A tank in my cubicle??

[steve]

Oh no, I'm in deep now. For a couple of weeks I've been pondering the
idea of a small desk top tank here in my cubicle. There aren't any
logical reasons why not to have one, and I can probably avoid the
illogical reasons if I'm discrete.

Anybody else have a desktop fish tank next to their desktop PC?

I've already got my line of defence in place, for the inevitable
nay-sayer. I'm going to tell them it's just a house plant that likes
alot of water.

:)
steve

[steve]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the type of tank...

Anyone have one of the little Eclipse tanks? I'm looking at the
Eclipse System 3. Does it have a florescent fixture? If not, will a
screw-in flo bulb fit? If not, are there any other small desktop
setups with florescent fixtures?

t'anks,
steve

[bottom feeder]

steve wrote:
> Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the type of tank...
>
> Anyone have one of the little Eclipse tanks? I'm looking at the
> Eclipse System 3. Does it have a florescent fixture? If not, will a
> screw-in flo bulb fit? If not, are there any other small desktop
> setups with florescent fixtures?
>

The Eclipse 3 is nice. Yes, it does have a fluorescent fixture. The
only real downside to the setup is the price.

--
dan

> t'anks,
> steve
>

[steve]

Thanks, Dan. PetSmart has them for $36. I think that is an affordable
price for a complete set up. Another question: Do they have a heater
installed? If not, is there any reason why a small submerged can't be
thrown in?

thanks again,
steve

[bottom feeder]

steve wrote:
> Thanks, Dan. PetSmart has them for $36. I think that is an affordable
> price for a complete set up. Another question: Do they have a heater
> installed? If not, is there any reason why a small submerged can't be
> thrown in?
>

Nope, no heater. The only problem I see with installing a heater is the
size of the tank. You might have to try your local Wal-Mart for the
Junior heater that's meant for small tanks and bowls.

--
dan

> thanks again,
> steve
>

[Margolis]

"steve" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Thanks, Dan. PetSmart has them for $36. I think that is an affordable
> price for a complete set up. Another question: Do they have a heater
> installed? If not, is there any reason why a small submerged can't be
> thrown in?
>
> thanks again,
> steve
>


stay away from walmart. Get a small 25W mini heater at one of the pet
stores around your house. If they don't have one order it online. I have
an eclipse system 3 with the following 25W heater.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3925&N=2004+22787

--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/20030215212142/http://www.agqx.org/faqs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

[Eric Schreiber]

steve wrote:

> Thanks, Dan. PetSmart has them for $36. I think that is an
> affordable price for a complete set up. Another question: Do they
> have a heater installed? If not, is there any reason why a small
> submerged can't be thrown in?

They don't come with a heater, but depending on your fish and the
ambient temperature, you may not need one - the light and filter put a
few degrees into the water.

That said, you can easily add a 25 watt submersible to the Eclipse 3. I
have a heater in mine because we keep the temp low (65F) at night.

--
Eric Schreiber
www.ericschreiber.com

[Gail Futoran]

"Eric Schreiber" <eric at ericschreiber dot com> wrote in message
...
> steve wrote:
>
>> Thanks, Dan. PetSmart has them for $36. I think that is an
>> affordable price for a complete set up. Another question: Do they
>> have a heater installed? If not, is there any reason why a small
>> submerged can't be thrown in?
>
> They don't come with a heater, but depending on your fish and the
> ambient temperature, you may not need one - the light and filter put a
> few degrees into the water.
>
> That said, you can easily add a 25 watt submersible to the Eclipse 3. I
> have a heater in mine because we keep the temp low (65F) at night.
>
> --
> Eric Schreiber
> www.ericschreiber.com

I agree with Eric. I've had several small Eclipse tanks
and the main problem is keeping the water from
getting too warm. I have gotten into the habit of
leaving the lids open.

That said, it would be worth it to get a small heater
and keep it handy in case of a cold snap. :)

Gail

[robin]

steve wrote:
> Thanks, Dan. PetSmart has them for $36. I think that is an
affordable
> price for a complete set up. Another question: Do they have a
heater
> installed? If not, is there any reason why a small submerged can't
be
> thrown in?

I got my Eclipse 3 from PetSmart on sale for $35ish - I think the
regular price is closer to $50. I'm loving it. It does not have a
heater, and I haven't added one yet, but I may do so soon. The only
thing I regret is maybe not getting a slightly bigger tank. I'm a bit
limited on the number and size of fish I can fit in this one, but it's
a perfect size for the office. They also have a 'Corner' five gallon
unit that might be nice, but it was a good bit more expensive than the
sale price on the Eclipse 3, and IIRC has an incandescent bulb instead
of the florescent.

