View Full Version : Aquariums
gw4rcm
12-01-2006, 10:42 PM
A recent birthday produced an aquarium.
The female members of my family had a meeting, and decided that the Malt whisky they provided, and which was gladly recieved, on birthdays and Xmastime has to stop, bad for my health so it seems, so they collectivly bought me an aquarium.
Son 1 feeling a bit guilty, called and took me on a bender round the local pubs, Son 2, also feeling sorry sneaked me a bottle of Famous Grouse whisky.
Now after setting up the tank, checking ph levels, nh levels, buying plants and aquarium furniture, finally, four sailfin mollys are gliding around.
After all the stress I'm glad of the Bottle of Grouse.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
RCM
You haven't experienced stress until you've tried to maintain a saltwater aquarium. :S
Get yourself a couple of discus (freshwater) fish--they're cool.
n2ize
12-02-2006, 12:20 AM
I've had a tropical aquarium up and running for close to 20 years. Don't overcrowd the tank with fish and don't overfeed them and you'll be fine. Do a partial water change (1/5 the total tank volume) once every month. Run a good bottom filter and circulating filter. Make sure the tank has good aeration. If the fish look healthy don't worry about pH adjustments. Otherwise the tank will pretty much run itself. I've had some fish alive for 10+ years with no problems.
A couple small crayfish will keep the tank bottom clear but beware, they are good climbers and will sometimes climb out of the tank. I've had a few dissapear on me that way. Also, some fish (spiny eels, ropefish, weather loaches) are experts at jumping out. They will escape through the smallest hole. A good tank cover is a big help if you keep thoise types of fishes.
W3MIV
12-02-2006, 12:29 AM
It takes one hell of a lot of those tiny fillets to make a meal.
And don't forget to watch the draperies on the back cast.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Don't add anything too large in the aquarium.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5530108/
w4rot
12-02-2006, 03:20 AM
Throw a
http://www.gameandfishmag.com/Catfish_325.jpg
in the tank and enjoy Son 1 & 2.
You gotta good thing there OM.
Cheers,
rot
K8MHZ
12-02-2006, 03:27 AM
Fish story....
The hamster of the family, my 13 year old tech plus has an aquarium. #In the aquarium lived two fish, a gold color goldfish and a white one with a gold head. #We tried to add a third fish but they didn't get along with each other. #We separated them and the two fish lived together and got along very well. #They wouldn't fight over food and were always near each other. #Well, one day the white fish gets sick and in a few hours it's curtains. #The gold color fish was all alone and started acting strange. #It would just sit at the bottom of the tank for hours and not move. #When it did move it looked just fine. #It ate OK and stuff but would spend a good deal of the day just lying on the bottom of the tank.
Time to get fishy a friend. #Me and the hamster went to the local department store and managed to find a fish that looked just like the one that died. #We put it in the tank with the gold one and he has never lied on the bottom of the tank since. #Within a few minutes of being in the tank together they became almost inseparable.
I never would have expected behaviour like this out of a small fish.
Makes me appreciate life even more.
n2ize
12-02-2006, 03:54 AM
I have my tank right next to my desk. They watch me constantly.
A useful suggestion (from me for a change--how novel!): put a couple of plecostamuses (sp?) in the tank; they'll help keep the tank glass clear.
KG6YTZ
12-02-2006, 09:02 AM
Quote[/b] (n2ize @ Dec. 01 2006,19:54)]I have my tank right next to my desk. They watch me constantly.
Well, as long as they don't have tiny little notepads and aren't muttering furtively into tiny little earbud mics, I think you'll be okay. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
KA9VQF
12-02-2006, 08:49 PM
Back in the late 70’s when my wife and I were first running around together she had a little 5 gallon aquarium. She raised and sold little fishes called neon guppies.
They are just little fish and she didn’t need a big tank to supply most of our town with the little beggars. She didn’t make much money from her investment and I would bet she didn’t even break even if you counted the time she spent taking care of the tank and the electricity needed to run the under gravel filter. But that didn’t make any difference to her at the time.
