Quite a popular little spot. Not with me.
Ambiance - nice lighting and furnishings. Fairly clean throughout. Attractive bar staff is a bonus. +1 point.
Pricing - Hmmm, over $9 for a pint of Heineken? Very suspect. I don't appreciate being ripped off. -1 point.
Patronage - Usual mix of 19-year olds trying to look cool, 50-year olds trying to look cool, and 30-year olds getting aboslutely smashed, jumping up and down screaming, and vomiting in the toilets (all witnessed in my 45 mins there). Can't complain. Not as rough as many places. Attractive bar staff is a bonus. +1 point.
Location - On the water, boats floating around, all that good stuff. Good amount of parking. +1 point.
Music - Hmm. It was live, and it was loud. I guess I'll award 1 point just for having live music. But it wasn't my cup of tea. How about some jazz, or light piano music? +1 point.
Aquariums - Too small for the fish contained. It's simply animal cruelty. And the live music? The fish must go insane having those vibrations pushed through their water. I'm in half a mind to ring the RSPCA about this. -2 points!
Final score - 1 out of 5
If they just got rid of the aquariums, and dropped their huge markup on the beer, they would score much better!
THE BOAT IN MINDARIE - BOYCOTTED
Showing posts with label aquarium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aquarium. Show all posts
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Fanta loses his fizz
Well, I have just returned Cola to the shop. They said they would re-sell him.
Now Fanta is swimming peacefully around the tank. Not hiding behind the heater, pressed into the corner of the tank, getting his fins nipped. I guess this is one case where the little guy had a big guy looking out for him (me).
After Fanta dies, or 4 weeks elapse, whatever comes first, I will add a few Platys. Apparently they are non-aggressive to their own kind.
These pet shops really upset me. They don't even mention things like Ammonia, testing water for various chemicals, which fish are suitable together ... It's pretty obvious they don't care if your fish die. It means they get to sell more fish.
Sorry no humour in today's entry; I'm kind of saddened by the whole experience.
-Gray
Now Fanta is swimming peacefully around the tank. Not hiding behind the heater, pressed into the corner of the tank, getting his fins nipped. I guess this is one case where the little guy had a big guy looking out for him (me).
After Fanta dies, or 4 weeks elapse, whatever comes first, I will add a few Platys. Apparently they are non-aggressive to their own kind.
These pet shops really upset me. They don't even mention things like Ammonia, testing water for various chemicals, which fish are suitable together ... It's pretty obvious they don't care if your fish die. It means they get to sell more fish.
Sorry no humour in today's entry; I'm kind of saddened by the whole experience.
-Gray
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Aquarium - bullying in the tank
Cola is bullying Fanta. I have asked for help in a forum. Apparantly this is normal behaviour for male mollies. The solutions seem to be "get a bigger tank" which I can't afford. Or "add some females", but I don't want babies!
I guess I was so focussed on water chemistry, tank biology, and keeping the fish physically healthy, I never stopped to research into "fish personality".
Oh well. Maybe the fish shop will take them back (doubtful) ... I wonder if I could eat them? No sense wasting the little guys.
Is there even a humane way to kill a small fish? What would I have to do, put it into a bowl of water and poison the water with bleach? Doesn't sound pleasant.
Sad times for me (and poor little Fanta, too).
-Gray
I guess I was so focussed on water chemistry, tank biology, and keeping the fish physically healthy, I never stopped to research into "fish personality".
Oh well. Maybe the fish shop will take them back (doubtful) ... I wonder if I could eat them? No sense wasting the little guys.
Is there even a humane way to kill a small fish? What would I have to do, put it into a bowl of water and poison the water with bleach? Doesn't sound pleasant.
Sad times for me (and poor little Fanta, too).
-Gray
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Cheap imported filter
Quick entry tonight .... Cola and Fanta are loving their tank.
The cheap Chinese-made filter was making a hell of a racket this morning. I pulled it apart and put it back together, didn't actually do anything to it, but somehow fixed the noise. Put the spray bar above the water -- now my bedroom is filled with a waterfall sound. Fanta likes playing in the turbulent water. Either that, or he's too weak to escape it ...
Also, I added 3 live plants. I don't expect them to live. Between the over-oxygenated water and the two fish gnawing at their leaves, I'm pretty sure they'll be dead within the week.
Fed the little guys some bloodworm tonight. Frankly it didn't smell all that appetising, but then, I'm not a fish. They scarfed it.
I'll be honest here -- these two fish are probably not going to survive the month. The tank isn't cycled and they're pumping out waste left and right. I'm no Aquarium expert, but I'm testing ammonia twice a day and will water change as required. If you want to donate some cold hard cash to their cause, e-mail me :)
All I'm saying is -- let's not get too attached to these little guys. Sure, they quickly found their way into all our hearts with their crazy antics, playful marking of territory, and cute eyes. The two days I've known them feels like 2 years ... But statistically, they're on a one-way ticket to the bin. Quite literally.
So far though, they are as healthy as a mule(s). Cola is bigger and often rushes at poor little Fanta. I hate to see a ranga getting bullied. I speak from experience. But it's all part of nature I guess ...
I'll keep you posted.
