Went To My Lfs Today,

[Fwapp]

Popped into my nearly local LFS (Maidenhead Aquatics, Wyvale in Telford), for a mooch around, some RO and had a look at their planted tank. As you walk in, they have a Aqua one tank setup with plants, CO2 and the such. Looks very nice. Whilst talking to the guys who work there (who do have a interest in planted tanks, and plan to have more setup in the shop), the sun broke through a skylight and shone into the tank. All of a sudden , the tank went mad, pearling like crazy! It truly was a lovely sight.

Anyway, we carried on talking and they have some Aqua One cubes hidden away ("to stop people buying them for goldfish!"). For £10, you get two cubes, the larger of which is 16cm square, the other slightly smaller. Anyway, next week, after planter's and Mr G's Nanos, I'm having one for my desk at work! IKEA here I come!

It was also really good to hear the guy at the LFS talking about doing the same thing, and also being interested in EI, so I've pointed him here.

I know It was a random post, only loosley plant related, but it was nice to talk to other people with the same interests (a bit like posting here), so I'd thought I'd share it.

 

[George Farmer]

This is great to hear.

It's very encouraging to know that some LFS staff are willing to accept "new" techniques. It is important to realise that the LFS is where most start off in the hobby so the more we educate them the better.

Thanks for sharing that insight. It has brought a smile to my face!

 

[MoreCoffee]

There is a guy at my local Maidenhead (Stapleton) who is also interested in planted tanks.
They do have a large heavily planted display tank, but it's not there to promote the planted side of the hobby.
I'll be down there this weekend to collect a CO2 cylinder that has been filled, I'll mention your store and see if it prompts him to try one in the store !!

As for the aqua cube. Glad you liked my attempt, it was a first try at a nano cube and I was fairly pleased with the result, but plant choice is critical. One of the plants I used first would just have grown huge and looked all wrong !

That tank got broken down to use for my attempt at rearing amano shrimp larvae (that failed this week, and they all died ) . So I'll be setting up the planted cube again in the next week or so.

My LFS do two types of small aquaone nano, both costing £8.80
One is a 20cm cube, the other is a 31cm x x18cm x 19cm, sort of like a 1 foot long mini tank. Ihave two of those and will be having a go with one of them, to see what I can do.

I've also got a small 'Hang On Back' filter to try on it, mainly for water circulation rather than any filtration, this is because my last cube was near a window and being 'still' water, it ended up with small larvae being laid in there, some water movement should prevent that.
Have a look HERE ! At less than £8 it's not a huge outlay !

 

[RadaR]

My lfs (Blagdon Water Gardens) is thinking of a big planted display tank. I said that it would be really good to do and wouldnt mind helping hehe. I did mention ADA but it all depends on how much the top guys want to pay on the plantd tank.

 

[George Farmer]

I think the reason 99% of LFS do not run decent long-term healthy planted display tanks is lack of education. Most owners/managers do not use forums like this regularly and decent books on the subject are few and far between. How many books have you seen that cover high lighting, N and P dosing etc?

Sure books like Amano's NAW series are stunning but cover little in practical/instructional techniques.

The nearest book that covers the high-tech aquariums is Dupla's and Dennerle's guides but these are more a marketing tools (although Dennerle's does have an excellent plant species index).

Hopefully with the increasing awareness in these newer, modern high-tech approaches the LFS community will catch on and we'll see some wonderful display tanks, not just for the few weeks after they've been set up but for years afterwards.

 

[Fwapp]

The NLFS I went to has had the planted tank I mentioned up and running for at least 5 months, and It's quite reassuring that they also want to have more planted tanks on display. When I mentioned EI, the chap did say that JBL are soon to release a plant range based on the EI method, which may be interesting.

I think the planted tank interest in this shop also stems from the fact that they specialise in amazonian species.

You should see the 8" blue discus they have, quite a beauty!

 

[George Farmer]

Sounds like you are lucky to find that 1%.

I've never heard of the JBL ferts yet. Very interesting and excellent news.

 

[BigIan]

just talking with the guy who runs the fish section at our lfs and he`s just been given a 6 ft tank to do what he wants with....

i tried talking him into a nice ammano style planted.... however as the boss dosent soc anything really for planetd tanks and he has to use stff from the shop its going marine....

 

[voo]

Have you considered writing a book on all this then, if there's not many available?

You've written a couple of pieces for PFK so a book could be done.

I think the reason 99% of LFS do not run decent long-term healthy planted display tanks is lack of education. Most owners/managers do not use forums like this regularly and decent books on the subject are few and far between. How many books have you seen that cover high lighting, N and P dosing etc?

Sure books like Amano's NAW series are stunning but cover little in practical/instructional techniques.

The nearest book that covers the high-tech aquariums is Dupla's and Dennerle's guides but these are more a marketing tools (although Dennerle's does have an excellent plant species index).

Hopefully with the increasing awareness in these newer, modern high-tech approaches the LFS community will catch on and we'll see some wonderful display tanks, not just for the few weeks after they've been set up but for years afterwards.