We kept the tank going for a few years after we moved in together. It wasn’t long after we got married when she just gave up on it.
Time passed and she decided it would be nice for our daughter to have some guppies. We dug the tank out of storage and set it up again. The fish died almost over night. We bought more fish after giving the tank a most thorough cleaning and inspection.
The new fish made it almost a month.
It was decided that we would buy a new tank. This one was ten gallon in size. An under gravel filtering system was installed and one of the back of the tank water fall systems was also employed to make sure the tank was clean. We bought water from the grocery store to fill the tank to insure that the water was pure and had no contaminants in it.
The guppies again lasted a month. I had a friend who worked with the county agriculture department and he offered to take a sample of the water to see if there was something in it that caused the guppies to die. The water checked for purity. It took some time for the report to come back but he said there was no reason he could find for the fish to have died.
We went with goldfish. Goldfish are really carp that have been bred to be gold if you leave one alone long enough in a big enough tank it will turn into a regular gray carp.
I have caught gray carp out of the Mississippi river that are quite large and old so I figured that if they can survive in that environment they surely would make it in my tank.
We got two of them and they did better. After about a week one jumped out and we found it on the floor the next day.
Two black goldfish were obtained next. They were the ones with the big bubbly eyes. One had an argument with some of the plastic plants and managed to pop one eye. He lived for years with only one eye. The other was eaten by the others I think because all I found was some bones in the bottom of the tank.
We bought snails in an effort to keep the tank clear of agley. The snails were very prolific breeders but they were not effective at keeping the tank clean so we got one of the
Plecostomus Fish it and the snails seemed to be doing a much better job.
We had to regularly get rid of snails tho.
About this time I started driving a semi over the road so I was no longer home to take care of the tank. My daughter said she would take care of the fish but you know how kids are. Her mom was no help either.
Finally one of the infrequent weekends I had home I decided that since you could no longer tell if there were fish in there or not I gave them to my little sister. She still has the Plecostomus I’m not sure how old this fish is but around 16 years is my best guess.
The other goldfish that had survived the murky tank have long since died.
The five gallon tank is still in the basement along with the back of the tank filter. I suppose one day my wife will decide to haul it up and put fish in it again.
I can hardly wait.
WB8MKV
12-02-2006, 09:14 PM
I went from several tanks, always increasing in size. My son bought me a pre-formed liner for a outdoor pond, dug that up and put in a larger pond. Just like in radio, always upgrading.....Sorry to hear your givng up the single malt...my o my....
n2ize
12-02-2006, 09:32 PM
Quote[/b] (KA9VQF @ Dec. 02 2006,13:49)]Back in the late 70’s when my wife and I were first running around together she had a little 5 gallon aquarium. She raised and sold little fishes called neon guppies.
They are just little fish and she didn’t need a big tank to supply most of our town with the little beggars. She didn’t make much money from her investment and I would bet she didn’t even break even if you counted the time she spent taking care of the tank and the electricity needed to run the under gravel filter. But that didn’t make any difference to her at the time.
We kept the tank going for a few years after we moved in together. It wasn’t long after we got married when she just gave up on it.
Time passed and she decided it would be nice for our daughter to have some guppies. We dug the tank out of storage and set it up again. The fish died almost over night. We bought more fish after giving the tank a most thorough cleaning and inspection.
The new fish made it almost a month.
It was decided that we would buy a new tank. This one was ten gallon in size. An under gravel filtering system was installed and one of the back of the tank water fall systems was also employed to make sure the tank was clean. We bought water from the grocery store to fill the tank to insure that the water was pure and had no contaminants in it.
The guppies again lasted a month. I had a friend who worked with the county agriculture department and he offered to take a sample of the water to see if there was something in it that caused the guppies to die. The water checked for purity. It took some time for the report to come back but he said there was no reason he could find for the fish to have died.
