KentFishFanUK

Erm... yes? I think? Dosing a nitrogen/phosphor free fertilizer (Tropica Premium Nutrition) that means it's micro only right?

Hi from down South! Never been to Glasgow, got married in Edinburgh but that's the only time I've been to Scotland. What fish do you have?

Hi everyone! Just wanted to get a thread going to learn all about my new fishy friends here! What countries is everyone from? What's the scene like where you are? From the UK here, Kent in South East England (any locals?). My local scene turned out to be a hidden gem. When I got into the hobby early this year I had no idea, I didn't know anyone that treated it as a hobby, at most people just kept a few fish in non planted tanks without knowing or caring a whole lot (not in a horrible way just not into it in the same way we are). I found YouTube channels and online groups like this one and didn't think many people outside of these would 'get it'. Turns out I was wrong, there's a huge number of hobbyists, breeders, local shops, local Facebook groups, buy and sell or swap groups etc. A big ol' hidden community of Nerms I never knew about and most people don't realise exists (and I've been recommending Aquarium Co-op to any who will listen!). Just the other week I bought a couple of tanks from someone on Facebook a 5 minute drive from my house and it turns out he had a whole amateur Endler Live Bearer line breeding project going in his fish shed with some really lovely fish and he offered me some of the huge number of fry he had for free after we got chatting (isn't it great when you find someone to nerd out with?) unfortunately I didn't have the room for them yet so had to turn his offer down but I thought it was a good sign of a friendly community. What is everyone else's experiences? Anyone from US or elsewhere ever visit the UK or have plans to? Especially if you're visiting Kent. I love the idea of making some international friends! If they ever hold a fishkeeping convention or event nearby I'll happily put someone up.

I do have aquasoil and do dose ferts but not c02 (low tech). Also my light isn't very strong so that's probably why. Just strange that it did so well at first then stopped as nothing changed its the same light etc, the aquasoil is quite deep and the tank is only a few months old it can't be depleted already. My s. repens on the other hand is doing great!

Yeah mine were really small stems when I got them and they grew really well at first, doubled in height and put out more leaves, then suddenly started melting. Fingers crossed it starts doing better again but if not, any ideas what to replace it with?

Thanks for the detailed reply! Sounds like a bit of a journey so far, good luck with it! So more questions if you don't mind, with the trio you have - is the chasing etc between the females too or just the male chasing the other two? Do you think the eventual group of 6 should show less aggression/chasing etc because there's more of them? (Cranky old fella allowing) Lastly, other than the aggression that the cranky old guy shows when put with the others, what behaviours does/doesn't he show that he should or shouldn't? If it's just that he acts aggressive in the group but is otherwise happy when alone, wouldn't it be fair to say that keeping a single fish works or a larger group works just not anything in-between?

Wow 6 adults in just 7.5 gallons?

Haha! So far my excuse has been "..but they offered it to me for free I couldn't refuse!" but not sure how much mileage is left in that one. So the BAP and HAP will be for club members only?

The what now? Sorry, I'm new!

I've heard about plants melting when they are first planted due to being grown emerged and things but not sure if that's the case with mine. I planted it (along with some s. repens, dwarf sag, monte carlo, java fern, anubias nana petite, something else I can't remember the name of and some floating salvinia) about two months or more ago. For a while it seemed to be doing really well, was putting out new leaves, was a nice reddish brown on top and a beautiful bright almost pink colour on the underside, was getting taller and I'm pretty sure had some new stalks coming up etc. Anyway so maybe a couple weeks ago I notice it's not doing so well and started melting and most of its leaves have now gone, including I think the new ones. Everything else seems to be doing really well so I don't understand what's going wrong? It seems to have stabilised I think now with its remaining leaves as it hasn't melted even more but I also haven't seen anything growing back yet. I'd love some advice!

Me again, asking for more opinions regarding 7.5G tanks (I have four of them waiting to be set up). The next one I was hoping to do was some clown killies, again I'm not sure of the right number. How many could I have? Would a male/female pair work? Or one male two females? Or do they need a bigger group therefore 7.5G would be too small? Or would a single fish be ok even? (pretty sure that's a no right). Would be a planted and species only tank. Thanks for the pointers everyone!

Thanks! Was getting confused for a minute, it almost sounded like a completely separate thing from the YouTube channel that just happened to be free for channel members. Easier to have it all in one place though!

I think they meant non aquarium co op events, like conventions etc

This is a good idea, maybe when people hear about an event they could post it on this topic to let anyone following know about it? While we are on the topic - now this is probably a long shot but does anyone know of any of these type of events are ever held in the UK? I'd love to fly across the pond for a tropical fish event but not sure I could get that one past my wife!

So to clarify, joining the club is the same as being a member on the YouTube channel? i.e. it's extra live content on the members-only section of the channel? Thanks!

Thanks for the info. Would you never keep any in a 7.5G then? I'm sure I saw a few YouTube channels (including aquarium co op?) recommend one for a 5 Gallon even.

Thanks I might have to become a member then!

Thanks for replying! So you would say a single fish over a pair or trio then?

Hi! New to fishkeeping and even newer to this forum so my apologies if this topic has been done to death already. I would like some people's opinions on stocking levels etc for Malabar Puffer's, I have a 7.5G tank and would like to keep at least one. My problem is that everywhere I look I see conflicting information, on the co op YouTube channel I think they said they are good for a 5G+ tank, elsewhere online they say like 10G+. Then I saw on, I think, seriously fish that they can be kept alone but my fish guy said it would be stressed kept alone keep a small group at least 3. Other sources say a pair is best or get more to spread out aggression or that with three I would be overstocked (aqadvisor) etc etc. I'm pretty sure water quality wise I could get away with three of them in 7.5G with lots of plants etc so I guess mostly I'm wondering, 1 or 2 or 3? They would be the only fish in the tank. I'm in no rush, in the early stages of planning a small fish room so mostly a thought exercise at this point but I plan to do it when I can.

Sorry to be dumb here but by club speakers... do you mean on the YouTube channel? Or is the club referring to something else??

New member here following the live stream! Been watching the YouTube channels for a few weeks now but only recently discovered the forum! Anything else I'm missing? i.e. is there a discord or Reddit or anything? I know there is the YouTube membership I can join (still deciding, unfortunately due to work commitments I'm usually catching up on the live streams after the fact rather than watching live so not sure if I'd get the most out of it). Anything else I can join? Did I hear about a club or something?