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Stick a smoothed rock/ large pebble in some water and leave on the windowsil... free algae! I don't hold any responsibilty for you reintroducing or introducing a new algae species back into your tank though! Plecs only eat certain types (and that again depends on the species of plec). What...

Although that is true, Si isn't just released over a few short weeks, it is always there, also most substrates are made up of silicate compounds. ADA aquasoil contains phyllosilicates, and sand which is usually quartz, is a form of tectosilicates. These stay in the subtrate for years, but we...

http://www.tropica.com/plants/origin/south-america.aspx Thanks, Aaron

Probably settling in, step 1 is just trace elements, and I would go for the flourish, ADA is expensive! ADA works on providing different nutrients in different steps, building them up until you can fully dose when the tank has matured. It is supposed to help minimize algae by providing the...

http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=104737&st=0 Trace contains things like magnesium, manganese, iron, copper, molybdenum zinc & boron Thanks, Aaron

I have has a couple of second hand filters now, both been good except a Tetratec EX1200 which leaked but this is a common problem with them so I half expected it, free repair from TT though :) If you get filters of here though then you should be fine. I'm not sure, you can always get a couple...

1) Wave your fingers through it so the detrius is floating, then do your vacuuming 2) Highly unlikely, hardly any plants pearl without addition of CO2. 3) You can do it whenever you like, keep trimming it every week or two, eventually it becomes to thick and this is when it breaks off as the...

And I answered that... he never mentioned anything about emmersed growing, I brought that up I said if you keep them unheated they will survive, but wont grow: However if you did mean emmersed growing, then yes you still need a heater. I did misread this question however, I thought it said...

Photosynthesis will occur much slower, if it occurs too slow then it will not be able to support as many cells so it would just go into a dormancy phase, but they will survive. If you want them too flower you are better off growing them emmersed, as the extra CO2, unlimited light (and room...

Sorry i havent replied, Yeah NO3 is good in a planted tank, it isn't actually as toxic as people think and the concentrations in off the shelf ferts are so low that there is no way you would kill your fish, even if you go by the people that are a bit more cautious! Thanks, Aaron

To be honest some people would say 30ppm NO3 is getting close to high, they believe 40ppm is harmful. Is the 30ppm NO3 in your tap water what you have tested, or a water report from your supplier? Because if your test kit is wrong (and the chances are quite high that it is) then the 80ppm will...

What happened? do you have any pics of the plants when you recieved them? Thanks, Aaron

Sounds like 'purple waffle' which isnt aquatic, is it any of these? http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/297782-a-survey-of-non-aquatic-plants/ Thanks, Aaron

The easiest way to prove this method wrong is too look at a pH/ KH CO2 relationship chart. We aim for 30ppm CO2, which as shown by the chart the KH must be 4, and the pH 6.6 Hence why we use 4dkh as a known indicator, so when the DC is green the pH is 6.6 which indicates 30ppm of CO2 is...

They do absorb nutrients aswell, but just trim them down to about 1cm, then the plant can use its energy on growing leaf mass rather than roots. Thanks, Aaron

Acids lower the pH of the water, when CO2 dissolves in water it produces carbonic acid (H2CO3). This turns the colour from blue to green, then yellow. When CO2 injection stops, the carbonic acid is convereted back to CO2 (It is an equilibrium reaction). CO2 + H2O <=> H2CO3 <=> H+ + HCO3 <=>...

More light = faster growth. Faster growth requires more CO2 & more nutrients. The higher intensity light you use, the finer the balance becomes. What wattage & diamater tubes do you currently have? And what CO2 injecting system are you using? It doesnt sound like a pressurized kit which is...

Any reason you don't want it to contain NO3? Aaron

Test kits are pretty innacurate, however low nitrates (<15ppm) can be a cause of BGA, as well as ammonia spikes (unlikely unless the plants are rotting? overfeeding?) and poor circulation. In low flow areas, or areas that get no circulation due to being blocked by decor can become affected, it...

