Day 111

Thanks John and wife

Thanks Rodney

Started to remove black plastic from broken 90 gal., this cracked and shattered as I pulled it off. Of all the tanks I've done this has never happened. I noticed the silicone on this tank is purple, never seen this either. This was a free tank, I wonder if the purple silicone had anything to do with the trouble the guy had with the tank.Got two calls for fish today, first one was Rodney. He had a 8" Pleco that had outgrown his tank. Great fish, excellent water condition, thanks Rodney. This fish went into tank #5. The other call was from John and his wife, wanted to get rid of large fancy tail goldfish. Great fish and again excellent water condition, thanks to John and his wife, good luck with the Oscars. These fish went into tank #3 and Red Devil went back into tank #10, split with Buttikoferi. These were referred by Petsmart, thank you.

Day 110

Water changes in tanks #11- #13, filter changes in #13. Africans in sump of 380 gal. had to be divided, one in bad shape. Better after water change. Started feeding Flowerhorn fry large pellets trying to increase growth. Cleaned another side panel of 140 gal. leaker, front and back panels left to do. Going to put Rena canister filter on tank #17( 180 gal.) to increase filtration. One H.O.T. filter is not enough for 8 Red Devils in this tank. Took apart a broken 55 gal. and stacked glass, started to take apart a broken 90 gal.

Day 109

This is the 140 gal. in pieces,ready to be cleaned and put back together. Cleaned tanks #9 and #10, moved two african cichlids to 55 gal. sump of 380 gal. These fish came out of tank #3, moved Red Devil out of tank#10 to tank #3, took out divider in tank #10 Buttikoferi in alone. Cleaned side panel of 140 leaker with razor blade.

Day 108

Made it all the way to Ludington,MI, found one fish store. R Captive Reef Fish & Pets, kinda small with half saltwater other half freshwater. Got home today and took apart 140gal. leaker, cleaned bottom piece with razor blade. Moved two live plants from tropical tank #8, silver dollars were eating these down too low. Plants are now in tank #5, all else good.

Day 107

This is a couple old aquarium piston air pumps, found them at a flea market, one works one doesn't, original  boxes included $5, for both! All good throughout the night, a little worried about storm headed this way, don't want a power outage, rough on fish and owner even with a generator. Going to check out fish stores in Grand Rapids,MI and Muskegon, MI over the next two days. Update what I find.

Day 106

This is my P. Niger cat he goes about 17" in the 380 gallon. Came home today, divider on tank #9 came down 3" enough for Barred Midas to get over and beat up Red Devil, and get back. Decided to set up tanks #6 and #7. Tank #6 got the 10" Flowerhorn and tank #7 got 7" Red Devil. Used existing filters off tanks #5 and #8, had to plug in two additional heaters, this was too much when I turned on the lights for the evening, and tripped the breaker. Put two heaters on another circuit for now. Also set up tank #18 to split up Red Devils in tank#15.

Day 104

This is my buddy Rob's Flowerhorn, tried to breed him, took out female after a few weeks, and head blew up! The 140gal. leaker sat for a week half full of water and finally started to leak, redrained this tank. I will take this whole tank apart and reseal, cannot see where the leak is. Did water changes on tanks #2-#5 and #8,  filter cleaning on  ac 110 on tank #8. Bought 14-2 wire for fish room in basement yesterday, try to complete wall build today.

Day 101

As the Red Devil Colony grows...I don't know if they will pair off for mating or kill each other. Nothing so far, all good. Picked up the 55gallon from wife's friend , this was a salt water set-up. Great deal, 55 gal., rusty stand, Rena canister filter, whisper filter, two protein skimmers, hood lights, heater...extras-$75. Now I just have to sort through it. Got a fish food shipment from Ken's fish today.

Day 99

More wall building for fish room. Decided to frame in fish room, wire, drywall and finish before i do the rest of the basement. Other tanks are in the way and I only want to move them once. Placed two 55 gallons on metal stand that I painted, no water yet. Got that call from wife's friend, her son couldn't sell the 55 gallon this weekend at the garage sale. Lots of people wanted it but no one came up with any money, going to try and pick it up tonight. I'll post what came with it after I pick it up.

Day 97

Painted the double 55gal metal stand that came with the new Flowerhorn. All tanks are cleaned now. Flowerhorn with the white spots is doing better with temp. increase and salt added to tank #4. Filled 140gal. leaker half full, gonna let it sit for a couple days, see if I can find where the leak is. Bought the Knife fish in tank #14 a dozen goldfish today, ate them all. All the rest of the tanks are good!

