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Mike I don't get a lot of light spill, the position is slightly higher than some may have. I have found this gives the best spread of light into the tank with a better spread. They are nice lights, easy to control intensity. I must get my proper camera out and get some better pics

RIP Malcolm I don't want to depress anyone but I thought as this journal documents the progress of Swamp Creek its only fitting that I should add RIP Malcolm, the cat wearing the jumper in the first photo of this journal. He was the first living creature in my tank! Unfortunately we made the...

Swamp Creek - moved to new site So I'm pleased with my new tank position. I get to sit on the couch opposite, look out into the garden or at my tank. The tank is plumbed into the mains via a mixer tap to get just the right water temperature. The tank is also plumbed into an outside drain...

Swamp Creek - new position for tank Hi Folks. An update on the tank which has not been rescaped in 2 years. I did a bit of renovating last year about this time and if I think back it was a very stressful dusty period. We decided to extend the lounge and create a new bedroom upstairs in the...

Re: Swamp Creek Mike that's a question I have asked myself over and over. Then recently I went out and bought and extra tile. I suppose I'm committed to them as I've spent the cash. I have often wondered if my problems are down to them, however I think they produce all the light needed, my...

Re: Swamp Creek Darren EI only doses for Mg if you add it as magnesium sulphate or Epsom salts. Normal EI relys on the magnesium in your water. Because I have rock hard water I thought Mg would be high but I cannot get info out of water supplier. Ca must be high given the state of my...

Swamp Creek Well 2 years on and I still have the same setup with a few tweaks to planting. I'm still finding it difficult, especially getting good growth at substrate level. I have recently made a change that has me very hopeful that it may have been a CO2 issue all along! (it's almost...

Re: Swamp Creek Thanks Mate I've been meaning to update the journal for a while. It's been a bit of a journey of discovery for me. I seem to have solved my crypt melt and algae problems. I need a free moment to pen a proper post and I will soon. The crypt melt was solved by adding...

Re: Swamp Creek Thanks George and LondonDragon that means a lot coming from great scapers as yourselves :thumbup: I'm still having problems with my crypts melting. I've been told it's just down to co2 but having changed to the UP Aqua atomiser and increased my flow to more than required I...

Re: Swamp Creek A video. just have to get that hair grass growing

Re: Swamp Creek UP Aqua atomiser installed. I've seen a big improvement in flow. I think I'm imagining things but the bba algae on some leaves seems to be turning into "pepper corns" if you know what I mean. It's only been about 4 days.

That looks fantastic Andy. Just keep your co2 higher than you think you need it and only put livestock in once you know you have the plants growing. It's difficult to respond to problems when you need to try keep fish alive at the same time. I have battled algae due to poor co2 distribution...

Re: Swamp Creek I use Excel daily, about 10ml in 200l. I'll work on my CO2. Cheers.

Re: Swamp Creek Its an interesting read. I don't think I appreciated how complex the science could be. So I should be able to grow almost anything in my water as long as I follow basic principals of high optimised flow, EI or equivalent, Light at an appropriate PAR and as much CO2 as my fish...

Re: Swamp Creek George I'm using tap water and it's hard as nails. Is there something I should know about that? I'm not keen on making RO water - used to do it and it put me off the hobby to be honest. Much prefer a hose straight into the tank.

Re: Swamp Creek As always I'm struggling a bit. Just need to keep trying things and see if I can eliminate the algae, get my crypts to stop melting and see if I can grow a carpet plant. I planted Eleocharis parvula about 5 weeks ago and have had no runners, some top growth. I turned up my...

Re: Swamp Creek Paul the thing is I've managed to drop my bubbles per second to about 5 since I have increased flow and surface movement. Its probably down to improved dissolving of gas into the water column with the large increase in flow through the co2 reactor. The vid was taken at 5...

Re: Swamp Creek I've installed my eheim compact+ 3000 pump driving my co2 reactor and external heater. The filter is an eheim pro3 2076 and it now has no obstructions to its flow except sintered glass. Heres a camera phone (slightly shaky) you tube clip showing the flow and spray bar...

