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That the beneficial bacteria hasn’t populated the substrate yet due to being immature and possibly giving off ammonia... lower the demand (light) which will lower the demand on increasing Co2, flow and additional ferts etc. Light is the main factor here which is the accelerator. Sent from my...

Diatoms. Indicative of a few possible causes: immature filter/substrate, too much lighting and or too little/inadequate flow. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello, I’m in the process of upgrading my LED lights and with the vast array of choice I’m some what stumped as to the choices available! Looking for any recommendations for a 90cm high tec tank. TIA Matt Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Cheers! [emoji1303] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Cheers Ian. Unfortunately the one listed in Birmingham (Barber brothers) closed shop last year. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello all, My current bottle of Co2 is nearly empty. Does anybody know where in the Birmingham I can get it refilled? Tia Matt Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That’s uncanny! I did exactly the same and lost 30 fish (tetras) and nearly all my plants melted. This happened a month ago and since then I’ve changed everything from plants to substrate but yet to replace the deceased fish. Tank before disaster and tank now a week after set up. Sent from...

Exciting times! You can save £’s by making your own root tabs like I do. Be mindful that you’ll experience a lot of melt with the Crypts - especially in high light but they’ll adjust accordingly and will grow crazily there after. I can’t keep mine under control and spread like wild fire! Good...

In my experience of keeping Crypts they are very robust and would definitely grow within your new set up. I’d simply trim the roots back and remove any scraggy old leaves and replant! [emoji1303] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looks like it to me going on from the edges of the leaves (picture 1) where you can see the stuff producing it’s own gases...yeah my buces had BBA due to my medium to high light and them being slow growers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Or both! Had both (BGA and BBA) and more in my tank on set up a couple of years ago. [emoji30] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It’s only a bugger if you don’t address the cause(s). Usually down to very low/non existent levels of nitrates. I would also say due to spikes/outbreaks of ammonia. It can also appear on the front glass above the substrate line on most tanks which isn’t much of a problem as it stays localised...

Looks like BGA (blue green algae/Cyanobacteria) to me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh Excellent Sammy, your tank looks great! [emoji1303] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello, Have things now improved? Kind regards Matt Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Alan, Thanks! No I don’t unfortunately. There’s a right mish mash of plants that I could name but not at the moment. I hoped to upload a video of the tank as the picture doesn’t do it justice but didn’t have the option to. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sometimes it’s just nice to celebrate a nice looking tank after all the fab advise I’ve got from this group! The tank is nearing a ‘shaping’ in a couple of weeks time so to give it some dimension contrast and depth etc... When ever I’ve neared putting my foot through it when things weren’t...

Cheers @fishbro! [emoji38] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks fellow Matt! [emoji1303] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello all! Just wondering what category my lighting falls into. I have the Fluval freshwater & plant 2.0 LEDS 32w. Would this unit fall in the low medium or high light range? Many thanks in advance Matt Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I put JBL Aquabasis Plus into my tank and I think I can say the proof is in the pudding Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would simply say don’t bother it’s not worth the hassle. Water is water. Plants and fish will quickly adapt to it, thanks to millions of years of evolution and good old Mother Nature. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello Matt and welcome! Here’s a quick slice of what I’d recommend: Fluval freshwater plant 2.0 LED’s at 70-80% intensity of 7-8 hours per day, EI dosing or Neutro+ (plant fertiliser), Easycarbo, good co2 injection, good flow of near to x10 your tank’s volume per hour and use plenty of...

Hi all, Just a little update on my tank on how things are doing which was massively helped along by the good folks on here. I’ll be giving a donation to the club when I’ve got my things together Thank you and happy season of new life/Easter! Matty Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

‘Stationary’ objects do get this type of algae and is indicative of light intensity or the duration of it. 10 hours is quite a lot. Try knocking the duration down to around 7-8 hours or reduce the intensity if you wanna try and get rid of it but green algae in rocks look very natural in my...

I was only jesting about people tanks being photoshopped, just saying as I don’t want to aquarist mafia on my back, the cod father is a force not be reckoned with! [emoji51] All the best with it and look forward to the fruits of your labour as they will come soon enough [emoji3] Sent from my...

