :thumbup: All I needed to know at the time was it wasn't nice stuff. A lot of the time I was in contact with this stuff either directly of third party, from what I could make out it can also be absorbed through skin pores. H&S wasn't what it...

Re: DIY ADA stand, which paint?? A paint shop would use either 2K paint (2 component) which not a lot do these days due to EU emissions but is still available from paint suppliers, the second component is the hardener so when its dry its egg shell dry and doesn't easily mark. The down side of...

Re: DIY ADA stand, which paint?? http://www.thevinylcorporation.co.uk/ec ... nomy-gloss Don't know if these would work out financially better than all the painting materials, might work out a bit tricky if there are any rounded off corners to get round.

Re: DIY ADA stand, which paint?? I was a panel beater spray painter by trade so I guess the same principles may not apply to spraying wood. The only suggestions I have are spraying high gloss colours is a risky business. Any imperfections would stand out like a sore thumb but if your looking...

Re: DIY ADA stand, which paint?? I wouldn't use blackboard paint, I use it for painting shadow battens to go round the perimeter of ceiling trims. It marks very easy and just about everything that comes in contact with it leaves a white residue. Also very difficult to clean.

And a new single tube full kit is only about £20 you could still use the other or flog it.

Is there any labelling on the plug at all? Possibly saying it does anything.

Just been thinking there would it not be possible to cut a switch somewhere in line so you have the option of the other tube. No scrap that if the other tube was off they would both go down without separate wiring. I'm thinking with you Tom not an electrician I do the odd bit of wiring as a...

Ok I get you now so it should be a case of joining the wires where the other tube was to keep continuity of the circuit no?

Not sure what you mean here Tom, usually when one bulb goes the other is ok :? Not familiar with Juwel the one I had only had one tube. On my current tank each tube has it's own ballast and switch so when a tube goes the others still work. I'm guessing here that your tubes share one, in which...

Hmmm I'm no expert but I think the fuse might need to be the same based on if the fuse is rated to trip out at a certain point to protect something else then the rating should be the same regardless of what it's feeding. :?

My first planted about 15 years ago was a 40gal with a no where near enough turnover canister fluval 2 I think connected to a bioplast inside the tank reactor that near enough needed a filter change every week or the reactor would stop working and just accumulate one big bubble in the top of it...

A question I have often wondered when it comes to Lilly pipes. They do seem to go against the thinking of what should be done when it comes to flow. Perhaps when they are put on youtube or pics you see some of the equipment has been removed.

The bubbles sound like it was just the o2 gassing off, I can't see any reason why you can't cycle the tank with plants in Chris, eventually dead leaves and stuff will decompose and start off the process I guess. I'm no specialist though :) On the subject of co2 though it's not as much as the...

I even make stuff even when it isn't worth it just for something to do :D I had a crack at the same thing as the OP to run a glass ceramic diffuser with. It worked great on a spiral type diffuser because there was no back pressure to contend with but it never worked so good with the ceramic. I...

Where are the bubbles m8 just hanging about on surfaces or actually coming out of the spray bar? When the tank is first set up it's usually super saturated with oxygen which bubbles off as the temp increases, a bit like when you leave a glass of water out in the house you can see little bubbles...

Has anyone seen one of these about lately? I'm referring to the surge protector strips that have little plugs on that you can put labels on. I used to have one ages ago but can't find one. With all the pipes and cables going through the hole in the back of my cabinet it can get a nightmare...

Not sure why I have my teeth into this :D but here goes. By my estimate of a 350ltr standard tank probably being somewhere in the region of a 4 foot by 2 foot that would mean exerting a force on the floor boards of 350kgm over an area of 0.84m2. Sooo carry the 5 drop the 2 :crazy: that would...

Found this... Quantity Reference Unit is equal to Conversion Factor Unit 1.5 kilonewton meter = 1.5 kilonewton meter 1.5 = 1500 newton meter 1.5 = 150000 newton centimeter 1.5 = 1500000 newton millimeter 1.5 = 150000000 dyne meter 1.5 = 15000000000...

From what I can make out there are two types of loads taken into account with floor joists, the DEAD load, which involves the weight of the materials that forms the make up of the floor being the timber, floor boards, plasterboards and skim. Then you have your Imposed load which is the amount of...

Valiant effort m8 should work a treat, I like pottering around trying make things more out of interest than to save money but when there's stuff like this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aquarium-Diffuser ... 53e41b329c sometimes it makes you wonder if it's worth the while.

You could try some fishing line.

Definitely not in the tank!

It certainly will thanks, I'm going to change from a lid to luminaire at some point this year but will be putting a perspex top on a bow front so bookmarked.

Yeah that should do it some commercially made cabinets I have seen don't use pre-treated MDF. I fell victim to it in my house when I put some thresholds in with untreated MDF, just the damp off peoples shoes made them bubble up and split so I had to rip them up :( they were just glossed though...

I hope you using Moisture resistant treated MDF you can tell if its green, standard stuff swells with high humidity and won't appreciate water spills. You probably already knew that though.

Is there a de-ionising resin that will fit these http://allaboutkoi.co.uk/2-10-pod-water ... 29723.html I'm going back to de-ionised water and I have some of these pods doing nothing. They have a pre-filter and carbon in at the moment. I'm using my old API purifier but the resin has nearly ran...

I will post any I find. I'm trying to get hold of an angled rock with some shape to it to get a bit of dimension to an already bland scape, the safer stones come from the beach but are generally rounded or pebbles as they are known :D there is plenty of granite and slate in the lakes though...

That's a shame some of the veiny rocks look well. :D There actually is a sign up at the beach, I think I should be ok with a couple it's more for people pulling up with a trailer to get back fill for there patio. I might wear a ski mask just in case though :roll: When I get some I'll post...

I'm thinking of getting some stone locally I live near both the beach and the lakes so should be able to find some interesting looking pieces. Is there anything to watch out for that might be detrimental to water quality? I was thinking of just testing with vinegar for hardness.