T Dawg

The auction went much faster and smoother than in previous years I thought. The organizers, auctioneers and runners did a great job! The increase from $1 all the way to $5 for bumps (supporting Haiti relief) reduced the number I saw to about 3 - if they'd gone to $2 to give the extra to the Red Cross I'd have bumped all the lots I was interested in - but since I couldn't afford to bump them all at $5 each I had to wait to bid anyway.

It was a good idea to support a charity though!

As I understand it the goal was to cut down on bumps and encourage people to stay longer and bid more. I know there were more than 3 bumps, but my summary sheet got lifted so I don't have access to the actual numbers.

Some of the aquarium deco stuff went for a LOT more than I had expected it would.

LadyBlue, you are much safer staying away from the auction! LOL...i had excess self control yesterday!

And some decor grab bags were thinned out and sold a few times. I had a few items I took what I want and put the rest on the 777 (Donation for Haiti) auction table. I think parts of one bag was sold 4 times.

I recomened everyone goes, and if you are worried about spending too much leave your money at home! Some people are very into the auction and are realy realy realy into it, other are just there to see what is out there and to socialize. The auctioneers tend to have a lot of knowledge on fish and plants and give out info as they go so it's fun just to learn about stuff. They tend to bid on stuff too (I know the auctioneer from Edmonton won a few items).

TDawg - I did try for all of the Cory's but know what I can get some of the varieties for privately so didn't want to break the bank on them. I still am looking for Cory's though. Love the little guys.

Wingin' It - I am still happy with the boys they are great color and I have some girls that have similar coloring.

The GF though they all went for quite a bit, and did not end up with any either. The livestock was mostly a blure for me.

It was a great auction a first for me but I did manage to leave with the last Tiger Lotus a gorgeous specimen - Thank-you to the previous owner for this one. A few other plants - thank-you Shane. a few half-moon bettas (look like super deltas-happy either way) Thank-you Wingin' it.

Looking forward to the fall auction.

Did you try for any of teh cories or other like catfish?

Speaking of volunteers, if you want to help with setup, please show up 9ish or so. If you're like me and have fish to catch, please show up around 10. Of course, fish catching tends to take longer than you think!!! A big thanks to T Dawg for reminding me to do this. Wingin It, would love your frogbit. Did you want to come over and pick out some plants as I owe you???

In speaking with Len today, earlier is always better with volunteers, so if you can come around 8am there will be lots to do. And dave hasconfirmed he is getting nice fresh hotdog buns. Yummy.

Do shrimp qualify for the BAP program?

Was just curious to see what AA members will be selling at the CAS Auction on Sunday.

Details of the Auction here: www.calgaryaquariumsociety.com

I will be selling some equipment (maybe even a Rena filstar XP3) and some German imported Discus...

Some pics of the parents of the fish that I will be selling attached

I might have to bid on that.

Saltwater setup presentation will be by Al Holm and guest are welcome.

That's the thing of course I unplug it everytime I do a water change. I do 50% water changes every 4 to 5 days so I have no choice but to unplug it.

I guess I am the only one who occasionally forgets to unplugthem. When I do the Rena takes about 48 hours to settle down, the Fluval either goes back to normal in about 20 inutes or locks off.

I alternate between 25% and 50% weekly water changes. It normally takes about 8-20 minutes for both to lock back at normal temp.

I might try a pickle or peach jar in my tank and see if anyone uses it to play or sleep.

Last chance to register for your Vendor numbers if you haven't done so!

We all know there will be great live stock, plant, and equipment. But I need to know. Will there be hotdogs?

That is correct. More info can be found on the website I believe.

I had checked there first but did not see it. Sounds like a fun program.

I think i'm going to start the small Brackish tank after the auction...maybe there'll be some cheap left over Marine Salt and hydrometer there. :shifty:

I was talking to one of the associates at Pisces and they say that theirs are reproducing regularly in their display tanks (which aren't brackish) but I don't remember seeing large numbers of them in their tanks. Either way, I have a bunch of eggs in the FW tank right now, and when I set up the BW tank the adults will go in there to see if they will reproduce.

I'm sure if not you could talk someone into bringing you 6 tablespoons of salt to the next meeting.

I was in an LFS today that had a shwack of them. I held off for now but they are available in Calgary.

Just a question.....

Why would someone order from the states and absorb a lot of extra costs on fish or dry goods that appear to be 'cheap'

It appears that there is some money to be lost: extra fees and added potential of fish loss - buy at your own risk?

I would rather walk into my LFS and hand pick healthy stock and pay a little bit more. In reality...it is probably more cost effective.

