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  • Users: Vito
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  1. Vito

    small custom tank needed

    Hi guys, thanks for all the advice, all seem great solutions, in keen to build one but I don't know where to buy the glass, any suggestions? Sold the tank about 3 months ago as I had no time for maintenance once I had a child
  2. Vito

    small custom tank needed

    Hi guys anyone know where I can get a small tank built, I need it 40cm long by 30cm deep and 20cm high. cheap as possible nothing fancy....
  3. Vito

    not able to grow healthy plants

    Hi Amir, I would normally say up the co2, but at 7-8 bubbles per sec you should have sufficient co2, so it could be a problem with the reactor as everything else seems fine as per your specs. Also try placing your drop checker closer to the bottom to see if the readings are the same to ensure...
  4. Vito

    Hard water cloudiness.

    So Jose what's your solution to this problem as I also used to get a cloudy build as I had my tank running over a year and then realised the glass is completely covered in hard water stains which I can't seem to scrape off, I'm goin to have to investigate into some heave duty hard water stain...
  5. Vito

    120cm flow

    The more light the the higher the uptake need for Co2 and ferts which means faster growth which is great if you want to fill the tank within a few months but you will be able to grow with the two tubes a long as you have the right co2 and ferts personally I have succeed with more lights and more...
  6. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Just a quick pic update, nothing new to report other than I broke one of the EZ clip off the eheim 2028 and had to order a replacement which took 3 days to arrive so it was lights out and everything off, no adverse effects, only a tiny bit of BGA emerged from the substrate but I cleaned that up...
  7. Vito

    New to planted tanks and would appreciate help with a set up...

    Hi Greg, welcome to the side where the grass is greener :) I would strongly recommend a pressurised co2, 2kg FE is ideal and fairly simple to set up, as many people have said before, not enough co2 is far less forgiving and tank full unwanted algae is disheartening. Most ups and downs in a tank...
  8. Vito

    TMC Signature - First planted tank

    Going to be promising, good start
  9. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thank guys, I will eventually start again but I am waiting for the carpet to fill in completely on the left and I will attempt one last full tank shot also I havent got any spare cash flow right, I am considering reusing my subsrtate but not sure yet. Anyhow I borrowed my brothers SLR and he...
  10. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thanks for the kind word. Time scale.... Don't know I just enjoy the upkeep believe it or not
  11. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey Paulo, to be honest I was a little embarrassed on how the tank was looking so I wanted wait until it recovered but I am happy to report the tank is nearly 100% back on track and the tenellus has grown in the middle and sides and created a new look for the tank at least to my eye anyway, the...
  12. Vito

    60P IWAGUMI Mountain Scape

    Great carpet!
  13. Vito

    Aeration why?

    I raise the Lilly every night to create water movement and bubbles, keeps the surface scum away and plants are in tip top shape and grow ferociously.
  14. Vito

    Utopia - 60l - 2014.06.05 - Kids trimming Montecarlo :-)

    Great scape, good luck with the trimming!!! :)
  15. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hi guys, all is well with the tank, plants are growing very fast and I can see the tenellus taking over the foreground :) the replanted HC is doing well and the moss stones are starting to grow so to be honest it's back on track but the hard water stains on the glass are really starting to bug...
  16. Vito

    The Forsaken World (Final photo.. scape now ended)

    Nice scape, very original, definitely one to watch!
  17. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thanks Edvet, I'll try to pick up a scraper today, I did use the metal one I have but it didn't help, probably because it doesn't use a razor which might be more effective
  18. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, Another update and some urgent help/advice required, so the carpet as you know lifted and replanted and happy to report runners of the replanted HC are spreading, I've switched on all the lights and growth and colour is better so I am going to stick with it unless a get an algae...
  19. Vito

    Twinstar..what is it?

    This is a very valid point an precisely why I haven't bought one yet, as I don't want to spend money on something I may already have, I have started to aerate the tank at at lights out since I first heard about this product a week ago by lifting the Lilly pipe enough to make some bubbles, this...
  20. Vito

    125L Iwagumi. "New beginning"

    Great scape, love the carpet and the tree idea is nice too.
  21. Vito

    Twinstar..what is it?

