Today's a new day.

[Seisage]

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.

I do really enjoy rainbowfish. They're very beautiful. I wanted to plan a tank for pseudomugil and threadfin rainbowfish, to replicate a Papua New Guinean or northern Australian habitat, but my water is too soft for them. Maybe someday I'll decide to get them and just supplement the water with crushed coral.

I do greatly prefer the smaller rainbowfish. The larger ones are pretty, but I don't have the space for a tank large enough for them, so I would probably stick with the pseudomugil species.

 

[elephantnose3334]

I do really enjoy rainbowfish. They're very beautiful. I wanted to plan a tank for pseudomugil and threadfin rainbowfish, to replicate a Papua New Guinean or northern Australian habitat, but my water is too soft for them. Maybe someday I'll decide to get them and just supplement the water with crushed coral.

I do greatly prefer the smaller rainbowfish. The larger ones are pretty, but I don't have the space for a tank large enough for them, so I would probably stick with the pseudomugil species.

I probably live in an area with hard water.

 

[Seisage]

I probably live in an area with hard water.

Yes, I would think you probably do. Most rainbowfish prefer slightly harder water, but mine is only about 20ppm for both general and carbonate hardness, so it's too soft for them.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Yes, I would think you probably do. Most rainbowfish prefer slightly harder water, but mine is only about 20ppm for both general and carbonate hardness, so it's too soft for them.

Yes, Perth water is mostly hard, so it's good for most rainbows.

 

[elephantnose3334]

There are a few people from Western Australia, the Wildflower State, that are in the forum, me and @Colin_T included. The Perth people have chosen us to prepare for the future of our hobby. One's older than the younger one, the other younger than the older one. We are the only frequently active members from Perth. I was chosen by myself because I want more Perth people to come into the forum and that Colin was the only one from Perth before I joined the forum. So, welcome home, myself.

The future of our hobby is that it's evolving into a more conservation-based approach of the current hobby. Can the now conservation-based hobby prevail? The greatest thing of our time is the very evolution of the hobby and how it will save aquatic wildlife from extinction. I like talking to myself. It's a shame, but I will do it.

I really like the atmosphere of Perth. Locals, the other things in life and of course, LFS's near the CBD. I knew about the fish stores in the city and visit them often. I see that the great thing can differ, but it is worth it. I understand that the forum is a nice place for a chat and make new friends with.

Our childhoods differ from person to person. We had normal childhoods, but I still technically am in my childhood. And it's nearly finished. Today is a good day. The great thing about the stuff we do is that although they differ from person to person, we still love the things we have. I loved to hear from the people on the forum. Making new friends with people around the world is experienceable. The very hobby that we know and love is influenced by past people, inspired by present people and will be done by future people. I like the people in my city, very friendly, with some exceptions. I'm a 17 year old and I'm still a young child at heart.

The heart of the hobby belongs to people past, present and future. For example, Colin inspired me to do the aquarium hobby and I follow his big footsteps to inspire more people to do the same.

I understand that Colin is in a bad situation, but I want to try to preserve the advice he has given to everyone, including me, past and present, on the forum. Wowzers, that's a great thing I would do, but it may take a while before I reach it. I like good hobbyists who do/did very well at their hobby. I really like the forum, I wanted to join it because of the knowledgeable advice people give to others.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Today's Wednesday. Just went home from a retreat and it was fine. @Colin_T, I see that you're online again, which is good news. Sunny, good weather and great in my area. I really wanted to discuss something we both like: bushwalking. Which bush area did you like going bushwalking in? I sometimes go bushwalking with one of the dogs, since the other's recovering from ACL injuries, and dad. I like people that are great in different hobbies and gave them a go.

Firstly, the benefits of bushwalking. Good exercise is all I need for a healthy body.

Lastly, a good lad like me would meet a more knowledgeable person and share about their hobbies together.

Do you go bushwalking nowadays?

 

[elephantnose3334]

Have we discussed about shallow tanks (less than 45cm height) before? I might want a Landen 22.1 gallon 75cm long, 45cm diameter and 28cm height shallow tank in the future. What fish can thrive in that type of tank?

 

[elephantnose3334]

It's Thursday. I have to go to work at a half-day instead of full days. Easier and more convenient for me. I like people on the forum. They're convenient and very helpful.

 

[Colin_T]

I probably live in an area with hard water.

Perth water is soft. The state government provides us with desalinated water for the most part and this is basically reverse osmosis water. It has little to no GH and they buffer the pH to about 8.0 (sometimes higher).

--------------------

Do you go bushwalking nowadays?

I don't go anywhere now. I used to go bush walking in Riverton near my house and that is where I studied kangaroo paw (plants) and native orchids, amongst other things. I also hiked (bush walked) in Armadale, south of Araluen Botanic Gardens, and any time I went down south.

