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  1. dw1305

    blackwater tank cycling?

    Hi all, That is absolutely fine, you know what you are doing. It is partially why I like conductivity as a reading, at the same time as not telling you anything specific, it actually tells you a lot. I think quite a lot of members do the same, you can't search for HCl on the forum, but...
  2. dw1305

    Agassizii trio aggression - should I reduce to a pair?

    Hi all, That is a real issue. I have hard tap water (about 17 dGH, 17 dKH), but I use rainwater in the tanks. Do you have another source of softer water? The fact it has grown so well, suggests that you have a lot of plant nutrients in the tank water. Have a look at...
  3. dw1305

    Agassizii trio aggression - should I reduce to a pair?

    Hi all, You can never have too much Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum). I'm not an <"entirely unbiased commentator"> on it, but have a look at the <"Duckweed Index">, it is a simple technique for maintaining water quality. That is it, more of everything. I have very heavily planted tanks...
  4. dw1305

    blackwater tank cycling?

    Hi all, Here are a couple from the Steinberg lab. at Humboldt University in Berlin. <"https://www.apistogramma.com/forum/threads/humboldt-university-berlin-the-importance-of-humic-substances.20876/"><"https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=WHwbmFMAAAAJ&hl=en"> <"Lieke, T. Fulvic acid as...
  5. dw1305

    blackwater tank cycling?

    Hi all, Yes, just add some "botanicals" and over time the pH should drop. The good thing with conductivity is that it is a linear scale and, even cheap, meters are robust and accurate. If you don't have many ions? You don't have much carbonate buffering, it is just easy and straightforward...
  6. dw1305

    blackwater tank cycling?

    Hi all, The problem is with the pH meter and the <"low conductivity (TDS meters measure electrical conductivity) of the water">, rather than the water itself. As the others have said I wouldn't worry too much, just try and keep the conductivity low, probably below 50 ppm TDS (64 or 100 microS...
  7. dw1305

    Feeding problem

    Hi all, I'm pretty sure it is to do with the environment that commercially collected supplies come from, basically only grossly organically polluted water supports high enough densities of bloodworms (Chironomid larvae) to be commercially viable. I've fed all my fish live <"ranched">...
  8. dw1305

    Stocking question

    Hi all, It is still a tiny amount of extra ions. Cheers Darrel
  9. dw1305

    Apisto and Beta?

    Hi all, Mine mainly got live food, so they were a bit spoilt. Cheers Darrel
  10. dw1305

    Apisto and Beta?

    Hi all, I'd let the plants grow in for six weeks while you think about it. Have a look at <"https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/help-needed-with-0-nitrates-levels.68393/#post-679359">. I'm not sure any Apistogramma and Betta is a good mix, and I wouldn't do it. <"They are">, but they...
  11. dw1305

    Looking for female A. cf. Eunotus

    Hi all, Have you tried @peterclarke666 (Apisto Aquatics) in Chesterfield? He may know some-one who breeds them, even if he doesn't have any himself. cheers Darrel
  12. dw1305

    ivanacara bimaculata

    Hi all, Same for me. Do this in a separate tank if you have plants. Soft water plants and sodium (Na) really don't get on. cheers Darrel
  13. dw1305

    Stocking question

    Hi all, I don't think you can keep both. Three male / five female bitaeniata sounds like it might work. I would note what @Mike Wise and @Tom C say, you would need to keep a close eye on aggression and "- and proper decor" "if provided with lots of structure/territory dividers like plants and...
  14. dw1305

    Apisto ID & Agression

    Hi all, Often only males are sold, no-one knows exactly why. I kept them for a while, the males are really aggressive. I did eventually find a female, but it all ended in tears. cheers Darrel
  15. dw1305

    Ammonia reading in breeding tank.

    Hi all, Yes that would be fine. I like Amazon Frogbit, but they all do the same job. Cheers Darrel
  16. dw1305

    Ammonia reading in breeding tank.

    Hi all, If you've used Prime it will interfere with ammonia test kits and give you a false positive result. Personally I like a floating plant as "belt and braces" they aren't CO2 limited and "plant / microbe" nitrification is much more efficient than "microbe only", there isn't any "plant...
  17. dw1305

    Dicrossus 420 L

    Hi all, They have an adipose fin as well. Otocinclus spp. don't have it. cheers Darrel
  18. dw1305

    Hello from Western Australia

    Hi all, You just need a lot more plants and structure. I wouldn't worry too much about provenance, I use Bolbitis heudelotii, Cryptocoryne spp., Ceratopteris spp. various mosses etc. Basically plants that will grow in soft low nutrient water with low light. I also always have a floating plant...
  19. dw1305

    Rio Ucayali Biotope, Perú.

    Hi all, I'd be a little wary of Citrus fruit, Figs (Ficus spp.) and Mango (Mangifera indica). Blighia sapida (Ackee) and Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) I'd definitely avoid. Guava (Psidium spp.) are definitely OK. cheers Darrel
  20. dw1305

    Apistogramma in 9 gallon fluval flex

    Hi all, Larry, I think Mike was thinking of Bob Wiltshire, who is @apistobob , but I think the comment applies to both of you, you are very accomplished fishkeepers, who can do things that less experienced aquarists couldn't. Cheers Darrel
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