We went with goldfish. Goldfish are really carp that have been bred to be gold if you leave one alone long enough in a big enough tank it will turn into a regular gray carp.
I have caught gray carp out of the Mississippi river that are quite large and old so I figured that if they can survive in that environment they surely would make it in my tank.
We got two of them and they did better. After about a week one jumped out and we found it on the floor the next day.
Two black goldfish were obtained next. They were the ones with the big bubbly eyes. One had an argument with some of the plastic plants and managed to pop one eye. He lived for years with only one eye. The other was eaten by the others I think because all I found was some bones in the bottom of the tank.
We bought snails in an effort to keep the tank clear of agley. The snails were very prolific breeders but they were not effective at keeping the tank clean so we got one of the
Plecostomus Fish it and the snails seemed to be doing a much better job.
We had to regularly get rid of snails tho.
About this time I started driving a semi over the road so I was no longer home to take care of the tank. My daughter said she would take care of the fish but you know how kids are. Her mom was no help either.
Finally one of the infrequent weekends I had home I decided that since you could no longer tell if there were fish in there or not I gave them to my little sister. She still has the Plecostomus I’m not sure how old this fish is but around 16 years is my best guess.
The other goldfish that had survived the murky tank have long since died.
The five gallon tank is still in the basement along with the back of the tank filter. I suppose one day my wife will decide to haul it up and put fish in it again.
I can hardly wait.
Minimum size tank I would reccoment to anyone is a 20 gallon tank. I wouldn't go with anything smaller than a 20. A 55 or gal is ideal. Unfortunately due to lack of space I am stuck with a 20. I have tried smaller tanks, 5 & 10 gal but fish don't do well in those smaller tanks. I've had some fish living in my 20 for 10+ years.
n2ize
12-02-2006, 10:07 PM
Here are a few things I have/had in the tank...
http://home.computer.net/~micros50/images/dscn2369.jpg
Iridescent "shark" Catfish with a full stomach... Just ate someone
http://home.computer.net/~micros50/images/dscn2454.jpg
The catfish that is hardly ever seen. Hides constantly
KA9VQF
12-02-2006, 10:11 PM
Well my little sister has my former 10 gallon tank and a few others she has picked up on her own since then with fish that seem to be fine every time I go over there.
She had a problem with an Oscar fighting fish for a while. It kept killing anything else she put in the tank. But that is the only way she was losing fish.
The Oscar was finally given to one of her friends who I think still has it. I should ask next time I’m over there.
n2ize
12-02-2006, 10:23 PM
Quote[/b] (KA9VQF @ Dec. 02 2006,15:11)]Well my little sister has my former 10 gallon tank and a few others she has picked up on her own since then with fish that seem to be fine every time I go over there.
She had a problem with an Oscar fighting fish for a while. It kept killing anything else she put in the tank. But that is the only way she was losing fish.
The Oscar was finally given to one of her friends who I think still has it. I should ask next time I’m over there.
Oscars will do that. They are best kept alone, with other oscars, or perhaps a piranna or two.
Quote[/b] (gw4rcm @ Dec. 01 2006,14:42)]Son 1 feeling a bit guilty, called and took me on a bender round the local pubs, Son 2, also feeling sorry sneaked me a bottle of Famous Grouse whisky.
You are either a very lucky man, a very good father, or both. Congratulations!
KG4CGC
12-05-2006, 01:40 AM
Quote[/b] (WF7A @ Dec. 01 2006,18:00)]You haven't experienced stress until you've tried to maintain a saltwater aquarium. :S
Get yourself a couple of discus (freshwater) fish--they're cool.
Sure, Discus are cool but
it's a sure fire method to early
insanity. Keep the smaller
varieties that are easy to maintain
and if you ever decide to get into the
more exoctics, get another tank.
YMMV
Get one nice fat happy oscar....
Drop him in and he will consume
anything, everything and everyone
you care to drop in there with him.
The nice thing about having an
oscar is you are almost guaranteed
to have only one damned fish
to worry about.
W2ILP
12-05-2006, 04:10 AM
This is a true story that was told by a female ham I know.
One Christmas week her husband and son went out and bought some very expensive tropical fish in order to surprise her. They didn't want her to see the fish before Christmas morning because they were going to be a surprise and an addition to her big aquarium tanks, so they put the fish, which were in a big plastic container, in their mail box. After enjoying a sumptious dinner they suddenly remembered the tropical fish. They rushed out to the mail box and found the rare fish frozen dead in a block of ice. What a sad surprise!
w2ilp ( I Like Platys)
n2ize
12-05-2006, 04:17 AM
Quote[/b] (W2ILP @ Dec. 04 2006,21:10)]This is a true story that was told by a female ham I know.
One Christmas week her husband and son went out and bought some very expensive tropical fish in order to surprise her. They didn't want her to see the fish before Christmas morning because they were going to be a surprise and an addition to her big aquarium tanks, so they put the fish, which were in a big plastic container, in their mail box. After enjoying a sumptious dinner they suddenly remembered the tropical fish. They rushed out to the mail box and found the rare fish frozen dead in a block of ice. What a sad surprise!
w2ilp ( I Like Platys)
Sounds to me like the guy who put them in the mailbox was pretty dumb. What did he expect to happen when you put tropical fish in an unheated mailbox in the middle of the winter ? Duh...
n2ize
12-05-2006, 04:22 AM
Quote[/b] (ku4my @ Dec. 04 2006,19:00)]Get one nice fat happy oscar....
Drop him in and he will consume
anything, everything and everyone
you care to drop in there with him.
The nice thing about having an
oscar is you are almost guaranteed
to have only one damned fish
to worry about.
Not if the Oscar is dropped in with some nice fat hungry piranna.
Quote[/b] (KG4CGC @ Dec. 04 2006,10:40)]Quote[/b] (WF7A @ Dec. 01 2006,18:00)]You haven't experienced stress until you've tried to maintain a saltwater aquarium. :S
Get yourself a couple of discus (freshwater) fish--they're cool.
Sure, Discus are cool but
it's a sure fire method to early
insanity. Keep the smaller
varieties that are easy to maintain
and if you ever decide to get into the
more exoctics, get another tank.
YMMV
Good advice. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
W2ILP
12-05-2006, 04:27 PM
n2ize...
I guess I didn't tell the whole story about the guys who left the tropical fish freeze in a mail box.
You see the son thought that the father had managed to sneak the fish into the house and the father thought that the son had managed to sneak the fish into the house. I know that the father wasn't dumb. He was a thermo-dynamics engineer.
w2ilp (Ichthyologists Like Pisces)
n2ize
12-05-2006, 04:30 PM
Quote[/b] (W2ILP @ Dec. 05 2006,09:27)]n2ize...
I guess I didn't tell the whole story about the guys who left the tropical fish freeze in a mail box.
You see the son thought that the father had managed to sneak the fish into the house and the father thought that the son had managed to sneak the fish into the house. I know that the father wasn't dumb. He was a thermo-dynamics engineer.
w2ilp (Ichthyologists Like Pisces)
No problem, costly tragic mistakes happen to the best of us every now and then.
w3bny
12-05-2006, 04:31 PM
This is the only fish I wanna see or keep in my house!
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/8982/800pxfriedfishandfrenchpz1.jpg
n2ize
12-05-2006, 04:37 PM
I'll occaisionaly throw small thin slivers of game fish or shrimp in as food. It goes quick and is a nice variation from Tubifix worms, mosquito larvae (bloodworms), brine shrimp or goldfish.
