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
Aquarium Background Suggestions?
- fingers mcginty (Tommy Hayes)
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another background but if I was going down the poster route again I'd go for a plainer EXTERNAL one but I really like the look of the slimline back to nature backgrounds. Question is would I have to drain the tank first or would I be able to get it in with water in place. I presume it needs to be stuck in place? Any one have advice?
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- gerryberry (Jeff Daly)
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They take up tank space, the one i had was pretty bulky so you have to trade off loosing tank volume for the backround. The slimline one you mentioned might not be as bulky as the juwel one.
Try to get one to fit in the tank in one piece. The juwel had 3 pieces so i had 2 joints. The sides overlayed but you could still make out the joints and i ended up positioning plants in the joint position to hid them as best as possible.
They do get dirty after time, algae build up etc, i found a quick rub of a tooth brush every once in a while sorted that out.
If you use external filters you have to ensure the inlet and outlet hoses can be accommadated or sometimes the backround will have to be cut, same goes for an internal filter you might have to cut the backround.
Regarding sticking it in the tank, if you cut it so it fits nice and tight i would take out 50% of the water and silicone in the top half of the backround to the tank. You will have to leave the silicon probably 24 hours to set properly so ensure you keep you filters heaters etc below water level to keep the tank working properly.
personally i would go with the backround as the initial hassle of fitting it will be well worth it.
All the best
GB
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- Frontosa (Tim kruger)
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welcome to the forum.The best way is to empty out your tank and stick the background in place.If you use the right silicone you can refill the tank after fitting it(tight fitting in that case needed).Store your cycled water in a few buggets.If you have the time i would leave the tank for a day to let the silicone to dry.Hopefully that helps.
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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- fingers mcginty (Tommy Hayes)
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- Frontosa (Tim kruger)
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Aquarium solutions in Ashbourne do a good deal on the Backgrounds.
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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- fingers mcginty (Tommy Hayes)
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- JohnH (John)
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Now, I have never used it myself but am assured there's an adhesive called 'Tec-7' which is supposed to even dry out under water.
It might be worth you putting that name into the 'search' facility to see what's been written about it before...or possibly anyone here who has had experience of it might be able to advise you better.
Or, there's always the 'google' route if all else fails I suppose - but you, no doubt, would prefer help from someone with first-hand experience rather than some of the frankly mythical information there...
John
Location:
N. Tipp
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
ITFS member.
It's a long way to Tipperary.
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- Frontosa (Tim kruger)
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Tim do they stock the "back to nature" backgrounds?
Most times they have them in stock.Otherwise they order them in for you.It takes not more than three days.
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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- fingers mcginty (Tommy Hayes)
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- fingers mcginty (Tommy Hayes)
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- Rolly (Ruaidri Hegarty)
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where did ya get your background? Have been looking for an external background myself and have come up empty handed. what ya have there is pretty much what i have been looking for..
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- fourmations (NIall SMyth)
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are you the same fingers thats on boards?
welcome
4
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- fingers mcginty (Tommy Hayes)
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- fingers mcginty (Tommy Hayes)
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hey
are you the same fingers thats on boards?
welcome
4
4 Really like the natural look of your aquarium. I think I'll ditch the ornaments and put in some plants. Have you any tips?...Was thinking about getting some of that bogwood and real plants. Think something low maintenance.

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- fourmations (NIall SMyth)
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yep, i know you from "instruments"
the tank in my avatar is a "high-tec" planted tank
and is a lot of work, but the only real difference
is that it lets me grow any plants i want
(the main reason people go down that route is to grow the carpet plants)
you could do a fabulous tank with what you have right now though
(all you need is a few plants and some natural rocks or wood)
see here for lots of ideas... see page 2 for lots of photos
www.irishfishkeepers.com/cms/component/o...it,10/limitstart,10/
feel free to ask questions here, most people here would
have kept or currently keep low light set-ups
its so easy to transform your tanks by ditching the ornaments
and getting a few plants and real natural features,
take your time though and have a plan before you start
as it saves making mistake and having to change things
the best thing to do is find a photo of a tank you like
and use that as your plan, check back here and we can tell you
what the plants are and if they are easy to get and upkeep etc
regards
4
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- fingers mcginty (Tommy Hayes)
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I definitely like the look of the bright green moss on bogwood

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- stretnik (stretnik)
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www.aquamoss.net/Introduction.htm
Great Moss related site.
Kev.
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