small fish, big tank!

Well, I must really not be up for doing homework this afternoon, because I did some cleaning. It was necessary, I swear! All three plants were coated in algae, the walls of the tank were heavily speckled, and the gravel has been getting dingy for quite some time -- likely on account that I haven't changed the gravel since the Triplets first came home over the summer. Now, sure, algae is natural. It adds a nice green film on everything, and generally makes my tank look like a pond.* However, it's terrible for water quality.

The nitrates were up, people.

Something had to be done.

So, I dutifully tracked down the babies and popped them into a holding tank with water and some mini plants from their net.

Why, yes, that is a Gladware container they are swimming in. Nothing but the best.

I also had to round up a much less amused Maria and Captain Von Trapp, who went into another container since they do not settle down much when placed in small areas, and I did not want them to scare the Swimmers.

They were in an Ikea-brand tupperware cube, for those interested. Again, I'm quite picky about the quality of my plastic foodstuff savers.

As I was cleaning, I managed to change a ton of the water, a little over half of which actually made it to the drain. And the other half of which coated my shirt, pants, carpet, and bookshelf. Skills. But hark! Once I was done, I got ready to put the Swimmers back into their net. I realized two things.

1) I could finally count them! There are, in fact, exactly twenty babies. There were twenty-one, but one, alas, did not survive the transfer.

Ladies and gents, may I present -- the twenty surviving Von Trapp Family Swimmers!

2) They are somewhat bigger than I thought they were, and their net was going to take a while to clean. Perchance possible to put them in the tank?

After much consideration, I decided that once I got the tank cleaned out, they would go back in the main tank with mummy and pops. It seems to be working out so far, and although all are a little scarred from their removal from home for the cleaning, they're exploring already.


They also, much to my relief, are getting along quite well with Captain Von Trapp.


They are not, however, enchanting their mother quite as I'd hoped.


Alas, Maria does not seem to be feeling well. Hopefully the new, fresh water and clean tank will lift her spirits in much the same way a newly-vacuumed living room prompts declarations of love from my mother to my worthless brother and I, who likely vacuumed only because we tracked in mud from the lawn.

Ah, family.

Stephanie

PS -- There will be an appropriate memorial for Baby Fishy 21 in a while. I do need to finish some reading and research at the very least, though, first.

*Swamp. Cesspool. Whatever. Diction isn't the point here.