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  1. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Thank you! It always nice to know that sharing such things adds value. I’m a big proponent of an aquascaping shouldn’t be so hard approach unless we deliberately choose a particular challenge.👍
  2. Chris Jackson

    Very High Efficiency Reactor Design

    Might work but my concern would be the ultra fine / tiny bubbles making their way right through the reactor and into the tank. My desire with using a reactor is to avoid unsightly bubble mist in the tank
  3. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Still lazy! Time for a little update, another year on and I’m still working abroad an awful lot so the low maintenance approach reigns supreme. Very few tank issues, finally had replace the 2kg CO2 cylinder. Ant my trusty Giesmann canopy finally stopped lighting the aged T5s and rather than...
  4. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Well there’s nothing wrong with getting right stuck in and playing around with things! This scape just serves as a reminder that there are other ways 😉
  5. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Yep, big tank, deep substrate and nothing messed with very much… I’ve found 60cm tanks to be far harder to get stable
  6. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Very simple, Nothing more than the fish food plus 1 bps Co2 directly into the filter inlet for 6 hrs in the morning
  7. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Hello! In case anyone was wondering, yes, this long term crypt tank is still happily providing calm enjoyment to us and the inhabitants some 6 years since planting. Which means the substrate is now at least 20 years old! How did that pass so quickly…. The 2 x T5 tubes are seriously old as well...
  8. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Oh yes... any kind of moss trimmings love a carpet. Twas a total PITA in my old 600mm tank..something the size of your huge beauty! Oh my.... I’m too lazy for that
  9. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Hello! 4 years on and it’s still ticking along with minimal maintenance. I’m still working abroad a lot so maintenance is left mostly to my long suffering wife who does a 20% weekly water change via a hose pipe and feeds the now dwindling number of inhabitants daily. I do occasional trims and...
  10. Chris Jackson

    Olympus is Calling.

    Haha.... I like to leave my detritus where it is, low tech fertiliser...! The Lazy Asian is a very different beast to your's though... Someone wise once said "Good things come to those who wait" I find this particularly true with aquariums... sounds like you are wise...
  11. Chris Jackson

    Olympus is Calling.

    That’s a gorgeous tank and scape you have there Zeus! Ummm maybe one x XF250 to start then?.. quiet is nice! Upgrade to newer model at Xmas
  12. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    That sounds great, yes, I was thinking the XF250... I hope you make a journal here of how it all goes..
  13. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    I have the XF130 model...the ultimate would be 2 side by side right? There's always going to be weird flow in a sealed system like a tank but with having the pump off centre in my tank the water still seems swirl in a pretty stable manner. I've never felt I wanted the more powerful XF230 one...
  14. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Great idea! I've now replaced worn parts in mine with newer upgraded versions and it running quieter and very happily I also have the mesh "socks" they make put over the impellers and this, combined with the alternating flow setting, stops the balansae leaves and other debris getting sucked in.
  15. Chris Jackson

    Parva Beach - Where Corydoras Holiday

    I tend to suspect too much in-breeding is weakening many of the most popular species. I think my ancient neon maybe suffering from the “diseases of old age” more than anything else.
  16. Chris Jackson

    Parva Beach - Where Corydoras Holiday

    So life changes have meant less time for tanks and this tank is now on slow tick over mode with just moss and easy care plants. CO2 dialed right down as well though lighting is unchanged but was not been high in a long time. Moss, ferns, anubias, simple but still a pleasure. Note the ancient...
  17. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    A few other notes: The Maxpect Gyre, which is central to the function of this tank, has had some issues. Left on constant single direction mode then bits of leaf etc. get trapped and cause noise and occasionally jamming. Set to alternate flow mode then it works very well and self clears of...
  18. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Well thanks very much indeed!
  19. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Hello! Remember me... Quick update... my work life has changed a lot and I’m abroad weeks on end so tanks are in longterm slow mode with water changes only about 3 weekly. Fortunately this suits the Lazy Asian quite well. It’s now full low tech with no CO2 due to my vintange regulator finally...
  20. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Some lazy months later... Happy but in need of a trim
  21. Chris Jackson

