Tank birthday, 47+ years

[gettaReef]

When all else fails, use a shop-vac (I'm sure duct tape could also somehow solve this problem)

 

[Paul B]

There is a collection device below the screen which collects the water and sends it to the reverse UG filter. The algae is overgrowing it so the water runs over it into the tank. I took some off with a screwdriver so it should be OK temporarily. I may try to do this today with one arm.
I also made a mistake above, it is my left hand I can't use.
I can get the algae scrubber off, the problem is disconnecting the hose that connects that to the pump. It is all the way on the right side of the tank so it requires my left arm and I can't lift the arm at all yet.
I will try to figure something out. :cool:

 

[Paul B]

A friend of mine on another forum had an Idea to use a shop vac to clean the scrubber. Great Idea. I did it in 2 minutes and the thing is almost brand new. I still have to take it apart eventually to clean the slot, but it's working perfectly.

 

[Chasmodes]

Paul, since I've been following your threads, I've come to the conclusion that you could DIY (with regard to reefing, LOL) with one arm tied behind your back. Now you have the chance to show us all how it's done!

 

[Paul B]

The hard part was cleaning out the shop vac before I sucked out the algae. But I got it. :D

 

[Paul B]

So today, Veterans Day I wear my almost 50 year old Army shirt to go to the Veterans ceremony at our village hall and on the way I went with my wife to Star Bucks to take advantage of the free, Veteran breakfast they offered.

When we finished, we go to my car to go to the ceremony and I get "Click, Click".

The battery is dead.



If your battery is going to die, it will always happen the first day that it is cold. It will also happen right after you had a shoulder operation to fix torn rotator cuffs, torn bursa's and broken collar bone, which I have.

So I have to call my neighbor to go into my garage and bring my battery jumper.

This is my neighbor that takes care of my tank while I am away so they knew how to get into my house, past all the ***** traps, alarms and acid baths.



This morning the car started just a slight bit slow and being I was a mechanic many years ago, I knew what that meant and I made a mental note to replace the battery tomorrow as it is way over it's lifespan. But I figured it started so I would probably make it home.

"WRONG"



So my neighbor came to rescue me and my wife and I got the car started.

That was easy, then I had to go and get a battery.

I get car stuff wholesale which is a big saving and of course I had to get the guy to carry it to my car for me. Batteries are heavy and not conducive of carrying with one hand.



My neighbor told me he would be right over to help me right after he had breakfast. I saw that as a challenge and replaced the battery before he came over.

Changing a battery is easy, changing a battery with one arm, not so simple. But it is done and I can enjoy the rest of Veterans day. :D

 

[Turbo's Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

Thanks for your service Paul

 

[Paul B]

Thank you Floyd. :D
I think Viet Nam made me better. Now, nothing bothers me, except posts about hair. :eek:

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Whys that? Her hair looks great!

Thanks for your service!
Mine was many years later.

 

[locito277]

Thank you Floyd. :D
I think Viet Nam made me better. Now, nothing bothers me, except posts about hair. :eek:

Thx for your service!

 

[Paul B]

Locito, thank you. Salty, you are right, it does. :D

 

[gettaReef]

What hair? ;)

 

[Paul B]

