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  1. Notator

    easiest planted setup for rio 125?

    ^^What she said +1 :-) If you could convince them to do more frequent water changes like 10-20% that would actually save time in the long run maybe?
  2. Notator

    easiest planted setup for rio 125?

    A lot depends on how much they want to spend! Starting from the bottom I'd go for a better substrate than quartz - if your rich go for something like ADA Amazonia, if you're trying to keep it cheap go with something like molar clay. If you've only got an internal filter I suspect the water...
  3. Notator

    How do you remember to dose your tanks?

    In answer to the original question - how do you remember to dose - I,...wait for it..it's very sad... I have a spread-sheet on my desktop with a reminder programmed into my task scheduler.... Ahem. ANYWAY... @ TarkMalbot - To save leaving the bottles open you could drill a hole and put a one...
  4. Notator

    Large CO2 Reactor Advice please?

    I have a 260 litre aquarium, currently running EFX600 (2,200L/ph) external filter, hydor inline heater and Up inline atomiser. To get the CO2 levels up to high enough levels (aiming for lime-green on my 4Dkh/Methyl Blue indicator)... I have run a high number of "bubbles per second" - I know a...
  5. Notator

    Limnophila aquatica "rangy"

    Oh Jeez, don't tell me you're a Python fan too!! *inspired* "This 'ere plant, what you sold me not half an hour ago...is dead" "Nah, it's just resting. Your Norwegian Blue Limnophila is well known for it" etc etc!
  6. Notator

    Limnophila aquatica "rangy"

    Then out come the trusty scissors and a'pruning I will jolly well go!!! I've come to the conclusion that the Bible left Clive out somehow - God may indeed have created the garden of Eden but I think Clive taught him how to look after it :-) Thanks for the info both!
  7. Notator

    Limnophila aquatica "rangy"

    My Limnophila looks perfectly healthy, lovely colour - but it grows with 2-3 cm of stem between the leaf sets... Any suggestions please folks? It's new to my aquarium which is 24" high, 4x 54w T5HO on 6 hours. FE CO2 and EI dosing from sponsor starter kit.
  8. Notator

    tmc 400 led will they work for me

    PS - I'm sure I've read somewhere that Anubias aren't supposed to be good with shrimp... something about a chemical in the root.. Might be worth checking out - sorry I don't know more but I don't have Anubias so I'm no expert J
  9. Notator

    tmc 400 led will they work for me

    Hi Mark, I use a 400 tile in my small tank which is very nearly half the width and same height and depth as yours and the lighting is just fine - I have a Hemianthus carpet which is supposed to be helped by good lighting conditions so I would have thought that you would be just dandy with two of...
  10. Notator

    Another EI Newbie Question!

    Thanks all - from the answers and the links I've got enough to choose now! I think the summary would be... If you are making large batches then perhaps the boiled/cooled cooled water option may cause issues due to impurities,spores etc But probably not. And CEG says it's ok to use anything and...
  11. Notator

    Another EI Newbie Question!

    I've just taken delivery of my EI chemicals from aquariumplantfood.co.uk... The instructions say to mix with boiled & cooled water - but I've also seen on other threads that you should mix them with RO, De-Ionised or Distilled water... Any advice please???
  12. Notator

    New to EI ?

    :-) 'Course not - if it goes right it's obviously something I must have done! :-) Oh alright -seeing as it's you - and you know how many times you've helped me out! As always - really appreciate the input! Serious question though - when my chemicals arrive next week will it be ok to just...
  13. Notator

    New to EI ?

    Well, I've taken the plunge and ordered a starter kit from on of our sponsors - Aquarium Plant Food UK Now if it all goes 'orribly wrong... I'm going to blame CEG4048 :-)
  14. Notator

    New to EI ?

    But I have given my Bacopa crushed Viagra at the roots - it now grows straight up.
  15. Notator

    New to EI ?

    - Laughing like a donkey! Last thing you need to give a fish with a reputation for fighting is Stella
  16. Notator

    New to EI ?

    Sorry London...I just saw a pile of white powder and thought to myself..why not? :-) And apologies to any of the worlds major religeons I MAY have borrowed from. ( At least I didn't say "There is ONLY the Estimitive Index, and CEG is it's prophet.) ((Oh, bugger.))
  17. Notator

    New to EI ?

