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  1. Alex Papp

    Aquatic Flower Compendium (ish)

    added! I forgot it grows okay underwater, a lot better for me in RO GH 5... needs Roland levels of care/skill to get like the nice photos of it. Tropica sold it very very briefly.
  2. Alex Papp

    Aquatic Flower Compendium (ish)

    @Courtneybst very jealous of your crypt flower I've been growing crypts emersed for almost one year and got nothing Here's Cuphea anagalloidea (took a while to flower. flowered when it was in dry air and dryish aquasoil. I'm growing it in aquasoil with some EI ferts every few waterings, under...
  3. Alex Papp

    Valley of colors

    I got it from Aquadip a few years ago, check with your aquatics shop if they can order it for you
  4. Alex Papp

    Aquatic Flower Compendium (ish)

    hi, it's Persicaria. Christel Kasselmann identified it from the plant in the photo above. I bought it as Persicaria Sao Paulo from Aquasabi a few years ago. Yeah there are several forms of P. hydropiperoides including a not very interesting leggy green plant. And there might be some Polygonum...
  5. Alex Papp

    Aquatic Flower Compendium (ish)

    Persicaria hydropiperoidies (aka Sao Paulo) Difficulty: Easy After a few months with a little humidity, it flowers.
  6. Alex Papp

    Rolands next tank.......50L full Optiwhite!

    looks great!! how about Ladigesia roloffi, or Barbus hulstaerti ?
  7. Alex Papp

    Aquatic plants and fish flash cards or study

    you could label photos of fish tanks from tropica etc. with all the plants and fish, and then turn them into Anki flash cards with the image occlusion plugin to hide all the labels. I learnt most of the plant names just by studying the labels on the pots and going through the invoices/plant...
  8. Alex Papp

    Where to buy in the South East.

    yep, they get most standard shrimp from Neil Hardy, so baisically Neocaridina davidi in colours, low grade CRS, long nose shrimp, bamboo shrimp, armoured shrimp, small amanos. Sulawesi was a one off import, but they didn't have the right water - they keep all shrimps in close to 100% R.O.
  9. Alex Papp

    90p before I took it all apart :(

    It's a relatively new fish in the trade, Hyphessobrycon sp. blue ribbon. As you can see in the tank photos the males get bright red fins, this photo is of a female I think... I added a photo of a male too.
  10. Alex Papp

    90p before I took it all apart :(

    Maybe, just change everything slowly. also this tank had 0KH, GH 5 (RO water) and lean ferts
  11. Alex Papp

    90p before I took it all apart :(

    @lazybones51 ... I forgot, but before I had this tank I actually ran those twinstars on a 70cm 100l tank for 12hrs a day!
  12. Alex Papp

    90p before I took it all apart :(

    it is about the same as a ADA solar rgb, as long as the balance is right, it is better than one. the carpet extends all the way to the back so it was imporant to have high light there too. but it takes some fine tuning to achieve that haha yep, agreed, the light spread is better and my carpet...
  13. Alex Papp

    90p before I took it all apart :(

    as you can see some bad hair algae but I was getting it under control
  14. Alex Papp

    Plant Pictures!

    Rotala rotundifolia "Periya"
  15. Alex Papp

    ADA Mini M + Solar Mini Set Iwagumi

    rescaped to generic nature aquarium
  16. Alex Papp

    Recommendations for a small leafed lotus/lily . . .

    I had some Nymphoides hydrophylla. Small, likes to go straight to the surface. Flowers prolifically. I might be able to get more...
  17. Alex Papp

    Plant Pictures!

    Cryptocoryne retrospiralis
  18. Alex Papp

    Plant Pictures!

    Cryptocoryne spiralis "tiger"
  19. Alex Papp

    Finally ... feeling happy :).

    Ah, this makes a lot of sense, and may explain why photosynthesis is highest in the initial hours of the photoperiod
  20. Alex Papp

    Finally ... feeling happy :).

