I visited Maidenhead Aquatics today in York, in my lunchtime, I needed to purchase an aquarium thermometer and some bogwood for the new growing-on tank for the young Sturisoma Aureum.
At the time of visiting they had four Altum Angelfish at 25 GBP each, a good size and quality, they also had many L190 at a few inches at 15 GBP.
Algae has started to grow on the new growing-on tank for the Sturisoma Aureum catfish, so the Power-Glo tube is working correctly this should help their feeding requirements.
Snails are also getting out of control in one of the aquariums, I knew it was a mistake to leave that single snail!
I don’t use or trust combined heater/thermostats that use conventional bi-metallic strips. I believe that some modern combined heater /thermostats use electronic thermostats today, and do not rely on bi-metallic strips anymore, but the majority of the cheaper modern combined heater/thermostats still use the troublesome, unreliable bi-metallic strip, which have the habit of “sticking-on” and over-heating the aquarium with disastrous consequences.
I use either Eheim Thermofilters (I’ve had of these fail, and over-heat an aquarium!), Hydor External heaters or dedicated external thermostats connected to a heater to control the temperature in the aquariums in the fish house.
I found a box of Armitage Combined Heater/Thermostats in the attic from the 1980-1990s, I don’t think Armitages, Nottingham manufactuer any electrical hardware for the Aquatic industry today. I’ve spent some time removing all the bi-metallic strips, and hardwiring the heaters so they are permanently on, so they can be controlled by my dedicated external thermostats. I was going to throw this box of heaters on the local tip, so they now have a new life.
I thought one of my cats had sneezed on the bottom display tank in the “sun room”, only to discover that the smaller Purple Spotted Gudgeon Mogurnda Asdpersa, have turned out to be a pair, and have spawned in the community tank. These two fish were moved into this tank in September, after purchasing at the beginning of the very same month. I originally purchased six fish, of which two died.
This pair are much smaller, than the two larger fish I have in the fish house. The two fish in the fish house have turned into 5 inch monsters. These fish have fanastic colouration when spawning.
I’ve also got two young pairs of Angelfish in the 6x2x2 aquarium in the fish house, spawning in opposite corners!
I’ve moved four rouge “singleton” Zebra Danios into Aquarium No.9 to cycle the tank. These zebra danios have been fish that I’ve never been able to catch in tanks that they have “cycled”. I always keep spare Zebra Danios, they are very hardy fish, and excellent for “cycling” new aquariums.
Because I’ve used “mature” water and a mature filter from another established tank (I always keep spare mature filters on standby) it’s probably not necessary to “cycle” the tank, as it’s mature. But I always like to setup new aquariums in this way. I can also keep a watch on the water quality over the next two weeks. I always test the water, and do not subject the fish to any stress.
Here are the results before transferring any fish into Aquarium No.9
Zero to Low Nirite (blue) and Zero to Low Ammommnia results.
I’m pulling the late shift at the office again, this week. So not got much time after work, so I’ve spent some time this evening doing the boring jobs, and labelling the electrics in the fish house, it needed doing. I’ve also finally completed all the electrics for Aquarium No.9. I’ve just found out that nPower are increasing their electricity and gas prices from the 1 January 2006, so I’m glad I switched!
I’ve been feeding an empty fish tank to help it mature. So I didn’t think a picture of an empty fish tank would be exciting enough to post in the blog.
Tomorrow evening time permitting, and poviding the water quality is okay, I’ll move some hardy Zebra Danios and Guppies into the tank to help cycle the it.
The aquarium has been curing for the last 48 hours after I had removed all the old silicone sealer, and re-sealed the aquarium with new. I moved the aquarium outside to test fill and leave for 12 hours to check for leaks.
Removing water with an Eheim 1260 pond pump after test filling.
Finally, moved the aquarium back to its new home, and filled with 50% aquarium water from partial water changes, and 50% HMA filtered water. The electrics are currently temporary, so I can get the Dennerle C400 internal filter, heaters, and lighting on-line to quickly mature the tank. I’m using a 40w Power-Glo tube to encourage algae growth, this tank is for young Sturisoma Aureum, using 40w Power-Glo tubes in the past has proved to be successful in encourage algae growth, these tubes are usually used in Marine aquaria. I also have plans to use an Eheim 2250 external canister filter.
Aquarium No.9 installed and “maturing”.
Overcome by the smell of acetic acid (vinegar smell) after re-sealing Aquarium No.9, I’ve left the fish house early this evening. I’m surprised this fish tank held water, because after cleaning it out, the silicon sealer in the fish tank, just fell off – well this tank is 18 years old! – only new aquariums seals, are guaranteed for 1-2 years today.
L001/L022 feeding on courgette with the help a Screwcumber.
Albino Ancistrus sp. feeding on cucumber with the help of a Screwcumber.
It’s the Christmas Party tomorrow evening, so I don’t expect I’ll be adding a blog entry tomorrow!
There’s a little yellow idol to the north of Katmandu
At the end of October, I posted an entry Do you suffer from high electricity bills?. I’ve been looking for a power meter to measure kWh for many months to establish Fish House Electricity costs, and I eventually managed to purchase one from JLB Electronics.
The results are now in for half of my fish house, the fish house is split between into two ring mains, so this is ring main one. (It also allows me to draw up to a maximum of 20A per ring main!). Ring main one supplies electricity for 9 aquariums.
Ring Main One Summary
Items connected to Ring Main One:-
The maximum wattage drawn by the electrical applications was 2.1kW on Friday 25 November at 4.03am.
In the last 32 days, the electricity consumed by ring main one is 605 kWh. A cost recorded by the power meter of 49 pounds. I’m charged 8.1p per kWh by nPower.
I’ll measure ring main two, and post the results on the blog, in a few weeks.
I’ve finally made an effort to re-locate Aquarium No.9, which has been used as a Daphina rearing tank since I setup the fish house, due to the space and 15 inch height of this aquarium I’ve not been able to add fish to it, because of the 16″ height of the metal stand. I don’t know why they make double stands, where the bottom space is two small, maybe it was designed for a 12″ height tank. I had hoped to purchase a 48x18x18 inch aquarium to fill the void under the 6x2x2ft tank, but it’s a waste of money having an empty tank and needs must. It gives me 48x12x12 of space for a few small fish tanks.
This is the bottom shelf below my 6x2x2ft aquarium, currently being used as a shelf for tropical fish odds and ends.
It would have been easier to purchase a new tank, than move and existing tank, with little space, I was unable to use an Eheim pond pump to remove the water, so it was slowly syphoned. It’s taken me a few hours this evening, to remove the water, and move the tank. I need to clean tomorrow evening, and I’ve also found, so missing silicon inside the tank, so whilst it’s empty, I’ll quickly re-seal with silicon sealer.
Aquarium No.9’s new home.
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