I just bought a used 55 gallon tank on Tuesday,...

[Papa Red]

I just bought a used 55 gallon tank on Tuesday, one that comes with
three very large power filters, and cover lids with aquarium lights
enclosed, a black all metal stand with a shelf below for other smaller
tanks,...and it even has a layer of about an inch thick of that rather
bright green/chartreuse-coloured gravel,...all for a grand total of
$180.00, from the same pet store owner [his name is Marco] who sells me
my fish and supplies, and is the guy who also gave me the 15 used ten
gallon tanks for free, and sold me a used 30 gallon tank some time ago
at a very cheap price. Do ya think that I did good on the price of the
55 gallon tank? Everything seems to be working fine. The 3 large filters
are,...[reading the words off the tops of them,...] "Secondnature
Whisper Power Filter" [in red lettering], "MILLENNIUM 3000" [with 2
filter systems in tandem], and what I figure to be a Japanese-made
"Dolphin 500" power filter, because I have some of the 200's, and this
is just like them, only bigger.
*****I now have soooo little money, what with it bein' near
the end of the month [I'm on Social Security Disability], but I just had
to buy it. Damn, I still can't believe I actually bought the darn
thing,... My brother is gonna be buggin' me about just how much food one
can buy with $180.00, et cetera. But it sounded like a really good
deal,...What do you folks think? It's the largest purchase that I have
made since a couple of years ago when I bought my motor scooter. That
tank represents a whole lot of [real, not fake, peanut- flavoured lard]
peanutbutter sandwiches [on Kosher onion rye bread], and cool bottled
spring water for breakfast, lunch & dinner, augmented every now and then
with Hormel's canned chili with bean [good stuff], right from outta the
can, with either white rice, or just with low-sodium crackers,... And of
course a plain salad with no dressing, daily, which I share with my 2
young female white mice,...Quite an epicurean adventurer I yam, I
yam<LOL>. Ta-Ta-For-Now,...~Dean.

[Dick]

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 09:49:34 -0400, (Papa Red)
wrote:

>I just bought a used 55 gallon tank on Tuesday, one that comes with
>three very large power filters, and cover lids with aquarium lights
>enclosed, a black all metal stand with a shelf below for other smaller
>tanks,...and it even has a layer of about an inch thick of that rather
>bright green/chartreuse-coloured gravel,...all for a grand total of
>$180.00, from the same pet store owner [his name is Marco] who sells me
>my fish and supplies, and is the guy who also gave me the 15 used ten
>gallon tanks for free, and sold me a used 30 gallon tank some time ago
>at a very cheap price. Do ya think that I did good on the price of the
>55 gallon tank? Everything seems to be working fine. The 3 large filters
>are,...[reading the words off the tops of them,...] "Secondnature
>Whisper Power Filter" [in red lettering], "MILLENNIUM 3000" [with 2
>filter systems in tandem], and what I figure to be a Japanese-made
>"Dolphin 500" power filter, because I have some of the 200's, and this
>is just like them, only bigger.
>*****I now have soooo little money, what with it bein' near
>the end of the month [I'm on Social Security Disability], but I just had
>to buy it. Damn, I still can't believe I actually bought the darn
>thing,... My brother is gonna be buggin' me about just how much food one
>can buy with $180.00, et cetera. But it sounded like a really good
>deal,...What do you folks think? It's the largest purchase that I have
>made since a couple of years ago when I bought my motor scooter. That
>tank represents a whole lot of [real, not fake, peanut- flavoured lard]
>peanutbutter sandwiches [on Kosher onion rye bread], and cool bottled
>spring water for breakfast, lunch & dinner, augmented every now and then
>with Hormel's canned chili with bean [good stuff], right from outta the
>can, with either white rice, or just with low-sodium crackers,... And of
>course a plain salad with no dressing, daily, which I share with my 2
>young female white mice,...Quite an epicurean adventurer I yam, I
>yam<LOL>. Ta-Ta-For-Now,...~Dean.


I understand your plight. Every so often I find something I "Just
have to buy," then wonder why in the world I "wasted" money that could
be better saved.

