i've caught the bug...

[houndour]

unfortunately having only moved into a proper house (as opposed to sharing with tonnes of people) in March I've already nicked everything spare of my parents (including the sofas, garden furniture and bookshelves...)

I still don't know what I'm going to do. I'm secretly hoping my boyfriend (who has the day off tomorrow) might surprise me by buying somethng and having it ready for me to set up when I get home!

More bad news, the light doesnt even fit the hood properly So DIY hood it is then I've basically measured up my hood that I have for my 20 gallon and worked out sizes for the 5 gallon. I'm getting Colin to go to Homebase to get the wood cut to size...I hope it's not too expensive but if it's cut for me then thats the hard bit done.

So I'm off to hardware forum to search for appropriate wood/paint for making hoods out of.

 

[nodding_dino]

If your making a DIY hood, why not get in touch with sif and get hold of the freebie mylar...I was going to take some but am in no rush! smithrc would like some after, so you could always pass it on!

 

[houndour]

If your making a DIY hood, why not get in touch with sif and get hold of the freebie mylar...I was going to take some but am in no rush! smithrc would like some after, so you could always pass it on!

[snapback]867327[/snapback]​

I already have enough mylar to line my house. I really should offer it around like you guys, but I got paranoid by the disclaimer that came with it and didnt want to unknowingly pass it onto someone who was going to misuse it )

 

[zig]

If your making a DIY hood, why not get in touch with sif and get hold of the freebie mylar...I was going to take some but am in no rush!  smithrc would like some after, so you could always pass it on!

[snapback]867327[/snapback]​

I already have enough mylar to line my house. I really should offer it around like you guys, but I got paranoid by the disclaimer that came with it and didnt want to unknowingly pass it onto someone who was going to misuse it )

[snapback]867338[/snapback]​

Im intrigued....what disclaimer.

 

[houndour]

well it was wierd, cos this stuff cost like £2.99 including postage and it came by _special delivery_, so I had to sign for it which is odd for a cheap item.

Inside it came with a letter (thrown it now) but I think it said something along the lines of "you must use the mylar as described" and there was like a disclaiming sentence that said that they sell you the mylar under the condition that you use it for plants and not for anything else.

I was thinking that maybe mylar is used in...um...terrorist type things or something and that if I bought another item that might be on the 'list' then I'd have the police raiding my house...so I was a bit wary of buying the chemicals.

I'm just completely paranoid.

Anyway, I've since found out that mylar is used in the drug growing business...so its probably that they're referring to.

 

[houndour]

my bf is getting the wood cut for my hood at this precise moment

Getting very excited now. Have also hinted to him to look for a table.

 

[sif]

Mylar is apparently the business for growing rooms full of marijuana as it boosts the amount of light and reflects it to the lower leaves as well. It also has the side effect of bouncing heat back towards the plants rather than defrosting the roofs of houses who have 'hydoponic' attics thus making those apparently paraniod dopeheads feel safer.... Or so I've heard! (would be a great way to offset the costs of fishkeeping mind you - if only it wasn't illegal!)

Now I'm off to dry me some Cabomba man.

 

[Erised]

Noticed your responds about being scared of having snails in your tank.

Have you got your mind stuck on the betta completely? A very good solution in that tank would be to go for a dwarf puffer rather than a betta A 5G tank is the min. for them, so your tank should be big enough, and a heavily planted tank would he absolute heaven. He'll also definatly get rid of all snails for you.

Just thought it might be something worth concidering If you do so however, you Do have to cycle your tank first.

 

[houndour]

Noticed your responds about being scared of having snails in your tank.

Have you got your mind stuck on the betta completely? A very good solution in that tank would be to go for a dwarf puffer rather than a betta A 5G tank is the min. for them, so your tank should be big enough, and a heavily planted tank would he absolute heaven. He'll also definatly get rid of all snails for you.

Just thought it might be something worth concidering If you do so however, you Do have to cycle your tank first.

[snapback]868079[/snapback]​

Wow, I never thought of owning a dwarf puffer before. Interesting. My boyfriend loves them and always has a nose when we're at the LFS. Before I make my mind up I will have to do some research. Is one dwarf puffer ok on his own or does he need mates? Are they freshwater? OK, I will go and read up first then ask questions

 

[Erised]

Dwarf puffers are ok on their own, yes. They often actually prefer to be alone because they're not tolerant of tankmates at all ... and completely freshwater
The tank sounds perfect for him or her actually.

There's a bit in the fish index here: Dwarf Puffer
Also, a search in the oddball section will come up with a lot of information you might find handy

Good luck making a decision

 

[houndour]

Yay I got all my stuff I need for the hood (except the screws are too short!) but didnt get home till gone 8pm and now am hooked to Lost. But cant do much without screws anyway.

Erised, I looked on the oddball forum they have 2 pinned topics. They do say 5 gallons per 1 dwarf puffer. I just worry he'll be lonely. But I did read of people having for example 3 in a 15 gallon and only one surviving.

I didn't get a chance to find all the info I'm looking for...just want to find out about touching them My hands will probably be in this tank a fair bit and I don't want him poisoning me . I am very keen on the puffer idea though.

In fact you've made the decision a lot tougher

 

[Erised]

I'm one of the persons that tried 3 in a 15G and ended up with 1 *sigh* ... Evil little buggers they can be

Don't worry about them poisoning you though, because they can't Their liver is poisonous, when you eat a puffer, you'll get poisoned ... not from them biting you though Also, my dwarf puffer (and the ones I used to own) have never bitten me. Nor has my figure 8 ... Most of them flee for the hand actually, while 1 of mine will follow it around and swim past it and all, he's never attacked me though

Lol, I'm sorry ... I'll stop trying to convince you to get a dwarf puffer

 

[houndour]

I'm one of the persons that tried 3 in a 15G and ended up with 1 *sigh* ... Evil little buggers they can be

Don't worry about them poisoning you though, because they can't Their liver is poisonous, when you eat a puffer, you'll get poisoned ... not from them biting you though Also, my dwarf puffer (and the ones I used to own) have never bitten me. Nor has my figure 8 ... Most of them flee for the hand actually, while 1 of mine will follow it around and swim past it and all, he's never attacked me though

Lol, I'm sorry ... I'll stop trying to convince you to get a dwarf puffer

[snapback]868573[/snapback]​

Don't be sorry...you're nearly there! I saw your photos in the photos forum. That's made it even tougher. Might have to start saving for tank number 3 so I can have a puffer and a betta!

 

[Erised]

The more the merryer Don't let anything stop you I'd say ...

Puffers really do have a great personality though Humpfrey is in front of the tank going from the left to the right every time we enter the room, making sure to keep a very close eye on us. He knows when I've got food with me and goes right to the top then. Cleaning he's not keen on though, yet never gets stressed and will make very sure to be far enough to not get in the way but close enough to not miss anything.

You should see him snail hunting! The eyes can move all ways, and when hunting that's such a great thing to see! Nothing as cute as watching them eye a snail. Shame its head gets bitten off after that really, but hey

 

[houndour]

I think I'm sold

Just been on http/####.com. Confirms that my tank is perfect for 1 puffer. //edit...ok apparently I'm not allowed to tell you dwarf puffers . com

Hopefully I can start the cycling process tonight. My filter has been running in the other tank, so hopefully that should help a little. I've got ammonia already, so I'm all set to go (after I've built my hood).