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Ok. Thanks for the advise. I have a good quality ph pen so will plot a graph and see what it tells me.

So really at the end of the day it’s just to read the aquarium. Shrimp struggling turn co2 down, algae starting to bloom plants suffer turn up co2 and use minute adjustments until a balance is reached....

Aquarium depth 55cm

I’m using the TMC GroBeam 600 Ultima ND - Twin and as said the KH is 9 somquite hard water. Really I should just trust the co2 liquid tester in the aquarium in the glass holder?

Hello I have a co2 KH. PH chart. I’m dosing co2 via an intank difuser. Does it mean if my KH is 9 and my Ph is 6.4 that my co2 is at that ridiculous high level of 107.5 or is that the maximum the water can hold if I add excessive amounts of co2 is 107.5? I test the ph with an accurate...

Ahhh I forgot that the working pressure is 3 bar. Well set it up paint some washing up liquid on the outside seals and start it off. If it leaks you will get bubbles. If not you should be good to go. But observe for a while and then to make sure ;)

get the seal one it works just as good but is a pain to clean as you need to soak the whole thing in bleach not just the ceramic stone. Means you need 2 in the long run. I have the UP one with a few spare ceramics so cleaning was easy the fixed one makes it harder but at least it never leaks...

just gas escaped. bubbles with washing up liquid on the outside thread casing near the joint. Was using a lot of co2 for very little change in the aquarium. No major water leaks. just gas loss.

yes my replacement plastic/ acrylic one with hardened end caps also leaked. I really need the SS one also... :)

Hi all It's been ages as I've been relocating. Not sure if any of you remember this set up... Well it's now like this again... A blank canvas. I was hoping for some advice on plants to grow. I'm using twin led lights, TMC GroBeam 600 Ultima Twin. I'm using the timer box aqua ray and...

I'm not sure if it's been noted but Modern Aquascaping founder Takashi Amano dies, aged 61 Great loss his tanks were fantastic. Condolences to all his close friends and relatives...

Thats just fantastic! Well done m8 ;) something for us all to aspire too :)

Water crest maybe?

Yeah did you get the flow/ distribution sorted? Would be good to see some update pics :)

BBA as bad as ever :(

Strange... I found this reactor dissolved all the co2 at really high bps, beyond being able to count how many and gave no 7 up effect into my aquarium. My problems were that it need much more co2 than say the UP inline to do the same job and cleaning it was a big hassle which needed to be done...

+1 on that! Was lovely to see the tank free of fine co2 bubbles but the sera is a pita. Needed cleaning to often, a separate pump and took way too much co2 (pps) for some reason.

Tnx :)

Hi Zak I've had the (7)UP diffusor on for 2 weeks now. Much less co2 on my bubble count and plants doing great. Zero melt on the crypts so far so I'm thinking the water conditions are more stable. Only draw back 7 UP effect. I still have a lot of BBA and hope it will recede. I put some plants...

Last 2kg fill up £2 :) Barber Brothers in Birmingham. Very reasonable 2kg ex FE for sale too at £30 each full. Lever taken off and valve added...

Sounds more like what happens tbh...

Well I get better results with the diffusors compared to the reactors.

This makes sense! But this I don't understand. I would have thought that if plants are happier then it would be less likely they melt or get algae growing on them?

The problem I had was that the wire mesh over the inlet tube soon got blocked with tank debris more so than my Eheim prefilter. Probably due to the high flow rate to start with sucking everything to it. Unless I kept vigilant of this the flow did drop drastically with this build up. Also the...

I will post a picture later, it still looks lovely but I had to cut a lot away yesterday to take a lot of the BBA & Hair Algae away. One of the issues having the discus is that all the shrimp hide and never come out to eat the dam algae which was the reason to put them in there in the first...

Ok its been a while since I put an update on this reactor so here goes. It still works fine (or does it? ;) I've now gone back to my Intense (soon to be stronger version of UP) diffusor. I've have nothing but bad BBA and now hair algae since this co2 diffusor went in. When I used the UP inline I...

That's fantastic!

