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
Colisia Vallem (90L)
- Aroshni (Lydia Olivera)
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Do you leave any barrier to prevent the soil mixing with the gravel/sand?
P.S What is the white smoke... Habemus Papam

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
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- Lauris (Lauris)
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I am planted!
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- Lauris (Lauris)
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Magnificent
Do you leave any barrier to prevent the soil mixing with the gravel/sand?
P.S What is the white smoke... Habemus Papam
thanks! no barrier, just pushed together
initially used cardboard just to give shape
smoke is of that little joke - Twinstar
but water was milky because of minerals added
I am planted!
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- swai (Simon)
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How did the polycarbonate lid go for u? Do you reckon t5 lighting will warp it? I went to a glass place today and got quote for lid for 35 each.
Marino, Dublin 9
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- Lauris (Lauris)
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I paid for my poly plate 35. got it with discount because on crack in one end. but I could easy make a covers for two tanks
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- Homer (Kevin)
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Kev.
The Glass is always greener on the other side.
It's NOT "Chee lick", NOT "Chee Chee Licks"!!! Cichlids is pronounced as "Sick Lids"!!!!!
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- Lauris (Lauris)
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- baan (Fintan Breen)
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- Hicker12 (Stephen Hickey)
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Stephen.
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- Lauris (Lauris)
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that's one amazing tank. Love the timelapse. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks
I am planted!
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- Lauris (Lauris)
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I am planted!
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- Eric (Eric Corcoran)
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Eric
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- Lauris (Lauris)
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changes in stock levels ..
No more Bettas. They are nice, I like them, but in separate tank

The one from Eric went to my moms place, the pair adopted from Kev to good hands

So now I'm stocked up to:
12 Rasbora Kubotai
12 Pygmy Coridoras
5 Gouramis
12 snails
will add next month some 3- Amano shrimps
and now..photo update... ta-daaa
Rasbora Kubotai (x12)
Yellow Honey Gourami (x4)
Pygmy Coridoras (x12)
Twinstar
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- swai (Simon)
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Quick question, how are you holding up your lid as your tank is rimless and braceless?
Marino, Dublin 9
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- Lauris (Lauris)
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I am planted!
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- swai (Simon)
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Marino, Dublin 9
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- Lauris (Lauris)
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- Q_Comets (Declan Chambers)
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You better have a word with the corys about mixing the substrate

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- Lauris (Lauris)
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they said: "alright mate, you're the boss" lol.
but i see no reason they shouldn't be fine. as for now they look all the same - happy

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- Lauris (Lauris)
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MonteCarlo was cut back a bit yesterday.
Growth is noticeable. No algae yet. Keeping the ferts, light and co2 fairly high
will run test for a week or two. ill increase trace elements for 50% to see if I can get more red out
also new bulbs on the way
will try Osram skywhite 880 (8k K) + Sylvania Grolux (8,5k K)
I am planted!
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- Joekinsella (joe Kinsella)
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Location: Clogherboy Navan.
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- Lauris (Lauris)
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lights upgraded. Everything growing well
Gave a good trim today. MonteCarlo is taking over.
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- paulv (paul vickers)
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- Lauris (Lauris)
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Well done on a very eye pleasing set up.
Thanks Paul!
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- Homer (Kevin)
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Kev.
The Glass is always greener on the other side.
It's NOT "Chee lick", NOT "Chee Chee Licks"!!! Cichlids is pronounced as "Sick Lids"!!!!!
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- Lauris (Lauris)
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You're very talented Lauris, I have a lot of Fontinalis antipyretica here for you.
Kev.
Thanks Kev!
But I'm afraid I need to let it go. As I don't see any moss fitting in this scape.
If I may add it, it just will look messy. Maybe you can pass it to someone else?

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- Lauris (Lauris)
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1 month since planted.
mainly trimming only Micrantherum umrosum (MonteCarlo) every week
leaves now develops nice and tiny
struggling with plant growth on right side both corners,
changed the direction of flow and co2 this week. will see
if it will turn better
I am planted!
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- Lauris (Lauris)
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I am planted!
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- Lauris (Lauris)
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This is a 3 months since mu last update, so I guess this is the right time n
to refresh my journal.
Moving slowly. No rush. Decided not to force things.
Moved few things around but nothing major. Increased a little bit my plant mass
with new plants. Less trimming now. Maybe once every 3-4 weeks.
I'm happy to see plants taking more natural look once settled in. I guess mu next update
will be more bushy.. Anubias nana likes it a lot. other plants adjusted well. still have
some struggles with MonteCarlo, but looks like it will be more than less OK
and few more snaps to top-up this update:
(this one planted only 2 days ago. Rotala macranda)
yep. and Sylvania Grolux gives what it has - my pink'ish background.
girly? right, but I kinda love it
I am planted!
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- irish-zx10r (James feenan)
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Something fishie going on here
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