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Thanks Darrel & Edvet
Mendezi is my personal favourite and the one that if I can source a WC pair I will attempt at an breeding project. I think with my tap water and some minor adjusting to the PH I shouldn't realistically have too many issues I hope lol.
thanks for the advice all
I have a good supply of Microworms and regularly feed all my fish freshly hatched BBS so I should be okay.
What PH should I aim for for breeding each species?
Were your fish WC? I was always under the impression that it was never a good idea to remove apisto fry. Of the above species which are the easiest to raise the fry?
After recently successfully breeding my Borelli pair I want to try one of the more challenging apistos. My water supplier states my tap water hardness is the following:
I have been looking at Apistogramma Bitaeniata / Mendezi and Abacaxis, would any of these be a suitable candidate for a...
Hope this is okay to post here wasn’t too sure where to post. I set up my first hatchery yesterday in an attempt to start feeding all my fry tanks with BBS rather than just Microworms as suggested by a local breeder. Unfortunately I hadn’t given much thought on heating the hatchery to optimum...
I have been keeping a young pair of Borelli in my community tank and they have unexpectedly spawned. I am not sure how old the fry are but from what I can see they appear to be at wriggler stage. I have no experience with raising apisto fry and was looking for some guidance as to when I should...
what I am still confused about is if the leaves ect lower the tanks PH this will make the tap PH for water changes different. So how do you undertake water changes without trying to correct PH, or do I even need to worry about unstable PH?
To be honest I am not entirely sure on the hardness of my tap water, I have always assumed its fairly soft as I have always kept soft water species. I have just searched by my water suppler which states the below hardness:
As for appistogramma I was looking at Borelli Opal is I can get my...
I am considering setting up a botanical style aquarium for some appistogramma. I want to use lots of leaves / wood and pods as well as other botanicals I can get my hands on. My question is can I sustain this on tap water alone? I am aware that the botanicals ect will lower the PH but this isn't...
Ideally i want to get rid of the internal and go with an external but i guess this would mean emptying the tank to rip out the internal. I will see if I can get some more frogbit and just play with the outlet to see if I can get a better balance
I think one of the main reason's my floating plants never thrive is due to surface movement, but never too sure what the consequences are if any if i redirect the outflow so I get minimal surface movement?
I might see if I can get hold of some frogbit to try as I am sure what I have is water...
Can someone recommend a floating plant that will be suitable for my Juwel Rio 125 (not open top). I had some floating plants from my local LFS that were sold as frogbit but think they are actually water lettuce. These seem never seem to grow to the size of the original plants I am not sure if...
Do you mean to actually run them in the old tank or just put the sponges in the old tank? How long would you say is a reliable time to leave them to get enough bacteria to run safely on their own?
Does anyone know any tips for seeding small air powered sponge filters? I am setting up some breeding tubs this weekend that will have small air powered sponge filters in, usually if I have changed a filter in the display tanks I just add the old filter media to the new filter for a week or two...
I have a sick male Betta Simplex, I am not entirely sure what is wrong with him but he inst eating (from what I can tell) has occasional clamped fins (does flare from time to time) and is generally pale in colour. This particular fish seems to favour a spot at the back of the aquarium in the...
Hi I am looking for some advice on using leaves in the aquarium. I want to create a blackwater look with a bed of oak leave and IAL for tannins, this will likely be for a display tank for a pair of wild betta’s from the splendens complex. What I am struggling to understand is these reduce PH, so...
Thanks Lindy - I did comment on one of your posts on the Fish Hut the other day but never got a response from Colin. I will try message him.
thanks again for all your help
Didn't get chance to take any pictures last night, but will defiantly get some up for you guys to take a look at when I get home from work. If this is largely a circulation issue could i not add a small circulation / powerhead at the opposite end to the filter to increase flow? The crypts in the...
Thanks Tim - I actually only started spot dosing LC to deal with some BBA, but have since started to dosing to try help improve the growth of the plants. If I stop dosing LC will this have any positive effect? And what are my options without ripping out the internal filter and going external ?
I will try get some pictures up tonight for you but the quality isn't going to be the best will be off iPhone.
The filter is the stock juwel filter for the Rio 125, I think this is rated at 600lph. In hindsight I now wish I had ripped the thing out and gone for a decent external, but the plan...
Hi all could someone help me understand / establish what is happening to my stem plants. My Hygrophila polysperma stems are growing thin as well as very thin leaves this seems to be an issue the other stem plants in the tank. Today I have even noticed that some stems are rotting and...
