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My pussy willow, not an easy or low maintenance tree to keep small. I have had this one for a long time. I keep it in this lilly basket in a half filled bucket of water, I have to trim the roots every few weeks and repot every year. It has been more of a challenge than a beautiful tree but I...

Hiya small update. The chiller is working fine. How the chiller works is that it will cool the water until it reaches the target temperature and then go into standby once it reaches the target temperature. When the temperature goes up 1 degree greater than the target temp, the chiller kicks in...

Hi, That's a great looking tank you've got there. Wonderfully done and I'm sure you'll have your moss wall sooner or later. Have you considered other gouramis? Also, Copella arnoldi would flourish in a tank like this. They have some of the most interesting behavior and the males look...

This was my starting point and I guess it's my end point too! ;) Thanks for the science trip though, today I learnt something!

You don’t need special bio media. Your filter sponges will host the bacteria needed for biological filtration. Take a look at: https://aquariumscience.org/index.php/7-filter-media/ And https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/is-expensive-bio-media-worth-it.67468/

Im asking this question as I know bacteria will be on pretty much all surfaces inside the tank (plants, hardscape, substrate) and in the filter on the media (sponges and rocks). But do I really need to have bio media (eg lava rock/seachem matrix etc) in my filter and instead just run sponges...

Hi all, That may well be where the problem lies. I'm a great pre-filter fan Cheers Darrel

Well yes, but you describe the same thing without the benefit of negative pressure drawing fluid into the system under normal operation. Also ‘drilling a hole and gluing’ sounds a little easier to get wrong for someone. I personally have an open ended pipe above water level. Sometimes the...

you could stick a powerhead in the sump and keep some hillstreams or plecos

Nice work!

Hi Unfortunately not - straight into trays!

This might offer some inspiration..

Hi all, I honestly don't know, he starts by saying that they (as a product) are something that he is sceptical about, and then that he had a disagreement with the man he interviewed, who failed to give him any technical details, but dependent upon the way he thinks they are produced they are...

I don't see a reason to have a venturi to inject into the filter outlet line. The autodoser should have enough pressure and the venturi doesn't prevent tank water from draining out to the fertilizer reservoir. If the filter turns off for whatever reason, the pressure in the venturi goes back to...

Short answer: no, you don’t need to add ferts yet. Long answer: Please read the guidelines for plant help!

I planted my new scape about 4-5 days ago but I haven't dosed it with any ferts yet. Most of the plants were grown emersed so there is a bit of melt in some plants (eg monte Carlo and hygrophilia) but it's not excessive. But at the same time these plants are showing signs of new growth. Due to...

Essentially, yes. The Venturi effect is when the fluid pressure drops as the velocity of the fluid increases as it passes through a constriction. The relationship between fluid pressure and velocity is a fundamental law of fluid dynamics. As the pressure drops in the constriction, the negative...

Lolz. Im truly enjoying your replies 😋

Hi all, not much to update on other than everything is growing well. I've been dosing with small amounts of chelated iron + solufeed 2:1:4. Aquatic plants are growing well, bladder snails, daphnea and asellus are flourishing, moulding on the moss wall is dying down a little. I think I'm just...

Probably has nothing to do with the fact that his old mate and mucker, Jeremy Gay previous PFK editor, was also Marketing and Business Development Manager at Evolution Aqua. No siree Bob, nothing to do with that at all, no way Jose. Definitely not a conflict of interest. Definitely not snake...

Okay thanks, that's helpful. How is this set up in an aquarium - isn't it a 'constantly on' attachment which will want to draw the APT through the pump/outlet pipe and from the reservoir? How is it connected to the pump outlet? Apologies if these are dumb questions but it seems in principle...

Apparently, what the table says is that at a pH of 7.25, half of the EDTA iron was lost after just 1 hour. My guess is that, whatever validity that may have for our tanks, it shouldn't be extrapolated for other micros. It is a study on Fe only, other metals could behave very differently.

After 8 years of reef keeping I've decided I want some a lot easier to maintain. I was just on the verge of converting my tank to freshwater when I discovered vampire crabs. So instead I sold all the reefing equipment I had and bought a small paludarium. Set this up Saturday. At the moment it's...

