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Thank you both, looks like I'll be getting lost in the archives again :D

I was gifted a second hand Aqua One AquaVue 380 which is 28 litres and I fancy attempting something different and...outside the box. A paludarium, hanging wood roots and some nice terrestrial plants above etc. I've cleaned it up, and removed the plastic rim as the built in filter was taking up a...

Given the moss on the wood a good hacking back because I couldn't see my bucephalandra anymore! I was a bit ruthless but a lot of it wasn't attached, and I'm sure it'll soon recover. Still feel like there's something missing, I'm not happy with the middle and right of the aquascape. The left is...

Quick update! It's amazing how much I missed looking at the tank in the 4 days, but just uncovered it and it all looks great! Plants are totally fine, a little outstretched towards the light but nothing major and I can't see any cyano on them! Possibly some left at the front underneath the sand...

Thank you everyone for your replies, I read all your comments but was distracted by health issues and couldn't find the time to reply properly. Excellent, I will give this a go then! I know cyanobacteria isn't an algae but it does still photosynthesise as Darrel said. Ok I will give it a...

Thank you, it's certainly worth a try! The plants won't be negatively affected? I'll add some more floating plants if I can get some but the ones I have are showing good growth finally, probably thanks to the fert 'overdosing' :) Any other plants you suggest, maybe for the background? I don't...

Time for another journal entry I think! I still have cyanobacteria! And it's driving me a little around the bend. I tried manual removing as much as possible during 50% weekly water changes. I tried using the higher dose of 'The Aquascaper' fertiliser to ensure the plants weren't being...

Going much better now thanks Darrel, but still not quite 'perfect'! It was a bit of a palava to get hold of the Hornwort, which arrived in pieces anyway, but hopefully it'll start working it's magic soon as it recovers! I also got some salvinia cucullata and hygrophila pinnatifida to add to the...

Thanks Darrel. The new filter cartridge has a 'core' of very open celled foam and there's a little more porous pad that sits in the bottom so some sponge but seeing how brown and nasty the old filter wool was I thought it could use some finer stuff until settled. I will keep in mind though that...

Still battling with my algae issues. I've been keeping up with frequent large water changes, manual removal and have swapped the filter wool for filter floss and mature ceramic bio-rings from another tank. Added some shrimp to help battle what I can't get and because I like them :). Lights are...

Yes I have two other, non planted aquariums. I did previously squeeze some mulm into the tank from a piece of filter floss. I might be able to rob some bio media from the fx5 once I get the Dennerle module, if it'll fit in it. But god I hate that thing :oops: gives me back ache just thinking...

No need to appologise to me Darrel, sometimes we all need a good shouting at ;) Just kidding, I read your replies as frustration over the perpetuation of false information rather than anger directed towards me. I've gone over a lot of the material you provided and I think the penny is finally...

Sorry Darrel, that was meant to read new to me. I've been a fish keeper for 7 years and honestly this is the first time someone has said to me don't use ammonia to cycle an aquarium. I'm not disputing what you are saying. You clearly have a much more scientific background than myself and are...

Thank you so much Darrel, I always like to see the reasoning behind things but I think it'll take me a while to digest all this new information! I am planning on doing a large water change momentarily, as suggested, to remove all the nitrites that were between 0.25 and 0.5ppm. If this brings the...

Oh no! Really?! This is always the way I've been taught to do it, just shows you can't assume you already know the best way to do something :rolleyes: thanks for the heads up. I'll do another water change today. Are there any signs I should look out for in terms of the cycle being completed...

Aren't they just awful! As soon as the tank is cycled I'll try some snails, shrimp, ottos the lot :lol: Thanks I'll keep an eye on the Riccia, I do keep fishing little bits out that never stuck down properly but if it all goes that way so be it!

Well I flooded the aquarium on Wednesday, added ammonia along with some Cloverleaf pearls as well as squeezing some filter floss mulm in from another aquarium to speed the cycle up a bit. Two days later I already had some nitrite showing up, but my tank is in this really horrible messy stage...

Can't believe it's almost been a month again :nailbiting: been busy with 'on land' gardening and my art so the tank has been largely ignored in this time. I've let water pool up from spraying it down, but seemingly no harm done and the hairgrass is actually growing better where the pool was...

Grabbed a bargain pot of Riccia Fluitans today. It was mostly yellow but I've tweezers out the good bits and I'm experimenting mixing it in with the java fern, right at the top of the aquarium. You probably wouldn't know it was there unless I told you :lol: but we'll see what happens...I'm...

Thank you very much! That's good to know the clumps are ok, and it's just a slow process. Happy to wait as there's no point rushing it now! I keep toying with the idea of making it a mixed carpet with some micranthemum monte carlo but not sure if that will do well with the planned no co2. I'm...

Sorry for such a big gap in the journal. I'd say it's been about 6 weeks now since I planted it up and started experimenting with the DSM. I just wanted to put in some updates and also mention what I'm doing on a daily basis to maintain it. It's been a good exercise in being patient...but it's...

Well the new connector works perfectly! I do get some 'flashing' from the LED at a very low brightness (under 5% I think), almost like lightning! Not sure if this is damaging the bulb? Plants are slow but steady, finally getting some actual new shoots from the hairgrass!! :cool: But sadly have...

Thank you both, looks like I need to get some clay and try it out!

Hi all, tried to search the forum but couldn't find the exact answer. I'm making some underwater potted plants, potted because I need to be able to constantly move and rescape for breeding purposes. I've gotten some tetra clay substrate but I want to add some fertiliser into the mix. When...

Wow thank you so much for such a detailed and informative response! You're not the only one who's learned a lot hehe. This is why I love forums, people can follow this and see what problems I had and all the lovely members who told me how to fix it so they can overcome any similar problems...

You are right yes the pin is slightly too big! Thank you I wasn't sure what to search to get anything to come up, I'm determined to make this thing work now so I can have a nice sunrise to sunset. Outrageous :eek: haha thank you for the link!

Well not much to report in terms of plant growth yet. A few crypt leaves have melted off, as expected, but most of the plants remain as I put them! At least nothing has flat out died though, and the moss is starting to come back especially under the shade of the bucephalandra and anubias. My...

I've not soaked it no, I'll be doing a dry start for a few weeks and was hoping it would absorb some moisture haha but probably wishful thinking. I think I'll have to use a rock to keep it down to start without crushing anything!

I finally got my order of plants from Watermarque, it got sent to the post office for a few days but surprisingly everything was just fine! I used two pots of cryptocoryne wendtii green and brown mixed, two pots of balansae, and half a pot of lucens as I was running out of planting room haha. I...

Well the shop I went to today didn't have much, I went with one pot of in-vitro AquaFleur elocharis parvula and one pot of helanthium tenellum. I was surprised at how much hair grass I got! Possibly too much as I did want some visible sand haha. But the h.tenellum I possibly could have done with...

I'd like to think I have a slight intellectual advantage over a fish :p but I get your point. I've seen some nasty heater burns on discus but maybe that's due to how high the heater is running. I've put it horizontally and high enough off the substrate that they couldn't sit underneath it and...

I couldn't quite get it to fit horizontally as the wood was in the way, but following advice I think I'm going to pull the whole hardscape forward again and do exactly that! It's been a number of years since I've had pygmy corydoras but they won't burn themselves on the heater if they're able to...

Thanks for your feedback akwarium, further forward still as I have done it a little?

The minimum water level is the silver strip just above where the temperatures are, so it is tight but 'ok'. I might look into getting a nano heater. Any recommendations? I wish I had gone down the custom route now seeing as equipment is getting replaced anyway :banghead: I don't want to take the...

Well I managed to get a Dennerle nano corner filter from my LFS after looking online it seemed like a small and quiet choice. Also a plus it's shrimp safe as I would like some. I put the filter and heater in where I plan to have dense plants to hide them. I did notice though that I didn't think...

I'd love some feedback if anyone has any? In the mean time here's a picture of my pogostemon erectus I've been growing emersed and it's first flower! I've been researching plants for this tank, and I'm thinking cryptocorynes, java fern, moss, anubais, bucephalandra, helanthium tenellum...

Well I had a complete change of heart about the filter! I started building up the substrate and it became clear the inlet was going to be too low down :eek: I tried moving it to the right...but then the plugs didn't reach to the sockets soooo I have just removed it! I think I will get a small...

Thanks Michael, I've ordered one from another e-bay seller (your link was out of stock) for just under £10, so worth a try! If it fits I'll get another one. Tested the filter, and while there is a definite white noise kind of hum we've both decided it's tolerable! I woke up a few times in the...

Thanks Michael! Does the pro version dim all LED? Are all LEDs dimmable? I might have to upgrade at least one of the timers for the phase element alone.

Double checked and couldn't see anything about that, so hoping that's all good! Pink looks fine with the white, and it is growing (heh) on me for a night time colour actually. Does it matter which one is on longer than the other? I tried to get the hum of the filter as quiet as possible, but so...

Hi Tam, yeah I was thinking of doing the white light mostly, and the pink light an hour after and then an hour before the white light goes off? Or even less than that? I'm not a huge fan of the pinkish colour personally but someone said it would be better for the plant growth. The glass is...

It's plugged into an extension lead, will it cause any issues going through that then the timer, then the adapter? You hear horror stories about these things haha

Uh-oh! Who designed this light's plug :shifty: are there any timers this would still work with?

Haha! If the fish are anything like my cat they'd probably just splash water at me until I got up and fed them if I didn't have a lid o_O Great thank you! I will just put them on 6 hours to start and increase slowly as the tank matures :) at least I have the ability to half the brightness if I...

Hi all. I'm finally ready to set up my Ciano 60 aquarium I got some months ago. I can't wait to lie back, relax and sleep with the fishes ;) Me and my partner have reinforced a Hombase unit (similar to Ikea Kallax) with 18mm plywood top and back and covered with contact paper to prevent any...

Ok well I'd like to get on and start looking at plants, so I guess I'll leave the hardscape as is? I'm hoping for a 'enchanted overgrown forest' kinda vibe but we'll see what I actually manage to grow and achieve! I just did a very quick Photoshop mock up of what plants I'd like to use roughly...

Hi James, that's a fair point it is a large piece for the size of the vase. The only thing is I'll be using it to grow some emersed stuff up the top once I figure this all out so even if it throws the scale off I'm kind of married to the wood now haha.

Came back to it and put my substrate in, which made it a lot easier but this TMC stuff is hard to wiggle rocks into! Think I'll leave it for tonight but would love some feedback on how to make it better :)

Struggling with the hardscape a bit, it's very hard to see into the distorted curved glass while working! I've hacked bits off the spider wood to make it fit how I want, but the rocks are a problem area! I want to hide the 'underneath' of the wood but the rocks lack any excitement! Any tips...

Ok so I'm pretty certain that temperature will fluctuate in my vase, but from what I've recorded it seems to vary 1c either side, stay constant and then vary again. In my opinion that doesn't seem to much of a wild swing to upset snails and shrimp but I want the plants to establish long before...

Good to know, I quite like Ramshorns so they'll do! Thanks for the other suggestions but they're a bit too 'creepy bug' looking for my liking :nailbiting: hehe. Yes I've read your journal, and was inspired to try something similar! Love the little videos too. Hopefully I can make it work with...

That sounds just like my kitchen and what I'd like to achieve! I agree...pics! :D

Thanks Diane and Tiger, the mixed colours are growing on me and I'll experiment with my hardscape soon. I've actually set the vase up on the windowsill with water in and will be recording the temperature several times a day for a while to see how much it swings about. Obviously not entirely...

Got a bunch of small pieces of rock from my LFS and cleaned them up. I thought they were all similar colours oops! What's people's opinions on mixing rock colours that at least have a similar texture? (Just realised picture doesn't show it being much different, but a few are a lot more red than...

Hmm good point. That windowsill gets a nice amount of light but it's not direct sun, if the free app I just downloaded is right it's Easterly facing and my Orchid has survived several years on there so I don't think it's scorchingly bright. I guess I won't know until I set it up, and put a...

I happened on a nice vase in TK Maxx that holds 8 litres so I thought I'd experiment a bit and make something pretty for me to look at in the kitchen! Plan is it'll be unfiltered, unheated and planted up with some nice emergent growth and maybe some riparium style house plants in future. I'd...

That looks very tidy well done! Ah ok that's where we got confused. I thought even though it can take 48w per channel, that the positive output V+ could only take 48w as well! Spoken to the seller and they said they'd supply 6500k dimmable lights for so I'll order 15 (spares sound good). At...

Sorry just having a chat with my partner and he is just as confused as me haha. If 5 lights is 45w, and it can only take 48w maximum I'll have to get three of these TC420 for 12 lights? I want two 50cm lights over each 120cm length, I have two 120cm wide racks and 3 levels on each so essentially...

Thanks again zozo, you've been super helpful! White sounds like the one for me then, but I'll double check with the seller. I can't wait to get this project up and running!

You're telling me :nailbiting: haha but thank you so much, the more I read what you've explained and think about it, the more I think maybe I can do this!...If not with a little help from trusty Dad! One more question though sorry, which colour did you pick when you bought them? Only white or...

That's true, they might be able to help make things easier for me! I shall ask them and see what they say. Since they're 50cm long, should I get two for each 120cm level, so 12 lights in total? How many lights can I attach to the dimmer/timer? Sorry I struggle a bit with all this technical stuff...

Wow thanks for the very detailed reply. I think I'll have to re-read this a few times to totally understand everything haha but seems a very good price. If I'm connecting in series, I have to do some wiring right? I've never attempted anything like that so could be...interesting! And sorry, what...

Hello all, I will soon be setting up some aquarium racking systems. I'd like to include some easy low light tolerating plants but need help deciding what lights to purchase. I'd like a balance of bright enough for healthy plant growth and for me to see in, but not so bright the fish are...

Thanks, you've been really helpful. Is that your tank? Plants are looking lovely and healthy! Picked up both the tank and the plant light today. Will get some more bits next payday! Might do a journal so people can point out where I'm going wrong haha

Excuse me if I'm wrong but I think all three of those are fancy or fantail goldfish, so they'll all get to 6-8" maximum (15-20cm) and may not fair well in English ponds. Some people are successful but it seems rather hit or miss. Traditionally a Shubunkin refers to a single tailed/comet goldfish...

Hey that's great info thanks! Yes was a bit worried the pink would be too dominant and make the bedroom look a bit dodgy ;) I'm getting the tank somewhere local so I'll ask them if they can order me one in :D

Thanks very much Mihai! Do you use the plant light? It looks very pink which I'm not sure I like, is it better for the plants than just another one of the white strips? I actually have some Eheim filter media in my fx5 so I will just pinch a bit of that! But glad to hear it's quiet :) I'll look...

Thanks everyone for the replies so far. I think I definitely want some croaking gouramis :D but it's a toss up between the Ciano Aqua 60 and the AquaEl Leddy 60. Both have 8w LED, are both roughly 60x30x30, and very similar prices. Can anyone see why one would be better than the other? The Ciano...

Thanks another nice little aquarium to consider and some great inspiration!

I love how they've documented the progress of this aquarium! And just the kind of stocking I was thinking about. Thank you, I'll do some research on that one.

Hi all, been out of the planted aquarium hobby for a few years now and feel inspired to get back into it. I'd love a little planted tank between 40-60 litres next to my bed. Problem is, there are so many nano style tanks these days I don't know what to pick! I've been looking at ones like the...

Well the LEDs are looking to be the best option then, might have to chuck a load of floating plants in as well if it's too much. Thanks for the guidance :)

Ok thanks for clearing that up Troi, I agree the 48W was looking a bit strong - I'd rather not have co2 if avoidable so I think the LEDs are looking the better option unless I can find a single long t5. Thank Idc, I'll check out your journal :)

Thanks Troi, replacing bulbs in a t5 isn't a problem if you think algae would crop up from the colour range. But like you said, that's quite high lighting for just a small 30" with low light plants, the problem I'm finding is getting a fixture long enough but with fewer bulbs. Most people want...

Haha nothing is wrong with that, but my family always request a proper ideas list! So why not get something I'll use :) trying not to overdo it on price though obviously.

My birthday is coming up soon, and I'd like to kindly ask family for a new light fixture. I'm currently lighting my 30"x15"x12" tank with a clamp CFL bulb haha I can see enough to look at the fish and my java fern survives but I'd like to try my second attempt at a planted tank. We're not...

I used blackboard paint, couple of coats and it was a nice solid matte black :)

Thanks for the welcomes, and compliments :) got a nice surprise of Cory eggs this morning so even if it's not perfect yet the fish must like it! I will definately be looking into getting pressurised CO2 in the new year, I found one of my adult corys slurping up the bubbles in the diffuser...

Hi everyone :) long time lurker, new poster. Thought I'd just give myself a quick introduction. Well, my name is Coral and I'm a student who recently got into fish keeping, much to my loan's discomfort haha. On a whim I went into a pet shop and fell in love with black moors, so I went home and...