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
paint for fake rocks
- LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1692
- Thank you received: 268
"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you.They're freeing your soul."
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1692
- Thank you received: 268
"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you.They're freeing your soul."
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- alan 64 (alan)
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 911
- Thank you received: 108
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1692
- Thank you received: 268
what about just using a pigment for ur cement
what cement?
"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you.They're freeing your soul."
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- alan 64 (alan)
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 911
- Thank you received: 108
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1692
- Thank you received: 268
what are u just going to paint the foam usualy the foam is coverd with a concrete mix
i was going to paint it and seal it with resin
"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you.They're freeing your soul."
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- alan 64 (alan)
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 911
- Thank you received: 108
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1692
- Thank you received: 268
"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you.They're freeing your soul."
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Aroshni (Lydia Olivera)
-
- Offline
- Premium Member
-
- Posts: 520
- Thank you received: 106
Lydia
Lowtech Shrimps nano 30l
www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...-lowtech-nano-shrimp
Lowtech Vision 180l Community
www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...-lowtech-vision-180l
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- davey_c (dave clarke)
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 922
- Thank you received: 163
Below tank is for sale
my plywood tank build.
www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- alan 64 (alan)
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 911
- Thank you received: 108
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1692
- Thank you received: 268
what are u asking about the cost of lemon
the cost of the pigment and cement... Not talking to Darren. I know that's free

"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you.They're freeing your soul."
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1692
- Thank you received: 268
I've seen spray paint at woodies thats looks like rock, but not sure if is safe for aquariums.
I'm not taking any chances. Technically i could use grey hammerite paint as well, just as long as it cured properly but i don't think that would be durable enough
"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you.They're freeing your soul."
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- alan 64 (alan)
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 911
- Thank you received: 108
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1692
- Thank you received: 268

I'm not doing anything as large scale as yours, so i wouldn't need much. I'm placing a largish rock feature in the middle of the tank near the top and 1-2 other pieces to hide filter hoses etc. If it looks anything like as good as yours I'll be very happy!
Where did you get your cement?
"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you.They're freeing your soul."
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- alan 64 (alan)
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 911
- Thank you received: 108
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- alan 64 (alan)
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 911
- Thank you received: 108
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- joemc (joe mc)
- Offline
- Senior Member
-
- Posts: 296
- Thank you received: 83
if you plan on sealing it with resin why don't you just pour a coat of sand and grit over the resin when wet , let it dry, add another coat and add more sand / grit, that will give you a very natural finish, you can use different coloured sands to give the fake rocks more character, I did a d.i.y. background for a couple of my tanks using polystyrene and foam, then coated it with epoxy resin and added sand, ,gravel, peat to the wet epoxy and got a pretty natural looking finish as an end result
FOR SALE
Catappa Leaves
PM FOR DETAILS
Ebay Fish Foods Click here!
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1692
- Thank you received: 268
i have cenent there mate just checked if your over near liffey valley centre anytime let me know u can have the cement and some pigment
cheers mate. I think I might take you up on that offer

"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you.They're freeing your soul."
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1692
- Thank you received: 268
''i was going to paint it and seal it with resin''
if you plan on sealing it with resin why don't you just pour a coat of sand and grit over the resin when wet , let it dry, add another coat and add more sand / grit, that will give you a very natural finish, you can use different coloured sands to give the fake rocks more character, I did a d.i.y. background for a couple of my tanks using polystyrene and foam, then coated it with epoxy resin and added sand, ,gravel, peat to the wet epoxy and got a pretty natural looking finish as an end result
that's a good idea but I'm looking for a cave effect ie smooth(ish) grey rocks and stalagtites. that's why I'm using basalt rocks on the aquarium floor
"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you.They're freeing your soul."
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- alan 64 (alan)
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 911
- Thank you received: 108
Please Log in to join the conversation.