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I've recently converted my planted community tank into a malawi set-up - no plants, coral sand substrate, plently of pale (limestone) rock etc. The current lighting is regular daylight(6400k) but they appear a little yellow (maybe they just need changing!) I'm considering converting the...

Water circulation is one thing I did change thinking about it. I have an external eheim and originally I didn't add the plug to the end of the spray bar to limit surface agitation, reducing co2 drive-off. I was getting a milky scum build-up (protein?) on the surface so added the plug a few...

thanks for the replies. the indian fern/watersprite used to grow wild (i was regularly trimming and binning loads) but has now all gone - turned to brown mush rather quickly. with regards to c02 my drop checker, filled with 4kh water from AE, is green indicating around 30ppm. I'll try upping...

hasn't happened before - all chems clearly labelled. At a real loss. Came home today and my indian fern is basically just brown mush. Had to remove the lot, plus several bacopa stems (no leaves left). What I can't understand is why most plants are dying off but my hairgrass is slowly...

nothing else has changed, unless the wter co has added something. Ammonia and nitrite readings are nil, ph is 6.6-6.8. No water softener or salts being added. Will try and get some photos up later. Thanks for the responses so far Stu

I've recently upped my lighting from 1.5 wpg to 2.5 wpg, replaced DIY co2 with pressurised (bubble counter green so 30ppm or thereabouts), moved to EI and most of my plants have started to die :-( . everything was fine for the first 3 weeks or so but now it's all going wrong. The only plant...

my echinodorus rose is getting a little big and I'm looking to remove some of the older and larger leaves. Should I just cut them off at the base or will this harm the plant? The common sense side of me says it will be ok but I just want to make sure. The plant in question has gone into...

Well I've finally upgraded my lighting, in a rather unconvensional way. After much deliberation I decided to get rid of the traditional tubes and try using regular energy saving bulbs (they are actually "daylight" bulbs at 6400k designed for SAD sufferers no doubt). I've fitted 6x25w...

i'm a road racer. Used to mountain bike but not anymore (i sort of grew out of it). Just taken delivery of a nice set of wheels - tune hubs with DT rims/revolution spokes, very light. Can't wait to test them at sundays race.

I had exactly the same issue a couple of weeks ago when I moved from diy to pressurised. I got a bad breakout of BBA and some thread algae with a couple of patches of bga. everything seems to be in remission now (3 weeks later) but the bba seems the most stubborn. I've squirted some excel...

just been thinking about this. As I'm ugrading my lights (planning on 2x5', 58w over 6' tank) and 58w T8 tubes seem harder to find than other lengths, is there any other alternative I could go down without spending silly money. At the moment I can get 2 58w ballasts for £35 plus cost of tubes...

I read on another discussion that the arcadia original wasn't particular good http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...95622&st=16 (sorry if I've quoted out of context) The Arcadia freshwater tubes are £20 each which is quite a bit more than the alternatives I've mentioned.

I need to change my lifeglo's before much longer and I'm currently looking at alternatives. These seem cheap enough but has anyone used them? (got link from George Farmers pinned lighting article) http://www.firstlightdirect.com/products.a...=F58T8%2DACTIVA Alternatively, can anyone recommend...

thinking of going down the EI route but was just wondering how strict is the 50% water change per week? Having a 6' tank holding 60+ gallons I'd rather not have to remove and replace 30 gal per week. I usually do something around 25%-30% per week. Can the EI method be adapted to smaller...

having only used greenline from the list and never been disappointed they get my vote. Once used nannyspetals on ebay - got must of the plants but not all. Despite promises to send he never did. Put in a paypal claim and got full refund and therefore free plants. He doesn't exist anymore (I...

I used it until fairly recently (in conjunction with diy co2) when I upgraded and moved to a pressurised system. Worked fine, plants grew fairly quickly, especially my stem plants and swords (I have a huge Echinodorus 'Rose' which grew v. quickly under approx 1.5wpg). Now I'm keeping the...

