I would like to apologize, because this is not a real post.  It’s a filler post until I can get real content up.  I have real content in my inbox ready to go, but I’d like to post it on a normal day at a normal time so it’s a tad more planned and not simply thrown up.  This, this is throw up.  And it’s about fish.

So.  I had a 10 gallon planted tank with Betta Davis (a betta fish) and Kenneth Mars (a clown pleco aka an algae eater).  Well… I didn’t do my research.  I listened to the pet store girl who said that the pleco only grows to about 4 inches, and is perfect for a 10 gallon.  Half right.  They only get to be 4 inches, but the amount of waste the produce is insane.  You need a 20 gallon for them, bare minimum.

So.

I took my first paycheck from this new job and I met my obligations, then I took the rest to the pet store and bought a 20 gallon tank for Kenneth.  I’d already ordered more plants I was going to house in the 10 gallon, but I’ll put them in the 20 instead.  I can buy more plants for both later.

My next mission, next payday, is to buy a dozen small fish to live in the 20.  I’ll want to leave Betta Davis alone, but as Kenneth basically lives under his drift wood, you’d think the tank was empty if I didn’t put something in there.  I’m thinking a dozen neon tetras.  Alternatively I’ll do a half-dozen each of neon tetras and zebra danios.  We’ll see.  None of them are overly expensive.  So it comes down to whether I want 2 small schools or 1 large one.  I think my daughter would like the variety of 2 different schools more.  So I might go with that.

Technically in a planted tank the plants are supposed to be the focal point and the fish are just, well, there.  That’s why I’m going with a dozen cheap instead of a couple of fancy, expensive ones.  But we’ll see.  Once I’m in the store who knows what will happen.

Ironically this all just started with a plan for a single fish, Betta Davis, with Kenneth being thrown in to keep the algae down.  Now according to my research, once my tank(s) find its balance, the plants themselves will keep the algae down because they’ll pull all the nutrients.  Go figure.

And thus, this project will go from 1 fish, to 2 fish, to 14 fish.

But at least my heart is super happy, even if my husband is less than thrilled.