-Gray, Cola and Fanta
The cheap Chinese-made filter was making a hell of a racket this morning. I pulled it apart and put it back together, didn't actually do anything to it, but somehow fixed the noise. Put the spray bar above the water -- now my bedroom is filled with a waterfall sound. Fanta likes playing in the turbulent water. Either that, or he's too weak to escape it ...
Also, I added 3 live plants. I don't expect them to live. Between the over-oxygenated water and the two fish gnawing at their leaves, I'm pretty sure they'll be dead within the week.
Fed the little guys some bloodworm tonight. Frankly it didn't smell all that appetising, but then, I'm not a fish. They scarfed it.
I'll be honest here -- these two fish are probably not going to survive the month. The tank isn't cycled and they're pumping out waste left and right. I'm no Aquarium expert, but I'm testing ammonia twice a day and will water change as required. If you want to donate some cold hard cash to their cause, e-mail me :)
All I'm saying is -- let's not get too attached to these little guys. Sure, they quickly found their way into all our hearts with their crazy antics, playful marking of territory, and cute eyes. The two days I've known them feels like 2 years ... But statistically, they're on a one-way ticket to the bin. Quite literally.
So far though, they are as healthy as a mule(s). Cola is bigger and often rushes at poor little Fanta. I hate to see a ranga getting bullied. I speak from experience. But it's all part of nature I guess ...
I'll keep you posted.
-Gray, Cola and Fanta
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Aquarium - first fish
Hi Aqua-fans!
I just acclimatised my first two fish to the tank. They are both male Mollys, one is orange and the other is black and white. Here is a short clip of them. It is zoomed in to max so it looks hazy - the water is actually very clear.
I thought about naming the orange one "Cornelius" just because it's such an excellent name ... But I might go with "Pepsi" for the orange, and "Cola" for the dark one. Suggestions anyone?
In a couple of weeks I will add some more plants and things for them to swim around. And also either 2 more mollys, or 6 glow light tetras.
By the way that was another $45 for the fish, StressCoat conditioner for the sensitive little guys, and some frozen food for treats. Total spend is about $315 now.
-Gray
I just acclimatised my first two fish to the tank. They are both male Mollys, one is orange and the other is black and white. Here is a short clip of them. It is zoomed in to max so it looks hazy - the water is actually very clear.
I thought about naming the orange one "Cornelius" just because it's such an excellent name ... But I might go with "Pepsi" for the orange, and "Cola" for the dark one. Suggestions anyone?
In a couple of weeks I will add some more plants and things for them to swim around. And also either 2 more mollys, or 6 glow light tetras.
By the way that was another $45 for the fish, StressCoat conditioner for the sensitive little guys, and some frozen food for treats. Total spend is about $315 now.
-Gray
Friday, January 14, 2011
Aquarium is born
G'day fellow sea-farers!
In a characteristic flash of genius, I decided "Why visit the ocean to enjoy the fish, when I can bring the fish to me?". So I've bought an aquarium. 55 litres of natural habitat for some friendly little fish to swim in! Total spend so far is $270, and no fish yet. Maybe if you get inspired to set up your own aquarium, you can learn from my own experiences. So here is the run-down so far.
- 55 litre tank (medium size, I would say)
- Internal power filter with spray bar
- 50 watt heater
- Plain gravel
- Thermometer
- A couple of fake plants
- A barrel decoration
- Background picture
- Water treatment stuff to treat the tap water
- pH test kit and adjuster chemicals
- Ammonia test kit
- Net
- Fish food
- Bacteria booster to help kick-start the biological filtering
There is definitely more to this stuff than meets the eye. This is why, when little Johnny buys a $10 goldfish bowl and dumps his goldfish into it, the poor thing is dead within the month. Johnny's parents can't be blamed; who would have thought keeping a fish would actually involve research and effort?
Here you can see the tank as it is right now. Nothing much to look at. I will probably add some "Mollys" which are plain little fish, in a few days. After a month or two, I'll be ready to switch over to a flock of awesome little tetras, probably Glow Light Tetras. So you can look forward to pics / video of those little suckers!
Here is a YouTube clip of some Neon Tetras.
Comments / advice welcome as always.
-Gray
In a characteristic flash of genius, I decided "Why visit the ocean to enjoy the fish, when I can bring the fish to me?". So I've bought an aquarium. 55 litres of natural habitat for some friendly little fish to swim in! Total spend so far is $270, and no fish yet. Maybe if you get inspired to set up your own aquarium, you can learn from my own experiences. So here is the run-down so far.
- 55 litre tank (medium size, I would say)
- Internal power filter with spray bar
- 50 watt heater
- Plain gravel
- Thermometer
- A couple of fake plants
- A barrel decoration
- Background picture
- Water treatment stuff to treat the tap water
- pH test kit and adjuster chemicals
- Ammonia test kit
- Net
- Fish food
- Bacteria booster to help kick-start the biological filtering
There is definitely more to this stuff than meets the eye. This is why, when little Johnny buys a $10 goldfish bowl and dumps his goldfish into it, the poor thing is dead within the month. Johnny's parents can't be blamed; who would have thought keeping a fish would actually involve research and effort?
Here is a YouTube clip of some Neon Tetras.
Comments / advice welcome as always.
-Gray
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