Askoll Pure Xl

Nexusred · Nov 17, 2011

Hello all. Well I finally found a tank that Mrs Red likes so we are into week 2 of cycling. Using some of the media from another tank so I don’t expect it to be too much of a problem other than the local tap supply is high PH, 7.8. I have used three doses of PH down but nothing is happening so I will be doing a water change over the weekend. I am considering using the reclaimed rainwater from the butt in the garden. What are you thoughts on using rainwater mixed with tap water?

Don’t know if anyone has come across these aquariums before and what is your opinion?

the_lock_man · Nov 17, 2011

No reason why not, but I would like to make a few points.

You said you're into week 2 of cycling - is that with fish-in, or are you fishless cycling, using bottled ammonia?

If the latter, then firstly, well done, BUT leave the pH alone, because fishless cycling is best done at higher pH levels (around 8.0-8.2) I suspect the reason the pH Down stuff isn't working is because you also have very hard water - I have the same pH, and nothing shifts it because of the hardness. But it doesn't matter anyway, because fish prefer living in a stable pH to living in a pH that yoyos around all the time. In fact, a large, quick movement of pH can kill fish very quickly.

If you were to use rainwater, it would lower the hardness of the water, so the pH could be adjusted. BUT it would be very risky for you to do a large waterchange, in an emergency, because if you used all tapwater, the pH would go high again.

And in any case, there is nothing wrong with a pH of 7.8 - with proper acclimatisation procedure, most "softwater" fish will be fine in hardwater with a high pH.

Never come across the tank you've found though. :good:

Nexusred · Nov 21, 2011

You have good point about the rainwater so I have decided against it. I will over a period of time bring it down with a tap and RO mix. Ideally I would like Killi's. I have another tank in the house so I have used the media from that. So I think I'm cycled having done daily tests with results coming back as 0. One interesting point is that the aquarium came with carbon cartridges and another called mix that deals with nitrate and phosphate. I hadn't bothered with the mix until yesterday and just left the carbon in to clear the water colour up. But since putting the mix in the nitrate has come down from 40 to 10 in 24 hours'ish. Anyway (hopefully) a few photos of the tank set-up

some more

more

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Nexusred · Nov 21, 2011

kaaskaas · Dec 7, 2011

Hey,

How do you like the aquarium? Any positive/negative remarks?
Do you have any idea how many litres this is, because on the site it says 93.5 litres, but since it's a 76 cm x 36 cm x43,5 tank, it should be about 120.

Just wondering because i'm planning to get the L version and wanted to know if it's really bigger than it says on the site.

Thanks

Nexusred · Dec 8, 2011

Hi,

To be honest I haven’t checked, I just took the literature as gospel. I suppose if you factored in the sub-strate and media/lighting in the hood it would reduce the water capacity??

I am really pleased with the aquarium. It’s clean, crisp and modern looking. All the media is hidden in the hood with access panels that are large and unrestricting. Small compartment for food, ferts etc and most of all it is silent but note I’m not running an air pump. The water is drawn through a column that’s nestled in the back corner and the heater is housed within the column so it’s all rather neat. Having said that I would imagine that I am restricted to Askoll replacement parts if I wanted to retain the look.

The aquarium came with carbon and an Askoll mix cartridge that go in an area made for the size of cartridge and it’s recommended replacing these every 2-4 weeks. These are readily available but at a cost of £10.00 which is a bit pricey for a regular outlay. I have been thinking about using some ladies tights to use as a bag for carbon and phosphate.

Overall, a big thumbs up, however having owed an Alfa Romeo which is also Italian. They look fantastic but wait for the electrics to go wrong.

Hope that helps

kaaskaas · Dec 8, 2011

Nexusred said:
Hi,

To be honest I haven’t checked, I just took the literature as gospel. I suppose if you factored in the sub-strate and media/lighting in the hood it would reduce the water capacity??

I am really pleased with the aquarium. It’s clean, crisp and modern looking. All the media is hidden in the hood with access panels that are large and unrestricting. Small compartment for food, ferts etc and most of all it is silent but note I’m not running an air pump. The water is drawn through a column that’s nestled in the back corner and the heater is housed within the column so it’s all rather neat. Having said that I would imagine that I am restricted to Askoll replacement parts if I wanted to retain the look.

