My aquarium(s)

I've had an aquarium for the past three (maybe four) years now and up to this time, it has always delighted me with unending entertainment as a de-stress tool and a live microcosm representing a different world.

First of, I maintain a tropical fresh-water environment. Though salt water aquariums are manageable, I find that the needed extra care for water and desalination equipment may outweigh the want for keeping more colorful varieties - as salt water fishes are normally known for. Nothing can compare to their vibrant colors, but... tropical fishes aren't exactly push-overs, as there are quite a number of colorful fresh-water fishes as well. Any new hobbyist may well be better served trying out fresh-water tanks first... then when they feel more confident, and they've some cash to spend, they can consider a salt-water tank.

As for my tank's dimensions - I'm less likely to remember measurements than volume. I have two tanks - a rectangular (the basic shape) 35 gallon tank, and a 22 gallon octagonal (more decorative in nature - and covering less table space) tank. The octagonal is relatively new, not even a month old yet... and there's a story for my getting it. but more on that some other time.

The fishes I keep? Tetras - mostly for my older tank, see... I'm adhering to the size and breathing surface area rule of a tank, which states that as a general rule, the less in size the fishes, the more fishes you can put in a tank, and Tetras are rather small - averaging about an inch to an inch and a half for each fish. I've got:

• 11 cardinals... really wonderful blue and red colors
• 7 rummy noses, their face color is red - and that's the only color they have. Not to forget that their face colors are a barometer for the quality of the water they're in
• 2 ottos - don't ask me to spell out their name, its difficult to remember - needless to say, these guys are glass cleaners
• 3 albino corys - great white contrast against the entire background, plus the fact that they're... well, scavengers (bottom feeders and thus cleaners of the aquarium's sand)
• 4 Amano-type shrimps - likewise, algae-eaters / cleaners

With the exception of the Albino Corys and maybe the rummy noses - these others are hard to find these days - or if there is a shop selling them, I've yet to discover where it is. In fact, this is the reason i had to get another aquarium - so I could separate them from my larger fishes, which might eat said fishes.

Exiled to my other aquarium are the following fishes:

• 2 Marble Angels (one predominantly black on silver, the other an exact opposite in colors - and it seems that these two are a pair
• A spotted-talking catfish (no it does not really talk - more like a clicking sound
• A Clown loach - the fresh water version of Nemo (from finding Nemo the movie)

Since these guys are a whole lot bigger, I chose not to mix them with the smaller examples.

What's so good about aquariums? I get to watch the fishes interact - sometimes chase each other, hide in plants (live, not plastic ones) and this helps me relax.. and yes, relieves stress.

In fact, tonight, when I do get home - I'll relax on the sofa, watch the television or listen to music - but likewise, I will look at my fishes for brief periods of time, and enjoy watching the fishes move in their tanks.

So much for a regular try...

I kow I tried to come up with a more regular schedule in loading my musings, btu lets face it... many things can get in the way - prominent among them being a technical problem with accessing my internet at home.

Can I just say that there are times when I think our local phone and inernet carrier's service really sucks. So much for customer care. They've got this hotline (dial 171) and you're given voice mail - which is fine. It after all gets the user (or listener) to the right people - so long as you first listen to all their pre-recorded ads, and follow the automated intructions. Upon selecting the proper combination of number sequences, I get rings... then an automated response kicking in after a few unsanswered rings. First is a reminder that their technical people are busy (are they ever there?), then after another round, a less than profound appology with intructions to try again.

So, I've been trying this - on and off - for about a week now... to no avail. Crap.

So much for technology helping out. In the meantime, it looks like I'm stuck without any inernet access. I've a mind to change service providers if this obvious inneficiency continues.

How about that - my first musing... and its a rant to a telephone company. What's the name of this company? The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company.

Ice Breaker...

So far, I've had two attempts to come up with blogs - and though both are great. they lack the everyday feel of a log. They somehow evolved into handling special interest topics - not to mu initial intent, yet they did end up that way.

So this third attempt will try to emulate a more frequent entry. I plan to place more 'down to reality' postings here - trying for a more 'journal/diary' like approach. I'll try to put my daily musings here, no mater how trivial they may be - hence the title of this blog.

Minutiae (many small, if not simple) musings (thoughts).

Here's to a third try. If anything else, I get a better feel for blogging!

Cheers!

Butch