By the way, whatever kind of fish that is in the picture I would appreciate some Texas Pete's hot sauce with mine.
n2ize
12-05-2006, 04:47 PM
I used to have a fish called a "tulip eel" in my tank. It pretty much grew large enough to eat (as in human consumption). It spend very little time in the tank. It much preferred to swim out of the tank and up into the filter where it would coil all 2 feet of itself up and just sit in the filter reservoir. Only when it was feeding time and food was introduced into the tank would it swim out of the filter and back into the tank. As soon as feeding time was over it swam right back into the filter reservoir. I had to keep weights on top of the filter cover because the "eel" was strong enough to lift the cover right off and push it to the floor. Sometimes if I removed the cover from the filter the "eel" would stick its head completely out of the water and look around the room. Occasionally it might stick it's head out of the water and take food from my hand. It thrived mainly on goldfish and large quantities of shrimp and tubifex worms.
W1GUH
12-06-2006, 03:30 PM
Now here's and aquarium for you...
link (http://www.fishnflush.com/)
W1GUH
12-06-2006, 03:35 PM
Quote[/b] (n2ize @ Dec. 04 2006,10:47)]I used to have a fish called a "tulip eel" in my tank. It pretty much grew large #enough to eat (as in human consumption). It spend very #little time in the tank. It much preferred to swim out of the tank and up into the filter where it would coil all 2 feet of itself up and just sit in the filter reservoir. Only when it was feeding time and food was introduced into the tank would it swim out of the filter and back into the tank. As soon as feeding time was over it swam right back into the filter reservoir. #I had to keep weights on top of the filter cover because the "eel" was strong enough to lift the cover right off and push it to the floor. #Sometimes if I removed the cover from the filter #the "eel" would stick its head completely out of the water and look around the room. Occasionally it might stick it's head out of the water and take food from my hand. It thrived mainly on goldfish and large quantities of shrimp #and tubifex worms.
That eel wasn't related to the Torpedo in Pynchon's Mason 'n Dixon was it? #Sounds like it might have been.
And about aquatic beings doing amazing things....
I saw on a PBS show about octopus's (pi?) #where they had an octopus in one tank, and its food (shrimp) in another tank. #Shrimp would inexplicably disappear from their tank overnight, so they set up a video camera. #What was happening was the octopus was climbing out of its tank, climbing into the shrimp tank for a snack, then returning to its own tank.
n2ize
12-06-2006, 03:54 PM
Quote[/b] (W1GUH @ Dec. 06 2006,08:35)]Quote[/b] (n2ize @ Dec. 04 2006,10:47)]I used to have a fish called a "tulip eel" in my tank. It pretty much grew large enough to eat (as in human consumption). It spend very little time in the tank. It much preferred to swim out of the tank and up into the filter where it would coil all 2 feet of itself up and just sit in the filter reservoir. Only when it was feeding time and food was introduced into the tank would it swim out of the filter and back into the tank. As soon as feeding time was over it swam right back into the filter reservoir. I had to keep weights on top of the filter cover because the "eel" was strong enough to lift the cover right off and push it to the floor. Sometimes if I removed the cover from the filter the "eel" would stick its head completely out of the water and look around the room. Occasionally it might stick it's head out of the water and take food from my hand. It thrived mainly on goldfish and large quantities of shrimp and tubifex worms.
That eel wasn't related to the Torpedo in Pynchon's Mason 'n Dixon was it? Sounds like it might have been.
And about aquatic beings doing amazing things....
I saw on a PBS show about octopus's (pi?) where they had an octopus in one tank, and its food (shrimp) in another tank. Shrimp would inexplicably disappear from their tank overnight, so they set up a video camera. What was happening was the octopus was climbing out of its tank, climbing into the shrimp tank for a snack, then returning to its own tank.
The "Tulip eel" has a tendency to stand on it's tail with the rest of it's body in a perfectly straight vertical position. Duie to the shape of it's head it looks a lot like the vertical stem of a tulip growing straight up from the ground before it flowers. In that position it remains perfectly motionless waiting for bite sized prey to pass by.
The following link has more info on this category of eels along with a picture of a tulip eel if you scroll down a bit.
eel linque (http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Oddball,%20Moray%20Eel.htm)
Interesting on that octopus. Yeah they will do some very strange things. Interesting the way it kept going back to it's respective tank.