Swamp Creek I have posted a longer explanation in the filter sectionhttp://ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=14188 Basically I have a 1700lph filter producing 432lph. I have a plan. So you might see that I've battled algae for a long time, not major algae but enough to require stripping...

Re: Swamp Creek - updated 12/2010 So I thought I'd post about how I made my spraybar. Nothing new if you search the forum except for the bending spring I used which I found recommended on another forum. My first spray bar was to narrow. I'm not sure about the physics but if the spray bar is...

Re: Swamp Creek - updated 12/2010 Today I added another external filter which is rated 650lph. I manufactured the acrylic spray bar version 2 and installed that on my main eheim rated 1700lph. It runs across the back of the tank and has an internal diameter of 20mm. The previous version was...

Re: Swamp Creek - updated 12/2010 Cats OK. He still needs feeding via his stomach tube but he's eating more by mouth so theres still hope. He does have trouble keeping his weight up. A happy cat in all respects though so worth trying to get him better.

Re: Swamp Creek - updated 12/2010 Right so I've made a few changes in the past 8 weeks. I tried to get rid of the spirogyra, BBA. A few blackouts later and on its return I decided to get rid of some of the marselia it was growing in, next thing I knew I'd removed all the marselia. I turned...

Re: Swamp Creek - updated 10/2010 Ok so I've just finished a 3 day blackout. I can see how this has affected some BBA on the marselia and there is definitely less spirogyra around but it is still present. BBA present but looks white in places Just to recap. 1. I have cleaned my filter 2. I...

Re: Re: Swamp Creek - updated 10/2010 So I've been quite frustrated lately. I have some stag horn algae and and some spirogyra. The spirogyra seems to be on the increase and I've decided to do a 3 day blackout. Not much else to say really. I think I've covered the other aspects, lights...

What's happening Magpie? Give us a photo or two!

Re: Swamp Creek - updated 10/2010 Garuf and Ray thanks for prompting me to update! Worklife gets in the way of the important things in life like aquascapes. Ray the Vortech runs really quiet even at high speed which it only does while the lights are on. I recently had my folks visit the...

Oi garuf what's happening? It's been a couple of months and I'm wondering how things are turning out?

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 So an update on swamp creek. I really appreciate all the advice I received about not turning up the lights as they are the main reason driving algae. However the led lights were not as strong as we initially thought. I know have them at 100% for 8hrs...

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 My lights are 31cm from the surface, the water column is 35cm deep. Perhaps if the article was testing a marine setup then the lights were close to the surface. From my readings it appears the lights lose approximately 10x their PAR levels in 31 cm of...

Re: Swamp Creek - TMC Growbeam 1000 tiles Ok so I managed to spend the free time I had today taking measurements of the PAR values in the tank. As you may know I have 2 x TMC growbeam 1000 tiles suspended above a 90cm x 45cm x 45cm tank. Here is a camera phone image of the setup, ignore the...

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 Sanj I have your journal bookmarked, awesome tank :thumbup:. I suppose we both went for Midland Reefs because they seemed better value. Can't beat 24hr delivery though. I'm surprised at how low my numbers are as well as the lights look bright so the...

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 A quick update. I should be at work but my PAR meter arrived today so I found the time to get home and do some initial tests. Turns out that I had a PAR of 12 at substrate level and 18 mid level and 40 at the surface. No wonder I don't have problems...

Re: Swamp Creek - 3 months So an update but no pics at the moment. Yesterday I added a horizontal spray bar across the back of the the tank. I'm really impressed with the uniformity of the flow. This was a suggestion made by Clive and as usual I'm glad I followed his advice. The lily pipe...

Added any fish lately Mawgan?

Re: Magpie's 'Learning Curve' 90 x 75 opti-white Wow! Magpie this is a great looking tank :thumbup: . I love the size and 2 viewing angles. How are you lighting it? I struggled with my stems, they turned to mush. Best advice I can give is make sure you give them as much co2 as possible...

That's a great looking tank whitey!! :thumbup:

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 The Danios are ace! They school really well and look like little brown trout. I even have a 2mm fry that's still alive (see the black dot at the top of the water on the left front, in the meniscus) :thumbup: Mawgan I lost 2 fish :( . One is current...