I have 5 tanks varying from 75g to 10g. I bought them all on eBay.
Funny, I now wonder why I didn't Google and check prices before making
a bid. I am happy overall, but not sure I have any bargains. One 10
galllon tank I "had" to have because of a large, ceramic Mill House
ornament. That was a "good" buy because I still enjoy the ornament
even though it collects a lot of algae. I bought a 75 gallon tank
complete with hood, filter, even a "Python" vacuum. What really sold
me was a beautiful cabinet base with doors trimmed in green, close to
the color of my rug and the color blended with the light green walls.
The topper, I drove a 1300 mile round trip to pick the tank up.
Literally driving through snow and rain.

I figure I hurt no one but myself. Could I have gotten a better
price? Not sure that is the best measure. I filled a lot of
interesting hours and am still pleased with the tanks.

Oh, another laugh. I won a 10 gallon tank with a very low bid.
Catch? The guy would only accept a Postal order. I sent it followed
by several emails. Six months later the tank showed up. Weird!

I hope you enjoy your tank. I suggest you not follow this money
trail. I find it better to close my mind once I close the deal. Sit
back and hope you continue to enjoy the tank. Retirement has a lot of
extra hours to worry. The tank will fill some hours setting up and
future maintenance. Lots of reasons to post questions about plants,
fish, maintenance ecetera.

dick

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

Fish keeping is a hobby for fish-crazy people and sometimes
it's a question of giving and taking, too.

Think positive: You've got 15+1+1 tanks and accessories now
for $180+ and you know a pet store owner you can trust.

Personally I suppose the interpersonal relation between pet
store crew and fish keeper is very important.

And this tank wasn't for free. It was a real deal like other
deals in every day life and you were customer like other
customers. You made your decision and you'll live with it!
So enjoy this new tank.

BTW: In Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs Theory there are several
other human needs beside physiological needs like air,
water, food and sleep..

cu
Marco

[dc]

(Papa Red) wrote in news:12575-449A9FEE-218@storefull-
3253.bay.webtv.net:

> I just bought a used 55 gallon tank on Tuesday, one that comes with
....
> bright green/chartreuse-coloured gravel,...all for a grand total of
> $180.00, from the same pet store owner [his name is Marco] who sells

Not too bad for everything included... be sure to do it up nice, but I'd
consider losing the mint green gravel in the near future. ;)

[Papa Red]

"...drove through snow and rain",...Now I know of rain,...for we get
that here on the very southern end of Miami Beach, Florida,
occasionally,...But snow??? Oh yeah, that's that white stuff one finds
in the old-style ice boxes in a refrigerator, right???<LOL>.
Well anyway, the main person who would be really concerned about the
price will be my brother, for just as soon as he finds out, he's really
gonna be on my case about it,...I'm on Social Security Disability, and
there have been times when, due to events beyond my control, I have come
up a wee bit short, financially, especially near the end of the month,
and he has always been there for me,...So I will just have to hold my
tongue, and tolerate the barrage of comments that he, and then following
close behind, the rest of me wee clan will all have to say. But what
they don't understand, is that I actually sit down on the floor in front
of that tank and just gaze at all that goes on in my little aquatic
world, even though these old bones scream out each time in protest,
sitting flat on that hard linolium, bringing about pains that are
products of me ill-spent youth. But that tank of fishes, along with the
others here, help me to fight the good fight against the demons of
biochemically-induced depression far better than most of the meds now on
the market [I have manic depression].
What, after all this time that still really amazes me, is that I, a
fella who has in his 57 years of life, who has worked with and or around
some of the most dangerous critters that walk, slither, crawls or
flies,...for me to find such pleasure and comfort from such,...
'unmacho' critters, it still truly amazes me no end. Pax
Vobiscum,...~Dean.

[Papa Red]

Sleep??? Oh yeah,...I remember that activity,...That's where one closes
one's eyes, usually in concert with laying one's body level with the
Earth's surface, yes? But ain't it rather difficult to stare down yer
smart-assed Oscar, who would otherwise be wrecking all of the little
do-dads and fake plants in her tank? Oh yeah, by the way, I bought me
first one female Oscar last week, and then today, another, smaller Oscar
female, to add to this 'madness<LOL>~Dean.

