• You are viewing the forum as a Guest, please login (you can use your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Microsoft account to login) or register using this link: Log in or Sign Up

Search results for query: *

  1. NeilW

    Amano - no heaters?

    I think all of you are right. I've had my external off all Summer and all has been well and in winter we have the house heating. Maybe time to quit on heaters and save the pennies for plants like Viktor says :)
  2. NeilW

    Amano - no heaters?

    Afternoon. In reading masses of ADA literature I've not come across a mention of heaters/heating methods and wondered if I'm missing anything? Is Amano possibly happy to keep tanks at room temperature?
  3. NeilW

    Minimal Planting Suggestions

    I already had a go with Christmas moss and it is a really nice plant. I may go for this if I can't find anything new
  4. NeilW

    Minimal Planting Suggestions

    Hello everyone :wave: Recently I have become quite interested in the idea of minimal planting after reading a few Japanese blogs. This is my current 'scape in its setting (although minus any plants!) This is a low-tech tank and I wanted some species that will attach to rock and wondered if...
  5. NeilW

    Taking aquarium across EU borders

    If you're moving shrimp then keep them separate to the Otto's and also add either moss or filter floss to give then something to hang on to.
  6. NeilW

    Taking aquarium across EU borders

    To move the aquarium I would remove all the inhabitants and bag them up in Kordon breathable bags (if you can find them) and then keep all the bags in a cool box or polystyrene fish box. Drain all the water out the tank and cover with clingfilm and spray tank water every now and then with a...
  7. NeilW

    Film on water

    Wonder if carbon or Purigen in the filter would help?
  8. NeilW

    Good Scissors?

    Hey chaps I was after some recommendations on scissors from your experiences for use in a nano (preferably) ones that keep my hands dry. What do people think of the newer 'spring' type? Is it worth paying extra for higher quality? Cheers :thumbup:
  9. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    I only saw the bottom of that last image and I thought the orange leaves were cherry shrimp on HC!
  10. NeilW

    'Best Of' Thread?

    This sounds like a good first move, cheers George for your support. I'll start it on Friday when I've got a day off and put a link to it on here :thumb up: Need to get my head around the format, ways of voting and then how to go about compiling it all.
  11. NeilW

    'Best Of' Thread?

    Hey everyone, Was just looking back at a few of the great tanks from you guys and thought it would be a cool idea to have a 'Best Of' thread or section (in the same way as the 'featured scape') that would be used as an easy resource of inspiration. The scapes contained in said thread could be...
  12. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    and although not aquatic, check out this layout with air plants and succulents! source; http://www.elos.eu/
  13. NeilW

    Been a while since.

    I think that ideas a winner also. A few people pretty much said the same last year; http://ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=9743 I'm guessing next we need to appoint some judges and perhaps get sponsors to kindly donate some prizes?
  14. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    Thats amazing. Is it just one huge anubias?
  15. NeilW

    Japanese ADA

    :thumbup: I believe they're killifish by the looks of things as they're intended to be pretty hardy for beginners and also filterless
  16. NeilW

    Japanese ADA

    If you ever feel bored its worth checking out the Japanese version of the ADA website every now and then as it contains quite a few goodies that don't appear in their own 'english' translation link. Enter http://www.adana.co.jp/jp/ (their standard english link ends in .co.jp/en/) into a...
  17. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    Now that I see the filter wool its ruined the magic for me. Bit 'model railway' for my liking but well executed
  18. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    How would you go about recreating a waterfall like that? Is it made of resin or something?
  19. NeilW

    how many types of moss in one tank?

    You could limit yourself to a group of mosses with similar leaf shape if you wanted a more harmonious look e.g. you could have Java, Christmas and Peacock. Scale could also be something to consider as some species may work better in a nano for example. What makes the issue more confusing is...
  20. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    Awesome. Strangely I can't get my head around seeing them in the wild and not in a tank! I'm surprised the water is so low in PH with that amount of rock around, but then theres a lot of dying organics so that must explain it?
  21. NeilW

    Best Fish Courier?

    Found this on the Royal Mail site; "Any of the following items may be posted providing it meets all Royal Mail’s requirements for acceptance of the item, including, but not limited to, packaging requirements. Living creatures Bees, Leeches, Pupae and Chrysalides, Caterpillars, Lugworms, Rag...
  22. NeilW

    Best Fish Courier?

    Cheers Johno. Having a look around too it seems a lot of people find that fish don't count as 'live animals' to post, like some strange unspoken rule. Anyone else had this experience?
  23. NeilW

    Best Fish Courier?