Mawgan regarding your concerns about a yellow drop checker and the fish you want to introduce. I thought my fish were fine but this morning I found one dead. The rest were fine and swimming about without a care in the world. Just before I went to bed tonight I checked on them and found the...

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 Mawgan I have not had a problem. I was worried when I introduced the fish but despite my drop checker being bright yellow the fish have shown no sign of distress once they settled in. The first 20 mins they spent a bit of time at the surface in between...

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 I've been struggling with plant growth and have a separate thread running that I'd like to move over here as this is my journal and will hopeful be a record of the process I'm following. The thread was here...

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 Thanks Graeme, they arrived today and I'm really pleased with them. I'll keep the tank covered until my lid arrives, should be here soonish. My cats have not ventured near the tank opening when the lids off so I've got used to not covering it. Be...

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 Magpie I ordered them online from link They arrive tomorrow and I'm a bit anxious as they are known to jump and my tank is open. May have to fashion a lid. Here is a pic Picture is from PFK by the way - heres the link

Mawgan how are things progressing? Are your plants growing?

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 Nelson do you think these need to be killed? I assumed that when I introduced some fish they would be eaten. I have 24 gold ring danio's on order for Friday and I think they will feast on them. :D I have made some changes. As my plants have...

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 Nelson I have 5 Amano shrimp and some snails. They don't appear to be interested in them.

Swamp Creek Creatures So I have Hydra and plenty of them as I have no fish yet. Started with a handful on the side of the tank and now I have hundreds. More info here

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 So 5 weeks and today I installed my new bubble counter and planted my cryptocoryne x willisii in the back right corner just next to the cryptocoryne undulatus. Hopefully they will both grow up the 25cm to the surface and fill the back right of the...

If you interpolate your images you can easily increase them to 4mb. I can do it for you if you like just pm me.

Mawgan it's looking good! `nice to see it planted at last :) Do you have a co2 drop checker? Is it yellow? May as well be until you add fish.

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 Tom - Aslan looks like he's landed with his bum in the butter. That's a cat with attitude. Mawgan I too went to TGM and spoke with Graeme. I had planned to setup the tank with plants from day one but only when I spoke to him did I realise this was not...

Re: Swamp Creek - @ 15 days So its turning into a struggle. I have plant death but I persist. It's only 2 weeks after all. The nh4 levels are close to zero. Today after 3 days without a water change I replaced about 75% water. I managed to remove a lot of dead plant material, surprising...

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 Thanks everyone for your encouraging comments. John the lights are TMC Growbeam 1000ND lighting tiles. LED lighting and currently running at 45% strength while the tank becomes established. The controller for each tile allows you to set the start and...

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 Malcolm's jumper keeps a stomach tube in place on the side of his body. We need to feed him 4 times a day because his eosophagus is dilated and although he eats well the food can't reach his stomach. Conditions called dysautonomia or Key Gaskell...

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 The Marselia is putting up new leaves after just 4 days but they are all 4 leaf clover types rather than the single leaf which I'm aware is normal at the start. Do I just cut these off now or do I allow them to feed the rhizome? Do I allow the plants...

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 I bought cycled filter material from TGM. It's not coping with the high ammonia levels at present but it's early days. I'm based just outside of Swindon nr Wroughton. Thanks for the offer I appreciate it but I think the filter material I have just...

Re: Swamp Creek - established 20/04/2010 Thanks Chris. A rotten tree stump is exactly what I was after so success! It's difficult to translate the concept into the final product. Hopefully this will turn out tops! :thumbup:

My first tank in years! Lets hope I don't just grow algae and if you look at the pics I'm off on a good start with some green water. So I did the great trek from Swindon to Wrexham to collect my tank and spent 5 hours at The Green Machine extracting every last bit of info Graeme could provide...

Thats a huge tank, can't wait to see it develop. :thumbup:

how things Mawgan? I'm a few weeks behind you in setting up my first tank. I'm looking forward to seeing the tank develop. Still waiting for that regulator?