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All I can say is the best planted tank displays I've seen (I travel up and down the country for work and try to pop in to every fish shop I pass) is Maidenhead Aquatics Farnham. Truly inspiring scapes. I don't know much more about the shop except friendly staff and some super cool fish on...

Thanks for all the advice Alto. On the Frogbit... (I'm on Android and I didn't even have to correct that. Proof possitive that Android is better than Apple! :p) I have hard water, but now you mention it, I do have lots of surface movement. Since not injecting Co2, I had assumed this would not...

Hi Darrel, Thanks for the info. You just reminded me, I have a few little Frogbit floating about too. I'd forgotten them, as I impulse bought them some time ago, but having not added any ferts, they've almost curled up and died, but I hope what is left will now perk up. If not, I'll buy some...

Thanks Alto, My hope is that with such low levels of nutrients as I'm 1/4 dosing EI, the low light should balance out and I can take it easy, watching it grow in nice and slow. If need be, I'll upgrade my light later, but I'm more worried about over doing it, than under doing it with light...

Thank you Tim, Good to hear I should be off to a reasonable start then... Understood re deficiencies. I'll adjust ferts as they grow. Pleasantly surprised to hear I have enough light and will definitely start off with 6 hours. Also, I forgot to say, I have 2 air stones running, which must...

Hi, I haven't posted here in years, since I went plantless for a while, but now getting back into it on a more low-tech setup. Could you please let me know if I'm heading in the right direction, or am I about to mess this up (again)? I have the tank set up and running for a month or two now...

I ordered the curved aquarium plant food ones in the link above... I needed some other bits off them anyway and I really like them as a company, so that's me sorted now. Cheers :) Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk

Thank you both. After much researching and deciding I stumbled across Aquascape Pro Scissors S-Curve 210mm on The Green Machine for £7 (Deal of the week!) So I've ordered them! Then I wanted some spring scissors too and I'm sure it's not critical, but I can't decide between curved or straight...

Hi, I need some new scissors as mine are RUBBISH. I want decent ones that will last and I don't mind paying for them, but I don't want to spend a fortune... My old ones are long and curved and I think that works well for me. Can anybody make a suggestion please? Thanks Sent from my SM-G850F...

I have 15 litres of this... ...under a thick layer of Unipac Limpopo Black Sand. Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk

Thanks Jonny. I'm glad you like them.You can get a Flameback form of this species which has a wide bright red band on their back - this is not them. As far as I know these are just common Bleeding Heart Tetra. They do improve with age, so perhaps the ones you saw were just a bit too young to...

Nope... I just have the standard media that came with the filters (Eheim Pro 3 600 (2075) Thanks though :) Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk

I've been pretty hot on cleaning the filters. I actually thought I might be over doing it, but I haven't been so good with removing dead leaves and stuff and many of my plants have been struggling. I also have lots of dead and dying moss, so maybe just bits of crap from general fish and plant...

Only Assasins and their eggs are bigger and kind of square... Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk

Hi, These tiny little white dots have been settling on / sticking to every surface in the tank for a while now. Not the glass, but wood, rocks, plants... I was hoping it was just a temporary flourish of something that would clear up, but it's still happening. They brush off with no effort, but...

Thought I'd add these, just for fun... For the Bleeding Heart Tetra Apreciation Society (Derek) ;) I noticed they were showing off last night so I took a quick video and these are stills from that. Poor quality, but you get the idea... Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk

So here's a pic of one of the remaining swords and a close up, Then a full tank shot (it's not looking it's best). I need to re do the whole rear, I need a nice new centrepiece plant to go behind where the Ram is, (just left of dead centre, slightly behind the rock) I tried an Echinodorus...

Great! They look like another good choice. Thank you. What I'll do is, use these at the left rear, as I like the appearance of them and it's a nice contrast as I have leafy plants everywhere else... And I'll put the tall Crypts across the right rear as a sort of curtain bwhims to wood. I'll post...

Thanks, crap pic of the plants now I look at it. I'll get one tomorrow as the lights are going down now. And yeah, they're gorgeous and I absolutely love them...! (The Bleeding Hearts) Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk

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Mick, Looking like I'm going to have a serious crypt jungle back there by the time I've finished... Thanks for the suggestions! They look spot on! :) Derek, do you mean photos to identify the plant or to diagnose the problem? I don't have any of the mess they ended up in and I've now removed...

Thanks Mick! Exactly what I needed! I'll take a look through these options tomorrow when I have time. Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk

Wow! I love your fish! Beautiful! Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk

Hi, I've been struggling with (amongst other things!) my background plants for a long time now and I'd like to re-think altogether. My current set up was designed for my lack of experience (and talent) and busy schedule work, baby, other kids... life! At the moment I have Echinodorus Bleheri...

I'm interested... [emoji4] Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk

Precisly how I see it! Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk

Thanks for the suggested books. I went for The Optimum Aquarium. I like how one for the reviews describe it as "...not a how to, but more of a how it works..." which is exactly what I need. Technology may have moved on since the early eighties, but the plants don't know that, so this seems a...

