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Whilst this wouldn't be the style of tank I'd go for, I can appreciate the technical requirements to provide the beautiful plants in their own right. Therefore, I can understand what rufus is saying but cannot agree 100%. Sometimes, I even find some of the full NA style scapes ugly but...

I daren't imagine what you two get up to with yours?! :crazy:

If they're only in Japanese, is it worth it? Is it more just for the photos?

Where is the best place to order an English on of these? In addition, can you also subscribe?

Cheers everything's going well. Had a day out in Bournemouth yesterday! As you no doubt can tell, I don't have that much chance to get on the forum :thumbdown:

Mine landed on the doormat this morning. I'm looking forward to getting some free time to read it.

Cheers Steve, first day went well. Although my super-temporary hire car/bus is a Renault Grand Scenic!! It makes me look even smaller.

I'm working at another bank but am a department manager of analytics and reporting of Credit Risk at the head office now.

There's a few ladies in the office, but mainly men. I think they're kind enough to actually listen, although I do get the mick taken out of me about reading PFK on lunch breaks!!

So, I've left the employment of some company today to take on a new role somewhere else. I always go on about my aquariums to them and also show them photos of people's tanks on here. As is the custom, they got me a leaving present. I was really pleased that they did some digging and found out...

You'll have to wait a while, they're on strike!!

I thought I'd say well done for Viktor being featured in this month's PFK. The tank is lovely and the advice given in the interview part is really good. I've been PM'ing Viktor a bit recently about his tank and he's really helpful. A true enthusiast who shares his knowledge with others. All...

Thanks!

I had these when my tank was shrimp only, they soon went when I introduced fish into the tank.

I'm looking forward to the full photos coming out as the low res images look good. From a personal view, whilst many are probably technically perfect, I find that when I look at some, I don't like the look of them at all. I find those trying to create a picture rather than a natual aquatic...

The carbon takes out impurities in the water and will be used up quickly. When I started my Juwel 180, I included it but never replaced it and it turned into a normal sponge after a while.

I use a small pair of tweesers and a pair of nail scissiors - both for trimming and planting uses. I'd like to have a small set of curved type scissors to help trimming the carpets in awkward positions.

I have a pest snail problem, I'm trying to keep on top of it and they are reducing in numbers. I have to hunt for mine every morning and evening but it'll be worth it in the long run.

I have a problem with ramshorn snails myself, I go hunting twice a day (once in the morning and on an evening) to try and get rid of them. It's difficult to get rid and I've not managed it myself.

I've got a clearseal black one under my nano but not seen any other than those. I had to cut mine to fit the tank.

Nice Sam. :thumbup:

Thats what they look like, although mine never hatched as I believe they need a bit of salt in the water.

Everything's been in bleach for a day, might leave it in there for longer.

When it's time to clean the co2 diffuser, I always get annoyed by the yellowness of the "clear" plastic items such as suction cups and co2 line. Any ideas how to remove this?

Before you added the plants, did you have any source of ammonia in there? If not then there might not be any filter bacteria in there.

Have a look at http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/allinone.htm, it shows the concentration of K in TPN+. You'd dose only TPN+ as it's considered an all in one fert.

You can't 100% reply on fish for NPK, you're better getting Tropical Plant Nutrition Plus (TPN+) for an all in one fert solution. In addition, excel is a liquid carbon source. If you're doing yeast co2 then this isn't needed although some use liquid carbon for limiting algae and supplementing...

You don't have to start again, although that could be easier. Sometimes it's good to see you turn round a tank, as john says you can buy the capsules which are good. Just do things steadily and remove as much algae manually and water changes are a great help.

To add to Jame's comments above, I too have not much light (11w) on a 12"x10"x8" tank and I feel like I need some more. If you're starting off getting the equipment, then you might want to look at 18 or more watts. It's a shame people don't go height wattage lights like the ones I've got...

Sorry to hear about the losses, but at least it's done now. Like I said in an earlier post, moving house with a tank is a pain.

I moved from Halifax to Cheltenham with my 180 litre tank, it was a right pain. It'd of been a pain if it was a shorter move. That's why I decided to sell it before I move again. I drained the tank, removed the plants, bagged the fish. It was the fact that whilst everyone was sorting out my...

Well done to everyone, I was hoping to enter but didn't have anything ready. There's always next year.

I have some old substrate that I need to get rid of, do I just take it to tip?

In my 14 litre tank, it doesn't take long, maybe 5 minutes?! In my old 180 litre tank, I used to do it with a hose and a pump, so whilst it was slow at about 45 mins, I didn't mind as effort was minimal!

Getting it sent in the post is much easier, I've only ever seen it a few times and then that was WH Smiths. Plus, when you subscribe you get it a few days earlier than general release.

A while ago I was truly obsessed as I devoted all my time into the hobby as I didn't have anything else on my mind. Now I've started to step back and enjoy it a bit more and got things to my pace.

