Luck be a Lady

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LadyMac

LadyMac

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I give you, my sympathy fish. Mom bought her for me cause of Dweeb lol. I’m thinking of Gamma for her name. Who says freshwater fish can’t be colorful? Ey? Ey?

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LadyMac

LadyMac

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I was worried about this little one. I hadnt seen her in a few days. The cave was pretty closed up and I noticed some exo from the shrimp. Feeding the tank yielded no signs of her and the only sign the shrimp was still alive was a couple pops every day.

Earlier today I saw the shrimp was coming out, and snapping at a hermit crab who was cleaning a dead nerite (or killing it, I’m not even sure lol)

So I pulled the crab/ nerite combo away from the cave. Next thing I know, I see this. Lol. All she had to do was show me the other day she was fine by poking her little head out.
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“I heard you were worried about me. I’m fine. Now LEAVE.” Lol.
 
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LadyMac

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I’m wondering where she will poke her head out when she grows. She’s just a little thing, smaller than the shrimp. She gets a lil tumm tumm she won’t fit through her little peep hole.
 
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Sorry I’ve been absent for a few days. I’ve been super busy at home and at work.

Brother in law had some issues where his nurse was not doing a good job. He developed new bedsores and the older ones were no longer healing and getting deeper. So we spent a good portion of a day at theER for a new wound care nurse referral and then to tell us they couldn’t do anything more. We had to go, so he wouldn’t lose his care. Luckily they didn’t keep him.


It’s been chilly lately so painting has been a real struggle. My oils are too cold to work with and my hands have been aching.

I was able to finally do a little maintenance on the tanks though. Yesterday I did a 50% on the 15. Hubbs got me a tank for Gamma so she’s set up proper. MFP is not happy his lady is gone but they flirt across the room. I’m now up to four tanks. Did a small change on the 29 and blew some algae off the reef. Anyhow here’s some pics of the tanks.

Have I mentioned how much I love Gamma?
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LadyMac

LadyMac

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I’ve been absent for a week or two, as things have become quite stressful as late.

Hubbs and I have been trying to get some work going, buthe can’t seem to secure any employment. We did finally get in touch with an old friend who used to buy houses and we would do the work, and now he is an appraiser. He had been trying to close on a home that will be his personal and we happened to contact him just in time. We gave our bid but we still haven’t heard from him. Trying to make ends meet has been very hard. We are behind on our bills.

Fibromyalgia has been causing me some severe issues with pain also. I’ve done minimal work on tanks due to not being able to get in there. Sadly, I’m out of salt so no waterchanges. On top of that, I had the flu or something so wasn’t able to do anything, save dumping them skimmer cup for about four days. I’m feeling much better now. Hands still in severe pain but was able to do a pretty deep scrub pulling cyano and hair algae.

Yesterday, I got news from my brother in law that he plans to go in hospice. While I agree with this(he has a rod coming out of his back, causing severe pain and his care right now isn’t helping) it will cause me to lose my job. He is confident he can keep me on with another company but with the experience with my dad, they don’t offer anything that I could do since I’m not a nurse and have zero medical training. I’m not gonna lie, I’m terrified. I have zero job experience other than the construction jobs hubbs and I used to do, but I’m just not healthy enough. I don’t qualify for any aid of any sort and the job opportunities close enough by I’d have to have schooling. I didn’t even graduate high school, and don’t have my GED.

I am pretty stressed and just not sure what to do.

Now that I’ve gone and depressed y’all, here’s my happy place.

Pray for my brother in law, if he’s going on hospice, he’s basically giving up and that also terrifies me.
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NY_Caveman

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I’ve been absent for a week or two, as things have become quite stressful as late.

Hubbs and I have been trying to get some work going, buthe can’t seem to secure any employment. We did finally get in touch with an old friend who used to buy houses and we would do the work, and now he is an appraiser. He had been trying to close on a home that will be his personal and we happened to contact him just in time. We gave our bid but we still haven’t heard from him. Trying to make ends meet has been very hard. We are behind on our bills.

Fibromyalgia has been causing me some severe issues with pain also. I’ve done minimal work on tanks due to not being able to get in there. Sadly, I’m out of salt so no waterchanges. On top of that, I had the flu or something so wasn’t able to do anything, save dumping them skimmer cup for about four days. I’m feeling much better now. Hands still in severe pain but was able to do a pretty deep scrub pulling cyano and hair algae.

Yesterday, I got news from my brother in law that he plans to go in hospice. While I agree with this(he has a rod coming out of his back, causing severe pain and his care right now isn’t helping) it will cause me to lose my job. He is confident he can keep me on with another company but with the experience with my dad, they don’t offer anything that I could do since I’m not a nurse and have zero medical training. I’m not gonna lie, I’m terrified. I have zero job experience other than the construction jobs hubbs and I used to do, but I’m just not healthy enough. I don’t qualify for any aid of any sort and the job opportunities close enough by I’d have to have schooling. I didn’t even graduate high school, and don’t have my GED.