I was in the process of designing and building a really cool Steam Punk light and I took a break so I went looking through the disease section and it is amazing so many people have so many problems with disease, it boggles my mind and my mind is easily boggled. Ich, black ich, white ich, internal worms (that is a big one this month) infections, flukes, flounders, plague, diphtheria, swim bladder disease and the list goes on.
I am very "lucky" that my fish never get any of that stuff. They are just not allowed to.
Then I see all of this medication being dispensed like this was Obamacare. I rarely ever heard of these medications and the combinations of them being used is frightful. Most of the time the fish dies.
Maybe it's me, but I don't think our fish should ever get sick. Mine don't and neither should anyone else's. I think it's just that most tanks are not natural. Quarantining and then feeding sterile, dry foods, then medication equals a fish with no immune system and a fish that will be susceptible to everything including the common cold, knock knees and the heartbreak of psoriasis.
I am having trouble getting live worms this month because of the drought in California. There is no water so the worms must be very thirsty, thirsty worms are never happy worms and it leads to social diseases. :eek:
Sterile tanks where every bit of detritus and algae is removed is also in my opinion, not healthy. Tweeking is another thing that to me is silly. Seawater is very stable as long as we don't tweek it. Changing water every five minutes is also IMO not healthy.
I am getting old and crotchety and soon will be gone. That will be great for all the hobbiests that like quarantining, tweeking and ball room dancing. Then who will be here to argue with Humblefish?
You guys will have to stock up on Prizapro (something I never used) amquil, quinicrine hydro whatever. Metheline blue (that's a 60 year old medication that doesn't do anything to the fish but makes your hands a nice shade of blue for a week or two)
Anyway, good luck to anyone with a sick fish. I hope they get better :rolleyes:

 

[Eienna]

Yes, thank you for your service, and all this salty wisdom :)

I intend to purchase a copy of your book as soon as I have the money.

 

[Paul B]

I know the E Book is a lot cheaper. I am not sure how much E's cost but I have nothing to do with that.
I just decided (possibly stupidly) to feed my corals yeast. I feed it to my worms and they are always smiling but now my tank is all cloudy from yeast. So either the tank will crash or It will make one heck of a salty loaf of bread.
When I get bored, I sometimes do stupid things. :eek:

 

[Paul B]

Paul, since I've been following your threads, I've come to the conclusion that you could DIY (with regard to reefing, LOL) with one arm tied behind your back. Now you have the chance to show us all how it's done!

Chasmodes, if we were stranded on a desert Island I could build you a flat screen TV from two coconut shells and a hermit crab. If it was a blue legged hermit crab, I could build it in Blue ray. :D

But if there was also a Supermodel stranded with us, I will leave tying to be rescued to you as I would be fine. :rolleyes:

 

[mjk250]

Chasmodes, if we were stranded on a desert Island I could build you a flat screen TV from two coconut shells and a hermit crab. If it was a blue legged hermit crab, I could build it in Blue ray. :D

But if there was also a Supermodel stranded with us, I will leave tying to be rescued to you as I would be fine. :rolleyes:

Awesome reply and Thanks for your service, my father is from the same era and is also a Vietnam Vet.

 

[Paul B]

So he is a Geezer too! He is also a Patriot. :D

 

[Paul B]

This week I had the opportunity to speak in front of a bunch of Kiwanis members about my time in Viet Nam. The guy next to me was also a Vet but he was an Army Ranger. Special forces.
Now he is some kind of federal judge who specializes in getting Vets benefits from service related afflictions. Besides being bald, opinionated and have no patience in traffic, the only thing wrong with me, besides my shoulder which was my fault is that I have tinnitus from being blown up and my lungs are full of Agent Orange and asbestos. (Tinitus is a loud ringing that gets louder when you are in a noisy place, wife is nagging or hear RAP music. ) So far I think the asbestos is insulating the Agent Orange because the Doctor tells me it is all encapsulated and not killing me yet. So I will put in a claim to the Veterans Administration and see what happens. I don't care one way or the other because my life is better than many people and if my wife was well, I wouldn't have any problems. There is that bald thing but that is not a big deal. I actually have a nice shape head. :eek:
I just about completed my bucket list so if I croak, I am fine with it. I have been to places I can't pronounce and seen things I never wanted to see. Even worked a few Victoria Secret photo shoots where I would have worked for free but they insisted on paying me. :rolleyes: My fish will probably go to someone who will want to put them in quarantine for 72 days which I am sure will kill them so maybe I will just throw them on the floor to save time. :cool:

 

[jenreefer]

I will never quarantine your fish Paul, that would be a crime, and bald is sexy. :rolleyes:

Oh, and thank you for your service. Our country owes you a debt that cannot ever be repaid.

Jen