This week is another get r done project I have been putting off for some time now. Let me state that I love my Children to a fault, wouldn't trade them for the world, but......some times I wish they would think before they act...lol...just joking...5 yrs ago when DH and I were on Vacation, we usually go in Oct. right around my Birthday....Bless their hearts, they decided to surprise their Dear Momma when she got home, all 3 got together and bought me a fish tank, not just a fish tank, but a very large fish tank 35 gallons. Now I love it UNTILL it is time to clean it out. Oh my, then it is an all day job, and so hard for me to handle by myself.... So it doesn't get a total clean job but every couple of years. It has really been needing a total cleaning for awhile. I let the water get low in it so it wouldn't take very long to empty.....ok, yesterday was the day I decided it was low enough....I took some pictures but the real nitty gritty work I was to busy and wet to handle the camera....
You can see how dirty the gravel is by looking at the front of the tank. One of the pumps had stopped working and it put a strain on the other pump to keep it cleaned alone...plus the heat apparently broke....not very pretty right now...nasty...
you can see how the lime build up had formed on the pumps and heater, the light and cover looked just as bad...ugh...I threw most of the grass away, it was just wore out.
You can see how dirty the gravel is by looking at the front of the tank. One of the pumps had stopped working and it put a strain on the other pump to keep it cleaned alone...plus the heat apparently broke....not very pretty right now...nasty...
you can see how the lime build up had formed on the pumps and heater, the light and cover looked just as bad...ugh...I threw most of the grass away, it was just wore out.
You can see how suctioning the water out really got the goop stirred up, now the fun began, had to empty all the gravel out and wash it, took the tank outside and washed it out good, cleaned all the pumps, cover and light, then put it back in the room and added gravel, then came the hose through the back door and into the den,...What? you think I was going to fill it up one gallon at a time...I don't think so...lol.. Ok, everything is back in except the fish, had to let the tank climatize first for a few hours...Even the top looked better.........All my fishies were mad at me, they did't like their temp home......lol.....View of the tank, and stand my DH made to set it on...I am not crazy about the deer head, but DH won't move it....
Fish are still waiting in the blue bucket....guess what the second pump started working again...
Fish are back at home and still ticked off, so they are hiding in the corner...acting like spoiled kids....but I am not happy with the look of my tank...so I made a trip to Wally World today...
now that's better, new background and some new hiding places for my fishies....need to get more fish, so will have to make a trip to Pet Smart in Jackson..when I pick Rissa up tomorrow. She's spending the weekend with me...
close up of some of my fish and the new back ground...
Needless to say I was one tired, but proud lady when I finished this job...1 more item off my to-do list...
Fish are still waiting in the blue bucket....guess what the second pump started working again...
Fish are back at home and still ticked off, so they are hiding in the corner...acting like spoiled kids....but I am not happy with the look of my tank...so I made a trip to Wally World today...
now that's better, new background and some new hiding places for my fishies....need to get more fish, so will have to make a trip to Pet Smart in Jackson..when I pick Rissa up tomorrow. She's spending the weekend with me...
close up of some of my fish and the new back ground...
Needless to say I was one tired, but proud lady when I finished this job...1 more item off my to-do list...
beautiful fish tank/
ReplyDeleteDid your husband make the stand it is on?
Wonderful piece of furniture.
thanks for joining us.
blessings
barbara jean
That was a project! Wow! Congratulations. Love the stand, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining in!!! I am familiar with cleaning out fish tanks - during my first marriage, we had about 8 tanks, various sizes - up to a 50 gal. long, in our house. The Silent Giant pump became our best friend! And there are some filters you can run once a week off the front of your tank, like the pet stores do, to keep things refreshed! Your new tank background looks great - and the fishies probably enjoy the new look as well! (move the deer head - he may never notice - at least for a few days!) Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI used to have a fish tank, so I know how much work this is. You did a GREAT job!
ReplyDeleteThat is one big job, so I can understand how relieved you are to have it done. The new background looks great. I was amused the second pump started working. I guess it just needed a good cleaning to get the guck out! LOL! At least you didn't have to buy another one.
ReplyDeleteWhew! That makes me tired looking at the big tank and thinking about cleaning it and preparing it! It really is beautiful...but I guess I'm just not willing to commit at this point to keeping one up (much to Joy's dismay)! :) I'm impressed with yours, Molly! Great job!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Tammy
Molly, I have to laugh. My husband bought me, the lady who takes care of 4 cats, 2 dogs, the rats, etc. already, a FISH TANK for a present. I cried and thank goodness he thought they were happy tears. The fish are now going on 8 years old. I am hoping they pass on soon...mean, ain't I?
ReplyDeleteIt is a BIG job to keep a tank up,and your tank is a BIG one!!!
Hey Molly!
ReplyDeleteThose poor fish! I'm sure they were mad to be out of their tank for that long! lol
Way back years ago I had a boyfriend who worked at a pet store. He had several tanks at his house. He had some kind of a thing that was like a vacuum that would suck up all of the dirt. I have no idea what it was called but his tanks were always clean and it was very easy to do. You might ask at a good pet store about something like that to make it easier. What ever you do don't use dishwasing liquid to clean out a fish tank!!!! My dad did that years ago when I was 5 when my mom was in the hospital with my sister. It killed all of my fish!!!! He didn't get it rinsed enough. Let me tell you a new baby and the death of my fish.......
Hugs,
Angela