--------------------

Have we discussed about shallow tanks (less than 45cm height) before? I might want a Landen 22.1 gallon 75cm long, 45cm diameter and 28cm height shallow tank in the future. What fish can thrive in that type of tank?

Not sure about 45cm diameter, what does that mean?
Normal rectangular aquariums are measured in length x width x height.
Round ponds/ bowls use diameter.

If the aquarium is 75cm long x 45 cm wide x 28cm high, you could keep small bottom dwelling fishes like pygmy Corydoras, peacock gudgeons, or small species of rainbowfish like Pseudomugil gertrudae. You could do White Cloud Mountain minnows too.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Perth water is soft. The state government provides us with desalinated water for the most part and this is basically reverse osmosis water. It has little to no GH and they buffer the pH to about 8.0 (sometimes higher).

--------------------


I don't go anywhere now. I used to go bush walking in Riverton near my house and that is where I studied kangaroo paw (plants) and native orchids, amongst other things. I also hiked (bush walked) in Armadale, south of Araluen Botanic Gardens, and any time I went down south.

--------------------


Not sure about 45cm diameter, what does that mean?
Normal rectangular aquariums are measured in length x width x height.
Round ponds/ bowls use diameter.

If the aquarium is 75cm long x 45 cm wide x 28cm high, you could keep small bottom dwelling fishes like pygmy Corydoras, peacock gudgeons, or small species of rainbowfish like Pseudomugil gertrudae. You could do White Cloud Mountain minnows too.

Oh, my mistake.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Not sure about 45cm diameter, what does that mean?
Normal rectangular aquariums are measured in length x width x height.


If the aquarium is 75cm long x 45 cm wide x 28cm high, you could keep small bottom dwelling fishes like pygmy Corydoras, peacock gudgeons, or small species of rainbowfish like Pseudomugil gertrudae. You could do White Cloud Mountain minnows too.

It's a Landen shallow tank, with that 45cm width included in the tank itself. I accidentally used diameter instead of width.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Good afternoon @Colin_T. You said you studied kangaroo paws on a single bush area for 20 years. Is that true? I'm curious because I thought people never studied an area of bush for a long time.

 

[Colin_T]

Yes I studied the same area of bush land for 20 years. Some people study things for a short time, others study them for a long time. I lived in the area for 20 years and walked around it most days so I studied it each time I was out there. I have monitored the weather for 50 years and studied fish for nearly that long too.

Long term studies on the same area/ subject can provide a lot more information than a short term 6-12 month study can provide. I got to see generations of plants growing and dying, along with new colour forms occurring naturally in the wild. I found out that even a small amount of water (1/2 cup) given to the kangaroo paw plants (1/4 cup for the native orchids) on a daily basis in spring and summer can extend the plants growing season and the plants that got the extra water would be bigger the following year and have more flowers. Plants that got less water were smaller the following year after their dormancy and had fewer smaller flowers. Some plants that didn't get enough water didn't survive their dormant period during summer.

If I was to only study that area for a year I could make assumptions that might have been correct for that year but could be wrong in the long term. The longer study period is in my opinion much better because the more data you get the more accurate your results for any assumptions or theories will be.

Studying the weather has shown me that over the last 50 years we have significantly less rain in Perth (Western Australia) all year round. We used to get sun showers in summer and you could be outside and some white fluffy clouds would float overhead and it would rain on you. Now we get dirty black clouds and no rain. The black cloud is from the pollution in the air sticking to the water vapour and preventing the moisture getting cold enough to condense and form rain.

In winter back in the 1970s & 1980s we got white clouds and it rained a bit. We got grey clouds and it rained a fair amount. We got black clouds and it poured down. We would get lots of rain on most days and it would bucket down all day and night. You might get one day a week where it was dry enough to hang your clothes outside. The last few years during winter in Perth we have had lots of fine days and very little rain even though we have been getting lots of black clouds.

We also get a lot less rain in spring and virtually none in summer. This lack of annual rain is going to be a major problem for native plants in general, but also for plants that go dormant over summer. If they don't get enough water they don't survive the dormancy. It's the same issue with the salamanderfish not being able to stay in the pools down south for long enough to build up sufficient weight to survive their dormancy.

Adding to the lack of rainfall is the increasing temperature. This puts more pressure on plants and they need more water to compensate for the extra heat. The warmer weather causes plants to transpire more and lose more water. The heat can also boil the plants (like steaming vegetables in a microwave oven). Their leaves get so hot the moisture in the leaves heat up and the cells rupture and the leaves melt (go soft and floppy, get wrinkles in them and die within a few days). This actually happened to a few of my Hippeastrums plants today. I have been putting them outside for the last 2 days because the weather has been nice (mid 20s C). Today was a bit hotter and even though the plants had only been outside for an hour, a number of them have severe damage to the leaves due to the heat (mid 30s C). I measured the temperature on the ground in the sun and it was 55C, and 35C in the shade.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Yes I studied the same area of bush land for 20 years. Some people study things for a short time, others study them for a long time. I lived in the area for 20 years and walked around it most days so I studied it each time I was out there. I have monitored the weather for 50 years and studied fish for nearly that long too.

