Philfarm's Greeting/intro (pics)

[philfarm]

Hi everyone,


I'm Phil from South Africa(where its one hell of a battle to keep a planted tank), started with planted tanks about 3yrs ago and its been a very steep learning curve since then, but also very rewarding!
The reason I joined this forum is because of Clado algae, but I see there are some very talented individuals lurking about so I am hoping to learn from you guys!!

Here is my main display tank(bearing in mind this was my first tank and no thought was given to aquascaping)

Here is my -Bonsai- side project;

oh and finally here is My new fish pond;

Anyway I am looking froward to learning from the wealth of knowledge on this forum and making new friends along the way..


regards,
phil..


ps. I had 15images but see I am limited, oh well..

 

[Theos]

What an ugly tank...

 

[DaBub]

Bad Theo!

Hi,

I think you have a nice tank, okay scaping may not be your strength.

For pictures there is a gallery, look on the bar.

 

[LoudCreature]

I certainly hope Theos is someone you know!

The first aquarium may be a hodge-podge and overgrown, but the plants look happy.

The bonsai looks as though it has good possibilities. The electrical arrangement scares me.

The pond is in a beautiful location and has a lot of potential, think marginals.

 

[aquabillpers]

To me a good tank is one in which the plants and animals are healthy. Your aquarium surely is that.

I wish some of mine looked as healthy.

Almost all of the posters here are courteous and try to be helpful. Obviously at least one is not.

Keep posting and good luck!

Bill

 

[Theos]

Haha Loud yes, I do. Aqua it's a private joke no worries

 

[Tug]

I like hodgepodges, hell I am a hodgepodge.

Hi Phil, welcome to the Barr Report. I understand Cladophora favors the same healthy water conditions that your plants require. Further evidence of your planted tank's health other then the full, lush growth.

 

[philfarm]

Ok here we go slightly more ordered??

Oh and before you judge me and my terrible electrics/ugly old cabinet sand, I should have mentioned Im a "Starving Student" still, so everything is done at cheapest cost possible!

My substrate for example is a mixture of black garden soil, sierra pot mix, laterite, nails, cactus pot mix, and some other things I cant remember topped off with gravel I literally took from a local river... And theos And I get our ferts from Raiding our University/college Chem labs.




I get 4 images so;

and another one of my pond, was thinking of adding Koi or going fishing and catching some local fish like; nembwe bream once it is settled.

(image from google)




Anyway guys it would be really appreciated if you could give me any advice/ links to some good reading, my goal is to learn as much as I can before starting the next tank so that it runs as well as possible. Planted tanks have not really caught on in Africa yet so there are not many people I can ask for advise from.

Which naturally leads to questions about Clado algae, I have some in my main tank but that doesn't seem to be much of an issue, in the HC/bonsai tank however it could really be a problem! any advice?



thanks,
phil..

 

[DaBub]

A good place to start reading would be http://www.barrreport.com/you-new-aquatic-plants-start-here/.

I doubt the comment about the ‘electrics’ being scary had anything to do with aesthetic or cost. More to the point safety, lack of drip loops and proximity.

Love the pond.

Bad Theos is forgiven this time as long as it was meant in good natured fun!

 

[aquabillpers]

Bad Theos is forgiven this time as long as it was meant in good natured fun!

Me too. Maybe when people post in-jokes like that, they should include a photograph so we can check their body language before we pass judgment.

Bill

 

[hydrophyte]

Greetings Phil. THose tanks of yours are beautiful.

I never hear much about the native aquatic flora of South Africa. You must have a few interesting and different things down there. HAve you every been out collecting/looking around in local streams?

 

[Tug]

Which naturally leads to questions about Clado algae, I have some in my main tank but that doesn't seem to be much of an issue, in the HC/bonsai tank however it could really be a problem! any advice?

Cladophora favors the same healthy water conditions that your plants require. Maybe someone has a silver bullet but I have to remove it manually.

 

[philfarm]

Greetings Phil. THose tanks of yours are beautiful.

I never hear much about the native aquatic flora of South Africa. You must have a few interesting and different things down there. Have you every been out collecting/looking around in local streams?

Now you'v gone and unleashed the beast!! Searching local streams/ponds is one of my favorite things to do(Im also a keen fisherman)! We have some amazing looking aquatic plants, not to mention shrimp, crayfish, mussels, pleco"type things",plenty of Killifish and loads of different cichlids!!

(I could post Hundreds of pics but here is a few examples)

Cladophora favors the same healthy water conditions that your plants require. Maybe someone has a silver bullet but I have to remove it manually.

Tug, I might just have found that Silver bullet you were talking about!
There is a professor of Bio-chemistry at my university who also happens to be about the biggest authority on fishkeeping and aquatic plants in our country(the Tom Barr of our community If you will )
and he has recently Imported an anti Algae medication that I have been testing on the HC tank, two weeks into the four week course it seems to be having a real effect on the clado, the mosses in the tank seem to be fine aswell which is really good news!

Unfortunately I cant give you guys a name my German isnt quite up to scratch(I battle enough with English)

 

[Laure]

Hi Phil

Greetings from PE, South Africa.

I believe you may have the older product made by Femango. Or possibly the one the Professor recently imported, Happy Life Algin General. Acitive ingredient salicylic acid. I have used both and have had pretty good success. Good thing is no gluteraldehyde, copper or any other nasties. Keep us up to date on the Clado-killing!

Regards
Lauré

 

[philfarm]

Howzit Laure, was wondering when I'd bump into you on this site infact your quotes are probably a major reason I decided to join..

Anyway yip your right it is the older, Femanga algenstop, (ha no wonder I got it for free) but what counts is that the clado isn't liking it one bit! And the plants and even dwarf cichlid fry are fine!

Has anyone on here tried either of these as a last resort? I would appreciate some feedback or a link?

Thanks..