    Hey everyone :wave: Finally got round to working out the logistics of sending shrimp. Been looking for a courier to send through but it seems both Royal Mail and APC Overnight do not accept the transit of live animals. Does anyone know of the best service to use? Cheers, Neil
  24. NeilW

    The science behind ADA additives

    Even if these products only work on a placebo level then surely they've still justified their value/cost to the people who have bought into them? I have no issues with the 'evil marketing' of ADA as the products themselves are all luxury goods to begin with that people choose to buy for their...
  25. NeilW

    How do you break up Seiru stone?

    Club hammer and a chisel works great on anything. Remember your safety specs, safety first :)
  26. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    Looking at all the lovely japanese tanks seems to me that they have an amazing selection of rock compared with us. Manten Stone by the ton!
  27. NeilW

    Fluval Profile Range, opinions?

    Nice scape in that demo photo too, shame about the wiring at the back and almost Photoshop cut-out discuss.
  28. NeilW

    Tank size choices

    Now that's just adding more choices :lol: This would be the ideal solution but sadly would cost £100 minimum which is twice as much as the Do!Aqua for the same/worse quality. The fiance would drown me in the new tank if I did that sadly :lol: I like your thinking however
  29. NeilW

    Tank size choices

    Evening all Thought I would ask a few opinions before I went out and bought yet more stuff I 'don't need' :lol:. Basically I'm planning on reviving my old rock scape that I have now with a new more minimal gravel and moss look but wasn't certain what tank this should be housed in. I made...
  30. NeilW

    Just my little survey (for those with opti-white tanks)

    2x AE Nanos that were a good cheap entry into opti-white. 1 x ADA Mini S that is just flawless. Thinking of getting a Do!Aqua 25cm cube to replace one of the AE nanos.
  31. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    I like that a lot! Would be awesome if you could get the stems to flower.
  32. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    Cheers mate. Sounds an interesting idea to try sell them, although it would be difficult to sell them in any quantity. Have a go! Thank you :) Maybe the wood wood look daft? What do you think?
  33. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    I thought I would update my jar as I got some nice growth on the stems that I wanted. Everyone still thinks I'm weird for having underwater plants in a jar out of water but there you go :lol:
  34. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    Thanks very much indeed mate, PM on its way. :thumbup:
  35. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    Cheers Steve :thumbup: Give it a go! That 1-2-GROW would work a treat being already in its emersed form straight from the Tropica lab. Hydrocotyle is definitely one I want to try, such a nice looking plant. Nowadays I never spray it but I'm vigilant on keeping the substrate ALWAYS wet...
  36. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    Not sure if I posted this on here but this is my Victorian specimen jar style emersed setup. It usually lives on my windowsill. Just waiting for the Ludwigia repens to grow nice and tall as a focal piece. Planting; Ludwigia repens Eleocharis parvula Pogostemon helferi Substrate is Columbo...
  37. NeilW

    ADA 'Superge' instead of H202?

    In which case I may play caution to the wind and just paint undiluted liquid carbon on them instead and give them a good scrub when the tank is empty. That way they should be fine with a good rinse, rather then soaking them in dechlor for 24 hours after? Could rescape in a day too
  38. NeilW

    ADA 'Superge' instead of H202?

    Cheers George I went for 29p bleach in the end :thumbup: How long did you leave yours to soak after in dechlor/water? I might try something similar, my plan is to; - locate habitants and plants to a holding tank - empty the tank of water whilst syphoning out the old substrate - paint...
  39. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    Neils posts for today; http://www.pbase.com/plantella/moss_bonkei_by_oliver_knott oh and; source;http://www.pbase.com/plantella/2000_liter_layout_oliver_knott
  40. NeilW

    ADA 'Superge' instead of H202?

    Awesome, I think my finances can cape with that one. Who needs ADA when you have ASDA :lol:
  41. NeilW

    ADA 'Superge' instead of H202?

    I just saw hydrogen peroxide on TGM out of convenience and figured that I didn't need 1 litre of the stuff, so just a touch of cheapo household bleach will be ideal. I'm guessing unscented and the cheapest you can get is the way to go. Seems a bit counter intuitive to go for the biocidal nuke...
  42. NeilW

    ADA 'Superge' instead of H202?

    Ahh that sounds like a cheaper and easier option. If I had the rocks in a bucket what sort of concentrations are we talking of mate? Cheers
  43. NeilW

    ADA 'Superge' instead of H202?

    Hey everyone :thumbup: Another brain picking for you. I was thinking of gutting my nano and replacing the soil with gravel. In doing so I wanted to clean up my lovely dragon stone out of the tank before rescaping. I have read that H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) painted on or as a dip is highly...
  44. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    low maintenance, low tech build-a-carpet source; http://www.aquadesign.pl/galeria_48B.htm
  45. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    Apologies if so! Very nice frogs too
  46. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    The ADA Wabi Kusa site Beware the shocking translation but well worth a trawl through, check out the whole tank layout made from wabi balls :thumbup:
  47. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    It's interesting to navigate with the translate off and see what you can find. Follow the links to other blogs on the left bar too.
  48. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    Cheers mate, thought I'd add something to the pot. I'll keep my eyes peeled in the future too :thumbup: Great thread.
  49. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    source: http://another05.exblog.jp/i43/ source: http://another05.exblog.jp/9152045/ and finally this page is incredible for stone layout http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.aquadesign.pl/galeria.htm&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1
  50. NeilW

    Get excited and make something.

    I'm liking it mate, but just observing and bookmarking :thumbup: That last island composition ADA tank is particularly incredible, possibly an ultimate tank! The 'dry' scapes on the first page were inspiring too. Keep up the good work, surprised your still finding them!
  51. NeilW

    Plants - 1000% price difference. Why?

    I suspect the cost of heating greenhouses and controlled hydroponic systems in a colder northern country such Holland is rather more expensive to maintain then 'farming' plants in bulk in the east where no artificial conditions are necessary. They've started growing cheaper flowers in Africa...
  52. NeilW

    Questions from a newcomer

    Definitely CRS, they have a sweet shrimp-only setup and with some nice high grades too :thumbup: I'm gunna try get up there when I finally get paid as they got some good Tropica stuff. I'm still tempted by those mini CO2 canisters also even though they would be very expensive for economy -...
  53. NeilW

    Dry Start Method

    I make sure I have an opening in the clingfilm so it gets fresh air through. I also used to flood it for an hour every few days and then drain it back off again to dilute any nasties and make sure the soil was fully saturated.
  54. NeilW

    Dry Start Method

    If you want to just grow plants with minimal effort as just a side project then the propagator would still be nice to get. Setting the lights on a timer and spraying every now and then is hardly taxing. Condensation on the lid may stop the plants getting optimum light and the transition...
  55. NeilW

    Dry Start Method

    Were you keeping your plants in your house or a greenhouse may I ask mate? In a central heated house I think you'd be fine as you'd be keeping a lot of the heat in from the plastic cover/cling film by stopping the evaporation and also the lights warm it up too especially if you point a halogen...
  56. NeilW

    Surface Film

    This has been the bane of my tanks life too at the moment. Both Garuf's and migt's findings with crypts are true to me also. I believe my problem is still a lack of flow delivering CO2 so I'm going to try ditch the crypts as a solution and make it a completely moss tank to reduce CO2/nutrient...
  57. NeilW

    What to do with these freebies?!

    Maybe a snail and a couple of Amanos at a push with daily W/C's. In the second NA World book they have a cube of that size with some rasboras in but I think they were for the sake of photography and the data said that water changes were at 4/5ths a tanks worth a day.
  58. NeilW

    TMC AquaGro MicroHabitat - PFK Subs Offer

    Surprisingly Amano used to use HOB filters in his early work and he still uses Eheims on the gallery nanos, so I think its still an option to use one with an ADA tank. As you say its always best to remove any equipment for proper photos anyways, most of the pros even remove glassware for...
  59. NeilW

    TMC AquaGro MicroHabitat - PFK Subs Offer

    The TMC does look like a great little all-in-one system I agree :thumbup:. In addition to the tank I'm only going to have to buy a £15 HOB type filter so won't have to buy lilys, already got a light and it'll be unheated so its not much more cost really on top. £60 for a TMC or £75 for an...
  60. NeilW

    TMC AquaGro MicroHabitat - PFK Subs Offer

    Easy now :lol: Still got to decide on hardscape and plants! I suppose I could just start one with some pics of the tank and inspiration/ideas..? I must say I think I made a good decision though, the Mini 'S' is a mean looking tank with almost no silicon! TMC lost out there, should have...
  61. NeilW

    TMC AquaGro MicroHabitat - PFK Subs Offer

    In the end I gave up waiting for it to come out without a subscription and bought an ADA Mini 'S' instead :lol:
  62. NeilW

    PFK Aquascaping Special

    I'm not knocking PFK as it is a good magazine at trying to cater for so many different expectations but for me the appeal of any ADA publication lays in its graphic design. On the whole PFK has good content and photography but IMO the layouts are awkward and blocky with no clear underlying grid...
  63. NeilW

    Need inspiration.....

    Provide both a sand and a soil area so they can still forage? I've only had a digging goby and once he dug his 'burrow' he doesn't root around so I'm not sure how bad it would be with the cories.
  64. NeilW

    Need inspiration.....

    If I were you I wouldn't use the Aquacare at all with either of those choices. ADA Aquasoil is a clay based substrate to begin with so adding Tropica Aquacare as a base layer (which is another clay based soil) makes no sense. Both have a high CEC and do a similar thing of being able to store...
  65. NeilW

    TMC AquaGro MicroHabitat - PFK Subs Offer

    Read your first post and was going to say they were different :wink: Better TMC LED's, more of a known brand = possible better build quality, and a heater :thumbup: The Dymax IQ3 and Betta ones are the same though with some 'badge engineering'
  66. NeilW

    TMC AquaGro MicroHabitat - PFK Subs Offer

    Anyone know when this tank will be released to buy on its own?
  67. NeilW

    Iwagumi in the TMC Microhabitat 8L?

    Whichever brand you use makes no odds really but I think they are diluted to different degrees so I don't know which one works out most cost effective. On a nano that size it would last for ages anyways so cost is hardly an issue. On EasyCarbo the expiry date is on the back of the bottle btw...
  68. NeilW

    Iwagumi in the TMC Microhabitat 8L?

    I think an Iwagumi is completely doable providing you pick both plants and hardscape with a suitable small scale. Here is an Iwagumi that George did in a very similar tank (although slightly bigger); http://ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=10936 If you wanted a really easy plant you...
  69. NeilW

    PFK Aquascaping Special

    The 29th of this month according to the current issue.
  70. NeilW

    Reoccurring Flow Problems = surface scum and algae

    Its now Thursday and not single sign of any scum! :D
  71. NeilW

    Reoccurring Flow Problems = surface scum and algae

    Thanks very much indeed Mr Farmer :thumbup: I was hoping the tank would be in shape for the AGA competition as I've never done anything like that before, but sadly my moss-lifting crisis and irritating staghorn problem means its far from top shape :thumbdown: Looks like I'll have to wait...
  72. NeilW

    Reoccurring Flow Problems = surface scum and algae

    Thanks everyone for your help - sorry for the lack of a reply, I thought I would read all the advice and put it into action! I basically went along with all the advice and just repositioned where the in and out were. Both Mark and Tom were right on the money with having the outflow on the...
  73. NeilW

    Just got back from TGM...

    This may sound obvious to some but when we talk of having 'too much light' it took me a while to click that it actually means 'too much light for the current conditions'. This subtle difference made me realise that there is no set rules on how little light is actually needed to trigger algae...
  74. NeilW

    Reoccurring Flow Problems = surface scum and algae

    My beautifully laid plans are all going to pot :lol: Over the past fews months I have been desperately wrestling with staghorn, BGA and surface scum in my poor battered nano. After valiantly fighting off the algae with copious dosing I am still left with the surface scum, but finally the...
  75. NeilW

    Do!Aqua Plant Glass Oval examples?

    if you image search ada or do!aqua plant glass on the .com site you get my whole nano appear :lol:
  76. NeilW

    Do!Aqua Plant Glass Oval examples?

    Also google image search in google.jp not google.com for example; http://www.google.co.jp/images?um=1&hl=ja&biw=1280&bih=680&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=wabi+kusa&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= Yes I am sad for searching far and low for wabi kusa goodness :lol:
  77. NeilW

    Do!Aqua Plant Glass Oval examples?

    Here we go Tom, heres a link that took me an age to find complete with a Google translation; http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://www.wabikusa.jp/about/index.html&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhifpKSh8Y7brHMorxDBXEHC0BadqA
  78. NeilW

    ADA Phyton Git - worth it?

    For me I wanted a product that would help prevent algae in the time I'm taking to tweak fert levels and lighting but with a milder effect on both shrimp and Riccardia chamedryfolia. As an off-the-shelf product this seemed to fit the bill.
  79. NeilW

    ADA Phyton Git - worth it?

    For one it contains phytoncide. Seems they dig it in China, Japan and Russia. Sorry Garuf, I know that was directed at Viktor but I was already had a search last night :geek:
  80. NeilW

    ADA Phyton Git - worth it?

    Thanks for the info mate :thumbup: That is one lovely setup you have there, very much so my dream tank. Your scape has really done that ADA gear justice, stunning. I managed to pick it up a bit cheaper off an Ebay seller from Hong Kong so it wasn't as painful as I thought which is good.
  81. NeilW

    ADA Phyton Git - worth it?