Long term studies on the same area/ subject can provide a lot more information than a short term 6-12 month study can provide. I got to see generations of plants growing and dying, along with new colour forms occurring naturally in the wild. I found out that even a small amount of water (1/2 cup) given to the kangaroo paw plants (1/4 cup for the native orchids) on a daily basis in spring and summer can extend the plants growing season and the plants that got the extra water would be bigger the following year and have more flowers. Plants that got less water were smaller the following year after their dormancy and had fewer smaller flowers. Some plants that didn't get enough water didn't survive their dormant period during summer.

If I was to only study that area for a year I could make assumptions that might have been correct for that year but could be wrong in the long term. The longer study period is in my opinion much better because the more data you get the more accurate your results for any assumptions or theories will be.

Studying the weather has shown me that over the last 50 years we have significantly less rain in Perth (Western Australia) all year round. We used to get sun showers in summer and you could be outside and some white fluffy clouds would float overhead and it would rain on you. Now we get dirty black clouds and no rain. The black cloud is from the pollution in the air sticking to the water vapour and preventing the moisture getting cold enough to condense and form rain.

In winter back in the 1970s & 1980s we got white clouds and it rained a bit. We got grey clouds and it rained a fair amount. We got black clouds and it poured down. We would get lots of rain on most days and it would bucket down all day and night. You might get one day a week where it was dry enough to hang your clothes outside. The last few years during winter in Perth we have had lots of fine days and very little rain even though we have been getting lots of black clouds.

We also get a lot less rain in spring and virtually none in summer. This lack of annual rain is going to be a major problem for native plants in general, but also for plants that go dormant over summer. If they don't get enough water they don't survive the dormancy. It's the same issue with the salamanderfish not being able to stay in the pools down south for long enough to build up sufficient weight to survive their dormancy.

Adding to the lack of rainfall is the increasing temperature. This puts more pressure on plants and they need more water to compensate for the extra heat. The warmer weather causes plants to transpire more and lose more water. The heat can also boil the plants (like steaming vegetables in a microwave oven). Their leaves get so hot the moisture in the leaves heat up and the cells rupture and the leaves melt (go soft and floppy, get wrinkles in them and die within a few days). This actually happened to a few of my Hippeastrums plants today. I have been putting them outside for the last 2 days because the weather has been nice (mid 20s C). Today was a bit hotter and even though the plants had only been outside for an hour, a number of them have severe damage to the leaves due to the heat (mid 30s C). I measured the temperature on the ground in the sun and it was 55C, and 35C in the shade.

How can I study an area of bushland for that long?

In terms of salamanderfish and other native fish, can they survive in the stinking hot heat?

And I misread the width of the tank of my earlier post as diameter. Maybe my mind is sometimes weird. I make lots of mistakes and I may correct them if I accidentally said the wrong word (such as diameter).

I'm about to ask dad if I want to go fishing or snorkelling with him on the weekend. Any tips on pursuing new hobbies such as the ones mentioned? I have been keeping fish for a year but I also want to pursue other fish-related hobbies with it.

 

[GaryE]

Long term studies on the same area/ subject can provide a lot more information than a short term 6-12 month study can provide. I got to see generations of plants growing and dying, along with new colour forms occurring naturally in the wild. I found out that even a small amount of water (1/2 cup) given to the kangaroo paw plants (1/4 cup for the native orchids) on a daily basis in spring and summer can extend the plants growing season and the plants that got the extra water would be bigger the following year and have more flowers. Plants that got less water were smaller the following year after their dormancy and had fewer smaller flowers. Some plants that didn't get enough water didn't survive their dormant period during summer.

If I was to only study that area for a year I could make assumptions that might have been correct for that year but could be wrong in the long term. The longer study period is in my opinion much better because the more data you get the more accurate your results for any assumptions or theories will be.

That's brilliant stuff, Colin, and something that's overlooked. I get people who think I'm odd because I have kept one species of killie for 30 plus years. If I had kept it for one or two generations, I would have a totally different idea of what I was dealing with. It takes several generations of breeding a fish to begin to understand what it tells you about its story.
To what purpose? That's a whole other debate. But these things take time, and we all want to do them quickly.
People keep asking me what it's like to live where I do, since I moved here 2 years ago. I can give vague impressions, but if I'm still here in10 years, I'll have a better idea.