    I didn't know that RuBisCO works better at a higher pH... Will the enzyme never work optimally in a low pH slightly acid (and low kH) tank?? So when CO2 is added in the daytime, lowering pH, we denature RuBisCO slightly, and when the pH rises at night RuBisCO could work perfectly... but there is...
  21. Alex Papp

    Journal My First Terrarium

    Miniature orchids are tricky things... I had a cool growing orchid in a warm room all year, constantly moist. It grew well but didn't flower. Then I moved it outside this summer (for the cool night time drops that it needs) and it hasn't grown at all. Meanwhile my Neofinetia has grown slowly...
  22. Alex Papp

    Finally ... feeling happy :).

    Lovely, what's the green Myriophyllum species on the left?
  23. Alex Papp

    Plant Pictures!

    Ludwigia polycarpa
  24. Alex Papp

    Green Aqua

    I also ordered some laterite and fish food from Olibetta and it was a "gift" - no duty
  25. Alex Papp

    kH or no kH that is the question....?

    Don't bother with KH! The pH will swing without it, yes, but fish are completely unaffected- pH swings and a low KH are sometimes symptoms of another issue, like old tank syndrome. That's why amongst fishkeepers the advice has always been to have some carbonates in the water. A number of us on...
  26. Alex Papp

    Request for UKAPS guests on my YouTube channel

    hi, I first saw planted tanks from you in PFK, I got it when I was 10. That's when I started watching you on youtube. Since then I've gradually became more interested in plants rather than aquascaping. I feel like I've changed alot in the 7 years I've kept fish/plants. Here's some pics of my...
  27. Alex Papp

    Pale sickly plants (brown, yellow)

    Hi George seems to say do not use it at all. I think it is useful, it keeps levels of Black Brush and Greenspot algae down to a minimum and will help the other plants a little. Although the bottle says it's an organic carbon source, I find it to be more of an algecide than a fertliser. Maybe...
  28. Alex Papp

    Tap Water and plant possibilities. Need advice

    Hi I've found that Ludwigia arcuata never adapted to my water (planted from and emersed plant). My water sounds similar to yours. Give it a try, perhaps I was unlucky. Alex
  29. Alex Papp

    Pale sickly plants (brown, yellow)

    Hi Tom, Unless I've missed it, here's something other people haven't mentioned. Easycarbo and the like are detrimental to true aquatic plants such as your pondweed (E. densa), and Limnophila to a lesser extent. This may explain poor growth in some of your plants. Hope this helps, Alex
  30. Alex Papp

    RO Water, Remineralizers and pH

    I use Ca:Mg 3:1. GH= 5 KH= 0 pH= let's not get confused lol (it changes a lot) I use Brightwell aquatics Calcion and Magnesion and add them so the Ca:Mg is in a 3:1 ratio. As others have pointed out, it isn't the cheapest way of doing it. I like a solution as I can measure it precisely unlike...
  31. Alex Papp

    Small Plec

    Zebra plecs stay small
  32. Alex Papp

    200 litre Dutch style fluval roma 200

    Lovely! Is your water soft?
  33. Alex Papp

    Tropica Aquasoil and water change

    I don't know enough about how bacteria work to answer the first question, but the soil has a buffering capacity, which in tap water with a high KH will quickly be depleted. So after a month or two it won't reduce KH ( wont make water softer). That would probably slowly happen after the ammonia...
  34. Alex Papp

    Tropica Aquasoil and water change

    I use RO. I heat it up the day before and add Ca:Mg 3:1 in before I put it in the tank so the GH is 5. I have almost 0 KH. That means there will be pH swings, yes, but these are not actually dangerous to livestock on their own- only KH and GH swings are bad. You need KH for cherry shrimp and...
  35. Alex Papp

    Bushy epiphyte suggestions

    Hi, I would suggest suggest Schismatoglottis prietoil. It is very bushy.
  36. Alex Papp

    Rotala Macandra Green - Looki-Likey

    Hi, Limnophila "wavy" has wavy green leaves. Obviously not like a Rotala but is a nice green plant.
  37. Alex Papp

    How to create a muddied river bank . . .

    After looking through these...I can't find it!! Sorry
  38. Alex Papp

    How to create a muddied river bank . . .

