a lot of people who should have known better told me that i was wasting my time trying to find a way to use algae in a tank and make it look good.  im happy to prove them wrong. 

here is what i am doing lately with the arch nemesis of the aquarium hobbiest:

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGESTART PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGESTART PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

ah...
i love being weird.  ;D

ah...
i love being weird

You do it well and you make it look good! ;)

Joe

Great job, AB. Only today I was in a swimming hole where since my boyhood you must swim to the bottom and write your initials in the algae on the rocks. As it rises above you into the sun, the colours and patterns can be quite spectacular.

All being well I'll be setting up a new tank quite soon and such is the joy of where I live it will be all but maintenance-free. The purest water delivered free from the sky and our local sand and gravel so close to pristine you can still find specks of gold.

A heap of our colourful water-snails and some catties and algae simply won't be a matter, which is sort of a shame, really. Yours looks better than many of our native mosses.

Mind you, for all the bestest tanks I've ever had, I haven't got a decent feed out of one yet.

AussieBrian wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 9:39am:

Great job, AB. Only today I was in a swimming hole where since my boyhood you must swim to the bottom and write your initials in the algae on the rocks. As it rises above you into the sun, the colours and patterns can be quite spectacular. All being well I'll be setting up a new tank quite soon and such is the joy of where I live it will be all but maintenance-free. The purest water delivered free from the sky and our local sand and gravel so close to pristine you can still find specks of gold. A heap of our colourful water-snails and some catties and algae simply won't be a matter, which is sort of a shame, really. Yours looks better than many of our native mosses. Mind you, for all the bestest tanks I've ever had, I haven't got a decent feed out of one yet.

now i want to visit... :)

that description reminds me very much of the florida limestone springs i grew up swimming in.  there arent too many great places to swim out here in california, unless i want to drive quite a ways north.  i already made the mistake of jumping into the ocean...

thats when i learned that a californian says the waters are cold at the beach, they really mean 40 degrees fahrenheit.   :o

i have decided on my next project.  i will be attempting to breed empire gudgeons and raise the fry.  Brian, they come from your side of the pond, correct?  any tips you can lend me?

like, what beer should i give them to get them in the mood?   ;D

Don't give 'em beer, AB! Drink it yourself then sing to them. Works for me when I'm fishing.

As to breeding, I'd set up two tanks, move the adults to the second once the eggs are down, then slowly turn the first one brackish for the fry. Your algae may well serve a purpose here.

Once the babies have a bit of size about them, our good mate Mike NZ can tell you all you need to know about a special trick from his side of the Tasman.

Good luck, and Aussie beer works best.

AussieBrian wrote on Jan 5^th, 2013 at 7:58pm:

Once the babies have a bit of size about them, our good mate Mike NZ can tell you all you need to know about a special trick from his side of the Tasman.

I think you're thinking of whitebait fritters. If so I can ask Mrs Mike NZ as she is a total guru with anything to do with cooking.


Quote:

Aussie beer works best.

It sure works well in Oz, especially when cold and with good company.

However there is good beer to be found all over the world, although currently enjoying one brewed here in NZ to cool down after doing some garden work.