Recent content by hamfistUK

They are cool fish, and can get quite tame. They are piscivores though and can eat surprisingly big fish for their size. Just be aware.

If you increase bioload at all I really think you are going to need more filtration. I am not an expert on large well planted tanks (which I know will help with some waste removal), but I run a 135g with a load of tetras and sterbai corys. For the large fish I have one large blue acara, one...

I also completely agree with the FLuval tech. Floss will clog and reduce filter flow very quickly indeed. Only use if you desperately want or need that removal of the finest particles, and then only for a short time. Personally I don't own any and would never use any. Clear water is generally...

I have been really happy for many years running 3 x EHeim 2217 classic filters on my 135g.

I have 300 litre and 25 litre RO storage tanks. I have never overflowed the large one as it is so slow to fill and is in my living space so I get so much warning that it is getting full. The 25 litre buckets are another matter and I regularly have had small floods. I now tend to put an alarm on...

I have owned a tanganyikan spiny eel - a very similar species. It was very satisfying to own and got tame enough to swim up from his rock pile and eat treats from my fingers. Unfortunately it didn't have the longest lifespan with me (lasted about 2 years) but I blame myself as the water I was...

My guess is that you have an active substrate in the 10g, absorbing the carbonates (KH). These are designed to absorb all carbonates (KH) and buffer to a pH in the 6's. I suspect you are overwhelming its buffering capacity with your super high KH water, hence it is not absorbing all the KH. Be...

Yup, just use the mature media form the old filter, and fill up any extra space in the external with the new media. It will be a seamless changeover in biofiltration capability.

This is exactly my experience as well. Mine is a 3 stage, so I simply just notice the output ppm creeping up (independent of how new the prefilter stage cartridges are). I do not notice a slowing of RO output as it ages. I produce nearly 300 liters a week so my RO filter membrane only seems...

Good call, sponge is all you need, and it won't get blocked like a pad. There is a reasonable amount of evidence now that all these ceramic media are actually no more effective than 20-30ppm sponge, in filters. The manufacturers will, of course, claim they are, but independent comparisons almost...

Can someone confirm if this is a baby Oto ? I have Otoinclus, Cory hastatus and Cory pygmaeus in the tank, with a shedload of shrimp. I saw one, even smaller, a few days ago on the glass and I sucked it out with a turkey baster and disposed of it because I stupidly just assumed it was some...

And here is the key. Worth every penny extra IMO

6 adults in a 50 gallon is pretty much full. Personally I wouldn't want to put angels or an acara in there too. Red rainbows are decent sized active fish. Also, my experience of them is that they can harass Corys and steal their food. Mine used to follow the corys around (almost nose to nose)...

My thoughts exactly. Also, I would expect a TDS somewhere around 285 ppm with a GH of around 200 ppm.