Search results

Hi. Thanks for your comments. It has changed quite a bit. I gave up on the Java fern as it was turning brown for some reason. I’m on vacation at the moment but will post an update next week.

For pH and hardness, you could ask around at fish shops or other hobbyists in your area to see what the situation with your water is. Or maybe your water company could provide some info. It will be subject to some variance but will give you a pretty good idea and you can then choose species to...

Found another chilli rasbora on the floor this morning. The glass tank cover is probably 2 cm smaller than the tank front to back and I usually have it as forward as it can be unless I'm introducing food, which leaves probably a 5mm gap at the front. Must have forgot to move it forward again...

I used Ugf back in the day. They worked well for me. You do need to vacuum the gravel but that can just be done when you do the water changes - And I need to vac the gravel just as much with my current tank which has a mini internal filter, so there’s not much difference there really. Main...

Really? Twice the price like for like? Okay, that’s quite surprising. The prices for their tank cabinet and hood packages seem quite competitive to me.

Tank looks great but no lid, so not for me as I like a proper hood. Check out ND aquatics. They’d probably be able to make you a tank with a filter box back similar to that and you could choose black or clear silicon, a wide range of cabinet styles and finishes and optiwhite glass if you wanted...

Yeah, they are tiger barbs imo.

https://fluvalaquatics.com/uk/product/gravel-vac-multi-substrate-cleaner-s-m/ I find this one really good. It has adjustable flow which should help avoid sucking up sand.

Juwel do a few 3d backgrounds. I quite like the STR one. It’s just an understated black colour with a bit of texture to it.

Lovely tank. Really like the bog wood and the planting looks great. What are the floating plants?

Updated pic. No major changes. The h polysperma is growing quite actively but the b monnieri is pretty slow. One stem of the bacopa has breached the surface and is growing quicker now. I’ve been gluing shoots of the Java fern to the boxwood at the back so all the original leaves are gone now and...

If you have a 3D background in your tank you could also attach it to that to create a living wall effect at the back of your tank.

unravel the java fern and cut the rhizome into manageable pieces with at least one leaf. use gel superglue to attach java fern to wood and rocks. You just need the tiniest little drop and the glue cures sufficiently for the plant to stay in place within about 30 secs. It will fully cure and turn...

personally, I’ve never had the problem with the ammonia getting too high, either by using a prawn or a pinch of flake each day. I’ve cycled dozens of tanks in this way, my own and many for friends and relatives. I am not saying it can’t happen, it’s just never been a problem for me. I did it...

I like the look of them, especially with plants growing out, but I just think they aren’t really practical. Too much risk of things getting in and out of the tank.

Yeah, I’ve been there with marbled hatchets, another candidate fish for the what fish do you regret buying thread! I used to have an old style hood with fluorescent tubes and used a corrugated condensation tray underneath. I cut a 1 square centimetre hole in the condensation tray to introduce...

I thought I was a fish down since doing a water change on Saturday. Just found it on the floor covered in fluff and dried out. I have a glass cover on my nano but took it off to do the water change and it must have made a bid for freedom or was perhaps startled by something. Gutted, but also...

Get a cooked prawn, put in a small media bag, toss it in your tank now. then, when you get back from vacation, test your ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels. If you are lucky you’ll be cycled and will have zero ammonia/nitrite and you can remove the prawn, dilute the nitrates down with a water change...

Never really tried breeding fish although I did have a swordtail drop a load of fry once. I’ve got a spare little tank lying around and a sponge filter so I might give it a go. Think they aren’t sexually mature yet but I’ll see if I can give it a go later in the year.

Updated pic attached. I’ve used a different piece of bog wood and superglued the Java fern to it. It’s looking a bit straggly right now but I’m excited to see how it will fill out with new growth. The h polysperma is filling out nicely. I’ve concentrated on replanting cuttings to create a thick...

They are going fit the fry powder quite enthusiastically now. I’ve got some frozen BBS and will try and pick up some more small frozen food next time I’m at Lfs. 8 chillis in an 18 litre and they are so tiny. The amount of food all 8 are consuming is probably the same as 1 neon tetra. I think...

Some very strong opinions here. I have not advised or recommended that anyone use flourish excel, I’ve just said that I use it, and I will keep on doing so. My fish and shrimps and plants and bacteria are all doing very well. Ammonia and nitrites at zero, nitrates possibly a trace but very...

I only use the flourish excel two or three times a week as opposed to every day as recommended, and I trust seachem products. Gluteraldehyde ferts are controversial though and I have read that they may cause plant die back, so it’s not for everyone. I’ve had no problems using it so far. Planting...

I am no expert on plants and whilst I have kept fish for many years I’m just getting back into it after about 11 years out of the hobby. whilst I have had live plants in the past I was never very successful with them and was one of those people that went to their lfs every weekend buying new...

A synodontis many years ago. It disappeared from view as soon as I put it into my tank and I Never saw it again until it’s rotting corpse revealed itself a couple of years later. I didn’t know they were nocturnal! Kuhli loaches were also pretty disappointing.

Hi. A pic of my nano tank. I‘ve been out of the hobby for over ten years and I had this little tank knocking around in my shed so decided to set it up. It’s an old 18 litre Arcadia arc tank. I’ve got 8 chili rasboras and 8 red shrimp. I’ve got hydrophila polysperma on the left, bacopa monieri on...

A few days have gone by and I am a lot happier about the situation now. I did lose two fish but one was at death’s door straight out of the bag and another just stayed hidden under the filter the whole time and died after a few days. The remaining 8 are looking really good though and they have...

First of all, sorry to read about the problems you had Tenaj. I had my fair share when I started out 30 years ago. My worst was that I read somewhere that you could feed earthworms to fish. So I did and then had the most horrific fungal outbreak which gradually killed every fish I had. This was...

Still having problems getting these guys to feed. I’ve tried the following: crushed flake, micro granules, fry powder, frozen baby brine, stick on tabs. Some of the bolder ones are taking a little but most don’t seem interested at all, or they go for it and then spit it out. Apart from one that...

I did think about the stick on food tablets as I’ve used them before and was thinking they might be a good option. Will give them a go.

Thanks, I’ll check out the bug bites. The liquifry 3 is a fine powder food rather than a liquid food. They go for it and then spit it out which is what they are doing with everything I offer them.

I picked up ten chili rasboras. Think I’m down to nine now as one of them looked in really poor condition out of the bag. It was ultra skinny and not able to swim properly. Anyway, concerned about feeding them. I’ve got some dennerle nanogran, frozen baby brine shrimp, liquify no. 3 and I’ve...

I don’t get the trend for open tanks either. this is personal preference, but it Really bugs me when I can see the top of the water line. I’m just returning to the hobby and currently running just one nano with a glass cover, but back in the day I always had tanks with proper hoods and always...

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I’m planning on planting the tank. I like the look of that filter so will give it some serious consideration.

Hi, I’m currently cycling an 18 litre nano with a modified box filter but I’ve decided the filter is just too big and obtrusive and so I’m looking for a mini internal filter instead. I can’t go for a HOB as it just won’t work with my tank cover. It needs to be small and have adjustable flow...

Yeah, I’ll give it a go and if the shrimp are all eaten then I guess the beta has had a nice meal. I expect the baby shrimp will be eaten but hopefully with enough plants and hiding places in the decor a few will survive. I’m not dead set on anything right now, and it’ll be a good few weeks...