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Hi Tom, do you think that the Green Neons may have been more prone because of no longer being in a Blackwater style set up? All the best from Bill. :D

Thanks for the info Al, and I can't wait for the photos. Ady always shows his knowledge in his posts, I am not suprised that he had some suitable advice. Thanks to Ady too, it's nice to hear a point of view from someone who has seen this tank in the flesh, besides Al I mean.

Hi again Al, I think you need to employ a media team to answer all these posts! I'm a bit curious as to what regular maintenance actually means for a tank this size. Could you give us a rundown of an average maintenance session if you have the time, I am especially interested in the water change...

Not been around for a while but I had heard that you were moving house. I see you're doing the same top class of Scapes that we have come to expect from you. You always come up with crackers and the whole shallow tank thing gives your set ups a very distinctive look. Your set ups always make me...

Greenfinger2, thanks, it's nice to hear some positive things about the tank, because my own feelings have been somewhat mixed of late, as I have been in a bit of a rut. Things seem to be heading in the right direction now so hopefully I can achieve my original idea for this set up...

Upped the lighting again today, things seem to be doing slightly better at the bottom of the tank . . . Suppose the bog wood is leaching tannins faster than I am removing them, hence the need for more light.

Hi, nice set up, and the fish must love it if they're breeding. Well done!

How much would it cost to import Ewoks? Could I pay extra and have Han and Chewy deliver them personally?

Glad to see you're still doing well with this tank. Well done, it's a thing of beauty, keep it up!

After a few months watching this tank "progress", or not doing anything growth wise, as it it known elsewhere I am going to gently raise the light levels and keep my fingers crossed and eyes peeled for algae. The Mini Java Fern is doing well, but the water is very "tea-stained", so the mosses...

Hi, thanks so much for the kind words. The tank is coming on slowly, I'm very keen to keep to the "no ferts routine". It's slow going, but it's better than all hell breaking loose, if you see what I mean.

Love the fishy pics, they're on my Wishlist some day.

Blown away by this Ed, it's superb. Visually not keen on the wood but if the fish like it as you say then I would keep it in.

Glad to see your tank progressing. The lighting looks great now, it really shows off the new plant growth. Oh, and congrats on the "fiancéfication", have you thought about a UKAPS guard of honour when you sort out the wedding plans? They would either shower you both with cappata leaves or cross...

Passed a sad weekend; two of the males had to be moved into a friend's tank, as they were being picked on quite a bit. They were doing fine until the crypts melted, making it harder for them to get out of sight of the dominant male. Didn't want any deaths so now they live with ember tetras (I...

This looks great, well done. I particularly like the rock placement.

Sorry to hear the bad news. On the other hand the tank is looking great, also your plants look so healthy, which is a key part of your very distinctive style. This distinctive style of yours makes your tank one of the easiest for me to identify who made and maintains it, and looks so much better...

Al, great as always. The shrimp do look cool; Attack of the enormo-shrimp, coming to an aquarium near you! Phil Edwards, you are a bad man.

Thanks for all the input guys. Faizal, the nice things you said mean even more to me having seen the wonderful standards you achieve with your own aquariums. As a treat here are some more dodgy fish pics, as fuzzy as always I'm afraid! A little shoal of very little fish . . . Look at the...

Really nice piece of wood, should look great emerging from a stand of stem plants! Good luck mate!

The heater is coming out for future pics. It is only there during cold snaps, as a bit of extra safety. The regular heater is positioned on the back wall, tucked away and is not nearly as visible. Thanks for the advice Edvet, I really appreciate it.

Another Pic from yesterday's shoot. Sorry about the focusing light reflection mid way up the right hand bog wood.

Hi this is a not to sharp picture of one of the males. He is normally brighter than this but I think the extra light needed for the shot was a bit freaky for him. Didn't stop them all pigging out on frozen Cyclops though! Note that the large spot on the flank is larger than the eye; this is an...

These fish are nearly the same pattern colouring as B. Maculatus, except that they do not have the black bar on the anal fin. Took me a week with a magnifying glass to work out what I had . . . My vision may never be right again! The other main difference (visible to the naked eye, that is), is...

Ha ha, easier said than done! These guys are like streaks of lightning. Will get the macro on it tomorrow at feeding time. Thanks for reading.

Hi, this is my first journal here on UKAPS, feel free to let me know what you think. Some specs:- Fish R Fun 17L Cube tank (Open Top). Lighting: AquaRay 400 nano tile with controller set @ Photoperiod 3:15pm to 10:15pm, 10% intensity, 100 minute ramp up and ramp down. Filter: Boyu external, with...

