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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

substrate layers

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13 Dec 2010 00:22 #1 by joey (joe watson)
i am going to be soo setting up a big planted tank, and i have 5kg sera floredepot plus a load of substrate from my 100l planted (cant remember what it is) that will be going into the new tank too. i was going to put this under a load of gravel, but i am wondering is there something i can use in the bottom layer for that will lower pH? can i just use peat moss or is there a half decent (but cheap) fertile clay/peat substrate on the market?
which is best out of jbl aquabasis or dennerel deponitmix professional or tetraplant complete? and will any help lower pH. all work out a good price

Location: Portlaoise, Midlands

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22 Dec 2010 12:42 #2 by NosIreland (Andrius Kozeniauskas)
As far as I know ADA Amazonia lowers PH but I never used it and it's not cheap.
If you going planted then I assume you'll be using CO2, it will lower PH, so would not worry about some special substrate.

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22 Dec 2010 23:46 #3 by joey (joe watson)
i'm not overly concerned about it, but long term a neutral or lower pH will be better for the fish compared to my 7.6

was not going to use co2 i am going for low tech setup with easy plants, but am considering it (if kev still has the co2 kit available around feb, and i have the money) just for what i am planning i'm aiming to leave it out for the time being. have to see how the growth is for the first few months and price up the running costs of co2 vs easycarbo

Location: Portlaoise, Midlands

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23 Dec 2010 18:21 #4 by NosIreland (Andrius Kozeniauskas)
Substrate over time loses its properties.
7.6 is not too bad mine is over 8. To drop PH you could also use RO water.
The first months in a planted tank are usually not the nicest ones as it takes time for plants to settle.
I think CO2 is a cheaper option overtime, it is only the initial cost that is high.

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26 Jan 2011 04:10 #5 by A1_aquarist (Aidan Dalton.)
Joey,Aquabasis & Tetra plant substrate will stabilize pH,both contain small traces of peat,i've no probs,and i mixed both together in current setup,they very similar. Don't use garden moss peat,as it rots,causing chronic beard algae in my experience. You can make ur own co2 with a clean empty water bottle,place some glucose(very cheap,any grocery supermarket),sprinkle a tiny amount of yeast(grocery),fill with warm water.Drill hole in bottle cap,feed airline into hole,make sure bottle not full to top with water,airline must not touch water in bottle,screw cap on bottle tightly,feed airline into tank.Co2 will be produced in 2 days,last for 30 days. Refill with glucose & yeast when required.

No mouth bigger than the smallest fish in tank.

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26 Jan 2011 17:16 #6 by joey (joe watson)
cheers for the heads up mate, and didn't know that about garden peat, i'd say thats how the first attempt messed up and i had beard algae

Location: Portlaoise, Midlands

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