thanks m8 was it easy to put together ?
Your current Fish tank Setups!
- Thread starter Malt_Vinegar
- Start date
thanks m8 was it easy to put together ?
Associate
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 2,041
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Yes pretty straight forward, I used thermal epoxy to secure led stars to heatsink to save drilling.
Soldering is the only part that could be difficult but If you get a decent soldering iron and good quality solder its easier.
Soldering is the only part that could be difficult but If you get a decent soldering iron and good quality solder its easier.
Very nice. What are your stocking plans? With it being quite a dark set of plants you've got in there, some Crystal Red Shrimp would probably look absolutely stunning.
With the textured background I'd really recommend some amano and otocinclus.
With the textured background I'd really recommend some amano and otocinclus.
Associate
- Joined
- 3 Feb 2012
- Posts
- 2,269
- Location
- Bath
I'm in a rented house, with a specific 'no fishtank' clause in the tenancy agreement...
Spent years working in the aquatics trade, really missing me little fishies these days.
My faves were my old African Knife fish, in a fully softened, blackwatered setup with some gorgeous Emperor tetras. Used to love the dwarf cichlids too, Apistogrammas etc.
It's a real sod living in rented places- aquaria are too much hassle when you're moving house every year or two!
Spent years working in the aquatics trade, really missing me little fishies these days.
My faves were my old African Knife fish, in a fully softened, blackwatered setup with some gorgeous Emperor tetras. Used to love the dwarf cichlids too, Apistogrammas etc.
It's a real sod living in rented places- aquaria are too much hassle when you're moving house every year or two!
Cheers bud, i do need a couple of more fish, the crystal red shrimp is a good idea, i already have the shrimp house in there although a few of my loaches have taken to this, i do like my Rummy noses they have great character in a shoal.
Bit of help please gents :
Since adding a few plants the aquarium now seems to be growing hair in places (plant leaves and on the cave that the plec's like to hide in) The water readings are all good and so I'm confused as to what the problem is.
If anyone can offer advice I'd really appreciate it. One plant was literally covered in what looked like black hair on its leaves. Its since been removed.
Thanks
Edit : Pictures - sorry for low quality
Since adding a few plants the aquarium now seems to be growing hair in places (plant leaves and on the cave that the plec's like to hide in) The water readings are all good and so I'm confused as to what the problem is.
If anyone can offer advice I'd really appreciate it. One plant was literally covered in what looked like black hair on its leaves. Its since been removed.
Thanks
Edit : Pictures - sorry for low quality
Last edited:
have a good read of this.
http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm
Could be hair or staghorn algae.
I'd suggest reducing your lighting period to 5-6 hours maximum (dependent on lighting), increasing water flow and doing larger water changes every week.
Looking at your pictures your plants are suffering from lack of nutrients and co2.
You could look into EI dosing and adding co2 if your not already.
This will however make your aquarium "high tech" and require a lot more maintenance.
If you dont want to go down this route you need to find the balance between lighting period, water flow and available nutrients to help keep algae at bay.
Mike what are your tank specs, like are you using c02, ferts, how long is your lighting on for, how old are the lighting tubes, water circulation in a tank is a must.
Hey mate,
The tank is an aqua one 980, with the built in filtration system (only circulation), not using cO2 or ferts. The lighting has probably been on far too long recently over Christmas (12 hours some days if not a touch more
). The tubes are around two months old now, though we only use one tube.Hey mate,
Will reduce the lighting to 5-6 hours (its currently off!), not sure how to increase water flow but I'm assuming with one of those jet things? Not too sure some of the fish will like it?! The plants do indeed look like they're suffering!
The co2 I could pick up today from maidenhead aquatics, we're off to replace the plants that have been removed anyway.I think they sell plant fertilizer too, so could pick some of that up, quite fancy trying to get a bit of co2 in the water... always stupidly assumed it would kill off the fish but after recent research it appears I was being a tad stupid!
To both of you : thanks for your time and help
Hi Mike, try these.
http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/neutro-co2-small-p-6361.html?zenid=9fa0179d8d81b0c754c92418135275b7
http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/neutro-t-small-p-6360.html?zenid=9fa0179d8d81b0c754c92418135275b7
http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/fil...7.html?zenid=9fa0179d8d81b0c754c92418135275b7
I buy all my plants from these guys, very very good plants.
http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/neutro-co2-small-p-6361.html?zenid=9fa0179d8d81b0c754c92418135275b7
http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/neutro-t-small-p-6360.html?zenid=9fa0179d8d81b0c754c92418135275b7
http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/fil...7.html?zenid=9fa0179d8d81b0c754c92418135275b7
I buy all my plants from these guys, very very good plants.
My tank coming along great, plants are exploding with the added c02 and ferts
[/QUOTE]
That does looks good. :) A Kew Gardens under water. :D
Agree with spook, aquaessentials have always been very good with the plants I've bought from them.
As for injecting co2, I can only recommend you do a lot of research before buying.
There are many different ways of setting up co2 and indeed if you inject too much you can kill your fish.
Personally I would never buy a branded co2 kit, your'll be paying well over the odds and the co2 refills are a complete rip off.
If your adamant about injecting co2 then I would suggest looking into a co2 fire extinguisher set up.
It requires a bit of work setting up and a fairly large initial outlay but the benefits are well worth it, plus a 2kg co2 fire extinguisher can be had for as little as £20 and should last a good few months, especially on your tank which I think is 215l? Your'll use a lot of co2 on that.
If your going to the trouble of injecting co2 your'll need to add ferts as well. the cheapest and best method is estimative index dosing "EI" do some research on this, you can pick up a starter kit for around £20 and it should last a good few months too.
