(no subject)

[botias]

Reading Material:	The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain
	+ asst. romance novels and children's books

Day 1 of the planted tank. We have photosynthesis! There are little oxygen bubbles pouring off the leaves. So far, so good. I completely took down my tank, removed all the gravel, laid down a layer of potting soil that I have had submerged for six weeks (8 would have been better, but there you go), put the gravel back in on top of that, and completely re-plumbed my filtration system. No more bio-wheels and no more surface agitation, which required a bit of a leap of faith on my part. All the output of the canister filter now goes into a rain bar that runs (pretty much) the length of the tank a few inches off the bottom. Some of the fish seemed distressed and were sucking air at the surface when I put them back in, I don't know if it was a water quality issue or an oxygen issue. I was able to catch everyone, but the kuhlis caused me a bit of consternation. I caught one, but was certain I had at least two. I assumed that the other must be buried in the gravel and hoped I didn't squish it, though no little bodies alive or otherwise appeared at any stage of removing or replacing the gravel. Today, when I fed everyone, there were three kuhlis swimming around. *shrug* Which reminds me that I once composed lyrics to the Garth Brooks song "I've Got Friends in Low Places" as an ode to the hiding abilities of a kuhli.

Blame it all on the roots or my orange and black suits
It's been weeks since I last appeared
Since I'd never show, when your filter ran slow
I was the last one you thought you'd see there
And I saw the surprise
And the joy in your eyes
When you saw me there on the floss
After you'd searched through all the gravel and goo
You were certain that I was a loss

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But you've got kuhlis in hiding places
If you see some tails or a few faces
Let'em chase your blues away 'cause they're completely OK
They're just not big on open spaces and can slip into the oddest places
Oh, you've got kuhlis in hiding places

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Well, I guess I was wrong I just don't belong
In filters, though I've been there before
Now everything's all right I'll come out only at night
That way you'll see me much more
Hey, I didn't mean to cause a big scene
Just give me a dark cave and then
I'll be as happy as I've ever been

Happy Father's Day!

Happy lucky 13th to Alan and me!!!