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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

Newbie here,1st tank and its 500 litres.

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27 Feb 2011 11:56 #31 by Frontosa (Tim kruger)

Hi and welcome aboard,great thread,and very nice tank.
I don't find it necessary to boil rocks and wood,but that's up to you.I certainly would not soak anything in the bath,thinking I was doing good,the bath has who knows what amount of residue of all sorts of soaps,detergents,cleaners,etc.More than likely do much more harm than good.
If you find the outlet from the filter spraybar is too strong,you could drill out the holes making them bigger,and/or extend the spraybar,giving it more holes over a longer length.Also,a 500ltr tank would be near the top end of what the Eheim 2217 could handle,I know it says up to 600ltr,but I would always stick to nearer the lower end of a rating.Once the filter gets working,it's rate of flow will slow down somewhat.just keep an eye on the water paramateres as you stock the tank.If you're going to stock it with not too many fish,and you have good and regular water changing regime,it should be ok.It's always safer to over filter a tank,than under filter it.
Enjoying the thread,and remember,take your time,patience is very important in establishing a healthy tank.


Can only agree.Filter is on the small side.A tank your size would easy take a Fluval Fx 5 or Eheim 2080.Congratulations to your tank.Regards,Tim

Midlands - in the heart of Ireland.

Keeping and breeding : Frontosa Blue Zaires , Synodontis Petricola , Tropheus Red Rainbow (Kasanga) , Tropheus Moliro . Regulary fry for sale.
Community tank with P.Kribensis and different livebearers.

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28 Feb 2011 17:27 #32 by Viperbot (Jason Hughes)
Welcome aboard. Nice tank ;) .

Jay

Location: Finglas, North Dublin.

Life
may not be the party we hoped for, but while we
are here we might as well dance.

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04 Mar 2011 19:34 - 04 Mar 2011 19:35 #33 by pjd30 (pjd30)
Thanks all.

My girlfriend bought some nice plants and moss,es today for the aquariam.Also got some nice T5 light reflectors to suit the T5 light.

Anyway heres an idea of things so far.We just poped all the plants and mosses into the aquariam for now,and hop to start the instalation tomorrow afternoon.
We are looking forwrd to seeing it all come together,and getting the dead wood,bog oak and all the plants and moss,es planted.

I have alot to learn from my girlfriend aswell,so I will be listening to what Im told and how to do things,so that I dont ruin or kill anything.

Please excuse the messy wiring,that will be tidied up and all hidden away,very soon.:)

Last edit: 04 Mar 2011 19:35 by pjd30 (pjd30).

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04 Mar 2011 19:56 - 04 Mar 2011 20:01 #34 by SpiderMonkey (Mark O'Neill)
Looks really well pj when you get your bogwood in its going to look the business
I'd say your delighted



Mark
Last edit: 04 Mar 2011 20:01 by SpiderMonkey (Mark O'Neill).

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04 Mar 2011 19:59 - 04 Mar 2011 20:01 #35 by SpiderMonkey (Mark O'Neill)
What I would of done though is move the tank to the left to center it in the alcove :whistle:
Last edit: 04 Mar 2011 20:01 by SpiderMonkey (Mark O'Neill).

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04 Mar 2011 20:00 - 04 Mar 2011 20:02 #36 by pjd30 (pjd30)
Im very pleased indeed.

My girlfriend loves it and is so enthusiastic about it,so her enthusiasm has rubbed off on me now.Really excited and interested to learn more now.
Last edit: 04 Mar 2011 20:02 by pjd30 (pjd30).

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04 Mar 2011 20:02 - 04 Mar 2011 20:04 #37 by pjd30 (pjd30)
To the left is the chimney breast and stove and floor lamp though.Still enouigh of a gap on the right and backtoo,to get plugs and leads down the side and back though.;)

Last edit: 04 Mar 2011 20:04 by pjd30 (pjd30).

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04 Mar 2011 20:05 #38 by SpiderMonkey (Mark O'Neill)
Not all the way over just center it! So you have a foot or two either side :blink:

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04 Mar 2011 20:07 - 04 Mar 2011 20:08 #39 by pjd30 (pjd30)

Not all the way over just center it! So you have a foot or two either side :blink:



Ah well,suppose thats my 1st newbie error so.:crazy: :laugh:


Any ideas on how to move or slide a fully loaded 500 litre tank about 8 inches-1 foot over,without breaking it or our backs??:laugh: :laugh:
Last edit: 04 Mar 2011 20:08 by pjd30 (pjd30).

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04 Mar 2011 20:15 #40 by SpiderMonkey (Mark O'Neill)
Yep get as many containers as possible and start filling :silly: id say when its a little under half you would be able to move it "very carefully"
Me and my brother moved his 220 liter with just two buckets removed.....very slowly

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04 Mar 2011 20:17 #41 by joey (joe watson)
yes, take out the water! you can sit the plants in a bucket of water, and if you have enough buckets or a water butt you can hold most of the tanks water. there are no fish so replacing all the water (with dechlorinated stuff) will do no harm at all. will be easy enough with 2 people to slightly lift and nudge it accross

Location: Portlaoise, Midlands

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04 Mar 2011 20:19 #42 by SpiderMonkey (Mark O'Neill)
Actually don't move it! I don't want you knocking on my door wanting to kill me because it all went wrong :crazy:
:)

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04 Mar 2011 23:08 #43 by bull (keith madden)
Nice tank mate, makes me want to go out and buy one. Best of luck with it and best of luck if you decide to move it. Easy does it!!!

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05 Mar 2011 00:00 #44 by Clarke.. (Clarke..)
Replied by Clarke.. (Clarke..) on topic Re: Newbie here,1st tank and its 500 litres.
i wouldnt move it man you placed it were YOU wanted it and it looks great ;) i wouldnt move any cabinet with a tank full or half full you might weeken it ,, anyway great thread great tank keep us all posted looking forward to seeing end result ;)

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05 Mar 2011 10:10 #45 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Lovely tank, the cabinet makes it. Its totally works. Defo keep a pic thread of how you are going with it. Its rather nice to see people get nice new tanks (esp when herself has now put a ban on anymore tanks coming into the house!!!).

Gavin

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05 Mar 2011 21:06 - 05 Mar 2011 21:17 #46 by pjd30 (pjd30)
WE have been to quite a few pet shops and fish specialists around Dublin,and I must say thankyou to all of them so far,as we have been very well treated and looked after,and also been given good sound advice too.We have being buying bits and bobs from all the shops,and we are very greatfull for the help and advice on what we buy.

My girlfriends dad also gave us some reflectors that he got us,so that was and is a greet help.They actually are the perfect length for the T5 lights.:)

We have also ordered a big long 3 foot heater that sits along the bottom of the tank and will easily heat the tank,its actually good enough for a 1000 litre tank,so it will be fine for our tank.Also means only 1 plug instead of 2 plugs,with the 2 heaters that are currently in the tank.So 1 less plug and less wires to worry about.

I only now realize from listening to my girlfriend talking to the various places and people about the art of aquariams and keeping various fish,that I really do have an awefull lot to learn and read up on.

Its a bit daunting for me personally,yet its also really interesting to see how its all going to end up and turn out.



Last edit: 05 Mar 2011 21:17 by pjd30 (pjd30).

