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Well so far so good quite impressed with the growth and health of the plants. Had some mild brown algae but it didn’t return after I removed it. Added 5 amanos last week and they are doing well.

Also the snails are very happy ;)

Everything has settled in really well plants look healthy and the mint is even growing leaves submerged wonder how long they will last?

I’ve placed my bets ;) Can you elaborate a little more about your concerns? Happy for the feedback.

Thanks, I’m trying to push myself out of my comfort zone and not try to be so neat. Hopefully it will pay off and look wild when it grows in. I picked some mint a couple of weeks ago to grow with the kids. We put it in a jar to grow roots and it went mad so thought lets give it a go!

I’ve done the high tech thing for a good few years and I’ve had good results but as life gets more hectic I’ve decided to slow things down and go for a more natural approach. This will be my first setup using soil and no filter but what’s the worst that could happen eh? 😬 I’ve done some...

Thanks, I’ll get hold of some John Innes No3 instead then.

This is my first attempt at a soil substrate and I already have some of this at home compost but would it be ok to use? I’ll be capping it with sand most likely.

Yeah something like that I really like the look of it. Not sure one would be enough tho which brings me to about £80 for 2 of them. Maybe I’ll look into a DIY version 🤔

Hi, I’m planning a complete rescape in the near future and want to go low tech, soil no dosing etc but not sure about what light to go for. Tank is 60cm x 30cm x 40cm. I’m looking to see what I can do on a budget and would like to use directional light (kind of like the kessel lights) using...

Done all of that and have Nerites in there but it won’t fix the cause. It just comes back again.

Yeah I’ve trimmed back since the photo was a week or two overdue. I am getting some more Bucephalandra to cover some of the rocks but I always wonder how Iwagumi scapes with exposed rocks keep it away.

Scape is roughly 3 months since filled and 2-3 month dry start before that. Lights (Chihiros A601) on 100% but raised fairly high so roughly equivalent to 50% at normal height. 3pm - 10pm fading on and off over a 30min period. Co2 is lime green although I did have a day or two without optimum...

It has been suggested to me that increasing phosphates will help with eliminating the GDA I currently have. I use a premixed dry fertiliser that I just mix with water so can increase phosphates alone. Will just an increase in everything have the same affect or would I need to increase just...

Picked up a pair of apistogramma macmasteri at the weekend really happy with these. They have character and they love the ready made cave!

Really liking Aistogrammas thinking they could be the ones!

24c but from reading up Rams don’t do well in the lower 20’s over long periods and the higher temps they like is on the high side for my cardinals so not the best mix.

Not keen on having a lid so maybe I’ll keep looking at other options.

60cm I’ll look into kribs don’t know anything about them.

This is my set up and I currently have 8 cardinals in there. My original thought was to have a pair of Rams but the temperature difference is not ideal. I’ve thought about maybe a pair of Peacock Goby’s or single Killifish but haven’t any experience with them. Can anyone suggest something...

I actually tried 100% at first as I thought that sounded about right but my rocks were green within 4 days so I put it to 50% for now. Will try upping it slowly over a longer period I think.

Thanks Darrel, is there any way to estimate how much I would need to increase it (without any special equipment such as PAR meter) or would trial and error be the way forward.

Anyone?

Slightly different subject but do floating plants help with biofilm at all? Especially fast growers like duckweed.

I have the Chihiros A Series light and have always had it set 50%. I have since raised the light and mounted it under a shelf for aesthetic reasons and it is now twice as high above the tank as it was before (about 10 inches) but what should I change the intensity to now 100%?

Thanks Darrel very much appreciated

Where did you get it from originally? It’s strange I can’t find any at all online in the uk.

I’m looking for a floating plant and came across a large version but can’t find any for sale? Has anyone had any or have any more info on it?

Thanks everyone! I’ll definitely check everything out especially the Walsted book I almost got it but thought it was just geared towards one method.

I really want to up my game this year and study everything I can about planted tanks. One thing in particular that gets me is plant names and pronunciation! Can anyone recommend any good places to learn from? I watch a lot of youtube already mainly Goerge, Juris & MD. Any good books that...

If I cut apart Chladophlora moss balls and stick them to rock will they naturally attacht in time?

Thanks, I tried a trim the other day and a few have turned brown but I only trimmed the top few inches

Is it ok to trim Eleocharis Montevidensis just like regular hairgrass or not?

I purchased this moss about a year ago and I thought it was christmas moss but it doesn't look like it. It has been in a very low tech set up tho would that change the appearance?

I’m filling up the foreground soon but also want something to go between the 2 main rocks under where the moss is. Has anyone got any suggestions?

I already feed the minimum I can and vacuum once a week. Guess I’ll just have to squish more often lol

I’ve been so careful but somehow snails have managed to infrst my aquarium. At first I was seeing the odd few and I would squish them for the fish to eat remove them by hand. Now there are loads and I need a safe way to remove them without harming my shrimp so snail eaters are out of the...

Just planted wedged between 2 rocks, Co2 injection medium lighting and daily fertilizer. First time I’ve had it so wasn’t sure what to expect.

My Bucephalandra flowered today, first time I’ve had this plant does it flower often? Got another one coming on another plant too.

Had a little bit of hair and staghorm algae a couple of weeks ago due to some missed maintenance and co2 running out. I remembered some live bearers eat algae and so decided to hold off feeding my scarlet endlers for a few days. They got hungry and over the next week cleared the algae! Goid to...

Not sure of the benefits of drying it out before reusing other than making it easier to handle but I've reused my Amazonia Aquasoil twice now and both times left it wet. I pushed it all to one corner to get the last bits of water out then rescaped with it. I'm sure it would make things easier...

I'm not really asking how to cycle a tank I've done it enough times before. What I'm asking is does just leaving a tank to run with nothing in it for 2 weeks do anything at all to help establish bacteria in the filter?

Yeah I get the whole cycle process but without an ammonia source for 2 weeks will anything actually be happening?

My friend had just got a new tank and has been told by the lfs to just let it run for 2 weeks then add fish slowly. I’ve offered him some media from my filter so thats not a problem but does that 2 weeks with nothing actually do anything apart from check the equipment is all fine?

I’ve been running a Hydor inline heater on my 60cm tank for 2 years no problems

I recently rescaped and since then it seems I’m having to clean my lily pipes and tubing weekly whereas before it was every 2-3 weeks. It’s just the usual gunky brown biofilm stuff no algae or anything. Is there anything I can do to stop it building up so fast?

Lol how have you been using them all this time?

Yeah thats my only worry really but will see

Thats pretty much what it’s doing now and not doing a bad job but still getting a few bubbles similar to a diffuser. Thought maybe bio balls would help refuve bubbles a bit more. I’ll try taking everything out for a couple of days and see then.

Well it didn’t last long the propellors keep stopping all the time and I’m gettin rather peed off with it now. I was thinking about removing them and adding a few small bio balls to help break up the bubbles. Any reason that wouldn’t work before I try it?

Thanks for all the advice I’ll maybe sell a few on hear and see how it goes. Will let you know when I make my first million

I’m not wanting to compete with Tropica and selling clippings isn’t going to give me much. I was thinking maybe something a little more than seliing clippings but not huge volumes. Maybe sell some on ebay and buy them in from somewhere?

Thought this the best place to put this. I’m one of load of people on here that day dream about owning my own shop one day and it may never happen but.... I’m thinking of starting by selling a few plants online and locally then seeing how it goes and possibly build it up and see how I get on...

Just playing around with a Macro lens attached to my iPhone and pretty impressed with the quality!

Yeah think it just takes a bit of tweaking to get it quiet. Still a lot better than diffuser in tank that kept throwing out large bubbles and inline diffuser that kept leaking! Hope this one lasts longer!

Yeah mounted to the wall. I actually tilted it on a slight angle and that seems to have quietened it down quite a bit with the trickling noise pretty much gone.

Yeah that's the problem like I said when Co2 is on it's starts to make a noise. I could turn it upside down but it will start again within a few minutes.

Just purchased this reactor and was initially very happy with it and looking forward to a nice clear bubble free tank. https://www.co2supermarket.co.uk/turbo-co2-reactor-diffuser-12-16-hose-p194.html It’s perfectly fine when the co2 is off but as soon as it comes on and gas enters the reactor...

Went with that in the end and love it already!

Anyone

Just rescaped my 60cm tank and wondering about restocking it. It has a lot of open space almost 50% of the tank and I already have 6 ottos in there and 3 Amano shrimp. I’m looking at a mix of Chili Rasboras and Endlers so all really small fish. Realistically how many in total would I be ok...

Perfect thanks

Is there a nice small medium to slow growing moss the will attach to rocks? I’ve had java moss before and I hate it with a passion as it gets everwhere!

Is it possible to keel rotala rotundifolia trimmed at about 6 inches tall long term? I know it naturally grows quite tall but will it still look “nice” at this height?

Can anyone reccomend where to get a new pressre gauge from please? Having trouble finding just the gauge.

Anyone know where I can get a new gauge from can't seem to find just the gaue anywhere?

That is a qaulity lily pipe lol Would be well peed off if I recieved that!

Just looking at lily pipes again and the one I have seems to force water down to the opposite corner. Is there a better shape one that will provide a wider a more gentle flow?

Any update on this yet?

How hard is a tap? Not moved at all when I tried earlier so will look at fixing it

Just replaced my c02 bottle and the regulator I have is reading 0? The working pressure is reading 40psi and slowly went up when the new bottle was connected bit the other gauge hasn't budged at all. Is it just likely to be the gauge? It's from c02 Art (website saying no longer taking orders)...

Hopin A nice fiddley job for this evening! Cheers

At the base?

I have some Green algae growing round the edges of the leaves on my Cyperus helferi. It's only on a few of the leaves and closer to the top of the tank. Can I treat directly with Excel or H2o2 or will the Cyperus helferi not take too well to that? Will try and get a pic later...

Will take a look at these suggestions thanks. I did wonder if George had any books but couldn't find any which is why I asked on here. George if you read this can you knock a couple of books up over the weekend lol

Can anybody recommend any good books to learn more about plants and aquascaping? I'm really keen to learn more in my spare time but without staring at a computer screen!

I travel an hour to the best place I can find near me. Would travel a couple of hours to TGM or Aquarium gardens if I were starting a new project and needed everything for a new setup.

Here's a quick timelapse video of my lights fading off over 40mins.

It's a lot different now I inject co2 growth has gone crazy! Good luck with your tank

I did wonder about that. Will try about 30% and see how it works.

EI basically means you provide more than enough nutrients for the plants so they can take up as much as they need. You don't have to use dry fertz but it does work put cheaper in the long run. I use an all in one liquid fertiliser and dose everyday slighlty above the recommended dose. Holes...

Personally I prefer to dose daily but do whatever suits you. If your plants are looking healthy then I would continue doing what you are doing. If it's only 1ml doses it's probably not worth trying to reduce it as it would be difficult to measure. What made you ask? Was it the thought of...

The idea remains the same but as always it depends. My ferts recommend 5ml per day for my tank volume but if I had just one plant in there I would be wasting a lot if it. If you don't want to be wasting fertilizer then you could experiment with different doses over a few weeks reducing the...

Yeah that's right. Going to switch to two smaller ones for now and see how it goes. If it's seems like it's more of a pain in the ass then I'll swap back to 1

This may be a stupid question so appologies if it is! I have always done my 50% water changes weekly and I dose EI. Would it make any difference if I did 2 water changes per week of 25%? It would be a lot easier to fo 2 smaller jobs rather than one larger one.

Not had chance to do a video yet but doylecolmdoyle has it set up the same way I do. Interested in addind co2 to it now tho as suggested. Would I need another power supply?

Finally arrived today and it's all working perfect! Will post details later for anyone else that wants to try it.

The Chihiros comes with a dimmer switch so how could it have a non dimmable driver?

Not sure I fully understand as I'm not hot on electronics but I get the jist of it so will give that a go I think. Already ordered the tc420 but it will take about 7 days to arrive so I will try what you suggested before it arrives. Hopefully it will all work out great and I can upload a video...

Sounds good to me although the diagram looks slightly different to this setup? Don't I want the output channels to be V+ and CH1 and not CH1 and CH2 like the diagram suggests?

Looking on tc420.net it says "If you're using a power supply between 12 and 24 volts, you don't need to worry about this section. However, if you're using a power supply above 24 volts, something needs to be done so that the TC420 doesn't end up getting fried." Am I right in thinking it will be...

I can't find the official specs for it. Is it definitely 32v operating voltage?

It's Polish so the English on some of it is not good. Wasn't sure if linking to other forums was allowed. https://en.roslinyakwariowe.pl/dyskusje/technika/oswietlenie/automatyzacja-lampy-chihiros-70643.html?start=20

Ordered one so will set it up when it all arrives next week and post the results.

That's good enough for me to give it a go and I will have a look for some parts on ebay. Any idea what those connections are called?

After a lot of searching I came across something on another forum. A member on there said they had the Chihiros working with the TC420 and provided this picture. Basically the TC420 replaces the dimmer/controller that comes with the Chihiros. Can anyone see any reason not to try this as I am...

I emailed the guy at TC420.net and he seemed to think it wouldn't work without modification but I have no idea what that modification would be? There is this dimmer timer but again I'm not sure if it would be compatible with the Chihiros...

Is it easy to set up and use?