Hi all, Possibly a little bit nitrogen (N) deficient? cheers Darrel

When you know that you'll be away from the tank for a while, so you put the sword plant in charge of nitrate removal... Total height is just over 1m, with 30+cm long leaves (excluding petiole). It certainly deserves the term "background plant"...

A day after maintenance. Thinned out the plants a little and rearranged the java fern. Wanted to have more space in the front so i pushed the scape back a little but there's only 30cm of width for me to work with unfortunately. Pretty satisfied still.

“I’m very impressed. I never thought I’d be saying that about a bacterial product, but the science is sound, the product makes realistic claims, and in the flesh it has positive effects. Good effort, Evolution Aqua!“

One issue though is flow through the filter. Someone on here was carefully stacking their ceramic or glass tubes vertically, perhaps to maximise flow?

Welcome and nice tank. You seem to have most bases covered. The M Cuba are difficult to grow. They need high light and CO2 blowing directly on it. Your hard water may be as issue as well. Good that you replaced the foreground with something more resilient.

...Pure Aquarium review">. I'll stick with <"interesting">, although I have to be honest and say that that wasn't the first term that came to mind**. The author (Nathan Hill) writes: *I'm not entirely sure how he came to this conclusion, as there is absolutely <"no sound science in the...

Hi, it just so happens I have recently acquired the same Dennerle tank as you. I am into the first week of my Dark start so your experiences are going to be very helpful to me. Can I ask where you bought your cabinet, it looks just what I, err and the wife of course, would love.

Thanks everyone. I have turned outflow so as to agitate surface. Fascinating this stuff.

Hi all, Moler clay is diatomite based, but has clay minerals as well, details are at <"Moler">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, You can use a horticultural fertiliser, <"it is a lot cheaper"> and a bit more <"plug and play"> than making your own complete mix from the base chemicals. This is a nutrient calculator: <"Nutrient Dosing Calculator">, we also have super-duper UKAPS one <"IFC Aquarium Fertilizer...

Hi all, Do you have a pre-filter on the intake? cheers Darrel

Hi all, That would be the general finding on this forum <"Is expensive bio media worth it?">. As planted tank keepers we have the advantages of: <"plant / microbe nitrification"> and <"a substrate">. This means we aren't interested in the denitrification of nitrate (NO3-) <"in the filter">...

Seachem matrix is just fine as well, you could easily use that if you want to. I find that filter media is filter media, so just use whatever you think will last longest and be the least hassle to clean.

No, I'm running one on a 84L tank, and one on a 160L tank. Both optiwhite glass rimless tanks.

First lumens is one of the least measurements to use to determine brightness to plants. This is a graph showing what lumens measures and what plants " like" in general. Point is the lumens of a RGB led and the lumens of a 7500k white LEDs have very different meaning to plants. Now as to...

Hi, Agreed, although I do try and leave the cannister alone as long as possible so not to impact bb

Hi Andy, A baster is part of my aquarium maintenance tool kit. I generally clean the glass down first, then waft out any waste material from under the woodwork, and then finally give the whole scape a gentle blast to clear detritus before changing water/hoovering up 😂🤣 - a handy tool indeed 👍

Indeed. I understand the importance of flow..and this unusual shape I want to make sure there is good flow all around. I have a Sicce 5000 L/H return pump that will be used in the sump. Hopefully I won't need any wave makers

Got em, sunk the plant too and more physical removal of algae.

Thanks for your helpful responses. In the end I didn't add soil, but I did use a black overlay on top of the liner and added sand in the shallow area underneath the cobbles. I'm planning to start a proper journal of it, but here is a preview ... It was dug and filled a few weeks ago but is...

High Tech typically refers to the use of CO2 in the aquarium and a suitably intense light to complement that. It's nothing to do with the level of technological sophistication of the light unit itself, such as blue tooth connectivity etc.

Hi Please fill out the below template so we can get the complete picture of you setup: Tank details below: 1. Size of tank in litres 2. Age of the set - up 3. Filtration + Media/Sponges 4. Lighting and duration 5. Substrate 6. Co2 dosing or Non-dosing 7. Fertilizers used & Ratios 8. Water...

Also water 'hardness' i.e. the amount of Ca and Mg ions present in the water column and phosphate concentration. Also UV though for most this will not be a factor. I dose Fe EDTA on alternative days after about three hours of CO2 injection and just as the lights come on. My assumption is that...

