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Hi, Could you not use one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/19mm-16mm-Plastic-Straight-Reducing/dp/B0CXJJ6232/ref=asc_df_B0CXJJ6232?tag=bingshoppinga-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80264539945861&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583864008366672&th=1 along with a short...

Looks fantastic and loving the journal. I've just started one myself and hope I can do nearly half as good a jobs as you're doing!

Anubias petite not just have tiny leaves, but also delicate thin stems and roots that break off easily. From time to time, I have to pick up and re glue floating pieces. The large leaf varieties, on the other hand, have thick tough stems that I can only cut off with a scissors, and thick root...

Thank goodness. Ah… that seller.

I believe that seller is that seller on eBay but they’re based in Glasgow; they order fish based on the orders they get. They do not have these in stock iirc

A f’n what? 😅. (F is humour folks)

Blades on ADA are too thin, as a whole a little off balanced imo and everywhere that sells the blades charges £5 delivery …

Even in the price?

Thanks guys, appreciate your words! So I had to move the tank and I plan to use the already cycled sunsun filter on my new 45p, the dennerle scaper’s flow took it’s place. Plants are settling in slowly, no melt as the filter was cycled already and the Tropica soil doesn’t leach a ton of...

hi Simon the plan t nerd i'm not local to south Glasgow im looking to get a Arapaima

Oh I like that storage system, yours look very organised. Is there a thread about “show us inside your cabinet” or something like that? I know there is one for maintenance trolleys 👍

No problem. Personally I have never had BGA with the yoghurt method. (for results you can look into my album) And to be honest I don't think BGA is triggered by this. Maybe there are other factors that have been of influence.

Hello :wave:, welcome to UKaps.

Hi, very happy to have found this group. I've been keeping aquaria on and off for the past forty years and as you may well know, a lot has changed in the hobby over the years including a much greater choice of plants available now. This is how I found out about your Society. It cropped up in...

Man, you have such an incredible eye for hardscape construction. I could mess around with those pieces for a month, and not get anything close. Excellent job! 👍

Hi all, That makes perfect sense. cheers Darrel

In part, this will do with your loading and DO. When you say "well-stocked", what levels of fish load or you actually looking at?

When you’re painting something, the tricky part is naturally the edges. You either load up the brush and end up with paint where you don’t want it or you keep the brush fairly dry and it takes forever. The trick is to load up the brush and draw a thick even smear parallel to the edge about 1-2...

Should be very easy to clean. Will be a comb weir so just need something to stop the shrimps all migrating to the filter part. It’s the same in my current AIO. Had to go quite fine as kept finding dozens of baby shrimp in the rear sump each monthly clean. We build these planted nice tanks but...

Hi all, I'd still have a thin layer of sand, it can be a really thin cosmetic layer, but personally I'm not a fan of bare bottom. Assuming that it is fairly easy to clean the sump sponges? I'd go without the intake sponge, or use a larger sponge, rather than just a slither, on the intake...

I’m deciding what PPI foam to use in my new custom build AIO. The front section will be 72 litres and the back filter chamber will be 24 litres (25% of the whole 96 litres). Tank will be bare bottom (well rocks and epiphytes). I originally planned a complex lasagna style mix of decreasing PPI...

Emo teenage angst penned under wet gloomy shade now digital, dark

Hi all, That is partially why I'm keen on larger and / or coarser foam blocks. If <"life intrudes"> they give you some <"wriggle room">. cheers Darrel

I use a 9mm ID Silicone hose....its much more manageable and stores easily!

Sorry, just assumed you didn’t know the technique! I have always suspected the yoghurt method causes BGA 😬 I used it twice, got BGA never again!

This is an interesting thread! I've been trialling the coarse 10ppm sponges in my prefilter on my Oase 600. This is on a heavily-planted and well-stocked 240 litre tank. Compared with my previous 2 sets of prefilter sponges (30ppm & 45ppm) these 10ppm prefilter sponges have led to a better, and...

I am familiar with that way of growing mosses. I just didnt understand the meaning of the word 'nutri-bulleting'. That is clear now, thanks. I have tried both methods several times, but using yoghurt was more successful for me. Yoghurt is more sticky so that moss won't not float away. And the...

I didnt know you were a poet?

