Dana

I bought a second hand tank where my light covers were so calcified, even sunlight didn't penetrate. I tried vinegar and all natural products. In the end, I removed them, washed with a mild CLR solution and rinsed about 3 thousand times, before drying and then rinsing another 3 thousand times. Came up like crystal.

Love the plants!

Nano's intrigue me. Could never figure out what people would keep in it. Looks brilliant set up!

Sam, the Lfs told me not to use flourish until the tank was well established. True or false?

That is gorgeous! I've been looking for a grass type and love the moss, but can't find anything in the shops. Love to buy some if you're ever wanting to sell

You should see the bigger one. His stripes have turned from pale to fire red since I put him in. He's a little camera shy so the pic below doesn't really show it (different fish from first pic). My little honey has grown nearly a third. Still a sweet shy little thing. (brown algae in pic is under control, lazy bristle nose has just clicked as to his job) RedBlue Gourami by danaj2009, on Flickr IMG_0993 by danaj2009, on Flickr

Girly Gourami by danaj2009, on Flickr

Picked up 6 of these little guys today. They're nuts lol. Clown Loach by danaj2009, on Flickr

Cheers. I'll go have a looksee at the shop. No, didn't register for the warranty :facepalm: I travel with work so have a house sitter for my brood of fur and fin toting additions. I'll run two.

When I started this tank, a rather intelligent person on this forum suggested I purchase a spare heater. I have a 215ltr and am running a 300. I say rather intelligent as I would have kissed their feet tonight, as I noticed my boys weren't eating. Checked, ICE cold water. Spare heater installed, all fine in under 20 mins, boys currently chowing down. It was fine earlier when I did the tests after a water change today, and am always careful to let the heather cool and off before water change, not to knock it around, keep it away from surfaces, and have it close to the filter outlet. It hasn't kicked back in since then obviously So, 2 questions: 1/ Is it best to run 2 heaters concurrently, thermostat knocking each other out when necessary, and avoiding tonight's mishap. Or do some of you just hold a spare? 2/ What other redundant parts do you hold that tend to fail and require urgent attention? A tad annoyed. Was an aqua one brand (feel free to advise of better) but I didn't keep the receipt. less than 3 months old.

Yes, fluro tube, bad choice of term on my part lol. No plans to fry them with UV :slfg:

LFS had some chains. Off shopping tomorrow.... Like I said, love the clowns, but LFS has some fully grown and I don't think my tank would hold them long term lol. You guys rock!! :love:

Cause I bought the tank second had, was five years old. If they hadn't cleaned it in that time, I'm guessing they didn't change the tube either! Very little light when it's own by itself.

No matter how much I google, you lot still have the most practical and clear answers/advice lol. Chain loach you say, sounds good. I do like clowns, do they offer the same solution? Not overly familiar with puffers. PH is giving me some grief. Tried 2 brands of PH down products and still it sits at 7.6 with regular water changes. Got the original water from the LFS and they kept it well over 8. I suspect I'm just being a tad impatient. :nilly: I'm still at 4 male Gourami and one bristle nose in a 215ltr. I've been toying with what to add next. Tank is only 3 weeks old so was opting to give the filter some time. I need some bottom feeders and something that schools. The loaches would take care of the bottom.

Although I am a fan of the clown loach...

Found it. So is this a harmless addition to watch, or a plant killing demon spawn? Snail by danaj2009, on Flickr

Ugh. Solution?

I've read a bit on it, and reducing light hours seems to be a popular response, but I also thought brown was due to not enough light. Anyway, the main culprit seems to be excess nutrients. I'll cut down on feeding, do more water changes and get a new UV tube. Got the cucumber out, and my bristle nose has started working on the algae. Lazy glutton LOL

:nfs:

Can't find it!! There is a new hole in my java fern...

I have just been taught what happens if you don't get the cucumber out quickly enough. Ugh what a mess! :sick: Having a little issue with brown algae. Nothing major but my reading suggests lights on for too many hours, perhaps need a new UV tube and nitrates rising (at 5) due to overfeeding. PH is still a little high at 7.6 (was at 8.2) and struggling to get it down, ammonia is ok, and I understand that nitrates can spike a little in new tanks. Off to do water change...

I've spotted only one. Keeps disappearing. Not an apple, just plain brown. Will try to get a pic.

I've found a small snail in my tank. Must have come in with the new plants. Pros and Cons? I know they multiply. Is it best to leave and control them or to oust them all together?

Great ideas!! Thanks.

LOL, it's for my bristle nose. He loves cucumber. The fish eat his other food. Tried boiling it, turns to mush, breaks up and clogged the filter. Thought about using a teaspsoon (like the for suggestion) but wasn't sure about the metal being in the tank for 24 hours...