I’ve got 50l of Potassium Permanganate solution at a concentration of 10mg/l that I’ve been using to disinfectant my aquatic plants to remove snails and snail eggs, all waste water from the fish house, is disposed of onto the garden. Not wanting to empty 5ol of mild disinfectant onto the garden, I thought it would be prudent to ask Yorkshire Water, if this could be safely disposed of down the drain. It is possible that this could destroy the good bacteria at the local treatment works. After discussions with Yorkshire Water they advised that I should dispose of it, at a rate of 1l a day down the toilet! So it could take quite a while to dispose of this waste water. Remember this if you are making up quantities to disinfect plants, it may have been easier with hindsight to use a Proprietary “snail off” killer. I’ll make new enquires with Yorkshire Water, if I filter the solution through carbon, if I can then dispose of down the drain. Yorkshire Water were converned that I would kill off the bacteria at the local treatment works and were surprised that you can.
Posts Tagged ‘fish house’
Waste Water
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005Angelfishcam Service Status available here
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005All web cam related messages will be posted in the Angelfishcam section from now on, to reduce clutter in the fish house section.
Red Dwarf!
Monday, September 26th, 2005The fish house tonight, looks like an episode of Red Dwarf after it’s been hit by Bazookoid. I’ll explain and all will become crystal.
I completed my usual evening checks after work, and I noticed a low temperature warning lamp on Aquarium No.8 (low temperature warning lamp is lit when the Aquarium Temperature is -1.5 degree C below set temperarture), this usual indicates the heater has failed, but then I noticed that someone had not connected the heater correctly, after Sundays’ partial water change! The aquarium temperature had only dropped by 2 degree C, over a 24 hours period, the fish house temperature is about 27 – 30 degree C.
I also noticed that there was a pressure drop in all the airstones operating the sponge filters, this could be a pressure leak on the mini-ring main, but was found to be a crack in the large Hi-Blow Air Pump, I don’t know how this could have occured, so I’ve had to quickly switch to the new air compressor and ring main, which has taken several hours to remove all airlines from aquariums, and connect and balance the air for each aquarium, it doesn’t look tidy at present, because there is airline hanging down all over the floor and aquariums, hence the Red Dwarf comment.
I’ve also had a second attempt, at re-planting the display tank.
Smoke me a kipper, I’ll be back for breakfast…
Bazookoid A mini laser-explosive type weapon. It fires a green projectile, which upon contact with an object produces a massive explosive with a large blast radius. Be warned; this is not for close encounters!
WANTED Eheim 2260 External Bucket Filter
Sunday, September 25th, 2005
I need to move some fish around in the fish house, I already have one Eheim 2260, (expensive to fill with media!), but great filters. So Wanted Eheim 2260 External Bucket Filter as pictured, don’t require any media, if it’s got tubing, spray outlet and inlet pipes advantageous, but not essential. This is a picture of the unit I currently own. So if you have one like it, and want some cash!
Mail
me.
Patron Saint of Lost Articles
Sunday, September 25th, 2005The water temperature in Aquarium 8, seemed a little cold to touch, the electronic digital thermometer, states its 29 degree C, don’t believe it. Where’s my old trusty thermometer?
I’ve been looking for an old mercury/alcohol style thermometer, marked in graduations from -10 to 110 degree C, this old trusty thermometer I had for years, and I’m always using it to checker water temperatures in the fish house, I can never trust electronic or LCD style stick on thermometer s, which seem to give false readys because room temperature seems to affect them. This thermometer looks very reminiscent of the thermometers used in school Science Practical sessions! I’ve found it, with a little help Something’s lost and can’t be found Please, St. Anthony, look around!
Old trusty displays it as 28 degrees C. This is within acceptable parameters.
