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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

Congratulations zig

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10 Oct 2007 04:07 #1 by platty252 (Darren Dalton)
Congratulations zig for winning the pfk/tropica aquascaping contest.
Well done. You obviously have great imagination and a lot of patients.

Can you pleeeease post a picture here for all to see.

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10 Oct 2007 09:21 #2 by Gavin (Gavin)
well done man that's some stiff competition right there.That would put you in the world rankings...very pleased for you, I know how hard you work on your projects.I'll be mentioning it to lars from tropica and see If I can't pull some feebies out of the hat for you!

Gav.

dont make me come over there.

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  • ChrisM (ChrisM)
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10 Oct 2007 11:16 #3 by ChrisM (ChrisM)
Replied by ChrisM (ChrisM) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
Amazing news,great to hear one of our own did so well.

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10 Oct 2007 11:36 #4 by KenS (Ken Simpson)
Saw the name in this months PFK, but wasn't too sure if it was Zig. Many congratulations, well deserved and a great achievement against stiff competition.

Regards,

Ken.

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10 Oct 2007 12:03 #5 by mickeywallace (Michael Wallace Cath Woods)
well done and well deserved

Mickey Wallace & Cath Woods

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10 Oct 2007 12:21 #6 by zig (zig)
Replied by zig (zig) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
Hey thanks a million everyone, I have to say I was pretty pleased, I only found out last Thursday by way of a letter from PFK magazine. I went looking for the November edition of the magazine on Wednesday (first day out) but couldn't find it, they only had the October edition still on the shelves, anyway the letter arrived next day to take me out of my misery.

Here's the tank that won it for me.



I had actually started to document this tank here on the forum some months back, but never finished the thread, because I knew I was entering it specifically into this contest so was going to wait until it was over.

That thread is here and gives a good idea of how this tank was put together originally.

www.irishfishkeepers.com/cms/component/o...ew/id,15052/catid,6/

Only thing I got wrong in the thread was the time line, I was a bit optimistic, it took a lot longer to grow out than 5 weeks, more like 10 weeks but we got there in the end.

Thanks very much everyone.

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10 Oct 2007 14:32 #7 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
Incredible looking tank there Zig.
How do you get that grass effect and what plant is it?

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  • Valerie (Valerie)
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10 Oct 2007 14:46 #8 by Valerie (Valerie)
Replied by Valerie (Valerie) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
Congratulations Zig,
This tank is looking mighty. Well deserved !
Valerie

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10 Oct 2007 22:17 #9 by zig (zig)
Replied by zig (zig) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
Thanks Didihno and Valerie

Didihno the grass type plant on the branch limbs is actually a moss, I used Java moss in this layout, here's a closer shot of one of the branch limbs with the moss attached.



You just tie it with some cotton thread and it will attach by itself after a while, its not too fussy a plant, it likes cooler water but it also can be an algae magnet due to detritus buildup if you have a high fishload, fish poop or general tank waste tends to catch in it real easy.

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10 Oct 2007 22:25 #10 by Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens)
Congratulations, great achievement. The tank is stunning. Brilliant to see such a high level of success from one of the forum members in a UK competition.

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10 Oct 2007 23:33 #11 by zig (zig)
Replied by zig (zig) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
Daragh Owens wrote:

Congratulations, great achievement. The tank is stunning. Brilliant to see such a high level of success from one of the forum members in a UK competition.


Daragh thanks a million and really appreciate the favour for the guys at the Hayling show in the UK, they will be delighted, safe trip and have great weekend, thanks again.

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11 Oct 2007 09:50 #12 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
zig wrote:

it also can be an algae magnet due to detritus buildup if you have a high fishload, fish poop or general tank waste tends to catch in it real easy.

Hmmm....probably not for me then, I have a large ammount of fish and algae eating ones at that.
Thanks Zig.

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  • Anthony (Anthony)
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11 Oct 2007 18:51 #13 by Anthony (Anthony)
Replied by Anthony (Anthony) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
Well done mate.
Excellent stuff. Great to see someone from the forum doing so well.:woohoo:

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11 Oct 2007 22:49 #14 by zig (zig)
Replied by zig (zig) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
Anthony wrote:

Well done mate.
Excellent stuff. Great to see someone from the forum doing so well.:woohoo:


Eh cheers Anthony I was delighted tbh, have a great time in Hayling wish I was going now, next year definitely. Don't forget to heckle the guys doing the aquascaping demo on the Saturday, ye know, in best dublin accent \"that looks bleedin crap mate I could do better than that\":lol: joking, they would kill me if they knew.

Have a great time everyone travelling out tomorrow AND DON'T DRINK TOO MUCH:lol:

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11 Oct 2007 23:04 #15 by derek (Derek Doyle)
really impressive, well done zig

30 tanks specialise in african cichlids, angelfish and various catfish

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12 Oct 2007 13:25 #16 by goldy (goldy .)
congratulation zig and well done. Your hard work paid off. It looks stunning. Will do my best not to drink too much.

