Aaron-Betta

no way! :evil: :evil: :evil: damnit, I can't type the profound language that just fell out of my mouth. I thought I noticed the water was a bit too cloudy this morning anyways.What a hassle, damnit. Why would the idiot at Palmers Garden centre recommend it even after I explained what it was going to be used for? Looks like I'm going to have to pull it all apart, wash it all out and start again.

what an eye opener!

nah, it was just in a white bag at the aquatic plant section at Mitre 10 labelled Aquatic Mix

yea, i realised that, but just wondering if anyone knew how to or had done it before.

I have seen a few good sized fire eels on TM lately and wondered if anyone has tried breeding them before? Just something a bit different.

I didn't use Daltons, just used an aquatic mix. As far as I understand, you can add nutrients in the form of ferts etc designed for aquatic plants. Plants will also feed on fish poo etc. Here is an interesting link on lo-tech tanks http://naturalaquariums.com/plantedtank/0512.html

Righty then, have laid my stones etc and attached some pieces of 'windelov' some wood, and found a thinner 'branchier' piece of wood at the lfs with some java already attached. Also planted some not so dwarf sag in the background. Had to shorten the intake for the filter as when it was standard it would have been sucking up the aquatic mix. Filled the tank up with water using airline as not to disturb the substrate. Once filled I plugged it all in and tried it out as I hadn't tested it since I brought it of TM, hey presto, it works, no leaks, what a bonus. :bounce: I know its very minimal at the moment, but I will be looking to plant more soon. Was wondering what you guys think, should I stick up a background, or leave it bare to let in more light? also is there stronger lights avaliable for these tanks? Any suggestions, comments, critisism or ideas from anyone are more than welcome. Running with lights: Hoping to cycle it over for a few weeks to see where the water parameters settle.

Damnit! too late now I guess. Will have to wait and see if this other stuff works. Seems to have a lot of clay in it.

Where was the pellet as I asked the person working there and he took me to the Daltons Orchid Mix, I then told him I wouldn't put that in my aquarium and so he took me to the aquatic plant section and said that it was all they had.

I tried Bunnings, Mitre10 and Palmers and they didn't have it in stock at the time. Got a bag of aquatic mix which the salesperson assured me was the right stuff. (got it from the aquatic garden area in mitre10, in a white bag labelled aquatic mix) Also should I use sand instead of the small gravel?

Hey all, After seeing pics on here of peoples planted tanks and seeing a few of them in real life, I decided to try my hand at a planted tank. I am using an AR380 tank to start off with and due to the lighting restriction I am hoping to grow plants that have low light requirements. So far I have laid the Aquatic mix about 2-3cm deep, (couldn't get Daltons ) and positioned my piece of wood. (Hoping to attach a plant to it) I am going to be using Designstone Brightwater gravel, but I was worried about layering it too thick. How thick should it be to keep the soil down and yet let the plants grow through? p.s. thanks heaps to those who have helped me out already with my "learner" questions etc.

I missed out

I drive with my lights on in the afternoons and at night because I drive a grey/silver car. I hate it too when I see people without their lights on. Just got home now at 8pm and saw 6 vehicles driving with only parklights or no lights at all.

isn't tough tanks, "tankgirl" on that unspeakable auction site? I am sure they trade as Tough Tanks in Henderson

Its calm alright. Went out for dinner at Denny's because there was hardly any other places with power. Seemed to have fizzled out by the time we had finished.

Damn, just went to for a drive to the lfs, and it was shut. Most of lincoln rd is without power. Petrol stations etc are all closed. Hope the fishies are ok. Lots of idiots on the roads, aswell as the traffic lights are out in places. Didn't see any of our keen policemen/women directing traffic though, infact I drove for half an hour and didnt even see one at all. Maybe they're drinking hot coffee and eating warm donuts somewhere. jk.

http://www.daphnia.webplatez.com/index.html Have a read on that link, hopefully it'll steer you in the right direction.

you could cover the area as best as possible with a piece of plastic or something. Maybe he thought he was a salmon, migrating up the filter? :-?

May want to watch your language dude, the Mods may not like your thread title.

Just wanted to test how much chlorine was in the tap water, if any at all.

How do you test for Chlorine?

Yummmm, I still get my mum to make chocolate self saucing pud for my birthday dinner (always have and always will have some sort of birthday meal with my folks and family)

I've never made a good curry, never seem to get it hot enough. We have indian friends and always get treated to a hot curry at their house. They reckon it ain't a good curry till you break a sweat eating it. :lol:

lol, was trying to keep it above the belt.

Ok, the cold has really set in, do any of you have a favourite winter warmer you'd like to share? Spent the morning in the kitchen filling our slow cooker with veges for a vege soup. Started with one of those pre-made soup pouches then added: A large onion, a bit of garlic, kumara, parsnip, parsley, pumpkin, mushrooms, carrots, red capsicum, courgette, potato and swede. I just diced them all up into cm cubes and set the slow cooker on high, seaoned with salt and pepper to taste easy as.