Just my opinion on this topic and am curious to hear others.

Thanks

Selection (More options)

Availability (LFS no stock)

Price (Current exchange rates vs LFS exchange rates can be huge, we both pay S&H)

Apparently one day, someone saw a few Chinese characters on the side of the fish...(they may have been drunk or it might be just like seeing mother Theresa on the side of a taco) but that is also supposed to be a desired trait in a FH. kinda lucky??

Ahh, the benifit of the good tea!

I do not think this is the proper venue to discuss the ethics of any stores pricing.

I think we need to skirt the line between a vendor review, and general discussion on wholesale vers retail pricing.

If I talk about my auto trade in (I was paid $9,000 for and they listed for $16,000, took $12,00) and bash the industry markups or possible mistakes on my car as apposed to bashing a specific dealership. Of couse I thought I could get more privatly and could not be bothered, and they figured out what they needed to do with the price to get it moved.

And I hear somefish stores make deals, and I'm sure BA gives fishclub members discounts...

Business making profit, that's just criminal?

LMAO!

I mean really, the nerve of them, and with all that free rent, free utilities, and

staff that work there for free.

$500 is certainly not a ridiculous price for a high end FH, Dennis at Golds told me that he turned down 2K for one of his display FH's. Not saying that the one at BA's is a show specimen, but in the grand scheme of things $500 is not exactly big money for some of the premium FH's out there.

I guess all I can say is never, ever, buy an HDMI cable if large markup is a bad thing (my last one was $6...), and don't get me started on bike markups. Or food...

Horned Nerite Snails are tidal and can take a lot of salt. I'll pretend there is nothing else in the tank.

You want to add salt during a water change. Mix the salt in the new water first, then add the salted water to the tank.

The good news is brackish is a range as apposed to an exact number. Basically 2 table spoons of marine salt (not aquarium or table salt) should be a safe add, but if that doesn't help you can take it much higher for the next batch. A hydrometer is a needed investment if you want to play with brackish of salt water.

Here is an article on brackish conditions http://badmanstropicalfish.com/brackish/brackish.html that is kind enough to talk teaspoon.

This article on your snails http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_4/V4I2/Brackish%20Systems/brackish.htm covers habitat.

Here is a general article on brackish snails http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/Projects/FAQ/8b.html

Goodluck with the breeding.

I have to say something about the rena smart heaters. They work great and are ideal for ray tanks buuuut, they tank about a week to get to a desired temp and they don't keep it constant. Evertime it would get to the ideal temp I would have to do a water change the day before anyways so I think they're useless.

Sounds like you got a dud. Mine holds exect temp from the moment it is on, flashing if out of limit. The only issue I have had is if I drain the tank and foget to unplug it, but pulling the plug and sticking it back in resets it.

Anyone what to confirm the rumor the next meeting will have a presentation on how to setup a salt water tank?

Business making profit, that's just criminal?

oh lmao syno, too funny!!!!

marimo moss balls do not 'get out of control'. they grow rather slowly and tend to keep their spherical shape if cared for properly. i've had my three for about a year now and they have not done anything other than double in size and they are an awesome grazing ground for shrimp and small snails.

i firmly believe that having a few marimos in your tank can help to control algae, and have read that on various sites too. i know, funny that algae would control algae, lol, but if the marimos are taking the excess nutrients and such out of the water there would be nothing or very little left for 'normal' algae to take hold. i should have mega algae in my planted tank, i overfeed, i leave the lights on too long, my nitrates get a bit high a bit too often...... but no algae!

Some complain if you trim or they breakup they get in the gravel and nooks then keep growing much like hair algae.

I read a bit and apparently because they photosynthesize they are able to produce bubbles on themselves which causes them to float and move around the tank. Sounds cool. Was trying to get some from someone who posted on here recently, was promised them but they didnt follow through on a meeting to do the transaction. Hoping that might change soon..

One of the things I like about being a member of the local fishclub, it seems to be a somewhat reliable way to meet up with people to do product exchanges. I spent a few too many times waiting in McDonals parking lots for people who never came.

I wonder if there will be balls at the auction.

i think i might stick with some of the heaters i have.. and just use a PVC pipe with holes drilled into the PVC with the heater in side, with a power head attached at the bottom to maintain good circulation... that may work..

You will see a temp drop and will see more tempature veriation if you place the heater in a PVC pipe. For example when I added the sheild to my Fluval 300w it's heat output dropped about 2c.

The Rena I have does get quite warm to the touch. The Fluval with the guard does not get that warm (and the curent ones come with the sheild).