-RN

[ME Hill]

"steve" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Oh no, I'm in deep now. For a couple of weeks I've been pondering the
> idea of a small desk top tank here in my cubicle. There aren't any
> logical reasons why not to have one, and I can probably avoid the
> illogical reasons if I'm discrete.
>
> Anybody else have a desktop fish tank next to their desktop PC?
>
> I've already got my line of defence in place, for the inevitable
> nay-sayer. I'm going to tell them it's just a house plant that likes
> alot of water.
>
> :)
> steve
>

Hi, Steve!

I have an Eclipse 5 gal Hex sitting on the table next to my desk right now.
I have a hard time with water changes because I really don't like to do it
when anyone's here - just me. But I love having a tank here. Even the sound
of the water from the filter is a nice touch. Everyone who goes by my door
stops in to see what's in the tank. (I don't have fish - I've got snails &
frogs)

I did get a heater - I'm in Ohio - and the place cools down over the weekend
so it's needed.

Enjoy!
Mary

[Eric Schreiber]

steve wrote:

> Anyone have one of the little Eclipse tanks? I'm looking at the
> Eclipse System 3.

One note of warning about the Eclipse 3 - the magnet in the filter
motor isn't shielded, so if you've got a conventional CRT monitor too
near, the Eclipse may cause the monitor to flicker a lot. A distance of
2 or 3 feet should help reduce/eliminate this, and of course an LCD
monitor won't be affected.


--
Eric Schreiber
www.ericschreiber.com

[Billy]

"Margolis" > wrote in message
...
|
|
| stay away from walmart.

Why? I buy many supplies at the nearest Walmart simply because it's
cheaper. Why pay more money for the same product? Unless you, like
many, have moral issues with Walmart, (I share them to some degree)
in which case it's a personal decision\issue.

[Rodney]

I tried it for a while and found it very difficult to do the tank
maintenance. Can't really do water changes during work hours (hopefully the
company that you work for is more liberal) and it was difficult for me to go
in on weekends to take care of the tank and feed the fish.
Another thing to consider is when you take vacations or have extra days off
from work. No one will be there to help you feed the fish.

--
RODNEY WONG
"steve" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Oh no, I'm in deep now. For a couple of weeks I've been pondering the
> idea of a small desk top tank here in my cubicle. There aren't any
> logical reasons why not to have one, and I can probably avoid the
> illogical reasons if I'm discrete.
>
> Anybody else have a desktop fish tank next to their desktop PC?
>
> I've already got my line of defence in place, for the inevitable
> nay-sayer. I'm going to tell them it's just a house plant that likes
> alot of water.
>
> :)
> steve
>

[Margolis]

"Billy" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "Margolis" > wrote in message
> ...
> |
> |
>
> Why? I buy many supplies at the nearest Walmart simply because it's
> cheaper. Why pay more money for the same product? Unless you, like
> many, have moral issues with Walmart, (I share them to some degree)
> in which case it's a personal decision\issue.
>
>


yes, I have moral and personal issues with walmart. I will not shop there
and I try to encourage others to shop at retailers that operate a little
more fairly.

--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/20030215212142/http://www.agqx.org/faqs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

[steve]

ME Hill wrote:
> Hi, Steve!
>
> I have an Eclipse 5 gal Hex sitting on the table next to my desk
right now.
> I have a hard time with water changes because I really don't like to
do it
> when anyone's here - just me. But I love having a tank here. Even the
sound
> of the water from the filter is a nice touch. Everyone who goes by my
door
> stops in to see what's in the tank. (I don't have fish - I've got
snails &
> frogs)
>
> I did get a heater - I'm in Ohio - and the place cools down over the
weekend
> so it's needed.
>
> Enjoy!
> Mary


Isn't that weird? I'm feeling the same way and that is one of the
factors in my decision to get one in the first place. Once it's
sitting there, static, and not acting like a hobby or something, I'll
feel fine about having my fish with me a work. But I'm hesitant to do
any of the set up or cleaning while others are around. I've made up my
mind to only do cleaning during my lunch time. Maybe it's because to
us, they're not just some fish in a bowl, but more like pets, and
nobody brings their cat or dog to work, so why should we be allowed to?

For starters, I'm going to have a few plants only. Then, one day
unannounced, I'll drop in a killi or a tetra or a platy or a cichlid or
a......

steve

[steve]

Eric Schreiber wrote:
> steve wrote:
>
> > Anyone have one of the little Eclipse tanks? I'm looking at the
> > Eclipse System 3.
>
> One note of warning about the Eclipse 3 - the magnet in the filter
> motor isn't shielded, so if you've got a conventional CRT monitor too
> near, the Eclipse may cause the monitor to flicker a lot. A distance
of
> 2 or 3 feet should help reduce/eliminate this, and of course an LCD
> monitor won't be affected.
>

Noted, Eric. I was at the fish store yesterday picking out a tank. I
looked at the Eclipse 3 and 6, and also the corner 5. The corner 5 was
the perfect size but I chose the 3. The corner tank would, of course,
have to be positioned in the corner of my cubicle. In one corner is my
monitor and just on the other side of the partition is my buddies
monitor. The tank would be about 12 inches from his screen. To allow
for easy placement and movement if I relocate, I chose the 3.

I also scored a bag or florite substrate @ a buck 99 a pound, a
gorgeous chunk of bog wood and a small 25w heater. Desktop reports
coming soon!

steve

[[email protected]]

I have the eclipse 6 in my office filled with guppies. It's a great
conversation starter for passers-by. I also have two 1 gallon betta
tanks in my office. I think fish in the office is a great relief from
the day-to-day stresses. I don't worry too much about not feeding on
weekends and get a coworker to feed them when in training or on
vacation.

[ME Hill]

"Rodney" > wrote in message
om...
>I tried it for a while and found it very difficult to do the tank
> maintenance. Can't really do water changes during work hours (hopefully
> the
> company that you work for is more liberal) and it was difficult for me to
> go
> in on weekends to take care of the tank and feed the fish.
> Another thing to consider is when you take vacations or have extra days
> off
> from work. No one will be there to help you feed the fish.
>
> --

I've got a key and bring my 4-yr-old son (who loves to come clean the fish
tank in my office) :) And when I was gone on vaca, it was much easier to
ask someone to feed them here than finding someone for home. At least there
were people here everyday.

Where there's a will, there's a way...

[steve]

........... Desktop reports coming soon!



I have plants on my desk.

http://www.geocities.com/erviservy/cubicle1.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/erviservy/cubicle2.jpg

[IDzine01]

I have an Eclipse 6 on my desk.

http://www.nippyfish.net/6%20Gal.jpg

It contains one male Betta and two African Dwarf Frogs. So far so good.
I do my water changes usually in the evening before I go home (speaking
of, today is the day)

They are fine over the weekend without food. When I'm away someone in
the office feeds them for me. I highly recommend it.

[IDzine01]

yes, they are Anubias nana. All my plants are low light plants. I'm not
so great with aquarium plants so I try to stay ahead by making things
simple.

Yes, it's the origional wimply watt flor tube. That reminds me, I
should upgrade.

:-)

[Angrie.Woman]

I used to hate Wal-Mart until my husband tried to take a product to market.
Wal-Mart was one of the few retailers in the country that would even talk to
him, and they were the only one that would put his product in their stores
with no up front costs to us. Both the other retailers wanted a minimum of
$100,000 dollars up-front from us in exchange just for stocking the product.
Coca-Cola and Frito-Lay can afford that, but we couldn't even dream about
it.

Our deal didn't work out in other areas, but the only chance we even had at
making it work on the retail end was with Wal-Mart for that very reason.

DH is in the grocery business. He hates competing against Wal-Mart, but says
they run absolutely the cleanest purchasing operations in the country. No
bribes, no kickbacks, no gifts to the Wal-Mart buyers...the products sold in
Wal-Mart are sold for purely retail reasons. not because the corporate buyer
got a new Harley from a vendor.

Having once owned a small business, I usually try to shop small business
whenever I can. However, I shop Wal-Mart when I can't, because they were the
only big retailer willing to partner with us as a small manufacturer.

A

"Margolis" > wrote in message
...
> "Billy" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> >
> > "Margolis" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > |
> > |
> >
> > Why? I buy many supplies at the nearest Walmart simply because it's
> > cheaper. Why pay more money for the same product? Unless you, like
> > many, have moral issues with Walmart, (I share them to some degree)
> > in which case it's a personal decision\issue.
> >
> >
>
>
> yes, I have moral and personal issues with walmart. I will not shop there
> and I try to encourage others to shop at retailers that operate a little
> more fairly.
>
> --
>
> Margolis
>
http://web.archive.org/web/20030215212142/http://www.agqx.org/faqs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
> http://www.unrealtower.org/faq
>
>
>
>

[Ook]

I love Walmart. I just won't buy sensitive fish from them. Hardy fish, no
problem, delicates? No way - they never live more then a day or two.

"Angrie.Woman" > wrote in message
...
>I used to hate Wal-Mart until my husband tried to take a product to market.
<snip>

[Scott Connolly]

If I had one ... I'd pick a standard rectangular tank either 2.5 or 5
gals with a hood light & heater ... and one of those Palm Filters which
AZOO.com makes and which http://www.drsfostersmith.com sells from their
catalog for about $5.99.

Also Walmart sells a good small heater for $6.99 but it is not
temperature variable. Most heaters with thermostats warn against a
tank smaller than 5 gals .. but 15watt heaters are available.

That Palm Filter hangs outside lke a little whisper and is transparent
plstic and alleged very quiet.

A low coast automatic feeder for a weekend or vacation and your set.

Don't overlook plastic tank plants either - no one's that snobbish
anymore

[winddancir]

Why not? I've seen a couple in the large building I work in. And I work for the state of California.
You might want to consider just having a betta bowl. It could be easier to maintain. And if you wanted to take it home over a weekend, or a long weekend, it would be less of a hassle to take a small bowl that usually has a cover on it than a larger tank. Even a one gal tank can be heavy and hard to carry.
So get a fish at work! I would if I had the room. But I have too many papers all over so the most I risk is a small battery powered fountain.
Winddancir

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: A tank in my cubicle??
>From: winddancir
>Date: 2/1/2005 1:05 P.M. Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>
>Why not? I've seen a couple in the large building I work in. And I work
>for the state of California.
>You might want to consider just having a betta bowl. It could be easier
>to maintain. And if you wanted to take it home over a weekend, or a long
>weekend, it would be less of a hassle to take a small bowl that usually
>has a cover on it than a larger tank. Even a one gal tank can be heavy
>and hard to carry.
>So get a fish at work! I would if I had the room. But I have too many
>papers all over so the most I risk is a small battery powered
>fountain.
>Winddancir
>
>
>--
>winddancir
>

When recommending Bettas, please mention that they should be kept in a minimum
gallon tank, and should be kept between 78-80*f.
A small bowl isn't a good thing for a Betta.
These poor fish are as abused as Goldfish are.
These fish do not prefer tiny bowls to spacious tanks, nor do they prefer dirty
water (another myth).
I know you didn't say that they did, I just wanted to rant. = )

[Angrie.Woman]

"TYNK 7" > wrote in message
...
>
> >
>
> When recommending Bettas, please mention that they should be kept in a
minimum
> gallon tank, and should be kept between 78-80*f.
> A small bowl isn't a good thing for a Betta.
> These poor fish are as abused as Goldfish are.
> These fish do not prefer tiny bowls to spacious tanks, nor do they prefer
dirty
> water (another myth).
> I know you didn't say that they did, I just wanted to rant. = )

Similar to the conversation I had with my son's 1st grade teacher. I tried
so hard not to say anything, but I just couldn't stand looking at that poor
thing!

A

[eilir]

As long as you're not in a health care setting, you should be alright.
Some health care environments prefer not to allow personal aquaria in
offices because of potential infection control issues. Unfortunately,
I'm in one, so I can't set up my small tank. I'm not sure we can even
have tabletop fountains.

You may want to check and see if your company has a policy for tagging
any electrical equipment that goes in the office. If so, they'd
probably want to look over the electric cord, etc., but again, if
you're in a setting without its own maintenance, it may not be an
issue. Hospitals are a little stringent. Good luck.

~Lisa

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: A tank in my cubicle??
>From: "Angrie.Woman"
>Date: 2/2/2005 10:03 A.M. Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>
>"TYNK 7" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> >
>>
>> When recommending Bettas, please mention that they should be kept in a
>minimum
>> gallon tank, and should be kept between 78-80*f.
>> A small bowl isn't a good thing for a Betta.
>> These poor fish are as abused as Goldfish are.
>> These fish do not prefer tiny bowls to spacious tanks, nor do they prefer
>dirty
>> water (another myth).
>> I know you didn't say that they did, I just wanted to rant. = )
>
>Similar to the conversation I had with my son's 1st grade teacher. I tried
>so hard not to say anything, but I just couldn't stand looking at that poor
>thing!
>
>A
>

Good job!
Would you believe there are still folks out there that believe Bettas will eat
algae off a Lily plant's roots. Everytime I see a vase with a Betta and a Lily
plant in it, I have to ask "what are you feeding your boy?".
It floors me how many times I hear "Oh you don't need to feed these guys
anything, they eat algae off the plants roots." AH!!!!!!!!

[steve]

Here it is:
http://www.geocities.com/erviservy/CubicleFeb10c.jpg

I went to a local club annual plant auction and really scored! When I
had them all cleaned and separated, I ended up with about $105 (retail)
worth of plants and plant bunches for $34. I put the big Anubias and
some cool java moss in my cubicle tank, along with one stem of Ludwigia
Repens, hoping for it to retain some of its red color.

It's great having a little piece of my hobby on my desk.

steve

[Benign Vanilla]

"steve" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Thanks, Dan. PetSmart has them for $36. I think that is an affordable
> price for a complete set up. Another question: Do they have a heater
> installed? If not, is there any reason why a small submerged can't be
> thrown in?

I found it on the PetSmart site for $36, http://ihmp.net/@/fc.


--
BV
Webporgmaster of iheartmypond.com
Come post in our forums...PLEASE!!!
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