    Does anyone know what the lifespan of these units are, as I read on this TWINSTAR website under the experiment report one of the posters mentioned part of the unit has to be replaced after a year... Any insight?
  22. Vito

    Twinstar..what is it?

    Well I must say I am tempted however I think it's a little bit pricey @ £155 for the nano and I would have hoped for something more discreet for that price, hopefully some sort of inline equivalent will be released, one thing I did notice on some pictures on the web it appears to keep pipes and...
  23. Vito

    Electric toothbrush..... Are the fully submergable?

    Ok definitely full submergable and so much easier to clean the stones, tesco are selling oral b ones for £17, well worth it!
  24. Vito

    Electric toothbrush..... Are the fully submergable?

    Thanks guys, I will go purchase one :)
  25. Vito

    Electric toothbrush..... Are the fully submergable?

    Hey guys I want to get an electric toothbrush to clean the rocks as I am fed up of using a manual one, can I fully submerge the electric ones in water? I'm looking to buy one from tesco as I can get an oral B one for under £20
  26. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, things have gone slightly backwards, to be honest it was a long time coming, as I mentioned some of the HC, in areas was becoming loose from the substrate and its clearly because of the decaying undergrowth due to a dense carpet, so I have pulled the 95% of the carpet and replanted...
  27. Vito

    Omega's Iwagumi - Xibalba

    Stunning, and welcome!
  28. Vito

    Easy carpeting plant

    Hi Jaap, my advice would be to use a decent substrate system which will provide the plants with the vital nutrients it needs to flourish and will probably help compensate if any slight lack of fert dosing, also co2 is key, don't hold back but don't kill the inhabitants :) either make or buy some...
  29. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thanks mate, to be honest as soon as I get a bit of spare cash I will be doing a rescape, probably the Island type layout as I fancy trying some different plant species especially moss!
  30. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, its been a wile since I've updated but I can say the tank is still going strong, being busy with work etc I didn't get round to doing a water change last week but having a day off today gave me some time to give the tank a little TLC, anyway the HM has grown to the water line in the...
  31. Vito

    Alpine Gardens

    Really nice tank, I love the layout, congratulations.
  32. Vito

    Zanguli's NA 90x45x50

    Hi Zanguli, Welcome to the NA clan, I love the scape, cant wait for the growth
  33. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hi Tom, I agree with you, the transition was a lot smoother when I had the hedge trimmed but I am growing the stems tall as I want to harvest the trimmings so I can plant more in between the rocks to Eliminate this and then I will shape it accordingly :) The IAPLC was because I couldn't submit a...
  34. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thanks dude!
  35. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, so its been a few weeks since my last post, everything is still ticking along nicely I got rid of the lid as it did eventually begin to distract me from the beautiful minimalistic look of the tank and plus maintenance became more of a pain, also the condensation that collected on the...
  36. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Yep the clips where supplied with the lid.
  37. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hi Gary here are some pics of the top, unfortunately I dont have the SLR today so picture quality isn't fantastic. To be honest I thought it would be more distracting to the scape but I don't notice it, I still prefer without it but needs must, I suppose. I am still trying to gain a much...
  38. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thanks for the kinds words :) when you say a bigger resolution what do you mean? as when I upload the photos on image shake it gets re-sized, should I not re-size when I upload them? Here is the actuall size of the photo The glass lid was supplied with the tank and its sorter than the length...
  39. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, well I managed to borrow a wide angle lens and I have also stocked the tank with 25 Helingi Rasbora, I had 4 of them jump out so I have decided to put the glass lid on top and to be honest I barley notice it and wish I had done it sooner as it would have saved me alot of shrimp.. After...
  40. Vito

    After regeneration my purigen bag is still brown...

    Thanks for the advice guys... I've come to the conclusion that the Purigen I was using is exhausted because looking at the water in my tank seems the same even though the purigen isn't in the filter so I've gone and ordered 200ml and a new bag as this one looks totally messed up, this time I...
  41. Vito

    After regeneration my purigen bag is still brown...

