The Great White Hand

Hi Pengiunleo, Alan Pegiunleo, pleased to hear you had a good result, I'll definitely do the same thing if the blue/green gets bad (at the moment its just a smudge or two (sometimes I wonder if I'm just seeing things! I wouldn't be TGWH if I didn't I supose). My "Algae Squad" (1 BN, 2 SAE, 4 Ottos) seem to be stepping things up a bit. Alan, you're right the $64,000 question is how to acheive that elusive "balanced stable, system". I am constantly striving to increase my understanding of the requirements of a planted community tank, the pieces seem to be coming together (lighting, CO2 and nutrients). I haven't knowingly cut any corners or made too many mistakes with this set-up. I need to trust in my judgement (helped by invaluable input from yourself and others) and give this tank some time. Kind Regards, TGWH

Hi jn I think the trickle filter set-up on the ARs really oxygenates/aerates the water quite a bit. I cleaned the media and substate thoroughly before I put them in the trickle filter and in the CF1200 filter as well. Air bubbles down the end of the tank where the trickle filter returns the water, but tiny flecks down the other end. Thanks for your input jn. Regards, TGWH

Hi Penguinleo How did your treatment of Blue/Green algae go? what causes it? I seem to be having similar problems. I have an AR980 which has been set up for about 2 months. The tank has got little flecks like bubbles (The water looks great until you are about 1 foot away then you can see the flecks could it be Blue/Green algae???) also could be a bit of "green water", I think. I believe it is getting slowly better. Putting Purigen in seemed to help, the Purigen was dark brown within a week, might take it out and revive it. The plants don't seem to be particularly vital, the old growth of polysperma and cambomba seem to be covered in brown algae (hoping my new Ottos deal to this), there seems to be a light smattering of black algae on crypts and swords. The twisted val has a few small smudges that look like slime(Blue/Green)?? It is extensively planted (variety of swords, crypts, cambomba, anubias, java ferns on driftwood, java moss, dwarf saggitaria, pigmy chain sword, saurarus, straight and twisted vals, glassos, polysperma and some others) and moderately populated (Blue Ram pair, 1 Dwarf Gourami, 3 Corys, 1 Brstlenose, 4 Otto, 2 SAE, 26 neons and 20 harlequins. I am currently running the AR980 filter and an Aqua One CF1200 canister filter. The water chemistry appears good (0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, Ph 7, very low nitrates, phosphates and iron). I do 20% water changes twice a week, use aqua plus to condition water, add "cycle" occasionally and am using Flourish and Flourish excel for the plants. I have got some new lighting, based on what I've read from this site (Arcadia, 2 x 30, 1 x 25, 2 natural 8000k, CRI 1A, and moonlight) Regards, TGWH

Hi Joze Come on back and play. I might need some advice from you soon! I'm almost too scared to post this! I'm a bit of an interweb virgin, maybe not up to the cut and thrust. I think (IMHO) we've all (I dont want to speak for anyone else so it should be "I" have) learned something from your post, possibly not quite what you intended, more about the content and framing of and our responsibility for, our posts, how people might respond to them and so on. I love this site and welcome the advice, experiences, stories and photos you all share - are we really fighting amongst ourselves? I think healthy debate is good, but I hate to see a "beat-up", just because no one got laid on Sat or Sun :lol: Regards, TGWH

Hi RTBS I'd seen your post - Incredible job! If I decide to go "A+" I'll follow your example. Kind Regards, TGWH

Hi bOi, Alan, Spidey and Aquarium Dude Thank you very much for your advice! The inside of the hood is white and so will look at attaching mylar. Kind Regards, TGWH

Hi supasi I don't know whether it was the new taps or not but I played with the connectors quite a bit and couldn't fix it! Sorry all I can suggest is to go back to the seller, If they have any integrity and value your custom, they'll get you some new taps ASAP, if they have another one in stock, then they'll be able to get them instantly. Tell them there are other instances of leaky taps, they and the Aqua One distributors should want to know! I see from your other thread you got the filter off TM, If those guys want to protect their ratings, then I'm sure they,ll do something for you. If you don't receive a fast, positive response let this forum know! Good luck, it will be brilliant when you have it up and running! Regards, TGWH

