Today's a new day.

[elephantnose3334]

The thing about our oceans and freshwater waterbodies is that they need serious help.

Climate scientists were originally saying the CO2 levels would increase slowly but they haven't. The CO2 levels have jumped rapidly in 2018 and this changes things considerably. Initially people were saying we need to reduce greenhouse gasses to 50% of currently levels by 2050. Now it's we must reduce them by 50% by 2030.

The polar ice caps were meant to be stable for a long time but scientists are now concerned they are melting a lot faster than predicted. And this is going to get worse. If you have 2 ice cubes in a glass of water and put it on a table in the sun, the ice cubes hold the temperature for a while until they start to melt. The more they melt, the less ice remains to keep the water cool. Eventually it gets to a point where the remaining ice melts rapidly and the glass of water starts to warm up really quickly. We are at that point right now on this planet. The ice cubes represent the polar ice caps. The glass of water represent the ocean. The ice caps are starting to melt faster now than expected and that is due to a warmer atmosphere and ocean.

I have never seen the pH of the ocean drop in 40 years of testing it and the drop occurred in 2017. Even though it's only a drop from 8.5 to 8.4, it's still a drop and that was unheard of. In 2018 the CO2 levels increased significantly. In 2018-2020 and 2023-2024 there have been huge wildfires all around the world that have released even more CO2 and destroyed millions of hectares of trees.


I agree that forests do take up CO2, but the problem is the lack of trees and forests. In the last 200 years the human race has cleared 90% of trees and forests around the world. We need to replant the planet now because the remaining trees/ forests are unable to help the phytoplankton take up the CO2 that is being produced.

Yes, I do agree with you. Are freshwater environments enduring the same thing as coral reefs?

 

[Seisage]

Climate scientists were originally saying the CO2 levels would increase slowly but they haven't. The CO2 levels have jumped rapidly in 2018 and this changes things considerably. Initially people were saying we need to reduce greenhouse gasses to 50% of currently levels by 2050. Now it's we must reduce them by 50% by 2030.

The polar ice caps were meant to be stable for a long time but scientists are now concerned they are melting a lot faster than predicted. And this is going to get worse. If you have 2 ice cubes in a glass of water and put it on a table in the sun, the ice cubes hold the temperature for a while until they start to melt. The more they melt, the less ice remains to keep the water cool. Eventually it gets to a point where the remaining ice melts rapidly and the glass of water starts to warm up really quickly. We are at that point right now on this planet. The ice cubes represent the polar ice caps. The glass of water represent the ocean. The ice caps are starting to melt faster now than expected and that is due to a warmer atmosphere and ocean.

I have never seen the pH of the ocean drop in 40 years of testing it and the drop occurred in 2017. Even though it's only a drop from 8.5 to 8.4, it's still a drop and that was unheard of. In 2018 the CO2 levels increased significantly. In 2018-2020 and 2023-2024 there have been huge wildfires all around the world that have released even more CO2 and destroyed millions of hectares of trees.

Colin, I promise I know how climate change works. I'm not saying it's not serious and I'm not saying it hasn't gotten worse in recent years (it definitely has). All I'm saying is that there won't be a sudden, apocalyptic die-off of phytoplankton and other marine life. There won't be a sudden, apocalyptic lack of oxygen. That's just fearmongering.

In the last 200 years the human race has cleared 90% of trees and forests around the world.

I'm sorry, this is simply incorrect. The global forest cover around 1700 was estimated to be about 50% of total land area. In 2018 it was around 40%. So, in the last 300 years, humans have reduced forest cover by roughly 25%. That is still concerning, and replanting efforts do need to be made because our deforestation rates have increased greatly, but we certainly have not lost 90% of global forest cover.

 

[elephantnose3334]

I did an aquascape design for a possible pygmy rainbowfish (M. pygmaea) tank on a 92 x 36 x 42cm Aqua One Horizon tank. Since they live in the Kimberley, I tried putting red rocks and a few plants into the virtual tank. Any changes needed to make it better?

 

[elephantnose3334]

Hi @GaryE and other mods. How are your days? Just checking if you're okay today. My day was good and I had a good roast with the family. I was checking if I have not broken any rules on the thread. I always follow the forum rules nowadays. Just passing by to say hi
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The tetras are okay at the moment. Fed them and they're resting now.

Coral reefs are unique for their biodiversity

 

[JackGulley]

Hi @GaryE and other mods. How are your days? Just checking if you're okay today. My day was good and I had a good roast with the family. I was checking if I have not broken any rules on the thread. I always follow the forum rules nowadays. Just passing by to say hi
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The tetras are okay at the moment. Fed them and they're resting now.

Coral reefs are unique for their biodiversity

I got out my dad's books about reef life and they are stunning. I can't believe cuttlefish are a real thing lol. The ocean is an alien world.

 

[elephantnose3334]

It's Monday. Just woke up, getting ready for a three day Year 12 retreat. Today's the first day.

Good morning @Colin_T. How's your day been?

I did an aquascape design for a possible pygmy rainbowfish (M. pygmaea) tank on a 92 x 36 x 42cm Aqua One Horizon tank. Since they live in the Kimberley, I tried putting red rocks and a few plants into the virtual tank. Any changes needed to make it better?

Colin, what do you think about the aquascape? Does anything need to get changed?

 

[JackGulley]

It's Monday. Just woke up, getting ready for a three day Year 12 retreat. Today's the first day.

Nice lol, it's still Sunday here and I just got *back* from a retreat

 

[elephantnose3334]

First day of retreat finished. Two more to go.

Good afternoon @Colin_T, I'm going to be part of Class of 2024 in October. What year did you graduate school? What was graduation like back in your day? My childhood is a rollercoaster. And it's nearly finished. I'm young and I might able to follow your footsteps over time into being a good fishkeeper and also following to be a fisherwoman (catching wild fish, fishing) and a few others. I have a love of fish hobbies, so I will be wise about it. Colin, what was the musical soundtrack of your life compared to a Generation Z person? Generations have different tastes of music, so I like 70s and 80s music more.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Hello @CaptainBarnicles the rainbowfish enthusiast!

How's your day been? And how's your winning rainbowfish tank? I understand that you have cherry barbs, shrimp and African kribs in your tank. I don't know if they go well together in the tank, but you have successfully kept them together. If you want a future tank for rainbowfish, maybe stick to a species-only aquarium for the best effect. Do you like Boeseman's rainbowfish or Kimberley (Western Australia) pygmaeus rainbowfish? If you're really interested in rainbowfish, you can visit this site:

Melanotaeniidae and Pseudomugilidae

A website dedicated to Rainbowfishes of Australia and New Guinea

rainbowfish.angfaqld.org.au

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Rainbowfish are peaceful and do well with most other peaceful fish in community setups. I didn't want a species only tank. Thanks though

 

[elephantnose3334]

Rainbowfish are peaceful and do well with most other peaceful fish in community setups. I didn't want a species only tank. Thanks though

It's okay. I do understand that you have successfully kept shrimp with them. But be careful when putting shrimp with rainbows next time you do another rainbowfish tank. How did you get into rainbowfish in the first place?

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Amano shrimp are much too big to be eaten by a rainbow fish and so I have no worries about them living together.

I got into rainbow fish purely because I live in a very hard water area and we're limited to fish that will thrive here. Rainbows are stunning when they enter maturity and are fun to watch. I also wanted a change from livebearers

 

[elephantnose3334]

Good evening. Tomorrow's a new day.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Today's Tuesday, the second day of the retreat. It's a new day and going to feed the tetras now. I like discussing about rainbowfish, so if anyone can come in and discuss it to me, it would be appreciated.

 

[elephantnose3334]

The great aquarium hobby shall grow and evolve into a more conservation-based approach. It makes me happy when the native and South American fish are saved by the hobby. Our great hobby are trying to save coral reefs too. I want to make the most of myself to help with the hobby. I need some time to do some research onto pygmaeus rainbowfish.