HISTORY
Main Tank
The main community tank was established in March 2003. First
in were five Platties - Arty, Morty, Long Beard, Columbus and Homer. 
One week later, with all
chemical levels perfect, Nibbler the Plec went in along with a Siamese
Fighting Fish, Seth. Two days
later the Platties attacked Seth and we had to put him down. I
was devastated, and this would eventually lead to the set up of the mini tank .
Algae started to grow alost immediately so we put in two Golden Sucking
Loaches - Nacho and Salsa.
After a couple of weeks we add two Blue Dwarf Gourmais - Jack and Danny -
two Silver Finned Sharks - Itchy and Scratchy - and a baby Plec - Oz. At the same time, I bought my pride
and joy, Scooby, a Golden Nugget Plec.
Of course, the next day I had to buy Scooby a cave and despite the
fact he'd cost me a fortune, I hardly see him! It's important
that
he's safe and happy, and since pulling the Platties out last weekend,
he's
come out a lot more often.
A week before Easter we pulled out the Platties and took them back
to the Aquatic Centre because they were simply too biosterous for the
other fish. I was hoping to replace them with a Siamese Fighter -
not, apparently, with the sharks! Change of plan. We bought
four rainbow fish - George, Zippy, Bungle
and Freddy - and two black red finned
Sharks - Oscar II and Oswald.
The tank settles, but it's very colourless except from Jack and Danny
(who I can't tell apart until they split up. Jack's always in the
plants while Danny's more at the front of the tank). So Easter
week I put in the final two fish, Zeke and
Zebedee, a couple of large pink Gourmais.
I'm feeding all of them on a diet of blood worms, flakes and algae
biscuits on a weekly cycle with the food every two days.
Yesterday, Good Friday, we lost Oswald. We did a water check
but everything is fine. All the other fish are well and happy.
We waited an extra day before feeding them and changing the
water. Zeke seems a little vicious toward Danny, but other than
that the tank is peaceful and active.
Fed them yesterday (Easter Day) on their favourite frozen bloodworms.
This is about the only time we see Scooby, who must be alerted by
the change in activity level in the tank! The great thing about
the frozen food is you can hold it and they'll eat it out of your
fingers. Of course, they're not fussy and will often mistake your
fingers for the food. I like to think this is accidental....!
People say fish are boring pets, but they're amazing to watch.
They all have their own personalities, react to one another in
different ways. Danny comes to the front of the tank whenever I
go up to it, and
Itchy and Scratchy are always curious (although weren't too happy about
having their photos taken....
9/5/2003
This evening I introduced two new fish - two pink kissing Gouramis
called Babel and Lecter. They're settling in well and are the
final two fish to go into the tank. More photos below.
21/5/2003
Over the last week we've lost Oz and Nibbler, our two plecs.
After a long chat with the guy at the aquatic centre I've changed
the way I feed Scooby, ensuring a second half algae tablet is put in
front of Scooby's cave while the first half is at the front of the tank.
This afternoon we got two new fish. Twig is a light Twig loach,
about six inches long and very narrow. Will is a pepermint plec
who
cost me £25 but he's beautiful and was all alone in his tank.
We've also discovered some of the colouring has been stripped
from Scooby's cave and think the plecs might have eaten it.
Tomorrow we're replacing the cave with one like Neo's, built from
four pieces of rock. We'll probably build Will one too!
31/5/2003
It's so hot that the ambient room temperature has upped the tank
temperature to 83. Today we've lost Itchy, Lecter and Babel.
Tonight is
looking like a vigil with Danny, who's struggling to stay alive.
We're
hoping it's water temperature, as the water tests have come back clear.
We have all the windows open to lower the ambient temperature,
and
I've opened the lid on the tank. Tomorrow I'll drop in a couple
of
oxygen tablets (higher temp = less oxygen) and maybe do a water change
with
cooler water.
The other fish look okay. Scooby, ironically, has never seemed
happier. Typical.
Once this is over it looks like some restocking will be in order.
3/6/2003
Danny made it through the night and is still with us! We're
dropping in oxygen pellets and leaving the lid off the tank (hoping the
sharks don't jump out!). Leant more about the sharks today while
researching the restocking of the tank. Apparently Oscar, our Red
Finned Shark, probably attacked partner Oswald and killed him.
We're lucky the rest of them are so hardy and fight back!
So today I've probably added more fish than sensible, but I loved them!
Two new Honey Dwarf Gouramis, Luke and Han, two Pineapple
Swordtails,
Axel and Gabriel, and a replacement Silver Shark called Jaws.
Scratchy
was very mopey and unhappy without a partner.
They're all settling in and we've left the light off all night so the
shark could find his place. They look happy as far as we can see,
Will's having
a mad moment and the others are exploring.
16/8/2003
Introduced the first new fish in a while, although we're unsure if
he'll
make it. Silk is a Madagascar Rainbow with a distinctive 'hook'
shape,
but since he was added this afternoon, the other fish have done nothing
but
bully him. The light's stayed off but I think we'll be lucky if
he
makes it through the night. The worst offender is Gabriel, oddly,
the
usually peaceful Pineapple Swordtail.
New pics added below from last month.
Jan 2004
There have been some changes. Silk made it for a long time but
died eventually, as did Avon and Blake - the two PKGs - and Zeke and
Zeb.
We still have Will, Scooby, Salsa, the four rainbows, two silver finned
sharks and a red tailed shark. New fish since the New Year are
two large golden gouramis, Velma and Daphne (Fred had to be returned -
too violent), two red tinged gouramis - Troy and Tom - and a black and
white striped cat fish, Barnaby.
2005 Update
Scooby died in March 2005. He's buried in the back
garden.
MiniTank History
Since we first started to keep Tropical Fish, a couple of years ago -
I've always wanted a Siamese Fighting Fish, or Betta.
In the first couple of weeks of the Main Tank being established, we put
in a beautiful purple and blue Betta, Seth.
Two days later, he was attacked by the five Platties and
we had to put him down.
The whole purpose of the Mini Tank is so that I can have a Betta.
The Mini Tank was established mid-April 2003, a week ago now.
Chemical levels are cycling as normal.
After three days, we put in three tetra - one lemon ("Lemon"), two
cardinal ("Scarlett" and "Pimpernel"). Lemon vanished the moment
he went into the tank. We thought the other two had eaten him but
two days later we found his body and pulled it out.
Yesterday (Easter Sunday) we did a water check and everything was
fine. Then this morning, we found both fish dead. All I can
think is that I fed them too much blood worm!
We now have three more brave explorers - three Penguin Tetra - Tux,
Pingu and Joker. 
22nd April 2003
We lost Pingu this morning which was no great surprise. When
we put them in the tank at the start, Pingu got himself stuck in a
corner of the bag and had to be freed. He didn't look well since
then and was very 'thin'.
Joker and Tux are doing well.
25th April 2003
I've now introduced my Betta, Oma, and a very expensive Plec, Neo.
Despite concerns about the water conditions, they both seem well.
Oma's investigating his new home while Neo's settled in his cave.
Typical!
2/5/2003
It's taking ages for the tank to cycle. The nitrites are
frighteningly high despite putting the polyfilter I put in a week ago.
Nitrates
are rising though, which might be a good sign. We lost Joker last
week, but Tux is doing well. None of the fish look bothered.
5/5/2003
The tank's cycled! On Friday the levels were frightening, now
they're perfect!
This is the best pic we've been able to
get of Neo, but you can see his patterning
at least!
photos copyright Simon Marsh 2003