Day 96

http://www.aquabid.com/ describes this as a Butacrossbreed Flowerhorn $79, not mine but I like it. Its overseas shipping too, ugh!

Finished tank cleanings, only one to go...the 380gal...always a fun (a pain!).Added a sponge filter to the sump of the 380gal. Decided to switch fish in tank #20 with new Flowerhorn in tank #9, good switch. Tank #20 is in my office, gonna use this tank as a display tank and switch fish every six moths or so. Took apart one of the broken 55 gal. I got.  Got a call from my wife's friend, son has 55gal and all the accessories. Hes having trouble selling it on http://www.craigslist.com/  and at garage sale. Sunday is last day of sale, if he doesn't sell it he want to make a deal. We will talk Monday, nothing is selling in this economy.

Day 95

Buttikoferi cichlid in tank #2

Noticed yesterday Flowerhorn in Tank#4 had white spots on body and top fin. Larger spots thak ick, I've had good luck with adding salt to aquarium and an increased temp to 86*, and water changes, instead of medication. I started this last night and will continue for 3 weeks, post on the health of fish and try to post pics later.Sorted through boxes of aquariums supplies last night given to me from last donation, rinsed out and set up the filters that were running on the 140gal. leaker, put them on on tank #5 and #8. Going to do cleaning to tanks #19 and #20 today.

Day 94

Got a call yesterday  from Tom, a friend at work, has a 140 gal. tank that sprung a leak. This morning picked up tank, stand, filters, lights, glass tops...etc. And fish...these are some of the fish he gave me. Three discus, six angels, five glass cats, multiple red eyed tetras, lrg. pleco, algae eater, cory cats, lrg gourami,  bristle nose pleco, neon zebras... Thanks Tom!

Day 92

Hump bigger? You be the judge! Four days big improvement. Cleaned tank #12, #14-#17, same as others water changes...etc. Washed out filters in garage and two 5 gallon buckets of gravel.

Day 90

New Flowerhorn is progressing well, eating like crazy. Hump(kok) on his head seems to have grown over night. Same cleaning to tanks #10 and#11 as others got. Took two broken tanks and good tank and washed them out, moved to basement for disassembly, good tank to be cleaned with razor blade and set up.

Day 89

Picked up Flowerhorn from Zak this morning, great fish, very healthy. Got 55 gal tank, two filters, foam filter, heater, stand , and decorations. He had broken 50 gal and 55gal he wanted to get rid of, got those too. Put new fish in tank #9 divided, until I set up 90 gal for him. He's adjusting well, already ate some pellets...I'll update on his progress. Thanks Zak.

Day 88

This a 12" Red Devil donated by Rob.

Did major cleaning on first nine tanks excluding three shut down tanks. Water changes 25%, vacuum gravel, changed filter material or washed out filter material, cleaned glass inside and out, cleaned glass tops. Try to set up 90 gal tonight for Flowerhorn pickup tomorrow, this tank will be new Tank #18 in place of shut down 29 gal.

Day 87

These are some of the fish in the 380gal., top picture is a Mayan 8", and the other picture is one of the three Pacu 8". These fish and others in the tank survive on frozen shrimp(thawed) frozen peas, and pellets. To keep down on nitrates the fish are feed every other day. Worked on the walls I built today, the header for the doorway was wrong so I ripped it out and did it right, my Dad caught my screw up. All fish that were donated a few days ago survived. Picking up Flowerhorn and tank on friday, will post pictures of him after the move. Got some rosies(minnows) for the african knife fish today...ate them all. Water changes and filter changes tomorrow.

Day 85

Picked up fish, the story is they bought a lizard that was getting to big for his tank, they had to get out of fish hobby and use 75 gal. for lizard. Picked them up yesterday, about 25 fish. 12 tiger barbs, 2 silver dollars,2 tetras, 3 cory cats, electric yellow, african leaf fish, 2 parrots, bala shark, 2 spotted cat fish, 2 other cat fish, small knife. Very healthy, thanks to Ann and her daughter. Called Zak who donated a flowerhorn and some red devils to me about a year ago, turns out he has a 8" flowerhorn wants to sell and will throw in a 50 gal., told him I would be by Fri. to pick him up. Donated two Koi and a goldfish to a guy with a pond, got to let them go, seemed like they adjusted right in.

Day 83

Want to keep your fish alive? A must have for power outages!

No posting since call in at work, furnace blower motor went, power outage-5hrs. My Dad found a 4000W generator at garage sale- $40, worked great,  no fish loss. Back to the postings tomorrow. Got a call from Ann at petsmart, daughter has 13 fish to donate, pick up tomorrow or Monday, list them when I get them.