Cricketman

so they don't even know how or why it works basically is what that says to me.... :facepalm: and therein lies my problem with all these fan-dangled chemicals and their "scientists"... excuse me if I'm not filled with confidence... :slfg: Waterchanges... 100% guaranteed to do what it should... AND! means you'll have a few more pennies to clink together when it comes to purchasing inhabitants...

I have never used excessive products in my tank other than one time (PO4 issue) de-chlorinator is the only thing that I use on a constant basis... or sodium thiosulphate if I can get hold of it... (good for removing excess Bleach after sterilising, too) Nothing, and I mean nothing, is better for your tank than water changes. Directly removes NH3 / NH4+ / NO2 / NO3 / PO4 medication, everything. It like opening a window in your room for fresh air. Eventually your bacteria will catch up and equalise with your bio-load, but, even when they are working properly, the NO3 they produce is accessible to algae, macro and micro. Solution - keep up weekly water-changes, or get some (more than just a couple) plants + lights and do slightly fewer water changes. (NOTE: talking about an established tank here, yours will get there eventually, if you start to get algae, you're there :thup:) Thing to remember is that you are trying to mimic nature in a mini-eco system to the best of our abilities, the closer you can get to this, the better your water is going to be, and the happier your captives... HTH

it brand spanker is probably why. If it keeps it up, slacken my jaw and call me impressed. :thup:

always had them fully submersed and on a slant, means that the bi-metallic strip is measuring average tank temp rather than the warmed water rising of the element giving a false reading. note: not a problem if you have decent flow past the heater to drive the "pocket" of warmth away from itself. horses for courses.

:facepalm: oh noes, my england is not good enuf for the mighty and great one... :sml1: :sml1: :sml1: and, just because unicellular algae is included among a list does not mean that my point is any less valid, algae still need sunlight last I checked. but I'm sure you can find some biased and un-founded paper for that, too. You are (see, got it that time, pedantic fiend) fast becoming the main reason why I seriously can't be stuffed using this forum, more and more trolls and people that think they know more than those who have been at this game for YEARS! Jesus, I'm a freaking marine biologist and I don't parade around like a prize git trying to out-research everything everyone has to say! There are many people here that know a hell of a lot more about fish keeping than I, and I can respect that. But for someone such as yourself to come in here with very little actual information or personal experience and ruffle everyone's feathers... bollox... Squirt is right. I, sir, bid your fanciful and deluded sense of grandeur goodbye.

:rotf: he is creating his own currency... 1) create new currency 2) ????? 3) world domination :rotf: :digH:

I have all of the above... Marine Biologist... :thup: and calling me on grammar is a low blow by a desperate man in search of something to attempt to bring me down, when you know your down and out. Give it a rest...

shock, horror... Says who? unverified statements will get you no-where. Never said it was. So, red and white buckets are natural now? and you only did 1 trial with 1 type of flotsam. Never said that, your projecting. And it is not "algae rich" it is merely full of grass clippings. Your most likely creating infusoria more than algae. Like you said, it was in the shade ("under my deck in the shade"). Unless you have a breed super-algae that no longer needs photosynthesis, I doubt there will be statistically valuable numbers. I said that it should be trialled, along with many other things. Styrofoam was an example brought up earlier in the thread, i was merely addressing it, seeing as you haven't. I put it to you that your "experiment", by your own admittance, was biased, shallow (1 trail does not a conclusion make), lacking references, projected, devoid of scientific value and your conclusions are thus void. Again, for someone so scientific about every little thing, you've had a blow-out here mate....

Your trail is not fair, you have too many variables, not just the variable in question (ie: floating material vs none) you also changed the amount of clippings, and different coloured buckets, also you have only subjected it to a single test. maybe you should repeat until you have some solid findings. :smln: also, duckweed may not produce egg-rafts, but you have not addressed the idea of Styrofoam or any other flotsam.... For someone so awfully scientific about things (read: every single damn thing anyone has to say about anything, ever!) seems an amateur mistake.

As for removing sticks and stones from parks, they say you should take only photos and leave only footprints... But then again, long as you are not removing em by the truck-full, i wouldnt see too much problem... There definately are better places for driftwood like the others have pointed out, however.

this... Too much risk of contracting disease in a captive environ and then spreading to wild populations

IDK how good DI water is to drink actually??? meh, wont kill ya

no offence taken. you can lead a horse to water... etc etc etc... least you have the cojones to come on and apologise... Tank is looking good :thup:

could always send it air-mail/ parcel post... Dunna how good teh Singaporean mail system is, would save you the hand luggage of a few 1000 plastic bits knocking around... :sml1:

probably that fact right there more so than anything atmospherical...

:thup: nice! let us know how she goes

Still, would not be on my start-up equipment list... remembering putt is in probably the warmest part of the country... horses - courses...

Why chiller?? only necessary if your doing local marine. :dunno: Tropical you shouldn't have to chill, quite the opposite in fact... Take your time to read through this site, there is A LOT of information within... reefkeepers is also good for research and is a little more candid, if you can handle that... Search function is your best friend.

Birthday happy have you, hmmmm

horses for courses, you're going to get several different renditions... I say that as long as the de-chlorinator gets in there at some point, your good... before, after, in tank, out of tank, during, half and half....it won't make that much difference.

2 foot tank on their own would be a go-er... few dry alder leaves to get the water a rich tannin colour (you'll see the fish colour up too), few small sticks for cover (and to hold leaves down) bit of java moss on the surface, few small water changes to cycle, then leave them for bout 2 weeks, do a big change and you'll have them breeding in no time.

small tank, tannin rich water with plenty of hiding and over-head cover like java moss...

your limited to the size that the containers can be, hence the "travel size" toiletry packs you can get from warehouse etc. just make sure you take as part of hand luggage, pressurised canisters don't do well at altitude. neither to 50oz gin bottles.... :facepalm:

naww, I'd have her in a heart beat, but already have a four-legged son... hope she finds a nice place! :thup:

thats just evil.... :evil: Also, I enjoy a good beer, or bourbon, and enjoy going to town etc, but there is no way that i would give someone the hairy eyeball for not partaking... I smoke pipe tobacco too, and again, wouldn't push it on someone else... horses for courses, it my life, I'll do what I want, and I expect those around me to respect that... just as I respect your choice not to partake... :thup: