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Thanks for that, I have two 270l tanks one is high tech and one is not at the moment. Soon I’ll be adding co2 in second one so I will need to start mixing my own. I just can’t figure it out how, long time ago I used to mix it with Instructions that come with the all in one package.

Hi Guys, Had two very silly questions but ones that I could do with some advice or help with. 1. I’m using a glass surface skimmer for the first time. How and when do you clean these? I also notice it bobs occasionally, what do I need to adjust. 2. The suction cups on the lily...

Important note - I am no expert !! I have just got a couple of litres of this as a short term option (I think I will be moving to mixing my own soon). On paper it looks decent and pretty reasonably priced if you are set on a ready-mixed product and are unsure of the exact needs and ratios of...

Doing a bit of catch up here, a fabulous aquarium

Good advice, you often see better behaviour, there is usually less issues and in my subjective opinion, it looks much better - I hate fish soup tanks with far too many species and not enough within to shoal/school properly.

Stainless steel screws have always worked well, and safely for me. They are a million times easier to use than wooden dowels too. You won't even need to drill, just use a power driver to whack them straight in.

I know many just add lots of fish at a time, but I like to do it incrementally if possible, as well as in reverse order of aggression/territorialism. This helps with the bioload as well as aggression etc, although I'm sure you're already aware of this, why not just add one species at a time? So...

Thank you ElleDee yeah I will just manually remove them as I go. Going to be careful in general about over feeding. Think I will pop into pets at home tonight to see if I can get some pannacur liquid for the Hydra. I could pick up some Dwarf Gourami to see if they would eat it but then they...

This is probably the slowest journal ever 😄 ....but some of my wood has been cut, so I spent the weekend sanding/priming/painting this 18mm board of ply to go onto of the cabinet, it's had another coat of paint this that photo was taken, not that it needs to look great as it's just for the tank...

Looks like you're sorted but from what I've seen Wio have good quality tanks (sometimes slightly thinner glass than ADA). I have a UNS 60S and the quality is very good with the mitered corners etc, I'm sure you'll be happy.

Welcome :)

Looks like it's around 10-20PPI, I have no idea what a good brand for foam is, once you find one just buy a larger piece and cut it to size.

Well, this is how Cory from Aquarium Co-Op did a long-distance transport of fish. Hot rooms, plenty of air, treated water and containers! I guess the advantage of this compared to postal is that you have direct control and monitoring of the little lives under your care.

I found this old thread about foam, and I have to say, the problem in the UK getting the right stuff (and ensuring it IS the right stuff) still exists! https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/polyether-vs-polyester-polyethylene-foam-filters-minor-rant.50253/

Hi and welcome!

Hello 👋, welcome to UKaps.

Welcome to the UKaps! :thumbup:

Best foam I’ve ever used is Poret foam, doesn’t shrink or degrade.

Welcome to UKAPS

It’s a Brita under sink filter. I’ve been using the same regime of rain/tap water for years. Then some months ago the shrimp in one tank started dying off, but not in the other tank with the same mix of water. I wasn’t bothered at the time as they were all natural coloured shrimp. I’d now like...

Not the most exciting image , but it represents a place to start ... a reference point .There's 3 different Crypts in here . Across the back - C.'Florida Sunset' ; next closest ; C. 'Tropica" ; and closest some C. parva which I moved from a tank downstairs where it was doing nothing to this...

Hi, I noticed you posted the above on another thread today. Do you mind elaborating as to what type of filter you use as it might (or might not) have a large bearing on what you need to add to your water for shrimp and in some cases the filter itself might make the water unsuitable. Ion exchange...

Ok, after MUCH thought and consideration and YouTube scrolling, I think I’m going to give this method a shot first. I will be in New Orleans next week and will see what I can find down there. IF I happen to stumble upon a nice group of black neons, I might come home with those also. Which brings...

Hello Everyone, I'm a new member, although I have been visiting the forum on & off for many years. I'm originally from Portugal but residing in the UK for the last 10 years. I was very involved in the aquascaping scene back in Portugal, when it was all beginning (it wasn't called aquascaping...

This is a good argument. I have enough trace elements to last me about 10 years. I have a shelf in the cupboard dedicated to ferts and minerals and it’s completely overkill for my little tank. Cheap though.

Hi Darrel, I dont need to connect the pieces together. Just want to prevent then from falling over.

From a thread of mine MichaelJ He's a clued up chap who keeps shrimps .. You don't need expensive salts. Considering the cherry shrimps only, you just need CaSO4 and MgSO4 to target ~27 ppm of Ca and ~9 ppm of Mg - this will yield a GH of ~6.0. The amount you need to add depends of course...

No, it is a strip that I dip in the water (it covers a few other things too).

Personally I don't see "mess" in this tank. I do sometimes find the sheer brightness of the green in a tank such as this quite daunting. Rather than thinking structurally, my personal curiosity would be to see some autumn leaves added, to create other colours, reds, browns, oranges, and a...

Hi Bradders never noticed that! Thanks for the heads-up. I will have a look to see if I haven't deleted them.

Isn't it a 'count the drops' test?

I had successfully manually eliminated bladder snails several times until this April, so it can definitely be done. But then I got another infestation from some new plants and despite my efforts I was never able to get them all before they started breeding. But even still, they are kept to...

Just noticed that sadly the photos seem to be gone from that great post. Any chance of adding them back?

Found this video (for 450) comparing version III to IV twinstar IV Is it just me, or so Reds look more purple & greens less saturated?

Algae Your lighting period is too short....reduce the intensity to 50% and increase the photoperiod to 8 hours! Increase the plant mass....use some of the stem plants as floating plants as per the tutorial below...

Hi Could well be a Nitrate/Magnesium deficiency or Iron? I would remove most of the Matrix from the filter and replace it with sponges! Algae Your lighting period is too short....reduce the intensity to 50% and increase the photoperiod to 8 hours!

New Location I recently moved to a new apartment (hopefully no more moves!!) and so the tank has been sitting on a temporary stand until I can find one. They're hard to find in the UK, but even harder to find in Canada. As a result, it's been receiving some neglect. The beauty of a low tech...

Just a wee update: Back from 1 week off to find a small outbreak of bladder snails / smaller outbreak of Hydra and my first baby cherry shrimp and ramshorn snails. Bit gutted about the bladder snails and the Hydra - I’m not sure about going down the chemical route or Fish for the Hydra...

I don’t doubt, but without knowing what to buy and how much to use I don’t have the option. I do use my own chemicals for plant fertiliser, as conveniently it’s written down on James’ Planted Tank. Sadly no one seems to have done something similar for shrimp minerals.

Not much help to me as I don’t use Excel, only Free Office.

Yeah. That would work great. 😊

Nice job. The CO2 is obviously doing its thing ! Its a shame the plants are growing so much and covering all that carefully planned hardscape - such is the way with these things.

Yes, I like those and it would definitely give a more natural feel, but the maintenance is more than I can handle. Maybe I can grow some on mesh that can be taken out? It's something I might experiment with once I've got this going.

Any of the remineralising powders aimed at remineralising RO water to replicate the conditions required for Caridina shrimp raise only the GH and not the KH and ideally should be Carbonate and Bicarbonate free, that means some blend of Sulphates and/or Chlorides of Calcium and Magnesium...

I am struggling with some hair algae, as I have posted in this thread: https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/cant-get-rid-of-hair-algae-please-help.75854/ Its been one week since that post, seems like the hair algae still dont want to go away. I am still not aware of the cause, but when I was...

My tap water goes through a filter so I’ve never bothered with a conditioner. I do use Sodium Thiosulphate though after regenerating Purigen.

We did a reminering sheet in the IFC calculator, which makes it very easy to make you own or clone a commercial product. heres the list of the products you can clone Or just set your own parameters Heres the list of salts you can use Gives all the parameters, gH,kH,TDS, ppm etc and a cost...

I notice aquarium gardens have the 600S in stock, has anyone seen the colour rendition of this new line in person yet? I currently have a Twinstar 600E for my 60P and am building up a 75P and could potentially use a 600S IV pendant style. My alternative would be the other extreme a ADA Solar RGB...

This look great. 😍 Did you think about cuba, monte carlo or even ricia for drtails around rocks?

All planted, so the real work begins. Although there are a couple of plant placings I want to change, I'm pretty happy with the results. I've kept to the 'easy' plants, as my skills are somewhat basic when it comes to plant care. Plant list for those that are interested. Lobelia cardinalis...