    Parva Beach - Where Corydoras Holiday

    Lush neglect... So I've been lazy with my tanks the last few months doing little more than daily feeding and ferts plus fortnightly water changes. The tanks don't care... Here's "Parva Beach" today... I really am expecting to re-scape come the autumn but right now it is a pleasing virtually...
  22. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    More trimming and more open space... Feeding time...
  23. Chris Jackson

    Parva Beach - Where Corydoras Holiday

    And so another grow in And another trim.. A new scape is calling me ever louder...!
  24. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Thanks Doubu
  25. Chris Jackson

    Leica lenses and cameras

    Do check out the Fuji X series cameras and lenses. Fantastic compact fit, feel and control with some beautiful Lieca challenging lenses and image quality.
  26. Chris Jackson

    Stig of the Sump

    Sumptuous!
  27. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Well now so you did! Who knew BigTom was you and right here in old Cornwall... Danios are very happily swimming up stream with the others..
  28. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Thanks! Yes don't vac, the only time i've ever syphoned off detritus is at somewhat infrequent rescape times.... I also think that it being a large 400ltr tank helps, my smaller tanks haven't been quite so effortless to keep balanced.
  29. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    I'm a sucker for black and whites...
  30. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    A little update.. More trimming today and a full clean of one of the filters.. Still a very enjoyable tank over one year on
  31. Chris Jackson

    Jebao CP-40

    Yes many support that idea, though I've had low algae successes with both low and high flow tanks. I spend a surprising amount of time plotting how to create a tank with a genuine full depth end to end river style flow, that's near silent, energy efficient, foolproof, easily maintained and easy...
  32. Chris Jackson

    Jebao CP-40

    Yes I did some searching and it seems you are correct and Maxpect have modified the system so that you can have one controller running multiple pumps which certainly makes sense for large marine setups and actually reduces costs for these systems. I don't imagine planted or freshwater tanks...
  33. Chris Jackson

    Jebao CP-40

    Oh my mistake....I hadn't realised that.
  34. Chris Jackson

    Jebao CP-40

    I've been running a similar 35w Maxpect Gyre very successfully in my 1200x60x60 tank. it can get noisy from trapped debris but otherwise I rate it highly. To begin with I had it on the lowest setting but now that everything is grown in I have it on full with no problems. The Maxpect prices seem...
  35. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    A soothing hum aids restful sleep....
  36. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Hi the Maxpect has been great. At the start, before the balansae grew in, I had it on the lowest setting but now with the dense growth I have it on full power constant mode with the water being drawn in underneath it and directed along beneath the surface. I've never had an issue with the...
  37. Chris Jackson

    Advice: lighting units for 4ft x 2ft x 18.5'' set up

    Hi, well I suggest that T5's still have a great deal to offer and with a six tube fixture you can run pairs on different timers to create a mild dimming effect. 4 tubes should give plenty of light for most needs however but having six is good for photos and maybe adding a blast of midday sun...
  38. Chris Jackson

    #6 Cryptocoryne mini jungle

    Brilliant! Nice job
  39. Chris Jackson

    Who is getting one of these?

    Sorry try this- spray gun cleaning kit http://r.ebay.com/QaL3p8
  40. Chris Jackson

    Who is getting one of these?

    Get one of these everything you could ever need for little money
  41. Chris Jackson

    Overflow filter bulkhead

    If the thread is just a little off you can probably succeed by wrapping it with PTFE thread seal plumbing tape
  42. Chris Jackson

    Cyanobacteria and a lot more... help!

    With regard to lighting I find that if you aim for just enough intensity to have them pearly gently then you're in for a far easier ride in all respects. High intensity lighting means huge co2 and fert demands, rampant growth that is exhausting to trim etc. believe me the novelty of all that...
  43. Chris Jackson

    About time 90x45x45 scape

    Like!
  44. Chris Jackson

    Cyanobacteria and a lot more... help!