I use a fire extinguisher with a reg with needle valve and solenoid I got off off ebay from aquaticmagic on ebay (see link). I offered £30 and he accepted. Arrived in about a week http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CO2-Regulator-Electr...VQQcmdZViewItem

thats what I use

ditto - and they do a 3 for £9 deal IIRC.

couldn't agree more but not guilty coining the phase "snail" or "egg" - both came from others (probably both Themulous, LOL)

water weighs 10lb per uk gallon (i think), so weight around 35lb full

yep - he's the one who recommended it, even though I prefer the look to the "snail" ones anyway

I've got a similar setup and had no real problems growing with a couple of tubes. Unless you really want to grow high light plants it may be worth staying as you are. As i understand it you may get lots of algae problems without also getting co2.

I got the one you linked to (egg style one at top). Arrived quickly from Hong Kong. Works a treat just don't use the supplied indicator solution. It just seems to be blue water (although I'm sure it's not). Mine just stayed blue when added to 4kdh water from AquaEssentials no matter how high...

I've used it once - wiped out all the algae with no effect on any live stock. Wonderful stuff. Only problem had a co2 failure while on holiday and it's come back with a vengence. May need to retreat and start again :(

2 arcadia ones behind the 24" (20w) and 36" (30w) tubes and a juwel one behind the 48" (40w) tube. THey get cleaned regularly btw

I have limited space under my hood for lighting and have limited resources for upgrading. I currently have 2 lightsets in parallel with reflectors (1x40w & 1x30w+1x20w, 90w total). One option I can afford and go with is to run 4x40w (160w total) but without reflectors (if I remove them I can...

i get this quite often. LFS said not to worry and it happens quite often in planted tanks with good/regular fert dosing regime. I think the guy said its a protein build up and other than being a little unsightly from above its perfectly harmless. i thought about a skimmer but heard they can be...

probably not - I only got my bottle a week ago. As the problem came to light prior to me ordering I presume all the bad batch had been dealt with before I ordered.

I'm sure the drop checker isn't reading right but until I get the new ph kit I'm in the dark. As for fluctuating co2 - now I've gone pressurised surely it must be more stable than with my old diy setup? The diffuser has been cleaned regularly and there are definitely finer bubbles and a...

Hi guys I've had a sudden attack of bba whilst I've been away on holiday. I've had it previously and diy co2 plus excel cured it (then it was v. dark green, almost black). Everything was fine until I went pressurised about 2 weeks ago (week before going away) and its come back with a vengence...

been away for a week - hence late reply I'm growing all sorts of echinodorus fine, plus hairgrass and all stem plants were growing like wildfire for around 3 months and then all growth from them suddenly halted. Struggled with crypts and vallis - neither seem to want to take. Has diy co2...

Hi all I'm looking at upping my lighting on my tank. currently I have 1x48"(40w), 1x36"(30w) and 1x24"(20w) giving a total of 90w. My tank measures 72"(l)x15"(w)x18"(h). I was thinking of moving to this http://www.firstlightdirect.com/pp/Fluores...cent_Tubes.html (ia this suitable?) which...

I've received my co2 regulator and hooked it up to my extinguisher but one of the gauges isn't working :sad: (the one that indicates cylinder pressure - prob the more important of the two). Everything else is fine and i've now got it all up and running. I've contacted the vendor but as it...

that's the one I've just ordered - £13 delivered from Hong Kong :) . I have the extinguishers ready and i'm just waiting for everything else to arrive

Hi all. I'm going to be ordering a drop checker in the next day or two but have found two differing designs at Aqua Essentials Type 1 http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...roducts_id=1231 Type 2 http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...roducts_id=1232 I've noticed from looking at...

I've also been looking at drop checkers. this one just state using tap water or distilled water. will this work? As I understand it you need water of a given kh (4dkh) so how can this work with bog standard tap water which will vary from place to place/day to day...

cheapest was Pennine Fire in Blackburn (I think) 01254 263378 who quoted a fiver, but would need to test it first I think. I'd give them a ring to confirm- dead handy for Bolton. Only issue was opening times as they are shut over lunch and at weekend. No good for me working/living in Preston...

local fire equip suppliers have been the most accommodating- cheapest i've found is a fiver but they are 20 miles away and not open at lunch time or weekends - no good for me because of work. the best one i've found is 10 min drive from work and will refill overnight for £11.75 (he said they...

have found somewhere that will fill 2kg overnight for £10+vat, and they'll refill my black ones if they're not to be used as extinguishers. Better than first quote of £48 to refill - eek :crazy:!!