We don’t like the carpet, it’s got to go!
We don’t like the wood chip wallpaper, it’s also got to go!
Umm, damp that’ll be fixed…
we don’t like the yellow walls either…
Posts Tagged ‘bblog’
Ground Floor
Tuesday, July 11th, 2006New House
Tuesday, July 11th, 2006We finally completed on our new house today and I collected the keys at 1.30pm, and at 2.00pm met the Damp Surveyor.
This is it!
I think I might need a sit on lawn mower! I’ve also found a plum, pear, apple tree and a christmas tree in the garden!
and a petrol hedge trimmer!
Poor Pleco, well actually it’s a Gibbiceps
Friday, June 30th, 2006About 2 years ago I acquired a Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps or “Sailfin Pleco” from a local tropical fish shop in York which needed some tender loving care, it was really poorly; sunken eyes, and a grey/white covering over its fins. This didn’t appear to be fungus, but the fish was clearly not deporting well, with clamped and torn fins. This was the picture of the fish.
I’ve been waiting 2 years for it’s sailfin to grow back, and it had almost grown back, I was going to take some pictures and produce a “before” and “after” shot for the blog, when the same fish was struck down by a sudden bacterial infection “fin rot”, which started to eat away at all it’s fins, it only affected this catfish in my display tank, so it was immediately moved to a quarantine tank in the fish house, and dosed with Melafix, and large quantities of cucumber for 7 days, and I happy to report, it’s fins are recovering well.
Coincidence first Animal House and then UK Marines Ltd
Thursday, June 15th, 2006Last August I reported that Aquatics Mail Order giant Animal House, Batley, West Yorkshire had closed down, various rumours exist as to why they closed their doors for the very last time.
Almost twelve months later, after discussions with an eBay seller, who was responsible for the disposal of several items from a tropical fish shop in Batley, I discovered that UK Marines Ltd had closed.
This is a picture of the display tank measuring 9`x2`6″x2`6″ which was sold on eBay, following the demise of UK Marines Ltd, Batley, West Yorkshire. Many years ago, this tank was stocked with marine fish, but more recently had large oscars and gouramis present.
Display tank measuring 9`x2`6″x2`6″ at the rear of the shop.
Another tank from UK Marines Ltd
Another tank from UK Marines Ltd
I did some investigations, and spoke to Roy Meeke, he told me he has not been involved with UK Marines Ltd for at least three years. UK Marines Ltd, Company No.03809034 was incorporated in July 1999, the directors at that time were Lynn Day and Roy Meeke, the company was dissolved in May 2002. Therefore it should not have been trading as UK Marines Ltd in the last few years since May 2002!
UK Marines Ltd, never updated their website, or removed Roy Meeke’s name from it.
I’ve discovered some other irregularities with UK Marines Ltd, but more on that later. All this information is available in the public domain.
Did UK Marines Ltd close due to lack of trade in Batley, due to Animal House’s closure?
When Animal House closed, I posed this question to the owner Philip Day, on my reqular visit to UK Marines Ltd, who indiciated that it would not cause a problem, but over the last tweleve months, I noticed a deline in the stock and hardware in the store, and told they were “re-furbishing” the store, and then they were going to “relocate” to Huddersfield!
Good Luck Philip & Lynn, where ever you are…!
Corydoras Aeneus "Peru Gold Stripe"
Thursday, June 8th, 2006I’ve been trying to photograph these active corydoras catfish since I purchased them last Saturday 3 June 2006, while my partner was doing the shopping at Sainsburys; I escaped and this is what I found! Last weekend, I was suffering from Fish Action withdrawl symptoms, as I didn’t attend Ashby or Caer Urfa Open Show and Fish Auction, so went on a local fish expedition instead.
It’s taken over 250 shots, to catch these active corydoras catfish. I’m glad I’m digital! (must clean the glass on the aquarium).
The common “pink” and “albino” variations of Corydoras Aeneus are very common, I have a trio (two males and a female), and If I could catch them from my 6ftx2ftx2ft tank, I would try and breed them. That’s another story of how they got in there? I’ve seen in books, many different variations of Corydoras Aeneus, but never seen any to purchase. These were described as “Gold Line Corys” in the local tropical fish shop. I’m hoping to get some more, and that reminds me, must return to the shop and pay for them as their debit card machine was down!
Two Corydoras Aeneus “Peru Gold Stripe” catfish
Larger of the two Corydoras Aeneus“Peru Gold Stripe” catfish
Smaller of the two Corydoras Aeneus “Peru Gold Stripe” catfish
This is what I won!
Wednesday, May 31st, 2006I missed out on these excellent fish last year, because I must have been sleeping when the auction lot came up, and before I knew it, they were ALL sold. I was ready and waiting this year for the breeder to return, he was in the auction room, so had he brought any fish to the auction.