You know what, sod it. I think I'll just get that second filter sooner rather than later. Cheers :)

Hi, (I am injecting co2 via an in-line atomiser into the outlet of my filter.) I currently use the spray bar on my Eheim Pro 3 2075 (600) in a vertical position pointing straight across the back of my 110cm long 340l tank. The inlet and outlet are both in the right back corner. I have a power...

I have read this entire thread and you're right, I didn't expect a simple solution. Nor would I want one really... If it was easy it would be no fun and not nearly as satisfying when I got it at least partly "right". And the reality is, the day (if it ever comes and I'm sure it won't) that I...

Can anybody recommend a good book to help us newbies with the basics please? I know there's allot of conflicting info out there, so my big worry would be reading a book and forming a basic starting point from which to learn, only to later find that half of it was inaccurate or outdated...

Thanks Hoggie, That's just what I'll do then. Cheers...

Hi, After all my stem background plants got spindly and ugly and outgrew the tank every few days, I decided to go for a more leafy, lower maintenence background option. I started again and planted a combination of Echinodorus Bleheri and Cryptocoryne Balansae across the back, thinking they'll...

In stead of learning to drive in a small car they wanted to step in a formula3 car and drive away immediately. No learning, it just needs to be perfect, and quick please......... That's me... I'm embarrassed to say, I feel like I'm skidding around the corner in my Formula3 narrowly missing a...

Thanks tigertim. I hadn't seen your post. That's actually what I plan to do, but I do think I'd better make sure the flow is still getting around.

I'll check the flow from the filter is making it across the back of the tank and reaching the powerhead at the other end. It will have reduced due to growth and I'll probably have to re direct the flow. I'm using an in line atomiser, so this will have a big impact on co2 distribution. I'll...

Oh, I just saw your second post... Is there anything else I should do...?

Thanks Jose. I'm injecting co2 and I think I'm pretty much at maximum. I'm also using ei ferts, so in theory they have more than enough of all nutrients. I was not using co2 to begin with, the lighting was at 40% and I was dosing 1/3 ei ferts. When I started with the co2 I increased the ferts...

Hi, I have 4 different types of crypt which have been happily growing for 4 or 5 months with no problems. 3 of them have started to melt, some worse than others. Thank God, so far, the Cryptocoryne Balansae at the back seem ok. I REALLY don't want to loose them as I'm waitng for them to fill up...

And after some pretty brutal snipping last night... I actually saw lots and lots of bright green little "buds" under the old leaves that looked like they can't wait to burst into life, so I think I'm in for some serious re-growth... :)

Brilliant! Thanks guys...! :)

Thanks guys. It's not in the best position for flow. Think of the whole tank as a whirlpool and this is in the centre and yes I believe there is algae on those leaves... But, the plant has only been in a couple of weeks, it almost immediately started showing signs of trouble and the new leaves...

Hi, Please can somebody tell me what's wrong with this plant? (Good lighting, ei ferts, injected co2.) Many thanks...

Fair enough... I now have a plan a b and c... ;) Can't wait to get it in. I only want a small area at the front carpeted for now, but I think it'll make a big difference and I'll enjoy watching the progress... (If anybody told me when I grow up I'll spend all my time and money on a hobby which...

Ooooh! I think I prefer the lilaeopsis brasilensis. Nice and short... I don't think a red crypt would work as it'll be next to a broad leafed red crypt (which I've misplaced the name of...) But lilaeopsis brasilensis is deffo the winner for the foreground for now... Thanks. It's great to have...

Yeah, that's a good point. Even if the shrimp don't get eaten, they'll be hiding well away from the moss... Ok, so I'll just try with new moss and hope the SEAs can keep on top of it. I could try Java Moss again if any other moss is likely to be just as prone to algae I guess...?

Hmm...... Food for thought. You may have sensed, I'm a novice really, so I don't want to make life unnecessarily difficult with "demanding" mosses, but they will have excess ferts, high co2 and lots of light, so I assumed I couldn't really fail to grow them unless the hair algae I was suffering...

Thanks Ghosty! Sold! I think I'll try the Pygmy Chain Sword... :) I'll post back with updates on how it goes.

Thanks, but aren't they a bit tall? The current grass is like 1.5 inch. It doesn't have to he so tiny, but those 2 mentioned get pretty tall don't they?

Thanks guys. My concern with shrimps is that my Golden Wonder Panchax will end up eating them...! I (think) I understand that because Java Moss has such low light requirement that causes the algae to take over, so a moss which prefers higher light would at least reduce the problem...? I think...

Hi, I have been trying for months to grow java moss on a very tall piece of wood under high light and it just becomes engulfed with algae. Should I be using Flame Moss, Christmas Moss... Other...? The wood is very large and I want to cover a large area. I was thinking different types if moss...

Hi, I need 2 new plants and would like advice on which to choose. I'm injecting co2, I have good flow and brights lights... My background is made up of Amazon Swords and Cryptocoryne Balansae and another dark crypt which is right next to this corner. I need one final plant to finish off the...