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I can see where you are coming from, but, you are not seeing evidence for the hypothesis you are providing. You have perceived better growth using the formula but nobody else can quantify this growth as evidence to anything, there are just too many variables. You are then making the link to it...

Yes and No - my favourite answer. :thumbup: Progressively smaller new growth or twisted tips. I spent a long time thinking my plants were loosing their lower leaves from lack of light (thank you matrix), so I kept bumping up the photo-period/reducing floaters only to then find slower...

I'd go with buying dry salts too, far cheaper and yet another thing to fiddle with :roll: But then I think it's hard to distinguish between nutrient & CO2 deficiency, you may find all the woes go away with better co2 distribution. Use EI levels to at least rule them out and then you could look...

Yep, cheers folks, was a good day, nice to meet you all

Shame to hear about them having to go, what's the thoughts on replacements?

I'm in the process of buying the lunapet regulator, solenoid and dual needle valve (it's to split across 2 tanks). I'm thinking about getting the UP aqua inline diffusers (still unsure whether to go for the new ones or not), so I'd like to know what check valves, bubble counters & tubing you...

Count me in too chaps, should be good to see the place.

If you're dosing EI or anything above a tiny amount, it shouldn't matter. The levels of nutrients should always be non-limiting so you should be good regardless I think.

You've got to love the way research grants work, with the frequent "but, that's not what I wanted you to find out!!" One of my favourite moments was running a small lab commercially growing Nitrobacter/Nitrosomonas sp for waste treatment and Basillus sp for fat degradation; the company director...

Cool, you work in that field now? Fully automated self cleaning tank, that is determined to hook itself up to the internet? I think skynet would have been a bit more passe if it had a fish or two in it. Boring?! You've never had a long conversation with me!! Now that's boring. Someone else...

Hi everyone, I've noticed on a few forums that a lot of people come from an engineering, technical or scientific background. Wondering how far this goes got me thinking of the standard issue aquarist, where have you folks came from/do now? Myself; I've got a Microbiology degree from Glasgow...

The anubias toxin chat has no evidence whatsoever to back it up. Something undoubtedly causes the odd shrimp or fish to die but randomly linking it to anubias in the tank is very convoluted logic. A huge number of people breed fish and shrimp with anubias and I've seen people pop one in a...

Hi, Anubias, crypts, java ferns are the good low light staples but loads of plants will still grow at low light levels. They may look 'leggier' (not sure that's a word!) than in high light tanks but still have their own charm in my opinion. Hygrophilla's grew well for me under really low...

Hey, I've never had a problem keeping otos alive and agree that it's probably unhealthy stock to begin with that would cause any problem. In my experience they go nuts for diatoms and soft green algae. You could put a few stones in a bowl on a windowsill to build up some diatom growth and then...

Re: 70l 2tf learning curve Love your chubby oto. I've got a few Parotocinclus jumbo in with mine and they certainly rule the roost, great at keeping the wood clean. Really looking forward to seeing how your tank progresses.

I don't know, I appreciate this is a moot point but I still think that 5.5L is too small for anything but shrimp. Can be argued many ways as lots of people weep at the sight of a sad dog on the telly but then happily tuck into battery farmed meat (which due to my biological background I feel is...

I still don't really like the NPT method of 6 month or less water changes but think once a month or so is fine. Yes we can keep nitrates under check with plant growth but that is one of the few things we can actually test for and not the only factor of fish health. I still think we need to keep...

Couldn't have said it better than George. I think it's the product of high lighting being pushed as the way to improve plant growth which then leads most people to go with CO2 units to combat the inevitable algae. There are some amazing tanks using low light and so avoiding many issues. Some...

I think that as long as the waste is settling and not being held in suspension there should be no worry. The bacteria in the gravel will continue breaking it down releasing the nutrients for your plant to use and effectively making an inert substrate work in a similar way to a nutrient rich...

Right, I used to have a CO2 system but sold it off a few years ago thinking I'd stick to low tech. Stupid ignorance, keep at least 1 of each you fool. :roll: That's why I've never went DIY, it's either been too big or small a tank for me to be bothered with and I don't want to kill the little...

Have you ever had too much CO2 from the DIY in such a small tank? I'm slowly saving the pennies to get a pressurised system for a 6G. Even FE homemade ones are still out of my range just now.....one day :lol:

Even though it's a jungle I think it has some good perspective.

Cards and chest good colleagues I see! :silent: Having worked in a number of different industries it strikes me that some very keen aquarists run shops and some very keen businessmen run shops. When the twain meet surely sparks and water will fly! :wink:

I'd love to know how profitable TGM actually is. Always hard to find reliable figures for ltd companies as they rarely show the true market value of a business due to salary allocation & dividend taking. I wonder which non chain store is the most profitable in the UK.