Evening Goose! Amano’s tanks had staff working on them 24/7 to keep them looking amazing. George Farmers tanks look stunning with bags of OCD maintenance (worthwhile checking out his vids on YouTube). But there is the balance to all this by letting nature and BAGS of patience take its...

Oh that’s a relief! Yeah just keep that tank pristine so to keep ammonia to nearer to zero as possible. The light is the accelerator for the blooms as soon as it’s in contact with the ammonia. Algae spores are present in every tank so think of them as dormant and docile caterpillars but as soon...

Oh bugger so sorry to hear this Goose! I was hoping my advise might of helped... is your lighting at the lowest setting/level possible? Silicates don’t cause diatoms, there’s lots of reasons to come to this that somebody might expand on. It is common knowledge that diatoms appear in bear...

It’s a broad church but internal bacterial infection/gill flukes/PH shock/dropsy (more so with body swelling though), ammonia poisoning, could be the cause. Gill flukes are kind of rare but are a possibility. I’ve experienced fish resemble the symptoms you describe and lost female kribs where...

Apparently this ‘hobby’ is a peaceful and relaxing pastime but I’ve only just started to see that after 20 years! I’ve learnt a lot over the past 2 years after experiencing every sodding issue under the sun/surface relating to this hobby but I got there in the end and indeed I do look forward to...

I started with a 6 footer when I got into the ‘hobby’ on a serious note 2p years ago then went down to a five footer then a 4 footer and now I’m left with a Fluval F-90! So I’m buggered now if I wanna be buried in it as it only measures around 3 feet long and me being over six foot I ought to...

Well if you buy a big enough tank you could request to be buried in it on the ‘big day’ a bit like Snow White or Lenin the soviet leader and still take it with you! Obviously they’d need to remove the water prior to plonking you in as you don’t wanna encourage another diatom bloom! And you’d...

Ha ha! Exciting times, maybe not for your wallet mind! Yeah if you go with Ottos you need to keep them in groups of 4-6 for your size of tank. As Tam says you need to feed them with an alternative (algae wafer etc) when they’ve scoffed the diatoms. They are very attractive fish so when their job...

Sounds good [emoji108] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah it’s definitely diatoms then mate if it can be easily removed and has a slimy texture. If you can remove quite a bit of it manually then more the better and if its quite a bit just do a partial water whilst siphoning the debris out of the tank so to keep organic waste to a minimum. But as...

Just keep the lighting low and rest will flow and the algae will go Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Happy to help. It’s surprising how little lighting you need when nutrients and general tank husbandry is good for good plant growth. My LED is 1.2 watts but is startling and very very powerful at 100% intensity and I only use it on less than 50% with good results and even better results in...

Yep. Keep giving them plants the first aid they need. Continue with your regular dosing. Also dose x2 amounts of Easycarbo/Excel/ other liquid carbon... I had this issue a few times until I FINALLY accepted my lighting was the cause and thanks to the guys on here pointed me in the right...

Most likely Diatoms. You were right to reduce the extent of the lighting period to 8 hours as 10 hours is excessive. Reduce your lighting period to 6 hours and reduce your light intensity to the lowest setting or 15% intensity if your lighting is dimmable. You’ll hear a whole raft of suggestions...

Congratulations! I’m currently experiencing success with a carpet of eleocharis pusilla, it’s literally flying! Give it a trim at some point to encourage stronger thicker growth... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It’s made from water and is a scape of my description... ‘unfortunately’ picture taken a couple of days after a massive hacking![emoji51] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Seems I’ve been lucky with mine or is it that I keep my tank scrupulous clean?!Either way mine are doing good but I shall also take heed of your advise and shall pull them up a bit from the substrate so to give the rhizomes a bit of breather... [emoji106] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No, the whole lot is under the substrate. I’ve come to learn that just because it’s ‘written in stone’ doesn’t mean to say it can’t be done and this proves that. Hope this helps Matty Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not me mate! soon as I seen your thread I had to state that I plonked 6 plants straight into my substrate a few months back and they’re all doing good. They easily ‘unroot’ from the substrate as they don’t anchor onto anything and the roots remain thick and curled (chicken foot as I call it) so...