Yes my algae is really bad too. Especially where the plants are at the top of the tank directly under the lights.

Hey I can see the pics now. Looking really good Jaap. Just the algae to deal with.

Hi thanks for the update. I'm also getting a lot of BBA and hair algae now too :( I have done the opposite as I get good plant growth so I have reduced my lighting period to just 4 hours at 80% and 4 hours fading in and out. Hope the new tile sorts your issues out keep us informed. Best wishes...

They look perfect!

Tank flow is great. Over 10x, (150ltr tank with minimum 2000 ltr/h) funny thing is that the worse BBA is in the highest flow! If you carefully drill the sera to the thread size then very carefully screw the grease nipple in with silicone it will be water tight. The web link I sent was just for...

How about a grease nipple? ;) http://www.anzor.co.nz/grease-nipples/product

Hi Zak Rafik My sera is working really well. I now get more of a yellow colour than green and my fish seem to be able to cope with it quite well so have left the bubble count as it is for now. Must mean the plants are supplying them the oxygen they need :) I still do have BBA issues though :(...

Give this a watch... http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/how-nature-does-it.35511/#post-380461 Shows natural habitats some with huge flow. There are some Rams as well...

Wow that's great footage. The flow in areas is crazy and in areas where the flow stops the algae is everywhere! Really worth watching.

Lovely!

You do have a lot of plants maybe more nutrient is needed. Mg and Iron come to mind. Also more co2 wont go amiss... What is the flow like in the area of this plant?

this little fella here! I got the regular valve on mine and its a PITA I would definitely recommend the upgrade to a SMC valve which is more accurate especially for smaller set ups...

my local filling station take old co2 bottles and take the handles off and add a normal valve. They are still red though ;)

make sure you upgrade the valve to a precision smc I didn't and im just not happy with mine at all. Its realty fiddly and not very accurate!

Is it not in a cupboard? I really cant hear mine when the door is shut. Not sure how you could stop that trickling sound. Maybe build a sound proof box to sit it in ;)

:( Oh no!

DIY clear acrylic tube 18mm ED 14mm ID worked great for me and nice and clear. Just use the eheim black end cap as per their spray bar or an 18mm diameter acrylic disk and seal it on the end.

Well ive got my balance good now but coming on with co2 some 4 hours before lights on! Also the bps is a constant stream lol I am amazed you are using a jubilee clip on the sera hose section as they are plastics with a track record of being fragile. Id have used a spring one at the most. Hope...

Just to see if it's a build up of gas causing the noise or the water flowing through the fly wheels...

Wow only 2bps! I've really got to check mine again for leaks. Already checked twice and none showing but it's like I'm flooding co2 into it to get light green. On turning it upside down did you get all the air out before you started feeding co2? Once the co2 is turned off and the last of the...

Try increasing the flow to it. Mine makes more sound when the prefilter to the pump feed gets clogged with debris. Once cleaned off and the flow is more there is less sound. With my cabinet door closed there is zero sound for me. Great that you managed to get straight to green on the dc. What...

Thanks for the link looks a good read :)

Hi All Can anyone help me identify this aponogeton by its flower. It has a double purple head... Not sure which one it is maybe Ulvaceus or Caporoni Any ideas? Best wishes Bhu

It's bright! ;)

:clap: Very professional. A very clean layout with clear knowledge of plant use and location.

Just make sure you get a co2 proof one way valve to connect a 4" section of co2 piping to the sera so you never have to mess with the piping connection to the sera again. That part on the sera is known to be fragile and if you try to remove the co2 pipe from the sera once on you run a huge risk...

I mean the co2 level is light green at lights on and stays constant all day until co2 is turned off just before lights off. Took me weeks of fiddling with my bps to get this right and nearly gassed my fish to boot! :)

my sera 1000 is very quite never hear it. But yes they are less robust. Mine has just reached equilibrium so now im in the process of upping the lights :) at 70% so far so good :) nice light green dc on lights on.

Mine did the same which is why I went to the sera 1000.

I'm using the sera 1000 hasn't leaked and dissolves co2 really well. My only concern is that I'm now having to use a lot more bps and not sure why to get the same light green on my dc. I've double checked all connections for leaks so it's not that. It's been running for a couple of weeks and I...

I've used the neutro range for a couple of months. Worked really well. You will need the brown one if your not feeding pressurised co2. Your plant list should do well too. The crypts might melt if you get swings in your conditions but should grow back ok. Just don't slack on the water changes or...

Bound to be but I needed silent and quality which eheim can deliver. cheaper ones may be really noisy and soon let you down with flow. But your right it is a pain. I just had to bite the bullet.

I went for the eheim compact + 2000 they are a good pump silent but start at 1000-2000 lph. Its adjustable mines been great and after a few weeks the flow will drop down to say 700 lph on the lowest setting. costs around £60 I looked hard and everywhere for a good external pump and this was the...

Woops sorry then. Thought that taking the fry into the mouth signified mouth brooder... I bred them a few times and loved to watch the female round up the fry in her mouth if she thought that danger was near by.

Just stripped mine down and cleaned it. Working much better again now. The pre-filter was totally blocked on the pump that runs it. Nearly gassed my fish and critters today, first time in ages I've seen an amano shrimp and 6 of the otos as well lol... Got to be so careful with this co2 game! Dam...

Definitely not the kribs they are really good parent mouth brooders so no way theyd leave the eggs. My corys spawned the other month. Scattered all over the tank looked very similar. None made it though. Does your Japanese algae eater fight the sae?

How often do you need to clean yours? I've noticed that mine has started to get a build up in it. I'm dreading it as sera has a bad rep for breaking when fiddling with them...

I have the sera 1000 with 1200-1500 lph going through and mine hardly makes a noise. Certainly not to warrant such a device ;) nice seat for it though :) im more concerned with the bps I have to put through it compared to an UP I used before hand. There's 100% no leaks but I'm having to use...

So im down to about 1.5-1.8 bar now nearly 20 psi. Im still having to use quite a high bps to get the DC light green for lights on even when the co2 starts 4 hours before. Fish seem all ok since I added an air stone so far so good. Still need to tweak it some as it could be slightly lighter in...

I think that's the key to your problems. The ferts are essential and co2 for some plant varieties. Im no expert on all the different plant types but the one melting is probably due to not enough co2 in the water for the demand put on the plant by the light.

Sure I have the pdf as as well as the manual that comes with it. I quickly went and read mine and found the part about working pressure. Will reduce mine some what. Maybe it will work better for it! I am having to have quite a night bps at the moment. Maybe that will be less now?

Wow I didn't know that I. Sure I'm well over that like 40psi as it was set for my UP inline. I've had no leaks but probably best I reduce it a little ;) getting really good results though!

Hi Don, yes that is probably why the plants are receding. Id go with the EI method as sold by this sites sponsor here... http://www.aquariumplantfood.co.uk/fertilisers/dry-chemicals/starter-kits/ei-starter-kit.html All you will need and will last for ages. What co2 injection are you using?

Cory's do love to dig and rummage around in the substrate. mine did stop rooting out my carpet plants after a while which was a relief. As for the plants melting, they will do this until they are happy or dead which ever comes first ;) id work on your flow and co2, making sure that the liquid...

The Staurogyne repens looks like its taking well. love the pigmy shoal too... lonely amano shrimp lol

Looks like a well thought out fantastic start...

Hey Jaap! You don't seem to be having much luck these days! Were they large rcs? Maybe they were just old? I loose some now and then, but they are breeding so the colony lives on... Do you have an airstone to help with gassing off at night?

Well mine is the regular pot. It is growing just painfully slow. I will be patient and wait for the LB to catch up before I change thngs.

Its been in about 2 months now so not long really. Im just getting impatient lol I know if I can sit it out it will do well. Most plants do if you give them what they need and are patient with them. It looks healthy at least just a very slow grower!

Well the only other issues could be too much flow, co2 or liquid feed lol ;) just kidding, sure if only plants could talk hey!