Good news Gareth, I would of thought we wouldn't of seen the last of you! I've had frustrations and felt like giving up, but it's all the learning process (I guess). Looking forward to seeing your new stuff as the old stuff was fab.

When I moved, I removed all of the fish, water and rocks. However, this was still stupidly heavy as the gravel was wet and next time I move, I'm going to take everything out. Plus it was a 180ltr tank. If it was a smaller tank 60ltrs, I would leave more in, but with larger tanks I would...

I have both a black background and a non-background which is infront of the cream wallpaper. The black background helps with bringing out the colours of fish and plants but feel that without a background helps to create a clean look of your tank.

I've been thinking of the last week or so and wondering if in the planted/aquascaping world I'm doing things backward. Let me explain... Since I chilled a load of harlequins to death, I decided to get the fantastic Celestial Pearl Danio as my main shoal of fish, I knew from the offset that...

If you can't boil it, I put it into the sink and fill it with boiling water from the kettle. Hot water helps to open the grain up in the wood so the air comes out easier.

The only things I can think of is either - putting the background as a mirror to increase the visual depth of the tank - paint the background in a way which suits the scape. How thick is the wall and how much room is there before the middle?

It'd be a change from reading a few pages of PFK! :D

Re: Packing it in "NO I'm Back boys and Girls" Looks great, I'm glad your still going. We've all taken a while to get grips with it all at the start but once cracked your onto a winner.

I subscribe to PFK and have been doing so for over a year now and I'm about 50/50 with what interests me and what doesn't. I'm loving the more recent exposure to planted tanks but not noting loads about fishkeeping in general, I find it interesting to read up about illnesses and fish I've not...

I've not put any fish in there yet and the bugs are still in the same numbers as before. I'm having more problems with snails.

I've had two big ones.. - refilling the tank the hosepipe came out of the tank, so it went everywhere! - I put the wrong reagent in my co2 drop checker so it was yellow all the time! I had a few algae problems until I realised!

Re: packing it in I know it can be an expensive hobby, especially when things don't go right. I also thought about packing it in, but then went back to basics and are there or there about now. I hope you reconsider and continue as once you get the knack youre onto a winner.

Is the filter intake behind those plants pictured? I'd try and move the filter intake into a more open place within the aquarium. It seems to me that the plants are covered in muck and then algae has formed rather than just algae. How are the other plants going?

Well done everyone. Some great articles. Maybe a special UKAPS pull out in the future! Hopefully I will get good enough for PFK to feature me one day.

Mine seem to be taking over the tank in a way, they're big enough to swim in the water column now rather than just holding onto the glass. There's different shapes of the bugs too but are the same sort of critters that you can see on that page I referenced above. I'm going to put a few of my...

Thanks guys, I don't have any fish in this tank as they're showing in the nano. Hopefully the shrimp might get them. In the future I might get some micro rasboras to go in there but not for a while.

Google to the rescue (again), they look like white versions of these things... With details from the link http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum/sh ... hp?t=34333

I've seen planaria before, like tiny white worms, these aren't worms.

I'm having an increase in the number of white bugs that hold onto the glass and then dart away when I put anything near them. They are tiny and it's hard to get a photo of them with my camera but they look like... [Sorry I'm no artist!] An example would be sperm like body but with whiskers...

The tropica plant list can be viewed at... http://www.tropica.com/default.asp

This must be half of my problems. Sometimes I get lots of condensation and tbh, I don't top up as often as I should. I think I should be more careful.

I tried for a carpet once and failed so moved to less complicated foreground plants. Now I'm getting back into them. Each to their own. I think the trend of not having a full carpet is helped by the fact that we have so much more choice of substrate and hardscape meaning you don't have cover...

I'm not one to believe too much into test kits as I've never used one in my 180ltr since moving down into Cheltenham. I've been using a test kit to check the cycling on my new nano and at the end of last week it had 'cycled' as I had constant readings of Ammonia and Nitrite at 0ppm and been...

Depends what size you want. IMHO arcpods are a bit naff and I would either go for a posh one from TGM or a Dennerle Nano (as they have some really good stuff to go with it).

Hi Mark, I hope you don't give up, it's just getting the right balance and then you'll be onto a winner. Higher temps will mean that gases such as co2 and o2 will be driven off quicker. My stems get mulm around the substrate and I leave it to be honest but when I does get too much I get the...

Oh no, I didn't get the link. I was looking for some (for a friend)

TBH quick photos tell the story more as the thats the type of view we all see.

Yup, AquaJardin is my first port of call, Aquatic Habitat is ok as it's closer for the bread and butter stuff but prefer the huge shop at AJ. The P@H in Cheltenham have had their shop redesigned meaning that their plant section is a bit pants tbh.

Thanks, guys. The power came back on at around 3am when I woke up to all the lights and tv on. Fish seem fine but I couldn't sleep so feel like death warmed up.

Everything just went off! On my phone now. Been onto the electric people and they don't know how long it'll take to fix. I Guess the filters will be ok for a few hours?

