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Thanks for that James.

I am intending to reposition my tank but the ideal place is adjacent to a West facing window and the side of the tank will receive sunlight in the afternoon. Is this a no no or could I get away with it?

I will be moving house soon and intend to move my 240 litre tank. Is it possible to move the tank and leave the substrate with water to cover, or will the weight stress the tank? How long will the bacteria be ok for in the filters if they are not running?

Only just seen this sanj, tanks are exquisite sanj - well done.

Excellent job - well done.

Stunning tank Tom. I would be interested to know how much CO2 it uses?

Can you suggest a supplier for the Parker Metering Valve?

Thanks Ollie

I have decided to discontinue using CO². Any tips for the transition would be welcome. I am using Akadama substrate, has anyone else been successful with the transition using Akadama? I have been doing weekly 50% water changes so should I stop this immediately or reduce the frequency gradually?

+ 2 :thumbup:

Interesting Dave. My LFS has replaced them for a different batch so will be interesting to see how they fare.

Anyone know if this species are sensitive to any particular water conditions? I added 3 recently and they all looked healthy but have all died within 5 days with no visible symptoms. 35 other fish in the tank with no problems so this is a bit of a mystery?

Yes absolutely, they are good for nothing unless they are retested which I dont think is viable.

Try calling fire protection companies who service Extinguishers and ask if they have any out of date cylinders.

Looking great sanj

I agree, I also think that Apple have been very smart in making changing batteries a big mystery and a big no no, trying to make it necessary to return to them for replacement and when they are no longer willing to do it, force upgrades on consumers, it only took me 10 minutes.

This may be of use to those of you that have early iPods. I have a Third Generation iPod - almost Retro now! I recently found that the battery died so took it along to an Apple Store to have a battery replacement. I was told that this model was no longer supported but they would kindly offer me...

Update at 62 days Plant growth has been considerable despite not having achieved pale green on the drop checker. CO² is now lasting longer but impossible to achieve a controlled level as the bubbles are streaming so fast its impossible to count them. The only way is to use 2 bottles in order to...

Thanks for the tip, glass is 10mm. I have the Vortech running and its working very well. Only using 75% of max and giving very good circulation.

Thanks Paulo

Thanks SC, Yes I have done that. I wasn't around yesterday when gas fired up but I was today and it started up okay and has remained at a steady level, so I will see how it goes tomorrow.

Thank you for asking. I havent been able to change the pressure. I have emailed the supplier but not much help so far. Surely the guage pressure must be adjustable?

Many thanks for your help.

Okay, unscrewed okay but no difference. Having taken off the nut there is a spring and spigot inside. It would appear that screwed in (as it was initially) fully is minimum pressure. Would you agree?

Thanks I will. It is VERY tight.

Thank you for this. There is a screw into the side just where your arrow is. I have tried it both ways but it is not changing the bottle pressure? If I undo the screw gas starts to escape from it. I dont think the large nut on top is an adjustment?? This is a new regulator, bought a year ago...

Thanks guys. The left hand guage is the bottle pressure and the top is line pressure. The only possible adjustment is the large chrome nut on top, but that doesn't look like it adjusts to me?

Neil, thanks very much for taking the time to write that detailed explanation, it makes sense but not sure if it can be overcome? Paul the regulator is a Sunwell. And I have now noticed that there is an increase in the regulator pressure when the solenoid switches off. Its running at 30psi and...

Many thanks for that. I'll give it a try.

Still running at a great rate!

I somehow missed this Tom - beautiful scape and the Fire Shrimp are stunning! Are they real :lol:

So could the problem be caused by the low pressure? I didn't realise it could be adjusted? My mistake, guage is actually reading 30psi (didn't look properly divisions are 5's and not 1's)

Thank you. When I looked today this was 20 minutes after start up. The pressure is set to 26psi or 2kg/cm². Not sure what this converts to in bar?

Every day I set my regulator up just right and it runs for the few hours for the remainder of the day at the same level and switches off on the timed solenoid. The following day when the solenoid switches on, CO² is belting out at a high level in the bubble counter and it needs resetting again...

Many thanks.

Many thanks Clive. Can you please tell me what the plants are at the back of your full tank shot of page 1 on this thread? That is one stunning tank :thumbup:

I am currently dosing KH2PO4, KNO3 + Trace. I read that we should dose Magnesium Sulphate if Magnesium is at a low level in tap water but what is considered a low level? Current level in my supply is 10.0mg/l so would my plants benefit from adding Magnesium?

Thanks Dane, what water change regime do you have?

Yes thanks, I have now done 3 x 50% water changes and parameters are now PH6.6, KH1, and GH5. Whether or not the CRS start to breed now remains to be seen. They are all mature adults.

How long did Apple take to send out a new one to you? I returned mine a week before xmas but no show yet.

Interested when you get some more

I have now removed all media from the AM1000 but there isn't much noticeable difference in flow. I will need to run at least one powerhead on this tank to ensure better CO² distribution. I have tried one of the Tunze heads now that the plants are established, but it ruins the tranquility of the...

Thanks Andy thats useful.

Will Congo Tetras munch on plants?

Many thanks for your help and interest. Can you maybe suggest a remineraliser which wont increase the PH?

Many thanks.

Calibrated about 5 weeks ago but again this morning. RO Water is reading PH6, the CRS Tank PH7.4 and the Red Cherry PH6.8. I guess that maybe the JBL is increasing the PH?

Using a Vitalsine PH Meter and Nutrafin KH/GH test kit

Using JBL Aquadur Plus to remineralise

Thanks for asking - Back to using RO since 4 December, but PH is still high at 7.5 despite adding Almond leaves (courtesy of Gill). KH is now 3 with GH at 6. Should I add more Almond Leaves than the 2 I currently have? Parameters are better in the newly setup tank with Akadama for Red Cherry...