    Too little too late, but, I remember a PFK article where they built a catfish cave complex out of a special mud designed for aquariums/ terrariums. It was a Danish brand I think. I'll have a look for that.
  39. Alex Papp

    Rimless tank options post-EA?

    The organisation of that place is a mess. The tanks are just ok. Messy silicone and a lot of bubbles in my tank. Bubbles! Took 4 months to come. Then the cabinet they said they'd make never came @Seige that's why I still haven't assembled the hardscape I bought from the AG last year... or maybe...
  40. Alex Papp

    Rimless tank options post-EA?

    I know somone with a reef waterbox aquarium. It is flawless.
  41. Alex Papp

    New Plant Expert

    My mistake, sorry. Thank you for the link to this website.
  42. Alex Papp

    Do I need GH/CH?

    Agreed- see https://www.2hraquarist.com/blogs/ph-kh-gh-tds/ph-explained
  43. Alex Papp

    New Plant Expert

    That would be an old edition. The new edition is available from her website by emailing her.
  44. Alex Papp

    New Plant Expert

    Hi Christel, I would highly recommend her book to any one- it is the best book I have read about aquarium plants. Yes, her techniques are different to many popular techniques on here, like loam and gravel rather than aquasoil. We can learn a different way to keep aquatic plants.
  45. Alex Papp

    Terrarium substrate

    In the first one I didn't, because the water level is quite high all the time, that is fine for most plants in there. The second I did because there are plants that need more drainage. Like the plant you have in there. Another benefit of aquasoil is it is less messy
  46. Alex Papp

    Terrarium substrate

    Next one: Ikea grow lamp. DOOA Terra Base in center to water the plants slowly Mini taiwan moss on DOOA Terra base. Pitcher plant on base. Pyrosia numularifolia on base Orchid on base Bun moss on base, with tropica soil underneath Seriyu stones Biophytum sensitivum Fittonia Rotala shimoga...
  47. Alex Papp

    Terrarium substrate

    ONF Flat nano (original) DOOA Neo Glass Air Branch is Epiweb wrapped with DOOA Tape. moss is java moss on wood Taiwan moss on stone unipac sand, rio xingu gravel Frodo stone Tropica soil with Neo K and Fe tabs as the nutrients runs out. Plants in foreground -selaginella sp. -Rotala...
  48. Alex Papp

    Terrarium substrate

    About drying out, aquasoil holds almost no moisture, I need to top up the DOOA tank a few times a week.
  49. Alex Papp

    Terrarium substrate

    I washed the aquasoil to get rid of excess nutrients that might leach from it. The rocks (frodo stones) provides a barrier between the soil and water/sand front. The tank has no direct sunlight, which helps. Eventually (4-5 months) I replace the sand- it goes a little green.
  50. Alex Papp

    Terrarium substrate

    Tropica soil/any aquasoil is great because it doesn't compact (no need to put lava rock at the bottom), so holds an open structure for roots with no anaerobic areas, and contains enough nutrients for the short term (fertilise after 6 months). Just so you can see the evidence of my claims, here...
  51. Alex Papp

    ADA Mini M + Solar Mini Set Iwagumi

    Hehe I used to work there, and I got it in a chaotic time during the summer so it was £50. I would never pay their stupid prices for set up tanks. Now you go in there and it looks like a maidenhead full of Aquaone dry tanks. ew.
  52. Alex Papp

    My first 20 Gallon High-tech Planted tank

    Hi, Looks good, hope it's going well. I have never heard of Dalch brand, but following someone elses successful tank is a good idea. If you are a begginer I would look for something with NPK, Iron and Trace elements in it- for example TNC complete, Tropica green (personally I think this is bad...
  53. Alex Papp

    ADA Mini M + Solar Mini Set Iwagumi

    maybe final update... a little bored, thinking about a blackwater (borneo?) or sulawesi biotope fish: oryzias latipes gold and platinum
  54. Alex Papp

    Remineralising Agent for RO Water

    okay okayyy to be fair I pay trade price... and it's convenient. But yes if I had anything more than 25l to remin each week I'd buy dry salts. Brightwell also sell Calcion and Magnesion dry (probably for too much haha)
  55. Alex Papp

