I was hoping to house a trio of Bristlenoses in my last empty quarantine tank, and now it’s home to my single bueno aires tetra, I’ll have to wait until his tail grows back before I can purchase any more fish.
Archive for August, 2005
Quarantine Tanks
Wednesday, August 31st, 2005A fishy tail
Tuesday, August 30th, 2005After the shock of the Buenos Aires tetra tail being bitten off yesterday evening by two nasty male angelfish, the fish doesn’t seem too distressed by the event.
The male veiltail angelfish also seems to be deporting correctly, probably stress of being transported.
I’ve been reading about central filtration systems, and air ring mains, it would make my water changes easier in the fish house, rather than carrying buckets. I have a very small prototype ring main, that I made, 10 years ago, but must visit B&Q to purchase a longer length of 20mm pipe, more on that later.
When Angelfish go mad…
Monday, August 29th, 2005I had to quickly move one of my Bueno Aires Tetras from my display tank this evening because two of my large male Angelfish had gone mad and decided they were going to eat it. I have a shoal of Bueno Aires Tetras in my display tank, and I don’t know why both Male angelfish had decided to attack it, removing it’s tail. It’s been moved into a quarantine tank in the fish house to recover. Angelfish will try and consume anything they can fit in their mouths, young Neon Tetras are prime candidates, and young bristlenose catfish, but I’ve never seen them take on full grown Bueno Aires Tetras.
Bank Holiday Monday
Monday, August 29th, 2005The new arrivals are settling in well and feeding on bloodworm and Tetra Prima, still not installed the Lifegard Fluidized bed filter because I cannot get the flow rate correct and the media (sand) keeps flowing out into the test bucket.
I’ve also been to the local garden centre this afternoon to purchase two replacement Tropical Marine Centre 8 watt UV tubes for my UV filter to keep the algae down in the display tanks, my old Gibbiceps has become very lazy and doesn’t each my algae these days, just prawns and a little bit of cucumber. These tanks are located in a conservatory, and due to the excess heat and sunlight in the summer months causes too much algae growth, a garden pond UV filter connected in line with an Eheim 2015 external canister filter helps out. A stupid place to put tropical fish tanks, they get too warm in the summer, and a little cold in the winter, but there’s no room anywhere else!
Whoops..and there’s sand everywhere.
Sunday, August 28th, 2005and that’s the only disadvantage with fluidized sand filters, if you get the flow rate incorrect, you end up with the media (sand) in your tank! Hence, why it’s still on test.
Angel fish are settling in well, although I’m a little concerned about the large male veiltail, he’s certainly not deporting as well as he should, maybe it’s too early, and he’s too stressed.
Additions to the Fish House
Sunday, August 28th, 2005I’ve collected some Adult Angel fish, Syndontis Angelicus, An Orange Gourami and a handful of Kribensis from a local breeder in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, they have decided to concentrate on Discus. All the fish are sexually mature and will help the gene pool here at Angelfish house. These fish have all gone into quarantine for four weeks, until, they are moved to other tanks. All quarantine tanks are now full in the fish house, so no more fish purchases for a month, and I wanted to purchase a trio of Ancistrus. I’ll have to find some room, anybody got any space in the cupboard. Here are the fish as promised:-
Black Male Angelfish
Female Koi Veiltail Angelfish
Koi Angelfish – sex unknown
Male Half Black Angelfish
Male Koi Angelfish
Male Koi Veiltail Angelfish
Male Silver Angelfish
Syndontis Angelicus – not an angel fish, but a cracking catfish!
Fish Collection
Sunday, August 28th, 2005I’m up bright an early on a Sunday morning to collect some new angel fish from Bridlington. It should take approximately an hour to drive to Bridlington. I’ll take some pictures of the new angel fish and mount them here, when they are back safely.
Fluidized Bed Filters
Saturday, August 27th, 2005On a happier note, I’ve finally managed to purchase a powerhead Aquarium Systems Maxijet PH600 to drive my Lifegard FB300 Fluidized Bed Filters, the Hagen 201 powerheard I’ve had for about 100 years finally died, by welding the impellar housing into the body of the powerhead. Sand or Fluidized Bed Filters are extremely efficient high capacity filters, just make sure your oxygenate the tank well, as oyxgen in the water decreases! Ideal for overstocked tanks of fish, but this is not an axcuse for regular water changes and regular testing of water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. They are also fascinating to watch, remember those Sand Pictures in the 80s! TIP Before installing in the tank run for several days after filling to remove all the dust from the filter media, or you’ll end up with a very cloudy tank.
Lifegard FB300 Fluidized Bed Filter on test in the garden before installing into aquarium.
An era comes to and end! Goodbye Animal-House!
Saturday, August 27th, 2005
In search of Hikari Algae Wafers I travelled to one of my favourite Tropical Fish Outlets in Bately near Leeds in West Yorkshire. I often visit Animal House every few months to purchase some dry goods and have a look at the Tropical Fish section. I’ve been purchasing dry goods from Animal House for 25 years and they always used to advertise in Practical Fish Keeping. Something was odd, I noticed that their website had a statement stating the following
The Animal House website is currently suspended as at 20th August 2005. Customers with outstanding orders will receive letters within the next few days.
I thought this was very strange and may they had technical difficulties with the website or had a securirty breach. I telephone on Friday 26 August 2005, the answering machine message stated they were stocking taking but the store was still open.
On arriving at the store today, it was clearly obvious by the lack of cars the store was closed. Animal House has CLOSED DOWN. The store always seemed very busy at weekends, especially Bank Holiday Weekends, I never understood why they stopped advertising in Practical Fishkeeping.
Many rumours are circulating as to why they have closed, we will probably never know. What’s happening my local Garden Centre has closed their Tropical Fish Section trading; Maybe eBay Traders are to blame with their low overheads operating from bedrooms and garages across the country. Why not visit a local tropical fish shop this Bank Holiday Weekend and put some of your hard earned coppers in their pockets, If we lose all the high street tropical fish outlets, will we have to result to purchasing Online! I hope not!
Goodbye Animal House and thanks for all the dry goods I’ve purchased from you in the last 25 years.
P.S. Where do I cash in my Privilege Gold card points?
Photographs of fish
Friday, August 26th, 2005I’ll add some more photographs of the fish in the fish house over the weekend time permitting, I’m on the search for the elusive Hikari Algae Wafers, and I’ve got to fit time in to collect more fish, but more on that when I’ve got the fish. I’ve spent a little time this morning re-coding the blog, and adding some more fun stuff.
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