Only freedom will do

edinburgher

In her book 'Ecology of the planted aquarium', Diana Walstad sets the established science of fishkeeping on its head. With aquariums (like so many other fields), there is a massive industry dedicated to selling well meaning pet owners chemicals, gizmos and other tat that they don't need. Walstad proves (rather convincingly) that all you need for a healthy planted aquarium is some soil, some plain gravel and plenty of plants.

This is pretty fascinating stuff, as the high tech maintenance of aquariums is replaced with a reliance on nature to do what it does best, survive and thrive I have read about tanks that are 5-6 years old and have *never* had a water change. Considering that I currently change over 100l/week in my tank, that's an enticing thought!

It's also very MSE, I should be able to save ££ :money:

• Made cheese scones while gently tipsy at midnight, great scones
• 2 eB@y items now have bids, with several watchers
• Money to pots
• 7.25 mile run starts in half an hour

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Quite agree about the fish. Nobody filters the water in the wild.
We buy so much stuff that we don't need for pets and for ourselves, just because we think we should. But if we look back, we all managed fine before they were invented.

We have three fish in our garden pond and they are about five years old. It is completely natural, we top up the water if it gets low but do absolutely nothing else to it. They are fully grown and energetic. No profits to the pet shops. yay!

Squirrel x

edinburgher

I'll probably continue to use the filter for the tank, as it helps with water circulation and ensuring that the fish get sufficient oxygen. Also, as it cost £100+ 2 years ago, it needs to earn its keep

Other than that, my new maintenance regime will be minimal (maybe 2-3 buckets of water a week, down from 8!) I'll also stop using dechlorinator eventually, but seeing as someone bought me a mahoosive bottle recently, that's probably a few years away.

I would love to have a pond one day, I'd love smallish formal pond under a small round pergola/mini bandstand type thing. I can imagine sitting out in the rain reading with a coffee

No sleep again last night, the Sunday blues appear to be a real issue at present

On the positive side, Mrs E and I have booked our flights for Crete, we're getting a full fortnight away, which we haven't done in the 7.5 years we've been together.

Today:

• Money to pots
• £3.50 from free slots promotion
• Post 2 eBay parcels
• List some DVDs for Mrs E
• Buy small sieve for Friday's tank rebuild
• Source some cheap floating plants for Friday
• Order some fresh plants for delivery Friday
• Survive exhaustion!

ljaneyr

Hooray for 2 week holidays :T:T This will be our first too in 11 years Where are you going in Crete? We went about 9 years ago and it was our best holiday so far - hence returning to Greece this year :j

Janey x

Shortie

Hiya, have just subscribed and will catch up on your diary tonight. I can really empathise about feeling oddly out of place in work - I get on with people well but wherever I have worked I've always felt like I'm purely doing it for the money and have no real engagement in the work itself.

Oh, and I've never understood / hate office politics

Right, nearly at my train station now, will try and catch up a bit later

Goldiegirl

Ooooh, a holiday:T

I love hearing about holidays.

Just been reading a book set in Crete, during the war, very interesting.

Would love to go there one day

edinburgher

Where are you going in Crete? We went about 9 years ago and it was our best holiday so far - hence returning to Greece this year

Don't quote me, but I believe it's called Gouves. A nice modern villa with a fancy looking private pool, quite a good deal as well

Mrs E and I got married in Greece, it's about the only place I'd consider retiring to the sun.

skint_spice

Don't know if you've been already but I'd recommend a trip across to Santorini, I love it. Nice holiday sounds an excellent idea:D

misscousinitt

Hi Ed

Commiserations on the courier and the Sunday night blues.

But YAY to the holiday in Crete. We went a few years ago and loved it. We love Greece anyway - the food and the people are so great and the laid back way of life is fantastic!

MCI

edinburgher

Hi MCI

The Sunday blues were rubbish, but I got a reasonable sleep last night and it has made all the difference.

The holiday will be great fun, even if there is a wee while to wait. I am currently having to jump through hoops at work to ensure that our reporting obligations are met when I am away. I find it somewhat nuts that I am the only person who has ever co-ordinated what is a relatively straightforward bit of planning :eek:

• Mrs E sold a DVD
• Money to pots
• Time to start a new matched betting signup offer, not getting enough freebies
• Need to cook 10 bean salad, summer vegetable stew with dumplings and ragu with meatballs tonight