    Remineralising Agent for RO Water

    Hi, Depending on what plants you want to keep there are different options. "Softwater" plants means plants which don't like carbonates (=low kH). These are plants that I want to keep. So I only remineralise with a Ca:Mg 3:1 Remineraliser. Ca + Mg makes up general hardness. (I am currently...
  56. Alex Papp

    ADA Mini M + Solar Mini Set Iwagumi

    Quick update- still havent added carbon, or other plants😬😬. Got some small amanos yesterday to eat some of the diatoms. Now down to 3 waterchanges a week. @LondonDragon I think you should set yours up! Minimal algae problems so far. Also, dosing a small amount of easycarbo everyday+ NPK or...
  57. Alex Papp

    Filamentous diatoms - please help, on brink of giving up

    Hi, I had the same problem. You can see on my first thread I made. My miriophylum died too. By the time the tank was healthy enough, everytime I replaced it it was out competed. :(( The only way out for me was lots... LOTS of amanos and reducing the lighting to 6 hrs. And after that I never...
  58. Alex Papp

    Feedback on this hardacape (nature style)

    Yes l would do that with the Cyprus. But on the other hand, it might look nice tall over the pathway. Didiplis is one of my favourites. Doesn't get used enough. Always grows completely new leaves for immersed growth.
  59. Alex Papp

    Feedback on this hardacape (nature style)

    With some nice planting I don't think this needs improvement. Obviously people will see rocks that need to be moved over to the right by 2cm etc... but I think the compostion is nice. Reminds me of Dave Chow's scape here:
  60. Alex Papp

    ADA Mini M + Solar Mini Set Iwagumi

    Hi all, Here is some progress. I haven't added carbon or purigen, nor added any floating plants. Not because I'm trying my best to ignore you all, but I didn't have any chemical media on hand, and my floating plants in my other tank have traces of duckweed on them 🙄. I have some hygroyza...
  61. Alex Papp

    New setup advice

    That's definitely soft... lucky. And in terms of CO2, no, I don't think there would be an issue. As always, try to put the maximum amount of CO2 possible in the tank, in soft water, you don't need as much to turn your drop checker green-yellow, because there are less carbonates in the water...
  62. Alex Papp

    New setup advice

    Forgot about @Geoffrey Rea ...Do it...try it on a 60-p. After all, I ran two twinstar 900S on a 70cm tank with no issues. I'd go for ADA just because of the brand, yeah. But @Siege is more qualified to tell you the difference between the Life Aqua and the ADA lamps.
  63. Alex Papp

    New setup advice

    Life Aqua Master Pro has adjustable light intensity. But if you're spending that much I'd want to get ADA.
  64. Alex Papp

    New setup advice

    If you're keeping discus in tap, its probably soft enough. I know Wales is considered soft. https://www.scaleguard.co.uk/img/Hard%20Water%20Map%20of%20Uk.jpg Anything Pink /Purple is hard. I suppose a Solar RGB would allow you to upgrade. But it could be a risk. Keep the light hours short and...
  65. Alex Papp

    New setup advice

    Chances are you'll receive a load of different suggestions here. Best thing to DL is go to Aquarium Gardens / Horizon Aquatics/ Scaped Nature / Riverwood/ Fishcove/ Aquatic Design Center and buy a full setup from there, based on one of their display tanks. I would go for -ADA Aquasky RGB... I...
  66. Alex Papp

    Types of FE, chelated? edta? dpta?

    This is the best thing I've seen about ferts dosing on ukaps! All you need is a tiny amount once every 1/2 weeks. Like you say its a Micronutrient. I use Seachems (water soluble) iron gluconate
  67. Alex Papp

    Aquascaper 900 - Comeback Lockdown Tank :)

    those Odessas coloured up nicely!!
  68. Alex Papp

    Tank backgrounds

    Hi, We got some nice Bettas from Sunbeam Aquarium, Singapore last time. The Samurai HK was £75!! All imports come through dawngame, I was reading their Indonesia supplier list and the prices for us even are :eek::eek: . They have some nice other Betta species if you like small brown fish like...
  69. Alex Papp

