Recent content by pjb_1986

Voted 'grow low light plants, tank looks bright'. I'm really pleased with mine, tank is 30x12x15 (LxWxH).

I've got this plant and after discovering it isn't fully aquatic I took it out and planted it in a small painted watering can in the kitchen window, growing great as it is watered with water from my water changes :-)

I have a Beamswork 400 fixture that I got from a well known auction site. The tank is a 20g, 30 inches long and 15 inches high.

I agree that higher powered LEDs would be better, but they are still quite expensive for pre-made fixtures, do you agree? I think they can be made cheaply if you have the necessary DIY electronics skills. The higher powered version of my fixture was an additional £100 ($150) on top of what I paid.

Don't agree with that at all. I see comments like that all of the time and it is not always true, unless I am the only person in the universe who is able to grow plants perfectly well with a 'cheapo' LED setup.

The benefit for me is the low running cost for my setup. There is also little to no energy wasted creating heat. I have a 20g long which is about 14 inches deep with sunstrate + water and I grow low light plants very easily. I have a Beamswork 78 LED (0.6 watts each) and the fixture is 16...

If you are looking for a good quality quiet filter for a 20g, I would recommend the Eheim Aquaball 130. I have this filter and it does a great job on my 20g, it is also very very quiet, almost silent in fact. Plus it comes with a 3 year warranty!

You will save money for sure, I think my LED runs a total of 6 watts and my plants are healthy.

Yes, 78 LEDs total. 72 white and 6 blue, all 0.6w LEDs. I only have low light plants but they are doing great and the light set me back less than $50 including shipping.

I disagree. I have a 20g long which is about 14 inches deep with sunstrate + water and I grow low light plants very easily. I have a Beamswork 78 LED (0.6 watts each) and the fixture is 16 inches total from the substrate. I grow Elodea/Egeria Densa, Java Fern, Water Sprite, Twisted Vallis and...

Very nice indeed! I need to get a few more plants in mine, keep slowly adding but wish I had just got the lot to start with!

Do another water change

I won't say yes or no in case I am wrong, but I am pretty sure that the small amount used for this task is quite safe. I put it onto the paper towel away from the tank to avoid the risk of any spillages. I personally have had no problems doing this in my 20g.

I do mine each time I do a water change. A little vinegar on kitchen roll (paper towel if you are in the US) and wipe it off. Comes off easily and no problems for me with this method.

Another thing about the tannins, I have read a lot about boiling and soaking the wood to remove them, but I think it all depends on the individual piece. I soaked mine for only a few days in cold water (changed once) and I havent had any tannin issues. I think it would be obvious after the...