    Happy New Year... Try not to peep .... Personally I suggest you hold off from EI for now, the duckweed index will teach you more about your plants and dosing. It is better tolerant to the many variables at his stage and particularly with less than non limiting CO2 levels. You can use dry...
  45. Chris Jackson

    Cyanobacteria and a lot more... help!

    Hello there, You don't say how long this tank has been set up but a few thoughts spring to my mind is.. 1. Cleaning filters weekly isn't to be recommended in my opinion. I do mine about every 6 months! If you have fine media that clogs, then maybe change that but otherwise leave the rest...
  46. Chris Jackson

    Parva Beach - Where Corydoras Holiday

    After today's trim...bba still in retreat The Neons were arrivals from my daughter's discontinued little tank
  47. Chris Jackson

    Parva Beach - Where Corydoras Holiday

    Great, thanks, Indeed. Stem plants are so much work, especially in a big tank..
  48. Chris Jackson

    Resolved! Dropbox photo links ending in March 2017

    Brilliant Paulo! From what I can see all is well and I'm now uploading my new images direct to the UKAPS site. Cheers C
  49. Chris Jackson

    Parva Beach - Where Corydoras Holiday

    Ok so I've had a lazy summer aquarium wise and just let things grow in mostly... with this scape the effect was been quite soothing with he dense grow apparently contributing to a pretty complete absence of my longtime host BBA Finally however something had to be done and a minor trim...
  50. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Hello, All is still well and I left the tank be for a good few weeks until it became quite a jungle.. This was severely reducing the current and I hadn't seen a current loving Hillstream Loach in some time so a big trim last weekend renewed things nicely into to the far more entertaining...
  51. Chris Jackson

    Resolved! Dropbox photo links ending in March 2017

    Hi All, I have a few journals on here with the vast majority of photos therein linked from my Dropbox Public folder. I had an email for Dropbox yesterday telling me that my Public folder will cease to be as of March 2017 and that all these links to photos will fail. Ummmm Now I like to think...
  52. Chris Jackson

    My Road to IAPLC 2017

    Well both would be interesting but it was the rescape I was thinking about... cheers
  53. Chris Jackson

    My Road to IAPLC 2017

    Very classy! Has a great balance between looking "scaped" and "wild" which is only going to improve as it grows in... Dare I ask budget?
  54. Chris Jackson

    LED Dimmer solution - BUT

    I had no issues at all for 6 months or more but am now using different lights as mentioned earlier
  55. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Thanks, it's a very enjoyable and easy care tank and I'm sure you'd enjoy something similar. Mine is in a hall area so the noise from the Maxpect isn't too intrusive but in a lounge setting you might get complaints. The Maxpect is really very quiet in itself but with the high circulation bits...
  56. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Cheers guys
  57. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Well this scape was never designed as any kind of competition winner so I'm quite happy with this (Bit of a name change - didn't want the judges to think I might be calling Asians lazy....:)
  58. Chris Jackson

    What exactly causes BBA? Part 2 - Bacterial imbalance

    Ummm the BBA agenda....continues I've no idea what causes it but in my tank it just went away after about 9 months without me really changing anything. I think what we maybe struggling with as hobbyists is wanting instant results in a few weeks or months whereas for nature such time frames...
  59. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Thanks Roy
  60. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Thanks Tim
  61. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Now that would be an unusual hiest! Glad you appreciate it Cheers
  62. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    So what can I say, this low maintenance tank is settled in very nicely and a pleasure to live with.. 24-07-16 was a trimming day, this was 11:00 am Then at 13:00, things were less dense with more light getting to the lower crypts And come the 10-09-16 it looking like so.. Maintenance...
  63. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Haha! Indeed...distractions of summer you know.. Update coming soon ;)
  64. Chris Jackson

    500l discus tank

    Coming on v nicely! I wouldnt worry about the substrate algae too much, it's only to be expected really. There's no such thing as zero algae it's just a good algae plant balance we're after, just stir the sand regularly or indeed now you can let the loaches and corydoras do that for you.
  65. Chris Jackson

    Where to find rocks for aquarium use in the wild?

    I scavenge from the coast of Cornwall where I happily live but don't discount garden centres or quarries that maight be near you.
  66. Chris Jackson

    40 years and still going!