Filter cleaning of sponges and media will help!

The instructions suggest it's entirely up to you. But I think it's always best to rinse through. Pre-washed for your convenience, can be use without rinse. Please, fill up the tank without stirring the sand bed by pouring the water carefully in a surface. You may rinse it with water before...

I am a luck man, my wife loves plants both aquatic and terrestrial. She has taken visitors to task when they comment 'there's nothing in my tank', with cant you see the plants!

Hi there Just few observations. if plants were growing and then started slowing down or declining then it’s not lights to blame adding new lights will make plants to adapt/transition to new light strength and new CO2 demand. I would wait at least a month to see if everything can manage to...

I guess its on wattage and light spectrum. I think 120 Watts is the top end i have seen. But i dont think wattage is solely what makes a light hightech , its all the fancy add ons which come with it. I.e. Bluetooth connectivity, app ,multi spectrum led diodes. Chihiros wrgb pro is only 74W...

Hose bending you say ?? Try these to keep the hose kink free https://amzn.eu/d/2gZzR2l

We may be married to the same woman

Well, it’s back down to just the 75p… The plan was to take down both the 60p and the 75p and begin something new, however I have decided to keep the 75 running as it still offers a nice feel but is really straightforward to live with 😀 Instead a little reshuffle will allow me chance to scape...

It's a creative metaphor. Nature exploding. It'll never be confined in a box. . . Really nice work Ady

I'm starting to be convinced that BBA is aggravated by high levels of organic debris. You can get this suspended in the water column using a turkey baster to blast the substrate/plants/hardscape and then remove the suspended organic particulates with a water change.

Great idea. What better medium could there be to engage folk in aquatic habitats and aquascaping or planted tanks.

Currently have a high tech 100L aquarium(Tetraline starter kit). Gravel substrate, EI dosing(TNC Complete), CO2(Bright green). Since the aquarium is weird length, i bough 3 of the All pond solution light(26Watts Each, i cannot find out how many lumens each are, maybe about 1800 lms?? let me...

Thank you. Yes some concrete vases, just an Etsy purchase but thought they would be a good solution to hold and display. I added a some foam padding to the bottoms inside to set the height for long and shorter tools which also acts as a soft cushion for the scissor tips 🙌🏻 Always happy to say hi...

Exciting news!… Tai Strietmans talk will now be a Biotope workshop 🎉😁 Tai will be setting up a 60cm Biotope aquarium based on habitats he was exploring in Brazil. It will be a really unique workshop hearing stories from Brazil, and talking us through how Tai uses his insights into natural...

It’s filthy. Wash, wash and wash.

Thanks for the info. I did a search and it seems like other people have run it this way as well. I ended up finding somewhere to get the 12/16 version for a 25 dollar mark up but I will be setting up a uns 45u soon which I will run a 2213 on so I may end up getting a bigger version later and...

Hi BBA is difficult to get rid off. Prune the affected leaves. Start by improving your water fertilisers as per @G H Nelson. I would plant a load more Anubias and Java ferns on the wood. Fill the foreground in front of the wood and rocks with C wenditti. Increasing your plant mass will help...

I know what you mean, that’s the beauty of UKAPS, you get to share your experiences with like minded folk. Either way, well done for trying to involve your wife. I gave up trying along time ago. She thinks I spend my spare time hanging out online with fellow fishy geeks. I keep telling her it’s...

Only issue I see is that it will be ‘dirty’ tank water and your heater will get mucky more quickly.

Just was filling my tank today and my hydor in-line heater starting leaking through the plastic after 8 years of trusty service. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like you can get the 12/16 mm (1/2 in) model in the us right now. I have an eheim 2217 which has 12/16 and 16/18 mm outlets. Would it...

Welcome :)

Hi, if I pull the plug and leave it out 5 mins, then plug it back in, the light turns on and resumes whatever state/time it was previously in.

Hi all, Just an unknown really, that's why I recommend a visual method like the <"Pink Tint"> and / or <"Duckweed Index">. It doesn't tell you how much plant available iron (Fe) you have, but it tells you <"you have some">, and that is actually all you need to know. Cheers Darrel

@Nick9one1 can the light be controlled with an external timer? In other words, if the light loses power (due to the external timer or other power failure) and then gets power back, does the light turn back on by itself and resume what it was doing or does it need to be reset?