    Hi guys, I wanted a little direction here. So last night I attempted to regenerate purigen using plain old unscented household thick bleach (Demestos) 1:1 as recommended by the Seachem website, how ever none of the brown stains have disappeared yet, I know its been about 12 hours and I would...
  42. Vito

    'Eruption'

    Looks great, chuck in some plants and water and your all set :)
  43. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey everyone, As previously stated here is an update of the tank so far. Larger than normal W/C today to take away any rubbish accumulated over the past two weeks, and a very sharp trim up on all the plants. I have attached before and after pics and a few other shots. I have decided to keep the...
  44. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thanks for the advice dude and also the offer for the equipment, I will definitely take alot more thought and consideration into the photography aspect for my next entry and I will ask my brother about wide angle lenses, as I am sure he will have one :) As for the tank, I arrived back today to...
  45. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thanks for the kind words guys, but due to my tanks position, it limits me to taking a full frontal shot and I believe that scores against my entry and also the I true quality might have not been up to scratch but next year I will work on my final shot a lot better, as for the shot I submitted...
  46. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, just to update the journal, I am currently in Portugal on a 2 week holiday and I thought I would look at the IAPLC results, im not last but at 2058, not far off :) anyway its lower than I hoped I am happy to get my name on the PDF. Anyway, in my absence I have left the tank to fend for...
  47. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, an update is well overdue and I thought I would share the progress. Still no additional fish due to the wedding looming but I can report the tank is very stable and everything is going well, I trim regularly to keep the plants under control and I keep on top of the maintenance which I...
  48. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, i've been staring at my tank for a while and it seems I have some inhabitants that I've never seen before, I can only describe them as tiny brown balls swimming within the HC carpet, at first I thought it was loose powersand being whooshed about but staring at them for a good while its...
  49. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey man thanks for the tips, I have decided to keep the tank for the time being, cant break the habit ;) lost another shrimp to a suicide jump, not sure why they are doing it and I am hesitant to use the lid as I think it would affect the look, would it be too much co2? is there a more accurate...
  50. Vito

    NAtural Jurassic....shaky video p17.

    Nice tank Ady, I am a massive fan of this island style and I will be attempting the same feat for my next step, I cannot wait to see it in its full glory :) Thanks for sharing
  51. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, just an update, nothing major to report, I have found the growth to be a lot slower with only two bulbs running so for the next week I have decided to turn on the other two for a 3 period in between, I realize this may do more harm than good but I just want to experiment. I have...
  52. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    No fish yet buddy, I'm about to be married and a lot of my money is going towards that. To be honest I'm only interested in the plants, I am tempted to restock but the budget it tight :)
  53. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thanks for the kind words, the "hedge" has taken a major hacking, its a bit rough at the moment, I will be re shaping it next W/C and it should look much nicer.
  54. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey Dean, I carry out water changes by siphoning out into a large bucket and then I attach a pump to the hose and it pumps water from the bucket back into the tank, the buckets are heavey but makes good exercise :) Pic update :) Thanks for looking
  55. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, another update and I am happy to report that the tank is well on its way to a full recovery, I suspect that covering the front of the tank during the day to block the light spill and minimizing the lights has had a positive effect. I will be restocking but I haven't decided on what...
  56. Vito

    by the Forest Shore (ADA 60P)

    Loving this scape, I'm so temped to try a wood layout, thanks for sharing
  57. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thanks for the kind words, I totally forgot about gush product line, I'm going to go for the glass option as I love the almost invisible look even though they are fragile
  58. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hi Dean, thanks for the compliment, I ordered the setup through FreshwaterShrimp, they are one of the sponsors on this forum, they are very helpful and I would definitely recommend as the NA Setup it brilliant value for money.
  59. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, well an update is well over due so here goes... Whilst away in Ibiza, the co2 ran out, causing a minor algae issue, the HM was grown almost to the top so I had to hack the life out of it. When I replaced the co2 bottle I forgot to put the time on auto and it killed almost everything so...
  60. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hello peeps, one more week over and another update due, I took Tim's advice and entered into IAPLC, I'm not expecting much but I thought I would contribute to the UK entries :) I have definitely been overdoing the co2 as I think I have killed most the amanos in the tank :( so I have decided to...
  61. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hi Nutty, just luck :) I don't spend enough time sitting in front of it if I'm honest but every time I walk past I look at it without fail lol
  62. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, another update due, everything going well apart from overdoing it on the CO2 has killed at least 4 shrimp :( Oops, I have to watch the levels a bit closer. anyway some more pics, I dont like the FTS from the front but just so you get a different perspective. Thanks for looking
  63. Vito

    1st iwagumi attempt....

    Hey Terry, just keep fiddling until your happy, why not try putting the big stone on the right a lot closer to the left main one and then fiddle with the smaller ones to support them and try to create a flow so it's easy one they eyes as right now there seems to be two main arrangements which...
  64. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hi Tim, thanks for the kind comments, I wasn't planning on entering, I don't even know how to be honest :) My only issue I nailing the final shot as my camera skills are a bit newbie, I have tried with my brothers SLR but I cant get the right colours etc... anyway if I do I will have to add some...
  65. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Evening people, another week another update. I just finished a water change and the greens where very vivid so I thought I would capture the moment, Enjoy :) ] Thanks for looking
  66. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, so the tank is now 3 months old, the green rocks where getting too unsightly so I got the old tooth brush out and scrubbed as much as I could and I noticed a few small bits of BBA beginning to appear so I performed a larger than normal water change after the scrub and I have decided to...
  67. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hi guys, I've not had much to report so I didn't update last week but its safe to say an update is overdue :) Anyway so the tank seems to be going well, I did a second trim to the HC carpet and I hacked the HM as its was getting too tall but it has revealed the ugly undergrowth yellowish HM so...
  68. Vito

    How much purges can "the bag" hold?

    Hi guys, as the title of this subject says, how much purigen can "the bag" hold? I have 200ml worth
  69. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, Just a weekly update, I hacked away and shaped the HM, the density of it is amazing, I will definitely be using it in more scapes in the future, I have stopped using easycarbo for well over a week and haven't noticed any negative effect. I have upped my fert dosage, so i'm dosing...
  70. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    More pics :) Thanks for looking.
  71. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Will do, I will also strengthen the mix too :)
  72. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    sorry mate I mean PO4 test kit, I do have PO4 in my mix and also I suppose I could just dose dry as suggested, thanks for the advice :)
  73. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    I will try this method and see how it goes, thanks for the tip :) Cheers dude! I never test if I am honest but maybe I should, any particular PO4 test kit that you recommend? Just to clarify is PO4 dosed from Macro solution, if so would it be best to increases the dosage further to keep the...
  74. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys new update on the tank, things are looking much greener due to a little TLC, I still have all 4 lights on for 5 hours but I have the co2 come one 4 hours before as there is some natural light in the house which might be getting to the tank. I do get a surface film build up but and I...
  75. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Unfortunately not, as I was on a stag and there was only drinking and nightlife involved ;)
  76. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, an update is overdue, I recently visited Budapest for a short weekend break and left the tank to fend for itself, when I came back I surprised at the growth especially in the HC but I did come back to a bit of an algae outbreak which I can only diagnose as green spot algae and it made...
  77. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, I stayed in this Saturday for a change and thought I would take a few shots of the tank The increased photo period and CO2 have had a positive effect on growth, HC is growing a lot fast and I am letting some of the tenellus runners run wild ;) The rocks are turning green which I...
  78. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    I do agree mate, to be honest I was trimming the runners that kept coming to the front but I will leave a few to break up the line :) Thanks everyone for your kind words. I had a little dilemma this morning when cleaning the filter, whilst moving the pipes one of the hoses popped off the up...
  79. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hi guys, Update overdue, all is still going extremely well, I have all the lights on for 6 hours per day and still no sign of algae, however I have noticed the rocks getting a little green, nothing that a tooth brush and elbow grease wont cure. I will up the photo period by another hour on...
  80. Vito