    How's about attaching java moss or similar to the path stones (superglue works really well) that could give you a nice contrast of greens between the hairgrasses and the moss and soften the stones to give a more er "timeless" effect?
  67. Chris Jackson

    40 years and still going!

    I agree with Alto on all points...
  68. Chris Jackson

    Recommend a single filter for 300L tank!

    If you have space for 2 filters I suggest you go with that option. Use what you've got and top up with something else, then you have a cushion in case of a failure and you don't have to spend as much or have a redundant filter sat in a shed
  69. Chris Jackson

    EI Ferts and Pressurised CO2

    I suggest you start at ½ EI and increase as your plant density rises. Remember EI is based on providing non limiting nutrient levels based on plant density and light levels etc. it's an estimate rather than an exact thing. Adding massively more than is necessary won't be helpful and may cause...
  70. Chris Jackson

    Frogbit's Amazonian Wild Thing!

    looking good, welcome!
  71. Chris Jackson

    How often to clean filters

    Well one indication I've had for a need to clean is bacterial blooms in the tank. My water, in a 10 month old setup went from crystal clear to very slightly milky looking and about 20mins after a water change it would go really milky and then clear over the course of several hours. Rinsing the...
  72. Chris Jackson

    40 years and still going!

    Hi Chrispy The Green Machine are the UK experts for all things ADA and have setup and run a great many tanks, far more than the average hobbyist on here, so you'd do well to follow their guidance to start with. Just resist any sales pitches suggesting you spend a fortune on ADA ferts!
  73. Chris Jackson

    From This to This!!!

    30-12-15 29-05-16
  74. Chris Jackson

    40 years and still going!

    Great project, keep learning, stay young! I also suggest you exercise some caution with combining EI fert levels with ADA soils especially at the begining. The ADA approach is based upon a nutrient rich substrate with relatively lean water dosing. You'll probably only need maybe ¼ EI levels in...
  75. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Yes fry certainly stand a slight chance and there are some dense fry friendly moss areas to help in that regard. I think the eggs are getting snaffled up first though. The rocks are slate left over from a dry stone wall we had built.
  76. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Thanks, no word from George or PFK so far... ;) As for breeding I do believe I've gained a couple of rosy barbs as some seem rather smaller than when I bought them. The barbs have always bred readily in this tank in previous versions but with this amount of flow and so many fast hungry mouths...
  77. Chris Jackson

    Juwel Trigon 350 build

    Morning... I just had another look at this and I'm not quite understanding the flow from the first to the second section? I presumed it was exiting from beneath the fine foam and into the refugium section but in the photo there does not seem to be any way for it to do that... Definitely agree...
  78. Chris Jackson

    Juwel Trigon 350 build

    Good stuff, and a real bargain, I'll be watching with interest!
  79. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Thanks Joe!
  80. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Indeed, crypts rock! I'm sure this much circulation isnt actually needed to have lush crypt growth but to better mimic the biotope in which the danios and hillstream fish normally live then it's got to be good and even then is probably still on the low scale.
  81. Chris Jackson

    Pearling

    The new water adds both O2 and CO2 which the plants love....and the increased O2 saturation makes for more pearling?
  82. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Thanks, I'm crediting the deep and very old substrate chock full of old echinodorus roots decomposing...
  83. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    Thanks, balansae is a very beautiful plant but this tank isn't really big enough to truly do it justice. I'm imagining a similar scape enlarged into say 6m by 1.5m with the the balansae streaming totally free of any confines... Umm not in my house!
  84. Chris Jackson

    The Lazy Asian Biotope

    A recap - 30-12-15 03-07-16 Quite pleased with that! The circulation effect from the Maxpect Gyre is quite evident by the way the balansae is curling back in the under current and the crypts on the bottom are streaming back. I've had to turn the maxspect upto around 80% power. It's going...
  85. Chris Jackson

    Parva Beach - Where Corydoras Holiday

    Well then... This is following a generous trim yesterday. All is growing well and BBA has gone from everywhere! I didn't have a big BBA issue but it was always tending to grow on the edges of the ferns and anubias as well as in the parva. What have I changed? Ferts, I was dosing pinches of...
  86. Chris Jackson

    ADA Aqua soil, Tropica Plant Growth Substrate or Eco-complete?

