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Oh right, fair enough, I wouldnt worry too much about the inside of the diffuser, I never bothered with it and never had a problem as far as I know. One tip, if you hook the diffuser up to the co2 and turn it up side down the co2 pressure forces out any water thats inside the diffuser, which...

How are you dechlorinating it? I never found it much for a problem. Sam

Sounds like you're about ready for a redo. Once it starts to float up its the beginning of the end, mostly as it starts to affect the look of the scape. Yeh just pull it up and replant as if it was coming out of a pot - small bunches using tweezers. Sam

Nn the offers ended now. It is evaporation, it just seems odd that the water level in the three chambers drops at a different rate. Sam

Bringing up an old thread, but just wondered if anyone else who's got one of these finds the water level in the sponge and pump compartments drops on a daily basis, but the water level in the main tank compartment stays high? Seems really odd to me as the three are connected. Pain as well as...

I did do a 350 mile round trip to pick up my 4ft tank from TGM, just so I could have opti-white glass! :lol: Sam

I agree, the wealth of free info out there means a subscription would just push people away. Some kind of charge for using the buy/sell section would also be difficult to implement as its not in anyway connected to the payment methods used. If you'd be happy to pay a small subscription why not...

Yeh I had thought about that. Its HC so relatively quick growing, just wonder if it might not be easier to rip it all out and start again! :lol: Sam

If a tank were to miss dosing for a time, same no NO3 for several weeks and the plants started to show N deficiency, how long (roughly) after you start dosing NO3 again would it be reasonable to think the plants would start to show a recovery? Cheers Sam

Bitter experience has taught me which are the better shops to go to. Best thing is to vote with your feet and just not use them again. But it is annoying in the mean time, whilst you wait for stuff you've already ordered. Sam

Man, do I NEED to go there!!!

Mine goes out of the window via a pipe, which couldn't be easier. Sit back with a beer and watch it drain! Then just refill using a hose connected to the sink mixer tap. I do add de-chlor just to play it safe, although many people don't. Sam

Not seen any kind of sticker on the ones I received. Sam

Tank pearling much more today, so assume it must either just have needed time for the O2 levels to build up and/or the plants to establish again after the rescape. Happy days :) Sam

Re: Help White spot I simple method would be to get a small internal UV filter, that should sort out the free floating stage and its 100% plant, fish and invert safe :) I tend to keep one in the loft just in case. Perfect for green water out breaks too. You can get cheap ones on ebay just...

I have realised that the rescape included removing the huge java fern I had in there, so plant biomass is 5% what it was, so there my just not be enough plants in there producing O2 to get pearling. Sam

Right, was just a thought really :) haven't tried the no filter thing, will give that a go tomorrow. I did change the lighting to be on for longer at 7hrs when I did the rescape so that might have something to do with it. Have put it back to 6hrs so will see what happens. Sam

Are you less likely to get pearling in hard water? Reason for asking is that I've just redone my work tank and put 100% tap into the tank which will be very hard given that I'm in Oxford shire. Since doing it the HC hasn't't pearled, not a major issue as I can see that its growing, just...

We're actually better off with emersed plants, as they adapt quicker than ones already acclimatised to being underwater :) so you get quicker results when you plant up your tank. Sam

Just thought I would add that some suppliers also sell the plants in differing amounts. For example, they might sell vallis as either potted, bunched or individual. So to compare £0.95 to £9.14 might not be looking at the whole picture and not a direct comparison :) I tend to buy Aquaflue if...

Welcome to the planted side :) There are a great many substrates, it really depends on your budget, how much are you willing to spend? Lighting - 2xT5 bulbs should be fine :) CO2 - Dont be scared of FE's, if needs be just tie or fix it to something to hold it in place. A DIY FE system will...

Nice, all ways good when life throws you a bone :) Sam

Thats a cool vid, cheers Gereth. I cant get over how clear the water is. Sam

Well done James :) :thumbup: is all Im gonna say. Sam

Hi and welcome to the forum. First off, decide what you want from the tank and how much effort you are willing to put in. To me a low maintenance tank is one that can be left for several weeks with just fish feeding going on and a water change every month or so. If that's what you are after...

Just received mine from the PFK subscription offer, and looking at it, is it me or is the vast amount of sponge media almost pointless? As far as I can tell the water will just pass into the sponge chamber via the top weir slats and over the top of the sponge and out the hole at the top of the...

Haha that made me chuckle.

Given that you were working within the confines of the unusual Edge tank, I think you've done a first rate job :) Sam

Definately. I was able to set up two tanks for a local shop when they revamped their plant stocking system. Even then it was a struggle to get them to implement my suggested fert regime and both thanks ended up being stripped down because the plants failed as they weren't getting any P or N...

:lol: nicely worked ;)

Thats a hell of a drive!

I think the judges comments take time to be posted up, seem to remember it taking a while last year anyway, but they did in the end. I really like this one because of the sence of scale, I'd never put this at just 30lt. Excellent work. Not really sure what to make of this one? Is this an...

Yeh me to, some tanks do some don't. I did notice the other day however that when I overdosed excel in my highlight tank, the film actually went and has since come back. Odd. If Ceg is right (no reason to doubt he is! :lol:) then this probably just proves that the plants in the tank were...

Cheers, just ordered a few thigns from there. Good to know. Sam

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Well put. Pearling isn't the be all and end all. I'd settle for healthy plants and fish any day. Sam

That scum is completely normal and is nothing to worry about from the point of view of the health of the fish, esp in a planted tank where the plants provide good O2 levels. If you want to remove it there are two ways, either increase the surface agitation to break it up, or use some form of...

Welcome back Mark :)

Sounds like a nice little project :) for lighting 2x24w T5's would be ideal I would think. Sam

I like the fact that they've gone to the effort of putting a heater in it, opens up the options for stocking. San

I'd really have liked one of these for my desk at work. Could do a nice little shrimp or Boraras tank. Just a shame I cant afford to at the moment. Was looking for a decent subscription offer too. If it has been a 1 year offer, I wouldn't have hesitated. Sam

All sounds about right. Would you use all 4 of the 24w tubes? Seems quite a lot, esp for 10hr a day. Whats the Hydor CT300? I've got a Hydor ETH300? Sam

Hi Mel Welcome to the forum :) Not got loads of time so I'll short hand this, Low light plants - try having a look at the journal section there are few low light tanks on there. Also, try tropica.com, they is lots of info about most plants you're likely to come across so that should give you...

Thanks George, that is interesting. I have read it through with my boss and I personally, think the law is worded such that it is illegal, but then again I'm no lawyer! I guess all this chatter and discussion does at least highlight the responsibility we as keeps of aquariums, in particular...

How about a bigger diameter pipe? You can get it cheap from here. http://www.kiowa.co.uk/Home/ Sam

Yep bleach them up good! Sam

I will check with my boss on Tuesday (and I really don't want to debate the wording of the law as its very tedious!) but my reading of section 14ZA is that it is an offence to sell them (although it doesn't specifically say Schedule 9 only ' to which this section applies'), perhaps plantlife...

It could well take a while for the change to filter down. I wouldn't like to say how giving stuff away would sit legally, probably best not too though I would think. Sam

As far as I know this is purely a UK change, certainly the WCA 1981 only applies to the UK (where relevant) and is not the result of an EU directive. The Ludwigia relates to those three specific species as far as I can see? Sam

There was a consultation about this, but as always no knew about it really! I'm in the business and we didn't even hear about it! http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/w ... ansale.htm Guess the trouble with both elodea and water lettuce is how invasive they can be, elodea especially can...

It is now!

PS that was really only a joke as well ;)

Yes but you have achieve good results, for people who struggle it is easy to forget stocking levels. Sam

Is it not also a lot to do with stocking? Many of the stunning tanks I've seen massively UNDER stock their tanks. Certainly as far as algae is concerned I find its more about limiting potential sources of pollution than anything else. I think (and we've all done it!) its just to tempting not...

Use citric acid, which you can get packets of from chemists for around 50p. You'll have to ask for it as I think they use it to cut drugs and stuff so its kept behind the counter. They will also ask why you want it. I'm lead to believe that branded de-limescaler products are just concentrated...

Re: How much would you pay for a acrylic 12' cube I got a 12" clearseal cube but in floatglass from a LFS for £20 I think it was. Not sure if that helps at all though. Sam

Hi All, I just wanted to let people konw that there has been a recent change in the law covering certain plants. Schedule 9 of the Widlife and Countryside Act 1981 lists all those species which it is an offence to sell or to cause to spread in the wild. A revision of this Scheudle came into...

It could be anything the plant, most plants from seed have the first two leaves round-ish, after which normal shaped leaves go. It just gives the plant some leaves to use for growth durimg the inital stages, when its more important just to grow than have the right shaped leaves. Sam

If you want to put several types in you go for it :) Perhaps have a main shoal of one type then add a few smaller shoals? That way you should keep the effect of the large shoal but get to out other stuff too :) Its YOUR tank you do what you want with it :) ;) Sam

DI or RO water works well as it doesnt leave any marks. Sam

Cant say I have, but seems like a nice little set up. Sam

Yeh cheers.

'pearling' after a water change is called false pearling. Dan is right about the reason for pearling, its when the O2 reaches max concentration. Dont be fooled into thinking that no pearling = unhealthy plants, look at the plants, if they look healthy that probably are :) Sam

Yep zebra nerites, and the egg def wont hatch :) Sam

Those are nerite snail eggs :) Sam

:lol: :lol: :lol: My bad! :lol: A combination of a lack of sleep due to 4 week old and two consecutive colds! Sam

I'll be honest and say I've not read the whole of this thread, but just wanted to add a word of encouragement and say not to give up, this hobby can be annoy at times as it can take months to see any change in the plants, but it is possible. A few ideas - get the co2 sorted first. Get this...

Do you have a link to the site to bought it from? Sam

I would put money on it being due to a lack of trace, up the trace and Im sure it'll bounce back. Its actually a very useful plants for this very reasons, gives a clear indication of when a tank isn't getting enough trace :) Sam

Yep, only had one experince with them but was equally as good. Sam

There are two things I think you would need to be aware of here, firstly is the wildlife and countryside act 1981, which prohibits the spread of certain plants in the wild, this list is however only four plants at the moment none of which would interest an aquascaper. The list (its schedule 9)...

Thanks for the thoughts Graeme, I did try Eco-complete before this lot of Akadama, and the HC did exactly the same thing. Complete sod as the EC wasn't cheap! I cant take KH or GH readings as dont have th test kits, what are you thinking? I could easily buy them. Sam

Thanks guys, I know it must be rather tiresome me going on like this all the time. Sam

Here you go Gareth I'll whip the rocks out for the time being, cant hurt!! Just to throw it into the mix, I found this photo of the very first HC I put in the tank when I set it up, so it is possible! I never did work out then why this HC died, which it did, in exactly the same way as it is...

The thing about the N is that I tried some crypts and they didnt grow either, which I would think would grow pretty well even in sub-par conditions? Also, my tap water is loaded with N? Having said that, it is definately worth a try, what would you suggest? How much N would suggest I use...

Sorry, dam google toolbar sodding up the words again. Its a +3000 running at 3000lph. Yet tried RO and rain water and 100% tap. The thing about the water is that I use tap in my other tanks and the plants in those do just fine, though those aren't what you would call 'planted' Yesterday I...

Well people, I stripped my 4ft down again two weeks ago today. A complete strip down, filter, new substrate, everything. And given how well my work tank is doing I figured I do the same in the hope it would sort whatever is wrong with this dam tank. Quick stats Tank - 48x18x18" Filter -...

Close shave. My eth 300w shuts off if the water stops passing through the unit? Sam

Not see that site before, rather daft pricing on some of them, but I might get some of the A crystal reds. Sam

Nice one, always nice to know you've been appreciated and that people are willing to make the effort :) Sam PS - thats the new job? PPS - I get the mick taken out of me too ;) but Ive already had one guy ask me to scape his tank when he gets one.

:lol: nice one bugs :) Sam

Pretty sure that even if you only dunked them in the boiling water for a very short time, it would kill the plants. Sam

Thanks all, I am pleased with it and everyone at work is interested so its nice to be able to talk them through it. Steve - Substrate is eco-complete on top with a unipac gravel underneather to bulk it out. TDI - You cheeky sod! :P Nelson - yep unipac wood from my local MA, two pieces...

This is my work tank, bingo bango :D Scape is nothing special, but at least Ive proved to myself that I can actually do it right! Ignore the bunch of red stems at the centre left, I wanted to add some colour so got some cheap stems that Ive not planted yet. Sam

Hi, I've broken this down to make it easier :) I have real trouble pinning a specific symptom on a particular deficiency, much better in my book to add plenty of everything then you know it cant be a nutrient deficiency :) Not at all :) some people (Ed Seeley for example) use 100% RO and...

If you're using ADA AS then you dont need to add anything else, the AS leaches HN3 anyway which will be more than enough to cycle the filter. Sam

Yeh guess its personaly taste. I dont use them but I can see the advantage of them. If the tank is rimless and braceless you may not be able have anything to rest it on anyway. Sam

I'd leave it, a spray bar might increase the speed of the flow but will more than likely reduce the overall amount of water pumped out. Sam

On a tank that size and with T5 light you should be able to grow most thing, especially with the addition of CO2. I would be tempted to reduce the lighting to 8hrs, at least for the time being, 10 hours is quite a long time for a high light tank :) Sam

Are the piranhas OK with plants? they dont eat them I mean? Sam

If possible when moving it I would put a wooden board underneath so the glass bottom of the tank isn't carrying the weight. Sam

I managed to move a 90x18cm tank by just removing all but a few inches of water and putting it in the car like that. Fish stayed in the tank :) Sam

Yeh a friend showed me this vid over the weekend, madness! Three, yes three whale sharks!!! Sam

Ive had stringtails in my tank before? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springtail Sam

Even under such low light? 3x-10x a very small amount is just a small amount? Sam

Fluidsensor also sells plants and I believe are looking to expand their range :) Sam

To be perfectly honest with 1WPG I dont think you really need to add ferts, just a bit of trace once a week. The fish waste will be more than enough for the plants if you stick with 1WPG. If you intent to up that then yes you'll need to look into ferts. FYI - fluidsensor one of the forum...

Cheers for the thoughts James. I'm gonna run the 100% RO for a month or two just to rule out it being something in the water, which I know is doubtful but I have to try each thing one at a time. The lighting is next on my list ;) the luminaire has 3x54w so I can easily add more. Interestingly...

Hi there :) Not got a clue what the water params are but I've just switched to 100% RO with JamesC DIY remineralisation. The tank is getting 1ppm PO4 and 5ppm NO3. TNP for trace. Pretty standard EI with CO2. Lighting is 2x54w T5's, cheapo lampspec ones, from JamesC thread. I never get...

Well I've been dosing with excel and pushed the CO2 to the max killing one of my cherry barbs in the process (and almost a second but I noticed in time) and no change in the HC or blyxa. I've added a few crypts just as a control plant, as they should grow in pretty much anything. I don't know...