I was determined these fish would be mine this year, one thing which is a little different at Castleford Fish Auctions, is if there are similiar lots, the highest bidder gets the option of all the bags! So if you want the fish you must bid, because the highest bidder has the option to snag all the bags, at the bidding price! If he doesn’t want all the bags, the option goes to the second and third bidders etc Otherwise the bidding starts again, I think this is a fair auction system.
I bid and won, my bid price was 5.50GBP for a pair, and considering you would pay that for one fish in a local tropical fish shop, an excellent price. I opted to take all three bags, but ended up with one for free, as the seller, decided that one fish, was not looking to good.
This is what I won:-
Bosemani Rainbow Melanotaenia boesemani
Bosemani Rainbow Melanotaenia boesemani
I’ve been waiting for these fish to appear at the auctions for over tweleve months!
Andy’s Water Treatment Works
Friday, May 26th, 2006All the waters used in the fish house aquariums are passed through an “Heavy Metal-Axe” (HMA) filter, stored in 100 litres containers, heated to 28 degrees C, aerated beforeadding to any aquarium as part of the partial water change or top up procedure. The main difference between an HMA and RO filter is that the HMA filter will not alter the pH or Total Dissolved Hardness of the input water. It will how ever remove Chlorine, Chloramines, Lead, Copper etc.
I use a three stage HMA filter
- the first stage uses a 5 micron poly-spun polypropylene sediment filter for the removal of dirt and dust – this is used to protect the second stage filter.
- the second stage uses a coconut carbon (CCB) filter, this is made from coconut shell, not coal. It is rated at 3,500 UK gallons or 6 months use. This removes chlorine and organics, ensuring that the water is chemical free.
- the second stage used a CBR2-10 filter. The CBR2-10 filter performs many functions, CBR2-10 filter cartridges are manufactured using a patented process and combine powdered activated carbon with a specially designed media for lead reduction. In addition to lead reduction, the unique formation of the carbon block enables it to reduce Cryptosporidium and Giardia cysts and fine sediment particles down to 0.5 microns. The CBR2-10 also reduces levels of chlorine, and certain VOC’s than granular activated carbon cartridges.
Today, I received my replacement filter cartridges from RO-MAN They suggested changing the CBR2-10 filter cartridge for a Chlorplus-10, which is more effective at removing Chroline and Chloromines from the water than the CBR2-10 filter cartridge previously used. (It’s the green filter on the far right in the picture)
Sediment, Carbon, CBR2-10 used filter cartridges.
Chlorine and Chloramines are used for treating drinking water. Unfortunately, Chloramines are more harmful to freshwater and saltwater fish than Chlorine. And unlike Chlorine, Chloramines will NOT evaporate if you let the water stand.
The new Chlorplus-10 filter cartridge, is the blue filter on the far right in the picture, third stage).
The HMA filter saves me having to treat the water with third party chemicals, which are costly. I also have an Reverse Osmosis filter, but this rarely gets used, because of the high levels of waste water produced. (I’m on a water meter!).
I never like changing the 10″ filter cartridges in this HMA filter, because it takes me a while afterwards to stop the leaks, I have to keep tighting up the 10″ filter cases with the spanner, I think I need new O ring seals!
A friend once said, I needed a new grommit fitting, becuse it was a bit slack!
A Fish House Could Seriously Damage your Health!
Monday, May 22nd, 2006A few weeks ago whilst carrying out regular daily maintenance in the fish house, I heard a “crackling sound”, at first this sounded like running water, I then smelt burning and noticed thick smoke from the terminal (chocolate) block in the following photograph. I quickly shutdown all electricity in the fish house. To investigate the problem further.
This 15Amp terminal block was used to connect a 500Watt (approx 2-3Amp) heater to an external thermostat. As you can see from the photograph, it’s been completely destroyed, melted and fused.
On further investigation I found that the solder used to “tin” the wires had degraded, causing a gap between the electrical contacts in the terminal block and wire. This gap caused an electrical arc, hence the crackling sound, the heat caused by this electrical arc was responsible for melting the terminal block. This heater is thermotstatically controlled, so the heater is only on for very short periods.
I understand that the practice of “tinning wires” in electrical appliances is no longer performed for this very reason, solder breaks down with age, exposure to air (oxidation) and can cause fires. Wires in electrical appliances are now terminated using bootlace ferules.
Tinned copper wires and wires terminated with insulated bootlace ferrules.
I’ve now started to remove all tinned wires using solder and replace with insulated bootlace ferrules. in the fish house.
insulated bootlace ferrules. in use, when connecting heaters to an Algarde DigiTherm external thermostat.
Corydoras Loxozonus Pictures
Sunday, May 7th, 2006Some pictures at last, and it’s given me a chance to try out a new 28mm EF EOS lens for the SLR!
Corydoras Loxozonus
Corydoras Loxozonus
Collectors Item yet?
Saturday, April 29th, 2006
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