Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)
Hi,
John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.
I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.
With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.
I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.
If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.
I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.
I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.
Thank you
Darragh Sherwin
Suggestions on Vision 180 rescape
I've had my tank for about 8 years now but I think it needs a change. Have always run it as an easy setup (no CO2) planted tropical but it's in need of a overhaul but not sure where I want to start. It's gone from very heavily planted to not so heavily. As it is now as seen in the picture that is the most bare it has ever been.
The Jewel 3D background has been on it since I first set it up and I'm in 2 minds on taking it out and cleaning it back and painting the rear black or a blue shade. I have plenty of bogwood to rescape it along with stone. I've always wanted to do a better planted setup with carpeting plants. The inhabitants of the community tank are 1 bristlenose pleco (old girl at 7 years), 1 SAE, 25 cardinals, 8 harlequin rasbora, 4 Amano shrimp and the odd miscellaneous tropical.
Any suggestions on removing the 3D or not, likewise stepping up to a proper CO2 system (hopefully small enough cash wise) or even likewise suggestions for what plants and where would be much appreciated.
Thanks for looking,
Dave
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You've already seen the tank as it was with the Jewel 3D background. Removed that without too much trouble using a decorators knife then scraped the rest of the silicone off with a stanley blade scraper. Next was to clean the glass on the outside and then decided to remove the internal filter as I could see what looked to be moss type balls of fish waste where the internal heater compartment was.
Put the internal filter back in with new silicone and even siliconed the cage for the JWL heater as it kept detaching in the old setup.
After the silicone cured next was the hardscape. I'd been out at Seahorse to get the silicone and it was quiet so John gave me some great advice based on what my plans were for the scape. I had the Monado substrate in the old setup. This is now replaced with Amazonia and sand. Built up the mound over some tupperware plastic tubs filled with stone and hole to let water in and air out.
Next was the sand boarder.
Had hoped to dry plant the aquarium but the spare tank I'd been keeping the fish in had a big ammonia spike and I lost my 7 year old Bristlenose
(
Next thing I need is to figure out how to plant the scape. I'll be doing with EasyCarbo via pump so will have to be simple enough.
Dave
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Just a word of warning! In case your not aware....
Be very wary of keeping bottom dwelling fish, sand sifters (cichlids) and fish that tend to dig with that scape....Your pristine sand will be destroyed with Amazonia soil....And it will drive you nuts trying to keep it clean....
But you probably know this already!
Sorry if im being a know it all LOL
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All too aware used to keep Kribs and they were devils. Sorting out an ammonia problem currently even in new tank layout but levels are dropping
I have something that will help with that ammonia problem Dave........i'll be around tomorrow ok
Ger
What do you call a three legged Donkey?
A Wonkey....duh ha
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Obviously you use along with your liquid ferts......
www.easylife.nl/en/freshwater/easycarbo
Hope im not preaching to the choir here
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)I would suggest to use gravel or crushed rocks same as you use for hardscape as divider between sand and substrate. It will make it easier to keep substrate from spoiling your sand. Bigger gravel on substrate side, finer gravel on sand size to blend in.
Also nice piece of wood with attached moss would lift up the hardscape
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Done a good bit more work on it since last picture on planting and I'm OK with the substrate spilling over onto the sand for it's easy enough to fan it back but will look at smaller rock dividers.
Even Buddha approves ... more tweaking in the coming weeks I'm sure and find another piece other than what's behind Buddha to attach moss.
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