So sorry to hear the bad news. This is a fabulous little set up, don't give up. All the best from Bill. :D

This is so cool. Al, this looks like something you would see at a Sealife Centre or one of the great zoo aquariums . . . Either that or like one of those Bond Villain lairs from the seventies. You could feed your enemies to the fish and save yourself a fortune in Aquarian . . . All the best...

This looks superb, well done. I know all about teething problems myself ATM, moss and Crypt troubles with me though. Anyway you have my sympathy! All the best from Bill. :D

So sorry mate, I know how you feel. Afraid I have no advice for this one, just lots of sympathy. Remember though: you tried your best and that counts for everything. Looking forward to your shrimp journal, and the lake is shaping up wonderfully; very impressed. All the best from Bill.

I think you should be pleased with your work so far. Refining the original idea is a part of the process for most of us I would imagine. The only advice I can offer is: routine wise, either up the CO2 or better still lower the lighting levels. The lack of consistency in the CO2 levels is...

Sorry to hear about your equipment woes, I hope things improve for you soon. Look forward to seeing this progress. All the best from Bill. :D

George, both the kit and the scape are spectacular. You always find a good angle to push at the boundaries of our hobby. I am greatful and indebted to you. You deservedly get given a lot of compliments, and if they are all as heartfelt as mine, well you're doing great. All the best from Bill.

Agape and agog, hurrah! All the best from Bill. :D P.S. May have been overdoing the P.G.Woodhouse books of late.

The tank looks lovely in that last picture, well done! All the best from Bill. :D

I spread it out a frond at a time.

Hi, I have superglued some Xmas moss onto some bog wood. When is the best time to start trimming it back so that it spreads over the wood? Immediately? Wait for new growth first? Any help appreciated. Many thanks from Bill. :D

I have been so inspired by this journal; your 'scape is superb Faizal, well done. Your hard work and disappointment in the very early stages were similar to things I tried out. Your style is unique on our site, you have a very good eye, and I am so glad you get so much pleasure from your hobby...

Will the TMC tile put out enough light at the edges of his tank if it has to sit directly on top? All the best from Bill. :D

Hi, just found this journal as I have got very into low tech nano tanks, and I just think you have a tiny slice of paradise there! One thing I am unsure about, are you lighting this with the LED's you mentioned? I really struggled with my TMC tile on my little nano until I got hold of a...

Is the background home made or an off the shelf bought one? Lovely tank superb pictures, your fish look so healthy. All the best from Bill. :D

I'm always interested in a low tech tank, but especially a small one like this. Your plant list is much longer than I could manage, I'm not an experienced scaper really. Looking forward to seeing the plants grow in, so lots of lovely pictures please! All the best from Bill. :D

Hi, I've been reading this with great interest, and find what Darrel is saying makes a lot of sense to my mind. I do have one very simple question, however; can you give me examples of carbonate rich substrates? No great theoretical questions, I just don't know what these substrates are! All the...

Hi Steven, your posts are real eye openers, not to mention your beautiful 'scape! Thanks so much for posting. I am not having any problems with the pictures, except for jealousy when I look at the ones of your beautiful tank! All the best from Bill. :D

That's a deal, buddy! Yay! All the best from Bill. :D

Don't forget the joys of being able to programme your set up . . . I had a lot of trouble with intensity when I got my 400 Mini tile for my nano, so I put in a 100 minute ramp time, so that I could have slightly more intense lighting at the time when I view the tank most often. It still doesn't...

Hi mate, just wondering how and what you're feeding the tiny fry? Or have I missed a post somewhere? Great pics as always, phone camera pics all seem pretty much on par with basic compact results these days . . . Oops, that's another session of electroshock treatment to stop me needlessly...

Love the fantasy scape idea. And the trees? Put your heart on your sleeve son, and keep em in! Mine's a Butterbeer, then it's high ho and off to the Misty mountains and the road to Mordor. All the best from Bill. :D

Thar she blows! I love a good nano, and this one's a Hot Patootie. Liking the Riccia very much. All the best from Bill. :D

Love this scape, and good photography too. Opti-White really pays off doesn't it? That water is crystal. Well done! A cabinet interior shot too; you are a tease! (insert posh chocs "ambassador, you are spoiling us" pop culture reference here). All the best from Bill. :D

Yeah, all things good mate, but sometimes real life has a way of cutting in without asking first. I would pin my hopes on winning the lottery, but every spare penny goes on lovely shiny fish stuff. Thanks for asking mate, All the best from Bill. :D

Al, I don't know what to say mate, I thought the last tank was big, but this . . . How do I book a scuba diving holiday in your private ocean? This is going to look awesome! All the best from Bill. :D

That's lovely bogwood Edvet, I am jealous! I have a similarly shaped and designed tank and layout, but mine is much smaller than yours from the look of your pictures. All the best from Bill.