[Papa Red]

But it's not a "mint green",...I know my colours, for I used to be
the batch mixer at Brunning's Paint Company, as well as being something
of an artist,...It's a very bright, brilliant green, one that really
suits me fancy. And it's the very first time that I have ever had a
tank that wasn't totally bare-bottomed, so it should be a new experience
for me, giving me lots more to learn.
I have one of those plastic gizmos that look like the hose and head
assembly of a vacuum cleaner, but with out the machine, just the
plastic. But because I haven't had any gravel to fool with, just
snails, tiny fish and gunk to contend with, using only the plastic hose
without the head, to clean the tank with, cleaning the gravel hopefully
won't be too difficult, using the hose with the head.~Dean.

[Dick]

On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 02:54:21 -0400, (Papa Red)
wrote:

> But it's not a "mint green",...I know my colours, for I used to be
>the batch mixer at Brunning's Paint Company, as well as being something
>of an artist,...It's a very bright, brilliant green, one that really
>suits me fancy. And it's the very first time that I have ever had a
>tank that wasn't totally bare-bottomed, so it should be a new experience
>for me, giving me lots more to learn.
> I have one of those plastic gizmos that look like the hose and head
>assembly of a vacuum cleaner, but with out the machine, just the
>plastic. But because I haven't had any gravel to fool with, just
>snails, tiny fish and gunk to contend with, using only the plastic hose
>without the head, to clean the tank with, cleaning the gravel hopefully
>won't be too difficult, using the hose with the head.~Dean.


I have 2 tanks with colored gravel, blue and white. I used it as it
came with the 75 gallon tank. I had bought regular medium grain
gravel on the way home along with some fish and plants to get started.
My town was 200 miles further and has no fish stores. Back to the
gravel, I used the colored gravel in 2 tanks I bought later via eBay.
It certainly worried me at first and does pose unique decorative
challenges, but here I am over 3 years later and the gravel remains.

As for cleaning gravel, I am one who does not disturb the gravel
unless absolutely necessary. I thinned some heavy growth which filled
the water with various bits of solid who know what. I lost one fish,
found it dead the next morning. So, I just change 20% of the water
twice a week. The gravel in the tanks looks fine, the fish are fine
(I have 5 tanks now) When the vegetation is heavy, I couldn't vaccum
the gravel anyway.

I am 71. This is the 3rd time I have had fish. The first time was as
a teenager. I delivered newspapers and one customer had beautiful
tanks. He was retired. I have been retired for 16 years. I don't
know what brought me to do the fish thing again at this point in my
life, especially living 200 miles from the nearest fish stores. I
have to do my hobby via Internet.

It is hard to live under the thumb of other's opinions. I can only
imagine as I live alone. If you miss a few meals, that is for you to
judge, but if you are expecting others to make up for your
miscalculations, then you invite their wrath. They too have budgets.

Each of us makes choices and each must live with the consequences.
Friends of mine work very hard, long hours running their own business,
real estate and insurance brokers. I suggested they might cut their
hours as they must have plenty of money. I was surprised to learn
that much of their earnings was going to their children who did not
live within their means.

dick

[Koi-Lo]

"Papa Red" > wrote in message
...
> Well anyway, the main person who would be really concerned about the
> price will be my brother, for just as soon as he finds out, he's really
> gonna be on my case about it,...
=======================
Better to spend the money on something that gives you pleasure and joy,
something you like and that lifts your spirits than on anti-depressants and
therapists. You only live once. Enjoy your new tank and fish. :-)
--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[Koi-Lo]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> Each of us makes choices and each must live with the consequences.
> Friends of mine work very hard, long hours running their own business,
> real estate and insurance brokers. I suggested they might cut their
> hours as they must have plenty of money. I was surprised to learn
> that much of their earnings was going to their children who did not
> live within their means.
====================
And as long as Mommy and Daddy play banker, their children will not likely
learn to ever live within their means. What happens to such adult
"children" when Mom and Dad pass away? I hate to think of it........
--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

> Sleep??? Oh yeah,...I remember that activity,...That's
> where one closes one's eyes, usually in concert with
> laying one's body level with the
> Earth's surface, yes?