    Lockdown Mini M

    wow, this is a great scape... the Mini M I have to compete with:oops:. I'd keep trimming it, it can take a lot.
  70. Alex Papp

    ADA Mini M + Solar Mini Set Iwagumi

    I would do soft water, but I can't be bothered to walk with 10/25 kgs of water for 40 minutes a few times a week. If I can get the water changes down to oncw a week (might be possible with R.O.) maybe I'll use RO. I thought about dry start but I was excited to get it started, now I feel like I...
  71. Alex Papp

    ADA Mini M + Solar Mini Set Iwagumi

    I'm not going to add more Eleocharis, I'd like to see it all grow in from one pot. I get fed up with greenaqua using so many plants!! But in terms of some weeds to put in there thanks for the advice. I'll find some H. zosterfolia and some kind of floating plants.
  72. Alex Papp

    ADA Mini M + Solar Mini Set Iwagumi

    I can only hope you are right- or else my tank will be full of algae pretty quickly. Going with the low nitrogen ADA style dosing that might help. However, flow is quite high. The 150 is quite a powerful little filter, I'm restricting the flow slightly with a tap. Does flow encourage algae in...
  73. Alex Papp

    ADA Mini M + Solar Mini Set Iwagumi

    Its one pot of Eleocharis, yes. There is a bit more than you think because I planted it too deeply I think (scared of floaters). I was going to add some of my Persicaria sp. 'Sao Paulo' anyway, might add some floating plants, I have Salvinia and Phyllanthus already in another tank. We're...
  74. Alex Papp

    ADA Mini M + Solar Mini Set Iwagumi

    I am scared also! Hence the very low liquid fertiliz fertliser use. Also, the light came with an old bulb (I'm using the new one) so I could switch over to that as its a lot dimmer. Might be too dim though? We'll see how it goes. About the CO2 yes I will... This bottle lasted 6 months on my "low...
  75. Alex Papp

    ADA Mini M + Solar Mini Set Iwagumi

    Any questions fire away...
  76. Alex Papp

    ADA Mini M + Solar Mini Set Iwagumi

    When ADC was able to sell more high-end and fancy stuff, they had some small ADA tanks in the shop. When they moved to Balham, some of those old displays were/ are being taken down... replaced with aquaone tanks :banghead::banghead:. Anyway... Now I got a tank and light for £50. Tank: Mini M...
  77. Alex Papp

    Critique my aquascape My First Nano Aquascape

    haha taking full advantage of the DT deparment for the laser cutter?
  78. Alex Papp

    Red plants turning purple?

    Ah yeah, I did. Sorry for any confusion and thanks for pointing that out.
  79. Alex Papp

    Red plants turning purple?

    Again this is just a theory just try increasing ferts and lighting.
  80. Alex Papp

    Red plants turning purple?

    Hi, The picture is of l. Glandulosa right? What may have happened is the virus that makes A.R. rosanverig pretty with white veins has infected the Ludwigia. This plants might not be able to tolerate the virus so well, so it is behaving odly. Only saying this since my Shinnersia Weiss-Grün...
  81. Alex Papp

    Maximum daily water changes

    I think the more the better... But maybe for the fishes sake of not having nearly completely terrestrial existence once a day, not 90%/ day. Josh Sim, #1 IAPLC does many small water changes weekly rather than one big one a week. I've started doing it and I think its good. Maybe just 1-2/3rds.
  82. Alex Papp

    Anyone used these dosing pumps

    Hi, George farmer uses this on his EA1200 for tropica premium ferts. I know people who have D-D dosing pumps for marine systems. So theyre probably alright. My only thought about any dosing pump is potential backsyphoning and compounds like Magnesium sulfate and Potash crystalising and blocking...
  83. Alex Papp

    Taking a sump. Back in five minutes...

    If you're still looking for the Cabomba have a look at the Stock list of Flowgrow, I've got a few plants from there, German sellers. https://www.flowgrow.de/db/aquaticplants/cabomba-furcata
  84. Alex Papp

    Show your Bucephalandra's

    Here's my Bucephalandra sp. Deep purple during a water change.
  85. Alex Papp

    Anywhere with Boraras Brigittae stock?