So what do you guys think would make 'the perfect shop'? For the consumer as well as the business obviously needing to make a healthy profit so they can stay competitive and on the curve?

I completely agree with the adage of use them or lose them. Its completely understandable why they are more expensive than online and smaller businesses always suffer from economies of scale. Being in Brighton I have noticed all of what you said above, where do you find are the best shops down...

Thanks for your input George. It does confuse me though that CO2, and algae could be more off-putting than the relatively higher costs & effort required for a salty. Granted I haven't had a reef set-up for years though so my knowledge will be extremely outdated. Fertiliser fear though surely...

I can see your point that figures wise its marine but I wonder if more people have marine setups or if its the ones that do spend a lot more £'s on there setups compared to FW. Though goldfish have there place (massive tanks!) as a biologist I feel sad that our national species are not thought...

Would love to hear the opinions on why our (UK) aquatics industry is relatively small compared to some other nations. Surrounded by water and a nation of pet lovers yet not really fussed by what goes on in the sea or our rivers. What do folk think? Do people imagine the industry will increase...

Hi Darrell, I still wish I was more into plants when studying myself. Wasting education on the young, bloody rediculous. When I was running the lab we would always come up against the same problems. We would build a biochamber on site to grow and utilise Nitrobacter & Nitrosomonas for waste...

I've noticed that the healthier my plant growth is, the less scum is an issue. Until I go silly with frozen BW feedings, which seems inevitable

Also, don't underestimate how long bacteria can survive at sub 5C temps. We used to ship Nitrosomonas & Nitrobacter to water companies after they had been refrigerated for up to a few weeks before loss was notible.

If your tank is planted enough and a decent size you should still be able to keep a good colony in there though.

Once it gets going you shouldn't have many problems with cherries. Even with dwarf puffers predating the little ones my colony grows.

For some unknown reason I love the thought of a betta floating over the mountain tops, maybe some dragonesque issues my subconcious is harboring.

There's no way I could afford these short life fish scenarios! I'd have been out of the hobby within 6 months.

I've used a bit of cork bark covered in java moss so I imagine riccia would work well on it.

I've found with regular trimming leaf size will reduce slightly also so ave never really had a problem with oversized crypts, unlike some damn swords.

A few years ago i'd have been very disapointed if my magical skill turned out to be promoting red in aquatic plant growth... Now however it's definately a contender with 'see through wall eyes' and Bernards watch.

I struggle to find this in LFS's can you get it from a reasonable online store?

I remember seing this plant a while ago, will be very interested in seing how it gets along for you.

I've managed to keep a cherry shrimp colony going with mine but they do keep the numbers down by nibbling the juvies away. BW and snails from other tanks should be a good idea too.

I think i've read ~15g per oto to produce enough algae for them but i'm sure this guide is very variable! Mine are fond of any vegetable matter and algal wafers. They have also developed a liking to spare bloodworm so can get quite tubby.

I'd stick them in the sand, as long as you are doing water column dosing and maybe a root tab or two they should grow fine. I've noticed I get much more rot growth in my sand tanks than with aquasoil/mud, presumably as nutrients are lower.

You could try reducing photoperiod or intensity, lower the energy of the system or some easycarbo/excel treatment may do the trick.

Totally agree with the above sentiments. Used to be an industrial microbiologist and in my experience you'll be tinkering for eternity trying to do what the plants can do for you.

Hi, I've found the 100mm to be wonderful, though if I had the cash the L version would have been my choice. The IS should let you extend shutter speed a stop or two which is always nice when light levels seem to be the bain of shooting macro. The picture quality will be amazing with both so you...

The canon 100mm is a lovely piece of glass, you won't be disapointed and it should hold it's value well. You're making a good move investing more in lenses than bodies as well mate.

I don't think they are too messy. No more flake food is great for reducing mess and an oto or two should keep spare BW to a minimum. I've also managed to keep a smallish cherry shrimp colony going with them which are great for keeping the plants clean. Definately worth some thought.

I've got 2 in a 40L and 1 in a shudder 25L fluval chi. Great little fish, loads of personality and they love a planted tank.

I found after a day or two of the courgette being in there they munched it away. They can't gt enough of my soft green algae, not so much the hair though. They are much more colourful after being in the tank a few months.

What size do you find they grow to?

A dwarf puffer?

Really nice tank, my pitbull ottos do a good job of keeping algae at bay, nice and small too.