Hi all, I'd guess it doesn't matter too much where you start, or what the journey is, you can just wait until the plant mass is grown in and then you are <"cycled"> and <"fish safe">. Tank maturity is likely to take a bit longer, and I would look at <"maturity as a parameter that is continually...

Hi all, <"I think it"> is for the reasons that @Miniandy suggests. I've never used an ammonia rich substrate, or added ammonia deliberately, so it isn't something I have practical experience of. You could definitely <"add a floating plant from the start">, it isn't <"carbon (C) limited">, it...

Yeah, I figured I'd have to use a manifold to split the tube from the pump into at least three or four bits of air-tube to exit at different points at the top of the rock.

Thanks @Wookii - for growth above water there has to be some kind of draw up for water, in my last experiment (drilling holes) I noticed how dry these plants got even though they were less than an inch above water. However water flowing over rocks will be some trial and improvement as I can...

This is a great idea @castle - I have been planning something similar for a little UNS shallow tank I have, but with rock, and pumping the water up and over the top so it trickles all down it to support moss and plant growth on it.

Sure it’s the technique of food blending some moss into small/tiny bits to then paint on the hardscape. Once applied the tiny bits of moss grow and cling to the surface. It takes about 2 weeks for good rooting. Maybe a bit longer if temperature is low (like where I am). Nutribullet is a gimmicky...

Not at all, the Vivid is a great light, and gives awesome colour rendition. Hope they weren't crypts? 😉

What is nutri-bulleting? Can you tell me more about it?

Dirt, is dirt which is dirt. Try your best, water change the rest.

This is my favourite stage of aquariums; much easier to manage 😅

That is interesting. So it looks like I am going through a non-dark start (traditional?) method. In short, everything in (aqua soil, plants, hard scape, CO2 and lights on) and wait for a while. It’s too early to understand the impact of that method (only day 17) but will report back if helpful.

I think it came from a combination of using aquasoil, which can leach ammonia, and use of tissue culture plants, which can melt after planting. I think the idea is that some folk believe that if the ammonia release is avoided, i.e. after a dark start, then the tissue culture plants won't melt...

Start with plants. Add time. Change the water. Add a little more time. Change the water. Add fish. In my experience API products are not that good, but it'll do no harm.

I've never really understood the concept behind a dark start. Chuck in the plants, turn on the lights and go for it! Plants won't be hurt - the concern around a non-mature tank is for the health of livestock.

Welcome to the world of aquascaping. :)

I use normal 16/22mm hose to water change my 75l & 145l tanks.

Looking very good :) Quite an unusual bit of wood! If it helps I read that you can use capillary matting (for greenhouses etc) attaching it to the wood to create a wet area for a large section of moss etc. Similar to ADA's Terra Tape just a whole world cheaper :)

I use a syringe with a 10cm blunt needle for dosing liquids into the tank. Being a blunt needle I have not managed to stab myself yet but early days :D Also found some plastic clamps to be invaluable for holding water change hose / drip acclimatisation pipe. Enough force to stay still without...

This is cool. Looking forward to seeing the progress

Thanks again Wookii :) I shall just keep it at 30 percent its more than enough visually and I am trying to be cautious on creating algae problems. Like I say its probably total overkill for my needs but if in the distant future I ever wanted to go down the CO2 route I like the flexibility. I...

The nymphaea lotus is probably about 8 years old. It was originally in a planted 270 litre aquarium. I relocated it to my previous pond when I started keeping Tanganyikan Cichlids. It has flowered on occasions (see pic). Hopefully it will flower again in the new pond. The pond does have an...

Like you, I’m also a koi keeper and also enjoy aquascaping. Your scape looks great👍

Hi there, Giving up networks has allowed me to refocus on aquascaping, so I emptied my iwagumi last week and decided to use the lovely hakkai stones again, but in combination with one of my favourite wood, the river wood. When I work on a new aquascape , my main goal is to make all the...

Nice looking new tank!! Good to see you've reused old filter media etc to keep beneficial bacteria :) miss Betta and the tetras might like some leaf litter if you fancy adding tannins! It'll also help darken up the substrate, and goes with the junglistic vibe :)

I have a couple of these things which are super useful for shutting off flow or just restricting non solid tubing. Here's an amazon link for similar Possibly someone's made something that can be printed. Then you can just keep your tube and restrict the flow. An alternative that might be a bit...

I use an ADA one, but I also have an old vintage one I use with Stanley blades. I can’t really tell much of a difference.

I use one that lets you mount your own common razor, which you can pick up in your local supermarket for a quid. As long as you stay clear of to the silicone and don't pick up sand with it, it won't do any damage.

Okay you guys are going to think I am nuts. As you can tell, one of the three cubes is a used Opti-white tank (the 30cm cube). I'd never had a low-iron tank before and to be honest I love it. The glass colouration on the other two cubes was getting to me; I also felt the Embers were not at all...

Went for it after work today, mostly planted up and the shenanigans of getting that wood to attach to the stone. The stone the wood rests on was very heavy and the angle to glue left me no choice but to remove the wood and glue outside of the tank. A bit of a mare, I covered the glue...

I've been running both my low tech tanks at relatively low light as well as long (12-13 hour) photoperiods for some 4 years now. Most plants in the easy to medium category will thrive under relatively low light - in some parts of my tanks I can barely see what's going on at the bottom but plants...

I have Anubias Petite attached to driftwood - a notorious slow grower. I think I added them 3 years ago or so.... They are healthy, but I hardly notice any growth at all - they do put out a new leaf now and then. I think a lot of these slow growers are exclusively cultivated fully or partially...

It is very cool that you can grow a nymphaea lotus outdoors in the UK (I assume you are in UK, no location in profile). Does that ever flower? Also I didn't see an overflow pipe in the pics. How are you managing the overflow when we have weather like it has been recently?

Before seeing < this post > I never had an aquarium related nightmare. :lol: Cheers, Michael

The perspective achieved here is impressive. Great looking rock, great scape overall!

Hi all, That is the problem, there is now so much information (<"most of it wrong">) that it is really difficult to sort out the <"coffee from the froth">. It won't have done any harm and if you haven't got access to filter material, or are going to keep <"a tank without plants"> it is a...

Hi all, My pygmy corydoras are showing signs of fluke/parasites again. Normally I would repeat treatment of the NT Labs Anti-Fluke & Wormer, but my tank now has amano shrimps so this is no longer possible as Flubendazole is lethal to inverts. If I move the Amanos to my other tank, cross...

Thanks for the info, your posts and referenced materials have been extremely useful. And yes I used APT start, but I did initially order API quick start which I have returned. (The names are a little confusing). I also could have mentioned I don’t really have access to any used filter media...

Thanks, that helps! For reference, 12/16 is 1/2" and 16/22 is 5/8". The hose I'm using is 19 mm ID for comparison.

Also, if relevant I’m using tropica aqua soil which I understand has a fairly high release of ammonia in the first weeks? Part of the reason I was going with dark start was to hopefully give the tissue culture plants I will use a better shot of survival. I will be planting all easy plants with...

Wood is 75mm, Insulation is 25mm polystyrene (see pic).

Hi all, Welcome to UKAPS, APT Start? I think it includes ammonia as well as "nitrifying bacteria" <"https://www.amazon.co.uk/2HR-Aquarist-Aquarium-substrate-enrichment/dp/B0BTD3CF1S">. If it is "API Start" <"https://apifishcare.com/product/quick-start">, it says "suitable for saltwater and...

Thanks! I should have mentioned 2 weeks ago I had no interest or knowledge about fish but something about the plants/fish/snail/shrimp eco system type tanks really interests me. So no suprise of there is a lack of wisdom haha I did use APT Start, which if I understand correctly (I probably...

Much depends on the size of the tank and how much water you want to remove at a time. I don’t bother with hoses any more but a 10mm is big enough on something like my 60L. When I had a 250L I used a 12/16 hose and found that more than big enough.

I use 16/22 hose.Don't know what that is in imperial.

So only had first tank for a little under a year and I'm hooked. I've kept tropical before many years ago and currently keep koi in a 3k gallon informal pond! What can I say, I love fish! This will be my second tank and is being setup in my shed/pond filter house (I'm not allowed a second tank...

So, I've always had tanks small enough to comfortably use buckets to change the water. I've sized up and am getting used to pumping water from my sink and then draining directly into the garden. It's great, but I think my hose is too big. It's 3/4" ID x 50 ft and it moves the water too fast. I...

Plants and time...

This looks great and an outdoor tropical pond is something I considered in the summer. What type of insulation have you used?

Love your choice of wood. Looks great. Not sure of the wisdom of API start, without something to start the cycle. Some use ammonia, I favour plants.

This is off the scale! Looks stunning and super natural! Congrats!

My two Korat kittens - Yoshi & Yuki :)

A few weeks ago I was looking at a friends 75 gallon planted tank and then went down a rabbit hole on YouTube/these forums and it has really sparked an interest. Anyways, this is my first time setting up a fish tank/trying aquascaping. The tank is an ADA 45p (45x27x30). Initially I was going...

...issue. I'm going back to 15%. I believe the plants take a long time to "get going" and if driven hard by crazy levels of photons, they just don't efficiently process this and the tank goes to s**t :D Lower light, but enough to "drive" the plant and a longer photoperiod are where it is at for me!

Lovely scape mate 👌🏻

Just a quick reminder to any members new or old that this Sub Forum exists with some truly exceptional Aquarium Journals. I would recommend getting yourself a cuppa and taking the time to explore these journals, appreciating what was achieved, often at a time when much of the excepted...

Hi, I like these! Only issue I've found using them is that I think they can obstruct surface agitation if you have low flow. probably best to use them to contain floating plants, rather than create pockets of negative space.

The recent cold spell we had prompted me to add a cover to the Pond. I used plastic trunking for construction rather than treated timber to prevent leaching of chemicals into the water and rot. Added a pic of the cover and also a graph showing pond temperature prior to and after adding the...

I like this idea! I use a palette knife. I don't know if you've ever used a safety razor, but to me it's a similar concept - go slow, keep blade close to the glass/skin at a small angle, don't go for jolting sideways movement. The benefit of palette knives/credit cards is that they flex, so you...

Hi all, I think that is true of all <"slow growing plants">. I'm pretty sure you are right. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I did <"Kitchen nano 35L">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, @Notimetoulouse when did you start using the PhosGuard <"Seachem - PhosGuard">? Was it before plant growth declined? I've found that a few times with tap water be have sent me and I've tested. Phosphate (PO4---) is both <"relatively easy to test for, and is added to ~all UK tap water">...

Oh its always a leaking tank for me - always. I've woke in the middle of the night plenty of times, and rushed downstairs to check a tank wasn't leaking everywhere.

Tankxiety is real 😅 I’m yet to dream-nightmare about my fishes. My worst nightmare is always about my indoor cat escaping and me madly chasing after him 😭 Perhaps it just means how much we care for our pets ❤️

Saw her catch a fly just now. Oh and name chosen Sakura

You are probably right. I think I got lulled to thinking this strain/batch was a sure fire thing in my water after having them and moving them about in my tanks for years. I will surely be more careful moving forward.

I don't know quite how to describe it but the scale reminds me of a windswept highland being grazed by cow-sized shrimp - it's a weirdly serene, absurdist picture 😅 weirdly enough, the cat might be adding some fertiliser too - @dw1305 found with a bowl of plants left on the counter and a...

How fast Anubias spread depends on the variety and whether you have CO2. In my CO2 tank, the large leaf varieties grow fastest requiring pruning 3 to 4 times yearly to control size. The median leaf “nana”varieties grow half as fast, requiring pruning no more than twice a year. The “nano...

So I flooded the tank on 9/5 and planned to do a dark start of some length. Since I’m using a somewhat experimental substrate, I thought it would be beneficial to let the most labile organic matter break down and give the developing microbiome a head start. And I immediately ran into trouble...

Thanks! I got mine thirdhand and already pretty scratched up, but I can't complain - the discount was well worth it. it was a ridiculous late night FB marketplace purchase, and much too big for my tiny flat 😂

Just realised @dw1305 never posted a photo of our cat (you may know her as the bad-tempered light diffuser), Minnie. She is a little elderly lady now, but she's still pretty lively. Whenever I go home she burrows under the covers with me (cute, but god forbid you move). She is a rescue, and...

Low on the Biomaster and very low on the Eheim at present.

Rays tank was probably a years growth, buce are pretty speedy compared to anubias even without co2 as long as you trim to get 'ramification?'. If you have a look at my shrimp tank journal you can see the change after a year or so and then up to 5 years, it's pretty dense now and cut out the...