Looks like Hygrophillia Polysperma. Easy to grow! :) Bacopa has rounded leaves. Aaron,

I'm sure thats been pointed out before and I'd changed it lol? hmmm well it is supposed to read 100ml + 900ml, but it doesnt matter too much as it would still give you 4dkh :) I've added a bit on scaling down the production too. Thanks! Aaron.

Considering Krebs occurs in the matrix of Mitochondria it can only be claiming to speed up the process within the cells surely? It doesn't occur on the surface Thanks, Aaron

TBH it probably wouldn't work, it seems to simple for it not to have been more discussed. Remember this if for respiration though, not growth, which is more to do with the calvin cycle. Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, lipids etc make up biomass - krebs actually breaks down these to get a usable...

You cant convert citric acid into CO2. If you look at a full diagram you can see the other compounds involved. Every time one compound is converted to another (via enzymes) it loses a carboxyl group (R-COOH). Look at the difference of the molecule between Isocitrate & Ketoglutarate...

I can't grow vallisneria sp either, don't know why, I have tried in both high & low tech tanks. Cyperus Helferi is an alternative, I managed to grow that lol Sorry that doesn't answer your question but just thought I'd add it in there Aaron

60l - cheap to fill with plants and hardscape and if you ever want a change (and you will lol) it doesn't cost much and it is easy to play about with Gettig the balance right is harder in a larger tank as circulation and CO2 distribution becomes an issue. You will need more light aswell which...

Its very hard to get any plants without snail eggs on, which is more common to miss than snails. The only way is if you buy direct from a nursery such as Tropica or Aquafleur. You can kills the snails & egss by treating the plants in a copper drip, just rinse them off thoroughly afterwards. If...

http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/298133-back-to-basics/ Have a read of that, it will explain the different routes you can take

You might want to consider a shoaling fish to keep the clean, uniform look that goes with an iwagumi. You will want a pressurised CO2 setup, they are all as god as each other to be honest, just look at the cost, and the cost of refills. I would recommend you use a fire extinguisher as a 2kg...

The green machine are the main UK provider

You will have to section it off by using a plastic divider/ sheet in the substrate, or just keep on top of trimming.

Hornwort can be used planted or left floating. Some leave it floating for a couple of weeks to build up the plant mass quickly so they then have enough to plant elsewhere, as at the surface it has unlimited CO2 & light. It is an easy plant to grow while planted anyway, remove the weights though...

I didn't even use it years ago, as I was told it would leach the toxins back into the water after a few days & it adsorbed the majority of the plant nutrients. Once I actually saw some evidence against this, I have just left it in for the bacteria to breed on, can't say I have seen any...

There isnt any difference, :good:

Have I? I can't work it out? 5ml per 100l is the same as 1ml per 20l, I have just scaled it up by 5x. I understand that; 2.5ml per 50l is the same, 1.25ml per 25l is the same So to work out what we need for 20l, we need to take off 5litres 1.25ml/25 = 0.05ml (per 1 litre) 0.05ml*5 = 0.25ml...

Water changes are not for resetting the nutrient levels, Water changes are there for removing organic matter, ammonia and algae spores. sorry, I mean by going past the light intensity set when EI was calculated (6wpg), not the nutrient levels, should have been clearer. The levels wouldn't go...

IME I can't say I have seen a difference (in terms of plant health/ algae) from leaving carbon in, but each to their own :good: Thanks, Aaron

It doesnt do particularly well without CO2 injection & good nutrient supply. Aaron,

Only neglible amounts, and once the carbon becomes saturated it will not adsorb any more and it ebcomes an excellent breeding ground for bacteria due to the high surface area - leave it in, I do. :good: Thanks, Aaron

I understand what you are saying, but I also think you are being a bit picky; . I too go on what the plants are telling me, otherwise there is no other measurable way to fix the problems. It isn't just from my experience, the "1ml per 20l" starting point has been passed around for years. I...