The aquarium came with carbon and an Askoll mix cartridge that go in an area made for the size of cartridge and it’s recommended replacing these every 2-4 weeks. These are readily available but at a cost of £10.00 which is a bit pricey for a regular outlay. I have been thinking about using some ladies tights to use as a bag for carbon and phosphate.

Overall, a big thumbs up, however having owed an Alfa Romeo which is also Italian. They look fantastic but wait for the electrics to go wrong.

Hope that helps

Thanks a lot! Guess i'll be buying the L version next week. the cartridges are indeed quite expensive, will try to fix that in some way

Good luck with your aquarium!

Tizer · Dec 8, 2011

You dont need to replace the carbon cartridge, ever. Cost saving, done.

Nexusred · Dec 8, 2011

Ever, really? In the book it suggests 2-4 weeks and an independent LFS recommended 6 months. Whats is the purpose of the carbon sack? I thought it was a particle filter that neutralised medications? If I never have to change these then that’s even better.

Regarding the mix – Apparently it reduces phosphate and nitrates but I haven’t found out exactly what the ‘mix’ is so I can make my own. Whatever it is when I first put it in it reduced the nitrates down from 20 to 10 on the chart.

Have you used any of those Pure Aquarium balls and are they just a gimmick?

Tizer · Dec 8, 2011

Plenty of info on the forum regarding carbon in filters, yes, they remove medication from the water, tannins leeched from wood and odd smells you cant identify. You dont have to worry about phosphates, algae will only build up if you have too much light (6/7 hours a day is more than enough) and your nitrates will be kept low if you keep up with your weekly water change. Carbon only lasts for a few weeks too, after that, it stops doing its job and needs changing.

Ive seen the balls in an MA shop, i've never used them, but i would find them a pointless purchase, as cycling with household ammonia is perfectly fine and in most cases, can be done within a month to 6 weeks.

Just speed reading this thread again, it seems like you need to have a read of the beginners resoruce section linked in my signature, it will be worth your while. We all use it, even experienced fish keepers.

Also dont worry about your PH, its not insanely high, the wood you have will help lower it naturally. Mine sits around 7.2 - 7.4.

Nexusred · Dec 8, 2011

You say "You dont need to replace the carbon cartridge, ever. Cost saving, done" and then "Carbon only lasts for a few weeks too, after that, it stops doing its job and needs changing".

I'm cycled, up and running so I have no intention on using them to further establish my bacteria. Only reason for my question is that they proclaim to keep the water crystal clear and at the minute I have a (very) slight haze. If it wasnt for my OCD then I could live with it.

Thanks for the advice I have often refered back to the beginners resource.

Tizer · Dec 8, 2011

Nexusred said:
You say "You dont need to replace the carbon cartridge, ever. Cost saving, done" and then "Carbon only lasts for a few weeks too, after that, it stops doing its job and needs changing".

Yes. you can leave it in there, forget about it, pretend it doesnt exist. Or, remove it. Either way, you dont need it.

If one day you need to treat your tank with medication, you would do so, let it run its course, then do a water change and then add a carbon bag/sponge to remove the excess meds from the tank. leave it to do its job, then remove it and bin it.

If you have a slight haze in the tank then it could be a bacterial bloom, in which case, you live with it for a few weeks, if it persists, you can use filter wool to remove all the fine particles from the water as it passes through the filter.

kaaskaas · Dec 9, 2011

Hey mate,
any chance you got some more pics?

moochy13 · Dec 9, 2011

i am new to it, but have a read up about seachem purigen - it might be something similar to your 'mix', and it might be something you're interested in anyway. its reusable up to a point, but that point is way down the line. a 10 quid bag is big enough for your tank, and will last a whole lot longer than 2-4 weeks or whatever. i got mine yesterday, its like loads of tiny little balls of something. i wont be using it until i next pull my filter out for cleaning, soc ant report on the job it does, but i was reccommended it from this forum.

Nexusred · Dec 10, 2011

kaaskaas said:
Hey mate,
any chance you got some more pics?

Some pictures of the aquarium. If you let me know which bit you're interested in a can take some more.

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