You may also want to consider adding liquid carbon, again there are cheaper ways of doing it. As your tank is quite large liquid carbon could become very expensive as you'd need to use so much.
Search for Glutaraldehyde for a DIY option. It's the same stuff they use in easycarbo etc but you buy it pure and mix it your self for a fraction of the cost. It is nasty stuff and does involve some health risks though so its not for every one.
Remember that adding co2 and ferts will turn your tank "high tech" and your'll need to do a lot more maintenance and much larger water changes weekly. If EI dosing its recommended doing at least a 50% water change every week.
A common misconception is "more light = more plant growth" this is not true, plants only grow through uptake of carbon and in turn also needing more nutrients.
If the photo period is too long the plants quickly use the available carbon and nutrients but will continue to photosynthesize until the light is turned off effectively starving the plant.
This is why the balance between lighting and availble carbon/nutrients is critical for healthly plant growth. If the photo period is too long the only thing your'll grow is algae.
A good way of starting is to have the light on for 2 hours a day for a week and monitor plant health, then increase the photo period by an hour for another week etc until you start to see plant deterioration, then you can either increase your carbon/nutrients or decrease your photo period.
I'm guessing your fluorescent tubes are 40w and its good your only using 1 of them. they will provide more than enough light for your plants regardless of age.
Water flow is a critical part of a health aquarium, it ensures movement of waste to the filters and movement of carbon/nutrients to all parts of the tank/plants.
You can add an external/ internal filter with a spray bar to increase flow or a power head.
To be honest adding carbon and ferts is only really necessary if you intend to have a large lush plant mass.
If you only intend on having a few plants in your tank then frequent large water changes with excellent water flow and a short photo period will likely see your plants remain healthy.
As for injecting co2, I can only recommend you do a lot of research before buying.
There are many different ways of setting up co2 and indeed if you inject too much you can kill your fish.
Personally I would never buy a branded co2 kit, your'll be paying well over the odds and the co2 refills are a complete rip off.
If your adamant about injecting co2 then I would suggest looking into a co2 fire extinguisher set up.
It requires a bit of work setting up and a fairly large initial outlay but the benefits are well worth it, plus a 2kg co2 fire extinguisher can be had for as little as £20 and should last a good few months, especially on your tank which I think is 215l? Your'll use a lot of co2 on that.
If your going to the trouble of injecting co2 your'll need to add ferts as well. the cheapest and best method is estimative index dosing "EI" do some research on this, you can pick up a starter kit for around £20 and it should last a good few months too.
You may also want to consider adding liquid carbon, again there are cheaper ways of doing it. As your tank is quite large liquid carbon could become very expensive as you'd need to use so much.
Search for Glutaraldehyde for a DIY option. It's the same stuff they use in easycarbo etc but you buy it pure and mix it your self for a fraction of the cost. It is nasty stuff and does involve some health risks though so its not for every one.
Remember that adding co2 and ferts will turn your tank "high tech" and your'll need to do a lot more maintenance and much larger water changes weekly. If EI dosing its recommended doing at least a 50% water change every week.
A common misconception is "more light = more plant growth" this is not true, plants only grow through uptake of carbon and in turn also needing more nutrients.
If the photo period is too long the plants quickly use the available carbon and nutrients but will continue to photosynthesize until the light is turned off effectively starving the plant.
This is why the balance between lighting and availble carbon/nutrients is critical for healthly plant growth. If the photo period is too long the only thing your'll grow is algae.
A good way of starting is to have the light on for 2 hours a day for a week and monitor plant health, then increase the photo period by an hour for another week etc until you start to see plant deterioration, then you can either increase your carbon/nutrients or decrease your photo period.
I'm guessing your fluorescent tubes are 40w and its good your only using 1 of them. they will provide more than enough light for your plants regardless of age.
Water flow is a critical part of a health aquarium, it ensures movement of waste to the filters and movement of carbon/nutrients to all parts of the tank/plants.
You can add an external/ internal filter with a spray bar to increase flow or a power head.
To be honest adding carbon and ferts is only really necessary if you intend to have a large lush plant mass.
If you only intend on having a few plants in your tank then frequent large water changes with excellent water flow and a short photo period will likely see your plants remain healthy.
Good points there famas, i did buy a branded c02 system, yes you are correct in a big outlay and it can be expensive at first which it was, I'm still on my first bottle of c02 since Oct and still got about 200g left so it does last a fair bit, i have it on a timer as putting c02 in at night is a waste.
Blimey guys! Thank you very much and Famas you should write a book!
I assume that if I purchased the two bottles of liquid it'd help the plants no end? Also regarding the circulation pump : The waste (poo) all seems to collect in one point in the tank at the minute.... is that a sign of poor circulation or good? It makes it fantastically easy for cleaning but am wondering if either (unlikely) they are all trained well
or its being blown to one point?Famas - I personally would like a more planted tank... this one is hers as such but I would love to do some aquascaping and get a highly planted tank, some of the ones on this thread are absolutely stunning! Have put the lights on just now and will turn them off again at 5pm. She's currently in the process of scrubbing the few ornaments that have the hair type algae on them!
Do you think it'd be worth adding the circulation pump that was kindly linked to by spook? I don't want the poor little blighters to have to swim for their lives but I assume the flow is quite gentle?
To both of you thanks very much..... really appreciate your time
A Circulation Pump does wonders, i knock mine off at night, you can get adjustable ones to ease the flow if you think it's to strong for the fish, yeah a build of waste in corners is a sign of dead spots in the tank, like a pc case with negative air pressure with build up of dust in corners.