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
Assess me?
- Didihno (Didihno)
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100l Marine
240l 'Amazon'
400l African
180l African (fry)
45l African (fry)
I am having water quality issues recently and only last night lost a lovely young discus for no apparent reason.
This fish was active and eating like a horse, when I got home from work it was dead. Also some fin rot has reappeared on a large discus. I'm worried sick.
Now my water was a bit dirty (floating detirus) and I had to do a clean out of my external which was filthy (not due for a cleaning for another 3 weeks).
I will test the water again tonight but I get consistently good readings with my API master test kit.
What I need is an experienced outside eye to come and show me how much to feed (in case I'm overfeeding), to bring their test kit (in case mine is not working - which I suspect), and to give me a good critical eye and see where I'm going wrong.
I will supply tea and biccies!!!
I'm not looking for oohs and aaahs, more like 'you stupid b@llix, thats not how you do it'
I'm based in Rush Co. Dublin.
It's a nice scenic drive......
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- KenS (Ken Simpson)
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Africans are pretty hardy so will probably come through this. Even my fry seem ok. However, Discus are sensitive are are more likely to have problems that other more hardy fish.
I know Holger will call this pseudo science, but many people have had suspicions about water quality lately which could be the cause of your problem. Like you, my readings are all spot on. I'm also using the API kit.
The only change I've noticed on my kit is that my pH has dropped from 7.8 to 7.5 which is on the lower side for Africans.
Regards,
Ken.
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- Didihno (Didihno)
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Yeah I have noticed a change in the water 'colour' in my big african tank, but the fish all seem fine (touch wood).
I plan on doing a big water change tonight on that tank, cleaning out the external too.
Are you free for a 'site visit' or do you think its necessary?
D
P.S. If ever stuck for a lift to the lfks meeting give me a shout.
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- Anthony (Anthony)
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in deli counters. The real deal from a proper bakery. T time express are my favourites.
If this is a ply to get one of our female members to drop down I don`t think it will work.
Once you open your door in your leather gimp mask then they migh(more than likely) run away.
Woule be nice to see a few fish.


I would leave the water for a few days with an airstone and dechlorinator before using it.
Make sure if you are doing a W/C on your Discus tank that the water is the same temp.
Talk soon.
Ps. text me your number.
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- Didihno (Didihno)
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Sorry, I only supply diebetic gluten free politically correct dolphin friendly brown bread biscuits.
Besides, when someone like me thinks that you have a fat head, it's time to give up the cakes!!!!
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- Peter OB (Peter O'Brien)
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Really Didi you are gonna be caught soon, especially with that new \"patio\" you've laid and the Irish cement trucks coming and going at all hours.......
The only thing i've noticed about the tap water in Bettystown is that there are higher nitrates coming from the tap and the PH is slightly lower recently in my tanks.
Smoke me a Kipper, I’ll be back for breakfast.
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- Didihno (Didihno)
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- paulbohs (Paul Doyle)
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- KenS (Ken Simpson)
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Regards,
Ken.
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- KenS (Ken Simpson)
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Regards,
Ken.
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- derek (Derek Doyle)
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i will be in the rush area on sat. if you pm your ph. no. i could arrange to drop in.
derek
30 tanks specialise in african cichlids, angelfish and various catfish
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- Anthony (Anthony)
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Are you using De-chlorinator. If you over dose it you can get a scum on the glass.
Could it be protein at the top?
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- Didihno (Didihno)
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I'll get the kettle on!!!
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- KenS (Ken Simpson)
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Everything looks ok today. Just read the FX5 manual again to make sure it set up correctly. I'm going to move the polishing pad down to the mid basket tonight. There is confilicting information in the instructions as to where the media should go.
At the moment, I have the white polishing pad, the blue polishing pad and Polyfilter in there which may be a bit too much. I'll remove the blue or white pad and set it up agian per the instructions.
It seems to be important that when refilling the cannister after maintenance that you open the inlet first and then the outlet or else you can get an air lock. I'll also take a look at the impellar to ensure it's clean.
I don't trust this filter at the moment. It was perfect for over six months and only now I'm experiencing problems.
Regards,
Ken.
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- Anthony (Anthony)
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Chrism told me his tap water was brown today. The water is very unpradictable at the
moment.Maybe this is were the problem is starting.
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- KenS (Ken Simpson)
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Today my water tasted like bleach. It is ok tonight.
Chrism told me his tap water was brown today. The water is very unpradictable at the
moment.Maybe this is were the problem is starting.
Pseudo scientist:laugh:
Regards,
Ken.
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