Hi all, Some mix of cheap everyday salts, and some inventive advertising. They are. Cheers Darrel

An update - came across a 75P UNS at Horizon Aquatics and it looks very good quality, very neat sealant. It’s the first time I have seen one, and really liked the size of it, so have purchased it. Also horizon now do bespoke cabinets, so I have a cabinet on order 😀 . Next to find a light……

Thank you 🙏 Happy to have this now after all the algae.

Thanks guys! Haha well some plants are knowingly and willfully ignoring the planting scheme 😜. I am thinking several long twigs placed diagonally would help to create some structure and at the same time improve the messy look?

All commercial ferts are basically water, some of the water is more expensive than others and some is a rip off all together. For me its bang for buck, so I would always go for the most cost effective fert that suits my needs. TNC complete did work out the most cost effective commercial fert in...

Managed to get a Trio of Stiphodon Gobies for the tank this weekend. Delightful little characters

Hi all, Yes, you are fine. You may find you can reduce the nutrient addition over time. I'm not a CO2 user, but there will be plenty who can advise you. I'll add some links to my last post. Cheers Darrel

yes because we are all different and one condition may not affect 10 people in the same way. Don't get me started on putting the shopping away. I put a bench in the kitchen so that i can rest when i need to before/during/after putting the shopping away. doing the dishes etc. I hate when CFS...

Thanks. Daily water change and good bacteria adding works great. I bought a lily pipes but they are huge. So i order smaller ones, can't wait to add them :) Here are the pictures

Before and after pictures: First planted - end of June 2024 To today - October 2024 Happy with how it is going and now also have: Amano shrimp Albino tetra Chili Rasbora Golden back yellow shrimp (Neocaridina Davidi) Nerite bumble bee snails Pink ramshorn snails The fish and shrimp come...

Sorry for offtop, I've finally finished the video of my AGA 2023 top 5 winner aquarium of Rio Negro: It is worth another thread here 😉

Not sure if the size is right but Powkoo sell course 15ppi filter foam sponge in black. Amazon has them.

Anyone know what the ingredients are for these type of things? Several companies make them and they all seem expensive? https://www.shrimpland.uk/product-page/shrimps-forever-gh-mineral-powder-90-grams

Water change once a week 30 to 40%

Those stones look great. Plants look great too. Some glass or steel pipes would really elevate the whole look.

I’d say 10 to 20 PPI. However, Where to get good quality foam is a mystery to me!

Anyone like to guess the PPI of this foam and where I can get a BLACK or GREY version? It needs to be 50mm thick X 200mm X 2-300mm.

Hello everyone, After a 7 years of break, I have returned to this wonderful hobby. To start, I opted for a nano aquarium with a simple setup, aiming to reconnect with my past experiences. Tank is 14 days old. All parameters are great, no visible algae. Fish added yesterday. Here are some...

It’s a really unique sized aquarium, one I wouldn’t mind in my collection but too far to travel. Perhaps pop it in the sales section and you may get more interest 👍🏻

The only problem I see is the complete lack of mess.

Beautiful tank, really nice work!

Thank you this is as I thought. If I were trying to brew my own I would fill in the dosing regime exactly how I would dose if I were using APT? I do have a second low tech tank which is 70ltrs but I think it still makes sense to stick with commercial ferts for the time being and I'll probably...

Sorry if I’m being dense but does that mean I have nothing to worry about and should stick with what I’m doing (50% weekly [currently 2x a week for the next two weeks] water changes, dosing 6ml Tropica premium each water change), using Seachem Prime)? Or are there things I need to correct? I’m...

Hi all, That helps plenty. So basically it is <"hard, alkaline water"> with a <"fair amount of nitrate (NO3-)2>. A lot of people in E. and SE England will have similar water out of the tap. This is how you can work out the dGH from the calcium (Ca) value <"Water Hardness"> So we have 117 /...

Just discovered this webpage full of really cool images of the Rio Xingú river in Brazil, in case it could be inspiration to any of you or just an interesting read! https://amazonas.dk/index.php/articles/brasilien-rio-xingu

Just to give you an idea, I ended up with about 20+ pages of supplemental typewritten notes with each note referenced to the relevant section of the PIP form. It was stupidly repetitious eventually, but when you've been rejected multiple times because you've written, "Yes I can have a shower...

