180 build from scratch!

[fareforce]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12552356#post12552356 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fareforce
Ewww. Do you need to see out your window? You could get some of this stuff. and paint it on your window. We did this at our work. It looks really cool if you take the clear, put it on the glass, then spin the paint brush in a circle. Then make all the circles touch. I will take a pic of what I mean a little later. Anyways it lets a lot of light in, but you can't see through it.

Here are some pics of this stuff. Sorry for the bad pics. The camera I have at work isn't all that great.

 

[kar93]

I like most parts but some are boring. I'm good in biology but i struggle with chemistry. I would do physics aswell but it goes straight over my head so I will do my 3rd A level in Med School. Congrats on finishing.

 

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12552485#post12552485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michika
No AC here. Ideal would be 40%, but I would be happy with under 50%. Alberta is quite dry to begin with, and any excess humidity tends to congregate on the windows, and looks nasty. The temperatures indoors never really makes it hot enough to be uncomfortable.

must be nice, not like Dallas or even worse, Houston

 

[kar93]

Oh, the stained glass stuff. My Nan used to do that If it was me, i wouldnt want to resort to that without talking to my neighbours first.

 

[fareforce]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12552557#post12552557 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kar93
Oh, the stained glass stuff. My Nan used to do that If it was me, i wouldnt want to resort to that without talking to my neighbours first.

The nice thing about this particular stained glass stuff is it comes off easily with a rasor blade.

 

[michika]

Aquascaping was a big failure. While we chose 24" high because of my short arms, we failed to account for the 4" eurobrace. I am amused by this snafu, my arms don't reach anywhere near the bottom, and thus, I cannot reach the rocks. I suppose that solves that whole keeping my hands out of the tank thing!

I also just received 3 PMs on my home board asking me if I'd like their various fishes that have grown out of their smaller tanks. I attract these people like nobody's business! So do I want some free fish? Two were for tangs, and one is for some nameless unidentified fish.

 

[michika]

Nameless unidentified fish from my last post turned out to be a Vlamingi tang. Its outgrown its owners 90g. I can't believe someone would sell a Vlamingi tang to someone with such a small tank!

I am debating taking it, but not permanently, more in the sense that I would temporary house it in a larger system while the owner finds a more suitable home for it. I just hate to hear that this lovely fish is an inappropriate home.

The tank is still sitting as it is for now. I tossed in a snail, and so far it is doing well. I'll keep watching it while I decide on my next move for the system.

 

[jnarowe]

there are two here that are outgrowing their 450g.

 

[kar93]

Ive had the chance to see one in a 300g at a public aquarium. He just looked sooooo cramped. It must have been around the 17" mark! I asked the staff there if it was permanent and they said he will be shipped over to an aquarium in the states.

 

[michika]

The fish is 4-5" according to the email, and I know these fish grow stupidly fast. Putting it into my 180g would only be a very temporary fix. Calgary doesn't have an aquarium at our local zoo, and besides that we are having some serious issues there anyways. Google Calgary Zoo and stingrays if you are curious.

Once my 1000g system is up and running, I would certainly have no problems taking a fish like a vlamingi and providing it a permanent home. However my 1000g system is still at least 10 months to a year away from being brought online. Even then a 15ft tank doesn't feel like enough for a fish that gets 2ft long. 4ft deep doesn't feel like its enough for it to turn around in either.

I still don't know what to say to this person about their tang, I think he has approached quite a few people at this point with no luck. Anyone have any thoughts on what I should tell him, or any suggestions I can offer him?

The other two fish I have been offered are an Atlantic blue tang, and a mimic tang. Both are under the 5" mark, and need new homes because of downsizing and aren't the fish the person thought they bought. Both are free, just need to be picked up before the end of the month.

Today;
- power center - cut it out
- find a stain color I like
- inevitable trip to the hardware store
- turn on one of the MHs and decide if I need 3 reflectors, or 2+T5s
- Reply to free fish PMs

I also have to plant my privacy plants this morning to stop all the creepers around here from looking in! I went out for a skate on Friday afternoon, and garnered some awkward attention from a trio of guys who live about 4 or 5 doors down from me. They actually chased me down to tell me they'd seen me play at our last game. Too bad I can't water my plants with salt water!

 

[maroun.c]

I do agree with how annoying peeking neighbors can be. I used to live in the 3 floor of an appartment and I now live in the second floor of another one so nobody could see what was in but everyone was quite interested abuot the "couloured lights" shining out of my appartment in the old one. I've had neighbors asking if I had any reds for Saturday evening...
I'm lucky to have only one neighbor in thei s new building so far and their rarely at home.
so Any pics of your aquascaping? Hope it goes smoothly.
I always struggled with aquascaping.

 

[kar93]

Such a shame about the zoo, I really hope they get things sorted out. Unless he finds someone with at least a 500g then I dont really know what he could do. Even a 500g is small though because those fish get huge as you know. Is there any public aquariums around?

 

[michika]

I think our closest public aquarium would be the Vancouver Aquarium or Sea World, both are in B.C., a whole province to the west of us. The largest home aquarium that I know of in the city is 400g, but its a predator tank. I know of a few smaller reefs, in the 200-300g range, but I don't know what their stocking is like.

We, as in our local board, think that something got into the water, copper, etc. at the zoo. Its also recently come out that they don't actually have a marine biologist on staff, so they really didn't know what they were doing when they set this system up. My bet is that it was copper, just a small amount would do in those rays, and to have it happen so quickly too.

Aquascaping should also be on that above list, I'll get to it today now that I have some extra long arms to help me out.

 

[jnarowe]

and no one will fess up to it I bet. That's horrible. I thought the rays were being physically injured?

 

[michika]

I am pretty sure you are right, nobody will fess up.

What we do know is that the rays were altered to remove their stingers (? is this the right term?). From what other people who have visited the zoo have said, they felt that they were over crowded in their environment. The rays died off en masse, it happened very quickly, within a few days.

Now after these recent developments the Toronto Zoo has halted/changed plans about having a similar exhibit with rays.

 

[kar93]

Its barb I think They've lost nearly 40 now haven't they?

 

[jnarowe]

that has to be a chemical incident IMO. Some contaminant got into the system or they did not maintain it at proper levels.

 

[michika]

Last I heard, which was Friday, was that there were only 3 or 4 left. I was at the zoo on Thursday, and a friend was there on Friday. We couldn't go into the Elephant enclosure, which is where the stingray tank is, however on Friday I am told it was just blocked off. I haven't been following this over the week unfortunately. However I do know that one of our morning radio station's DJs is really curious and involved in this.


Someone just pointed out that if I take the Vlamingi tang, there is nothing to stop the current owner from refusing to find it a better home, or just abandoning it with me.

 

[kar93]

If it was me, I would take it and try to find it a better home and if dont find one by time the 1000g is setup then I'm sure he would do fine in a 1000g. I would do that to ensure he goes to a proper home.

 

[michika]

I think what I will do is ask the owner if they have had any luck elsewhere. If there has been no other interest, then I may consider taking it in a week or two. My tank needs to settle a bit more before it can be placed in it. Here is hoping that they find another home, or that fish truly is the 4-5" I've been told.

In regards to the rays, I'm betting it was copper or a heavy metal. Just a gut feeling I have. If I had more education in marine biology I would apply to the zoo, just to stop their seemingly endless flow of bad publicity.