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Amazing setup George so humbling to remember that you don't need all the equipment to achieve a happy balance.

Can you demonstrate this please?

Thanks for the detailed response ian thats good to know.

Most impressive george! I run but only 10 km max, 14 years service and a bout of asthma have stumped my running ambitions a little. However i do love rugby, and i absolutely revel in being a prop: loose or tight head its all fun to me. So going the gym, op massive and sprinting is my game now...

I really like your willingness to share this info freely, i'm dyslexic so your sketch up drawings make perfect sense!!! Out of interest as i'm studying materials engineering at the moment, what sort of longevity are you all getting from your MDF cab's? Cheers rich

I just switched the co2 off and hoped for the best, all i did different was remove a bulb from my light fitting and took referance of tom barrs par chart.i also nuked any initial algal growth until things settled down, other than that everything is going extremely well, even the fish are happy!

Depth should be over 2cm in my own opinion this gives the roots space to grow. The choice of substrate, i.e is it made from clay? Peat? Aqua soil e.t.c. Is a very important factor.The higher the CEC value the more it will enhance plant growth. And you dont need to spend a fortune to get the...

Whats the characteristic of your tap water? This is in relation to my next question..., What substrate you using? If it has a high CEC then its likely robbing the fert out of the water column until it reaches a saturation point, also did you use a nutrient rich layer? You look as though you...

Your going to get a bigger tank :eek:??? *Removing jaw from keyboard and reattaching to face*

My substrate is 7 inches deep at the rear of my tank, i dont believe there is any issues with having anearobic substrate other than root development maybe slower. Hope that helps, i think the industry makes people worry over minor details sometimes.

Is it the green tropica fert your using or the yellow one? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nope its a non co2 tank. It feels worse when the biofilm is built up in the morning, which leads me to believe it could be algae. I say this because when i was younger the dock (barrow in furness) where i used to sail dinghies had a blue algae problem and would cause similar irritations...

On your advice i have tried but it doesn't appear to be an electrical problem. All connections are good No sign of leaking water on the electrical items Insulation around electrical items appears to be good to. The house and the extension running the tank are RCD protected. It doesn't feel...

Hi all I dont know if this attributal to water quality or a species of algae? When i put my hand in my non co2 tank this morning to do a bit of maintenance i've have a wierd stinging sensation on my hand. However the skin is not irritated, has anyone else had these symptoms or experiance on...

Nice job btw thanks for the pictures! My cabinet is starting to get chipboarditis at the back. I don't know why manufacturers choose laminated chipboard for use with water. However your build is really inspiring :) cheers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I realised after i posted that your on about the yellow stuff which is trace elements which is quite correct. It's the green bottle that contains ammonia and other sources. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I like number 4 feels like i'm there! I like the feel of motion you've captured and reminds me of what it's like to live by the sea. Most days are lower in light, like a great weather god procrastinating what to throw at our shores next. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It contains ammonia, i used it a couple of times when i started out high tech, but only found it induced algae, as tropica sales blurb had me believe that it's excess nutrients that cause algal blooms. Which is half true, however i now know it's high light and limiting co2 that causes the most...

If i was to collect leaves now, is it much of a drama? Under the top layer of leaves in my area im finding intact whole leaves.

That would be great if you could, i love the shape of the tank, just that stand during maintenance is such a pain in the behind! I'll be doing the same as you i reckon, but i'll probably use a wet dry filter to improve CSA aeration in my tank. Props to you!! that stand looks extremely well...

How did you go about making a lovely cabinet for your 260? Ive still got the standard juwel stand which is soooo impractical for any sensible use!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello heres some pics after the advice you guys gave me I still have some filling in with crypts to do but other than that i'm really happy with it all :) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No its tropicas under gravel layer topped with columb flora base, both humic substances with a high CEC Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you guys for sharing your experience. Well i decided to just not turn the lights on for 3 days, the result is outstanding. No thread algae, no brown algae. Although I've got some excel on its way just in case i need to cheat and do a bit of tidying. All in it's still looking good :) I...

Excellent, i was thinking down those lines, i just wanted to make sure i wasn't over reacting :) When i started out i had removed the reflector, toying with idea of t8's or spacing the current unit further up from the water line. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would say it's in the hair, thread fuzz area. The tank was high tech and has been de manufactured to low tech. I have SAE's, mollies, amano shrimp and ottos as clean up crew. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi all, I think i should introduce myself as i'm a relative noob. After being inspired by alastair tom and troi, i have began dabbling in the low tech tank environment, purely for fish welfare. My feelings are that the co2 route is so plant driven that thelivelihood of fish is forgotten about...

Hi all, Im looking forward to getting my co2 bits and bobs. Cant wait.....

I have been in deep thought recently with regards to hypothetical scenarios within the planted aquarium conumdrum. To tell the truth i cleared my mind by referring to calculus. It is as clive and sacha have said, there are just to many variables. To even differentiate the variables to give a...

Out of curiosty has changing your filter outlet height made a noticeable difference to the overall health of your aquarium?

Love this scape troi, switched my co2 off today. Fish are sprightlier and the algae issue is starting to subside already. I have one t5 tube reflector removed over 260 litres. So low watts per gallon in old money and low - medium with respect to par. The chalk downs in the area where i reside...

Out of interest is this diy jobby still going strong? Thinking of doing this to my tank it seems highly desireable!

Well theres no hard and fast rule but my setup is having success with 2.5 cm even-ish distribution of ji3 topped with a gravel tidy then a mix of sand to a depth of 2 cm, coastal pebbles and petrified wood. Theres a lot of talk of hydrogen sulphide being a problem in deep substrate tanks, but...

Really like this style of diy reactor, i have been amassing parts for my own mod, i just need to find , 1/2" hose spurs, someway of injecting co2 safely into the reactor chamber and possibly shut off taps. Im toying with running this with a separate power head to a spray bar. Decisions.....

Ceg, Thank you for clearing that up,i have been pondering the same question! i'm following the tropica start up app service as i'm a complete noob, so far i have purchased to much light and no nutrients, what a fool i feel. I know that the planted tank genre is experienced based, but it can...

Hi alastair I am intrigued to know how you did that moss covering on your immersed plant? And what species is it? Ive got my amazon shower caddies and im waiting for some hydroton as we speak :) I love the low tech approach Cheers richard.

JI3 and play sand is what I'm going for, i think the flora base from MA gives up nutrients to quick, i had excellent results with my current tank in the first few weeks, however everything has slowed right down after 2 weeks. Edit: slowed results with flora base, plus i don't like the unatural look

Thank you :)

Excellent. From my basic understanding, the plants available to the aquarium trade are mainly bog plants. Most aquarium plants belong on flood plains, hence the ability to survive submersed or emersed. So i totally understand why the propogator works. I'm also fascinated about growing house...

Did you have any luck with the rotala rotundifolia?

Hi all, Been registered for a while reading other scapers journals. Fed up with high tech co2 finnickyness injection tank running up my leccy bill, will be going low tech ala big tom and alastair. Cheers