I Never thought to extrapolate it the way in which you have just explained it to me in such detail. And it makes perfect sense once i have heard it that way. I find that showering bathing in the hottest temp possible without burning helps me alot. as its also helping with the Artritis. Yep...

I have 3 tanks: 1 270l co2 running, chihiros wrgb 2 pro 90 2 270l no co2 atm, chihiros wrgb 2 pro 90 3 60l no co2 very low nicrew led light daily dosing may be looking to get the pump as well

I would strongly recommend not referring to your Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as anything other than Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. Again I'm being entirely cynical. They are exactly the SAME thing in terms of how they're experienced day by day, and are huge umbrella terms in any case, representing...

Much depends on size of tank, is it worth the effort and availability of the salts needed to get to the regime you wish to use. Post size of tank for starters would be a start and regime and will post a screenshot of what salts you will need/choices - happy to help

Thanks, I’ll try to get all of those, any suggestions where to get it from. Is there like one place that I can get it all as package.

Below is a simpler recipe for All in One fertiliser. http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/allinone.htm

I Completely Understand. Been there many times and been told by a panel of DWP that cause i walked unaided for 1 mins between the Office and the Bus stop to get home. Cheekily the bus stop was across the road from the DWP office with a clear View from their Room/Corridor. I qualified for No...

Hi, I have been using Tropica specialised fertiliser in my tanks, but soon I’ll be needing to change to something less cost-effective. I looked in to IFC calculator but just couldn’t figure it out how to mix my own fertiliser. So I’m thinking to get this instead: Aqua Design PLANT+ Plant...

Hi all, This setup has been running since January and has finally reached stability after being an algae farm for months. Hard scape was taken out and sold in the meantime. Inhabitants are yelllow Neocaradina shrimp and mini Yellow Rabbit Snails. Used to keep fish in there but since it is a...

Excuse me, it’s a “super fish heater” 300 watt. Just checked , those can’t be calibrated. Well, just going to increase the temperature till the Old thermometer reaches somewhere around 24 degrees! Thanks!

Hi Gill, very sorry to hear about everything you've gone through. I receive the lower rate of PIP while my severely disabled wife receives higher rate PIP I'm absolutely not trying to put you off applying, but in the sense that fore-warned is fore-armed, just be aware that the whole process...

Thanks as always Darrel. Here’s the latest water quality info I can find from my supplier. Does it help at all? As long as the differences won’t be a problem for my tank’s inhabitants, I’ll stop worrying about it! I only intend to get some cherry shrimp and maybe some White Cloud Mountain Minnows.

Hi all, Old fashioned scientific <"spirit thermometers"> are the way forward. A cheap product with one moving part, no electronics and good for all of eternity. In fact it might be a product for my <"luddite range of aquarium tat">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, <"Wooden dowels"> work really well for locking bits of wood together. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Not really, you could try a new test kit? I just think that buffering and pH are <"quite problematic areas">. So something doesn't quite add up there. In carbonate buffered water the pH goes to ~pH8 once you get more than about 3 dKH. This is the pH equilibrium point of the CO2 ~...

Morning, I’ve just done some testing on my tank water and I’m not sure if I need to address matters. I have a journal thread on this website but thought I’d post this query here. So, my tanks pH is coming up paler than the colour for 6.4 (so pH is lower than this) and KH is the same colour as...

I’ve also used a piece of heavy ceramic tile drilled and cut to size with stainless screws.

Yep been doing 3 days at home and 2/3 days in the office if needed. Out of the 3 of us, i was the only one able to commit more time to being in the office. As the supervisors do need someone in the office to help with stuff and any AdHoc requests/Jobs they have to raise on the fly.

Looks so good. It all looks like one piece of rock. I’ve also just seen a Disney character face in on the rocks!

Basically Said even though I was already doing the role for a Year. And had previously done the new Planners role for the same department successfully in another area. I did not meet the required score in the Interview,. which is Utter Tripe. The new boss simply did not want me there. The...

Have a greater planting :) Haracape is something special

Wow. Great project 👍

Hello. Nice looking frogs 🐸

Indeed it is! I feel so inadequate with a 65-gallon! 😀