A joint hobby

DH and I have taken up ballroom and Latin American dancing. We go to classes once a week for 75 minutes to trip the light fantastic. Last Saturday we had our first ball. The theme for the ball was black & white. We had a great time and it was lovely to be able to have the chance to have a go at the dances that we have been learning. We are already looking forward to the next ball in December.

We both learnt to dance years ago when we were kids. DH learnt both ballroom & Latin American and I only did ballroom. We have been amazed by how much we remember from the first time.

This is the first time that we have both danced together properly! So far we have learnt the basics for the waltz, quickstep, swing fox, cha,cha,cha and last week we started learning the rumba! As you've probably guessed we are devoted Strictly Fans, woe betide anybody who disturbs us when its on!!

On that note, I shall now introduce you to another of my fish (in the small tank) – Anton du Plec!! (groan!!)

Sorry - I couldn’t resist adding another fish picture.

In true Strictly fashion, until the next time . . . . . keep dancing!!!

The small tank

I found it hard to get back to work after having played with my camera yesterday, with my willing model, Stewie.

I decided to try and get some pictures of the small tank – the fish are a little camera shy to say the least but yesterday afternoon, they turned out to be more than co-operative.

Let me introduce you to Boris, my beautiful Siamese Fighting Fish.

According to all the write ups he can be an aggressive little critter. The local fish shop had him in a tank of cardinal tetras and he seemed quiet enough with them. The big thing with this fish is to only have one male. He is in a tank with 3 dwarf gouramis (supposedly a no-no depending on which website you look at or fish keeper you speak to), 2 baby plecs and 4 cardinal tetras. Boris has settled in a treat, no fights and a pleasure to watch with the other fish – this has worked for me (happily) but this set up might not work for everyone. If I had encountered problems with him at least I had the option to move him to the bigger tank.

He is a knowing little so and so, loves his food and is a pain in the fin when it comes to tank cleaning time. He is often to be seen at feeding time with a wafer in his mouth, desperately trying to get another in at the same time! He is fond of the beehive house and loves to brush against your hand when it is in the tank. Occasionally he will flare at his tank mates mainly because he doesn’t want to share my attention.

And some people think fish are dull . . . . .

A week on

Firstly, apologies for the lack of blog posts last week. Unfortunately, I was ill and although I made it to the computer most days, that was about all I could manage.

One lovely, restored aquarium (yes, I know the windows need cleaning but Stewie needs the algae!!

It has been a week since our disaster with the fish tank. With some tender loving care the fish that survived are just about back to their normal selves. I have been constantly monitoring the water and as everything had stabilized we cautiously bought some new fish this weekend. We specifically chose fish that had a low bio load (meaning they wouldn't cause too much extra work for the filter). We now have 5 baby gold Chinese Danios and 4 glowlight tetras.

Now, you know that things are getting back to normal when the fish, namely Stewie start doing the things that you have come to expect them to do . . . . this morning proved to be a classic example.

I have got behind with a lot of things because I have been ill. I have also got into the habit of regularly (possibly obsessively) checking the tank. This morning I discovered Stewie trying to get to a delicious bit of algae in the most awkward place, well, for him at any rate. He is a big fish, about 5” and he chose the smallest place to settle. As I had my camera to hand, I decided to try and capture his attempts!

I watched him manoeuvre his body into position, a series of perfectly executed reverse moves until his nose was it the right spot for a munch!!

Oshi has come to have a look to see what all the fuss is about!

Watching him extricate himself was something else entirely and I couldn’t photograph it as I was laughing too much!!

Well, best get back to it – have a great week and check back soon.

A quick update

A kuhli loach, believed to be missing in action can now be confirmed to be ALIVE.

Since Sunday, the tank has stabilized, we've added some more plants and the water is as clear as glass and sweet smelling too!!

The remaining fish are still showing signs of stress (who wouldn't - I am too!) and are slowly but surely settling down, the main thing being that they are still eating and swimming around the tank. (I know they are feeling the effects of the weekend as they are all showing some colour loss).

Fingers crossed, that the worst has passed and we can spend some time getting the remaining little critters back to full health.

