Sophia

not enough surface area for duckweed but I will give the others a go.

Yes I think I will try some java fern, I just won't put it anywhere near my tanks with lights :sml2: One of the tanks is pretty good for getting daylight, it reflects a bit of light around as all the surrounds are polystyrene and there no background. The other tank has a blue background so doesn't reflect and is a bit dark. I think I will scrape it off, that should help, will also help me snoop on the fry that are escaping the net box and swimming about below. Algae screen thing looks good but far too complicated for my set up and brain cells usage on weekends 8)

got that in the breeding zones I suppose it's doing the job of looking after the fry and cleaning the water isn't it

:facepalm:

You got it right - I'd something to help absorb stuff in my breeding tanks that only have daylight lighting - no direct sunlight and no overhead lights at all. Ambulia does ok for a little while but eventually gives up, I've got a small anubias going as a trial. Is there anything else that will survive and even do well? I did have crypts but they didn't survive a large water change so they are probably not suitable.

they are probably actually saying 'don't put your hands in here AGAIN today... leave us alone with our poop' :sml2:

In my gravel tank there is a bit of build up around the bases of plants and every week or 2 I disturb it a little in the areas towards the front of the tank and get rid of the main bits but generally leave it alone. I believe that tiny bugs and nutrients live in there and who's to say it's all poo, there will be all sorts of algae/plant matter that drops and accumulates, it's like the decaying matter you get around trees, it just goes back into the soil. As I have crypts I can't suck it out of the gravel or I disturb them anyway. In the sand tank I don't know where the crap goes, a little settles and some hides in the corners, but it takes a couple of months or 3 for the water flow in the filter to slow down. Like Ally said, I reckon just worry less.

We are just looking through Egmont seed catalogue, it's very tempting indeed. My husband is planning a winter garden of container bags and we are going to try a carrot called Chantenay Royal as it only grows to 12-15cm, bigger than the roly poly one but not too big.

Martin Clunes' ears make him look related to a stingray...

:slfg:

I reckon those stacked slate and rock type background sheets could be cut to fit each other so you could make a bigger one if you had a longer piece.

I love bunny show jumping

new collar is much more manly. that sleeping pose is so funny :rotf:

if you like the shade of blue on my little tank background is it's Dulux 'Selwyn'. Gets navy-ish and like the forum blue in the corners - is only bright where the light hits.

Joe, that's you in the back seat of the bunny car driving to buy more of your favourite apistos :slfg: Josh - :spop:

picked the log up just now and inspected every crevice - no scarlet badi # 2 whoever did it also ate his bones because there are no minifish skeletons to be seen anywhere

set the bunnies free! you know they want to....

I went to Waihi Beach once - too many jellyfish :sick: :smot: :smot:

poor Joe - so who's left?

also lots of information on this site that might help http://forums.loaches.com/

it's not the same as when they die off to produce the young plant... Still haven't seen the other dario. I'm giving him till tomorrow afternoon to come out and then I will have a look and see if he's wedged somewhere. full tank shot - haven't decided whether to get something new for the gap or use one of the crypts Simon is sending me. The Incorrigible Fiddler struck again - moss trimmed back to what is actually attached (it looks a bit greener in real life - don't be shocked, and a better picture of the java fern die back. Another pic of the java fern. It seems to be something to do with taking it out of the water, though I did all the trimming in a bucket so I could see it all as it would have been in the tank. It was tap water though, not tank water. The main large clump didn't get disturbed from it's spot, the stuff on the end was a baby that I wedged under a piece of fishing line. I thought it could be a lighting thing but Ice222's java/windelov fern has also done this - she has more plant-acceptable light than me but same water, so maybe it's to do with hardness. In any case if it doesn't perk up again after dying back I'll be getting some more.

Some questions to ponder that might help you decide: * Do you need another tank? (___insert smart comments here ___) * What would you do with the space if the tanks were gone? (insert comments about getting another tank here ___) * Considering all the projects you have and have done, what would you do again and what would you not do? Of those, is there anything you want to try again in a different way? * Are there any fish or combinations of fish on your wishlist? * What would you do with the tank(s) if you had unlimited funds and time to spend creating/maintaining? No need to answer on here, just some things to ponder... :cofn:

:smot:

it's not unreasonable for some women to be able to do those things while making plans for sewing/knitting/craft etc

gotta wait till evening when there is no light reflection on the glass then you will see my exciting browning off java fern :roll: