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  1. foxfish

    260 L planted tank, minimum maintenance

    It is great to see you being so enthusiastic, you are obviously enjoying your new adventure, just dont rely on those test kits being accurate! There are hundreds of post relating to test kits but you will be hard pressed to find many promoting their use! As there are no planted tank police, you...
  2. foxfish

    'Mountains of Cape Verde' Scape (DSM)

    Like many plants they have different forms when grown underwater, 99% of the plants we buy are grown out of the water. You can cut the stems into several lengths before planting and get the root established.
  3. foxfish

    'Mountains of Cape Verde' Scape (DSM)

    Yes, you just make sure the substrate is wet and make use of the internal humidity. This has been discussed many times on the forum, some folk believe in spraying and some folk say they have had issues with a sealed lid causing mold or fungus but, I have done dozens of dry starts with no such...
  4. foxfish

    'Mountains of Cape Verde' Scape (DSM)

    There are several different approaches to the dry start method, my method is seal the top, give 12 hours light and dont spray at all. My other method which only really works in the summer is … place the tank outside and use natural sunlight but not direct sun. That method will really show...
  5. foxfish

    'Mountains of Cape Verde' Scape (DSM)

    I first went to the islands back in 1986, there was an abundance of fish in the surrounding sea at that time. I have been back since but that was 21 years ago. I would love to pay one more visit…….
  6. foxfish

    Return of the Shallow

    Your deserved fame at last….
  7. foxfish

    Who needs a tank for a dark start…. Let’s see.

    I used a internal spiral diffuser on my very first C02 tank about 40 odd years ago, in fact that particular tank worked very well! In those days that was a standard method as was, very low flow, zero surface movement, rain water to fill the tank and two T8 tubes the length of the tank. I am not...
  8. foxfish

    Who needs a tank for a dark start…. Let’s see.

    Sounds great, I am happy you are enjoying yourself and telling us about it, just dont read the threads about test kits!
  9. foxfish

    Who needs a tank for a dark start…. Let’s see.

    Welcome Bryan, sounds like you have a plan, good luck.
  10. foxfish

    First time “High Tech” 200L

    One of the issues with a drop checker is deciphering the colour, to me that is nearer blue and no where near lime green. As has been mentioned a a PH pen can be very helpful at this stage.
  11. foxfish

    First time “High Tech” 200L

    Well that is an interesting way to introduce C02, going slow and waiting to see what happens seems like a sensible method and it may work for you! I dont think many people have the patience to go that way, one bubble probally wont have any effect whatsoever as you would more likely require five...
  12. foxfish

    Reef——>Planted convert (400+ gallons)

    Sounds great, I had a reef tank with the filter and chiller in the garage but mine was a cold water local marine, I am surprised more reefers dont turn to cold water! Anyway… that is a fantastic looking tank, we have had a few massive planted tanks on the forum, it does appear that large tanks...
  13. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    Hi Filip, thanks for sharing you experiences and good luck with your new job, Jersey is OK but only 18 miles away is a really great island!
  14. foxfish

    700l labour of love

    You would use a less bright light.
  15. foxfish

    700l labour of love

    Great start, well done and good luck with your PH profiling.
  16. foxfish

    New and improved Dutch style

    I grew up in a era when Dutch style tanks were very much the target and the goal of many aquarist, we dont see enough of them anymore but yours is a fantastic example….
  17. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    A huge, room dominating, tropical rain forest in a big acrylic box sounds right down my street! Just as a bit of food for though, having full size opening front door (doors) would make maintenance a lot easier. I look forward to your new build thread.
  18. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    Big step, big ideas, good luck.
  19. foxfish

    building a 1200L nature aquarium with Wild Discus & jungle-nature feel

    How very disappointing that must be for you :(
  20. foxfish

    building a 1200L nature aquarium with Wild Discus & jungle-nature feel

    Very impressive … What is in between the tanks glass floor and the metal stand?
  21. foxfish

    Journey to high tech

    Things come in fads and in the last couple of years an ‘aggravated surface‘ is very much in vogue but I have never been a fan myself preferring to supply the flow via spray bars or submerged outlets. I feel you may be sacrificing a lot of gas which is OK if you are prepared for that, but you...
  22. foxfish

    Dutch inspired 90cm

    Looks fantastic and a good example of mass planting at the start while the tank matures.
  23. foxfish

    My 200g window

    The advantage would be no loss of C02 in the sump with guaranteed and complete mixing into the main flow but probally not necessary ! If you have a readily supply of gas at an affordable cost then your method is fine.
  24. foxfish

    My 200g window

    Ok so you could be loosing a fair bit of C02 through the surface of you sump chamber, you can check this by adding some cling film over the top and see If becomes pressurised ! Have you tried the reactors with out the atomisers? It may be possible to add the C02 enriched water directly into the...
  25. foxfish

    My 200g window

    Ok ... it is still not very clear to me how this works (sorry) So your main return pump sits underwater in the sump, you have an independent pump feeding the reactors and the return is fed near the inlet of the main pump? Where does the feed water to the reactors come from and is the compartment...
  26. foxfish

    My 200g window

    Hi Michael, nice set up. Exactly how does the flow from your reactors enter the return pump ?
  27. foxfish

    Waterbox 3620 first planted attempt

    There must be a reason and cause if you C02 is fluctuating so much. Assuming your drop checker is registering correctly? Perhaps using a PH pen to double check the C02 content will confirm something.
  28. foxfish

    Waterbox 3620 first planted attempt

    Ok Paul that is cool, I would guess that 2kg should last you about two weeks at 24-7 and around six weeks with normal timing. What I would suggest is that while you don’t have any fish, although you can use high levels of C02, you should still use your ‘fish free tank opportunity’ to get the...
  29. foxfish

    Waterbox 3620 first planted attempt

    Good start, I have never used C02 24-7 seems like a waste to me especially as you will be using a fair bit on 180l tank. How are you distributing the gas?
  30. foxfish

    5ft Custom Heavily Planted Sumped Hi-Tech (450l)

    Smaller and shorter round bottle would perhaps work better?
  31. foxfish

    5ft Custom Heavily Planted Sumped Hi-Tech (450l)

    That should do it although a smaller bottle neck and lower pressure atomiser like a small air stone might give you a more compact arrangement if you need the space. In the past I have just butted up a bottle neck to the pump and wound electrical tape over the butt joint to hold it in place.
  32. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    I think I might of mentioned Angles to you way back in the thread, I love them even if they can be aggressive bully’s ! They can get pretty big and chunky too, I think your tank is just about the right size for them. Sit back and enjoy the show then just watch them grow..........
  33. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    I worked on a Koi Farm for many years, over time we developed into a tourist attraction and had numerous aquatic displays. One such display was a 2000 gallon concrete tank with 50mm thick acrylic windows. I built the tank to house “ Topcat” who was a 30lb red tailed catfish. Anyway once a week...
  34. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    Ha Ha that looks like great fun!
  35. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    I am not sure if a screw would work, perhaps with an angled bracket or a full hight corner piece, that might be more effective but in any case, any quick fix will be hard to live with! Your strap is probably petty safe for the time being, I do feel for you but I can’t think of any way that will...
  36. foxfish

    To sump or n̶o̶t̶ to sump? (Swan Lake)

    You guys seem to be having fun designing your sumps. I am a huge fan of overflows and sumps, I have been using them for 40 or so years right down from 10 gallon fish tanks to 12,000 gallon Koi ponds. For planted tank application with added C02, I dont like to send too much water over the...
  37. foxfish

    Keetchy's rescaped, 1st Iwagumi tank (Page 7)

    Hi Mark, good luck with your reactor, it should work OK :) but you will never really know what is going on inside that “black” vessel and the bioballs might restrict flow considerably . It might work better without any balls but the danger with this type of reactor is a build up of gas, at...
  38. foxfish

    Keetchy's rescaped, 1st Iwagumi tank (Page 7)

    It is about dwell time, ie the amount of time the bubbles spend in suspension in the water, the longer the bubbles are kept moving inside the vessel the more likely the gas will completely dissolve. There are other methods like using pressure ie ... you can develop a single large bubble of gas...
  39. foxfish

    Keetchy's rescaped, 1st Iwagumi tank (Page 7)

    You can try removing the blades from your reactor, it will be much quieter and have more flow. The main problem is they are simply to small to be effective on anything other than small tanks. There is a design in my signature link that might inspire you, there is a video of it working too...
  40. foxfish

    Taking a sump. Back in five minutes...

    I am sure there are new innovations but from my own experiences it is the actual smashing up of the bubbles that makes the noice rather that the pump motor. In effect the pump is spinning faster than the gas can be moved causing a sort of hissing sound. I have one particular pump that must be 30...
  41. foxfish

    Taking a sump. Back in five minutes...

    I have been using central heating pumps for 40 years, you need a conversion kit but once fitted the pumps should last for decades of continuous running. Good points.... near silent and vibration free , completely silent from a few feet away, adjustable power and flow settings, easy to buy new or...
  42. foxfish

    Taking a sump. Back in five minutes...

    Hi Andrew, needle wheel pumps tend to have less flow rather than power due to having a less efficient impeller for actually moving water. They are easy to make as it is only the impeller that is different to a conventional pump, you can probably find a YouTube vid... I haves used needle wheel...
  43. foxfish

    Taking a sump. Back in five minutes...

    Yes you have to find the right size bottle ... reactor or needle wheel pump!
  44. foxfish

    Taking a sump. Back in five minutes...

    Hi Geoffrey , sorry I have not been following your thread in detail but I notice in one of the pictures you have your C02 in front of your return pump. Great idea and something I have been doing for many years, the only difference is I use a cut down plastic bottle...
  45. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    Ha ha yes well I would change my picture but I can’t work out how too! Actually I like to change my profiles pics to match the seasons, Halloween soon.....
  46. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    I can barely understand my phone! (Old school generation) (both me and my phone)
  47. foxfish

    Cloudy sky

    Great, just keep going in the same direction......
  48. foxfish

    1300l tank and 1ml of experience...

    I am afraid I don’t really know the reason, I have read it is as you suggest but can’t say for sure? However there does seem to be plenty of evidence if you can go by reading members post on this forum. It is often recommended to stock a new tank with as much plant foliage as possible. From my...
  49. foxfish

    1300l tank and 1ml of experience...

    You mentioned that your big tank will will quite sparsely planted, you may find that makes things a lot more difficult! Generally speaking maintaining a large plant mass is more successful than tying to keep just a few plants!
  50. foxfish

    Cloudy sky

    Like most hobbies, there will be traditionalists who don’t want to wonder far from the standard Matrix! You design will be well outside the box for many people but don’t let that put you off , it is your idea , your tank, your home and your pleasure.
  51. foxfish

    Cloudy sky

    I like it, certainly not the normal style you see but unless you are adhering to certain competition rules who cares ? I have always done and built unusual things away from the normal, I don’t want to look at something I can see elsewhere, I think your capping stones are awesome.
  52. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    About 40 years ago I paid a visit to local store who supply and maintain fire extinguishers, since then I have never paid for my own C02 supply! They always have a few near out of date cylinders that they let me have. I do live in a small community and I take the guys gifts like boxes of...
  53. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    I find this all quite funny! You must be wondering about why this forum is so full of folk struggling with all the aspects of growing plants underwater. You must know something we don’t? .... ;)
  54. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    How many big tanks have we seen that are fraught will problems, this one is amazingly successful!
  55. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    Have you advertised any on this forum?
  56. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    I would like to say that your tank must be one of the most successful planted tank attempts I have ever seen! Quite amazing when you look at what you have achieved especially considering the amount of folk who struggle to grow a 8” patch of grass or a single specimen plant! I wonder how much...
  57. foxfish

    NatureScape - The End

    Not so much the octopus tank now....
  58. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    Much better!
  59. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    I am sure your elephant nose will have a much better chance of surviving than the majority that get sold! My local store sells them regularly, you can often see 10 or more crammed in a 2’ tank waiting to meet further torture and doom... I have often been tempted to try and save one but, never...
  60. foxfish

    Cloudy sky

    No I mean that you would have two trees, you could plant your trees with slow growing plants like Anubias but keep one in an emersed state and one in the tank. When the one it the tank attracts algae or you fancy a change, you bring out the immersed one that is lush and algae free and swap them...
  61. foxfish

    Cloudy sky

    No I had a full sized perforated plastic background that had lava rock stuck all over it, I used to swap them around because it was really differcult to keep everything looking fresh and to keep sea weeds alive. I just thought how cool it would be to keep your basic basic scape but swap the...
  62. foxfish

    Cloudy sky

    Many years ago I kept a cold water marine tank, I had two interchangeable backgrounds. One I kept in the sea, hanging on my boat mooring, the other I kept in my tank. Every few months I would swap them around. I wonder if you could do the same with your tree, if you had another tree you could...
  63. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    If you read through his substantial thread, you get the impression he really likes his elephant nose.
  64. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    Tom Barr kept a single elephant nose in his Dutch something set up, I think it only ate live food though? (Bloodworm?)
  65. foxfish

    Cloudy sky

    I think it looks so cool going the way it is, the scape is getting lots of compliments from folk. I would not rush into changing or adding anything for the moment. Of course everybody has there own ideas of what looks good, but for me, I love the simplicity and the design. If you start filling...
  66. foxfish

    Cloudy sky

    Yes I am sure you can kick it back in line, your health is the most important thing though.
  67. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    I built a 10,000 gallon cold water koi pond for one customer around 30 years ago, the owner swims in it every day thoughout the year. I have other customers who have heated koi ponds and swim in them during the summer. One has two 5’ sturgeon swimming amongst his koi collection.
  68. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    I think it is a good idea as when the Arawana grows to big you will be forced to get an even bigger tank and we can all enjoy a new thread...
  69. foxfish

    For the Start is dark and full of terrors

    Well the symptoms look like the classic... too much light for the amount of C02 available ... This could be related to flow but the drop checker can be deceiving too. Have you considered doing a PH profile? How is the water circulated?
  70. foxfish

    For the Start is dark and full of terrors

    It looks fantastic although it took about 5 mins for all the pictures to load :)
  71. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    I use to have a tank full of pogostemon, I really liked it but it did grow very dense and attracted some string algae. However I found it really therapeutic to pull out the strands of algae, I used a thin piece of bamboo and twiddled it amongst the bed of pogostemon, I could then slowly remove...
  72. foxfish

    NatureScape - The End

    The Octopus...
  73. foxfish

    Buce Drift - now 11 buce varieties strong

    Looks good although you will have to keep an eye out for algae with such a low mass of plants. (A six week dry start might have been an idea)
  74. foxfish

    Cloudy sky

    No, I have never had any long term issues with fungus but I have read about a few bad cases! I have found the most successful method when using artificial light, comes when you heat the inside of the tank above ambient room temperature. This causes very hight amounts of humidity inside the...
  75. foxfish

    Cloudy sky

    Do you have any heat inside the tank, the glass looks very clear? How long do you have the lights on for? I have had some love fungus appear, even full on mushrooms sometimes.
  76. foxfish

    TMC Sig 600 Twinstar 600s Sump build

    I am sure @zozo has been playing with sump overflows?
  77. foxfish

    TMC Sig 600 Twinstar 600s Sump build

    I don’t know much about that style of overflow but that is a lovely carpet! @zozo is your man I think.
  78. foxfish

    TMC Sig 600 Twinstar 600s Sump build

    It looks like a commercial add on overflow box and not a drilled tank?
  79. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    I agree with Conor, that angle fish would be worth looking into.
  80. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    Pond UVs are designed to combat green water, aquarium UVs are designed to combat Algae, parasites, and bacterial diseases. I have read that you actually need a lot of UV to destroy parasites though!
  81. foxfish

    NatureScape - The End

    That is a nice example, I have not had much luck with them, I have kept them alive for a year or so in my emersed set up but never managed to get one thriving. I even bought some specialist food, tried flys of course, in fact some sites say they don’t need feeding in that manor at all. Good luck...
  82. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    Looks great so far.....
  83. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    Of course not many if any of us have personal experience with such a large planted tank so all we can do is offer our own experiences based on our smaller tanks. I think in the same way as Zeus in that you might want to add as many plants as possible. I think this is a well trusted method to...
  84. foxfish

    Flintstones

    Dry starts are really good fun and very effective, certainly nothing complicated.
  85. foxfish

    Flintstones

    Are you going to try a dry start?
  86. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    Maybe one day...:)
  87. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    Here is mine at the moment, about one year dry start!
  88. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    I don’t know, I have a have always enjoyed growing emersed plants, I find it very effective at establishing any of the popular plants we keep. The algae free, fast growth is not only interesting to watch but allows roots to establish in the substrate or or hard scape.
  89. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    Have you considered a dry start for a few weeks?
  90. foxfish

    AquaNano 60 - First attempt at a high tech planted

    Looks fantastic!
  91. foxfish

    (NO MORE) 2,000L High tech BEAST

    A couple of sketches showing how I have plumbed in sumps in the past. First one show a single large pump that is regulated by back feeding a trickle tower. Second one shows how a cut down plastic bottle can be used to feed C02 directly into the return pump, a good, no maintainace, method of...
  92. foxfish

    AquaNano 60 - First attempt at a high tech planted

    There are thousands upon thousands of post on this forum based around using too much light & algae issues! Both of you guys tanks looked great with the standard light, I would concentrate on Co2, flow & tank cleanliness :) Stryder, perhaps you can raise your light up higher?
  93. foxfish

    AquaNano 60 - First attempt at a high tech planted

    Your tank was looking great with the stock light ... bright light equals algae, can you turn down the brightness? Your anubias is going to roast under that light. The problem with hight intensity lighting, is trying to match the amount of C02 without killing the fish. I suspect that the algae...
  94. foxfish

    Lights and Movement - Jewel Vision 180 from pre-set up :)

    I must say Petra, that your post are quite spectacular! Are you some sort of IT guy or just young?
  95. foxfish

    First foray into planted tanks

    I think you should look at a dimmable one... there are lots of guys on the forum who are up to speed on the latest models. Perhaps someone will chime in. (I don't think there are any problems linking lights)
  96. foxfish

    First foray into planted tanks

    Hi Simon, welcome to the forum. All the basic principles of keeping a planted tank are really quite simple once you have got your head around them. You need to be very careful about how much light you use as over lighting is enemy number one!
  97. foxfish

    180l low tech

    Looks fantastic, well done!
  98. foxfish

    A Long Start, another Iwagumi story

    I don’t think so, the drop checker with the correct, uncontaninated solution, will give a good indication when it is lime green. I know it seems extreme but you could try even more co2 just to see it the ph drops anymore. I can’t remember how you are diffusing the co2 ? You should be able to get...
  99. foxfish

    A Long Start, another Iwagumi story

    if You have hard water then you might not be able to drop a full one point, or more to the point, you might not require a full one point drop to obtain 30ppm of co2. Do you know what the water KH is?
  100. foxfish

    A Long Start, another Iwagumi story

    At least you have the opportunity to experiment while there are no fish.
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