Sunday, September 03, 2006
Project Fish Alive: Part I
Current mood: busy
Category: Pets and Animals
So Aileen suggested that I start a blog about the "fish alive project" that actually started as just an idea few months ago.
Brian, A's roomate has this beautiful 30 gallon Eclipse tank. Well, beautiful when he first got it! You see, Brian has a very, very busy schedule and didn't have time to mantain his tank, so let's just say it was a bit neglected. Like the whole tank was covered in alge neglected, and all but 2 fish had died neglected.
Aileen, being the animal lover that she is, called me and told me that she wanted to know how to clean the tank so that the 2 remaining fish would be OK. Brian actually said that he couldn't take care of it anymore, so that I could have it! This was great news. I was looking to upgrade to a larger tank, so this was perfect! Long story short, I ended up taking the tank today. I took us at least 2 hours cleaning this tank and the contents to get it ready to get to my apartment.
Aileen and Matt were great helpers in cleaning the tank. This tank was FILTHY and it was a lot of carrying water/scrubbing/wiping this stinky water! I can't tell them enough how much it meant to me that they helped me clean up my new tank!
I got the tank home, and the adopted 2 fish, an angelfish named Angel, and a blue betta named flip flop.
5 minuted before PetSmart closed, I was able to buy all the gravel I needed. I filled the tank, and put in some plants, and Angel is in there now! I would have waited a bit for the tank to cycle, but Angel was way too big to put in my other tanks. Flip flop is happy in a smaller tank with a purple/blue cave that matches his coloring. I'll post again when anything new or exciting happens! Thanks Brian for a really great tank. I'm sure he'll be glad to know that I tested negative for hepatitis this evening. Thanks for the antibiotics, Matt! Ha ha!
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Monday, September 04, 2006
Project Fish Alive: Part I: Update
Current mood: determined
Category: Pets and Animals
The tank looks good and clear and this morning, I added 2 banana plants and some grass from my other tank. I was going to wait to add more fish, but these 2 bala sharks asked me to take them home! I heard that Angel likes to eat other fish, but these sharks are as big as she is, so that will not be a problem. I have always wanted Bala sharks, but did not have the space. It's fun looking at the bigger fish! My next addition will be a pleco once I've had the tank for maybe a month or so.
So that is it for the tank for now. (As far as adding live fish) The addition of the new plants and fish should make the tank cycle nicely. Flip flop is still getting used to his new tank. I have yet to see them eat. Hopefully they will eat today!
What I plan to do is just add live plants to the tank as I can. When I can, I will post some pics!
I was stuggling yesterday while buying the gravel, or substrate, like jackie likes to call it! I was really considering turning the tank into a cichlid tank, but decided against it after much debate. Since cichlid require totally different needs than tropical fish, it would just be too expensive for me to maintain. My other 2 tanks are tropical, and Andrew's is too, so we just share the chemicals, medications, and other supplies accross all the tanks. Maybe when I can get a larger thank and obviously when I have a larger wallet, I can have the cichlid tank of my dreams...
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Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Project Fish Alive: Part II
Current mood: worried
Category: Pets and Animals
Now to stage 2 of Fish Alive, which is the addition of new life to the tank. I added a few more plants to the tank, and went to the store yesterday and bought another fish! I know I said that I would wait a bit, but he was adorable, and the water conditions are better by the day. I bought another shark, but is more bottom dwelling and looks more like a catfish. He is a colombian shark. I also added a ramshorn snail and 2 cherry shrimp. All I need now is some algae for them to eat! I was also eyeing up a high fin banded shark. Why so many sharks? I don't know. I just love watching them swim in the tank, and their look is interesting to me. My goal is to have a tank that will have movement on every level. I think I've already finished the bottom third.Well, with the addition of a pleco this weekend it will be finished anyway.
Andrew and I were at Pets Plus yesterday, one of the many pet stores we frequent, and saw a sign for a "moonlight madness" sale this coming sunday. 50 percent off all fish! We are going to check it out- I'll post all the new creatures Monday!
My other tanks are doing well. In my 10 gallon are 3 pregnant platys! I already have 9 baby platys. What will I do with the others? If anyone wants to adopt some baby platys, please let me know!
I'm worried about my adopted fish. They are not eating still....
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Monday, September 11, 2006
Project Fish Alive: Part II: Update
Current mood: tired
Category: Pets and Animals
RIP Flip-Flop. We lost flip flop who was not eating / had ich. Unfortunately, his death has caused a few more in the tank- The loss of a sunrise guppy, a blue guppy and my favorite blue snail. We'll miss you Flip Flop!
Saturday, while visiting the PetSmart in Hamilton, we picked up a few plants for the aquarium, Variegated Japanese Dwarf Rush and dwarf mondo grass. The plant selection and prices were great! Slowly but surely the tank is shaping up...
Yesterday was the moonlight madness sale at Pets Plus, so we got a few fish. The new additions are a ruby shark, another ramshorn snail, a tire track eel, and a Banded Leporinus.
I didn't want to include pics until the tank was done because it was in just the beginning stages, but thought it would be fun to see the tank beginning to end, so I included some pics below...
I hope to add next: some structures for the fish to hide/swim through, and more live plants.
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About Me
- annie
- just an ordinary gal from PA who used to live in NJ who used to live in NY. I love coffee. i enjoy art, music and shrimp tempura roll. every year is a new year to better yourself and make great changes in your life. I'll try to document it all in words and snaps...
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