I'd like to thank all those that sent e-mails and got in touch to offer advice & support - so very much appreciated, more than you will ever know.

Friday the 13th

I would never have considered myself a superstitious person. I don't walk under ladders, not because of superstition but because I don't want anything to drop on my head!

Now not being superstitious by nature, Friday the 13th shouldn't be a problem, so you would think.

The day did not get off to a good start. I got up as usual and began the morning rituals: put the kettle on, feed the cat, feed the fish. All fairly normal so far except when feeding the fish I found a dead one. DH was summoned from his slumbers to remove said fish and we all continued with the preparations for the day.

The postman arrived with a parcel at 8.20 (now this was unusual!!), DH & DS had left for work & school on time - so far so good.

Now most Fridays, and this one was no exception, I do what I have to for Krafted Keepsakes in the morning and then Friday afternoons I make a start on cleaning the fish tanks. I cleaned my tank, raked the gravel, clipped the plants and made sure everyone was happy. I then moved onto the big tank and that was when everything went rapidly downhill. As I switched on the light I noticed a dead fish at the bottom. I removed the lid of the tank and found another, floating on the top. Further investigation revealed 2 more - what was going on??

I removed the dead ones and then tested the water - nothing abnormal showed. Now the big question, what to do next? Whatever was going on it was killing the fish! After a quick call to DH we decided the only thing we could do was to do a big water change- which we did. Friday evening was spent pulling dead fish from the tank - this carried on until Sunday morning. We'd done everything that we could, water changes, adding chemicals, you name it we tried it! Still no improvement - we even phoned our friend on Sunday morning but between us we couldn't solve the problem, though it was appreciated that we had someone to call who understood our despair.

For some reason, the filter has stopped working. Now if the filter had been mechanical we could have fixed it (and quickly) but the filter relies on cultures of good bacteria that are built up over time. We decided that as we had so few fish left that we would do yet another massive water change. DH & DS set to and as the lid was opened DS exclaimed "that's what our school toilets smell like on a Friday!" BINGO!! toilet smell = ammonia. Our fish were being poisoned by ammonia. We completed the water change, added some bacteria culture and some furniture and plants from the small tank (which would also have healthy bacteria on them) and hoped for the best.

By midnight, the tank had stabilized and no more fish had died - finally we were getting somewhere. This morning was the same - no more casualties. Having spent the weekend in tears (caused by despair and frustration) I am now allowing myself to feel "cautiously optimistic".

All in all we lost 18 out of 23 fish (about EUR 100). Its not about the money, its about these little critters that we have bought and added over a period of time and have got to know and love for their own characters.

R.I.P.
3 x Cory's
5 x Red minor
1 x ott
2 x kuhli loach
1 x silver tipped tetra
2 x tiger barb (affectionately known as Tweedledum & Tweedledee)
2 x Moon Fish - known as Baco & Foil
2 x Glass Fish

From now on, Friday the 13th ceases to exist. The next time it happens I'm staying in bed!!!!!!



Paul said...

Hi Lesley, now I understand your comments in the email, it the very least it can be very disheartening but very sad when you them grow and adapt to the older fish in the tank. Our tank suffered in a very similar way and now we are down to only 4 fish two originals and a couple of the babies that our bronze Cory's delivered.
Hopefully you have read my email by now and woken up ...lol

Lots of love Hazel & Paul

19 November 2009 21:26

Variation on a theme

It is my cousin’s birthday today and I was stuck for an idea for his card. Having enjoyed making the green and blue card (see post 10-11-09), I wanted to make it again but of course, with a difference. I decided to personalize it and add the greeting – both cut using the craft robo (I am surprised that I can still remember how to use it!!).

Lest we forget

Birthday time

It was a dear friend’s birthday last week and this is the “creation” that I came up with.

The cat’s whiskers!

Last Saturday saw the birthday of our MLC Winnie. She has reached the great age of 20!

Regular readers will already know that our MLC was diagnosed with CRF back in February 2008 – so each birthday that Winnie makes, is an achievement. We know (and accept) that we are on borrowed time but we appreciate the time that we have had with her (and hopefully will continue to have for a while longer).