Take, for example, today's gem. I was cleaning up the apartment today* and actually decided to vacuum, which is one of those things I don't hate to do so much as I just never do it and then I wonder why my carpet doesn't look fresh and tidy, until I finally break down and vacuum and then swear I'm going to do it sooner next time and the cycle begins all over again.
So I'm vacuuming and in the process, I managed to knock the vacuum into the outlet where the big fish tank is plugged in, knocking the filter plug loose. Apparently, this was enough of an electric glitch that it stopped the filter, which I discovered shortly after I finished vacuuming.**
Usually, if a filter has trouble coming back on, I just clean it out (using the tried and true "swish it around under the faucet" method -- very scientific) and it starts right up again. Of course, this was my plan tonight, but alas, it has failed me. And by failed, I mean, refuses to come back on after an HOUR of swishing, cleaning, taking apart, putting back together, spilling and cleaning up tank water, and generally attempting to be a good Fishy Mama when actually failing at life.
So after this struggle, I decided two things: I would have to consult the experts (read: the interwebs) and I would have to move Sunshine Daisies to the empty tank in my bedroom until I could get some kind of water flow going in the big tank.
Moving Sunshine Daisies was not as easy as it sounds. First of all, it took a lot of splashing and swishing of the net to catch her. And then I had to find something to put her in.
This is what I came up with. Note the attitude Miss Thing is giving me despite the life-saving nature of this move:
You know something, Sunshine Daisies? You are not too sexy for that Pyrex, too sexy for that Pyrex, the way you're disco dancing. No you are NOT!
*Julia Child voice* "In fact, you are less than 1/2 cup fishy!"Anyhow, so I plopped Sunshine Daisies in the small tank in the bedroom, and took to the interwebs to see how to fix the filter. And here is where I should illustrate what I was expecting, and what I actually found. I figured I would type in, "filter broken" or some equivalent and get some basic advice on how to troubleshoot.
Unfortunately, I've already done all the troubleshooting that goes along with this particular filter, so all that was left was this:
Me: How to fix. . .?
Interwebs: DOOOOOOOOMMMM!
Me: Le sigh.
It looks like my filter, which I have cleaned out so well it's no longer running, might need to be replaced. Because, I have the funds for that. Le sigh indeed. At least Sunshine Daisies is happily nestled in the other tank, practicing her aloofness.
That may not look aloof, but in fishy talk, that's equivalent to Paris Hilton saying "that's hot" and leaving. Soooooooo spoiled!
The plan for now is to keep my fingers crossed that the other tank does well for Sunshine and that she doesn't kick the bucket too soon. Other than that, I suspect I'm going to have to clean out the big tank, cycle it, and start over with new fishies. Again.
Until then, or maybe sooner,
Stephanie
* No, really. I clean things other than the fish tanks. Occasionally.
** And by "shortly" I mean 2 to 3 hours. Ish.