    Might I suggest you add Dennerle Deponit with a gravel overlayer as an option. I started with this stuff in the early 90's and it just works very well and I never had it rising to the surface of the gravel, it's a better than Eco Complete from my experience. I doubt that ADA Aquasoil would be a...
  87. Chris Jackson

    Dan's 45p - A Blank Canvas.....

    You can use your EI powders to make up this all in one solution and the dose according to the needs of the plants. If you add a few floating plants for reference then they get their CO2 from the air alone so their condition is an indicator purely of their fertiliser needs. Pale or yellow growth...
  88. Chris Jackson

    Dan's 45p - A Blank Canvas.....

    Frustrating....! Might I suggest that you try switching from EI to a "=27']duckweed index" type of fert regime. ADA aquasoil and powersand is rich stuff and I'm not convinced that it is an ideal match to EI and that certainly is not how ADA use it. Overdosing on ferts and micro toxicity is...
  89. Chris Jackson

    10x tank volume

    Cheers, sounds like a plan!
  90. Chris Jackson

    10x tank volume

    Ah the 10x guideline is for the maunfacturers quoted filter flow rate which you never actually get in the real world but yes even so your 900 and 1200 ltr filters are theoretically under powered by this rule. On big tanks like yours I think you're better off adding flow with powerheads rather...
  91. Chris Jackson

    Crypt help please

    I like the finesse of adding an all in one solution according to how the plants are growing. In my crypt tank I'm adding Tropica Specialised at about half recomended dose or less combined with a high number of fish and generous feeding. However I've made a DIY fert brew from a James's planted...
  92. Chris Jackson

    Crypt help please

    Hi there, I have some success with crypts and in my experience they flourish best with a nutrient rich substrate and quite high water flow and it's well known that they do not like to be messed with. I suggest that you add root fert tabs but then stop any further disturbance to the substrate...
  93. Chris Jackson

    200l Filter idea?

    You cant go wrong with an Ehiem classic, simple, powerful, reasonably priced no nonsense design and as they now come supplied with quick release taps they are extremely easy to maintain. A 600-2217 would serve you very well.
  94. Chris Jackson

    Sump filtration vs canister filtration

    For the filter outlet I drilled a hole in the return pipe just below the tank water surface, that way water can only syphon back to the sump until this hole draws air and breaks the syphon. Very simple and reliable system with no flow restriction.
  95. Chris Jackson

    ADA 60P Second attempt.. Update: on the road to recovery

    Well that's a bummer Jamie! There are many threads here about BBA that you can browse for answers but no guarantees. In my tank it has just gradually gone away as the months pass. The key thing, in my opinion, with any algae issue is to focus on growing the plants rather than killing algae. A...
  96. Chris Jackson

    Sump filtration vs canister filtration

    Yes Marcel I never meant the kind of run dry you describe ;) I haven't bothered with any failsafe float switches on mine due to space issues really. In a power failure the sump is big enough to accomodate the drain down from the tank. If the syphon fails on my overflow then I've got problems...
  97. Chris Jackson

    Sump filtration vs canister filtration

    A lot of pumps can run dry or submersed. Running submersed makes for simpler plumbing, requires less cabinet space, and also makes better use of the the pumps heat to warm the aquarium (unless you happen live somewhere where this is a hindrance). Sumps can be set up in many, many ways and you...
  98. Chris Jackson

    Sump filtration vs canister filtration

    very nice! They always get more stable with age.... I moved a 48 x 12 x 18 between houses by draining it almost completely and taking the fish in a bucket it was only a move of a few miles though and there weren't any huge rocks in the tank. All went well!
  99. Chris Jackson

    Windswept Eternity

    Yo, a real rip roarer this one, how did I miss it! Hang in there mister....the lowest ebb is the turning of the tide..
  100. Chris Jackson

    What if...

    What if Victoria Beckham smiled?
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