How's this doing? It looks gooood. All the best from Bill.

Hi Rick, nice to meet you. I am in no way a low tech expert, but I will tell you what has worked with my nano low tech. Firstly though do you have the rest of your plans written down for us to see? It would help a non expert like me to envisage your new routine first. What you have told me so...

!!!!!!Dun Dun Deeeerrrrr!!!!!!

Congratulations with this, you are doing a Superb job. If this was mine, I would move the sofa into this room and get rid of the TV- I would no longer need it. You could coin the phrase "aquarium potato", it is so cool. All the best from Bill. :D

I was thinking of turning my old Clearseal aquarium into a new vivarium for my pet toad Clive (see my Avatar). The silicone needs replacing and I was going to replace the front panel with Optiwhite glass (the viv will be top opening). My questions are:- What is the best method of siliconing...

Right, thanks very much, very helpful. All the best from Bill. :D

Quick question: does PAR include UV light, specifically UVA & UVB? Many thanks from Bill. :D

My last Oranda died aged 21, they are such characters, and highly recommended to those curious about fancy goldfish! Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

I love this sort of super pico stuff, can't wait to see what you come up with! All the best from Bill. :D Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

Lovely little chap, I really miss mine. You should get an opened top waterbutt in the sun, and get a bag of daphnia put in when the water goes green, mine used to love a netful put in the tank on a summers day, they seemed so happy! Give it a go, your little guy will love you all the more for...

Thanks for the imput guys, I was worried I had scared people away with the insane thread title. I may well start a more comprehensive ferts regime, but could do with some advice as to the details if anyone has a good link. I do use the TMC controller, as I would not have either the nous or...

Can't see the picture sorry. All the best from Bill. :)

I am no expert I'm afraid. :) Would be very interested to see how they look, if you would feel like posting a picture. ;)

If you can get Frozen Cyclops they're great for mini fish - my Boraras lap it up. I also use a Tetra micro fish food. If that is too big try rubbing small pinches of it between finger and thumb as you put it into the tank. It crumbles up well. If you are stuck for finding micro worms try the...

George, I love it when we get offered a big juicy post like above, and when it's a tank like yours it's like when your favourite band brought out a new song when you're a kid! Your photography is great and those lovely natural mosses make my heart sing to be honest. You watch those cherry...

I would say your assumptions were correct about the green goblin, TBH I have never heard of that variety or either of the other species. I would say they are rare/new to the hobby as no one has sung out on this thread before me. I think most crypts are pretty hardy past the notorious Crypt Melt...

Hi I have good news from my nano tank. I had planted a large piece of bog wood with mini fern and Christmas moss, the substrate was planted with interesting Crypts, and all went well for a month with the tank run as a no ferts job. Anyway, this week I had a small patch of BGA on the Christmas...

Very odd those fern leaves. I would take those effected off, but I don't know the cause, sorry. All the best from Bill. :D Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

This sounds ace, will be watching for some photo's (which judging from above are fine; they look very good to me)! All the best from Bill. :D Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

This tank is already my favourite one of yours George, superb. All the best from Bill. :D Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

I should trust my Jedi instincts more. I felt a great disturbance in the force . . . but I just put it down to the guy infront of me on the bus guffing. Soz from Bill. :D Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

This is awesome. Love the set up and the planting and bogwood are making me wide-eyed and green with envy. Your tank looks bigger than my living room. You are an utter, glorious Cad, and I am insane with jealousy. All the best from Bill. :D Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

Like it very much, it has a great sense of depth. However that's quite a lot of bare foreground. . . perhaps a second colour of substrate could be used to create a path effect, just to give a little more interest to such a large area of the 'scape? Just a thought really, as it's impressive as...

George, I've been watching this thread for a while and would like to tell you how useful your posts have been. The in depth approach has answered many of my questions on this method, and for many other people too judging from the responses. You just don't get this amount of detailed info in an...

Hi, loved the title of this thread, this forum always has me trying to remember my Chemistry theory from school - you would never guess that I was actually quite good at it once! I am looking forward to seeing your tank develop. I like the practical design of your set up too. Looking forward to...

Just seen this journal and gone through the lot in one go. I can't really add anything creative, but I just wanted to say that your layout is clever and beautiful, and that your mods for the tank and your home built cabinets are some of the best DIY aquarium work that I have ever seen, and they...

Easer, where do you get your rotifers? Do you culture them yourself? Many thanks from Bill. Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

That's fabulous. You also have a great tank that deserves a beauty of a fish like that! All the best from Bill. :D Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

Thanks for the responses guys. All the best from Bill. :D Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

Thanks hoggie. Will that little lighting period be okay with fish? the room is quite dark with no lights on in winter. Many thanks from Bill.:D Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

I rescaped my  3 Gal nano with off the shelf soil substrate, and planted with Crypts, Java Fern and moss. I then dosed the bottled ferts  TPN, Aquacarbon, and Aquanourish+, all at recommended doses. I saw my errors, but only after a green hair algae out break.  Can anyone tell me how I should be...

"In The Arms of Cthulhu" - 180L - 31st Jan - Over Flow It's looking beautiful mate, Hope you're not going to try and build a mini "Sunken Ry-leh" city in the corner there! Seriously though this such a lovely scape, congratulations are in order before it's even finished . . . but I am sooo...

Excellent name. I totally agree with your sentiments there. I wonder if I could do a horror themed Vivarium for my pet toad ( for non-Lovecraftians, Toads and weird landscapes feature heavily in his work ). On a more aquarium-based note I am digging this 'scape. Can't wait to see it set up and...

I warn you now mate, if the cherries like it in your tank you could keep yourself in ferts through selling the resulting explosion of babies to the LFS! Round by me they used to rub their hands together when they saw me walk in with a polythene bag full of shrimp babies. All the best from Bill.

Very nice tank, keep up the good work. should look awesome when mature. Wish I could afford a tank this big, but then I would probably keep a puffer in it or some other big fish that would not suit a planted set up, ;-) so more power to you for going uber plantski, as we say in my neck of the...

Sorry about the shrimps. Maybe cherries would be hardier if you are looking to breed some? Bought one of the LED lights myself after seeing your pics. Your set up inspires me greatly, so try not to get too down about the little niggling problems, keep it joyful. All the best from Bill.

This is well cool, well done. I recieved one of these lights through the post today. The controller is due any time now (crossed fingers for a Saturday delivery). Had to get it up and running just to see the effect though. It is ace, and bright, just as you said. Your aquascape is better than...

A fine afternoon for tips! thanks AndersH. Off to tea now and will tuck in with relish, buoyed by my new pipe cleaning skills! Adieu adieu adieu, to yer and yer and yer. From Bill.

Ooohhh . . . good thought! That tip is so simple. Infact such a good thought i've come over all emotional (dries a tear and sends out hugs and hot chocolate all round). PS pipe cleaning is my pet hate as you may have guessed. All the best from Bill.

Hi, I don't recommend people use these as livefood as they can contain Flukes that transfer to a fish parasite when the shrimp are eaten. I Wouldn't risk it if I were you mate. All the best from Bill.

Cheers Mate. I think the other diffusers would look wrong in my vase - far too big. Mine does well though, creates a bit of movement in the water column but doesn't turn the thing into a washing machine, and it oxygenates at the same time. Yay. Thanks for the help. All the best from Bill.

Stu - that's very interesting about the ADA oxygen diffusers- I wonder why I don't remember coming across them? Maybe they were a bit bulky? Could you find me a link by any chance? I must say the bubbles are much bigger than if I was dosing CO2 through the diffuser, but it suits me well. Gill...

Thanks Gill, so I only need to feel foolish about the cost of the World's Most Stupidly Expensive Airstone, as I like to call it. What you seem to be saying is that I'm not mad, I'm just an ADA freak . . . Hmm, not sure if you can be the latter without being the former to be homest! :evil: :D...

Thanks for the fast reply Stu, very useful. You asked about bubble size? I'm not exactly using this thing in the conventional way . . . http://ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=15999 Many thanks from Bill.

I have had a square glass vase I use as a mini aquarium, in three different "Microscapes" over the past few years. I bred Crangonyx pseudogracilis, little Gammarus type Scuds in there over several generations at one point. I recently decided to try and keep a couple of River Limpets in there. I...

Hi there I have just bought a very cool ADA ball glass diffuser. I presume these follow the laws of nature and get clogged with algae/bacteria/gump etc, so has anyone got any favoured methods of cleaning? Seriously, I don't have a clue so please help out a newbie here. All the best From Bill.

No, I found it difficult to condense down whilst retaining all the relevant info! All the best from Bill.