    LMAO @ thelats - does beer work too ? I've been drinking it for years and the growth around my mid-region is awesome... !!!! Thanks for the reassurance - I do find it a bit daunting sometimes ( you wouldn't belive how far away from me I was holding the fire extinguisher the first time I opened...
  18. Notator

    New to EI ?

    HeeHee - I know Clive - I'm suprised it took you this long to tell me off!!!! I've read a lot of your posts on the the subjects of myths and misunderstanding like addiction to testing kits! I'm trying to follow your path Sensei ! :-) It's just that "messing about with chemicals" was...
  19. Notator

    New to EI ?

    Thanks Ian - that's very helpful. That's what I'm finding difficult really is the dosing - I've been religeously measuring fluid ferts (all Seachem) and I think it's just the "concept" of being a little "roougher" with the measurements that is scaring me! PS - Oh- and I KNOW this is VERY sad...
  20. Notator

    New to EI ?

    Cheers Paulo, those look very intersting too... Can I ask - how do you store them - ready made / mix as you go / batches?
  21. Notator

    New to EI ?

    The problem with that Paulo is I don't know exactly what to buy - for example there is a sticky warning about different things available on a well known auction site... I'd like to buy my own and mix them up - but maybe I'm best leaving that to the experts!
  22. Notator

    New to EI ?

    BOOM - there ya go, all on one page! Thanks folks - In my defence I did say I'd seen "ready to mix" packs but it's scary for a newbie! Sometimes the forum is TOO good - there is SO much to learn! Input much appreciated, thanks again, Jerry
  23. Notator

    New to EI ?

    Can some one point me in the direction or a list of chemicals I need... The measurements I would need... I do have a brand new set of gram scales! I've been reading through the posts on this section for ages and have found it difficult to find a starting point - it seems to get complicated...
  24. Notator

    EMERGENCY? Help!

    Glad things are going in the right direction for you!
  25. Notator

    No Roots on HC

    It never occured to me to "staple" it down - brilliant idea! I've used about 1.5cm of black Limpopo sand - it does root in that quite well. But I've found if you trim it quite harshly it seems to root better and you get less lifting - but it can look a bit patchy after a hard "prune".
  26. Notator

    EMERGENCY? Help!

    My first tank I made the mistake of a major rework of the the tank, but because I kept the water and filter I thought it would be fine... I strongly recommend Seachem Prime and Seachem Stability - and just test for Ammonia and Nitrite - the NitrAte tests can be affected by so many things you may...
  27. Notator

    Stocking Advice please?

    No..not THOSE kind of stockings! I'm just setting up my 250 litre tank, I've finally decided on: Neons / Black Neons & Crystal Red Shrimp Heavily planted tank, water change 40-50%, Pressurised CO2, 40 inch custom made rain bar proding lots of surface disturbance... What sort of numbers...
  28. Notator

    New Plants & Shrimps

    Just thought I'd share an email I received today from a supplier : Please find below some information which I hope has been included with your order. Thank you for buying your plants from Plants Alive. The plants have spent very little time in our tanks and we would advise you to rinse...
  29. Notator

    Best place to order large quantity of HC (Heminathus Callitrichoides)

    Errr.. yeah... bit...um...damp though maybe?!
  30. Notator

    Best place to order large quantity of HC (Heminathus Callitrichoides)

    lol Whitey...don't say things like that! My wife might see it! I was planning on spreading it out and letting it grow - cutting it into small "plugs" and spacing them about 3 cm apart has worked for me in the past... And that's quite a lot cheaper!
  31. Notator

    Best place to order large quantity of HC (Heminathus Callitrichoides)

    Thanks for those suggestions - both new to me - Scapegoat, if you could let me know how they look I'd appreciate it... Some kind of common system of measurement would be useful wouldn't it... "a pot"..how big is "a pot" - most don't mention.. 5 x 5cm for £20 sounds pretty good though!
  32. Notator

    Best place to order large quantity of HC (Heminathus Callitrichoides)

    Hi, I need to get some HC for a new tank... Well, I say some - I need enough to cover about 4 square feet of it! Anyone any suggestions on best / cheapest place to get HC in large quantities? Ta!
  33. Notator

    Advice for problem with CO2 mixer please?

    Cheers Alastair, feel reassured now!
  34. Notator

    Advice for problem with CO2 mixer please?

    Ahhh, thanks Alatair, that makes sense - and no- it's not going past the non-returns - in fact it isn't getting as far back as them. It is just that I have about a metre of clear CO2 tubing looped up and one loop always fills with water overnight. Next morning when the gas comes on it "blows...
  35. Notator

    Advice for problem with CO2 mixer please?

