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
My tank so far ...
- Avonmore (Pat Cullen)
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Things are progressing, its beginning to look like a fish tank, I think!!!
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- Didihno (Didihno)
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Did you ever consider using sand instead of gravel?
I think the effect is miles better, but its a matter of taste of course.
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- Avonmore (Pat Cullen)
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Pat
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- Didihno (Didihno)
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I'd go for catfish, plecos and nice active tetras to start off.
I have 5 Congo tetra at the moment and they are looking better by the day.
Really lovely creatures.
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- Avonmore (Pat Cullen)
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- Didihno (Didihno)
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I have a few in my fry tank for cover and they actually look great.
That said, real plants are really worth it if they stay alive for you.
There is just nothing like a planted tank.
Try Vallis, it lives in quite low light and without fancy co2 systems etc.
One bunch (€5) has done me for over a year now.
I keep having to give away half of it every few months.
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- Valerie (Valerie)
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Well done on the tank


I think it would look great with some greenery around. Some plants, like Didihno suggests, should grow well in 'normal' lighting conditions, i.e. without changing anything to your tank. You can supplement with fake plants which do look quite good these days.
Continue the good work and let us know how you get on !

Valerie
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- Avonmore (Pat Cullen)
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i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh59/Stirabo.../Bogwoodnikon003.jpg
Pat
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- goldy (goldy .)
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- ChrisM (ChrisM)
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- pierce (pierce)
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- Avonmore (Pat Cullen)
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Pat
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- Avonmore (Pat Cullen)
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It's been a while since I posted but been busy with the new baby etc.
Here an update and looking for advice on what needs to be checked and changed.
Water changes and filter pads changed regularly.
Set up 1 year old
Tank 240 Rio
Water tested regularly and ok
Internal rio filter
External Tetratec EX700
Fish - (not up to speed with the Latin names)
2 Golden Algae eaters
2 Male Swordtails ( Orange/ Black tail)
3 Kribensis
3 Guppy’s
5 Peppered Cory’s
3 Penguin Tetras
3 Cardinal Tetras
5 Black Neon’s
3 Mollies
5 Copper Tetras
1 Snail
No Plants
Any advice?
Pat
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- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
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Im still impressed by that piece of bogwood,its great.
In terms of replacing things,I presume you have done regular checks on the filters ? I have the same External filter as you and I find the filter wool gets dirty after a while. It says you have to replace every month,thats nonsense but I do find that replacing it once every 4 or 6 months gives the water abit more clearness. Any pices of filter wool will do,it doesnt have to be for the Ex 700.(Just cut it accordingly,although I purchased a good few of them when I bought the filter. I actually changed mine tonight!).
In terms of checking,it sounds like your on top of your tank.
Well done and keep up the good work! Sounds like Santa will be visiting your house also with the new baby!
Gavin
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