I am pretty stressed and just not sure what to do.

Now that I’ve gone and depressed y’all, here’s my happy place.

Pray for my brother in law, if he’s going on hospice, he’s basically giving up and that also terrifies me.
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That is some serious helpings of life friend. Stay strong and know we are all here with you.
 
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LadyMac

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I’m officially in my studio now, hubbs has his desk in the living room.

the reef seems to be finally balancing itself out. The pipe organ seems really happy and is spreading. The frammer is recovering, and seems to be growing. It also seems to appreciate the reef roids. My macro algae’s are growing nicely, when the shrimp doesn’t mess with it lol. He likes to decorate the tank how he wants it. Today when I fed the roids, the goby was close. She really appreciated the pipette feeding, as did the shrimp lol.

My 29 pallifina tank is now in my studio, a great place for it. The light with the sound is very relaxing and helps me concentrate on my artwork. I’ve been able the past couple days to get a little work done, though it’s very slow going due to the flare ups. My only issue with the tank is the suction cups won’t stay on the trim and the stand is not set up for me to attach the holder to the stand. One day I’d like to get a 24” tank. A cube would be good but I guess a 20 would do, as long as I can get the light on there and it stay.

Also, I have a NEED for some red paradise fish! Absolutely gorgeous.

so here’s some pics of the reef, the 29, the work in progress painting and the paradise Gourami. I didn’t take that pic, I found it on Facebook. Photographers watermark is on the photo though. Enjoy!
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It’s about time for an update on the goings on around here I think.

So the bad first: We lost my brother in law, Jay last Wednesday. His roommate had called hospice because he was having severe difficulty breathing, and it took them three hours to get there. After the first hour of the trouble, he passed. They didn’t make it. It makes you wonder if they could have helped had they been faster. But truth be told, he went through pure hell every single day, so there is some comfort knowing he no longer has to deal with the pain that was his life for close to 30 years. I’m a strong believer in God, and I feel he’s having some very interesting conversations now, as he was such an intelligent man. He was rated high superiority on his IQ. Of course I’m sure he went running first :). Today we pick up his ashes.

On the fish front, there’s nothing much to update on the reef. She’s steady, and all fish are thriving. No extreme growth, but I’m out of salt so no water changes to help spur that. Of course being without an income, it’s not looking like anytime soon there and while it’s under stocked I feel if I keep her skimmer clean and the salinity you’re via the ATO it’ll be fine until I can get some.

The paradise fish seem to be gearing up for spawning, the male is very tolerant of the female. To help her, I pulled some wood from the pallifinas, and cluttered the tank for her to have lots of dips to hide into. I had put the failing led on their, and woke up this am to it flashing red. A part of me hates to toss things so I set myself up for that one knowing it was a bad fixture. It’s in the trash for sure now. I have a very small t8 on there until I can get one of the odyssea lights from across the street. How I’m going to set a T5HO with actinics of 48” over a 30” tank, I’ll have to figure that one out too. Hopefully it doesn’t affect them spawning. If so I’ll just set their tank up on the porch and let them go from there. It’s nice enough weather and they are very tolerant of things.

Because I stole wood from the pallis, I had to replace said wood. So I stole from mr. fluffy and he’s kinda mad at me about that. I did put some fake decor in there for him as well as mostly flooding. Then yesterday, upon advice from other betta keepers, I pulled the little male from the serene build and he had to go with fluffy. Both are not happy about that but they are doing ok.

Ms. Gamma is doing great, she’s a big ole pig. Her little tank is one of my favorites. Nothing much to report on her, she’s just doing her normal betta thing, and plants are all super slow growers so no real growth going on.

Now the fun part, the photos.
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Here is the paradise setup. Nice and cluttered
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the pair under the “nest.” She doesn’t approve yet lol.


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Sunset, pallifina tank
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cloudy day setting
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My workspace
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Mr. Fluffys redo. I’ve more plantsto add for him. Now the little palli love with him for a couple months.
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He’s big mad.
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Little Gamma’s tank. She’s starved, can’t you tell? She begs lol.
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And my progress on the painting. The sides are wet too which is why it’s “floating.” I’m pleased with how it’s coming along.
 
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LadyMac

LadyMac

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Sorry for the recent troubles. The wet side of life seems to be fairing well. Slow n steady as she goes.
Yessir, we do have some troubled waters but things are faring better than expected given the circumstances. I’ve noticed today a little bit ago the little girl paradise was following the boyo about. That was sweet.
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

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