    Thought you'd be the man to ask Viktor, cheers very much! It does sound like good stuff, something else to add to my arsenal in the algae war without being nuclear strength EasyCarbo. This made me proper laugh :lol: I think I'm going to have to buy it just for the bacon experience! Cheers...
  82. NeilW

    ADA Phyton Git - worth it?

    Hello all :wave: Was considering purchasing some Phyton Git for my low-tech nano, but would you consider it something worth getting if you had the money? Has anyone had tangible results? Is it worth getting if you don't have the full ADA system? Or is it just some more 'over-priced ADA...
  83. NeilW

    So many problems I don't know where to start!

    I think Toms advice is pretty sound, he's got it spot on. Go with that and see how you do. I think your problems are caused from a lack of both nutrients and CO2 in combination with a dirty tank. I'd also cut the lighting down to 6 hours a day and don't be shy with the gravel cleaning and...
  84. NeilW

    Fluval Nano

    I found the one! http://www.adgshop.com/DoAqua_Mini_M_System_p/minisys2-doaquam.htm $650! What an awesome setup that would make. Maybe one day. I don't think it would likely to come over in one piece though.
  85. NeilW

    Fluval Nano

    Where did you find an ADA package?!
  86. NeilW

    Fluval Nano

    I think if I wanted a complete package I'd go for one of the Dennerle sets which come in 10, 20, 30 and 60 litres. You also get the choice of different packages; just the tank on its own, the 'Complete' set that comes with the tank, filter and light plus a foam basemat and also shrimp food...
  87. NeilW

    Hi everyone, newbie time (620T)

    Looks lush, clean, healthy and green :thumbup: Great job! On the 'scaping side you could try breaking up the divide between the soil and sand with graded gravels, carpeting plants, moss etc if you wanted a more natural look. One thing thats nagging me is the 'squareness' of the area of soil...
  88. NeilW

    Anubias Bonsai 'thing'

    I wasn't sure what topic to put this under but just come across this strange creation from Anubias; http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anubias.com%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D31%26Itemid%3D113%26lang%3Den Thought it may...
  89. NeilW

    Recovery Plan to get back on track.

    This is the sort of reply I need in my life :lol: Cheers Clive, top bloke :thumbup:
  90. NeilW

    Recovery Plan to get back on track.

    As you may, or may not know I have recently filled my nano tank; http://ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=10577&start=150 I have been having issues with a slight dusting of BGA and a small amount of surface scum. No biggy, but I wanted to sort both of these problems so I can back on track...
  91. NeilW

    Help with simple SHRIMP TANK

    You shouldn't get algae on this tank if you keep the lighting low (which it is from that dymax). If you use already mature media and grow the tank out first I'm sure you won't have issues. That tank is nice, the moss especially. If you read on he gave it a kick start with DIY CO2 for the...
  92. NeilW

    Help with simple SHRIMP TANK

    Sounds good :) I think both anubias and moss will be OK dry-start as long as you keep the moisture levels up at the start and then you can slowly decrease it. Also if I were you I wouldn't do no water changes from the start, but slowly decrease the frequency and see how the shrimp react...
  93. NeilW

    Help with simple SHRIMP TANK

    Its the 11w but the 9w is the same in colour temperature so it should look just as 'bright', the only difference is the unit itself is shorter in length :thumbup:
  94. NeilW

    Help with simple SHRIMP TANK

    I forgot about the Dennerle filters, they're meant to be pretty good and as an added plus its mounted in the corner so that sounds like a good choice for what your after :thumbup:. May even have German build quality as its a German company so should be quiet. Yeah I think the Dymax would...
  95. NeilW

    Help with simple SHRIMP TANK

    Cheers Paul :) How about one of those LED lights that come with the Dymax IQ3 nano; http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DYMAX-Mini-Aquarium-Ultra-Slim-28-White-LED-Clamp-Lamp_W0QQitemZ160373067596QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Fish?hash=item2556facf4c#ht_4200wt_1008 Very low powered thing so that may...
  96. NeilW

    Help with simple SHRIMP TANK

    The HOB type filters by their nature won't be silent as they have a waterfall return. The issue with internal filters will be the size in a tank that small as it will take up a good chunk of space. I just spotted this on AE which looks like it would be good but I don't know if its quiet...
  97. NeilW

    First attempt advice please

    Many people use the same filter on the ADA Mini-M which is similar dimensions. I only have one fish and hes a bottom dwelling Otto. Theres plenty of calm spots in the tank too. TBH the flow isn't as severe as it sounds; it looks well over rated by Eheim and the flow in mine is reduced as it...
Back
Top