To add to it, I'm sure some scapers create a beautiful scape with out fish then after a few months when its all grown like crazy they trim it shape it some more, then add a shoal of small beautiful fish take out all the equipment and take a professional shot that encourages us all to keep trying...

Well I've come to the conclusion that a healthy planted tank with fish is a real challenge. To get it right for all the plants top and bottom as well as the fish is a constant battle. The only plant I have not growing well is my Lilaeopsis brasiliensis, which dare I say it needs more light. To...

That's a lovely looking tank, but I think that the images are misleading as the second one doesn't look as good quality as the first so maybe misrepresents the tank now with the reflectors. I think the dark spots is why some people use 2 parallel.

Let me relate a recent experience that may enlighten you. Just the other day one of my discus just hid all day long and clearly looked stressed, this is since adding a sera 1000 co2 reactor and a 1000-2000 lph external pump which was on about 1200lph. Now adding this pump doubled my flow rate to...

Nice tank Mr Teapot! I see that you had a dry start though and that initially your tank started really well with the 1x 600 above. Also you experienced the more light=more co2, flow and liquid feed as well. Jaap just keep trying. I think the introduction of some more plants now would be a...

Well I'd did say ages ago and maybe in another post do get another 600 but you will need the controller as they will be way bright. Also the dimming feature for dawn and dusk rocks! ;) :thumbup:

Isn't that kind of a contradiction? If they are in fine condition then clearly the lights are ok for them?

But they had a very hard start in very high temps. If the conditions had been perfect from the start maybe it would be different now?

Is that all corys on the bottom is one of them a SAE?

That's why I haven't given up on my LB as yet. It still looks really healthy close up amen grows the occasion shoot up now and then ;)

That's right but the 600 is claimed to be 30% brighter than the 500...

Well maybe so these plants are easy to grow, but carpet plants take time and patience is needed. I think it must take a lot of experimentation with many tank set ups to find the right circumstances for plants to grow. Just for the record, the cryptocoryne bullosa to the left are not so easy to...

Looks fantastic. Well done... Would be better with a shoal of harlequins or black tetras maybe... All swimming together...

Yeah my tank is an explosion of growth... Except for the LB. It's growing but so so slowly. So much so that I'm tempted to swop it out for some MC... ;)

Resent pic, sorry it's not the best quality... Just to show that plants can and do grow well under growbeam 600 lights. The let corner had 3 echinodorus tenellus only now the corner is full and I've had to cut them back to stop them growing into the above mentioned LB. My crypts which are...

Well maybe you needed two. I use two growbeam 600's on a 150lt cube tank. The depth of water is 55cm and the brow rams rest on the glass. I'd like to consider my tank high tech. Not sure if that is true. I feed lots of pressurised co2. Plant ferts daily, just about to start EI. I've had really...

I'm beginning to think that an airstone is very essential to help gas off the co2... Check out X3NiTH's last post here... http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/changed-to-a-sera-co2-reactor-1000-gave-up-on-inline-diffuser-for-my-planted-tank.34947/page-11#post-376770 Makes a lot of sense if you...

Hi X3NiTH Thanks for that it makes a lot of sense. I was under the false illusion that the plants would use all the co2! This part is very good... "Other things I'm doing slightly differently is that I have augmented my air supply to the Airstone by sending it from two different pumps. One...

Mmmm I see. I do have a strong surface agitation as I have 15x flow and the spray bar is pointing up and the other input is just the crook bend near the surface also. I don't have an air stone though! I was thinking that I might need to run one at night to help with the extra load. I hear if you...

Hi X3NiTH Can you explain that a bit more for me ;) Tnx Bhu

Well after turning down the bps my fish are no longer stressed but the plants are! :( I've got crypt melt and my DC is a deep turquoise green instead of light green :( I can't seem to win! I have now turned it up again a little bit. It certainly is a fine balance act co2! Maybe I need to dose...

Thank you :)

Ha ha yes I'm UK based but not under some Victorian spell of greatness. My eyes are wide open and my tap water tested often. Thanks for the link I will compare it to what I use already. I wouldn't even use 50% tap water thank you!