Hi, Alan, Ira and Spidey Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise and experiences! Kind Regards, TGWH

Thank you Alan! This is just the sort of thing I need to know. The prospect of a whole pile of tape burnt on to my new flouro tubes is something I could do without. Refectors then? I've only got 85W in a well-planted 215ltr tank (no CO2 yet, just Flourish Excel each day) and would like to get effective lighting over the 0.5W/1ltr mark, thought I could get the effect with better hood reflection. Maybe I should replace the purple light with something grunty? Can you get a T8 750mm "natural light" at 50W? Kind Regards, TGWH

Hi I Would welcome your opinions on whether reflective tape is very effective in the lighting hood, if so could you recommend a brand, please? Are reflectors significantly better than the tape? This is going into my Aqua One AR980 2 x new Arcadia 30W Natural light bulbs and a 25W purple Atman(?) bulb which I will replace when I do the taping or adding of reflectors. Thank you in anticipation! TGWH

Hi Loopy Hope you all have a good night! Both my wife and I down with some sort of bot (nasty gastro beggar), between the two of us will struggle to keep the kids from killing each other or us, so won't be able to make it tonight. I hope to make it to the next "Totally Tanked" do. Kind Regards, TGWH

Hi Gatito Spidersweb makes a good point about the comparative flows of the two filters. The AR980 (215ltr) for example which is a slightly smaller than your Jebo (250ltr) has a powerhead that delivers 2000ltr/per/hr (from the Aqua One manual), I'm assuming your Jebo to be at least that. Once you put media in and they start to clog-up and that flow is reduced, same things applies to a CF1000 (1000ltr/per/hr) you might need to play around with media abit to acheive the right flow. I know its been done successfully with an AR980. I think its still preferable if you can run both systems together, they say "you can't have too much filtration". The gaps (3cm and 4cm) you talked about earlier seem like they should allow you to fit the 1-1.5cm tubing through? Not? Regards, TGWH

Hi Gatito Someone suggested to me that you pull the wet/dry filter powerhead out and use the canister filter to power the wet/dry trickle filter. So you still only have one filter intake and get most of the benefit of two filters. Regards TGWH

Hi Gatito I've just put a CF1200 into an AR980 tank with a wet/dry lid filter. I snuck the hockey sticks, bent pipes through the gap in the back of the wet/dry filter housing that you run the powerhead electrical cord through. Does the the Jebo have the same gap? Tight fit, but it does fit on the AR980. Good luck! I think the combination of the wet/dry and canister is a great idea! Regards, TGWH

Cheers Mat I appreciate your input. I picked it up for $18 at Rexel here in CHCH, seemed reasonable compared to $60 for an Arcadia. What do you buy from Bunnings for planted tanks? I purchased as a bit of a punt, after posting this item I did a google search and found more info on this bulb which was reassuring. Regards, TGWH

Welcome Fluffypants! Unreservedly recommend "Organism" (IMO we must support small LFS if we wish to enjoy the friendly, dedicated, and expert service and products they provide) . You should also go for a trip to "Redwood Aquatics" in Hussey Rd (opposite Willowbank). Animates (where I won't shop again) sold me a beautiful male Betta (siamese fighting fish) knowing I had a Dwarf Gourami, the gourami tormented the Betta for a couple of days (the real damage was done at night when I couldn't see what was going on), before I could seperate them (had to get a hospital tank set-up). the poor Betta died a day later. So Betta and Gouramis, same family, in this case, potential conflict. Regards, TGWH

Hi, I would welcome your opinions of Osram L30W 965 Bio-Lux "Natural Sunlight" for a planted tank Regards, TGWH

Hi, Thank you for the advice, will try to be patient! Regards, TGWH

Hi folks Leaking taps problem fixed! I tried a few things to no avail on this occasion. John from "Organism" ( to all CHCH fishkeepers, this is a must go LFS) gave me some new taps and away it went. Will need to rearrange a few plants to cope with the flow (2000lt/ph wet/dry, 1200lt/ph CF1200, 400lt/ph Fluval 2 plus) Will pull the Fluval 2 out in a week or so. Need to work on managing the flow in the tank for fish comfort, harlequins in particular seem to love getting in the current. I'm getting closer to Discus all the time, the "Discus Haven" banner is taunting me! Kind Regards, TGWH

Hi, Thank you for taking the time to provide valuable advice! I'll approach the beast again today. I'm doing a lot of painting with enamel in our bedroom, so I'm trying to keep my paint, turps and sugar soap covered great white hand out of the tank. Blue& Kim, yes no secret anymore, thats why I'm painting the bedroom. I did also use the "break-up in a public place" strategy, by opening the cabinet to show a group of friends the new filter, all my wife could say was "I didn't know we had one of those". I know I'm gutless! Regards, TGWH

Hi, Set up my new CF1200 in the AR980 (shoe-horned it in). Got in running just fine then realised that the taps into and out of the canister were leaking, no leaks in the pipes which I joined. Definitely coming from the taps themselves. Any ideas? Has any one else encountered this? Regards, TGWH I'll stop posting once I've got this damn thing set-up right! And the tank after that and the tank after that.......................

I have an AR980 which has been set up for about 5-6 weeks. The new tank has got little flecks like bubbles (The water looks great until you are about 1 foot away then you can see the flecks) and seems brown/orangey (I believe tannins from a big bit of bogwood) but could also be masking a bit of "green water", I think. I believe it is getting slowly better, the plants seem to be doing well. I have floculant (Algae -fixer) which I refuse to use ( I bought it in case I couldn't stand the water any more) I don't want to "blackout" the tank for 3-4 days as I feel my plants won't like it? I don't know where to hire a diatom filter from in Chch? I've heard of using live Daphinia. How many?, Who has them? How much$? Do I sit tight? Obviously, I'm mostly concerned that my fish are happy (they have good colour, no diseases, eat well, etc.) Is exposure to "GW" harmful to them? It is extensively planted (variety of swords, crypts, cambomba, anubias, java ferns on driftwood, java moss, dwarf saggitaria, pigmy chain sword, saurarus, straight and twisted vals, glassos, and some others) and moderately populated (Blue Ram pair, 1 Dwarf Gourami, 3 Corys, 1 Brstlenose, 1 Otto, 26 neons and 20 harlequins. I am currently running the AR980 filter and a Fluval 2 plus from my previous "two footer". I have Aqua One CF1200 canister filter almost completely installed (waiting on a elbow tube). The water chemistry appears good (0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, Ph 7, low nitrates and phosphates). I do 20% water changes twice a week, use aqua plus to condition water, add "cycle" occasionally (as I'm about to intall a new filter and take the fluval 2 out)) and am using Flourish and Flourish excel for the plants. I have got some new lighting, based on what I've read from this site (Arcadia, 2 x 30, 1 x 25, 2 natural 8000k, CRI 1A, and moonlight) I would greatly appreciate any advise, members could provide my with. Reagrds, TGWH

Thank you for the warm welcome and all the advice given. Hi loopy, will definately be in touch over the "Christchurch Totally Tanked " BBQ, Thank you for the invitation! Regards, TGWH

Hi Silverblade I have a pair of Blue Rams (Microgeophagus Ramairiz), they are brilliant (a mild cyclid attitude in a small package no big deal) and beautiful (colours of the rainbow). I understand they live very happily with Discus and all the community fishes. My fav fish, althought I have Discus fancier tendencies. My dwarf gourami and Betta (fighting fish) fought like cats and dogs for a few days till we managed to isolate the Betta, which subsequently died. I understand same family (Anabantid labyrinth fish), same gender, both beautiful not take astep back some of fish and you might have trouble. Good luck with this great hobby/lifestyle? Regards, TGWH

Hi, Thank you for taking the time to advise! Regards, TGWH