Think Fish Keepers Daily News. [2016-2019]

I've killed duckweed in the past 

 

Yes, things did go on for a bit longer than I expected. 

After taking 50+ photos of a betta that wouldn't keep still, these are the best I could manage of my new betta. Sorry they're a bit on the blurry side 

As I said a few posts ago, this one is a standard veiltail, a 'typical pet shop betta'. After the last two very fancy, probably highly in bred bettas not living long, I decided I'd go for personality rather than looks. Not that the last two didn't have quirky personalities but it was their looks that was the deciding factor.

Great colouring. 

Oooh, lovely. 

Just cleaned the filter on the 220litre... that achieved a 10% water change in the process. Dry weather is a great excuse not to do more than that!...

The eco-system is functioning well today. Snail has found his way onto what's left of the giant echinodorus plant which floats in the tank and has been hang-gliding from it for most of the day. A few harlies are watching, as though goading him to jump or going to have a laugh at his expense when he falls, while the remaining fish are (purposefully, I suspect) positioned underneath, catching and eating his poo as it drops - a welcome extra food source for them. 

I thought I'd make an early start on tank cleaning, so I could get something done before the day gets too hot for anything but hunting for shade and a breeze.
I was syphoning one of the South American tanks, when I noticed something odd on one of the branches of wood. It was a patch that looked dark with small, pale patches, and I thought perhaps it could be algae. I decided to try to gently syphon it off into the bucket without it breaking up, then get the forceps to pick it out and put it onto a piece of tissue for a closer look. I guessed that if I couldn't identify it I could at least take a picture and see if you guys had seen anything like it, or could identify it. As I was trying to syphon it the end seemed to be lifting, but I just couldn't get it to shift.
It turns out I was attempting to syphon up Hari the bristlenose plecs tail while she was resting up-side-down in the tangle of wood. 
Not my proudest moment, and it has left me wondering how I manage to get up and dress myself each morning, without the help of a responsible adult. 

it has left me wondering how I manage to get up and dress myself each morning, without the help of a responsible adult. 

Hmmm - I know that feeling only too well and, if I had the number of tanks you had, I'd almost certainly have done something like this long before now!

It's not bad of you @fcmf , it seems very sensible to combine an outing with a trip to a fish store.
Whenever I go on a relatively long drive I have a look to see if there are any fish store en route, you know, just in case I need to stop and stretch my legs for a bit during the drive.