The Shape of Things to Come
By unclescott from the more we change, the more we stay the same department, Section Diaries Posted on Wed Nov 28, 2007 at 11:19:39 AM PST
Guppylover's switch to salt water got me thinking about smaller aquariums and their usefulness. In this age of bigger and better (recently visited a home with a 300-gallon living room tank) we overlook what can be done with a 10-gallon aquarium. One does have to be more careful to maintain them consistently. But they fit more easily into corners or the center of one's living space. And the tanks can be drained down to wet gravel - one can move the tank without a lot of effort or hassle. Longer tanks seem sometimes more designed for the convenience of the fish keepers than the fish. We can see them more easily. It is true that fast swimming schoolers (at least the smaller ones under three-four inches) do benefit from being able to sail down those relatively long tanks. Deep tanks (great for slim, "laterally compressed" fish like angels or discus) are also popular. But they are hard to keep aerated and to clean. Growing bottom plants, where over half the light will be screened out even in clear water, is difficult. A couple of decades ago, there was a renewed interest in square aquariums, which were not too deep. Tetra publications and a controversial aquatic gardening book called The Optimum Aquarium (really the second edition of The Perfect Aquarium) suggested that such aquaria were of more benefit to the plants and fish than the standard sizes that had been around since the days of metal frame aquaria. Public Zoos, including aquariums, have also changed how they design buildings. The old lion or monkey houses had little dinky "jail cells" for the animals. People watching them got the majority of the space in the building. More recently the animals get the habitats and the human viewers get the narrower halls and galleries. Some exhibits are still of modest size, but they are more "user friendly" for the occupants. And the animals, with social groupings, more usable space per animal and decor approaching real habitats exhibit many more interesting and varied behaviors. (2 comments, 693 words in story) Full Log Entry

Revisiting the Frugal Aquarist
By unclescott from the save a buck department, Section Diaries Posted on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 11:32:01 AM PST
We've kidded here from time to time about, "How much of a fish head are we really?" If one is waiting in line at a restaurant, what plants or glassware could be used in aquaria? If at a Tupperware party, what can be used for storing fish food or labeling aquariums? If in a hardware store... (1 comment, 808 words in story) Full Log Entry

Another Perspective on Full Hoods :)
By unclescott from the While Looking for Something Else department, Section Diaries Posted on Tue Nov 13, 2007 at 08:05:09 PM PST
We've been or will be talking about how to keep guppy tanks warm this time of the year. The gups will respond positively to warmth and consistent temperatures. (1 comment, 51 words in story) Full Log Entry

Opportunities, Opportunities, Opportunities!
By unclescott from the On The Road Again department, Section Diaries Posted on Thu Oct 11, 2007 at 07:44:27 PM PST
E-mail has been bombarding me with neat fishy opportunities. Southwestern Michigan has their very fine workshop this next weekend. http://swmas.tripod.com/events.html  On the page referred to, they also have a list of other Midwestern events. Their Sunday auction will be rich in domestic and wild type livebearers. (415 words in story) Full Log Entry

Last fish shipping of the year?
By unclescott from the mail department, Section Diaries Posted on Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 07:47:08 PM PST
After a wet, cloudy morning, today was just wonderful for this time of the year, The fish room door, allowing easy access for buckets of water, fish tanks and insects, was open, intermittently, until about 8:30 this evening. (7 comments, 372 words in story) Full Log Entry

A Great Deal On a Useful Reference Book
By unclescott from the well read aquarist department, Section Diaries Posted on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:27:35 PM PST
This work is on closeout. I use it a lot (though as a casual read it can be a sedative). I don't mind having paid the list price for it. It certainly has been handy in chasing down some queries on Guppylog. I am sorry to see it going out of print. Tropical Fishlopaedia Authors: Bailey, Mary Burgess, Peter (108 words in story) Full Log Entry

Start Again?
By unclescott from the Still here department, Section Diaries Posted on Mon Sep 03, 2007 at 09:22:19 PM PST
Clearly the software or perhaps the server or sunspots need some help. In the meantime, the Immediate Help section, the calculator (which I also use in conjunction with other sites, especially the AKA beginner's forum) and a lot of that stuff on the right still works. The instructions for the diary, which since the scoop software update, has called it a log, further muddying the water, continue to be confusing. ;) (1 comment, 269 words in story) Full Log Entry

Good news on cardinals & even guppies
By unclescott from the news department, Section Diaries Posted on Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 12:58:28 PM PST
I hope this is not in impropriety on a guppy site, but I feel bad about some disparaging comments I made about cardinal tetras and their supply in relation to Reza's and Scott's new fish. However there are several pieces of good news in the aquarium world relating to cardinal tetras. (2 comments, 267 words in story) Full Log Entry

Algae bloom and computer ignorence
By unclescott from the Askguppylog department, Section Diaries Posted on Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 12:58:28 PM PST
I would love to respond to GuppyAdict (not that it would help her, but it would be nice to try). But when I call up her log entry, I can't reply. I can reply to stuff down the page. If she is frustrated by guppy stuff, I could compare frustrations via computer stuff. :( (1 comment) Comments >>

How To Better Use The Net
By unclescott from the Research department, Section Diaries Posted on Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 12:58:27 PM PST
My acadamic background is not biology, ichthyology or even in the sciences. (I can't even type it right this morning.) However I have begun subscribing to a science related newsletter or two because I have the feeling that there is so much out there on the Net I'm not finding in relation to guppies and other aquarium topics. (283 words in story) Full Log Entry

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