http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/ Resources for UK Fishkeepers Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:06:53 +00:00 http://backend.userland.com/rss/ Fish Blogs weBLog fishadmin@fishkeeping.co.uk fishadmin@fishkeeping.co.uk en http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/images/logo.gif http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/ 88 31 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=226 I've been shopping today. I've bought a little coconut cave with java fern on it, more vallis (it will gro dammit!) some tiny duckweed-like substrate level plant, a mini shipwreak, 3 packs of airline clips (Thanks Critch ) and a 2nd filter (Fluval U2) which was on special offer. I also took back the light I bought the day before my hood arrived.Then I went to Maplin and bought a surge protector extension lead which stands up so will look tidier and a 24 hour clockwork timer. Next I've got my eye on some of those blue LED strip lights mentioned in one of the forums.In other news, yesterday I attempted my second water change. My dad, a trained plumber, has given me lots of siphoning advice and I've completed my shopping list, so I got up early raring to get it done before I had to leave for work at 12.Mistake 1I got up and had a shower (I'm sure those 'old hands' could have got away with this, but really it was tempting fate for me)Mistake 2Couldn't get the siphon to work even with my new siphon pump so I resorted to my dad'd method of dunk the pipe into the tank, put thumb over one end, lower that end into bucket/sink and release. I couldn't get my thumb to completely cover the holeWith that not working, I decided to use the little gadget that came with the symphon pump. I attached it to the hose, sank it under the water, turned the gadget to off, moved the end into the sink and then turned the gadget to on. The water started to siphon into the nicely sink and the gadget's surprise sprinkler feature sprayed water all over the garden my kitchen. Once the water was out of the tank, I set about getting new water back in. Again I went with my dad's siphoning plan and had prepared my water (warmed to the correct temp) before hand. Daddy said to raise the box slightly higher than the tank. Mistake 3 My kitchen step which I was planning to use to raise the box above tank level was too high, and pre-empting disaster (of tipping the water all over myself because I couldn't see into the box) I decided to rest the box on top of an upturned washing up bowl. 4 attempts to get the siphon going later, there is some level of success. I decide I'm doing well enough to get dressed for work. I'm back in front of the tank within 2 minutes, I open the window and stick the kettle on. In comes the cat who has never seen an upturned washing up bowl with a box on top of it before. She decides it looks like a giant play thing and not having learned anything herself after last time manages to tip the entire lot over herself, me (ready for work me no less! ) the floor and the kitchen worktop. At least I didn't kill any plants or uproot the air curtain this time, but that might be because I didn't hoover the gravel. Wed, 3 Mar 2010 20:11:30 +00:00 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=226 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=225 So 2010 gets off to a totally rubbish start with a complete aquarium disaster of epic proportions.Of my nicely stocked tropical aquarium the survivors are limited to single figures.I guess the important thing is to learn from this (never NEVER trust ANYONE to do what they say they will!) ((Even if you specifically phone them to remind them!!!)) and instead either do it yourself or place your trust in fully automated control systems! Lessons have been learned and procedures have been reviewed and updated and stern tellings off issued to the stupid. (Guess that would be me then for allowing them to stuff it up in the first place.)I need some encouraging words from fellow fish friends and suggestions on species for the re-stock.I've completely re-landscaped (aquascaped?!) the aquarium and put in some new planting. The few who survived the apocalyptic episode seem to be enjoying their new terrain and were decided frisky this morning.Saz - feeling slightly morose and still stuck at work Wed, 3 Mar 2010 18:54:38 +00:00 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=225 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=224 Hi All Fish FansJust a quick question in my 60 litre i have a stingray 15 filter which is not working to its best despite me cleaning every part of it. My question is can i just put a new filter in the tank including new media or does it need to mature first the tank as been set up for about 8 months. Any feed back would be great.Many thanksKermit Tue, 2 Mar 2010 21:26:22 +00:00 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=224 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=223 Ok so much has happened since my last entry1) I have to find a new fish shop. The GA was not in last time but I did get followed around by an old creepy guy who asked me out 3 times in 20 minutes! Since smiling politely while changing the subject, ‘I’m busy’ and ‘No’ didn’t have much effect and I’m too polite to say ‘You’re old enough to be my dad, **** off!’ I fear it’s my only option.2) My vallis has been replanted from 2 bunched dying clumps to lots of little individual dying plants. Ho hum. Some things are obviously not meant to be.3) My pH levels sank to between 5 and 5.5. Panic ensued. Advice was given and calm has been restored. I have ordered a water hardness test kit, done a 30% water change and am preparing to deal with the loss of the CO2 diffuser. 4) I attempted my first proper water change. Thank god I do not have any fish in my tank because other than water came out, different water went in, it was disastrous. Given I always read the articles and/or ask advice before I do anything how I managed to miss the ‘A beginner’s guide to the water change’ article is beyond me.I started by attempting to get the siphon working without removing the hood. I trapped my arm. I removed the hood and put it, upside down, on top of the microwave – doesn’t reach the floor where I won’t stand on it without disconnecting all the cables. I got the siphon going, the hose flipped out of the sink onto the floor. The water was filthy given I have no fish yet. I started hoovering and sucked leaves off one of the little purple plants (I think they must have been poorly from the pH drop) and sucked up the air curtain (didn’t consider this an issue immediately). Once the dirty water was gone, I opened the filter and cleaned it of big bits (didn’t touch the media, just pulled out bits of leaf and a stuff). The only big container I don’t use for cleaning the house is my old water filter jug (didn’t even cross my mind that I have an old death trap tank to use) so mixed up each jug individually and have probably overdosed on de-chlorinator as didn’t have any way of measuring chemicals in that small a quantity so had to guess-timate. Since my thermometer is stuck into my tank, had to guess that too. Pouring the water back into the tank got water all around every side, over every surface, more over the floor, over me and all over the cat (I’m not popular now). Then the window cleaner turns up. I was using the bogwood instead of a plate as I didn’t want food crockery/utensils around dirty tank water but it didn’t work so the gravel went all over. Next I attempted tidying up some of the plants, but since I couldn’t tell what I was doing as the water was so cloudy, more water went everywhere and somehow I got more wet. I spent over an hour attempting to re-bury the air-curtain and hose because the weights have decided they would rather sit on top of the gravel! Then I knocked the filter in the process, it moved and made a fountain sending water over the back wall of the tank. Writing this now, it seems really funny but honestly if it was alive I would have killed it at the time. It took me the best part of 45 minutes and half a roll of paper towel to clear the kitchen up afterwards. Good news – Ammonia 0; NitrIte 1; NitrAte between 50 and 110 (so hard to tell on Nutrafin test is the API one easier?) and pH 7! Woo hoo!I have constructed a kit/shopping list for my future water changes. I’m not going to be able to spend 3 hours doing this every week.• 1 laminated copy of ‘A beginner’s guide to the water change.’• 1 21 litre plastic storage tank• 3 large old towels• 2 old tea towels• 1 nice hand towel• 1 siphon pump (or something similar)• 1 digital thermometer• 1 measuring syringe thing (or similar)• 1 plastic plate or bowl• 1 pair of long handled tweezers• 1 pair of long handled scissors• 1 sports bra and vest top• 2 hair bands• 1 pack of headache pills• 1 tube of hand creamI have cleared a large enough space for the box in the cupboard so hopefully most of it will all fit in it so can be kept tidily together. But that’s a job for tomorrow, now I’m having a well earned drink! Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:53:01 +00:00 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=223 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=219 hello,i just wanted to say, my ryukin and my oranda had a brood.the babies were born on valentine's day 2010. The ryukin also had a brood with my fantail. (they hatched two days earlier) this is the first time i've ever had fish babies so it's all a great new experience.I watch them close everyday and the oranda / ryukins are now 5 days old. on day 4 i noticed i could see that some were coloured and some wern't. (the mom oranda is matte and the dad ryukin is red)i also notice i can already see which ones will be ryukin! the little black line in their body is already humped! I know you all may already know this but i found it cool. i'll add a picture soon. i've got some great video of them that i've added to youtube already lol.I hope to get a matte ryukin ... i'll keep you posted!thanks for reading my post. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:09:35 +00:00 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=219 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=218 Ammonia 0Nitrite 3.3 + (think it might have gone down a bit but might just be wishful thinking)Nitrate Super high againpH 7.5Plants, heater and filter cover all covered in dusty muck again Added another 4 1/2 teaspoons of ammonia and another squirt of nitrate reduction granules. Plants seem to be doing well with the CO2 addition and are only using a tiny squirt now when the light is on.It's all getting a bit boring now really and needs to hurry up. Apologies to anyone who is reading this but any tips to make this cycle more interesting would be most welcome (preferably tips that don't require expensive trips to LFS - inexpensive trips great as get to talk to GA) Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:27:47 +00:00 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=218 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=217 Ammonia 0Nitrite 3.3 + (highest reading on my test)Nitrate somewhere between 50 and 110 Nitrate reduction granules must have done something, added some more today. I'm still planning to do a water change once the cycle has finished but want to see the Nitrates rise, and can't do that easily if I'm off the chart.Four x 1/2 teaspoons of Ammonia added.Now I'm off to the forums to ask some stupid questions. Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:33:55 +00:00 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=217 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=216 The last 2 days have been rather eventful. Since most of Friday night was spent in a strop because I couldn't work out how to fit the light to the hood which arrived on Thursday, I didn't post that my Ammonia had again depleted to 0!! I added 3 x 1/2 teaspoon more, to give those friendly bacteria plenty to chew on while the Nitrite sorts itself out.The NitrIte was a very nice dark pink and the NitrAte was a very dark purple. Both of them were nearly off the charts. This morning Fishy-Fishy sorted out my lighting dilemma, so I trotted off to the LFS to see the G/A. He wasn't in but the old guy (manager/owner?) knows my name!?! I bought a little wisteria to replace the spider plant (which has been potted in soil and gardening club are going to do something whizzy with it for the summer fete) some API leaf stuff, some Tetra NitrAte reducing stuff and a cheap/simple (hopefully not useless) CO2 diffuser kit (£9.99) Lady whispered in my ear that no point buying a reflector as kitchen foil works just as well!I also grabbed some fishing wire/beading line from Hobbycraft.When I got home I stuck some music on and went about getting wet. I tied the Anubias to little terracotta weights so they won't rot but look like they're planted. I planted the wisteria in the gap and stuck the little bit the came off in front of the heater. I set up the air curtain around the 'swim space' and in front of the filter. I weighed down the air hose with another terracotta plant weight, washed some more gravel and buried it all! (so far it's staying buried)I did today's readings Ammonia 3, NitrIte off the chart, Nitrate off the chart, pH 7.5I set up the CO2 diffuser, added the leaf stuff and the Nitrate reducer stuff. I moved the thermometer to the other end of the tank, cut off the corners and 2 sides in the condensation tray and cut out a feeding/testing hole. Then went about playing with tin foil. Once the hood was lined, I screwed in the new clips, attached the bulb and put it on. If I do say so myself, it now looks fantastic. Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:45:36 +00:00 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=216 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=215 I've given in and am probably about to be severely told off by the experts but I couldn't stand looking at it any longer. In the course of unplanting the anubias nana, so the rhizome bit wasn't buried, I wiped down it's leaves. Then I wiped down the leaves of the other plants. Then I pruned off all the manky leaves, fishing the bits out with my net. Then I wiped down the sides of the tank, the heater and the outside of the filter with a tank wipe.I feel so much better about it now. The ammonia has taken a nose dive, the nitrites have shot right up and I've added another half teaspoon of ammonia. In other news, the hood arrived today so had to make a trip to the lfs. Also 'invested in' an air pump, an air curtain hose, a 25W light bulb and a 30W unit. My grand plan of having a double light fixture, with a blue bulb for nighttime has fallen at the first hurdle because you can't turn the bulbs off and on separately. I'm gutted. On the otherhand, I did get to spend 20 minutes being 'assisted' around the shop by the very gorgeous man who works there. It's a hard life. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:45:00 +00:00 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=215 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=214 The nitrite is on the increase. It's almost at 2 today. And ... the nitrate levels have risen for the first time, not much, and may just be a fluke but it's all go!Definately better for having the filter on full whack, even if the plants are looking a bit messed up. Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:35:00 +00:00 http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/weblog/details.php?blog_id=214