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Hi everyone - confession time: it's been so long since I last logged into UKAPS that I not only forgot my password, but couldn't even remember which email address was linked to my account! Even so, it came as a shock to see that it has been more than 9 years - January 2014 :oops: However...

Yes, always gotta tinker with stuff :)

Oooo, and the CPD babies are coming along nicely... Possibly ready for the main tank in another 2 weeks? :)

50% water change today, upped the glute dosage, re-configured lighting - now running two GroBeam 1000's (old version), set to 6 hours at 30% with 2-hour ramp at either end. Now to see what happens....

Hi all Just wanted to share an idea that I've been playing with.... I've decided to re-scape my old 4 x 2 x 1.5 ft stock tank and wanted to try something new lighting-wise. I've got four GroBeam 600 strips, but wanted a new, neat way of mounting them to the tank itself. I can't suspend...

Cheers Tim - yes, keeping a close eye on the mosses, but the plants themselves look OK - not great, but not melting or dying back... I've used Excel before when I've had algae issues, and it's worked brilliantly, so hoping the Glute solution does the same job. My feeling at the moment is to keep...

Also worried about my choice of lighting....am running a pair of GroBeam Colour Plus tiles and a standard GroBeam 1500. Had heard that the Colour Plus worked well, but now concerned that there is too much red in it.... Possibly another hit to the budget coming up :greedy:

Hi all, and Complements of the Season - hope it's been a festive one! Little update today - to be honest, not a particularly happy one.... Everything seems to be growing nicely, though slower than I'd hoped, and now I'm having a recurrence of the early algae issues I had, but different...

Thank you kindly! Must say, I do love my tinkering...it's just a bonus if something works :)

Loving this one mate....crystal heaven :)

Thanks Dean. The reactor I'm running is basically a 52cm length of 2 inch pipe with two 90 deg elbows at each end and a hosetail for the inlet and outlet... I have been told that you need a bigger reactor chamber to ensure the CO2 is fully dissolved, but have been running this at up to 8 or 9...

Been awhile since my last update, so here goes..... Quite a bit going on. Firstly, got fed up with issues with my inline diffuser and bubbles in the tank, so built and installed a DIY CO2 reactor which is working brilliantly. Once again, apologies for crap pics... Of course, my tendency to...

On a side note...CPD fry now growing nicely - should be ready for the main tank in 6 weeks.....MORE waiting :nailbiting:

Quick update...I think it's all going ok. Plants look healthy, algae outbreak fully under control now. Carpet not developing as fast as I'd hoped, but I have cranked back the lighting and dosing, so not too worried about it. Could I finally be acquiring some patience?? :angelic:

Good idea Al - yes, I think I'll try that, with a shorter burst of 35% in the middle of the day.... Actually, the tank seems to be coming back quite quickly... New helpers.... ...doing a good job :)

Hi Rob Yes, I did check and the one I've ordered includes calibration fluid. Good to know that they work - I've been sceptical of my test kit for a while.... Lighting always seems to catch me out - I try to run my photo period long - I start work early and it's always nice to give the tank a...

Just checked on the bay - less than 8 quid - done deal :)

Just tested pH again and it's spot on 7 :)

Hey Dean More expert than me for sure, so comments very welcome :) Using a drop checker, but with tank water - couldn't get 4 dKH this weekend, so making do. My RO comes out at 6.3 using a pH test kit so I add 30% tap water which brings it to about 7.... Running at 4 bps and my drop checker...

After all the drama, finally getting there :) - cracking mate, well done!

Awesome tank and vids there :clap: By the way, what's the soundtrack on the first couple of videos? Very beautiful....

Yes, I have noticed this before, running CO2 hard, but back then I wasn't using a drop-checker, just watching my fish to make sure I wasn't dosing too much. Now, I'm using a drop checker, and I'm nervous to crank up the CO2 because my pH is not seeming to change at all (6), even when the CO2 has...

Thanks - I was running CO2 AND lights for 12 hours, with the lights at 100% for 6 of those hours, :nailbiting: and I think that's the main cause of the bloom - silly really, after all the patience and work of doing the DSM cycle.... Have just added some Otocinclus today, so can't crank it up...

Hi foxfish At the moment, I've shortened my photoperiod (total time including 120 minute ramp up and ramp down) to 7 hours - 12 midday to 7pm. Maximum brightness is set to 30%, so the lights are at this level from 2pm to 5pm - the other 4 hours they are either brightening or dimming. I've got...

Quick update - been an eventful week.... First, major issues with algae, completely my own fault :banhappy: Forgot to reset my photo period after the dry start - thought cranking it back to 50% max would be ok, but 12 hours total in the first week CLEARLY too much :facepalm: Doing 30% water...

Yes I know - very strange. It leaked where I'd put in a reducing bush to come down from 2" to 1.5", and I did not they were quite lose, so I guess I should have used more glue :banghead:

Sorry - just saw this now - I've got limited cabinet space, so the most I could get is 62cm (including the fittings at each end. Gone for 2" pipe to increase the volume of the reactor as much as possible. Good suggestion on the clear pipe...I was in a hurry and had an old piece of white...

