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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

Need some new ideas

  • Red Empress (Red Empress)
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08 Jun 2007 10:09 #1 by Red Empress (Red Empress)
Need some new ideas was created by Red Empress (Red Empress)
I got a tank coming in the next 2 weeks.

72" long x 18" wide x 24" high

112 UK gallons

424 . 5 ltrs.

Just wanting ideas as what to do with it.

I have done discus

Most of the smaller and medium sized cichlids ( Central & SA )

Don't like Oscars.

Got my Malawi

Don't want to do Marine

Just looking for something different. :?

Thanks guys

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08 Jun 2007 10:54 #2 by Tetra (Tetra)
Have you taught about going Brackish :?: :?:

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08 Jun 2007 11:22 #3 by Red Empress (Red Empress)
Replied by Red Empress (Red Empress) on topic Re: Need some new ideas
Done Brackish.

I have had 3 figure 8 puffers , 6 bumblebee goby and violet dragon goby in the past. ( not all in the same tank )

Thanks for the idea though Tetra - Tetra :wink:

Might have to go back to Central & SA's.

I love cichlids.

Just want something different that I have never kept before.

Getting board. :D

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08 Jun 2007 11:23 #4 by lampeye (lampeye)
tangyanika!

lampeye

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08 Jun 2007 11:26 #5 by ChrisM (ChrisM)
Replied by ChrisM (ChrisM) on topic Re: Need some new ideas
How about a Tropheus colony and one colony of shell dwellers.Tropheus are a challenge no matter how good a fishkeeper you are and can pay dividends when you get them breeding.Also they are a lively fish with lots of personality and some can have stunning coloration...

www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1846

www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1867

www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1884

Im sure you know all this already but I always like to let people know just in case.

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08 Jun 2007 11:40 #6 by Red Empress (Red Empress)
Replied by Red Empress (Red Empress) on topic Re: Need some new ideas

How about a Tropheus colony and one colony of shell dwellers.Tropheus are a challenge no matter how good a fishkeeper you are and can pay dividends when you get them breeding.Also they are a lively fish with lots of personality and some can have stunning coloration...

www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1846

www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1867

www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1884

Im sure you know all this already but I always like to let people know just in case.


Thanks for that Chris.

They are beautiful fish.

I live in a very soft water area ( 3d out of the tap ) and I am struggling keeping my pH up in my malawi tank.

I think I may have the same struggle if I went with trophious too. :(

Would love to have some but it is getting to the stage now where I am not really enjoying my Malawi any more because of the work involved in keeping them. :(

Great ideas guys keep them coming. :D

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  • Anthony (Anthony)
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08 Jun 2007 13:36 #7 by Anthony (Anthony)
Replied by Anthony (Anthony) on topic Re: Need some new ideas
I vote for a Tropheus Colony.

Buffer your water with Breadsoda. Its cheap and simple.

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08 Jun 2007 13:47 #8 by Red Empress (Red Empress)
Replied by Red Empress (Red Empress) on topic Re: Need some new ideas
I have never heard of bread soda Anthony. Is that the same as Bicarb ?

If it is how do I use it ?

No one has ever told me I could use anything like that or how to use it.

Thanks. :D

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08 Jun 2007 13:50 #9 by Anthony (Anthony)
Replied by Anthony (Anthony) on topic Re: Need some new ideas
It only raises your kh and pH. It does not effect your gh.
Experiment with small amounts of water. IE. x amount of bs to x amount of water and do a test.
I add 4 t spoons to my 400l. Tap water is 7.2 after bs it raises to 8.4

Not sure if it is exactly the same.

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08 Jun 2007 13:53 #10 by Red Empress (Red Empress)
Replied by Red Empress (Red Empress) on topic Re: Need some new ideas
OK I will give it a try.

Thanks Mate will let you know how I get on. :wink:

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08 Jun 2007 14:23 #12 by Red Empress (Red Empress)
Replied by Red Empress (Red Empress) on topic Re: Need some new ideas
Oh WOW thanks very much arabesque.

I will read that in depth tomorrow when I havn't had a beer. :oops: :D

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08 Jun 2007 14:55 #13 by arabesque (Mick Veale)
no worries.. its the business that recipe.

my tapwater is rediculously soft.
the pH comes in at 7 but with both gH and kH test kits
it takes less than one drop to change colour so its my tapwater
is crazy soft.

At first i didnt really notice because the coral sand buffered the salt well
but after a while this lost its buffering effect

So i came across this article and my fish love it.

For every 20 litre drum i put in

a) 10 ml (2 teaspoons) of epsom salt which you can get a huge bucket for in the chemist for less about 15 euro. At least 2 years worth!

b) 7 1/2 ml of bread soda (sodium bicarbonate)

c) a tiny bit of marine salt ~1ml

this keeps my pH nice and high.. around 8.4 - 9
and keeps it stable

Best idea is to get a 20 Litre drum of water and gh and kh test kits.
Test the water first
Add 5 ml of epsom salt.. test the gH.
add more if needed.. retest

when you're done..
do the same with the bread soda and test for KH.

It's best to use an airpump and wait a while ~30 mins
between tests till you get it right.

That's it.. easy as pie and you'll never need to worry about
your pH or kH dropping again.

Do a search for gH or kH on cichlid forum and you'll be able to get exact requirements for each species.

In my malawi tank i dont add marine salt and i add less bread soda to keep the ph around 7.8-8.2

hope this helps


mick

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08 Jun 2007 15:15 #14 by lampeye (lampeye)
mick did u get your gh/kh mixed up there? ie epsom salt-gh and bread soda-kh??

lampeye

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08 Jun 2007 15:35 #15 by Red Empress (Red Empress)
Replied by Red Empress (Red Empress) on topic Re: Need some new ideas
Thank you again for all the info.

Just to give you an idea what I have to go through each water change.

I have to becareful to test my tap water before each water change because it changes so much. :roll:

Tonight tap water results are :-

Gh 60

Kh 80

pH 6.5

Tank results

Gh 180

Kh 240

pH 8.5

I am due a water change over the weekend so will have to have a go at what you suggest tomorrow before trying with the tank.

Thank you very much again arabesque :D

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08 Jun 2007 16:05 #16 by Anthony (Anthony)
Replied by Anthony (Anthony) on topic Re: Need some new ideas

mick did u get your gh/kh mixed up there? ie epsom salt-gh and bread soda-kh??


Well spotted by the big Bro.
Imagine the shit in Jill`s tank if she uses Mick`s recipe. :lol: :lol: :lol:

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08 Jun 2007 16:14 #17 by arabesque (Mick Veale)

mick did u get your gh/kh mixed up there? ie epsom salt-gh and bread soda-kh??


oops.. yes i did.. edited

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08 Jun 2007 16:15 #18 by arabesque (Mick Veale)

Tank results

Gh 180

Kh 240

pH 8.5


Thats not bad .. not bad at all.
do you have a load of coral gravel...?

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08 Jun 2007 16:16 #19 by arabesque (Mick Veale)

Well spotted by the big Bro.

its worse than that.. well spotted by the little bro!

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08 Jun 2007 16:16 #20 by Anthony (Anthony)
Replied by Anthony (Anthony) on topic Re: Need some new ideas
Mick.
Your parents won`t like the report card I am sending out this month.
Lewd behaviour. An NG in Chemistry. The list goes on. :lol: :lol: :lol:

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08 Jun 2007 16:19 #21 by Red Empress (Red Empress)
Replied by Red Empress (Red Empress) on topic Re: Need some new ideas

Tank results

Gh 180

Kh 240

pH 8.5


Thats not bad .. not bad at all.
do you have a load of coral gravel...?


Yes I have a mix of coral gravel & coral sand. But because the water is so soft it isn't enough to buffer it even with a bag of it in the filter. :(

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08 Jun 2007 16:21 #22 by arabesque (Mick Veale)
try it out tomorrow.
you'll pick all you need up in a chemist and a spar/centra
less than a fiver i'd say and your fish will love ya for it

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08 Jun 2007 16:22 #23 by Anthony (Anthony)
Replied by Anthony (Anthony) on topic Re: Need some new ideas

Well spotted by the big Bro.

its worse than that.. well spotted by the little bro!


I taught you were the older bro seeing you are more mature. :lol:
I think Mick uses Oil of Ulay everyday. He looks about 15. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Only Joking mate. I am 24 and I look 26. Wish I had your secret. :oops:

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08 Jun 2007 16:24 #24 by Red Empress (Red Empress)
Replied by Red Empress (Red Empress) on topic Re: Need some new ideas
Yep will do now the recipe is right. :oops: :wink: . Thanks Mick. :D

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08 Jun 2007 16:27 #25 by arabesque (Mick Veale)
pleasure

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