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05 Mar 2011 23:03 #47 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
I would say go with two heaters, having a heater that could heat a 1000 litre tank leaves you open to a possible failure with the heater and the result is a very hot tank and fish dead. Also the advantage of two heaters is that if one fails the other will kick in. You could set them 2 degrees within each other and it would cover off both angles. I think it would be best personally. No need for a super strong heater that would do a 100 litre tank when you are trying to heat a 500 litre tank.
Just a safety tip if I was doing it.
Gavin

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05 Mar 2011 23:03 #48 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
I would say go with two heaters, having a heater that could heat a 1000 litre tank leaves you open to a possible failure with the heater and the result is a very hot tank and fish dead. Also the advantage of two heaters is that if one fails the other will kick in. You could set them 2 degrees within each other and it would cover off both angles. I think it would be best personally. No need for a super strong heater that would do a 1000 litre tank when you are trying to heat a 500 litre tank.
Just a safety tip if I was doing it.
Gavin

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10 Mar 2011 22:45 - 10 Mar 2011 23:01 #49 by pjd30 (pjd30)
Came home to find a very unexpected,yet very nice surprise for me.A digital CO2 kit.


Also we acted upon the advice of people here,and have opted back to the 2 heaters in the tank (2 Elite 300W heaters).Like it was said here,with running 2 heaters,if 1 did fail,then at least theres the other 1 working and will keep the water temp up and not kill the fish.




Last edit: 10 Mar 2011 23:01 by pjd30 (pjd30).

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10 Mar 2011 23:03 #50 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Nice bit of kit there, that set you back much? (pm me if you dont wanna say).
Also think the 2 heaters is the sensible option.

Gavin

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10 Mar 2011 23:05 - 10 Mar 2011 23:10 #51 by pjd30 (pjd30)
It was a few euros allright,but its an unexpected and nice surprise indeed.:)
Last edit: 10 Mar 2011 23:10 by pjd30 (pjd30).

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14 Mar 2011 19:01 - 14 Mar 2011 19:07 #52 by pjd30 (pjd30)
My girlfriend and myself making good progress,placing the dead wood and bog oak,and planting the various plants,grass and roots with a twezers.

Allmost done now.






Last edit: 14 Mar 2011 19:07 by pjd30 (pjd30).

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14 Mar 2011 21:41 #53 by Clarke.. (Clarke..)
Replied by Clarke.. (Clarke..) on topic Re: Newbie here,1st tank and its 500 litres.
today for the second time :laugh: :laugh: great tank

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14 Mar 2011 22:47 #54 by pjd30 (pjd30)

today for the second time :laugh: :laugh: great tank



Ah,I see.;)

Touche.;) :lol:

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14 Mar 2011 23:44 #55 by Gav17182 (Gavin)
the tank looks class one of the best ive seen, really makes me want to get a larger tank than what I have now :P

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15 Mar 2011 00:31 #56 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Nice but you need to create a drip loop on those wires mate.

Gavin

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15 Mar 2011 00:46 #57 by Valerie (Valerie)
Replied by Valerie (Valerie) on topic Re: Newbie here,1st tank and its 500 litres.
Wow - Very nice tank !

Keep up the good work and keeping documenting its progress !

Well done B)

Valerie :)

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15 Mar 2011 00:54 #58 by A1_aquarist (Aidan Dalton.)
Very nice,nice natural aquascape,a few months growth & it'll be lovely. :)

No mouth bigger than the smallest fish in tank.

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15 Mar 2011 01:21 - 15 Mar 2011 01:35 #59 by pjd30 (pjd30)

Nice but you need to create a drip loop on those wires mate.

Gavin


The wires are just hanging there,as my girlfriend wanted light to see what she was doing when planting up.

It will be all tidied up once the cabinet lid is placed back on and its all done.There will be a loop in the wires too and they will also be inside a cable tidy inside the cabinet too.

Te anti surge 4 gang extension leads (1 at each end of the tank will also be mounted up on the inside of the cabinet presses and that will give the drip loop.

Thanks.:)
Last edit: 15 Mar 2011 01:35 by pjd30 (pjd30).

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15 Mar 2011 14:18 #60 by mickdeja (Mick Whelan)
Beautiful setup there, all credit to u and yer missus. Keep us posted. Have u seen much growth since the CO2 system was introduced?

Mick...:)

Follow me up to Carlow

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