OK, so just to make things interesting....and as if my cabinet wasn't cluttered enough.....:banghead: Decided to switch from an inline diffuser to a CO2 reactor. Having checked out Alastair's thread on the subject (Co2 reactor build for Fluval FX5 | UK Aquatic Plant Society), I put this...

After all that, I'm actually going to take the diffuser off completely and try using a reactor instead :)

Just been referred to this thread and going to start getting the parts together to build one of these myself - what diameter pipe are you going to use?

Yes, been thinking about this too...trying to get some surface movement, but have some flow at the base as well - have gone through about 3 meters of acrylic pipe today, trying various designs...and still not there :banghead: - still got work to do on this....

Hmmm...the pump I'm using is a V2 Powerpump - rated 2000 LPH - must say I've had to restrict it slightly, but it's good and quiet. Just been looking at Alastair's home-make pipe reactor (see above) and think this will work better - also won't need much working pressure....new territory for me...

After all the faffing with CO2 inline diffusers, I think I'm going to try this.... Co2 reactor build for Fluval FX5 | UK Aquatic Plant Society Once again, thanks Alastair :)

I know mate - it's my favourite plant, and there is a "mini" cultivar I've seen with much smaller leaves which looks as though it grows quite dense, with just the occasional leaves heading for the surface... I could also move it out a bit more into the mid-foreground...

One gauge is reading 900 psi, the other one 30 psi....how should I read this?? Just realised that a needle wheel impellor in my circulation pump, with CO2 supplied via a venturi would have been a much simpler solution :facepalm: !! Might try and retro-fit this....

My initial planting plan for the left hand side.... Comments/suggestions welcome :)

Couple of photos after water change and re-arranging some of the furniture o_O

Yes, exactly my concern....am running at around 6 BBS at the moment - too much or too little? You can see the bubble size in the vid - clearly I'm losing most of this at the surface..... And here's the diffuser I'm using... Disappointed really - I thought I'd get a finer mist....

Thanks very much. Yes, have thought about putting the diffuser before the filter....would be reasonably simple to do, but always worried about unseen build-up of CO2 inside the filter - I assume you've don't have this issue?

Thanks - yes, really pleased to have it filled and everything works as intended. Couple of issues: 1. Made three different lily pipes yesterday, and it's still not quite right. I think it needs to be an inch or two shorter so the flow is still up-and-across, but not so close to the surface. Also...

What a day.....tank-filling, acrylic-bending, dosing, measuring, co2 solenoid malfunction.....and to top it all, unexpected house-guests to entertain Relieved for sure - the system works and no leaks and all the plants look secure, so successful day..... More photos tomorrow....

OK, apologies for the quality - my first ever video posting - but here goes.... This is with filter running at about 80% and CO2 circulation pump at about 70% - any more than this, and the flow starts to pick up the soil at the far end. So, need to reduce this or disperse it better.

Yes I think it's just been re-branded - looks the same as before anyway. Did you have good results with it? They look a bit like Christmas lights but I've put a hood over mine so you can't see them directly. Will be interesting to see the effect once the tank's running...

I've always struggled to get pH to 7 - I've always just used tap water which comes out at 8 (!). My RO is bang on 6, so for the first time I'm going to be working upwards rather than down. Will be interesting to see if the soil changes this - I've never checked to be honest.

Just had a thought.......20 litres per hour, 160 litres, that's 8 hours.......leave it filling overnight? :nailbiting:

Planning to fill directly from my RO unit which does about 20 litres per hour....so it will take most of the day... RO pH is 6.3 so I may add 10% tap just to bring that up a tad

Less than that mate - I plan to start at dawn!! ;)

Just fabulous :clap:

I have been thinking about this....I leave for work at 6:45, and I enjoy my first cup of coffee in the morning with the lights just starting to dim up ;) I think what I'll do is just crank the max down from 100 to 50 and see how I go... I need to get some PAR readings during the ramp up so I...

Awesome fish Ian, love 'em! Used to have a couple but never saw them doin' dat ting ;) Got me thinking about having some again....

Can't wait! I've set the photoperiod as follows: Lights come on at 6am with 4-hour ramp to 100%, then dimming down again from 4pm to be off at 8pm - so 100% from 10am to 4pm... I've got two Colour Plus tiles on there, and they are less intense than the Natural Daylight...too much?

Hi all I know quite a few people are using TMC GroBeam lighting, mostly the Natural Daylight 6500K. I've used these myself for a couple of years with pretty good results. TMC recently added a "Colour Plus" model to the GroBeam range and I've managed to get a couple of these which I'm putting...

Lighting installed and running...

Thanks mate :) I have to say, I've surprised myself - I'm not normally one for waiting, but I'm about at the end of my capacity for watching a damp box :lol: Although it's been 3 weeks since I planted, I've actually been tinkering with the tank for 4 months, so it's about time now I think....

Thanks George - just tried that and it's definitely seems to be holding.... Yes, can't wait to see how the whole system works. Mark One lily pipe installed so I can check the flow and adapt as required. Learned a wicked new trick for bending acrylic courtesy of Alastaire -

Quick update - Saturday will be day 20 of my DSM cycle, and I think I'm going to fill 'er up :) Couple of pics (sorry not the best quality) of some of the plants... ...and HC seems to be doing well... Bit worried about the fissidens, tho does look like it might be taking?

Photo of L128 here

Blue Phantom (L128) would be my suggestion - I've had mine for about 5 years and he's still the same size he was when I bought him - about 3cm - and the colours are stunning. Initially I didn't see him at all, then discovered his preferred hiding place which was a hole in a bog-wood stump...

Afternoon all I have a group of about 50 adults CPD's (Celestial Pearl Danios, also known as Galaxy Rasboras) which I've been breeding intermittently for about 3 years. I want to try and raise another batch of 50 or so for a new tank, but really want to try and add some new blood. Just...

Thanks Ian - is that what's growing amongst the Riccardia?? That's one of the parts I cheated with - got that piece of wood with the moss already established from George :shh:

Grow jungles indeed! Great progression.... Nice to see another SAFFA about the place too ;)

OK, I've been very patient, but now I'm starting to twitch.....still 10 days to go :nailbiting: One of the mosses - can't remember which - that I painted onto the rock still just looks like a green smear.... ...while others are growing well... HC seems to be taking well and glosso looks...

Just opened up to do a quick spray and chuffed to see mosses starting to green up :) Glosso looking good too.....

Just fast-forwarded through this journal - great job :clap:

Looking the business mate, of course :) Just hope I can put everything I've learnt into practice.... Liking that stack of drums - eaaasy does it :lol:

Hi Emyr - thanks for the compliment mate. Yes, the GroBeams are great. These are quite old - the old-style GroBeam 500 from a few years ago, still working well. I'm actually planning to use the new GroBeam 1500ND (I'm hoping I can get away with just two, but may need three :() and will use...

Sorry foxfish - just re-read my reply, and realised it's complete nonsense!! :crazy: One hole isn't necessarily going to have a smaller footprint, but in this case it would: if I'd had two holes, they would have had to be at least 30mm to accommodate the tank connectors, etc. and because it's...

Hey Alistair - so you finally got me here :) Can't thank you enough mate. How are the choccies doing?? I know you have your hands full with that new beast of yours so I appreciate you taking the time... Photography still pants mate - cameras and I just do not get on (unless I'm at a party - then...

Thanks Nathaniel, and yes, flow is a BIG factor here. When I tested this (without plant and hard-scape), the flow with both filter and pump running was almost too strong, and this is the issue - all the flow is coming from a single point. I think if I keep the plants on the back and on the...

Thanks Dean - appreciate the compliment. Will try and keep the thread up to date!

Thanks krazypara - there are 32 joins in the system, which is a bit scary I filled the tank and let the system run for 10 days, and no leaks....anyway, what's the worst that could happen? We need a new carpet in here anyway

Hello everyone I’ve been lurking about the fringes on UKAPS for some time, really enjoying all the fantastic displays and great wealth of information that the forum provides, but not really getting involved. Well, time to change – here goes! At the outset, just want to thank everyone for...

Looking fantastic, keep those pics coming :clap:

To get even spread, I'd say you will need a minimum of 4 AquaRay units - I'd probably go for the GroBeam 500's at 6500k. You could use the T8 adaptors to mount these in place of the existing T8 bulbs - this would be the neatest install, but not sure that you would get enough spread (LED's are...

Are you planning to retain the hood, or go open-top? TBH, if you want to get the best from LED's, they need to be mounted at least 100 to 150mm above the water surface - not really possible with a closed hood.... That said, I did retro-fit some LED strips (TMC AquaRay's) into a Juwel hood, and...

Have to agree: for a tank this size, I wouldn't hesitate - 2 GroBeam 1000's would be pretty much perfect. And you wouldn't need anywhere near a grand....more like a few hundred :P

Probably a bit late on this, but.... I started with about 15 adult fish - 5 females and 10 males - all conditioned on frozen bloodworm. I put a mass of Java Moss in the centre of the main tank, (temp 25.8 deg) and left if for 4 days......observed spawning every morning as the lighting dimmed...

Hi Stu Forgive poor quality - photography and 'scaping not my strong points - but couple of pics of gloss under 1000ND's in my 4x2x2: Water depth at substrate is about 47cm...

No argument about TGM being a major player in the planted scene...I guess I'm just puzzled by why they would so vocally denounce a technology that has been proven by some reputable people, which clearly has a place in the hobby and which pretty much everyone agrees is getting better and better...

Hi all Just wondered if anyone had noticed this from TGM website? Is it just me, or doesn’t this fly in the face of all the current evidence? I have 3 x GroBeam 1000’s over my 4 x 1.5 x 2, and can only concur with the positive feedback provided by George and others elsewhere under the...