    Hi, I have a CO2 mixer on the return feed to my tank. It is the sort with a chamber fed by water returning to the tank from the external filter that drives a paddle and has a CO2 feed at the top. ( like this ) The problem is that despite having two CO2 non-return valves installed when the CO2 is...
  36. Notator

    Red Cherry Breeding advice please?

    The problem with living in the middle of nowhere as I do is that there is only one LFS that sells shrimp..and that's the one I got mine from!
  37. Notator

    Red Cherry Breeding advice please?

    Does anyone think it would be worth sourcing some from somewhere different to mix up the genes? Would that help? I'm really pround of my "best ones" - they're as good as any I've ever seen for sale... It's just this wierd thing that sometimes I get a new batch of babies thatt are so transparent...
  38. Notator

    Red Cherry Breeding advice please?

    Thanks for the info folks... Unfortunately moving them to another tank isn't possible - I have been threatened with divorce already! However, I am just a few weeks away from having my new 240L tank up and running and my shrimpies will be moving to more luxurious accomodation! I'd much rather...
  39. Notator

    Why my HC is doing that

    Riccia is proof of the garden motto: If it grows where you want it to, it's a plant. If I grows where you DON'T want it to, it's a weed !
  40. Notator

    Red Cherry Breeding advice please?

    Having discovered that the magic formula for breeding Red Cherry Shrimp is:- Water + RCS = Lots of RCS's :D I've noticed that some of the new progeny are brilliantly coloured - solid colour, amost sakura/fire coloured... Some are well coloured RCS examples with colour fading to speckles on the...
  41. Notator

    Which Nikon?

    The best thing to spend money on in photography is the best lenses you can possibly get... There will be new cameras, but a good lens stays a good lens for a lot longer. For example, since the introduction of the L f2.8 24-70mm Canon have released (in no particular order) the 5D, 5D Mkii, 5D...
  42. Notator

    Planted Tank Phobias - Real & Imagined~!

    Following on from a thread where I postulated that "Hygrophilaphobia should be the latin for "Fear of fast growing plants" - I have a few other suggestions!!! Real: Glossophobia - is a real one - it's actually fear of language or speaking... Atychiphobia - Fear of being wrong - I get this one...
  43. Notator

    RO vs Nitrate removal filter

    Thanks AWB - you've really helped my atychiphobia... (Google it u b*****r!) :-) Just out of curiousity...there is a Glossophobia! In fact, You've inspired me - I'm going to start a new thread for planted tank phobias...real and real sounding! http://www.ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=24361
  44. Notator

    RO vs Nitrate removal filter

    *sticks head nervously above the parapet* :-) I live just round the corner from Mr Farmer I beleive! Thanks for the tip on Hygrophila - sounds like the latin name for "Fear of Fast Growing Plants" :-)
  45. Notator

    How much time do people spend actually watching their tanks?

    Re: How much time do people spend actually watching their ta :lol: How did you get away with 5 tanks?? What's your secret? Working from home + tanks next to computer = angry customers + learning lots on UK aps ! :D It gets worse, I have a new FE powered CO2 system - I have been known to...
  46. Notator

    RO vs Nitrate removal filter

    See... I KNEW I shouldn't have used the word "simply". Knew it. :-) Now I know I'm going to regret this too...but...if:- Would I not be better pumping air into my reactor and not worrying about my fire extinguisher collection? Also, could anyone give me some names of small, dense plants...
  47. Notator

    How much time do people spend actually watching their tanks?

    Re: How much time do people spend actually watching their ta To the right of my computer is my nano...to the left is my 240l (under construction)... The WORST thing for productivity EVER is to have my tanks on or next to my desk...but I love it!
  48. Notator

    Tetratec EX1200 (Running at reduced flow)

    I don't know if this helps but : I have a Aquamanta 200.. on a 26 litre tank... (It's suitable for a 200 litre tank!) and YES, it IS "turned down". The "effort" a pump has to make is the effort to life the water back up into the tank, gravity/siphon helps it on the way down. Reducing the water...
  49. Notator

    RO vs Nitrate removal filter

    Do any particular plants use a lot of nitrate in their growth cycle compared to others or is it simply a matter of more growth = more nutrient requirement? (I can't beleive I just said "simply"... I KNOW that's asking for trouble!)
  50. Notator

    RO vs Nitrate removal filter

    I do frequent changes alright - but the level of nitrates never seems to drop much - UNLESS I fill my tank with really fast growing plants. The problem with that is that I then need to tend the tank every day pruning or it gets really unruly. I've swapped slowly but surely over to slower growing...
  51. Notator

    Carpet Question

    My HC (once established) is so dense that it is springy to the touch - and it copes with my Assassins going for the occasional "plough" through as they seek out the last remaining snails!
  52. Notator

    RO vs Nitrate removal filter

    Thanks to everyone - very helpful and very reassuring! Wow there is a wealth of knowledge on this forum! IT was the Otto's I was concerned for - although I hasten to point out they don't seem distressed at all - and also I had been considering investing in some crystal shrimp (Maybe I'll back...
  53. Notator

    co2 supermarket mixer reactor set

    I got my FE Regulator and CO2 mixer from CO2 supermarket - now finally had time to get them up and running... The regulator seems a little less refined than some others I've seen on here -BUT having said that it is also ½ the price AND it works just fine. I've got it "dialled down" to a mix...
  54. Notator

    RO vs Nitrate removal filter

    CEG, are you stalking me? :) Thanks, again, I'm not trying to be arguementative - just trying to understand... I'm sure I've read in more than one place that high nitrate levels are bad for the fish and should be under 20ppm...
  55. Notator

    RO vs Nitrate removal filter

    In my area the water is heavy in nitrates - around 40/50ppm consistently, and higher at the weekends... So my question is can anyone advise me on whether to go for an RO unit or just a Nitrate filter. Any pro's and con's to either would be very much appreciated, Jerry
  56. Notator

    What other hobby's do you have?

    WAIT... There are OTHER hobbies???? Really? Sheesh.
  57. Notator

    Pruning new Heminathus carpet?

    Oh errr... I've not dared post any pictures of my nano! I don't think it's "up to standard" - it's what I've been using to learn about plants/water/CO2 and generally pester CEG with silly questions everyday! :-)
  58. Notator

    Pruning new Heminathus carpet?

    Hi folks, Thanks to help and info from here I've successfully managed to establish a Heminathus carpet in my nano tank. The "clumps" have merged into one and it's grown to a depth of about 2cm. It's very dense (feels "springy" if you push down on it with fingers). I want to cut it back : A) to...
  59. Notator

    CO2 Refills...

    @ Matt1988 Fenland Fire Appliances in wisbech will refill CO2 FE's - if they are newish and in good condition, if they look "iffy" they will pressure test (£25) ONCE and certify the vessel - after that they just charge gas - £16 for a 2Kg C02 FE, Hope that helps!
  60. Notator

    co2 supermarket mixer reactor set

    Mine arrived today - first impression is pretty good. I'm still waiting for my FE to arrive so I wasn't able to test it "live"... but I did connect it up and blow some bubbles in down the tube as well - seems to work very well. Not too noisy - "chops" up the drops... As soon as I've got all my...
  61. Notator

    Using plants to soften lighting?

    I'm a bit scared to try Pennywort....! Here's why! http://planttracker.naturelocator.org/blog/2012/06/30/floating-pennywort-tackling-growing-issue
  62. Notator

    Miracle Gro / Osmocote ?

    :-) My brain hurts... PArt of me keeps thinking..."it's a fish tank...it CAN'T be THAT complicated"...but then I read another topic and think.."oh..yeah, actually..it IS..."! Good fun trying to learn though!
  63. Notator

    Miracle Gro / Osmocote ?

    Did anyone else here the whistling noise that made when it went right over my head?? :)
  64. Notator

    Using plants to soften lighting?

    How can I keep the Riccia in one place though? Tie some to the side and wait for the rest to "snare up" in it? Hinch > Snail magnet - lol - that's fine ... I have lots of baby assassins ready from my nano tank who will shortly be rehoused in more palatial surroundings once the new tank starts...
  65. Notator

    'Heteropoda's Throne' IAPLC #463

    It seems so simple...Looks beautiful... And made me realise I have FAR too many plants in my nano!
  66. Notator

    Using plants to soften lighting?

    Hi all, I'm a newbie trying to set up my first planted tank... I have a 120x40wx50h tank with 4x T5 24w - switchable to either two or all tubes on/off. Even just two of the tubes seems blooming bright to me - but I've no experience to draw on.. I've read that it is a good idea not to "blast"...
  67. Notator

    Miracle Gro / Osmocote ?

    Thanks again Ceg! None of my LFS are much into planted aquaria - so this forum is a Godsend to me... There's about a million things I need to learn! I have a limited budget, and big dreams - I can't afford mistakes like putting the wrong thing under my substrate and messing everything up!
  68. Notator

    co2 supermarket mixer reactor set

    I'm as anxious as you andy - 'cos I ordered one of them to try out today! Anyone any experience with these that they can share?
  69. Notator

    Miracle Gro / Osmocote ?

    HI all, I've seen people posting about using a layer of Osmocote under molar clay... Well I haven't been able to find Osmocote in any of my local garden places, But I could find MiracleGro "All purpose continuous relaeas plant food" Would this be OK to use instead? Be very greatful for advice...
  70. Notator

    Prepping wood for the tank

    I suppose in nature allsorts of things drop into the water/rot/leach etc - but on the other hand there is "new" water on the way down all the time... I was just worried that in the confines of my tank it wouldn't be "flushed" in the same way - but point taken! Partly I think I'm also thinking...
  71. Notator

    If you have 25 mins to spare....

    Wow...just...WOW.... Now, If I can Just get the 6 right numbers, 20 years of experience and a bigger house I can do that... Here, hold my beer..!
  72. Notator

    Prepping wood for the tank

    Thanks so much... It can have two weeks in the tub - Soak, Flush, Scrub, Soak...repeat..lol I'm so paranoid about making a silly mistake 'cos I've sepnt so much on my aquarium I think My Mrs would divorce me if I killed everything!
  73. Notator

    First aquascape!

    I'm with ya Krazy! I started reading this forum over a year ago...and I feel like I know nothing and I see other people's tanks/plans - like yours for example - and it just makes me think...how do they DO that.. And THEN I have to get the wallet out again. Two things I have learned from this...
  74. Notator

    Prepping wood for the tank

    *I've just searched piccies on the net* It's Mopani wood...
  75. Notator

    Prepping wood for the tank

    Thanks Big Tom & Ceg... Yeah, it's definitely NOT a piece of junk wood from the side of the road... I don't know the name of it - but it is immensely heavy and the "reverse" is deep, dark "whorls" - I have seen then in plenty of aquaria... So it's tannins that make the water brown ?? In other...
  76. Notator

    Prepping wood for the tank

    So, I found a lovely piece of wood at my LFS for the centrepiece of my new tank... Any advice on how best to prepare it so that everything doesn't look like tea? It's too large for a bucket, so I bought a tub - but can anyone tell me the best way to make sure it's tank safe and ready to go...
  77. Notator

    Substrate for Heminathus (HC)

    ???????????????? ! Thanks very much, most helpful! Jerry
  78. Notator

    Substrate for Heminathus (HC)

    Thanks for that - makes perfect sense... Any suggestions on what depth of it I would need on top of my clay please? And at the risk of being even more cheeky...any suggestions on suitable brands/names I could look for? Thanks, Jerry
  79. Notator

    Substrate for Heminathus (HC)

    Hiya, I'm planning a new 'scape and I'd like to have a "bay" carpeted by Heminathus. The bulk of my substrate currently is moler clay (courtesy of Bonsai shop just down my road!) I'm after recommendations for something finer to "hold" this pesky HC, and suggestions on the depth of whatever...
  80. Notator

    Endlers Livebearers - Where to get TRUE ones?

    Can anyone tell me where I can source just a few "true" Endler's? All the LFS's I've tried near me that do stock "Endler's" are definitely hybrids... I'm near Peterborough, but would travel for the real thing if I can find it!
  81. Notator

    Has anyone tried / used these please ?

    And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why is it always good to ask silly questions! I don't think rimless is an option on this tank - I think the glass may be too thin / need bracing... Any ideas on light units that would fit it>?
  82. Notator

    Has anyone tried / used these please ?

    I've just "inherited" and older style fluval 240 tank - it has a thick plastic rim at the top and used to hold an I-Bar with 2x T8 42" bulbs. I'd like to convert it to 4x54W T5's - Full Length... Has anyone bought or seen one of these or any other feedback? Thanks folks...
  83. Notator

    Hi from Wisbech, Cambs

    Hi All, Been browsing this forum avidly for information for the last few months... I'm a complete nooby to planted aquariums, and just taken possession of a four foot tank. I have about a million questions about substrates, lighting, chemistry, plant choice, etc etc... You have all been warned...
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