Thanks Alastair, so do you not have any media at all in your AM1000? I must say I reckon the Siporax reduces the flow dratically. Thanks sanj, I am sure you are right, although the drop checker has never been a really pale green :? If I cant reduce the CO² consumption by a considerable...

Re: Thanks Bill.

Thanks Mike. I am not sure what you mean when you suggest that bubbles may be escaping the reactor? I have the infeed at the top and the outfeed return at the bottom and I do have the spray bars pointing downwards, although there isn't a great flow from the Eheim 1262 as there are several holes...

All seems to be okay with the CO² setup, including the air line which I have checked for leaks. I am using an AM1000 reactor. Would a diffuser be more efficient? Have exhausted all possibilities for cheap CO² locally. I contacted BOC and they are more expensive than the extinguishers I buy.

CO² consumption is looking grim. I have now used 2 x 5kg's in a month and @ £20 each its not looking viable unless I can find a better source. Any suggestions would be welcome.

I got it here http://www.lvbonsai.co.uk/soil.asp I called a couple of weeks ago and they do have it but under a different name I believe.

Thanks. In an attempt to avoid the UGF blocking I placed some filter media over it before adding the Akadama, so hopefully that will delay that.

I have just setup this Shrimp tank using Akadama and used it without any rinsing. Using an undergravel filter powered by a cannister filter and the water is gin clear.

Tank at 34 days. Have to say that not having grown stems before I am astonished at the rate of growth. Sadly algae is taking a hold and many of the plants have a coating of algae on the leaves, but hopefully this will pass as the tank matures. I have done 6 x 50% water changes since start up.

I am using a remineriliser.

Okay, I am back on RO now. I have stripped out the tank in which the CRS stopped breeding and moved them into another 10L tank with Flora Base substrate and sponge filter. I have done several water changes with RO and although I added 2 large Almond leaves on 12 December (thanks again Gill) PH...

I might have to, my stems are growing so fast I wont know what to do with them :lol:

What dosage should we use for vinegar?

Interesting ....

Heteranthea is certainly taking hold :jawdrop

Thanks guys. I will be adding mixed water on next change. Re the CO2 drop, I checked the regulator and bubble count had dropped right down on its own for some reason.

Thanks for the tips sanj. good to know I have the right Crossocheilus. They certainly seem to be constantly nibbling. Strangely enough I bought a Hozelock fitting for my mixer taps a couple of days ago. After the first 50% water change the temp dropped to 15 degrees C which I felt was a bit...

Thanks Simon. Sorry to hear your tank is taking up so much of your time :lol:

Planted at last! Most of the original plan has now changed, particularly with the planting. Initially I have gone for fast growing plants to achieve balance as quickly as possible. I cycled the tank with household ammonia and Ammonia was at zero before plants went in. Plant list as follows...

Yes, thats what I am looking for.

sanj, what size air stone do you use? I am thinking of maybe a 30cm or 60cm air curtain to kick in when CO2 is off. Or would this be overkill?

Nice job on the photos Stu :clap:

I agree. These Barbs are among my favourite fish. I am intending to buy a few but dissapointed to learn of high mortality and liking for munching on plants. sanj, do you think the high mortality could be due to CO2?

It would be good to see current pics Andy. How do you deal with water changes now?

Very nice George. Love it :thumbup:

Thanks Joe.

okay callum taht would be good. Looking for a red like the one in my avatar.

Interesting.....thanks

Thanks Callum but I am looking for freshwater. Red Cherries with deep colour or Sakura.

George, do you think Siamese Algae eaters are best bet for my tank? I considered Bristlenose but I believe they eat plants.

Thanks George.

I intend to add some algae eaters into my newly planted tank and Siamese Algae Eater is my first choice but cant find any in local suppliers. Is the Flying Fox as effective at eating algae?

All stunners sanj. Interesting to see your success in breeding. Clearly patience is the key with Rainbows as most are almost colourless when young. What temp do you keep your tank at?

Thanks. Is a high kh a problem? I have added Sera mineraliser and kh has gone up to 7.

Fantastic. Thanks George.

Looking for some blood red shrimps if anyone has some for sale?

Thanks Darrel, sounds like a no no for a planted tank then.

Anybody had experience keeping this species in a planted tank. I read they are prone to munching plants?

What readings should I aim for when the ro is remineralised to ensure optimum quality?

If I were to use RO for shrimp is it fair to say that if I just add Calcium and Magnesium to adjust GH this would provide correct water quality? I know that some add a percentage of straight tap water but I would rather avoid that so as not to re introduce any impurities that I have filtered out.

What would cause a high KH? I dont use RO but I did when they were breeding well.

KH is 4. Shrimp stopped breeding about 1 year ago.

I want to replace existing substrate in my shrimp tank for Akadama. Are there any potential chemistry issues that may arise if I introduce the shrimp immediately. I will be running the matured cannister filter with the new substrate.

Thanks sanj.

Thats very kind of you but my LFS is very good so I'll ask them. Thats great I would like to try some Gill. Let me know the cost?

Should I chnage substrate. Started with ADA Aquasoil which is now 26 months old?

No dont have one. I will get one to check it.

Thanks Basil. Can I avoid using RO if I reduce the ph using the indian almond leaves? Shrimp are in a 60litre.

Thanks Mike. I switched because of the waste with RO and also the cost of remineralising for my 260 litre. Which parameters shall I check?

I setup my shrimp tank back in Sept 09 with 6 CRS. All settled in nicely and they started breeding until I eventually had about 300! Along the way I added a few Cherries and they eventually multiplied well. However, now neither are breeding at all and numbers are dwindling. I setup another tank...