Thanks hypnogogia - a bit of reading to do then 🤣😂

That is very much the case. Just to cover power cuts 👍 I have six items and six sockets. So the lowest power of the remaining items would need to go in the battery side….though, I could perhaps use a splitter on the non battery side (depending on space).

If the intent is to use it during a power outage, I would stick to the bare essentials of heater and filter/powerhead/air pump. Lights and CO2 are only bonuses considering the UPS has limited run time and you never know how long a power outage will last. And why have CO2 if the lights are off...

https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/the-estimative-index.13/#post-27

Hi, Thanks for the heads up - You made reference to making your own, how would someone go about that? I can see how it would be financially beneficial rather than paying £20 every 1/2 months. Cheers Mark

Agreed. But the bit that’s relevant starts a long way down the thread on post #61. The rest of it is about a DIY aquarium computer. https://www.plantedtank.net/threads/chads-arduino-build.557978/post-5650546

https://www.aquariumgardens.co.uk/the-aquascaper-complete-plant-food-1000ml-4676-p.asp You could start with the above then make your own in the future.

Not really. All you need is one of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334847959080?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=1nfwKFp5TSi&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=2F7eSdXtRPe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

OK, any recommendations?

Hi API Leaf Zone only has Potassium & Iron in the solution! You will need Macro/Micro all in one fertilizer to cover all the plant requirements.

This is super complex! :oops:

Please let us know you get on with it after you’ve given it a test. Would be interesting to know for future projects.

Hi, I forgot to add that I'm also using API root tabs for the crypts. Thank

Hi there, Yes, I'm using API Leaf Zone - I'm dosing for the size tank I have, however, is it too much as its not heavily planted (yet)?

Hi Mike, Type of algae and best method to eradicate it. The java seems to be worst effected, with spot algae?? And what I believe to be black beard algae?? The Crypts seem to just need time to settle as the melt seems to be subsiding 🤞🤞 As for the Java, should I just trim it back hard or.......

Thanks Simon, I really appreciate you taking the time to help. I’m going to get it and use the 3rd for the co2 👍

It seems likely that the rubber boot connection is the same everywhere then. 16/22 will fit on your filter with a little heat.

The manufacturer doesn’t give a capacity in Ah and the discharge rate won’t be linear (the manufacturer doesn’t supply it). Some run time examples are given however and the manufacturer says a 60W load will run for 80 minutes. It’s reasonable to assume then that on this unit you’re going to get...

Hi All I have some Wio Tigris sand. Should I wash it before putting it into the tank? Will washing reduce the cloudy water? The filter is a 3 compartment system built into the back wall of the tank. I could just put filter floss in the 1 compartment where the pump outlet drains into.

I think this will work size wise (tight fit but should be fine). It’s the only brand I recognise. I have exactly six things that need power and only need resilience on two. I was trying to work out how long it would power the 25w heater and 5w pump so I can decide what to use the third battery...

Thanks everyone for the advice and suggestions!

I am sure you know but make sure you consider flow. I cannot wait to see how you set up your sump.

Hi nice tank! What specific advice do you require?

Seem there are now some quiet cheap and small UPS round instead of those we mentioned earlier. However think we would be rather nervous about using any such non branded units as they use Lithium Ion batteries and you know what can happens to cheaper LI batteries when they are charged, so you...

Hi Is it API Leaf Zone you are dosing?

Yes, also looking forward to seeing some more photos!

Hi all, Tank has been set up for around 4 months now - lightly planted; due to resident horticulturalist (L191) 🤣 adding more as and when I find plants that he doesn't take a liking to (dig up/munch). Tank details below: 1. Size of tank in litres = 300lt 2. Age of the set - up = 4 months 3...

I’m actually thinking of rescaping my biggest tank at some point and making it a crypt only tank, looking forward to more pics.

After further research, it seems from the link below that the aquastop valve is interchangeable between all Fluval 07 models. If I understand correctly, that would mean even the 107 sized hose could fit on a 307 if the same part is used on all the models so either the 107 hose has a bigger hose...