fish house « andysworld!

Welcome to the FishHouse Blog!

Male Ancistrus

Wednesday, March 14th, 2007

Spending some more time in the fish house, and used my Python Syhphon successfully with the new “drain” to partial water change two 90l tanks, in less than 30 minutes. An excellent time saving device. I’m not using it to top up water, because the incoming water is too cold, and would chill the fish, so I use a much bucket of pre-heated water to top-up.

Now that my Ancistrus that I’ve breed are maturing, I’ve noticed that I have very few females, most of the young fish are males. I will be selecting a pair shortly and hoping to breed more of these.

As for Bettas Splendens, not heard anything about a replacement yet.

Tags: Ancistrus, fish, fish house, house
Posted in All, fish house | Comments Off on Male Ancistrus

Mission to Leeds

Friday, March 9th, 2007

I was hoping to go to Leeds this evening to collect a pair of Yellow Longfin Quad CrownTail Betta Splendens but I’ve just had a text message from the breeder that has informed me that the male has died! So it doesn’t look as if I’m going now!

The breeder came home to find his landlord had moved tables and shelves whilst fixing the central heating system. Having done this, it knocked all the cards away from inbetween the containers and left all the males able to see each other!

Male Yellow Crowntail
Male Yellow Longfin Quad CrownTail Betta Splendens, I was hoping to collect!

Tags: andysworld, aquablog, bblog, blog
Posted in All, fish house | Comments Off on Mission to Leeds

Moved Tank

Thursday, March 8th, 2007

Finally moved another 4 four foot tank into the fish house, this has been positioned below the leaking four foot tank, so rather than leaking into a cat litter tray, the tank above is leaking into the tank below. My plan is to move all the water/fish/filters in the tank below, so I can fix the tank above. Hopefully third time lucky and this tank will hold water and not leak.

On a fish mission to Leeds tomorrow evening, more on that later, and hopefully more pictures.

Tags: fish, fish house, house
Posted in All, fish house | Comments Off on Moved Tank

Python Syphon

Sunday, March 4th, 2007

I’m still trying to fix this in the fish house, without getting more water on the floor.

Tags: fish, fish house, house
Posted in All, fish house | Comments Off on Python Syphon

Harvey’s Pet Shop, 10 Dyer Lane, Beverley

Saturday, March 3rd, 2007

Whilst in Beverley today, I popped into a local pet shop that I noticed for the first time, were selling tropical fish, there is only a small selection of “bread and butter” tropical fish upstairs, approx eight tanks, neons, guppies, cloan loach, fighters etc, tanks are very clean, and the fish are all very healthy – the owners are very friendly, and if you ask, can order you most fish. I purchased some Bleeding Heart Tetras, to add to a larger collection I have, at a very competetive price of 1.45GBP each.

There was also a tank of possibly desribed as Yellow haplochromis, very nice fish, and if it was still in the tank, when I returned later that day, would have purchased one – but it had sold earlier that day! Damn!

(the shop is oppposite the Auto/Motor shop where I purchased me leather cream/cleaner for my new leather seats!).

Tags: fish, Tropical Fish
Posted in All, fish house | Comments Off on Harvey’s Pet Shop, 10 Dyer Lane, Beverley

Leaking tank (again)

Saturday, February 24th, 2007

My partner went into the garage aka fish house this morning to do the washing (the garage also shares the washing machine and tumble dryer), and found water all over the floor. I thought I was getting a lie in bed today, so up early at 8.30am. It appears the seal had failed again on the base of the tank. The tanks contains approx 170l of water, no fish were harmed because although 8″ of water had been lost from the tank, once the pressure had dropped it was leaking slowly. I had two “cold spares” in the garden, so they were quickly cleaned and test-filled, whilst I caught all the fish, emptied the tank, keeping the water, and using the external filter to heat and filter the water whilst the fish were in 80l containers.

By 2pm the fish were back in a new tank, sited and filtered.

and then…..

this tank started to leak, the seals on the base of this tank had also failed. I tried to fix with silicon sealer, but it’s very difficult to fix a leaking tank when wet!

It’s still leaking, I’ve got a cat little tray under the tanks, whilst I asses my options. I have another “cold spare” but it’s just the time, I’ve got available to swap again.

Tags: fish, fish house, garden, house
Posted in All, fish house | Comments Off on Leaking tank (again)

Out and about..

Saturday, February 17th, 2007

Whilst travelling up to North Allerton today to collect some new half leather seats for my Peugeot 205, I passed a tropical fish shop called Aquatic Finatic situated on the A168 – Thirsk Road, just outside North Allerton. A little bit too far for a regular visit from York, but definately worth a stop, and browse on the way back, (engine and gearbox needed a cooldown, after raylle-ing around North Yorkshire Dales to the back of beyond to collect my seats!).

A very interesting tropical fish shop, friendly staff, interesting fish, and plenty of ‘Ls’ in stock. A nice discount of ten percent on many fish, if you purchase more than 5. I needed to stock up on Zebra Danios to keep tanks “cycling” so I purchase twenty, and some Hikari Algae Wafers, it’s good to see these back in stock at last.

P.S. The music on the Aquatic Finatic website sounds like, a man on a keyboard at the local social club!

Tags: fish, Tropical Fish, web
Posted in All, fish house | Comments Off on Out and about..

Close shave and chill

Friday, February 16th, 2007

I’ve eventually purchased a Python No Spill Clean & Fill Water Changer with an additional 30 inch Python No Spill Extended Length Gravel Tube, which resembles one of the items in the personal property, returned to Austin Powers in the film International Man of Mystery. The scene returning Austin’s personal property after reanimating him! It would be easier using a extended gravel tube on my large 6ft tank.

I tested it quickly last night, and re-filled with ease, but I had not thought carefully enough about introducing cold water straight from my HMA filter into the tank, the cold water which is heavier than warm water fell to the bottom of the tank causing on of my male Altums Angels to chill. I thought I would lose him, so I quickly moved him into another warm tank.

He appears to be okay this morning.

I do not think I will be filling with cold water again, I usually top up with water at the correct temperature.

Posted in All, fish house | Comments Off on Close shave and chill

HMA and Reverse Osmosis

Saturday, January 27th, 2007

I thought it was about time to write something, as there has been a lack of posts recently.

I’ve been planning this DIY project for a long time, and finally got it finished today, I’ve “hard-wired” the HMA and Reverse Osmosis filter into the mains water supply. I plumped the washing machines and tumble dryer months ago, when we first moved into the new house, and it would have been easier to install the HMA and Reverse Osmosis filter at the time, but needed to start work on other jobs around th house. I’m not on a water meter, so as soon as I get a new membrance, I’ll be back on RO water, hopefully. Just need to design something to hold the water in.

Tags: DIY, house
Posted in All, fish house | Comments Off on HMA and Reverse Osmosis