Patial Water Change Sunday
Sunday, September 25th, 2005I’ve been completing a 25% partial water change on Aquarium 8, this evening, this was Franks’ Home for the last year, and now it’s void of Angelfish, this will give me the chance to move another breeding pair into this tank. I’ve got a Silver/Platinum pair to move into this tank. This tank is approx 90l, size – 30″x15″x12″, and filtered by an Hagen Biolife 55 internal filter, and also an air operated Algarde Bio-Foam 200 sponge filter, I keep sponge filters operating in most larger tanks, as backups, they are also useful to use in new tank setup’s to speed up fish tank cycling. This tank is heated by a 500 watt heater connected to my bespoke multi-channel controller in the fish house. The heater is a little overkill, but the last heater failed, and this was the nearest heater to hand at the time.
Not done anything with all the plants, that have been up-rooted in the display tank.
To the Memory of Frank!
Thursday, September 22nd, 2005It is with deep regret that I have to report the death of Frank "The Killer"
Double Black Angelfish. I found Frank dead this evening in his aquarium that he
has shared with two unknown L number catfish for the last year. Water quality
and temperature were checked and all are within acceptable parameters.
I’ve mentioned Frank already in this blog, just over a week and a half ago,
when one of his offspring, a young female died of unknown causes. Frank was a
fantastic male angelfish, that sired many offspring, one of few males, that
would not eat the eggs or fry, but in the last spawning over 12 months ago, he
decided to kill the female angelfish for reasons unknown, and I could never pair
him up again, after trying many times. I could not risk any more female
angelfish, so decided to keep Frank in solitary confinement in his own aquarium
with two L number catfish as a pet. Most breeders would probably have sold him
on or got rid, but Frank became a real character, and was always happy to see me
when I visited the fish house. I became quite attached to Frank and I’m deeply
sadden by his passing, which is unusual when you have a vast collection of
angelfish.
Here is a picture of Frank, taken shortly after fighting with his female
partner. Not in the best condition at time of photograph.
Bye Frank.
A Snails Tail
Wednesday, September 21st, 2005Here are the first pictures of 25 Amazon Swords (Code 37) which arrived from
Java-Plants.
These are temporarily stored in a water vat at 28 degrees C, and the same ph as
the display tank, the plants will be planted out in.
This
water vat is a builders type waste bucket, which holds approximately 70l of
water, it is aerated by an aging Hagen 201 powerhead, heated by a Rena 300 watt
heater, (I removed from aquarium use, because it occasionally overheats – I
should find the guarantee and return to lfs). The airstone at the bottom of the
picture is currently connected to the new ring main on test, out of view is an
Eheim 1262 internal pond pump, I use to pump water to the tanks in the fish
house. TIP Do not rinse aquatic plants under cold tapwater, cold water
and chlorine will shock and damage the plants. Treat your aquatic plants
carefully.
I plan to connect a complete Dennerle
CO2 System to the display tank to aid plant growth, here is a picture of
the Dennerle pH Controller,
which connects to an electronic solenoid, which controls the amount of CO2 into
the aquarium. This is the later model, which has buttons to set the pH range,
the older models, do not have these buttons, so bargain accordingly.
These
are available quite cheaply now that
Dennerle have introduced the new
DENNERLE pH-Controller Evolution und Evolution DeLuxe range which
includes a CO2 auto-shut off valve, so there is no need to purchase the
additional solenoid valve, as with the older system. (I’m sorry the web pages
are in German, I don’t know why Dennerle,
removed the English site, and replaced with Under Construction?)
This
evening on checking the fish house and inspecting the new plants, when taking
these photographs, I spotted a snail making a break for freedom, it was half way
up the airline tubing, when I spotted it. I don’t currently have snails in the
fish house, well I didn’t! It’s not unusual to find snails arriving on plants,
I’ll have to plan the next stages carefully, otherwise I’ll have a snail
outbreak. I’ve got snails only in one tank, and that’s the second display tank,
these are Malaysian Trumpet Snails, Melanoides tuberculata, a good
website can be found
here on the little creatures, but there in a tank with three Clown
Loaches, so it benefits the loaches at night! I don’t like using chemicals in
any of my tanks, especially any "snail off" remedies, back in the early 80’s my
friend who kept tropical fish, had an massive outbreak of snails in his fish
tank, he had some lovely fish, so he dosed his tank with some "snail off" liquid
in a bottle, after a few days, he asked me if it looked right, the tank was
opaque brown with the "snail off" cure, he had read the label incorrectly, in
the process, all the fish died, except his Red Tailed Black Shark "Fergal",
which I shortly after inherited, he stopped keeping tropical fish after that
event. Fergal lived for many years after, in the hole in his house brick, which
was found on the beach, completely rounded. I’m always reminded of that event,
every time, I use any chemicals, and never add them directly to the aquarium. I
always measure the amount in glass Pyrex beakers (remember science classes from
your school days!) away from the aquarium. I’ve seen too many mistakes made
measuring chemicals over an open aquarium.
This blog entry is dedicated to all those fish that died unnecessarily in
1980! David if your reading this contact me!
Aquatic Plants arrived from Java-Plants
Wednesday, September 21st, 2005I collected my parcel containing my aquatic plant order from Java-Plants early this morning from the local Post Office Sorting Office. I’ve purchased 25 Amazon Swords and 25 Vallis, the Vallis was out of stock, so will ship later, the 25 Amazon Swords are in excellent condition, with healty leaves and root stock, extremely well packed in a large cardboard box with “LIVE PLANTS PLEASE RUSH!” stamped on the box; with plenty of packing material. Five ***** to Java-Plants Highly Recommended. The plant order was placed on Thursday, and delivery arrived on Tuesday, the box wouldn’t fit through the letter box so I was “carded” by the local sorting office to collect the parcel.
Excellent value for money, at just 30p per plant and that includes postage and packing. Try and get a deal like that at the local lfs. If they’ve got them in stock.
I carefully opened the box, the plants arrived heat sealed in a plastic bag, and placed them carefully into a vat of water at the correct temperature 28 degrees C as the display aquarium, if I’ve got enough time after work, remember I’m on the late shift, I’ll plant out later.
Most of these plants are to be planted in my 48″x18″x12″ aquarium in the “sun room”, it looks a little bare at present. The remainder will be planted into pots, for use in the fish house for those Angelfish, that refuse to spawn on breeding cones.
Discus Breeding Cones
Sunday, September 18th, 2005I went to the Harrogate Flower Show today to purchase some garden peat to
condition some water in hope to get some breeding pairs of Angelfish to spawn.
Unfortunately, there was no peat or even compost on sale so on returning from
Harrogate, visited Moorland Nurseries, Forest Moor Road, Knaresborough, North
Yorkshire HG5 8JY to collect some garden peat, I purchased an 80l bag, which was
very heavy a bit overkill for my needs, but I can use the rest for potting on
seeds and plants.
Whilst at the garden centre also had time to visit
Tropica, the
tropical fish shop and my local
Dennerle stockist!
This is an excellent tropical fish, with an excellent display of tropical fish,
Tropica plants, dry
goods and the full Dennerle
range. Some very interesting Botia loaches were on display from Asia, their
mail order business on the internet at
Tropica, carries some
very useful information on the
Dennerle range.
I purchased a pair of Discus Spawning Cones manufactured by JBL, I prefer these
"tough plastic" cones, to ceramic/terracotta, as they are easier to clean and
disinfect and are un-breakable, and much cheaper from this tropical fish shop,
than purchasing from eBay!
Back to what’s happening in the fish house, all fish are well, air ring main
is currently undergoing pressure testing, air pump is connected up, fixed in
place, and I’ve tested for air leaks, using a water mister and washing up
liquid, no leaks were found, touch wood! It’s currently violently
aerating an 18l container of water with an airstone. One of the display tanks,
has an algal bloom, possibly causes by too much vegetable matter from courgettes
and cucumber, partial water change required this week, I’m working the late
shift at the office, so I’ll have to re-plan my evenings.
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