I remember when connecting co2 tube to my rhinox I used to heat up the tube so it was easier to connect. Should I do the same with the filter pipes?

Woo hoo So I just got my order from TGM (super delivery guys) although they left it next door (don't mind) but when I went round to collect it, she said "ah, so your Superman". I said, "don't tell anyone". So last order from TGM came addressed as "Clark Kent", this time "Superman", I wonder...

I always buy too many pots from shops, I go crazy and then realise I've got a few pots too many. I still use them but its a bit of a squeeze, hence the jungle feel to my 180ltr! Just a few pounds would of been saved.

Don't buy too many plants, they'll grow in quick enough.

Dont rush into planted tanks, make sure you can grow plants first before spending loads of money on plant that then will have to be pulled out.

Mine are long term, as I've only have a 180 ltr to play with. Now I've got a 14ltr, I think that'll be more shortish. Then my 60ltr somewhere in between.

Still thinking but I'm also thinking that my first nano might keep on the simple side of things.

Steve, I found all that in Aquajardin in Gloucester so no need to goto the place you said near Bristol.

This week has been really busy for one reason or another, so I relaxed today going to the LFS near me. I was totally shocked to find Nature Aquarium World books 2 & 3 to go along with #1 I got sent this week. With just having a quick read through book #1 last night started me thinking about...

I would of thought that it'd be the best bits of what's been on the forum, might help those that don't have chance to browse the web all the time.

Re: BECAREFUL WHEN BUYING FROM THESE SHOPS Whilst I've not had an experience with these shops, I nearly bought some products from them when I was buying equipment. I noticed that there were a lot of websites that looked the same, a bit of digging found that they were trading names of a single...

It might be that with the increased flow that the o2 bubbles stay in the water column longer than before. Sometimes it's an eye sore. Although, I believe previously that I didn't have enough flow and now co2 and ferts are being passed around better.

Some days I find that my plants hardly pearl, others it's like lemonade! Now I've increased my flow in the tank, its like lemonade every day with all of the pearling.

I added a Koralia last week to my tank (I think it's a nano, I'll check) to increase the water circulation (can't do any harm) and also to increase the surface movement. I was away for the weekend and came back to a rather large amount of condensation on the windows, I must of gone OTT with the...

I'll give you a £5 for them lol :wink:

10% off on your first order at the min at P@H. I've ordered one for me and it's already been sent out! See when I get it.

Ukaps library anyone? Get a book for a donation and have a read for a week or two then post back?

I agree with Clive, it's much harder to replant when there's fish in there. Get the plants going first before adding fish.

Agree George, reading comments from others on here. It's just unsightly. To make sure it doesn't start up again, I found you need to keep on top of everything.

This is slowly coming back, not as bad as before. I had a good look at the large display aquariums at AquaJardin and notice they had some of the same as me. Although theirs gets pushed around more than mine. Mine gets clogged up at the front. To try and combat it, I've added my Koralia (spel!)...

Sorry to hear that Garuf. I'll certainly send you some cuttings from my tank for nothing to get you up and running. I also have some java moss in another tank that you could have a few bits from. PM me when you need something.

I echo John's comments on the Dennerle Nano's. For an all-in-one setup they are quality and think I'll get one in the future. Whilst I'm in favour for all-in-one setups it might be worth considering getting something to your specifications. For example, I first got the Juwel Vision 180 as it had...

Moving from Halifax to Cheltenham for me was a right pain. At least your not moving that far. But as Egmel has said, take everything out, I didn't (to save time) and it took me ages to get everything back to normal. Tbh, next time I move, I'll sell my tank rather than move it as it was such a...

Yay, my copy landed on my door mat this morning.

Wicked! I'll wait for the postie from now! I doft Mark's flat cap in the direction of whoever agreed to do that! Hope one of my tanks eventually gets into the mag!

I just got a Juwel Rekford off ebay for £35 and picked it up within 6 hours! Its worth a look as some were going really cheap but not locally to me.

Given the recent weather conditions here in Gloucestershire and me having an open top, I have not witnessed any condensation on the living room widows. I do have double glazing though.

A London Dragon water changer is what u need.

The black background works, although I found that when I had my internal in, it was a pain to keep flow good. Might be a good idea to invest in a powerhead - if you've not already got one!

I've got a few similar instances on the stems of my crypts. They never turn into anything. Maybe it's some strange poo?

I thought the "handshake" was shouting... <Toxic> You-Kaps-BABY at the top of your voice. Note: the toxic bit is optional.

I have read on the net somewhere that in Excel and EasyCarbo it has an ingredient that is poisonous to shrimp. I think the name of it was the same as the anti algae bit.

Personally I'm going for shrimp in my nano as they're just as interesting as the fish.

Re: bog wood killing plants The white stuff is usually some form of bacteria, might help if you boil the wood for a long period. Mine did that for a while then I put it into a big pan on the stove for a few hours. Cleared up no end, but the missus wasn't happy with the muck in the pan!