    "Green&Grey" (300l) - Last day video

    Nice scape mate, good job.
  81. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thank dude :) Hi Mike the image didnt upload and I am unfamiliar what equipment your talking about do you have a link as I am curious :)
  82. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hello UKAPS members, Another week past and another update due ;) Good news is the melt is over, woohoo! The HC growth is good but the runners seem too straggly so I have upped the lights, all the 4 x 36W lamps on for 5 hours a day simultaneously, and next week I will extended the photo-period...
  83. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, another week and another update, so I have introduced the clean up crew, 16 Amano shrimp and 5 otto's. I never knew amanos where this big, its a big difference from cherries :) Anyway they got right to it, after 24 hours in my stones are clean as a whistle and the plants are spotless...
  84. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hi Dave, by EC I mean easy carbo and my leaves are green but just about 5 of my planted clumps have some transparent leaves within them, to be honest most of the HC is spreading runners and today I can clearly see an improvement on the healthy clumps, for now I will just wait and see just as...
  85. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Again I am already dosing 10ml Daily :) doese it matter that I dose the ferts and EC at 7:45am when the lights only come on at 6PM? Cheers Nice, I will attempt get some snaps done for you tomorrow if I'm not to busy with work :) PMA! Cheers for the confidence boost ;) Well the spare parts...
  86. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hi Paulo, thanks for the advice, but I am already using the special N and have done from the start :) I will just have to keep an eye on the progress this week if it continues to melt then I will increase the dose as I'm currently dosing 40ml macro, 40ml trace and 20ml Special N daily, the...
  87. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thanks Dave, the HM and Tenellus are doing great but the HC melting is disheartening. Quick question would aerating the tank at night be more of a hindrance than a benefit? Cheers
  88. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey Charlie, I didn't get a chance the other day mate, here is a full view of the tank :) The melt is still going on even though I changed from glass diffuser to the UP-Atomizer, the drop checker a much lighter green than it was with the glass diffuser and I can clearly see co2 bubble all...
  89. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    hey guys thank you all for the tips and advice, I did a second water change today and I have swapped the co2 diffuser for my old UP-Atomizer in a hope that I will get a better co2 distribution, I have also reduced the lighting back to the 2 x 36w only. I cleaned the filter, pipes and glassware...
  90. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thanks mate, I already have one but as Ady already mentioned I don't want to ruin the minimalist look so it looks like I will have to fork out around £30 for some spares.
  91. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thanks for the tips guys, I do have an eheim 2028 spare but when I originally installed it the bleeding thing leaked, I think it needs a new o'ring for the lid and when I tried taking the pipes off I snapped the fixture, looks like I'm going to have to order up some spares :) Cheers
  92. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thanks for the advice Tim, the melting began days before the light increase, would there be too much light in there already with just the 2x 36w hence the melting..,?
  93. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, there has been more chat than pictures lately so I thought I would do another picture upload, as I am using a basic digital camera I thought I would attempt to edit them with Photoshop Lightroom to give a truer impression, I will be borrowing my brothers SLR and tripod soon for some...
  94. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Thanks for all the suggestions guys, clones suggestion was very effective and it seemed that the high co2 drove them to the surface and I just plucked them out, no sign of any today but I will have my tweezers at the ready :)
  95. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey guys, I've got a slight snail problem and I was wondering if there is anything I can get to kill them seeing as the tank is still without inhabitants. Any suggestions welcomed
  96. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    At the moment the light is suspended 30 cm above the tank and the HC is spreading runners and a very healthy looking shade of green, I do agree it needs more light but I feel this early on in the tanks life that too much light will induce an algae issue I might not be able to combat easily so as...
  97. Vito

    Peisaj (landscape)

    I love the evolution of the tank, great work :)
  98. Vito

    George's TMC Signature

    very natural, well done George, keep up the good work :)
  99. Vito

    'Back in the Saddle' 90cm - 1 year on!

    Hey Paulo, I am only running 2 of the 4 36w PC units and will up it when the plant biomass increases. The NA gear is awesome, the light unit is so sleek and the cabinet is very good quality, my only bug is that the tank has a few minor scratches which are at the substrate level so I cannot...
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