I am looking for some advise on keeping Betta Simplex ideally I would like to convert my community tank into a breeding project for Betta Simplex. I would rehoming most of the fish but would like to keep my chocolate gourami and hengeli rasboras if at all possible. From the brief research I have...
I am having terrible trouble with growing health plants and melting leaves. It appears that initial growth is good then after a month or two I start running into trouble again. The tank has been running since October and is currently running stock lighting and internal filter that comes as...
As per title, I want to increase my substrate depth but not sure who best to do this without disturbing the tank too much. I currently have a substrate depth from 2.5cm to 5cm at the back but am now looking for a 4cm to 8cm depth to try and help the heavy root structure of my cryptocoryne...
thanks Natasha
I will initially try dosing TNC complete and liquid CO2 to see what kind of results I get from that. If I wanted to increase the depth of the substrate could i mix with another brand rather than Dennerle or even cap with some back gravel or sand?
I think I may have encountered a problem with my substrate. Initially for the first 4/5 months all plants were thriving without ferts or any CO2, I have since had a lot of melt and stunt growth and was wandering if my substrate depth is too shallow. It currently ranges from about 2.5cm to 5cm in...
I did have a lovely starougyne repens carpet but this has since been infested with BBA. I have taken the lot out this morning and is now in a bowl full of old tank water on my windowsill. what can I do to remove the BBA and try and rescue the starougyne repens?
So since my last post I have introduced lots of floating plants that have since virtually covered the surface reducing light intensity. I have also reduced my feeding as I am sure I was feeding way to much. I continue to struggle with BBA and this has now covered my starougyne repens lawn as...
Thanks Ryan – I actually have been doing around 50% weekly WC which is possibly why it is restricted to small isolated areas of the tank. I do want to add some floating plants of some kind but wasn’t too sure if I would have much success as I have a juwel rio tank and not an open top which from...
I have started to notice very small outbreaks of BBA on some old crypts and starougyne repens leaves all other plants are fine and any new leaves don’t seem to be effected. I currently don’t dose any Co2 or ferts and lights are on for around 8 hours a day, the set up itself is relatively new and...
The wood is redmoor I think wasn't labelled in the LFS but certainly looks like it to me, I haven't pre soaked it as was planning to hold it down with dragon stone around the base. Would I likely get better results gluing the moss to the dragon stone and then attaching moss to the wood at a...
I would like to add 10 Galaxy Rasbora to my existing set up, currently stocked with
2 Ottos
3 Choc Gourami
5 White fin Bentos tetra
4-6 Amano Shrimp
Tank is 125lt fairly heavily planted with pH 6.5, do you think the tetras are too big and boisterous for the Rasbora? I am open to other...
So i gave the tank its first major trimming yesterday and have moved some plants around a little. I now have a space where the rotala was does anyone have any suggestions what to place here, i will try get some decent pics up later.
Looking for some advice on the positioning of my current plants and suggestions for additional plants. Plants are limnophila sessinflora in both the far back corners rotala rotundifolia central background with Cryptocoryne beckettii 'Petchii' and Staurogyne repens scattered amongst the...
I plan to get a pair of Apistogramma cacatuoides but would like either dwarf or coral red pencils as tankmates. Which of the two tends to stay more to the top region of the tank looking for colour and movement. I have read that male coral reds can be very aggressive towards each other does this...
Can anyone tell me what this might be on a few of my plants? Tank has been running for just over 3 weeks, lights on for 6 hours a day with 50% water changes every other day. I have recently had issues with dust from some dragon stone which I have now removed, but this had never had a rust brown...
I might give the Tropica premium a go, can pick some up tonight on my way home. Also going to add some ludwigia palustris and fissidens fontanus if they have some at LFS
Would you recommend TNC complete for low tech? I dont mind dosing ferts but would rather stay clear of adding CO2 at the moment. Do you think using something like TNC complete alone will benefit the plant?
Also I am using dennerle scaper's soil should this not give off enough nutrients alone in...
This is a picture of my rotala rotundifolia, its been planted for around 3 weeks now and has grown between 5-10cm in length. Its leaves have now started to change shape so at what point should I start to see colour change? its planted in low tech set up with 2x 28w T5 lighting for 6 hours a day...
Hi Manisha
Well had abit of a nightmare to be honest with the current scape. Although I had extensively cleaned the Dragon stone I was constantly having dust from the rockets covering the plants so have decided to ditch it and will pick up some bogwood next time at my local LFS.
I have put...
Do you guys think the placement of the Rotala rotundifoli behind the central rock work looks okay and should i move the limnophila sessiliflora on the left over to the larger bunch on the right. Any suggestions on what i could then plant inform of the limnophila sessiliflora on the right?
And...
I am looking at a pair of apistogramma cacatuoides for my tank, but unsure if they are suitable. I have soft water but not sure if there is enough hiding places for them. I am also concerned that these bulky fish will uproot my plants. what do people think?
Could someone kindly suggest some low tech stem plants that will fill out the back / midground of my tank. Its currently been running for nearly 3 weeks now as low tech with stock lighting two 28w T5. I was thinking of adding some anubias petite or mini to the rock rubble but again open to...
Plants seem to be responding to the daily WC except for the giant hairgrass, at what point should I start to increase the photo-period again. I started with 6 hours a day for the first 6 days but have since cut down to 4 hours?
Any help on this would be appreciated
So did a 40 -50% water change last night and have put lights to 4 hours will continue with the water change for rest of the week and see if there is any improvement.
I have now noticed that the giant hairgrass is now turning yellow which wasn't affected before hopefully this is just the plants...
I will do a 50% water change tonight and reduce the light to maybe 4 hours, how does this sound? also during water changes do you guys just add cold water or warm water. Does adding cold water shock the plant during water change?
lastly how long should i leave the rotala and staurogyne before i...
Thanks doubu
I was always under the impression that the stock 2X 28w t5 was classed as low light although they do appear to be fairly bright. How long do you think I should be running the lights fot?
I will lower the light and start regular big water changes from today and see what happebd.
Thanks zozo
My substrate is Dennerle Scaper's Soil not sure how many of you guys have used this in your tanks or if it's any good. should I do a large water change now at 6 days old ?
Would something like tropica premium fertiliser be suitable for my set up?
with the Starougyne should i trim off the leaves that start to melt or just leave them?
So I have a juwel rio 125 set up low tech with stock lighting (without reflectors) and filter, and scapers soil as substrate. The tank has now been set up for 6 days and although there has certainly been growth with the majority of the plants i am now starting to see some melt which leads me to...
I finally received my plants yesterday and spent the evening planting my tank. However I have some questions regarding the above plant. I wasn’t expecting to receive plants that were already 40+ cm tall, I was totally unsure on how to go about planting these and was reluctant to start trimming a...
I know most of you plant new setups before filling the tank, but my plant order has been delayed. So was thinking of filling it and running the filter / heater to start the cycling process. Is this a good idea or should i just wait for my plants first.
I have another question bout this soil. Can I add this to the tank and add my dragon stone without adding plants and water for another few days. Wasn't too sure if once opened it will loose nutrients and stuff . Any help on this would be appreciated.
After reading a number of journals on the forum, I see that many of you protect the bottom pane of glass when adding large amounts of rock. Could someone send me a link of what you guys use as I think it would be sensible to do something similar in my own tank.
Many thanks
Thanks Ian
I was told that the stock lighting would be classed as low light / low tech, but was surprised at how bright it was once switched on. I will run without any reflectors to start with and see how I get on. Could i use floating plans to reduce the light intensity?
Should I also be...
So I finally got round to leak testing my Rio 125 last night, and checking that all other equipment was in working order. It soon became apparent that I was concerned about flow with the stock pump (think 600lph). I plan to run the tank as low tech with stock lighting and scapers soil as...
Would like people's opinions on this please. This is my first ever scape and will be for my jewel Rio 125 that I am collecting on Monday. I was planning on using mix of rock and wood but like the rock so much might just stick with the rocks only.
So I have decided to try the above only I think I might have miscalculated the required amount for my tank. My tank doesn't arrive until Monday so I can't check. Could someone tell me if 12 litres of scapers soil will be another to fill 80 X 36cm bottom (jewel Rio 125). Looking for at the least...
Thanks Lukes
I am hoping to grow a small carpet possibly running half the length of the foreground, my initial plan was trying marsilea hursuta, but now considering monte carlo. Are either of these realistic with my proposed set up or is a small low tech carpet just out of the question?
Have been looking at Topica’s plant guides and have come up with the following Bacopa caroliniana, Limnophila sessiliflora and Rotala rotundifolia. Do these three seem reasonable for low tech no CO2 system?
Also I have spent numerous hours looking on various sites regarding lighting and am...
As the title says, looking for some options for background stem plant that ideally will cover the back pane from view but won't take up too much mid/foreground space.
I will be using jewel Rio 125 with stock lights. Hardscape will consist of a large branched redmore wood with dragon stone.
My...
Looking for lighting suggestions for rimless custom made 80X40X40. The tank will be low tech no Co2. Was considering Arcadia led stretch but wasn't sure if 23w would be too low even for low tech.
Initially planting plans are java fern, crypt and undecided stem plant. May consider trying Monte...
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