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It is the end of an era. Paulo pretty much built this forum as it stands today singlehanded. He's been its backbone and lifeblood for well over a decade. The fact that UKAPS is still going strong when almost all other forums have gone to the wall stands testament to his dedication and hard work...

Take a look at this article. https://www.freshwateraquariumservices.co.uk/post/understanding-and-avoiding-old-tank-syndrome

Just a stab in the dark but so called "old tank syndrome" immediately springs to mind.

Thanks Darrel. Again not sure I understand it properly but the conclusion is quite surprising and exciting. It highlights the need for huge revision of the taxonomic group, and probably others too. This quote from the conclusion sums it up for me. 'The result was indeed quite different from the...

Can you provide the info below especially a FTS? It might make it easier for folk to help diagnose what the problem is ;) 1. Size of tank in litres. 2. Age of the set - up. 3. Filtration + Media/Sponges. 4. Lighting and duration. 5. Substrate. 6. Co2 dosing or Non-dosing. 7. Fertilizers used &...

Welcome :)

Welcome, Very nice tank :)

I'm not sure there is anything you can do about it other than tear it down and start again if you want to use an UG filter. However, I wouldn't bother, I'd leave it now and hook up a canister filter. Next time, perhaps give some thought to using grill type plates. It's how I did it back in the...

I'd like to see a phylogenomic or phylogenetic analysis of the Hyphessobrycon genus, that could prove very interesting.

Crikey, sounds complicated, not sure I fully understand the process or how definitive the results are, or whether it just further complicates an already contentious field. I wonder if the new nomenclature will catch on, and if so how long it'll take. Or whether it'll just be left alone...

A decent set of pincettes will make life a lot easier. The business end is often better designed and they're often better sprung. Push the plant in at a slight angle into the direction of any flow. Allow the pincetes to spring open and withdraw them straight up. If that fails use the mark 1...

Welcome 🙂

Anyone else want to confess to MTS? How many tanks do you have? :)

Looks like it's shaping up to be a great UKAPS members meet. And what an amazing venue. I'm sure a good time will be had by all :)

Maybe I should merge them in to one single epic 😁

That's dire, definitely send it back. Just out of curiosity where did you purchase it? There are more than a few alternatives on the market these days with decent silicone work.

Got MTS? Maintenance getting you down? Don't worry, help is just a quick phone call away. . . Not really, don't ring that number 😁

They definitely do better in larger numbers, and you'll perhaps see more of them as well. I had well over 20 micro rasbora in this tank. I gave them plenty of hiding places which also helped. They were still fairly elusive but that was okay since I got to see them on their own terms.

Welcome 🙂

Definitely look fat and healthy to me too. Are they behaving strangely or as expected?

Mix away, I've mixed several different brands in the past and no disintegration. As far as I can see there is very little difference visually as well. Regardless, it's not something I'd worry about too much particularly ;)

There's nothing ugly about that tank. Superb, well done :)

Not in my experience. I've grown them side by side. H'ra is red, Orange Juice is orangey in colour, so aptly named :)

I think it’s okay to use if it’s properly dead and dried out. I wouldn’t add it if it’s still got some sap. It will rot after about 6 months. Ivy. Same with any other kind of wood, including Azalea root. I wouldn’t use conifer wood at all though. It’s best to strip the bark from all dead wood.

Give AG a call. They often have plants for sale that aren't in the online catalogue, or show as out of stock. If they don't have it Dave or Steve will order in and get it to you asap

@Cazza I just posted it above :)

Pro Shrimp great for dry goods, and hardware but perhaps not always the best choice for plants. If you want guaranteed quality plants try one of our sponsors. I always use Aquarium Gardens. https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/pro-shrimp-awful-plants.74334/#post-750608

If they're grown emersed they'll be fine in a plastic bag on a north facing window ledge for a couple of weeks at least. I just leave the bag slightly open at the top and spray daily. In vitro pots, leave them sealed and place on a north facing window sill. Immersed grown, they'll keep for a...

@bazz 🙂

It is possible https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/paludarium-tartarium-glass-thickness.72937/#post-739421

If you find the time to take the trip up to AG @MichaelJ let me know :)

Well done Ady @Ady34 , I hadn't noticed you got 3rd place. Really nice to see a Nature Aquarium scape in the top 3 :)

It looks very cool. I always think of it as an added bonus. Sorry doesn't help your wife's head though. Is it possible to move the tank to a place where the prism effect will be less distracting?

@Bigsilky can you read the guidelines for plant help and post the relvent data please https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/please-read-the-guidelines-for-plant-help.60671/ However, if I were to guess it probably does have something to do with transitioning. Like you mentioned above AG grow their...

Anything like this? https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/white-fungus-like-dots-on-anubias-making-my-fish-sick.37756/#post-407875

If the tanks are stable shutting them down for one day won't do any harm. But there is no need for the likes of us to do the same. I think it's just convenient from a business point of view.

600mm Nature Aquarium island layout

I'm guessing that'll probably be Sunday, when the showroom is closed.

Dave at AG, generally tends to use high light from the get go. He did explain why a while ago and I may have forgotten something crucial. But I think the gist is, it’s sort of a race between rapid plant growth and algae control. Basically, he concentrates on growing healthy plants rapidly to...

I think it's just as simple as a change in environmental conditions. Crypts exhibit an amazing degree phenotypic plasticity regarding leaf morphology in response to different environmental parameters. It's probably more energy efficient, as a longterm strategy, for them to shed old leaves and...

Welcome :) Starting a journal is a good idea, then we can follow your journey, and if needed offer advice along the way.

I think the brown bits maybe dead. If there are any green leaves left the moss may grow and spread using the dead leaves as a growth matrix. It’s ideal in that it’ll still absorb moisture and help create the right environment for regrowth.

@Ben Cox you inspired me to try and complete the 1-5 vol. collection. Number 5 arrived this morning. Found it on eBay. It was sold as the English version, but it isn't, it's German. Not sure it exists in English, so I don't mind. Vol. 1 and the 1-5 photo index are new since they were fairly...

It is possible to max CO2 in a low-energy aquarium and keep it relatively stable throughout the photoperiod by increasing surface agitation. Decomposition of organic matter also releases CO2. It's sometimes why natural waters have higher CO2 conc. than can be accounted for by atmospheric...

I'm in the same camp as @seedoubleyou. Always go for the best you can afford, especially if you have your heart set on something. If you're like me, anything else usually turns out to be false economy since you'll probably end up buying it as well anyway.

Looking great, well done :)

A single tea towel, I wish. Even with a small tank I'm so messy I have to use an old beach towel. And it gets washed after every use. And sometimes even gets used at the beach too :cool:

Welcome :) Strange how fate sometimes intervenes ;)

Not necessarily. It is possible but perhaps not a technique that’s suitable for folk just starting out. I think its success hinges on a nutrient rich substrate sealed off from the water column and dense planting. It also requires good surface agitation to equilibrate dissolved CO2 with...

Welcome :)

I don't think I've ever dosed sufficient fertz for it to be considered true EI. And I've always used all in one ready mixed products like TNC Complete. Instead I watch my plants closely for signs of deficiency and just up the entire dose when I feel it's necessary, or add TNC Lite if I think...

Have a look at Canon. It has a sale on at the moment on some products https://store.canon.co.uk/cameras/

Coverage and intensity look fine to me also. You could probably get away with hanging it a little higher if you’re still concerned about it

Try IKEA as well they often have a range of glass vases or containers that can be repurposed. Also, try charity shops, they usually have a bric-à-brac section with various glass bowls etc.

Welcome :)

In 2005 Tom Barr and a handful of other aquarists developed a eutrophic fertiliser dosing method know as Estimative Index (EI). They contended that inorganic nutrients do not cause algae therefore it is safe to dose ferts in excess. It initially met with a lot of resistance from the old guard...

Sounds like your CO2 is fairly well optimised. But stay on top of it and make sure you can rule that out as a potential factor. The reason, the new tank is relatively immature and missing an essential component to stability; a balanced microbial community throughout the entire system. This...

Welcome :)

Don’t pull them up, just trim and replant the tops. Best to trim at a level just below any hardscape so the ugly ends are hidden until they start to grow again. And repeat as and when necessary. The rooted stems should produce two or more new shoots, so you should end up with dense bush. One I...

Nice example. I think the key is choosing the right plants from the outset, ones that don't mind their feet in water but can also tolerate lower humidity. So you're not necessarily restricted to what we normally consider aquatic plants. You also have more than a few houseplants to choose from as...

Take a break from aquascaping Thierry, and/or just keep a simple planted tank and enjoy that for a while. Either way, keep the best of your equipment, and store it out of sight, and out of mind. There'll come a point you'll want to return and you'll be glad you did :)

Welcome :)

I think it must be fairly systemic throughout the industry, and a bit hit and miss. But yes perhaps that would be the best course of action.

Haha, sure has John. I might stick to the Blond @5.0%, and role out the Ale for special occasions :)

It's probably Anubias rot or melt. There's a few older threads on this somewhere here; one below. It's happened to me too fairly recently and many other members in the past. It's probably infected nursery stock and I don't think there is very much you can do about it, except perhaps try again...

Visited Mount Saint Bernard Abbey today. It's a Cistercian Monastery set in beautiful Charnwood countryside. It has its own brewery and produces two types of beer, blond and ale, both are superb.

Further to my post above. Visited Mount Saint Bernard Abbey today, accompanied by my wife. Beautiful place, very well kept and very peaceful. Picked up a few bottles of beer. Both the Blond and the Ale are full bodied with distinctive flavour. The Blond is like an IPA, and the Ale a malty stout...

Welcome 🙂

...same guy showing off :)

Remember posting this last summer Marcel @zozo ? When I first saw it I remember thinking that's pretty cool, wish I lived near a Trappist monastery so I could try their beer too. Well I was using Google Earth yesterday, looking at my local area for places to walk to and visit, and stumbled on...

Just err on the side of caution and introduce critters slowly and a few at a time if you're still not convinced. Normally my tanks cycle enough in a week or two to do just that.

On the whole I don't think your tank is doing too badly for a low-energy setup. Some of your initial problems could have more to do with inappropriate plant choices. For instance, Hygrophila Pinnatifida often proves difficult for experienced growers with CO2. Myriophyllum Mattenongrosse, really...

Welcome 🙂

Welcome :)

Could be either or both. If it were me I'd treat with a combination of eSHa Exit and eSHa gdex, to cover my bets. Or alternatively, it could possibly be some sort of skin irritation in response to poor water quality caused by high ammonia or chlorine etc.

Ich https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthyophthirius_multifiliis https://eshalabs.com/esha-exit/

Nice architecture. What’s it like inside John?

I think we're still doing okay especially since we have so many knowledgeable and helpful members, and more joining all the time. In fact someone commented on another forum regarding UKAPS, that, 'I've never seen a more technically oriented forum with so many knowledgeable members' :) I'm...

Very nice, well done :)

Very nice scape, if you want more epiphytes go for it. Why not think about attaching them yourself? I'd consider not using a UV steriliser, and think about your fish bioload. Planted tanks work differently to ordinary fish tanks. Plants and associated microbial communities will do a lot of the...

Go with the cheapest option then, Tropica Premium. But even with a high fish bioload I'd still be wary of N and K deficiencies, especially if you intend to plant heavily. Which incidentally is usually recommended

No worries, quite understand. But might be worth mentioning all in one horticultural dry fertz. We've been looking in to Solufeed for instance. Or are they difficult to come by too...

Not sure I'd use either in a tank that size, unless cost isn't an issue. Have you thought about using dry salts? https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/ei-dosing-using-dry-salts.1211/ https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/ifc-aquarium-fertilizer-calculator.63045/...

Welcome back. Good to see you've both decided to finally take the freshwater plunge, and share your new journey through a journal :)

Welcome :) Nice rock and nice start. Spend some more time messing around with it. Try different orientations, not just on the edges. These rocks have multiple interesting sides and shapes. And also see what it looks like with some of them pushed together more. You'll be surprised how well they...

That's mad, I bet it doesn't get out of 1st gear

Welcome :)

It's not uncommon, so there is a market for it. But I suppose it depends on the appeal of the scape. I know Dave at AG sold one of his scapes lock stock and barrel to a customer. And I 've seen them up for grabs on eBay. I guess it's worth a go. You can always sell it stripped down if there are...

If it's another epiphyte you're after try Buces. They are also rheophytic.

Spectacular, must be one heck of a solar storm to see the Aurora Borealis this far south

Most of the wild caught fish in the hobby are exported from developing nations and the industry is a major source of income in some developing nations, and more importantly some otherwise impoverished communities. Further, involving the indigenous population in fish and plant collecting can have...

Substituting plastic with paper and cardboard isn't really a realistic solution. . . 'I'll just put these wet plants in a paper bag for you, should be fine for a few minutes.' Neither is it necessarily greener. . . Paper requires more energy to produce. It is also heavier resulting in higher...

Decided I'd better plant those plants I bought from AG nearly 2 weeks ago at our annual meet up. Been too busy, but with the temp increase lately I didn't think it wise to leave them in their plastic bags any longer. I had a bit of a maintenance session and cut back the stems at the back of the...

Whenever I can, I shove epiphytes into hollows in the hardscape, and tend to design my scapes with that in mind. Although I sometimes use gel type super glue when that's not possible, I definitely wouldn't use it on fragile in-vitro plants. I lost a whole load of reasonably mature epiphytes...

I had one a long while back. I kept it in a pot sat on a tray filled with wet gravel along with two other different ferns placed on a north facing window ledge. It seemed to like the humidity, and as far as I can remember it wasn't particularly demanding. And yes it's a house plant.

Welcome :)

Welcome 🙂

Yes it is possible, providing the tank is heavily planted and well maintained. I've used an Eheim skimmer before on its own in a nano with the top section removed and the top of the filter sponge exposed just at water level. Advantages are, it brings the outlet nearer the surface so there is...

Rhododendron nearly in full flower.

I've always left the gas well alone, even after heavy trimming. If it's dialled in correctly to start with there is usually no need to mess with it further. In fact I try to time maintenance and trimming so it's done before the gas comes on. However, as plant biomass increases it sometimes needs...