Right! Do you get enough sleep at the moment..? :-)

> But ain't it rather difficult to
> stare down yer smart-assed Oscar, who would otherwise be
> wrecking all of the little
> do-dads and fake plants in her tank?

Well.., it is a female Oscar. Means it is a "woman" and the
most women I know are covertly interior designers.. So
please don't worry, Dean..! ;-)

And have a nice day..!
--
cu
Marco

[Dick]

On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 09:51:26 -0500, "Koi-Lo" <¤?¤@ö½.Õ..Õ¢> wrote:

>
>"Dick" > wrote in message
...
>> Each of us makes choices and each must live with the consequences.
>> Friends of mine work very hard, long hours running their own business,
>> real estate and insurance brokers. I suggested they might cut their
>> hours as they must have plenty of money. I was surprised to learn
>> that much of their earnings was going to their children who did not
>> live within their means.
>====================
>And as long as Mommy and Daddy play banker, their children will not likely
>learn to ever live within their means. What happens to such adult
>"children" when Mom and Dad pass away? I hate to think of it........

They begin to "own" their own lives I think. I think doling people
out of trouble is "killing with kindness."

dick

[Papa Red]

Other than a few strands of Anacharis/ Elodea densa floating on or
near the surface of the water, plant life that somehow survived being
nibbled on, and are currently slowly growing within a 10 gallon tank
that it shares with a cardenal red male Betta, I have no other plants in
any of my many other aquariums,... How will not having any real plants
in any of my other aquariums effect them?,...I mean, is there anything
that I should look out for, especially in my 55 gallon tank with all of
the coloured gravel? It's the very first tank that I have ever had that
had a gravel bottom,...All of the others were bare bottomed, and thus
much easier to clean~Dean.

[Papa Red]

Let me tell you about "Therapists",... Some first-hand
experience,...Far too many of them are more screwed up than the people
to whom they are allegedly trying to help, to the point that some are
not "therapists", but in fact are "the rapists", understand?

[Papa Red]

You wrote:
Hi..
Sleep??? Oh yeah,...I remember that activity,...That's where one closes
one's eyes, usually in concert with laying one's body level with the
Earth's surface, yes?
Right! Do you get enough sleep at the moment..? :-)
[My response:
Not at the moment,...Between being "Papa Red", sort of a 'Dear Abby', or
'Dear Ann Landers' online, helpin' some folks with troubles, including
some really serious troubles, and takin' care of all of these fish, plus
two female white mice, one who has had a litter of babies, so I learned
a few days ago, plus a bunch of other stuff,...no not really enough. ]

But ain't it rather difficult to
stare down yer smart-assed Oscar, who would otherwise be wrecking all of
the little
do-dads and fake plants in her tank?

You wrote:
Well.., it is a female Oscar. Means it is a "woman" and the most women I
know are covertly interior designers.. So please don't worry, Dean..!
;-)
And have a nice day..!
--
cu
Marco
My response:
But she knows nothing about feng shul, plus the wallpaper is all wrong!
And the carpeting looks just like old, uneaten fish food,...How tacky!
Next thing ya know she'll be wanting a pet Pleco, and she already has
four Clown Loaches ta play with, don'tja know!<LOL>~Dean.

[Köi-Lö]

"Papa Red" > wrote in message
...
> Other than a few strands of Anacharis/ Elodea densa floating on or
> near the surface of the water, plant life that somehow survived being
> nibbled on, and are currently slowly growing within a 10 gallon tank
> that it shares with a cardenal red male Betta, I have no other plants in
> any of my many other aquariums,... How will not having any real plants
> in any of my other aquariums effect them?,...I mean, is there anything
> that I should look out for, especially in my 55 gallon tank with all of
> the coloured gravel? It's the very first tank that I have ever had that
> had a gravel bottom,...All of the others were bare bottomed, and thus
> much easier to clean~Dean.
============================
Just buy one of those cheap plastic gravel vacuums at Wal*Mart and do the
gravel several times a month. Plants give fish a place to lay their eggs,
give birth to their young, hide and feel secure. They also remove
pollutants from the water. One of the easiest is hornwart followed by Java
Moss.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[-ED]

On Thu, 29 Jun 2006 14:51:36 -0500, Köi-Lö >
wrote: Not a god damned thing worth reading.