    Kesgrave is a good shop... Sorry about ADC. But going local is always best!
  86. Alex Papp

    Anywhere with Boraras Brigittae stock?

    Aquatic Design Center's have been in the stock tank for about 2 months so should be relatively settled. They're in "full" R.O, with some aquahobby remineraliser although we find that the R.O. still contains enough minerals for most very soft water fish... Time to change the membranes.
  87. Alex Papp

    Critique my hardscape I just can't do it...

    I can't agree more with the construction side of things. If you have some wood and an idea of what you wanted it to look like (perhaps a sketch copying someone else's) then do what you need with the wood to make it look like that. I know it's annoying when you see George and others putting big...
  88. Alex Papp

    Anywhere with Boraras Brigittae stock?

    I'm pretty sure Aquatic Design Center in Balham has them. They're open for collection only, give them a ring to see if they have them. They also do delivery. Fish bought from Hardy's maybe he just buys them of Ruinemans haha.
  89. Alex Papp

    Livestock Prices Post Lockdown

    Yep, at least Niel Hardy who probably supplies most of the bread and butter fish in the UK might increase prices. I (worked) somewhere and we used them, that's what we're expecting.
  90. Alex Papp

    Staurogyne sp. brown

    ps. The tank looks a bit overgrown- this is it last year same time. The pieces of wood just lying there are for the next tank. But I'm getting ready to take it down. Need to solve this problem first!
  91. Alex Papp

    Staurogyne sp. brown

    Hi all, I've recently bought a new plant and it's showing some signs of nutrient deficiency: wrinkled leaves. I think those nutrient deficiency charts are wrong- but this plant is confusing me because all my other plants not showing any signs that I can see of any problem (see the healthy...
  92. Alex Papp

    Can I run my light/ferts plan by you guys

    Thank you-I didn't mention any values here because different amounts work well for different people. I would personally encourage you to aim for Dennis Wong's values: (in ppm) NITRATES (NO3) 4 - 12 depends on plant mass in tank PHOSPHATES (PO4) 2.5 - 8 depends on plant mass in tank...
  93. Alex Papp

    Can I run my light/ferts plan by you guys

    test! Honestly- everyones advice will be slightly different on dosing. AG is in a rural area, so they're going to have low Nitrates, and anyway, they'll have different water parameters in other ways. If you test the potassium and iron coming out of the tap and in your tank at different points...
  94. Alex Papp

    Are Chihiros LED Lights Still Availalble

    I bought a A601 Plus from onlinefree It took a few weeks to come but all good. A screw for the sand was missing so they refunded £5, and I found the screw I needed in my toolbox anyway. I'd recommend.
  95. Alex Papp

    ADA60P - Edge of the forest

    Love the guppies! I think lots of us wouldn't get them because they're not an "aquascaping" fish but I think Amano himself used them in a 60-P? I had the same problem of hair algae at the top of my sumatra wood, where I had lots of Bucephalandra sp. deep purple and Taiwan moss. Maybe high light...
  96. Alex Papp

    IAPLC 2019 Results

    I came 1053: https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/triangular-composition-70cm-formerly-in-critique-my-aquascaping.58674/
  97. Alex Papp

    Triangular Composition 70cm (formerly in Critique my aquascaping)

    Thank you both, I have new plans for a 90-p. To replace this scape, but I'll do a final photo around November. Yeah, London is really good for getting to shops which are good for scaping. Most of them sell R.O. water as well which avoids the London water problem.
  98. Alex Papp

    Triangular Composition 70cm (formerly in Critique my aquascaping)

    This will show the evolution of my 70cm AquaEL tank that I've had for a number of years. I bought this tank before I could really get into aquascaping, when I was 9. I spent all my money on it. For a while it contained 100s of vallis plants. That was my first success of growing plants, lit by a...
  99. Alex Papp

    A 90cm New Beginning

    I know the feeling. Just go to an aquatics centre and see what they have, because if you set your heart on something specific you probably won't get it: Me with these https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/oryzias-celebensis/
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