Well done again.

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12 Oct 2007 15:59 #17 by Alan86 (Alan86)
Well Done Zig! ;)

Tank looks Kik ass!...

The money was just resting in my Account!

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12 Oct 2007 17:53 #18 by Zoom (Zoom)
Replied by Zoom (Zoom) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
Well Done Zig it is truly amazing ..... Many congratulations,

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12 Oct 2007 23:52 #19 by lampeye (lampeye)
jesus that is f-ing amazing zig...congrats you have obiouvsly mastered your hobby!

lampeye

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18 Oct 2007 21:17 #20 by Peter OB (Peter O'Brien)
Well done zig, that tank would fit perfectly into any Takashi Amano book. A real work of art.

Smoke me a Kipper, I’ll be back for breakfast.

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18 Oct 2007 23:07 #21 by paulm (paulm)
Replied by paulm (paulm) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
Well Zig just an little insight into my thinking on this incredible achivment ( f**k me ) I only found out about the wonderful acalade you recieved when in Hailing Island It made me very proud and has inspired me to work that little bit harder on my hobby, Thanks mate ,Thats a beautyful planted tank you got there and the reefers like me are very jellous :( and sad :( because well That picture took my breath away . Stunning stuff A BIG WELL DONE

Paul ;)

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18 Oct 2007 23:25 #22 by Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens)
Yes Zig, well done again, did you know they used your tank as the background to the APS UK stand :-)

It looked great and on another section they had one of your other tanks. I will post that when I get a chance to go through all the photos.

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28 Oct 2007 16:42 #23 by zig (zig)
Replied by zig (zig) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
Many thanks to everyone who has replied to this thread, I havent been on here lately as I have been really busy the last couple of weeks doing a work project, so sorry for not replying to everyone any sooner, the comments are much very appreciated.

Although I may have won the competition they are in no hurry to send the prize! (whatever that is) I have not heard a thing since from PFK magazine but tbh I have been so busy I havent really thought about it until now, Im beginning to wonder now though, I must send them an email.

@Daragh, I didn't know they were going to use that shot at all on the stand, one of the UKAPS guys works in a display company and thats all they do, exhibition stands and the like, thats why their little effort was probably a bit better than most at the show because he got the stand, handouts etc made up for free! Pity I don't like the shot though:huh: ow well cant have everything, thanks for posting it up anyway.


Thanks very much everyone.

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28 Oct 2007 16:54 #24 by Carl (Carl M)
Really fabulous work... WELL DONE!
Do you think you would have a little time in your busy life to write an article for the site to help strugglers like myself out :huh:

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  • Valerie (Valerie)
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28 Oct 2007 17:32 #25 by Valerie (Valerie)
Replied by Valerie (Valerie) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
@ Carl,

Earlier in this thread, Zig pointed people to the following link regarding the set up of his tank :
www.irishfishkeepers.com/cms/component/o...ew/id,15052/catid,6/
I hope this helps.
Valerie

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02 Nov 2007 04:00 #26 by zig (zig)
Replied by zig (zig) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
Well the prize showed up the day after replyng to this thread and it looks like I won't have to buy any plant fertiliser for the next few years anyway, I was hoping they might have stuck a little Tropica cube tank in with all the fertiliser they sent me but no such luck, just boxes and boxes of fertiliser were in the 2x2 ft parcel the courier delivered:laugh: still can't complain, I did laugh though as I removed the 48th box of fertiliser from the container!!! it looks like I will be in the hobby for another while anyway:huh: :laugh:

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02 Nov 2007 16:48 #27 by Carl (Carl M)
zig wrote:

I did laugh though as I removed the 48th box of fertiliser from the container!!! :huh: :laugh:

There is always the 'for sale' sectin:cheer:

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02 Nov 2007 17:30 #28 by Deeco (Deeco)
well done zig you'll be the best in europe next

You know yourself

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07 Nov 2007 21:17 #29 by galettojm (Juan Galetto)
Your tank is simply incredible!!!

Congratulations !!!

Could you list the types of plants that you used?

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10 Nov 2007 03:00 #30 by zig (zig)
Replied by zig (zig) on topic Re:Congratulations zig
Thanks Juan

Heres the list as best I can remember

Taxiphyllum barbieri (Vesicularia) Java moss
Bolbitis heudelotii
Microsorum pteropus
Microsorum pteropus Narrow
Monosolenium tenerum
Rotala sp.
Hydrocotyle verticillata
Hemianthus callitrichoides ''Cuba''
Pogostemon helferi
Vallisneria sp.
Cryptocoryne parva
Cryptocoryne wendtii ''green''
Eleocharis parvula
Eleocharis sp.

The foreground plants are mainly 'Hemianthus callitrichoides ''Cuba'' or HC as its known, and 'Eleocharis parvula (hairgrass) the plant on the branched wood is Java moss.

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