>"Papa Red" > wrote in message
...
>> Other than a few strands of Anacharis/ Elodea densa floating on or
>> near the surface of the water, plant life that somehow survived being
>> nibbled on, and are currently slowly growing within a 10 gallon tank
>> that it shares with a cardenal red male Betta, I have no other plants in
>> any of my many other aquariums,... How will not having any real plants
>> in any of my other aquariums effect them?,...I mean, is there anything
>> that I should look out for, especially in my 55 gallon tank with all of
>> the coloured gravel? It's the very first tank that I have ever had that
>> had a gravel bottom,...All of the others were bare bottomed, and thus
>> much easier to clean~Dean.

Well you cheap son of a bitch, don't ya thnk you need to spend a few
bucks and get the fish some gravel. These groups are for people
that keep tanks andpnds the right way.If yur going to have artifical
plants then get artifical fish......real fish means real
plants.........got that Dean old boy! Perhaps you do not mind living
in a room with out any furniture but do not instill your perspectives
on the fish., Buy em some real plants and gravel you cheap SOB, even
if means you eating stale bread for a month.

>============================
snip a bunch of crap by carol that means nothing to anyone

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[Gill Pissman]

Ed, you better mind your self or I will have to bite the hellout of
you with my crooked rotten british teeth!



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[Koi-Lo]

"Papa Red" > wrote in message
...
> Let me tell you about "Therapists",... Some first-hand
> experience,...Far too many of them are more screwed up than the people
> to whom they are allegedly trying to help, to the point that some are
> not "therapists", but in fact are "the rapists", understand?
==============================
I believe I do. How well balanced and sane can people stay when all they
hear about are other people's problems 8 hr. a day? As for rape? Guard
your wallet. From what I heard they charge $75 to $150 an hour to sit there
and listen as any good friend would do for free.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[Koi-Lo]

"Papa Red" > wrote in message
...
> But she knows nothing about feng shul, plus the wallpaper is all wrong!
> And the carpeting looks just like old, uneaten fish food,...How tacky!
> Next thing ya know she'll be wanting a pet Pleco, and she already has
> four Clown Loaches ta play with, don'tja know!<LOL>~Dean.
=====================
Do you have clown loaches in the same tank as your Oscar? You could be
feeding her a very expensive dinner.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[Gill Pissman]

But your only friends are sock puppets carol......your a freaking
loser without any real friends.....I bet even old Mushroom Randy has
second thoughts on being yyr "frieind"

On Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:46:44 -0500, "Koi-Lo" <¤?¤@ö½.Õ..Õ¢> wrote:

>
>"Papa Red" > wrote in message
...
>> Let me tell you about "Therapists",... Some first-hand
>> experience,...Far too many of them are more screwed up than the people
>> to whom they are allegedly trying to help, to the point that some are
>> not "therapists", but in fact are "the rapists", understand?
>==============================
>I believe I do. How well balanced and sane can people stay when all they
>hear about are other people's problems 8 hr. a day? As for rape? Guard
>your wallet. From what I heard they charge $75 to $150 an hour to sit there
>and listen as any good friend would do for free.


--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[Papa Red]

There are no Walmarts in my area, or stores that sell aquatic plants.
Nor do I have a credit card to get stuff on the internet. And besides,
after buying that 55 gallon tank with all of the goodies, I'm pretty
tapped out for at least a couple of months.~Dean.

[Papa Red]

The Oscar is not yet large enough to even bother with them.~Dean.

[Papa Red]

gill '****man' [golden shower freak's name?] wrote:
"But your only friends are sock puppets carol......your a freaking loser
without any real friends.....I bet even old Mushroom Randy has second
thoughts on being yyr "frieind" ",... Ah yes, ****man, your perfect self
description of both yourself, and your title of troll,...But why are you
calling yourself "Carol"? Are you a crossdresser as well?

[Ross T.]

I'd say you got an Excellent deal! Especially considering the grow out
tanks you now have. You might want to start Breeding and growing. fish
to sale size. It's helps me to pay for my obsession:o)

All The Best
Ross T.