Recent content by ColR1948

Get one of those plastic tubs from the hardware and do water changes.

With reference to the MA prices being different, in the one near me they have a big notice saying they won't be beat on price, so if you tell them of a cheaper shop/price they promise to match or beat it.

Some substrates for Cichlids alter the PH.

I made a couple of 3-D backgrounds using polystyrene, one I actually put inside the tank sticking to the glass with aquarium sealant, the other I stuck to the outside and that also looked very good. I did make a background out of paper once, I found a picture on the net and printed around 10-12...

The first thing that springs to mind is, are you knocking the supermarkets by naming them yet we can't knock fish shops?

Some of the Maidenhead Aquatic shops give away mature media some don't but worth a check, give them a phone call, if you are lucky and get some, get it home fairly quick and put it in your filter.

There is another way that hasn't been mentioned yet. (IF) you know someone with an established tank or even the fish shop (Might) give you some media from their tank and put it in your filter, it will cycle a lot quicker.

I'm no expert on plants, I can kill plastic plants with no problem lol. It might be some nutrient deficiency or something I'm not sure.

Are you using CO2 by any chance?

Ghost Shrimp will be OK because they won't be able to see them lol.

There was another interesting part that he mentions and I've often seen it posted on forums where people have added matured tank water thinking that will cycle the new tank. A lot say don't bother as it is a waste of time the filter is the bit you need to get going to cycle the tank, well that...

Have you tried a water butt to catch the rainwater, that be a bit different plus it hasn't been treated with other chemicals? Try a little test first put a bucket or something out when it rains and do a test.

Thanks for posting that it was great, I could have listened to more. I wish a lot more would listen to this and read more on what he is doing and saying, I also think this section isn't read as much as the general tropical, there is stuff here that relates to a lot of the questions often asked...

I used to do it a lot, got sick to the gills with it so got one of those gravel vac things, plunge it in the water a few times and the siphon starts. :)

If it is known to leach Ammonia I wouldn't have bought in the first place. Sorry to be blunt but just my opinion.