Hello and welcome Scott! [emoji3] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello and welcome! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello Gaina and welcome to the forum! Kind regards Matty Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Welcome back to the habit sorry hobby! [emoji1] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'd say it's a BBA of some descript and which is directly an issue with inadequate levels of co2 and the dissipation of it or both. This is also backed up by your curling crypt leaves. There's plenty of hard copy advise on here to assist with the eradication and the prevention of it. Diatoms is...

Mine to find a cure for baldness by attempting to propagate and attach some type of moss to my shiny bonce (preferably purple in colour, low tec non co2) oh and keep up those weekly water changes and not over do it with the lighting... [emoji51] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here's to more wet sleeves in 2018! Happy new year! [emoji3] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's not due to overdosing on iron. I'm gonna quote 'James Planted Tank' on his advise on how to tackle it. Causes: Low CO2 and/or poor water circulation. A tank with overfed fish and accumulated mulm. Dirty filter. Also disturbing dirty substrates without doing water change afterwards...

Thanks for your regular video uploads throughout the year - most interesting and helpful. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and your family! [emoji1335][emoji319] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Painfully tried making my own water from RO which I ditched (literally) a couple of months ago and reverted back to good old tap water; I doubt there's anything better in the household collection especially the Severn Trent stuff that I ignorantly overlooked! [emoji15] Sent from my iPhone...

Thats well dangerous having that amount of credit/debit cards this time of the year! [emoji50] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I used an 'ingenious' swim feeder that I believe up to now is something I 'exclusively' came up with. It's used by the 'dark side' aka fishermen who use them to feed the immediate vicinity to where they indeed to catch fish. I used to load it up with freeze dried food and dropped it into my the...

They are very soft natured fish. They will attempt to be voracious like their cichlid cousins by having a tug at your plants especially when courting but they will not cause any harm whatsoever ever! Genuine plant friendly fish [emoji226] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This stuff will stain and spoil. Best to replace it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is a build up of anaerobic bacteria. It will bubble out and would cause harm to a degree. Best to get down into the substrate and attempt to syphon up as much of possible of the black mass. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello and welcome! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quite the opposite! Keep up with ferts as otherwise you'll experience other types of algae due to nutrient deficiencies. And if you're dosing co2 keep that up too! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good morning, It's a lighting issue with new tank set up Yes it will go on its own providing you knock down the intensity of your lighting for a few weeks and after that you need to adjust your parameters accordingly if you then decide to up your lighting again (but only then gently increase...

Nice vibrant tank there! [emoji3] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Phew! [emoji13] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi, Whilst 'researching' this stuff I seen many an image of it growing on bog wood and it has to be said when it takes off it looks quite nice! Almost leave like. Aquarists on forums that had it wanted tips on how to maintain and encourage the stuff! Mine is most likely caused by inadequate...

Cheers! [emoji106] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I guess I've stumped the experts! Typical me... [emoji848] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi all, Happy Friday! Getting a little frustrated with the reoccurrence of green tuft algae that I keep getting on my plants. It mainly appears on the plant that's featured in the picture (apologies I can't recall the name of it but it's the vallisernia looking one). I dose EI in accordance...

Quite simply your plants are suffering from nutrient deficiency. Profito lacks the necessary nutrients for plant growth. As long as you don't use high intense lighting then you won't need co2. Liquid 'carbon' is a good daily tonic for plants. Ensure your plants are getting the nutrients through...

Yes. Don't stop dosing as you'll only make things worse. Algae don't care about nutrients, it's lighting they love. Keep up your regular dosing which will aide your plants recovery. This also applies to your co2 injection and daily liquid carbon additives. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Been there done that and bought the t shirt. Diatoms come about because of too high intensity of lighting. I had a right case of it when I first set up my first tank with LED's. Crank down the lighting. If this can't be done with a dimmer like mine has then cover up the glass/plastic cover to...

Hello and welcome! [emoji3] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello and welcome Al! [emoji3] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah. Iron is quickly used up and dosing twice a week is a good ballpark to be in. My Polysperma has some good reddening of the upper leaves but tend not to when I don't dose the additional iron. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No problem. I use 3 % solution so I can only comment on that strength. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Morning Not really part from keeping it to a maximum of 2mg per US gallon. I do tend to do a water change after using it, it's probably not necessary but I've seen some do it and some don't but I prefer to. Yeah keep your filters, pumps and any other circulation devices switched off for 15-20...

I thought it was a bit uncanny! Lol. Least we're keeping the moderators on their toes eh?! [emoji1] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Couldn't agree with you more! I much prefer a few bubbles against a crystal clear water background opposed to a tank resembling ye olde London Town in 1800's fog era/some of your fish having a crafty fag behind your rocks and plants. The build quality is solid German design. I have so much more...

I do (add chelated iron 5ml per 50 litres twice a week) which helps to colour up the tips of my Polysperma. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Indeed! [emoji3] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Any tips on how to use it just let me know Kind regards Matt Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nope. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah so did I. But I took the plunge (pun intended) and it amazed me to how fab it works. I think it's the peroxide bit that puts us off. Just think of it as oxygen as that's all it really is. I use it regularly now and it's really cheap on EBay, just make sure you get the good grade 3%...

Quite possibly due to the drop in co2 and flow. It's a stubborn bugger to get rid of but it'll eventually go. Keep twirling it off with a toothbrush and pick at it. Shot blast it with H202 worked for me. Shot blasting it with Easy carbo never did much for me. Kind regards Matt Sent from...

Have you done a head count of livestock? Do you inject co2? All ok with the filter? I experienced this with just my moss a few months back. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Did anybody dose your ferts whilst you were away? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello, I installed mine 2 weeks ago to the day. The bubbles will get smaller. They won't get to be as small as the UP inline atomiser though. However, that's not necessarily a negative in my opinion. Let me explain! UP creates more a 'fog' which makes your tank look as if it's experiencing a...

Hello and welcome! [emoji3] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It is of concern. I thought as Co2 Supermarket were off on their hols last week Co2 Art were also taking the opportunity to have a break whilst the competition were away scoffing ice cream on some pier... I expected them to be back in business today now that Co2 Supermarket were back but on...

Same here on the UP atomiser! After having 1 create a hiss and sprout droplets of water that then snapped into 2 from the screw insert collar; I put it down to experience and a dodgy unit so bought another only for it to only to come with a split already around the collar! I decided to go for a...

Think I may opt for the JBL because of the German efficiency. A few bubbles are a pleasing in some respects! [emoji3] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ha ha! Valid and useful advise there Zeus! Oh the diffuser broke into 2 pieces as it split near the main body of it. I doubt any involvement from me caused this. I'd buy replacement screw end pieces but I'm dubious to continue to use these units. The one I bought in the week from Amazon had a...

Yeah the pump is 1000 litres per hour and the Fluval 406 on paper is around 1450 litres. I've heard that diffusers (tiny bubbles) are better as they 'hit' the leaves and stick and 'apparently' is better for the plants to uptake? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you so much for the detailed illustration and help Zeus it's much appreciated! That's spot on to what I had in mind! I think I'm going to settle for the JBL inline diffuser, it looks a hell of a lot sturdier and better quality than the UP. I'm aware the bubbles from this unit will be...

Hi Zeus, Blimey that looks like the dashboard on the stair ship enterprise! Nicely done dude! [emoji50] Well I had a slight hiss coming from the atomiser and done what we all do and tightened up the plastic tightening sleeves and the hiss became a gush! So I'm there holding both ends of the...

Good morning all, This idea has been plaguing me for a while. Since a recent near catastrophe with an inline UP atomiser I'd like to fit a co2 reactor instead. Due to owning a Fluval F-90 tank which is intended to be minimal in accessories on show kind of tank (drilled etc) I'd like to attempt...

I second what Konsa says... Your plants are severely lacking nutrients. Get some NPK and micros in there. Cut back all dying and dead leaves as otherwise your BBA will just get worse... I've experienced every algae under the sun/LED strip. Best wishes Matt Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Apologies! no means to generalise. Maybe I ought to have took time with my response on the conditions that fish live in the wild. Fully agree with what you say. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk