Search results for query: *

I think there are about 9 in total red tail and red finned sharks. One is an albino. There are two chunky female rtbs who regularly square off against each other. There are no serious squabbles, but they do have a pecking order. Any chased are just to move out of the way, but relentless chases...

Thanks Ian, female red tail sharks kind of give their name some justice. Beautiful fish. I do have the two others going they are primarily single rainbowfish species aquariums. I will post an update soon. They are all in process of regeneration since neglecting them a bit last year.

Feels like it's regenerated a bit better. I also added some smaller varieties of anubias and bucephalandra.

Thanks, yes I have been recently adding Bonzai and Paxing, however I have struggled with Bucephalandra in the past with this tank and I am not sure why. The leaves become blackened and they don't grow. I will try again at some point.

Thanks Tim. It's ok. Pleasant enough, just could always be better.

It's been a while, lots of neglect, hobby kind of went on the back burner since 2017, no CO2 injection for 3 or 4 years now. Trying to clean things up and get interested again, but it's still going to be no CO2 injection for the future on all my tanks. Still have Rainbowfish, although this tank...

I think some of the photo quality was lost or perhaps because it is much bigger picture than on the phone. Eventually the Red mangrove died, possibly from when I lowered the light units.

Sent from my HUAWEI CRR-L09 using Tapatalk

Kind of liking Shoreline.

Very beautiful, but a little sorry to see it dismantled.

The Radions seem pretty decent. I only use two external filters, a eheim 2080 and a 2180. Apart from filtration they are used for heating (incl. an inline 300w hydor on the 2080) and co2 injection with circulation primarily undertaken by the gyre pumps. The co2 reactors are from Aquamas, a...

Pacific Sun: http://www.pacific-sun.eu/new/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117&Itemid=190 You could probably go with the Hyperion units, mine was a hybrid (Pandora) because my tank is 93cm front to back and I didnt want to hang the lights too high. I have Hyperions on smaller...

Hello, I think one would be enough especially when setting up from new. I have both of mine on lowest setting and it still creates plenty of movement. I bought two because I felt the tree trunks might obstruct flow.

Hi Phil, I am glad you think so, that is on the lines of what I was hoping it would look like. I would like a bit more establishment with plants breaking up the division of the substrate some more. I had thought about a major rescape with white sand being the basis, but Tom's suggestion in the...

Thanks guys, it is ok, but not really as exciting or as good as earlier scaping. I would like to do a proper rescape, but other areas of life have taken my time for some months. Still Iain I have taken a pic or two of the other tanks, dont expect too much though, they are all a bit slightly...

Not such a good photo, taken from my phone, but this is what it looked like a day after the substrate change, some sand is further back than the partition, I think it will sink over time. It has since grown on me, don't know how practical it will be long term. Surface area is still ~75% ADA...

Laurie, Stephan, Greenfinger, thank you for your kind comments.

Well Mr Barr, I think its going to happen. Already inserted ugly lawn edging to separate substrate and going to use La Plata sand at the front. Its got to be done with fish in situ... not looking forward to it. TGM suggested siphoning the substrate out in sections with a hose, might work with...

Hi Tom, Yes I had considered replacing much of the base with a light coloured sand similar to my 300litre. It would be a messy change though. Just need to get around to working out how best to do undertaking this.

Hello, I will try to just been mad busy with work. There are a few different types of Java, but mainly Trident form. Thanks very much.

Thank you, very kind of you to say so. Although as a scape I think it is pretty poor, as a planted tank for my rainbowfish, its not bad :). I am not sure what you mean by translate, do you mean another language? If so feel free. :)

Thanks for the positive comments guys. Thank you for the offer on wood Alistair, might be somthing Ill be knocking on yout door about :P. Nearly all use air driven sponge filters, some like the 200l under the big tank uses a corner style Hamburg matten filter, which is also air driven.

These tanks are used for breeding and raising fish, the left most 200litre is currently growing out juveniles, the middle has some young Apisto borelli in it, the right one has some rare Rhadinocentrus ornatus adults, which I am trying o breed from. I have another dozen or so breeding tanks...

It has been a struggle this year, plants looked really sick after I came back from Thailand, I wonder whether the Levamisole treatment I added for worms and a negative effect? Anyway, I have since replaced my powerheads with Maxspect Gyre pumps which seem to work pretty well, getting nice flow...

So does this mean you will never move house again? I dont even dream about a 7,000 l, maybe 3,000l, but there is a point where maintenance could just be too much of a pain. I imagine that is going to be more than 75cm deep no? :P Glass or acrylic and a second mortgage?

The thing is, this is not the "Big tank", its just an interim big tank.

I am not sure, the thing is my co2 supply is dirt cheap, I am charged £10 refill for the all the cannisters I own including the 2x5kg ones. I just have to drive to Brum to get it. The other thing though is my tank stocking is on the high side, so I dont know how that works with this approach.

Hehe... I am not the only one who got that wrong.So my big rainbowfish tank is wider than it is tall so 244cm x 93cm x 70cm high. I did wonder in the past, but is this a good dimension for the BigTom/Lil'Al approach?

Also these guys: http://cefishessentials.com/

Hi Dan, I use this site for most of my dry foods, I have to say I find they will take most foods, but variety is always a good idea. http://www.ta-aquaculture.com/ I use a mix of different foods, spirulina flakes, pellets, granules, the various dried worms, krill, and the asthax granules. If...

I agree totally, it adds a lot more interest. Now it is getting close to perfect. :)

Hi, its looking a bit of a sorry state at the moment. Before I went abroad co2 ran out, so I reduced the lighting time period to 5 hours, but when I came back alot of the plants and particularly the Marsilea was covered in a black algae, I guess Green spot? I have been cutting back and removing...

I really like this one, the wood and rock scape always does it for me. :)

I think people misunderstand some of the principles. 10x rule is in line with the E.I approach which is not a fine tuned approach to aquatic gardening, its a bit like the 1" per gallon rule with small fish stocking. These are general rules with a significant margin for error. :)

It looks so squeaky clean, the colour is great. The light seems to be a very good investment.

Thanks Tom. I thought I might be able to re piece it together, but its not like a jigsaw. I am playing with what position works best, most of the other wood I have soaking in rain water butt for a couple more weeks.

It is very smart looking George, although the looks for me doesnt make the TMC rig a no go, its more the flexibility you have with this unit, the control over colour manipulation... 5 channels on this isnt it? I am considering this or Pacific Sun, but these are so much more expensive, they...

Oh! umm I think it must have broke then in the shipping... I kind of recognise it, but that right branch ends at the twist/knot. The one on the top left is not there and I think the second left (longer branch) is also broken off... awww :( , but i guess that is the risk with shipping delicate...

Hi Alistair, nothing revolutionary more like enhancing the existing positions... hopefully.

Hehe... I think if Mrs O really loves her partner she will allow him to express his creativity. :D I have recently taken some delivery of wood from Mr TB. It is all a bit bouyant at the moment. Mummy and daddy stumps had babies. Not sure on what the outcome will be, but hopefully an...

Thats brilliant Alistair, exciting to find that your fish have successfully bred and multiplied.

Thanks Tom, ill have a read.

Actually what is the dominant carpet plant, is it "Alistair's magic weed"?

Wow Tom, that is excellent, really does show that low tech can have massive plant mass and lush too. I love the fact that it is well carpeted. Do you think this could be accomplished on a standard shaped tank, or does it need to be wide and shallow?

Thanks Alistair, I was just wondering because it would be quite a bit of water to use if it was RO. They are really nice fish to keep, you are lucky though with your tap water.

Alistair, can you remind me, do you use the water out of your tap or RO, RO/Tapwater mix? If it is tapwater could you tell me what the parameters? I imagine it must be soft, acidic?

And my fave emmersed plant currently Untitled by Mr-T-, on Flickr And so it should be... mines grown back fully, it huge!

Acrylic prices seem to have gone up alot in the last few years, prohibitively so for most people I would imagine. The guy who builds them cheaper also has a size limit, so it does make it difficult. I would imagine the glass tank would be built on site. Is this in a dining-living room or a...

Thank you Edvet, It is still going, I will post and update every now and then. It just evolves now, plants gradually change, looks like Tom might have another stump for me... Tom, I will pm you. Thanks.

Hello, I could go 6 months on the old 860 litre with 2x 5kg bottles. It only cost me £10 to refill both, but prices can vary quite a bit. However I would agree the lighting is very strong and that in itself would require more co2 input. In comparison on this tank (~1600l) I only have 216w for...

I thought I had written this already, but I cant find it... what will be the dimensions of the new tank and are you going via Neptunes or have found someone else who can make Acrylic tanks that size?

My Maidenhair dries out where it grows too close to the lights. All you do it cut it back everynow and then an new fronds replace the old. I cut mine back when I sent some to Alistair and they have grown back strong.

Tom, really good fry shots. If you dont mind could you tell me what equipment you use to take the photo; lens, lighting etc. Thanks. :)

Alistair, I would also be interested in some of that ground cover... tennelus/Sag...somthing else?? My breeding tanks use a lot of dwarf Sag and under low light (<10-15 PAR), the plant stays only a couple of inches, but you are saying yours is not that so another low tech rampant plant would...

They are 40mm on this tank. On the smaller 700 litre the bars are 30mm wide.

I think they are 40mm. I can double check later tonight.

I only just got these covere made in January/February time this year. I have left them on, but looking back it was only in the colder months that i noticed the issue.

You have Munkis, I love those loaches, cheeky little fellas. I keep about 25, can be lost in a big tank, but not when they group up and go on a patrol around the tank. Just a question, have you had any experiance with these and Assassin snails.

Alistair, I had thought about this before in light of my own tank experiances. My tank surface area is 8ft by 3ft and over winter especially I was getting condensation issues on the windows of my living room. I have since had it covered with Acrylic sheets, the condensation stopped. Just...

I really like your scape, love jungles... not so keen on the TMC light supports, did I say that before?:p

Oops sorry Alistair, I just got your mail and yes I believe the fry are rainbowfish from the plants I sent you. I think it is most likely either; Melanotaenia inornata "Coomalie Crator" or Pseudomugil sp. Aru II They were in the breeding tank where I was holding your plants. However if it is...

You should try vinegar eels, my rainbows can take these soon after hatching and rainbowfish are tiny fry.

I have missed your thread for a little while. I can imagine that sinking feeling on seeing those silicone marks. At least it will be rectified and only a few days to go. Ditto on re-using some of that subrate as the base. I have done that on some of my tanks before. Shame to waste it, not to...

Hello Zanguli-ya-Zamba (excellent name!), Thank you for your kind comments and I dont mind the questions. My first thought is you are using twice the amount of CO2 I am using. I have two x 5kg. I have recently upped the injection rate because I do have Green spot algae on some of the Anubias...

The hardscape is looking really good, the obvious consideration now is the plants and planting that wont end up obscuring most of that layout. I always end up doing rock and wood hardscape, it never feels right without the both. Just my taste, but that is why I like this one.

I recently sold a lot of plants. Depends what you are looking for there is probably somthing here and there.

Inside, its nothing special at all. No nice plumbing and neat electronics, just 2x externals 2x aquamas reactors (which leak every now and then :mad: ) 2x 5kg CO2 canisters and 3 x 80l breeding tanks. It could be smartened up a bit. I will take a photo anyway. Prepare to be unexcited! :lol:

I think so... It is more dramatic. Feels like that is more the path to take.

I thought it might be a more fitting title... I didnt come up with it. :p

Ah yes, I overlooked that middle piece. Are you putting on plywood cladding? I can see some cut boards in the background. They look like they have been stained with some sort of varnish or maybe that is the lighting. Is it going to be painted or remain the wood colour?

Hi, I am not an expert on building frames, your looks very neat. I was just wondering though, is that the orientation it would be lying in? I am just looking at the top three horizontal panels. They are attached to the frame on their ends and not sitting over the vertical panels coming up...

Lol. nice to see the daughter being put to work... It is looking good, I am impressed. Are they going to have heat sinks of some kind behind them?

I like no.6, but it reminds me too much of one you have already done. That one also happened to be my favourate of yours (when it was just with elocharis). I dont really know what you would gain from that. So if it were me, I would think it would be better to go with one of the mountain scapes...

One of my favourate species at the moment: Melanotaenia goldiei "Timika"

Not a huge amount to report, but recently has had a major thin out of Java and bolbitus fern. I have also planted some saggitaria in the substrate below the main tree (which is not easy to see in this photo). Rainbows always swim to the front when i get up of the sofa. They are in the way. lol...

I have a maxspect over mine, but I dont think the overtank stand gives sufficient distance for more even spread. I am not sure about what you need to do to hang from the ceiling safely. I might attempt a frame, but the tank is in place so it will have to be free standing. I certainly do agree...

George, are you hanging your lights from the ceiling?

Ha ha, how did this one re-surface. lol Thanks for the comments. I will soon, but I have just done a lot of overdue hard pruning this week and re planted a few areas. I think overall it is very similar to the PFK article, but with some changes in plant formation. The gerts are in my...

Hello, welcome back. Everytime I heard about you in Afghanistan, I always remember by Grandad telling me about when he was stationed in Kandahar in the British Indian army... Anyway, I have a TMC optiwhite too, but the black silicone 60x45x45. I wanted the largest because it was to be for a...

Probably not on your radar with all the tech preparation going on, but maybe consider some Vaillant's Chocolate Gourami to the population. I saw some at SweetKnowle Aquatics last year. Very nice. Still that standard Chocolates are my favourate.

I can see you have got some DIY skills. Thats always a good thing, can save you a lot of money. Are you planning these to be dimmable, I guess that might just complicate things too much. If you are suspending them, which I think you are then you will have some control over the light there...

Alistair, come on im telling you now, you are going to wish you went bigger. Seriously, you are doing what I did. I dont say this often, but I love those chocolates of yours. I want em. I wish. They wont work with rainbowfish, but they are on of my favourate fish. I hope you breed and raise...

Love the UG, its a plant I have not really tried yet... apart from the half dead thing that came through the post.

Thanks all, the make is "custom al la Sanj". No, the tank itself is Acrylic and made by Neptunes Acrylic manufacturing. The base unit is my father design, with my input. It is basically like the larger tank; steel frame and clad.

I had not seen these posts, thanks very much guys. I noticed on Friday they had posted a video on the PFK website. Its a bit strange seeing your tank in a magazine.

I do agree this competition is a tough one and led volume wise the Chinese whatever Chinese they are; Singapore-Chinese, Malaysian-Chinese, Vietnam-Chinese.... yot get the picture :lol: They do push the boat out. Still hopefully we will have more in the top 100, I cant remember the UK best...

Re: Tom's Bucket O' Mud - Stumpy I love it, but cant you just get rid of the bed and go bigger? Come on get your priorities right. :P

I wonder.... could you be the first UK contestant to get into the top 20...or is there a quiet one out there that we just dont hear about :shh:

Re: A Chocolate Puddle Exciting stuff, the only thng about the ATI raised so high is that is might be a little annoying with glare when sitting at your dining table. You could have always opted for a smaller dining table and got the square tank you originally envisioned... priorities and all...

Re: Tom's Bucket O' Mud - Mass destruction You have got to live up to this one now that you are ordering a similar style tank Alistair. :P It is so very tempting, I think Tom you have helped popularise the low tech approach, most people would love a tank like this, i know I would.

There are a few species, but a lot of them not available overhere yet, but I do have many species not available in the uk, just time and space to breed them as well as cracking the breeding technique to raise larger numbers. Muccullochis, Papuae I have seen for sale here. Sexlineata and...

Thanks for the kind comments (and any others I will taken constructively :P). Regarding water changes, its not a problem really, hose+pump+tap. This tank initself is not a problem just remembering to keep an eye on it when filling.. It is other other 1500 litres that makes it more work...

Attempted a video update, not too happy with the picture quality. Transitions afoot on the forest floor... Marsilea and Staurogyene as well as some hydrocotyle. As I keep saying, larger rainbows can be a bit of a challenge with some soft leaved plants. There is still some downoi growing...

Thanks for the comments guys, alot of room for improvement, but this is a long term planted tank so as the plants grow I gradually "sculpt" havent done it for a while partly becuase I am playing the game of which plants can I grow and dont get pulled up and eaten by rainbows. Tring Marsilea at...

Thanks George. Yes solid concrete floors this time around, apparently some people think I bought the house for the tank. :lol: RTBS is still going strong. A lot of literature speak of them getting more aggressive with age, but that really isnt the case with this one, seems to have mellowed...

Moving house with huge tanks is not a fun experiance...very stressful, but worth it in the end. I just do not want to have to move for a very long time.

Ok well, its kind of become a bit of jungle and perhaps needs some selective trimming. Actually a jungle is what i want, rainbows suit it better than pristine aquascapes, just a jungle with some structure. I do like how "nature" can take over an do its own thing, very different from how I...

Well done fella, Mr Aquascape UK. You are too good, its put me off completely, im leaving this hobby. :lol:

Praecox been committing "Paputan"? I have not had an issue with them jumping in a open topped holding tank, but I have had many rainbow species jump, I have had to cover my main display tank. There are only so many I could tolerate loosing that way.

If you were UK based I would have given you some "pagai village" praecox I am breeding. However they are also being bred in the USA, just try and get them from breeders. Antibiotics usually only have limited success on myco infections. I think some breeders sell their fish on aquabid, we dont...